Botany Commons^™

North Shore: A Natural History Of Minnesota’S Superior Coast, Janet R. Keough

The Prairie Naturalist

Many readers of The Prairie Naturalist have lived along or visited Lake Superior’s coast. Like me, you have probably wondered about the geology and history of this beautiful and dramatic feature of northeastern Minnesota. Chel Anderson and Adelheid Fischer have written an accessible book that comprehensively describes the history and geology of the coast, surrounding highlands, and Lake Superior itself. In addition, the authors have provided fascinating subchapters on some of the most interesting species that are key elements of the region.

This rather large but beautiful book is arranged in five major chapters that cover the dominant geological units …

Distribution And Occurrence Of Bat Species In North Dakota, Josiah J. Nelson, Paul R. Barnhart, Erin H. Gillam

The Prairie Naturalist

Prior to 2009, a detailed survey of occurrence and distribution of bats in North Dakota had not been conducted. Localized surveys, occurrence reports, and museum specimens provided the only records of bats in the state. Ongoing habitat loss, exploitation of natural resources, and the impending spread of white-nose syndrome to the western United States are major threats to bat populations of the region. The objective of this study was to document presence and distributions of bat species resident in North Dakota. From 2009 to 2012, multiple mist-netting and acoustic surveys were conducted to document species presence across North Dakota. A …

Traversing Swanton Road, 21st Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over the past 140+ years, has not necessarily diminished the biodiversity and perhaps parallels the naturally disruptive but biologically energizing processes (fire, flooding, landslides and erosion), which have also been historically documented for the area for +60 years. This is an early edition of an extensive document by James A. West. Please visit the …

The Pioneer Of Santa Rosa Island, Andrea Martinez, Michael Perez, Kathryn Mceachern, Sarah Chaney, Ken Niessen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Santa Rosa Island which is part of the Channel Islands in California has a ranching history that goes as far back as the year 1843. While rich in history, the island is no longer “rich” in native plant populations due to the sheep, cattle and other livestock that once occupied the island. As a result of these grazers that the ranchers livelihood depended on, a great disturbance in the native plant population took place. It is up to plants such as Baccharis pilularis, commonly known as Coyote brush, to assist these endangered and threatened plants to once again flourish …

Traversing Swanton Road, 20th Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over the past 140+ years, has not necessarily diminished the biodiversity and perhaps parallels the naturally disruptive but biologically energizing processes (fire, flooding, landslides and erosion), which have also been historically documented for the area for +60 years. This is an early edition of an extensive document by James A. West. Please visit the …

Vascular Plants Of The Forest River Bi- Ology Station, North Dakota, Alexey Shipunov, Kathryn A. Yurkonis, John C. La Duke, Vera L. Facey

The Prairie Naturalist

During summer 2013 we completed a listing of the plant species of the joint University of North Dakota (UND) Forest River Biology Station and North Dakota Game and Fish Department Wildlife Management Area (FRBS).The FRBS is a 65 ha tract of land that encompasses the south half of the SW 1⁄4 of section 11 (acquired by UND in 1952) and the north half of the NW 1⁄4 of section 14 (acquired by UND in 1954) in Inkster Township (T154N, R55W). The two parcels are bisected by the Forest River, a tributary of the Red River of the North. The area …

Food Habits Of Fall-Collected Age-0 Walleyes In Eastern South Dakota Gla- Cial Lakes, Benjamin J. Schall, Matthew J. Phayvanh, Jeffrey D. Grote, Daniel J. Dembkowski, Melissa R. Wuellner

The Prairie Naturalist

Food habits of age-0 fishes can influence their growth and survival prior to the first winter (Hoxmeier et al. 2006, Shoup and Wahl 2011). Ontogenetic diet shifts in juvenile piscivorous fishes result in a transition in consumption from zooplankton to macroinvertebrates and eventually fish throughout development (Mittelbach and Persson 1998). Certain food items may be more energetically beneficial to fishes than others as consumption of prey fishes may lead to faster growth rates of predators, decreased overwinter starvation, avoidance of competition, and reduced predation risk (Werner and Gilliam 1984). By the time age-0 walleyes (Sander vitreus) have reached lengths of …

Improving Communication Through Writing, Christopher N. Jacques

The Prairie Naturalist

Greetings GPNSS members! By the time you read this editorial, most of us will be enjoying the summer vacation and all that the Great Plains has to offer. Warmer temperatures, increasing day length, and time in the field are a welcomed change from the seemingly endless grip of “old man” winter (for those of us in the northern Great Plains). Of course, believing that anyone could truly enjoy the clouds of tormenting, biting insects and high humidity across the Great Plains is hard to imagine, in my opinion. There are plenty of summer activities for the outdoor enthusiasts among us, …

