Life Sciences Commons^™

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 10, No. 9, December 31, 1998

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Grants

Presentations

Congratulations

Graduate student news

Publications

Travel

From Cheri's desk

Classes offered spring 1999

Calendar of events

National ESA award winners

Rhodospirillum Rubrum Poly-Β-Hydroxyalkanoate Synthase, Thomas E. Clemente, Ganish M. Kishore, Timothy A. Mitsky, David M. Stark

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty and Staff Publications

Isolated DNA fragments encoding a Rhodospirillum rubrum (ATCC 25903) polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase, or biologically functional equivalents thereof, are provided. Also provided is the deduced amino acid sequence of the R. rubrum PHA synthase. These molecules are useful in the production of PHAs in bacteria and plants.

Endangered And Threatened Wildlife And Plants; Final Rule To List The Topeka Shiner As Endangered

Endangered Species Bulletin

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determines the Topeka shiner (Notropis Topeka) to be an endangered species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Topeka shiner is a small fish presently known from small tributary streams in the Kansas and Cottonwood river basins in Kansas; the Missouri, Grand, Lamine, Chariton, and Des Moines river basins in Missouri; the North Raccoon and Rock river basins in Iowa; the James, Big Sioux and Vermillion river watersheds in South Dakota; and, the Rock and Big Sioux river watersheds in …

Recent Northern Records Of The Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypodidae) In Nebraska, Patricia W. Freeman, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Examination of the distribution of nine-banded armadillo in Nebraska reveals that these animals may be entering the state from two directions. The animals in Chase, Dundy, and Furnas counties appear to be closely associated with the Republican River and its tributaries and probably reached the state along these riparian habitats from northwestern Kansas and northeastern Colorado. Records in the central and eastern part of Nebraska are not closely tied to one river system. For the specimen from Ord to have followed watercourses, it would have needed to follow the Big or Little Blue rivers, crossed to the Platte River, and …

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

Parasitism Of Greenbugs (Homoptera: Aphididae) By Lysiphlebus Testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) In Grain Sorghum: Implications For Augmentative Biological Control, Odair A. Fernandes, Robert J. Wright, Z. B. Mayo

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Field cage studies were conducted to describe the relationship between the percentage of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) parasitism (as measured by aphid mummies) and densities of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum Rondani, on grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. In 1993 and 1994, a biotype E-susceptible grain sorghum hybrid was grown in field cages and L. testaceipes adults were released after each plant was infested with 20 biotype E greenbugs. The release rates were 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wasps per plant in 1993, and 0, 0.16, 0.33, and 0.5 wasps per plant in 1994. Greenbugs and mummies were counted 1-2 times a week …

Effects Of Food Deprivation, Age, Time Of Day, And Gamma Irradiation On Attraction Of Mexican Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) To Two Synthetic Lures In A Wind Tunnel, David C. Robacker

Entomology Papers from Other Sources

The physiological condition of Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), affected their attraction to 2 similar but qualitatively different synthetic lures in wind-tunnel bioassays. The 2 lures were BioLure (ammonium acetate and putrescine) and AMPu (ammonium carbonate, methylamine HCI, and putrescine) . Effects of food deprivation on attraction to the lures were smaller than the effects of sex, time of day, and irradiation. Sugar-fed, protein-starved flies were attracted more strongly than other hunger-status groups to the lures. Sugar-starved, protein-starved females were less responsive than other groups of females to AMPu. Protein-starved males were more responsive than protein-fed males to BioLure. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 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 …

Managing For Profitability In The Beef Industry Proceedings

University of Nebraska Historical Extension: Bulletin

Moderator - Rick Rasby

Global Perspective of the Beef Industry and Challenges to Remain Competitive — Allan Nation

Low Input Cow/Calf Systems — Dick Clark and Don Adams

Producer Panel, Moderator - Homer Buell

Nebraska's Dynamic Landscape — Jim Stubbendieck

Matching Beef Genetics to the Resources — Jim Gosey

Complimentary Forages/Annuals/Year-Round Grazing

Managing Irrigated Pastures and Meadows for Grazing

Evaluating Pasture Stability

The Nebline, November 1998

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Contents:
Auntie Bacteria's holiday advice
Gifts for the gardener
Forcing bulbs
Attracting birds with the right plants
Rodent damage
Winter care for strawberry plants
Dealing with head lice? Even for experts, it's a head scratcher
Good reasons to recycle aluminum
Milk carton bird feeder
Migrating birds face many hazards
Achieving cleaner indoor air
Holding wet corn with aeration
Grain storage information on the web
Pesticide container recycling a success
Farm finances tight? Fertilize with biosolids and save $$
Acreage reply
Native prairie preservation
United States using less water
Reduce orchard woes
Mealtime tips for the preschool child
Healthy Eating: Holiday …

Comparisons Of Soil Physical Characteristics In Long-Term Tillage Winter Wheat-Fallow Tillage Experiments, L. N. Mielke, Wallace Wilhelm

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

Soil physical characteristics resulting from tillage of fallow-wheat (Triticurn aestivurn L.) cropping systems were compared for two soils in western Nebraska. The soil physical environment influences the amount of water entering soil and the microenvironment that influences soil biological processes important to plant response. Effects of tillage on physical properties varied with soil type and depth of soil tillage. Generally, the 0-76 mm surface layer has the largest number of physical properties that differ as a result of tillage; however, only a few properties differed at greater depths. The Alliance silt loam (fine silty, mixed, mesic, Aridic Arguistoll) soil …

Dry-Matter Partitioning And Leaf Area Of Winter Wheat Grown In A Long-Term Fallow Tillage Comparisons In The Us Central Great Plains, Wallace Wilhelm

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

Crop management practices (tillage, residue management, fertilization, etc.) define the soil environment to which crops are exposed and through these environmental conditions control crop growth. The purpose of this paper is to report the response of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to long-term (10 years) application of fallow tillage practices (plow, sub-till, and no-till) and N fertilization in terms of above- and below-ground dry-matter partitioning. During 1978, less winter wheat root tissue was produced in the sub-till treatment compared to the average of the plow and no-till treatments. However, in 1979, all treatments produced the same amount of root …

Fish & Wildlife News: November/December 1998

Fish and Wildlife News

Contents:

Region 1 Employees Killed 2
Clinton Signs Refuge Volunteer Bill 4
Tackling Oil Pits 7
Building a Service Museum 9
Special Section: Fisheries Focus 10
Inside Cooperative Research Units 14
NCTC Wants Your Books 16
Honoring Refuge Heroes 17
Real Life “Free Willy” 19
New Agents Step Out 20
Curious Condors Take a Trip 21
Fish & Wildlife...In Brief 23