Life Sciences Commons^™

Some Effects Of Viterra 2 Hydrogel On Soil Physics And Plant Growth, Julia E. Maserang

Masters Theses

The effects of hydrogel on various aspects of plant growth and soil physics were determined for Tagetes patula (marigold) and Vinca rosea growing in 'PRO-MIX' soilless potting medium.

The addition of hydrogel at various concentrations to the potting medium increased the water-holding capacity of the medium, thus extending the hours-to-wilt of plants growing in this medium. While hydrogel had no effect on plant height, flowering time, plant color, soil pH or soil nitrate concentration, plant weight and flower number did appear to increase between the control and highest hydrogel treatment. As hydrogel concentration within the medium increased, percent total seed …

Fecal Coliform Membrane Filtration Recovery Techniques, Pamela Rose Rinebold

Masters Theses

Researchers over the years have been trying to improve recovery techniques for fecal coliform bacteria. Improved techniques would provide better estimates of the number of fecal coliform bacteria as well as better estimates of fecal contamination with potential pathogenicity of food and water.

Stressed, but viable, fecal coliform bacteria if placed under the appropiate conditions, can recover, thus presenting the possibility of inadequate disinfection. Chlorine sanitization, as done in potable and wastewater treatment, is one such method of stressing bacteria.

Techniques of recovery were studied using presumably unstressed and chlorine stressed samples. Phase one of this study was the comparison …

Mammals At Hidden Springs State Forest, Shelby County, Illinois, Leslie L. Clapp

Masters Theses

A survey of the mammals at Hidden Springs State Forest (HSSF) in Shelby County, Illinois was conducted from May 1 to November 18, 1984. The survey was designed to determine the species and relative abundance of mammals associated with major habitat types of the Forest based on area walk-through surveys, streamside surveys, mist net surveys, snaptrap/pitfall surveys, and a hunter questionaire. A total of 26 mammal species were found associated with various habitats within the Forest and an additional four species were reported within Shelby County. One species, the southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris) had not previously been reported …

Some Factors Affecting Male Back Space Availability In The Water Bug Belostoma Flumineum Say, Amanda M. Vandenburgh

Masters Theses

Various factors affecting the availability of male back space in the giant water bug, Belostoma flumineum Say, are described herein and interpreted in a manner consistent with natural selection theory. Newly emerged males are observed to breed and accept eggs sooner than newly emerged females develop an egg clutch: furthermore, newly emerged males were shown to contain motile sperm on the day of adult emergence. Newly emerged females did not contain any mature eggs until approximately six days old. It was also found that newly emerged females manufacture eggs at a linear rate of 4.8 eggs per day. Egg length …

A Comparison Of The Acidic Extracellular Polysaccharides From Rhizobium Trifolii Mutants Affected In Trifolium Repens Root Hair Curling, Brian Andrew Hanley

Masters Theses

The compositions and sugar linkages of the acidic extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) from several Rhizobium trifolii mutants were compared. These mutants were derived from a wild type Rhizobium trifolii, ANU843, and are unable to cause normal root hair curling, Hac-, or nodulate clover, Nod-. Three of the mutants contain a Tn5 insertion in a 5.3 kb BglII fragment of the symbiotic plasmid (pSym). A fourth mutant is missing the pSym, which includes much of the 5.3 kb BglII fragment, both of these deletions result in Hac-Nod- phenotypes. When the 5.3 kb BglII fragment is cloned (pRT150) and reinserted into the …

The North American Distribution Of The Cladonia Cryptochlorophaea Asah. Population Containing The Para-Depside Atranorin As An Accessory Substance, Paul Raymond Lock

Masters Theses

An examination by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of herbarium material and collections from Missouri and Arkansas of the cup-shaped lichen Cladonia cryptochlorophaea Asah. was used to determine the North American distribution of the population containing the para-depside atranorin. This atranorin containing variant was originally reported by Cunningham (1982) in Coles and Clark Counties of Illinois with further studies by Wilcer (1984) in Illinois, western Indiana and southern Wisconsin.