Bot Fly Infestation Of Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels In Colorado Shortgrass Steppe, Kim Conway, Paul Stapp

The Prairie Naturalist

We studied prevalence of bot fly infestation of thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) trapped during 13 years of population monitoring in shrub and grassland habitats in northern Colorado. We also investigated effects of prescribed burning, a common habitat management practice in grasslands, on bot fly prevalence. Infested squirrels were rarely located on shrub sites and during spring (May–Jun) trapping. Across all summers, mean prevalence in grasslands was 7.9% (range: 2.1–23.8%), with years of highest prevalence corresponding to years when the fewest hosts were captured in spring. Infested squirrels had from one to seven warbles, with 46.7% having only one warble. …

Habitat-Related Differences In Necroph- Ilous Species Composition: Implications For Resource Competition, Adrienne L. Conley, Elisabeth K. Jorde, Rachel E. Jorde, Lauren K. Yares, Kenzie K. Lee, Carrie L. Hall, Daniel R. Howard

The Prairie Naturalist

Competition for resources is one of the most important selective factors influencing the expression of life history traits in both plants and animals (Darwin 1859). In grasslands, competition for resources such as nutrients, water, and space often is constrained by stochastic processes (Axelrod 1985). Disturbance factors such as fire, grazing by large herbivores, and fluctuating climatic conditions tend to alter the structure and magnitude of competition for limited resources among grassland communities more frequently than in other ecosystems (Snaydon 1987, van der Maarel 1993). Vertebrate carrion is one important resource used by both plants and animals in grasslands, providing a …

Comparison Of Two Trap Net Designs For Sampling Muskellunge, Brian G. Blackwell, Todd M. Kaufman, Tyrel S. Moos, David O. Lucchesi

The Prairie Naturalist

Sampling adequate numbers of muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is necessary to evaluate stocking success and to collect information on various population metrics (e.g., growth, condition, relative abundance). However, muskellunge are often difficult to sample with standard fish sampling gears. We collected muskellunge in trap nets of two different designs (large trap nets [1.5-m × 1.8-m frames, 1.5-m diameter hoops, double throated, single 1.5-m × 30.5-m lead and 19-mm knotless mesh] and small trap nets [0.9-m × 1.5-m frames, 0.9-m diameter hoops, single throat, single 0.9-m × 15.2-m lead and 19-mm knotted mesh]. We also estimated abundance of muskellunge (>600 mm …

Notes: Are Land-Use Changes Reflected In Diets Of Mourning Doves (Zenaida Macroura) In Eastern South Dakota, Joshua B. Smith, Troy W. Grovenburg, Matthew A. Perrion, Jason M. Augspurger, Trevor W. Bultje, Anna M. Robinson, Brandi L. Crider, Datta Shubham, Jonathan A. Jenks

The Prairie Naturalist

Food habits of the mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) have been extensively studied in the southern United States (McClure 1943, Korschgen 1958, Carpenter 1971) and consist primarily of vegetable matter throughout their range (Beckwith 1959). Diet studies in several states have indicated agricultural crops, specifically corn and wheat, were the most readily consumed plant seeds (Korshgen 1958, Carpenter 1971). Similarities observed in diets of doves were dependent on the agricultural crops available within the area. For example, in Missouri, some seasonal variability was documented suggesting doves forage based on food availability as much as by food preference (Korschgen 1958). However, in …

Inter- And Intra-Specific Interactions In Germination And Seedling Establishment Of Cheatgrass And Russian Wildrye, Erin K. Espeland

The Prairie Naturalist

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive species in the arid and semi-arid west of the USA, and is weedy in disturbed prairie landscapes. Perennial Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea) limits population growth of cheatgrass, but the mechanism is unclear. I conducted glasshouse and greenhouse experiments to test if intra- and interspecific competitive interactions of seeds and seedlings of cheatgrass and Russian wildrye were different across a geographic soil gradient with different cultivation legacies in eastern Montana, USA. Seed-seed interactions occurred in both species. Cheatgrass and Russian wildrye inhibited one another’s emergence in one edaphic condition in one experiment. Cheatgrass growth was …

West Nile Virus And Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo Regalis) In The Northern Great Plains, Shubham Datta, Jonathan A. Jenks, David E. Knudsen, Kent C. Jensen, Will M. Inselman, Christopher C. Swanson, Troy W. Grovenburg

The Prairie Naturalist

Emerging infectious diseases (EID) present significant threats to the conservation of global biodiversity (Daszak et al. 2000). Evaluating impacts (spatial, temporal and demographic) of EIDs on sensitive and declining wildlife populations is challenging because quantitative information is usually dependent on estimates rather than counts (Wobeser 2007) and mortality rates are seldom quantified with conventional monitoring (Naugle et al. 2005).

