Digital Commons Network^™

Biosorption Of Priority Pollutants Of Petroleum Refinery Wastewater, Deen Adnan Sheikha

Theses

Heavy metals and organic materials pollution in the aquatic system have become a serious threat today. Zinc, phenol and naphthalene are common environmental contaminants. The fate and transport of these chemicals must be sufficiently understood to predict detrimental environmental impacts and to develop technically and economically appropriate remedial action to minimize environmental degradation. In this study, microbial biomass has emerged as an option for developing economic wastewater treatment. Dead algal biomass may passively sequester metals and organic materials by the process of biosorption from dilute solutions, where biomass functions as an ion exchanger by virtue of various reactive groups available …

Rapid Assimilation Of Yolk Enhances Growth And Development Of Lizard Embryos From A Cold Environment, Melissa Ann Blake

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Selection for rapid growth in cold environments results in a geographic pattern known as countergradient variation. The eastern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulatus, exhibits countergradient variation in growth rate across latitudinal clines. In a common-garden experiment, S. undulatus embryos from cold environments grew more efficiently than embryos warm environments, even when the energetic contents of eggs were equalized. To examine the physiological mechanisms of higher growth efficiency, I measured the energetics of embryos during the first 49 days of incubation. Specifically, I recorded body mass, residual yolk, total respiration, and developmental stage for embyos from two populations (Virginia and South Carolina). …

Prevalence Of Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia Coli And Salmonella Enterica In Rock Pigeons Captured In Fort Collins, Colorado, Kerri Pedersen, Larry Clark, William F. Andelt, M.D. Salman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The potential role of rock pigeons (Columba livia) in the epidemiology of shiga toxin– producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella enterica is unclear. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of STEC and S. enterica in pigeons at urban and dairy settings as a function of season. Prevalence of STEC and S. enterica was estimated by bacteriologic culture of cloacal swabs collected from pigeons trapped at urban and dairy locations in and around Fort Collins, Colorado from January to November 2003. Presumptive E. coli isolates were tested for the presence of virulence genes SLT-1, SLT-2, eae, hlyA …

Invasive Species Definition Clarification And Guidance, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

Summary

Invasive species are those that are not native to the ecosystem under consideration and that cause or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal, or plant health. Plant and animal species under domestication or cultivation and under human control are not invasive species. Furthermore for policy purposes, to be considered invasive, the negative impacts caused by a non-native species will be deemed to outweigh the beneficial effects it provides. Finally, a non-native species might be considered invasive in one region but not in another. Whether or not a species is considered an invasive …

Invasive Species Definition Clarification And Guidance White Paper

Other Publications in Wildlife Management

An invasive species is a non-native species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal, or plant health. The National Invasive Species Management Plan indicates that NISC will focus on non-native organisms known to cause or likely to cause negative impacts and that do not provide an equivalent or greater benefit to society. In the technical sense, the term ‘invasion’ simply denotes the uncontrolled or unintended spread of an organism outside its native range with no specific reference about the environmental or economic consequences of such spread or their relationships to …

Presentation To National Park Service – Pacific West Region April 25, 2006, Public Lands Institute

Presentations (PLI)

The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands.

In collaboration with federal, state, and non-profit partners, we are:

• creating new knowledge
• advancing technology
• improving education
• engaging the public to become involved in conservation and stewardship.

Evaluation Of Electrobraide Fencing As A White-Tailed Deer Barrier, Thomas W. Seamans, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations continue to increase, resulting in direct threats to public safety and increased agricultural losses. A variety of fencing methods are used to reduce deer presence at airports and agricultural areas. Electric fences may offer a less expensive alternative to expensive woven-wire fences. We tested an electric fence product, ElectroBraide^TM (Yarmouth, N.S., Canada), on free-ranging deer in northern Ohio. We conducted both 1- and 2-choice tests, measuring deer intrusions and corn consumption at 10 sites encompassed with charged, non-charged or no fence. Mean daily deer intrusions decreased in each test when the fence …

Microsatellite Variation Of Double-Crested Cormorant Populations In Eastern North America, M. Clay Green, Juliann L. Waits, Michael L. Avery, Mark E. Tobin, Paul L. Leberg

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) exhibit highly adaptive and opportunistic foraging behavior. This flexibility in foraging and increases in population size have led to conflicts with aquaculture and recreational and commercial fishing (Duffy 1995). Although double-crested cormorants roosting in the lower Mississippi Valley appear to have minimal negative impact on sport fisheries, they may have a significant impact on commercial aquaculture production in this region (Glahn and Brugger 1995, Glahn et al. 1998). In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the Final Environmental Impact Statement on double-crested cormorant management allowing more flexibility in control of these birds …

