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Some Effects Of Viterra 2 Hydrogel On Soil Physics And Plant Growth, Julia E. Maserang

Masters Theses

The effects of hydrogel on various aspects of plant growth and soil physics were determined for Tagetes patula (marigold) and Vinca rosea growing in 'PRO-MIX' soilless potting medium.

The addition of hydrogel at various concentrations to the potting medium increased the water-holding capacity of the medium, thus extending the hours-to-wilt of plants growing in this medium. While hydrogel had no effect on plant height, flowering time, plant color, soil pH or soil nitrate concentration, plant weight and flower number did appear to increase between the control and highest hydrogel treatment. As hydrogel concentration within the medium increased, percent total seed …

Winter Concentration Areas Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) In Illinois: A Discriminant Analysis, Paul A. Brewer

Masters Theses

Two discriminant models were derived from 40 variables measured in 12 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) winter concentration areas and 12 non-concentration areas in east-central Illinois. The first model correctly classified 100% of these areas based on area of refuge, area of upland hardwoods with <50% crown closure, area of bottomland forest with <50% crown closure, distance of unimproved roads, and total topographic relief. This model was tested on 6 winter concentration areas in west-central Illinois and 6 winter concentration areas in northern Illinois. The first discriminant model correctly classified 91.7% of these areas.

The second model originated from the same set of variables, however the refuge area variable was removed in an attempt to classify winter concentration areas without knowledge of refuge areas. This model correctly classified 91.7% of sites in east-central Illinois, and 75% of the areas in west-central and northern Illinois.

Refuge accounted for nearly …

Some Factors Affecting Male Back Space Availability In The Water Bug Belostoma Flumineum Say, Amanda M. Vandenburgh

Masters Theses

Various factors affecting the availability of male back space in the giant water bug, Belostoma flumineum Say, are described herein and interpreted in a manner consistent with natural selection theory. Newly emerged males are observed to breed and accept eggs sooner than newly emerged females develop an egg clutch: furthermore, newly emerged males were shown to contain motile sperm on the day of adult emergence. Newly emerged females did not contain any mature eggs until approximately six days old. It was also found that newly emerged females manufacture eggs at a linear rate of 4.8 eggs per day. Egg length …

Mammals At Hidden Springs State Forest, Shelby County, Illinois, Leslie L. Clapp

Masters Theses

A survey of the mammals at Hidden Springs State Forest (HSSF) in Shelby County, Illinois was conducted from May 1 to November 18, 1984. The survey was designed to determine the species and relative abundance of mammals associated with major habitat types of the Forest based on area walk-through surveys, streamside surveys, mist net surveys, snaptrap/pitfall surveys, and a hunter questionaire. A total of 26 mammal species were found associated with various habitats within the Forest and an additional four species were reported within Shelby County. One species, the southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris) had not previously been reported …

Response Of A Nitrifying Biofilm To Copper, Denise Moldroski Mott

Masters Theses

In pure cultures of Nitrosomonas, copper is known to cause a stimulation of nitrification at low levels (≤ 0.03 mg Cu⁺²/1) and an inhibition affect at higher levels (≥ 0.05 mg Cu⁺²/1). Nitrifying activated sludges are much more tolerant of copper showing only 75% inhibition at 150mg Cu⁺²/1. The purpose of this paper was to determine the copper sensitivity of a nitrifying biofilm grown in a continuous flow trickling filter system.

A continuous flow trickling filter system was built using limestone chips for the biofilm substrate. The biofilm was established from secondary effluent. …

The Bryophytes Of Fox Ridge State Park, Coles County, Illinois, David A. Breen

Masters Theses

A survey of Fox Ridge State Park in Coles County, Illinois revealed a total of 72 bryophyte species. Of these 68 were mosses and 4 were liverworts. Habitat and frequency for each species were recorded. Voucher specimens for each species have been placed in the Stover Herbarium at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois.

As a result of this survey Astomum muhlenbergionum (Sw.) Grout. is a new addition to the list of Illinois bryophytes. In addition ten species are new reports for Coles County, Illinois. These are the mosses Amblystegium fluviatle (Hedw.) BSG, Brachythecium digastrum C. M. & Kindb. ex. Macoun …

Salinity Tolerance In Forage Grasses, Kent Alan Boyles

Masters Theses

The effects of increased osmotic potentials on Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea var Vantage), Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea var Kentucky 31), Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata var Potomac), Sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense var Sorghum x Ludo FS X3-2), Grain Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare var Dekalb 28), Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis var Blair), Timothy (Phleum pratense var Climax), and Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare var Barsoy) were studied. The greenhouse triplicated experiments were conducted in modified aerated Hoagland's number 2 nutrient solutions for a period of four weeks.

