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The Effectiveness Of The Nitrate Ion Selective Electrode As A Qualitative Method For Low Levels Of Nitrate, Linda Blaine

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The nitrate ion specific electrode has been used to measure nitrate concentration in plant tissue. Nitrate concentration, as nitrate ion activity, can be read rather simply in an aqueous extract of the plant tissue in somewhat the sane manner as a pH measurement would be taken, In contract to more time consuming chemical methods.

A previous study of nitrate concentrations in barley treated with the growth retardant chemical, B-Nine (succinic acid 2, 2 dimethylhydrazide), had been carried out by the colorimetric method of Wooley, Hicks and Hageman. The study indicated lower nitrate concentrations in treated plants, as compared with untreated …

Time Of Mating And Incidence Of Conception And Implantation In The Post Partum Lactating Female Mouse, Paul A. Walter

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 Paul A. Walter on July 23, 1973.

Physiological Comparison Of Plaque-Producing And Non-Plaque-Producing Streptococci With Emphasis On Mannitol Utilization, Brenda Castle

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 Brenda Castle on July 19, 1973.

A Study Of Mercurials In The Elephant Butte Reservoir Ecosystem, John D. Garcia

Biology ETDs

Analyses of samples for mercury from Elephant Butte Lake collections were made by a flameless atomic absorption procedure. Mercury levels are expressed on a wet weight basis for animal tissues and on a dry weight basis for other materials. Analyses revealed mean ppb mercury concentrations of 0.027 in water, 57 in bottom sediments, 109 in phytoplankton, 277 in attached algae and bryophytes, 95 in plant debris, 69 in zooplankton, 90 in crayfish muscle, 26 in visceral mass of mussels, 97 in muscle of nonpredaceous fish, 125 in muscle of small predaceous fish, 253 in muscle of large predaceous fish, and …

Growth Studies On The Shigellae, Margaret Jane Gillespie

Biology ETDs

The growth of 20 strains of Shigella, representing the four species, was evaluated by the inoculation of pure cultures of single strains on Tryptic Soy agar (TSA) and four selective plating media. Colony counts of 18 strains were highest on TSA. While recovery on MacConkey (MAC) and Xylose Lysine Desoxycholate (XLD) agars was intermediate, very low counts occurred on Desoxycholate Citrate (DCA) and Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agars. Six strains plated on MAC and four strains plated on XLD gave colony counts 10% lower than TSA. With DCA and SS 15 and 16 strains, respectively, gave colony counts 50% lower than TSA. …

Temperature And Photoperiod Induction Of Cold-Hardiness In The Scorpion Paruroctonus Aquilonalis, Wayne A. Riddle

Biology ETDs

In order to investigate the nature of cold-hardiness in scorpions, adult Paruroctonus aquilonalis collected in August, 1972 near Albuquerque were exposed to ambient conditions of photoperiod and temperature, or to one of several artificial photoperiod-temperature regimes. Four specific laboratory regimes were established to describe the effect of photoperiod duration and temperature on supercooling point level. Conditions of these regimes were (i) constant photoperiod-constant temperature, (ii) constant photoperiod-decreasing temperature, (iii) decreasing photoperiod-constant temperature and (iv) decreasing photoperiod-decreasing temperature. Experimental conditions were either kept constant, or were decreased in increments from simulated summer conditions (26 C and 13-hr 15-min photoperiod) through the …

Reproduction In The Prairie Rattlesnake, Crotalus Viridis, And The Glossy Snake, Arizona Elegans, In New Mexico, Robert D. Aldridge

Biology ETDs

The reproductive cycles of the prairie rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis, and the glossy snake, Arizona elegans, in New Mexico were studied. In addition, experiments were conducted to determine the environmental cues that affect the reproductive cycle of the prairie rattlesnake and the effects of mammalian hormones FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) on female prairie rattlesnakes.

The reproductive cycles of male prairie rattlesnakes and glossy snakes conform to the general pattern described for temperate zone snakes. The testicular tubules contain a sertoli syncytium during the winter and in the spring spermatogenesis begins. By midsummer sperm are present within …

Inventory Of Lake Studies In Maine, Charles F. Wallace Jr., James M. Strunk

Maine Collection

Inventory of Lake Studies in Maine

By Charles F. Wallace, Jr. and James M. Strunk

State Planning Office, Water Resources Planning Division, July 1973.

"Printed under Appropriation Number 4248.5 and financially assisted by planning grants from the United States Water Resources Council Title III funds."

