Digital Commons Network^™

On A Quest For Safer Skies: Managing The Growing Threat Of Wildlife Hazards To Aviation, Gail Keirn, Jonathon D. Cepek, Bradley Blackwell, Travis L. Devaul

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The images remain indelible: On a chilly January day in 2009, a United States Airways Airbus A320 departed from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. About five miles out, flying at 2,000 feet, it collided with a flock of Canada geese (Branta canadensis), severely damaging the plane’s engines. Within minutes of the collision the pilot safely conducted an emergency landing on the Hudson River. All 155 passengers survived.

Renewable Energy Projects In Southwestern Deserts – Update On Our Involvement, Scott R. Abella

Public Policy and Leadership Faculty Research

Like many in the conservation field, we have a good understanding of the urgent need for alternative energy sources, but also of the negative environmental tradeoffs of placing renewable energy developments on vast tracts of public lands in southwestern deserts as currently envisioned. We also understand political and economic reasons, good or bad, for not doing some obvious things that make sense for renewable energy like placing solar arrays on building tops in cities, within multi-use contexts such as crops, and on already impacted land when alternative energy projects (right or wrong) are to be placed on public land.

Increased Abundance And First Breeding Record Of The Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Brasilianus) On The Alluvial Plain Of Mississippi, Katie C. Hanson, Travis L. Devault, Stephen J. Dinsmore

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Neotropic Cormorant) has been observed with increasing frequency in the alluvial plain (Delta region) of Mississippi. In the past 6 years, 22 individuals have been observed in 20 separate sightings during spring and summer. These sightings have occurred at breeding colonies of other colonial waterbirds and commercial aquaculture facilities of Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish). Two sexually mature Neotropic Cormorants have been collected at a colonial waterbird breeding colony near the Mississippi River in the western Delta region among flocks of Phalacrocorax auritus (Double-crested Cormorants). Twice during the summer of 2008, confirmed nesting of Neotropic Cormorants were documented in …

Oxygen Isotopes As A Tracer Of Dom Processes In River-Estuary Systems, Joy Ashley Matthews

OES Theses and Dissertations

In the biogeochemical study of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in natural waters, stable isotopes are used to provide insight into both the sources of DOM and the processes affecting its alteration. Through the research presented here, oxygen isotopes are incorporated into the study of DOM through the adaptation of a pyrolysis elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometer method, and sample preparation using two-stage ultrafiltration.

The application of oxygen isotopes to the study of DOM is demonstrated in two studies. First, natural abundance of δ¹⁸O in DOM is explored in the Delaware estuary. Using a two end-member mixing model, …

The Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Fauna Of The Blackwater Ecological Preserve: Effects Of Prescribed Burns And Habitat Type On Mosquito Abundance And Distribution, Norman A. Grefe Lll

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

While mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are among the most studied of insect groups, much remains unknown about their distribution and response to environmental impacts such as prescribed burns. Blackwater Ecological Preserve, located near Zuni, Virginia, is a relict long leaf pine barren, parts of which undergo periodic prescribed burns to maintain and restore this fire-dependent ecosystem. To assess the impact of prescribed burns on mosquito activity and to determine associations between seasonal patterns of adult mosquito activity and habitat type, CDC light traps baited with dry ice were set (rom late April through October at Blackwater Ecological Preserve during the 2005 …

Joint Fire Science Program – Lake Mead National Recreation Area Revegetating Burned Arid Lands: Identifying Successful Native Species Using Trait And Competition Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, Time Period: May 1 — June 30, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Fire Science

• Article entitled “Competitive Hierarchy of Native Desert Plants with Red Brome (Bromus rubens): Towards Identifying Invasion-Reducing Species" was submitted to the Invasive Plant Science and Management journal.
• Maintained nursery plots and added installment of nitrogen treatment.
• Took measurements in nursery (competition) plots and harvested biomass.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monitoring And Evaluation Of Sensitive Wildlife: Quartlerly Progress Report, Period Ending June 30, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Wildlife Monitoring

Project 1. Relict Leopard Frog Monitoring, Management, and Research

• All milestones and deliverables are on schedule
• Translocation program completed for this year
• Completed spring-season nocturnal monitoring surveys
• Completed spring-season mark-recapture efforts at Blue Point Spring
• Hosted RLFCT meeting

Project 2. Bald Eagle Winter Monitoring and Evaluation

• This project has been completed and all associated deliverables have been met

Project 3. Peregrine Falcon Monitoring and Evaluation

• This project has been completed and all final report deliverables have been met
• Although not specified in the scope of work for this project, call-broadcast surveys were conducted this quarter to provide a limited assessment …

Limnological Assistance For Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Quarterly Report, Period Ending June 30, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Limnological Studies

Project 1

• Technical assistance with the implementation of the Interagency Monitoring Action Plan (I-MAP) for Quagga Mussels is ongoing. During this quarter, analysis was completed for 14 adult/juvenile samples from the fall 2009 – spring 2010 sampling.
• Sampling for the first of two small-scale research projects funded by this task agreement (Abundance and settlement at different depths of Lake Mead) was initiated on June 16, 2010.

