Digital Commons Network^™

Oliver Ranch Core Group Meeting: August 17, 2004, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions (5 minutes)
2. Approval of Minutes from June 15 Meeting (5 minutes)
3. Review of Draft Talking Points/FAQ – Nancy Flagg (30 min)
4. Discussion of Wild Horse and Burro Facility – Billie Young (30 min.)
5. Standing Reports (30 minutes)
   A. Line and Space Update – Les Wallach/Henry Tom
   B. UNLV/CESU Update – Peg Rees/Nancy Flagg
   C. RRCNRA Capital Improvements Update – Mark Morse/Michael Reiland
6. ORSS Committee Reports (15 minutes)
   A. Design Oversight – David Frommer
   B. Educational Programs – Paul Buck
   C. Fund-Raising & Partnerships – Blaine Benedict
   D. NEPA – Charles Carroll
   E. Operations – Jack Ramsey
   F. Other Uses …

Oliver Ranch Core Group Meeting: July 20, 2004, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions (5 minutes)
2. Approval of Minutes from June 15 Meeting (5 minutes)
3. Review of Draft Talking Points/FAQ – Nancy Flagg (30 min)
4. Discussion of Wild Horse and Burro Facility – Billie Young (30 min.)
5. Standing Reports (30 minutes)
   A. Line and Space Update – Les Wallach/Henry Tom
   B. UNLV/CESU Update – Peg Rees/Nancy Flagg
   c. RRCNRA Capital Improvements Update – Mark Morse/Michael Reiland
6. ORSS Committee Reports (15 minutes)
   A. Design Oversight – David Frommer
   B. Educational Programs – Paul Buck
   C. Fund-Raising & Partnerships – Blaine Benedict
   D. NEPA – Charles Carroll
   E. Operations – Jack Ramsey
   F. Other Uses …

Retrospective Isotopic Analyses Of Stellar Sea Lion Tooth Annuli And Sea-Bird Feathers: A Cross-Taxa Approach To Investigating Regime And Dietary Shifts In The Gulf Of Alaska, Keith Hobson, Elizabeth Sinclair, Anne York, James Thomason, Richard Merrick

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Stable isotope (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) values of individual tooth annuli of female Steller sea lions (n = 120) collected from the 1960s through the 1980s were used for retrospective analyses of temporal changes in food webs in the Gulf of Alaska and North Pacific Ocean. We also examined isotopically contour feathers of tufted puffins (n = 135) and crested auklets (n = 37) through this period to test for broader isotopic patterns indicative of whole food web changes. Steller sea lions decreased slightly in δ¹³C and increased in δ¹⁵N values, suggesting an …

Oliver Ranch Core Group Meeting: June 15, 2004, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Approval of Minutes from May 18 Meeting
2. UNLV/CESU Update – Peg Rees/Nancy Flagg
   A. ORSS History and Talking Points
   B. Presentations to Civic Groups
3. Line and Space Update – Les Wallach/Henry Tom
4. RRCNRA Capital Improvements Update – Mark Morse
5. ORSS Project Timeline – Michael Reiland
6. Linkages Between ORSS Curriculum and Building Design – Paul Buck
7. Video Interviews of CCSD 5th Graders – CCSD Staff
8. ORSS Sub-Committee Reports
   -- Status of Committee Mission Statements
   -- Committee Responses to L&S Draft
   -- Proposal to Establish a Building Committee
   A. Operations – Jack Ramsey
   B. Wild Horse & Burro – Billie Young
   C. …

The Impact Of Urbanization On Macroinvertebrate Communities Of Creeks Within Western Georgia, Jeniffer Susan Lang

Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization is a major cause of stream impairment in the United States, altering stream ecological integrity in a variety of ways. While control of point source pollution has largely improved over the last twenty years, the control of non-point source pollution has proved to be more of a challenge. Urbanization in the area surrounding streams has been linked with elevated levels of sediment, heavy metals, organic matter, and nutrients within streams, as well as with other negative effects. Examining the macroinvertebrate communities within streams has proven to be an effective indicator of the effects of urbanization on water quality. This …

