Biology Commons^™

The Water-Bath As A Tool In Evaluating Responses Of Small Mammals To Thermal Stress, John T. Yelverton

Biology ETDs

The rate of heat loss from an animal to the environment is dependent upon multiple factors. External or environmental factors include the temperature gradient between the animal end the environment, humidity, and air velocity. With a water-bath technique these variables are eliminated by keeping the skin temperature of the animal nearly equal to that of the water.

In this study Citellus lateralis vas the only animal able to endure hypothermic conditions (25 C water) in either swimming or confined states by increasing metabolic rate. It is apparent that Mesocricetus auratus and Dipodomys ordi are more dependent upon passive temperature regulation …

The Effects Of Cobalt-60 On A Desert Root System, Mary G. Mayes

Biology ETDs

Tribulus terrestris L. (T. terrestris) is a late summer annual inhabiting relatively dry areas of southwestern United States. In the more northern latitudes of the Southwest, seeds do not germinate until about the middle of July when both day and night temperatures are high and the seasonal rains have started. The vinelike plant grows prostrate with a prominent deep penetrating taproot and even-numbered, pinnately compound leaves. The leaflets vary from three to seven pairs, are oblong, entire, folding together along the leaf axis at night or in windy or unusually cool weather. The flowers are usually lemon yellow, solitary, and …

Modern Pollen Rain And Fossil Profiles, Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, James Edward King

Biology ETDs

The modern pollen rain from each forest association on the east slope of the Sandia Mountains, new Mexico was sampled by the means of byrophytic pollsters. These modern pollen spectra were then compared to the diagrams of four fossil pollen profiles collected at 10,000, 8,000, 8,100, and 7,300 feet. It was found that the modern pollen rain of Picea and Abies is limited to the association in which these taxa are found and that down-slope, wind-borne drifting of Picea pollen is less than 400 feet. Since the only Picea found in the Sandia Mountains grow in the spruce-fir association, the …

Plant Distribution Of The Sandia Mountains Area, New Mexico, James N. Naylor

Biology ETDs

The Sandia Mountains are a block-fault range which attained the present height and topography during the Pleistocene epoch. The mountains are located just east of the Rio Grande in north-central New Mexico between 35° 05' N and 35° 18' N and between 106° 22' W and 106° 30' W. The general climate of the area is arid continental but there is much variation between the climate at the foot of the mountains and the climate at the crest ridge. There are four U. S. Weather Bureau weather stations within the area and a comparison is made among the weather records …

Distribution And Ecology Of The Bats Of The Mogollon Mountains Area, Clyde Jones

Biology ETDs

The purpose of this investigation is to record information concerning distribution, ecology, and natural history, and to determine, if possible, the factor or group of factors that may influence distribution and activity of bats in the Mogollon Mountains area of southwestern New Mexico and extreme northwestern Arizona. A total of 1595 specimens of bats were collected on 101 occasions from 44 localities within the study area. Most of the specimens assembled for study were collapsed by mist nets placed over water tanks, over ponds and streams, or over entrances to mines and caves. A few specimens were shot. For nearly …

Geographic Variation In New Mexican Horned Larks, David M. Niles

Biology ETDs

Horned Larks, Eremophila alpestris, were collected from eight stations in New Mexico in order to investigate geographic variation in size of certain skeletal elements and in back coloration of males. Size of many mensural characters appears to increase clinically to the north; but, the effects of latitude (presumably an example of Bergmann’s Role) are often modified by local ecological conditions, notably altitude. Those characters not demonstrating this are, in general, disassociated from the main metabolic mass of the birds. Females seem more affected by the above than males. Back coloration was found to vary in much the same manner as …

Respiration Studies Of Rattus Rattus And Citellus Lateralis Brain Tissue Slices At 20 And 37 C, Sonja Hyduke

Biology ETDs

The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent of temperature and substrate dependence of brain tissue metabolism in hibernating animals. Possible cellular adaptations to low temperatures may indicate mechanisms possessed by the hibernator to maintain neural functions at low temperature. Oxygen consumption of brain tissue slices from homeothermic rats and active and hibernating ground squirrels (Citellus lateralis) was to describe the effect of temperature on rates of utilization of several substrates.

