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Economic Impact Of Protected Large Carnivores On Sheep Farming In Norway, Leif Jarle Asheim, Ivar Mysterud

Sheep and Goat Research Journal

Norway has historically been a stronghold for carnivore predators. Today there are four protected carnivore species, brown bear (Ursus arctos), wolverine (Gulo gulo), wolf (Canis lupus) and lynx (Lynx lynx), together with the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). The carnivore populations were significantly reduced, and wolves and bears almost eradicated nationally during the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries (Ministry of the Environment, 1992; 1996-97). Today, the species are protected, and management calls for restoring demographically and/or genetically viable populations (Ministry of the Environment, 1996-97). Another proposal is to view Norwegian management goals and responsibilities in …

Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields During Spring Migration Trrough North Dakota, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Over the past century, the amount of mixed-grass prairie in North Dakota has diminished with a concomitant increase in land used for crop production. Consequently, the diversity of habitat available for migrant birds has decreased, and birds are now limited to choosing habitats that are uncharacteristic of those used during other times of the year. Because of the extensive agricultural production in this region, the value of harvested crop fields to spring-migrating birds was studied by examining avian habitat use in harvested fields to determine differences in bird use among these habitats. In the spring of 2003, 60 harvested fields …

Effects Of Aerial Lines On Red-Winged Blackbird Nesting Success, William H. Clark, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Crop damage attributed to foraging red-winged blackbirds continues to be a problem in localized areas of the United States. Therefore, new methods that are both environmentally and public friendly need to be developed for repelling blackbirds. One such method that is more humane and less hazardous than the chemical control is the use of aerial lines to repel birds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerial lines on the reproductive effort of nesting red-winged blackbirds and to determine the spacing, type, and size of aerial lines that are most effective. Maximum likelihood estimates for the …

Quantification Of Cattail (Typha Spp.) In The Prairie Pothole Region Of North Dakota In Relation To Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, Scott T. Ralston, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Sunflower is an important crop for many farmers in the upper Midwest, especially in North Dakota and South Dakota. Blackbirds have been a major problem for the sunflower grower community. Bud depredation to a field can be devastating. The USDA-APHISWS is charged with reducing the conflict between the birds and the farmers. Many methods have been employed by Wildlife Services and other agencies to lessen the damage. One method is the reduction of the cattail (Typha spp.) habitat used by blackbirds in and around wetlands; however, cattails are used by other animals. Consequently, there is a need to insure …

Management Of Cattail (Typha Spp.) Stands With Glyphosate To Disperse Blackbirds, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Ryan L. Wimberly, Philip Mastrangelo, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota and South Dakota, blackbirds (Icteridae) gather by the thousands in large premigratory roosts in late summer and early fall. Wetlands dominated by cattails (Typha spp.) provide ideal roosting habitat for these aggregations. Sunflower fields near large roosts can receive substantial damage. To eliminate potential roosting sites, Wildlife Services of the United States Department of Agriculture has implemented a cattail management program that aerially sprays dense cattail stands with the herbicide glyphosate m-(phosphonomethyl) glycine]. The continued viability of the program depends on a positive benefit-cost ratio and minimal environmental impacts. In this …

Avian Use Of Roadside Habitat In The Southern Drift Plains Of North Dakota And Implications For Cattail (Typha Spp.) Management, Bryan D. Safratowich, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We determined avian use of roadside rights-of-way to develop proper management strategies for the manipulation of roadside cattail. Cattail management is a technique used to reduce nesting and roosting habitat for problematic blackbird species, which might feed on sunflower crops in the vicinity of cattail-dominated wetlands. Thirty quarter sections (1 quarter section ≈ 64.75 ha) located in the Southern Drift Plains of North Dakota served as our study units. Roadside habitat along two 0.5 mile (-0.8 km) transects bordering these quarter sections was surveyed to assess avian use. Additionally, nest surveys were , conducted to provide an index of breeding …

Influences Of Land Use Patterns On Blackbird Abundance In The Prairie Pothole Region Of North Dakota, Greg M. Forcey, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

