Biology Commons^™

Application Of The Nutrient Loading Concept To Lake Powell, The Effects Of Nutrient Perturbations On Phytoplankton Productivity, And Levels Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus In The Reservoir, Steven Paul Gloss

Biology ETDs

Levels, sources, and biological influence of nitrogen and phosphorus in Lake Powell, Utah-Arizona were examined. The reservoir, one of the three largest in the United States, is a mainstream impoundment on the Colorado River and is classified as a warm monomictic with meromixis exhibited in deeper waters.

Nutrient concentrations in the reservoir were characteristic of a mesotrophic lake. Mean total phosphorus concentration was 17 mg m^-3 during the study, while total nitrogen averaged 531 mg m^-3. Nitrate was the dominant form of nitrogen. Distribution of both nutrients exhibited patterns previously described for lakes to some extent, but …

A Flora Of The San Andres National Wildlife Refuge, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, James Duwayne Von Loh

Biology ETDs

The San Andres Mountains are a unique range. Their narrowness and relatively small mass create environmental conditions that allow elements of the Chihuahuan Desert flora, Upper Sonoran Desert flora, and representatives of the southern Rocky Mountain flora to intermingle, forming an extremely diverse, mosaic pattern of dispersal. San Andres National Wildlife Refuge was studied floristically during the 1975 growing season. It is represented by 923 known species of vascular plants from four distinct topographical areas that span a 4000 to 8200 foot elevational range. The study resulted in 1422 collections from the San Andres Mountains. Specimens from the Refuge area …

The Germination Requirements Of Certain Species Of Arid Land Plants, David George Sabo

Biology ETDs

The species of shrubs and nine species of grasses were proposed as candidates for investigations for their germination parameters and suitability in stripmine recovery by the US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Species which were considered as possible candidates for stripmine recovery area: Artemisia frigida, estafiata; Artemisia tridentate, big sagebrush; Atriplex confertifolia, shadscale; Cercocarpus montanus, true mountain mahogany; Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. Biglovii and C. nauseousus ssp. Consimilis, rubber rabbit brush; Cowania stansburiana, cliffrose; Fallugia paradoxa, apache plume; Menodora scabra, rough menodora; Sarcobatus vermiculitus, greasewood; Sphaeralcea incana, globe mallow; Agropyron smithii, desert wheatgrass; Andropogon scoparius, little bluestem; …

A Floristic Analysis Of The Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge And The Ladron Mountains, G. Thomas Manthey

Biology ETDs

The Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge and Ladron Mountains of westcentral New Mexico were selected for a floristic inventory and analysis because of a lack of previous study in this unique area. A key and annotated checklist of the vascular flora of the study area were compiled. The 1140 taxa representing this floristically diverse area were documented by either (i) specimens in the University of New Mexico Herbarium or (ii) specimens collected during 1975 and 1976. Twelve floristic communities are recognized. These are based upon descriptive field notes, species lists from collection sites, and photographs taken during collection trips. The communities are …

Leaf Tissue Production In Relation To Succession In The Spruce-Fir Forests Of Northern New Mexico, Craig F. Eberhart

Biology ETDs

Leaf tissue production was studied to determine possible successional trends. The study area was in the spruce-fir zone of the southern Rocky Mountains 15 kilometers northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In this area quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a successional species that is slowly replaced by Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and corkbark fir (Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica) as succession proceeds towards the classical spruce-fir climax. Five study plots were subjectively selected to represent a successional sequence of forest stands with similar physical characteristics. The plots were arranged in a successional series by using the increase in coniferous basal area …

Effects Of Water Stress And Temperature-Photoperiod Preconditioning On Responses Of Atriplex Canescens (Pursh) Nutt. Seedlings To Drought, Barbara Gail Hjelle

Biology ETDs

Fourwing saltbush [Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.] seedlings were subjected to water stress treatments and temperature-photoperiod regulation to determine if these treatments might induce greater hardiness to subsequent drought stress. Seedlings ages 2, 4, and 8 weeks after emergence were allowed to wilt before rewatering or kept at minimum soil moisture stress. Seedlings aged 2 weeks after emergence were subjected to four regimes of hot and cold temperatures and long and short photoperiods in growth chambers. Treatments were applied for four weeks. Height, fresh weight and dry weight of shoots, and dry weight of roots were reduced by water stress and …

