Life Sciences Commons^™

Shellfish Population And Bed Dimension Assessment In The Great Bay Estuary, Brian Smith

PREP Reports & Publications

This final report details a study funded by the NHEP over the course of 2001-02. The NHF&G Department was funded to delineate oyster bed size and density, monitor oyster disease, and examine the density of clam concentrations in the Great Bay Estuary.

Effectiveness Of Delayed Brush Cutting And Herbicide Treatments For Vegetation Control In A Seven-Year-Old Jack Pine Plantation In Northwestern Ontario, Canada, Azim U. Mallik, F. Wayne Bell, Yanli Gong

Aspen Bibliography

Efficacy of three conifer release treatments, i) single application of glyphosate (Vision™) herbicide, ii) multiple application of glyphosate herbicide, and iii) motor-manual brush cutting for controlling competing plants, particularly trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), green alder (Alnus viridis spp. crispa), and beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta spp. cornuta), was studied in a seven-year-old jack pine (Pinus banksiana) plantation in northwestern Ontario, Canada. The single and multiple glyphosate applications were equally effective in controlling trembling aspen and pin cherry, causing over 90% stem mortality. The brushsaw treatment caused an initial decrease followed by an increase in stem density of …

Community Conservation Assistance, Frank Mitchell

PREP Reports & Publications

The Community Conservation Assistance Project had the following goal and objectives: Goal: Sustain and protect open space lands identified by communities and land trusts as critical to water quality and biodiversity through voluntary land conservation. Objectives: 1. With the SPNHF and other partners, establish a seacoast office for the Center for Land Conservation Assistance. 2. Provide education to various audiences in the seacoast region. 3. Create a library of relevant materials 4. Develop and compile publications 5. Establish with the SPNHF and other partners and participate in the first annual NH Land Conservation Conference 6. Evaluate program effectiveness 7. Coordinate …

Natural Fire Regime: A Guide For Sustainable Management Of The Canadian Boreal Forest, Yves Bergeron, Alain Leduc, Brian D. Harvey, Sylvie Gauthier

Aspen Bibliography

The combination of certain features of fire disturbance, notably fire frequency, size and severity, may be used to characterize the disturbance regime in any region of the boreal forest. As some consequences of fire resemble the effects of industrial forest harvesting, conventional forest management is often considered as a disturbance that has effects similar to those of natural disturbances. Although the analogy between forest management and fire disturbance in boreal ecosystems has some merit, it is important to recognise that it also has its limitations. Short fire cycles generally described for boreal ecosystems do not appear to be universal; rather, …

Pretreatment Of Robusta Coffee Hulls And Co-Digestion With Cow-Dung For Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion, A. K. Kivaisi

Tanzania Journal of Science

The effect of alkali pre-treatment on anaerobic digestion of Robusta coffee hulls with a lignin content of 29% was studied in batch culture at 55˚C. In order to investigate the effect of cow dung in minimising the effect of coffee-based inhibitory compounds, digestion experiments were performed with blends of pre-treated and non-treated coffee hulls and cow dung with 0,5,10,20,30,50,75 and 100% coffee hulls at a total volatile solids concentration of 1.8g/l fermentation volume. Methane production increased with increase in coffee hulls concentration up to 30% for both substrates. The lowest production was observed at 100% non-treated coffee hulls. Methane production …

Assessment Of Wind Energy Potential For Eletricity Generation In Setchet, Hanang, Tanzania, A. S. Kasasi, R. M. Kainkwa

Tanzania Journal of Science

Tanzania depends heavily on hydropower for her electricity demand and experiences power shortage during the dry seasons. Wind energy is proposed as an alternative source of electricity to the fossil fuel generators during the dry season, the latter are normally used to supplement the shortfall in hydro-electricity generation. Fossil fuel generators produce emissions that are toxic and as such degrade the environment. Wind speed data from a site called Setchet is used to illustrate that the available wind energy can be harvested to generate electricity that can supplement the shortfall of electricity. The windy season, which is from July to …

Morphometrics Of The Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus Tornieri) In Tanzania, J. Kabigumila

