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Reconstruction of Tree Species Composition of Pre-settlement Forests in the Great Appalachian Valley of Georgia for use in Ecological, Ethnohistorical, and Archaeological Research**
No full textHistoric 1832 survey plats containing witness tree locations and species descriptions were converted to GIS data products using photo interpretation. The data was then used to map and create an inventory of tree species composition of the pre-settlement forest of part of the Great Appalachian Valley. An analysis of tree species composition using the NatureServe Ecological Classification of Forest Types was used to identify landscape-scale pre-settlement ecosystems. The quantitative and spatial data indicates that xeric, fire adapted forests were dominant in the landscape. The results of this analysis can inform ethnohistorical and archaeological research about the relationship between landscape ecology and Native American community locations as well as ecosystem conservation and reconstruction efforts. Additional data showing the location of Native American structures at the time of surveying can also provide potential geospatial locations of possible archaeological sites
Ironing out the Data: Reacessing Carbon-14 Dating in Southern Iron Age India*
No full textIn Southern India the Iron Age is usually dated to about 1500-200 BC using cabon-14 dating. However, since the early advent of C14 dating in the late 1940s, our knowledge of how carbon decays over time had changed thans to advancements in science. Some of thte earlier archaeological dates have the potential to be less useful than others due to older collection practices and processing methods. This paper presents results from a chronometric hygeine process that was applied to the current data. Dates that cannot be verified as scientifically sound have been culled from the data set and the valid data has been updated using the new IntCal20 radiocarbon curve for assessing accurates datese. The work has the potential to change general accepted dates for time periods in southern India and open the flood gates to new discovery and knowlege of the region
SELF CHECK QUIZZES FOR STUDENTS IMPROVE SCORES
No full textIn the Fall 2020 Semester, Self-Check Quizzes for the students to take after each lesson were incorporated in both Organic I and Organic II lecture courses. The Quizzes were between 10-14 questions, and feedback was provided for incorrect answers. Students could take the quizzes multiple times (until they got a 100%). They were required in Organic I, but optional in Organic II. The averages of both the final exam and overall course averages were higher for the students who did best on the self check quizzes. The presentation will discuss how to make the self check quizzes with feedback as well as the overall results
EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCOMPUNDS FROM HUNTERIA UMBELLATA
No full textDue to the continuous interest in the development of new medications for various ailments. We have been interested in the extractions, isolation and purification of phytocompounds from various tropical plants and studying their potential bioactivity for various diseases. This presentation will discuss the phytochemical analysis of extracts from the seeds and leaves of Hunteria umbellate (HU) (Apocynaceae). Hunteria umbellate is a tree of about 49-72 ft in height with a dense evergreen crown with broad leaves. The fruits are yellow in color and smooth consist of two separate spherical mericaps. Our presentation will discuss result obtained from GC-MS, HPLC and other methods of analysis and identify phytocompounds with potential bioactivity
TESTING THE FIDELITY OF ENAMEL ISOTOPIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATIC VARIATION IN A LOCALIZED POPULATION OF WHITE-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS)
No full textStable isotopes from tooth enamel have long been used to gain better insight into modern and ancient environmental dynamics. Carbon isotopes are used to determine the ratio of 13C/12C within tooth enamel and can be used to infer the relative proportion of C3 (e.g., trees, shrubs, cool growing season grasses) and C4 (e.g., warm growing season grasses and sedges) plants consumed by the animal during the time period of the tooth’s mineralization. Oxygen isotopes are used to determine the ratio of 18O/16O consumed, typically in the form of drinking water or water contained in plant tissues, by the animal during tooth mineralization. Due to this relationship, oxygen isotopes can be used to infer whether the animal lived in a more evaporative (i.e., warm, decreased rainfall) or less evaporative (i.e., cool, more rainfall) environment. Although a commonly used method, there is currently a lack of modern comparative frameworks testing the precision of these relationships. In this study, we sampled three molars (m1, m2, and m3) from 6 individual male deer (18 teeth total) of known age and life history collected from the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (PNWR). These teeth were serially sampled (multiple samples along the growth axis of the tooth) to elucidate any isotopic variation between individuals and between molars. These isotopic signatures were compared to climate data (e.g., temperature, precipitation) gathered from around PNWR during the time of tooth mineralization. Our study indicates a complex relationship between climatic variables and their reflection in the isotopic composition of deer enamel. We observe significant inter-individual variation in isotopic signature, which suggests a complex relationship between climate variables and the universality of their representation in mammalian enamel
AN EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT BAITS ON AQUATIC TURTLE TRAP SUCCESS**
