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By-Laws Of The Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union (Nou) Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

These procedural guidelines, or "by-laws," were revised and approved by the NOURC and the NOU Board of Directors (2010).

Mccook Fall Field Days

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2010 NOU Fall Field Days were held in McCook on September 24–26, and 57 members and friends were in attendance.

Field trip destinations included Medicine Creek Reservoir and points east, led by William Flack; Red Willow State Recreation Area and other Frontier County locations, led by T. J. Walker; and Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area and the Benkelman sewage lagoons, led by Robin Harding and Lanny Randolph. A final tally of 131 species was recorded.

Gerhard Assenmacher, wildlife photographer and conservationist, spoke on Saturday night about his Medicine Creek Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is composed of more than 550 …

Index To Volume 78

Nebraska Bird Review

Adams,

Cody 125

David 125

Akers, Danny 131

Alexander, Irene 26

Allen, Paul 125

Allison, Scott 26

Amadon, D. 69

American Ornithologists' Union 34, 82

Amos, A. F. 33

Andelt, Frank 125

Anderson-Ray, Janet 40

Andresen, Kari 125

Anhinga 70, 162

Ani, Groove-billed 75, 164

Arp, Duane 125

Assenmacher, Gerhard 150

Audubon, John J. 104, 121

Avocet, American 38, 48, 50, 65, 70, 93, 137

Subscription And Organization Information [December 2010]

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): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada, and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household …

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee: A Review Of The First 25 Years (1985–2009), Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The year 2009 marked the 25th year of existence of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (NOURC). Its beginning can be traced to one person—Wayne Mollhoff. Wayne raised the need for a records committee in the spring of 1985 at the NOU Annual Meeting in Gretna, Nebraska. At the general membership meeting, then-president Gary Lingle appointed Wayne to form a committee to establish a Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Records Committee. Using procedures from several other states' records committees, Wayne developed a set of operating guidelines or by-laws specific to Nebraska. Further discussion of a records committee continued at the 1985 NOU …

Summer Activity Pattern And Home Range Of Northern Pocket Gophers In An Alfalfa Field, Jon C. Pigage, Helen K. Pigage

The Prairie Naturalist

AIlocation of time for feeding, resting and reproduction in subterranean animals is difficult to determine. Although pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) are among the most widely studied subterranean rodents, there are conflicting reports on activity measurement in these animals. Activity studies have included opening gopher burrows (Tryon 1947), laboratory studies of activity (Vaughan and Hansen 1961), telemetry studies (Anderson and McMahon 1981, Bandoli 1987, and Cameron et al. 1988), and subcutaneously implanted radioactive gold wires (Gettinger 1984). The diversity of techniques reflects the difficulty of generalizing results from different species of pocket gophers in natural and artificial environments. Patton and …

Hglm: A Package For Fitting Hierarchical Generalized Linear Models, Lars Rönnegård, Xia Shen, Moudud Alam

The R Journal

We present the hglm package for fit ting hierarchical generalized linear models. It can be used for linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models with random effects for a variety of links and a variety of distributions for both the outcomes and the random effects. Fixed effects can also be fitted in the dispersion part of the model.

Online Reproducible Research: An Application To Multivariate Analysis Of Bacterial Dna Fingerprint Data, Jean Thioulouse, Claire Valiente-Moro, Lionel Zenner

The R Journal

This paper presents an example of online reproducible multivariate data analysis. This example is based on a web page providing an online computing facility on a server. HTML forms contain editable R code snippets that can be executed in any web browser thanks to the Rweb software. The example is based on the multivariate analysis of DNA fingerprints of the internal bacterial flora of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae. Several multivariate data analysis methods from the ade4 package are used to compare the fingerprints of mite pools coming from various poultry farms. All the computations and graphical displays …

Nebraska Bird Review (December 2010) 78(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2010 ... 130

McCook Fall Field Days ... 150

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Records Committee: A Review of the First 25 Years (1985–2009) ... 155

By-Laws of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union (NOU) Records Committee ... 167

