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From Iowa To Italy, Kate Henreckson

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Iowa Secretary Of Ag Forum Tackles Politics And Policy, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Herbaceous Vascular Flora Of Forested Seep Wetlands In Winneshiek County, Iowa, Usa, Elizabeth A. Lynch, Anna Burke Weckwerth

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Forested seep wetlands dominated by skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) occur frequently in the Canoe Creek watershed of the Upper Iowa River, but this type of wetland has not been described systematically in the upper Midwest. The goal of this study is to document the herbaceous plant flora of five seeps. Although individual seeps are small (200-500 m²), they provide habitat for a high number of plant species. Five seeps with total area less than 0.2 ha supported more than 120 native vascular herbaceous taxa, 20 of which have a coefficient of conservatism (C-value) of 7 or …

The Role Of An Urban Tallgrass Prairie Remnant In Conservation: A Case Study In Central Iowa (Usa), Jimmie D. Thompson, Deborah Q. Lewis, William R. Norris

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Although more than 85% of Iowa (USA) was covered by tallgrass prairie at the time of settlement by Europeans in the early 19th century, less than 0.1% remains. The Richard W. Pohl State Preserve at Ames (IA) High School, surrounded on three sides by structures, roads, and other development, protects 4 ha of tallgrass prairie. The preserve, commonly referred to as Ames High Prairie (AHP), was grazed but never plowed under private ownership until its acquisition by the Ames School District in 1959.

Although considered for development as a parking lot or football field in the 1960s, the residents of …

The Vascular Flora Of Clay Prairie State Preserve (Butler County, Iowa): Recommendations To The Iowa State Preserve System, Edwin L. Freese, William R. Norris

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Clay Prairie State Preserve (1.2 ha) is an upland prairie located in Butler County, IA, and represents one of the last remnants of black-soil tallgrass prairie in northeast Iowa. An annotated checklist of the vascular flora of Clay Prairie is presented here, based on a previously published flora of the preserve and recent field work conducted by the authors between 1997 to 2001, and 2008 to 2011. The preserve contains a diverse vascular flora representing 50 families, 145 genera and 214 taxa (174 native to Iowa). In comparison with 26 larger prairies (4 to 121 ha) protected in the Iowa …

Mammal Capture Success Of Scent Stations And Remote Cameras In Prairie And Forest Habitat, Marc N. Mckinney, Aaron M. Haines

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Two common noninvasive (i.e., no stress to the animal) methods used to survey mammals include track stations (i.e., track captures of mammals) and remote camera-traps (i.e., photo-captures of mammals). Our objectives were to compare capture effectiveness of both track stations and remote cameras in both forested and prairie habitats. This project was conducted on 4 study sires (2 forested sires and 2 prairie sites) located in Fayette County, Iowa. Each study site had 6 trapping stations 2:: 100 m apart. We monitored traps for a total of 216 trap nights and we recorded a total of 368 captures composed of …

Observations On The Distribution And Status Of Western Sand Darter, Spotted Gar, And Skipjack Herring In Iowa Rivers, Travis E. Neebling, Michael C. Quist

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

This paper describes new records of western sand darter (Ammocrypta clara), spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), and skipjack herring (Alosa chrysochloris) in Iowa's interior rivers. A western sand darter was collected from the Cedar River, Benton County, in 2007. Western sand darters are occasionally collected from the upper Mississippi River (UMR), but have not been sampled in interior rivers since 1958. Two spotted gar were collected from the Des Moines River, Polk and Wapello counties, in 2007. Two spotted gar were sampled from the UMR in 2000, but no spotted gar have been previously recorded from Iowa's interior rivers. A skipjack …

Fall And Winter Food Habits Of Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) In Iowa, Kelcey J. Brockmeyer, William R. Clark

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a widely distributed native felid of North America but nearly disappeared from Iowa due to habitat loss and unregulated harvest that occurred during the century after European settlement. Bobcats are repopulating the state and are now relatively common in southern Iowa. This study was part of a research project to understand the ecology of the species in Iowa's landscape so that conservation plans could be established. We determined food habits by the examination of stomach contents from 100 bobcat carcasses that were accidentally killed in traps, killed by automobiles, or radio-marked individuals found dead during …

The Moths Of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge: A Preliminary Assessment, Michelle N. Lewis, Renae M. Steichen, Keith S. Summerville

