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Analyzing Niche Stability in Late Ordovician Articulated Brachiopod Species during the Richmondian Invasion

Malizia, Richard Walter

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Geological Sciences (Arts and Sciences).
In this study, the relative niche stability of Late Ordovician articulate brachiopod species from the Cincinnati Arch were analyzed before, during, and after an immigration of extra-basinal taxa into the Cincinnati, OH region, known as the Richmondian Invasion. The primary hypothesis investigated with this project is whether species preserve (niche conservation) or alter (niche evolution) the parameters of their ecological niche during intervals of biotic (invasive regime) vs. abiotic change (gradual environmental change). Ecological niche modeling (ENM), which is a process that utilizes computer-based algorithms to mathematically estimate a species ecological niche was employed to test this hypothesis. Additionally, the efficacy of the ENM program Maxent for use with fossil data was tested against a well established ENM method (GARP). Results indicate that during intervals of gradual change, species conserve the parameters of their ecological niches to higher degrees than during intervals of ecological rapid biotic change, when niche evolution is common.
Alycia Stigall (Advisor)
Douglas Green (Committee Member)
Elizabeth Gierlowski-Kordesch (Committee Member)
258 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Malizia, R. W. (2011). Analyzing Niche Stability in Late Ordovician Articulated Brachiopod Species during the Richmondian Invasion [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1305225406

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Malizia, Richard. Analyzing Niche Stability in Late Ordovician Articulated Brachiopod Species during the Richmondian Invasion. 2011. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1305225406.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Malizia, Richard. "Analyzing Niche Stability in Late Ordovician Articulated Brachiopod Species during the Richmondian Invasion." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1305225406

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)