Biodiversity Commons^™

Golf Courses In Maine: Land Type Valuation Versus A Hedonic Pricing Analysis, Gregory Ladd, Jason Buco

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

Many studies have been conducted analyzing the economic impact of golf courses on the local communities. These studies examine economic impacts of tournaments, endorsements, and vacation expenses of the major golf courses in the United States. However, there is little research conducted on the environmental impact of Golf courses, specifically in Maine. This paper performs a hedonic pricing analysis using housing prices in proximity to golf courses and compares it to the valuation of various land types in Maine. Housing prices were collected in the towns of Auburn, and North Yarmouth both near and distant from the local golf course. …

Cost Benefit Analysis Of Café Standards Compared To The Alternative Fuel/Carbon Tax, Brian Levinson

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

The Cafe Standards were introduced in 1975 following the Oil Embargo. The goals of this program were simple. To reduce co2 emissions in vehicles by increasing a mandatory average mpg level for car manufacturers in the United States. Recently, in 2012, the Obama Administration set new Cafe Standard requirements for car manufacturers. By 2025, all new cars on the road in the United States must average 54.5 miles per gallon, which would double the current 27 mpg average in place right now. While the intentions of this policy are to reduce co2 emissions while at the same time increasing savings …

The Economics Of The Audubon Society's Sanctuary Program For Golf Courses, Dan Hyszczak

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

Millions of people play golf every year, and in 2011 Golf Courses gained $22 billion dollars in revenue. This statistic combined with golf’s inherent place in the natural environment lead to questions of value and development for golf course owners. In 1991, The Audubon Society created their Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP) to promote environmentally sustainable practices for golf courses and to recognize the courses that are the most environmentally in both the United States and around the world.

This paper builds off of prior research that connects golf course beauty with revenue by examining the effects of …

Preferences For Coral Reef And Fishery Management In Okinawa, Japan, Nils Carlson

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

This study is an example of how a nonmarket valuation method – a choice experiment – can be used to influence and guide ecosystem conservation efforts. Using a choice experiment survey, this study estimates the willingness to pay (WTP) for certain hypothetical attributes of a restored and conserved coral reef in Okinawa, Japan. I find that an increase in the amount of fish available to catch in ten years as well as an increase in the extent and health of the coral reefs and the number of marine biodiversity found in the Okinawan waters after ten-years, both positively affect respondent’s …

An Exploratory Statistical Analysis Of The External And Internal Effects Of Art Museums In The United States, John Eder

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

An Exploratory Statistical Analysis of the External and Internal Effects of Art Museums in the United States

A Survey On Climate Change: How Beliefs Shape Responsibility, Connor P. Clancy, Sarah Beth Solomon

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

This paper examines the lack of awareness and feelings of personal responsibility for climate change. Previous literature suggests that while part of the United States population may be aware of climate change, they do not feel personally responsible for causing it despite feeling climate change’s effects just like everyone else. Furthermore, studies suggest that individuals also do not believe climate change will affect them now, but rather it is an issue for future generations. Using a survey, we examine which demographics and personal factors are most important in eliciting awareness for climate change, and furthermore, personal responsibility for its effects. …

Invited Introduction To Jerec, Noelwah Netusil

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

No abstract provided.

Welcome By The Editor, Sahan T. M. Dissanayake

Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby

No abstract provided.

Medicinal Plants Of Turmic Valley (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, Sher Wali Khan, Qamar Abbas, Syed Najmul Hassan, Hawas Khan, Azhar Hussain

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study was undertaken to enumerate the medicinal plants of the area, find out the conservation status, and record the folk knowledge from the inhabitants of Turmic Valley during 2011-2013. The valley is located in the Rondo division of the District Skardu on the Northeastern side of the Indus River. The detailed information about the local flora regarding medicinal uses was collected from the local herbal healers (Hakeems) and other knowledgeable people. Locally used herbs of the area prevent and cure the people from various diseases such as joint pains, bronchitis, flu and fever, lowering blood pressure, constipation, …

Physico-Chemical Variables And Fish Parasites Of River Neelum Azad Jammu And Kashmir, Pakistan, Nuzhat Shafi, Javed Ayub, Tasleem Akhtar

Journal of Bioresource Management

The physico-chemical parameters and the fish parasites of the River Neelum were studied at three sampling sites, i.e., Pattika, Tali Mandi, and Domail. Water temperature and rate of flow of water were significantly higher at Domail than Pattika and Tali Mandi. ANOVA showed that dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, inorganic suspended solids, and organic matter of the bottom mud kept on fluctuating and showed a significant difference between three selected sites. Although, these variables showed variations, they remained within tolerable limits set by WHO. Three species of potentially harmful parasites, i.e., Dactylogyrus vastator, Procamallanus laevionchus, and Argulus foliaceus were …

