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Reliability Of Determining Adults From Juvenile Ducks By Presence Or Absence Of Notched Tail Feathers In Various Species Of North American Ducks, Thomas Michael Siwarski Jan 2006

Reliability Of Determining Adults From Juvenile Ducks By Presence Or Absence Of Notched Tail Feathers In Various Species Of North American Ducks, Thomas Michael Siwarski

LSU Master's Theses

I estimated when juvenile tail molt occurs for several commonly harvested duck species, mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), northern pintails (A. acuta) (hereafter referred to as pintails), gadwalls (A. strepera), lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), and redheads (A. americana). Tests showed that aging mallards by notched tail feathers became unreliable the earliest (early September), followed closely by pintails (mid-late September), with gadwalls being the latest of the dabbling ducks to lose reliability in aging by notched tail feathers (late November). Lesser scaup and redheads retained their notched tail feathers throughout January and the completion of hunting season. Based on initial banding and band …


Effective Inter-Organizational Information And Communication Technology Adoption In Business-To-Business Customer Interface, Sanna Maria Kallioranta Jan 2006

Effective Inter-Organizational Information And Communication Technology Adoption In Business-To-Business Customer Interface, Sanna Maria Kallioranta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Past research has found that 80-90 percent of IT investments do not meet corporate performance objectives, primarily due to non-technical reasons such as human and organizational aspects. When Inter-organizational Information and Communication Technology (IICT) implementation is properly managed IICT can help manage the flow of goods, services, and information between business partners in the supplier-customer dyad, thus reducing transaction costs along the entire value chain. Using the underlying Resource-Based View theoretical foundation, this research approaches effective IICT implementation capability as a holistic organizational capability that extends beyond tangible IT resources. This research investigates business outcomes of IICT adoption in the …


Ecology Of Lesser Scaup Amphipods In The Upper-Midwest: Scope And Mechanisms Of The Spring Condition Hypothesis And Implications For Migration Habitat Conservation, Michael Jason Anteau Jan 2006

Ecology Of Lesser Scaup Amphipods In The Upper-Midwest: Scope And Mechanisms Of The Spring Condition Hypothesis And Implications For Migration Habitat Conservation, Michael Jason Anteau

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

I tested the scope of the Spring Condition Hypothesis in explaining the continental population decline of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis; hereafter scaup) and explored potential mechanisms affecting female body condition to assist conservation efforts for population recovery. Lipid reserves of females currently are lower than historical values during spring migration throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota; females catabolized lipids throughout this area (indexed by concentrations of plasma-lipid metabolites, which accounted for 75% of the variation in mass change). My results indicate that a large segment of the continental scaup population likely is affected by decreased lipid reserves, which could cause …


Spatial Distribution Of Heavy Metals In Louisiana Sediments And Study Of Factors Impacting The Concentrations, Suniti Bhattarai Jan 2006

Spatial Distribution Of Heavy Metals In Louisiana Sediments And Study Of Factors Impacting The Concentrations, Suniti Bhattarai

LSU Master's Theses

To identify the sites with elevated metal concentrations and factors impacting the concentrations, we studied 128 observations on heavy metals collected from the four inch deep sediments in Louisiana lakes and rivers. Use of Fe as a normalizing factor to interpret the site of metal enrichment was justified based on its high correlation with other heavy metals. The regression coefficients of metal/Fe came out to be significant for all the metals in both level and log versions. For the metals, where prediction exceeded upper 95% confidence interval, we mapped the site with factors such as number of industries located within …


Winter Diet, Seed Preferences And Foraging Behavior Of Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus Henslowii) In Southeastern Louisiana, Jennifer K. Dimiceli Jan 2006

Winter Diet, Seed Preferences And Foraging Behavior Of Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus Henslowii) In Southeastern Louisiana, Jennifer K. Dimiceli

LSU Master's Theses

Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) is a grassland bird whose population is declining throughout its range, mainly due to habitat loss. The Longleaf Pine forest ecosystems in which Henslow's Sparrows spend their winters are reduced to 5% of their former range. The winter ecology of Henslow's Sparrow remains understudied, especially regarding important aspects of diet and foraging behavior. To determine winter diet, I collected fecal samples from Henslow's Sparrows during banding operations in southeastern Louisiana pine savannas from October 2003-March 2004 and October 2004-April 2005. I then analyzed the samples for presence of seeds and arthropod parts, identified them to the …


