Understanding of Science by Elementary Teachers

This paper reviews some studies relating to the subject matter competency of pre-service elementary teachers. Attention is called to the importance of an understanding of the nature of science by the elementary major, and the need to measure this understanding. A study designed to test the understanding of and attitude toward science in elementary majors is discussed. The scores of elementary majors on the understanding of science measure are compared with those of other prospective teachers (both secondary and elementary). It is suggested that a measure of this type could be used as a basis for evaluation of innovations in the pre-service training of elementary teachers

Native Prairie Roadsides: The Iowa Example

Most original roads in Iowa and Kansas followed existing trails and traversed the tallgrass prairie. As long as prairie was adjacent to the roadside, seed was available to maintain prairie vegetation in disturbed rights-of-way

Iowa Prairie - An Endangered Ecosystem

Prior to Euro-American settlement 85% of Iowa was occupied by prairie. Today less than 0.02% of pre-settlement prairie remains; a few small remnants are scattered across the original 30 million acres. Settlement of Iowa was rapid; most of the prairie was converted to cropland by the end of the 19th century. Since prairie preservation activities were initiated in the 1930\u27s, a number of prairie remnants have been preserved by public and private agencies. Iowa needs to be surveyed and inventoried so that the significant remaining prairie remnants can be located and preserved. Recent prairie preservation efforts have been supplemented with prairie restoration and reconstruction projects

Making Nature Whole: a History of Ecological Restoration. William R. Jordan III and George M. Lubick.

Ecological restoration—the process of assisting the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed—is being incorporated into the fabric of our society. The practice of ecological restoration of natural areas developed and grew in the twentieth century in response to widespread human disturbance of natural communities. Undoubtedly, this type of restoration will continue to increase in importance in the coming decades given the extensive alteration of ecosystems that is occurring and that is showing no signs of abating. As indicated in the promotional material for Making Nature Whole, Jordan and Lubick have provided a seminal publication for the relatively new field of ecological restoration. As a comparative vehicle and standard for restoration activities, they contrast ecocentric restoration, (i.e., the literal recreation of a previously existing ecosystem with all of it parts and processes) with meliorative land management (i.e., making an environment “better” for someone). While indicating that ideas about restoration vary, the authors argue for ecocentric restoration as a model or ideal criteria to provide a context for comparing restoration activities and projects

Iowa Prairie: Original Extent and Loss, Preservation and Recovery Attempts

Iowa\u27s prairie has to be assessed in the context of the pre- and post-agriculturally dominated ecosystem in which it now exists. This requires an understanding of prairies and of society\u27s perspective of prairies. Therefore, the attitudes of people through time have to be considered; (1) those who were involved in the demise of the prairie, (2) those who helped saved the pieces of the prairie and (3) those who may be called upon to recover the prairie ecosystem

The effects of seeding rate of prairie grasses and forbs on native plant establishment in a prairie reconstruction. Iowa Department of Transportation final report.

The Iowa DOT is seeking ways to improve practices associated with revegetation projects to increase establishment of native grasses and forbs. Iowa DOT has developed various seed mixes for re-vegetation projects (Iowa DOT 2005). Each seed mix has the potential to result in a different plant community. Results from this research project will provide information on the seeding rates for species needed for optimal establishment of grasses and wildflowers in future Iowa DOT prairie plantings as well as determine if current seeding practices are adequate. This information can be used to revise or develop seeding rate recommendations for revegetation projects

The Effects of Seeding Time on Native Plant Establishment in a Prairie Reconstruction

The Iowa DOT is seeking ways to improve practices associated with revegetation projects to increase establishment of native grasses and forbs. One of these practices is to seed native grasses and forbs between Apr 01 - June 30 and between Aug. 01 - Aug. 31 (Iowa DOT 2001). We investigated seeding at different times during the growing season to determine the most appropriate seeding time for optimal establishment of prairie grasses and wildflowers

Growing Fern Gametophytes for Laboratory Use

The life cycle of a fern is often studied in biology laboratories to illustrate the intermediate form between the dominant gametophyte of the bryophytes and the free-living sporophyte of seed plants. The availability of the gametophyte stage of ferns is often limited, making it necessary to produce fern prothallia by some artificial method

Relationship of Pectic Enzymes to Abscission

A comprehensive review of work pertinent to changes in the separation zone prior to abscission is presented. Since these changes are largely pectic in nature the involvement of pectic enzymes is suggested. The results obtained for the role of pectin methylesterase (PME) in abscission are as follows: (1) A localization of PME activity in the abscission zone of tobacco pedicels was established; (2) Pollination of tobacco flowers is followed by an increase in PME activity in the abscission zone while PME activity remains static after prevention of pollination (the flower abscises within a week if not pollinated); (3) Application of indole acetic acid to unfertilized tobacco ovaries stimulated an increase in PME activity of the abscission zone of the pedicel

Iowa\u27s Driftless Area: Symposium

The 1983 Annual Meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science on Luther Campus in Decorah provided an excellent opportunity for considering the Iowa Driftless Area, a region of scenic beauty and unusual scientific diversity. This rugged landscape dominated by bedrock has undergone weathering and erosion longer than any other region of the state. The term Driftless Area originated from an early geologic interpretation that a portion of northeastern Iowa had been untouched by Pleistocene glaciers