Life Sciences Commons^™

The Nebline, December 1998

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Contents:
Holiday legends,traditions & fun
Gardening resolutions
Keep trees fresh
Cyclamen care
Painting with plants
Pruning vines and groundcovers
Combing—a non-toxic method that can eliminate head lice
Our Christmas tree
A mouse in the house
A “must read” book
It’s a hit–20,000 hits!
Use and care of home humidifiers
Deadline near for requesting free inspection in compliance with Livestock Waste Management Act
Private applicators training
Crop Protection Clinic
The Power of a PTO
Beef home study course begins fifth year
Landlords need to reduce cash crop rental rates for '99
Developing your marketing plan
Chain saw operation
Commercial handling of …

Two New Nymphalidae From Western North Carolina: New Subspecies Of Speyeria Aphrodite And Phyciodes Batesii, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Two new subspecies are described from Macon County, North Carolina, United States. Speyeria aphrodite cullasaja is characterized by dorsal melanism, especially in females, by usually lacking the dorsal FW basal spots in cell Cu1 and Cu2, and by a narrowed buff marginal band on the ventral HW (sometimes absent in females). Phyciodes batesii maconensis males are characterized by wholly yellow ventral hind wings devoid of any dark marginal dusting or whitish crescents; and females occasionally possessing, lightly dusted, brown margins and rarely having a silvered marginal ventral HW spot. PPhyciodes batesii maconensis larvae are gregarious Aster feeders. Females are …

Southeast South Dakota Experiment Farm Annual Progress Report, 1998, Agricultural Experiment Station

Agricultural Experiment Station and Research Farm Annual Reports

This thirty-eighth annual report of the research program at the Southeast South Dakota Experiment Farm has special significance for those engaged in agriculture and the agriculturally related businesses in the nine county area of southeast South Dakota. Reports in this document include information on: temperatures and precipitation data, corn production and performance, soybean research and planting, soil testing, alfalfa yield test, fertilizer testing, herbicide research, crop rotation, sorghum, small grains, livestock research, and pest and weed control.

Masthead And Table Of Contents [December 1998]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $14.00 in the United States; $18.00 for all foreign countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4.00 each, postpaid, in the United States, and $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary Lou Pritchard, NOU Librarian, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in NOU (on a calendar year basis only): Active, $15.00; Sustaining, $25.00; Student, $10.00; Family Active, $20.00; Family Sustaining,$30.00; …

Nebraska Bird Review (December 1998) 66(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

In Memorium: Harvey L. Gunderson … 114

Parasitic Jaeger at Lake McConaughy … 114

Endemicity and Regional Biodiversity in Nebraska's Breeding Avifauna … 115

Fall Field Report: Introduction … 121

Fall Field Report: Species Accounts … 123

1997 (Ninth) Report of the NOU Records Committee … 147

Bird Banding Notes … 159

Index for Volume 66 … 160

1997 (9th) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the NOU Records Committee are described in its bylaws (NOU Records Committee 1986). The committee's purpose is to provide a procedure for documenting unusual bird sightings and to establish a list of all documented birds for Nebraska. THE OFFICIAL LIST OF THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKA was first published in 1988 (NOU Records Committee 1988) and has been appended seven times (Mollhoff 1989, Grenon 1990, 1991, Gubanyi 1996a, 1996b, 1996c, Brogie 1997). An update of THE OFFICIAL LIST OF THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKA was last published in 1997 (NOU Records Committee 1997).

This report includes all …

Bird Banding Notes From Ruth Green, Ruth Green

Nebraska Bird Review

On 29 April 1998, while working with school children from the Chadron Public Schools, Ruth banded a Pine Siskin at Nebraska's Chadron State Park, Dawes County. Approximately seven and a half months later, on 12 December, this same bird was recovered beneath a feeder in Springfield, Oregon. The Pine Siskin was dead, perhaps a victim of disease sweeping the siskin population on the West Coast. This particular occurrence is noteworthy for the distance traveled both west and north.

The Summer Tanager pictured below was also banded by Betty. She banded the AHY-F (After Hatching Year, Female) Summer Tanager on 10 …

Fall Field Report, August To November 1998, W. Ross Silcock, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Larry Einemann kindly pointed out that in the Spring Report all his sightings from Pioneer's Park should have been attributed to Wilderness Park at Pioneer's Boulevard (in Lincoln). Larry noted that Pioneer's Park is a manicured Lincoln city park which is not good for birds except for in the vicinity of the embedded Chet Ager Nature Center. This was my (WRS) error; personally I have trouble even finding the Wilderness Park entrances, let alone naming them properly!

