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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

The Cryptogamic Flora Of Desert Soil Crusts In Southern Utah, Davic C. Anderson Aug 1976

The Cryptogamic Flora Of Desert Soil Crusts In Southern Utah, Davic C. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The cryptogamic flora of several soil crusts of arid regions in southern Utah was determined. Twenty-two lichens, Six mosses and fifty-four algal species were identified and their relative abundance estimated.


Influence Of Preharvest Ethephon Applications On Ripening Of Japanese Plum (Prunus Salicina), George Marvin Leavitt Aug 1976

Influence Of Preharvest Ethephon Applications On Ripening Of Japanese Plum (Prunus Salicina), George Marvin Leavitt

Theses and Dissertations

Ethephon, applied to two plum cultivars, 'Queen Rosa' and 'El Dorado' , at 50 and 100 ppm, gave varying responses on the ripening process. Soluble solids remained unchanged while acid levels dropped. Increased ethylene evolution, color advancement and decreased flesh pr observed.


A Phylogenetic Study Of The Suffrutescent Shrubs In The Genus Atriplex, C. Lorenzo Pope Aug 1976

A Phylogenetic Study Of The Suffrutescent Shrubs In The Genus Atriplex, C. Lorenzo Pope

Theses and Dissertations

Growing on dry saline soils throughout the Intermountain Region of the United States is a group of herbaceous, perennial species of Atriplex, including A. corrugata, A. cuneata, A. cuneata ssp. Introgressa, A. falcata, A. gardneri, A. tridentata, and A. welshii, designated as the Atriplex gardneri complex. Highly adaptive and competitive in the arid salt deserts, these species are valuable as forage for livestock and wildlife. Because of extensive variation present within this complex, considerable taxonomic confusion has resulted. To clarify taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships, selected populations and plants were analyzed morphologically, cytologically, ecologically, phenologically, and genetically. Polyploidy is common within …


Modeling Studies Of Small Mammal Trapping Phenology, And Plant Succession In The Kaiparowits Region, Kane County, Utah, James A. Raines Apr 1976

Modeling Studies Of Small Mammal Trapping Phenology, And Plant Succession In The Kaiparowits Region, Kane County, Utah, James A. Raines

Theses and Dissertations

This study makes use of simple statistical models which may be manipulated for projection of changes in the Kaiparowits Region of Southern Utah. A method of determining habitat preferences of small rodents from capture-recapture trapping data is proposed. It is suggested that some aspects of animal behavior regarding trapping may also be explained. Timing of flowering of Oryzopsis hymenoides and Hilaria jamesii as related to enviromental conditions was investigated, and models of the requisite conditions proposed. It is suggested that similar models may be used to describe the timing of other phenological events. Succession on disturbed sites is considered to …


Ecological Investigations In Cercocarpus Ledifolius Nutt. Communities Of Utah, James Newton Davis Apr 1976

Ecological Investigations In Cercocarpus Ledifolius Nutt. Communities Of Utah, James Newton Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Cercocarpus ledifolius communities of Utah were sampled to determine which measured environmental characters were influential in determining community structure and dynamics. Nineteen, one-tenth acre stands were sampled by 25 equally spaced .25m2 quadrats. Plant frequency, cover, density, height, diameter, age, elevation, slope and exposure were determined for curl-leaf mahogany within the study area. Soil depth and soil samples were analyzed for texture, pH and soluble salts. Curl-leaf mahogany is found almost entirely on arid rocky slopes, canyon ledges, and plateaus at relatively high elevations on all exposures. The soils were invariably shallow and slightly acidic with sandy loam soils being …


Differential Resource Utilization By The Sexes Of Dioecious Plants, Dwight Carl Freeman Apr 1976

Differential Resource Utilization By The Sexes Of Dioecious Plants, Dwight Carl Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

The distribution of male and female plants was examined in five dioecious, wind pollinated species representing five plant families and two classes (gymnosperms and angiosperms). The arid to semiarid habitats occupied by these species in northern Utah were stratified for sampling into two categories: chronically xeric and seasonally moist. Results show that for all species, males prevail on xeric microsites, while females dominate the more moist parts of each local environment. Habitat partitioning between the sexes is a strategy that maximizes seedset of females and pollen dispersal of males; it also tends to minimize intraspecific competition between the sexes.


Fixation Of Dormant Tilletia Teliospores For Thin Sectioning, John Scott Gardner Apr 1976

Fixation Of Dormant Tilletia Teliospores For Thin Sectioning, John Scott Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

Dormant Tilletia caries teliospores in fixative solution or distilled water were frozen onto specimen chucks of an FTS Sorvall- Christensen frozen thin sectioner and cut or fractured at various temperatures (-20 to -75 C) and thickness settings (10, 15, 20, and 25 um). Cytoplasm of dormant spores was well preserved and organelles were found to differ from those of germinated spores in morphology. Irregular electron dense and electron opaque areas of lipid bodies were sometimes evident in dormant and germinating Tilletia caries teliospores. When dormant teliospores were sectioned in buffered fixative, lipids had an appearance similar to lipids in thin …


A Revision Of The Genus Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae) For The State Of Utah, Margaret Doherty Palmieri Apr 1976

A Revision Of The Genus Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae) For The State Of Utah, Margaret Doherty Palmieri

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a taxonomic revision of the genus Ranunculus for Utah. Twenty-five species and 4 varieties are recognized, and are separated by means of a comprehensive key. A list of pertinent synonyms and types, a morphological description, habitat preference and a discussion are presented for each species and variety. Distribution maps and photographs are included. The basis of this study has been morphological comparison of herbarium specimens and collections and observations by the author throughout Utah.


Vegetational Response To Three Environmental Gradients In A Salt Playa Near Goshen, Utah County, Utah, Michael Grant Skougard Apr 1976

Vegetational Response To Three Environmental Gradients In A Salt Playa Near Goshen, Utah County, Utah, Michael Grant Skougard

Theses and Dissertations

The plant communities and individual plant species in and around a salt playa near Goshen, Utah County, Utah were studied in relation to three environmental gradients. Forty-eight stands were sampled by means of meter square gradients. Frequency data for all participating plant species were taken. Soil samples were collected from each site and analyzed to establish the environmental gradients (i.e., total soluble salts, soil moisture and hydrogen ion concentration. Results indicate that community vegetation types respond differentially to the three gradients and can be segregated on the basis of one or more of the gradients. The total soluble salts gradient …


Correlations Between Plant Species Diversity And Flower Characteristics In The Wasatch Mountains Of Utah And Idaho, William Kent Ostler Apr 1976

Correlations Between Plant Species Diversity And Flower Characteristics In The Wasatch Mountains Of Utah And Idaho, William Kent Ostler

Theses and Dissertations

An analysis of the relative abundance of the prevalent species in 25 major plant communities of the Wasatch Mountains demonstrates that variation in species diversity is significantly correlated with many floral characteristics. Wind pollinated flowers decrease in abundance while animal pollinated flowers increase along the diversity gradient. Both relationships are highly significant statistically. Color diversity and species diversity are significantly and positively correlated in open communities but are not correlated in forest communities. The percent sum frequency of yellow and pink-magenta flowers decreased with increasing species diversity while blue and whitish flowers increased. Also, zygomorphic flowers and flowers in which …