Search

This is the second paper in a two-part series describing the patterns of inquiry used in ecology. Three classes of research parts are identified from the literature: individual organisms or species, pairs of organisms or species, and groups of organisms or species. Research emphasizing these parts rather than the community as a whole is analyzed in terms of the principles of biological inquiry discussed in the first paper. A second section of the paper shows how accounts of the community as a whole can be built from the results of research on parts, and discusses different conceptions of the relationship between parts and whole. The third section analyzes research beginning with an emphasis on the whole. A summary of the patterns of inquiry found in ecology relates the four principles of inquiry to the five problem areas defined in the first paper, giving eighteen different patterns of inquiry. (EB)

Techniques suitable for use with elementary school students when studying field environment are described in these four booklets. Techniques for photography (construction of simple cameras, printing on blueprint and photographic paper, use of simple commercial cameras, development of exposed film); for measuring microclimatic factors (temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, light intensity, and soil moisture); and mapping (simple location of objects and contour mapping) are given. Instructions for making the apparatus required are provided and teaching strategies suggested. One of the booklets outlines a series of activities that can be conducted when studying a vacant city lot. This is felt to be an effective way of introducing biological principles to city children. The importance of man as part of the ecological system is emphasized by including a study of the biological effects of trash in the environment. All booklets contain background information for the teacher, and suggest ways the activities can be used to promote interdisciplinary activities. This work was prepared under an ESEA Title III contract. (AL)

This is the first paper in a two-part series describing the patterns of inquiry used in ecology. Ecological knowledge and research are analyzed in terms of two sets of concepts: ecological problem areas, and principles of biological inquiry. Problem areas identified are classification and taxonomy, energetics, nutrition and metabolism, genecology, and distribution. It is argued, using illustrations from the ecological literature, that different problem areas require different data and exhibit different methods and techniques. Four principles of biological inquiry are identified: the principle of antecedent-consequent, the principle of structure-function, the principle of homeostasis, and the principle of regulation. The effects of different principles on the modes of inquiry within a problem area are illustrated by comparing ecological research which focuses on the individual as the unit (an application of the principle of antecedent-consequent) with research that treats the community as a unit (using the principle of structure-function). (EB)

Summary 1. The literature on the use of paper chromatography in taxonomic work is reviewed briefly. 2. The technique of paper chromatography on disks is described and the method has been applied to a number of species of Lymnaea. 3. The chromatographic patterns of the species studied are described and discussed. 4. The implications of the discovery of species-specific substances in the body surface mucus of snails are discussed, both from the taxonomic and parasitological points of view. 5. The possibilities of applying two-dimensional chromatography to the free amino-acids of snail blood are discussed.

Paper chromatography of freeze-dried larvae of Mayetiola destructor (Say) in a solvent system of 1-butanol:methanol:water, 80:5:15, isolated a peak of plant-growth-promoting substance at Rt 0.15-0.25. This growth promoter was detected also on chromatograms of stomachs and carcasses of fresh larvae but was absent from chromatograms of larvae collected from ‘Knox 62’ wheat, Triticum aestivum L., a cultivar resistant to the Hessian fly, or from chromatograms of larvae that had never fed. Paper chromatograms of ethanol extracts of both infested and uninfested wheat plants revealed that feeding by the larvae did not reduce the amount of the growth promoter, but benzene extracts of infested plants produced chromatograms with more peaks of growth-inhibiting substances than did benzene extracts of uninfested plants. The inhibitors in the benzene extracts of infested plants may be the reaction of the wheat plant to secretions introduced into the plant by the feeding larvae. Therefore, the most likely cause of stunting of winter wheat by the Hessian fly is the result of something discharged into the plant by the Hessian fly larva as it feeds.

Papers on the following topics, and summaries of the discussions that followed their presentation to an international working group established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, are printed in this conference report: biology teaching in relation to mankind; ecological approach in the teaching of biology; the place of physiology in a general program of biology; the teaching of genetics; the contribution of books to the teaching of biology; pedagogical research and training of secondary school teachers; and pedagogical research. In most cases, more than one prepared paper on each topic is included. Six recommendations concerning the place of biology in general education, the training of teachers, and the action to be taken in providing the facilities needed for efficient biology teaching are made. A list of participants is appended. (AL)

Included are papers (in French or English, with summaries in the other language) presented at a UNESCO-International Biological Programme symposium in 1967. The symposium provided an opportunity for the exchange of information on recent advances in soil ecology, with particular emphasis on soil productivity. Papers on broader theoretical aspects and on methodology are presented. The papers are grouped as follows: general problems in soil ecology; structural aspects of soil ecosystems; functional aspects of soil ecosystems; soil respiration; soil ecology in the next decade; and a series of groups dealing with methods of study of particular aspects of soil ecology. These aspects are production by soil microorganisms; macrophytes; the soil mesofauna; arthropods of the macrofauna; root-fluid feeders and nematodes; and earthworms, enchytraeids and molluscs. Bibliographies for each paper and a list of participants are provided. (AL)

