Purpose:
The xanthophyll carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are concentrated in the macula lutea of the retina. It is thought that the two plant pigments may play a role in preventing the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Exposure to damaging light plays a role in retinal deterioration and AMD. The...
After the commercial exploitation of humpback whales (Megaptera Novaeangliae) ceased, population trends in the North Pacific increased with the implementation of federal protective legislation. The recovery of the population prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to divide the population into 14 Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) based on discrete geographic...
Environmental stress can negatively affect the ability of organisms to reproduce. Energetic trade-offs exist in all organisms, and under stress, energy may be allocated away from reproduction and towards physiological defense and repair mechanisms. The rocky intertidal environment is ideal for investigating the influence of environmental stress, as organisms are...
Interface habitats are considered valuable natural systems, tightly linked to adjacent habitats through the flow of matter and energy. However, there is limited research on mechanisms of connectivity such as movement of organisms and particulate matter and ways in which anthropogenic disturbance to interface habitats may affect immediate and adjacent...
Managing riparian areas in the dry forests of the intermountain west for diverse public values can create conflict, potentially limiting social acceptance in landscape-scale restoration projects. This thesis examined accelerated landscape-scale restoration as part of a broader shift toward ecosystem management on national forestland, which incorporates social values into forest...