A total of 181 specimens of Cladonia cryptochlorophaea Asah. were examined for the para-depside atranorin using TLC. Herbarium material was supplied for study from both the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C., and Eastern …

Differences In Maximal Performance Between An Exercise Test On A Monark Bicycle Ergometer And A Racermate Wind Load Simulator, Carmen J. Ritz Haas

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether any significant difference in performance exists between a maximal exercise test on a Monark 868 bicycle ergometer and a Racermate II wind load simulator. Performance was measured according to three parameters: maximum oxygen consumption, maximum heart rate and test duration.

Nine trained subjects, five men and four women participated in the study. All subjects bad recently been involved in bicycling for training purposes.

Testing consisted of two trials for each subject, one trial on the bicycle ergometer using a standard protocol and one trial on the wind load simulator using a …

Partial Characterization Of The Extracellular Polysaccharides Produced By Mutants Of Rhizobium Leguminosarum And Rhizobium Trifolii, Lendell L. Cummins

Masters Theses

Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) are suspected to be involved in some aspect of the Rhizobium-legume symbiotic process. Extracellular polysaccharides produced by R. leguminosarum and R. trifolii mutants were isolated and partially characterized by gas chromatography, column chromatography, double diffusion, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunoelectrophoresis.

The R. leguminosarum mutants, derived from strain 128C53, all are deficient in EPS production (exo-). Strain ANU54 is missing the symbiotic plasmid, while plasmid-containing strains ANU54 pJB5JI and ANU54 pBR1AN nodulate (nod+) peas and clover respectively, but do not fix nitrogen (fix-).

R. leguminosarum mutants produce an EPS that is similar to parental LPS in composition. …

Salinity Tolerance In Forage Grasses, Kent Alan Boyles

Masters Theses

The effects of increased osmotic potentials on Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea var Vantage), Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea var Kentucky 31), Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata var Potomac), Sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense var Sorghum x Ludo FS X3-2), Grain Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare var Dekalb 28), Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis var Blair), Timothy (Phleum pratense var Climax), and Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare var Barsoy) were studied. The greenhouse triplicated experiments were conducted in modified aerated Hoagland's number 2 nutrient solutions for a period of four weeks.

The germination of Winter Barley was not inhibited by osmotic potentials …

The Bryophytes Of Fox Ridge State Park, Coles County, Illinois, David A. Breen

Masters Theses

A survey of Fox Ridge State Park in Coles County, Illinois revealed a total of 72 bryophyte species. Of these 68 were mosses and 4 were liverworts. Habitat and frequency for each species were recorded. Voucher specimens for each species have been placed in the Stover Herbarium at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois.

As a result of this survey Astomum muhlenbergionum (Sw.) Grout. is a new addition to the list of Illinois bryophytes. In addition ten species are new reports for Coles County, Illinois. These are the mosses Amblystegium fluviatle (Hedw.) BSG, Brachythecium digastrum C. M. & Kindb. ex. Macoun …

Winter Concentration Areas Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) In Illinois: A Discriminant Analysis, Paul A. Brewer

Masters Theses

Two discriminant models were derived from 40 variables measured in 12 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) winter concentration areas and 12 non-concentration areas in east-central Illinois. The first model correctly classified 100% of these areas based on area of refuge, area of upland hardwoods with <50% crown closure, area of bottomland forest with <50% crown closure, distance of unimproved roads, and total topographic relief. This model was tested on 6 winter concentration areas in west-central Illinois and 6 winter concentration areas in northern Illinois. The first discriminant model correctly classified 91.7% of these areas.

The second model originated from the same set of variables, however the refuge area variable was removed in an attempt to classify winter concentration areas without knowledge of refuge areas. This model correctly classified 91.7% of sites in east-central Illinois, and 75% of the areas in west-central and northern Illinois.

Refuge accounted for nearly …

A Comparison Of Two Training Programs In Preparing For The Army Physical Readiness Test, Herbert E. Lattimore

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare two training programs on male Reserve Officers Training Corps students as it is related to a passing score on the Army Physical Readiness Test.

