Biology Commons^™

Evaluation Of Artificial Lighting Sources For The Acquisition Of Color Infrared Imagery Under Glasshouse Conditions, Kenneth R. Summy, Christopher R. Little, Ruben A. Mazariegos, Diana Lee Hinojosa-Kettelkamp, Jeri Carter, Shireen Yousef, Robert Valdez

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

English: Research was conducted to evaluate the spectral properties, illumination intensities and lighting patterns of four basic categories of bulbs and lamps which could conceivably serve as sole lighting sources for the acquisition of color infrared (CIR) imagery under glasshouse conditions. Bulbs and lamps in two major categories (fluorescent tubes and sodium- and mercury-vapor glasshouse lamps) were deemed unsuitable for this purpose either because they emitted little or no nearinfrared (NIR) radiation or because they imparted an overall bluish cast that seriously degraded the quality of CIR imagery. All of the incandescent and quartz halogen lamps evaluated in these studies …

Regional Ecological Resource Assessment Of The Rio Grande Riparian Corridor: A Multidisciplinary Approach To Understanding Anthropogenic Effects On Riparian Communities In Semi-Arid Environments, Jay Raney, Amy Neuenschwander, Frank W. Judd, Gene Paull, Melba Crawford, Robert I. Lonard, Tatiana Encheva, Thomas Tremblay, William White

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Riparian ecosystems of the Southwestern United States are among the most productive ecosystems of North America. The rapid decline of these ecosystems throughout the United States, including the Lower Rio Grande Valley, has made riparian conservation a focal issue. This was a multidisciplinary study of riparian communities along the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico. The objectives of this research project were to: (1) acquire and analyze high-resolution, remotely sensed data from multiple sensors; (2) integrate existing and new field data and remotely sensed data into a geographic information system (GIS); (3) ascertain whether the native vegetation communities …

Factors Controlling Seagrass Revegetation Onto Dredged Material Deposits: A Case Study In Lower Laguna Madre, Texas, James E. Kaldy, Kenneth H. Dunton, Joseph L. Kowalski, Kun-Seop Lee

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Our objective was to evaluate the influence of water quality and sediment chemistry on the survival and growth of Halodule wrightii transplanted onto unconsolidated dredged materials in Lower Laguna Madre, TX. Subsequent to transplanting activities, we measured environmental conditions and seagrass parameters at transplant and natural beds over a 1-yr period. Although water quality characteristics at the transplant and comparison sites were compatible with seagrass growth, transplants failed to survive for more than a few months. Seagrasses at natural sites received high light (>6000 mols m−2 y−1) and exhibited typical patterns of annual growth, biomass and density as well …

Breeding Abundance And Nest-Site Distribution Of The Altamira Oriole At Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, Timothy Brush, Christopher R. Hathcock

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The distribution of the Altamira oriole (Icterus gularis) in the United States is restricted to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas. Our objective was to assess the current breeding status of this species at and near Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (SANWR), a principal nesting area in the region. During each breeding season from 1997 to 1999, we attempted to find and monitor all Altamira oriole nests in and within 0.5 km of SANWR to determine annual breeding-pair abundance, annual nest-site distribution, and nest distribution among tree species. We estimated that there were 6 or 7, 8 or …

A Guide To Growing Healthy Trees In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Valley Proud Environmental Council, Texas Forest Service, Texas Urban Forestry Council, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, Brownsville Beautification Committee, Joe Ideker, Steve Benn, Beau Hollingsworth, Chris Best, Robert I. Lonard

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

No abstract provided.

