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Nebraska Bird Review (March 1993) 61(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

1992 Treasurer’s Report……………..2

Samuel Aughey's List of Nebraska Birds (1878): A critical Evaluation by Roger S. Sharpe …………….. 3

Bird Count, NOU winter Meeting, Grand Island, NE, 1993 ……………..11

1992 Nebraska Christmas Bird Count …………….. 11

1993 Midwinter Survey of Bald and Golden Eagles in Nebraska ……………..22

Big Bluestem And Switchgrass Establishment As Influenced By Seed Priming, Jana J. Beckman, Lowell E. Moser, Keith Kubik, Steven S. Waller

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Seed dormancy and slow seedling development often limit establishment of warm-season grass stands. Establishment of seedlings with two solid matrix seed priming (SMP) treatments [2-d moistened (17°C) and 14-d wet-chill (4°C)] was compared with untreated seed of 'Kaw' and 'Pawnee' big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and 'Pathfinder' and 'Cave-in-Rock' switchgrass (Panicurn virgaturn L.) in greenhouse and field experiments. In two greenhouse studies, seedling emergence was monitored from 7 to 26 d after planting and number of adventitious roots were monitored from 2 to 5 wk after planting. Field experiments were initiated on 19 Apr. 1988, 3 June 1988, …

Water Deficit Effects On Osmotic Potential, Cell Wall Elasticity, And Proline In Five Forage Grasses, D. J. Barker, C. Y. Sullivan, Lowell E. Moser

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Physiological responses of forage grasses to water deficit are not well documented, but may be important in determining drought resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the response of osmotic potential, leaf proline concentration, and cell wall elasticity to water deficit for the C₄ (warm-season) grasses 'Nebraska 54' indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], 'Pathfinder' switchgrass (Panicum virgutum L.), and 'Pawnee' big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), and the C₃ (cool-season) grasses, 'Ioreed' reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and 'Lincoln' smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.). Other measurements included leaf water potential, soil water …

Samuel Aughey’S List Of Nebraska Birds (1878): A Critical Evaluation, Roger S. Sharpe

Nebraska Bird Review

The University of Nebraska was founded in Lincoln in 1869, but finances did not allow the addition of a scientist until 1875, when Samuel Aughey was added to the staff to fill the first chair of natural history (Pound and Clements 1900). Although a theologian by training, Aughey wrote prolifically on a number of natural history subjects pertaining to Nebraska, including its flora, fauna, and geology. A summary of his impressions of the natural history of the state, including its biota, was published in a book, "Sketches of the Physical Geography and Geology of Nebraska" (Aughey 1880), which was printed …

South American Oxybelus Iii. The Uniglumis And Scutellatus Groups (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)., Richard M. Bohart

Insecta Mundi

Twenty-four of the larger species of Oxybelus occurring in South America (except Chile) are recognized. Akey is given and illustrations are provided of the critical thoracic projections: metanotal squamae and propodeal mucro. New species described and their type localities are: aganis (Paraguay), cyaneus (Colombia), decoris (Brazil), fraternus (Argentina), frontis, (Argentina), huae Wcuador), napoensis (Ecuador), osteni, (Argentina), peruensis (Peru), peruvicus (Peru), plaumanni (Brazil), roraimae (Brazil), scutellatus (Argentina), tartagalae (Argentina) and willinki (Argentina).

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 25. No. 1. March 1993

The Prairie Naturalist

Paul B. Kannowski, Editor

Nikki R. Seabloom, Assistant Editor

Douglas H. Johnson, Book Review Editor

CONTENTS

FACTORS AFFECTING BIRD COLONIZATION OF RESTORED WETLANDS ▪ L. M. Hemesath and J. J. Dinsmore

RESPONSE OF DABBLING DUCKS TO EARLY-SPRING PARTIAL DRAWDOWN ON LAKE ERIE MARSHES ▪ T. Z. Riley and T. A. Bookhout

OVER-WATER NESTING BY DUCKS IN NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA ▪ . K. L. Solberg and K. F. Higgins