Oliver Ranch Core Group Meeting: May 18, 2004, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Where have we been and where are we going?
2. Line and Space Report
3. Committee Reports
4. Future Core Group Meetings

A Spatial Analysis Of The Impact Of Development On Wetland Habitat In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Jenna Medlin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In response to growing concerns over wetland habitat loss and the associated impact on water resources, federal and state legislation has been enacted to protect vulnerable wetland habitats from the impacts of humans. In order to examine the efficacy of current coastal resource policy and its implementation, a study was conducted in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a coastal city of the Atlantic, focusing on the quantification of wetland habitat change over time within a specific area of interest. The study incorporated an assessment of the effects of escalating population pressures and subsequent urban development on local wetland habitats due to …

Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots As A Dual-Purpose Wildlife Management Strategy, George M. Linz, Dionn A. Schaaf, Philip Mastrangelo, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The National Sunflower Association has identified blackbird damage as a key reason for growers to abandon sunflower. In the 1980s, National Wildlife Research Center scientists showed that "decoy" p1antings of sunflower can significantly reduce bird damage to nearby commercial sunflower fields. For a variety of reasons, largely logistical and economic in nature, decoy sunflower fields did not become wide-spread. Over the last decade, new federal farm programs have placed more emphasis on wildlife conservation. Thus, decoy sunflower fields planted to ameliorate blackbird damage and establish habitat for wildlife might gamer broad support from both agricultural and conservation groups. We present …

Free Spirit Children's Nature Center, Sylvia Eugenia Arce

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a blueprint for the creation of the Free Spirit Children's Nature Center. The center has in mind the preservation of a habitat and will offer naturalist programs that enhance children's understanding and love of nature. The interactive nature of the experiences provided through the programs and activities will offer children a hands-on approach to learning that is developmentally appropriate. The primary role of the nature center is proposed to re-create a sense of connectedness to nature and generate healthy communities.

Oliver Ranch Science School Complex & Wild Horse And Burro Facility: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending September 30, 2004, Margaret N. Rees

Oliver Ranch Project

Assist in project coordination between numerous stakeholders such as the Clark County School System, Desert Research Institute, Community College of Southern Nevada, UNR Cooperative Extension, Nevada State College, local museums, state parks, non-profit organizations, federal agencies, and the public to ensure appropriate educational curricular activities and venues are provided for in the conceptual design of the School and the Wild Horse and Burro facility where appropriate as well as assist in the NEPA process as needed. The activities will be conducted at least in part by university faculty, staff and students as part of the university’s research, teaching, and service …

Consequences Of Reservoir Drainage On Downstream Water Chemistry, Suspended Sediment, And Nutrients, Southwest Missouri, Mark W. Bowen

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Construction and subsequent draining of reservoirs can have dramatic affects on the release of nutrients and sediments to waterways. This study describes how the temporary draining of a small reservoir for dam repair influences downstream water quality. The Valley Mill Reservoir has a surface area of 6.1 hectares and volume of 150,000 m3 when filled. Water chemistry monitoring and water sampling were performed at six sites during baseflow and ten sites during runoff events for one year. Water samples were analyzed for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), and total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations. Results indicate that draining of Valley …

Coyote And Wolf Habitat Use In Northwestern Montana, Wendy M. Arjo, Daniel H. Peltscher

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Being a habitat generalist is an adaptation suategy that has allowed the coyote to expand its range. As wolves reestablish, or are reintroduced, resident populations of coyotes may change habitat use. We compared habitat use between coyotes and wolves in Glacier National Park after successful recolonization by wolves. Two wolf oacks and nine coyotes were monitored from June 1994 throueh June 1997 to determine habitat use in northwestern Montana. Wolves used habitat types within their home ranges in proportion to availability during the winter, but not the summer when more open areas and burned forests were used. Most coyotes used …

Oliver Ranch Science School Complex & Wild Horse And Burro Facility: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending June 30, 2004, Margaret N. Rees

