Digital Commons Network^™

Thermal Tolerance Of The Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus Hampei: Predictions Of Climate Change Impact On A Tropical Insect Pest, Juliana Jaramillo, Adenirin Chabi-Olaye, Charles Kamonjo, Alvaro Jaramillo, Fernando E. Vega, Hans Michael Poehling, Christian Borgemeister

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Coffee is predicted to be severely affected by climate change. We determined the thermal tolerance of the coffee berry borer , Hypothenemus hampei, the most devastating pest of coffee worldwide, and make inferences on the possible effects of climate change using climatic data from Colombia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. For this, the effect of eight temperature regimes (15, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30, 33 and 35°C) on the bionomics of H. hampei was studied. Successful egg to adult development occurred between 20-30°C. Using linear regression and a modified Logan model, the lower and upper thresholds for development were estimated at …

A Survey Of Drought Impacts And Mitigation Planning In Kentucky, Crystal Jane Bergman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Drought is a well-known and costly climate-related natural hazard. Unlike other climate-related natural hazards, droughts are usually long in duration and may cover a large region, the physical boundaries of areas affected by drought are sometimes arbitrary, and the impacts are sometimes difficult to identify. Climate records since 1895 show that drought has occurred periodically in Kentucky. The drought of 2007 was the most recent drought to affect Kentucky and is the primary focus of this research. The purpose of this research is to identify impacts of drought and potential vulnerabilities to various drought impact sectors in Kentucky so that …

Near-Surface Atmospheric Response To Simulated Changes In Land-Cover Vegetation Fraction, And Soil Moisture Over Western Kentucky, Ronnie Leeper

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A series of land-use-land-cover-change (LULCC) based sensitivity experiments, including changes in vegetation type, fractional vegetation (FV), and soil moisture (SM), over Western Kentucky were conducted to investigate atmospheric response to land-use. The choice of land-use for this study was chosen in the context of Western Kentucky’s historical LULCC. For this study, vegetation types considered were grassland, forest, and bare soil with further variations in FV for grassland and forest at 25, 50, 75, and 100 % and systematic increases and decreases in volumetric SM of 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 m3 m-3. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first assessment …

Fisheries Research Report No. 194 - Conceptual Models For Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (Ebfm) In Western Australia, Sarah J. Metcalf, D J. Gaughan, Jennifer Shaw

Fisheries Research Reports

The Department of Fisheries, Western Australia is currently developing a framework to assess the most appropriate methodologies for the implementation of Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) in Western Australia. The implementation of EBFM can be considered as an operational extension of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD), the principles of which were adopted by Western Australia for application in the management of fisheries in 2002. EBFM aims to assess and manage ecological impacts as well as social and economic outcomes related to fish and fisheries at a regional level. The degree to which EBFM will be implemented in terms of activities or …

Fisheries Management Paper No.245 - Aquaculture Of Coral, Live Rocks And Associated Products. Aquaculture Policy, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Aquarium enthusiasts use corals, live rock and associated products (e.g. live sand) for display and to maintain healthy water quality conditions in their marine aquariums. There is a large and growing market for these products. While the wild harvest fisheries for aquarium products in Western Australia are sustainably managed, output is capped, so increased product is needed to meet the market demand. With a trend towards the capping of wild harvest and additional pressures, such as the introduction of Marine Parks and other marine protected areas, the aquaculture of these products is set for industry development and expansion.

The large …

The Study Of Variations In The Properties Of Biodiesel On Addition Of Antioxidants, Hiranmayee Kandala

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research studies variations in biodiesel upon addition of different concentrations of antioxidant and petrodiesel additives. Oxidation onset temperature, oxidation induction time, oxidative stability, thermal stability, crystallization onset temperature and moisture retention properties of the biodiesel, with and without antioxidants have been studied. Antioxidants like BHT, BHA, PrG, Vit E and Vit C were added to the biodiesel during the study. These samples were analyzed using the PDSC, TGA, DSC and TGA-SA instrumentation.

The results of this research show an improvement in the OOT, OIT and Oxidative stability of biodiesel with the addition of antioxidants and by blending the biodiesel …

Indiana Wildlife Disease News, Vol 4, Issue 3 -- August 2009, Joe N. Caudill, Dean Zimmerman

Indiana Wildlife Disease News

White-nose syndrome in bats
Indiana DNR Protocol for Dead Bats
ProMED-mail - the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases
14th International Congress on Infectious Diseases
Bird Banders are Invited to Participate in a Research Study
Meetings Planned to Discuss Bovine TB
Mark Reiter to Lead DNR Fish and Wildlife Division
Midwest Wildlife Disease Update: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Wide Spread In 2007; Rate of Chronic Wasting Disease Up in Wisconsin Deer; Anaplasmosis- A New Tick Disease Surfaces In WI; Susceptibilities of Nonhuman Primates to Chronic Wasting Disease;