Assessment Of Fusariotoxins And Toxigenic Potential Of Fusarium Spp. In Maize Grains Collected From Pakistan, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif, Iffat Tahira, Salma Khatoon, Kishwar Sultana

Journal of Bioresource Management

A total of 65 maize grain samples (Zea Mays L.) collected from cold and hot climatic zones of Pakistan lead to isolation of 10 Fusarium supposing deep freezing method. Occurrence of fusarium spp. was high (75%) in cold climatic zones as compared to hot zones (25%). Fumonisins were recorded in both climatic zones, though their incidence was higher in hot climatic zone (range 4,379-9,990 μg/kg). Incidence of A and B trichothecenes was higher in cool climatic zone. Zearalenone (ZON) with mean level 500 μg/kg was positive in only 10% samples of hot climatic zone. Furthermore, co-contamination of fusariotoxins …

Assessment Of Antimicrobial And Antioxidant Activity Of Justicia Californica, Nabeela Shafique, Rizwana Aleem Qureshi

Journal of Bioresource Management

The present study focused on the exotic plant species Justicia californica, which is a native species of California. Phytochemicalanalysis was performed, which showed the presence of alkaloids, aminoacids, carbohydrates, glycosides, phlobatannins, and tannins in the root extract of J.californica, whereas amino acids, carbohydrates, and tannins were present in leaf and stems extract. In roots, 9.46%, and in leaf and stem, 13.35% flavonoids were found. Phenolics were found to be key phytochemicals, playing a role in antioxidant activity, which are about 8% in the sample of roots and 11.4% in the extract of leaf and stems. The DPPH assay, …

Mesquite (Prosopis Juliflora): Livestock Grazing, Its Toxicity And Management, Kainaat William, Laila Jafri

Journal of Bioresource Management

Prospis juliflora is an invasive tree native to Northern South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It has been used as a folk remedy for catarrh, cold, diarrhea, dysentery, excrescences, flu, hoarseness, inflammation, measles, sore throat, and in the healing of wounds. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antitumor, and anthelminitic activities are also reported and it contain phytochemicals such as flavonols, alkaloids, tannins, ellagic acid, glycosides, steroids, and various phenolic compounds. It is reported to be used as feed for cattle worldwide. Low intake of this plant doesn’t affect the health of cattle but excessive intake is harmful and can cause …

Growth Inhibiting Effects Of Three Different Plant Extracts On Tribolium Castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae: Coleoptera), Javed Iqbal Dr, Ghulam Jilani, Muhammad Aslam

Journal of Bioresource Management

Petroleum ether, acetone and ethanol extracts of neem, sweet flag, and turmeric were evaluated for their growth inhibiting effects on the Tribolium castaneum at the application rate of 1000, 500, 250 and 125 μg/g food media. Petroleum ether extracts showed the lowest number of larvae produced (34.00) in 1000 μg/g neem extract. Acetone extract of sweet flag showed minimum and significantly lower number of larvae produced (8.00) at 1000 μg/g, whereas ethanol extracts of turmeric showed minimum numbers of larvae (106.30) at 1000 μg/g application rate. Maximum inhibition ratio of pupation was found as 81.18 % at 1000 μg/g dosage …

Review: Contribution Of Biotic Agents Of Pakistan In World Agriculture, Mohammad Irshad

Journal of Bioresource Management

Biological control has attained immense significance. Biological control is not unknown. It has a past history of successes. Natural control consists of two major components: environmental factors (abiotic) and natural enemies (biotic). Integrated Pest Management or Crop Management is considered a valuable tool in food security. It has not only been used in Pakistan but also Pakistani biotic agents have been used elsewhere in the world giving substantial economic control. These have been mainly used in the USA. With World Trade Organization protocols in operation, biological control will be of much significance. Import and export of natural enemies will be …

A Review: Antifungal Potentials Of Medicinal Plants, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Mukhtar, Aysha Sarfraz

Journal of Bioresource Management

Medicinal plants have been widely used to treat a variety of infectious and non-infectious diseases. According to an estimate, 25% of the commonly used medicines contain compounds isolated from plants. Several plants could offer a rich reserve for drug discovery of infectious diseases, particularly in an era when the latest separation techniques are available on one hand, and the human population is challenged by a number of emerging infectious diseases on the other hand. Among several other ailments, fungal infections are posing a great threat to the mankind, as a large number of people suffer from fungal infections worldwide due …

