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Articles 361 - 390 of 506

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Diatom Assemblages Reflect Environmental Heterogeneity In An Urban Stream, Kristen M. Thomas Jan 2004

Diatom Assemblages Reflect Environmental Heterogeneity In An Urban Stream, Kristen M. Thomas

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

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New Illinois Butterfly Records For Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, And Edgar Counties, Paul Switzer, Jared A. Switzer, Isaac C. Switzer Jan 2003

New Illinois Butterfly Records For Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, And Edgar Counties, Paul Switzer, Jared A. Switzer, Isaac C. Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The butterfly (Lepidoptera) fauna of east-central Illinois is largely undocumented. We collected butterflies and examined specimens in the Insect Museum at Eastern Illinois University for unpublished records for five counties in east-central Illinois. Here we report 105 new butterfly county records: 17 for Clark County, 30 for Coles County, 28 for Cumberland County, 9 for Douglas County, and 21 for Edgar County. We also describe behavioral observations, in particular those behaviors related to reproduction, for some of the records. Of special note were two rare vagrants from Coles County found in the museum collection, the orange-barred sulphur (Phoebis philea) and …

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New Illinois Butterfly Records For Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, And Edgar Counties, Paul Switzer, Jared Switzer, Isaac Switzer Jan 2003

New Illinois Butterfly Records For Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, And Edgar Counties, Paul Switzer, Jared Switzer, Isaac Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The butterfly (Lepidoptera) fauna of east-central Illinois is largely undocumented. We collected butterflies and examined specimens in the Insect Museum at Eastern Illinois University for unpublished records for five counties in east-central Illinois. Here we report 105 new butterfly county records: 17 for Clark County, 30 for Coles County, 28 for Cumberland County, 9 for Douglas County, and 21 for Edgar County. We also describe behavioral observations, in particular those behaviors related to reproduction, for some of the records. Of special note were two rare vagrants from Coles County found in the museum collection, the orange-barred sulphur (Phoebis philea) and …

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Nest Characteristics Of The Clapper Rail In Coastal Georgia, Karen F. Gaines, James C. Cumbee Jr., Warren L. Stephens Jr. Jan 2003

Nest Characteristics Of The Clapper Rail In Coastal Georgia, Karen F. Gaines, James C. Cumbee Jr., Warren L. Stephens Jr.

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The nesting habitat of the Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) is not well studied in the southeastern United States. We documented Clapper Rail nest characteristics and surrounding habitats near Brunswick on the Georgia coast. Of 159 nests found, only 29 were active. Although some nests may have been abandoned or never used, many could have been depredated. Nests were constructed farther away from tidal influences than in those populations studied in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Clapper Rails also tended to nest near tidal pools as frequently as tidal creeks, contrasting with other Atlantic coast studies. The greater tidal …

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Bioavailability Of Uranium And Nickel To Vegetation In A Contaminated Riparian Ecosystem, Tracy Punshon, Karen F. Gaines, Paul M. Bertsch, Joanna Burger Jan 2003

Bioavailability Of Uranium And Nickel To Vegetation In A Contaminated Riparian Ecosystem, Tracy Punshon, Karen F. Gaines, Paul M. Bertsch, Joanna Burger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The lower portion of Tims Branch (TB), a second-order stream system on the Savannah River site (SC, USA), receives influx of mixed waste-contaminated sediments from Steed Pond, a former settling basin for target processing wastes for over three decades. The magnitude and distribution of U, Ni, and other metals and the potential for trophic movement were studied to facilitate risk assessment and determine potential remedial action. Total and sequential extraction of TB soils demonstrated contaminant heterogeneity both spatially and between operationally defined fractions. Metal concentrations were elevated within riparian zone soils in contrast to stream sediments, suggesting off-site transport. Leaf …

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Coastal Habitat Use By Wood Storks During The Non-Breeding Season, A. L. Bryan Jr., Karen F. Gaines, C. S. Eldridge Dec 2002

