Browsing by Subject "diversity"

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Abundance and Diversity of Small Mammals Found in Forest Habitat Compared with Prairie Habitat
(2010-03-10) Blake, Amy; Shaughnessy, Lorraine; Strelow, Desiree
Many factors can influence the biodiversity in a particular habitat. In this study, we looked at the biodiversity of small mammals in four forested habitats and four prairie habitats. We predicted that heterogeneous habitats would be more diverse, while disturbed areas would be less diverse. We set up a 5 x 10 trap-grid in each of the eight habitats, using a combination of Sherman, Russian, and Longworth traps. We checked traps in the forest habitats once a day for three consecutive days and traps in the prairie habitats twice a day for three consecutive days. Results indicate that biodiversity of small mammals is greater in most of the forested sites than in prairie sites. We also observed that the red-backed vole and the deer mouse were present in both forest and prairie habitat while other species found were only common in prairie or forest.
Aegilops sharonensis: Origin, genetics, diversity, and potential for wheat improvement
(Botany, 2009-08) Steffenson, Brian; Olivera, Pablo D.
Aegilops sharonensis Eig (Sharon goatgrass; section Sitopsis) is an annual diploid grass species growing endemically in the coastal plains of Israel and southern Lebanon. It is a wild relative of wheat, with a genome closely related to the B genome of cultivated bread wheat. With the most limited distribution of any species in the genus Aegilops, Ae. sharonensis is rapidly losing its habitats, owing to the combined effects of modern agricultural intensification and expansion of urban and industrial areas. Aegilops sharonensis is known to be a rich source of genes providing resistance to important wheat diseases and abiotic stresses, but it has not been widely exploited. The presence of gametocidal genes that control preferential transmission of chromosome 4Ssh increases the difficulty of introgressing genes from Ae. sharonensis into wheat. However, successful introgression of the genes for resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust, and powdery mildew has been achieved. Studies on genetic and phenotypic diversity indicated that Ae. sharonensis is a highly diverse species, comparable with others that have a wider geographic distribution and more variable environments. Targeting the regions and sites with the highest diversity in Ae. sharonensis will facilitate the capture of the greatest variability and also the identification of novel and diverse genes for wheat improvement.
Analysis of Global Dynamics and Cultural Knowledge: Revealing Assets to Develop Opportunities
(University of Minnesota Extension, 2014-10) Pardello, Renee; Senese, Dick; Vreyens, John
Cross-cultural skills are needed more than ever for extension educators in many regions of the U.S., including Minnesota where Extension educators work and partner with diverse communities across the state. University of Minnesota Extension acknowledges the gap in cross-cultural skills among extension educators. To eliminate this gap, Extension is beginning a process to inventory experiences of staff for developing cross-cultural skills as a new norm for the organization. The goal of this poster is to present the inventory of the cross-cultural experience of the UM Extension staff and faculty. An internal survey conducted by the organization achieved three objectives presented in this poster: 1. Identify current expertise of Extension educators and faculty based on cross-cultural experiences; 2. Measure the use of global dynamics and cultural knowledge in extension programs; and 3. Evaluate future opportunities for integrating global dynamics understanding and cultural knowledge into all program areas. The study was the first to document the organizational assets within U of M Extension related to cross-cultural experience. The survey identified expressed needs of Extension staff to expand our global dynamics and cultural knowledge within all program areas.
Antiracist study group policies and practices
(2022) Arendale, David R
My talk had six sections: (a) the influence of campus culture on student persistence, (b) antiracism resources for peer study group programs, (c) selected definitions related to antiracism, (d) highlights from the guide for Course-based Learning Assistance, (e) sample of antiracism policies and practices, and (f) additional resources for peer study group programs. I shared this talk at one of the monthly professional development seminars for the peer study group leaders at the University of Texas at San Marcos.
Best practices to strengthen academic relationships with college students and a sense of belonging.
