Discoidals and Problematical Stones from Mississippian Sites in Minnesota

Abstract

There is no conclusive evidence that discoidals, chunkey stones or similar problematical stones were used exclusively or intermittently for games, ceremonials, food preparation or other village purposes, but the weight of evidence from eyewitness accounts suggests the dominance of game use. There are several eyewitness records of the game as olaved by the tribes of the Southeast and by some Siouan tribes of the plains and the Missouri Valley. Discoidals are found most frequently at late prehistoric Mississippian sites.

Recent Minnesota finds include: a single artifact with unusual features (Fig. 1), identified tentatively as a chunkey game piece, recovered by the author in 1976 from the Bryan site; a broken, more conventional game stone discovered at the neighboring site of Silvernale in 1975 (Harrison, 1978); a surface find at the Bartron site in 1978 by John Barnett; and an artifact, either a chunkey stone or a grinding stone, also found by John Barnett near the entrance of Belle Creek into the Cannon River. All of these sites are in the Red Wing area and these recent finds, together with other known discoidals from Goodhue County, link the Mississippian villages of the Red Wing area to the chunkey playing region further south.     

A Model for the Vertical Distribution of Flotation-Size Particles

Abstract

An attempt is made to isolate and model the effects of pedoturbation on the vertical distribution of flotation particles within a site matrix. The derived model states that the concentration of particles at a specific depth is directly proportional to the initial quantity deposited and inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the original deposition. The potential value of the model is exemplified through an analysis of differences among the vertical distributions of charcoal, burnt bone, and flakage at a site in central Minnesota.     

Composition and diversity of bird communities in Swedish farmland–forest mosaic landscapes

CapsuleThe amount of forest (at local and landscape scales) and occurrence of residual habitats at the local scale are shown to be the major factors influencing bird community composition in farmland–forest landscapes in central Sweden.

Aims To investigate the importance of local habitat and landscape structure for breeding birds in farmland–forest landscapes in central Sweden.

Methods Breeding birds were censused at 292 points. A detailed habitat mapping was made within 300 m of the points. Within a 300–600 m radius only two major habitats (forests and arable fields) were identified.

Results Cluster analyses of bird communities identified three site types that also differed in habitat composition: (i) partially forested sites in forested landscapes; (ii) heterogeneous sites with residual habitats in mosaic landscapes; and (iii) field-dominated farmland sites in open landscapes. A total of 19 of 25 farmland bird species (restricted to farmland or using both farmland and forest) had the highest abundance in farmland sites with mosaics of forest and farmland, while only six farmland species had the highest abundance in field-dominated sites. The bird community changed from being dominated by farmland species to being dominated by forest species (common in forest landscapes without farmland) at small proportions (10–20%) of forest at the local scale. A major difference in habitat composition between heterogeneous and field-dominated sites was the occurrence of different residual habitats (e.g. shrubby areas and seminatural grasslands). These habitats seemed to influence bird community composition more than land-use, despite covering <10% of the area. Seminatural grasslands were important for bird community composition and species-richness, but grazing seemed to be less important. Among different land-use types, cereal crops were the least preferred fields. Set-asides with tall vegetation and short rotation coppices were positively associated with species-richness of farmland birds.

Conclusion In general, the composition of the landscape was important for bird community composition, although amount and distribution of forests, occurrence of residual habitats and land-use of fields at the local scale had the strongest influence on bird community composition. The possible implications of these patterns for managing farmland–forest landscapes are discussed.     

Winter use of wild bird cover crops by passerines on farmland in northeast England

Capsule Declining farmland species were more abundant in these crops which can be matched to the birds' requirements.

Aims To assess the use of seed-bearing crop by a range of bird species in winter.

Methods The study was carried out over three winters at a site in County Durham (England). Eleven bird species were represented, five of which are nationally targeted for conservation action.

Results Bird abundance was significantly higher where wild bird cover crops were present. Kale Brassica napus and Quinoa Chenopodium quinoa were the most used crop species, although cereals and linseed were also used.

Conclusion Simple crop mixtures can be designed to meet the needs of farmland bird communities. Our results suggest that seed production may be limited within government agri-environment schemes by restrictions on fertilizer use. The agronomy of seed-bearing crops for birds requires further investigation.     

