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SPIDER (ARANEAE) DIVERSITY AT RED BANKS ALVAR STATE NATURAL AREA
Masters Thesis Work
I did my masters thesis at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay studying under the wonderful arachnologist Dr. Michael Draney. My research focuses on the arachnids found in the alvar at Red Banks State Natural Area in Greenbay, WI.
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Alvar is a unique habitat type found in only 5 places across the globe and considered a globally threatened habitat type. It is defined by its shallow soils and limestone bedding that creates extreme living conditions throughout the seasons. From drought to flooding, organisms that make alvar their home must be well adapted to the dynamic conditions.
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In my research, I sampled for the spiders (araneae) that live in the alvar habitat at Red Banks State Natural Area. I wanted to know the arachnid diversity that exists at Red Banks and how management types and human impact across the State Natural Area have potentially effected arachnid diversity. I also sampled the plant community to understand how plant community assemblage and structure may be impacting spider community composition and diversity.
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Find my open-access thesis on ProQuest here.
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INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALVAR?
Click here to view a story map I made through collaboration with some of my peers at UWGB.