(2022) Arendale, David R
My talk had six sections: (a) the influence of campus culture on student persistence, (b) antiracism resources for peer study group programs, (c) selected definitions related to antiracism, (d) highlights from the guide for Course-based Learning Assistance, (e) sample of antiracism policies and practices, and (f) additional resources for peer study group programs. I shared this talk at the annual conference for the Heartland Region for College Reading and Learning Association.
Biotic Guild Diversity with Varying Stream Parameters
(2010-03-16) Rittenhouse, David; Gasteiger, Autumn; Greenfield, Morgan; Thomes, Reggie
The River Continuum Concept is a model that provides a framework for predicting many characteristics of a river or stream based off of its order. We examined three streams, the Mississippi River headwaters, a creek emerging from Mark Lake, and a iron spring that flows into Elk Lake, all with varying characteristics, but all headwaters of a streams found within Itasca State Park, MN. Physical properties of each stream were measured along with an assessment of the stream’s species richness found by looking at the richness of the biotic guilds of anuran, terrestrial invertebrates, benthic invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, emergent vegetation, and riparian vegetation. We found the Mississippi headwaters to have the highest species richness in all guilds but riparian vegetation, leading us to believe it to be a middle-order stream based of the characteristics described in the River Continuum Concept.
Charge to System-wide Academic Task Force on Diversity
(University of Minnesota: Office of the Provost, 2005-09-15) Jones, Robert J.; Sullivan, E. Thomas
Letter and supporting documents comprising the charge to the System-wide Academic Task Force on Diversity.
CO2, nitrogen, and diversity differentially affect seed production of prairie plants
(2009) Hillerislambers, J; Harpole, W S; Schnitzer, S; Tilman, D; Reich, Peter B
Plant species composition and diversity is often influenced by early life history stages; thus, global change could dramatically affect plant community structure by altering seed production. Unfortunately, plant reproductive responses to global change are rarely studied in field settings, making it difficult to assess this possibility. To address this issue, we quantified the effects of elevated CO2, nitrogen deposition, and declining diversity on inflorescence production and inflorescence mass of 11 perennial grassland species in central Minnesota, USA. We analyzed these data to ask whether (1) global change differentially affects seed production of co-occurring species; (2) seed production responses to global change are similar for species within the same functional group (defined by ecophysiology and growth form); and (3) seed production responses to global change match productivity responses. We found that, on average, allocation to seed production decreased under elevated CO2, although individual species responses were rarely significant due to low power (CO2 treatment df = 2). The effects of nitrogen deposition on seed production were similar within functional groups: C4 grasses tended to increase while C3 grasses tended to decrease allocation to seed production. Responses to nitrogen deposition were negatively correlated to productivity responses, suggesting a trade-off. Allocation to seed production of some species responded to a diversity gradient, but responses were uncorrelated to productivity responses and not similar within functional groups. Presumably, species richness has complex effects on the biotic and abiotic variables that influence seed production. In total, our results suggest that seed production of co-occurring species will be altered by global change, which may affect plant communities in unpredictable ways. Although functional groups could be used to generalize seed production responses to nitrogen deposition in Minnesota prairies, we caution against relying on them for predictive purposes without a mechanistic understanding of how resource availability and biotic interactions affect seed production.
A comparative study of the invertebrate community and its longitudinal diversity
(2012-03-05) Benson, Madeline; Kempnich, Michael; Meyers, Paul; Parikh, Sanat
Inputs into riverine ecosystems are highly variable with respect to longitudinal location within the system. These inputs help to shape the animal community within the river or stream, and have been hypothesized to be correlated with invertebrate diversity and community composition (Rosi-Marshall and Wallace 2002). In order to test this relationship, we sampled the benthic invertebrate community from three reaches of the Mississippi River near and within Itasca State Park, Minnesota. These samples were used to quantify invertebrate diversity and functional feeding group types (FFG). Significant differences were found between the community composition of each site with the Headwaters site showing the highest levels of invertebrates which feed upon allochthonous material, and the Downstream site showing the highest amount of invertebrates which feed upon autochthonous material (p=1.84*10-12). The Headwaters site also demonstrated the highest levels of community diversity, due to the myriad of niches created by varying river conditions. The results of this study suggest that the invertebrate community composition is dependent on the primary inputs into the system, whether from allochthonous or autochthonous sources.