U.S. Demand For Certified Tropical Hardwood Products, Shadia Duery Jan 2006

U.S. Demand For Certified Tropical Hardwood Products, Shadia Duery

LSU Master's Theses

Tropical forests, which contain 50 percent of the planet's biodiversity, are threatened by deforestation and illegal logging. Forest certification was initiated initially as a s certification: forest management practices and chain of custody (CoC). The United States is the largest market for secondary, or value-added, tropical hardwood products (STHP) which influences forest management practices in supplier countries. In 2004, this study was conducted to measure the demand for certified products in the U.S. The objectives of the study were to identify characteristics of U.S. demand for secondary (value-added) tropical hardwood products and to understand market perceptions regarding certification of secondary …


Delineating Hurricane Vulnerable Populations In Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Stephanie Pedro Jan 2006

Delineating Hurricane Vulnerable Populations In Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Stephanie Pedro

LSU Master's Theses

Since settlement first began, equality issues between different social classes have been evident in the location of where residents settled in New Orleans. This research seeks to answer the question: What socioeconomic indicators are prevalent in the areas most-at-risk to flooding which could inhabit populations least able to evacuate? I will use Census 2000 block group data from the socioeconomic sample data (SF3) collected in 2000, along with other economic and GIS data from the New Orleans region to statistically represent the distribution of risk by selecting indicators predicted to be in flood zones from a classification tree analysis. Then, …


Swamp Tours In Louisiana Post Hurricane Katrina And Hurricane Rita, Dawn Schaffer Jan 2006

Swamp Tours In Louisiana Post Hurricane Katrina And Hurricane Rita, Dawn Schaffer

LSU Master's Theses

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall in southern Louisiana during August and September 2005, respectively. Prior to these storms swamp tours were a popular nature-based tourism experience that entertained visitors while teaching them about local flora, fauna, and culture. The number of swamp tour businesses in the state was slowly increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine how many swamp tours were operating after the hurricanes, what type of damage they sustained, and how they repaired their businesses. Differences between those tours that remained open after the hurricanes and those that closed were also examined. A 3-phase mail …


Dendrochronological Analysis Of Productivity And Hydrology In Two Louisiana Swamps, John Blake Amos Jan 2006

Dendrochronological Analysis Of Productivity And Hydrology In Two Louisiana Swamps, John Blake Amos

LSU Master's Theses

Modified river flows and land subsidence have subjected many coastal swamp forests in the delta of the Mississippi River to greatly altered flooding, sediment, and nutrient regimes. These areas have become inundated to greater depth, duration, and frequency and either are connected to the river and receive drastically increased sediment and nutrients (riverine swamps) or have become disconnected from riverine flooding (stagnant swamps) and receive little or no sediment and nutrient input. To better understand how these changes are affecting ecosystems, dendrochronological techniques for baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L. Rich.) were used at three sites in each of two contrasting swamps …


Coastal Marsh Restoration Using Terraces: Effects On Waterbird Habitat In Louisiana's Chenier Plain, Jessica L. O'Connell Jan 2006

Coastal Marsh Restoration Using Terraces: Effects On Waterbird Habitat In Louisiana's Chenier Plain, Jessica L. O'Connell

LSU Master's Theses

Terracing is a novel technique used to combat coastal marsh loss in Louisiana and Texas. Terraces are assumed to slow marsh erosion, decrease pond depth, and encourage vegetation expansion. Terraced ponds have never been evaluated as habitat for waterbirds, which heavily depend on Louisiana�s coastal marshes. From April 2005 to April 2006, I monitored waterbird species richness and density through time to estimate effects that terracing has on habitat quality. Water quality (turbidity, salinity, conductivity, water temperature, and water depth) also was measured. Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass and nekton density were measured from April 2005 to September 2005. I …


