Botany Commons^™

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 …

Comparing Yield Monitors With Weigh Wagons For On-Farm Corn Hybrid Evaluation, Bjorn P. Nelson, Roger Wesley Elmore, Andrew W. Lenssen

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

For many years, on-farm yield evaluations of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids were done with weigh wagons, handheld moisture testers, and measuring wheels. Today, most combines have continuous flow yield and moisture sensors. Published research results comparing the accuracy of combine-mounted sensor systems with that of weigh wagons are limited for on-farm corn hybrid evaluation. This study examined the accuracy of combine-mounted yield sensors with traditional weigh wagon methodology in on-farm corn hybrid strip trials. Data from combine-mounted sensors for plot weight, moisture percentage, and yield were compared with weigh wagon weight, handheld moisture testers, and calculated yield …

Fishing For A Sustainable Future: Aquaponics As A Method Of Food Production, Richard Ramsundar

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis compares and explains the advantages aquaponics farming has over modern industrial intensive farming. Through a comparison natural capital usage, conservation, recycling and cost, the thesis advocates for the expansion of aquaponics usage in urban settings. The thesis also explains the history of intensive farming and aquaponics in America, the science of how aquaponics operates, the economic and environmental costs of modern intensive farming versus aquaponics farming, and the social implications of aquaponics. Lastly, I propose a policy that reallocates farm subsidies by modifying the Farm Bill. Then I propose policies that support creating a new standard of farm …

E151 (Sym15), A Pleiotropic Mutant Of Pea (Pisum Sativum L.), Displays Low Nodule Number, Enhanced Mycorrhizae, Delayed Lateral Root Emergence, And High Root Cytokinin Levels, James M.C. Jones, Lindsey Clairmont, Emily S. Macdonald, Catherine A. Weiner, R.J. Neil Emery, Frédérique C. Guinel

Biology Faculty Publications

In legumes, the formation of rhizobial and mycorrhizal root symbioses is a highly regulated process which requires close communication between plant and microorganism. Plant mutants that have difficulties establishing symbioses are valuable tools for unravelling the mechanisms by which these symbioses are formed and regulated. Here E151, a mutant of Pisum sativum cv. Sparkle, was examined to characterize its root growth and symbiotic defects. The symbioses in terms of colonization intensity, functionality of micro-symbionts, and organ dominance were compared between the mutant and wild type. The endogenous cytokinin (CK) and abscisic acid (ABA) levels and the effect of the exogenous …

Environmental Data: Soil Moisture, Julia I. Chapman, Eric B. Borth, Ryan W. Mcewan

Data Files: Drew Woods Permanent Plots

Volumetric soil water content measured on May 2, 2015 at Drew Woods State Nature Preserve in Darke County, OH. Data key is provided in a supplemental file.

Herbaceous 2015, Julia I. Chapman, Margaret E. Maloney, Ryan W. Mcewan

Data Files: Drew Woods Permanent Plots

Herbaceous vegetation data collected in 2015 at Drew Woods State Nature Preserve in Darke County, OH. Data key is provided in a supplemental file.

Section Abstracts: Botany

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Botany Section for the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 21-23, 2015, James Madison University, Richmond, Virginia

Transcriptomic Insights Into The Morphological Variation Present In Bromeliaceae, Victoria A. Gilkison

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Bromeliaceae family utilizes a wide range of adaptations to inhabit a variety of environments including dry ones. Many attribute the large adaptive radiation of Bromeliaceae throughout the Neotropics to three main features: absorptive trichomes, tank reservoirs, and CAM photosynthesis. Based on leaf morphology and arrangement, root type, and nutrient acquisition, Pittendrigh (1948) conservatively separated bromeliads into four main classes. These four main classes are designated Type I bromeliads, Type II bromeliads, Type III bromeliads and Type IV bromeliads. We used RNA-sequencing of leaf mRNA to investigate similarities and differences in gene expression which can be related back to the …

Heterologous Expression Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Purple Acid Phosphatase Gene (Atpap15) In Crops For Phytoremediation Of Sites Contaminated With Excess Phosphorus, Jane Jeruto Bartonjo

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

AtPAP15 is one of the purple acid phosphatases expressed by Arabidopsis thaliana that has been extensively studied. Purified AtPAP15 has been shown to exhibit both phytase and phosphomonoesterase activities in acidic pH with maximal activity at pH 4.5. AtPAP15 is a phosphorus starvation inducible (PSI) gene that is expressed highly during phosphorus deficient conditions. In the current study, AtPAP15 was overexpressed in Nicotiana tabaccum under cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV35S) constitutive promoter. After PCR confirmation of the gene, plants were transferred to the greenhouse and allowed to grow in pots. The pots contained Sta-Green potting mix (Lowe’s Inc., Mooresville, North Carolina,U.S.). …

Nutrient Management For Growing Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale L.) In Nutrient Film And Deep Flow Hydroponics, Reetinder Gill

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research study was conducted to determine an optimal nutrient strategy for dandelion production in nutrient film technique (NFT) and deep flow technique (DFT) systems of hydroponics. It was achieved by growing dandelion at varying levels of nutrient solution concentration and pH in both NFT and DFT systems. Additionally, an optimal nutrient solution concentration and timing of application for dandelion seedling production was also determined.

