Life Sciences Commons^™

Breeding Ecology Of Raptors In The Eastern Great Basin Of Utah, Dwight G. Smith, Joseph R. Murphy

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

A comparative study of the breeding ecology of 12 raptor species was conducted in the eastern Great Basin from 1967-1970. The project was designed to determine the composition and densities, habitat selection, territoriality and predatory habits of raptorial birds in a semiarid environment. All topics were analyzed comparatively, relating the requirements and activities of the 12 raptor species.

Average yearly population densities of all species approximated 0.5 pairs per square mile, but much of the available habitat was not utilized. Predominant raptors were the Ferruginous Hawk and Great Horned Owl. Other important raptors included the Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and …

Front Matter, Vol. 18 No. 1

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

End Matter, Vol. 18 No. 3

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

Speciation In The Genus Sceloporus Sceloporus (Sauria, Iguanidae) As Determined By Cranial Osteology And Other Characters, Kenneth Rex Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

Numerical statistical methods were used to analyse the species in the genus Sceloporus using cranial osteology, external meristic and numeric characters, karyology, display behavior and geographic distribution. A new phylogeny for the genus is proposed with three main branches or Groups: Group I, a primitive group, evolved from Uta, Urosaurus and Sator in Miocene times. This Group speciated from gadoviae in the south to merriami in the north and contains 7 species in 3 species groups. Group II arose from Group I and evolved from centrally located pictus in all directions throughout Mexico. It contains approximately 19 species in 5 …

Growth And Development Of The Western Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys Megalotis Megalotis, Gary H. Richins

Theses and Dissertations

Growth rates, gestation period, litter size, reproductive age, sex ratios, and development were studied on 198 litters of Reithrodontomys megalotis megalotis. Growth was characterized by several standard skull and body measurements, and was partitioned into four phases of 1-3, 4-12, 13-22, and 23-70 days. Growth was best described by measurements of tail length, ear length, and dried eye lens weight. Reproductive activity began as early as 38 days for females and 59 days for males. Gestation period was 22 days and mean litter size was 3.83 (range 1-7). Sex ratio was 53.49% males to 46.51% females. Reproductive efficiency was 53.53%. …

The Effects Of Penicillin Upon The Fission Rate Of Dugesia Dorotocephala., John J. Fahsbender

Theses and Dissertations

Planaria (class Turbellaria) are the highest life forms which exhibit fission (Hyman, 1951). The laboratory planarian, Dugesia, lives in lakes, ponds, streams and springs, where it occupies bottom habitats. Fissioning is an asexual mode of reproduction. The fission plane is usually transverse, forming behind the pharynx, and separation appears to be dependent upon locomotion (Curtis, 1902). The posterior half of the worm adheres to the substratum while the anterior half continues to move forward until the worm snaps in two. Each half then regenerates the missing parts, forming two new smaller worms.

The Effects Of Thiamin Deficiency And Thiamin Antagonists On Cardiac Function In The Rat, D. James B. Sutherland

Theses and Dissertations

A study was made to determine what biochemical changes were involved in the slowing of the rat heart rate during thiamin deprivation, pyrithiamin or oxythiamin treatment. The appearance of bradycardia during progressive thiamin deficiency was shown to be related to the reduction in myocardial enzymatic activity of pyruvate (PDH) and 2-ketoglutarate (2-KGDH) dehydrogenase, and not due to inanition alone since pair-fed control rats did not show bradycardia until the agonal stage. Bradycardia was not the result of reduced energy since CP, ATP, ADP, and AMP levels remained normal even though PDH and 2-KGDH activity dropped to 20% of normal by …

A Taxonomic Investigation Of The Algae Of The Brigham Young University Campus, Provo, Utah, Cheng Mou-Sheng

Theses and Dissertations

A taxonomic investigation of the algal flora of the Brigham Young University campus was conducted from October 1971 to August 1972. This algal flora consisted of 27 genera and 36 species of Chlorophyta, 2 genera and 2 species of Euglenophyta, 32 genera and 106 species of Bacillariophyceae (including 16 genera and 33 species of soil diatoms), 1 genus and 2 species of Chrysophyta excluding diatoms and 6 genera and 14 species of Cyanophyta. Diatoms were the predominent algae in this study. Chlorococcum humicola, Vaucheria geminata, Amphora normani, Hantzschia amphioxys and Oscillatoria sancta were prominent in the greenhouses. In the arboretum …

Reproduction And Development Of Ferrissia Rivularis (Say) (Basommatophora: Ancylidae) And The Effects Of Maleic Hydrazide On Its Development And Fecundity, Yuan-Hsu Kang

Theses and Dissertations

Ferrissia rivularis was selected for research because of its local accessibility and because essentially nothing was known of its reproduction and development. Reproductive and developmental biology is first described herein from the natural environment. This is then compared with the effects created by experimental exposure to a selected herbicide, maleic hydrazide, which might be a potential threat to certain invertebrates in the natural environment.

