Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2012, Horticulture and Crop Science

The productivity of vegetable cropping systems can be assessed using multiple criteria. Individual criteria tend to reflect the concerns of food suppliers, such as farmers, or consumers. Occasionally, steps taken to enhance productivity from a food supplier point of view result in losses from a consumer point of view and vice versa. Creating vegetable production systems that most effectively balance the interest of all within the food supply-consumption chain requires a thorough understanding of forces that shape various aspects of system productivity and efficiency. The need for such understanding is particularly high in the evaluation of emerging production systems such as ones operating fall through spring in the Great Lakes Region. Moreover, studies tend to focus on specific aspects of productivity and often address only a supply or consumption perspective. In this work, we set out to complete a more comprehensive assessment that would allow us to determine the potential for enhancing the value of so-called ‘off season' vegetable production as a driver of economy and health. In two related studies, leaf lettuce crops were exposed to varied aerial and subsurface microclimates and nitrogen nutrition. Red-leaved romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cultivars (Outredgeous, Flagship) were direct-seeded into raised beds in fall and spring in Wooster, OH. Multiple harvests were completed across the approximately 4 week experiments. Harvested tissue was frozen, and laboratory measures of anthocyanin, chlorophyll, soluble solids, vitamin C, and total antioxidant power were completed. Microclimate and nutrition impacted both lettuce biomass and composition across different seasons and years. This work encompassed the evaluation of microclimate management treatments using multiple criteria. The effort has improved the record of the impacts of microclimate management techniques on crops from physiological, production, and human health perspectives. A third study was completed (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Matthew D. Kleinhenz PhD (Advisor); Mark A. Bennett PhD (Committee Member); Peter P. Ling PhD (Committee Member); Robert W. Mullen PhD (Committee Member); Joseph C. Scheerens PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Agriculture; Horticulture

PHD, Kent State University, 2024, College of Arts and Sciences / School of Biomedical Sciences

In nonhuman primates, the adrenal gland serves an important function in the stress response and as an additional source of steroid hormones: estrogens and testosterone. Therefore, the measurement of these adrenal steroids can provide valuable information regarding the relationship between stress and reproductive fitness. This research documented the hormonal maturation of the adrenal gland in small apes and explored how environmental, reproductive, and social changes influence adrenal hormone secretions in primates. The first objective was to determine the presence and pattern of adrenarche in the small apes. This objective collected cross-sectional fecal samples from 64 (35F, 29M) zoo-housed small apes and longitudinal fecal samples from 7 female zoo-housed small apes and measured dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) by enzyme immunoassay to determine the pattern of hormone secretion characteristic of the activation of the adrenal gland, or adrenarche. This study tested the effects of age, sex, and genus on fecal DHEAS levels using generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMM). The results showed that age was positively correlated with a pre-pubertal increase in fecal DHEAS across all genera in the study (Hylobates spp., Hoolock spp., Nomascus spp., Symphalangus syndactylus) indicating that the small apes exhibit delayed adrenarche similar to the great apes. The second objective was to examine how reproductive state and social dominance impact fecal androgens and the glucocorticoid metabolite (GCM) to DHEAS ratio (GCM:DHEAS) in free-ranging Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) considering environmental factors (season and ambient temperature) and social behaviors (i.e., aggression, and affiliation) as potential variables influencing these steroid hormones. This objective measured fecal GCM and DHEAS in 354 samples by enzyme immunoassay in 11 female macaques (7 pregnant/lactating, 4 nonpregnant/nonlactating). Using GLMM, the results showed that pregnant and lactati (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Rafaela Takeshita (Advisor); Richard Meindl (Committee Member); Mary Ann Raghanti (Committee Member); Wilson Chung (Committee Member) Subjects: Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Biology; Developmental Biology; Ecology; Endocrinology; Evolution and Development; Physiology; Social Structure; Welfare; Zoology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Wright State University, 2023, Environmental Sciences PhD