A Preliminary Review Of Neotropical Primates In The Subsistence And Symbolism Of Indigenous Lowland South American Peoples, Loretta Cormier

Ecological and Environmental Anthropology (University of Georgia)

This article provides a review of selected literature of nonhuman primates in the subsistence and symbolism of indigenous lowland South American groups. While few works have focused specifically on the relationship between human and nonhuman primates in Amazonia and the surrounding areas, a number of ethnographic works do incorporate information about the roles of monkeys in varied groups. The section on subsistence focuses on the use of primates as food, including preferences, avoidances, and taboos. The section on symbolism focuses on the role of monkeys in myths, folklore, and in delineating the humanity/animality divide.

Earth Science & Public Policy: Increasing Our Spheres Of Influence, Margaret N. Rees

Presentations (PLI)

The UNLV Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands.

Patterns In Body Mass Distributions: Sifting Among Alternative Hypotheses, Craig R. Allen, A. S. Garmestani, T. D. Havlicek, P. A. Marquet, G. D. Peterson, C. Restrepo, C. A. Stow, B. E. Weeks

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Understanding how animals interact with their environment is critical for evaluating, mitigating and coping with anthropogenic alteration of Earth’s biosphere. Researchers have attempted to understand some aspects of these interactions by examining patterns in animal body mass distributions. Energetic, phylogenetic, biogeographical, textural discontinuity and community interaction hypotheses have been advanced to explain observed patterns. Energetic and textural discontinuity hypotheses focus upon the allometry of resource use. The community interaction hypothesis contends that biotic interactions within assemblages of species are of primary importance. Biogeographical and phylogenetic hypotheses focus on the role of constraints on the organization of communities. This paper examines …

Anaerobic Biodegradation Of Rdx And Tce: Single- And Dual-Contaminant Batch Tests, Travis S. M. Young, Matthew C. Morley, Daniel D. Snow

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Several sites in the United States have groundwater contaminated with mixtures of high explosives and chlorinated solvents. This research examined the ability of two microbial cultures (anaerobic sludge and a facultative enrichment culture) to biodegrade single- and dual-contaminant mixtures of trichloroethene (TCE) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) under anaerobic conditions. In single component batch tests, both cultures degraded 0.6–1 mg RDX/L and its nitroso metabolites to below detection limits in <7 days. During initial 9-day TCE biodegradation tests, the anaerobic sludge did not transform TCE, whereas the facultative culture transformed approximately 10% of the initial 1.4 mg TCE/L. Prior to dual-contaminant batch tests, both cultures were grown in the presence of TCE. Subsequently, both acclimated cultures rapidly biodegraded mixtures of RDX and TCE. Both cultures degraded RDX and RDX-nitroso compounds to below detection limits in <4 days. In the same tests, TCE-acclimated anaerobic sludge converted TCE primarily to cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE), while the acclimated facultative culture produced cis-DCE and other chlorinated metabolites. These preliminary results demonstrate that anaerobic bioremediation may be part of a feasible groundwater remediation …

Effectiveness Of Cane Toad Eradication Methods: Arakwal National Park, Matthew Miller

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The cane toad (Bufo marinus) is a pest throughout Australia. Not only is it poisonous to native predators, it also consumes or out competes native fauna. It has only recently entered into Northern New South Wales where the site for this study is located, at Arakwal National Park. This study aims to discover the most effective method of cane toad eradication in the National Park.

Over the course of 18 days, three traps were set and rotated between 9 different sites. Traps were set at sunset and cleared at sunrise. The three traps used were; (1) Pitfall style trap by …

Decision Modeling: Why Farmers Do Or Do Not Convert To Organic Farming, Ryan Locke

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study examines why farmers in Northern New South Wales, Australia do or do not convert to organic farming from conventional farming practices. Organic agriculture provides a production alternative that may be environmentally and nutritionally beneficial. Because the structural settings of economy and society influence decision-making on an individual basis at the farm level, discussions of policy must consider why farmers do, or do not, convert to organic farming. Ultimately, the successfulness of a policy depends on the effectiveness of motivating individual action. A hierarchical decision tree was created using ethnographic decision tree modeling. Elimination criteria, motivational criteria, and constraints …

