Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume 32 Annual Issue Article 111

1925

An Ecological Survey, as a Means of Obtaining a Background for An Ecological Survey, as a Means of Obtaining a Background for

Certain Morphological Problems Certain Morphological Problems

David T. Jones University of Iowa

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Jones, David T. (1925) "An Ecological Survey, as a Means of Obtaining a Background for Certain Morphological Problems," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 32(1), 431-437. Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol32/iss1/111

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AN ECOLOGICAL SURVEY, AS A MEANS OF OBTAIN­ING A BACKGROUND FOR CERTAIN MOR­

PHOLOGICAL PROBLEM S

DAVID T. JoNJ;;s

The di ssection of a specimen in the laboratory needs to be sup­plemented by a stimulating and enriching background gained in the field . Structure i s to a greater or less degree associated with function, and, di sregarding the disputed effect o f environment upon heredity, changes in environment can modify the function­ing of somatic s tructures in the l i fetime of a single individual. Furthermore, a morphologist, who supplements his laboratory work with ecological observation, has the pleasure o f seeing i n action the structures with which he works, gains the perspective which his problem should have with other problems, and discovers further channels for research in his chosen fi eld.

With the idea of gaining such a background for morphological research on the protractile apparatus of the mouth of the perch and the pumpkinseed sunfish, this ecological survey was made at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory on \Vest Lake Okoboj i in the summer o f 1 924, with Dr . F. A . Stromsten, Prof . B. Shimek, and Mr. George Potter of the State University of Iowa and Prof . A . P. Larrabee o f Yankton College cooperating. In order to avoid the overwhelming number of forms and limitless areas of the main­land, the sand spit proj ecting out into Miller's Bay in front o f the Laboratory w a s selected.

The preparatory work consisted of pacing off distances and plotting the tract. Contonr lines at a depth of one foot and two feet were measured off. Certain terrestrial and aquatic zones were then laid off from permanent landmarks. The former were each designated by two Arabic numerals corresponding to the two landmarks between which each was situated. The latter were designated in order by Roman numerals . Each zone was con­sidered to have a proximal, middle, and distal portion ( designated P, M, and D respectively ) with reference to the mainland. Lo­cation of plants and animals was then listed in the field accord­ing to zone - portion of zone - and ( in the case of aquatic zones ) depth, as,

Zone V Date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Ceratophylluni demersum V-D- 1 leaf

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Jones: An Ecological Survey, as a Means of Obtaining a Background for Ce

Published by UNI ScholarWorks, 1925

432 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

( Fo r ono de,y)

Su rfac e t emperatu l'e OXY&en co nt ent - c c . p e r ,ll)' d rc g en i on conc ent re.U an- PH- • Carbon di oxi de cont ent

XI

Nature o f e o i l) and b o t tam .

� x � Ro cke ��--�� ·o::.;: Grav .. 1 ,(,d Sand x

I X

VI I VI I l

Sho r• l i n e

I I I

, . J.. f 1 e h n est . FAUNA

Amphi o po de Bi rde ·Black t e rn

Fl i ck .. r Robi n GrRat blue hero n

lli ve.lvea z. v "'------"-' �'li ea

:FLORA 9 e Bi dene B eckU VI z. i; e rat ophv llum demeraum

Chara (!) ' iifrliiph,y llum api ca tum

ll d 9 6>

Fi eh ( adult \ Le eches Mi nnow�-No t l'Opi a

FUndulus � Y oung o f

game fhh Naj ss fl ex1 li a Po tain_Qgeto n a�:U fol�Jl! __.co eJ Potamogeton � r Potamo c;.�t O '! P.t!',.elO,!l.&;l.! -Po.tamo e;eton R1 charde oni i ' Potamo11eton z o a t P ri fol i u a t

Snai l a � i nt egra Plano rbi e · parvu e Pl ano rbi e bi cari natu e Plano rbi e campanulatu e Amni co la Ancylua _!i_'!"lari e Ve.l vata t ri cari nata

Spi de rs COMPOSI TE CHART OF ZONES OF THE SAND SPI T- sho wi ng methods

u s e d in the t abul ation of di fferent chart s .