Tanzania Journal of Science

Observations were made of the morphometrics of captive pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) in June 1995. Carapace length ranges for immature tortoises and adult males and females were 50-115, 123-160 and 129-171 mm respectively. The respective carapace widths were 45-90, 97-130, and 92-129 and 97-130 mm. Carapace height ranges were 15-29, 25-40 and 117-159 mm, respectively, while plastron length ranges were 45-110, 108-150 and 117-159 mm. The relationships between carapace length and width (males: y = 13.763+0.639x; females: y = 17.302+0.639x) and height (males: y=6.851+0.170x, females: y = 17.274+0.170x) were isometric and sexually dimorphic in adults. The relationship between carapace length …

Sexual Dimorphism In The Mandibles Of A Homogenius Black Population Of Tanzania, F. M. Fabian, R. Mpembeni

Tanzania Journal of Science

Mandibles of known age and gender from cadavers of Tanzanian Bantu population were studied to determine if the human mandible could be sexually dimorphic in a homogenous population. All mandibles were measured using electronic two-digit millimetre veneer calliper. All of the male (100%) and 96% of the female mandibles were positively sexed. The present study indicates that the mandible of the Tanzanian Bantu population possesses metric parameters that make it sexually dimorphic. More studies, involving other Tanzanian groups, might reveal racial or ethnic differences based on mandibular morphometrics.

Effect Of Cement Production On Vegetation In A Part Of Southwestern Nigeria, A. T. Salami, A. I. Farounbi, J. I. Muoghalu

Tanzania Journal of Science

The impact of cement dust emissions from the factory of West African Portland Cement at Ewekoro in Southwestern Nigeria on the surrounding vegetation was investigated. Sample plots of 20 m x 20 m were established at 1 km intervals from the factory site up to a distance of 10 km intervals from the factory site up to a distance of 10 km in the four cardinal directions. Leaves of common species were randomly selected for chlorophyll content analysis, leaf abundance and leaf area measurement. Woody as well as herbaceous species encountered within the established plots were enumerated, while soil samples …

Mechanistic Studies Of Carbon Steel Corrosion Inhibition By Cashew Nut Shell Liquid, J Y N Philip, J Buchweishaija, L L Mkayula

Tanzania Journal of Science

The inhibition mechanism of the Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) on SAE 1008 carbon steel corrosion in CO 2  saturated 3% NaCl solutions has been studied by weight loss, UV/VIS and electrochemical techniques. The phenoxide, R-Ar-O- ions from the CNSL inhibitor were found to be responsible for the reduction of the corrosion rate of the carbon steel. Also, it was observed that the surface charge of the carbon steel electrodes was positive with respect to the solutions containing CNSL inhibitor. It is likely that the mechanism of the CNSL inhibitor adsorption involved the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged metal …

Organochlorine Pesticides In Residues In Waters From The Coastal Area Of Dar Es Salaam And Their Effect On Aquatic Biota, H Mwevura, Oc Othman, Gl Mhehe

Tanzania Journal of Science

Water samples from Msimbazi and Kizinga rivers in Dar es Salaam and from the coastal marine environment receiving waters from these rivers were analyzed for various organochlorine pescticide residues using GC-ECD and GC-MS. p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin and γ-HCH were the only organochlorine pesticide residues detected at significantly greater concentrations above the detection limits. There was a marked difference in the frequency of pesticide residue detection during the dry and wet seasons. All the wet season samples and 37.5% of the dry season samples revealed presence of p,p-DDE at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.45 mgl-1 and 0.08 to 0.20 mgl-1 …

Preparation And Characterization Of Activated Carbons From Rice Husks And Shells Of Palm Fruits, Jeg Mdoe, Ll Mkayula

Tanzania Journal of Science

Activated carbons from palm fruit shells (PFS) and rice husks (RH) were prepared using physical and chemical activation processes, respectively. The influence of activation time and temperature (in the case of PFS) and impregnation ratio and carbonization temperature (in the case of RH) on the properties of the resultant carbons were studied. In the case of PFS carbons, there were an increase in adsorption capacity and surface areas with increase in activation time and temperature. The surface area ranged between 292 and 642 m2g-1 at temperature range of between 1000 and 1200 K. In the case of RH carbons, surface …

Spatial-Temporal Changes In Phytoplankton Biomass And Primary Production In Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar, M. N. S. Kyewalyanga