West Nile virus (WNv), a mosquito-borne Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae; Komar 2001), was discovered in northwest Uganda in 1937 (Smithburn et al. 1940). First encountered in the western hemisphere in New York in 1999 (Nash et al. 2001), WNv has become enzootic …

Using Otolith Microchemistry To Classify Yellow Perch As Stocked Or Naturally Produced, Andrew K. Carlson, Matthew J. Ward, Brian D.S Graeb

The Prairie Naturalist

Fisheries managers routinely use stocking to supplement fish populations (Schramm and Piper 1995, Fisher 1996). Stocking eyed-eggs offers substantial cost savings compared to stocking fry and fingerlings (PFBC 2011); however, traditional stocking evaluation using oxytetracycline (OTC) marking of otoliths is ineffective for eyed-eggs of some species (e.g., yellow perch, [Perca fla- vescens]). Thus, there is a need for additional approaches to be able to classify fish as stocked or naturally produced. Fish otoliths are paired calcified structures in the inner ear that permanently deposit trace elements in proportion to water column concentrations (Campana 1999, Campana et al. 2000). Coupled with …

Traversing Swanton Road, 19th Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over the past 140+ years, has not necessarily diminished the biodiversity and perhaps parallels the naturally disruptive but biologically energizing processes (fire, flooding, landslides and erosion), which have also been historically documented for the area for +60 years. This is an early edition of an extensive document by James A. West. Please visit the …

Traversing Swanton Road, 18th Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over the past 140+ years, has not necessarily diminished the biodiversity and perhaps parallels the naturally disruptive but biologically energizing processes (fire, flooding, landslides and erosion), which have also been historically documented for the area for +60 years. This is an early edition of an extensive document by James A. West. Please visit the …

Historical Common Names Of Great Plains Plants, With Scientific Names Index. Volume Ii: Scientific Names Index, Elaine Nowick

Zea E-Books Collection

Containing thousands of entries of both vernacular and scientific names of Great Plains plants, the literature that informs this exhaustive listing spans nearly 300 years. Author Elaine Nowick has drawn from sources as diverse as Linnaeus, Lewis and Clark, and local university extension publications to compile the gamut of practical, and often fanciful, common plant names used over the years. Each common name is accompanied by a definitive scientific name with references and authority information. Interspersed with scientifically-correct botanical line drawings, the entries are written in standard ICBN format, making this a useful volume for scholars as well as lay …

Tallgrass Prairie Vegetation Response To Spring Fires And Bison Grazing, Stephen L. Winter, Brady W. Allred, Karen R. Hickman, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Spring fires in tallgrass prairie can create environmental conditions conducive to plant growth in the subsequent growing season. Following fires, burned areas can also be attractive to grazing animals such as bison (Bison bison). Sustained grazing activity within recently burned areas can alter vegetation structure relative to nearby landscape patches that haven’t burned recently. In 2007, we collected data on bison grazing activity, vegetation structure, and the growth and reproduction of a perennial forb, Arnoglossum plantagineum, in Oklahoma tallgrass prairie. We compared these variables in landscape patches that had burned in the spring of 2007 to measurements …

Lineage Sorting In Multihost Parasites: Eidmanniella Albescens And Fregatiella Aurifasciata On Seabirds From The Galapagos Islands, Jose Rivera-Parra, Iris Levin, Kevin Johnson, Patricia Parker

Biology Department Faculty Works

Parasites comprise a significant percentage of the biodiversity of the planet and are useful systems to test evolutionary and ecological hypotheses. In this study, we analyze the effect of host species identity and the immediate local species assemblage within mixed species colonies of nesting seabirds on patterns of genetic clustering within two species of multihost ectoparasitic lice. We use three genetic markers (one mitochondrial, COI, and two nuclear, EF1‐α and wingless) and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees to test whether (1) parasites show lineage sorting based on their host species; and (2) switching of lineages to the alternate host species depends …

Riqueza De Helmintos Parásitos De Vertebrados Silvestres Del Estado De Hidalgo, México, Jorge Falcón-Ordaz, Scott Monks, Griselda Pulido-Flores, Luis García-Prieto, Georgina Lira-Guerrero