Coastal Habitat Use By Wood Storks During The Non-Breeding Season, A. L. Bryan Jr., Karen F. Gaines, C. S. Eldridge

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

We documented roosting and foraging habitat use by Wood Storks during the post-breeding season in the coastal zone of Georgia from 1994-1998. Larger, more persistent aggregations of roosting storks typically oc- curred in enclosed wetlands on large estuarine islands. Smaller, more ephemeral aggregations tended to occur on salt marsh/upland ecotones, where storks appeared to be waiting for local conditions (tide levels) to become suit- able for foraging. Examination of habitat types within a 2-km radius of the larger (mean > 10 storks/survey) vs. smaller (mean <10 storks/survey) roosts showed that surrounding habitat structure, including those used for for- aging, were similar. Foraging storks typically fed in close proximity (median = 0.5 km) to large roosts, much closer than storks using coastal wetlands during the breeding season. Tidal creeks were used almost exclusively as foraging habitat (92%). Storks and other wading birds were almost always present when the study bird arrived. The foraging patterns of study birds and four storks carrying radios suggested that storks often used the same foraging sites and/ or marsh systems in the non-breeding season. Coastal Wood Storks apparently selected roosting sites based on the presence of conspecifics, abundant local prey, or possibly as shelter from adverse weather conditions

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Survival Of And Herbivore Damage To A Cohort Of Quercus Rubra Planted Across A Forest-Old-Field Edge, Scott J. Meiners, Matthew J. Matinkovic Apr 2002

Survival Of And Herbivore Damage To A Cohort Of Quercus Rubra Planted Across A Forest-Old-Field Edge, Scott J. Meiners, Matthew J. Matinkovic

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Forest edges are known to affect plant community composition and habitat use by animals. However, the direct influence of edges in determining patterns of tree regeneration is poorly understood. Survival of and herbivore damage to Quercus ruln-a seedlings were experimentally determined for seedlings planted across a forest--old-field edge gradient. Seedling survival was lowest inside the forest ( 1%), intermediate at the edge (25%) and highest within the old-field portion of the gradient (49%). Deer herbivory decreased with increasing distance into the old field. Seedling survival increased under Rosa multiflora and decreased in plots with mammalian herbivory. Seedling height was significantly …

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Survival Of And Herbivore Damage To A Cohort Of Quercus Rubra Planted Across A Forest-Old-Field Edge, Scott Meiners, Matthew Matinkovic Apr 2002

Survival Of And Herbivore Damage To A Cohort Of Quercus Rubra Planted Across A Forest-Old-Field Edge, Scott Meiners, Matthew Matinkovic

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Forest edges are known to affect plant community composition and habitat use by animals. However, the direct influence of edges in determining patterns of tree regeneration is poorly understood. Survival of and herbivore damage to Quercus ruln-a seedlings were experimentally determined for seedlings planted across a forest--old-field edge gradient. Seedling survival was lowest inside the forest ( 1%), intermediate at the edge (25%) and highest within the old-field portion of the gradient (49%). Deer herbivory decreased with increasing distance into the old field. Seedling survival increased under Rosa multiflora and decreased in plots with mammalian herbivory. Seedling height was significantly …

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Scarification Technique Affects Germination Of Stylisma Pickeringii (Patterson Bindweed ), An Illinois Endangered Plant, Henry R. Owen, Brent L. Todd, Janice M. Coons Jan 2002

Scarification Technique Affects Germination Of Stylisma Pickeringii (Patterson Bindweed ), An Illinois Endangered Plant, Henry R. Owen, Brent L. Todd, Janice M. Coons

