Life Sciences Commons^™

Heartworm And Lungworms In Illinois' Canids And Their Possible Effect On Coyote Condition And Reproduction, David G. Gregory

Masters Theses

This study focuses on the prevalence of heartworm and lungworms in Illinois' canid species, and the effect that they may have on condition (body weight, kidney fat, marrow fat) and reproduction (placental scars) on coyote populations. A total of 1,150 coyotes (Canis latrans), 2,269 domestic dogs, 47 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and 2 gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were examined. Prevalence of heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) averaged 17.8% in coyotes, 3.0% in domestic dogs, 2.0% in red foxes, and 0% in gray foxes. Domestic dogs not receiving any type of prophylactic treatment had a higher prevalence (12.5%) of heartworms than dogs on …

Demographics And Condition Of Coyotes In Illinois, Daniel M. Lloyd

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Seed Vigor Of Four Isoline Pairs Of Sweet Corn With Two Endosperm Types At Four Temperatures, Ronglin Wang

Masters Theses

Sweet corn (Zea mays L. var rugosa ) is the fourth most important fresh vegetable in the U.S.. Supersweet corn with shrunken-2 endosperm is more popular with consumers than traditional sweet corn with sugary endosperm because sh2 kernels have more sugars and retain this sweet flavor longer than su kernels. However, its acceptance by growers is hindered because of its inferior seed quality and poor seedling vigor, especially when temperature is low.

Seed vigor of four isoline pairs ( C68, Oh43, Il442a and Ia453 ) with two endosperm types ( sh2 and su ) was studied in this investigation. In …

A Systematic Study Of The Native Geum L. Species Of Illinois, Michael B. Wenzel

Masters Theses

A systematic study of the seven species of Geum L. (Rosaceae) native to Illinois including G. aleppicum var. strictum (Aiton) Fernald, G. canadense Jaquin, G. laciniatum Murray var. trichocarpum Fernald, G. rivale Linnaeus, G. triflorum Pursh, G. vernum (Rafinesque) Torrey & Gray, and G. virginianum Linnaeus is presented. Early classification systems are briefly compared, especially regarding the topic of subgenera. Detailed taxonomic descriptions, distribution information including county citations, and identification keys were developed for this study. Two seperate keys, one for floral characters and the second for specimens in fruit are given for greater ease in proper identification.

Two …

Habitat Selection, Reproductive Success, And Impaling Patterns Of A Migratory Population Of Loggerhead Shrikes, Jeffrey D. Esely Jr.

Masters Theses

I studied habitat selection and reproductive success of a migratory population of Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) as well as the temporal and spatial patterns of impaling exhibited by this population during the nesting season. The selection of breeding habitat was investigated at different spatial scales. Thirty-eight (67%) of 57 nests were located in osage orange (Maclura pomifera) trees. Shrike territories (area ≤ 200 m from nest site) contained significantly more pasture, fenceline, and perch sites, but less com, alfalfa, and forest than random sites. At larger spatial scales, more grassland was detected within 300 m …

The Role Of Bowfin, Amia Calva, In Multiple Species Management Plans, Benjamin Jacob Hausmann

Masters Theses

The major challenge to fisheries managers of the 21st century will be to maintain the diversity, not only of fishing opportunity, but also of traditionally non-game and economically unimportant species. With the relatively recent understanding of the importance of ecosystem level management, attention is being focused on native species that were often ignored or eradicated under past management practices. One such fish that has been largely ignored is the bowfin, Amia calva. Ecological data pertaining to bowfin natural history are limited and to date no attempt has been made to integrate bowfin into fisheries management decisions within the species native …

The Relationship Between Burrowing Behavior Of Native Unionid Bivalves And Infestation By Zebra Mussels, Amy Gries

Masters Theses

Burrowing behavior of unionids was examined as a variable in colonization of unionids by juvenile zebra mussels searching for substrate. For each unionid species represented, zebra mussel densities were compared between a free-living experimental unionid and an immobilized control during each replicate. Of the four species used (Amblema plicata, Quadrula quadrula, Leptodea fragilis and Obliquaria reflexa), only Q. quadrula had a statistically significant difference between zebra mussel densities on the experimental mussels as compared with the controls. When zebra mussel densities on the experimental mussels were compared between species, only the comparison of Q. quadrula and O. reflexa was …

The Effects Of Habitual Physical Activity On Number Of Colds And Incidence Of Cold Symptoms, Katie Lynn Maniatis

Masters Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to compare frequency of colds and symptoms of upper respiratory infection in college students who have different levels of habitual physical activity. Subjects were Eastern Illinois University students (N=535, aged 18-25). A survey was conducted which included questions inquiring about demographic information, physical activity habits, the number of colds contracted the month before the survey, and symptom number and severity. Data collection occurred between February 12th and March 1st, 1998. This particular time period was chosen for several reasons, including that student stress level should have been lower than at the beginning or end …

A Comparison Of Measures In Physical Fitness And Biological Maturity Between Female Gymnasts And Females Not Involved In Organized Sport, Cara Kokenes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in physical fitness and biological development between two groups of twelve year old females. One group consisted of idividuals who had been involved in competitive sport for at least two years while the other group was not involved in organized sport. Two groups of 20 subjects were examined in terms of height, weight, flexibility, strength, body composition, maturation, eating attitudes, and cardiorespiratory endurance. The results indicated that the gymnasts were significantly (p<.05) shorter, lighter, stronger in regard to left hand grip strength, lower in percent body fat, less biologically mature, and had greater cardiorespiratory fitness than the non-gymnasts. No significant differences were observed in right hand grip strength or eating attitudes. It was concluded that maturation level as well as gymnastic training played a major role in influencing values obtained through measurements of physical fitness.

A Comparison Of Blood Cholesterol Levels And The Intake Of Dietary Trans Fatty Acids In Post-Menopausal Women, Bridget Cartwright

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between dietary trans fatty acids and levels of total serum cholesterol, high and low density lipoproteins, and the ratio of total serum cholesterol to HDL in apparently healthy post-menopausal women.

Subjects (n = 21) were current members of the Eastern Illinois University Adult Fitness Program. All were moderately active Caucasian women determined to be post-menopausal and not taking hormone replacement therapy or lipid lowering medications. Mean age of the subjects was 69.1 ± 9.1 years.

Dietary intakes were assessed with the use of a multiple day food record and personal …

The Brachiacantha (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Of Illinois, Harry Wilson Montgomery Jr.

Masters Theses

The Illinois fauna of Brachiacantha (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is treated in this paper. Seven species were found to occur in Illinois through active collecting and study of specimens from 16 museums and private collections. A key to the identification of adults, descriptions of the adults, habitus photographs and national and state distribution maps are provided. The most commonly collected Illinois species are B. ursina, B. felina, B. quadripunctata quadripunctata and B. decempustulata. Uncommonly collected species are B. dentipes and B. rotunda. Brachiacantha indubitabilis is represented in the Illinois fauna only by the lectotype for the species. Malaise traps, sweep netting, yellow …

A Comparison Of Predation Rates On Real And Artificial Nests Of Grassland Birds, William B. Davison

Masters Theses

I compared rates of predation between real and artificial nests of grassland birds in order to test the impact of nest type, nest position, and egg size on predation rates. I distributed wicker avicultural baskets and realistic grass nests baited with a clay egg and either northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) or house sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs in four Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands in east-central Illinois. Nest success averaged 86.5% for 12 days of exposure for artificial nests. For real nests, nest success was markedly lower; averaging 39% over the entire nesting cycle and 59% during approximately 12 days of …