Tanzania Journal of Science

Spatial-temporal variations in phytoplankton primary production (PP) and biomass (B) were studied for a period of about one year, from July 1999 to July 2000. In addition, changes in corresponding environmental variables were examined. Sampling took place at two stations in Chwaka Bay, one located in mangrove areas, Station I, and the other in an open area, Station II. Although there were changes both with location and time, there were no clear seasonal trends. Generally, the phytoplankton biomass and primary production (mg C m-3 h-1) were higher at Station I than at Station II. However, specific production, that is, primary …

Absolute Migration And The Evolution Of The Rodriguez Triple Junction Since 75 Ma, D. C. P. Masalu

Tanzania Journal of Science

The Rodriguez Triple Junction (RTJ) is a junction connecting three mid-ocean ridges in the Indian Ocean: the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR), the Central Indian Ridge (CIR) and the Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR). The evolution of the RTJ has been studied extensively for the past 10 Ma and the triple junction is believed to be largely a ridge-ridge-ridge (RRR) triple junction. However, due to the scarcity of data, its configuration prior to that period is poorly understood. The migration of the RTJ in the hotspot reference frame, for the past 75 million years has been mapped, by reconstructing its traces on …

Environmental Indicator Report: Water Quality, Phil Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

During the fall and winter of 2001-2002, the New Hampshire Estuaries Project’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) developed a suite of environmental indicators to track progress toward the NHEP’s management goals and objectives. These indicators were fully described in terms of their performance criteria, statistical methods, and measurable goals in the NHEP’s Monitoring Plan published in May 2002. The next step is to use these indicators to produce an updated “State of the Estuaries” report by the spring of 2003. The TAC decided to break this task into three sections: shellfish indicators in the fall of 2002; water quality indicators in …

Juvenile Clam Mortality Study At Three Intertidal Flats In Hampton Harbor, New Hampshire, Brian F. Beal

PREP Reports & Publications

Soft-shell clams, Mya arenaria L., represent an important recreational fishery along the New Hampshire coast. Intertidal flats in the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary are among the most heavily harvested. As recently as the fall of 1998, the sandy flats in this area supported more than 900 clammers, who, on weekends, easily harvested their 9.5-liter limit (Varney, 1999). Recently, however, quantitative benthic surveys have suggested that the abundance of adult clams (> 50 mm shell length, SL) has dwindled on the three estuarine flats (Brown’s Flat, Common Island, and Middle Ground). Clammers support this contention and many have been disappointed at the relative …

Differential Lipid Biosynthesis Underlies A Tradeoff Between Reproduction And Fl Ight Capability In A Wing-Polymorphic Cricket, Zhangwu Zhao, Anthony J. Zera

Anthony Zera Publications

The biochemical basis of life-history tradeoffs is a poorly studied aspect of life-history evolution. We used radiotracer and endocrine approaches to investigate the extent to which morphs of a wing-polymorphic insect differ in the biosynthesis of lipid classes important for dispersal capability vs. reproduction (ovarian growth). The flightcapable genotype of Gryllus firmus biosynthesized a greater amount of total lipid and triglyceride (main flight fuel), which was preferentially allocated to somatic tissue during early adulthood. By contrast, the fl ightless genotype biosynthesized a significantly greater amount of phospholipid (important in egg development), which was preferentially allocated to ovaries. Topical application of …

Apple 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Synthase In Complex With The Inhibitor L-Aminoethoxyvinylglycine: Evidence For A Ketimine Intermediate, Guido Capitani, Darla L. Mccarthy, Heinz Gut, Markus G. Grütter

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The 1.6-Å crystal structure of the covalent ketimine complex of apple 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase with the potent inhibitor L-aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) is described. ACC synthase catalyzes the committed step in the biosynthesis of ethylene, a plant hormone that is responsible for the initiation of fruit ripening and for regulating many other developmental processes. AVG is widely used in plant physiology studies to inhibit the activity of ACC synthase. The structural assignment is supported by the fact that the complex absorbs maximally at 341 nm. These results are not in accord with the recently reported crystal structure of the tomato ACC synthase …

Surface And Deep Ocean Circulation In The Subpolar North Atlantic During The Mid-Pleistocene Revolution, Amy K. Wright, Benjamin P. Flower

