Digital Commons Network^™

Ard News June 2001

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:
Comments from the Dean
National C-FAR A New Advocacy Group for Research Funding
Hatch Funds Allocations
Widaman Trust Distinguished Graduate Assistant Award
Hardin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship for 2000-2001
ARD Advisory Council Election Results
Shear-Miles Fellowship 2001-2002
Proposals Submitted for Federal Grants
Grants Received June and July 2001
New or Revised Projects

1999 (Eleventh) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Joel G. Jorgensen

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 nine times (Mollhoff 1989, Grenon 1990, Grenon 1991, Gubanyi 1996a, Gubanyi 1996b, Gubanyi 1996c, Brogie 1997, Brogie 1998, Brogie 1999). An update of the OFFICIAL LIST OF THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKA was first published in 1997 (NOU …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 33, No.2 June 2001

The Prairie Naturalist

A LITERATURE-BASED CHECKLIST OF KANSAS ROBBER FLIES (DIPTERA: ASILIDAE) ▪ R. J. Beckemeyer

DISTRIBUTIONS OF ROOSTING SANDHILL CRANES AS

IDENTIFIED BY AERIAL THERMOGRAPHY ▪ T. L. Parrish, W. A. Hubert, S. H. Anderson, M. 1. Pucherelli, and W. Mangus

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA 2000 ▪ R. N. Randall

FIRST RECORD OF THE CINERElJS SHREW FOR RILEY COUNTY, KANSAS. R. S. Matlack, D. W. Kaufman, and R. E. Charlton

BADGER REMOVES EGG FROM ISLAND IN PRAIRIE ALKALI LAKE ▪ B. R. Casler and R. K. Murphy

ON THE RARITY OF FOOD PROVISIONING BY MALE DICKCISSELS ▪ L. D. Igl …

Larvae And Pupae Of New Guinea Tabanidae (Diptera). I. Species Of Chrysops Meigen, James T. Goodwin

Insecta Mundi

Information on the immature stages of Australasian Tabanidae found in published literature dealt with only 17 species, all so far known only from Australia and none representing the genus Chrysops Meigen. Two of the four Australian species of Chrysops are found on the island of New Guinea, and both, C. albicinctus Wulp and C. australis Ricardo, are described and illustrated.

A Taxonomic Review Of Species Of The Neotropical Pericaline Genus Oreodicastes Maindron, 1905 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiini), Danny Shpeley, George E. Ball

Insecta Mundi

Based on adult character states, a key is provided to the seven known species of Oreodicastes Maindron 1905 (type species Oxyglossus subcyaneus Chaudoir 1843). Two new species (with type locality) are described: 0. virginia (Fazenda dos Campos, Virginia, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil) and 0. zikani (Macieiras, Itatihia, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Scarab Beetles From Pocket Gopher Burrows In The Southeastern United States (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul E. Skelley, Robert D. Gordon

Insecta Mundi

This paper reports on the scarab beetles collected during a survey of nonparasitic arthopods living in burrows of the southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetus Rafinesque, Geomyidae). Three new species are described: Aphodius bakeri, A. baileyi and A. gambrinus. A key to species of Aphodius occurring in these burrows is presented. Distributional data is provided for species of Aphodius and one species of Euphoria occurring in this microhabitat. Aspects of life histories of burrow inhabiting insects are speculated upon.

Taxonomy, Phylogeny, And Biogeography Of The Genus Asydates Casey (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melyridae), Jonathan R. Mawdsley

Insecta Mundi

The genus Asydates Casey (Coleoptera: Melyridae) is revised, containing three species from Arizona and California: A. explanatus Casey; A. inyoensis (Blaisdell), new combination; and A. rufiventris Casey. The monotypic genus Pseudasydates Blaisdell is placed in synonymy with Asydates Casey, syn. nov., and Asydates puncticeps Blaisdell is placed in synonymy with Asydates explanatus Casey, syn. nov. A key separating adults of Asydates species is provided, and the results of a computerized cladistic analysis of Asydates species are presented. GIs mapping of Asydates species distributions indicates that these species are nearly allopatric, with A. explanatus found in the lower Colorado River basin …

Nebline, June 2001

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Grilling It Safely
Handling Food Safely on the Road
Watch for Squash Vine Borer
Zoo Garden
Days Between Flowering and Harvest of Vegetables
Horticulture information center
Night Blooming Flowers Offer Evening Enjoyment
Hey Kids! Out of School and Already Bored? Try Rearing Butterflies and Moths
Latex Paint Exchange: June 23
“Itchy Chiggers”
Some Common Butterfly Larval Host Plants
What Bio-Security Issues Should You Take on Your Livestock Operation?
Pesticide Container Recycling Program
Prepare Equipment for Storage
EPA Starts Phasing Out Diazinon This Spring
Manure Handling
Shock Chlorination of Domestic Water Supplies
2001 Plants of the Year Winners Recommended for Nebraska …