Effects Of Fire On Habitat Associations, Abundance, And Survival Of Wintering Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus Henslowii) In Southeastern Louisiana Longleaf Pine Savannas, Erik Ivan Johnson Jan 2006

Effects Of Fire On Habitat Associations, Abundance, And Survival Of Wintering Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus Henslowii) In Southeastern Louisiana Longleaf Pine Savannas, Erik Ivan Johnson

LSU Master's Theses

The Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) is the fastest declining short-distance migrant and fastest declining grassland bird in North America. Declines in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannas, its primary wintering habitat, have exceeded 97%. Other than basic habitat requirements, very little is known about its wintering ecology. I examined habitat associations of wintering Henslow’s Sparrows resulting from fire in longleaf pine savannas in southeastern Louisiana during two winters. Because it is important to understand the relative importance of habitat parameters, which include structure, species composition, and food availability, I measured these to determine their relative importance to Henslow’s Sparrow densities. I …


The Impact Of Hypoxia On Mercury Methylation In Bottom Sediment Of Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Mei Huey Tan Jan 2006

The Impact Of Hypoxia On Mercury Methylation In Bottom Sediment Of Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Mei Huey Tan

LSU Master's Theses

Widespread concern has developed about high mercury content in fish in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent estuaries and bays. Among the areas implicated as possible sources of the mercury that moves up the food chain from the methylmercury formed in sediments and anoxic waters is the seasonal hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf. This research was designed to determine if methylmercury formation is stimulated by the anaerobic sediment conditions accompanying the onset of summer hypoxia in the Gulf. Both field and laboratory studies were carried out. For the field study sediment samples were collected at three stations (i.e. C4, …


Links Between Environmental Mercury, Special Education, And Autism In Louisiana, Jessica Rury Jan 2006

Links Between Environmental Mercury, Special Education, And Autism In Louisiana, Jessica Rury

LSU Master's Theses

The number of children born every year with neurological disorders is increasing and some of this increase may be attributed to mercury exposure. Pregnant women ingest contaminated fish, which transfers high mercury concentrations to the unborn fetus. This exposure may result in methyl mercury buildup in the brain of the unborn fetus. Symptoms ranging from minor to severe may be observed as special educational needs in school systems. These include learning disorders, developmental delays, and autism. Louisianans are especially susceptible to mercury contamination because fish and shellfish are a major portion of their cultural diet. This study, through the use …


Spatial Distribution Of Anthropogenic Environmental Hazards In The Louisiana Coastal Zone: Implications For Ecosystem Restoration, Melissa Ann Kroninger Jan 2006

Spatial Distribution Of Anthropogenic Environmental Hazards In The Louisiana Coastal Zone: Implications For Ecosystem Restoration, Melissa Ann Kroninger

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this project was to assess the spatial distribution of anthropogenic environmental hazards in the Louisiana coastal zone and implications of those hazards for coastal resources and restoration efforts. Several state and federal environmental databases publicly available on the internet were selected for inclusion in this study. The hazard sites were mapped in a Geographic Information System by geocoding addresses obtained from the databases. Sites with unmatched addresses were mapped to zip code centroid. Hazard types in databases lacking spatial data at the address level were totaled and mapped by parish. Buffers were created at 1, 2, 3, …


The Feasibility Of Using Gps Technology For Continuous Time Studies Of Rubber-Tired Grapple Skidders, Robert Henry Dupre Jan 2006

The Feasibility Of Using Gps Technology For Continuous Time Studies Of Rubber-Tired Grapple Skidders, Robert Henry Dupre

LSU Master's Theses

Skidders are one of the most common timber harvesting machines used on mechanized logging operations in the southern United States and can represent the greatest single capital investment for a logging contractor. Time studies of skidders have been conducted on nearly every type of mechanized logging operation and are a key part of the productivity studies conducted on logging operation. GPS technologies have enabled researchers to move away from the typical manual time data collection for productivity studies and start conducting unattended time studies on skidding equipment. For this study a Trimble GeoXT with external antenna was installed in a …


Effects Of Silvicultural Techniques And Landscape Management On Habitat Quality And Relative Abundance For Northern Bobwhites In A Pine Plantation Forest, Jason Douglas Burke Jan 2006