The subjects were sixteen volunteer students who were randomly placed in two groups, formal and informal. Both groups were given a pretest, before beginning the study, to determine if they were equal.

The subjects in both groups trained for four weeks to prepare for the Army physical fitness test. Each group trained three times a week during the training period. The formal group's training was restricted to performing …

An Ecological Investigation Of Native Grassland In Southern Lower Michigan, Kim Alan Chapman

Masters Theses

Floristic and soil data from 50 relicts and other sources were analyzed using polar ordination of species presence. Historical and early scientific accounts were interpreted from the results.

The relicts ranged from wet to dry, on either sandy or loamy soil. Alkaline lakeplain sites added a third dimension of variability. Most upland remnants were interpreted as fragments of former savanna.

Floristic composition and distribution of the remnants were determined by these factors:

1. Edaphic: away from the Prairie Peninsula, only very dry or very wet sites support prairie vegetation;

2. Phytogeographic: the farther from the Prairie Peninsula, the fewer characteristics …

Studies On The Phytoplankton Of Littoral Waters Of The Arabian Gulf As Impacted By Oil Spills, Hamdan S. Al-Ghamdi

Masters Theses

A study of the effect of oil pollution on two intertidal areas of the Saudi Arabian Gulf coast was undertaken. One area was severely impacted by oil; the other was relatively clean. The organisms studied also indicated the effects of pollution were diatoms and blue-green algae.

Members of the diatom genus Amphora were more numerous in the clean water area than in the polluted section, confirming their preference for relatively clean habitats. Members of the diatom genus Asterionella, a more resistant group, were much more abundant in the polluted area.

Blue-green algae which also tolerate pollution were also more abundant …

An Evaluation And Comparison Of Various Diversity Indices As Illustrated By Portage Creek, Karl Josef Siebert

Masters Theses

The diversity index is an established method of measuring water quality. In this study various diversity indices are evaluated for their use in a rapid, accurate, and cost effective biological monitoring program. The study investigated five diversity indices: Approximate, Brillouin's, Shannon's, Simpson's and the Sequential Comparison Index. The diversity indices were tested for accuracy and sensitivity on actual on actual macroinvertebrate samples and simulated data.

The Simposon's Index was found to provide the most accuracy and sensitivity for the indices tested. The importance of considering the evenness element of diversity indices was also supported by the study.

A Study Of The Mannitol Binding Protein Active Transport System And A Catabolite Repression Resistant Mutant In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Joseph Arthur Wolff

Masters Theses

Cold-shock extraction procedures were used for the efficient release of mannitol binding protein. Magnesium chloride and cold-shock released 92% of the total whole cell mannitol binding protein activity without release of detectable cytoplasmic marker protein glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase. Arsenate inhibited mannitol uptake to the same extent as azide. The simultaneous loss and gain of mannitol binding protein activity with mannitol uptake activity in mutants and reventants respectively, was consistant with periplasmic mannitol binding protein as a required component of mannitol uptake. A catabolite repression resistant mutant for mannitol uptake was isolated and described. This mutant, designated WEP-1, escaped catabolite repression …

Acute Effects Of Phenytoin And Thioridazine, Alone And Combination, Upon Water Intake And Body Weight Changes In Rats, Miriana Witzig-Krstic

Masters Theses

Concommitant medication of anticonvulsants and psychotropics appears to be predominant among mentally retarded, geriatric, and psychiatric in- and out-patient populations. Despite suggested interaction and toxicity resulting from such combination treatment, substantial data remains unavailable. This study was designed to explore effects of dual treatment of thioridazine

Purification And Properties Of A Mannitol-Binding Protein From Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Gregory V. Plano

Masters Theses

Mannitol-binding protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO has been purified 36-fold from magnesium chloride cold-shock supernatants. Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and carboxymethyl Sephadex ion exchange chromotography were utilized in the purification scheme. The position of the mannitol-binding protein band was identified on sodium dodeyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The mannitol-binding protein has an apparent molecular weight of 45,000 as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A Comparison Of Two Methods Of Presenting Nutrition Education To Senior Citizens Participating In A Congregate Meal Program, Janice M. Williams