Distribution And Relationships Of Utah Brome Grasses In Western North America, Jerry B. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

A considerable amount of study material has beccme available since the revision of the genus in 1900 by Shear, and the revision of the section Bromopsis in 1952 by Wagnon. A number of cytological studies have been done in recent years; and Wagnon's work pointed out the need for a comprehensive study of the entire genus. This study is a taxonomic revision of the Genus Bromus for the State of Utah, and contains illustrations and descriptions of the species; synonomy; distribution maps; and discussions of many of the important aspects of the economics, ecology, and historical treatment. I have recognized …

Transforming Ability Of Bacillus Subtilis Dna Taken Up By Barley Embryos, Christine Tolman Ence

Theses and Dissertations

Purified Bacillus subtilis DNA taken up by one-day-old barley embryos and permanently fixed within the barley cell is shown to have maintained its biological activity in B. subtilis transformation. Cesuim chloride density gradient centrifugation of DNA isolated from the roots of barley embryos after the uptake and incorporation of radioactive, bromouracil-labelled B. subtilis DNA indicates the presence of the bacterial DNA in several discreet bands of well-defined density, whose density is changed by sonication. These preliminary findings concerning the fate of bacterial DNA taken up by barley roots are discussed in terms of the recombination model of Ledoux and Huart …

A Proposed Mechanism Of Action For In Vitro Excystation Of Two Species Of Coccidia, William Ronald Jolley

Theses and Dissertations

Excystation of coccidian oocysts is accomplished in vitro by altering wall permeability with CO2 and a reducing agent, then activating the enclosed sporozoites with a solution of trypsin and bile. Elucidation of the mechanism of action of the CO2-reducing agent treatment was the basic intent of this study. Oocysts of Eimeria stiedae (rabbit) and E. tenella (chicken) were tested for the presence of an excystation-associated enzyme by incubating sporulated oocysts in fluids extracted from variously treated oocysts, and by carbon-14 labelling; the effect of CO2 -reducing agent treatment on oocyst walls was investigated by titration with acid or base for …

Fleas (Siphonaptera) Associated With Small Mammals Of Morocco Their Distribution And Host-Specificity, Michael W. Hastriter

Theses and Dissertations

A total of 9,936 fleas, representing 27 species, have been processed for study and identified. They were associated with 2,011 small mammals, representing 38 species, collected throughout Morocco from October 12, 1969 to July 20, 1970 by personnel of the Smithsonian Institution. Two species, Synosternus cleopatrae pyramidis (Rothschild and Xenopsylla ramesis (Rothschild), comprised 68 percent of the fleas collected. Two subspecies are described: Ctenophthalmus andorrensis opistolatus, ssp. n. and Ctenophthalmus russulae tangerensis, ssp. n.. There are three ecological subdivisions of Morocco: the coast and coastal plains, the Atlas Mountains, and the pre-saharan desert. Even though there is some overlap, the …

The Effect Of Insect Damage On Indian Ricegrass (Oryzopsis Hymenoides) In Western Utah, Luis S. Guerra

Theses and Dissertations

Indian ricegrass at the Desert Range Experiment Station forty-seven miles west of Milford, Utah, is damaged by the larvae of Coenchroa illibella, Diatrae sp. and Typoceris ceraticornis, the latter being the most destructive. The biology of the insects and the extent of damage inflicted are discussed. Uninfested plants produced more new stems than infested plants. Plants having a basal diameter of 4 to 6.9 cm and 7 to 9.9 cm were the most frequently infested and, consequently, the most severely damaged.

On Improved Wkb (Uniform Asymptotic) Quantum Conditions, Dunham Corrections, The Langer Modification, And Rkr Potentials, Russell T. Pack

Faculty Publications

An improvement to the WKB quantum condition for the rotation-vibration levels of diatomic molecules, known empirically to give RKR potentials of increased accuracy and to account for the Dunham correction Y00, is derived using uniform asymptotic methods. The role of the Langer transformation in this problem is also discussed.

