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Charles Rueben Keyes And The History Of Iowa Archaeology, William Green

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Charles Reuben Keyes (1871-1951) achieved recognition during his lifetime as the "founding father" of Iowa archaeology, and later assessments confirmed and reemphasized Keyes' stature as Iowa's pioneer archaeologist. The collections and documents Keyes compiled, his interpretive publications, and the records of field work he coordinated have proven more valuable to Midwest and Plains archaeology every year. This article emphasizes Keyes' involvement in the development of professionalism in American archaeology and Iowa’s position in the growth of the discipline from 1920 to 1950. Keyes' contacts with the principal archaeologists of his era ensured Iowa’s involvement in the development of survey methods …

Radon In Iowa Homes: Results Of Screening Measurements, Laurent Hodges, Lynne Gillette

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Homeowner-initiated short-term radon screening measurements in Iowa homes show that only about 30% of the homes have low enough radon levels - below 148 Bq/m (4.0 pC1/L) - that no follow-up measurements are necessary. Over 6 percent of the homes have screening measurements in excess of 740 Bq/m³ (20 pCi/L), a level at which prompt follow-up measurements are recommended. In all parts of the state, the range of radon results extends from low levels (below 37 Bq/m³ = 1 pCi/L) to high levels (above 740 Bq/m³). The average radon results tend to be higher than the …

Results Of The August Roadside Survey For Upland Wildlife In Iowa: 1963-1988, Willie J. Suchy, Ronald J. Munkel, James M. Kienzler

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Results of the August roadside survey collected from 1963 through 1988 were examined to determine if trends could be detected in the counts of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), gray partridge (Perdix perdix), cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), and white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii). The counts also were compared to harvest estimates co determine if correlations exist. Statistically significant linear trends were detected statewide for pheasants, gray partridge and jackrabbits during the 1963 co 1988 period. Trends were downward for all species except gray partridge. During the late 12 years (1977 through 1988), the only significant trend detected was …

Food Habits Of The Northern Saw-Whet Owl In Central Iowa: Effects Of Roost Location, Stephen J. Dinsmore, William R. Clark

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

During the period 1979-89, 900 northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) pellets with identifable remains of prey were collected at 18 central Iowa locations. Peromyscus were the most frequent prey consumed, comprising 81.2% of all prey items. Other prey species were voles (Microtus), western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), shrews (Blarina brevicauda, Sorex cinereus, and Cryptotis parva), and a single unidentified bird. Peromyscus comprised the largest proportion of pellets from different successional stages. There were significant differences for four prey groups (Peromyscus, Microtus, Reithrodontomys, and shrews) among years. Peromyscus and R. megalotis showed significant differences among locations. Microtus and shrews were variable …

Holocene Vegetational Changes In Eastern Iowa, R. G. Baker, C. A. Chumbley, P. M. Witinok, H. K. Kim

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Pollen and plant macrofossil analysis from three sites along an east-west transect in southeastern Iowa provide evidence for Holocene vegetational development. Colo Marsh at the west end of the transect is relatively complete, with a late-glacial spruce zone ending about 11,500 yr B.P.; a deciduous forest zone from about 11,500 to 8300; a prairie zone from 8300 to 4500, and prairie with oak from 4500 to presettlement times.

Sediments from the site at the Indian Creek Nature Center, midway in the transect, date only from about 6000 to 1600 yrs B. P. This site also was dominantly prairie from 6000 …

Ada Hayden: A Tribute, Duane Isely

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Dr. Ada Hayden was a member of the Iowa State College of Botany faculty, 1920-1950. Her floristic studies of the lake region in northern Iowa are possibly the most authoritative for any part of the state. Hayden was curator of the Iowa State herbarium, 1934-1950, and contributed immeasurably to its development. This research facility has recently been named the Ada Hayden Herbarium. In the sense that L. H. Pammel was father of the Iowa State park system, her bequest is the state preserves. After some 25 years as a conservation activist, she published descriptions of 22 prairie areas in ten …

Predation By Ermine And Long-Tailed Weasels On Duck Eggs, Joseph P. Fleskes

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Ermine (Mustela erminea) and long-tailed weasel (M. frenata) predation on duck eggs was studied at Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Kossuth County, Iowa, 1984-85. Captive individuals of both species ate 2-4 duck eggs at a rate of 0.5-2 eggs per trial day. All eggs were moved but some were not opened. One hole, ringed with small fragments and "bite-outs'', was made in all eggs opened by captive weasels. In the field, the appearance of opened eggs, the pattern of egg loss and the amount of nest bowl disturbance were used to determine the number of nests depreciated by weasels. Egg …

Using Life History And Ecology As Tools To Manage A Threatened Salamander Species, Scott R. Mcwilliams, Marilyn D. Bachmann

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Selected aspects of the life history and ecology of the small-mouthed salamander (Ambystoma texanum Matthes) relevant to the management of this threatened species in Iowa are presented. The population studied utilizes flooded woodland habitat during courtship, breeding and egg laying, and during the entire larval period. Larval foraging strategies in this habitat included ontogenetic but no diel shifts in prey selection. Synchronous, nocturnal breeding migration allowed effective use of drift fences fur capture of adults used in captive breeding, courtship behavior studies, and the estimation of breeding population size. Large numbers of spennatophores, apparently indiscriminate mate choice, and the relatively …

Seasonal Composition Of Benthic Diatom Associations In The Cedar River Basin (Iowa), Stephen P. Main

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

This is the first detailed report on the taxonomy and ecology of diatoms in the portion of the upper reaches of the Cedar River basin in Iowa. This paper describes the diatom taxa from shallow benthic substrata collected quarterly between 11 October 1975 and 19 February 1977 at 14 sampling stations. Just over 500 frustules were counted from each of the 216 samples obtained. Analysis of water samples collected at the same time as the diatoms indicates these screams have alkaline hard waters rich in nutrients with extreme turbidity level fluctuation at irregular intervals.

The 281 diatom taxa identified represented …

The Status Of Three Uncommon Salamanders (Amphibia: Caudata) In Iowa, Jeffery D. Camper

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The smallmouth salamander [Ambystoma texanum (Matthes)], blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale Hallowell), and central newt [Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis (Wolterstorff)] were studied in Iowa from fall 1982 through summer 1984. All three species have declined in abundance in Iowa. A. texanum is more abundant and widespread than was previously suspected, but is declining due to habitat destruction. Apparently, only two populations of A. laterale remain in Iowa. N. v. louisianensis has also declined due to habitat destruction, with only three populations known. All three species require ponds in or adjacent to forest. A. ta was found primarily in riparian …

Evaluation Of Fish Eradication And Game-Fish Restocking In A Central Iowa Pond, Dennis L. Scarnecchia

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Changes in fish community and population structure associated with fish eradication and subsequent restocking were investigated in a small (0. 25 ha) impoundment in Boone County, Iowa. In September 1985, when fish were eradicated with rotenone, the fish community consisted of eight species. Large numbers of small bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), green sunfish (Lepomis ryanellus), and stunted crappies (Pomoxis spp.) dominated the pond numerically, but seven large carp (Cyprinus carpio) and 18 large bigmouth buffalo (lctiobus ryprinellus) constituted 80% of the total biomass. The only quality angling (popular species of desirable size) was for a few largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and …