One hundred and fifty-eight samples of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus L.) blood were analyzed using paper electrophoresis at pH 8.6. The specimens were of two phases in lamprey life history, the parasitic phase and pre-spawning phase. Variations in serum protein concentration, positions and sizes of the fractions were associated with the state of life history, sex and disease. Most of the variation between phases of life history was in the dominant fraction, an albumin. There was a decrease in total stainable protein while specimens were starved in captivity. Disease caused several changes in the pattern, the most striking of which was an increase in the size of fraction 6, probably α-globulin.

The types of effluent discharged by wood-processing industries and their effects on the benthic environment are described. A brief summary of the results of the Lochs Linnhe-Eil survey 1964-70 is given. Populations of the molluscs Corbula , Thyasira and Myrtea have increased in most areas, and appear to be favoured by a moderate increase in the organic input to the system. Corbula dominates in the shallower polyhaline areas, and Myrtea in the deeper mixoeuhaline areas. On sediments with a high natural leaf litter content a low diversity fauna occurs, dominated by the annelids Cirriformia , Peloscolex , Capitella and Staurocephalus , and the crustacean Idotea . The predominance of this kind of fauna has increased in its area of occurrence in recent years. Comparisons of these faunal distributions and changes with those found in surveys in other marine areas affected by wood-processing wastes and other types of organic effluents show considerable similarities in the faunal changes occurring under increased organic loading. The utility of ‘indicator’ species in the assessment of organic pollution is briefly discussed. The need for detailed information on the ecological and physiological reasons underlying the varied faunal successions which occur under conditions of pollutional stress is emphasized.

Malathion deposits on wheat and Kraft paper were irradiated with several dosage levels of gamma radiation. After various periods of aging, samples were bioassay with adults of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Chemical analyses were done concurrently with the bioassays. Neither the toxicity nor the chemical degradation of the malathion deposits was significantly affected by irradiation with gamma dosages ranging from intermediate (25 krad) to massive (4.3 mrad).

Currency notes and coins serve as an agency of transmission of microorganisms since they are passed freely from hand to hand as a medium of exchange. A research, with an objective to explore the microbial load on Nepalese paper/ polymer currency notes and coins, was carried out at the Environment Laboratory of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar from November 2006 to May 2007. All together 63 samples of paper/polymer notes and coins from different professionals of different places at Kathmandu were collected and analyzed for the presence of microorganisms. Among the total tested paper/ polymer and coin samples, 98.4% were found to have heterotrophic aerobic bacteria, 87.3% were contaminated with coliform bacteria and 79.4% showed presence of Staphylococci. Contamination level was found in increasing order of coins> polymer notes>paper notes. The presence of high microbial load on currency notes and coins indicate the potentials of such currencies for possible disease spread in the human communities. Key words: currency notes; coins; heterotrophic bacteria; Coliform bacteria; Staphylococci DOI: 10.3126/njst.v9i0.3173 Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 9 (2008) 105-109

Investigations of paper-fiber sludge deposits in the Rainy River, Minnesota, below paper mills were made to determine water characteristics over them with reference to survival of walleye (Stizostedion v. vitreum) eggs and fry and occurrence of bottom fish-food organisms. Sampling of water from the fiber-sludge water interface to the surface showed gradients in oxygen as great as 0.1 ppm to near saturation, and in dissolved sulfides from 0.8 to 0.0 ppm. The most rapid gradient of these materials was in the bottom 20 mm. Levels of sulfides were most affected by current velocity and showed little relation to temperature or season. Walleye eggs placed in test trays on fiber mats had lower survival than those placed 12 inches above the mats and those placed on mineral substrates. Eggs and fry placed on mats died within 48 hours. Laboratory bioassays showed that sulfide levels of 0.3 ppm under controlled conditions approximating river conditions were acutely lethal to Gammarus pseudolimnaeus and walle...