An Evaluation Of Reproductive Isolation And The Possibility Of Hybridization Between The Rattlesnakes Crotalus Atrox And Crotalus Scutulatus, James S. Jacob

Biology ETDs

The possibility that Crotalus atrox and C. scutulatus might hybridize in southeastern Arizona-southwestern New Mexico or in the Big Bend region of Texas was analyzed morphometrically and electrophoretically. Interbreeding of captive Crotalus, and intraspecific variation and interspecific overlap in key morphological characters has led to the incorrect assumption that these species hybridize. Even though they are syntopic primarily in an unstable desert-grassland ecotone where habitat differences are not evident, C. atrox and C. scutulatus are morphologically and biochemically distinct. The apparent lack of geographic, mechanical, and ecological premating isolating mechanisms in syntopic populations off C. atrox and C. scutulatus suggests …

Relation Of Flotation Analysis To Archeological Excavations, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, Mary B. Struever

Biology ETDs

Flotation analysis (the examination of small-scale botanical remains recovered by a simple water separation technique) was undertaken at site 29SJ627, a small pueblo in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Altogether 69 samples were examined, yielding 5208 seeds from approximately 30 plant taxa. All plant taxa encountered in flotation samples are growing in Chaco today, with the exception of the domesticates corn and squash, and the riparian Scirpus (bulrush). The assemblage of seed types recovered by flotation indicates that the prehistoric plant community was essentially similar to today's, with increased emphasis on arboreal and riparian species and that weedy types were more …

Relation Of Pollen Analysis To Archeological Excavations, Chaco Canyon, Anne C. Cully

Biology ETDs

This study was begun in the summer of 1975 at site 29SJ627, In Marcia's Rincon, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Dates of the occupation of the site were from ca. 800 A.D. to 1050 A.D. The primary purposes of the study were to identify pollen; investigate factors affecting variability, including temporal, functional, and spatial factors; investigate sampling techniques to obtain adequate representation of variability; comparison of pollen and flotation samples. A total of 83 samples were processed and 34 taxa were identified. Within site 29SJ627 a block of rooms was chosen for extensive sampling. Within the rooms a grid system was …

Laboratory Diagnosis Of Genital Infections Associated With Chlamydia Trachomatis: Cell Culture And Serological Methods, Linda L. Cole

Biology ETDs

Recent investigations have revealed the widespread involvement of Chlamydia trachomatis in nongonococcal genital infections in man. In an effort to develop the necessary methodology for isolating this agent, several different cell culture techniques were evaluated.

Additionally, a fluorescent antibody technique and neutralization test were developed for possible diagnostic use.

Quantitation of Chlamydia in cell culture was accomplished using inclusion counts which showed linear dose response curves. Inclusions were stained by the PAS, iodine, and Giemsa methods, and these stains were found to be equal in their sensitivity in detecting chlamydia inclusions. Using inclusion counts as a quantitative assay, a variety …

A Multivariate Study Of The Family Molossidae (Mammalia, Chiroptera): Morphology, Ecology, Evolution, Patricia Waring Freeman

Biology ETDs

The Molossidae is a worldwide, mostly tropical family of bats. This analysis examines what phenetically similar groups occur within the family; what ecological role species of molossids may have; and, finally, what kind of evolutionary relationships exist among phenetically similar species.

Seventy-six characters were taken on each of eighty species of molossids and analyzed by principal components, distance (size-in and size-out), and correlation analyses from the NT-SYS package of multivariate statistical programs. Phenetically similar bats are grouped and described morphologically. Morphological trends which are revealed by the principal components analysis are used to make ecological predictions about the bats' feeding …

Floristic Affinities Of Animas Mountain, Southwestern New Mexico, Warren L. Wagner

Biology ETDs

Animas Mountain of southwestern New Mexico was selected for a floristic inventory and analysis because of the lack of previous study in this unique portion of the Southwest.

An annotated checklist of the vascular flora of the study area was compiled. A species-rich flora represented by 718 taxa (ca. 20% of the known flora of New Mexico) was documented by either (i) herbarium specimens from the University of New Mexico, or New Mexico State University herbaria, or (ii) specimens collected during the 1975 and 1976 growing seasons.