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

North American prairie systems are believed to have supported substantial insect biodiversity. Loss of prairie and oak savanna habitats, however, has been severe in many Midwestern states, including Iowa. An unanswered question facing land managers interested in restoring tallgrass prairies to the Iowan landscape is the degree to which restored habitats contain native insect species that are dependent upon prairie habitat. This study reports data from a preliminary survey of the moths of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,292-ha prairie and oak savanna restoration site in central Iowa. We identified and cataloged a total of 426 species of moths …

Voices In The Hallway: Three Rural Iowa Schools, Vicki Robinson, Thomas Blaine, Nicholas J. Pace

The Rural Educator

Students, faculty, administration, and community members of three Iowa rural school districts were interviewed to identify educational issues in their communities The results of the Iowa investigation are compared with the results of the Claremont Graduate School investigation published in Voices from the inside: A report on schooling from inside the classroom (1992). The Claremont study investigated large urban schools. The Iowa study provides insight into small, rural school districts. Although similar issues emerged from the two studies, other issues demonstrated the different realities of education in rural Iowa and education in a large culturally diverse urban setting.

A Comparison Of Drinking Water Contamination In Buried Slab Wells, Other Large-Diameter Wells, And Drilled Wells, Rita M. Gergely

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

This study presents the results of a statewide water well survey conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Health from 1993 to 1995 to determine whether there were statistically significant differences between well water contamination in buried slab wells, other large-diameter wells, and drilled wells. Wells were sampled for total coliform bacteria, fecal coliform bacteria, nitrate, and atrazine. Staff collected water samples and completed a site survey at each well, which included an interview with the occupant or owner and actual observations of the wellhead and surrounding area.

The study included 293 buried slab wells, 287 other large-diameter wells, and …

Restoration And Monitoring Of The River Otter Population In Iowa, J. A. Pitt, W. R. Clark, R. D. Andrews, K. P. Schlarbaum, D. D. Hoffman, S. W. Pitt

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Northern river otters (Lontra canadensis) were widespread in North America at the time of European settlement. However, river otters were extirpated from most of Iowa in the early 1900s due to habitat degradation and unregulated harvest. In 1985, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources began an effort to restore the river otter population throughout the state, including a pilot study of survival to determine if establishment was feasible. Annual survival was estimated to be 86% during the pilot study. River otters dispersed an average of about 11 km from the point of release and exhibited habitat use typical for the …

Effects Of Field Size And Landscape Composition On Grassland Birds In South-Central Iowa, David Joseph Horn, Rolf R. Koford, Malinda L. Braland

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Many species of grassland birds have been shown to avoid smaller fields. The avoidance of smaller fields, however, has not been consistently reported; avoidance may occur in one study, but not in another. To examine one possible reason for these inconsistencies, we examined how landscape composition influenced the relations between occurrence or abundance and field size. The study took place during the 1998 breeding season on 44 Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields located in Adair, Ringgold, and Union counties. The relations between occurrence, abundance, and field size were not influenced by landscape composition for any species.

Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum, …

Factors Influencing The Occurrence Of Birds That Use Feeders In Iowa, David Joseph Horn, Steve E. Fairbairn, Richard J. Hollis

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Since its inception in 1984, data from the annual Iowa "Winter Bird Feeder Survey" have provided valuable information about birds that use feeders in Iowa such as spatial and temporal population trends. Using data from the 1988 and 1994 Surveys, we examined how the occurrence of bird species that use feeders was influenced by geographic location, the habitat surrounding a house, and the types of seeds offered at a house. Of the 23 species examined, the occurrence of 8 species was influenced by latitude, 22 species were influenced by the habitat surrounding the house, and 22 species were influenced by …

Factors Associated With Occurrence And Density Of Wetland Birds In The Prairie Pothole Region Of Iowa, Steve E. Fairbairn, James J. Dinsmore

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Wetlands within wetland complexes in northwestern, north-central, and central Iowa were surveyed for bird use in 1997 and 1998. Species occurrence, species richness, and density of nesting species were related to wetland habitat variables. A habitat diversity index measuring the evenness of distribution of the different habitats within a wetland was the best predictor of species richness in both years. The habitat diversity index was also the best predictor of the occurrence of individual species in both 1997 and 1998. Eight of 11 species (7 3%) in 1997 and 13 of 18 species (72%) in 1998 had greater densities in …

Limits To Ice Thickness In Iowa During The Late Wisconsinan, Eric C. Brevik

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Minimum and maximum limits to Des Moines Lobe ice thickness in Iowa during the Late Wisconsinan glaciation are calculated. These limits are based on minimum and maximum ice thickness calculations for the Des Moines Lobe in eastern North Dakota using crustal depression indicated by Lake Agassiz strandlines. Minimum and maximum basal shear stresses for the Des Moines Lobe are calculated by projecting a flow line from the terminus of the Des Moines Lobe back up-ice to the study site in northeastern North Dakota. Ice thickness in Iowa is then calculated with a method that uses the basal shear stress values. …