Successful crop production relies on soils with balanced physical, chemical and biological properties. Demand for greater crop yields has led to the breakdown of soil properties through detrimental agricultural practices. To combat soil degradation, farmers employ field management practices including cover crop application, crop rotation strategies and organic soil amendment addition. These practices, used independently or in combination, can improve soil stability, increase soil nutrient content and functions of beneficial soil microbiota while increasing crop yield. Despite showing promise as an organic soil amendment, dredged sediments are still not well understood, due in part to the fresh or weathered conditions dredged sediments can be applied. Specifically, there is currently no research combining dredged sediments with cover crops, comparing different dredged sediments conditions in a single study or evaluating dredged sediment condition coupled with cropping strategies. To address these knowledge gaps, my dissertation evaluates changes in soil properties and crop responses when dredged sediments are coupled with these practices. I evaluated changes in dredged sediment property responses and corn production following winter rye cover crop application compared to a fallow season in a field experiment where I found cover crop application increased corn yields compared to a fallow season. These differences were driven by microbial-associated nutrient mineralization. Additionally, I quantified soil property and corn responses to different application ratios of fresh and weathered dredged sediments in a greenhouse experiment and determined applications of dredged sediments calculated based on the nutrient recovery ratio are not sufficient to provide benefits to agricultural soils. However, in 100% applications, weathered dredged sediments were more beneficial to corn growth than agricultural soils, while fresh dredged sediments proved detrimental to corn growth. (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Megan Rúa Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Silvia Newell Ph.D. (Committee Member); Louise Stevenson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Katie Hossler Ph.D. (Committee Member); Zheng Xu Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2020, Environmental Studies (Voinovich)

Forest ecosystems across Madagascar have become increasingly fragmented due to human activities, including ever-expanding surface modifications associated with agriculture. Additional anthropogenic influences such as the introduction of exotic and domestic species, persecution, and hunting have been observed to directly influence occupancy and encounter rates of endemic euplerid carnivores. Combined anthropogenic disturbances have documented impacts upon the distribution, reproduction and survival of a range of species, and human encroachment upon natural areas further increases the potential for human-wildlife conflict. Carnivorans can be particularly sensitive to anthropogenic effects when they exhibit large home ranges, low population density, long generation time/low recruitment, and/or specialized dietary habits. Currently the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified each of the ten extant Madagascan carnivoran species as either vulnerable or endangered, with a declining population trend across the family. Quantifying behavioral responses, such as habitat occupancy, in response to anthropogenic disturbances can contribute to developing cogent management plans involving endemic carnivoran populations, but requires data in relation to habitat requirements and understanding of how different species respond to alterations of habitat. This study offers novel evidence regarding habitat associations and pattern of response to human habitat alteration in Cryptoprocta ferox and Eupleres major, the two native carnivores occupying the largest protected seasonal dry forest in northern Madagascar, Ankarafantsika National Park (ANP).

Committee: Nancy Stevens (Committee Chair); Viorel Popescu (Committee Member); Donald Miles (Committee Member) Subjects: Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2019, Environmental Science

Quantifying and understanding the variability in vegetation gross primary production can help us understand vegetation's response to climate change and predict the climate system. This thesis first compares the performance of newly developed vegetation index—Near-infrared Reflectance of Vegetation (hereafter, NIRV)—with two traditional vegetation indices (hereafter, VIs) based on eddy covariance flux tower. It turns out that NIRV performs poorly in capturing growing season length but may be good at tracking vegetation productivity at the annual scale. Next, parametric and non-parametric regression models are developed for estimating annually integrated GPP (hereafter, AIGPP). Results show that random forest models achieve lower out-of-sample error based on cross-validation. The optimal random forest model is applied to characterize the decadal changes of AIGPP in Alaska, where 6.17% of the area showed significant greening while 2.10% of the area showed significant browning at the 95% confidence level. Trend analysis has also been conducted for vegetation traits—growing season length (hereafter, GSL) and peak value (hereafter, Peak). Peak shows similar trend patterns with AIGPP, while GSL shows limited significant trends in Alaska, which contrasts with previous studies and calls for further study. These findings suggest that physiological changes of vegetation may dominant the AIGPP changes in Alaska during 2003-2014.