Virginia Deer and the Buffer Zone in the Late Prehistoric-Early Protohistoric Periods In Minnesota

Abstract

Hickerson has proposed the existence of an unoccupied buffer zone in Minnesota and Wisconsin, between the Chippewa and the Dakota, in the period 1780 to 1850. He suggests that the shape and character of the unoccupied region relates to the distribution and density of Virginia Deer populations which became a contested resource.

This paper attempts to statistically test the possibility that an unoccupied buffer zone did exist in Minnesota during the Late Prehistoric and Protohistoric periods from about A. D. 1200 to A. D. 1800, and that site distributions for this period seem to substantiate the existence of such a zone.     

Site Directed Mutagenesis on the Restriction Endonuclease Eco RI Using Mixed Oligonucleotides

Abstract

The restriction endonuclease EcoRI could be modified via site directed mutagenesis at position Arg200. Using the thiophosphate system we introduced either Lys, Glu or Gly in a one pot procedure. Although G recognition should be affected, Lys200 showed wildtype specificity.     

Decorative Motifs On Great Oasis Pottery

Abstract

Decorative design motifs on Great Oasis Incised rim sherds from the Great Oasis site in Minnesota are illustrated and described. The usefulness of using decorative modes in ceramic comparisons with pottery of the Over focus is suggested.     

Comparison of land cover and farming intensity-based models for mapping High Nature Value farmland in Cyprus

ABSTRACT

Capsule: Breeding bird survey data were used to compare biodiversity at sites defined as High Nature Value farmland (HNVf) under two different mapping models.

Aims: To examine whether farmland classified as HNVf was important for bird diversity and conservation of priority bird species in Cyprus, through comparison of two different HNVf maps. The HNV concept aims to define biodiversity-rich farmland and facilitate its protection and management. Heterogeneous, low-intensity cropping and grazing systems are important areas for biodiversity conservation in Europe and for birds in particular, but are threatened by abandonment and agricultural intensification. We compared two HNVf mapping systems, a simpler model based on land cover data (CLC map) and a more complex Cyprus Environment Department model (ED map) including layers relating to agricultural intensity.

Methods: Line transect bird surveys were carried out to compare bird diversity, abundance of farmland bird species of conservation priority and also of the endemic Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax, at sites classified as HNV or not.

Results: A greater diversity of breeding birds was found in sites classified as HNVf under combined ED and CLC maps. However, for the set of 12 priority bird species, neither HNV mapping approach encompassed their overall abundance, but a combined CLC and ED model did predict higher abundances of the Cyprus Warbler. Vineyard sites were found to be associated with high overall breeding bird diversity, but with low abundance of priority bird species.

Conclusion: We identified weaknesses in both mapping systems, with the ED model failing to capture all HNV grazing land and the CLC model defining some intensive farming systems as HNV. We conclude that the overlap between the two models best captures HNVf, but layers encompassing grazing land and priority habitats need to be added to better define HNVf in Cyprus and facilitate its protection and management.     

Avian seed dispersal and seedling distribution of the endangered tree species,Taxus chinensis,in patchy habitats

Background: There is limited understanding about bird dispersal behaviour and seedling distribution of endangered tree species in patchy environments, although these processes are important for plant species persistence.

Aims: We tested how patch features affected bird behaviour and seed dispersal, and thus seedling distribution of the endangered Chinese yew tree (Taxus chinensis).

Methods: In the present study, we combined field data of bird dispersal behaviour and GIS-based information to elucidate the influence of spatial features of habitat patches on bird dispersal behaviour, and the resulting effects on the seedling distribution of the endangered Chinese yew in two patchy habitats.

Results: Our results showed that the only seed source patch could attract eight bird species for dispersal at the two sites. Post-foraging movements of bird dispersers was strongly related to both topography and the relative locations of habitat patches. Yew seedlings aggregated only at the seed source and bamboo recruitment patches, which was affect by both the spatial distribution of recruitment patches and patch use by dispersers.

Conclusions: Our results emphasise that bamboo patches in both patchy environments provide the necessary conditions for germination of yew seeds, and the post-foraging behaviour of dispersers determines seed deposited in these patches. Our study highlights the importance of the dispersal behaviour of frugivorous birds in the successful regeneration and colonisation of yew populations in patchy habitats.     