Comparative Ecology Of Three Species Of New Mexican Garter Snakes (Genus Thamnophis), Eugene D. Fleharty

Biology ETDs

The ecological literature states that closely related species that occur in the same ecological area undergo competition until one out-competes the other (or until each becomes restricted to a very specific niche). Darwin (1859) stated that species of the same or related genera which had nearly the same structure and habits undergo severe competition. More recently this view has been restated in what is known as "Gause's Law" (Gause 1934; Gilbert, Reynoldson, and Hobart 1952). Bagenal (1951) emphasized the difficulties in determining what is meant by the same habitat or the same community. Actually, as Bagenal (Ibid.) pointed out, because …

Measurement Of Cardiac Output In Man, At Rest And During Exercise, By An Indirect Fick Co2 Method, Orlando Thomas Garza

Biology ETDs

In the field of medical science it is necessary to understand the life processes; their normal levels, responses and mechanisms before interpretation of changes caused by disease or stress can be made with any degree of accuracy. This paper deals with a method of obtaining cardiac output values, and is not meant to be a discussion of the highly involved mechanics controlling the cardiac output., but a cursory review of these mechanics is warranted.

Ectoparasites Of Rabbits Collected In Grant County, New Mexico, Paul Henry Rodriguez

Biology ETDs

Nine obligate ectoparasites were taken from 28 Sylvilagus auduboni and 14 Lepus californicus collected in Grant County, New Mexico, from April 15, 1962, to December 24, 1962.

Cediopsylla inaeqaulis inaequalis and Hoplosyllus glacialis affinis, which may be important in the epidemiology of plague, were found to be primarily restricted to S. auduboni. Echidnophaga gallinacea, which is usually found on birds, Pulex irritans, and Meringis dipodomys, which is common on wild rodents, proved to be incidental ectoparasites of this species of rabbit. Thirteen H. glacialis affinis and five E. gallinacea were taken from six L. californicus.

The continental rabbit …

Some Aspects Of The Relationship Between Two North American Whiptail Lizards, John W. Wright

Biology ETDs

The present investigation was undertaken in an attempt to clarify further the taxonomic relationship between Cnemidophorus octolineatus (=C. inornatus) Baird and C. Velox Springer. At various times these two have been treated as species, subspecies, or synonyms, and have been re-described at one time or another as new species or subspecies.

Systematic Revisions Of The Genera Pseudoficimia, Gyalopion, And Ficimia (Serpentes: Colubridae)., Laurence M. Hardy

Biology ETDs

Originally, this systematic problem was concerned with the genera Ficimia Gray, Gyalopion Cope, fseudoficimia Bocourt, Conopsis Gunther, am Toluca Kennicott.

The five genera represent a problem that could include intergeneric studies of Ficimia, Gyalopion, and Pseudoficima on the one hand and Toluca and Conopsis on the other, interspecific studies of each genus, and, in some well-represented forms, intraspecific studies based on large samples from single localities.

Comparative Morphology Of The Two Species Of Grasshopper Mice, Genus Onychomys, In New Mexico, Gerald L. Traut

Biology ETDs

Inasmuch as individual specimens of the cricetid genus Onychomys Baird are frequently difficult to identify to species even using the commonly used key characters, a total of 376 grasshopper mice was examined to determine how and to what extent the two species, O. leucogaster and O. torridus, differ from each other in New Mexico.

To this end, 31 measurements (cranial, skeletal, and hair) and ratios were ascertained for each individual. The nearly 12,000 figures were summarized by constructing 161 modified Dice-Lerass diagrams.

Age And Growth Of The Rio Grande Mountain Sucker, Pantosteus Plebeius (Baird And Girard), Richard R. Raush

Biology ETDs

Seven hundred and forty-four specimens of the Rio Grande mountain sucker collected in Jemez Creek, a tributary in the Rio Grande system, were measured, sexed and aged. Both length-frequency and scale methods were used to determine the age of these specimens. The oldest males were six years of age, at which time averaged 134 mm in standard length. The oldest females were seven years of age, and average 159 mm in standard length. First spawning for both males and females occurred in the spring after they had completed three full years of life. The onset of senescence, expressed as a …

A Floristic Study Of The Basidiomycetes Of The Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, Horace R. Simms

Biology ETDs

The basidiomycete flora of the Sandia Mountains has never really been investigated before. At best this survey can serve only as a rather spotty general sketch of fungi in the area. But at least it is a beginning, and one which is not slanted just at the pathological aspects. It is my hope that such information as has been uncovered will help in future ecological and taxonomic investigations of the fungi of these mountains.

