Parks, Recreation and Tourism electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Factors motivating college football fandom and attendance(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022) Norman, Daniel; Wentz, JenniferThe study about college football fandom and attendance trends at the University of Missouri is not entirely groundbreaking but is exploring an academic area still in its relative infancy. Sport fandom research has not been widely examined, particularly at the collegiate level. The researcher used a modified version of two different surveys, the Fan Identification Scale, a scale already designed to measure football fandom, as well as the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, an instrument originally designed to measure leisure participation of activities, like golf. In addition to completing questions pertaining to the two modified scales, participants answered questions about their demographic information including age, gender, education level, and marital status. A series of questions asking about experiences and time spent as a Mizzou Football fan were also included. Surveys were distributed through several Mizzou-centric Facebook groups, and the PowerMizzou online forum. The researcher collected 975 usable surveys out of 1150 total submissions from Mizzou Football fans. The information collected yielded significant results from three of the four research objectives. The objectives with significant results were to: Examine differences in attendance trends between alumni and non-alumni; Examine differences in attendance trends stemming from social connections to Mizzou; and examine the correlation between level of fan identification, leisure participation, and social identity. Recommendations for further study were conducting a mixed-methods study to understand fans' motivations more greatly beyond the limitations of closed-ended questions, as well as adding survey questions that distinguish between a participant's allegiance to the university compared to the athletic team being measured.Item Assessment and diversity of fish communities in non-wadeable tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Dunn, Corey Garland; Paukert, Craig P.As the geographical centers of riverscapes, rivers support fish populations at local and basin-wide scales. However, refinements to fish sampling protocols and theories underpinning basin-wide community ecology have been slowed by the inherent complexity and immensity of rivers. I conducted three extensive studies in non-wadeable tributaries of the lower Missouri and middle Mississippi rivers (Missouri, USA) to illuminate processes structuring riverine fish communities. In Chapter 2, I tested the efficacy of a six-gear fish community sampling protocol by repeatedly sampling nine sites in spring, summer, and fall (N = 36 surveys). I identified an efficient four-gear sub protocol that consistently detected 90% of observed species richness at sites and only required 52% of initial survey effort. In comparison, an electrofishing-only protocol detected lower percentages of fish richness, varied seasonally between summer and fall, and was nearly twice as variable. In Chapters 3 and 4, I contrasted fish communities inhabiting the Grand (10 sites, prairie region) and Meramec (12 sites, Ozark region) river systems. Chapter 3 examined tributary use by large-river specialist fishes (LRS), a guild of fishes that likely disperse into tributaries from the Missouri (Grand R.) and Mississippi (Meramec R.) rivers. I tested whether mean annual discharge consistently structured richness of LRS fishes at sites ([alpha] richness) within tributaries, and if habitat and downriver connectivity to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers explained additional variation in LRS [alpha] richness. Although species-discharge relationships were positive, discharge effect sizes varied between rivers revealing discharge did not consistently structure LRS [alpha] richness. After accounting for river-specific effects of discharge, downriver connectivity explained residual variation in LRS [alpha] richness, indicating dispersal into tributaries likely structured LRS [alpha] richness. Consequently, LRS [alpha] richness solely estimated from discharge might be underestimated in connected network branches and overestimated in isolated mainstem reaches. Chapter 4 expanded the research scope beyond LRS species to test whether regional connectivity (distance to dispersal source) or site-level habitat diversity (multivariate dispersion of nine habitat variables) explained α richness of three stream size guilds at sites: LRS species, headwater species likely sourced from [less than or equal to]3rd Strahler order streams, and core riverine fishes. In both river systems, downriver connectivity (distance upriver from mouth of mainstem river) and habitat diversity positively related to LRS- (R2 = 0.44 in Grand R, 0.91 in Meramec R.) and core-species (R2 = 0.37 in Grand R., 0.57 in Meramec R.) richness, respectively. Headwaters within 25 km of sites positively related to headwater species richness in the Grand River system (R2 = 0.85), but not in the Meramec River system where headwater richness was better explained by an inverse relationship with discharge (R2 = 0.32). Increasing LRS richness (13–17 spp.) downriver caused sites supporting the highest total species richness ([greater than or equal to]75th percentiles) to skew towards lower-midcourse reaches, rather than in midcourses where core-species richness and habitat diversity peaked. Because riverine fish richness manifests from regional dispersal and local habitat diversity, conserving areas of high richness will likely require management actions aimed at local and regional scales. Altogether these studies collecting 146 species and 145,147 individuals revealed non-wadeable tributaries are key riverscape elements that provide diverse riverine habitats and corridors for members of multiple regional fish species pools.Item Effect of climate change, drought, and insects on oak-pine forests in the Ozark highlands(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Duan, Shengwu; He, Hong S.