Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Perspectives On Iowa's Declining Amphibians And Reptiles, James L. Christiansen

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Changes in range and abundance of Iowa's amphibians and reptiles can be deduced by comparing records from recent studies with excellent collections from Iowa by Professor R. M. Bailey made from 1938-1943 in addition to museum records accumulated before 1950. Additional recent data make necessary this updating of a similar study conducted in 1980. The current study finds many of our frogs to be in decline, some in a pattern from north to south, but most as a diffused loss of populations, probably as a result of habitat destruction. The crawfish frog, one of the two frogs considered threatened in …

Editorial Board & Iowa Academy Of Science Officers And Directors

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) Of Northeastern Iowa: A Comparison Of Baits For Sampling, David R. Coyle, Kirk J. Larsen

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) were inventoried over a 8-week period from June into August of 1996 at 10 sites in 4 counties of extreme northeastern Iowa. Carrion preference and relative abundance of carrion beetles were studied by use of non-lethal pitfall traps constructed from large plastic plant pots and baited with aged fish, beef liver, chicken, or piglets. A total of 3,183 carrion beetles were collected, representing 11 different species. The most commonly encountered species of carrion beetles in northeastern Iowa included Necrophila americana (71.5%) and Oiceoptoma novaboracense (18.5%). When comparing baits, chicken and fish attracted the greatest number of …

Awards And Recognition, Iowa Academy Of Science, 1998

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Iowa Academy Of Science Membership Directory, 1998-99, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contents:

Editorial Board, Journal ... 5
Committees ... 6
Sections ... 18
ISTS Regional Directors ... 22
Awards of Merit ... 24
Excellence in Science Teaching Awards ... 25
Past Presidents ... 26
Membership Roster ... 27
Corporate Sponsors ... 35

Distribution And Ecology Of The Morels And False Morels Of Iowa, L. H. Tiffany, G. Knaphus, D. M. Huffman

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The distribution, time of fruiting and habitats of morels and false morels in Iowa were documented during a 10 year survey (1984-1993). Distribution maps for each species also include information from published reports and from herbarium records. The true morel genus, Morchella, is represented in Iowa by five species. Three of these species, M. deliciosa, M. esculenta and M. crassipes, are sometimes interpreted as segments of one large, extremely variable species. M. semilibera and M. angusticeps also occur. M. angusticeps, a black morel, has not been previously reported from Iowa. Four false morels, two species in each of two genera, …

Decline Of Iowa Populations Of The Regal Fritillary (Speyeria Idalia) Drury, Diane M. Debinskl, Liesl Kelly

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The Regal Fritillary butterfly, Speyeria idalia Drury (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Argynninae), is a prairie endemic species which has exhibited a dramatic decline in Iowa during the last few decades. Tallgrass prairie is the primary habitat of S. idalia and the butterfly's presence is correlated with the presence of violets (Violaceae). Due to the extensive habitat fragmentation of Iowa prairies, both the butterfly and its host plant populations are limited primarily to unplowed, relatively pristine prairies. Thus, S. idalia is an excellent case study of a prairie endemic species. Here, we report on the results of a two-year survey of the insect …

Book Review - The Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas, Louis B. Best

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas is the first comprehensive statewide survey of Iowa's breeding birds. Through the efforts of over 500 people, every county in the state was sampled to provide a record of the composition and distribution of the bird life in Iowa. The project entailed dividing the state into 861 atlas blocks; 83% received at least some coverage and 71 % were completed. Information known through 1995 is included in the text, although the atlas project ended in 1990.

Back Cover

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

The Fungi, Lichens, And Myxomycetes Of Iowa: A Literature Review And Evaluation, Lois H. Tiffany, George Knaphus

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

The fungi have been, and continue to be, a poorly documented portion of Iowa’s biological inheritance. Although many are perennially present in soil and plant debris and are crucially involved in the release and recycling of materials from organic residues or are partners with plant roots as mycorrhizae, they are not obvious until they produce fruiting structures such as mushrooms, boletes, brackets, puffballs, etc. The fungi causing plant disease are more obvious because of the reactions of their host plants; thus the earliest records of Iowa fungi are of ones causing plant diseases commonly referred to as mildews, rusts, and …