Sea Urchin Predation In Misali Island Marine Park, Nicole Esclamado

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The populations of sea urchins and their main predators, triggerfish (Balistidae), wrasses (Labridae) and emperors (Lethrinidae), were studied in the extractive and non-extractive zones of the Misali Island Marine Conservation Area in order to (1) evaluate the applicability of a sea urchin-sea urchin predator model developed in Kenya’s fringing reefs, (2) gain baseline data on Misali’s coral reef, and (3) evaluate the recovery status of the protected zone. This study revealed the predictive power of the sea urchin-sea urchin predator model for the reef ecosystem of Misali Island. As expected, a decline in sea urchin predators as a gross trophic …

Wmi Outdoor News Bulletin * April 2006, Volume 60, No. 4

Wildlife Management Institute Outdoor News Bulletin

New BLM office building to cut off critical pronghorn migration route

Three receive high honors

IP sale of almost 5.7 million acres is sign of the times

"Split estate" at issue across the West

Initiative becomes fish-or-cut-bait action plan

Worth Reading: Being Caribou

Colorado College State Of The Rockies Report Card, Walter E. Hecox, Bryan Hurlbutt, Caitlin O'Brady

Publications (SD)

Welcome to Colorado College’s third State of the Rockies Report Card. Building upon a strong start in 2004 and continuing through 2005, the Rockies Project this year provides a fresh look at key challenges to this beautiful but fragile region. This Report Card and the companion April 2006 State of the Rockies Conference are significant outreach activities of Colorado College: Vision 2010, an agenda to strengthen our college and our engagement in the region.

Estuarine Habitat Mitigation In Oregon: Policy Review, Analysis, And Recommended Improvements, Anna Buckley

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

The report is organized in the following manner. After the introductory chapter (Chapter 1), Chapter Two describes Oregon's current estuarine policy and related state and federal policies. Chapter Three provides an inventory of recent permitted impacts and associated estuarine resource replacement. Chapter Four consists of a brief summary of the status of estuarine ecology and restoration/mitigation, with knowledge gaps identified. Chapter Five discusses wetland functional assessment tools and options for compensatory mitigation. This chapter begins with a description of the tidal Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) assessment method, how it compares to the estuarine resource replacement rules' relative values table, and the utility …

Inside Unlv, Diane Russell, Shane Bevell, Carol C. Harter, Cate Weeks, Mamie Peers, Regina Vaccari

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Unlv Magazine, Carol C. Harter, Joe Cockrell, Tony Allen, Regina Bacolas, Lori Bachand, Jennifer Lawson, Bret C. Birdsong, Steve Parker, Erin O'Donnell, Jennifer Robison

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Environmental Consciousness And Identity In Surfing Subculture, Alex Mass

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Since the 1960’s and 1970’s, surfing has exuded the stereotype of a laid-back, environmentally conscious and left-wing culture, a connotation often spread through media outlets such as movies, television, and music that encourage the idea. While the stereotype is often known and widely accepted, no studies could be found that actually tested this view. Using a series of interviews and surveys of the New Ecological Paradigm, this study investigated the formation of environmental consciousness and identity in surfing subculture in order to examine the accuracy of such stereotypes, and analyse the effect that such generalized views have on the formation …

Factors Affecting The Distribution And Health Of The Intertidal Coral Goniastrea Aspera On The Reef Flat In Geoffrey Bay, Magnetic Island, Julia Smith

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The intertidal zone can be a harsh environment, presenting many challenges to the organisms inhabiting it. Given its dynamic nature, it is surprising that it is sometimes able to sustain systems as delicate and sensitive as coral reefs. Many organisms have adapted to life on the intertidal reef flat, and one of the most prominent on the northeastern coast of Australia is the massive coral Goniastrea aspera. The mechanisms driving the distribution of this species are not entirely understood; this study investigated the potential role of microhabitat, as well as that of actual physical characteristics of the colonies, in the …

An Analysis Of Indicator Organism Suitability For Lower James And York Rivers, Rhonda Ashonti Ford

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The primary objectives of this thesis are (1) determine if the proper indicator organism is being utilized to determine the bacterial water quality in the State of Virginia. (2) If other environmental factors can predict the bacterial water quality. The current indicator organism of choice for bacterial water quality of waters in the State of Virginia is enterococci, for estuarine and brackish waters. E. coli is the indicator organism of choice for fresh waters in Virginia.

