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Masters Thesis_JanetDeardorff_Final.pdf (1.54 MB)

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Beaver (Castor canadensis) electivity for Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) compared to other woody species

Deardorff, Janet L
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3175-9223
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563464659472112

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science, Miami University, Botany.
The North American beaver is a keystone riparian obligate which creates and maintains riparian areas by building dams. In much of the eastern U.S., invasive shrubs are common in riparian zones, but we do not know if beavers promote or inhibit these invasions. I investigated whether beavers use the invasive shrub, Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), preferentially compared to other woody species and the causes of differences in L. maackii electivity among sites. At eight sites, I identified woody stems on transects, recording stem diameter, distance to the water’s edge, and whether the stem was cut by beaver. To determine predictors of cutting by beaver, I conducted binomial generalized regressions, using distance from the water’s edge, diameter, and plant genus as fixed factors and site as a random factor. To quantify beaver preference, I calculated an electivity index (Ei) for each genus at each site. Lonicera maackii was only preferred at two of the eight sites though it comprised 41% of the total cut stems. Stems that were closer to the water’s edge and with a smaller diameter had a higher probability of being cut. Among sites, L. maackii electivity was negatively associated with the density of stems of preferred genera.
David Gorchov (Advisor)
Susan Hoffman (Committee Member)
Bartosz Grudzinski (Committee Member)
Botany; Ecology
Beaver; Amur honeysuckle; electivity; preference; invasion

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Deardorff, J. L. (2019). Beaver (Castor canadensis) electivity for Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) compared to other woody species [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563464659472112

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Deardorff, Janet. Beaver (Castor canadensis) electivity for Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) compared to other woody species. 2019. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563464659472112.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Deardorff, Janet. "Beaver (Castor canadensis) electivity for Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) compared to other woody species." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563464659472112

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.