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The seed coat of Stylistna pickeringii (Torr.) Gray var. pattersoni (Patterson bindweed), an endangered species of Illinois sand prairies, inhibits water uptake and seed germination. The purpose of this research was to find an effective and efficient way to scarify seeds of S. pickeringii to aid reintroduction into its natural habitat. Seeds were collected from sandy areas close to the Illinois River near Snicarte (Mason Co.), Illinois during the summers of 1998 and 1999. Experiments were conducted to determine the best scarification techniques (basal cut, sandpaper shakes, sulfuric acid, sand shakes and sonication). Initially, each technique was evaluated by scarifYing …

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Problems With Developmental Stability In Two Rodent Species From Chornobyl, Taras K. Oleksyk, Michael H. Smith, Sergiy P. Gashchak, James M. Novak, James R. Purdue Jan 2002

Problems With Developmental Stability In Two Rodent Species From Chornobyl, Taras K. Oleksyk, Michael H. Smith, Sergiy P. Gashchak, James M. Novak, James R. Purdue

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Changes in developmental patterns are some of the most important effects that may be observed at radioactively contaminated sites like those at Chornobyl. Developmental instability may arise from the interactions between an organism's genotype and its environment and be manifested as deviant morphology. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is a measure of deviations from the expected bilateral symmetry of the body. Our objective was to test for differences in FA in two rodent species (Apodemus flavicollis and Clethrionomys glareolus) that live in habitats suirounding the failed Chornobyl reactor. Rodents were collected from four different locations (two contaminated and two reference sites), and …

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Mineralization Of Clapper Rail Eggshell From A Contaminated Salt Marsh System, Alejandro Rodriguez-Navarro, Karen F. Gaines, Christopher S. Romanek, G. R. Masson Jan 2002

Mineralization Of Clapper Rail Eggshell From A Contaminated Salt Marsh System, Alejandro Rodriguez-Navarro, Karen F. Gaines, Christopher S. Romanek, G. R. Masson

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The effect of contamination on eggshell mineralization has been studied for clapper rails (Rallus longirostris) inhabiting a contaminated salt marsh in coastal Georgia. To assess the impact of contaminants, the thickness, microstructure (crystal orientation), mineral composition, and chemistry of shell material were analyzed from a contaminated site and a nearby reference site using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Eggshells from the contaminated site were generally thinner than those from the reference site. Also, eggshells from the contaminated site were abnormally brittle and contained anomalous microstructural attributes. The combination of …

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Probability Of Tree Seedling Establishment Changes Across A Forest–Old Field Edge Gradient, Scott J. Meiners, Steward T.A. Pickett, Steven N. Handel Jan 2002

Probability Of Tree Seedling Establishment Changes Across A Forest–Old Field Edge Gradient, Scott J. Meiners, Steward T.A. Pickett, Steven N. Handel

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Forest edges affect many aspects of plant communities, causing changes in microclimate, species composition, and community structure. However, the direct role of edges in regulating forest regeneration is relatively unknown. The pattern of tree establishment across a forest–old field edge was experimentally examined to determine the response of three tree species to the edge gradient. We placed 100 1-m2 plots in a 90 3 90 m grid that began 30 m inside the forest, extended across the edge, and ended at 60 m into the old field. Into each plot, we planted seeds of Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, and Quercus …

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Using Raccoons As An Indicator Species For Metal Accumulation Across Trophic Accumulation Across Trophic Levels: A Stable Isotope Approach, Karen F. Gaines, Christhopher S. Romanek, C. Shane Boring, Christine G. Lord, Michael Gochfeld, Joanna Burger Jan 2002

Using Raccoons As An Indicator Species For Metal Accumulation Across Trophic Accumulation Across Trophic Levels: A Stable Isotope Approach, Karen F. Gaines, Christhopher S. Romanek, C. Shane Boring, Christine G. Lord, Michael Gochfeld, Joanna Burger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