Nonsymbiotic Hemoglobins In Rice Are Synthesized During Germination And In Differentiating Cell Types, E. J. H. Ross, L. Shearman, M. Mathiesen, Y.J. Zhou, R. Arredondo-Peter, Gautam Sarath, R. V. Klucas

Gautam Sarath Publications

Nonsymbiotic hemoglobins (ns-Hbs) previously have been found in monocots and dicots; however, very little is known about the tissue and cell type localization as well as the physiological function(s) of these oxygen-binding proteins. We report the immunodetection and immunolocalization of ns-Hbs in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by Western blotting and in situ confocal laser scanning techniques. Ns-Hbs were detected in soluble extracts of different tissues from the developing rice seedling by immunoblotting. Levels of ns-Hbs increased in the germinating seed for the first six days following imbibition and remained relatively constant thereafter. In contrast, ns-Hb levels decreased during leaf …

Selective Inhibition Of Selenocysteine Trna Maturation And Selenoprotein Synthesis In Transgenic Mice Expressing Isopentenyladenosine-Deficient Selenocysteine Trna, Mohamed E. Moustafa, Bradley A. Carlson, Muhammed A. El-Saadani, Gregory V. Kryukov, Qi-An Sun, John W. Harney, Kristina E. Hill, Gerald F. Combs, Lionel Feigenbaum, David B. Mansur, Raymond F. Burk, Marla J. Berry, Alan M. Diamond, Byeong Jae Lee, Vadim Gladyshev, Dolph A. Hatfield

Vadim Gladyshev Publications

Selenocysteine (Sec) tRNA (tRNA ^[Ser]Sec) serves as both the site of Sec biosynthesis and the adapter molecule for donation of this amino acid to protein. The consequences on selenoprotein biosynthesis of overexpressing either the wild type or a mutant tRNA ^[Ser]Sec lacking the modified base, isopentenyladenosine, in its anticodon loop were examined by introducing multiple copies of the corresponding tRNA ^[Ser]Sec genes into the mouse genome. Overexpression of wild-type tRNA ^[Ser]Sec did not affect selenoprotein synthesis. In contrast, the levels of numerous selenoproteins decreased in mice expressing isopentenyladenosine-deficient (i⁶A^-) tRNA ^[Ser]Sec in a protein- and …

Comments On Nebraska's Falconiform And Strigiform Bird Fauna, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

Owing to a lack of long-term survey data, determining whether Nebraska's raptor numbers are stable, increasing, or decreasing is difficult. Unlike our relatively well-monitored gamebirds, no regular surveys have been performed, and raptors barely register on the state's Breeding Bird Surveys or Christmas Bird Counts, owing to their relative rarity. However, a few data-points of interest do exist, which might be worth summarizing.

A New Racial Threat In The New South? (A Conditional) Yes, Byron D’Andra Orey

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

This paper examines three competing hypotheses: racial threat, social contact and racial resentment. Using individual level and aggregate level data, these three hypotheses are tested by examining white racial attitudes, and a variety of contextual variables, on the prospective vote for a white racially conservative candidate. The evidence provides support for all three of these hypotheses. Racial threat is found to be conditioned by the black population density and the resentment that whites direct toward African Americans. The probability that a white person will support a racially conservative candidate does not depend solely on the black population. Indeed, it is …

Territorial Defense By Coyotes (Canis Latrans) In Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming: Who, How, Where, When, And Why, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Territorial defense and maintenance are an important facet of the social ecology of most carnivore species. From January 1991 to June 1993, we observed 54 coyotes (Canis latrans) for 2507 h in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, during which we observed 112 instances of territory defense. The identity of the coyotes involved in challenging and evicting intruding animals was known. Alpha coyotes were most likely to be involved in territorial evictions of intruding animals, followed by beta individuals; pups participated little in territory defense. Coyotes evicting intruders generally had a numerical advantage when challenging the intruders. Territory-defense rates were …

Evaluation Of Mirrors To Deter Nesting Starlings, Thomas W. Seamans, Charles D. Lovell, Richard A. Dolbeer, Jonathon D. Cepek

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) nesting in buildings and other structures can cause health, nuisance, and safety problems. We evaluated effectiveness of flashing lights combined with mirrors, and mirrors alone, as deterrents for starlings nesting in starling nest boxes in northern Ohio, 1998-2000. Each year, 100 nest boxes attached to utility poles were randomly assigned equally among 4 treatments (including untreated boxes): 1998- mirrored (internally placed on the back and 2 side walls of nest boxes), mirrored with red-flashing lights, and mirrored with green-flashing lights; 1999-convex mirror above entrance hole, convex mirror at back of nest box, and flat …