Project 2

• Topics and proposed analyses have been drafted for annual report development as prescribed by the Plan.
• A plan for developing and organizing NPS limnology-related web pages has been documented and content has …

Marine Bioinvasions And Climate Change, James T. Carlton, Sandra C. Lindstrom, Celia M. Smith, Jennifer E. Smith

National Invasive Species Council

BACKGROUND

Invasive species are second only to habitat destruction as the greatest cause of species endangerment and global biodiversity loss. Invasive species can cause severe and permanent damage to the ecosystems they invade. Consequences of invasion include competition with or predation upon native species, hybridization, carrying or supporting harmful pathogens and parasites that may affect wildlife and human health, disturbing ecosystem function through alteration of food webs and nutrient recycling rates, acting as ecosystem engineers and altering habitat structure, and degradation of the aesthetic quality of our natural resources. In many cases we may not fully know the native animals …

Refuge Update Article Index

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Use the “Find” function on your browser to search the index by topic, refuge name or article author.

2010 Adaptive Management Report, Desert Conservation Program

Publications (C)

The Desert Conservation Program administers the incidental take permit issued in 2001 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. Compliance with the permit requires implementation of the Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. This plan requires an adaptive management program and a biennial report by an independent science advisor to assess the status of the plan and make recommendations for future funding. This 2010 Adaptive Management Report reviews current data on land use trends, habitat loss, species status and plan implementation, and makes recommendations for the future.

Structured Decision-Making And Rapid Prototyping To Plan A Management Response To An Invasive Species, Sean M. Blomquist, Trisha D. Johnson, David R. Smith, Geoff P. Call, Brant N. Miller, W. Mark Thurman, Jamie E. Mcfadden, Mary J. Parkin, G. Scott Boomer

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

We developed components of a decision structure that could be used in an adaptive management framework for responding to invasion of hemlock woolly adelgid Adeleges tsugae on the Cumberland Plateau of northern Tennessee. Hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive forest pest, was first detected in this area in 2007. We used a structured decision-making process to identify and refine the management problem, objectives, and alternative management actions, and to assess consequences and tradeoffs among selected management alternatives. We identified four fundamental objectives: 1) conserve the aquatic and terrestrial riparian conservation targets, 2) protect and preserve hemlock, 3) develop and maintain adequate …

Environmental Science, Its Importance And Integration, Sultan Alam

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

No abstract provided.

Slides: Climate Change Adaptation And The Federal Lands, Robert L. Glicksman

The Past, Present, and Future of Our Public Lands: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Public Land Law Review Commission’s Report, One Third of the Nation’s Land (Martz Summer Conference, June 2-4)

Presenter: Robert L. Glicksman, J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law, George Washington University Law School (Washington, D.C.)

12 slides

Slides: Second Thoughts About The Antiquities Act: Does The Process For Public Land Decisionmaking Have An Ethical Dimension?, James R. Rasband

The Past, Present, and Future of Our Public Lands: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Public Land Law Review Commission’s Report, One Third of the Nation’s Land (Martz Summer Conference, June 2-4)

Presenter: James R. Rasband, Dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University (Provo, UT)

32 slides

The Mexican Spotted Owl Controversy: An Example Of The Esa’S Dominant Role In Federal Land Use Planning, Norman D. James

The Past, Present, and Future of Our Public Lands: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Public Land Law Review Commission’s Report, One Third of the Nation’s Land (Martz Summer Conference, June 2-4)

19 pages, including illustrations and a map.

Includes footnotes.

Includes a 7 page publication by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwest Region, titled: Changing Conditions in Southwestern Forests and Implications on Land Stewardship.