: The fact that raccoons (Procyon lotor) are an opportunistic omnivore has severely complicated interpreta- tions of contaminant uptake patterns due to the inability to determine the trophic position an individual occupies. Moreover, few studies have examined the relationships between heavy metal bioaccumulation and trophic struc- ture, especially in the terrestrial environment. In this study, the stable isotopes of nitrogen were used to charac- terize the feeding habits of the raccoon at the population level and to determine whether metal burden was relat- ed to trophic feeding structure within a welldefined ecosystem. Raccoon populations were isotopically distinct, and significant positive …

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Cloning Of Plants, Henry R. Owen Jan 2002

Cloning Of Plants, Henry R. Owen

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

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Scirpus Ancistrochaetus (Cyperaceae): First Record In Canada, Stuart G. Hay, Gordon C. Tucker Jan 2002

Scirpus Ancistrochaetus (Cyperaceae): First Record In Canada, Stuart G. Hay, Gordon C. Tucker

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

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Probability Of Tree Seedling Establishment Changes Across A Forest–Old Field Edge Gradient, Scott Meiners, Steward Pickett, Steven Handel Jan 2002

Probability Of Tree Seedling Establishment Changes Across A Forest–Old Field Edge Gradient, Scott Meiners, Steward Pickett, Steven Handel

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Forest edges affect many aspects of plant communities, causing changes in microclimate, species composition, and community structure. However, the direct role of edges in regulating forest regeneration is relatively unknown. The pattern of tree establishment across a forest–old field edge was experimentally examined to determine the response of three tree species to the edge gradient. We placed 100 1-m2 plots in a 90 3 90 m grid that began 30 m inside the forest, extended across the edge, and ended at 60 m into the old field. Into each plot, we planted seeds of Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, and Quercus …

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Scirpus Ancistrochaetus (Cyperaceae): First Record In Canada, Stuart Hay, Gordon Tucker Jan 2002

Scirpus Ancistrochaetus (Cyperaceae): First Record In Canada, Stuart Hay, Gordon Tucker

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

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Book Review Of "Ecology And Conservation Of Grassland Birds Of The Western Hemisphere", Eric K. Bollinger Jun 2001

Book Review Of "Ecology And Conservation Of Grassland Birds Of The Western Hemisphere", Eric K. Bollinger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This book review appeared in The Auk, Volume 118 No. 3 (July 2001).

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Book Review Of "Ecology And Conservation Of Grassland Birds Of The Western Hemisphere", Eric Bollinger Jun 2001

Book Review Of "Ecology And Conservation Of Grassland Birds Of The Western Hemisphere", Eric Bollinger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This book review appeared in The Auk, Volume 118 No. 3 (July 2001).

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Binding Of Urate And Caffeine To Hemocyanin Analyzed By Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Michael A. Menze, Nadja Hellmann, Heinz Decker, Manfred K. Grieshaber Mar 2001

Binding Of Urate And Caffeine To Hemocyanin Analyzed By Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Michael A. Menze, Nadja Hellmann, Heinz Decker, Manfred K. Grieshaber

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Haemocyanin serves as an oxygen carrier in the haemolymph of decapod crustaceans. The oxygen-binding behaviour of the pigment is modulated by the two major anaerobic metabolites, L-lactate and urate. The binding of these two metabolites to haemocyanin has been investigated mainly indirectly by following the effectorinduced changes in the oxygen-binding properties of the respiratory pigment. Only a few direct investigations of effector binding, employing ultracentrifugation techniques and equilibrium dialysis, have been carried out. No evidence for cooperative binding for either effector was detected using these methods. However, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) offers a useful tool to gain additional insight into …

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Ethnic Differences In Risk From Mercury Among Savannah River Fishermen, Joanna Burger, Karen F. Gaines, Michael Gochfeld Jan 2001

Ethnic Differences In Risk From Mercury Among Savannah River Fishermen, Joanna Burger, Karen F. Gaines, Michael Gochfeld

