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The First Documentation Of A Lower Middle Pennsylvanian Upland Flora From The Eastern Margin Of The Eastern Interior Basin (Illinois Basin), Vicki J. Comer

Masters Theses

The primary objective of this study is to reconstruct the paleofloristics of an unnamed shale of lower Middle Pennsylvanian age. The shale is periodically exposed in the highwall of the Ashboro Pit, Log Cabin Coal Company, Clay County, Indiana. This will be the first upland fossil flora to be described from the eastern margin of the Eastern Interior Basin (Illinois Basin). The gray shale containing the upland flora lies directly above the Upper Block Coal (SW 1/4, SE 1/4, sec. 17, T. 11N., R. 6W.)

Two collections, collected on three different occasions were made available for analysis: Smithsonian Natural …

Quantitative Studies On Nodulation Competition Of Two Strains Of Bradyrhizobium Japonicum And Its Biological Control With A Bacteriophage, Jin Xiong

Masters Theses

Interstrain competition of Bradyrhizobium japonicum for nodulation of soybean (Glycine max) presents a serious problem to the field commercial inoculation practice. The more efficient, introduced strains are often outcompeted by the less efficient, indigenous strains. This study was conducted to determine if the competition could be effectively controlled by the massive introduction of a more efficient strain and/or the large scale reduction of a indigenous strain by the application of a bacteriophage specific to the indigenous one.

B. japonicum strain 61A123, common in Midwestern U.S. soils, and strain USDA110, representative of the strains used in commercial inocula, were chosen for …

Ecology And Interspecific Relationships Of The Painted Turtle, (Chrysemys Picta) In A Marsh-Fen Ecosystem, Eric S. Mcgee

Masters Theses

An ecological study of the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) was conducted at the Fox River site in Chain O' Lakes State Park in northeastern Illinois from March to September in 1987. Findings were compared to two studies in 1986 concerning the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and Blandings turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) also present in the area. Population densities and composition were evaluated to determine the degree of interspecific competition.

Two hundred-forty five turtles were captured in 1986 and 1987. Painted turtles comprised 75 percent of the chelonian population, while Blandings turtles and snapping turtles …

A Taxonomic Re-Evaluation Of Specimens Of The Genus Caloplaca In The E.L. Stover Herbarium Of Eastern Illinois University, Eric J. Cameron

Masters Theses

The genus Caloplaca is the largest genus in the family Teloschistaceae. The 103 species in the genus greatly outnumber any other in the family. Lichens of the genus Caloplaca are usually orange to orange-yellow in color, and range from crustose to subfoliose in form. The orange color is due to an anthraquinone, parietin, the location of which is taxonomically important in this genus of lichens. In some species it occurs only in the apothecia, while in others it is found in both the apothecia and thallus. The spores of this genus are polarilocular, and the width of the isthmus is …

Prehistoric Firewood Exploitation: A Case Study From The Carolinian Biotic Province, David Gordon De Fant

Masters Theses

A case study approach is applied to the problem of prehistoric firewood selection and utilization within a heterogeneous woodland environment. Prefaced by an indepth survey of theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to understanding resource exploitation, a wood charcoal analysis of the Schwerdt site (20AE127) is presented. This analysis is then discussed in regard to environmental, preservational, and functional contexts. It is suggested that this wood charcoal assemblage represents a subtle yet pervasive pattern of firewood selectivity operating within the overt bounds of expedient procurement.

The Bryophytes Of Fox Ridge State Park, Coles County, Illinois, David A. Breen

Masters Theses

A survey of Fox Ridge State Park in Coles County, Illinois revealed a total of 72 bryophyte species. Of these 68 were mosses and 4 were liverworts. Habitat and frequency for each species were recorded. Voucher specimens for each species have been placed in the Stover Herbarium at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois.

