Theses and Dissertations
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Of special note are theses cited in James R. Meiman's Little South Poudre Watershed and Pingree Park Campus (Colorado State University, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, 1971).
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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Author "Aldridge, Cameron L., committee member"
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Item Open Access Cinnamon teal breeding ecology in the San Luis Valley of Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Setash, Casey M., author; Kendall, William L., advisor; Doherty, Paul F, Jr.., committee member; Aldridge, Cameron L., committee member; Olson, David, committee memberThe foundation of effective waterfowl management is an abundant and resilient waterfowl population, which begins with an understanding of what drives population size and growth. Population growth rate is the product of a number of vital rates, all of which remain relatively unknown for the cinnamon teal (Spatula cyanoptera). I investigated the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors influencing the basic demographic rates of cinnamon teal during the breeding season in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Specifically, I assessed the relationship between the habitat around a selected nest site and cinnamon teal nesting success. Additionally, I evaluated whether a relatively novel approach to surveying social groupings of waterfowl can act as an effective index of breeding effort and success for cinnamon teal, the intraspecific variation in nest attendance patterns during incubation and how it affects nest survival, and the rates at which breeding females and ducklings survive the breeding season. This research has the potential to enhance the understanding of the basic population ecology of this overlooked species and provide information about vital rates that can be used in future analyses and management of the population on a larger scale. I found that cinnamon teal select nest sites with habitat characteristics that are also associated with a higher probability of nest survival (Chapter 2, this thesis). Specifically, I observed cinnamon teal selecting nest sites characterized by a lower proportion of forbs relative to what was available, which were also associated with higher nest survival among the nests I observed. I established that weekly transect surveys assessing the social groupings of cinnamon teal throughout the breeding season have the potential to act as an index of reproductive success if done on a larger scale (both temporally and geographically; Chapter 3, this thesis). I also found differences in the nest attendance patterns during early incubation compared to late incubation, which were also impacted by time of day and temperature (Chapter 4, this thesis). Finally, I estimated breeding season duckling and hen survival rates that were comparable to other waterfowl species and provided suggestions for future cinnamon teal researchers (Chapter 5, this thesis).Item Open Access The impact of energy sprawl on biodiversity and ecosystem services(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Jones, Nathan Forrest, author; Pejchar, Liba, advisor; Theobald, David M., committee member; Aldridge, Cameron L., committee memberThe future of energy production is uncertain as society demands clean and abundant energy to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly developed population. Wind energy offers the benefit of reduced greenhouse gas emissions; however, like conventional power sources such as oil and natural gas, wind energy results in an environmental footprint that contributes to energy sprawl, or the use and degradation of land due to energy production. In order to better understand these potential affects I summarized and evaluated the impacts on a diverse set of indicators including habitat loss, fragmentation, wildlife mortality, noise and light pollution, invasive species, and changes in carbon stock and water resources. I quantified these indicators by digitizing the land-use footprint within 375 randomly selected one kilometer diameter plots, stratified across each energy type, within Colorado and Wyoming, USA. I found substantial differences in impacts between energy types for most indicators, although the magnitude and direction of the differences varied. Wind energy resulted in greater impacts to noise and light pollution whereas oil and natural gas development resulted in greater habitat fragmentation and impacts to biomass carbon stock and water resources. Underlying land-use and location of production activities were a critical factor in describing the impacts. This novel technique and my specific findings can be used by developers, planners and policy-makers to design energy development that retains biodiversity while meeting society's demand for energy.Item Open Access Wildlife community occurrence, activity patterns, and interspecific interactions in response to energy development(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Lendrum, Patrick Earl, author; Wittemyer, George, advisor; Crooks, Kevin R., advisor; Anderson, Charles R., Jr., committee member; Aldridge, Cameron L., committee memberTo view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.