A Municipal Inventory And Evaluation Of Natural Areas: History And Methodology, William R. Norris, Donald R. Farrar

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

An inventory of natural areas in the vicinity of Ames, Iowa was conducted (1990-1994) in response to conflicts arising when significant natural areas were encountered on lands approved for development by the City of Ames (Iowa) Planning Office. Methods for objective evaluation of woodland and prairie quality were developed for use during the inventory. The woodland method is based on four components: I) Diversity of expected species, H) Structure of canopy and understory layers, III) Fidelity of species to the habitat and IV) absence of Introduced Species. Rules are explicitly stated for the scoring of each component for both the …

Mammals Of Iowa: Holocene To The End Of The 20th Century, John B. Bowles, Daryl L. Howell, Richard P. Lampe, Howard P. Whidden

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

This review of Iowa's mammal fauna at the close of the 20th century summarizes changes in distributional patterns following Euroamerican settlement in the early 1800s. Data from historical records, museum specimens, and presettlement late Holocene fossils indicate presence of 69 resident mammals at that time. Hunting pressures and the conversion of prairie and forest to agricultural fields reduced the populations and ranges of many state mammals, and 14 species were extirpated by 1900. An additional 15 species are either uncommon or rare today, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources lists four species as endangered, three as threatened and one …

Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia Esula L.) Spread In Iowa, S. C. Huerd, S. E. Taylor

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.), a noxious perennial weed spreading south from the northern Great Plains into Iowa, is considered a threat to Iowa's Prairie preserves because it is an aggressive non-native plant that dominates the landscape through rapid sexual and asexual reproduction. Methods to control leafy spurge include cultural and chemical controls, and biological controls are currently being developed. In 1992 and 1993 we surveyed the extent of leafy spurge spread in Iowa and found 26 of 99 Iowa counties with leafy spurge populations. Iowa's leafy spurge populations are rapidly expanding on untilled lands such as roadsides, especially in …

The Contributions Of J. A. Udden To An Understanding Of Iowa Geology, Richard C. Anderson

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Johan August Udden served on the faculty of Augustana College from 1888 until 1911. His research during that time was directed toward an understanding of the geology of areas close at hand, the region around Rock Island and nearby areas in Iowa and Illinois. Udden's most significant contributions to Iowa geology were in his treatment of 1) Paleozoic, Cretaceous, and Quaternary stratigraphy; 2) subsurface geology, including information on bedrock elevations and topography; 3) characteristics and origin of the loess. Most of this information was included in the Annual Reports of the Iowa Geological Survey published between 1899 and 1903. He …

Bald Eagles Wintering Along The Des Moines River, Iowa, Neil Sabine

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Distribution, habitat use, and foraging behavior of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) wintering in southeast Iowa were studied in January - March 1990 and November 1990 - March 1991. Eagles were seen from November through March with the highest numbers in January and February. Adults had shorter winter residence times than immatures and they appeared to be less active during the day. Eagles concentrated their foraging efforts along certain river segments where they fed exclusively on fish. Timber harvesting along the river reduced eagle use and is considered to be the most serious threat to sustaining eagle use of the area. …

Current Status Of The Plains Pocket Mouse, Perognathus Flavescens, In Iowa, Gregory M. Wilson, John B. Bowles, Justin W. Van Zee

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Published and unpublished accounts of the plains pocket mouse (Perognathus flavescens) were utilized to document the existence of extant populations and to summarize and report additional data about the biology of this state endangered Iowa species. Populations of P. flavescens exist in western (Harrison, Monona, and Plymouth counties) and extreme eastern (adjacent portions of Louisa and Muscatine counties) Iowa, the latter of which represents the eastern-most record for the species in North America. In addition, we document a new locality for P. flavescens from the interior of the state (Benton County). All known populations of P. flavescens in Iowa occur …

An Annotated Checklist Of The Spiders Of Northwestern Iowa And The Loess Hills Of Western Iowa, Barbara J. Abraham

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Spiders were collected by the author from various habitats in 16 counties of northwestern Iowa and the loess hills of western Iowa during the summers of 1985 and 1990-1992. Additional donated specimens from the same region in 1981and1989 were identified by the author. Twenty-three families, 92 genera and 184 species have been identified.