Contents: Introduction / Investigating Agencies / Federal Agencies / State Agencies / Regional Planning Commissions and Economic Development Districts / Maine Colleges and Universities / Private / Other Private / Other / Appendices

Possible Avian Influences In The Distribution Of Dwarf Mistletoe, Paul James Zilka

Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this investigation was to determine the potential of birds as vectors for the movement of dwarf mistletoe seeds and the means by which such movement could occur. Birds would greatly speed the rate at which these parasites move horizontally or vertically through the forest. Five areas in Oregon, heavily infected by six species of Arceuthobium were studied. Observations of avian behavior point to 13 species whose general behavior make them potential vectors in the distribution of these parasites. More specifically, the roosting and subsequent bathing behavior of most forest birds proves a very important means of potential …

Geographic Variation In Myotis Californicus In The Southwestern United States And Mexico, Michael Allen Bogan

Biology ETDs

A total of 487 adult Myotis californicus from the southwestern United States and Mexico were examined and analyzed utilizing both univariate and multivariate procedures. The major conclusions are as follows:

1. Females average larger in most characters studied, but the pattern of variation is discontinuous with different samples sexually dimorphic to different extents and in different characters. The possibility of niche partitioning is discussed.
2. Individual variation in this species appears low as shown by coefficients of variation.
3. Univariate analysis indicates a slight increase in size of most characters studied from west to east. This size increase is gradual with considerable overlap …

Osmoregulatory Adaptations Of The Spiny Softshell Turtle, Trionyx Spiniferus, From Brackish And Fresh Waters, Michael E. Seidel

Biology ETDs

Two geographically separated populations of the Texas spiny softshell turtle, Trionyx spiniferus emoryi, were collected in New Mexico and their osmoregulation and body fluid compositions were studied. One population inhabits fresh water (0.09% saline) and the other inhabits brackish water (0.79% saline). Turtles were maintained in laboratory water analogous to their field environments and then acclimated to tap water or 0.7% saline. Weight changes and urine flow were measured. Blood and urine samples were obtained from turtles in each aqueous environment and analyzed for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, urea, and protein. Osmotic pressure of these samples was also measured.

The …

Effects Of Hypothyroidism In Mice Infected With Schistosoma Japonicum Katsurada, 1904, Venus Ee-Siriporn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Section I:

In order to determine the effects of propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism on the Formosan strain of Schistosoma japonicum in mice, one group of mice (NON-PTU) was maintained on Purina Lab Chow meal only; the other group of mice (PTU) was fed a goiterogenic diet of 0.2% propylthiouracil in Purina Lab Chow meal. The mice in both groups were percutaneously exposed to 60 to 72 cercariae. The mice were perfused for schistosomes after an infection period of two months. It was found that the number of worms recovered was not significantly different between the two groups of mice. PTU mice weighed …

Life Cycle Of Euparyphium Neomexicanum Sp. N. (Trematoda, Echinostomatidae), Gary L. Strong

Biology ETDs

The life cycle of Euparyphium neomexicanum sp. n. (Trematoda, Echinostomatidae) from New Mexico ditches, ponds, and streams was studied. The 45-spined adult, measuring 1.4 to 2.6 by 0.37 to 0.57 mm, was raised to maturity in 11 days in laboratory rats and mice. Eggs 84 to 113 by 57 to 78 µm, could not be hatched, and the miracidium was not observed. At least two redial stages are present in Physa virgata Gould. Cercariae exit the mother snail, then swim and encyst in the mother snail, in another Physa of the same species, or in Heliosoma tenue Philippi. The natural …

Intra- And Interspecific Aggression In House Finches And House Sparrows, Ronald L. Kalinoski

Biology ETDs

Aggression in House Finches and House Sparrows was studied at an outdoor feeder in winter and in indoor cages. In the wild, frequencies of encounters conformed to patterns of daily and seasonal feeding activity. House Sparrows of both sexes were dominant to House Finches, especially in cages. House Finches were more aggressive intra- than interspecifically. House Sparrows showed equal proportions of aggression toward finches and each other. House Finches maintained stable peck-right dominance hierarchies. House Sparrows exhibited extreme lability in dominance relationships, with no emergent structure. Interspecific aggression in these species was related to violations of individual distance at common …

Production Of Iodinated Compounds And The Effect On Strobilation In Aurelia Aurita, William J. Welch

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 J. Welch on May 2, 1973.