Effects Of Silvicultural Techniques And Landscape Management On Habitat Quality And Relative Abundance For Northern Bobwhites In A Pine Plantation Forest, Jason Douglas Burke

LSU Master's Theses

Pine plantation forests are increasing in scope across the southeastern United States, particularly Louisiana. These areas provide poor quality bobwhite brood-rearing habitats, and become increasingly degraded without periodic disturbance. Poor quality habitat conditions at a landscape-level scale usually results in reduced fall bobwhite body weights, creating low survival rates. We researched 4 understory vegetation management techniques (ie. mowing, no treatment, burn only, and imazapyr with burning) within pine plantations to evaluate their effects on vegetation composition and structure and on arthropod abundance and availability relative to bobwhite brooding habitat in 2002-2005. We used 1,155 human-imprinted bobwhite chicks to estimate foraging …


Some Factors Affecting The Interfacial Interaction At Thermomechanical Pulp Fiber And Polypropylene Interphase, Sangyeob Lee Jan 2006

Some Factors Affecting The Interfacial Interaction At Thermomechanical Pulp Fiber And Polypropylene Interphase, Sangyeob Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focused on some selected factors that influence the interfacial interactions at the interphase between wood based materials and thermoplastic surfaces. Several treatments were applied to enhance interfacial properties. In general, interfacial properties were altered by physical and chemical surface modification. Study of the interfacial interactions between wood fiber surfaces as a reinforced material and thermoplastics as a matrix material is important to understand fundamentals of wood fiber-plastic composites (WPC). This study represents fundamental research to define treatment effects on surfaces of wood pulp fibers and polypropylene (PP) film. Two thermosets, ion implantations, and maleic anhydride (MA) grafting were …


Factors Influencing The Participation In Environmental Stewardship Programs: A Case Study Of The Agricultural And Forestry Sectors In Louisiana, Carrie Castille Mendoza Jan 2006

Factors Influencing The Participation In Environmental Stewardship Programs: A Case Study Of The Agricultural And Forestry Sectors In Louisiana, Carrie Castille Mendoza

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Considerable research has been conducted to evaluate the adoption of agricultural best management practices and their overall impact on improving environmental quality. However, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the behavioral factors that influence the adoption of these practices in the context of educational programs The goal of this study is to determine the factors that influence farmer conservation behavior that might lead to an increased probability of improving agriculture and forestry watersheds. A conceptual model was developed to identify the: 1) identify landowner participation in watershed conservation projects, and 2) determine the factors influencing agriculture and forestry landowners …


Impacts Of Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis Invicta Buren) On Native Faunal Communities In Two Pine-Dominated Forests, Lee A. Womack Jan 2006

Impacts Of Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis Invicta Buren) On Native Faunal Communities In Two Pine-Dominated Forests, Lee A. Womack

LSU Master's Theses

Impacts red imported fire ants (RIFA) exert on native faunal communities were monitored in two pine-dominated ecosystems in Louisiana. After suppression of established RIFA populations with Amdro®, cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus), herpetofaunal, ground-dwelling invertebrate, Lycosidae, and non-target ant communities were compared between untreated-control and treated plots with respect to possible ecological impacts of RIFA on these communities. Efficacy of Amdro® (A. I. 0.7% hydramethylnon) was tested at Alexander State Forest and Sandy Hollow WMA, and was found to be effective at both sites for 99-42.3% and 97-48%, respectively, suppression of RIFA on treated plots, for three to seven months, with …


Structural And Forecasting Softwood Lumber Models With A Time Series Approach, Nianfu Song Jan 2006

Structural And Forecasting Softwood Lumber Models With A Time Series Approach, Nianfu Song

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The development of cointegration theories and the presence of nonstationarity in time series raised serious concerns about possible spurious estimations in forest products models. Based on the results of Hsiao (1997a, 1997b), all the virtues of two-stage least square (2SLS) hold if there are sufficient cointegration relations. Stationary null and nonstationary null unit root tests and monthly seasonal unit root tests were applied to the time series used in this dissertation. Cointegration tests with exogenous variables were performed to justify the 2SLS. A regional error correction model (ECM) with four regional lumber supply and demand equations and a U.S.-Canada supply …