As a result of this survey Astomum muhlenbergionum (Sw.) Grout. is a new addition to the list of Illinois bryophytes. In addition ten species are new reports for Coles County, Illinois. These are the mosses Amblystegium fluviatle (Hedw.) BSG, Brachythecium digastrum C. M. & Kindb. ex. Macoun …

A Study Of Cladonia Cryptochlorophaea And Morphologically Similar Species In Illinois, Indiana, And Wisconsin, Scott S. Wilcer

Masters Theses

Collections of Cladonias with cup-shaped podetia were made in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin in order to determine the distribution of an atranorin-containing variant of Cladonia cryptochlorophaea, which was discovered in 1982 in Coles County, Illinois by Cheryl Cunningham. A second objective was a distributional study of the Cladonias having cup-shaped podetia in the same three state area.

A total of 591 specimens were collected from the three states. The collection areas for Illinois were: Jackson Hollow in Pope County, Giant City State Park and Touch of Nature Interpretive Center in Jackson and Williamson Counties, Starved Rock State Park in …

Parental Foraging In Chipping Sparrows (Spizella Passerina), Dora Elisa Perez

Masters Theses

During the breeding season of 1982, the population of Chipping Sparrows ( Spizella passerina) that inhabits the Western Michigan University's campus was chosen to study the use of foliage and other foraging sites. Three pairs were selected to be observed intensively.

During the time the female is foraging and when the male is either foraging or in territorial advertisement activities both sexes choose needleleaf trees out of proportion to their availability.

It is also likely that in the later stages of caring for young, when food demands were highest, the birds become less selective and forage on needleleaf trees as …

A Comparative Study Of The Chemical Variants Of The Cladonia Pyxidata-Chlorophaea Complex In East-Central Illinois And Northern Michigan, Cheryl A. Cunningham

Masters Theses

This study was one of comparison of chemical variant of the Cladonia pyxidata-chlorophaea complex of east-central Illinois and northern Michigan. A total of 150 collections were made from Coles, Clark, and Lawrence counties in Illinois, and a separate collection of 58 samples was taken from Cheboygan and Emmet counties in Michigan.

Collection sites in Clark county were, Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, near Clarksville, and privately owned land near Martinsville. From Coles county, collections were made at the Stone Quarry Prairie, Lakeview Park, Lincoln Log Cabin State Park, Walker’s Ford, Lakeview Park hill prairie, and a hill prairie north of the …

A Taxonomic And Ecological Study Of The Lichens Of "Rocks Park" In Coles County, Illinois, Robert Arthur Williams

Masters Theses

The lichen flora of "Rocks Park", Coles County, Illinois, was studied extensively. The tract (sec 17, T12N,R10E), which is located in east-central Illinois, was selected for study because of its diversity of habitats for lichen growth. A literature review of the studies of the lichens of east central and southern Illinois and nearby Indiana is included. The area is heavily dissected by the Embarrass River and a few small tributaries. The major vegetation type is oak-hickory forest. This tract was found to have four distinct habitats with different lichen associations. The habitats described are the following:

1. Open Field Area
2. Sparsely …

A Taxonomic And Ecological Study Of The Cladonia Species Of The Central Portion Of Fox Ridge State Park In Coles County, Illinois, James L. Jannesse

Masters Theses

Extensive collections were made on the central ridge system at Fox Ridge State Park in Coles County, Illinois. A literature review of the works on the genus Cladonia in North America encompassed major taxonomic collections undertaken in the last 20 years. Also, a historical account on the developments in the Cladonia chlorophaea complex are listed. Basic Cladonia morphology is described, including both microscopic and macroscopic illustrations. The study area was subdivided on a grid system, enabling the collection sites to be numbered. The entire area was covered in two foot intervals. From every entity that was found, ¼ of it …

The Lithic Assemblage Of The Hacklander Site, Allegan County, Michigan, Jerrel H. Sorensen

Masters Theses

Introduction

Orientation

In A History of American Archaeology Willey and Sabloff (1974) outline the development of archaeological method and theory in the Western Hemisphere. The authors defined 5 periods through which they traced advances in archaeology from the time Europe first discovered the New World. Each other these periods is characterized by certain attitudes and orientations toward archaeological data. Old ideas changed as new information, new tools of discovery, and new ways of interpretation and explanation transformed archaeology into what it is today.