Committee: Desheng Liu (Advisor); Gil Bohrer (Committee Member); Bryan Mark (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science, Ashland University, 2019, Mathematics/Computer Science

Mathematicians are actively trying to quantify many aspects of one of Americas favorite pastimes, sports, through various types of analysis. In this project, we will be answering the question, "How does early season winning percentage affect final regular season winning percentage?" focusing on theoretical probability. This question is an example of a conditional probability, the probability that an event occurs given another event occurs. We break down our general question into three different cases. First, we look at the case of a team having a constant probability of winning each game. Then we look at the case of a team having two different probabilities of winning each game, one for its first part of the season and one for its second part. Finally, we look at our most general case of a team having a different probability of winning each game. While these results can be generally applied to any sport and any league, after exploring our question with theoretical probabilities, we compare our theoretical results to statistics from the 1978 to 2017 seasons of the NFL.

Committee: Christopher Swanson PhD (Advisor); Gordon Swain PhD (Other) Subjects: Applied Mathematics; Mathematics; Statistics

Master of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 2018, Public Health

Influenza A viruses (IAV; family Orthomyxoviridae) impact species across a wide range of taxa and frequently cross the species barrier. The reassortment potential and ever evolving genome add to reasons for the constant and looming threats of novel IAV introduction. Wild aquatic birds, primarily ducks and shorebirds, are known to be the reservoir for IAV and therefore serve an important role in the dynamics of IAV ecology. Understanding the dynamics of IAV in wild aquatic birds bolsters our ability to define characteristics that intensify risk of spillover into humans or domestic livestock. Phylogenetic analysis has revealed that all past human influenza pandemic viruses have contained viral genetic components that originated from avian sources, citing the real threat of novel IAV introduction. Extensive surveillance efforts of IAV in wild birds since the discovery of the reservoir in 1976 have revealed insights into the epidemiological trends that characterize IAV ecology. Research networks and public IAV databases have improved data sharing efforts and supported new findings. However, few studies have attempted to take a multi-decade, continental-scale approach to understand big-picture trends in IAV ecology. This study aggregates 40 years of North American IAV surveillance data in waterfowl aimed at elucidating the spatial and seasonal trends that characterize subtype diversity. Between 1976-2015, IAV was detected in samples from 8,427 of 77,969 (10.8%) waterfowl migrating throughout the Central and Mississippi Migratory Flyways. A total of 96 hemagglutinin (HA)/neuraminidase (NA) subtype combinations were isolated, detecting most HA (H1-H14) and all 9 NA subtypes. Our large-scale perspective supports an annual cyclical dominance of subtypes and progressively increased subtype diversity during southbound migration. IAV isolates recovered during winter were of a diverse profile of HA subtypes and had the highest proportion of mixed infections compared to other sea (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Andrew Bowman MS, DVM, PhD Diplomate ACVPM (Advisor); Pomeroy Laura PhD (Committee Member); Flint Mark BVSc, BSc(Hons), MApplSc, MPhil, PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Public Health

Bachelor of Arts, University of Toledo, 2018, English

Tayeb Salih's novel Season of Migration to the North, published shortly after Sudanese independence from colonial rule, is in itself a practice in resistance. Salih subverts the European narrative, and instead replaces it with the experience of his protagonist MustafaSa'eed. Through this novel, Salih combats the British literary and social tradition of the"germ" of infection that is transmitted to the British body politic through the brown body of the formerly colonized subject. ! propose that Salih's novel demonstrates that for all of England's germaphobic and paranoid ideas directed toward the brown body, England's conquest of Sudan is the true source of evil and infection in the novel. Rather than perpetuating the myth of the colonizing mission as the benevolent enterprise that the British often uphold, Salih underscores that colonialism and the conquest of Sudan is the origin of the plague that both the postcolonial body and postcolonial society must struggle to come to terms with, even "post-independence." The motif of the "germ" is constantly repeated by the British in the text. However, Mustafa, appropriates this terminology, and in doing so, points to a source-hood for his actions as the first Sudanese to ever set foot in England-- that source-hood being the British empire and the colonial mission. This infection manifests itself on both the mental plane, through education and the monopolizing of culture, as well as the physical plane, through ideas of sexuality and miscegenation. Other postcolonial scholars tend to read Salih's novel as a letter to the empire, focusing entirely on Mustafa's actions in the post-colonial context. I, however, intend to look at the ways in which the disease of colonialism was intended to erase any possibility of the post-colonial, and the ways in which the novel itself grapples with the notion of anything surviving post contamination

