Digital Commons Network^™

The Vegetation Of South Padre Island, Texas In Relation To Topography, Frank W. Judd, Robert I. Lonard, Sammie L. Sides

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Vegetation patterns were studied in relation to topography to ascertain the degree of phytosociological change and to provide an inventory of the vegetation of South Padre Island. Six major terrestrial topographic zones were recognized: (1) Foreshore, (2) Backshore, (3) Primary dunes, (4) Secondary dunes and vegetated flats, (5) Tidal flats, and (6) Washovers. The flora includes at least 204 species of angiosperms representing 47 families. Five families, Compositae (26), Cyperaceae (10), Gramineae (46), Leguminosae (24), and Scrophulariaceae (8), account for 55.9% of the species diversity. The vegetation occurs in distinct zones that correspond closely to topographic facets. Comparison of three …

Rotifers In Lake Itasca, Judy Helgen

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Rotifers were collected from both the Littoral and Limnetic zones in Lake Itasca, Clearwater County, Minnesota, during two weeks in midsummer. In total, 82 species of rotifers were found, and 69 were identified to species. The littoral zone produced 67 species of rotifers, primarily associated with the aquatic macrophytes. While 35 species were collected in the limnetic zone, only 13 of them were restricted to that habitat. Species are listed by habitat and by type of plant on which they occurred.

The Use Of Discriminate Function Analysis In The Identification Of Two Species Of Larval Smelt, Spirinchus Thaleichthys And Hypomesus T. Transpacificus, In The Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary, California, Marilou Simonsen

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study are to identify the larval forms of the two species of smelt, Spirinchus thaleichthys and Hypomesus transpacificus transpacificus, and to better describe their spawning times in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary.

Thermal Ecology And Movement In The Leopard Lizard, Gambelia Wislizeni, Baird And Girard, Marvin Lynn Abts

Dissertations and Theses

Thermal ecology and movement of the Leopard Lizard, G. wistizeniwere studied at Frog Spring, adjacent to the Alvord Desert, and at various locations throughout the Alvord Basin. Seasonal activity is known to occur from early May to mid-October, but abundance. gradually decreases after late July. During favorable late spring, and summer weather lizards exhibit a bimodal pattern of diel activity with some activity occurring at all hours of the day between 0600 and 1800 H. At other times activity was unimodal. Emergence was apparently largely temperature dependent and did not occur until sand temperature approximated 21°C. Retreat appeared to …

A Population Study Of The Burrowing Owl Near Tampa, Florida, William D. Courser

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Preliminary Survey Of The Vascular Flora Of Upper Tygarts Creek, Carter County, Kentucky, William Michael Huffaker

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Sciences and Mathematics at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology by William Michael Huffaker on July 23, 1975.

Interactions In The Frequencies Of Electric Organ Discharge By Eigenmannia Virescens (Sternopygidae, Pisces) During Social Behavior, Philip Gaddis

Dissertations and Theses

The extent to which individuals of Eigenmannia virescens modulate their electric organ discharge frequencies to accommodate the frequencies of others of the same species during social interactions was investigated. Recordings of the fish's discharge frequencies, taken with Tektronix 3L5 and 5L4N spectrum analyzers, showed that, although movements of up to 60 Hz in a day may be made, the frequency movements would be made more or less synchronously by all fish in the group. An apparent preference for, and a tendency of the fish to follow one another in frequency, at frequency ratios of 2:3 (a musical fifth), 3:4 (fourth), …

Numerical Taxonomy Of Anaerobic Bacteria Isolated From Ground Water Of A Sanitary Landfill, Kenneth J. Curry

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Section I: Facultative and obligatory anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the ground water of a sanitary landfill characterized by sandy soil and a periodically high water table. Isolates were examined for 63 characteristics and subject to numerical analysis. Eight clusters were established and correlations with conventional taxonomy were made. The Bacteriodaceae were found to be the dominant group of organisms by the methods employed. The anaerobic population was observed to decrease as the period of seasonal rainfall ended. At the same time, gram positive anaerobes were largely replaced with gram negative ones. Leaching between sampling sites (wells) made correlations between …

Reproductive Ecology And Population Dynamics Of Two Sympatric Species Of Macoma (Bivalvia), John Gibson Rae Iii

