Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies最新文献

{"title":"Molecular and Morphological Variation among Populations of\u0000Pediomelum tenuiflorum (Pursh) A.N. Egan (Fabaceae) in\u0000Nebraska, USA","authors":"C. Kellar, P. R. Kellar","doi":"10.32873/UNL.DC.TNAS.39.17","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32873/UNL.DC.TNAS.39.17","url":null,"abstract":"Individuals of Pediomelum tenuiflorum, “wild alfalfa”, from disjunct populations in Nebraska vary extensively in their overall gestalt.\u0000Those in the western and central part of the state have a very slender growth habit, with thin stems and few, small flowers; whereas,\u0000those in the southeast have a very robust growth habit with heavy-looking stems and many tightly clustered flowers. For nearly 200\u0000years, taxonomists have alternated between splitting P. tenuiflorum into two species, with the many-flowered morphotype named\u0000P. floribundum, and lumping all the morphological variants into one species as they are now. In this study, we investigated morphological\u0000and molecular characters that could be used to clarify taxonomic classifications of these morphotypes. We measured 10\u0000morphological characters on 51 specimens and sequenced nearly 300,000 nucleotide characters on the Illumina platform from three\u0000cellular genomes in seven samples of Pediomelum plus an outgroup taxon. Results revealed six significantly different morphological\u0000characters but ambiguous evolutionary histories of the plastid and mitochondrial genomes in P. tenuiflorum. Our complete plastid\u0000genomes and genes and noncoding regions of the mitochondrial genome may be used as a foundation for studying the evolutionary\u0000histories of these genomes. Additionally, we identified seven highly variable genomic regions in the chloroplast genome upon\u0000which a molecular phylogenetic investigation on an expanded set of samples from across the species’ geographic distribution can\u0000be conducted to further define the taxonomic placements of P. tenuiflorum and P. floribundum.","PeriodicalId":91981,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42439516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Status of the Plains Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys montanus griseus) in eastern Nebraska","authors":"Keith Geluso, Greg D. Wright","doi":"10.32873/unl.dc.tnas.39.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32873/unl.dc.tnas.39.10","url":null,"abstract":"In eastern Nebraska, current status of the Plains Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys montanus griseus) is not well understood. Infrequent captures during the last century have led to a paucity of information regarding this taxon, and some researchers postulate that its distribution has contracted in the state. In 2008, we conducted a field survey for R. m. griseus in eastern Nebraska, amassed prior specimen records, and examined most of the specimens for this subspecies from the state to better understand its distribution, natural history, and subspecific status. In our field efforts, we only captured a single individual despite > 8,000 trap nights in suitable habitats. Our literature review and queries for vouchers yielded 20 specimens of R. m. griseus from eastern Nebraska, based on published distributional limits for this subspecies. In eastern Nebraska, R. m. griseus has been captured in tallgrass prairies, short-grass upland pastures, roadside ditches, and open areas associated with salt flats. Observations across eastern Nebraska in the last 40 years demonstrate that this taxon still exists across the entire region and has been captured more frequently in cooler months. We suspect that some combination of low abundance, trap shyness, and trapping biases towards heavily vegetated habitats and warm seasons likely has led to infrequent captures of R. m. griseus in eastern Nebraska. After examination of many museum specimens of this species from across Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, we questioned the delineations in distribution for the two subspecies in the region. On the basis of dorsal gray fur coloration, R. m. albescens appears limited to the Sandhill and Panhandle regions of Nebraska, whereas all of eastern and southern Nebraska as well as Kansas and western Missouri represent R. m. griseus, a subspecies with brown dorsal fur coloration. Based on our proposed distributional changes for these two subspecies in Nebraska, we do not find that either subspecies requires conservation efforts. Reithrodontomys montanus griseus likely will persist at low densities throughout eastern Nebraska in appropriate habitats and persist at higher densities farther westward in southern parts of the state. Reithrodontomys montanus albescens always has been more common in the Sandhill Region of Nebraska, as individuals still are observed and captured with regularity.","PeriodicalId":91981,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42694445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population Characteristics of Co-Managed White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass in Lake McConaughy, Nebraska","authors":"B. J. Schall, C. Schoenebeck, K. Koupal","doi":"10.32873/unl.dc.tnas.39.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32873/unl.dc.tnas.39.1","url":null,"abstract":"White Bass (Morone chrysops) and Hybrid Striped Bass (M. saxatillis × M. chrysops) populations often coexist in the same waterbody and are known to achieve different lengths, have differing reproductive success, and provide different opportunities for anglers. However, comparative population dynamics from systems where Moronids are managed with the same regulation is often lacking. This study aimed to assess the recruitment, mortality, and growth of these species from seasonal samples collected at Lake McConaughy in 2015 and fall 2016. White Bass demonstrated highly variable recruitment in Lake McConaughy despite stocking efforts (mean recruitment variability index = 0.157). Hybrid Striped Bass year class strength was also variable, but RVI was not calculated as the number of missing year classes exceed the number of present year classes. Total annual mortality estimates for Hybrid Striped Bass (39.7%) and White Bass (41.4%) were consistent with values reported in other populations, but both species were observed to achieve uncommon longevity. Both species exhibited sexual size dimorphism, and growth was moderate and consistent with average values presented for North American populations. This study provides insight into the population dynamics of two species with trophy potential managed by the same regulation in Lake McConaughy. Differences in growth patterns indicate the current regulation affects each species differently, and managers may be able to utilize this to inform decisions about management of coexisting Moronid populations.","PeriodicalId":91981,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69432604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial analysis of borrow pits along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska, USA, in 1957 and 