Comparison of Diversity of Small Mammals In and Around Itasca State Park Inside Forested and Prairie Areas
(2010-03-10) Kraft, Tanner
In a series of three trap nights, we collected data from trapped small mammals in a group of eight separate grids in stands of pine, aspen, bog, oak savannah, and burned prairie. The purpose of these trappings was to determine the abundance and diversity of small mammals in each of the eight trapping stations, and then compare these data to determine which, if any, are the more diverse areas in and around Itasca State Park. Many factors could be at play with the distribution and diversity of these small mammals, including edge effect, differential trappability, and most notably, habitat. The main data I used to compare diversity were number of species, total number of mammals, and recapture percentage.
Comparison of species diversity of small mammals in forest and prairie habitats
(2010-03-10) Kurpiewski, Andrew; Marklevits, Katrina; Treiber, Erin
This study was conducted to compare the small mammal species diversity within forest and prairie habitats. Data were collected over three days at each habitat and at four separate grid locations within those habitats. Overall, eight different species were found with Peromyscus spp. being the most abundant in the forest habitat and Spermophilus tridecemlineatus the most abundant in the prairie habitat. Seven distinct species were found in the forest habitat, whereas five distinct species were found in the prairie habitat. The data were not sufficient to conclude that the forest habitat had greater species diversity and amount of captured small mammals than the prairie habitat.
Creative Contributions to Sustainable Fashion Through Racial and Geographic Diversity
(2022-06) Tomfohrde, Paige
The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest environmental polluters (Ellen MacArthur, 2017). With the climate crisis looming, creative solutions are needed to address this pollution. The industry continues to ideate creative solutions within the same insular, homogenous group (von Busch, 2018; Barber, 2021), but this does not reflect the findings of creativity literature. Homogeneity is the enemy of creativity. Diverse groups bring varied “toolboxes” of experiences and ideas that result in the most creative solutions (Page, 2007). Unfortunately, diversity in the fashion industry is an ongoing problem, with 50% of racial minorities in the fashion industry feeling the industry is not accessible to everyone equally (Council of Fashion Designers of America & PVH, 2021). Racial diversity remains an ongoing issue (Johnson, 2020; Hoskins, 2014), especially in sustainable fashion where the creative impact of diverse lived experiences is most needed. Simultaneously, racial minorities face the brunt of the consequences of the climate crisis globally (Mohai, 2018). Within the United States, harmful practices like redling have geographically segregated minorities into specific zones with poor environmental conditions (Bay & Fabian, 2015). While this causes significant harm to these communities, it also makes these individuals more personally acquainted with the climate crisis. In conjunction with Environmental Deprivation Theory, this may help these individuals produce knowledge and creative solutions that differ from non-minorities or individuals in better environmental conditions. The aim of this thesis is to address this issue head on by understanding how racially and geographically diverse voices creatively contribute to the sustainable fashion conversation. This research uses Amabile’s Componential Theory of Creativity (1983; 2012) and Butler and Francis’s Socially Responsible Consumption Behavior model (1997) to address this aim through mixed methods. The four components of Amabile’s theory are: Creativity Relevant Processes, Task Motivation, Domain Relevant Skills, and Social Environment (2012). These four elements were paired with the four elements of Butler and Francis’s model: Exogenous Stimuli, Environmental Attitude, Apparel Environmental Attitude, and Behavior. Crossover was found between Task Motivation and Apparel Environmental Attitude that allowed the two models to be merged with the hypothesized resulting behavior being Apparel Environmental Creativity.This joint model resulted in four research objectives and three hypotheses. The research objectives were: 1. To understand how racially and geographically diverse voices creatively contribute to the sustainable fashion conversation.2. To determine if behaviors that do not relate to purchase or consumption can be correlated with apparel environmental attitudes. 3. To develop a tentative model for the incorporation of Socially Responsible Consumption Behavior and the Componential Theory of Creativity. 