Life Sciences Commons^™

The Distribution And Reproductive Phenology Of The Milkweeds (Asclepiadaceae: Asclepias And Cynanchum) In Nebraska, Robert B. Kaul, Steven B. Rolfsmeier, Jeffrey J. Esch

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The Asclepiadaceae are represented in Nebraska by seventeen native species of Asclepias and one of Cynanchum. Two species are here added to the State's flora: Asclepias asperula and A. purpurascens. Detailed county distribution maps are presented for all species based upon our extensive field and herbarium work, and numerous additions and corrections are made to the maps published in the Atlas of the Flora of the Great Plains in 1977. A map is presented showing the zone of hybridization of A. speciosa with A. syriaca in central Nebraska. Data are given on flowering and fruiting phenology for each …

The Challenge Of Parasitic Worms, D. W. T. Crompton

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

This is a summary of the Montgomery Lectures for 1990, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The lectures were funded by the UNL Research Council through an endowment from J. H. Montgomery

Body-Size And Wing-Length Variation Among Selected Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) From Nebraska's Sandhills Grasslands, Sarah B. Gaines

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Morphological variation in six grasshopper species is examined. Statistics describing collections (adult males and females) made during July 1986 and July and August 1987 are given. Five of the species are characterized by long wings, and the sixth is wing-length dimorphic. Additional collections at several western Nebraska grassland sites were used to examine relationships between nymph population density and wing-length frequencies in adults. Coefficients of variation were also calculated to facilitate designs of future experiments.

Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Sediment And Organic Matter From Transects Across The Lower Unchannelized Missouri River, Larry W. Hesse, Gerald E. Mestl

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The United States Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission cooperated in 1989 to obtain physical data from cross-section transects along the unchannelized Missouri River in northeastern Nebraska. Bed-sediment samples were collected from locations along these transects and taken to the laboratory. Mean particle-size and standard deviation were determined by weighing material retained on seven U.S. Standard sieves after being on a sieve shaker for six minutes. Organic matter content of each sample was obtained by ashing an aliquot in a muffle furnace to remove the organic portion. A new system for coding sediment …

Fossil Herpetofauna Of The Lisco C Quarries (Pliocene: Early Blancan) Of Nebraska, J. Alan Holman, M. Elise Schloeder

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The Pliocene (Early Blancan, 3.8 Ma) herpetofauna of the Lisco C Quarry of Garden County, Nebraska, consists of at least two anurans, two testudines, four saurians, and ten snakes. Only one of these, Sceloporus cf. S. robustus Twente, is extinct. An eastern extralimital form, Elaphe vulpina (Baird and Girard) and possibly another, Storeria sp., occur in the Lisco C fauna. It is suggested that the Lisco C herpetofauna may indicate a cooler, moister paleoclimate than the later Blancan Sand Draw (3.5 Ma), Big Springs (2.5 Ma), and Hornets' Nest (2.0 Ma) herpetofaunas of Nebraska. The Lisco C herpetofauna could have …

Fission-Track Ages Of Zircons From Lonergan Creek (Shoreline Fossil Locality, Ash Hollow Formation, Upper Miocene) In Western Nebraska, Michael B. Leite

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

A bed of vitric ash occurs 2 m above the primary fossiliferous unit at Lonergan Creek Locality in the Ash Hollow Formation on the north shore of Lake McConaughy, western Nebraska. Zircon crystals recovered from the ash were dated using the fission-track method. The grouping of youngest-age euhedral grains among the largely detrital suite is interpreted as the airfall population, with a fission- track age of 10.42 ± 2.5 Ma. Owing to uncertainties about the origin of this youngest group, the age should be interpreted as a "detrital" date and considered a maximum age for the ash. The Lonergan Creek …

The Natural-Areas Inventory Of Pawnee County, Nebraska, Gerald A. Steinauer

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

In January of 1988 the Nebraska Natural Heritage Program initiated a systematic natural-areas inventory of Pawnee County, Nebraska, the first of its kind in the state. The inventory had two primary objectives: 1) to test the effectiveness of methods for conducting county-based natural area inventories, developed in other Midwestern states, in the eastern Nebraska landscape, and 2) to locate, classify, and evaluate natural areas of statewide and national significance in Pawnee County. Color infrared photo analysis, aerial reconnaissance, and ground surveys were used to identity, classify, and evaluate natural areas. Though Pawnee County proved to be a difficult county for …