Index to Volume 78 ... 171

Subscription and Organization Information ... 183

The Role And Importance Of Cave Microclimate In The Sustainable Use And Management Of Show Caves, Chris R. De Freitas

KIP Articles

Cave microclimate is important in the study of cave flora and fauna, certain karst processes underground and hydrogeologic aspects of speleothems; thus an understanding of microclimat­ic processes is especially important in the management of show caves. Here, examples are drawn from researchon New Zea­land caves and examined in the context of sustainable cave use management practices. The work considers that the cave man­ager is concerned, firstly, withdefining the desired or optimal level or range of environmental conditions that should prevail and, secondly, withmaintaining them. To do this requires an appropriate and reliable monitoring system. It involves select­ing key indicators to …

Classification Problems For Mdps And Optimal Customer Admission To M/M/K/N Queues, Fenghsu Yang

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

My dissertation addresses the unichain classification problem for any finite Markov decision process (MDP) with a recurrent or stopping state and the optimal admission problem for an M/M/k/N controlled queue with holding costs. In the first chapter, we study the unichain classification problem for MDPs. The unichain classification problem is to detect whether an MDP with finite states and actions is unichain or not. This problem has been proven to be NP-hard. We study this problem while an MDP contains a state which is either recurrent under all deterministic policies or absorbing under some action. We introduce the definitions of …

Low-Level Vibrations Maintain The Intervertebral Disc During Unloading, Nilsson Holguin

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Changes in intervertebral disc (IVD) biochemistry, morphology and mechanics have been characterized only incompletely in the rat hindlimb unloading (HU) model. Although exposure to chronic vibrations can be damaging, low-magnitude vibrations can attenuate the geometric changes of the IVD due to altered spinal loading. Here, we tested the hypothesis that low-magnitude, high-frequency vibrations will mitigate the hypotrophy, biochemical degradation and deconditioning of the IVD during HU. When applied as whole-body vibrations through all four paws, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to HU and exposed to daily periods (15min/d) of either ambulatory activities (HU+AMB) or whole body vibrations superimposed upon ambulation (HU+WBV; …

Life Cycle And Population Dynamics Of The Marine Ectoparasite Dichelesthium Oblongum (Copepoda: Dichelesthiidae) On Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus), Alicia Brown

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Dichelesthium oblongum belongs to the family Dichelesthiidae, within the Suborder Siphonostomatoida, subclass Copepoda (Kabata 1979; Huys and Boxshall 1991). A description of the life cycle and the morphology of its developmental stages is described and compared with that of other organisms within this family and suborder. As expected within the Dichelesthiidae, Dichelesthium oblongum, life cycle appears to consist of nine stages, from nauplius 1 to adult. Sexes are easily distinguished from the 1st copepodid stage on the host through adulthood. General trends include the development of the lateral process on the endopod of the second leg on the male, the …

Life Cycle And Population Dynamics Of The Marine Ectoparasite Dichelesthium Oblongum (Copepoda: Dichelesthiidae) On Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Oxyrinchus), Alicia Brown

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Dichelesthium oblongum belongs to the family Dichelesthiidae, within the Suborder Siphonostomatoida, subclass Copepoda (Kabata 1979; Huys and Boxshall 1991). A description of the life cycle and the morphology of its developmental stages is described and compared with that of other organisms within this family and suborder. As expected within the Dichelesthiidae, Dichelesthium oblongum, life cycle appears to consist of nine stages, from nauplius 1 to adult. Sexes are easily distinguished from the 1st copepodid stage on the host through adulthood. General trends include the development of the lateral process on the endopod of the second leg on the male, the …

Novel Nonparametric Approaches To Stock Assessment And Regime Shift Prediction, Charles Thomas Perretti

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Ecosystem dynamics are often complex, nonlinear, and characterized by criticalthresholds or regime changes. Despite these difficulties, resource managers mustaccurately forecast species abundance and anticipate impending regime shifts in order toimplement sustainable management plans. In the first part of this thesis I explicitly describe a nonparametric method formultivariate forecasting which I call the MS-Map and evaluate its performance relative toa suite of parametric models. I found that, in the presence of noise, it is often possible toobtain more accurate forecasts from the MS-Map than from the model that was used togenerate the data. The inclusion of additional species yielded a large …