One issue affecting sunflower growers in the upper Great Plains of North America is crop depredation by blackbirds. In this region, blackbirds annually destroy an average of $5.4 million of sunflower. To increase the understanding of how blackbirds are influenced by large-scale land-use patterns, we developed multiple regression models to explain how various land use patterns influence blackbird abundance. We used data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey and the USGS land cover assessment to develop regression models examining associations between land use characteristics and blackbird abundance. Both red-winged blackbirds and yellow-headed blackbirds were negatively associated with the amount …

Subterranean Loss And Gain Of Water In Mountain Lake, Virginia: A Hydrologic Model, Martin Jansons, Bruce C. Parker, Jacob E. Waller

Virginia Journal of Science

Mountain Lake, Virginia is a small, unique, oligotrophic, subalpine ecosystem in the southern Appalachians. Previous studies have disclosed that this lake has manifested periodic prolonged low water levels during the several thousand years of its existence. The most recent low water level occurred during the drought years of 1999-2002. Measurements of lake level, precipitation, and other meteorological data including calculated evapotranspiration in the lake basin from 2/19/02 to 8/31/03 have enabled estimation of net subterranean water losses presumably through cracks between Clinch sandstone boulders and/or the recently discovered deep hole at the northwest end of Mountain Lake. These net losses …

Proposals For Community Discussion On The Future Management Of Pink Snapper Fishing In Cockburn Sound And Surrounding Waters, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

This discussion paper outlines the current issues associated with the management of the metropolitan pink snapper fishery along with some options for future management.

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 8 - The Nutritional Management Of Barramundi, Brett Glencross

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

Barramundi nutrition research has been undertaken since 1988. Since that time the requirements for most nutrients, energy demand, ingredient utilisation and the effects of nutrition on flesh quality aspects have all been examined to varying extents.

Optimal protein content of diets has been shown to vary with diet energy density and also the size of fish which are being fed. Most studies have suggested a protein requirement from 45% to 55%. For small fish a protein to energy ratio of 25 to 30 g/MJ is suggested. Limited work has been done on fish larger than 500 g. The 10 essential …

Data Summary From The Tampa Bay Interagency Seagrass Monitoring Program Through Year 2003, Walt Avery, Roger Johansson

Reports

Results regarding seagrass species abundance, distribution, and zonation over time are presented for the 1997-2003 period in Hillsborough Bay (HB, Figures 15-26) and the 1998-2003 period for Old Tampa Bay (OTB, Figures 3-14), Middle Tampa Bay (MTB, Figures 28-40), Lower Tampa Bay, including Terra Ceia Bay (LTB, Figures 41-56), and Boca Ciega Bay (BCB, Figures 57-68). For each transect, results are presented in a graphic format illustrating annual species composition, abundance, and distribution. Seagrass abundance is presented as percent coverage within a square meter using the Braun Blanquet coverage class system.

Detection Of Clostridium Botulinum Type C Cells In The Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis Mossambicus) By Polymerase Chain Reaction, P. Nol, J.L. Williamson, T.E. Rocke, T.M. Yuill

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We established a method of directly detecting Clostridium botulinum type C cells, while minimizing spore detection, in the intestinal contents of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). This technique involved extraction of predominantly cellular DNA from tilapia intestinal tracts and used a polymerase chain reaction assay to detect presence of type C₁ toxin gene. We consistently detected C. botulinum type C cells in tilapia gastrointestinal contents at a level of 7.5310⁴ cells per 0.25 g material or 1.9310³ cells. This technique is useful for determining prevalence of the potentially active organisms within a given population of fish …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Program Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (2003), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

Macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed have been quantitatively sampled since summer 1999. This report presents the data from the fifth year of sampling in 2003. The three objectives of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed are: (1) To characterize the health of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. ( 2) To conduct trend analyses on long-term data at 14 fixed-point stations to relate temporal trends in the benthic communities to changes in water and/or sediment quality. Trend analyses will be updated …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 20, Number 3 (October 2004), Michael J. Yabsley

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) is conducting surveillance for exotic ticks on wildlife in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico in cooperation with USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services.
West Nile Virus in a South Carolina Deer
Persistence and Fate of Bird Carcasses: The findings from this study will provide information useful in interpretation of dead bird surveillance data and the potential for oral exposure to WNV among both avian and mammalian scavengers. These investigations constitute the M.S. project for Marsha Ward, a Warnell School of Forest Resources student affiliated with SCWDS.
Recent Cases of Hantavirus in West Virginia & Map …