Floristic assemblages were recognized based upon descriptive field notes, species lists from collection …

Community Structure Of Ten Southwestern Rodent Faunas, Terrence Morgan May

Biology ETDs

Thirty morphological characters were measured for each of 63 rodent species. All characters were standardized to a mean of zero (O) and standard deviation equal to one (1). From this assemblage, subsets were chosen to represent ten (10) naturally occurring rodent communities of New Mexico and Arizona. Numerical taxonomy techniques of distance, correlation and principal components analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results reveal three distinct community 'types'. The presence or absence of morphologically divergent species is responsible for these differences. The appearance of Castor canadensis (the most morpho-logically divergent species) is dependent upon the addition of a new …

A Study Of Bronchial Clearance In The Syrian Hamster Using Tantalum Bronchography, David Joseph Velasquez

Biology ETDs

A technique using simultaneous bilateral radiographic exposures of the bronchial tree of Syrian hamsters was used to examine clearance patterns of tantalum powder, an inert radiopaque substance. The tantalum powder, nominally 2.5 µm diameter particle size, was insufflated in small amounts ranging from 6 mg to 344 mg into the lungs of 10 animals. In most cases the major bronchi of the lungs were well outlined with tantalum initially, as were several medium and small bronchi. The clearance of the tantalum was noted by making simultaneous radiographic exposures from two directions at exponentially increasing time intervals. Exposures were begun within …

Studies On Atp-Dependent Co2 Fixation By Desulfovibrio Vulgaris, Maria Alvarez H.

Biology ETDs

Cell-free extracts and whole cell suspensions of Desulfovibrio vulgaris were employed to examine the fixation of ¹⁴CO₂ into acid stable material. Moderate levels of CO₂ fixation occured in the presence of ribulose-1,5-diphosphate, ribose-5-phosphate or pyruvate with only minimal levels of CO₂ fixation occuring with formate, malate, or succinate. The fixation of CO₂ in the presence of pyruvate was attributed to the pyruvate-CO₂ exchange reaction. This exchange reaction was dependent on the presence of an acidic protein fraction but was not stimulated by the additions of ATP to the reaction mixture. The fixation of CO …

The Effect Of Inhaled Plutonium-239 On The Pulmonary Clearance And Resistance To Infection In Mice Immunized Against Listeria Monocytogenes, Francis J. Wogenrich

Biology ETDs

With the expanding use of plutonium-239 (239Pu) as a nuclear reactor fuel and increased recycling of spent reactor fuel to recover 239Pu, the possibility of an accidental human exposure exists. Little information is available on the effects of inhaled 239Pu on immune mechanisms. This study was performed in order to examine the effects of 239Pu dioxide (239Pu02) inhalation on the ability of mice to be immunized against a bac­terial respiratory infection in which cell-mediated immunity is the primary mechanism of host resistance to infection. Groups of mice were exposed to 239Puo2 to achieve initial lung burdens (ILB) of 2.6 ± …

The Effects Of Tsh And Culture Conditions On Nucleic Acid Synthesis In Thyroid Cells In Vitro, David J. Orlicky

Biology ETDs

Cells enzymatically dispersed from ovine thyroid tissue were cultured in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with 8.33% Fetal Calf Serum and 8.33% Lamb Serum. Cultures were maintained in a humidified 37° C incubator having a 5% CO₂ - 95% air atmosphere. At 48 hours post isolation, cell culture medium was replaced and experiments begun. Altering the serum content (between 4.76 - 16.66%) of the nutrient medium had little effect upon either DNA content or ³H-thyrnidine incorporation into DNA. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) seemed to have a stablizing effect upon DNA content (between 0 and 7 days post TSH addition), and …

Cardiorespiratory Responses To Submaximal Exercise In Water, Karen Ann Carlberg

Biology ETDs

Maximal oxygen consumption is consistently lower when measured during swimming than during running or bicycling. A number of factors could contribute to this difference, including size of active muscle mass, body position, heat exchange mechanisms, breathing patterns and adjustments to water immersion.