4. To challenge existing siloed research paradigms in order to center and uplift geographically and racially marginalized voices, in keeping with the advocacy and participatory research worldview. Three hypotheses were developed as a quantitative extension of these research objectives: H1: Exogenous stimuli, as measured by a) the Environmental Condition of the ZIP code of an individual’s residence and b) the individuals’s minority race identification, will positively influence that individual’s general Environmental Attitude.H2: Environmental Attitude, as measured by Environmental Stewardship and Environmental Dominion (r), will positively influence Task Motivation, as measured by Apparel Environmental Attitude. H3: Creativity score on a Sustainable Fashion Creativity test will be positively influenced by a) Creativity Relevant Processes, as measured by DAT score, b), Task Motivation as measured by Apparel Environmental Attitude, and c) Domain Relevant Skills as measured by Apparel Eco Knowledge. Two studies were designed and conducted to address these objectives and hypotheses. In the first 118 participants were recruited from Prolific, an online survey platform, to develop creative solutions to two of four fashion sustainability case studies. In Study 2, 93 professional or academic experts were recruited to judge these solutions in conjunction with the Consensual Assessment Technique (Amabile, 1982). Data was analyzed through path modeling using PLS-SEM and thematic and inductive qualitative analyses. H2 and H3b were validated and partially validated, respectively. Quantitative results indicated that scores for creative ideation for fashion sustainability were statistically similar regardless of any identity factor, including race or geographic location. Qualitative results showed that while there was some minor evidence of the significance of geography to an individual's solution generation, it was racial diversity that mattered more. Participants created solutions that often respected or utilized elements of their racial culture. Limitations include the use of race as a social construct within a siloed research paradigm and the current imperfect state of environmental condition reporting by government agencies. Future research should look at smaller subsections of this research and test developing theories in the areas of creativity and environmental justice.
Cultural Diversity: A Case Study on Assessing the Present and Planning for the Future
(2003) Akdere, Mesut
Differences in Animal Species between Forested Habitats and Prairie Habitats
(2010-12-06) Sevdy, Kim
Understanding the type of habitats that certain species need is critical to understanding how they interact with their environments. Some species prefer prairie habitats rather than forested habitats. This could be attributed to their daily diet, where they like to live, or even how their bodies are built to move in the environment. By using the Lincoln-Peterson method, we are able to identify some of the species that prefer either the forest or the prairie. Our study began with the class dividing up into six different groups and each taking a certain habitat type. We set 55 traps at each site; 45 of those traps were Shermans, five were Longworths, and five were Russians. There were 5 lines with 10 markers in each line. Nine shermans were set in each line with one marker containing a longworth and a russian. Either a select few from the class or the entire class checked these traps in the morning for three days. Data was recorded from the different animals that were found within the traps for further analysis.
Direct and indirect effects of CO2, nitrogen, and community diversity on plant–enemy interactions
(Ecological Society of America, 2008) Lau, Jennifer A; Strengbom, Joachim; Stone, Laurie R; Reich, Peter B; Tiffin, Peter
Resource abundance and plant diversity are two predominant factors hypothesized to influence the amount of damage plants receive from natural enemies. Many impacts of these environmental variables on plant damage are likely indirect and result because both resource availability and diversity can influence plant traits associated with attractiveness to herbivores or susceptibility to pathogens. We used a long-term, manipulative field experiment to investigate how carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment, nitrogen (N) fertilization, and plant community diversity affect plant traits and the amount of herbivore and pathogen damage experienced by the common prairie legume Lespedeza capitata. We detected little evidence that CO2 or N affected plant traits; however, plants growing in high-diversity treatments (polycultures) were taller, were less pubescent, and produced thinner leaves (higher specific leaf area). Interestingly, we also detected little evidence that CO2 or N affect damage. Plants growing in polycultures compared to monocultures, however, experienced a fivefold increase in damage from generalist herbivores, 64% less damage from specialist herbivores, and 91% less damage from pathogens. Moreover, within diversity treatments, damage by generalist herbivores was negatively correlated with pubescence and often was positively correlated with plant height, while damage by specialist herbivores typically was positively correlated with pubescence and negatively associated with height. These patterns are consistent with changes in plant traits driving differences in herbivory between diversity treatments. In contrast, changes in measured plant traits did not explain the difference in disease incidence between monocultures and polycultures. In summary, our data provide little evidence that CO2 or N supply alter damage from natural enemies. By contrast, plants grown in monocultures experienced greater specialist herbivore and pathogen damage but less generalist herbivore damage than plants grown in diverse communities. Part of this diversity effect was mediated by changes in plant traits, many of which likely are plastic responses to diversity treatments, but some of which may be the result of evolutionary changes in response to these long-term experimental manipulations.