Rou:an numeral e 5 A qu a.ti c zone s . Arabi c numeral s ro. Landma rks

J (

1' p A "" .. II

I I

I V

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Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 32 [1925], No. 1, Art. 111

https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol32/iss1/111

A� E C O L O G I CAL SURV E Y

Ranunculus aquatilis V-D- ( 1 -2 ) leaf Snail ( P!anorbis bicarinatus) V-M-2.

433

In the final report these l ists were worked over and tabulated ac­cording to species, as,

Bidens B eckii

Aug. 1 9, 1924 III -P-H flower Aug. 7, 1 924 VII-P-4 flower � first to bloom in this region Aug. 1 8, 1 924 XI-D- ( 3-4 ) flower

Both floral and fauna! lists were thus made. From these, maps were made on which each kind of plant or animal was represented by a d ifferent symbol. Investigation of the soil in different ter­restrial zones both at the surface and at varying depths was made. In aquatic zones the nature of the bottom was noted .

Temperature, hydrogen-ion concentration, and oxygen and car­bon dioxide content of the water at different points were consid­ered in relation to height o f sun and direction of wind, al though this portion of the work was not carried far enough to reach many general conclusions. The chemical calculations were made by .Miss Josephine Bockwoldt and Miss Elizabeth Conard. Theories as to the origin of the sand spit were formulated in l ight o f the known facts concerning the material making up the spit , wind action, and other factors.

Sunfish nests were plotted, habits o f sunfish observed, and at­tempts were made to find out the relation o f animaJs to one an­other, the relation between animals and certain plants, and the relation of both to material washed up along the shore by the waves ( mostly broken stems of M yriophyllum ) . This dr ift mate­rial was found to serve as a means of support for the estab­l i shment of Lc111na and such snails as Ly mizaca and certain Suc­cmeas. I t offered protection from the birds for frog tadpoles, minnows, and many water beetles . Some work on the kind o f snails eaten b y the sunfish o f this region, had a direct bearing on the morphological problem o f protractile j aws o f fi sh, but the background o f animal and plant forms and relationships gained by this survey, made i t well worth the time and effort involved .

This ecological survey was made between July 28 and August 2 1 , 1 924, in a much shorter time than would have been possible had not the staff o f the Lakeside Laboratory so kindly assisted. A complete copy of the survey is being added to the l ibrary o f Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

UN IVERSITY O F lowA 3

Jones: An Ecological Survey, as a Means of Obtaining a Background for Ce

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EX PLANATION OF PLATE I

Fig. 1 . The sand spit as seen from j ust south o f Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Fig. 2. The sand spit as seen from Zone ( l -2) .

2, 3, 4, and 5. Points 2, 3, 4, and 5 from which zones were laid out. m. Bed of Myriop hyllum etc. f. Floete's residence. b. Boathouse-Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. I. Laboratory building-l o>Ya Lakeside Laboratory.

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Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 32 [1925], No. 1, Art. 111

https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol32/iss1/111

AN ECOLOGICAi, SURVEY 435

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

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Jones: An Ecological Survey, as a Means of Obtaining a Background for Ce

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A 1fODEL SHOWING THE PROTRACTILE APPARAT U� O F THE M OUTH OF THE PUM PKI NSEED SUN­

FISH, E UPOM O TIS GIBB OSUS L. ' (A demonstration )

D,wm T. JoNEs

EX PLANATION OF PLATE I

Fig. 1 . Side view showing jaws retracted. Fig. 2. Side view showing j aws protracted.

am. Adductor mandibulae ( m uscle ) . fm. Fronto-maxil laris ( muscle ) .

g. Geniohyoideus ( muscle ) . h . Bones of the head. i. Intermandibularis (muscle ) . I. Lower j aw. m. Maxil la ( bone ) . p. Premaxi l la (bone ) . p .p. Pedicle of the premaxi l lae ( bone) .

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Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 32 [1925], No. 1, Art. 111

https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol32/iss1/111

PROTRACTILE APPARATUS

PLA'tt I

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2,

437

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Jones: An Ecological Survey, as a Means of Obtaining a Background for Ce

Published by UNI ScholarWorks, 1925