Slides: The Spotted Owl Controversy: An Example Of The Esa's Dominant Role In Federal Land Use Planning, Norman D. James

The Past, Present, and Future of Our Public Lands: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Public Land Law Review Commission’s Report, One Third of the Nation’s Land (Martz Summer Conference, June 2-4)

Presenter: Norman D. James, Director, Fennemore Craig, PC (Phoenix, AZ)

17 slides

The Influence Of Vegetation And Landscape Position On Soil Temperature Change In A Sagebrush-Steppe Eastern Sierra Environment: Implications On Soil Taxonomy, Nathan Michael Lurie

Earth and Soil Sciences

Soil temperature is a parameter that has been studied for a considerable time and from many different perspectives. However, relatively few studies have been conducted for taxonomic purposes and fewer still have focused on how changes in soil temperature related to global climate change may affect soil taxonomy. Soil temperature regimes are used to subdivide soils with similar properties that exist in dissimilar climate zones requiring different management practices depending on intended use. Seven sites with variable surficial features were used for this study within a cohesive sagebrush-steppe Eastern Sierra glacial moraine landform. Soil temperature was measured once a month …

Water Quality Outreach And Education Strategies For Northwest Arkansas And Regional Watersheds, Katie Teague, John Pennington

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Stakeholders impact water quality and have a responsibility to protect, maintain, and improve water quality throughout northwest Arkansas and watersheds everywhere. But unless the roles of responsibility and stewardship among all stakeholders is communicated clearly and repetitively, there will be little progress made towards maintaining and improving water quality, while lawsuits, blame, and inaction will persist. Thus, the overall goal of water quality education and outreach is to improve the ability of stakeholders to take care of their watershed by teaching them what actions are or are not beneficial for water quality protection, maintenance, or improvements. Specific outreach and education …

Water Quality And Watershed Conditions In The Upper Illinois River Watershed, Brian Haggard, Andrew Sharpley, Leslie Massey

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

The Illinois River and its tributaries have many uses that have been designated by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality including fisheries, aquatic life, primary contact waters, secondary contact waters, drinking water supply, and agricultural and industrial water supply, and water quality affects whether these uses can be supported. Since water quality can be quite complex, many types of measurements can be used as water quality indicators; some common water quality measurements include pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and conductivity. More complicated measurements include determining nutrients, sediment and bacteria in the water, as well as assessing the aquatic life—aquatic insects, fish, …

Handbook Of Best Management Practices For The Upper Illinois River Watershed And Other Regional Watersheds, B.E. Haggard, Andrew Sharpley, Leslie Massey

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Management actions are strategies carried out by stakeholders that are designed to implement water quality protection and restoration activities with a watershed. This publication presents a range of beneficial management actions from simple to complex that address the pollutant potential that is common across the watershed landscape of northwest Arkansas. Some management actions can be undertaken by any watershed stakeholder at any time, while others need to be carefully planned or lobbied to local and state government. The following chapters address potential management actions that can be taken by individuals or groups at households, businesses, institutions, municipalities, industrial facilities, farms, …

Final Report To The Illinois River Watershed Partnership: Recommended Watershed Based Strategy For The Upper Illinois River Watershed, Northwest Arkansas, B.E. Haggard, Andrew Sharpley, Leslie Massey, Katie Teague

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

This publication serves as the final report to the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) regarding the project entitled “Development of the Watershed Management Plan for the Upper Illinois River”. This document was intended to provide this stakeholder based organization guidance in the development of a watershed management plan for the Illinois River drainage area (i.e., the Upper Illinois River Watershed, UIRW) in Arkansas. This document represents the final report from the Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) and affiliated project investigators, and the IRWP may alter this document before the final submission of its watershed management plan to the Arkansas Natural …

Greening The Green Revolution: Moving Beyond Chemicals To Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Elizabeth G. Crawley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture has dominated the economy of many developing countries for centuries, which has led to development policies that center on agricultural development. An obvious approach to improved production is to decrease agricultural losses in the fields and increase efficiency to markets. This study focuses on the developmental role of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on non-traditional agricultural export farming and the adoption of IPM techniques. With farmers in the Comayagua Valley of Honduras, an Asian vegetable production center for the country, as the study population, the costs and benefits of planting oriental vegetables was examined. Statistical analysis was used to examine …

Regulatory Drivers For The Upper Illinois River And Other Regional Watersheds, Ray Weida

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Environmental regulations are put in place to protect the air, water and land from threat of pollution. Regulatory programs establish pollution limits, determine compliance, and enforce environmental laws and regulations for waterbodies within the watershed based on the designated uses for the individual waterbody. These established regulations make sure that the state’s mandatory standards for clean water and the minimum federal standards are being achieved. Environmental regulations are established on both the federal and state levels. On the federal level, Congress has authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other governmental agencies to create and enforce regulations. The EPA delegates …

Future Management Of The Metropolitan Recreational Roe's Abalone Fishery., Metropolitan Roe's Abalone Recreational Fishery Working Group.