No full textObtaining sufficient sample sizes in a timely and cost-effective manner is a critical aspect of many field-based studies. Any innovations in methodology that improve sampling efficiency can have substantial impacts on research and conservation efforts. Thus, researchers should frequently evaluate and revise sampling methodologies to improve efficiencies, especially when investigating the population status of organisms that might be vulnerable to declines. Many populations of aquatic turtles are experiencing declines worldwide. Without intervention, the declining turtle populations could have negative repercussions on the health of ecosystems because of their numerous ecological roles, such as seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and aquatic vegetation control. Researching the population status of aquatic turtles typically requires the handling of individuals that are captured in traps baited with scented foods. While many studies have compared the efficacy of various baits that rely primarily on the olfactory senses of aquatic turtles, we have found no research that utilized light as a bait. The main objective of our research is to determine how the addition of light bait influences the capture success of aquatic freshwater turtle traps. Genetic evidence suggests a reduction in olfactory ability among aquatic turtles, and some field-based evidence suggests visual cues may be used primarily during foraging; therefore, we hypothesize that light attractants will improve trapping efficiency. To achieve our research objective, we will trap turtles in ponds using box-style turtle traps and processed meat baits for ≥60 trap nights in Hall County, Georgia. Underwater LED lights will be randomly assigned and placed in half of the traps on a nightly basis so that capture results can be evaluated using a two-sample t-test. We will focus on trapping turtles in the family Kinosternidae because they are primarily carnivorous, typically exhibit nocturnal foraging, and we consider it likely they will respond to the presence of lights
Estimating the Size of Georgia\u27s Resident Canada Goose Population
Get PDFCanada geese (Branta canadensis) are an important waterfowl species in Georgia, and are hunted across the state. To meet management objectives, managers need to understand the impacts of hunting regulations on the population of interest. Therefore, reliable population estimates are necessary. Population size can be estimated by various methods, including aerial surveys, ground surveys, or population indices such as the Lincoln Estimator. I used annual estimates of resident Canada goose harvest in Georgia from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Harvest Information Program along with banding and recovery data from the Bird Banding Laboratory in a bias-adjusted version of the Lincoln Estimator. Because of annual variation in the population estimates among years, I compared various trendlines across years, and the top three models generated an average 2018 population estimate of 231,274 resident Canada geese in Georgia
Examining the Dietary Behavior of Australopithecus robustus and Rossil Primates from Swartkrans, South Africa Using Low-Magnification Stereomicroscopy of Dental Microwear
No full textThe Pleistocene cave of Swartkrans, South Africa, dated to 1.8 million years ago, preserves the early hominin Australopithecus robustus as well as the remains of several extinct primate species including Parapapio jonesi and Dinopithecus ingens. Dental casts of well-preserved fossilized teeth from Swartkrans exhibit microwear features which are indicative of distinct masticatory behaviors, such as rotary chewing or crushing, as well as the type of foods consumed and the degree of hard-object consumption. A principal components (PC) analysis of six microwear features from four individuals of each taxon from Swartkrans Cave using a stereomicroscope at 35X with an external moveable light source shows distinct differences in dietary behavior. Australopithecus robustus loads positive on PC1 (43.7%) from the prevalence of fine, coarse and hypercoarse scratches. In contrast, Dinopithecus ingens is positioned primarily on the opposite pole due to small and large pits. Parapapio jonesi lies between these two extremes. On PC2 (17.2%), Australopithecus robustus and Parpapio jonesi are separated from Dinopithecus ingens and one Australopithecus robustus specimen, SK 79, on the basis of hypercoarse scratches and puncture pits in the latter. These results indicate a dietary niche partitioning at Swartkrans. Most Australopithecus robustus probably consumed grasses, leaves, herbs and other tough, low quality foods, whereas Dinopithecus ingens relied on a relatively coarse diet which may have included substantial amounts of grit, likely from adhesion to underground storage organs, or other hard and brittle resources. Parapapio jonesi appears to have been a generalist and most likely consumed some tough and hard foods but not to the extent observed in the other taxa preserved at Swartkrans
Solution process tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum thin films by spin coating technique: static and dynamic dispense methods
No full textWe report properties of Tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) thin films prepared by static and dynamic dispense spin coating techniques. A solution of Alq3 dissolved in CHCl3 is used to prepare thin films on glass substrate with a thickness of 70 ±10 nm. Atomic Force Microscope images show the existence of cracks, pinholes, and uneven surfaces with larger molecular aggregates for the films prepared by static dispense method. However, the dynamic dispense method made promising results healing the cracks and making the surface homogeneous. It is found using UV-Vis spectroscopy and Tauc’s plots that the HOMO-LUMO gaps are 2.78 and 2.95 eV for the Alq3 films prepared from static and dynamic dispense methods respectively. The large energy gap is attributed to smaller molecular aggregates in the films prepared using dynamic dispense method
COMPARISON OF GROWTH RATES OF ALABAMA BASS (MICROPTERUS HENSHALLI) AMONG THREE NORTH GEORGIA RESERVOIRS ACROSS TWO SAMPLING YEARS**
No full textAlabama bass Micropterus henshalli are an introduced black bass that tends to dominate the sportfish community in many deep highland reservoirs in the southeastern United States. Because the quality of Alabama bass fisheries often vary by location and over time, this study compared the growth of black bass populations among Chatuge, Nottely, and Lanier Reservoirs in northeast Georgia from 2017 and 2020. Samples were collected in the spring via boat electrofish, and otoliths were removed, processed, and analyzed to assign ages to each individual. Using estimated ages and total lengths, a von Bertalanffy growth model was fit for each reservoir and sampling year. A smaller sample size and lack of older individuals hindered model comparison for 2020, but significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) were detected for 2017. Mean growth rates of populations differed between reservoirs with Nottely Reservoir consistently having smaller estimated growth rates and maximum sizes. Chatuge Reservoir is estimated to have Alabama bass reaching a larger maximum size. Observed growth rates were consistent between 2017 and 2020 for each reservoir. Differences in growth between populations might be explained due to composition of Alabama bass allele frequencies in each reservoir. Previous research documented a smaller frequency (30.3 – 87.5%) of Alabama Bass alleles in Nottely Reservoir compared to Chatuge and Lanier Reservoirs (85.7 – 99.8%). Thus, historical stockings of M. henshalli and the similar Spotted Bass M. punctulatus may influence current fisheries due to a reservoir’s genetic legacy, impacting growth and maximum size