Life Sciences Commons^™

Aspects Of The Organic Carbon Cycle On Walker Branch Watershed: A Study In Land/Water Interaction, Charles Edward Comiskey

Doctoral Dissertations

Aspects of the organic carbon cycle in a deciduous forest watershed were studied with emphasis on meteorological inputs to the watershed system, transfers of organic material from the terrestrial to the aquatic subsystems, the hydrologic transport of organic carbon in the stream subsystem, and organic outputs from the watershed system via geological vectors.

Transfer of large (> 1 mm) particulate organic material to the heterotrophically based aquatic subsystem occurred primarily as direct leaf fall and blow-in. Annual litterfall was 222.1 g/m² organic carbon, of which leaves contributed 80.6%, fruits and reproductive parts 11.3%, twigs 5.6% and frass 2.5%. Peak …

The Role Of Allelopathic Interference In The Maintenance Of Southern Appalachian Heath Balds, Robert Edward Gant

Doctoral Dissertations

Allelopathic interference seems to be an important mechanism in the maintenance and persistence of southern Appalachian heath bald communities. Comparative analyses were conducted on two heath balds located in the Balsam Mountains of western North Carolina to distinguish phytotoxic characteristics that enhance persistence. Field studies revealed that one community was a mixed heath bald dominated by Rhododendron catawbiense and the second resembled an immature spruce-rhododendron forest heath dominated by Rhododendron maximum and Picea rubens.

Caffeic acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, hydroquinone, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-pinene, phloroglucinol, rhododendrol, and vanillic acid were isolated and identified from canopy drip, leaves, litter, roots, …

The Ecology Of Rabies In Northeastern Tennessee, Howard Fleming Hall Iii

Doctoral Dissertations

The study sought to determine the ecological factors which influenced the time and place at which rabid animals occurred in northeastern Tennessee. The study region consisted of 30 counties in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Within this region three Tennessee counties, the study area, were selected for detailed field study.

The objectives of the study were pursued by means of (1) a detailed retrospective analysis of reported rabies cases in the study region over several decades, (2) the collection of data on recent (1972-1976) reported rabies cases in the study area, (3) a serum survey to detect rabies antibodies among …

Effects Of Strip Mining Related Disturbance On The Benthic Insect Communities Of Selected Streams In The New River Basin Of East Tennessee, Virginia Rose Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations

Four streams in the New River Basin in East Tennessee (one undisturbed and three disturbed) were sampled monthly to determine the effects of contour strip mining for coal on benthic insect communities. In addition to sampling for benthic insects, various physical parameters were measured at the time of sampling to help determine factors that cause changes in benthic community composition in streams disturbed by strip mining. Samples from each stream were analyzed monthly, seasonally, and for the total sampling period to determine effect on the number of species and individuals and on species diversity. For these three factors data were …

Comparative Analyses Of Adjacent Vegetated And Bare Strip Mine Spoils, Donald Wesley Ott

Doctoral Dissertations

A study was undertaken on a strip mine in Campbell County, Tennessee to determine what site characteristics permit vegetation establishment and growth on some spoils while preventing it on adjacent ones. Fifty plots were established and spoil samples, 300 each on vegetated and nonvegetated spoils, were taken at depths of 0-5 cm, 10-15 cm, and 25-30 cm to be analyzed for pH, Ca, Mg, K, P, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, compaction, moisture content, surface temperature, and color. It was found that K, P, Mn, and Zn were in the deficiency range of most plants. The solubility of aluminum and iron …