Another correction! John Sullivan pointed out that the 2 Summer Tanagers at Indian Cave SP on 10 August, 1997, were not his sighting. …

In Memorium: Harvey L. Gunderson, Thomas E. Labedz

Nebraska Bird Review

In Memorium: Harvey L. Gunderson

Dear Fellow Birders,

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the death of Harvey L. Gunderson on Tuesday, 23 February, 1999, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Harvey was born in Gary, Minnesota, on 11 June, 1913, and went On to become Associate Director Of the University Of Nebraska State Museum. Along the way, Harvey received a Bachelor’s Degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, a Master's Degree from the University Of Minnesota and a Ph.D. from the University Of Michigan.

Harvey was a member Of American Society of Mammalogist (Harvey wrote a text book for …

Endemicity And Regiona[L] Biodiversity In Nebraska's Breedin[G] Avifauna, Paul A. Johnsgard

Nebraska Bird Review

I estimate that 215 bird species currently breed or have previously bred in Nebraska. This number compares with a total of 330 species that breed or have bred in the Great Plains region south of Canada, as I defined that region in my book on the breeding birds of the Great Plains (Johnsgard, 1979).

Grasslands or potential grasslands make up about 81 percent of the Great Plains' vegetation, and probably represented about 96 percent of Nebraska's original vegetation. Only in the Sandhills region is that vegetation type still essentially intact; the tall-grass prairie of eastern Nebraska is Virtually gone. In …

Ard News December 1998

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:

SEASON'S GREETINGS
"Pioneering the Future" Database
CSREES Appropriation for FY 1999
Recognition of Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research
ARD Ranking Among Agricultural Experiment Stations
Success of ARD Faculty in USDA Competitive Grant Programs
Internal Search for Director of CRCRD
Royalties and the ARD Faculty
CRIS Enhancement Project
Professional Workers Directory in Agriculture
Proposals Submitted for Federal Grants
New or Revised Projects
Grants and Contracts Received October and November, 1998

Index [For Volume 66]

Nebraska Bird Review

Alexander, G. 26

Alexander, I. 26

Allen, A. A. 68

Allen, B. 27, 60, 61, 110

Alt, J. 8

Amiotte, S. 27

Armstrong, M. 60

Aversa, T. 158

Avocet, American 39, 90, 128

Parasitic Jaeger At Lake Mcconaughy, Stephen J. Dinsmore, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

On 5 October, 1997, we joined Joel G. Jorgensen and John Sullivan for a pelagic trip on Lake McConaughy. A similar trip in late September 1996 yielded a Sabine's Gull, but we were really hoping to see a jaeger. From 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. we gradually worked our way from the dam towards the western end of the lake. Besides moderate numbers of Franklin's and Ring-billed Gulls, there were few birds on the lake. At approximately 8:45 a.m. Dinsmore noticed that all of the gulls at the western end of the lake had suddenly taken flight. Less than a minute …

Endemicity And Regional Biodiversity In Nebraska's Breeding Avifauna, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

I estimate that 215 bird species currently breed or have previously bred in Nebraska. This number compares with a total of 330 spe¬cies that breed or have bred in the Great Plains region south of Canada, as I defined that region in my book on the breeding birds of the Great Plains (Johnsgard, 1979). An analysis of the relative species diversity of Nebraska's breeding avifauna establishes several areas of unusual species richness and endemicity, these most important being the Missouri Valley and associated middle to lower Niobrara Valley, the Pine Ridge area of the northwestern Panhandle, and the entire Platte …

Observations On Groundwater Recharge In The Westdale Catchment, M F. Lewis, C E. Mcconnell

Resource management technical reports

A study of the role of groundwater carriers and barriers in controlling salinity was carried out in the Westdale Catchment by Lewis and McConnell (in preparation). Although that study was primarily concerned with groundwater flow and discharge processes, the data collected also provided rudimentary information on the timing of groundwater recharge events and their distribution across the landscape.

Organic Carbon Partitioning During Spring Phytoplankton Blooms In The Ross Sea Polynya And The Sargasso Sea, C.A. Carlson, Hugh Ducklow, Da Hansell, Walker O. Smith Jr.

VIMS Articles

In this study we evaluate the partitioning of organic carbon between the particulate and dissolved pools during spring phytoplankton blooms in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, and the Sargasso Sea. As part of a multidisciplinary project in the Ross Sea polynya we investigated the dynamics of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool and the role it played in the carbon cycle during the 1994 spring phytoplankton bloom. Phytoplankton biomass during the bloom was dominated by an Antarctic Phaeocystis sp. We determined primary productivity (PP; via H14CO3, incubations), particulate organic carbon (POC), bacterial productivity (BP; via [3H]thymidine incorporation), and DOC during two …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 30, No.4 December 1998

The Prairie Naturalist

FISH COMMUNITY AND WATER QUALITY CHANGES IN THE BIG SIOUX RIVER ▪ D. Dieterman, and C. R. Berry, Jr.