Oliver Ranch Project

Assist in project coordination between numerous stakeholders such as the Clark County School System, Desert Research Institute, Community College of Southern Nevada, UNR Cooperative Extension, Nevada State College, local museums, state parks, non-profit organizations, federal agencies, and the public to ensure appropriate educational curricular activities and venues are provided for in the conceptual design of the School and the Wild Horse and Burro facility where appropriate as well as assist in the NEPA process as needed. The activities will be conducted at least in part by university faculty, staff and students as part of the university’s research, teaching, and service …

Oliver Ranch Science School Complex & Wild Horse And Burro Facility: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending December 31, 2004, Margaret N. Rees

Oliver Ranch Project

Assist in project coordination between numerous stakeholders such as the Clark County School System, Desert Research Institute, Community College of Southern Nevada, UNR Cooperative Extension, Nevada State College, local museums, state parks, non-profit organizations, federal agencies, and the public to ensure appropriate educational curricular activities and venues are provided for in the conceptual design of the School and the Wild Horse and Burro facility where appropriate as well as assist in the NEPA process as needed. The activities will be conducted at least in part by university faculty, staff and students as part of the university’s research, teaching, and service …

Assessment Of Brine Shrimp (Artemia Sp.) Productivity At Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Abu Dhabi (Uae), Shaikha Salem Obaid Al Dhaheri

Theses

Al Wathba Lake was created in 1982 by accidental discharge of over-capacity treated sewage water from Al Mafraq Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWT). The lake lies on the north side of the Abu Dhabi - Al Ain truck road, approximately 40 km Southeast of Abu Dhabi Island. In 1998, the lake and its surroundings were designated as protected area, the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, and placed under the management of the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA). The reserve covers an area of approximately 5 km², and the lake system covers an area of 1.5 km^{2 …}

Draft Plan Of Management For The Proposed Point Quobba Fish Habitat Protection Area., Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

Point Quobba is a popular site for locals and tourists for beach activities, fishing and snorkelling, and as a place for children to learn to swim and gain an awareness of the marine environment. The marine life and habitats of the area are of considerable scientific and recreational interest and are highly valued in the local community. However, they are at risk from their high level of use and from conflict between users due to their proximity to popular tourism, boat ramp, camping and settlement areas on-shore.

Plan Of Management For The Miaboolya Beach Fish Habitat Protection Area, Shane Alymore, Sarah Anderson

Fisheries Management Papers

The aim of this management plan is to protect and rehabilitate the aquatic habitat of Miaboolya Beach, the associated mangrove ecosystem, and involve the community in their management. By setting the area aside as a FHPA, the Department of Fisheries has established a framework to promote and actively conserve all the habitats within the Miaboolya system, as described in Section 3 of this document.

Study Of The Distribution And Variation Of The Herbicide Atrazine In Finished Drinking Water At A Small Community Water System In Kentucky, Vijay Golla

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examines the variation in the distribution of the concentration of atrazine, a triazine herbicide used in Kentucky to control weeds primarily in corn fields. Atrazine is known to have carcinogenic properties and is an endocrine disruptor in aquatic species even at low concentrations. Atrazine has the ability to be transported through the environment into water bodies due to its physical and chemical properties favoring its occurrence and distribution. Raw and Finished drinking water samples were collected from the Lewisburg water treatment plant which derives its drinking water supplies from a source water intake namely Spa Lake, which has …

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 2 - Towards An Assessment Of Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands (Phase 1 : Data Consolidation And Scoping - Final Report For Frdc Project 2000/1 66), C. F. Chubb, K. Nardi

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

This project has drawn together existing research data relating to natural and human impacts on the Abrolhos Islands marine habitats. It has surveyed current uses of these habitats and placed anthropogenic impacts within the context of natural perturbations. Through public forum presentation and debate, this work has allowed real issues, not perceptions, to surface and be addressed properly. This was achieved by defining a strategic programme of research through a scientific workshop process involving all community stakeholders. A two volume Fisheries Research Report (WA) summarizes current knowledge and details the workshop proceedings and strategic research plan.