This odd scavenger is a minute dermestid beetle breeding annually and subsisting only on dried animal matter, in association with man. It probably degenerated into its present wingless and almost grublike form from a winged, free-living form, and became dependent for survival upon constant replenishment of waste animal food about the permanent den of some predator, perhaps man, in arid, cool-temperate Asia. It is recorded from Tiflis, Transcaucasia 1839, Provinces of Astrakhan and Turkestan 1894, New York 1903, Milwaukee 1908, St. Petersburg, Russia 1909, Egypt 1921, Canada 1932, Chicago 1933, and Texas and Minnesota 1939. It is probably now cosmopolitan but is not so recorded, as few observers recognize its inconspicuous adults. Discrepancies in recorded and actual characters leave its identification as Thylodrias contractus still uncertain, but the names Ignotus aenigmaticus and Hospitopterus efflatouni have been given to our pest, and the emendation Thelydrias was proposed to supplant Thylodrias . More than 40 years' experience with and interest in this museum pest which now infests houses, prompts the following discussion. Adoption of “tissue-paper beetle” as its common name would be unfortunate, since it is based on a misconception arising from the finding of stray individuals crawling onto this conspicuous background from their actual breeding place. Tissue paper seems to be of no importance in its ecology. A bibliography is appended.

The ecological distributions of epiphytic cryptogams have been influenced by a paper pulp mill located near Lewiston, Idaho and Clakston, Washington, near the confluence of the Clearwater River with the Snake River. Because the pulp mill is in a deep valley with a very slight wind movement, pollutants tend to concentrate near their source, and the pulp mill is the major source of air pollution in this valley. The lichen Xanthoria fallax is the most common epiphyte on Robinia pseudoacacia in this area and occurs with species of Rinodina, Lecanora, Physconia and Physcia as close as 1–2 km from the pulp mill. From epiphyte data collected from exposed Robinias an Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) was calculated and air pollution zones arbitrarily determined. Certain aspects of the IAP calculations are discussed. Grove and park microclimates are discussed as they influence the ecological distribution of epiphytes in this region.

Under greenhouse conditions endosulfan, endosulfan alcohol, and endosulfan ether have been shown to be translocated to the aerial portions of bean plants when grown in treated soils. It has also been shown that purified endosulfan, when applied to the foliage of bean plants, is, in part, converted to endosulfan ether, but not to the alcohol as suspected. Paper and gas chromatography were used to analyze the plant extracts.

Golden monitor lizard is a reptilian with long slender body, long neck, flexible head movable in all directions, feature that is not possessed by any other reptile. It is protected on international scale; listed in CITES appendix 1, the IUCN red data list, and categorized as protected reptile under national park and wildlife conservation act of Nepal. Even if distribution is wide it is threatened to extinction in much of its inhabitant range because of habitat destruction along with hunting for its hides, exploited for food and skin values. Exported illegally through northern Nepal to china as its skin is used in traditional Chinese medicine. To maintain their number as of this circumstances; habitat conservation and civic consciousness from stakeholders in integrated mode to minimize hunting, possibly will be the plausible way. This carnivore reptile is oviparous can grow up to 90 cm in length and tail measures about 49 cm. Becomes sometimes dangerous, if threatened, rises high on its legs , hisses loudly, sways its body and lashes its razor like sharp tail and ready to cut offender and defend itself. So this paper reveals with distribution, ecological behavior and present status on Golden Monitor Lizard in Nepal. Key Words: Protected, Threatened, Oviparous, Carnivorous, Medicine, Juveniles DOI: 10.3126/init.v2i1.2523 The Initiation Vol.2(1) 2008 pp49-54

The history of the wasps of temperate America has not been recorded. It appears that entomologists have no great desire to study those interesting insects; and although several species occur in Canada, we know little or nothing of their natural history. One species, the spotted wood wasp (Vespa maculata, Linn.), occurs commonly, as near as I can determine, about every third year, in our northern woods. Havinq partially studied its habits, and collected a series of the nests in all their stages, it is particularly in regard to the latter that I claim attention. But before I proceed to relate what I have ascertained regarding their architecture, it will suffice to state that each large nest which we notice suspended from trees towards the end of summer consisted of a colony of males, females and workers or imperfect females, as they are termed.

Walleye fingerlings (Stizostedion v. vitreum) were held in 0, 50, 100, and 150 ppm conifer-groundwood fiber at 65 F and 100% oxygen saturation for up to 190 days. Fish were contained in recirculating water-flow systems and fed daily; water and fiber suspensions were changed daily. At the end of the experiment, fish in fiber were 2 to 3% shorter in length and 6 to 11% lighter in weight than controls. Relative condition factor was unchanged. Routine metabolic rate of walleyes in 150 ppm fiber was 18% higher than controls and active metabolic rate was 15% lower. Number of mucous cells on gills of fish from 150 ppm fiber treatments was 38% lower than controls and hematocrit of fish held in fiber averaged 6% lower than controls.

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

The egg-eating hymenopterous parasites ordinarily known under the name Trichogramma evanescens are composed of numerous biotypes differing especially in their methods of reproduction and in their reactions to the factors of environment or to the attraction exercised by the hosts.