Life Sciences Commons^™

Chromosome Behavior And Cytokinesis Of Nezara Sp. And Lygaeus Sp., Mohamed Barka Marwan

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Distribution And Abundance Of Tubificids In The Little Calumet River, Gladys Moreno

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Nitrogen Utilization As A Factor In The Size Selective Feeding Habits Of Lepomis Macrochirus, Stephen M. Hinckley

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Food On Induction Of Males In Daphnia Pulex, Paul Henry Schreuder

Masters Theses

Introduction

Daphnia pulex Leydig (Crustacea, Cladocera) is a common component of the zooplankton of freshwater lakes and ponds. Its importance in the aquatic trophic structure as food for small fish has long been recognized.

Typical populations of daphnia consist almost exclusively of females. Under favorable conditions this situation is perpetuated by parthenogenetic reproduction. Eggs produced in this manner are referred to as parthenogenetic or summer eggs. When stressed by falling temperatures, drought, overpopulation, or starvation, populations shift to sexual.reproduction. Parthenogenetic eggs are produced which develop into males. Other eggs known as ephippial or winter eggs are also produced, which after …

A Demographic And Behavioristic Description Of Visitors To Cherokee, N.C., Shirley Louise Hyatt

Masters Theses

The identification of demographic and behavioristic characteristics of summer visitors to Cherokee, North Carolina, which would provide a basis for marketing decisions, was undertaken in this research. A survey of visitors was conducted in Cherokee during the summer season to determine characteristics of the visitors.

Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed at sixteen businesses which proportionately represented craft shops, motels, restaurants, campgrounds, amusement attractions, and cultural attractions. Distribution points, dates, and times were randomly selected. Analysis of the data revealed behavioral and demographic characteristics of the summer visitor and behavioral influences on demographic segments.

The strongest …

Den Ecology Of Black Bears (Ursus Americanus) In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kenneth Gregory Johnson

Masters Theses

Radiotelemetry was used to locate winter dens, determine the denning period, and gather observations on the denning behavior of black bears (Ursus americanus) in a 42,800 ha portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). After spring emergence, dens and the site parameter were measured and the vegetation sampled. Random transects and factor and discriminant function analysis were used to determine the availability of dens and denning habitat.

The denning period averaged 94 days with most bears entering dens between the last week in December and the first week in January and emerging from dens between the …

Composition And Structure Of Replacement Forest Stands Following Southern Pine Beetle Infestations As Related To Selected Site Variables In The Great Smoky Mountains, Nathaniel White Kuykendall Iii

Masters Theses

Stand composition and eleven site factors were sampled in 49 stands in the Great Smoky Mountains in which the pine overstory had been killed by the southern pine beetle. Replacement community types were determined using cluster analysis of relative densities for 21 common species. absolute densities for total stems, total pine, total oak, and eight individual species in the overstory, understory, and reproduction strata were related to selected site and vegetation variables by correlation and stepwise multiple regression.

Infestations greatly reduced the importance of pine in all replacement stands, converting most pine dominated stands to mixed pine-hardwood. Pine reproduction was …

Movement Ecology And Activity Behavior Of Black Bears In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, David L. Garshelis

Masters Theses

Movements and activity behavior of 29 radio-collared black bears (Ursus americanus) were monitored between July 1976 and December 1977 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many bears exhibited home ranges with abrupt seasonal changes, especially between summer and fall. The timing and extent of these range shifts were influenced by sex, age and food availability. During good mast years, the fall ranges of many males overlapped considerably in an area of abundant oaks, while during poor mast years, social intolerance may force many subordinate males outside the Park boundaries in search of food. Fall movements increased the …

A Survey Of Nine Common Laboratory Compounds As Causative Agents Of Ciliostasis In Tracheal Explants From Mice, Josie Marshall Fletcher

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Mammalian Succession On Lake Michigan Sand Dunes, John M. Olson

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Procedure For Determination Of Total Sulfur And Inorganic Sulfate Content Of Food Stuffs, Margaret Steele Rumbley