ADDITIONAL MOUNTAIN PLOVER SIGHTINGS IN MONTANA ▪ D. M. Prellwitz

SMALL MAMMALS OF WOODED HABITATS OF THE KONZA PRAIRIE RESEARCH NATURAL AREA, KANSAS ▪ D. W. Kaufman, G. A. Kaufman, and E. …

New Species Of Cerobasis And Psyllipsocus From Mexico, And A List Of Mexican Trogiomorpha (Psocoptera), Alfonso Neri Garcia Aldrete

Insecta Mundi

Three new species of Cerobasis (Trogiidae) and three new species of Psyllipsocus (Psyllipsocidae) from Mexico are here described, which rises to seven the number of Mexican Cerobasis, and rises to nine the number of Mexican Psyllipsocus. Identification keys for the Mexican species of both genera are provided. The Mexican species of Trogiomorpha are thus known to consist of 46 species, of which 25 (54%) are endemic to this country. Lists of Cerobasis and Psyllipsocus species are presented, as well as a list of the known Mexican Trogiomorpha, including the distribution in this country of each species.

South American Oxybelus Ii. The Emarginatus Group (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), Richard M. Bohart

Insecta Mundi

The 13 South American members of the Oxybelus emarginatus group are keyed, new species described, and illustrations given. New species are: cinemucro (Argentina), genisei (Brazil), mendozae (Argentina), schlingeri (Venezuela), schusteri (Galapagos), slanskyae (Peru), stangei (Argentina), vardyi (Peru), and wasbaueri (Ecuador).

United States Patent: Composition And Method For Inhibiting Pathogens And Spoilage Organisms In Food, Robert W. Hutkins, Elaine D. Berry, Michael B. Liewen

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The method of the invention uses live cells of non-fermenting and/or non-growing lactic acid bacteria to deliver bacteriocin into edible food substances to inhibit the growth of food spoilage and/or food-borne pathogenic organisms. The method of the invention may be used to inhibit growth of these organisms in raw food substances and finished food products after processing. The lactic acid bacteria within the food mixture are capable of producing bacteriocin in the desired microbial- inhibiting amounts under conditions of non-growth and non-fermentation

Mammals Of The Platte River Valley: Final Report, Patricia W. Freeman, Russell A. Benedict

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Nebraska is characterised as a critical juncture for distributional ranges of mammals from northern, southern, eastern, and plains faunal elements. As might be expected, ranges have not remained static since the benchmark survey done by Jones, 1964. We have evidence that 10 of about 80 species of mammals found in the Platte River Valley have expanded their ranges. Opossum, red bats, bog lemmings, white-footed mice, woodchucks and least weasels are further west in the state, and grasshopper mice are further east in the state. Elliot's short-tailed shrew, cotton rats and armadillos are further north in the state. We have the …

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 4, No. 1, February 8, 1993

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Grants

Department travelers

Publications

Graduate students

Calendar of events

Announcements

Miscellaneous

Rural Flies In The Urban Environment?, Gustave D. Thomas, Steven R. Skoda

Historical Research Bulletins of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station

Because metropolitan areas in the United States have been expanding at a dramatic rate, there has been direct competition between rural and urban interests for land. Also, market pressures often make it most profitable for meat producers to locate as close to urban centers as possible. A resultant growing interface between rural and urban centers, coupled with inadequate understanding of the people between the two centers, provides a potential for problems to develop. This book generally summarizes one area of contention - flies: few people tolerate flies in any setting anymore.