In this study, the effects of water immersion on submaximal exer­cise were isolated by having subjects perform identical work in air and water. The exercise consisted of rowing on a rowing machine, with rate of movement controlled so that the subjects always worked at the same relative workload and oxygen consumption. To compare the physiological responses to exercise …

Respiratory Physiology Of The Scorpion Paruroctonus Aquilonalis, Wayne A. Riddle

Biology ETDs

The scorpion Paruroctonus aquilonalis (Stahnke) was studied to better understand the influence that six potentially important factors (size, sex, temperature, nutrition, season, and humidity) have on its respiratory metabolism. Respiratory rate: temperature relations of oxygen consumption from 5°C to 36°C, and standard metabolism estimates at 20°C and 25°C were employed. Respirometry was performed on both freshly collected mature and immature scorpions and on laboratory-maintained animals.

Inverse weight: metabolism relationships were noted for males and females above 24°C, but below 24°C live weight did not influence metabolic rate among females. For mature males positive weight: metabolism patterns were found below 24 …

Contribution Of The Electron Transport System To The Energetics Of Growth In Two Species Of Desulfovibrio, Burt D. Ensley

Biology ETDs

The growth of Desulfovibrio vulgaris and D. gigas on various electron donors and electron acceptors was measured in order to determine the influence of the donors and acceptors on energetics of growth. When using lactate, pyruvate, or formate as electron donors, and sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, or fumarate as electron acceptors, pyruvate-sulfate medium produced the most rapid growth, and intermediate levels of growth were observed on lactate­sulfate, with lowest levels on formate-sulfate. Both organisms grew best when sulfate was the electron acceptor regardless of electron donor. No growth occurred in cultures containing pyruvate and sulfite, and slight growth was observed in …

The Concentrations Of Ten Heavy Metals In Some Selected Lake Powell Game Fishes, Robert E. Bussey

Biology ETDs

Ten tissues from each of four species of fish-large­mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) from Lake Powell were analyzed and compared for the concentrations of ten heavy metals: Fe, Ca, Mg, Cu, Cr, Cd, Zn, As, Se, and Pb.

Samples were digested with nitric and perchloric acids, and analyses were performed by atomic absorption spectro­photometry. Concentrations were expressed on a dry weight basis for all tissues, and were not corrected for percent recovery.

As expected, high levels of iron were observed in the blood tissues, with low concentrations being observed …

A Comparison Of The In Vitro Phagocytic Activity Of Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes And Alveolar Macrophages From Man And Rabbits, Thomas S. Harrison

Biology ETDs

It has been thought for many years that the alveolar macrophage is the primary agent responsible for prevention or bacterial invasion or the lung. Numerous studies with Staphylococcus aureua, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli. Klebsiella, and Proteus have been cited to substantiate this statement. Together these organisms cause less than ten per cent of human bacterial pneumonias. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that the alveolar macrophage is capable of bacterial clearance with time. Sadly lacking ss evidence that alveolar macrophages readily phagocytose Streptococcus pneumoniae which are responsible tor greater than ninety percent of all bacterial pneumonias. The …

Macroinvertebrates And Diatoms On Submerged Bottom Substrates, Lake Powell, Ellen T. Louderbough

Biology ETDs

To collect and examine the organisms associated with newly inundated terrestrial vegetation in Lake Powell, small plastic Christmas trees were "planted" along a sloping sandy bottom at depths of 2, 3, 4.5, 6, 8, and 10 meters. For the 17 months from July, 1973, through October, 1974, the trees were harvested and replanted by scuba divers at 4- and 12-week intervals. The macroinvertebrate and diatom components of the periphytic community associated with each tree were collected and evaluated for number of individuals per unit area (density) and species composition. A diversity index was computed for the diatom portion of each …

Allografts And Xenografts Of Thyroid Gland Tissue And Cultured Thyroid Gland Cells Into Thyroidectomized Rats, Jerry Martin Katz

Biology ETDs

The most desirable way of treating endocrine deficiencies would be by the successful transplantation of functional endocrine tissue into the deficient animal. However, unless the donor and recipient are identical twins or from an inbred strain of animals, an immune response is usually elicited in the recipient by the foreign tissues leading to rejection of the transplant. Thyroid gland cells which have been enzymatically dispersed from thyroid tissue and cultured in vitro are capable of reforming functional thyroid tissue when implanted into animals of the same strain. The purpose of this work was to test the ability of cultured thyroid …

