Life Sciences Commons^™

Status Of Platanthera Praeclara Sheviak & Bowles (Western Prairie Fringed Orchid) In The Platte River Valley In Nebraska From Hamilton To Garden Counties, Tanya E. Bray, Barbara L. Wilson

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

During June and July, 1991, a search for western prairie fringed orchid was conducted in the Platte River Valley in central and west-central Nebraska. No orchids were found in the 370 sites surveyed. Factors which may contribute to the scarcity of this orchid in the area surveyed include drought conditions in the previous three years; habitat alteration by draining, ditching, herbicide application, mowing for hay, crop cultivation and planting of non-native species for hay fields; invasion of the area by trees; and the presence of alkaline soils in some areas.

Age And Growth Of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) In The Lower Platte River, Nebraska, Richard S. Holland, Edward J. Peters

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is an important component of the Platte River fishery, representing the most abundant and sought-after sport fish. However, little is known concerning the size structure and growth characteristics of this population. We collected channel catfish from seven sites along the lower Platte River from 1988 to 1991, using a combination of hoop nets, boat electrofishing, and angler tournament harvests. Pectoral spines were removed from a subsample of catfish collected, sectioned, and aged for determination of backcalculated growth. Proportional Stock Density (PSD) calculated from hoop net and electrofishing collections averaged 7.2% and ranged from 4.0 …

Strike-Induced Chemosensory Searching: Variation Among Lizards, Royce E. Ballinger, Nathaniel R. Coady, Joseph M. Prokop, Julio A. Lemos-Espinal

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS) was found in two families of lizards (Teiidae, Anguidae) but not in two other lizard families (Scincidae, Iguanidae). Experiments on another family (Xenosauridae) were inconclusive as to its possession of SICS. The rate of tongue-flicking was significantly increased after a simulated prey strike compared to controls in Cnemidophorus sexlineatus and Barisia imbricata. SICS may be part of a complex foraging strategy evolved in certain reptiles rather than part of a generalized chemosensory behavior because two species of skinks did not exhibit SICS in spite of a well developed vomeronasal olfactory apparatus and known abilities to …

Pollination Characteristics Of Blowout Penstemon (Penstemon Haydenii S. Watson), Theresa R. Flessner, James L. Stubbendieck

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The pollination characteristics of blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii S. Wats.), the only officially endangered plant species in Nebraska, were investigated. Cross-pollination was determined to be the major method of pollination, but self-pollination also occurs. Insects increased cross-pollination. The natural habitat of blowout penstemon has greatly decreased during this century, resulting in only a few isolated populations. The opportunity for cross-pollination with other populations no longer exists. Without crosspollination, lowered genetic diversity of the species may result in less vigorous plants and declining populations. Introduction of new genetic material into declining populations may help to assure the continued existence of …

Cylindrodonts (Cylindrodontidae, Rodentia) And A New Genus Of Eomyid, Paranamatomys, (Eomyidae, Rodentia) From The Chadronian Of Sioux County, Nebraska, William W. Korth

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Cylindrodon galbreathi Ostrander is shown to be a junior synonym of C. nebraskensis Hough and Alf, and the first specimen of Ardynomys occidentalis is reported from the Chadronian of Nebraska. A restudy of the holotype of Cupressimus storeri Ostrander has revealed that this species is not referable to Cupressimus Storer but is referred to a new genus, Paranamatomys, which is referred to a new tribe of eomyids, the Namatomyini. Only six species of rodents have been documented from the Chadronian of Nebraska, far fewer than other faunas of the same age.

Distribution, Habitats, And Taxonomy Of Ruppia Maritima L. And R. Occidentalis S. Watson In Nebraska, Robert B. Kaul

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Specimens of Ruppia from all eleven Nebraska counties in which it is known fall into two groups: R. occidentalis in alkaline Sandhills waters and R. maritima in saline waters of the Platte River Valley and Lancaster County. Ruppia occidentalis is distinguished by its more robust size; redspotted leaves and stems; terete, entire, obtuse leaves; 4-8(9) carpels; and by two elliptic white spots on its endocarp, among other characteristics. Ruppia maritima is more delicate and unspotted; the leaves are oblate in section, sub-apically denticulate, and acute-acuminate; the carpels are 3 or 4, and the endocarp spots are nearly circular. Both species …

Growth Of The Brine Shrimp Aremia Franciscana Kellogg (Anostracoda) In The Materials Dispersion Apparatus As A Sealed Microcosm, James R. Rosowski, Aris A. Efting