Breeding Distribution And Habitat Use Of Audubon's Oriole In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Steven Gerald Monk

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Audubon's Oriole ( Icterus graduacauda ) was known historically throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, but its breeding range has now declined to mainly riparian habitat in Starr County. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, and brood parasitism by Bronzed Cowbirds ( Molothrus aeneus ) are likely causes of this decline. Habitat patches where Audubon's Orioles were present were larger, with a larger vertical range of canopy, greater vegetation volume, greater richness of bird and woody plant species, less local deforestation, and less local habitat fragmentation than where Audubon's Orioles were absent. Bronzed Cowbirds showed no numeric correlation …

Recovery Of Vegetation Following A Wild Fire On The Margins Of Tidal Flats, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd, Elizabeth H. Smith

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Recovery of halophytic vegetation on the margin of tidal flats following a wildfire at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, was studied for 26 months. Species richness, species diversity, species importance, evenness and vegetation abundance were evaluated. Species richness and diversity were restored within 108 days after the fire. Sporobolus virginicus was the dominant species on both burned and non-burned transects. Vegetative cover was slow to recover. It took 19 months for cover of burned areas to equal or exceed cover of non-burned areas. Biomass also was slow to recover and it did not equal biomass of non-burned transects in 26 …

Phenology Of Acacia Berlandieri, A. Minuata, A. Rigidula, A. Schaffneri, And Chloroleuconebano In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas During A Drought, Melissa R. Eddy, Frank W. Judd

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Flowering and fruiting phenology of Acacia berlandieri, A. minuata, A. rigidula, A. schaffneri, and Chloroleucon ebano were studied at 3 sites in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas from July 1998 through August 1999. Severe drought conditions prevailed for the 6 months preceding this study, and rainfall was 20% lower during the study than the long-term mean. Acacia berlandieri had the longest flowering period (5 months); each of the other 3 Acacia species flowered for 3 months. All of the Acacia species flowered in winter or spring (at relatively low temperatures and increasing photoperiod). Peak flowering occurred in February …

Aerial Detection Of Waste Disposal Sites Near Donna Reservoir In South Texas., C. F. Webster, James H. Everitt, D. E. Escobar, M. R. Davis

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Aerial color-infrared (CIR) photography was used to detect and catalog unauthorized solid waste disposal sites around Donna Reservoir in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of southern Texas. Qualitative visual evaluation of the positive transparencies showed 25 possible disposal sites randomly scattered throughout the study area, located in sites ranging from bare soil to grass and mixed brush/woods. These sites were transposed onto a computer-generated area map for ground survey confirmation and use by organizations planning to clean-up the sites. Ground-truthing was used to identify waste contents at each site and to estimate waste volumes and areas covered. Unauthorized solid …

Comparison Of Native Brushland, Replanted, And Unaided Secondary Succession Plant Communities In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Mitchell Allen Sternberg

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Agriculture and urban development have destroyed 95% of native brushland habitat in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of south Texas. Therefore, habitat restoration is an important issue in the LRGV. Since 1982, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been replanting areas in the LRGV to native brushland species to establish a wildlife corridor along the lower reach of the Rio Grande. Vegetation composition of a mature brushland, a replanted habitat and an unaided secondary succession site (fallow field) were examined at one locale in the LRGV in 1999. The mature brushland edge plot had the highest species richness …

An Overview Of Aircraft Remote Sensing In Integrated Pest Management, James H. Everitt, Kenneth R. Summy, D. E. Escobar, M. R. Davis

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

English: This paper presents four exemplary applications of aerial photography and videography, global positioning system (GPS), and geographic information system (GIS) technologies for detecting, monitoring, and mapping insect infestations in agriculture, forestry, and rangeland areas. Applications demonstrated include detecting and mapping: (1) citrus blackfly (Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby) infestations in citrus orchards; (2) silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) infestations in cotton; (3) harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus F. Smith) infestations on rangelands; and (4) western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte) infestations in a forested area. The integration of a GPS with the video imagery permitted latitude and longitude coordinates of …

Synthetic Lethal Analysis Implicates Ste20p, A P21- Activated Protein Kinase, In Polarisome Activation, April S. Goehring, David A. Mitchell, Amy Hin Yan Tong, Megan Keniry, Charles Boone, George F. Sprague Jr.