Response To Plevin: Implications For Life Cycle Emissions Regulations, Adam Liska, Kenneth G. Cassman

Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research: Publications

A robust dialogue concerning appropriate parameter values for life cycle assessment (LCA) models is necessary because regulation of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from biofuel systems will determine market access and government subsidies for biofuel producers.1 Such a dialogue is also critical for creating more accurate LCA methods that will be accepted by scientists, industry, and the public. Plevin (2009) has identified multiple concerns with the life cycle emissions methodology employed in our previous analysis using the Biofuel Energy Systems Simulator (BESS) model (Liska et al. 2009), but only four alter our estimates substantially: (1) denaturant addition (+6.5 gCO …

Detection Of Protease-Resistant Cervid Prion Protein In Water From A Cwd-Endemic Area, T. A. Nichols, Bruce Pulford, A. Christy Wyckoff, Crystal Meyerett, Brady Michel, Kevin Gertig, Edward A. Hoover, Jean E. Jewell, Glenn C. Telling, Mark D. Zabel

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is the only known transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting free-ranging wildlife. Although the exact mode of natural transmission remains unknown, substantial evidence suggests that prions can persist in the environment, implicating components thereof as potential prion reservoirs and transmission vehicles. CWD-positive animals may contribute to environmental prion load via decomposing carcasses and biological materials including saliva, blood, urine and feces. Sensitivity limitations of conventional assays hamper evaluation of environmental prion loads in soil and water. Here we show the ability of serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) to amplify a 1.3 x 10^-7 dilution of CWD-infected …

An Oral History Of The American Chestnut In Southern Appalachia, Bethany N. Baxter

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This oral history research explored and examined the experences and memories of people who lived in the Southern Appalachian region during the years preceding and following the chestnut blight pandemic. The project examined experiences from an environmental history perspective, addressing the economic and cultural significance of chestnut pre and post blight, and attitudes and feelings concerning American chestnut restoration efforts. The American Chestnut Oral History Collection includes forty-five interviews, recorded between May and December 2008. Twenty-seven of them were recorded with people who have memories of the importance of American chestnut in southern Appalachia. These interviews were conducted across Kentucky, …

Tactics And Economics Of Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination, Canada And The United States, Ray T. Sterner, Martin I. Meltzer, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Dennis Slate

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Progressive elimination of rabies in wildlife has been a general strategy in Canada and the United States; common campaign tactics are trap–vaccinate–release (TVR), point infection control (PIC), and oral rabies vaccination (ORV). TVR and PIC are labor intensive and the most expensive tactics per unit area (≈$616/km² [in 2008 Can$, converted from the reported $450/km² in 1991 Can$] and ≈$612/km² [$500/km² in 1999 Can$], respectively), but these tactics have proven crucial to elimination of raccoon rabies in Canada and to maintenance of ORV zones for preventing the spread of raccoon rabies in the United States. Economic …

The Very Basics Of Sustainability - An Alternative Viewpoint (Slides With Audio) (Large File! To Speed Up Download, Right-Click On "Download" Link To Save To Own Pc.), Jim Mcgovern

Other resources

This presentation sets out the very basics of ‘sustainability’, although a definition of sustainability is not attempted. Some of the very basics are the context in which the Earth and humankind exist in space and time, the Earth’s climate, the Earth’s population and humankind’s options and choices. The author advocates keeping an open mind on all available options, including the use of oil, gas, coal, tar sands, carbon capture and sequestration, nuclear power etc., as well as the technologies that are more widely considered ‘green’. The author also argues that, in addressing the challenges that humankind faces, globally concerted effort …

Mercury Contamination In Domestic Ducks In Geita, Northwest Tanzania, C Kinabo, H Lyatuu

Tanzania Journal of Science

Total mercury concentrations (THg) were determined in domestic ducks (Anas platyrhncha) tissues in Mgusu Village, Geita District NW Tanzania. Elevated mercury levels were found in all tissue samples and showed a trend of increasing mercury concentration with weight/age of the poultry. Highest total mercury (THg) levels (mg/kg) in domestic ducks were found in liver (ducklings: 30.5; juvenile: 254.1; mature ducks: 590.2), followed by gizzards (ducklings: 45.9; juvenile: 230.3; mature: 254.6), lungs (ducklings: 12.2; juvenile: 29.1; mature: 46.9) and feathers (ducklings: 0.1; juvenile: 62.1; mature: 198.3). Corresponding THg statistical values (mg/kg) for the tissues increased with age and weight. Highest THg …

Factors Limiting Benthic Algal Abundance In Virginia Streams Of The Coastal Plain, Michael Brandt