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

We report the hatching of brine shrimp nauplii and their growth to preadults, and occasionally adults, in vacuum grease- sealed, 0.835-1.67 cc microalgal-based, xenic microcosms. Dormant brine shrimp cysts (1-5) were added to 0.75-1.50 ml Chlorella sp. cultures in Lexan™ plastic chambers (the microcosms) of the Materials Dispersion Apparatus (MDA); the chambers were then sealed. The assembled MDA was placed in a lighted incubator with continuous illumination at ca 26-30° C, on a shaker at 100 rpm. Occasionally the MDA was vibrated for 10 sec/day and sometimes mixed with 5-10 culture inversions at one time/day to insure particulate dispersion. Adult …

The Impacts Of Environmental Legislation And Vehicle Emissions On The Future Of Alternative Fuels In The Transportation Industry, Massom Moussavi, Kevin Hughes

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

This paper addresses the impacts of environmental legislation and vehicle emissions on the future of alternative fuels such as methanol, compressed natural gas, propane, electricity, hydrogen, and reformulated gasoline in the transportation industry, and it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fuel in terms of fuel efficiency, fuel cost, environmental impacts, and vehicle performance.

A Preliminary Study Of Antibiotic Sensitivity Of Planktonic Bacteria From Cultures Of The Brine Shrimp Artemia Franciscana Kellogg, James R. Rosowski, Eugene D. Ayotte, Julie A. Peterson, Eugene L. Martin

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Great Salt Lake-biotype brine shrimp cysts were added to 440-1 saltwater cultures maintained at 20° ,25° , and 30° C. A micronized corn-byproduct was added each day as food. Planktonic bacteria found during growth of the brine shrimp were enumerated on Plate Count Agar (Difco). From the 25° and 30° brine shrimp cultures, a total of seven prevalent bacterial types (five gram-negative and two gram-positive) were isolated from throughout the 12-day growth cycle. Eight antimicrobial agents were tested against these bacteria, with chloramphenicol the most effective antibacterial agent overall, followed by erythromycin and carbenicillin. The bacterial density of the culture …

First Evidence Of Plague (Yersinia Pestis) In Nebraska Is Found In Panhandle Predators, Dallas Virchow, Wayne L. Kramer, Charles S. Brown, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Alan M. Barnes

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

In September, 1992, plague (Yersinia pestis) antibody was found in the blood of a coyote (Canis latrans) (1:128 titer) and a badger (Taxidea taxus) (1:2048 titer) taken near a suspect black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) town in Sioux County. However, a 1989-1991 survey of 96 coyotes taken from nine Nebraska Panhandle counties demonstrated no plague antibodies. Passive hemagglutination tests of Nobuto blood-sampling paper proved useful to quickly survey a predator population that is distributed across a broad geographic area.

Transactions From The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences Table Of Contents: Volume Xix (1992)

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Editorial Papers

Nebraska Academy of Sciences Officers, Policy Committee .............. ii

Editorial Board .............. v

Membership Objectives and Friends of the Academy .............. vi

Papers

The impacts of environmental legislation and vehicle emissions on the future of alternative fuels in the transportation industry (Massoum Moussavi and Kevin Hughes) .............. 1

Growth of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana Kellog (Anostracoda) in the materials dispersion apparatus as a sealed microcosm (James R. Rosowski and Aris A. Efting) .............. 7

A preliminary study of antibiotic sensitivity of planktonic bacteria from cultures of brine shrimp Artemia franciscana Kellog (Rosowski, Ayotte, Peterson, and Martin) .............. …

New Distributional Records For Three Fishes In Lincoln County, Nebraska, Jody L. Haynes, J. Mathew Weekly

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

New distributional records are presented for three species of teleostean fishes in Lincoln County, Nebraska: Phoxinus eos, Noturus gyrinus, and Ameiurus natalis.

Fossil Birds Of The Nebraska Region, James E. Ducey

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

This review compiles published and a few unpublished records of fossil and prehistoric birds for the Nebraska region (Nebraska and parts of adjacent states) from the Cretaceous Period to the late Pleistocene, about 12,000 years before present. Species recorded during the various epochs include: Oligocene and Early Miocene (13 families; 29 species), Middle Miocene (six families; 12 species), Late Miocene (14 families; 21 species), Pliocene (six families; 15 species), Early-Middle Pleistocene (eight families; 16 species) and Late Pleistocene (16 families; more than 24 species). The first primitive bird found in Nebraska was a Hesperornis. Many were waterfowl, raptors, or …