Pathogenicity of Pratylenchus penetrans,Heterodera glycines,and Meloidogyne incognita on Soybean Genotypes

The pathogenicity of Heterodera glycines, Meloidogyne incognita, and Pratylenchus penetrans on H. glycines-resistant ''Bryan,'' tolerant-susceptible ''G88-20092,'' and intolerant-susceptible ''Tracy M'' soybean cultivars was tested using plants grown in 800 cm³ of soil in 15-cm-diam. clay pots in three greenhouse experiments. Plants were inoculated with 0, 1,000, 3,000, or 9,000 H. glycines race 3 or M. incognita eggs, or vermiform stages of P. penetrans/pot. Forty days after inoculation, nmnbers of all three nematodes, except H. glycines on Bryan, generally increased with increasing inoculum levels in Experiment I. Heterodera glycines and M. incognita significantly decreased growth only of Tracy M. At 45 and 57 days after inoculation with 6,000 individuals/pot in experiments II and III, respectively, significantly more P. penetrans and M. incognita than H. glycines were found on Bryan. However, H. glycines and M. incognita population densities were greater than P. penetrans on G88-20092 and Tracy M. Growth of Tracy M infected by H. glycines and M. incognita and growth of G88-20092 infected by M. incognita decreased in Experiment III. Pratylenchus penetrans did not affect plant growth. Reduction in plant growth differed according to the particular nematode species and cultivar, indicating that nematodes other than the species for which resistance is targeted can have different effects on cultivars of the same crop species.     

Habitat associations and breeding bird community composition within the city of Bristol,UK

Capsule Different urban breeding bird communities are associated with different habitat types, but, although community species diversity varies significantly, total bird density does not.

Aims To investigate the association between breeding bird communities and habitats within Bristol, UK and how these communities vary in terms of species diversity and total bird abundance.

Methods Breeding density data for 70 species in the metropolitan area of Bristol, UK were subjected to de‐trended correspondence analysis to identify the number of different communities present and their indicator species. These data were then used to identify patterns of habitat association with each community and differences in species richness and total bird density.

Results Three communities were identified: a rural community associated with woodland, managed grassland and inland water; a suburban community associated with buildings and residential gardens; and an intermediate community that shared some of these habitat characteristics. Species richness, but not total bird abundance, was lowest in the suburban community.

Conclusion The diversity of species in urban areas appears to be most dependent upon the availability of patches of natural and semi‐natural habitats. Residential gardens support fewer species, but those species that are present may be found at high densities.     

The Pelland and Moe Site Blades: Paleo-Indian Culture History in the Upper Midwest

Abstract

Analysis of artifacts recovered from the Moe site located in northwestern North Dakota reveals the presence of 15 blades and three blade-like flakes, the majority of which are made of Knife River Flint and have been modified by retouch flaking. A comparison of the Moe specimens to those from the Pelland site in northern Minnesota, the only other site from the study area which contains blades of Paleo-Indian age, indicates that the Moe specimens are smaller in all dimensions. The Pelland specimens are made of Knife River Flint and have been modified by retouch flaking. Examination of the literature on Paleo-Indian sites from the Plains region indicates that blade production is more common in Plano cultures particularly Agate Basin and Plainview-Goshen than in earlier Clovis or Folsom cultures or later Cody cultures. It is suggested that the Pelland and Moe site blades are Plano in age and most likely Agate Basin or Plainview-Goshen in cultural affiliation. A model provided by Leo Pettipas (1976) is used to suggest an eastward movement of Plains Plano cultures using Knife River Flint across southern Manitoba, eastern North Dakota, and into western and northern Minnesota following the recession of Glacial Lake Agassiz.     

Direct and plant‐mediated effects of climate on bird diversity in tropical mountains

AimAlthough patterns of biodiversity across the globe are well studied, there is still a controversial debate about the underlying mechanisms and their generality across biogeographic scales. In particular, it is unclear to what extent diversity patterns along environmental gradients are directly driven by abiotic factors, such as climate, or indirectly mediated through biotic factors, such as resource effects on consumers.LocationAndes, Southern Ecuador; Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.MethodsWe studied the diversity of fleshy‐fruited plants and avian frugivores at the taxonomic level, that is, species richness and abundance, as well as at the level of functional traits, that is, functional richness and functional dispersion. We compared two important biodiversity hotspots in mountain systems of the Neotropics and Afrotropics. We used field data of plant and bird communities, including trait measurements of 367 plant and bird species. Using structural equation modeling, we disentangled direct and indirect effects of climate and the diversity of plant communities on the diversity of bird communities.ResultsWe found significant bottom‐up effects of fruit diversity on frugivore diversity at the taxonomic level. In contrast, climate was more important for patterns of functional diversity, with plant communities being mostly related to precipitation, and bird communities being most strongly related to temperature.Main conclusionsOur results illustrate the general importance of bottom‐up mechanisms for the taxonomic diversity of consumers, suggesting the importance of active resource tracking. Our results also suggest that it might be difficult to identify signals of ecological fitting between functional plant and animal traits across biogeographic regions, since different species groups may respond to different climatic drivers. This decoupling between resource and consumer communities could increase under future climate change if plant and animal communities are consistently related to distinct climatic drivers.     