Archaeologists are now in the Explanatory Period (Willey and Sabloff 1974:178). This period's theoretical orientation can be …

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 …

Bird Populations In A Grassland-Thicket In Relation To Plant Succession And Adjacent Land Use, Steven L. Harbron

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Blood Parasites Of Squirrels From Coles And Lake Counties In Illinois, Nicholas I. Obiri

Masters Theses

Hepatozoon and microfilariae are described from the blood of fox and gray squirrels captured in Coles and Lake Counties in Illinois during 1976 and 1977. The hepatozoon species is identified as Hepatozoon griseisciuri on the basis of parasite morphology and hosts. A higher rate of infection (35.7% : 11.1%) was observed in gray squirrels than in fox squirrels and more adults were infected than juveniles. No microfilariae were found in gray squirrels but fox squirrels had a 57.1% infection rate with no difference based on age. The observed microfilariae are similar to that described by Davidson from Maryland gray squirrels …

A Stream Survey Of Riley Creek, Coles County, Illinois, Using Macroinvertebrates As Indicators Of Organic Pollution, Joseph R. Rowe

Masters Theses

A stream survey of Riley Creek in Coles County Illinois, was undertaken to determine ecological trends and the qualitative status of the aquatic community throughout the course of the stream.

The survey encompassed the entire length of Riley Creek from the area of its status as an intermittant waterway to its confluence with Cassel Creek. Sampling periods included the months of April, May, June, July, October and November.

Macroinvertebrate collections were made at six locations along the stream approximately equidistant from each other. The organisms were assigned tolerance levels as designated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Physical and chemical …

A Taxonomic Study Of The Lichen Flora At The Peaks Of Otter Natural Area Along The Blue Ridge Parkway, Bedford County, Virginia, Michael L. Slaughter

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Bryoecology Of Montgomery County, Illinois, Elbert A. Traylor

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Avian Succession On Lake Michigan Sand Dunes, John B. Van Orman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Azide Sensitivity In Species Of Chlamydomonas And Carteria, Kim Michael Kobriger

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Breeding Birds And Vegetation Of The Central Illinois Floodplain Forest, Daniel Edward Varland

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Ecological Comparisons Of Four Plethodontid Salamanders In A Ravine In West Central Indiana, Stephen L. Reinbold

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Ecological Study Of The Algal Potamoplankton Communities Upstream And Downstream From A Sanitary Landfill On Riley Creek, Coles County, Illinois, Larry W. Coutant

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Floral Survey Of The Lake Michigan College- Ross Property, Van Buren County, Michigan, William Monroe Knott

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Fauna And Paleoecology Of The Charleston Quarry Shale, James Karl Gilliam

Masters Theses

The fauna and paleoecology of a late-Pennsylvanian shale contained in the Livingston Limestone of eastern Illinois is here defined. The name, Charleston quarry shale, is informally used for this shale in the area of the Charleston Stone Company quarry, northeast of Charleston, Illinois (SEC. 32, T. 13N., R. 10E., Coles Co.).

The fauna consists mostly of bryozoans, brachiopods and crinoids distributed throughout three distinct zones in the Charleston quarry shale. This fauna inhabited an offshore quiet bottom area in a shallow, warm, marine epicontinental sea which covered the area in the late-Pennsylvanian geologic period. The depth of water above the …

The Nutritional Adequacy Of Five Strains Of Bacteria For Vorticella Microstoma And Oxytricha Sp., Michael J. Sinsko

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Vegetation Survey Of Floodplain Forests Along The Wabash River, Philip E. Phillippe

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Woody Vegetation Survey Of Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois, James T. Hughes

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Lichen Flora Of Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois, James E. Wiedman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Studies Of The Brindled Madtom, Noturus Miurus Jordan, Based On Stomach Content Analysis, Randall Stephen Madding

Masters Theses

Brindled madtoms and small channel catfish (140 mm or less) were examined to determine their food habits and the possibility of competition for food organisms between the two species when collected from the same area.

Two hundred twenty-three brindled madtoms were collected from Polecat Creek (study area I) 3 miles southwest of Ashmore, Coles County, Illinois. The study in Polecat Creek was conducted from July 10, 1967 to June 5, 1968, collections being made approximately every month. Two hundred forty-five brindled madtoms and 140 channel catfish were collected from the Embarras River (study area II) 2 miles south of Charleston, …