Marine Science Faculty Publications

We investigated surface and deep ocean variability in the subpolar North Atlantic from 1000 to 500 thousand years ago (ka) based on two Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) sites, Feni drift site 980 (55°29′N, 14°42′W) and Bjorn drift site 984 (61°25′N, 24°04′W). Benthic foraminiferal stable isotope data, planktic foraminiferal faunas, ice‐rafted debris data, and faunally based sea‐surface temperature estimates help test the hypothesis that oceanographic changes in the North Atlantic region were associated with the onset of the 100‐kyr world during the mid‐Pleistocene revolution. Based on percentage of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (s) records from both sites, surface waters during interglacials and glacials …

Sea Surface Salinity Measurements In The Historical Database, Frederick M. Bingham, Stephan D. Howden, Chester J. Koblinsky

Faculty Publications

We have examined historical distributions of sea surface salinity (SSS) observations in a data set consisting of a combination of the World Ocean Database 1998 (WOD98) and a thermosalinograph and bucket salinity database collected from volunteer observing ships. It is well known that SSS in much of the world's ocean is measured infrequently or not at all. We find that 27% of one-degree squares in the world ocean (open and coastal, excluding the Arctic Ocean) had no observations of SSS in the historical database, and 70% had 10 or fewer. Systematic sampling of SSS (more than 10,000 observations per year …

Malariasphere: A Greenhouse-Enclosed Simulation Of A Natural Anophelesgambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) Ecosystem In Western Kenya, Bart G.J. Knols, Basilio N. Njiru, Evan M. Mathenge, Wolfgang R. Mukabana, John C. Beier, Gerry F. Killeen

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: The development and implementation of innovative vector control strategies for malaria control in Africa requires in-depth ecological studies in contained semi-field environments. This particularly applies to the development and release of genetically-engineered vectors that are refractory to Plasmodium infection. Here we describe a modified greenhouse, designed to simulate a natural Anopheles gambiae Giles ecosystem, and the first successful trials to complete the life-cycle of this mosquito vector therein. Methods: We constructed a local house, planted crops and created breeding sites to simulate the natural ecosystem of this vector in a screen-walled greenhouse, exposed to ambient climate conditions, in western …

Evidence For An Epigenetic Mechanism By Which Hsp90 Acts As A Capacitor For Morphological Evolution, Vincent E. Sollars, Xiangyi Lu, Li Xiao, Xiaoyan Wang, Mark D. Garfinkel, Douglas M. Ruden

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Morphological alterations have been shown to occur in Drosophila melanogaster when function of Hsp90 (heat shock 0-kDa protein 1α, encoded by Hsp83) is compromised during development1. Genetic selection maintains the altered phenotypes in subsequent generations1. Recent experiments have shown, however, that phenotypic variation still occurs in nearly isogenic recombinant inbred strains of Arabidopsis thaliana2. Using a sensitized isogenic D. melanogaster strain, iso-KrIf-1, we confirm this finding and present evidence supporting an epigenetic mechanism for Hsp90’s capacitor function, whereby reduced activity of Hsp90 induces a heritably altered chromatin state. The altered chromatin state is evidenced by ectopic expression …

Northeast Research Station Watertown, South Dakota Annual Progress Report, 2002, Agricultural Experiment Station, Plant Science Department

Agricultural Experiment Station and Research Farm Annual Reports

This is the 2002 annual progress report for the Northeast Research Station in Watertown, South Dakota. This report is issued by the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the South Dakota State University Plant Science Department. This report includes weather data, yield comparisons, crop performance trials, corn trials, soybean trials, winter wheat performance testing, Barley Foliar information, weed and pest control, herbicide demonstrations, canola and flax variety trials and more.

Taxonomy And Distribution Of Butterflies (Papilionoidea) Of The Skardu Region, Pakistan, Muhammad Abbas, Muhammad Ather Rafi, Mian Inayatullah, Muhammad Rafique Khan, Harry Pavulaan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

A study was conducted in six different localities around Skardu, Pakistan to document the butterfly fauna of that region. The study revealed that 16 species in 5 families and 14 genera occur in the area. The families include: Papilionidae (represented only by the genus Parnassius); Pieridae (genera Pieris, Pontia, and Colias are represented); Lycaenidae (genera Lycaena, Everes, Aricia, Plebejus, Zizeeria, and Zizina are represented); Nymphalidae (only two genera, Aglais and Cynthia are represented); and Satyridae (represented by the genera Pararge and Maniola).