Diversifying the Brooklyn Park Police Department
(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Tian, Jingyuan; Wang, Yilei; Yazar, Yagizhan
This project was completed as part of the 2016-2017 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Brooklyn Park. The Brooklyn Park Police Department does not reflect the diversity of the community, with few officers of color, particularly African American officers. Drawing on a review of literature, an assessment of current recruitment efforts and departmental values in the Brooklyn Park Police Department, and an analysis of characteristics that define successful police candidates, students in Dr. Deniz Ones’ Staffing and Personnel Selection class identified strategies to increase officer diversity within the department. The students’ final report is available.
Diversity of small mammal communities across forest and prairie habitats in and near Itasca State Park, MN
(2010-12-01) Kalmoe, Molly
Mammal community dynamics are determined by local geography, climate, vegetation and other fauna. The state of mammal populations can also actively exert effects on the changing state of species interactions in terrestrial ecosystems (Tyliankis, et al., 2008). Understanding mammal diversity is an important step towards realizing the complexity of ecosystem ecology as well as informing wildlife managers and conservationists. In this study, we examine twelve sites in and near Itasca State Park, Minnesota to analyze the richness and species composition of each. Expecting higher diversity among prairie (rather than forest) and burned (rather than unburned) sites, we used standard small mammal trapping techniques, to survey each site for three consecutive nights, then identified, marked and released all captured mammals. A higher number of small mammals were trapped in forest sites, but the prairie grids demonstrated greater total species richness. Species diversity is distributed differently across the two site types, but both habitats produced the same mean species diversity. Most species were unique to either forest or prairie habitat, but overlap did occur with two species known to inhabit various landscapes: Blarina brevicauda and Peromyscus spp.. We conclude that habitat is a major determinant of small mammal populations in and around Itasca State Park, MN.
Diversity of small mammal communities in northern Minnesota
(2010-03-01) Sinton, Christopher J.
In examining the various communities of small mammals in the state of Minnesota, questions of the diversity of these communities and the habitat preferences of the constituent animals are often of the most concern. Such a question is the basis of this research. In an attempt to assess the impact of habitat on the diversity of small mammal communities in northern Minnesota, multiple habitats were compared and the diversity of the two sites compared.
Diversity of Small Mammals Between Itasca State Park and Agaissez Sand Dunes
(2010-03-10) Spohr, Bill
Small mammal diversity can vary over different habitats. In this study, data collected from forest and prairie sites was used to determine diversity between the two. The results show that small mammal diversity in a forest setting is greater than that of a prairie setting.
Diversity of Small Mammals in Forest and Prairie Habitats
(2010-11-30) Dunlap, Jane
The prairie habitat of North America used to span the entire center of our nation as well as southern portions of Canada. Today however, it has been reduced by more than 70% (Samson et al 2004). Tall grass prairies took the greatest loss of approximately 99.8% (Carey 2000). The major reason for this loss is European settlement initiated by the Homestead Act of 1862 which sold allotments of prairie for farming. The disturbance of this major ecosystem not only affected the actual land purchased, but it also disrupted the natural cycle of the surrounding wild prairie. Without a natural burn to return nitrogen to the soil and cut down woody growth the prairie can quickly be converted into woodland (Matlack et al 2008). This can and did affect the diversity of wildlife on the prairie, causing the depletion of original prairie inhabitants while allowing forest dwellers to survive. In this study we compared the small mammal diversity of several different forest habitats to that of the prairie. We predicted that there will be a higher diversity on the prairie sites than in the forest sites.

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