Differential Allocation Of Resources Underlies The Dispersal-Reproduction Trade-Off In The Wing-Dimorphic Cricket, Gryllus Rubens, Simon Mole, Anthony J. Zera

Anthony Zera Publications

The cricket, Gryllus rubens (Orthoptera, Gryllidae), exists in natural populations as either a fully-winged (LW), flight-capable morph or as a short-winged (SW) morph that cannot fly. The SW morph is substantially more fecund than the LW morph. In this study we report on the physiological basis of this trade-off between flight capability and fecundity. Results from gravimetric feeding trials indicate that LW and SW morphs are equivalent in their consumption and digestion of food. However, during the adult stage, the LW morph is less efficient in converting assimilated nutrients into biomass. This may be a consequence of the respired loss …

Ard News February 1993

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:
COMMENTS FROM THE DEAN
106TH ANNUAL REPORT FOR ARD
FORM FOR RECORDING ALLOCATION OF PROGRAM RESOURCES
NEW OR REVISED PROJECTS
GRANTS & CONTRACTS RECEIVED DECEMBER 1992 AND JANUARY 1993
PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR FEDERAL GRANTS
ESCOP RESEARCH INITIATIVES
DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL "BASIC" RESEARCH FUNDS BY PROGRAM AREA
COMPARISON OF INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
PROGRAM SIZE AND FY 1991 RESEARCH EXPENDITURES OF SELECTED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS
COMPARISON OF SAES FUNDING SOURCES FY 1991
SAES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE
COMPARISON OF PROGRAM SIZE – FY 1991

Geological Field Guide To The Cedar Point Biological Station, Keith County, Nebraska, Robert F. Diffendal Jr., Roger K. Pabian

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

This field guide was produced by staff members of the Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska originally in 1979 at the request of Dr. Brent Nickol, former Director of the Cedar Point Biological Station. It is an introduction to the geologic history and paleoecology of the Cedar Point area intended for students, staff, and other persons using the camp. This revision has been made some 15 years after the first version to reflect changes in ideas resulting from new data collected during that time.

Users of this guide should take care when studying the rock exposures described …

Breed Comparisons For Growth Traits Adjusted For Within-Breed Genetic Trend Using Expected Progeny Differences, R. Nunez-Dominguez, L. Dale Van Vleck, Larry V. Cundiff

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Records (2,910) of birth (BWT), weaning (WW), and yearling weight (YW) of F₁ calves produced in a top-cross experiment involving Angus, Hereford, Pooled Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Gelbvieh, Maine-Anjou, Chianina, Tarentaise, Shorthorn, and Salers bulls mated to Hereford and Angus cows and records (4,592) of WW on three-breed-cross calves out of 986 F₁ females of the same breed crosses were used in this study. The purposes were to estimate how much of the EPD of the sires was realized in crossbred calves and to estimate sire breed effects for the traits adjusted for genetic trend and sire sampling. …

Another Look At Farm Size And Concentration, Roy Frederick

Cornhusker Economics

One of the legacies of the 1977 farm bill is that USDA is required to make an annual report to Congress on the status of family farms. This year's report (Peterson, R. Neal and Nora L. Brooks, 'The Changing Concentration of U.S. Agricultural Production During the 20th Century," Economic Research Service, Agriculture Information Bulletin Number 671, July, 1993) was issued a few weeks ago.

The Future Of Agricultural Research, Roger Beachy, Susanne L. Huttner, Anne K. Vidaver

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

We enthusiastically support Philip H. Abelson’s call for substantially increased funding for basic agricultural research (Editorial, 28 Aug., p. 1187). However, he neglects the government’s critical role as gatekeeper; some federal regulatory policies are serious impediments to progress in the agricultural sciences. A subsequent editorial by Charles Arntzen, “Regulation of transgenic plants’ (4 Sept., p 1327), points out that research on genetically engineered plants is now subject to delays and extensive assessments that result from perceptions of public concern and not from scientific evidence of risk. when government’s research and regulatory policies conflict, the public loses twice-their investment in the …

Beef Facilities And Management At U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, W. Gordon Hays, Gary S. Ross

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

The Cattle Operations Unit functions as a support service to the research scientists and maintains the animal populations necessary for our livestock research. Indirectly, this also involves responsible land management and herd health procedures. All the facilities and procedures employed in maintaining the extensive cattle herd are determined by research needs. Consequently, while providing a function sometimes indirectly related to research, the operations unit is necessary to provide adequate feedstuffs and healthy animals for research studies.