Committee: Melissa Gregory (Committee Chair); Parama Sarkar (Advisor) Subjects: African Literature; Language Arts; Literature; Middle Eastern Literature

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2017, Geography

The goal of this study was to examine environmental change at Lake Nakuru National Park (LNNP) and surrounds in the Central Rift Valley region of Kenya. The study was conducted using multi-temporal Landsat TM/OLI data for the period 1987 – 2016. The three objectives associated with this goal were to (1) Identify the most effective techniques for mapping detailed vegetation types in the study area, (2) Map land use/land cover (LULC) changes, and (3) Identify variables that can explain observed LULC in the area. The Random Forest classifier resulted in a LULC map with the highest classification accuracy (85.5%) when Landsat bands were combined with a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and slope. The largest LULC changes observed outside LNNP involved the conversion of grassland to agriculture and occurred throughout the study area. The other major change occurred in the southwestern, northern and northeastern edges of the study area and involved conversion of forest to agriculture. Within the boundary of the LNNP, the major LULC change observed was 51% increase in area covered by lake water that resulted in the destruction of shoreline vegetation types and infrastructure. There was also a complete destruction of Euphorbia forest following a fire, and an overall decline in Acacia Woodlands. These changes are likely negatively impacting the quality of wildlife habitat in LNNP and threatening continued survival of wildlife species and habitats.

Committee: John Maingi Dr. (Advisor); Mary Henry Dr. (Committee Member); Jonathan Levy Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography

Master of Science, Miami University, 2015, Sport Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore interscholastic coaches' and athletes' perceptions of attendance-expectancy for scheduled off-season activities for athletes competing on male and female basketball teams, as well as how those expectations were related to their views of specialization in high school sports and athlete perception of burnout. Additionally, this study examined the level of congruency between coach and athlete perceptions regarding attendance expectations for team off-season activities, and compared these perceptions and their corresponding implications to recommendations for optimized talent development by Cote's Developmental Model of Sport Participation (Cote, Lidor, & Hackfort, 2009). Participants were separated into coach and athlete groups and completed a detailed measure of their perceptions of activity attendance during the eight-month off-season. Results indicated that coaches were likely to report off-season activities as more voluntary than the athlete participants, illuminating the incongruent nature of off-season activity perceptions between these two groups

Committee: Melissa Chase Dr. (Advisor); Thelma Horn Dr. (Committee Member); Robin Vealey Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Kinesiology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2010, Food Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Leading Dutch researchers reported significant benefits to closed greenhouse systems. Ooteghem (2007) simulation studies of optimal control in a closed greenhouse environment predicted 52% heating fuel saving and 39% increase of tomato crop yield using a heat recovery system whose major components included heat pumps, heat exchangers and aquifers. Opdam et al. (2005) reported 19% primary energy saving, 22% yield increase, 80% chemical reduction, and 50% irrigation water saving for tomato production in a closed greenhouse. Although the Dutch researchers successfully demonstrate year-round operation of closed greenhouses, their success benefited from the mild weather and availability of aquifers, not always the case for other geographical regions. Results of this study using Ohio conditions estimated that 90% and 92% of CO2 loss through cooling and dehumidification ventilations when an elevated CO2 level of 800 ppm must be maintained. This study also found that for Wooster, Ohio to achieve economical year-round closure, due to the larger weather variation and lack of accessibility to aquifers, a better economical return would be expected with semi-closed designs that allow the greenhouse to vent when the heat load is approaching a certain percent of peak levels. For example, a 50% peak load design can meet the cooling and dehumidification needs of a closed greenhouse for 92% and 90% of the year, respectively. Also determined in this study was the amount of heat which can be recovered with thermal storage. Potential recoverable heat of a closed greenhouse at Wooster, Ohio can contribute up to 23%, 25% and 98% of total heating needs of the year, 2006, with 1-day, 2-day and year-round thermal storage capacities, respectively. The models used for the above analyses were evaluated using data collected in a greenhouse located at Wooster, OH. Convection and infiltration heat loss prediction were validated during cloudy and clear sky nights. The results gave prediction disagr (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Peter P. Ling PhD (Advisor); Harold M. Keener PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Agricultural Engineering; Engineering

