Bulletin 69 - Materials on Geography which may be obtained free or at small cost

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_bulletin/1168/thumbnail.jp

Bulletin 73 - List of Books for the First Six Grades

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_bulletin/1172/thumbnail.jp

Factors influencing the energy requirements of native ponies living outdoors in the United Kingdom

The purpose of this study was to determine the daily energy requirements of ponies native to the U.K., living on upland areas. This information can be used to improve the management of ponies kept under these conditions.The objectives of this thesis were to i) determine the effects of speed and terrain on the energy costs of ponies when walking, ii) measure seasonal differences in the hair coat, iii) estimate the effect of a wet winter coat on metabolic rate, iv) determine the proportion of a day spent by free-living ponies in feeding, walking, standing and lying, v) estimate the total distance moved daily by these ponies, and vi) describe the relationship between weather conditions and the behaviour and location of ponies.In the first study, the energy costs of walking were measured in four Shetland and two Exmoor ponies by using open-circuit, indirect calorimetry. The energy cost of activity, above that for standing, was independent of speed and averaged 1.02 J/kg liveweight/m travelled. An Oxylog, a portable breath-by-breath oxygen analyser, was used to determine effects of terrrain on the energy cost of walking using five Shetland ponies. The mean (s.e.) energy expenditures (J/kg/m) were:- grass 1.7 (0.07); concrete 2.9 (0.15); 12 cm of mud 5.9 (0.21); uphill (+5.8°) 5.5 (0.31); downhill (-5.8°) 3.3 (0.23) J/kg/m.In the second study, physical parameters of the winter and summer hair coats of six Shetland ponies were compared. Also, metabolic rate was monitored as a means of assessing the effect of wetting ponies in winter coat. Coat density in the winter 2 • 2 averaged 96.2 (s.e. 8.01) mg/cm , 3.24 times the summer value of 29.5 (3.37) mg/cm . Fibre diameter differed significantly between ponies within season. For some ponies there were seasonal changes in fibre diameter. The number of fibres/cm" did not differ significantly between seasons. Metabolic rate (determined by open-circuit, indirect calorimetry) and body temperature were unaffected by wetting (to the skin) the dorsal surface of Shetland ponies in winter coat. However, there were decreases in skin temperature over the wetted area which suggested local vasoconstrictionIn the third study, six Exmoor pony mares, kept in an enclosed area of fell in Cumbria, were observed in late winter (W) when they were pregnant, and in summer (S) when they were lactating. There were significant seasonal differences in the time spent feeding 17.2 h (W), 13.5 h (S); walking 0.5 h (W), 1.2 h (S); and standing 4.6 h (W), 6.2 h (S); but not in lying 1.3 h (W & S). The total distance moved by the mares in 24 h; 3.1 - 5.7 km (W) and 3.7 - 4.9 km (S), was calculated as the sum of the distances moved whilst grazing and walking. In winter, ponies preferentially grazed facing directly into or away from the wind at all wind speeds, and preferred to stand in areas where wind viii speed was reduced. In the summer, the same orientations to the wind became evident at wind speeds of 5 m/s. Ponies stood in the most exposed areas during the hottest parts of the day, but stood in sheltered areas at night. Grazing speed and bite rate were significantly greater (P<0.05) in the winter than in the summerThe results showed that the energy costs of activity (walking and grazing) were greater in winter than in summer. Therefore, seasonal adjustments in energy requirements are needed to allow for changes in activity as well as changes in heat loss. Recommendations are made regarding the management strategies for ponies kept outdoors

Bulletin 78 - Material on Geography which may be obtained for free or at small cost

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_bulletin/1175/thumbnail.jp

Bulletin 81 - Material on Geography which may be obtained for free or at small cost

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_bulletin/1178/thumbnail.jp

Bulletin 50 - Lists of Materials that may be obtained free or at small cost

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_bulletin/1150/thumbnail.jp

Factors determining post-wildfire plant community recovery trajectories in Central Texas

Wildland fires are becoming more frequent and more severe in the United States, due in part to climate change and in part to long-term fire suppression and the subsequent build-up of fuels. Following wildfires of greater severity than what were historically present in an area, plant community recovery trajectories may diverge from the pre-disturbance plant community. The Lost Pines region of central Texas supported the westernmost stands of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) in the United States. In 2011, a wildfire burned most of Bastrop State Park (BSP), located in the Lost Pines. Pre-fire, BSP was a mostly closed-canopy forest dominated by loblolly pine and several species of oak (Quercus spp.), with sparse herbaceous vegetation and a dense mid-canopy of yaupon (Ilex vomitoria). Most plants in BSP were either killed or top-killed in the wildfire. We studied pre- and post-fire plant community dynamics to understand and predict post-fire plant community recovery trajectories. Top-killed oak species sprouted vigorously in more severely-burned plots (Chapter 1, Chapter 2); yaupon sprouted in all burn severity classes (Chapter 3). Loblolly pine, which can only recruit from seed, established more slowly than sprouting species, in part due to the transitory inhibitory effect of an erosion control product (Chapter 3). In the first year after the fire, it appeared that oak sprouts might out-compete loblolly pine seedling recruitment. However, in 2015, a large loblolly pine recruitment event occurred following a year of unusually high precipitation (Chapter 1, Chapter 2). These results indicate recovery trajectories towards continued survival of the loblolly pine population in BSP, although with a potentially greater abundance of oak species than what was present pre-fire. Furthermore, yaupon is likely to re-form dense thickets such as those present pre-fire without measures to prevent woody plant encroachment. Immediately post-fire, the herbaceous plant community increased in abundance, richness and diversity, likely due to greater canopy openness (Chapter 4). Very few invasive species were present either pre- or post-fire (Chapter 5). Alternate trajectories towards open-canopy savanna with a diverse understory community and lower mid-story tree abundance could be maintained by management actions such as prescribed fire or mechanical thinning.Plant Biolog

Bulletin 54 - Material on Geography which may be obtained free or at small cost (Revised)

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_bulletin/1154/thumbnail.jp

Bulletin 46 - Material on Geography which may be obtained free or at small cost

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_bulletin/1146/thumbnail.jp