Theses and Dissertations

Algae are important components of stream food webs and often used in biomonitoring assessments. Little is known regarding the factors that limit their abundance in streams of the VA Coastal Plain. The surficial geology of the Coastal Plain is predominately sandy deposits which comprise the dominant substrate in streams of this region. In a comparative study of five streams located near the VCU Rice Center, we quantified substrate composition, light availability, and nutrient concentrations to assess their relative importance in determining benthic algal abundance. The proportion of stream area comprised of hard substrates was a significant predictor of variation in …

Increasing The Reliability Of Ecological Models Using Modern Software Engineering Techniques, Robert M. Scheller, Brian R. Sturtevant, Eric J. Gustafson, Brendan C. Ward, David J. Mladenoff

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Modern software development techniques are largely unknown to ecologists. Typically, ecological models and other software tools are developed for limited research purposes, and additional capabilities are added later, usually in an ad hoc manner. Modern software engineering techniques can substantially increase scientific rigor and confidence in ecological models and tools. These techniques have the potential to transform how ecological software is conceived and developed, improve precision, reduce errors, and increase scientific credibility. We describe our re-engineering of the forest landscape model LANDIS (LANdscape DIsturbance and Succession) to illustrate the advantages of using common software engineering practices.

Researchs On Coal Logistics Center Site Selection In Guizhou Province, Yiye Xiang

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Oral History Of The American Chestnut In Southern Appalachia Presentation, Bethany N. Baxter

American Chestnut Oral History Project

Bethany Baxter's defense presentation for the thesis entitled, An oral history of the American chestnut in Southern Appalachia, submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Frequency Distributions Of Median Nutrient And Chlorophyll Concentrations Across The Red River Basin, 1996-2006, S.D. Longing, B.E. Haggard

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Acquisition and compilation of water quality data for a ten year time period (1996 – 2006) from 589 stream and river stations was conducted to support nutrient criteria development for the multi–state Red River Basin shared by Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, USA. Twenty–three water quality parameters were collected from five data sources (USGS, ADEQ, LDEQ, OCC, OWRB, and TCEQ) and an additional 13 parameters were acquired from at least one source. Data for the primary biological parameter of interest, chlorophyll a, was sparse and available from only two sources. Following compilation of data, medians were calculated for …

Heterosternuta Sulphuria (Coloptera: Dytiscidae) Occurence In The Sulphur Springs Headwater System And In Buffalo National River Tributaries (Arkansas, Usa): Current Distribution, Habitat Conditions, And Biomonitoring Framework, S.D. Longing, B.E. Haggard

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Heterosternuta sulphuria is an endemic aquatic species of concern in Arkansas, with a priority score of 80 out of 100 and a conservation rank of S1and G1. A need of the Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan (AWAP) was to obtain baseline information on distribution and population status of H. sulphuria. Here, we report new H. sulphuria records for 39 sites across 10 counties in the Ozark Highlands and Boston Mountain ecoregions and a determined habitat type of shallow margins and small bedrock pools of perennial streams and spring seeps. Few habitat patches were observed per site because detection was typically rapid …

Fisheries Research Report No. 186 - A Preliminary Investigation Of The Potential Impacts Of The Proposed Kwinana Quay Development On The Commercially And Recreationally Important Fish And Crab Species In Cockburn Sound, C. Wakefield, Danielle Johnston, D C. Harris, Paul Lewis

Fisheries Research Reports

Prepared for Fremantle Ports

Cockburn Sound is the largest of the very few protected marine embayments along the lower west coast of Western Australia. It has been recognised as playing an integral role in the life history strategies of many marine species, including the highly valued snapper Pagrus auratus and blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus. Currently, the adult stocks of snapper in the West Coast Bioregion and blue swimmer crabs in Cockburn Sound are at depleted levels, most likely a result of high fishing pressure and below average recruitment in recent years for both species.

Due to increasing shipping operations …

Assessing Organic Matter Breakdown And Associated Macroinvertebrate Community Structure In Headwater Streams: Effects Of Hydrologic Gradients And Upland Timber Harvesting, Miller Scott Jarrell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

I examined the effects of hydrologic gradients and upland timber harvesting with different streamside management zone widths on yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) processing and the associated macroinvertebrate community structure in the Cumberland Plateau ecophysic region, U.S.A. Prior to upland timber harvesting, 5.0 ± 0.1 g yellow-poplar leaf packs were constructed, zip-tied to gutter nails, and placed into 7 perennial and 6 temporary stream reaches with similar physiochemical and geomorphic characteristics. From December 2007 to May 2008, 3–5 leaf packs were collected per reach monthly. I found significant differences in the functional feeding group composition. Temporary reaches contained higher shredder, gathering-collector, predator, …

Refuge Update – July/August 2009, Volume 6, Number 4

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Table of Contents:
Way Beyond the Boundaries
Follow That Bird – at 4 a.m.
Pilots over the Refuge

Lead Detection In Water: Using Hydroxyapatite And Atomic Absorption, Nicolas Cantarero