Water Current, Volume 36, No. 4. Fall 2004

Water Current Newsletter

Contents

• Gleick to Speak at April Water Law Science and Policy Conference by Steve Ress

• Measurements From Nearly 5,000 Wells Show Groundwater Declines by Steve Ress

• From the Director

• Meet the Faculty

• Combating An Odorless, Tasteless, Unseen Problem in Nebraska Drinking Water by Steve Ress

• UNL Researchers Studying SDI Technology Near Clay Center by Steve Ress

• UNL Study Looks at Economic Impacts of Water Allocations To Republican River Basin Economy

• Husker Harvest Days 2004

• Algae Test Kits Travel Far and Wide

• Missouri River Study Nets EPA Grant

• Free Lectures …

Unlv Magazine, Holly Ivy De Vore, Nancy Syzdek, Patrice E.M. Hollrah, Douglas Unger, Eugene Moehring, Gillian Silver, John F. Gallagher, Lori Bachand, Gian Galassi, Hal Rothman, Mark Hoversten, Phil Hagen, Donna Mcaleer, Suzan Dibella

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Annual Report To The Pastoral Lands Board Of Western Australia: 2003 / 2004 Financial Year, Rod Williams, Philip Thomas

Natural resources published reports

The Department of Agriculture has prepared this Annual Report for the Pastoral Lands Board of Western Australia for the financial year 2003 – 2004. This is the second report incorporating this framework and provides expanded information on issues and trends for a number of indicators of importance to Western Australia’s rangelands.

The Department of Agriculture’s services to the Board are outlined and environmental indicators based on scientific analysis of range condition trend are presented at the regional and property scales. Seasonal conditions at the state level with more specific information at the regional level and information relating to the assistance …

Fish Assemblage Stability Over Fifty Years In The Lake Pontchartrain Estuary; Comparisons Among Habitats Using Canonical Correspondence Analysis, Martin O'Connell, Robert Cashner, Christopher Schieble

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

We assessed fish assemblage stability over the last half century in Lake Pontchartrain, an environmentally degraded oligohaline estuary in southeastern Louisiana. Because assemblage instability over time has been consistently associated with severe habitat degradation, we attempted to determine whether fish assemblages in demersal, nearshore, and pelagic habitats exhibited change that was unrelated to natural fluctuations in environmental variables (e.g., assemblage changes between wet and dry periods). Collection data from three gear types (trawl, beach seine, and gill nets) and monthly environmental data (salinity, temperature, and Secchi depth) were compared for four collecting periods: 1954 (dry period), 1978 (wet period), 1996–1998 …

Bacterial Degradation Of Disinfection By-Products In Drinking Water, Laura Inga Fauntleroy

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Chlorine became a major disinfectant for the removal of microbial contaminants in 1914. Current water chlorination procedures yield halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as haloalkanes and haloacetic acids (HAAs), due to the reaction of chlorine with naturally occurring organic compounds. Various water utilities have observed decreased HAAs levels in maximum residence time locations (MRTLs), where they were expected to be higher. These MRTLs have low free chlorine residual and high heterotrophic bacteria plate counts. Xanthobacter autotrophicus, GJ-10, is a bacterium that has been shown to contain dehalogenase enzymes and, therefore, can biodegrade HAAs. A number of water-system bacteria were …

Performance Of Cotesia Flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) In Parasitizing Chilo Partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) As Affected By Temperature And Host Stage, Nanqing Jiang, Mamoudou Sétamou, Adèle J. Ngi-Song, Charles O. Omwega

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The braconid larval parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes, is used as a biological control agent against the crambid Chilo partellus, a serious pest of cereal crops in eastern and southern Africa. We examined the survival, development parameters, and body growth patterns of the host and its parasitoid at different temperatures (22, 26, and 30°C) using third and fourth instars of Ch. partellus. For non-parasitized hosts, larval mortality tended to be highest at lowest temperature and for parasitized at third host instars only at highest temperature. Development time of Co. flavipes immatures significantly decreased with host instar and with temperature. Sex ratio of …

