Life Sciences Commons^™

Cardiovascular Responses Of Trained Cyclists To Different Pedaling Rates At A Constant Power Output On A Cycle Ergometer, David C. Immke

Masters Theses

Previous research has not resolved the issue as to which pedaling rate is the most efficient in terms of oxygen uptake (VO₂) for competitive cyclists. The purpose of this study was to determine the most efficient pedaling rate (30, 60, or 90 rpm) at steady state submaximal cycling (720 kpm/min) for trained cyclists. Eight healthy subjects (all male) were examined during steady state exercise for each of the three trials for which work rate was kept constant with varying pedal rate and resistance. Variables included oxygen uptake, cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume, arterio-venous O₂ difference, respiratory …

The Oxyporinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Of Illinois, Rodney S. Hanley

Masters Theses

The monogeneric subfamily Oxyporinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) is composed of the genus Oxyporus Fabricius. Members of the genus are obligate inhabitants of higher, fleshy mushrooms. The Illinois fauna of Oxyporus includes nine species from two subgenera which are treated in this study. A key to the identification of adults, descriptions, fungal host lists, and distributional maps are provided for each species. The most commonly collected species in Illinois are O. occipitalis, O. stygicus, O. major, and O. vittatus; uncommon or rare species are O. lateralis, O. quinquemaculatus (a new record for Illinois), O. femoralis femoralis, …

Growth And Survival Of Larval Fishes: The Role Of Zooplankton Abundance And Competition, Michael T. Welker

Masters Theses

Interactions among larval gizzard shad, bluegill and zooplankton prey were examined via a controlled mesocosm experiment and field sampling in Lake Shelbyville, Illinois. In the mesocosm experiment gizzard shad growth and survival were negatively correlated with shad density and positively correlated with macrozooplankton prey. Bluegill growth was also positively correlated with prey availability, but survival was uniformly high despite differences in zooplankton abundance and fish density. Declines in macrozooplankton and copepod biomass were related to fish density. In Lake Shelbyville limnetic overlap of larval gizzard shad and bluegill was limited to a three week period, with the interval of greatest …

The Effect Of Heart Rate And Rating Of Perceived Exertion While Exercising On The Stairmaster 4000pt With And Without Upper Body Support, Nicole Lamkin

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if any differences exists between heart rate and rating of perceive exertion during exercise on the StairMaster 4000pt with and without upper body support. Thirteen female intercollegic athletes were examined during a 1.5 mile run and eight minutes of supported and eight minutes of non-supported StairMaster exercise. The subjects worked at a slow step rate for the first two minutes (4.9 METs) and the last six minutes each subject worked at 70% of their submaximal level achieved on the 1.5 mile run. Variables measured included HR and RPE. A one factor ANOVA …

Corticolous Bryophytes Of East-Central Illinois, R. Korkut Canayakin

Masters Theses

Among the numerous factors that influence epiphytic corticolous bryophytes, inclination, "raintracks", aspect, and phorophyte seem to play important role.

In order to determine the effects of these factors, 203 forest trees located in five sites has been examined. The results were arranged in tables and charted.

The Effects Of Turf Compression On Plants Growth Regulator Efficacy, William Lyle Petersen

Masters Theses

A 150kg lawn roller was used in combination with various Plant Growth Regulators (PGR) (Embark & Event, Event & Oust, Embark & Oust, Escort & Oust, Telar & Oust, Event & Balan, Oust & Balan, and Balan) to evaluate its affects on the growth rate of rough turf at the Coles County Airport. The rolled plots were evaluated for height, reduction of seedheads, phytotoxicity, and weed control. Rolling was of no significance to treated or untreated turf. PGR combinations containing Oust were significantly better at reducing turf height than combinations lacking Oust. PGR combinations lacking Oust discolored turf significantly less …

The Effects Of Nest-Box Visibility And Proximity On The Frequency Of Brood Parasitism In Wood Ducks, Roger W. Jansen

