The Fairport Chalk (lower middle Turonian) of the Carlile Shale is an Upper Cretaceous rock unit that was deposited in the middle of the Western Interior Seaway. This study presents the results of the first examination of microscopic marine vertebrate fossils from a single basal horizon within the Fairport Chalk at a new locality in Russell County, Kansas. The paleofauna consists of at least 12 vertebrate taxa, including seven chondrichthyans and five osteichthyans. They include durophagous (Ptychodus) and macrophagous (Cardabiodon and Cretoxyrhina) species, opportunistic scavengers and feeders (Squalicorax), and pelagic predators (plethodids and Enchodus). There is a scarcity of Enchodus and an abundance of caturid teeth, which is similar to the upper half of the Greenhorn Limestone, but in striking contrast with the basal Greenhorn Limestone, upper Carlile Shale, and upper Niobrara Chalk. The abundance of caturid teeth in the Jetmore Chalk–Fairport Chalk interval indicates that the specific caturid taxon was more common in the offshore environment than E. shumardi.

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) was once a primary constituent of savannas throughout the Great Plains. Today, however, oak woodlands occupy only a small percentage of their former extent, and so efforts are underway to restore them. This study examined growth of young trees, frequency of acorn production (an index of recruitment potential), and seedling recruitment in two bur oak cohorts, planted in 2007 and 2009, in a mostly unmanaged setting undergoing old field succession. Documenting the variation in growth response is important for predicting rates of establishment and recruitment in woodland restorations where bur oaks are planted with little to no subsequent intervention. Trees grew an average 40.59 cm/year in the 2007 cohort, and 30.49 cm/year in the 2009 cohort. For both cohorts, height was a function of age (2007 cohort: r² = 0.793; 2009 cohort: r² = 0.616). In 2022, diameter at breast height (DBH) was a strong predictor of tree height (2007 cohort: r² = 0.776; 2009 cohort: r² = 0.927). There was great variation in fruit production among individual trees: annual acorn production varied from ∼1 to ∼45 % of trees in the 2007 cohort and from ∼4 to ∼24 % of trees in the 2009 cohort. In 2022, 81.25 % of randomized 4 m x 4 m quadrats contained bur oak seedlings. It is encouraging that acorn production commenced just a few years after planting and that substantial recruitment from seed began within ten years, suggesting that bur oak stands so established can become self-sustaining. These results can inform restoration ecologists who wish to reestablish native oak stands but may lack the time and resources to provide much follow-up.

A fundamental, Quantum Mechanical description of photoactivation of a generic photosensitizer (PS) and the ensuing transfer of energy to endogenous oxygen as part of the Type II pathway to photodamage during photodynamic therapy (PDT) is presented. The PS and molecular oxygen are approximated as two-electron molecules. Conservation of energy and of angular momenta of the two molecule system are abided via selection rules throughout the four-stage process, including initial states, absorption of a photon by the PS, conversion of the PS to an excited spin triplet via intersystem crossing (ISC), and the transition of molecular oxygen to an excited spin singlet state via a Triplet-Triplet Exchange of electrons with the PS. The provided description of photosensitization will provide students and researchers with a fundamental introduction to PDT, while offering the broader population of Quantum Mechanics and Physical Chemistry students an advanced example of quantum systems in an applied, medical context.

Tallgrass prairies in North America have endured substantial losses due to anthropogenic environmental change. Plant-associated phyllosphere fungi are a largely overlooked aspect of diversity in grassland systems. Phyllosphere fungi are important in plant health as pathogens, commensals, and potential mutualists. We aimed to determine how host plant species affected the community-level diversity of phyllosphere fungi across a steep precipitation gradient and two co-occurring prairie species – big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii, Poaceae) and leadplant (Amorpha canescens, Fabaceae). We sampled leaves of both plant species from five sites across a portion of the precipitation gradient in Kansas, USA, each site with a different mean annual precipitation (MAP; 615 mm – 1038 mm). Leaf disks were homogenized, and the extracted DNA was Illumina MiSeq sequenced to characterize the foliar fungal communities. We compared several richness and diversity estimates using Wilcoxon rank sum tests and multiple linear regression analyses and tested for compositional differences among the communities using permutational analysis of variance analogs (PERMANOVA). The data suggested minor differences in the fungal communities between the two hosts, whereas MAP had no effect. Similarly, linear regression analyses indicated no host or precipitation gradient effects on the fungal community composition. Both phyllosphere fungal communities and the factors affecting them in prairie systems remain poorly understood and results suggest that more research is needed to fully understand the compounding biodiversity which includes microbial communities within this system.

The Northern Studfish (Fundulus catenatus) is a nonnative species in Kansas that has been detected once in the state in 1965. This historical collection occurred in West Fork Drywood Creek, which is part of the Osage River basin. Here we report the second collection record of Northern Studfish in Kansas from Dry Branch, which is part of the Neosho River basin (NRB). This second collection occurred on 23 April 2022 when we found three individuals that ranged in total length from 120-124 mm. The Northern Studfish population we detected in Dry Branch is proximal to other known introduced populations in the NRB of northeastern Oklahoma, which represent a likely colonization source for the individuals we found in Kansas. Based on other recent stream fish sampling we have done we believe that the distribution of Northern Studfish in Kansas is highly-restricted. However, monitoring of this species should continue to evaluate its establishment and spread, and any potential resultant negative impacts.

