Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Gawlik, Dale E.
Abstract
The spread of nonnative invasive species has become the second greatest threat to global biodiversity, making management of invasive species a critical component of the conservation of biodiversity worldwide. Managers and conservation biologists often lack basic life history data, as well as quantitative and theoretical models to predict risk of invasion or other negative effects. I contribute information to both categories by providing life history information (diet and morphology) of the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) and by characterizing the invasion pathways that nonnative avian species in Florida follow. I found Purple Swamphens are predominantly eating and selecting for Eleocharis cellulosa. Additionally, there is a large amount of variation in nonnative avian species’ propensity to colonize natural habitat and the time it takes to do so. Nine out of 15 species investigated colonized natural habitat and the time it took them to do so ranged from 8 to 41 years. It is through a combination of various techniques that ecologists will begin to fully understand the importance of studying nonnative species as well as reducing the impact that nonnatives have on native ecosystems.
Extent
87 p.
Recommended Citation
Callaghan, Corey, "Diet of the Purple Swamphen in south Florida and invasion pathways of nonnative avian species in Florida" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019. 1201.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_6/1201
Identifier
FA00004433
Comments
Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.