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Populations of the sympatric intertidal bivalves, Macoma secta and M. nasuta are compared as to reproductive ecology and population dynamics. Histological examination of seasonal gonadal changes indicate that both species undergo dormancy in the winter months and rapid gamete proliferation in the spring. However, the timing of spawning differs. The M. secta population synchronously spawned in August while the M. nasuta population spawned lightly in late spring and more heavily in the fall. Fecundity estimates indicate M. nasuta adds 140% of winter weight in gametes and M. secta only adds 43% of winter weight in gametes. Spat fall was detected …

Coastal Vegetational Communities Of The Two Texas Barrier Islands, Boca Chica And Brazos, Baltazar Cisneros

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Two Texas barrier islands, Boca Chica and Brazos, have unique coastal vegetational communities that may be Influenced by several environmental factors. These environmental factors include temperature, precipitation, wind speed, sunshine exposure, day length, and dune height. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the total number of coastal plant species per station, season, and year and to consider environmental factors that may significantly affect the number and pattern of coastal species. Coverage comparison between aerial and land sampling and aerial vegetational zonation was also considered.

Results indicated the presence of 21 angiosperm families and a total of 54 species. …

Life History And Habitat Utilization Of Merriam's Turkey In Southwestern Utah, Fred C. Bryant

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A study of the Merriam's wild turkey was conducted March 1972 to August 1973 in southwestern Utah to determine the life history and habitat utilization. Using transects, bio-telemetry, and observational techniques, information on flocking, hen:poult and sex ratios, and approximate dates for spring dispersal, nesting, and hatching was obtained. Turkey observations in relation to habitat variables were used to determine habitat utilization.

Except during the spring mating season, male flocks remained apart from other turkeys. Hen flocks in fall and winter consisted of adult hens and juveniles of both sexes. Males dispersed from winter flocks in March, and those that …

A Diurnal Zooplankton Migration Study In Lake Mead, Robert D. Staker

Publications (WR)

The diurnal vertical movement of zooplankton was first recorded in freshwater lakes by Weismann (1877) in Lake Constance (Bodensee), although Cuvier was credited with observing the migration of Daphniae in 1817 (Gushing, 1955). The migration is best observed in deep oligotrophic lakes and migrations of 50 m per day are described (Worthington, 1931). In addition, two species of chaetognaths are reported to migrate 400 m a day in marine waters off of Lisbon (Waterman and Berry, 1967) while Birge (1895) found little evidence of the phenomenon at all in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. Most zooplankton that migrate rise at night and …

Population Ecology Of The Littoral Fringe Gastropod Littorina Planaxis In Northern California, Russell James Schmitt

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Life history patterns of individual organisms are the result of natural selection and should be correlated with particular physical and biological characteristics of habitats in which they live. The littoral fringe is known to be the most severe physical habitat in the intertidal zone, and it is expected that organisms in it should have population characteristics associated with selective response to physical adversity rather than biological interaction. Ecological studies of populations of Littorina planaxis were made in the Dillon Beach and Bodega Head areas. The study localities differed principally in extent of wave exposure rather than geographical location.

Ecology Of The Arroyo Hondo Pueblo Site, Nathan Edmund Kelley

Biology ETDs

This ecological study is one part of a major archaeological investigation which began in the summer, 1970. The excavation of the pueblo ruins (Laboratory of Anthropology Site 12) southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is under the supervision of Dr. Douglas Schwartz, Director of the School of American Research, and is supported primarily by a grant from the National Science Foundation (grant no. GS28001X2). The objective of the study was to determine those present environmental qualities which would support or affect in some manner a primitive agricultural society. The environmental factors examined were geology, physiography, soils, climate, hydrology, and vegetation. …

Fishes Collected In Morro Bay, California Between January, 1968 And December, 1970, Harry L. Fierstine, Kurt F. Kline, Gregory R. Garman

Biological Sciences

Sixty-six species of fish were collected in Morro Bay between January, 1968 and December, 1970. The bay was divided into five ecological zones. Zone I was characterized by sandy beaches with little algae and contained 10 species. Zone II contained 35 species and was characterized by a sandy-silt bottom with some Zostera and kelp beds scattered among commercial piers. Zone III contained 31 species and was characterized by more Zostera beds and fewer commercial developments than Zone II. Zone IV contained 30 species and was characterized by large expanses of shallow Zostera beds dissected by very narrow channels. Zone V …