Masters Theses

Senior citizens participating in a congregate meal program received nutrition education lessons in two different ways. One group received nutrition lectures, a second group recieved nutrition lectures accompanied by printed material. A third group served as a control. Each group contained an urban and rural site. The nutrition lectures and printed material centered on the Basic Four food groups. The lessons were presented to the subjects once a week in four successive weeks. The length of the nutrition lecture for each food group was twenty minutes. The senior citizen took pre and posttests to measure an increase or decrease in …

Inland Seawalls In Southwestern- Michigan: A Limnological Approach, Jeroen Wagendorp

Masters Theses

This research retrospectively evaluates the development of inland lake seawalls in southwestern Michigan. The objective was to look at physically induced phenomena and human induced phenomena, to determine which was most responsible for the need, and large numbers of inland lake seawalls in this region. In addition, the role of the Department of Natural Resources in inland lake seawall development was evaluated.

The findings, obtained through questionnaires, were compared to data from seawalls installed along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and showed that man's activity in the littoral zone was the fundamental rationale behind the installation on inland lake …

The Fungal Ecology Of The Activated Sludge Process, Douglas William Jaques

Masters Theses

Examination of wastewater secondary influent and activated sludge reveal that bacteria and fungi may exist in a negative correlation. Activated sludge may support a resident population of microfungi. All fungi isolated from secondary influent and activated sludge belong to the form-class Deuteromycetes. The density of geofungi in activated sludge may exceed that of bacterial chemolithotrophs and rival that of bacterial heterotrophs.

A Study Of Cladonia Cryptochlorophaea And Morphologically Similar Species In Illinois, Indiana, And Wisconsin, Scott S. Wilcer

Masters Theses

Collections of Cladonias with cup-shaped podetia were made in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin in order to determine the distribution of an atranorin-containing variant of Cladonia cryptochlorophaea, which was discovered in 1982 in Coles County, Illinois by Cheryl Cunningham. A second objective was a distributional study of the Cladonias having cup-shaped podetia in the same three state area.

A total of 591 specimens were collected from the three states. The collection areas for Illinois were: Jackson Hollow in Pope County, Giant City State Park and Touch of Nature Interpretive Center in Jackson and Williamson Counties, Starved Rock State Park in …

Characterization Of The Lipopolysaccharides (Lps) From Four Transposon Generated Symbiotic Mutants Of Rhizobium Trifolii, Robert G. Shatters Jr.

Masters Theses

The LPSs from four symbiotic mutants of R. trifolii were isolated and characterized. The mutants were obtained from Dr. Barry Rolfe of The Australian National University. Three mutants have Tn5 insertions in the "nod" regions of the symbiotic plasmid. The fourth has a 30 kb deletion. This deletion includes the majority of the "nod" regions. All mutants fail to nodulate clover and fail to induce markedly curled root hairs, i.e. they are hac-nod-. The LPSs were purified as described by Carlson et al. 1978.⁷ The polysaccharide portion of the LPSs was purified by treating the LPSs in 1% HAc …

Woody Vegetation Of Baber Woods: Composition And Changes Since 1964, James Alvin Newman Jr.

Masters Theses

A comparative study of the woody vegetation changes at Baber Woods, Edgar County, Illinois, since 1964 was completed in 1983. This 51 acre woodlot is a remnant of a much larger forest which once occuppied the Shelbyville Moraine.

