THE 4 TH ANNUAL NORTHERN PLAINS BIOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM

April 14, 2007

University of North Dakota

Schedule of Events

7:30 Sign-in and Registration

8:10 Welcome and Introduction Jim Maskey

8:20 Biotic-Abiotic Interactions and Their Impact on Overall Plant Performance for Tall Thistle ( Cirsium altissimum ). Michael Mellon and Svata M. Louda, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

8:40 Flowering patterns, Insect Herbivory, and Resource Conditions in Platte Thistle ( Cirsium canescens Nutt .). Natalie M. West and Svata M. Louda, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

9:00 Implications of Introduced Mule Deer to Oak Woodland Habitats on Santa Catalina Island , California . Thad A. Manuwal and Rick A. Sweitzer, University of North Dakota

9:20 Population Ecology and Carrying Capacity Estimates for Large Ungulates at Sullys Hill National Preserve, North Dakota . Sean R. Bertie and Rick A. Sweitzer, University of North Dakota

9:40 Home Ranges and Habitat Use of Moose in North Dakota .

James J. Maskey Jr . and Rick. A. Sweitzer, University of North Dakota

10:00 MORNING BREAK ( Poster Session )

10:30 Ecology of Wild Turkeys Translocated to Northwestern Minnesota .

Chad Parent and Brett J. Goodwin, University of North Dakota

10:50 Ferruginous Hawk Nesting Ecology in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Bart L. Bly, Nebraska Prairie Partners

11:10 Conservation of a Threatened Species: Mountain Plover Nest Marking in Nebraska . Larry Snyder, Bart L. Bly, and Max Post van der Berg, Nebraska Prairie Partners

11:30 The Examination of Life History Variation in White Sucker ( Catostomus commersoni ) Populations in North Dakota and Minnesota Drainages.

William Clark and Mark Clark, North Dakota State University

11:50 Effects of Schooling on the Swimming Performance of the Common Shiner ( Luxilus cornutus ) . Eric Bless and Steven Kelsch, University of North Dakota

12:10 LUNCH ( In Badlands Room )

1:30 Genetic Analysis of Tiger Salamanders ( Ambystoma tigrinum ) From North Dakota : An assessment of Sub-species Differentiation. Kennth C. Carbarle, Paul Lepp, and Christopher Beachy, Minot State University

1:50 The Origin and Evolution of Mimetic Type in Tiger Moths (Arctiidae: Arctiinae: Ctenuchini and Euchromiini). Rebecca B. Simmons and Sarah Johnson, University of North Dakota

2:10 Relative Effectiveness of Van Dorn Water Sampler and Vertical Tow Net in Sampling Zooplankton. Sujan M. Henkanaththegedara and Craig A. Stockwell, North Dakota State University

2:30 Revisions and New Species of the Gill Fluke Genus Dactylogyrus (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) Parasitizing Shiners (Pisces: Cyprinidae) of the Prairie Region.

Donald G. Cloutman, Bemidji State University

2:50 Landscape Influence on Parasite Distribution in Wood Frogs ( Rana sylvatica ) in The Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota. Eric E. Pulis, Robert A. Newman, and Vasyl Tkach, University of North Dakota

3:10 AFTERNOON BREAK ( Poster Session )

3:40 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dan Brooks, University of Toronto .

Taxon Pulses and Phylogenetic Effects on the species-Area Relationship: Integrating Historical and Ecological Biogeography

4:40 Closing Remarks Jim Maskey

8:00 SOCIAL & MIXER ( Suite 49 Restaurant)

POSTER SESSION

1. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Regulation of Neurovascular Development in Mice. Jacob Cain, Patrick Odens, and Diane Darland, University of North Dakota

2. Effect of Nutrient Availability on the Evolution of Tolerance to Herbivory in Annual Grass, Avena barbata (Poacea). Tomomi Suwa and Hafiz Maherali, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

3. Assessing Clonal Structure in a Native Thistle Using Non-invasive Population Genetic Techniques. Jeremy M. Brozek, Svata Louda, Guillermo Orti, and Kathleen Keeler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

4. A Statistical Evaluation of the Relationship Between Western Prairie Fringed Orchid ( Plantanthera praeclara ) Blooms and Regional Climate Factors. Justin Braaten, University of North Dakota

5. From Grassland to Woodland : A 42-year chronosequence in the Northern Great Plains . Anna L. Springsteen, Rod Hanley, Mark Liebig. Brett Goodwin, John Hendrickson, and Wendy Loya, University of North Dakota

6. Effects of Prairie Fragmentation on Endemic Orthoptera.

David W. Cookman III and Brett J. Goodwin, University of North Dakota

7. Distribution, Abundance, and Habitat Associations of the Long-billed Curlew in Southwestern North Dakota.   Daniel S. Ackerman, Richard D. Crawford, University of North Dakota

8. Effects of Local Nest Density on Nest and Chick Survival in Franklin s Gull: Implications for Wetland Management in the Prairie Pothole Region. Emily A. Davenport and Mark Clark, North Dakota State University

9. West Nile Virus Epizootiology, Central Red River Valley , North Dakota and Minnesota , 2002-2006. Jeffrey A. Bell, Christina M. Brewer, Nathan J. Mickelson, Gabriel W. Garman, and Jefferson A. Vaughan