The germination of Winter Barley was not inhibited by osmotic potentials …

Fecal Coliform Membrane Filtration Recovery Techniques, Pamela Rose Rinebold

Masters Theses

Researchers over the years have been trying to improve recovery techniques for fecal coliform bacteria. Improved techniques would provide better estimates of the number of fecal coliform bacteria as well as better estimates of fecal contamination with potential pathogenicity of food and water.

Stressed, but viable, fecal coliform bacteria if placed under the appropiate conditions, can recover, thus presenting the possibility of inadequate disinfection. Chlorine sanitization, as done in potable and wastewater treatment, is one such method of stressing bacteria.

Techniques of recovery were studied using presumably unstressed and chlorine stressed samples. Phase one of this study was the comparison …

The North American Distribution Of The Cladonia Cryptochlorophaea Asah. Population Containing The Para-Depside Atranorin As An Accessory Substance, Paul Raymond Lock

Masters Theses

An examination by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of herbarium material and collections from Missouri and Arkansas of the cup-shaped lichen Cladonia cryptochlorophaea Asah. was used to determine the North American distribution of the population containing the para-depside atranorin. This atranorin containing variant was originally reported by Cunningham (1982) in Coles and Clark Counties of Illinois with further studies by Wilcer (1984) in Illinois, western Indiana and southern Wisconsin.

A total of 181 specimens of Cladonia cryptochlorophaea Asah. were examined for the para-depside atranorin using TLC. Herbarium material was supplied for study from both the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C., and Eastern …

Differences In Maximal Performance Between An Exercise Test On A Monark Bicycle Ergometer And A Racermate Wind Load Simulator, Carmen J. Ritz Haas

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether any significant difference in performance exists between a maximal exercise test on a Monark 868 bicycle ergometer and a Racermate II wind load simulator. Performance was measured according to three parameters: maximum oxygen consumption, maximum heart rate and test duration.

Nine trained subjects, five men and four women participated in the study. All subjects bad recently been involved in bicycling for training purposes.

Testing consisted of two trials for each subject, one trial on the bicycle ergometer using a standard protocol and one trial on the wind load simulator using a …

Partial Characterization Of The Extracellular Polysaccharides Produced By Mutants Of Rhizobium Leguminosarum And Rhizobium Trifolii, Lendell L. Cummins

Masters Theses

Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) are suspected to be involved in some aspect of the Rhizobium-legume symbiotic process. Extracellular polysaccharides produced by R. leguminosarum and R. trifolii mutants were isolated and partially characterized by gas chromatography, column chromatography, double diffusion, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunoelectrophoresis.

The R. leguminosarum mutants, derived from strain 128C53, all are deficient in EPS production (exo-). Strain ANU54 is missing the symbiotic plasmid, while plasmid-containing strains ANU54 pJB5JI and ANU54 pBR1AN nodulate (nod+) peas and clover respectively, but do not fix nitrogen (fix-).

R. leguminosarum mutants produce an EPS that is similar to parental LPS in composition. …

A Comparison Of Two Training Programs In Preparing For The Army Physical Readiness Test, Herbert E. Lattimore

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare two training programs on male Reserve Officers Training Corps students as it is related to a passing score on the Army Physical Readiness Test.

The subjects were sixteen volunteer students who were randomly placed in two groups, formal and informal. Both groups were given a pretest, before beginning the study, to determine if they were equal.

The subjects in both groups trained for four weeks to prepare for the Army physical fitness test. Each group trained three times a week during the training period. The formal group's training was restricted to performing …

A Comparison Of The Acidic Extracellular Polysaccharides From Rhizobium Trifolii Mutants Affected In Trifolium Repens Root Hair Curling, Brian Andrew Hanley

Masters Theses

The compositions and sugar linkages of the acidic extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) from several Rhizobium trifolii mutants were compared. These mutants were derived from a wild type Rhizobium trifolii, ANU843, and are unable to cause normal root hair curling, Hac-, or nodulate clover, Nod-. Three of the mutants contain a Tn5 insertion in a 5.3 kb BglII fragment of the symbiotic plasmid (pSym). A fourth mutant is missing the pSym, which includes much of the 5.3 kb BglII fragment, both of these deletions result in Hac-Nod- phenotypes. When the 5.3 kb BglII fragment is cloned (pRT150) and reinserted into the …