Ohio Journal of Science: Volume 110, Issue 4 (September, 2010)

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https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/52093

Front Matter
pp. 0
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Abundance and Habitat Use of Winter Raptors on a Reclaimed Surface Mine in Southeastern Ohio
Ingold, Danny J. pp. 70-76
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Evaluation of the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) Seismic Method to Determine Sediment Thickness in the Vicinity of the South Well Field, Franklin County, OH
Haefner, Ralph J.; Sheets, Rodney A.; Andrews, Robert E. pp. 77-85
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Old Regrowth Forest Patches as Habitat for the Conservation of Avian Diversity in a Southwest Ohio Landscape
Means, Julianna L.; Medley, Kimberly E. pp. 86-93
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Determination of Soluble Phosphorus Content in Black Walnut Husk Compost via Formation of Molybdenum Blue
White, Jacob J.; Crosier, Joshua D. pp. 94-95
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Back Matter
pp. 999
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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Front Matter
(2010-09)
Abundance and Habitat Use of Winter Raptors on a Reclaimed Surface Mine in Southeastern Ohio
(2010-09) Ingold, Danny J.
Numerous studies have documented the benefits of reclaimed surface mines to breeding grassland birds, but few studies have focused on the use of such grasslands by winter raptors. I surveyed birds of prey along a driving transect on and around a 3,700 ha reclaimed surface mine in east-central Ohio from early January through mid-April 2009. My objective was to use these survey data to assess the relative abundance of migratory and winter resident raptors, as well as to examine potential habitat associations, perching preferences and morning versus afternoon activity patterns in each species. I sighted 382 total birds; red-tailed (Buteo jamaicensis) and rough-legged hawks (B. lagopus) had the greatest index of relative abundance followed by American kestrels (Falco sparverius) and northern harriers (Circus cyaneus). Numbers of rough-legged hawks, the only purely migratory species in this region, declined from January through April, while numbers of red-tailed hawks and harriers increased. Rough-legged hawks, kestrels and harriers were found in open grasslands at a rate greater than expected by chance alone, whereas red-tailed hawks were found disproportionately more often along forest edges. Most rough-legged hawks and harriers were observed soaring rather than perched, while approximately equal numbers of red-tailed hawks were observed soaring or perched in large trees. Most kestrels were observed on utility wires or in small trees. That moderate to high numbers of obligate grassland raptors were observed in this study, support previous findings that reclaimed surface mines provide important winter habitat for these species.
Evaluation of the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) Seismic Method to Determine Sediment Thickness in the Vicinity of the South Well Field, Franklin County, OH
(2010-09) Haefner, Ralph J.; Sheets, Rodney A.; Andrews, Robert E.
The horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) seismic method involves analyzing measurements of ambient seismic noise in three dimensions to determine the fundamental site resonance frequency. Resonance is excited by the interaction of surface waves (Rayleigh and Love) and body waves (vertically incident shear) with the high-contrast acoustic impedance boundary at the bedrock-sediment interface. Measurements were made to determine the method’s utility for estimating thickness of unconsolidated glacial sediments at 18 locations at the South Well Field, Franklin County, OH, and at six locations in Pickaway County where sediment thickness was already known. Measurements also were made near a high-capacity production well (with pumping on and off ) and near a highway and a limestone quarry to examine changes in resonance frequencies over a 20-hour period. Although the regression relation for resonance frequency and sediment thickness had a relatively low r2 (0.322), estimates of sediment thickness were, on average, within 14 percent of known thicknesses. Resonance frequencies for pumping on and pumping off were identical, although the amplitude of the peak was nearly double under pumping conditions. Resonance frequency for the 20-hour period did not change, but the amplitude of the peak changed considerably, with a maximum amplitude in the early afternoon and minimum in the very early morning hours. Clay layers within unconsolidated sediments may influence resonance frequency and the resulting regression equation, resulting in underestimation of sediment thickness; however, despite this and other complicating factors, hydrogeologists should consider this method when thickness data are needed for unconsolidated sediments.
Old Regrowth Forest Patches as Habitat for the Conservation of Avian Diversity in a Southwest Ohio Landscape
(2010-09) Means, Julianna L.; Medley, Kimberly E.
Landscape fragmentation and chronic habitat loss are potentially profound obstacles to the protection of mature forest birds in the eastern deciduous forest of the Corn Belt agricultural region. Because of the general absence of large remnant forests, conservation efforts need to better understand the role of very small ‘regrowth’ patches for bird conservation. This study investigated how small old regrowth forests contribute to regional bird diversity and differ in composition in relation to their physical, ecological, and landscape attributes. From May to late June 2009, we measured forest composition and structure, and conducted avian point count surveys in nine regrowth patches, 0.9 - 11.2 ha, embedded in the Miami University Natural Areas, Butler County, Ohio. These small patches conserved 68 percent of the recorded regional birds, including 94 percent of mature forest breeders. Site differences among the nine patches explained the designation of avian community types as primarily upland, floodplain, and transitional between these settings. These findings demonstrate the conservation significance of small, old regrowth patches for mature forest birds and support the conservation of these forests across a range of physical, ecological, and landscape settings.
Determination of Soluble Phosphorus Content in Black Walnut Husk Compost via Formation of Molybdenum Blue
(2010-09) White, Jacob J.; Crosier, Joshua D.
Walnut fruit husk compost is a by-product of the commercial processing of walnuts. These outer husks collect into generous size piles and are normally left to decompose. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) husk compost was analyzed for phosphorus content to determine its potential as a phosphorus fertilizer or soil additive. Twenty-two samples of walnut husk compost of varying decomposition times were collected and dried. Soluble phosphate was extracted with distilled water and reacted with ammonium molybdate and stannous chloride to form the brightly blue-colored heteropoly-molybdenum blue which was analyzed spectrophotometrically at 650 nm. Soluble phosphorus (as mass percent of dried samples) decreased by nearly 50 percent in the first year from 0.1708 ± 0.0199 percent in three-week-old compost (n = 7) to 0.0967 ± 0.0099 percent in 52-week-old compost (n = 8). In conclusion, the water soluble phosphorus found in walnut husk compost is within a suitable range for plant usage, but as a fertilizer it would be very mild. Due to the known allelopathic effects of this species, this level of phosphorus might make such compost an acceptable candidate for herbicidal applications with concurrent fertilizing benefits.
Back Matter
(2010-09)

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