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Fishing plays an important role in people's lives and contaminant levels in fish are a public health concern. Many states have issued consumption advisories; South Carolina and Georgia have issued them for the Savannah River based on mercury and radionuclide levels. This study examined ethnic differences in risk from mercury exposure among people consuming fish from the Savannah River, based on site-specific consumption patterns and analysis of mercury in fish. Among fish, there were significant interspecies differences in mercury levels, and there were ethnic differences in consumption patterns. Two methods of examining risk are presented: (1) Hazard Index (HI), and …

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Phylogeny, Biogeography, And Revision Of The Subfamily Dallatorrellinae (Hymenoptera, Liopteridae), Zhiwei Liu Jan 2001

Phylogeny, Biogeography, And Revision Of The Subfamily Dallatorrellinae (Hymenoptera, Liopteridae), Zhiwei Liu

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

A recent cladistic study suggested that the parasitoid wasp subfamily Dallatorrellinae is a monophyletic clade within the cynipoid family Liopteridae. The subfamily currently includes only four known species belonging to two genera, i.e., the monotypic genus Mesocynips Cameron, 1903 and the genus Dallatorrella Kieffer, 1911 . The present study presents a revision of the subfamily, including descriptions of five new species in the genus Dallatorrella: D. maculata, D. maxima, D. pulla, D. ronquisti and D. sinica. A key to the species of the subfamily is provided. Cladistic analysis of the subfamily at species level is undertaken and the biogeographic history …

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Status Of The Oak Hybrids Quercus × Leana And Q. × Runcinata In Illinois, Gordon Tucker, John Ebinger Jan 2001

Status Of The Oak Hybrids Quercus × Leana And Q. × Runcinata In Illinois, Gordon Tucker, John Ebinger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

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Genetic Heterogeneity Of White-Tailed Deer: Management Lessons From A Long-Term Study, Michael H. Smith, James M. Novak, J. D. Peles, J. R. Purdue Jan 2001

Genetic Heterogeneity Of White-Tailed Deer: Management Lessons From A Long-Term Study, Michael H. Smith, James M. Novak, J. D. Peles, J. R. Purdue

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Genetic data from a long-term (16-year) study of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) were examined to evaluate spatial and temporal genetic heterogeneity in this species. Based on our analyses of the long-term data set, three major findings emerged, all of which have important implications for management of white-tailed deer: (1) There exists significant spatial genetic heterogeneity in white-tailed deer based on analyses of allozyme frequencies and mtDNA haplotypes. This heterogeneity exists on a much smaller spatial scale than would be expected for such a large and potentially mobile species as 0. …

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Radiocesium In Fish From The Savannah River And Steel Creek: Potential Food Chain Exposure To The Public, Joanna Burger, Karen F. Gaines, J. D. Peles, W. L. Stephens Jr., C. Shane Boring, I. Lehr Brisbin Jr., J. Snodgrass, A. L. Bryan Jr., M. H. Smith, M. Gochfeld Jan 2001

Radiocesium In Fish From The Savannah River And Steel Creek: Potential Food Chain Exposure To The Public, Joanna Burger, Karen F. Gaines, J. D. Peles, W. L. Stephens Jr., C. Shane Boring, I. Lehr Brisbin Jr., J. Snodgrass, A. L. Bryan Jr., M. H. Smith, M. Gochfeld

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study examined radiocesium (137Cs) levels in fish from the vicinity of the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS), a former nuclear weapons production facility in South Carolina. Fish from the Savannah River were sampled above (upstream), along, and below (downstream) the SRS, and from Steel Creek, a tributary that runs through the SRS. There was some off-site contamination of 137Cs in the Savannah River watershed due to low-level releases from past nuclear production on the SRS. The null hypotheses tested were that there would be no differences in 137Cs levels as a function of location along the river, …

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Status Of The Oak Hybrids Quercus × Leana And Q. × Runcinata In Illinois, Gordon C. Tucker, John E. Ebinger Jan 2001