Vexillata Liomyos N. Sp. (Nemata: Ornithostrongylidae) From Liomys Pictus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) From Mexico, With Comments On The Synlophe Of Vexillata Armandae, Jorge Falcon-Ordaz, Scott Lyell Gardner, Gerardo Perez-Ponce De Leon

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Individuals of a new species of Vexillata were collected from the small intestines of Liomys pictus from the Estacio´n de Biologı´a Chamela, in Jalisco State, Mexico. The new species shows an array of characters that allow us to recognize it as a member of Vexillata; however, it can be distinguished from other species of the genus in that males possess an asymmetrical caudal bursa, females possess a characteristic cuticular inflation at the level of the ovijector, and both sexes possess a synlophe with 9 ridges at the midbody. Additional detail of the synlophe of Vexillata armandae Gardner et al., …

Anindobothrium N. Gen. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) Inhabiting Marine And Freshwater Potamotrygonid Stingrays, Fernando P.L. Marques, Daniel R. Brooks, Carlos A. Lasso

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Anindobothrium n. gen. is proposed to accommodate Caulobothrium anacolum inhabiting Himantura schmardae from Colombia, and two new species, one inhabiting Potamotrygon orbigny in Brazil and the other inhabiting Paratrygon aereiba in Venezuela. Members of the new genus resemble members of Pararhinebothroides, Rhinebothroides, and Anthocephalum by having bothridia with poorly differentiated apical suckers and vasa deferentia expanded into external seminal vesicles. It further resembles Pararhinebothroides, Rhinebothroides, and Anthocephalum cairae by having vas deferens inserted near the poral rather than aporal end of the cirrus sac. The 3 species assigned to the new genus form an apparent monophyletic …

Parasite Systematics In The 21st Century: Opportunities And Obstacles, Daniel R. Brooks, Eric P. Hoberg

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Taxonomic names and phylogenetic hypotheses are indispensable tools for modern biological research, both basic and applied. Like all disciplines, parasitology suffers from the ‘taxonomic impediment’ – a global shortage of professional taxonomists and systematists. Only a fraction of the species of parasites on this planet have been identified, and the evolutionary relationships of only a minority of those are understood; thus, information on how to manage parasite biodiversity, including known and potential disease agents, is incomplete. A renewal of systematic parasitology has a key role in redefining the relationship between mankind and the organisms whose biology fascinates us so much.

Density Of Prairie Skinks (Eumeces Septentrionalis) In Old-Field Habitats, William C. Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

From 1996–1998 I estimated the density of prairie skinks (Eumeces septentrionalis) in old fields and evaluated the influence of habitat characteristics on density. I estimated prairie skink density from a trapping grid using a mark-recapture method in seven old fields. For each field I estimated arthropod density, percent plant cover and recorded field age and if the field had been burned in the last 5 y. Arthropod density was highly variable among years and fields. Percent plant cover did not explain this variation, as it varied little among fields and years. Prairie skink density ranged from 58–206 adults …

Monitoring Changes In Feral Swine Abundance And Spatial Distribution, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice Constantine, Mark Nelson, John Woolard, Jean Bourassa

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Swine (Sus scrofa) have been introduced in many places throughout the world, and in many places they adversely affect the environment, economically impact agriculture, and/or harbor diseases transmittable to domestic livestock or humans. An easily applied method to assess their abundance is an important need for their management. To monitor efficacy of a swine control program in Florida, data from passive tracking plots provide an index of feral swine abundance. The same track data coupled with plot locations to numerically describe the spatial pattern of swine activity gave an index of pervasiveness, and a simple rate of interception …

Chapter 13. The 15 Kda Selenoprotein (Sepl5): Functional Studies And A Role In Cancer Etiology, Vadim Gladyshev, Alan M. Diamond, Dolph L. Hatfield

Vadim Gladyshev Publications

The 15 kDa selenoprotein (Sepl5) is one of several recently identified selenoproteins. It contains a single selenocysteine residue in the middle of a 162-amino acid open reading frame and has no detectable homology to known proteins. The human Sepl5 gene spans 5 1 kb, has 5 exons and is located on chromosome 1 at position p3 1. The gene contains two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) including one in the SECIS element, that are distributed differently between Caucasians and African Americans. Sep15 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum where it is tightly bound to UDP-glucose:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase, a protein …

Chapter 25. Selenium In Biology And Human Health: Controversies And Perspectives, Vadim Gladyshev

Vadim Gladyshev Publications

Important unresolved questions raised by the contributors of this book and addressing roles of selenium in biology and human health are discussed. Resolving major scientific controversies in the field should further highlight a bright future for selenium in fundamental science, biotechnology and medicine.

