Term of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Biology
Committee Chair
Michelle Cawthorn
Committee Member 1
Michele Guidone
Committee Member 2
Alan Harvey
Abstract
Large-scale urbanization is one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss on a global scale due to habitat loss and fragmentation. This has created a need to investigate ways to mitigate the damage caused by urban development, such as studying whether green spaces in urban areas can serve as means of preserving mammalian biodiversity in cities. This study specifically focused on greenways as they are understudied when compared to other green spaces, such as parks and cemeteries. Greenways are linear tracts of paved land, usually designed for human recreational activities. However, their benefits to wildlife have not been well researched. Given a lack of research on greenways regarding mammalian biodiversity, this study sought to determine (1) if mammalian biodiversity on greenways was impacted by increasing levels of urbanization and (2) how mammalian biodiversity on greenways compared to downtown areas. Biodiversity and urbanization were quantified and compared using a combination of camera trapping, acoustic monitoring, and GIS techniques, leading to the conclusions that (1) mesomammal diversity is not impacted by urbanization, but (2) bat biodiversity was significantly higher on greenways than in downtown areas.
OCLC Number
1432736333
Catalog Permalink
https://galileo-georgiasouthern.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01GALI_GASOUTH/1r4bu70/alma9916567550202950
Recommended Citation
Zwinklis, Brooklyn C., "Mammalian Biodiversity on Greenways Across an Urban-to-Rural Gradient" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2757.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2757
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No