The study concluded (1) Enterococci are the best indicator organism for beaches located in the Hampton Roads Harbor and the Lower James River. (2) …

Natural History Of The Quarry Trail, Genevive Espinoza, Megan Michael, Shayla Williamson

Student Research

We tested the effectiveness of an interpretive trail guide in promoting environmental education at the nature park. Our sample consisted of 98 introductory biology students at DePauw University. Our study investigated the impact of environmental education with the interpretive trail guides as a tool for changing student attitudes toward nature. Conservation biology and human impacts were highlighted in the trail guides and selection of the points of interest along the quarry guide. We designated 11 points along the quarry trail. Our trail guide incorporated aspects of the quarry trail that were relevant to conservation biology and significant historically. Pre and …

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Sensitive Wildlife Species Monitoring And Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Wildlife Monitoring

• Research Assistant Professor hired to oversee NPS wildlife monitoring programs and serve as overall program coordinator for UNLV monitoring programs at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
• Final report completed for 2004-2005 desert tortoise monitoring project.
• Final report completed for 2004-2005 relict leopard frog management.
• Recommendations for vegetation management research to improve relict leopard frog habitats at North Shore springs made to NPS Management Team
• Breeding surveys for relict leopard frog and egg collections for head-starting program completed.
• Final report completed of 2004-2005 monitoring efforts on peregrine falcons.
• Final report completed on 2004-2005 bald eagle monitoring.
• Bald eagle survey for 2006 …

Red Rock Desert Learning Center Core Group Meeting: March 21, 2006, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions & Announcements (5 min.)
2. Approval of Minutes from January 17, 2006 Meeting (5 min.)
3. Update on Project Schedule – Michael Reiland (10 min.)
   A. Utilities
   B. Water Line
   C. Operator RFP
   D. NEPA
4. Report on Value Analysis Workshops – Michael Reiland / Line & Space
   (10 min.)
   A. Cost Estimates/Inflation
5. Curriculum Update – Jeanne Klockow (10 min.)
6. Standing Reports (10 min.)
   A. Line and Space – Les Wallach
   B. BLM Capital Improvements – Michael Reiland
7. Committee Reports (5 min.)
   A. Building Committee
   B. Design Oversight
   C. Educational Programs
   D. Fund-raising and Partnerships
   E. NEPA
   F. Operations
   G. Other Uses …

Science Translation For Non-Point Source Pollution Control – A Cultural Models Approach With Municipal Officials: A Final Report Submitted To The Noaa/Unh Cooperative Institute For Coastal And Estuarine Environmental Technology (Ciceet), Christine Baumann Feurt

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Multi-Site Analysis Of Random Error In Tower-Based Measurements Of Carbon And Energy Fluxes, Andrew D. Richardson, David Y. Hollinger, George C. Burba, Kenneth J. Davis, Lawrence B. Flanagan, Gabriel G. Katul, J. William Munger, Daniel M. Ricciuto, Paul C. Stoy, Andrew E. Suyker, Shashi Verma, Steven C. Wofsy

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Measured surface-atmosphere fluxes of energy (sensible heat, H, and latent heat, LE) and CO₂ (FCO₂) represent the ‘‘true’’ flux plus or minus potential random and systematic measurement errors. Here, we use data from seven sites in the AmeriFlux network, including five forested sites (two of which include “tall tower” instrumentation), one grassland site, and one agricultural site, to conduct a cross-site analysis of random flux error. Quantification of this uncertainty is a prerequisite to model-data synthesis (data assimilation) and for defining confidence intervals on annual sums of net ecosystem exchange or making statistically valid comparisons between …

Modeling Study To Quantify The Benefits Of Groundwater Contaminant Source Remediation, David E. Wagner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to quantify the benefits of groundwater contaminant source remediation by using a model to simulate how reduction of source mass was related to reduction of contaminant concentration at a receptor. This thesis sought to answer three research questions: (1) how are contaminant source mass reduction and reduction of mass flux leaving the source-zone related; (2) how can we quantify the effect of the important natural attenuation processes that act upon the dissolved contaminant as it travels from the source zone to downgradient receptors, and (3) under specified site conditions, what is the maximum contaminant …

Multiple Breeding Strategies In The Swift Fox, Vulpes Velox, Ann M. Kitchen, Eric M. Gese, Lisette P. Waits, Seija M. Karki, Edward R. Schauster

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Little is known of the mating system of the swift fox or how it compares to other socially monogamous mammals. In a 4-year study of 188 swift foxes, we used microsatellite analysis at 11 loci along with spatial observations to investigate swift fox mating strategies. The mating strategies used by swift foxes were highly diverse. Previous field observations have indicated that the swift fox is socially monogamous. However, we found that extrapair mating was a common breeding strategy; 52% of offspring were sired by a male that was not the mate of their mother. There was also variation in the …