A Relationship Between River Modification And Species Richness Of Freshwater Turtles In Iowa, Terry J. Vandewalle, James L. Christiansen

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Comparisons were made of turtle populations in Red Rock Reservoir and the major rivers of the Mississippi River and Missouri River damage systems in Iowa. Of the inland rivers of the Mississippi drainage examined in this study, the Des Moines River had the least amount of remaining turtle habitat. Number of turtle species ranged from five in the Des Moines River to 11 in the Mississippi River, but only three species were found in Red Rock Reservoir. In the Missouri drainage, number of turtle species ranged from three in both the Little Sioux and Nishnabotna rivers to five in the …

Life History And Status Classifications Of Birds Breeding In Iowa, Louis B. Best, Kathryn E. Freemark, Barbara S. Steiner, Timothy M. Bergin

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Life history and status classifications were compiled for 145 bird species that breed in Iowa. Species were classified by food type and substrate, nest substrate, susceptibility to cowbird parasitism, migratory status, predominant habitat use and habitat-use specialization, body mass (an index of home range/territory size), area sensitivity, population trend and vulnerability, and beneficial/harmful aspects in relation to agriculture. Such information may be used to make interspecific comparisons, evaluate interrelationships among life history and status characteristics, and provide insights into the interpretation of previous research. This synthesis also can aid those responsible for making conservation and management decisions about Iowa's avifauna.

Post-Natal Survival Of Raccoons In Relation To Female Age And Denning Behavior, Jonathan J. Judson, William R. Clark, Ronald D. Andrews

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

We measured post-natal survival of radio-collared raccoons 1-5 months old in southwest Iowa, 1988-1989. We compared survival of young nurtured by yearling and adult females and related den site selection to survival functions using proportional hazards models. Adult females used upland and farmstead habitats note frequently than yearlings, whereas yearling females used lowland habitats note frequently. Tree cavities and beds on the ground were used most frequently. Adult females denned in buildings 13% of the time and in holes in the ground 9.5% of the time, whereas yearlings frequently tested with litters in beds on the ground (31%). Microhab1tat characteristics …

Evaluation Of Implanted Radio Transmitters In Pheasant Chicks, Dean E. Ewing, William R. Clark, Paul A. Vohls

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

We studied game-farm pheasant (Phasianus colchicus Linneaus) chicks implanted with miniature transmitters to determine if surgery and implantation affected growth, behavior, or survival. Transmitters (weighing 1.2 g) were implanted subcutaneously in the interscapular region in day-old chicks. In Experiment 1, biological effects on chicks with transmitters implanted were compared with data from a control group. In Experiment 2, the effects of anesthesia only, anesthesia with an implanted transmitter, and implanted transmitter only were compared with a control. We measured responses of weight gain, survival, and pecking behavior in each experiment. In Experiment 1, we found no significant differences in weight …

Ecoregions And Subregions Of Iowa: A Framework For Water Quality Assessment And Management, Glenn E. Griffith, James M. Omernik, Thomas F. Wilton, Suzanne M. Pierson

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Ecoregion frameworks are valuable tools for inventorying and assessing environmental resources, for setting resource management goals, and for developing biological criteria and water quality standards. In a collaborative project between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we have refined boundaries of the EPA's five ecological regions of Iowa and defined six subregions of the Western Corn Belt Plains ecoregion within the state. Lists of candidate stream reference sites have been developed to date for the seven largest regions, and the sites were visited and evaluated by Iowa DNR and U.S. EPA personnel …

Some Significant Iowa Plant Records From The Herbarium Of University Of Nebraska At Omaha, Barbara L. Wilson

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Though the herbarium of University of Nebraska at Omaha (OMA) lies outside the state boundaries, it contains a number of interesting western Iowa records. Publicizing these and other little-known Iowa plant records is especially important at this time, since a checklist of Iowa's vascular plants, compiled by Eilers and Roosa, is nearing completion.

Natural History In Iowa: The Early Phases, David C. Glenn-Lewin, Thomas R. Rosburg

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Natural history in Iowa prior to the 20th Century can be conveniently arranged into 4 phases: Native American, before the Louisiana Purchase, between the Louisiana Purchase and about 1850, and after 1850. Native American natural history was extensive and had a distinctly spiritual character. Natural history was a component of European exploration up to the time of the Louisiana Purchase, but was not treated as a separate endeavor; the evidence from this period comes from the journals and diaries of early exploreres, fur traders and the like. Between the Louisiana Purchase and about 1850, natural history changed from its status …