Estudios en Biodiversidad

La diversidad de helmintos parásitos de vertebrados del estado de Hidalgo, en México es poco conocida, a pesar de que su estudio se inició desde 1937. Asimismo, mucha de la información generada se ha publicado de manera dispersa, lo que dificulta aún más el establecer con precisión los valores actuales. Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la riqueza de la fauna helmintológica asociada a vertebrados silvestres de Hidalgo. Para alcanzar dicho objetivo, se realizaron tres acciones: 1) recopilación bibliográfica retrospectiva de información; 2) consulta al acervo de diversas colecciones científicas nacionales e internacionales, e 3) incorporación de …

Calidad Del Agua En La Subcuenca Fluvial La Garita, Acapulco, Guerrero Por Monitoreo Con Insectos, Ana Yolanda Rosas-Acevedo, Audel Sánchez-Infante, José Luis Rosas-Acevedo

Estudios en Biodiversidad

La subcuenca La Garita (Región Hidrológica: Rh19Ac) ha sufrido la influencia del hombre, presenta escorrentía y momentos de estiaje, además de puntos aislados de contaminación por basura y descargas. Se realizó un monitoreo de insectos. Se exploró la posibilidad del uso del índice BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party), para arroyos y ríos, en la determinación de la calidad del agua y del ecosistema. En la parte alta o cabecera (BMWP=122) correspondió a excelente (ecosistema no impactado), en la zona media o de transferencia (BMWP-CR=118) fue buena (ecosistema no alterado de manera sensible) y en la parte baja o zona de …

Problemática De Contaminación En La Zona Agrícola De La Reserva De La Biosfera Barranca De Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México, Maritza López-Herrera, Leticia Romero-Bautista, Nahara Ayala-Sánchez, Irma E. Soria-Mercado, Amelia Portillo-López

Estudios en Biodiversidad

El presente trabajo se generó con el objetivo de dar a conocer la problemática que existe actualmente en una zona agrícola de gran importancia en el estado de Hidalgo, la “Vega de Metztitlán”, zona que forma parte de la Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán, sitio declarado como reserva federal. El aporte de agua residual que se hace a través de los acuíferos que irrigan a la zona, ha generado que este sitio se vea expuesto a un gran riesgo de contaminación por metales pesados, hidrocarburos y demás contaminantes, los cuáles quedan biodisponibles para las plantas e indirectamente existe …

Los Hongos Poliporoides De La Subcuenca Del Río Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México, Leticia Romero-Bautista, Miguel Ángel Islas-Santillán, Maritza López-Herrera, Nahara Ayala-Sánchez, Irma Estela Soria-Mercado, Amelia Portillo-López, Tania Raymundo-Ojeda, Ricardo Valenzuela-Garza

Estudios en Biodiversidad

Los hongos poliporoides son excelentes descomponedores de la madera, aunque también hay ectomicorrizógenos; su importancia ecológica radica en que ayudan a mantener el equilibrio del ciclo del carbono en la naturaleza. Además presentan potencial biotecnológico dadas sus características nutrimentales, medicinales y degradadoras, por su capacidad de producir metabolitos secundarios y ser potencialmente cultivables. Se analiza la importancia del impacto ambiental en los ecosistemas de la subcuenca del río Metztitlán y la diversidad de este grupo de hongos asociados a ellos. Se revisaron ejemplares de herbario y se realizaron exploraciones micológicas en 13 comunidades vegetales de 11 municipios, y 37 localidades …

Indicadores Bióticos De Calidad Ambiental Del Sur Del Estado De Tamaulipas, México. Caso De Estudio: Aves, René Bernardo Elías Cabrera-Cruz, Marco Antonio González-González, Julio César Rolón-Aguilar, Juan Carlos Gaytán-Oyarzún

Estudios en Biodiversidad

Este trabajo plantea una evaluación de prioridad biológica para la conservación de aves en la región sur de Tamaulipas, México. La metodología empleada fue la técnica Evaluación Rápida de Prioridad Biológica (ERPBIO). Esta permite determinar las principales zonas y grupos a conservar en flora y fauna para amplias zonas de estudio de manera rápida y precisa. La región sur de Tamaulipas comprende los municipios de Aldama, Altamira, Ciudad Madero, González y Tampico, con una superficie total de 8,969.05 km2. Dentro de los resultados obtenidos se elaboró una base de datos por municipio, encontrando una amplia cantidad de estudios con un …