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) is one of the most damaging pests of alfalfa in Kansas causing crop loss of 10-15% annually. No formal population study has been conducted. The strain distribution of H. postica in Kansas was determined for eight fields located in six major alfalfa growing counties. mDNA from individuals collected at each field location was digested and sequenced to differentiate among strains. Eastern, western and Egyptian strains were recovered with eastern being the dominant strain. All sites examined had populations of eastern and western strains within the same fields. This study is the first reported instance of the Egyptian strain in Kansas. This intergrade of weevil strains may have significant implications for Integrated Pest Management strategies.

Knowledge of movements, spawning, and reproductive periodicity of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is important for their successful management. Thirty gravid female Paddlefish were tagged with acoustic transmitters and their movements tracked in Grand Lake (a 21,000 ha impoundment) and in two tributaries, the Neosho River (NR) and Spring River (SR), northeastern Oklahoma, USA to assess their reproductive periodicity (annual versus non-annual) and their choice of river entered during their upriver spawning migration period (Feb 15 to May 15). Fish seldom occupied the rivers at other times and remained in the reservoir. Telemetered fish commonly used both rivers, with few using only one river each year and none using a single river exclusively over the four year study duration. Although annual spawning was the most common pattern, alternate-year spawning was observed. Over the four-year study, fish demonstrated a slight numerical preference for ascending the NR (96 times) over the SR (88 times), despite anomalously lower discharges in the NR. Results were not inconsistent with two other studies indicating the higher value of the NR over the SR as a paddlefish recruitment river. However, the lack of high flow years on the Neosho River during our study limited our interpretation. In testing hypotheses that pre-spawning fish would enter the river a) with the higher discharge on that day or within four days prior, b) with the greater increase (or lesser decrease) in discharge on that day or within four days prior, none of nine discharge variables investigated were closely related to river choice. Despite some specific instances where high or rising discharge each triggered upriver movements, river choice over the entire Feb 15 to May 15 period as a whole was similar to what would be expected by chance. Entering and exiting the two proximal, low gradient river mouths and lower river sections may have incurred little energetic cost prior to actual spawning.

Two male red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) were captured by the BioScience class of the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) during routine study. The animals were brought in for measurements and teaching before being released. The class asked if there might be tardigrades in the algae on their backs. Scrapings were examined and two active Minibiotus jonesorum tardigrades were found on one of the turtles. Rotifers, nematodes, and ciliates were also observed. This is the first record of tardigrades being found on the back of a turtle and suggests another vector for the movement and dispersal for these non-self-dispersing microscopic animals. This record documents an extension of the range for the species of tardigrade, reports the first incident of this terrestrial species in an aquatic habitat, and adds to the diversity of the state of Kansas.

Dung counts can be a cheap and effective way to estimate herbivore density across grassland and savanna ecosystems. However, estimating animal density requires information on the decay rate of dung and the animal's defecation rate. Before the arrival of Europeans, the American Bison (Bison bison) was one of the most widespread megafauna in North America. Yet, we are unaware of any study that has quantified the fundamental measurements of dung decay and deposition rates in bison. This study aimed to determine the dung decay rate and defecation rate of bison to estimate population size and habitat usage. The decay rate of bison dung was tracked by revisiting cohorts of dung piles throughout the year for an average of 184 days using a five-class classification system to track the decay process. Only 23 of our 78 dung piles fully decayed within the 168 to 211 days of tracking, with an average of 101 days for decay, which is substantially slower than similar megafauna, such as cattle and cape buffalo. However, using a decay class system instead of full decay is useful in tracking bison habitat usage because dung transitions to class 4 over a consistent 25 to 30 days. Based on video recordings in autumn, the average defecation rate of bison was calculated to be approximately 10.7 dung piles per animal per day. These results can be used to track bison habitat usage in grassland ecosystems, with especially high accuracy of usage in the last 30 days.

Anthropogenic global climate change is contributing to the mass extinction of wildlife across the globe. The protection of biodiversity in freshwater environments ensures economically beneficial ecosystem services are maintained. Freshwater ecosystems are hotspots for biodiversity and have higher levels of imperiled organisms compared to terrestrial and marine systems. The objective of this study was to develop an aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA) protocol that increases detection sensitivity to target rare and endangered aquatic organisms in Kansas. The Cylindrical Papershell mussel (Anodontoides ferussacianus) was listed as endangered in Kansas in 2019 and was used for protocol development due to its contracting distribution and low population density. While this species was used in the development of the protocol, the objective of this protocol is not restricted to this species. Following this protocol, Cylindrical Papershell DNA was detected at a sensitivity of 1.7 parts per billion in 1 L of water. Increasing detection sensitivity will be necessary for successful conservation strategies as we proceed through the Anthropocene due to compounding costs associated with monitoring and managing an increasing number of declining populations. This protocol, in conjunction with traditional sampling efforts, will aid in future monitoring and recovery plans of native aquatic species.

Catfish tournaments are growing in popularity among catfish anglers in Kansas. These tournaments mostly occur on reservoirs with restrictive or protective regulations for Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus that limit the size of fish that tournament participants are allowed to weigh in. As a result, catfish tournament anglers have begun to campaign for length limit exemptions for catfish tournaments. Unlike black bass spp. and Walleye Sander vitreus tournaments, there is little to no research on tournament-related stress and mortality regarding catfish. This study aimed to evaluate Blue Catfish blood glucose levels, which is a secondary response to stress, before and after being exposed to different variations of livewell flow, size, and crowding using a readily available portable blood glucose meter. The Accu-Chek Guide was found to be capable of detecting differences in blood glucose levels of Blue Catfish, which were found to increase significantly following simulated livewell stress. However, this study did not observe any differences in blood glucose levels of Blue Catfish exposed to differing livewell flows, different sized livewells, or differing amounts of crowding of fish within a livewell.

The following abstracts of papers and posters were accepted for presentation at the 155^th Annual Meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science