Effects Of Acute Dehydration, Heat Acclimatization And Physical Condition On Fluid Shifts Induced By Lower Body Negative Pressure, Michael Dyar Venters

Biology ETDs

This study was designed to analyze the effects of heat acclimatization, acute dehydration and physical conditioning on the fluid shifts induced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Ten male subjects, five trained runners and five non-runners, were subjected to LBNP before and after nine days of acclimatization to work in the heat and pre- and post-dehydration induced by heat and exercise. During each of the four LBNP runs the subjects were monitored for changes in blood volume and variances in the volume of the left forearm and lower leg at the calf. Each LBNP test consisted of five minute long …

Cardiorespiratory Function During Two Methods Of Lung Lavage And During Unilateral Hypoxia, Steven Allen Silbaugh

Biology ETDs

Therapeutic lung lavage is a procedure by which the interior of the lung of a living animal is “washed” with a suitable solution. Broncho­pulmonary lavage, a special type of lung lavage in which the bronchioles and alveoli are washed, is the major concern of this thesis. Broncho­pulmonary lavage was investigated in 1920 as a possible treatment for lungs damaged by irritant gases and in the late 1950‘s as a method of hemodialysis. Currently, it is effectively used for the treatment of patients with obstructive lung disease and for the removal of radioactive materials from the mammalian lung. Bronchopulmonary lavage interferes …

Vegetative Propagation Of Saltgrass Rhizomes, Kenneth A. Pavlicek

Biology ETDs

Saltgrass (Distichlis stricta) is a potential candidate for mine spoil-bank revegetation in New Mexico. Laboratory studies were conducted on the vegetative propagation of saltgrass from rhizomes. Optimum temperature for growth was 25 to 30 C. No clear relationship was found between the length of a rhizome section and its capacity to sprout vegetative material. In rhizome desiccation experiments, one-node segments lost water more quickly than did two-node sections. A marked reduction in rhizome sprouting was observed when moisture losses exceeded 35% of the initial fresh weight. Rhizome buds failed to demonstrate seasonal dormancy but were influenced by apical dominance. One­node …

Effect Of Hemozoin (A Malarial Pigment) On ⁵¹Cr Release From ⁵¹Cr-Labeled Rbc's, John E. Heidrich

Biology ETDs

The incubation of chromium (⁵¹Cr)-labeled red blood cells (RBC) at 37° C in 5% CO₂ in the presence of hemozoin, a malarial pigment, resulted in the release of ⁵¹Cr depending upon the species of Plasmodium (rodent or simian) from which the hemozoin was prepared. Hemozoin prepared from Plasmodium berghei caused specific release of 26% of the label from RBC of Lewis rats of age 4 months or older. No significant effect was seen in younger rats since the control RBC's released 55-65% of the label spontaneously. This same hemozoin preparation caused inhibition of release of the …

The Effects Of Hibernation On Memory In Myotis Velifer, Brian Thomas Snider

Biology ETDs

The effects of hibernation on learning ability and retention were studied in Myotis velifer, a small cave bat. Bats were maze trained using illumination intensity as visual discrimination and food as positive reinforcement. In experiment one, bats placed in a hibernaculum at 7 C for intervals of 4 or 10 days after learning had memory retention similar to control animals maintained at 31 C. In experiment two the effect of placing animals daily in a 7 C hibernaculum for 5-7 hr immediately after learning was studied. Animals hibernating daily showed significant decreases in the rate of learning. Experiment two procedure …

Corticosterone Levels And The Critical Period In Imprinting Behavior Of Domestic Chicks, Lorraine Feldman

Biology ETDs

The following research was undertaken to monitor a glucocorticoid corticosterone to determine whether or not a reduction in glucocorticoids occurs during the critical period of imprinting behavior. Two groups of domestic chicks (Schaffer white Leghorns) were incubated, hatched and maintained under brooding conditions prior to imprinting procedures. Chicks were first divided into seven age groups, four hour intervals, beginning at hatching. The critical period of imprinting behavior was established with Group I. Success of imprinting training in this group was tested 24 hours after the training sessions. The second group provided blood samples taken after imprinting training sessions; they were …