Honors Theses
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/239647
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Item Open Access Influence of pre-fire beetle kill on post-fire hairy woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) abundance in the Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Jones, Lilly N., author; McTigue, Leah, advisor; Kanatous, Shane, adviosrIncreasing wildfire frequency and severity in the western United States, combined with widespread bark beetle outbreaks, have significantly altered forest ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains. These interacting disturbances are reshaping post-fire habitats, particularly for cavity-nesting birds such as the Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus). This study aimed to assess how proximity to beetle-killed forest stands influenced Hairy Woodpecker relative abundance following the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire in the Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado. We deployed automated recording units (ARUs) at 19 sites within and around the burn perimeter during summer 2023. Recordings of bird calls were analyzed using acoustic identification software to quantify woodpecker detection. Distances to beetle-killed areas were calculated using U.S. Forest Service data and geospatial analysis. A linear regression model revealed a significant negative relationship between woodpecker abundance and distance to beetle-killed forest stands (p < 0.01), with closer proximity associated with higher abundance. These results provide valuable insight into habitat selection by cavity-nesting woodpeckers, demonstrating how forest structure shaped by beetle activity can influence post-fire wildlife use. As climate change drives more frequent and intense disturbances, it is important that forest management strategies account for the lasting impacts of compound events like beetle outbreaks and wildfire to promote wildlife resilience.Item Open Access A case study of the emergence and modern use of "alpha male"(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Grant-Hudd, Rosanna, author; Dewey, Tanya, advisor; Goldstein, Liba, advisorAlpha male is a term used in both animal societies and human popular culture today. Defined as the "dominant male", this term is misunderstood often, mostly in human society. This paper aims to trace the history of the alpha male concept and distinguish its origin in animal research on social hierarchies, explore the current impacts of this term on human society, and identify three key factors that led to this term being misused by popular culture in modern-day society. By exploring its history and current use, this paper suggests that uncareful language, misogyny in the scientific community, and the popularization of scientific terminology in nonscientific landscapes are the key contributors to the current misunderstanding of the alpha male. Identifying these major factors provides a basis for future actions, such as increasing diversity on research teams and peer reviewing the diction of scientific literature.Item Open Access Identifying priority sites for mosquito control to protect Maui's endemic forest birds(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Gulnac, Keana M., authorInfectious disease is a major emerging cause of species decline as rising global temperatures drive mosquito vectors into cooler, higher elevation habitats that were previously disease-free. The effects of these range shifts are particularly concerning for endemic forest birds on the island of Maui, Hawai'i, where seldom habitat remains at these altitudes. Fortunately, preliminary applications of BTi larvicide have been successful in killing mosquito larvae within treatment areas, and plans to continue application along with other forms of mosquito control are being implemented. Due to the novelty of its use in conservation, this study identifies the suitability of sites for the aerial application of BTi to control mosquito populations and reduce the transmission of avian malaria among Maui's endemic forest birds. Spatial data on mosquito larval densities, bird populations, and environmental conditions are analyzed to create predictions of where BTi aerial application might be most effective, with areas managed by The Nature Conservancy and the federal and state government scoring particularly high in suitability. The findings of this study are intended for academic purposes and must be reviewed by experts in the field if used to inform management decisions.