EFFECTS OF PARASITOIDS AND COMPETITION ON CLUTCH SIZE OF A GALLING MIDGE ▪ D. J. Kinateder and S. J. Stein

RESPONSE OF BREEDING SEASON BLUE-WINGED TEAL TO DECOY TRAPPING ▪ P. R. Garrettson

COMPARISON OF POINT-COUNT AND WADE-FLUSH METHODS FOR COUNTING DUCKS ▪ G. M. Linz, C. P McMurl, H. J. Homan, and D. L. Bergman

Reviewers 1998

Author Index - Volume 30

Subject Index - Volume 30

Announcements

Forage News [1998-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Kentucky Hosts AFGC Board
• Forages at KCA
• Hay Testing is Best Bargain
• Historic Meeting is Approaching
• Monthly Alfalfa Hay Quality Awards to be Announced at Cave City
• Hard Seed in Alfalfa
• Forage Dependability
• 19^th Alfalfa Conference - March 4, 1999
• Upcoming Events

Regeneration Of Hair Cell Epithelia In The Chick And Salamander, Kenneth Detwiler

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The acousticolateralis sensory system is characterized by a specific receptor cell type called the sensory hair cell and is found in all vertebrates. There are two types of hair cell sensory epithelia based on location: those of the inner ear, such as the organs for hearing and balance, and the lateral line system located within the epidermis. In mammals, including humans, loss or damage of the hair cells of the auditorysystem results in permanent hearing loss. However, this is not the case with birds and amphibians. Amphibians, with a lateral line system, are capable of replacing lost or damaged hair …

A New Eimeria Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Infecting Onychomys Species (Rodentia: Muridae) In New Mexico And Arizona, John A. Hnida, Wade D. Wilson, Donald W. Duszynski

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Fecal samples from 3 species of Onychomys (Rodentia: Muridae) captured in New Mexico and Arizona were examined for coccidia. Six of the 59 (10%) were infected with a new species of Eimeria. Sporulated oocysts (n = 105) of this new species are subspheroidal, 17.4 × 16.1 (14-21 × 13-19) μm, with ellipsoidal sporocysts 10.4 × 5.7 (9-12 × 5-8) μm. This species occurred in 3 of 24 (13%) Onychomys arenicola, 2 of 31 (6%) Onychomys leucogaster from New Mexico, and 1 of 4 (25%) Onychomys torridus from Arizona. Isolates recovered from O. leucogaster and O. torridus were …

Selenocysteine-Containing Proteins In Mammals, Vadim N. Gladyshev, Dolph L. Hatfield

Vadim Gladyshev Publications

Since the recent discovery of selenocysteine as the 21st amino acid in protein, the field of selenium biology has rapidly expanded. Twelve mammalian selenoproteins have been characterized to date and each contains selenocysteine that is incorporated in response to specific UGA code words. These selenoproteins have different cellular functions, but in those selenoproteins for which the function is known, selenocysteine is located at the active center. The presence of selenocysteine at critical sites in naturally occurring selenoproteins provides an explanation for the important role of selenium in human health and development. This review describes known mammalian selenoproteins and discusses recent …

Photosynthetic Parameters And Empirical Modeling Of Primary Production: A Case Study On The Antarctic Peninsula Shelf, Mark A. Moline, Oscar Schofield, Nicolas P. Boucher

Biological Sciences

Eight hundred photosynthesis-irradiance relationships were determined in the shelf waters adjacent to Palmer Station, Antarctica during the spring/summer periods of 1991–94. Biomass specific maximum photosynthetic rate, P^B_max, and the light limited photosynthetic efficiency, α^B, were poorly correlated to the physical forcing and nutrient regimes at the sampling stations. The two photosynthetic parameters, however, did strongly covary indicating the minimum irradiance required to saturate photosynthesis, I^k, was relatively constant in this highly variable environment. The variability in I^k could partially be attributed to both depth in the water column and time of the …

Cropwatch No. 98-26, Nov. 20, 1998, Lisa Brown Jasa

Crop Watch

Inside

Updates……..208

Record corn harvest……..223

Weed control review……..224

Soils test in alfalfa……..224

Distance insect courses……..225

Soils and irrigation courses……..226

1998 Crop Watch index……..226

Scales 2: Computer Program To Convert Among Developmental Stage Scales For Corn And Small Grains, Dorothy M. Harrell, Wallace Wilhelm, Gregory S. Mcmaster