Ecomorphology Of Bats: Comparative And Experimental Approaches Relating Structural Design To Ecology, Sharon M. Swartz, Patricia W. Freeman, Elizabeth F. Stockwell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The past several decades have seen the beginning of integration of discoveries in the ecology and morphology of bats into an ecomorphological whole that promises to be greater than the sum of its parts. However, achieving this integration is challenging. Each of the elements of this interdisciplinary field is, in itself, avast and complex subject. This book is a testament to the breadth and depth of ecological studies of bats. Morphological studies now extend be- yond descriptive anatomy in both outlook and method, and incorporate, for example, aspects of genetics, physiology, solid and fluid mechanics, and developmental biology. There is …

Serologic Survey For Diseases In Free-Ranging Coyotes (Canis Latrans) From Two Ecologically Distinct Areas Of Utah, Wendy M. Arjo, Eric M. Gese, Cassity Bromley, Adam Kozlowski, Elizabeth S. Williams

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The influence of habitat and associated prey assemblages on the prevalence of canine diseases in coyotes (Canis latrans) has received scant attention. From December 1997 through December 1999, we captured 67 coyotes in two ecologically distinct areas of Utah (USA): Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch and US Army Dugway Proving Ground. These areas differ in habitat and prey base. We collected blood samples and tested for evidence of various canine diseases. Prevalence of antibodies against canine parvovirus (CPV) was 100% in the Deseret population and 93% in the Dugway population. All juveniles in both populations had been exposed. …

Whaling As Science, Phillip J. Clapham, Per Berggren, Simon Childerhouse, Nancy A. Friday, Toshio Kasuya, Laurence Kell, Karl-Hermann Kock, Silvia Manzanilla-Naim, Giuseppe Notabartolo Di Sciara, William F. Perrin, Andrew J. Read, Randall R. Reeves, Emer Rogan, Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, Tim D. Smith, Michael Stachowitsch, Barbara L. Taylor, Deborah Thiele, Paul R. Wade, Robert L. Brownell Jr.

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

In an open letter published last year in the New York Times, 21 distinguished scientists (including three Nobel laureates) criticized Japan's program of scientific research whaling, noting its poor design and unjustified reliance upon lethal sampling. In a recent Forum article in BioScience, Aron, Burke, and Freeman (2002) castigate the letter's signers and accuse them of meddling in political issues without sufficient knowledge of the science involved in those issues.

Scavenging By Vertebrates: Behavioral, Ecological, And Evolutionary Perspectives On An Important Energy Transfer Pathway In Terrestrial Ecosystems, Travis L. Devault, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., John A. Shivik

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Carrion use by terrestrial vertebrates is much more prevalent than conventional theory implies, and, rather than a curiosity of animal behavior, is a key ecological process that must be accounted for. Human aversion to rotted substances and difficulties associated with identifying scavenged material in studies of food habits have contributed to the relative lack of information concerning scavenging behavior in vertebrates. Several lines of evidence, however, suggest that carrion resources are more extensively used by vertebrates than has been widely assumed: 1) a substantial number of animals die from causes other than predation and become available to scavengers, 2) a …

Characteristics Of Current And Historical Kit Fox (Vulpes Macrotis) Dens In The Great Basin Desert, Wendy M. Arjo, Tim J. Bennett, Adam J. Kozlowski

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We examined the ecological and physical characteristics of den sites for 13 adult kit fox (Vulpes macmtis) in western Utah from December 1998 to February 2001. We also compared current and historical den distribution among habitat types. The number of den sites used was not influenced by home-range size (P = 0.11) or season (P = 0.40), but was influenced by geographical area. Home-range size was smallest (P = 0.007) and the number of dens used was greatest (P = 0.009) in mountainous areas. Ecological and physical characteristics of single-use dens (n = …

Implementation Plan For The Conservation Of Nebraska’S Eastern Saline Wetlands, Ted Lagrange, Terry Genrich, Glenn Johnson, Dan Schulz, Brent Lathrop

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

Nebraska’s Eastern Saline Wetlands are the most limited and endangered wetland type and vegetation community in the State and are considered critically imperiled in Nebraska. These wetlands provide habitat for a variety of native plant and animal species that depend on a saline environment, including two endangered species.

Because of their location in and around the city of Lincoln, saline wetlands are ideally located to provide recreational opportunities and flood protection. Past impacts have resulted in the degradation of nearly 90% of the saline wetlands and those remaining face continued threats.