Masters Theses

I studied the effects of nest box visibility and clustering on the rate of intraspecific brood parasitism (IBP) in Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) at Lake Shelbyville Fish and Wildlife Area in Moultrie County, IL from 2 March 1992 to 22 June 1992. Sixty-eight percent of the nest boxes sampled were used and 33% of the nests were destroyed by predators. Mean clutch sizes of unparasitized (x = 9.2) and parasitized (x = 15.2) nests were significantly different. The parasitism rate in Wood Duck nests was 54%. More visible boxes had a tendency to be parasitized at a higher rate than …

Phylogenetic Relationships Within The Batagur Complex (Testudines: Emydidae: Batagurinae), Jean M. Capler

Masters Theses

Relationships between 10 species of the batagurine genera Batagur, Callagur, Kachuga, Hardella, and Morenia are discussed based on a cladistic analysis of 35 morphological characters. Ocadia sinensis (Emydidae: Batagurinae) was used as the outgroup species. Four cladograms were produced with a length of 59.0 steps and a 0.75 consistency index. In contrast with previous studies, Hardella and Morenia do not appear as a monophyletic clade. Instead, Hardella is included with the remaining ingroup taxa (exclusive of Morenia) based on five synapomorphies. The present genus Kachuga was determined to be paraphyletic, having excluded the present genera Batagur and Callagur. The pangshura …

Biotic, Abiotic, And Behavioral Patterns Associated With The Nocturnal Movements Of Shrews, Patrick T. Sullivan

Masters Theses

Thirteen trails left by shrews coated with fluorescent powder were examined for microhabitat documentation. Thirteen data parameters were collected from each trail, two of which differed significantly between Blarina brevicauda and Sorex longirostris. The small soricid Sorex longirostris was captured in areas with higher grass content, and lower wooded content, than the larger Blarina brevicauda. The difference in microhabitat use may be a key mechanism in reducing competition between these two species.

An Investigation Of The Host Specificity Of The Brown-Headed Cowbird, Brian D. Peer

Masters Theses

We attempted to determine the factors associated with the lack of parasitism of the Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater). We investigated the breeding phenology of the two species, the responses of colonial- and noncolonial-nesting grackles to female cowbird models, the frequency of artificial egg rejection by grackles, incubation success of cowbird eggs transferred into grackle nests, and the survival rates of cowbirds cross-fostered into grackle nests.

By the time cowbirds began egg-laying at our study sites, 88.5 % of all grackle nests were beyond the point of successful parasitism. Grackles responded …

Ecology Of The State Endangered Yellow Mud Turtle, Kinosternon Flavescens In Henry Co., Illinois, Michael W. Tuma

Masters Theses

Illinois populations of the state endangered yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) persist in scattered locations on sand prairies. The largest population occurs on a remnant sand prairie of the former Green River Marsh in Henry Co. A study was conducted during 1992 to determine important criteria for preserve design. These criteria included extent of turtle movements within the site and habitat use. Turtles were captured by aquatic hoop traps, drift fence, and by hand from May 11 to August 31. A total of 16 adults, four juveniles, and eight hatchlings were captured. Population size was estimated at 44.80 adults using …

The Relationship Between Lifespan And Reproduction In The Giant Waterbug (Belostoma Flumineum), Wendy Nixdorf

Masters Theses

The evolutionary significance of senescence and death is poorly understood. Life history theory suggests that the allocation of energy to growth or reproduction is necessarily associated with a decrease in energy available for maintenance of the soma. This study attempted to determine if an investment in reproduction would decrease longevity in the giant waterbug (Belostoma flumineum). Male and female waterbugs were collected from the field as last instar stage nymphs and maintained under controlled laboratory conditions. Individuals were randomly assigned to mating effort treatments, (virgins or breeders with breeding efforts ranging from 1 to >5 times). Following breeding, …