Franklin, Malthus, And Darwin: The Push That Became A Shove, Carl R. Throckmorton

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay in 1751 that he hoped would help to change the conduct of England toward its North American colonies. In the essay, Franklin made the observation that the colonies were doubling their population every 25 years to illustrate the rapid growth of the colonies compared with that of England. Thomas Malthus discovered Benjamin Franklin's essay shortly after the publication of his own essay on population in 1798. He considered Franklin's data to be proof of his own theory of how populations grow and credited Franklin in the five later editions of his essay. Charles Darwin, in …

New And Corrected Floristic Records For Nebraska, Steven B. Rolfsmeier, Robert B. Kaul, David M. Sutherland

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Nineteen species (including eight Eurasian ones) are newly recorded for Nebraska: Alopecurus arundinaceus, Amaranthus californicus, Asclepias asperula, A. purpurascens, Cardamine {lexuosa*, Centaurea diffusa, Dipsacus laciniatus, Eriochloa villosa, Euclidium syriacum, Gentiana alba, Geranium viscosissimum, Geum vernum, Goodyera oblongifolia, Haplopappus multicaulis, Heterotheca latifolia, Lathyrus tuberosus, Polygonum douglasii, Scirpus saximontanus, Veronica biloba. Twenty-one others are shown to be more widespread in Nebraska than previously known, one has a more restricted range than previously reported, two (Scirpus smithii, S. torreyi) are deleted from the flora based upon corrected identifications, and the status of some rarely-collected species is updated. Thirty-two additions, two …

Transactions Of The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences Volume Xviii (1990-91): Table Of Contents

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Editorial Contents

Nebraska Academy of Sciences Officers, Policy Committee .......... ii

Editorial Board .......... v

Membership Objectives and Friends of the Academy .......... vi

Earth Sciences

Ditching of wetlands in the Nebraska Sandhills: A case study of Grant County (James E. Ducey) .......... 1

Cross-sectional analyses of sediment and organic matter from transects across the lower unchannelized Missouri River (Larry W. Hesse and Gerald E. Mestl) .......... 11

Fossil herpetofauna of the Lisco C quarries (Pliocene: Early Blancan) of Nebraska (J. Alan Holman and M. Elise Schloeder) .......... 19

Fission-track ages of zircons from Lonergan Creek (Shoreline Fossil Locality, Ash …

Ditching Of Wetlands In The Nebraska Sandhills: A Case Study Of Grant County, James E. Ducey

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Ditching of wetlands in the Nebraska Sandhills is shown by a case study of Grant County, where ditching can be traced back more than fifty years. Drainage activity shown on recent soil and topographic maps shows more than 55 sites in the county where ditching has occurred. Many lakes and marshes have been completely drained and are now hay meadows. In a section of southeastern Grant County, eight lakes comprising more than 3,500 acres are shown as drained. The wetland valleys in the Sandhills Natural Landmark south of Hyannis have been ditched. The regulatory role of the Army Corps of …

A Biological Inventory And General Assessment Of Eastern Nebraska Saline Wetlands In Lancaster And Southern Saunders Counties, Richard A. Gersib, Gerald A. Steinauer

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

A recent inventory of Lancaster and southern Saunders counties identified 133 saline wetlands and 99 potential saline wetlands. The wetlands ranged from 0.4 ha (1 ac) to over 80 ha (200 ac). Information was gathered on the quality, threats, vulnerability, restoration feasibility, and water source of each wetland. Saline wetlands in Lancaster and southern Saunders counties have undergone extensive degradation through commercial, residential, and agricultural development. Recommendations for preservation of saline and potential saline wetlands are given.