Masters Theses

A procedure for determination of total sulfur and a procedure for determination of inorganic sulfate content of the edible portions of foodstuffs common to the American diet were investigated. The test food was New York State variety green cabbage. Total sulfur (as sulfate) was determined by the Parr sulfur bomb atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The determination was made with and without added sodium sulfate standard. Good recovery and precision, 101.4 ±2.3%, were obtained by this method. An attempt was made to determine total sulfur (as sulfate) as the sum of the four sulfur components: inorganic sulfate, organic sulfate, ethereal sulfur …

Distribution And Characteristics Of Balsam Woolly Aphid Infestations In The Great Smoky Mountains, C. Christopher Eagar

Masters Theses

The balsam woolly aphid was inadvertently introduced into North America in Maine around 1900 and has subsequently spread throughout the eastern spruce-fir forests. Within the past 20 years the aphid has become a serious pest of Fraser fir in the Southern Appalachians, causing concern for the scenic and scientific resources of the spruce-fir forests. Fraser fir is highly susceptible to attack by the aphid with mortality occurring within 2 to 5 years following colonization. This rapid mortality in combination with the phenomenal reproductive potential of the aphid threatens the existence of Fraser fir. Investigations were conducted within the Great Smoky …

Comparison Of Forest Cover Prior To And Following Disturbance In Two Areas Of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Weaver H. Mccracken Iii

Masters Theses

Prelogging forest cover and the nature and intensity of logging disturbance for two areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were characterized using written records, photographs, interviews and, where available, virgin stands on similar sites. Present seral position and stand character were determined from fixed-area plots established on sties for which previous forest cover and intensity of disturbance had been determined.

A low- to mid-elevation hardwood forest occupying a north-facing drainage on the Tennessee side of the Park was determined to have been mixed mesophytic in character prior to logging and was most intensively disturbed by skidder logging near …

Identification And Economic Analysis Of Alternative Soybean Production Systems, William Alan Miller

Masters Theses

The objectives of this study were to identify alternative soybean production systems used by Tennessee farmers in 1976 based on alternative combinations of cropping practices and planting methods and to develop estimates of the resource requirements and the costs and returns of each identified cropping-planting system.

A mail survey of randomly selected West Tennessee farm operators was used to identify the following six soybean cropping-planting systems: (1) single crop-row crop, (2) single crop-grain drill, (3) single crop-broadcast, (4) double crop-row crop, (5) double crop-grain drill, and (6) double crop-no till. Comparison of the six systems involved tabulation of survey data …

Are Pollinators Exerting Selection Pressure On The Azalea Hybrids On Gregory Bald?, Clinton Victor Kellner

Masters Theses

Gregory Bald is renowned for an azalea hybrid swarm which contains a very diverse array of flower colors and forms. This report involves the study of the flower constancy of the pollinators to the different azalea flower types. The flower type classification is based on the floral morphology, color and presence of odor. The azalea species involved in the hybrid swarm are Rhododendron bakeri (Lemon and McKay) Hume, R. aborescens (Pursh) Torrey and R. viscosum (L.) Torrey. Pollinators' constancy to flower type and pollinators' preference for flower type were observed on square plots that contained two or more flower types. …

A Test Of Cultural Treatments Selected To Improve The Chemical And Physical Characteristics Of Reclaimed Surface Mine Spoil For The Growth Of Loblolly Pine In East Tennessee, Thomas L. Simpson

Masters Theses

Three surface mine spoil areas in East Tennessee were selected for testing the influence of the State reclamation requirements and selected supplementary treatments on the survival and growth of pines recommended for planting on various sites. A high elevation (2,800 feet) test near Caryville, Tennessee, was discarded because of poor survival of white pine and site modification by contractors working in the area.