Resource Recovery Of Coal Bed Methane Formation Water, Catherine Elizabeth Bishop Jan 2006

Resource Recovery Of Coal Bed Methane Formation Water, Catherine Elizabeth Bishop

LSU Master's Theses

During the excavation of natural gas, petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted brine water, termed production water, is drawn from the coal bed methane formations (CBMF) along with the natural gas product. The water is drawn out in vast amounts and re-injected into the CBMF. In the Greater Rocky Mountain Region (GRMR) where water supplies are dwindling, the remediation of CBMF production water has become a high priority for maintaining agriculture, residential development and industrial expansion. The overall objective of this research was to demonstrate in laboratory and field pilot studies the efficacious merging of Immobilized Microbe BioReactor (IMBR) technologies for biodegradation/mineralization of organics …


Genetic Effects Influencing Salinity And Cold Tolerance In Tilapia, Alvaro M. Armas-Rosales Jan 2006

Genetic Effects Influencing Salinity And Cold Tolerance In Tilapia, Alvaro M. Armas-Rosales

LSU Master's Theses

Genetic effects influencing salinity tolerance (ST) and cold tolerance (CT) were evaluated in two full diallel mating designs using six tilapia varieties: Oreochromis aureus (BL), O. mossambicus (MO), O. niloticus (NI), O. niloticus crossbreds (RE), Mississippi commercial strain (MC) and Florida red tilapia (FL). Statistical analyses provided estimates of direct heterosis (hi), cross heterosis (hij), maternal effects (mi), line effects (li), reciprocal and specific reciprocal effects (rij and r**ij), and general and specific combining abilities (GCA and Sij). Analysis of genetic effects for ST indicated that FL …


Breeding Waterbird Use Of Rice Fields In Southwestern Louisiana, Sergio Pierluissi Jan 2006

Breeding Waterbird Use Of Rice Fields In Southwestern Louisiana, Sergio Pierluissi

LSU Master's Theses

Rice fields are agricultural wetlands concentrated in several areas in the U.S., including southwestern Louisiana. Rice fields are flooded for much of the year and support thick emergent vegetation, potentially providing high-quality habitat for several species of breeding waterbirds. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine relative nest density, nest success, and habitat associations of breeding waterbirds in southwestern Louisiana rice fields and (2) determine the effectiveness of callback surveys as a monitoring tool. In the summers of 2004 and 2005, marsh bird surveys and nest searches were conducted in Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion, and Acadia Parishes in …


Effects Of Insectivorous Birds On Tree Growth In The Maurepas Swamp, David M. Fox Jan 2006

Effects Of Insectivorous Birds On Tree Growth In The Maurepas Swamp, David M. Fox

LSU Master's Theses

Coastal forests in Louisiana are in decline due to natural and human caused changes in the hydrology of the region. Baldcypress and water tupelo trees have been further stressed by caterpillar herbivory in recent decades. Regeneration of water tupelo is crucial for cavity creation for nesting habitat for secondary cavity nesting bird populations. Insectivorous birds have been shown to decrease insect-caused leaf damage on trees in other ecosystems. Two experiments examining effects of insectivorous birds on tree growth were conducted in degraded areas of the Maurepas Swamp in southeastern Louisiana. In the first experiment, nest boxes were added to study …


Effects Of Terraces On Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In Shallow Marsh Ponds In Coastal Southwest Louisiana, Christopher Dean Cannaday Jan 2006

Effects Of Terraces On Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In Shallow Marsh Ponds In Coastal Southwest Louisiana, Christopher Dean Cannaday

LSU Master's Theses

The wetlands of coastal Louisiana are disappearing at a rate of 65 to 80 km2yr-1. Most of the loss is the conversion of emergent marsh to shallow marsh ponds. Terracing is one restoration technique that has been used frequently in recent years. Terraces are small intertidal ridges built in shallow marsh ponds to reduce wave action. It is assumed that this will slow erosion of adjacent emergent marsh and increase Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) production, a key habitat component for many marsh fauna. Yet both relevant previous studies failed to show that terraces increased SAV abundance. …