Can Cattle Be Litter Bearing? Uterine Capacity In Cattle., Sherrill E. Echternkamp

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

With few exceptions, the bovine female produces one ovum per estrous cycle, and consequently one offspring per year. Thus,the reproductive rate of cattle is low in comparison to other meat-producing animals, birds and fish. Studies at the University of Wisconsin in the early 1950's indicated that the frequency of twin ovulations was 1O-fold greater than the frequency of twin births. However, a recent evaluation of ovulation rate in the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center twinner herd indicated that about 50% of the twin ovulations resulted in twin births. With a twinning frequency of 25% in this population, it is suggested …

Biological Efficiency Differences Among Bos Taurus X Bos Taurus And Bos Indicus X Bos Taurus F1-Cross Cows, Ronnie D. Green, Larry V. Cundiff, Gordon E. Dickerson, Thomas G. Jenkins

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Matching germplasm to resources through designed crossbreeding programs can contribute to optimum beef production efficiency. This is particularly true in light of the wide diversity of environmental conditions encountered by beef producers in the U.S. This approach requires considerable knowledge about genetic diversity among breeds in components of performance and furthermore how those components interact to influence life-cycle efficiency in the production setting. It was largely this identified need, coupled with the importation of a number of new breeds from continental Europe, that gave impetus for the establishment of the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program. In Cycles I and II of …

Characterizing Stress In Feeder Cattle, G. Leroy Hahn, John A. Nienaber

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

During the period August 6 to 10, 1992, a heat wave moved through central and eastern Nebraska. Maximum air temperatures were in the 90 to 95°F range, generally not considered to be extreme during the summer season. However, during this particular episode, the accompanying humidity was higher than normal (50 to 70% during the hottest portions of the day), with light to moderate winds except on August 8 when the wind was fairly strong. The relatively cool preceding summer weather had not adequately conditioned livestock to high levels of heat stress. As a result, several hundred feedlot cattle died in …

Effect Of Marbling On Variation And Change In Beef Tenderness In Bos Taurus And Bos Indicus Crosses, Robert M. Koch, John D. Crouse, Michael E. Dikeman, Larry V. Cundiff, Keith E. Gregory

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Today's diet conscious consumers continue to desire flavorful, tender meat, but increasingly avoid excess fat. Differences in USDA quality grades within similar aged cattle are determined primarily by differences in marbling scores which tend to be associated with overall fatness in beef carcasses. Previous studies (Cundiff et al., 1988) demonstrated an antagonism between lean yield in carcasses and degree of marbling associated with higher quality grades. Breeds that rank highest for retail product percentage rank lowest for marbling. High negative genetic correlations have been found within breeds between marbling and retail product percentage. Thus, only limited opportunity exists for genetically …

Feedlot And Carcass Characteristics Of Heifers: Effect Of Ovariectomy And Ovariectomy With Ovarian Autograft, John M. Klindt, John D. Crouse

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Heifers as beef animals traditionally have been discriminated against in the marketplace. This discrimination is the result of ovarian secretions acting on performance and nutrient partitioning, as well as the possibility of pregnancies. The actions of ovarian secretions can be through their differentiational effects, permanent effects on the development and physiology of the individual, and through activational effects, temporary effects expressed only when the activating agent is present. Expression of heat or estrual activity is an example of an activational effect. The fatter carcasses which heifers generally produce is an example of a differentiational effect. Not only do heifers produce …

Fiber Degrading Microorganisms From Bison, Cattle-Bison Hybrids And Cattle., Vincent H. Varel, Burk A. Dehority