Status Of Aquatic Vascular Plants 1n Iowa's Natural Lakes, G. S. Phillips

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Conversion of wetlands to agricultural land during the settlement of Iowa has resulted in a significant decline in the total area of lake habitat in the state. This reduction in area, combined with the degradation of remaining sites, resulted in dramatic reductions in aquatic vascular plant populations associated with Iowa's natural lakes. While declines in plant species inhabiting fen, bog, seepage, prairie pothole, and marsh type wetlands have been extensively documented, few quantitative data exist for lake type wetlands. During the summer of 1996, a total of 86 natural lakes in Iowa were surveyed for aquatic vascular plants. Many of …

Iowa's Changing Forest Resources, Steven E. Jungst, Donald R. Farrar, Michael Brandrup

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

After a period of decline in area extending from the 1850s to 1974, Iowa's forest area increased between 1974 and 1990. Although the area increase is encouraging, it may be fleeting. In addition, changes in forest stand structure and forest ownership patterns along with other pressures may make it difficult to maintain healthy forest ecosystems in the future. Notes from the original land survey in Iowa coupled with information from U.S. Forest Service forest inventories make it possible to look at changes in forest area and forest tree types. Unfortunately, similar long-term data do not exist to make possible a …

The Status Of Iowa's Lepidoptera, Dennis W. Schlicht, Timothy T. Orwig

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Including strays, 122 species of butterflies have been confirmed in Iowa. However, since European settlement the populations of taxa of Iowa Lepidoptera have declined. While certain generalist species have experienced declines, species with life cycles that include native habitats, especially prairies and wetlands, have been particularly vulnerable. In a 1994 revision of the Iowa endangered and threatened species list, the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) listed two species of butterflies as endangered, five as threatened, and 25 as special concern, using general legal definitions of those rankings (NRC 1994). But after examining recent records, we have revised that list, using numbers …

Back Cover

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Mammals Of Iowa: Holocene To The End Of The 20th Century, John B. Bowles, Daryl L. Howell, Richard P. Lampe, Howard P. Whidden

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

This review of Iowa's mammal fauna at the close of the 20th century summarizes changes in distributional patterns following Euroamerican settlement in the early 1800s. Data from historical records, museum specimens, and presettlement late Holocene fossils indicate presence of 69 resident mammals at that time. Hunting pressures and the conversion of prairie and forest to agricultural fields reduced the populations and ranges of many state mammals, and 14 species were extirpated by 1900. An additional 15 species are either uncommon or rare today, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources lists four species as endangered, three as threatened and one …

Back Cover

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Student-Centered Thinking Strategies Approach To Learning Basic Facts, Amber L. Grotjohn

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Now the question becomes, "Can children learn basic facts even better by using a student-centered approach to helping them learn thinking strategies?" This study is an examination of a thinking strategies approach to teaching basic addition facts.

Iowa Prairie: Original Extent And Loss, Preservation And Recovery Attempts, Daryl D. Smith

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Iowa's prairie has to be assessed in the context of the pre- and post-agriculturally dominated ecosystem in which it now exists. This requires an understanding of prairies and of society's perspective of prairies. Therefore, the attitudes of people through time have to be considered; (1) those who were involved in the demise of the prairie, (2) those who helped saved the pieces of the prairie and (3) those who may be called upon to recover the prairie ecosystem.

The Effects Of Acceleration On The Attitudes Toward And Achievement In Mathematics, Nancy Preece Mcgill

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the affects of participation in accelerated mathematics classes on the attitudes toward and the achievement in mathematics of thirty-five seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students and their parents. The respondents, from a small rural school district, completed a survey consisting of an open-form question and ten statements designed to elicit perceptions regarding their attitudes toward and achievement in mathematics.

Results indicated that parental attitudes were significantly more positive than students as a result of participation. Results also showed that participation produced no harmful effects and, in fact, many respondents expressed a desire to continue taking accelerated classes. …

What Do Young Children Know About Numerosity? : Implications For Teachers, Keely J. Beam

Graduate Research Papers

"Numerosity" is the ability to count a set of objects using the correct number names in the proper order. Fuson and Hall (1983) assert that the use of cardinal words is one measure of the development of number knowledge. Using words in a cardinal context indicates that children are beginning to understand the "manyiness" of objects. The use of cardinal words is one of the best indicators that a child is beginning to understand counting and the underlying principles involved.