The influence of a native tree species mix component on bird communities in non‐native coniferous plantations in Ireland

Capsule Norway Spruce plantations with Scots Pine as a secondary tree species had higher bird densities than pure Norway Spruce. Shrub cover was the most important structural variable, influencing bird density, species richness and Simpson’s diversity.

Aims To investigate whether incorporating a native tree component into non‐native coniferous plantations had any effect on bird communities or vegetation structure.

Methods Birds were surveyed in plantations of Norway Spruce mixed with Oak and Scots Pine, each paired with a plantation of pure Norway Spruce. distance was used to generate bird densities. Bird density, species richness and Simpson’s diversity were compared between each mix type and pure Norway Spruce. glms were used to investigate relationships between structural components of plantations and bird data.

Results Bird communities of mixed plantations differed only slightly in their composition from pure Norway Spruce. Bird density was significantly higher in Scots Pine mixes than in Oak mixes or pure Norway Spruce. Neither species richness nor Simpson’s diversity differed significantly between the plantation types. Some vegetation components differed between the plantations and shrub cover was positively associated with bird density, species richness and Simpson’s diversity. The presence of rides also increased bird density.

Conclusions There is a positive effect on bird communities of including a native tree species in non‐native coniferous plantations, but the magnitude of the effect is small. The influence of shrub cover on birds suggests that forest management may play an important role in determining the utility of plantations for birds. We recommend the establishment of mixed tree species plantations where possible, although, in the case of Oak mixes, the Norway Spruce appeared to suppress growth of the Oak and thus may be restricting its effect on birds. Changes in management, such as planting Oaks in clumps or heavier thinning of the coniferous component, could address this problem.     

Identifying factors that influence bird richness and abundance on farms

Capsule: Farmers can influence species richness and abundance of typical farmland birds positively, even on rather small farms (20–50?ha) within intensively farmed areas.

Aims: To assess the impact of farm settings, farm characteristics and heterogeneity of habitats on bird species richness and abundance, and to indicate which actions and measures farmers can take to promote farmland birds at a farm level.

Methods: Farmland bird species richness and abundance were modelled as a function of farm settings, farm characteristics and semi-natural habitats on 133 farms. The data were analysed at the farm scale, as this is the ‘operating range’ of a farmer, but also at the territory scale, which represents the range birds (mainly passerines) use during the breeding season. Additionally, effects of the farm variables on species abundance/occurrence were investigated for nine widespread species.

Results: Farmland bird species abundance (but not richness) was elevated on organic compared to non-organic farms. Farmland bird species richness and abundance increased with decreasing mean field size. Crop diversity had positive effects on five species at the territory scale. Several semi-natural habitats, especially hedgerows, were associated with higher bird species richness and abundance at both farm and territory scales. Settlement revealed rather negative effects at the farm scale, but several positive relations at the territory scale.

Conclusion: Birds, especially passerines, are restricted to a small area during the breeding season, and so even small farms can contribute to their protection by growing diverse crops, reducing field size and managing a diversity of semi-natural, uncropped habitats. These measures should ideally be accessible within the relatively small scale of a bird territory.     

Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术对脊髓型颈椎病患者疗效及颈椎生物力学的影响

目的:探讨Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术对脊髓型颈椎病患者疗效及颈椎生物力学的影响。方法:选取2015年1月到2016年12月期间在我院接受治疗的脊髓型颈椎病患者48例,根据手术方式的不同将其分为植骨融合组(25例)和假体置换组(23例),其中植骨融合组采用颈椎前路减压植骨融合术进行治疗,假体置换组采用Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术进行治疗。比较两组患者的日本骨科协会(JOA)颈椎评分、颈椎功能障碍指数(NDI)评分、视觉模拟疼痛量表(VAS)评分、颈椎生理曲度、颈椎活动度、手术节段活动度、上邻近节段活动度、下邻近节段活动度,并比较两组患者的并发症情况。结果:术后12个月假体置换组的NDI评分明显低于植骨融合组(P0.05);术后6个月、术后12个月植骨融合组的颈椎活动度低于假体置换组(P0.05);术后1个月、术后3个月、术后6个月、术后12个月假体置换组的手术节段活动度高于植骨融合组(P0.05);术后12个月植骨融合组的上邻近节段活动度、下邻近节段活动度高于假体置换组(P0.05);两组患者随访期间颈部轴性症状发生率比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:与颈椎前路减压植骨融合术比较,Bryan颈椎间盘假体置换术对脊髓型颈椎病患者的远期疗效更佳,可更好的改善患者的颈椎生物力学,降低颈部轴性症状发生率,值得临床推广应用。     

Assessment of wind‐farm and other bird casualties from carcasses found on a Northumbrian beach over an 11‐year period

Capsule For 3748 bird carcasses found on 4.7 km of shoreline, the main cause of death was starvation. Three percent of deaths were attributed to wind turbines.

Aims To assess the main mortality causes from bird bodies washed ashore near wind turbines built in 1993.

Methods Weekly searches were made for bird carcasses to ascertain causes of death. Experiments tested the efficiency of searches, longevity of carcasses, and effects of wind direction on deposition rates.

Results In total, 3748 bird carcasses were found, an average of 341 per year. Guillemots formed 24.3% of the total, Kittiwakes 9.7%, Herring Gulls 9.0%, Black‐headed Gulls 7.4%, Great Black‐backed Gulls 6.4% and Feral Pigeons 11.3%. Each year more carcasses were found in winter than in summer, with a nine‐fold variation between winters. About 28.1% of carcasses were classed as starved, and 23.3% as eaten at sea (predation or scavenging). Of human‐related causes, 3.3% were birds affected by fishing gear, 3.0% were oiled, 6.4% had died from collisions (including 3% with wind‐turbines), the rest from minor or unidentified causes. Small passerines were probably under‐represented.

Conclusion Allowing for bodies not found, the local wind‐farm probably killed 148.5–193.5 birds per year, or 16.5–21.5 birds per turbine per year (mainly large gulls).     

Perry Ranch:A Plainview Bison Kill On the Southern Plains

Abstract

Salvage excavations at the Perry Ranch site in southwestern Oklahoma uncovered the association of Plainview projectile points with an extinct subspecies of bison. A radiocarbon date of 7030 ± 190 B.P. has been obtained from bison bone at the site. However, stratigraphic disturbances limit inferences about the cultural activities at the site.     

Offshore refuges support higher densities and show slower population declines of wintering Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres

ABSTRACT

Capsule: Wintering Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres occur in higher densities and their populations decline less on, or close to, offshore refuges than on mainland sites subject to greater levels of human disturbance.

Aim: To compare wintering densities of Ruddy Turnstones and changes in counts across time from sites with differing levels of human disturbance.

Methods: Long-term counts of Ruddy Turnstones (1998/1999 to 2015/2016) were used from 19 sites (two offshore refuges and 17 mainland sites subject to higher levels of human disturbance) in northeast England. No direct measure of human disturbance was available for our mainland sites; instead we used questionnaires (n?=?690) to understand how far people travelled to visit the coast and then used this distance with human population densities in a buffer around each site as a proxy for human disturbance levels.

Results: After controlling for the extent of their preferred habitat at each site (rocky shore) we found: (i) the closer each of the 19 sites was to the nearest offshore refuge the higher the density of Ruddy Turnstones and (ii) bird counts were stable at the two refuge sites, whereas, on average, counts declined at the 17 mainland sites. However, no relationship was found between Ruddy Turnstone counts from 17 mainland sites and human population densities within differing distances from each site (up to 10?km).

Conclusions: Our work suggests that Ruddy Turnstones made greater use of relatively undisturbed areas (offshore refuges) than those subject to greater disturbance by humans (mainland sites). Although the use of refuges and mainland in our study area was not well known, observations from 11 radio-tagged Ruddy Turnstones suggest that individual birds did use both locations. In a broader context, our work concurs with other studies that highlight the need for refuges with limited or no human access.