Front Matter, Vol. 17 No. 3

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

Fleas Of Venezuela, Vernon J. Tipton, Carlos E. Machado-Allison

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

Forty-three species of fleas were collected in Venezuela by personnel of the Smithsonian Venezuelan Project. Currently there are fifty-two species of fleas known from Venezuela. Four new taxa are described: Hormopsylla cryptica, Ctenidiosomus perplexus, Adoratopsylla antiquorum rara and Adoratopsylla antiquorum recta. The females of Adoratopsylla antiquorum discreta Jordan and Rothschildopsylla noctilionis (Costa Lima) are described. The families Stephanocircidae (Cleopsylla, Craneopsylla, Plocopsylla, Sphinctopsylla) and Pygiopsyllidae (Ctenidiosomus) are reported from Venezuela for the first time. Two male specimens of the genus Orchopeas constitute the first record of this genus in South America and records of species of the …

End Matter, Vol. 17 No. 1

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

Labidocarpid Bat-Mites Of Venezuela (Listrophoroidea: Labidocarpidae), Burruss Mcdaniel

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

Nine species of bat-mites representing six genera of the family Labidocarpidae are recorded from Venezuela. The genus Pseudoalabidocarpus is described as new and contains a single species, P. secus, new species, collected from Phyllostomus elongatus and P. discolor. Two other new species are described: Lawrenceocarpus phyllostomus, new species, collected from Phyllostomus elongatus and Micronycteris hirsuta; and Labidocarpus dossuarius, new species, collected from Molossus major. New distribution and host records from Venezuela include: Alabidocarpus furmani on Glossophaga longirostris, Carollia perspicillata, C. brevicauda, Vampyrops helleri, Anoura caudifera and Pteronotus parnellii; A. nicaraguae on Uroderma magnirostrum; A. jonesi on Vampyrops helleri; Parakosa tadarida …

Venezuelan Amblyopinini (Insecta: Coleoptera; Staphylinidae), C. E. Machado-Allison, Alfredo Barrera

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

Eight species of the tribe Amblyopinini are known from Venezuela. The descriptions of five species (Amblyopinus proximus, A. intermedius and A. metasternalis plus Amblyopinodes major and A. venezolanus) are given in this paper. Megamblyopinus seeversi Machado-Allison and Barrera is placed in the genus Amblyopinus and A. bolivari Barrera, Machado-Allison and Muñiz is reduced to a subspecies of A. schmidti Seevers. Data on hosts and distribution are given for the new species as well as A. emarginatus Seevers and A. waterhousei Fauvel.

Contributions To The Study Of The Genus Eriastrum: Ii. Notes Concerning The Type Specimens And Descriptions Of The Species, H. Keith Harrison

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

The species of the genus Eriastrum are described. Keys to the species and subspecies and the geographic ranges are provided. Discussions with regard to the type specimens or lectotypes and interspecific relationships are presented.

End Matter, Vol. 17 No. 3

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

End Matter, Vol. 17 No. 2

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

Sucking Lice Of Venezuelan Rodents With Remarks On Related Species (Anoplura), Phyllis T. Johnson

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

The paper includes discussions and descriptions of species of Anoplura known to occur on Venezuelan rodents, and of certain other taxa related to Venezuelan forms. Five genera are represented: Enderleinellus Fahrenholz—2 species: insularis Werneck and venezuelae Ferris; Hoplopleura Enderlein—19 species, 11 of them new: sciuricola Ferris; arizonensis Stojanovich and Pratt; aitkeni, new species; travassosi Werneck; abeli, new species; rimae, new species; angulata Ferris; indiscreta, new species; tiptoni, new species; handleyi, new species; eximia, new species; quadridentata (Neumann); contigua, new species; nesoryzomydis Ferris; oryzomydis Pratt and Lane; multilobata Werneck; splendida, new species; inusitata, new species; and orinocoi …

Mites Of The Family Laelapidae In Venezuela (Acarina: Laelapidae), Deane P. Furman

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

This publication presents the results of an extensive survey of symbiotic laelapid mites of vertebrates from Venezuela. Over 40,000 vertebrates were examined from a wide variety of life zones and localities. The laelapid fauna represented includes 1 new genus, Hymenolaelpas, and 7 genera previously described: Laelaps, Mysolaelaps, Tur, Steptolaelaps, Neoparalaelaps, Gigantolaelaps, and Androlaelaps. The genera are represented by 51 species and subspecies, of which 8 are described as new. Previously unknown males and immatures of several species are described. Gigantolaelaps versteegi ( Oudemans ) is redescribed from type material; G. wolffsohni (Oudemans) is redescribed from Oudemans’ original material; G. peruviana …

Front Matter, Vol. 17 No. 1

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Vol. 17 No. 4

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Vol. 17 No. 6

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Vol. 17 No. 2

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.

End Matter, Vol. 16 No. 4

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

No abstract provided.