2016","authors":"N. Pauley, M. Harner, E. Buckley, P. Burger, Keith Geluso","doi":"10.13014/K29021ZK","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13014/K29021ZK","url":null,"abstract":": The Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) of Nebraska provides critical habitat for wildlife, while serving agricultural, indus trial, and other human uses. Mining of sand and gravel from the floodplain of the Platte River has supported construction of roads and other uses, and this extraction has created many borrow-pit ponds, lakes, and other small bodies of standing water (hereafter borrow-pits), further transforming riparian and prairie habitats. The objective of this study was to compare the abundance, size, and distribution of borrow pits before construction of Interstate 80 (1957) and at present (2016) from Lexington to Chapman, Nebraska, a length of river spanning about 146 km (90 mi) and sometimes referred to as the Big Bend Reach. Orthorectified aerial imagery of the Platte River was obtained for years 1957 and 2016, and we digitized the standing bodies of water within the floodplain in Arc -GIS. Total numbers of borrow pits and measures of pit shape were calculated and compared between floodplain regions where im agery overlapped. From 1957 to 2016, the number of borrow pits increased from 300 to 786, total area occupied by pits expanded by 538%, and total shoreline of pits increased by 261%. In 2016, aerial imagery was available for a larger extent of the floodplain and contained a total of 1,062 borrow pits covering 16 km 2 (6 mi 2 ), with a total shoreline of 581 km (361 mi). For context, the Platte River channels’ approximate area was 45 km 2 (17 mi 2 ) and shoreline 1,582 km (983 mi) between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska, in 2016. Results provide insight into historical and current presence, distribution, and shape of borrow pits along the Platte River, as well as serve as a reference point for future studies investigating regional landscape change and ecological effects of creating hun dreds of borrow pits on the floodplain.","PeriodicalId":91981,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47897623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small mammals in cornfields and associated peripheral habitats in central Nebraska","authors":"Tyson J. Spanel, Keith Geluso","doi":"10.13014/k21j97zr","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13014/k21j97zr","url":null,"abstract":"In the Great Plains, many native grasslands have been converted to agricultural fields during the last two centuries. Peripheral habi tats along edges of crop fields generally consist of linear habitats along roads, with many of these habitats used by native fauna. Our study examined capture rates and species composition of small mammals in cornfields, herbaceous roadside ditches, and wooded shelterbelts in central Nebraska. We captured nine species of small mammals. The Prairie Vole ( Microtus ochrogaster ) and Western Harvest Mouse ( Reithrodontomys megalotis ) were captured almost exclusively in roadside ditches, the White-footed Deermouse ( Peromyscus leucopus ) was captured most often in wooded shelterbelts, and the North American Deermouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus ) was common to abundant in all three habitats. Capture rates of small mammals were greatest in roadside ditches and least in cornfields. Herbaceous roadside ditches contained the greatest species richness with seven species, whereas shelterbelts and corn fields each had five species. Species composition of rodents differed in shelterbelts comprised solely of eastern red-cedars ( Juniperus virginiana ) compared to those with a mixture deciduous and coniferous trees. Our study demonstrated that roadside ditches asso ciated with agricultural fields serve as habitats for many prairie species whereas wooded shelterbelts along agricultural fields sup port both woodland and prairie species in central Nebraska. Cornfields mainly were inhabited by North American Deermice but did not support many other species of small mammals. Although agricultural practices have reduced the quantity of grasslands for prairie species across the region, habitats associated with periphery of fields appear to serve as alternative habitats for small mam mals throughout the Great Plains.","PeriodicalId":91981,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43029755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can Lactate Dehydrogenase be used to Index Anaerobic Activity in Fishes?","authors":"C. Schoenebeck, Erik Prenosil, Brianna Pallas, A. Abrams, K. A. Carlson","doi":"10.13014/k21r6nqh","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13014/k21r6nqh","url":null,"abstract":"Anaerobic activities such as those associated with spawning, foraging for prey, and predator avoidance are difficult to quantify in wild fish. This study experimentally evaluated if the muscle enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can be used to index recent anaerobic activity in fish by testing the hypothesis that muscle LDH activity will be greater in exercised fish than in rested fish. We used burst swimming motions in a swim tunnel to elicit anaerobic metabolism in a 5 day anaerobic exercise treatment (n = 30) and a rested control group (n = 30). On average the exercised fish produced significantly more LDH in their muscle tissue (average = 19.5 IU/ug, SE = 1.8, F = 12.88, df = 2, 57, P < 0.001) due to the increased anaerobic activity than rested fish (average = 13.4 IU/ug, SE = 0.9). However, large individual variability in LDH activity within groups resulted in some overlap between treatment groups. Therefore we suggest limiting the use of LDH activity to infer relative comparisons of anaerobic activity among groups until the relationship is more clearly understood.","PeriodicalId":91981,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47046111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sister Chromatid Exchanges in A Male With A Y/Y Translocation.","authors":"Merlin G Butler","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) are considered indicators of genetic damage and early chromosome changes. The SCE frequency from an infertile 27-year-old, white male with tall stature and a nondicentric Y/Y translocation consisting of one short arm and two long arms of the Y chromosome was determined. The SCE frequency was 7.9 ± SD 1.4 while the SCE frequency from ten control subjects was 8.4 ± SD 0.51. A two-tailed <i>t</i>-test was applied to the SCE data and no significant difference was found between the individual with the Y/Y translocation and control subjects. Apparently, this altered chromosome does not interfere with the total chromosome behavior and the number of SCEs produced when compared to ten control subjects of both sexes.</p>","PeriodicalId":91981,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and affiliated societies","volume":"9 ","pages":"9-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1981-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5438199/pdf/nihms823059.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35015263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}