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Producers and agronomists need crop developmental scales that are easy to use, universally accepted, and accurate. Development of such a scale requires correlation of stages among scales currently in use and correlation of developmental patterns among crops. A computer program for converting among staging systems is a useful tool in developing new staging systems with wider applicability. The BBCH scale (BASF-Bayer-Ciba-Geigy-Hoechst) has been proposed as a prototype of a universal scale. We have added the BBCH scale to our scale conversion program for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and developed a similar conversion program for corn (Zea mays L.), …

Meeting Minutes, November 17th, 1998, National Smokejumper Association Executive Committee

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Minutes: minutes from 13 Oct 98.; Old Business: Mann Gulch 50th anniversary commemoration. Financing for the commemoration.; Treasurer's Report: contributions to the video fund.; A break down of merchandise sales.; People not getting their canceled checks back.; The very large increase in data base comes from data received from Redding.; Old Business: proceedings of a meeting of the Video committee.; Possibly getting more income through estate planning.; A memorial from the association. adopt a trail program returns.; New Business: expiration dates for various board of director positions.; The minutes of executive committee meetings distributed after each meeting.; Hall of …

Structure Of The Protein Kinase Cβ Phospholipid-Binding C2 Domain Complexed With Ca2+, R. Bryan Sutton, Stephen R. Sprang

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Conventional isoforms (α, β and γ) of protein kinase C (PKC) are synergistically activated by phosphatidylserine and Ca²⁺; both bind to C2 domains located within the PKC amino-terminal regulatory regions. C2 domains contain a bipartite or tripartite Ca²⁺-binding site formed by opposing loops at one end of the protein. Neither the structural basis for cooperativity between phosphatidylserine and Ca²⁺, nor the binding site for phosphatidylserine are known. Results: The structure of the C2 domain from PKCβ complexed with Ca²⁺ and o-phospho-L-serine has been determined to 2.7 Å resolution using X-ray crystallography. The …

An Empirical Algorithm For Light Absorption By Ocean Water Based On Color, Zhongping Lee, Kendall L. Carder, R. G. Steward, T. G. Peacock, C. O. Davis, J. S. Patch

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Empirical algorithms for the total absorption coefficient and absorption coefficient by pigments for surface waters at 440 nm were developed by applying a quadratic formula that combines two spectral ratios of remote-sensing reflectance. For total absorption coefficients ranging from 0.02 to 2.0 m(-1), a goodness of fit was achieved between the measured and modeled data with a root-mean-square difference between the measured and modeled values for log10 scale (RMSDlog10) of 0.062 (15.3% for linear scale, number of samples N = 63), while RMSDlog10 is 0.111 (29.1% for linear scale, N = 126) for pigment absorption (ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 …

Detection Of The Fast Kelvin Wave Teleconnection Due To El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, Steven D. Meyers, Arne Melsom, Gary T. Mitchum, James J. O'Brien

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Previous analyses of the ocean state along the western American coast have often indicated unexpectedly slow and limited propagation of coastally trapped Kelvin waves associated with the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation. In contrast, theoretical and numerical ocean models demonstrate that these Kelvin waves are a rapid and long‐range teleconnection between the low‐ and high‐latitude Pacific Ocean, strongly impacting both the surface coastal currents and nutrient upwelling. Sea level variations along the western coast of North America are reexamined under the assumption that tropically forced Kelvin waves are produced in bursts of several months duration. A cross‐correlation analysis, restricted to mid‐1982 to …

Ecosystem Metabolism In A Subtropical Seagrass-Dominated Lagoon, Susan Ziegler, Ronald Benner

Faculty Publications

Measurements of ecosystem gross primary production (GPP) and respiration (R) were made for 2 to 3 consecutive days on 10 occasions from February 1996 through June 1997 in the seagrass-dominated Laguna Madre (Texas, USA). Ecosystem GPP and R were quantified using 3 independent measurements including the open-water technique using dissolved oxygen (DO) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and the summation of discrete measurements of the water column and benthos. Diel curves of DIC were often influenced by water movement while the impact of water movement on DO was not apparent. This was attributed to the longer turnover time of DIC …

Meeting Cash Flow Needs, Roger Selley

Cornhusker Economics

In the March 11, 1998 issue of this newsletter we discussed how projected cash requirements for the year could be distributed between enterprises. The objectives of that discussion were to arrive at 1) a budgeted cash requirement on a per acre basis to help determine crop insurance needs, and 2) a target price for each enterprise to help in pricing decisions. We suggested, however, that prioritization of cash requirements may be needed because yield and price protection may not be available at those levels or may cost more than you are willing to spend. The low prices we are currently …