West River Ag Center Crops And Soils Research Annual Progress Report, 2002, Agricultural Experiment Station

Agricultural Experiment Station and Research Farm Annual Reports

This is the 2002 progress report of the West River Crops and Soils Research Projects, South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. This document includes reports on: weather and climate, wheat and grain variety trials, management and tillage, and weed and pest control.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Integration In B-Cell Lymphoma Identifies A Candidate Tumor Suppressor Gene On Human Chromosome 15q151, Julia Beatty, Anne Terry, Julie Macdonald, Elizabeth Gault, Stanley Cevario, Stephen J. O'Brien, Ewan Cameron, James C. Neil

Biology Faculty Articles

Infection with immunosuppressive lentiviruses is associated with increased cancer risk,but most studies have implicated indirect mechanisms as the tumor cells generally lack integrated viral sequences.An exception wasfound in a B-cell lymphoma (Q254) where the tumor cells contained a single integrated feline immunodeficiency virus genome. Additional analysis now indicates that feline immunodeficiency virus integration in lymphoma Q254 resulted in promoter insertion and truncation of a conserved gene on feline chromosome B3, whereas the unaffected allele of the gene appeared to be transcriptionally down-regulated. The orthologous human gene (FLJ12973), is expressed ubiquitously and encodes a WD-repeat protein with structural similarity …

The Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Millipede And Salamander Populations In A Southern Appalachian Deciduous Forest., Alison Baird Gagan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prescribed fire has increased as a forest management practice in southern Appalachia, but investigations into the effects of this silvicultural treatment on non-game wildlife inhabiting the region is limited. This study investigated the effects of prescribed fire on millipede and salamander populations. Seventeen sites within the Cherokee National Forest in east Tennessee that were treated once with prescribed fire between 1998 and 2002 were examined in the spring of 2002. Each burned plot was paired with an adjacent unburned plot.

The number of individual millipedes and salamanders collected from burned plots was compared to the corresponding control plot. Millipedes declined …

Breed Comparisons Of Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Pinzgauer, Sahiwal, And Tarentaise For Weight, Weight Adjusted For Condition Score, Height, And Body Condition Score, Jesus Arango, L. V. Cundiff, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Data from topcross cows (n = 468) from six breeds of sire (Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Pinzgauer, Sahiwal, Tarentaise) and two breeds of dam (Angus and Hereford) of Cycle III of the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) comprising cow weight (CW, n = 9,012), height (CH, n = 9,010), and condition score (CS, n = 8,991) recorded in four seasons per year from 2 to 6 yr of age were used to estimate breed-group differences. The mixed models included cow age, season of measurement and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and …

Breed Comparisons Of Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Jersey, Limousin, Simmental, And South Devon For Weight, Weight Adjusted For Body Condition Score, Height, And Body Condition Score Of Cows, Jesus Arango, L. V. Cundiff, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Breed means and differences for weight (CW, n = 19,851), height (CH, n = 14,553), and condition scores (CS, n = 19,536) recorded in four seasons per year were evaluated for 881 cows ranging from 2 to 7 yr of age from Cycle I of the Germplasm Evaluation Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. Cows were straightbred Herefords and Angus and top-crosses from mating of Hereford, Angus, South Devon, Jersey, Simmental, Limousin, and Charolais sires to Hereford and Angus dams. The model included cow age, season of measurement, and their interactions, with year of birth, pregnancy-lactation (PL) code, …

Comparisons Of Angus-, Braunvieh-, Chianina-, Hereford-, Gelbvieh-, Maine Anjou-, And Red Poll-Sired Cows For Weight, Weight Adjusted For Body Condition Score, Height, And Body Condition Score, Jesus Arango, L. V. Cundiff, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Data from Angus, Hereford, and topcross cows (n = 641) from 2- to 8-yr-old daughters of seven breeds of sires included in Cycle II of the Germplasm Evaluation Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, comprising cow weight (CW, n = 15,698), height (CH, n = 15,676), and condition score (CS, n = 15,667), were used to estimate breed-group differences. Data were recorded in four seasons of each year (1975 to 1982). The mixed model included cow age, season of measurement, and their interactions, year of birth, pregnancy-lactation code (PL), and breed-group as fixed effects for CW and CS. …