[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI--COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Oak-dominated forests in the Ozarks Highlands of Arkansas and Missouri have been suffering severe oak decline and this became a chronic problem since the late 1970s. Such decline became increasingly severe as numerous dense oak forests in this region approaching physiological maturity. Repeated droughts and insect outbreaks in the Ozarks Highlands from 1998 to 2015 accelerate the decline process and resulted in increased mortality of the oaks, particularly those in red oak group. Given these concerns, the overall objective of this dissertation was to conduct a regional scale assessment to evaluate and predict the impact of drought and insects on the oak forests under changing climate. This dissertation contained three main objectives: 1) to evaluate the drought effect on forest growth phenology and productivity by using spatially-explicit drought indices and land surface phenology techniques to capture oak, pine and mixed oak-pine forests' responses to repeated droughts; 2) to develop a climate sensitive biotic disturbance agent (BDA) module in forest landscape modeling framework to quantify the relative importance in determining the insect disturbance regimes under the warming climate; and 3) to predict the effects of insect disturbance, climate change and their interactions on forest composition under alternative climate and insect disturbance scenarios. The dissertation provided a methodology to disassemble the spatial and temporal variation of drought conditions in the Ozark Highlands and provided new insights into improving drought resistance and recovery capacity of forests with different species under climate change. The results from this dissertation also helped to understand the importance of vegetation feedback in predicting inset disturbance regimes under a warming climate as they may mediate or even reverse the expectation of increased insect disturbance in this region. In addition, the projections of how tree species will response to insect disturbance will benefit decision making in silvicultural prescriptions and longterm management plans in the Ozark Highlands.Item Northern bobwhite brood ecology and population dynamics in southwest Missouri(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020) Sinnott, Emily Ann; Thompson, Frank R. (Frank Richard); Weegman, Mitch D.Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have experienced widespread, long-term population declines. Bobwhite populations in Missouri have declined 2.7% annually between 1966 and 2015, and 3.5% annually between 2005 and 2015, for a cumulative loss of 80% since 1966. Maintaining healthy populations requires a better understanding of how population growth and vital rates across seasons are affected by habitat and land management practices. We examined bobwhite brood ecology and population dynamics in southwest Missouri. My dissertation objectives were to: (1) Examine the influence of cover type, management, and weather on juvenile bobwhite body condition; (2) Estimate bobwhite juvenile survival from hatch as a function of herbaceous cover, habitat management practices, woody vegetation structure, and landscape patterns; (3) Determine population-level bobwhite brood resource selection patterns for managed grasslands and agricultural habitat; and (4) Estimate site-specific bobwhite fecundity, seasonal age- and sex-specific survival, and the relative contributions of these vital rates to trends in abundance. Among our five study sites, Wade and June Shelton Memorial Conservation Area, Stony Point Prairie Conservation Area, and Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie are native grasslands ranging in size from 320 to 3030 acres. These sites were considered extensively managed, with fire, grazing, mowing and haying implemented to maintain continuous tracts of native grasslands. By contrast, Robert E. Talbot and Shawnee Trail conservation areas (3635-4361 acres) are intensively managed sites. In addition to grassland habitats, both of these areas incorporated small units of agriculture, food plots, and woody vegetation strips for wildlife use. We used radio telemetry and brood capture data to evaluate the influence of habitat management on juvenile body condition, survival, and brood habitat selection patterns. Brood attending adults were tracked daily from nest hatch to brood capture at approximately 3-weeks old. On capture, juveniles were fitted with transmitters and observed through the life of the bird or the life of the transmitter. Habitat was characterized using maps of herbaceous cover (native- mixed- and cool-season grasslands, and agricultural cover), management activities (prescribed burning, conservation grazing, mowing/haying), and woody vegetation structure (shrub and tree cover). To evaluate environmental influencers on bobwhite juvenile body condition, we captured 216 individuals from 33 broods >16-days old across our study sites in 2017 and 2018. We used the residuals from a linear regression of tarsus length and body mass as an index of body condition in a generalized linear mixed model evaluating effects of season, weather, and habitat. We found some support for improved body condition early in the breeding season, under warmer average temperatures, and in native grasslands that were burned and grazed in the previous two years. We estimated bobwhite juvenile survival based on observations of 705 individuals from 75 broods for a total of 14,904 exposure days. This included 493 individuals observed from hatch to capture and 212 radio-tagged individuals. We estimated 28.6% 114-day period survival for juvenile bobwhite 2016-2018. Survival was highest on native grasslands burned and