Investigation Of Factors Involved In The Interaction Between Quahog Parasite Unknown (Qpx) And Its Host, The Hard Clam Mercenaria Mercenaria, Mickael Perrigault

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

QPX (Quahog parasite unknown) is a protistan parasite affecting the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria along the Northeastern coast of the United States. The geographic distribution and occurrence of disease epizootics suggests the involvement of environmental parameters and host genotype in disease development. Field investigations and laboratory transmission studies revealed some variations in the susceptibility of different hard clam stocks to QPX infection. Histological observations demonstrated that clams mount marked inflammatory responses against the infection that can sometimes lead to the healing of infected individuals. This study investigated host-pathogen interactions in QPX disease by studying individual components of the tripartite interaction: …

Interferon-Gamma Fosters A Shift From Acute To Chronic Inflammation In Lyme Disease, Gregory John Sabino

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Borrelia burgdorferi is an extracellular bacterium that causes Lyme disease, an inflammatory, multi-systemic ailment. Interferon-γ (IFNγ) is present in lesions of human Lyme disease and positively correlates with severity of illness. Endothelial cells, which line the vasculature, mediate recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection and inflammation. To determine whether IFNγ contributes to development of Lyme disease through its actions on endothelium, cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to B. burgdorferi, IFNγ, or the two stimuli together. Treatment of HUVEC with both stimuli enhanced the transendothelial migration of monocytes and diminished that of natural killer cells, …

Phosphorus Export From A Restored Wetland Ecosystem In Response To Natural And Experimental Hydrologic Fluctuations, Marcelo Ardón, Shaena Montanari, Jennifer L. Morse, Martin W. Doyle, Emily S. Bernhardt

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wetland restoration is a commonly used approach to reduce nutrient loading to freshwater and coastal ecosystems, with many wetland restoration efforts occurring in former agricultural fields. Restored wetlands are expected to be effective at retaining or removing both nitrogen and phosphorus (P), yet restoring wetland hydrology to former agricultural fields can lead to the release of legacy fertilizer P. Here, we examined P cycling and export following rewetting of the Timberlake Restoration Project, a 440 ha restored riverine wetland complex in the coastal plain of North Carolina. We also compared P cycling within the restored wetland to two minimally disturbed …

And When I Die And Other Prose, Ralph Brandon Buckner Iii

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis consists of the first chapter of my novel, two short stories, and two nonfiction essays. These pieces explore the tensions of family, love, and sexual orientation. The most prominent theme that connects each work is the main character’s search for control in his life. In the introduction to this thesis, I critically analyze three novels that focus on characters trying to regain stability in their lives after the death of someone close to them, and then I have discussed how these novels shaped my thesis in terms of theme, mood, and conflict.

Assessing Air Quality Impacts Of Managed Lanes, Cutr

Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Proceedings Of 3rd Asian Preventive Cardiology And Cardiac Rehabilitation Conference Cum 8th Certificate Course In Cardiac Rehabilitation

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

No abstract provided.

Observations Of Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus Maritimus) On Texas Gulf Coast, Mark B. Bartosik

Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society

I summarize observations on postures and displays used by juvenile and adult Seaside Sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus). Some displays, like carrying material, were only known to be practiced by adults during territorial disputes. I collected photographic documentation showing juveniles carrying material (debris, stems and feathers) during aggressive encounters. I also collected data on juvenile Seaside Sparrows manipulating natural and artificial objects and agonistic encounters. I describe a behavior in which juveniles carry materials such as debris or feathers, one of which was 16 cm long. I describe food items consumed by Seaside Sparrows during late summer/fall. These included a large quantity …

Hutton’S Vireo Establishment As A Breeding Species In The Texas Hill Country, Zac G. Loman, Jill T. Loman

Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society

Once thought to be a sporadic visitor to the Texas Hill Country, increasing evidence suggests Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni) is in fact a breeding resident. We documented several breeding events.