A Limnological Study Of Shadow Lake, A Subalpine Lake At Mount Rainer National Park, Washington, Timothy J. Hall

All Master's Theses

This paper presents a general limnological survey of a subalpine lake ecosystem. Physical, chemical and biological parameters were considered. Chemical and physical factors were dominated by the influence of snow-ice cover and high amounts of solar radiation. Abiotic factors result in a small phytoplankton standing crop and limitation of activity by photosynthetic organisms to the short summer season. Zooplankton and benthic communities are simplified in species composition and population size in response to the small primary producer population.

Cynipid Gall Anatomy And Distribution Of The Causal Organism, David E. Murray

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Sciences and Mathematics at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology by David E. Murray on April 28, 1972.

A Survey Of Fresh-Water Oligochaeta And Their Commensal Ciliates From The Richmond, Virginia Area, Elsa Queen Falls

Master's Theses

The distribution of North American aquatic oligochaetes and the ciliates inhabiting their guts have received very limited attention. For this reason, the present study was initiated to survey fresh ­water oligochaetes of the families Aeolosomatidae, Naididae, Opistocystidae, and Lumbriculidae in four bodies of water of the Richmond, Virginia area and to determine the incidence of commensal ciliates within the gut .

Poriferan Fauna Of A Minnesota Pond, Louise A. Rollins

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

An examination of sponges in Lund's Pond, within Itasca State Park, Clearwater County, Minnesota, was conducted in the summer of 1970. Five species, representing four genera, were identified. Some physical characteristics and water chemistry of the pond also were examined.

Coexistence In Unisexual-Bisexual Species Complexes Of Poeciliopsis (Pisces: Poeciliidae), William S. Moore, Frances E. Mckay

Biological Sciences Faculty Research Publications

All-female forms of Poeciliopsis rely on males of closely related bisexual species for sperm. The natural habitat of Poeciliopsis in Sonora, Mexico, consists of a variety of small ponds connected by intermittent watercourses. Optimal areas, containing mixed female aggregates, are defended by territorial males. Social structure in natural populations very closely resembles that of laboratory experiments, wherein subordinant males show reduced mate discrimination and inseminate unisexuals.

An equation relating male density to unisexual inseminations is used in a computer simulation model of a population. A stable equilibrium is inherent in unisexual-bisexual species complexes but the level of equilibrium is affected …

Reproduction And Growth Of The Tule Perch Hysterocarpus Traskii (Gibbons) With Notes On Its Ecology, David Scott Bundy

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study was initiated to obtain information about the natural history of the tule perch before greater reduction in population has occurred. The studies of Hopkirk (1962) and Turner (1966) did not include information on reproduction, development, and growth of embryos within the ovarian sac, and the growth of the tule perch and, secondly, to supplement the work of Hopkirk and Turner concerning color variation and food habits.

Oxygen Uptake Of Excised Macoma Secta Gill Tissue, James Lee Balsley

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Macome secta has been reported along the western coast of North America from the Aleution Islands to Lower California (Packard, 1918), Indicating adaptation to a wide range of habitats. In the Dillon Beach ares, Racons secta is found in a well protected cover just inside. and to the cast of the mouth of Tomales Bay. All specimens collected for this project wore takan from one site on a mudflat near Lesson's Landing, approximately one mile south of the Pacific Marine Station, Dillon Beach California. The exact location of the collection site on the mudflat may be seen in the serial …

Factors Affecting Mourning Dove Use Of Water In Artificial Catchment Basins In A Dryland Farming Area Of Utah, Norman A. Slade

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mourning dove population of the Howell-Blue Creek Watershed in northern Utah was studied by Norman Slade in an effort to determine why many more doves frequented certain of the 20 fiberglass catchment basins installed in the area.

More doves used basins on the west side of the valley, probably as a result of temperature differences. More doves used those basins surrounded by more land in summer fallow and with fewer basins nearby. Areas in sagebrush were used for nesting.

