Ellen O. Aikens, PhD (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 45
Fish biodiversity sampling in stream ecosystems: a process for evaluating the appropriate types and amount of gear Fish biodiversity sampling in stream ecosystems: a process for evaluating the appropriate types and amount of gear
Because human impacts and climate change threaten aquatic ecosystems, a need exists to quantify catchment-scale biodiversity patterns and identify conservation actions that can mitigate adverse human impacts on aquatic biota. Whereas many traditional aquatic resource questions can be answered by repeatedly sampling a few target species with limited types of gear in the same habitats...
Authors
Joseph M. Smith, Sarah P. Wells, Martha E. Mather, Robert M. Muth
The roles of large top predators in coastal ecosystems: new insights from long term ecological research The roles of large top predators in coastal ecosystems: new insights from long term ecological research
During recent human history, human activities such as overhunting and habitat destruction have severely impacted many large top predator populations around the world. Studies from a variety of ecosystems show that loss or diminishment of top predator populations can have serious consequences for population and community dynamics and ecosystem stability. However, there are relatively few...
Authors
Adam E. Rosenblatt, Michael R. Heithaus, Martha E. Mather, Philip Matich, James C. Nifong, William J. Ripple, Brian R. Silliman
Beaver dams maintain fish biodiversity by increasing habitat heterogeneity throughout a low-gradient stream network Beaver dams maintain fish biodiversity by increasing habitat heterogeneity throughout a low-gradient stream network
Understanding the relationship between heterogeneity and biodiversity is an active focus of ecological research. Although habitat heterogeneity is conceptually linked to biodiversity, the amount and configuration of heterogeneity that maintains biodiversity within ecosystems is not well understood, especially for an entire stream network. Here, we tested alternative outcomes about how...
Authors
Joseph M. Smith, Martha E. Mather
What happens in an estuary doesn't stay there: patterns of biotic connectivity resulting from long term ecological research What happens in an estuary doesn't stay there: patterns of biotic connectivity resulting from long term ecological research
The paucity of data on migratory connections and an incomplete understanding of how mobile organisms use geographically separate areas have been obstacles to understanding coastal dynamics. Research on acoustically tagged striped bass (Morone saxatilis) at the Plum Island Ecosystems (PIE) Long Term Ecological Research site, Massachusetts, documents intriguing patterns of biotic...
Authors
Martha E. Mather, John T. Finn, Christina G. Kennedy, Linda A. Deegan, Joseph M. Smith
Spatial and temporal diet patterns of subadult and small adult striped bass in Massachusetts estuaries: Data, a synthesis, and trends across scales Spatial and temporal diet patterns of subadult and small adult striped bass in Massachusetts estuaries: Data, a synthesis, and trends across scales
Subadult and small adult (375–475 mm total length) striped bass Morone saxatilis are abundant and represent an important component of the recovered U.S. Atlantic coast stocks. However, little is known about these large aggregations of striped bass during their annual foraging migrations to New England. A quantitative understanding of trends in the diets of subadult and small adult...
Authors
K.H. Ferry, Martha E. Mather
Using assemblage data in ecological indicators: A comparison and evaluation of commonly available statistical tools Using assemblage data in ecological indicators: A comparison and evaluation of commonly available statistical tools
Ecological indicators are science-based tools used to assess how human activities have impacted environmental resources. For monitoring and environmental assessment, existing species assemblage data can be used to make these comparisons through time or across sites. An impediment to using assemblage data, however, is that these data are complex and need to be simplified in an...
Authors
Joseph M. Smith, Martha E. Mather
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 45
Fish biodiversity sampling in stream ecosystems: a process for evaluating the appropriate types and amount of gear Fish biodiversity sampling in stream ecosystems: a process for evaluating the appropriate types and amount of gear
Because human impacts and climate change threaten aquatic ecosystems, a need exists to quantify catchment-scale biodiversity patterns and identify conservation actions that can mitigate adverse human impacts on aquatic biota. Whereas many traditional aquatic resource questions can be answered by repeatedly sampling a few target species with limited types of gear in the same habitats...
Authors
Joseph M. Smith, Sarah P. Wells, Martha E. Mather, Robert M. Muth
The roles of large top predators in coastal ecosystems: new insights from long term ecological research The roles of large top predators in coastal ecosystems: new insights from long term ecological research
During recent human history, human activities such as overhunting and habitat destruction have severely impacted many large top predator populations around the world. Studies from a variety of ecosystems show that loss or diminishment of top predator populations can have serious consequences for population and community dynamics and ecosystem stability. However, there are relatively few...
Authors
Adam E. Rosenblatt, Michael R. Heithaus, Martha E. Mather, Philip Matich, James C. Nifong, William J. Ripple, Brian R. Silliman
Beaver dams maintain fish biodiversity by increasing habitat heterogeneity throughout a low-gradient stream network Beaver dams maintain fish biodiversity by increasing habitat heterogeneity throughout a low-gradient stream network
Understanding the relationship between heterogeneity and biodiversity is an active focus of ecological research. Although habitat heterogeneity is conceptually linked to biodiversity, the amount and configuration of heterogeneity that maintains biodiversity within ecosystems is not well understood, especially for an entire stream network. Here, we tested alternative outcomes about how...
Authors
Joseph M. Smith, Martha E. Mather
What happens in an estuary doesn't stay there: patterns of biotic connectivity resulting from long term ecological research What happens in an estuary doesn't stay there: patterns of biotic connectivity resulting from long term ecological research
The paucity of data on migratory connections and an incomplete understanding of how mobile organisms use geographically separate areas have been obstacles to understanding coastal dynamics. Research on acoustically tagged striped bass (Morone saxatilis) at the Plum Island Ecosystems (PIE) Long Term Ecological Research site, Massachusetts, documents intriguing patterns of biotic...
Authors
Martha E. Mather, John T. Finn, Christina G. Kennedy, Linda A. Deegan, Joseph M. Smith
Spatial and temporal diet patterns of subadult and small adult striped bass in Massachusetts estuaries: Data, a synthesis, and trends across scales Spatial and temporal diet patterns of subadult and small adult striped bass in Massachusetts estuaries: Data, a synthesis, and trends across scales
Subadult and small adult (375–475 mm total length) striped bass Morone saxatilis are abundant and represent an important component of the recovered U.S. Atlantic coast stocks. However, little is known about these large aggregations of striped bass during their annual foraging migrations to New England. A quantitative understanding of trends in the diets of subadult and small adult...
Authors
K.H. Ferry, Martha E. Mather
Using assemblage data in ecological indicators: A comparison and evaluation of commonly available statistical tools Using assemblage data in ecological indicators: A comparison and evaluation of commonly available statistical tools
Ecological indicators are science-based tools used to assess how human activities have impacted environmental resources. For monitoring and environmental assessment, existing species assemblage data can be used to make these comparisons through time or across sites. An impediment to using assemblage data, however, is that these data are complex and need to be simplified in an...
Authors
Joseph M. Smith, Martha E. Mather