A Comparison Of Intestinal Protozoa Among Peromyscus And Other Small Rodents Of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Raymond C. Bowen

Biology ETDs

The purpose of this investigation is to study the intestinal protozoans in three species of deermice, Peromyscus boylei, F. leucopus, and P. maniculatus, and to compare the protozoans with those in several other small rodents found in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

Vegetation, Pollen Rain, And Pollen Preservation, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico, Hobart N. Dixon

Biology ETDs

In this investigation I shall attempt to relate pollen percentages of recent sediments to relative phytosociological measures of the vegetation in each of six southwestern vegetational types. The establishment of such relationships will enable more accurate reconstructions of past plant associations and climate from studies of pollen profiles

Age And Growth Of The Longfin Dace, Agosia Chrysogaster Girard, John Kristian Winther

Biology ETDs

This is the first study to determine the age and growth of the longfin dace, Agosia chrsogaster Girard. During March, June, and October, 1961, 8,568 dace were collected from the Mimbres, San Francisco River and one of the Mimbres River indicate that Agosia lives just over one year. Estimates of age based on the examination of scales from a stratified subsample of 255 fish appear to agree with length-frequency estimates. The position of a check near the outer margin of scales established the formation of a winter check in March. Two or more checks appear to be formed each year. …

An Annotated Checklist Of The Bats Of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Frances Veronica Sheppard

Biology ETDs

In 1960-61, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, was surveyed for bats. The purpose of this survey was to determine what kinds of bats occur in the county and to collect natural history data on these bats. Bats were obtained by cave and roost searching and by mist-netting and shooting over ponds, streams, and tanks. For all bats collected, standard museum study skins and skulls as well as alcoholic carcasses are preserved in the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico.

Rapid Identification Of Streptococcal Infections Using Fluorescent Antibody Techniques, James H. Meadows

Biology ETDs

The use of fluorescent microscopy coupled with immunological techniques offer new methods for the demonstration of antigen-antibody reactions. The adaptation of these techniques to grouping of beta hemolytic streptococci makes feasible their further adaptation toward identification of group A streptococci in clinical material. Commercially available labeled antibodies against group A beta hemolytic streptococci were obtained for use in this study. A method for the determination of labeled antisera specificity is proposed and a technique for absorbing out any heterologous reacting antibody is described. Using this commercial labeled antisera, subsequent to specificity studies plus absorption if necessary, adaptations of basic fluorescent …

The Flora Of Mount Taylor, Neal L. Osborn

Biology ETDs

The writer has attempted to determine what species occur on Mount Taylor. This information should reveal any deviations from the expected floristic pattern as well as general distributional trends. If deviations are detected, the writer will attempt to explain them in the general discussion. Most of the answers and conclusions are of a speculative nature because of insufficient meteorologic information and comparative data from other regions.

A Determination Of Stelar Patterns In Various Root Divisions Of Certain Angiosperms, Serafin Ramon

Biology ETDs

Root systems from ten species of desert angiosperms were collected and examined histologically to determine the xylem patterns of the primary, secondary, and tertiary roots. The plants used in the study were Cleome serrulata Push, Croton texenis (Klotzch) Muell. Arg., Franseria acanthicarpa (Hook.) Coville, Gutierrezia microphala (D.C.) Gray, Mentzelia albicaulis Dougl., Kochia scoparia (L.), Ratibida columnaris (Sims) D. Don, Salsola kali (S. pestifer A. Nels.), Tribulus terrestris L., and Berbana macdougalii Heller.