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The p21-activated kinases Ste20p and Cla4p carry out undefined functions that are essential for viability during budding in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To gain insight into the roles of Ste20p, we have used a synthetic lethal mutant screen to identify additional genes that are required in the absence of Cla4p. Altogether, we identified 65 genes, including genes with roles in cell polarity, mitosis, and cell wall maintenance. Herein, we focus on a set that defines a function carried out by Bni1p and several of its interacting proteins. We found that Bni1p and a group of proteins that complex with Bni1p (Bud6p, Spa2p, …

Detecting Stress In Glasshouse Plants Using Color Infrared Imagery: A Potential New Application For Remote Sensing, Kenneth R. Summy, Christopher R. Little, Ruben A. Mazariegos, James H. Everitt, M. R. Davis, J. V. French, A. W. Scott Jr.

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

English: Studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of color infrared (CIR) film for detecting physiological stress in plants located within glasshouse structures. Spectroradiometer measurements obtained within and outside of a structure constructed of polycarbonate plastic indicated no significant attenuation or disruption of visible and near-infrared radiation entering the structure. CIR photographs of cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus) obtained within the greenhouse were comparable in quality to those obtained outside the structure, and clearly distinguished between foliage of healthy plants and those subjected to a moderate level of nitrogen stress. In CIR imagery of a trifoliate orange tree (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) …

Cissus Sicyoides C. Linnaeus (Vitaceae), A Potential Exotic Pest In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, J. V. French, Robert I. Lonard, James H. Everitt

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

English:Cissus sicyoides C. Linnaeus, a perennial vine native to tropical Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, has recently been rediscovered in the Lower Rio Grande Valley,Texas. A dense population of this exotic species has been located in a brushy area along a canal network and in two adjacent citrus groves near Weslaco. This species produces a dense mantle that covers other vegetation, appears to be invasive, and may pose a potential weed problem in citrus in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Spanish: Cissus sicyoides C. Linnaeus, una enredadera perene nativa de los trópicos de México, América Central y el Caribe, …

First Nesting Attempt Of Yellow-Faced Grassquit (Tiaris Olivacea) In The United States, Timothy Brush

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

No abstract provided.

Riparian Vegetation Of The Lower Rio Grande, Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The riparian vegetation of the lower reach of the Rio Grande was studied at 7 locations using 3 line intercepts at each location. There were no trees at the mouth of the river and the vegetation was similar to that found along the Laguna Madre shore of barrier islands. Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) was the dominant tree near the coast and in the western section of the river near Falcon Dam. Sugar hackberry (Celtis laevigata) was the dominant tree species at all other sites except at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, where cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) and anacua (Ehretia anacua) were …

Effects Of Ethanol On The Toxicity And Metabolism Of Acetonitrile And Acrylonitrile, Nancy Ochoa-Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examined the effects of ethanol on the toxicities and metabolism of two aliphatic nitriles: acetonitrile and acrylonitrile (one unsaturated and one saturated aliphatic nitrile, respectively) in male Sprague-Dawley rats at four different time intervals. Toxicity signs were apparent in all animals given the nitrile dosage, but those treated with ethanol dosages showed signs of toxicity earlier than those treated with glucose dosages. Both of the nitrites were metabolized to cyanide and thiocyanate. The concentration levels of each metabolite was apparent at 2 and 3 g/kg ethanol dosage for acetonitrile and 3 and 4.5 g/kg ethanol dosage for acrylonitrile …

Evaluation Of Facilitated Succession At Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area In South Texas., Frank W. Judd, Robert I. Lonard, Gary L. Waggerman

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

This study examined the effectiveness of re-vegetation efforts which have been ongoing in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas since 1958. Species composition, richness and diversity were evaluated in an undisturbed native woodland, a site planted with late successional species in 1961 (facilitated succession) and a farm field abandoned in 1974 (unaided succession) in northwestern Cameron County. Species richness and diversity for both trees and shrubs were greatest in the native woodland site. While there was greater similarity in species composition between the native woodland and the facilitated succession sites, species diversity in the tree and shrub layers of …