Although several programs are in existence to address saline …

Wedge Veg : Gradient Analysis Of Impacts To Coastal Heath Vegetation At Wedge, Western Australia, Steven O'Dwyer

Theses : Honours

A reliable technique to assess impacts to coastal zones is required as coastal areas across the world are under pressure from an increasing human presence. The result is a greater level of disturbance to the coast, both marine and terrestrial. This study addresses a worldwide problem but is focused to a local scale. Wedge, on the central coast of Western Australia, supports a squatter shack settlement and has done so for approximately 50 years. Over time, the number of shacks, campers, tourists, 4WD's and motorbikes has increased. In recent years this growth has been significant. Management of this area and …

Calibration Of Remotely Sensed, Coarse Resolution Ndvi To Co2 Fluxes In A Sagebrush–Steppe Ecosystem, Bruce K. Wylie, Douglas A. Johnson, Emilio Laca, Nicanor Z. Saliendra, Tagir G. Gilmanov, Bradley C. Reed, Larry L. Tieszen, Bruce B. Worstell

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

The net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon flux can be partitioned into gross primary productivity (GPP) and respiration (R). The contribution of remote sensing and modeling holds the potential to predict these components and map them spatially and temporally. This has obvious utility to quantify carbon sink and source relationships and to identify improved land management strategies for optimizing carbon sequestration. The objective of our study was to evaluate prediction of 14-day average daytime CO₂ fluxes ( F_day) and nighttime CO₂ fluxes (R_n) using remote sensing and other data. F_{day …}

Effect Of Riparian Land Use On The Biotic Integrity Of Fish Assemblages In Black Creek, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jerri Leigh Phillips

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Black Creek is a third-order Ridge and Valley stream (Tennessee River drainage) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Most ofBlack Creek's watershed is forested (ca. 71% in 1991 ). However, increasing urban development, particularly along the riparian landscapes, could impact the stream's ecological health. I assessed fish assemblages (biotic integrity), water quality, instream habitat, and riparian land-use features at eight sites in Black Creek, May-June 2000. Water quality conditions (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity) were favorable for stream fishes, but some level of habitat degradation (bank erosion, sedimentation, loss of riparian vegetation) was observed at all sites. Electrofishing samples yielded a total of29 …

Water Resources Year In Review - Winter 2002, Annis Water Resources Institute

AWRI Reviews

No abstract provided.

Phase And Amplitude Of Ecosystem Carbon Release And Uptake Potentials As Derived From Fluxnet Measurements, Eva Falge, John Tenhunen, Dennis D. Baldocchi, Marc Aubinet, Peter Bakwin, Paul Berbigier, Christian Bernhofer, Jean-Marc Bonnefond, George Burba, Robert Clement, Kenneth J. Davis, Jan A. Elbers, Matthias Falk, Allen H. Goldstein, Achim Grelle, Andre Granier, Thomas Grunwald, Jon Gundmondsson, David Hollinger, Ivan A. Janssens, Petri Keronen, Andrew S. Kowalski, Gabriel Katul, Beverly E. Law, Yadvinder Malhi, Tilden Meyers, Russell K. Monson, Eddy Moors, J. William Munger, Walt Oechel, Kyawtha Paw U, Kim Pilegaard, Ullar Rannik, Corinna Rebmann, Andrew E. Suyker, Halldor Thorgeirsson, Giampiero Tirone, Andrew Turnipseed, Kell Wilson, Steve Wofsy

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

As length and timing of the growing season are major factors explaining differences in carbon exchange of ecosystems, we analyzed seasonal patterns of net ecosystem carbon exchange (F_NEE) using eddy covariance data of the FLUXNET data base (http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/FLUXNET). The study included boreal and temperate, deciduous and coniferous forests, Mediterranean evergreen systems, rainforest, native and managed temperate grasslands, tundra, and C3 and C4 crops. Generalization of seasonal patterns are useful for identifying functional vegetation types for global dynamic vegetation models, as well as for global inversion studies, and can help improve phenological modules in SVAT or biogeochemical models. …