Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
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Date of Graduation
Spring 2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Department
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Advisor(s)
Anthony Tongen
Abstract
The James Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is an endangered mussel species at the top of Virginia’s conservation list. The James Spinymussel plays a critical role in the environment by filtering and cleaning stream water while providing shelter and food for macroinvertebrates; however, conservation efforts are complicated by the mussels’ burrowing behavior, camouflage, and complex life cycle. The goals of the research conducted were to estimate detection probabilities that could be used to predict species presence and facilitate field work, and to track individually marked mussels to test for habitat preferences. Using existing literature and mark-recapture field data, these goals were accomplished by evaluating matrix population models, odds of detection based on environmental factors, dispersion type, and clustering trends. These results serve as the foundation of mathematical models used to aid in the recovery of the James Spinymussel and other cryptic species with sparse populations.
Recommended Citation
Draper, Marisa, "Population projection and habitat preference modeling of the endangered James Spinymussel (pleurobema collina)" (2016). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 231.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/231
Included in
Applied Statistics Commons, Biology Commons, Biostatistics Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Longitudinal Data Analysis and Time Series Commons, Other Applied Mathematics Commons, Other Mathematics Commons, Population Biology Commons