Parallelism In Digging Behaviour In Two Distantly Related Decapod Crustaceans, Zen Faulkes

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Walking and swimming are the most common forms of locomotion used routinely by decapod crustaceans, but some have evolved ways of locomoting throughsubstrates, notably sand. Two such digging species, of different infraorders, are spanner crabs (Ranina ranina; Brachyura) and spiny sand crabs (Blepharipoda occidentalis; Anomura). Videotape and electromyogram analysis showed that digging by these species is similar, but Raninahas a wider locomotor repertoire than Blepharipoda: for instance, Raninacan walk forward on the benthos, whereas Blepharipoda(and other sand crabs) cannot walk. Similarly, although both Raninaand Blepharipodadig into the sand using their legs and abdomen, leg movements of Raninaare less stereotyped than …

Habitat Use, Population Density, And Home Range Of Elf Owls (Micrathene Whitneyi) At Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, Christopher Michael Gamel, Timothy Brush

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

We collected data on the habitat use, home range size, and population density of the Elf Owl (Micrathene Whitneyi Idonea) in the Santa Ana National Wildlife refuge (SANWR) Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Fourteen nocturnal surveys in 1995 and 1996 indicated that Elf Owls used chaparral habitat (92%) more than riparian woodlands(8%). Habitats used had high foliage densities(greatest density = 2.5-3.0 m) with partial canopies (x = 3.8 +_ 0.36 m [+_SE] and semi-open understories (greatest density< 1 m). Unused chaparral habitat lacked high canopy coverage and had a denser understory, while riparian woodlands had greater canopyheights (• = 5.25 m) and open understories. Home range size determined by radiotelemetry averaged1.0.5+_0.33 ha (range = 0.24-2.60, N = 9). We estimated the maximum potential population size in SANWR to be 802 Elf Owls, assuming a home range size of 1.05 ha per breeding pair and saturation of preferred habitat.

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Colectamos datos sobre el uso de habitat, tamafio del rango de hogar y densidad poblacional de Micrathene whitneyi idonea en el Refugio …

First Nesting Records Of The Black Phoebe (Sayornis Nigricans) In Southernmost Texas, Timothy Brush

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

No abstract provided.

Range Extensions Of The Seaweeds Codium Taylorii And Caulerpa Prolifera Into The Lower Laguna Madre, Texas, Hudson R. Deyoe, Donald L. Hockaday

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Between January 1999 and April 2000 two chlorophyte algae, Codium taylorii Silva and Caulerpa prolifera F. obovata (Forsskal) Lamouroux were found in the lower Laguna Madre (LLM). Both are coenocytic algae and are members of the chlorophyte class Bryopsidophyceae ( van den Hoek et al. 1995). The species descriptions in Taylor (1960) were used in the identification of the specimens. Her barium specimens have been deposited at the University of Texas- Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory (accession numbers COlO - C. prolifera, COl 1 - C. taylorii) , University of California at Berkeley (UC 1753606 - C. taylorii) , University …

Productivity Estimation In Halodule Wrightii: Comparison Of Leaf-Clipping And Leaf-Marking Techniques, And The Importance Of Clip Height, Joseph L. Kowalski, Hudson R. Deyoe, Terry C. Allison, James E. Kaldy

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

We compared estimates of Halodule wrightii leaf growth rates obtained from leaf-clipping and leaf-piercing methods in a south Texas lagoon. Leaf clipping underestimated leaf production from 15 to 37% in winter and 25 to 60% in summer relative to leaf piercing. The underestimation of leaf-clipping derived growth rates were corrected using a linear regression between leaf growth rates determined by leaf-clipping and leaf-piercing methods. To examine the effect of clip height on H. wrightii leaf growth rate estimation, leaves were clipped at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 cm above the sediment. Leaves clipped at 2 cm exhibited the fastest …

Nesting Of Rose-Throated Becard Pachyramphus Aglaiae (Passeriformes: Incertae Sedis) And Clay-Colored Robin Turdus Grayi (Passeriformes: Turdidae) In Hidalgo County, Texas, Timothy Brush

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

No abstract provided.

