Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Observations On The Distribution And Status Of Western Sand Darter, Spotted Gar, And Skipjack Herring In Iowa Rivers, Travis E. Neebling, Michael C. Quist

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

This paper describes new records of western sand darter (Ammocrypta clara), spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), and skipjack herring (Alosa chrysochloris) in Iowa's interior rivers. A western sand darter was collected from the Cedar River, Benton County, in 2007. Western sand darters are occasionally collected from the upper Mississippi River (UMR), but have not been sampled in interior rivers since 1958. Two spotted gar were collected from the Des Moines River, Polk and Wapello counties, in 2007. Two spotted gar were sampled from the UMR in 2000, but no spotted gar have been previously recorded from Iowa's interior rivers. A skipjack …

Cover - Table Of Contents

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Pre-Settlement Vegetation At Casey's Paha State Preserve, Iowa, Reid J. Leichty, Steven H. Emerman, Lyndon R. Hawkins, Michael J. Tiano

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Paha are loess-capped ridges standing 10-30 m above the surrounding plain of the Iowan Surface. Although Iowa was almost entirely covered with prairie and wetlands just prior to Euro-American settlement, the paha are believed to have been forested based on soil types and on early vegetation maps. The objective of this study was to find evidence that paha were forested by measuring the δ13C value of humin, the fraction of soil organic matter that is insoluble in acid and base. Previous work has shown that humin retains the δ13C signature of vegetation on a 1000-year time scale, as opposed to …

Assessment Of Smallmouth Bass Populations In Iowa Interior Rivers, Andrew C. Jansen, Michael C. Quist, Jeff Kopaska

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu are a popular sport fish throughout North America and occupy an important ecological role as top predators in aquatic systems. Despite the importance of smallmouth bass, knowledge of their population structure and dynamics in Iowa interior rivers is limited. The objective of this study was to describe population dynamics (e.g., relative abundance, size and age structure, growth, mortality) of smallmouth bass in six Iowa rivers. Smallmouth bass were sampled from the Upper Iowa, Maquoketa, and Wapsipinicon rivers in northeast Iowa and the Des Moines, Iowa, and South Skunk rivers in central Iowa using electrofishing during the …

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V04n4, Winter 2008, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--IAS NWR Website

--Science: Our Past and Future

--Iowa Academy of Science Fellows

--IAS Board Retreat

--Announcements, Events & Deadlines

--Spotlight on Des Moines University

--Iowa Academy of Science Membership Overview

--ISTJ—Practical Science Education Applications from Iowans to the World

Ant Diversity In Two Southern Minnesota Tallgrass Prairie Restoration Sites, Pamela M. Kittelson, Monica Paulson Priebe, Phillip J. Graeve

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

There is little basic information about ant species richness and abundance in tall grass prairie restorations despite the importance of ants to plant community structure and function. We compared ant abundance and richness, vascular plant cover and richness, and soil compaction at two southern Minnesota grassland restoration sites, a prairie reconstruction and a prairie remnant undergoing rehabilitation. We collected a total of 3,523 ants from 12 different species. Plant species richness ranged from 45 in the prairie reconstruction to 95 in the remnant prairie. We found five more species of ants and significantly higher mean ant species richness per plot …

Editorial Board & Iowa Academy Of Science Officers And Directors

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Iowa Academy Of Science 120th Annual Meeting [2008]: Advance Program, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contains information about the schedule and presentations for the 2008 annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science.

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V03n3, Autumn 2007, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--Iowa Science Teachers Section Fall Conference

--Myrle Burk Scholarship Winners

--Project WET Update

--Academy Awards

--Opportunities for Learning

--ISTS Fall Conference Workshops

--Increasing Academy Membership and Recognition Across the State

--Financial Statement

Education In The Environment: A Hands-On Student Research And Outdoor Learning Experience: Final Project Report, Environmental Education Strategy For Nevada

Reports (PLI Education)

Education in the Environment: A Hands‐on Student Research and Outdoor Learning Experience is a Round 4 Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA)‐funded project implemented by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Lands Institute on behalf of and in cooperation with four Federal agencies in Southern Nevada. This project consisted of three components: (1) an Interagency Conservation Education and Interpretation Strategy; (2) Discover Mojave Forever Earth, an environmental laboratory and learning center; and (3) Southern Nevada Discover Mojave Outdoor World program.