How Are The Torres Strait Islander's Traditional Hunting Practices Affected By The Current Rate Of Decline In Dugong And Sea Turtle Populations And The Australian Government's Co-Management Policies On Marine Preservation?, Katilyn Price

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This paper will attempt to identify the extent to which the Torres Strait Islanders traditional hunting practices have been disrupted by the overall decline in dugong and sea turtle populations, which has directly correlated to an increase in hunting restrictions put in place by the Australian Government. The traditional hunting of dugongs and sea turtles provides not only a food source, but brings prestige to the men who catch them and serves as an educational platform to teach the younger generations about their culture. There are many environmental threats that impact the populations of sea turtles and dugongs though the …

Is Orthoptera Abundance And Distribution Across A Small Grassland Area Affected By Plant Biomass, Plant Species Richness, And Plant Quality?, Caitlin Falcone

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The choice of a specific microhabitat represents a compromise among a number of different factors organisms use to monitor habitat suitability. Grassland vegetation structure can vary widely along environmental gradients over a relatively small area. This vegetation structure can have a large influence on habitat selection by grasshoppers (Orthoptera). However, it is not clear which vegetation characteristics are most important in determining grasshopper abundance. We found that plant biomass, plant species richness, and plant quality all have an effect on grasshopper abundance and distribution. We observe that these affects vary both within and among the two years of data collection. …

The Influence Of Sediment Bays On Reducing Incoming Sediment In Holmes Lake, Lincoln, Nebraska, Alex Fischer

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Lakes in the urban environment are often challenged with issues of water quality. Holmes Lake, located in Lincoln, Nebraska, has experienced such problems. In an effort to improve water quality in Holmes Lake, the city installed several control devices. One of the devices installed were sediment bays. This study evaluated the effectiveness of those sediment bays by measuring turbidity and suspended sediment after rain events at different locations in and out of the bays. The study found that the bays helped to reduce sediment in some cases, but in other cases no reduction was shown.

Communication For Mate Selection In Anurans: Dominant Frequency Versus Snout-Vent-Length, Shari Jean Kunert

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Assigning Value To Intuitive Dimensions In Creativity, Susan Coburn

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Assigning Value to Intuitive Dimensions in Creativity

The abilities described by people as intuitive processes include anything from having an unexplained feeling surrounding an event, or having met with a psychic experience, the latter occurring mostly without a catalyst or deliberate engagement. This paper briefly explores the use of these intuitive qualities within the subject of creativity, a thinking skill enhanced by using all available resources. A brief questionnaire was administered to fifteen colleagues regarding information or feelings gained from intuition, dreams, unexplained voice contact or sensations, visual events, and other self-described developments that could be classified as intuitive phenomena. …

Dragons And Mermaids: Script Building Using Sociodrama As An Ecological Teaching And Learning Application, Catherine M. Skora

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project describes and demonstrates a script-building process for use as a teaching and learning application for third-grade students. Creativity elements of models framing this application will include the Torrance Model of Sociodrama as Creative Problem Solving, Rhodes’ 4 P’s (person, process, product, and press), and the Creative Problem Thinking Skills Model. The constructivism theory of learning is discussed to demonstrate an active-learning process that is ecological in nature, as are the creativity models discussed. Engagement of students in this ecological and active-learning process is the intention of the teaching and learning application in this paper. Commonalities among these creativity …

Biogeography Of Alien Vertebrates In The Galapagos Islands: Patterns, Processes, And Conservation Implications, Reese Brand Phillips

Biology ETDs

Alien species are one of the principal threats to global biodiversity. Insular ecosystems have proven exceptionally susceptible to invasion by aliens and vulnerable to their negative effects. Some of the most destructive alien species are vertebrates, in part due to their having been introduced to islands worldwide. Rodents (Rattus spp. and Mus musculus) are among the most widespread and devastating invasive species for insular flora and fauna. In this research I investigate the biogeographic patterns and processes of alien vertebrates in the Galapagos Islands, focusing on the mechanisms that influence their dispersal and colonization within the archipelago. In the first …