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2010, Environmental and Plant Biology (Arts and Sciences)

Soil microorganisms play a vital role in the functioning of deciduous forested ecosystems. Though it is known that these organisms are important mediators of ecosystem functioning (e.g., decomposition), the seasonal and spatial factors that regulate the composition and function of the microbial community are not well understood. In order to determine the seasonal and spatial influences on nutrient availability and soil microbial community dynamics, I set up an observational study in a 42 km2 area in the mixed-mesophytic forest region of southeastern Ohio. Thirty-six plots were set up in six regions and were sampled on three dates in the winter and summer of 2009. I found both season and plot aspect to be major influences on soil fertility as well as the composition and function of the microbial community. Soil acidity and parameters relating with soil pH were found to be the main drivers of microbial composition with the exception of plots with southwest exposure. Results indicate that seasonal and spatial dynamics of soils must be considered in order to fully understand the temperate forested ecosystem.

Committee: Jared DeForest PhD (Advisor); Brian McCarthy PhD (Committee Member); Morgan Vis PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biogeochemistry; Environmental Science; Soil Sciences

Master of Science, Miami University, 2012, Zoology

As global demands increase for food, livestock, and biofuels, agricultural intensification could further increase the conversion of natural and semi-natural habitats into production. This intensification severely impacts natural plants and crops that rely entirely on pollination and pest control for fruit and seed production. I studied the species richness and composition of insect pollinators and natural enemies in 10 warm-season conservation grasslands. In Chapter 1, I tested richness, species composition, and trait composition (function­al diversity) of pollinating bees and predatory beetles against patch area and vegetative composition as well as landscape variables based on surrounding land use and cover. In Chapter 2, I tested richness, species composition, and functional diversity of predatory and parasitoid species against patch and landscape variables. Overall, patch-level processes regulated species richness and composition of pollinators, whereas the surrounding landscape context was more important in the species richness, composition, and functional diversity of predatory and parasitoid insects.

Committee: Thomas Crist O (Advisor); Ann Rypstra L (Committee Member); Hank Stevens H (Committee Member) Subjects: Agriculture; Conservation; Ecology

Master of Science in Sport Studies, Miami University, 2004, Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency with which collegiate athletes use the five different types of imagery during their off-season. Three versions of the SIQ were used: 1) General in season; 2) Off-season while cross-training; 3) Off-season while doing sport specific skills. One-hundred sixty six male and female Div. I collegiate athletes from a range of sports completed the three questionnaires in one session during their off-season. The main comparison in the study was between individual versus team sport athletes over the three measures of the SIQ (2x3 repeated measures MANOVA) with additional analyses performed on gender and imagery instruction. Results from the study found a main effect for both sport type and time but found no interaction between the two. Results found for gender differences were equivocal. In addition, those previously instructed in imagery used four of the five types of imagery significantly more than those not previously instructed.

Committee: Robert Weinberg (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology, General

Master of Science, Miami University, 2003, Zoology

Several investigators have documented a negative density-area relationship (i.e. higher population densities in smaller fragments) for Peromyscus leucopus (the white-footed mouse). The purpose of this thesis is to investigate if high densities of P. leucopus are consistent among seasons and if higher densities may be due to greater reproduction, as a result of higher food availability, in small than large fragments. Observations of nest box use suggest that relative density and reproduction in small and large fragments differ among seasons. Higher densities in small than large fragments were only documented during the fall season. Observations of foraging patch use combined with reproductive data suggest that greater food availability in the edge may allow greater reproduction and thus contribute to higher densities in small fragments. Dense edge vegetation may be the primary contributor to greater food availability, although there is some evidence that there may be fewer competitors in small fragments.