The number of doves drinking in a particular hour was affected by the presence of predators or antagonists but not …

Ecological Factors Controlling Population Distribution Of The Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus Orbicollis Say, Gerald L. Demoss

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Sciences and Mathematics at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology by Gerald L. DeMoss on July 11, 1968.

Niche Differentiating Mechanisms In Two Sympatric Species Of Swallows, David Thomas Moody

All Master's Theses

The present study considers certain aspects of the ecologies of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and bam swallows (Hirundo rustica) in an area of overlap, where both species are found nesting together and foraging over the same fields. Careful attention was given to foraging flight patterns, foraging elevations, and food consumed by each species in an effort to determine whether or not there is any evidence of competition for food resources. Aggressive interactions between the species were recorded, and the general timing of their nesting cycles was noted.

Marine Fungi Of Iceland: A Preliminary Account Of Ascomycetes, A. R. Cavaliere

Biology Faculty Publications

This paper reports, for the first time, 25 species of marine pyrenomycetes from Icelandic waters. Taxonomic notes are included for certain species.

Surtsey, a submarine volcanic upthrust off the south coast of Iceland (Thorarinsson, 1967), is a current center for cooperative geophysical, geochemical, and biological investigations on an international scale. The mycological portion of the total biological research effort of the Surtsey project has emphasized a survey of the marine and freshwater mycoflora on the mainland of Iceland itself as a necessary prerequisite to ecological studies on Surtsey. With the exception of two reports on aquatic phycomycetes (Larsen, 1931, and …

Daily Nest Opening And Closing Of The Ant Pogonomyrmex Californicus, Lynn R. Heath

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In a study of timing in this ant ten of the twelve nests which were observed opened synchronously in the morning and closed in the evening. However, one was never seen to close and another closed during the day and stayed open at night.

A seasonal progression was shown by later opening times and earlier closing times. Opening and closing temperatures at the surface of the ground and three inches deep showed no seasonal progression.

In most cases the days when the nests opened the earliest the temperatures at opening time were the highest.

Soon after nests had closed they …

Distribution And Abundance Of Molluscs In A Fresh Water Environment, Peter Moyle, James Bacon

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The molluscs of o northwestern Minnesota lake were sampled using transects, a sampling frame, and SCUBA. The species sampled were: Amnicola limosa, Valvata tricarinata, Gyraulus parvus, Physa cf. P. gyrina, Helisoma anceps, H. campanulata, Promenetus exacuous, Ferrissia parallela, Anodonta marginata, Lampsilis siliquoidea, and Sphaerium cf. S. striatum. The unionid clams, the adult Helisoma spp. and the Physa adults were associated with the absence of aquatic vegetation. Distinct associations of snail species were found with each plant association: G. parvus and V. tricarinata with the deep water Nitella opaca association, A. limosa and V. tricarinata with the mid-depth mixed macrophyte association, …

An Ecological Study Of Notoplana Acticola, A Polyclad Flatworm, In A Rocky Intertidal Habitat On The North Central California Coast, Alan Bradley Thum

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The taxonomy of the polyclad flatworms is fairly well-known and some attention has been given to study of their physiology. Investigations of an ecological nature, however, are scarce; in fact, no ecological studies have been made on the Pacific Coast of North America. Else- where, Pearse and Wharton (1938) investigated the general ecology of Stylochus frontalis, associated with oysters on the coasts of Florida, and occasional notes have appeared, reporting on polyclads as predators on oysters and barnacles (Book, 1925: Wolke, 1954; Loosanoff, 1956: Skerman,1960)

A Comparative Study Of The Parasite Of Certain Salientia From Pocahontas State Park, Virginia, Ronald Arthur Campbell

Master's Theses

Four species of salientia representing three selected habitats were collected from May 5th through October 4th, 1966 and examined for parasites. Of the 116 host specimens, 30 were Rana catesbeiana Shaw; 29 clamitans Latreille; 29 Bufo fowleri Hinckley; 28 Hyla versi­color (Le Conte). A total of 34 species of parasites was recovered: Protozoa, 10; Trematoda, 9 ; Cestoda, 2; Nematoda, 11; Acanthocephala, 1; and Acarina, 1.

Although a relatively small number of hosts was examined , the results generally agree with those found in more extensive investigations of similar type. The aquatic hosts, R. catesbeiana and R. clamitans, harbored the …