Clarification Of And Comments On Northern Speyeria Hydaspe Subspecies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Norbert G. Kondla

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The geographic distribution and use of three northern Speyeria hydaspe subspecies names is reviewed. This is necessary due to literature errors about the type locality of subspecies rhodope (Edwards, 1874). The correct placement of the rhodope type locality renders the name S. hydaspe sakuntala (Skinner, 1911) of interior British Columbia as a junior synonym of S. hydaspe rhodope. The name S. hydaspe minor (McDunnough, 1927) is available for the coastal populations by those who recognize these as different from those of the interior.

Monitoring Raccoon Populations To Maximize Efficacy Of A Fixed-Cost Control Budget For Reducing Predation On Sea Turtle Nests, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice Constantin, Ryan Noel, John D. Woolard

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The fundamental focus for the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's east coast is to provide and protect nesting habitat for three threatened or endangered sea turtle species. Nesting and hatching by three sea turtle species spans from early spring to fall each year. Left unchecked, predation by raccoons would destroy a high proportion of turtle nests. Raccoon removal is applied to reduce nest predation, but available funding only allows for about a one person-month control contract. We maximized the economical efficiency of this control budget by using a passive tracking index to: 1) optimize the timing and strategy …

Multidisciplinarity And Cognitive Science, Barbara Von Eckardt

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The aim of Schunn, Crowley and Okada’s (1998) study is to address the question of whether the current state of cognitive science, as represented by Cognitive Science and the Cognitive Science Society, “reflects the multidisciplinary ideals of its foundation.” To properly interpret and respond to their results, we need to ask a prior question: What is cognitive science’s multidisciplinary ideal? There are at least two conceptions—a “localist” conception, which seems to be implicit in Schunn, Crowley and Okada’s discussion, and a “holist” conception. I argue that while both have been endorsed by some cognitive scientists, there are reasons for preferring …

Nebraska Agribusiness Club, John Owens

John Owens: Speeches and Appearances

Thank you for inviting me to be here with you today. I've now completed four months as University of Nebraska Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Harlan Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and I welcome every opportunity that comes my way to meet and talk with Nebraska's residents. I'm particularly happy to be here with you; I appreciate your interest in agriculture, and Ed Woeppel tells me that many members of this group are very supportive of the Institute, and worked hard to create IANR in the '70s.

An Added Cost Of Production, Larry L. Bitney

Cornhusker Economics

Agricultural producers typically consider death loss when budgeting costs and returns for a livestock enterprise. But, the cost of disposing of the dead animals has not typically been considered. In the past, rendering companies picked up animals free of charge. They received value from the hides, meat and bone meal, and other by-products.

Association Between The 15-Kda Selenoprotein And Udp-Glucose:Glycoprotein Glucosyltransferase In The Endoplasmic Reticulum Of Mammalian Cells, Konstantin V. Korotkov, Easwari Kumaraswamy, You Zhou, Dolph L. Hatfield, Vadim N. Gladyshev

Vadim Gladyshev Publications

Mammalian selenocysteine-containing proteins characterized with respect to function are involved in redox processes and exhibit distinct expression patterns and cellular locations. A recently identified 15-kDa selenoprotein (Sep15) has no homology to previously characterized proteins, and its function is not known. Here we report the intracellular localization and identification of a binding partner for this selenoprotein which implicate Sep15 in the regulation of protein folding. The native Sep15 isolated from rat prostate and mouse liver occurred in a complex with a 150-kDa protein. The latter protein was identified as UDP-glucose:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase (UGTR), the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein, which was previously shown …

Status Of The Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Auritus) In North America, Linda R. Wires, Francesca J. Cuthbert, Dale R. Trexel, Anup R. Joshi

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Introduction: Since the late-1970s, numbers of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) (DCCO) have increased significantly in many regions of North America. A variety of problems, both real and perceived, have been associated with these increases, including impacts to aquaculture, sport and commercial fisheries, natural habitats, and other avian species. Concern is especially strong over impacts to sport and commercial fishes and aquaculture. Because of increasing public pressure on U.S. government agencies to reduce DCCO conflicts, the USFWS is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Wildlife Services (USDA/WS) and state resource …

University Of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Connect, May 2001

Connect (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension)

Inside this issue:

pg. 3 Parents Forever
pg. 4 Technologies Across Nebraska
pg. 6 Farmers and Ranchers College
pg. 7 Backyard Farmer

The Probe, Issue 216 – May/June 2001

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

NADCA's Future Mission -- Mike Conover, NADCA President
NADCA's Future: Comments from a Regional Director -- John Baroch, NADCA Southwest Regional Director
Some of Montana's most notorious grizzly bears, incarcerated for defeating "bear-proof garbage containers are being put on work duty instead of death row.
A 1996 attack by a black bear on a 16-year old Arizona girl at a U.S. Forest Service campground has greatly changed the way western state and federal agencies approach public bear-awareness programs.
How do animals that never or rarely drink water maintain water balance, especially those animals living in arid environments?
The Proceedings of …