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Item Open Access Downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus) biology and management(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Beck, K. George, author; Colorado State University, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, publisherItem Open Access Downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus) biology, ecology, and management: literature review(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Beck, K. George, author; Colorado State University, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, publisherItem Open Access Summary of biology of some common bees and wasps(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Cranshaw, Whitney, author; Colorado State University, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, publisherItem Open Access Relative ranking of ornamental flower plants to foraging honey bees (with notes on favorability to bumble bees)(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Cranshaw, Whitney, author; Colorado State University, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, publisherObservations were made during the 2007-2009 growing seasons on the relative attractiveness of various flowering ornamental plants to honey bees (Apis mellifera). This information was collected so that honey bee favorability - or lack of favorability - may be considered in plant selection.Item Open Access Gardening for bees - or not!(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Cranshaw, Whitney, author; Colorado State University, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, publisherItem Open Access Native bee watch: a Colorado citizen science field guide(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018-03) Mason, Lisa, author; Kondratieff, Boris, author; Seshadri, Arathi, author; Colorado State University, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, publisherHandbook for volunteers to use to collect data on native species of bees and the plants they use most for pollen collection.Item Open Access A faculty-librarian collaboration success story: implementing a teach-the-teacher library and information literacy instruction model in a first-year agricultural science course(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Gilman, Neyda V., author; Sagà s, Jimena, author; Camper, Matt, author; Norton, Andrew P., author; Johns Hopkins University Press, publisherTeaching information literacy requires a constant and evolving paradigm shift in today's fast-changing technology era. Add to this the intricacy of agricultural science education, and it becomes clear that instructors face challenges teaching the necessary research skills to prepare the next generation of scientists. Two faculty members in Colorado State University's College of Agricultural Sciences identified a need to redesign a core agricultural science course after observing their students struggle with research and writing. These professors improved their course through a redesign program that connected them with librarians. This collaboration led to the creation of a scaffold to help students build information literacy skills through a first-year agricultural science course. In this paper the authors discuss this collaboration, including four key factors to the program's success: a) a faculty-librarian partnership through a learning and teaching institute; b) early exposure to information literacyskills in a first-year agricultural science course; c) the integration of a research guide in a Learning Management System (LMS), and a step-by-step library and information literacy instruction session with a library assignment; and d) a teach-the-teacher model using graduate students from the respective discipline. The authors also analyze student evaluation outcomes and reflect on future improvements.Item Open Access Chemical and mechanical defenses vary among maternal lines and leaf ages in Verbascum thapsus L. (Scrophulariaceae) and reduce palatability to a generalist insect(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-08) Alba, Christina, author; Bowers, M. Deane, author; Blumenthal, Dana, author; Hufbauer, Ruth A., author; Public Library of Science, publisherIntra-specific variation in host-plant quality affects herbivore foraging decisions and, in turn, herbivore foraging decisions mediate plant fitness. In particular, variation in defenses against herbivores, both among and within plants, shapes herbivore behavior. If variation in defenses is genetically based, it can respond to natural selection by herbivores. We quantified intra-specific variation in iridoid glycosides, trichome length, and leaf strength in common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L, Scrophulariaceae) among maternal lines within a population and among leaves within plants, and related this variation to feeding preferences of a generalist herbivore, Trichopulsia ni Hübner. We found significant variation in all three defenses among maternal lines, with T. ni preferring plants with lower investment in chemical, but not mechanical, defense. Within plants, old leaves had lower levels of all defenses than young leaves, and were strongly preferred by T. ni. Caterpillars also preferred leaves with trichomes removed to leaves with trichomes intact. Differences among maternal lines indicate that phenotypic variation in defenses likely has a genetic basis. Furthermore, these results reveal that the feeding behaviors of T. ni map onto variation in plant defense in a predictable way. This work highlights the importance of variation in host-plant quality in driving interactions between plants and their herbivores.Item Open Access Biomass for thermochemical conversion: targets and challenges(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013-07) Tanger, Paul, author; Field, John L., author; Jahn, Courtney E., author; DeFoort, Morgan W., author; Leach, Jan E., author; Frontiers Research Foundation, publisherBioenergy will be one component of a suite of alternatives to fossil fuels. Effective conversion of biomass to energy will require the careful pairing of advanced conversion technologies with biomass feedstocks optimized for the purpose. Lignocellulosic biomass can be converted to useful energy products via two distinct pathways: enzymatic or thermochemical conversion. The thermochemical pathways are reviewed and potential biotechnology or breeding targets to improve feedstocks for pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion are identified. Biomass traits influencing the effectiveness of the thermochemical process (cell wall composition, mineral and moisture content) differ from those important for enzymatic conversion and so properties are discussed in the language of biologists (biochemical analysis) as well as that of engineers (proximate and ultimate analysis). We discuss the genetic control, potential environmental influence, and consequences of modification of these traits. Improving feedstocks for thermochemical conversion can be accomplished by the optimization of lignin levels, and the reduction of ash and moisture content. We suggest that ultimate analysis and associated properties such as H:C, O:C, and heating value might be more amenable than traditional biochemical analysis to the high-throughput necessary for the phenotyping of large plant populations. Expanding our knowledge of these biomass traits will play a critical role in the utilization of biomass for energy production globally, and add to our understanding of how plants tailor their composition with their environment.