A Taxonomic Study Of Variation In Leptochloa Fascicularis (Lam.) Gray In The Central Great Plains, Todd A. Templeton

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The morphology of Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) Gray (Poaceae) was studied in 25 locations in eastern and central Nebraska to determine if this grass was separable into two distinct taxa as suggested in several recent sources. Field collections were supplemented with herbarium specimens from other parts of the Central Great Plains. Glume and lemma lengths, the characters used in published keys, provided no separations useful in dividing the material into two species or varieties. However, individual local populations exhibited significant differences from each other in these characters. Such local differences appear to be reasonable given the high degree of inbreeding that …

Contamination Of The Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) By Organochlorine Pesticides And Polychlorinated Biphenyls In The Missouri River, Curtis C. Christiansen, Larry W. Hesse, Bruce Littell

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) were collected at ten locations from the Missouri River adjoining Nebraska. Fillet samples were found to be contaminated with DDT, PCB, dieldrin, heptachlor, trifluralin, and chlordane. At one location, near Bellevue, concentrations of chlordane exceeded Federal Food and Drug Administration action levels. This indicates channel catfish caught and consumed from the Bellevue area may pose a threat to human health. This study provides baseline information on the contamination of channel catfish in the Missouri River adjoining Nebraska.

The Vascular Flora Of Banner County, Nebraska, Joyce Phillips Hardy

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

A botanical survey of Banner County resulted in a total of 432 species of vascular plants being recorded, representing 238 genera of 70 families. Two hundred seven of these species had not previously been collected in Banner County. One (Penstemon buckleyi) is newly collected for Nebraska. These collections represent four major plant communities: coniferous forest, native prairie, riparian and stream habitat, and disturbed sites. Banner County has four distinct topographical regions (Platte River Valley, Wildcat Hills, Pumpkin Creek Valley, and Cheyenne Tableland) that provide varying habitats for plants. The transition areas between these units have habitats that provide …

The Fecundity And Reproductive Season Of Fundulus Sciadicus In Nebraska (Actinopterygii: Fundulidae), Todd A. Kinney, John D. Lynch

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The reproductive season of Fundulus sciadicus in Nebraska was investigated using preserved materials. Ovarian eggs matured in late March or early April. By mid-July all adult females were spent. Females with enlarged eggs were in their second, third, and fourth seasons of life. Eggs were classified on the basis of their morphology and the presence or absence of oil droplets and yolk. "Mature" eggs ranged in size from 1.6 to 2.0 mm in diameter. The largest ovarian complement (mature eggs only) was 88. Evidence of reabsorption (large eggs that have collapsed and have only small amounts of yolk) was seen …

A Review Of The Scaritinid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritini) Of Nebraska, Richard E. Clopton

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The tribe Scaritini includes 18 Nebraska species in five genera. Keys are provided for the genera and the species. Descriptions and distributions are delineated. lllustrations clarify key characters for all genera and 12 species. Faunal distribution maps are provided for the six most widespread species.

Leeches (Annelida: Hirudinea) In Central And Western Nebraska, William A. Moser

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Sixteen sites in western and central Nebraska were sampled for leeches. Of the ten species found, three are newly recorded in Nebraska: Alboglossiphonia heteroclita, Dina dubia, and Theromyzon biannulatum. The habitats and ecology of each species are described

The Use Of Whole Animals Versus Isolated Organs Or Cell Culture In Research, H. Claire Murphy

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

As government regulations for animal care increase in number and complexity, and as animal-rights activists continue to push for decreased use of animals for research, more laboratories have turned to tissue and cell culture for biological research. Initial costs of large animals and escalating maintenance costs have driven some researchers from the use of large animal models. Both models-whole animals for chronic experiments and the use of isolated tissue-can give answers to physiological questions. Cost is certainly a factor that must be considered in the present atmosphere in which funding is so difficult to obtain. However, any information gained in …

A Survey Of The Bryophyte Flora Of Six South-Central Counties Of Nebraska, Linda L. Spessard-Schueth

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

During the summers of 1988 and 1989, bryophyte collections made in Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps counties of Nebraska comprised 26 species. These add 45 county reports to the known bryophyte flora.

History Of Isco (Instrumentation Specialties Company) Of Lincoln, Nebraska, R. W. Allington

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

This paper was given as a special lecture at the 1988 annual meeting of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. It is a personal account of the beginnings of Dr. Allington's successful company-Editor.

Pectoral-Spine Embedding To Facilitate Scetioning For Age Analysis Of Young Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus), Michael T. Kaminski, Edward J. Peters, Richard S. Holland

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

We describe a method of preparing pectoral spines from juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and other ictalurid species that allows easy sectioning and aging. The method uses marine epoxy poured into molds that enables the encased spine to be held firmly for sectioning with a saw. The technique costs less than US$10 to prepare up to 500 spines and takes only a few hours