Fertilizer tests on two established loblolly pine plantations, one on new and the other on old spoil from mining the Sewanee coal seam near Cagle, Tennessee (1,850 feet), indicated that N additions of both 50 and 100 …

Vegetational Communities On An Abandoned Farm In Van Buren County, Michigan, Larry G. Visser

Masters Theses

Introduction

Several studies have been made of xeric forests in southern Michigan which have developed through secondary succession following the cutting of the presettlement vegetation. Brewer et al. (1973) described such an area in Allegan County, Michigan which was dominated by presettlement pine and is now dominated by oak. The oak forests of the Harvey Ott Preserve in Calhoun County, Michigan have been described by Catana (1967). Studies of the oak forests in the Haven Hill area in southeastern Michigan have been made by Thompson (1953). In addition to these studies of xeric forests in southern Michigan, extensive studies of …

The Effects Of Body Size, Hair And Brown Adipose Tissue Upon Fever In The Rabbit, Reginald L. Dean

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Some Aspects Of The Natural History Of The Raccoon (Procyon Lotor) In Cades Cove, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, William Eugene Keeler

Masters Theses

A study was conducted from January 1973 to April 1974 to determine the density and distribution of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) population in the Cades Cove area of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Raccoons were live-trapped, anesthetized with Sernylan, ear-tagged, aged, weighed and measured. Beginning in April 1973 an epizootic of canine distemper occurred in the raccoon population in Cades Cove, enabling this study to demonstrate the impact of an epizootic on a raccoon population.

During 2870 trap nights, 217 raccoons were captured, of which 106 were recaptures. The 111 individual raccoons captured consisted of 48 males …

A Histochemical Study Of Tooth Development In The Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus Griseus), Robert B. Daszkiewicz

Masters Theses

The normal morphological development of the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) during the last week of gestation was studied. A review of the literature reveals no distinct study of tooth development in this species. An identical gestation period is found in the mouse (Mus musculus) making direct comparison between the embryos of the same age of the two species feasible. During this investigation, it was found that morphological tooth development in the Chinese hamster lagged behind that of the mouse by about 2 days. On day 14 of gestation in the Chinese hamster, the oral epithelium is …

A Study Of Symbiosis Involving The Fish-Eating Bat (Myotis Vivesi), The Least Petrel (Halocyptera Microsoma), The Black Petrel (Oceanodroma Melania), And The Lizard (Cnemidophorus Tigris), Joel King

Masters Theses

A field study was conducted on Partida Island in the Gulf of Mexico on the dates May 26 through July 26, 1977, inclusive.

Field observations were made of the lizard (Cnemidophorus tigris) preying on eggs and hatchlings of the least petrel (Halocyptena microsoma), and the black petrel (Oceanodroma melania). The petrels roost among rock slides with the fish-eating bat (Myotis vivesi).

In 24 trials of experimental boxes with lizards, bats, and petrels as subjects, 16 trials resulted in aggression of bats to lizards.

A symbiosis is postulated between bats and petrels.

The Effects Of Residual Chlorine On Selected Microflora Of Kickapoo And Cassell Creek, James A. Mcgaughey

Masters Theses

The survival of fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, and heterotrophs after exposure to chlorine were compared in receiving waters of the Mattoon and Charleston, Illinois waste treatment facilities employing membrane filter techniques and Standard Plate Counts. Water samples were taken from receiving waters upstream from the treatment plant, from secondary effluent and chlorinated secondary effluent within the plant, and from downstream receiving waters. Stream flow contribution and plant effluent contribution required the calculation of dilution factors to determine expected numbers of the various microflora found downstream assuming no residual chlorine effect. Total chlorine concentration was measured by amperometric titration at the …

The Cirsium Altissimum - Discolor Complex In Illinois, Dennis R. Bischoff

Masters Theses

Cirsium altissimum, C. discolor and suspected hybrids used in this study were collected during September 1977 from three locations in east central Illinois. All were combined for subsequent taking of data because the study dealt with incidence of hybridization and morphological discriminators rather than degrees and directions of introgression. Ten possible discriminators were chosen by examination of herbarium specimens of parental plants: I, Involucre width; II, Involucre height; III, Pubescence of upper leaf surface; IV, Angle of departure of main veins from the midrib; V, Number of spines per cm along the margin; VI, Length of indurate portion of …

Utilization Of Heat Sensitivity In Crotalidae, James Cordrey Miller

Masters Theses

Specimens of five genera of snakes (Crotalus, Agkistrodon, Bitis, Epicrates, and Elaphe) were tested for use of thermal cues in food selection. Results indicate that pit vipers (Crotalus and Agkistrodon) and boas (Epicrates) utilize thermal radiation in selection of food. It was also indicated that Crotalus (rattlesnakes) do not invariably show a reflexive strike before food is investigated or ingested.