Breeding Systems In Spiranthes Magnicamporum Sheviak, Christopher D. Loyet

Masters Theses

A study of the ecology, breeding systems, and pollinators of Spiranthes magnicamporum Sheviak was undertaken in fall 1992. An initial survey of three glacial drift hill prairies revealed sexual activity in this species via removed pollinia. Two hill prairie populations were used for pollination study. In each population, five individuals were randomly selected and crossed using autogamic, geitonogamic, and xenogamic methods. In addition, ten individuals were fitted with pollinator-exclusion bags. After capsule formation, all plants were harvested. They were examined in the lab for general morphology, the presence or absence of embryo formation, and the prescence of sexual or asexual …

Vegetation And Tree Survival In A Savanna Restoration Project, Vermilion County, Illinois, Mary Claire Hruska

Masters Theses

This study involved pre-burn and post-burn inventories of herbaceous and woody vegetation, a post-burn tree survival survey, the development and implementation of a management plan for the savanna restoration site and the development of general guidelines for savanna restoration. An herbarium collection was made, 242 species representing 64 families were found on the site.

There were several significant changes in the density and frequency of vegetation after the burn. The following herbaceous species increased significantly in frequency: Agalinis tenuifolia (Vahl.) Raf, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Carex spp., Cassia fasciculata Michx., Desmodium glabellum (Michx.) DC., Dichanthelium acuminatum (Sw.) Gould & Clark var. …

An Electromyographic Study Of Forward Vs Retrograde Stair Climbing On The Stairmaster 4000 Pt Machine, W. Lynette Rasmussen Thornburgh

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate, through electromyography, whether forward or retrograde stair climbing on the StairMaster 4000 PT machine demonstrates a greater muscle contraction duration, differences in intensity of muscle contractions, or variation in initiation of muscle contractions. The muscles examined were the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, and Biceps Femoris. A gender difference was also evaluated.

Twenty-one subjects apparently healthy volunteered for this study. There were two groups of ten male subjects and eleven female subjects. Subjects were assigned to subgroups according to gender. The subgroups determined which position the subject was tested in first.

The descriptive …

The Effect Of Age On Recovery Of Heart Rate After Exercise, Shari A. Delisle

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if heart rate recovery, following exercise, of active women aged between 50-63 years was significantly slower than the recovery of active women aged 23-24 years when both groups exercised at the same relative perceived intensity. Ten female subjects, five young and five older, were tested during a five minute bout of treadmill exercise while working at a rating of perceived exertion(RPE) of 14. Heart rate was measured prior to and during testing and into recovery using the Vantage Performance Monitor. The time, measured in seconds, it took for each subject to drop …

Effects Of Music And Sensory Deprivation On Ratings Of Perceived Exertion And Exercise Affect, James Chinery

Masters Theses

Music as an ergogenic aid is a novel concept, and one that has been sporadically researched. The purpose of this thesis was to study the effects of music and sensory deprivation on ratings of perceived exertion during exercise.

Eleven active males (i.e. they exercised at least 3 times a week), were tested in three different conditions (music, sensory deprivation, control). They exercised in each condition, at workloads corresponding to 50, 70 and 90% of their maximal oxygen consumption. The sessions and workloads within each session were randomized.

No significant differences were found for heart rate between conditions. Significantly lower perceived …

Lichen Communities On White Oaks In East-Central Illinois, Michael R. Thon

Masters Theses

This study was conducted as a survey of epiphytic lichen communities occurring on white oak trees at Walnut Point State Park (Douglas Co.) and Fox Ridge State Park (Coles Co.). Using a system of cover classes to estimate lichen cover, quantitative data on the distribution and abundance of epiphytic lichens was obtained. These data were used to calculate summary statistics of each community including total cover, species richness, and Shannon diversity. A total of ten taxa representing six genera were found. The foliose lichen Physcia millegrana had the highest cover in the open canopy habitats while all other taxa had …