A Microhabitat Assessment Of Five Species Of Invasive Plants In The Ozarks And Appalachians, Eric Hearth

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species present a threat to native communities and their introduction and expansion can alter community structure and dynamics. Multiple approaches can be employed for invasive species management including prevention and detection. In this study, microhabitat assessments were conducted on colonies of five species of invasive plants, Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande, Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don, Lonicera japonica Thunb., Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus, and Rosa multiflora Thunb. in the Ozark Plateau and Appalachians. Elevation, soil moisture, soil pH, light ratio, slope, aspect, distance to disturbance, as well as soil nutrient levels were recorded for each …

Phylogenetic Relationships Of Samydaceae And Taxonomic Revision Of The Species Of Casearia In South-Central Asia, Tharangamala Samarakoon

Dissertations

The flowering plant family Samydaceae was recently reinstated to include 14 genera and about 256 species of tropical trees and shrubs. Preliminary analyses of relationships in the family, however, indicated that the largest genus in the family, Casearia, is not monophyletic and that several smaller groups are probably misplaced. In order to affirm or refute those hypotheses, additional DNA sequence data with broader taxon sampling from the Old World were gathered for phylogenetic analysis. In particular, rapidly evolving plastid (matK, ndhF, psbA-trnH, trnL, and trnL-F) and nuclear (EMB2765 and GBSSI) DNA …

Species Delimitation And Phylogenetic Relationships Of The Wild Yams (Dioscorea) Native To Eastern North America, Tori A. Collins

Honors Theses

Most taxonomic treatments currently recognize two to three species of native yams in eastern North America: Dioscorea villosa, D. floridana, and sometimes D. quaternata, a segregate of D. villosa. Earlier authors (e.g., J. K. Small) had recognized as many as five species (with D. hirticaulis and D. glauca also as segregates of D. villosa). Key morphological features in distinguishing these putative species are rhizome morphology (long and cord-like vs. thick and contorted), number of first leaves (1–3 vs. 4–7), and habitat (sandy, rocky, swampy). Unfortunately, these critical features are rarely collected and preserved on herbarium …

Microsatellite Variations Of Elite Setaria Varieties Released During Last Six Decades In China, Guanqing Jia, Xiaotong Liu, James C. Schnable, Zhengang Niu, Chunfang Wang, Yuhui Li, Shujun Wang, Suying Wang, Jinrong Liu, Erhu Guo, Hui Zhi, Xianmin Diao

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Crop improvement is a multifaceted micro-evolutionary process, involving changes in breeding approaches, planting configurations and consumption preferences of human beings. Recent research has started to identify the specific genes or genomic regions correlate to improved agronomic traits, however, an apparent blank between the genetic structure of crop elite varieties and their improving histories in diverse modern breeding programs is still in existence. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) was one of the earliest cereal crops to be domesticated and served as a staple crop for early civilizations in China, where it is still widely grown today. In the present trial, …

Mapping Regional Inundation With Spaceborne L-Band Sar, Bruce Chapman, Kyle Macdonald, Masanobu Shimada, Ake Rosenqvist, Ronny Schroeder, Laura Hess

Publications and Research

Shortly after the launch of ALOS PALSAR L-band SAR by the Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA), a program to develop an Earth Science Data Record (ESDR) for inundated wetlands was funded by NASA. Using established methodologies, extensive multi-temporal L-band ALOS ScanSAR data acquired bi-monthly by the PALSAR instrument onboard ALOS were used to classify the inundation state for South America for delivery as a component of this Inundated Wetlands ESDR (IW-ESDR) and in collaboration with JAXA’s ALOS Kyoto and Carbon Initiative science programme. We describe these methodologies and the final classification of the inundation state, then compared this with results …

Preliminary Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Andean Clade And The Placement Of New Colombian Blueberries (Ericaceae, Vaccinieae), Paola Pedraza-Peñalosa, Nelson R. Salinas, Anne Lucy S. Virnig, Ward C. Wheeler

Publications and Research

The blueberry tribe Vaccinieae (Ericaceae) is particularly diverse in South America and underwent extensive radiation in Colombia where many endemics occur. Recent fi eldwork in Colombia has resulted in valuable additions to the phylogeny and as well in the discovery of morphologically noteworthy new species that need to be phylogenetically placed before being named. Th is is particularly important, as the monophyly of many of the studied genera have not been confi rmed. In order to advance our understanding of the relationships within neotropical Vaccinieae and advice the taxonomy of the new blueberry relatives, here we present the most comprehensive …

Acer Pensylvanicum L., Elisabet Ore

Specimens by Name

No abstract provided.

Comptonia Peregrina (L.) J.M. Coult., Elisabet Ore

Specimens by Name

No abstract provided.

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 …

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717): Pioneering Naturalist, Artist, And Inspiration For Catesby, Kay Etheridge, Florence F.J.M. Pieters

Biology Faculty Publications

Book Summary: While accessible to the interested general reader, it is a technical standard that is usable academically. Containing significant new information, this work is the most comprehensive and accurate book written about Catesby and is the legacy of the Catesby Commemorative Trust’s Mark Catesby Tercentennial symposium held in 2012.

Chapter Summary: Merian's books on European and Surinamese insects and plants provided new models for representing nature that were echoed in the work of artists and naturalists working in the eighteenth century and beyond. This chapter discusses how Mark Catesby, the subject of the book, was particularly influenced by Merian.