Randy's Return: A Case Study In Food Safety Regulation, Matthew Laposata

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Movements Of Urban Canada Geese: Implications For Nicarbazin Treatment Programs, Kurt C. Vercauteren, David R. Marks

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis) and human populations in North America are increasing rapidly. Consequently, human-goose conflicts also are increasing. A potential approach to manage Canada goose populations is the use of orally delivered reproductive inhibitors. Nicarbazin, when ingested daily, is a reproductive inhibitor that has the potential to reduce the hatchability of Canada goose eggs. To successfully employ reproductive inhibition, managers must understand the behavior of local Canada goose populations, primarily springtime movements, nesting, and habitat use to develop effective methods for delivering necessary doses. We monitored movement, habitat use, and nesting of 51 resident Canada geese, …

Red Rock Desert Learning Center Core Group Meeting: September 21, 2004, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions (5 min.)
2. Approval of Minutes from August 17 Meeting (5 minutes)
3. Potential Tie-in with City of Las Vegas New Directions YouthArts Program –
   Markus Tracy (20 min.)
4. Presentation of Education in the Environment Curriculum Matrix and correlation to
   RRDLC curriculum development – Jeanne Klockow (30 min.)
5. Discussion of Policy-making Board for the Center – Michael Reiland (15 min.)
6. Discussion of Observatory Location – Michael Reiland (25 min.)
7. Standing Reports (20 minutes)
   A. Line and Space Architects Update – Les Wallach/Henry Tom
   B. UNLV/CESU Update – Nancy Flagg
   C. RRCNCA Capital Improvements Update – BLM
8. Committee Reports (10 min.)
   A. …

Abstracts Of Papers From 6th Annual Meeting, Baltimore 2004

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 6th (2004)

Abstracts of 39 papers and 19 poster presentations.

Use Of Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Measures In Conservation Biology Research: Considerations For Application And Interpretation, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Brian E. Washburn

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Fecal glucocorticoid metabolite analyses are increasingly being used by a variety of scientists (e.g., conservation biologists, animal scientists) to examine glucocorticoid (i.e., stress hormone) secretion in domestic and wild vertebrates. Adrenocortical activity (i.e., stress response) is of interest to conservation biologists because stress can alter animal behavior, reduce resistance to disease, and affect population performance. The noninvasiveness of fecal-based assessments is attractive, particularly when studying endangered species, because samples can often be obtained without disturbing the animal. Despite such advantages, many confounding factors inhibit the utility of this technique in addressing conservation problems. In particular, interpretation of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite …

Education In The Environment Partnership, Public Lands Institute

Presentations (PLI Education)

• Update on Oliver Ranch
• Update on Forever Earth
• Update on WOW on the Water

Gaining Ground Information Database, John R. Nolon, Jessica A. Bacher, Susan Moritz

Yale School of the Environment Publications Series

A Report on a New Internet Research Library of Innovative Land Use Laws, Regulations, and Practices

2003 Pollutant Loads Kings River Near Berryville, Arkansas, Marc A. Nelson, L. Wade Cash

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

An automatic sampler and a USGS gauging station were established in 1998 and water quality sampling was begun in 1999 on the Kings River near Berryville, Arkansas. Continuous stage and discharge measurements and frequent water quality sampling have been used to determine pollutant concentrations and loads in the river. This report presents the results from the sampling and analysis for January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003.

Illinois River 2003 Pollutant Loads At Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge, Marc A. Nelson, L. Wade Cash

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Automatic water samplers and a U. S. Geological Survey gauging station were established in 1995 on the main stem of the Illinois River at the Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge. Since that time, continuous stage and discharge measurements and water quality sampling have been used to determine pollutant concentrations and loads in the Arkansas portion of the Illinois River. This report represents the results from the measurement and sampling by the Arkansas Water Resources Center -Water Quality Lab for January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003.

Water Quality Monitoring Of Moores Creek Above Lincoln Lake 2003, Marc A. Nelson, L. Wade Cash, G. Keith Trost

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

No abstract provided.