Life Sciences Commons^™

Discrimination Reversal Learning As An Index Of Memory In Spermophilus Tridecemlineatus., Waneta Kay Coester

Biology ETDs

Spermophilus tridecemlineatus were trained to solve a simple visual discrimination problem. Following a 15-day non-training period the ground squirrels were trained on-a series of five discrimination reversal problems. Criterion and non-correction procedures were followed during original and reversal training. During the non-training period one half of the subjects (Group I) remained in the training laboratory and the remainder of the animals (Group II) hibernated.

It was possible to train the animals to solve the original discrimination and the reversal problems. No statistically significant differences were observed between performances on consecutive problems. However, differences approaching statistical significance were observed between performances …

Seasonal Variations Of Certain Air-Borne Allergens Of Fungal Origin, Kathleen Dillon

Biology ETDs

In this study, the number of viable mold spores trapped by a power-assisted sampling device was counted to determine the number of spores per cubic foot of air. Mold colonies were then sub-cultured and identified to genus.

Meteorological data for the times of sampling and for the entire year were furnished by the Environmental Sciences Service Administration.

It was determined that certain spore types did show a seasonal variation, with different types predominating at different times of the year.

Certain local climatic conditions prevailing at the time of sampling tended to select for the predominance of a particular type of …

The Response Of Atriplex Canescens And Eurotia Lanata To Sub-Freezing Temperatures., William C. Fry

Biology ETDs

Frost hardiness was investigated in seedlings of Atriplex canescens and Eurobia lanata.Exosmosis, of electrolytes and reduction of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (T.T.C.) by tissue exposed to sub-freezing temperatures were investigated as objective methods for determining the frost killing temperature of the seedlings as compared to actual seedling survival. The relationship of a seedling age and the influence of a brief preconditioning at a reduced temperature were studied as to their effect on the frost killing temperature. The seedling age best suited to the investigation of the influence of temperature and photoperiod preconditioning on the frost killing temperature was determined. The influence …

The Effects Of Solubility On The Deposition And Elimination Of Three Cerium Copounds In Mice Following Exposure By Inhalation., Barbara Nylund Morgan

Biology ETDs

Ce144 is an important radioisotope of cerium because it is formed as the result of uranium fission. Consequently, it is a predominant fission product in a reactor inventory after a period of sustained reactor operation as well as a major isotope released following nuclear accidents. The energy released during a nuclear explosion is sufficient to bond 144Ce to several anionic species depending upon the immediate environment. Among those anions are included citrates, oxides, halides and inorganic debris such as clay particles from earth or structural materials. Because the major route of entry of contaminated materials is by inhalation, it is …

The Effect Of Coxiella Burnetii Parasitism On The Fertile Chieken Egg Injected With Glucose-14c, Oswald G. Baca

Biology ETDs

The effect of parasitism by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii on the chicken embryo was studied by extracting rickettsiae separated from infected yolk sacs and examining the extracts for radioactivity arising from D-glucose-U-¹⁴C injected into the embryonated eggs. The rickettsiae were separated from the yolk sacs with a cation exchange resin and differential centrifugation. The purified rickettsiae were then extracted for various components. The extracts 4 were subjected to radioactivity determination with an internal sample liquid scintillation counter. The extracts were also chromatographed and superimposed on X-ray film for radioautography. No significant differences in radioactivity were found be tween …

Vascularization In Seedlings Of Four Species Of Opuntia, Benjamin Lee Pilcher

Biology ETDs

No abstract provided.

The Ecological Distribution Of Lizards In The Blue River Valley., Terence P. Boyle

Biology ETDs

The problem presented is the ecological distribution of seven species of lizards in the Blue River Valley of Greenlee County, Arizona. Field work was done May to July, 1967 and 1968 in the mountains, and July to September 1968 in the valley. Lizards were collected with a hand-gun and are preserved in the Museum of Southwestern Biology, Division of Eerpetology, University of New Mexico. A plant collection was made and seven plant communities are described. Seven species of lizards are compared by plant-community affiliation and habitat.

Urosaurus ornatus was the most euryecious species found. It inhabited every plant community where …

Effect Of Relative Humidity At 23 C On Egg Eclosion In Two Species Of Pyralid Moths., William P. Morrison

Biology ETDs

Desiccation resistance in eggs of the Indian-meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, and the bluegrass webworm, Crambus teterrellus, was compared. Decapitation was used to obtain eggs for humidity studies. In both species decapitated females showed a slightly higher incidence of infertile eggs, as well as of fertile eggs which did not eclose, than occurred in eggs collected from nondecapitated females. Eggs of P. interpunctella are relatively resistant to desiccation. This moth is a pest of stored grains and tends to oviposit in areas of low humidity. In laboratory tests more than 95% of the fertile eggs eclosed at each of the nine …

The Food Habits Of The Gila Mountain-Sucker, Pantosteus Clarki (Baird And Girard), Gail C. Kobetich

Biology ETDs

ABSTRACT

Intestinal contents of postlarval to adult Gila mountain-suckers, Pantosteus clarki (Baird and Girard), collected from the upper Gila River system, were examined using a slightly modified Sedgewick-Rafter counting technique. From the analysis of the intestinal material it was found that the diet of Pantosteus clarki consisted of 97.4% plant material, 2.4% animal material, and 0.2% organic detritus. In order of importance the plant material consisted of filamentous green algae, filamentous blue-green algae, and diatoms. The animal material consisted of aquatic invertebrates with the following groups being most important: Tendipedidae, Epherneroptera, Simuliidae, and Pyralididae. Other algal types and invertebrates groups …

The Ecology And Herptiles Of The Rio Hondo And Rio Bonito Valleys, John E. Kimmons

Biology ETDs

Twenty-two transects were made across the Rio Bonito and Rio Hondo valleys, Lincoln County, New Mexico, to determine the slope of the land, exposure, and elevation for the vegetational associations. The plant associations are the riparian, mesquite-grassland, cholla-grassland, cliff and talus, mountain-mahogany, pinyon-juniper, and hilltop. The elevation of the area ranges from 4,640 to 6,940 feet. The study includes the streams, valley floors, hillsides, and hilltops.

Most of the 314 herptile specimens collected were in the riparian, cliff and talus, and grassland associations. Twenty-four species were collected. Sceloporus poinsetti was frequently collected, providing a range extension for this species.

The …