Mercury Levels In Lake Powell, Arizona-Utah, Donald R. Standiford

Biology ETDs

Flameless atomic absorption analysis of samples from Lake Powell yielded mercury in mean parts per billion of 0.01 in lake water, 30 in bottom sediments, 10 in shoreline substrate, 34 in plant leaves, 145 in plant debris, 28 in algae, 10 in crayfish, and 232 in fish muscle. Concentrations are expressed on a wet-weight basis for animals, all other samples are on a dry-weight basis. In bottom sediments mercury levels were higher in sediments with higher organic content and finer texture. The mercury content of plant leaves was higher than that of stems and roots. Lake­transported plant debris had higher …

(+) -Abscisic Acid: Identification, Measurement And Biosynthesis In Roots Of Phaseolus Vulgaris L., Mary L. Barr

Biology ETDs

Roots of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (var. Red Kidney) have been shown to play a significant role in contributing to the level of the plant hormone (+) -abscisic acid ((+) -ABA) in the growing plant. Furthermore, an environmental factor, water deficit has been shown to have a direct effect on the biosynthesis of (+) -ABA in roots. Presumed (+) -ABA from roots of red kidney bean was identified as (+) -ABA by its physical properties including optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), ultraviolet absorption, and chromatographic behavior and by its biological activity as observed in the lettuce seed germination bioassay and wheat coleoptile …

The Flora Of Mount Sedgwick And Vicinity, Nancy L. Riffle

Biology ETDs

The purpose of this study was to determine the composition of the flora around Mount Sedgwick in the Zuni Mountains, Valencia County, New Mexico. More than 1100 specimens were collected during the spring and summer of 1968 and 1969. These specimens were identified to species or lower taxa, and a total of 353 species in 61 families were represented. The limitations of altitude, and the presence of permanent moisture largely determined the composition of the flora in the various study areas. Habitats studied included a steep dry canyon, ponderosa pine forest, two springs and meadows, a permanent pond and stream, …

Effects Of Tubal Ligation And Salpingectomy On Pregnancy, Ottis Murphy Lane

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 Ottis Murphy Lane May 1, 1973.

A Phytosociological Study Of A Relict Hardwood Forest In Barren County, Kentucky, Christine Bougher

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Although general information is readily available concerning the structure and composition of deciduous forests, especially in the eastern part of the United States, there seems to be little specific information concerning forest composition in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The lack of phytosociological studies prior to the development of the land, and the extent of land development in Kentucky, has led to a paucity of information regarding the natural forest vegetation of the Commonwealth. To the author's knowledge, there are few publications dealing with the vegetational composition of relict or virgin forests in Kentucky. It is apparent that there is a …

The Food Habits And Feeding Behavior Of New World Coral Snakes, Harry Walter Greene

Biology Theses - Archive

This thesis considers the food habits and feeding behavior of New World venomous coral snakes, with emphasis on Micrurus fulvius a species that is found in the southeastern United States and northern Mexico. Literature records and the stomach contents of preserved specimens demonstrate that M. fuIvius of all sizes are specialized tertiary consumers. In Texas, they feed mostly on several species of small, secretive colubrid snakes and on skinks of the genera Eumeces and Leiolopisma. Other kinds of lizards and the young of large colubrid and viperid snakes make up the remainder of their prey. Geographic and seasonal variations in …

Control Of Rat Testicular Monoamine Oxidase Activity: Age, Seasonality, Melatonin, Hcg, Fsh, Starvation And Irradiation, Ronald Lee Urry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A number of investigations were undertaken to determine what factors control testicular MAO activity. Activity was high in neonatal rats (19 g - body weight), showed a reduced activity at 53 g, was increased at 145-235 g and showed a progressively reduced activity at 415 g, 482 g and 650 g. Hypophysectomy of immature male rats at 3 weeks of age, or mature rats at 10 weeks of age, significantly reduced testicular weight and total MAO activity as calculated on a per animal basis. The specific activity of the enzyme, as expressed on a per mg of tissue basis, was …

Temperature Effect On Leaf Water Potential Measurements, Rex J. Prosser

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Silver foil psychrometers were used to monitor water potential in different portions of maize leaves which were subjected to temperature gradients. The psychrometers were preliminarily calibrated over standard NaCI solutions at temperatures ranging from 5°C to 45°C in an aluminum plate apparatus designed to provide uniform temperatures within each psychrometer even while overall temperature was changing. Based on the calibrations, empirical temperature correction equations were derived and used to correct psychrometer readings at different temperatures to equivalent values at 25°C. Temperatures on a single maize leaf were varied by placing the long leaf through an insulated box with several compartments …

Morphological And Ecological Relationships Of Etheostoma Caeruleum And Etheostoma Spectabile In West Central Indiana, Dennis E. Clark

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Etheostoma caeruleum Storer and Jii. spectabile (Agassiz) are closely related members of the family Percidae, subfamily Percinae, tribe Etheostomatinae. This group, consisting mostly of small, brilliantly colored darters, has been partially characterized by Collett ( 1963). Several papers have been published dealing with the biology of these two species. One or both species have been described by Storer (1845), Agassiz (1854), Reeves (1907, but see Trautman, 1930), Trautman (1930, 1957) Knapp (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation), Distler (1968), and others. Trautman (1930, 1957) Gerking (1945), and Hubbs and Lagler (1947) reported that h caeruleum lives in larger and faster streams, whereas JL_ …

