Coles County Research Articles

Sustainability, natural capital, engineering, and geology: a case study of Coles County, IL, USA

If sustainable development planning for Coles County, IL, USA, had been done in 1830, planners would not have been able to predict changing technology allowing more efficient use of existing natural capital. Planning for sustainability should include the geology, current and historic uses of natural capital, and consideration of changing population and technology. Coles County has glacial and alluvial deposits underlain by bedrock of the Illinois Basin. Discussion with local experts and inspection of current and historic records determined the current and historic use of natural capital of Coles County. Land initially attracted humans to water and fertile soil supporting plants and animals. Fertile soil and water continue to support agricultural activity today. The two largest communities rely on surface water for water supply. Sand, gravel, and limestone are quarried. Coal has been mined in the past. Petroleum drilling is on the third pass as technology and demand have changed. Technologic changes have allowed the county to develop new and more efficient ways of using natural capital leading to continued use of resources in the county.

Rediscovery and redescription of Hystrichophora loricana (Grote) (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae)

Here we provide information on the recently rediscovered Hystrichophora loricana (Grote) (Fig. 1). Previously known only from the male Holotype (Fig. 2), H. loricana was brought to the attention of the second author after a brief description of the species was published in “Olethreutine moths of the Midwestern United States” (Gilligan et al., 2008). The second author has observed and collected H. loricana over the last 15 years at two locations in Coles County, Illinois, usually in association with Orbexilum onobrychis (Nuttall) Rydberg (Fabaceae). Subsequent searches for stands of this plant in Kentucky by the third author led to discovery of a colony of H. loricana and collection of the first female. This paper provides the first biological notes on this species, as well as the first complete description of the adult and male and female genitalia.

Graves of Unknowns in Gardens of Stone: An Analysis of Infant Anonymity from a Midwestern Cemetery, 1863–1983

To be named is to be, bestowing individuality and the most cogent dimension of social identity. Anonymity, the absence of a name, nearly defies scholarly consideration because the nameless are rarely located in records and documents. However, cemeteries receive both the named and the unnamed, offering the rare opportunity to examine anonymity. This research examines nameless infant burials for socio-demographic patterns that might explain anonymity. Anonymous cases were selected from a single cemetery of 16,440 interments in Coles County, Illinois. Findings revealed that age was inversely related, significantly, to anonymity, as was decade of death, with anonymity exceeding those named from about 1865 to 1915. Also statistically significant were the relationships between anonymity and a series of familial indicators. Having no significant relationship with anonymity were sex, ethnicity and race.

Research Article: The effects of riparian zone fragmentation on algal growth potential and fish growth rates

Stream habitats in Illinois have been fragmented over time by human interference, specifically agriculture and pollution. Stream fragmentation may cause distinct patch formation within a stream and may produce negative effects upon both abiotic and biotic factors of a stream. Therefore, if patch formation exists, we would expect to see changes in algal growth rates within patches, which in turn may lead to changes in growth rates of fish at various trophic levels. In this study, our objectives were to: 1) determine if distinct patch formation occurred within a stream environment; 2) discover if algal growth potential differed between habitat types; and 3) determine if growth rates of fish are affected by differences in algal growth or patch formation. Seven sites were sampled for fish and algal growth potential along Polecat Creek, located in Coles County, Illinois. For all sites, stream habitat quality assessment was conducted using the Stream Habitat Assessment Procedure (SHAP), stream algal growth potential was assessed using biostimulation, and fish growth rates were determined using the back calculation method. We concluded from SHAP scores that distinct patch formation occurred within a stream and resulted in two habitat classes: the good habitat class containing four good sites and the poor habitat class containing three sites. When comparing good and bad site classes no significant difference was observed in algal growth potential or fish growth rates. The reason for the absence of differences in algal growth potential and fish growth rates between site classes may be due to the overall phosphorous deficiency within the stream.

Effects of Diagenesis on Reservoir Quality Within Two Cypress Reservoirs in the Illinois Basin

One billion bbl of oil have been produced from the Chesterian Cypress Formation in the Illinois basin. These heterogeneous reservoirs may consist of deltaic, marine-reworked deltaic, and/or reworked marine sandstone within mixed siliciclastic-carbonate environments. Thin section, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray analysis indicate that the effects of diagenesis play a significant role in reservoir quality of Mattoon and Parkersburg fields in Illinois. Five separate Cypress sandstones may be present at Mattoon field (Coles County), a predominantly stratigraphic trap, produces from three distinct Cypress strata. In these fields, reservoir quality is reduced when quartz overgrowths and later stage, blocky mosaic ferroan-calcite cement occlude pore throats. Authigenic clay minerals occur as pore-lining particles that inhibit fluid-flow. Clay minerals preset are illite, mixed-layered illite/smectite, chlorite, and kaolinite. Reservoir quality is enhanced through dissolution of early ferroan-calcite cement, dissolution of detrital feldspar, and microfracturing. Completion, stimulation, and production programs within the heterogeneous Cypress sandstone reservoirs would be improved by recognition of mineral relationships and diagenetic overprints. Developments programs may need to include the use of clay stabilizers in mud clean-out acid treatments.