Use Of Dna Barcoding To Control The Illegal Wildlife Trade: A Cites Case Report From Pakistan, Attika Rehman, Sana Jafar, Naeem Ashraf Raja, Javed Mahar

Journal of Bioresource Management

Illegal wildlife trade is a great threat to the conservation efforts made worldwide to save wildlife species and their parts. Use of molecular methods, including DNA barcoding, is gaining acceptance to detect cross-border movement of endangered species. Here we report the utility of DNA barcoding in the detection of smuggling of an endangered turtle species from Pakistan. The consignment labeled as “fish meat” was intercepted at a Pakistani port and was tested for its source using DNA Barcoding with fish-specific primers. Sequences from the samples from this consignment matched (99%) with those from Lissemys punctata (Indian flap-shelled turtle), a species …

First Report: Hyphomycetous Fungi From Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Kishwar Sultana, Asmaul Husna, Gulshan Irshad, Mah Noor

Journal of Bioresource Management

The saprophytic hyphomycetous fungi: Beniowskia sphaeroidea, Graphium putredinis, Phaeoisaria clematidis, and Tilachlidium ramosum were recorded in Rawalpindi from 2008 to 2010. These were studied in the laboratories of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University campus Rawalpindi.

Bears In Pakistan: Distribution, Population Biology And Human Conflicts, Fakhar -I- Abbas, Zahid Iqbal Bhatti, Jibran Haider, Afsar Mian

Journal of Bioresource Management

We conducted questionnaire based interviews (n = 1873) of respondents coming from 258 localities about bear tracts in northern parts of Pakistan in 2012-2014 to study Himalyan brown (U. arctos isalbellinus) and Himalayan black (U. t. laniger) bears. Brown bears were more frequent in northern latitudes (northern Chitral, Ghizer, Gilgit and Skardu), while black bears were widely distributed in southern latitudes (Battagram). Both brown and black bears are present in central latitudes (Astor, Diamir, Kohistan and Mansehra). We identified 34 populations of brown bears; a large population in the Deosai Plateau and small to very small …

Seasonal Dynamics And Micro-Climatic Preference Of Two Alpine Endemic Hypogean Beetles, Stefano Mammola, Elena Piano, Pier Mauro Giachino, Marco Isaia

International Journal of Speleology

Hypogean beetles generally live in stable environments, characterized by constant temperature and high relative humidity. Changes in the underground microclimatic conditions generally induce local migrations of the beetles through the hypogean environment in search of suitable microhabitats. We studied the seasonal dynamics and the micro-climatic preference of two Alpine endemic hypogean beetles - Sphodropsis ghilianii (Coleoptera, Carabidae) and Dellabeffaella roccae (Coleoptera, Cholevidae) - in the hypogean complex of Pugnetto (Graian Alps, Italy). We surveyed the two species for one year, using baited pitfall traps and measuring temperature and humidity along the two main caves. We used logistic regression mixed models …

Generation And Assessment Of Muscular Mutations In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Katie N. Reget

DePaul Discoveries

A study of egg laying muscular mutations in C. elegans was conducted over a span of ten weeks. Parent (EGL-19) and wild type (N2) were exposed to mutagenesis and integration mutation techniques to generate genetic and physical different mutants. Overall, four genetic, physical and phenotypically unique worms were generated for the process of mutagenesis. The worms used in the process of integration were found to have shortened life spans, reduced size and decrease numbers of progeny.

Section Abstracts: Natural History And Biodiversity

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Natural History and Biodiversity Section for the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 21-23, 2015, James Madison University, Richmond, Virginia

Two New Euscorpius Species From Central-Western Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), Gioele Tropea, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

Two new Euscorpius species are described, based on specimens collected by P.M. Giachino & D. Vailati in central-western Greece in neighboring Aitoloakarnania (Western Greece) and Fokida (Central Greece) regional units. No Euscorpius specimens were previously available from this area. The first new species, Euscorpius giachinoi sp. n., is very similar to a recently described E. birulai Fet et al., 2014 from Euboea Island, and is also characterized by a low trichobothrial count (Pv = 7, et = 5), a low pectinal teeth count (Dp = 7 in males, 6 in females), and long-limbed features. The second species, …

Identification Of Aflatoxins And Ochratoxin A In Selected Imported Pet Food, Iffat Tahira, Nighat Sultana, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif