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Hydroxyapatite is a mineral that is very inexpensive, easily made, and binds well to lead. In this procedure its application will be paired with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (Flame AA) to detect lead concentrations in water to ppb levels. While ppb concentrations of lead are too dilute to produce a response from the Flame AA by using Hydroxyapatite to concentrate lead molecules from a larger volume and dissolving the Hydroxyapatite into a smaller volume it may be able to produce a response. The method could provide an inexpensive, efficient, and accurate way to detect lead concentrations to the ppb level …

Use Of Co2 Concentration Difference Or Co2 Balance To Assess Ventilation Rate Of Broiler Houses, Hongwei Xin, Hong Li, Robert T. Burns, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, John W. Earnest

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Ventilation rate (VR) is one of the two key elements for quantifying aerial emissions from animal production facilities. Direct, continuous measurement of building VR can be challenging and impractical under certain circumstances,e.g., naturally ventilated animal housing or a large number of ventilation fans in the building. This study examined the suitability of estimating VR of broiler houses with built‐up litter (mixture of manure and bedding), when supplemental heating was not in use, through either carbon dioxide (CO₂) balance or the relationship of VR to CO₂ concentration difference between exhaust and inlet air. The reference VR was based …

Limnological Assistance For The Lake Mead National Recreation Area In Meeting The Challenge Of The Water 2025 Initiative: Annual Report, Period Ending July 1, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Limnological Studies

Project 1: Eighteen advisory team meetings were attended this year; technical input was provided as appropriate; and summaries were prepared and delivered to Kent Turner. The SCOP Selenium Management Plan has been reviewed and a report is in preparation.

Project 2: A formal report titled, Surface Water Monitoring for Indicator Bacteria in High-use Sites of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, was delivered in the second quarter of this year. Subsequently, a poster presentation on this topic was delivered at the Lake Mead Science Symposium and a manuscript has been prepared for submission to the journal, Lake and Reservoir Management. …

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Vegetation Monitoring And Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, April 1, 2009 To June 30, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Vegetation Monitoring

Executive Summary

• The Weed Sentry program surveyed over 187 miles (1,342 acres) of federal land by vehicle and foot in Clark County for incipient populations of exotic plants.
• Weed Sentry staff continue to survey never before surveyed sites, and trails and regions within Upper Las Vegas Wash CTA and Sloan Canyon NCA as requested by BLM managers
• In 2009 rare plant monitoring was completed. Data entry and analysis are in progress.

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes Summer 2009, Kevin E. Oliver, Dianne N. Bangle, E. Cayenne Engel, Lindsay P. Chiquoine, Scott R. Abella

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes

BLM and wildfire protection in the Mojave, studies of the sticky ringstem flowering phenology in Lake Mead NRA, restoration work within gypsum soils, post-fire response synthesis for Mojave and Sonoran deserts

Green Pond Harbor Management Plan (Draft), Urban Harbors Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

Green Pond is one of a number of coastal ponds in Falmouth. It covers over 135 acres and is an important natural and recreational resource for the people of Falmouth and visitors. Most of the area around the pond is private residential property interspersed with a few commercial businesses and open space. As with other areas of Massachusetts, the tidelands around the pond fall within the jurisdiction of Chapter 91 (the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act). Through Chapter 91, the Commonwealth seeks to preserve and protect the rights of the public, and to guarantee that private uses of tidelands and waterways …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 25, Number 2 (July 2009), Gary L. Doster , Editor, Scwds Briefs, Michael J. Yabsley

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

Table of Contents:

Piroplasmosis Hits Missouri Horses

Cytauxzoon felis in Wild Felids

SCIF & Mossy Oak Fund HD Research

Hardware Disease in a Key Deer

Wildlife Poisoning in Kansas

Swine Brucellosis Infects Hog Hunters

SCWDS Personnel Changes

NWHC Has New Director

New USDI Publication on Bats Recent SCWDS Publications Available

Water Current, Volume 41, No. 3, Summer 2009

Water Current Newsletter

One-Two-Three Punch Clobbers Toxic Algae, Restores Fremont Lake
Fall Platte River Basin Science and Resource Management Symposium: October 14 and 15 in Kearney
Lessons On Water Scarcity
Meet the Faculty: Robert J. ‘Bob’ Oglesby, Ph.D.
Meet the Faculty: Karrie A. Weber, Ph.D.
Study: Low Flows on Niobrara Could Result in Economic Losses Water
Featured Partner: Audubon Nebraska
Sediment, Microbes and Environmental Fate of Emerging Contaminants
WRAP Update
Vance Anderson Receives Kremer Award
2009 UNL Water and Natural Resources Tour of the Bay-Delta Region of Northern California: June 15-18, 2009<
UNL Extension Continues Helping Farmers Learn Irrigation Strategies to use Less …