Biology in High Schools of Iowa

Within recent years Zoology and Botany as separate subjects have nearly disappeared from the curricula of the public High Schools of Iowa. A course known as Biology has taken their places. In an attempt to learn the nature of High School Biology the author secured sample textbooks, laboratory manuals and figures concerning adoptions from the leading publishers of school books

The Effect of Heavy Rains on the Orthoptera (Grasshopper) Population of the Prairie

The general interest created by destructive grasshoppers in the past few years incited the author to some studies on populations of Orthoptera, particularly on prairie patches in Iowa. Correlations of the data with climatic information will be made at times to yield possibly valuable results

Mearns Cottontail Investigations in Iowa

The importance of the cottontail as a game mammal has increased rapidly in recent years. From records and estimates supplied by State game agencies the United States Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that 20,000,000 rabbits were taken in the United States in 1941 for food and for sport, a recreational outlet for several million citizens now (Crouch, 1942)

On the Hunt: The History of Deer Hunting in Wisconsin

Review of: "On the Hunt: The History of Deer Hunting in Wisconsin," by Robert C. Willging

Use of Rearing Cover by Mearns Cottontail

Intensive research on the Mearns cottontail was conducted from March 26 to September 18, 1954, on an 80-acre tract of the Floyd Fleming farm in Decatur County, Iowa. The cover on the 80 acres was alfalfa for hay 13 acres, alfalfa in pasture 21 acres, grass in pasture 8 acres, corn 22 acres, fallow grassland 11 acres, and trees, shrubs and vines along fencelines and gullies and in a catalpa planting about 5 acres. The plants of the fallow grassland, fencelines and gullies were listed by Hubbard and Hendrickson (1952) in some detail

Effects of Weather Conditions on the Winter Activity of Mearns Cottontail

An important phase of cottontail management is estimation of the populations. The accuracy of methods used to determine the numbers may be increased with greater knowledge of the effects of weather conditions on cottontail activity. The effects of temperature on cottontail activity have been observed by several investigators. In Michigan, Allen (1939) found that females tended to use burrows at temperatures of 10° F. Linduska (1947) reported the use of dens by cottontails in southern Michigan to be three times as great at temperatures of -8° to +12° F. as when the temperature ranged from 12° to 32° F., and that females were more inclined to use dens than were males. In Wisconsin, Hanson (1944) found no correlation between temperature and the number of cottontails trapped per night, the correlation with barometric pressure not significant, and cloudiness, precipitation and wind direction showing no relationship to the number of rabbits trapped per night. Crunden (1954) reported more rabbits trapped during periods of rising or falling barometric pressure than during periods of constant barometric pressure

The Production of Ring-necked Pheasants in Winnebago County, lowa

In the fall of 1935, the Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit inaugurated field investigations on the ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, on the Winnebago Research Area, sections 9-12, 13-16, and 21-24, Eden Township, Winnebago County. Early investigations (Green, 1938) were centered around winter mortality of pheasants and the improvement of habitat to alleviate winter losses. In 1939-41 intensive investigations were shifted to the nesting and production of the ring-necked pheasant on a 1520-acre plot lying within sections 13, 14, 15, 23 and 24 (Baskett, 1947). Although the pheasants were increasing in numbers during 1939 and 1940, in 1941 and accelerated rate of summer production was noted. Instead of the usual 150-175 percent rate of summer increase over the spring population, production jumped to 220 percent in spite of the largest observed spring density - 125 birds per section. A parallel rise in the 1941 rate of production was also recorded in North Dakota (Bach, 1944)

Pheasant Nesting and Production in Winnebago County, Iowa, 1940 versus 1954

The Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit has conducted research on the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) since 1935 on the Winnebago Research Area. From 1939-41 intensive nesting studies were made (Baskett, 1947) and again from 1950- 54. However, during this latter period, other investigations curtailed a complete nesting investigation, and it was not until 1954 (Klonglan, 1955) that time was available for a complete study with comparable spring pheasant populations. Since fall pheasant population levels in the 1939-41 period were estimated at 140 to 400 birds per section as compared to 100 to 110 birds from 1950-54, an intensive nesting study was deemed advisable for comparative purposes