A Study Of Body Water In Active And Hibernating Ground Squirrels, Citellus Lateralis Lateralis And Citellus Spilosoma Marginatus, Lawrence R. Klinestiver

Biology ETDs

The present studies were designed to evaluate dehydration as a factor in determining duration of hibernation. Skin temperatures were utilized to indicate the condition of hibernation. Two species of animals, Citellus lateralis and Citellus spilosoma, from two different ecological areas, were studied for the purpose of determining whether tolerance for deprivation of water would indicate changes in water content of tissues during hibernation. If hibernation is limited by dehydration of body tissues, then animals with a greater tolerance for dehydration may hibernate for longer periods. The following experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of dehydration on active and …

Metabolic Rate And Body Weight Measurements Of Dipodomys Ordi And D. Merriami Under Various Stresses Of Dehydration, Nancy Rose Benally

Biology ETDs

It is of interest to investigate the possible effect of a new synthetic steroid, Aldactone, on the total body weight of the rodent Dipodomys. In addition, the present study includes the effect of dehydration and of high salt intake on the oxygen consumption of the Dipodomys, in a resting state.

Taxonomy And Ecology Of Fresh-Water Ostracods Of South-Central Texas, Charles Davidson Wise

Biology ETDs

The Ostracoda (Gk. ostrakon, a shell, and eidos, form) are extremely interesting crustaceans that differ from most crustaceans in possessing strongly calcified, bivalve carapaces, Ostracods occur in great abundance in all types of waters, both marine and non-marine. With the exception of very transient waters, probably as many as 90% or more of the bodies of fresh water in North America contain ostracods. Because the carapaces are easily fossilized, ostracods are abundant in deposits ranging from the Ordovician to the present.

The Hemodynamic Changes In Anesthetized Dogs Subjected To Hypoxia And Cold, Virden A. Dohner

Biology ETDs

The combined effects of hypoxia and cold no doubt were known by the ancients in the areas of the world where there are mountains of considerable height. But the ancients feared the mountains (6) and therefore have left no precise information which might incline one to believe they noted symptoms of physiological significance.

A Study Of The Mitotic Karyotypes Of Five Species Of Culicine Mosquitoes Found In New Mexico, David A. Laycock

Biology ETDs

Karyotypic studies were made of five species of mosquitoes: Culex tarsalis Coquillett, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say, Culiseta incidens (Thomson), Psorophora signipennis (Coquillett), and Aedes dorsalis (Meigen). Slides of tissue from the limb buds were prepared by the squash technique. All five species were found to have a diploid number of six. The study shows that Aedes dorsalis, Psorophora signipennis, and Culiseta incidens have virtually identical mitotic karyotypes, with two pairs of large and one pair of somewhat smaller chromosomes. Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens quinguefasciatus have karyotypes that contain three sizes of chromosomes. In Culex tarsalis there are obvious size …

A Comparative Study Of The Antidiuretic Hormone Bio-Assay Using Three Species Of Bufo, Jeanne Marie Jordan

Biology ETDs

This study was designed to (1) determine and compare the sensitivity of three species of Toads of the genus Bufo to the hormone Pitressin, a commercial anti-diuretic hormone, (2) determine and compare the suitability of three species of Bufo as subjects in anti-diuretic hormone bio-assay, and (3) compare the physiological responses of the three species to the injected hormone.

Influence Of Auxins On Growth And Development Of Excised Embryos Of Pinus Ponderosa, Virgil K. Howe

Biology ETDs

The purpose of the experiment was to examine the influences of selected auxins upon seedling development post germinal cultures of excised embryos of Pinus ponderosa Laws (ponderosa pine). Seedlings were studied on an agar medium and later in quartz sand with added nutrients.

Some Aspects Of The Life History Of The Silky Pocket Mouse In New Mexico, Richard B. Forbes

Biology ETDs

Pocket mice of the subgenus Perognathus, especially those of the little known species Perognathus flavus Baird, present several interesting ecologic and taxonomic problems. A prerequisite of studies of these problems is a knowledge of extent of individual morphological variation attributable to age. A purpose of his paper is to investigate the relationship of age to size, molt and pelage, reproductive activity, and season in the silky pocket mouse. Another purpose is to analyze the summer food habits of P. flavus as revealed by study of several large series of pocket mice collected during August of 1958.