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

The limiting factor in forage plants which prevents more complete degradation by ruminants is the fiber component. Sometimes called lignocellulose, this fraction is primarily composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Forages are normally high in lignocellulose when compared to cereal grains, therefore they are lower in digestibility, which in turn results in reduced efficiency of animal production. Studies have shown that a small increase in forage digestibility, such as 7 to 12%, can result in increases of 30 to 40% in animal gain. These numbers provide a substantial incentive to further study the factors which limit the degradation of forage …

Genotype-Environment Interactions For Reproduction And Maternal Performance Of Bos Indicus And Bos Taurus Crosses In Nebraska And Florida, Larry V. Cundiff, Timothy A. Olsen, K. Euclides Filho, M. Kroger, W. T. Butts, Keith E. Gregory

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

In the U.S., cattle of diverse breeds and crosses are maintained in diverse climatic environments ranging from the temperate-continental conditions of the North Central region, characterized by wide fluctuations in temperate from winter to summer, to subtropical conditions of the Southeastern region, characterized by relatively moderate winter temperatures but high temperatures and humidity in the summer mo. The genetic range is spanned by Bos indicus (humped cattle) breeds, that originally evolved under tropical conditions of India and Pakistan, and by Bos taurus (nonhumped) breeds, that originally evolved under temperate conditions of continental Europe and the British Isles. The present experiment …

Gene Mapping In Cattle, Craig W. Beattie, Roger T. Stone, Michael D. Bishop, Sara L. F. Sunden, John W. Keele, Steven M. Kappes

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Over the last decade, progress in molecular biologic techniques has brought the mapping of genes within the human and mouse genomes to a point where information on the location of groups of genes and additional anonymous, but unique, bits of DNA (markers) within their respective genomes can be brought to bear in developing a bovine genomic map. This is possible because of the conservation of genes, particularly those concerned with regulating important functions, between species into syntenic (single chromosome) groups.

Investment in the development of a bovine map is important for several reasons. While continued selection of desirable traits by …

Hormone Profiles In Cattle Selected For Twin Ovulations And Births, Sherrill E. Echternkamp, Leon J. Spicer, Keith E. Gregory

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted into the blood circulatory system by the pituitary and as the name implies stimulates growth and development of follicles within the female ovary. Thus, the administration of exogenous FSH or FSH-like substances (e.g., pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin, PMSG) to cattle has been used for the induction of multiple ovulations and, subsequently, twin or multiple births. These same substances have been used extensively for the induction of superovulation in embryo donor females. Consequently, it was speculated that cows producing twin births naturally from the spontaneous ovulation of multiple ovarian follicles would have higher circulating concentrations …

Immunization Against Inhibin Increases Sperm Production In Young Beef Bulls, Donald D. Lunstra, Terry L. Martin, Gary L. Williams, James J. Ireland

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

The specific biological mechanisms that control pubertal development, testicular growth and onset of sperm production in the beef bull have not been well defined. It is known that two protein hormones (the gonadotropins, LH and FSH) produced by the pituitary stimulate testicular growth, cause an increase in numbers of testicular receptors for LH and FSH, and stimulate production of steroid hormones by the testes. Researchers have shown that the patterns of LH and FSH secretion diverge during the peripubertal period in several species, including the bull. While LH increases during the peripubertal period of development in the bull, FSH exhibits …

Mortality And Cold Tolerance Of Calves With Different Ratios Of Bos Indicus To Bos Taurus Inheritance, Maurie J. Josey, Larry V. Cundiff, Robert M. Koch, Keith E. Gregory, G. Leroy Hahn

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Results from the Germplasm Evaluation Program (GPE) at the Roman L. Hruska U. S. Meat Animal Research Center (U.S. Meat Animal Research Center) have shown that significant differences exist among cows representing breeds of diverse biological types In such production traits as 200-day weaning wt per cow in the breeding herd. Production of Bos indicus F₁ cross cows (Brahman and Sahiwal sired crosses out of Hereford and Angus dams) was equalled only by F₁ cross cows sired by large size dual purpose breeds (Brown Swiss, Gelbvleh, Simmental, Holstein and Maine Anjou crosses out of Hereford and Angus dams) …