Feeding Habits And Behavior Of The Whiptail Lizard Cnemidophorus Tigris On Partida Island, Patrick Alan Malone

Masters Theses

The feeding habits of the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus tigris were studied from May 25 until July 23, 1977 on the Partida Island in the Gulf of California. Analysis of the stomach contents of 91 lizards revealed that during this period the eggs and young of the least and black petrel are a primary food source while tenebrionid beetles become a major food source after bird products become unavailable.

Epizoic Protozoa Of Planktonic Copepoda And Cladocera From A Small Eutrophic Lake, And Their Possible Use As Indicators Of Organic Water Pollution, Michael Stevens Henebry

Masters Theses

The epizoic protozoa of planktonic copepoda and cladocera from a eutrophic lake (Ashmore Lake, Coles County, Illinois) were studied over a 13-week period in the summer and fall of 1975. All organisms were collected with a 125 micron mesh plankton net. Epizoans (all peritrichs and suctorians) were hosted by three of four species of copepods and four of the ten species of cladocerans. The percentage of total organisms hosting epizoans varied significantly (0.001 alpha level) by month, but averaged 11.6 percent. This high occurrence of epizoans was thought to be related to the highly-eutrophic conditions existing in the lake. If …

The Structure And Fate Of Germinal Plasm In The Asiatic Fire-Bellied Frog, Bombina Orientalis (Anura-Discoglossidae), Ted W. Odom

Masters Theses

Lehman's polychrome stain was used to follow the fate of germinal plasm in early development of Bombina orientalis embryos. Islets of germinal plasm approximately 6 um in diameter were observed in the vegetal pole region of the 2-cell embryo. By the 4-cell stage, some of these islets had coalesced to form larger ones so that two size classes of islets were present (approximately 7.5 and 19.5 um in diameter).

As cleavage continued to the 16-cell stage, the islets were moved further up the cleavage furrow and were always observed to remain in close association with the cleavage membrane. The islets …

Investigations Of Possible Allelopathic Effects Of Lycopodium Flabelliforme (Fern.) Blanch., Joan Macuszek

Masters Theses

Lycopodium flabelliforme (Fern.) Blanch. sporophytes were collected from a colony west of Flat Rock in Crawford County, Illinois. The material was either ground to a coarse grade using a Wiley Mill (grindate), left whole and untreated (fresh) or water extracted with a Waring blender (extract). The effect of the sporophyte material was tested on the germination of seeds and on the growth of seedlings of Raphnus sativa L. Sporophytes subjected to the grindate treatment showed the most inhibitory effects. It was shown that the alledged inhibitory substance was heat stable and able to be concentrated. Using column chromatography, at 37.7°C, …

The Effects Of Sulphur Dioxide On Selected Hepatics, Steven L. Gatchel

Masters Theses

Extensive studies have been reported on the air pollutant sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and its effects on vascular and nonvascular plants. It has been shown to interrupt normal physiology, metabolism, reproduction, and alter the plant’s morphology.

Of the cryptogams, lichens have been extensively used as biological indicators of air pollution. More recently, bryophytes have been shown to be as sensitive to contaminates as lichens, and may exhibit responses to the pollutant similar to those of vascular and nonvascular plants. The threshold sensitivity of these cryptogams is about 0.5 ppm over a 12 hour period. However no study to date …

Capillaria Sp. From Cryptotis Parva, Joseph N'Dong

Masters Theses

Twenty-nine Cryptotis parva were trapped at Lincoln Log Cabin State Park in Coles County Illinois between 22 December 1976 and 31 January 1978. Trapped specimens were necropsied and examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Nematode infections were found to be present in eight (27.2%) of the shrews collected with five (17.2%) of the males and three (10.3%) of the females infected. Three adult female nematodes were recovered from the small intestines of the host specimens, described and identified as the genus Capillaria. No male Capillaria were obtained and therefore species identification was impossible. However, the general appearance of …