Status Of The Oak Hybrids Quercus × Leana And Q. × Runcinata In Illinois, Gordon C. Tucker, John E. Ebinger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

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Phylogeny, Biogeography, And Revision Of The Subfamily Dallatorrellinae (Hymenoptera, Liopteridae), Zhiwei Liu Jan 2001

Phylogeny, Biogeography, And Revision Of The Subfamily Dallatorrellinae (Hymenoptera, Liopteridae), Zhiwei Liu

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

A recent cladistic study suggested that the parasitoid wasp subfamily Dallatorrellinae is a monophyletic clade within the cynipoid family Liopteridae. The subfamily currently includes only four known species belonging to two genera, i.e., the monotypic genus Mesocynips Cameron, 1903 and the genus Dallatorrella Kieffer, 1911 . The present study presents a revision of the subfamily, including descriptions of five new species in the genus Dallatorrella: D. maculata, D. maxima, D. pulla, D. ronquisti and D. sinica. A key to the species of the subfamily is provided. Cladistic analysis of the subfamily at species level is undertaken and the biogeographic history …

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Raccoons As Potential Vectors Of Radionuclide Contamination To Human Food Chains From A Nuclear Industrial Site, Karen F. Gaines, Christine G. Lord, C. Shane Boring, I. Lehr Brisbin Jr., Michael Gochfeld, Joanna Burger Jan 2000

Raccoons As Potential Vectors Of Radionuclide Contamination To Human Food Chains From A Nuclear Industrial Site, Karen F. Gaines, Christine G. Lord, C. Shane Boring, I. Lehr Brisbin Jr., Michael Gochfeld, Joanna Burger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Although the raccoon (Procyon lotor) is commonly harvested and consumed throughout the southeastern United States, little is known regarding the fate and effects of environmental pollutants to this species, and the potential for it to act as a contaminant vector to humans or other predators. Muscle and liver tissues were collected from 76 raccoons from locations on and near the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina and analyzed for radiocesium (137Cs). Raccoons were trapped from areas near a former reactor cooling reservoir known to be contaminated from former nuclear production activities, a stream drainage system also …

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Additive And Nonadditive Effects Of Herbivory And Competition On Tree Seedling Mortality, Growth, And Allocation, Scott J. Meiners, Steven N. Handel Jan 2000

Additive And Nonadditive Effects Of Herbivory And Competition On Tree Seedling Mortality, Growth, And Allocation, Scott J. Meiners, Steven N. Handel

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The interaction between simulated cotyledon herbivory and interspecific competition was studied in a greenhouse experiment using two species of trees, Acer rubrum and Quercus palustris, which commonly invade abandoned agricultural fields. Herbivory treatments were applied as a gradient of cotyledon removal for A. rubrum with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of cotyledon tissue removed. Cotyledons from Q. palustris were clipped and removed (control, early, and late removal) to create a gradient of seed reserve availability. The competition treatment consisted of plugs of old-field vegetation that filled the pots with perennial cover. Mortality of seedlings was higher with competition. There …

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Additive And Nonadditive Effects Of Herbivory And Competition On Tree Seedling Mortality, Growth, And Allocation, Scott Meiners, Steven Handel Jan 2000

Additive And Nonadditive Effects Of Herbivory And Competition On Tree Seedling Mortality, Growth, And Allocation, Scott Meiners, Steven Handel

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The interaction between simulated cotyledon herbivory and interspecific competition was studied in a greenhouse experiment using two species of trees, Acer rubrum and Quercus palustris, which commonly invade abandoned agricultural fields. Herbivory treatments were applied as a gradient of cotyledon removal for A. rubrum with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of cotyledon tissue removed. Cotyledons from Q. palustris were clipped and removed (control, early, and late removal) to create a gradient of seed reserve availability. The competition treatment consisted of plugs of old-field vegetation that filled the pots with perennial cover. Mortality of seedlings was higher with competition. There …

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