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V03n2, Spring 2007, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--Election Information

--Financial Statement

--IJAS Represented at American Junior Academy of Science

--Expedition Iowa Update

--Gifts Received 2006

--Schutte Receives National Biology Teaching Award

The Pet Food Recall Puzzle: Who, What, Why, And How Much, Roxanne Greitz Miller

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Last spring, North America was gripped in the largest pet food recall in history. News outlets reported tens of thousands of dogs and cats becoming ill, and many dying, as a result of ingesting contaminated pet food. Several pet owners have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers and distributors of the pet food products. I think this is an excellent real-life science story to use with students to show science investigation in action, and to discuss the intersections between the role of regulatory agencies and the public.

In order to understand the case, you first have to know the facts. We'll …

An Inventory Of The Vascular Flora Of Hamilton County, Iowa (2001-2004), Jimmie D. Thompson

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

A botanical survey of the vascular flora of Hamilton County, Iowa was conducted from 2001 to 2004. During this survey 973 taxa (761 native) were encountered. A search of the literature and a survey of Iowa State University's Ada Hayden Herbarium for additional documented specimens added 28 taxa to the flora. This total of 1001 taxa places Hamilton County fourth in vascular plant richness among inventories conducted in Iowa since 1950. A checklist including common names of most taxa, habitat and abundance data for all taxa encountered during the current survey is presented. Information on earlier collections includes source and …

Front Matter

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Narrow Sense Heritability And Additive Genetic Correlations In Alfalfa Subsp. Falcata, Heathcliffe Riday, E. Charles Brummer

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The complex genetics of autotetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) make additive genetic variance component estimation difficult. Halfsib family variances often are used to estimate additive genetic variances and, by extension, narrow sense heritabilities and additive genetic correlations. These estimates contain a portion of the dominance variance. Using such calculations, in conjunction with parent-offspring covariance estimates, the dominance component can be separated from the additive genetic component. This is rarely done. This study reports average estimates across 30 populations, of both additive and dominance variance component estimates based on between halfsib family variance and parent-offspring covariance for biomass yield, plant height, …

Fall And Winter Food Habits Of Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) In Iowa, Kelcey J. Brockmeyer, William R. Clark

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a widely distributed native felid of North America but nearly disappeared from Iowa due to habitat loss and unregulated harvest that occurred during the century after European settlement. Bobcats are repopulating the state and are now relatively common in southern Iowa. This study was part of a research project to understand the ecology of the species in Iowa's landscape so that conservation plans could be established. We determined food habits by the examination of stomach contents from 100 bobcat carcasses that were accidentally killed in traps, killed by automobiles, or radio-marked individuals found dead during …

Using Dragonflies As Common, Flexible, And Charismatic Subjects For Teaching The Scientific Process, Paul Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Laboratory Abrasion Of Crinoid Columnals And The Provenance Of The Chariton Conglomerate, South-Central Iowa, Justin C. Kraber, Steven H. Emerman, Matt R. Bennett, Lyndon R. Hawkins, Jewell E. Moore, Rebekah Ellenwood, Kristine L. Robson, Adam Finken

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The Chariton Conglomerate is a quartz limestone conglomerate of Pennsylvanian age found in six exposures in southern Iowa and three exposures in northern Missouri. Distinctive features of the exposures in Iowa include quartz granules and rounded crinoid columnals. The objective of this study was to determine whether the quartz clasts could have originated in the crystalline rocks of Minnesota or Wisconsin. The average paleocurrent direction measured in interbedded sandstones was 178° (S.D. = 35 °). The average roundness of 75 crinoid columnals extracted from four exposures in Iowa was 30% (S.D. = 14%), defined as

roundness(%) = (D-d)/D x 100, …

Proceedings Of The 119th Annual Meeting Of The Iowa Academy Of Science [Program, 2007], Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contents:

Welcome from the Executive Director --- 3
Program Summary/Timeline --- 4
Iowa Junior Academy of Science --- 6
General Session Presentations --- 7
Symposia Presentations --- 10
Senior Poster Program --- 14
Awards Luncheon --- 16
President's Banquet --- 16
IAS Annual Business Meeting --- 17
2006-2007 Officers and Volunteers --- 18
Notes --- 19
Field Trips --- 20
Section Meeting Programs and Oral Presentations (Alphabetical by Section) --- 22
Abstracts (by Section) --- 27
Author Index --- 53

From Observers To Participants: Joining The Scientific Community, Catherine A. Reinke, Susan R. Singer, Carl Mcdaniel, Carolyn J. Ferguson, Julia Vandermeer, Adam Williamson

Faculty Publications

In this essay, we have integrated the voices of our mentors and students to explore 45 years of undergraduate research experiences and their role in shaping our scientific community. In considering our collective experiences, we see undergraduate involvement in research as a rich source of community development, one that has both touched our lives and influenced our teaching.

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V03n4, Winter 2007, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--Focus on an Institutional Member

--120th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science

--GLOBE Activities for You and YOUR Students

--Committee on Committees and Elections Report to the Iowa Academy of Science Membership

--Financial Statement

--New Member Referral Program Report

America's Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie Activity Guide, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

K-12 Curriculum Supplements

This book is a K-12 curriculum supplement developed by the Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa to accompany the film, America's Lost Landscape. The activity guide was used in the educators' workshop held at the University of of Northern Iowa in fall 2007.

Iowa Academy Of Science: The New Bulletin, V03n1, Winter 2007, Iowa Academy Of Science

New Bulletin

Inside This Issue:

--Message from the Executive Director

--New IAS Membership Brochure

--Evolution and Intelligent Design Conference

--REAP-CEP Program Funds Project WET

--National Outstanding New Biology Teacher

--119th Annual Meeting

--Financial Statements 2007

--Expedition Iowa

--A Message from Our President

--IAS Section Update

--Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science Update

--Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award

Cover - Table Of Contents

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Weather Factors Influencing Winter Roosts Of American Crows In Central Iowa, Joshua D. Obrecht, Stephen J. Dinsmore

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

We investigated the effects of season and weather on the winter roosting behavior of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) in central Iowa from January through March 2006. The peak number of birds recorded at a roost in Ames, Story County was 9,000+ in early February, and the number of individuals entering the roost decreased through February and March. Crows tended to enter the roost later in the day as winter neared completion. High wind speed and low light intensity caused individual to enter the roost earlier in the day. Temperature did not affect arrival time of crows. Wind speed, light intensity, …

Editorial Board & Iowa Academy Of Science Officers And Directors

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Back Cover

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Iowa Academy Of Science 119th Annual Meeting [2007]: Advance Program, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contains information about the schedule and presentations for the 2007 annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science.

Inside The Rainforests Of The Sea: Coral Reefs And Their Endangerment, Roxanne Greitz Miller

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This article focuses on coral reefs and their endangerment.

Are You What You Eat? An Inside Look At High-Tech Food, Roxanne Greitz Miller

Education Faculty Articles and Research

If we abide by the familiar saying "you are what you eat," it is understandable that people may be concerned with the incredible advances in food science technology and their possible impacts on human health. For example, in recent years high-tech scientific processes such as genetic modification, irradiation, and cloning have all been used to increase the safety of food supply, create foods that are more appealing to eat and easier to produce, and increase crop yields. This article will summarize a few hot topics in food science, address what is currently known about the safety of these processes, and …