Biology Commons^™

The Terrestrial Flora Of South Padre Island, Texas, Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd

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

The primary aim of this work is to enable the user to identify the flowering plants of South Padre Island; however, it should be useful for identification of plants on other Texas barrier islands and on the Mexican barrier islands. We hope that the keys will aid teachers, students, coastal zone managers, and individuals conducting environmental impact assessments.

Phytogeography Of South Padre Island, Texas, Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd

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

The phytogeographic affinities of the native flora of South Padre Island, Texas, are analyzed and the probable dispersal agent(s) for each species identified. The native flora consists of 99 species and 44% of the species also occur on the adjacent Texas mainland; 28% of the native species have tropical affinities. Only three species have probably dispersed from the island to the mainland. Two species may be endemic to Padre Island and the Tamaulipan barrier islands. Most of the tropical species have reached the island by oceanic drift, but birds are the most important dispersal agent for the native species. Man …

Cellulase Activities Of Soil Fungi, Jacobo Ortega

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

The cellulase activities of 8 isolates of fungi obtained from agricultural soils of Hidalgo County, TX were investigated by measuring the changes in the viscosity of a buffered solution of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), produced by the fluids obtained from liquid cultures of these isolates. The change in the viscosity of the reaction mixture incubated at constant temperature (30 C) was measured with Cannon-Fenske routine viscometers. A buffered cellulase solution was used as a control.

Due to the variability that existed among the isolates investigated, it was possible to select active producers of cellulase with the method followed in this investigation. The …

A Vegetational Analysis Of A Tropical Cloud Forest In Southern Tamaulipas, Mexico, Robert I. Lonard, R. G. Ross

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

The vegetation of a tropical cloud forest in northern Mexico was analyzed by the point- quarter and line intercept methods to determine the relative density, relative dominance, relative frequency and importance values of the woody and herbaceous species. The flora of the study site, near Gomez Farias, Tamaulipas, Mexico, represents a unique mixture of temperate and tropical taxa. Based on importance values, the upper woody stratum was dominated by oak (Quercus sartorii Liebm.), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.), Turpinia occidentalis (Swartz) Don and Clethra macrophylla Mart, and Gal. The lower woody stratum consisted largely of Solarium nudum H.B.K. and Ampelopsis …

Annotated Checklist Of The Flowering Plants Of South Padre Island, Texas, Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd, Sammie L. Sides

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

This study catalogues the flowering plants of South Padre Island, Texas. A total of 207 species in 47 families is listed. The abundance and ecological distribution of each taxon are noted. Comparisons are made with the flora of Mustang Island, Texas. Ninety-three species, 96 genera and 36 families are common to both islands. Three families, Compositae, Gramineae and Leguminosae, contain large shares of the total number of species on both islands. Apparently, much of the floral diversity is due to the presence of a large number of species that are represented by small populations.

The Vegetation Of South Padre Island, Texas In Relation To Topography, Frank W. Judd, Robert I. Lonard, Sammie L. Sides

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

Vegetation patterns were studied in relation to topography to ascertain the degree of phytosociological change and to provide an inventory of the vegetation of South Padre Island. Six major terrestrial topographic zones were recognized: (1) Foreshore, (2) Backshore, (3) Primary dunes, (4) Secondary dunes and vegetated flats, (5) Tidal flats, and (6) Washovers. The flora includes at least 204 species of angiosperms representing 47 families. Five families, Compositae (26), Cyperaceae (10), Gramineae (46), Leguminosae (24), and Scrophulariaceae (8), account for 55.9% of the species diversity. The vegetation occurs in distinct zones that correspond closely to topographic facets. Comparison of three …

Reinstatement Of The Genus Tiquilia (Boraginaceae: Ehretioideae) And Descriptions Of Four New Species, Alfred Richardson

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

No abstract provided.

Demography Of A Barrier Island Population Of The Keeled Earless Lizard, Holbrookia Propinqua, Frank W. Judd

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

No abstract provided.

Coastal Vegetational Communities Of The Two Texas Barrier Islands, Boca Chica And Brazos, Baltazar Cisneros

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Two Texas barrier islands, Boca Chica and Brazos, have unique coastal vegetational communities that may be Influenced by several environmental factors. These environmental factors include temperature, precipitation, wind speed, sunshine exposure, day length, and dune height. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the total number of coastal plant species per station, season, and year and to consider environmental factors that may significantly affect the number and pattern of coastal species. Coverage comparison between aerial and land sampling and aerial vegetational zonation was also considered.

Results indicated the presence of 21 angiosperm families and a total of 54 species. …

Seasonal Periodicity Of Dominant, Benthic, Marine Macroalgae Of The North Jetty Of Brazos Santiago Pass, Texas, As Related To Environmental Factors, Gary J. Penn

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The seasonality of marine algae may be influenced by a large number of factors. These factors Include water clarity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, light Intensity, precipitation, air temperature, water turbulence, and daylength. The purpose of this study was to determine seasonal patterns and the effect of these variables on the algae.

The results Indicate that 24 dominant, benthic, genera of algae have two seasonal populations. A winter-spring population Includes algae in abundance between January and May. A fall population includes algae in abundance during September, October and November, Results of environmental studies indicate day-length dominant factors in algal …

Recommended Vegetable Varieties For The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Joseph B. Corns

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

No abstract provided.