grazed at least once in the previous two years and survival increased with local shrub cover. Local agricultural cover also improved survival, however landscape interactions suggest survival is low in small units of cultivated crops surrounded by grasslands or woody vegetation. We evaluated patterns in brood resource selection and the effects of those choices on brood survival using integrated step selection analysis. We quantified resource selection behavior of 101 bobwhite broods by comparing each of 2,788 chosen daily steps to 10 random available steps not taken. Consistent with our body condition and survival results, native grasslands that were burned and grazed at least once in the previous two years had the highest relative probability of use. Selection for idle native grasslands increased with age. We also found selection influenced brood success; broods that succeeded were more likely to choose available habitats with more shrub cover, while failed broods avoided available habitats with more shrub cover. Successful broods also selected areas farther from trees than failed broods. To quantify full annual cycle population dynamics in an integrated population model, we tracked 766 juveniles and 618 adults during the breeding season, we tracked 772 juveniles and 349 adults during the non-breeding season, we monitored success of 276 nests incubated among 576 adults, and conducted whistle counts in May 2016-2018. Talbot Conservation Area had the lowest population growth rate ([lambda]TAL = 0.31, 95% CRI: 0.03, 0.65), due to low fecundity and summer adult survival. Shelton Memorial Conservation Area had low estimated breeding season juvenile survival, non-breeding season survival, and the second lowest population growth rate ([lambda]SLT = 0.37, 95% CRI: 0.00, 0.74), possibly due to its small area (320 acres) and low bobwhite density. Stony Point Prairie had high fecundity and adult breeding season survival probabilities, but the lowest non-breeding season survival among all sites, which depressed population growth ([lambda]STP = 0.51 95% CRI: 0.08, 0.85). Extensive native grasslands had consistently higher fecundity and adult summer survival probabilities than intensively managed conservation areas. Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie, our largest extensively managed site, had the highest population growth rate ([lambda]WKT = 0.55, 95% CRI: 0.13, 0.94). We found declining population trends on all conservation areas. Non-breeding season survival from 1 November to 30 April was most strongly correlated with abundance, followed by juvenile breeding season survival. Greater, less variable non-breeding season survival is required to achieve population stability. Further evaluation of intra-annual environmental influencers and the relationship between habitat area and population viability would better inform bobwhite management approaches. Important next steps in this research include examining finer temporal scales that separately evaluate breeding, winter, and transitional periods in the annual cycle. Additionally, effects of weather and climate on population viability will be important considerations as Missouri experiences warmer temperatures and potentially extreme changes in precipitation patterns. Finally, this study generated valuable data that can be used to simulate regional population trends and projections across the surrounding landscape.Item Forage production and diversification for climate-smart tropical and temperate silvopastures(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2019) Dibala, Ryan H.; Jose, ShibuClimate change creates much uncertainty for the future of animal agriculture, particularly due to an increase in summer droughts that result in the loss of range productivity. Silvopasture, the intentional integration of livestock, trees, and pasture on the same unit of land, is a promising option to diversify forage resources, compensate for losses caused by droughts during the summer forage gap, and in some cases, even increase agricultural production while maximizing conservation benefits. We examined three distinct silvopastures, two in the country of Panama and one in the state of Missouri, to better understand how the integration of woody perennial trees and shrubs affects forage productivity, availability, and nutritional value, particularly during the driest months. In Panama, we studied both recently established and mature silvopastures with the objective of assessing soil physical and chemical properties, plant water availability, and pasture dry matter production in different successional stages. In the mature silvopasture, we found that annual grass accumulation was greatest in open pastures, but was highest in silvopastures with moderately-spaced trees (~500 trees ha-1) early in the dry season. In the recently established silvopasture, the simultaneous growth of grasses, trees, and fertilizer shrubs resulted in significant increases in soil fertility and marginally significant increases in grass production in plots that included the shrub Leucaena leucocephala. Further, cumulative forage production in plots with shrubs provided on average 9.66% more forage than plots without shrubs during the dry season. In Missouri, we assessed the feasibility of integrating the potential alternative forage shrub red mulberry (Morus rubra L.) into the understory of an existing silvopasture and found that seedling survival, growth, leaf productivity, and nutritive value could be optimized at an overstory planting density of ~123 trees ha-1. High leaf mineral content and low fiber fractions during the late summer forage slump suggest that this species could serve as an effective supplemental forage to livestock in multi-strata silvopastures during drought conditions. Results of all three studies confirm that silvopasture has both competitive and facilitative influences on forage production, and that facilitative factors may be more prevalent during extreme drought.