Numerosity is a concept which children often, but not always, demonstrate with overt behaviors. Understanding cardinality and numerical order, develops …

A Program Evaluation Of An Elementary Science Teacher Preparation Program, Lisa Renee Krapfl

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this qualitative study was to listen to teachers who have graduated from a specialized science minor program at the University of Northern Iowa and learn what their current experiences could share with the current undergraduate program. The nine participants who were interviewed were all graduates of this program. They were chosen by the researcher out of a larger group of PEMST graduates with respect to gender, year graduated, and science specialist versus generalist teaching positions. Each semi-structured interview was transcribed to print and later analyzed for common trends in the data. The results of the study showed …

Calculators In Middle School Mathematics Classrooms, Debra Lynn Kuehne

Graduate Research Papers

Calculators can be a catalyst for all mathematical learning. Arithmetic skills are necessary life tools. Doing mental math requires basic facts mastery with estimation skills. Using a calculator successfully and evaluating the answer requires an understanding of the necessary arithmetic processes and the ability to identify a reasonable solution.

Like all technology available in the K-12 school setting, calculators should be viewed as tools to facilitate learning and logical reasoning. Students need to be prepared for the jobs of the future, many of which occupations have not yet even been created. The motivation for learning any skill in life is …

Integrating Children's Literature And Mathematics In The Early Childhood Classroom, Jamie M. Christensen

Graduate Research Papers

"Historically there have been three reasons for groups to formally adopt a set of standards: (1) to ensure quality, (2) to indicate goals, and (3) to promote change. For NCTM, all three reasons are of equal importance" (The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1989, p. 2).

Now, more than any other time in history, mathematical reform is essential in our school systems. The traditional mathematics curriculum was designed to prepare shopkeepers, farmers, and factory workers for occupations in the early 1900s. Some of those skills are still useful in today's society. However, as the new millennium approaches, our future …

A Case Study Of Four Fifth Grade Teachers And Their Perceptions Of How And Why They Teach Science, Ana K. Houseal

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of four 5th grade teachers and their perceptions of the influences on how and why they taught science in their classrooms. The four participating teachers who were from three school districts in Iowa were observed teaching science lessons and interviewed following the observations. The results of the study showed that the data obtained during the observations and interviews focused on three major themes. The first theme centered on the teachers' perceptions of changes in teaching elementary science. These included a move away from text-based learning with a subsequent move …

The Annual Meeting Of The Iowa Academy Of Science April 25-26, 1997 [Program, 109th Meeting], Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contents:

Program Summary --- 4
General Session Speakers --- 7
Awards --- 10
Symposia Programs --- 11
Poster Session --- 13
Map --- Center
Section Programs/Special Sessions --- 16
Agricultural Sciences --- 16
Anthropology --- 17
Botany --- 18
Cellular, Molecular, & Microbiology --- 19
Chemical Education --- 20
Chemistry : Inorganic , Physical , & Analytical --- 21
Chemistry : Organic & Biological --- 22
Conservation --- 23
Engineering --- 26
Geology --- 26
Physics --- 28
Physiology --- 29
Psychology/Linguistics --- 32
Science Teaching --- 32
Zoology --- 32
Local Arrangements Committee --- 34
Annual Meeting Committee --- …

Program Abstracts, 109th Session, Iowa Academy Of Science, April 25-26, 1997, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Presentation abstracts from the annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science

Iowa Academy Of Science President's Banquet [109th Session], Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Program:

Introductions
Awards:
Distinguished Fellow: Peter A. Peterson
Distinguished Fellow: M.A. Tabatabai
Distinguished Iowa Scientist: Charles E. Glatz
Distinguished Iowa Scientist: James Dinsmore
Distinguished Iowa Science Teacher: Edwin T. Cawley
Distinguished Iowa Science Teacher: Robert Mutel
Distinguished Service: The Aldo Leopold Center for Stustainable Agriculture, ISU
President's Address - Bill Gilbert
Response - Richard Lampe, President-Elect
General Sessions II - Jerome A. Enzler, "Cultural Aspects of the Mississippi River: Past, Present, and Future"

109th Session Iowa Academy Of Science Awards Luncheon, April 25, 1997, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Program:

--- Introductions - Bill Gilbert, President
--- Recognition of students participating in various statewide activities - Sue Smith, Chair, Student Programs Committee
--- Presentation of scholarship winners and 1998 AJAS representatives - Peggy Tilgner, Director, Iowa Junior Academy of Science
Presentation of Excellence in Science Teaching Awards - Peg Steffen, Director, ESTA Program