Journal of Bioresource Management

The current study was conducted to analyze the aflatoxins (AF i.e. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 AFG2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in imported pet food. A total of five hundred and ten commercially available imported pet food samples of cat (solid = 240, semi-solid = 90) and dog (solid = 150, semi-solid = 30) were collected from retailers and analyzed by chromatographic technique i.e. HPTLC. Results revealed 45.83% (mean, 3.90 ppb) and 18% (mean, 4.83 ppb) of AFB1 incidence in solid pet foods of cats and dogs, respectively. However, lower levels i.e. 8.88% (mean, 4.60ppb) and 6.66% (mean, 2.80ppb) of AFB1 were …

The Population Estimate Of Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus Chirurgus In Wetlands Of Pakistan, Zahid Iqbal Khan, Mohammad Shareef Mughal

Journal of Bioresource Management

Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, is the only beautiful bird maintaining its presence in the abandoned wetlands of Punjab during the summer season. The population distribution appears, between 298 and 347, which was highest (83-96) at Marala and lowest (21-57) at Balloki, with density found to be highest (3/km2) and lowest (0.3/ km2), respectively. Being a migratory bird, March was observed as the start of arrival, and October was observed as completion of departure from the study areas.

Determination Of Acute Toxicity Of Copper And Cobalt For Tilapia Nilotica, Asif Naseem Rai, Asmat Ullah, Jibran Haider

Journal of Bioresource Management

During the present investigation, the 96-hr LC50 and lethal concentrations of copper and cobalt for Tilapia nilotica were determined under controlled laboratory conditions at constant pH (7.25), total hardness (255 mgL-1) and temperature (30 °C). During acute toxicity studies, the physico-chemical parameters of water viz. temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, carbon dioxide, total ammonia, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and total hardness were monitored at 12-hr intervals for each test. Fish were exposed to different concentrations of copper and cobalt, separately, starting from zero with an increment of 0.05 and 0.5 mgL-1. After 96-hr exposure of various concentrations of each …

Evaluation Of Biochar As Fertilizer For The Growth Of Some Seasonal Vegetables, Kainaat William, Rizwana Aleem Qureshi

Journal of Bioresource Management

Biochar was used to replace inorganic fertilizers. Biochar was synthesized by the process of pyrolysis using horse dung (5kg) and dry grass (25kg) to check its effect on the growth of some local vegetables i.e. okra, beans, coriander and mint. These plants were kept in three different environments i.e. outdoor, indoor and greenhouse conditions. In each condition three replications were made for each plant and biochar was applied on them. Control plants (without biochar) were also grown in each condition. Parameters studied were pH, water holding capacity, ammonia, nitrates, chlorophyll content, fertility analysis, temperature and humidity, number of leaves, plant …

Fishes Of The Choctawhatchee River System In Southeastern Alabama And Northcentral Florida, Thomas P. Simon, Charles C. Morris, Bernard R. Kuhajda, Carter R. Gilbert, Henry L. Bart Jr., Nelson Rios, Paul M. Stewart, Thomas P. Simon Iv, Mitt Denney

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

The diversity and distribution of fish species occurring in the Choctawhatchee River drainage in southeastern Alabama and northcentral Florida were surveyed to obtain historical baseline information. Three hundred seventy-four sites were evaluated for species diversity and distribution in the drainage, including compilation of unpublished records from southeastern natural history museums. The greatest diversity at any single site was 37 species. Sixty-eight sites were represented by 15 species or more, and 26 sites were represented by a single species. The most frequently encountered species includes Gambusia holbrooki, Percina nigrofasciata, Esox americanus, Notropis texanus, Lepomis macrochirus, Cyprinella n. sp. cf venusta, …

A Comparison Of Survey Methods For Documenting Presence Of Myotis Leibii (Eastern Small-Footed Bats) At Roosting Areas In Western Virginia, John K. Huth, Alexander Silvis, Paul R. Moosman Jr., W. Mark Ford, Sara Sweeten

Virginia Journal of Science

Many aspects of foraging and roosting habitat of Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-Footed Bat), an emergent rock roosting-obligate, are poorly described. Previous comparisons of effectiveness of acoustic sampling and mist-net captures have not included Eastern Small-Footed Bat. Habitat requirements of this species differ from congeners in the region, and it is unclear whether survey protocols developed for other species are applicable. Using data from three overlapping studies at two sampling sites in western Virginia’s central Appalachian Mountains, detection probabilities were examined for three survey methods (acoustic surveys with automated identification of calls, visual searches of rock crevices, and mist-netting) for use …