Detoxification Of 4-Nitroquinoline 1-Oxide And Benzo(A)Pyrene-4,5-Oxide By Myristicin Induced Glutathione S-Transferase In A/J Mouse Livers, Eduardo Saldivar

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The activities of mouse liver glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) induced by myristicin, the active compound in parsley leaf oil, against the carcinogens 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) and benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-oxide (BP-4,5-oxide) were studied. A/J mice were treated with three 20 mg doses (one dose every other day) by gavage. Affinity purified liver GST samples from treated animals showed a 7.2-fold increase in activity toward 4NQO when compared with equal amounts of liver samples prepared from the control group. Activity against BP-4,5-oxide was increased 1.8-fold in the experimental group. Experimental samples also showed a significant increase in activity toward the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB), …

Field Notes On The Biology Of The Long-Wattled Umbrellabird Cephalopterus Penduliger In West Ecuador., Karl S. Berg

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

La biología del Pajaro Paraguas Longipendulo Cephalopterus penduliger es quizas lo menos conocido del genero. A pesar de eso, lo consideraron una de las especies más amenzadas en el continente Sudamericano debido a la deforestación, caza y a un grado menor, la comercialización de las aves como mascotas. Entre febrero y octubre de 1998 yo observe C. penduliger a lo largo del período y 1.600 horas de observación en la Estación Biológica Jatun Sacha Bilsa, Provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Documente varios aspectos de las observaciones incluyendo un sonogramo de dos vocalizaciones, descripciones de comportamiento, forrageo y las primeras fotos de …

First Nesting Record Of Blue Jay (Cyanocitta Cristata) In Hidalgo County, Texas, Timothy Brush

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

No abstract provided.

Use Of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic Dna-Polymerase Chain Reaction (Rapd-Pcr) To Distinguish North American Populations Of Acroptilon Repens (L.) Dc, Raul A. Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Sixty U.S. populations of Acroptilon repens collected in 1998 were analyzed using RAPD-PCR. Each population was represented by five specimens gathered from each location. A total of 301 specimens were examined using two Operon Technologies, RAPD-PCR primers (A 10 and C04). The DNA amplification products produced through the PCR process were electrophoretically separated to produce DNA fragments ranging from 100 to 2000 base-pairs in length. The 60 U.S. populations sampled, produce ten RAPD banding pattern types using A 10 primer and seventeen pattern types with C04. Genetic variation within and among the populations was low, however, one dendogram did show …

Vegetative Change On South Padre Island, Texas, Over Twenty Years And Evaluation Of Multispectral Videography In Determining Vegetative Cover And Species Identity, Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd, James H. Everitt, David E. Escobar, Mario A. Alaniz, Isabel Cavazos Iii, M. R. Davis

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

A comparative vegetation analysis of an island-wide transect of South Padre Island, Texas, was conducted in 1997 using aerial multispectral digital videography and line intercept ground truth techniques to assess the usefulness of videography in estimating vegetative cover and species identifications. Ground truth data were used to assess vegetative change occurring in the 20 years since the report of Judd et al. (1977) on the vegetation of South Padre Island. Estimates of total cover by ground truth and remote sensing techniques were similar (2.45% difference) on South Padre Island. Thus, airborne multispectral digital videography is an effective technique for assessing …

The Biological Flora Of Coastal Dunes And Wetlands. Ipomoea Imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Beach morning glory, Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb. = I. stolonifera (Cirillo) Gmelin is a pantropical, prostrate vine that is an important pioneer species in the backshore of coastal beaches of six continents and many islands. The landward distribution of beach morning glory is influenced by dispersal and competition, and its seaward distribution is determined by the physical environment acting through movement of seeds away from the water and high seedling mortality in the backshore. It is occasionally found in disturbed sites on barrier islands well inland from the shore. Beach morning glory tolerates low levels of soil nutrients, sand scouring, …