La Biodiversidad De Los Hongos Ectomicorrízicos Y Su Importancia Para La Conservación Del Bosque En La Zona Poblana Del Parque Nacional Malintzi, Marco Antonio Marín-Castro, Virginia Silva-Díaz, Gladys Linares-Fleites, Ana María Castagnino, José Antonio Ticante-Roldán

Estudios en Biodiversidad

El Parque Nacional Malintzi comprende una superficie de 45,852 hectáreas, de las cuales corresponden 14,544 al estado de Puebla. El deterioro a su riqueza forestal tiene sus inicios desde la época colonial y hasta nuestros días la presión sobre los recursos de este parque nacional aumenta debido a que los pobladores de la zona, tradicionalmente ven en la montaña su fuente de sustento mediante la agricultura y la extracción de madera, que aunadas a la tala clandestina inmoderada, han influido drásticamente en la pérdida de biodiversidad y cambio de uso del suelo. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron describir la …

Los Hongos Agaricales De Las Áreas De Encino Del Estado De Baja California, México, Nahara Ayala-Sánchez, Irma E. Soria-Mercado, Leticia Romero-Bautista, Maritza López-Herrera, Roxana Rico-Mora, Amelia Portillo-López

Estudios en Biodiversidad

Se realizó una recopilación de las especies de hongos del orden Agaricales (regionalmente conocido como “agaricoides”) de los bosques Quercus spp. de la península de Baja California (México), con la pretensión de contar con un panorama de la diversidad de este grupo taxonómico en el área, su distribución y dinámica dentro de estos ecosistemas y el papel ecológico de cada una de las especies citadas. Para la realización del presente estudio se reunió la información obtenida de las especies recolectadas de las diferentes localidades de las áreas de encino del estado de Baja California desde 1996 hasta el presente, ejemplares …

Los Agaves Mezcaleros Del Altiplano Potosino Y Zacatecano, Edgar León Esparza-Ibarra, Juan Violante-González, Scott Monks, Jorge Cadena Iñiguez, Cuauhtémoc Araujo-Andrade, Erich Dietmar Rössel-Kipping

Estudios en Biodiversidad

En el Altiplano Potosino y Zacatecano, los agaves mezcaleros son un componente socioeconómico importante ya que se pueden aprovechar desde el punto de vista económico, ya que tiene valor en el mercado para la producción de bebidas espirituosas como el mezcal; social, ya que su producción y modo de empleo genera jornales disminuyendo la migración; en la salud, por la producción de aguamiel, jarabes e inulinas como complemento nutricional; científico, por los aportes al conocimiento en la variación biológica de los agaves; debido a la diversidad y su plasticidad para enfrentar temperaturas extremas y sequías prolongadas, entre otros. Es por …

El Arbolado De Los Espacios Públicos Abiertos De La Zona De Monumentos Del Centro Histórico De La Ciudad De Puebla, Víctor Gutiérrez-Pacheco, Sonia Emilia Silva-Gómez, José Silvestre Toxtle-Tlamani, J. Santos Hernández-Zepeda

Estudios en Biodiversidad

Los conglomerados humanos, presentan espacios públicos abiertos (EPA´s), sobre todo arbolados, con funciones estéticas, sociales y ambientales. Se requiere información e indicadores con un enfoque ecológico, para que su atención descanse sobre una planeación documentada. Así, se pretende conocer la composición arbórea, su distribución y la biodiversidad en los Espacios Públicos Abiertos (EPA´s) de la Zona de Monumentos del Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de Puebla (ZMCHP). Por tanto, se contaron los especímenes, se ubicaron en los EPA´s y se identificaron. Para determinar la biodiversidad se aplicó el Índice de Diversidad de Shannon-Wiener (H´). En 25 EPA´s, se censaron 1,120 …

Presencia De Metales Pesados En La Reserva De La Biosfera Barranca De Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México, Irving Giovanny González-Salazar, Maritza López-Herrera, Scott Monks, Griselda Pulido-Flores

Estudios en Biodiversidad

La Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán es un área natural protegida por la gran diversidad de flora y fauna existente en la misma. La zona es atravesada por un río de gran longitud que se extiende desde el municipio de Tulancingo hasta su desembocadura en la Laguna de Metztitlán, en la zona núcleo de la reserva. A lo largo del cauce del río se ubican algunos asentamientos humanos y zonas industriales, que vierten aguas residuales domésticas e industriales. Además, el agua del río es un recurso natural utilizado como agua de riego para las zonas agrícolas, que con …