Reproductive Biology Of The Band-Tailed Pigeon (Columba Fasciata), Ralph J. GutiéRrez

Biology ETDs

The reproductive biology of the Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata) was studied from May through September during 1969-1972 in Colorado and during 1972 in New Mexico. Gonads, body weight, percent body fat, and crop activity from 619 male and female pigeons were used in the analyses of gonadal cycles of wild birds. Photoperiodic responses were studied experimentally during 1972-1973 to help explain the unusual reproductive patterns in this bird. The breeding season extends from May through August and two nesting attempts probably occur during this period. This pigeon normally lays one egg per clutch, but up to eight per cent of …

Behavioral Character Displacement: Evidence Of Food Limitation In Insectivorous Bats, Sandra Lynn Husar

Biology ETDs

An earlier study of the food habits of bats of New Mexico (Black, 1972) indicated that Myotis auriculus and Myotis evotis, while extremely similar in morphology, differ in food preferences in the tested area of sympatry, M. auriculus relying heavily on moths, while M. evotis preys largely upon beetles. The resulting question was: Does this difference persist in areas of allopatry, indicating that each species has evolved as a food specialist, or does each species, in the absence of its close competitor, eat both moths and beetles without a strong preference?

If the latter were true, it would suggest that …

Bacteriological Studies Of The Albuquerque Sewage Treatment Plant Effluents, Francisco Medina

Biology ETDs

In order to evaluate the efficiency of Albuquerque sewage treatment plants no. 1 and no. 2 and to determine the amount of enteric bacterial pollution their effluents contribute to the Rio Grande, at­tempts were made to isolate fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus, and Salmonella species from effluent samples between 1000 hr and 1500 hr over a 12-month period.

Membrane filter techniques were used to isolate and count fecal coliforms and fecal streptococcus, and tetrathionate broth followed by brilliant green agar was used to isolate Salmonella organisms.

Plant no. 1 is a heavy contributor of enteric organisms between 1000 hr and 1500 …

Changes In The (Na+ K+) - Dependent Atpase Activity In Gills Of The Euryhaline Teleost, Fundulus Heteroclitus, Upon Adaptation To Freshwater And Salt Water As Determined By Specific Activities And 3h - Ouabain Binding Sites, Mary Elizabeth Gilman

Master's Theses

Previous attempts to measure the (Na⁺+K⁺) - dependent ATPase in gills of euryhaline teleosts have yielded controversial results. In this study both the (Na⁺+K⁺) - dependent ATPase activity and the number of JH - ouabain binding sites, representing the number of ATPase molecules, were measured in gill tissue preparations of the killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. The (Na⁺+K⁺) dependent ATPase activity and ouabain binding sites were greater in gills of fish fully adapted to freshwater than in those adapted to salinities of 17 ppt or 24 ppt. On the other …

Predicting Primary Productivity In Westhampton Lake, Richmond, Virginia., Gary Newton Moore

Master's Theses

Several predictive photosynthetic models were tested using light, temperature, nutrient, chlorophyll, and primary productivity data collected from Westhampton Lake, Richmond, Virginia from February-September, 1972. A simple linear model, the Kendall rank correlation coefficient, was used to relate photosynthesis to individual meteorological, physical, chemical, and biological factors. iii Of the parameters measured, only the daily maximum photosynthetic efficiency ((P/chl) max ) was significantly correlated with photosynthesis. Five multiple factor (non-linear) models were tested. In the best fitting model, primary productivity was a function of the maximum observed ratio of photosynthesis/chlorophyll concentration, light intensity, temperature, nutrient concentrations, and chlorophyll concentration. The Pearson …

Effects Of Temperature And Ph On The Growth And Composition Of The Sporophyte And Gametophyte Generations Of Allomyces Arbusculus Butler (1911), Lawrence Wayne Lenz

Master's Theses

Pure cultures of the sporophyte and gametophyte generations of Allomyces arbusculus Butler (1911) were grown under varied conditions of temperature and pH. On solid media the gametophyte did not grow at 10 and 15 C; the sporophyte began slow growth after a long lag period at 15 C. There were no significant differences in growth between the sporophyte and gametophyte at 20 and 25 C. Increasing colony areas occurred for both generations at temperatures between 30 and 40 C, with the largest amount of growth for either generation at 35 C.

Colonies grown in broth media at various pH levels …