Committee: Douglas Meikle (Advisor) Subjects:

Masters in Education, Marietta College, 2007, Education

Coaches are always looking for ways to improve their athletes' performance and win more games. Possibly the greatest factor to a team is the strength and conditioning aspect of gaining an upper hand on the opponent. In 2005, the Marietta College Football team switched from the “wave cycle” to The Stiggens Computerized Strength Training Program. This study was designed to investigate the differences in strength gains throughout the process of weight lifting between the two programs. In this research, the researcher looked at several outcomes. Data from squat, bench and power clean will be used to determine the value of the two programs. The statistical tests that were administered were paired-sample t tests and a descriptive analysis. The researcher has analyzed the change in score for the power clean, squat and bench press exercises examining the changes from the “wave cycle” to The Stiggens Computerized Strength Training Program. The two programs have been evaluated by comparing the strength increased for the athletes in the two programs.

Committee: Cathy Skouzes (Advisor) Subjects: Education, General

Master of Arts in Education, Defiance College, 2005, Education

Seven male college basketball players enrolled in a rural, faith-based institution located in Northwest Ohio participated in this project. All experienced the two off-season strength and conditioning programs in the summers of 2003 and 2004. The purpose of the study was to determine the benefits of a modified, structured off-season weightlifting and conditioning regimen within a Division III men's college basketball program. There were increases in body weight and performance in the bench press exercise from the modified strength and conditioning program completed in summer of2004

Committee: Tim Rickabaugh (Advisor); Suzanne McFarland (Committee Member) Subjects: Physical Education; Sports Medicine

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2007, French

Entering young adulthood, the 19th century French poet Arthur Rimbaud permanently abandoned his literary gifts. He never explained why. His enigma is heightened by its polarities: the preeminent poet in zealous pursuit of his art transformed into a man of science and industry, limiting his written expression to flat and stunted phrases. The thesis aimed to explain this phenomenon. The study relied heavily on biographical material and used Rimbaud's literary works primarily in their autobiographical capacity. Abraham H. Maslow's classifications of human motivation provided the appropriate psychological context, functioning as touchstones throughout the thesis. Analysis determined that Rimbaud's psyche gave priority to achieving self-transcendence and poetry needed to function within the path chosen to satisfy this need. His final philosophy of materialism and objectivism proved unforgiving to the subjective ambiguities of art. In addition, he angrily blamed the artistic mindset for years of substance abuse and public scandal.

Committee: Robert Berg (Advisor) Subjects:

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2013, Environment and Natural Resources

Northern bobwhites are a popular upland game bird species with economic and social importance. Despite nearly a century of research, population declines continue at state and national scales. Precipitous population declines and range-contractions in the Midwest have been caused by land-use changes and suppression of natural disturbance regimes. Reproduction that meets or exceeds annual mortality is essential to sustain viable populations and poor reproductive success is also implicated in declines of grassland bird populations. This study fills an information gap in knowledge of spring dispersal, breeding ecology and behavior, and breeding vital rates of Midwestern bobwhites near the northern limit of their range. It is unclear if recovery of Midwestern bobwhite populations is limited by spring dispersal capabilities and/or breeding vital rates. Radio-telemetry was used to investigate breeding vital rates during 2010 and 2011 on 4 private-lands study sites in southwest Ohio. Bobwhites were outfitted with radio-transmitters with an 8-hr mortality sensor and tracked daily with homing to within ≤20m. Spring dispersal and breeding season vital rates were evaluated and compared to other bobwhite populations to identify potential population-limiting factors associated with spring dispersal and reproduction. Vital rates that met or exceeded range-wide means included spring dispersal distance (1.54 km), nesting effort (re-nest = 26%, double clutch = 65%), male incubation (43% of nests), clutch size (14.4 eggs), egg success (96.9%), and nesting phenology. The mean hatch date for first nest attempts was 1 July, 21 July for male incubated nests, 28 July for renests, 31 July for backdated fall-juveniles, and 24 Aug for double clutches. Breeding season (Apr-Sep) survival (28%) and nest success (27.9%) were lower in southwestern Ohio compared to range-wide averages. Relatively low nest success and breeding season survival indicates that reproduction may limit population growth i (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Robert Gates PhD (Advisor); Paul Rodewald PhD (Committee Member); Elizabeth Marschall PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Animals; Ecology; Natural Resource Management; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Management