Fisheries Management Papers

Following the setting of a 40 tonne Total Allowable Recreational Catch (TARC) for the Perth recreational abalone fishery, a working group was formed to examine future management options.

The Metropolitan Roe’s Abalone Recreational Fishery Working Group (“the Working Group”) examined historical management, key principles, amenity of fishing, bag limits, license numbers, season length and timing of the season to assist its deliberations. A questionnaire was also sent out to 1,000 abalone recreational licence holders, with 20 per cent of licensees providing a detailed response.

Genetic Differentiation Between Western And Eastern (Eschrichtius Robustus) Gray Whale Populations Using Microsatellite Markers, Aimee R. Lang, David W. Weller, Richard G. Leduc, Alexander M. Burdin, Robert L. Brownell Jr.

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Within the North Pacific, gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are recognized as distinct eastern and western populations. Although both populations were severely reduced by whaling, the eastern population is generally considered to have recovered while the western population has remained highly depleted. Previous studies have documented genetic differentiation between the two populations on the basis of mtDNA haplotype frequencies. Since mtDNA represents only maternal inheritance patterns, the present study used bi-parentally inherited microsatellite markers (n=13) to measure differentiation between populations as well as to compare levels of nuclear genetic diversity retained in each. Mean levels of genetic diversity, as …

Comparing Observations Of Age At First Reproduction In Western Gray Whales To Estimates Of Age At Sexual Maturity In Eastern Gray Whales, Amanda L. Bradford, David W. Weller, Aimée R. Lang, Grigory A. Tsidulko, Alexander M. Burdin, Robert L. Brownell Jr.

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Age at first reproduction (AFR) is a basic component of age-structured whale assessment models, but direct estimates of this parameter do not exist for either the abundant eastern or critically endangered western population of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Instead, assessments of both populations have utilized either of two recognized estimates of eastern gray whale age at sexual maturity (ASM) that are adjusted by a year to account for fetal gestation. These ASM estimates are: 1) 9 years median, 6-12 years range, and 2) 6 years median, 5-9 years range, but there are biases and discrepancies associated with these …

El Niño-Southern Oscillation Effect On A Fire Regime In Northeastern Mexico Has Changed Over Time, Larissa L. Yocom Kent, Peter Z. Fule, Peter M. Brown, Julian Cerano, Jose Villanueva-Diaz, Donald A. Falk, Eladio Cornejo-Oviedo

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate-forcing mechanism that has been shown to affect precipitation and the occurrence of wildfires in many parts of the world. In the southern United States and northern Mexico, warm events (El Niño) are associated with moist winter conditions and fewer fires, while cool events (La Niña) tend to favor dry winters and more fires. We tested this relationship in a region of northeastern Mexico by characterizing the historical fire regime and climatic influences. Fire regimes were reconstructed from fire-scar samples collected from 100 trees in three high-elevation sites on Peña Nevada in …

Seed Production And Maturation Of The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Bonnie Warner Alexander, Donald Kirby, Mario Biondini, Edward Dekeyser

The Prairie Naturalist

A population of threatened western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) was selected in 2004 on the Sheyenne National Grassland in southeastern North Dakota to study seed production and maturation for future use in population viability modeling. We randomly collected 30 seed capsules from the population under a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to: 1) identify capsule parameters that might be correlated with seed number and viability, 2) estimate an appropriate sample size to obtain accurate seed production estimates, 3) quantify seed production and viability per seed capsule, and 4) document temporal patterns in seed embryo …

Cattle Grazing Reduces Survival And Reproduction Of The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Bonnie Warner Alexander, Donald Kirby, Mario Biondini, Edward Dekeyser

The Prairie Naturalist

QuantifYing impacts of livestock grazing and prairie management strategies on the threatened western prairie' fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is difficult due to the erratic appearance of the orchid above-ground. We monitored above-ground survival of orchids from flowering to mature seed capsule production, comparing plant height, flower numbers, and seed capsule numbers from 2002-2004 in rotationally grazed pastures and non-grazed sites. Orchid survival differed significantly between grazed and non-grazed pastures, with the proportion of plants surviving from flower to capsule production consistently lower in grazed pastures. Mean orchid survival in grazed and non-grazed areas was 40% and 87%, respectively. …