Ontogenetic adaptations in some Pennsylvanian crinoids

Three species of Upper Pennsylvanian crinoids, two inadunates and one flexible, exhibit a sufficiently complete growth series to describe and quantify their ontogeny. Apographiocrinus typicalis (Moore and Plummer), Erisocrinus typus (Meek and Worthen), and Euonychocrinus simplex (Strimple and Moore) were collected from the middle shale of the Millersville Limestone Member of the Bond Formation at the Charleston Stone Quarry, Coles County, Illinois. Ten other crinoid species were collected in insufficient numbers for growth studies. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical procedures were used to analyze the growth of these crinoids.In the inadunate crinoids skeletal growth was highly coordinated in the dorsal cup and cup plates. Arm length increased by addition of secundibrachials. Food groove width increased almost three times from immature to adult stages, thus allowing a larger range of food particles to be consumed by adults. Growth of the cup is isometric in E. typus and slightly anisometric in A. typicalis. Primibrachials in both species develop anisometrically. Immature specimens possess long, slender primibrachials, with the A ray plate being longest. In maturity, the primibrachials become equidimensional and equalized in all rays. The A ray arm is followed by the C and D ray arms, and finally the B and E ray arms, in sharp contrast to arm development in disparid inadunates. Pinnules appear late in the immature stage of growth. Primary emphasis on the expansion of the arms in young inadunates demonstrates a rapid establishment of a filtration-fan mode of feeding. Subsequent development involves widening of the plates for strength and support of the arms and to accommodate wider food grooves that permit a larger array of food particles to be captured.The flexible crinoid, E. simplex, experienced a less correlated pattern of growth. Cup plates and arms grew isometrically and all arms were added simultaneously. Development suggests that flexibles fed differently than the associated inadunates and the cup may have played a less important role in functioning of the calyx.The upright, elevated growth pattern of stalked crinoids exposed them to a sequence of competitive interactions with other epifaunal animals that had important adaptational ramifications for their evolution, diversity, and extinction. The fact that most living crinoids, stalked and unstalked, have abandoned a permanently fixed place of growth may have been an advantageous factor in their survival.

What Fishermen Look for in a Fishing Experience

What Fishermen Look for in a Fishing Experience

Largemouth Bass in Ridge Lake, Coles County, Illinois

The present publication is essentially a description of the culling technique of management and its effect upon the largemouth bass in Ridge Lake for an approximate 10-year period beginning with the spring of 1941 and ending after the bass spawning season but before the angling season of 1951. This technique, which is being employed in all recreational lakes built by the state of Illinois, may be depended upon not only to maintain good bass fishing over an indefinite period but to produce superior angling for fish of other warm-water species inhabiting these lakes.

Geology of Mattoon Field, Illinois: ABSTRACT

The interesting features of the Mattoon field are: (1) the history of its discovery; (2) the dual-completion methods used; and (3) the very lenticular condition of its sands. 1. The Mattoon anticline in Coles County--180 miles south of Chicago--was generally known in 1937. The first well, drilled in 1939, made a total of 132 barrels. In 1940, four more wells, with only one producer (the discovery well), had practically condemned exploitation in spite of the verification of the structure. Three years later a small well extended the potential field and was followed by a series of mediocre wells. In 1945, or five years after the discovery well was completed, an independent operator completed a 100-barrel well, 3/4 mile from the discovery, renewing the general interest. A boom soon developed when a well was completed, producing 1,200 barrels. Rapid extensions defined a potential area of 7,000 acres, a major field. 2. Wells in the two main shallow producing sands, less than 2,000 feet deep, soon were dually completed with successful results. The Cypress sandstone, with as much as 40 feet of saturation, produced with the more commonly developed Rosiclare sand and sandy limestone. A 7-inch oil string was set on the top of the lower sand with aluminum pipe opposite the Cypress sand. Both sands were shot with nitroglycerine, tested individually by setting a temporary, drillable plug, and produced together. Wells are drilled to 2,000 feet in 7 days, with two rock bits and four retips. However, the dual completion takes 20 days of spudder time. Average total cost of single completion is $15,000. The dual method increases the cost to $18,000. Electric logs were made on all wells and gave good quantitative results. One problem could not be solved by electric logs: differentiation between gas and oil in the Cypress. However, a gas-oil level was determined by drill-stem tests on the crest of the structure. Within 14 months 114 wells had been drilled, of which 22 were dry holes and 92 were producers, with an average initial production of 148 barrels. Peak production was reached in June, 1946, with 15,500 barrels daily. Steady decline was experienced during the next 12 months, and in June, 1947, the daily production was down to 5,500 barrels daily. Total recovery from 5,500 producing acres is estimated at 17 million barrels. 3. Detailed electrical-log cross sections are presented to show the extremely lenticular condition of the sands. A considerable area on the top of the structure remains undrilled. A gas cap in the upper Cypress sand has not been exploited. The west part of the City of Mattoon also remains undrilled due to communitization problems, in spite of its potential productivity. The Aux Vases sand was found extremely shaly, excepting the southwest part of the field. Its development, estimated at only 50 acres, will produce approximately 6,000 barrels. Six Devonian wells on the structure have produced only 1,100 barrels of oil. However, potential production from the Devonian can not be ignored at this time. The total accumulated production of the Mattoon field on September 1, 1947, is 6,280,000 barrels. End_of_Article - Last_Page 302------------

Broomcorn Industry of Coles County, Illinois

F OROM the time Coles County, Illinois, was settled (1857) it has been prominent in the production of broomcorn. This county is located in the heart of one of the three major broomcorn areas of the United States, known as the Central District (Figure 1). The other two major areas are the Lindsay District, in south-central Oklahoma, and the Western or Dwarf District, which extends in an irregular curved fashion around the Panhandle of Texas. There

The Vertebrate Life of Certain Prairie and Forest Regions Near Charleston, Illinois

During August, 1910, a study was made of the biological conditions of a piece of prairie and a piece of woodland near Charleston, Coles County, Illinois, by Mr. Charles C. Adams, of the Universityof Illinois, who studied the invertebrates ; by Mr. E. N. Transeau, of the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, at Charleston, who studied the plants ; and by the writer, who gave particular attentionto the vertebrate life. Embodied in this paper are the notes taken at this time on the vertebrates, together with other notes on vertebrates taken during occasional visits to the places since then.