An inventory of the woody vegetation shows that the present stand consists of 109 stems per acre with a basal area of 113 sq. ft. per acre. In this survey, 33 woody species were found. Sugar maple had the highest Importance Value (IV) of all woody species present, having the highest density in both the 4-6 and 7-12 inch diameter classes, as …

Comparison Of Surface Polysaccharides Of R. Leguminosarum Anu57 (Exo-1), R. Leg. Anu57(Pbr1an) (Nod+, Nif-), And R. Leg. Anu57(Pjb5j1) (Nod+, Nif-), Frank G. Hustmyer

Masters Theses

Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are suspected to be involved in the legume/Rhizobium symbiotic process. Polysaccharide compositions from the EPS, LPS, capsular polysaccharide (CPS), and small polysaccharide (SmPS) were compared between Rhizobium leguminosarum ANU57 (parent, Exo^-1) and two mutants R. leg. ANU57(pBR1AN) (nod⁺, nif^-) and R. leg. ANU57(pJB5J1) (nod⁺, nif^-) both containing a Sym (symbiotic) plasmid insertion. R. leg. ANU57(pBR1AN) and R. leg. ANU57(pJB5J1) are nod⁺ on clover and peas, respectively. The nod⁺ mutants produce larger amounts of EPS and decreased amounts of LPS compared to …

Avoidance Learning And Memory In Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides) Fed Bufo Tadpoles, Randy John Gawlik

Masters Theses

Tadpoles of the American toad (Bufo americanus) have been shown to be distasteful to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) predators who learn, on the short term, to avoid them. How long bass retain this learned avoidance of Bufo larvae is unknown so an experimental design was constructed in an attempt to answer this question.

Largemouth bass were divided into four treatment groups. Two groups were initially fed exclusively larvae of Bufo americanus (one group was fed large tadpoles, the other group fed small larvae). Similarily, the other two groups were initially fed spring peeper (Hyla crucifer …

Seasonal Lekking Behavior Of The Greater Prairie-Chicken In Illinois, Scott A. Simpson

Masters Theses

Spring behavior of prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) has been studied extensively, however there is little information on fall-winter lekking activity. Greater prairie-chickens were observed weekly on a lek from 25 September 1982 to 23 June 1983 during morning and evening hours in Jasper County, Illinois. The peak number of prairie-chicken males on the lek occurred in February although hen attendance did not occur until 10 March 1983. All spring lekking activities were higher compared to that of the fall-winter period. Fall-winter lek activity was aggression which centered on probably brief, less intense male aggression which probably establishes or maintains …

Observations On Relationships Between Limb Measurements And Mode Of Locomotion In Malaysian Turtles, Duayne Nyckel

Masters Theses

Twelve Genera (spanning three Families) of Malaysian Turtles were studied to determine whether bone lengths could be correlated to mode of locomotion. Ulna, humerus, tibia, femur, coracoid (among others) were measured and results were presented graphically. Five of the genera were observed singly in a large aquarium. Data were recorded on the amount of time each spent in different locomotor modes. Both limb length data and aquarium observations suggest that turtles can be grouped into three main locomotor habits (i.e. terrestrial walking, bottomwalking, and swimming). The terrestrial group includes the genera, Geochelone, Kinixys, and Gopherus. Bottomwalkers include …

Use Of Skelettochronology In Age Determination Of American Toads (Bufo Americanus) From East Central Illinois, Philip M. Acker

Masters Theses

A skelettochronological technique was applied to the phalanges of the American toad, Bufo americanus, from east central, IL. In hematoxylin-stained cross-sections of the phalanges, suspected year rings are formed which can be used to age individuals. This method allows for aging without destructive sampling of toad populations.

A majority of the male toads from two choruses were estimated to be 2 or 3 years old, while most of the females from the same two sites were in the 3 or 4 year age class. Females were larger than males in the 3 and 4 year age classes, and overall, …

Operant Conditioning In The Water Snake (Nerodia Sipedon), Angela R. Deitz

Masters Theses

Six subjects of Nerodia sipedon were tested for runway acquisition. Five of six subjects met criterion for runway learning, demonstrating a significant decrease over the 25 day testing period in mean latency and running times. Four subjects completed 170 trials in a T-maze to test two-choice discrimination and reversal learning. All subjects met criterion for the initial discrimination and one reversal while two subjects completed four reversals and one subject met criterion for six reversals. Results are similar or superior to those previously reported for reptiles and other non-human vertebrates.