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

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Red-winged blackbird (RWBL) is one of the most abundant birds in all of North America (Dolbeer 1980, Beletsky 1996). Red-winged blackbird damage to crops continues to be a dilemma in localized areas of the United States (Dolbeer 1980). In addition to economic losses, bird damage may intensify conflicts between agricultural interests and the enforcement of laws defending wildlife and their habitats (Stone et al. 1984). When chemicals are shown to be environmentally harmful or when public unease grows over the mass killing of wildlife, new methods of repelling blackbirds need to be evaluated. A more humane and less hazardous …

Large-Scale Climate And Land Cover Influences On Blackbird Populations In The Prairie Pothole Region Of The United States And Canada, George M. Forcey, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Blackbirds are ubiquitous members of the avian fauna in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States and Canada. Their abundance combined with their food habitats make blackbirds significant agricultural pests on sunflower. Cost estimates for blackbird damage to sunflower in the northern Great Plains range from 4-11 million dollars per year. Because of their economic impact on agriculture, it is imperative to understand the environmental factors that influence their abundance. This study attempts to quantify the effects of landscape-level climatic and land use patterns on blackbird population dynamics in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States and Canada.

Cattail Quantification In The Prairie Pothole Region Of North Dakota Regarding Cattail Management For Reduction Of Blackbird Sunflower Damage, Scott T. Ralston, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The spread of cattail across the Northern Great Plains has increased the amount of breeding and roosting habitat available to marsh-nesting blackbirds. In the fall, dense cattail stands attract large numbers of roosting blackbirds, that damage crops like sunflower. In an effort to disperse roosting blackbirds and reduce the resulting crop damage, scientists from the USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center and North Dakota State University have developed wetland habitat management techniques using a glyphosate-based aquatic herbicide. These techniques have been used by USDA Wildlife Services as a nonlethal method for reducing blackbird damage.

Previous research on individual wetlands has demonstrated …

Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields During Spring Migration Through The Southern Drift Plains Of North Dakota, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the Southern Drift Plains of North Dakota, land put into crop production has increased greatly over the last century. Of the approximately 70,000 square miles of land area in North Dakota, about 32,000 square miles are used for harvested cropland. Because of changes in the landscape, the diversity of habitat available for migrant birds has diminished, and migrants are now limited to choosing habitats for stopover sites that are uncharacteristic of those used at other times of the year. With reduced diversity of habitat a birds choice of feeding and resting areas greatly affects success at migration. Choice may …

Avian Use Of Harvested Crop Fields During Spring Migration Through The Southern Drift Plains Of North Dakota, Alegra M. Galle, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the Southern Drift Plains of North Dakota, land put into crop production has increased greatly over the last century. Of the approximately 70,000 square miles of land area in North Dakota, about 32,000 square miles are used for harvested cropland. Because of changes in the landscape, the diversity of habitat available for migrant birds has diminished, and migrants are now limited to choosing habitats for stopover sites that are uncharacteristic of those used at other times of the year. With reduced diversity of habitat a birds choice of feeding and resting areas greatly affects success at migration. Choice may …

Grassland Reserve Program, Environmental Assessment, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, United States Department Of Agriculture

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

No abstract provided.

Fish Stock And Fishery Enhancement In Western Australia. A Discussion Paper., Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

The objective of this paper is to propose a process that will allow the decision makers to objectively assess the appropriateness, benefits and costs of any stock enhancement proposal under Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) principles. To this end, this paper sets out a conceptual framework for assessment of stock enhancement projects, putting stock enhancement within the wider framework of fisheries and ecosystem management strategies, and their assessment, in Western Australia.

The Hardy Inlet Estuarine Fishery Management Issues And Options, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper presents information available on fish resources in the Hardy Inlet/Blackwood River system, and discusses the key management matters and likely impacts of a number of possible management measures.

Narrogin Townsite Test Pumping Results 2003, Louise Hopgood

Resource management technical reports

Test pumping of a production bore in Narrogin took place for 24 hours in August 2003. Data generated by the test pumping was analysed along with groundwater monitoring, climate and geological data. Laboratory analyses of water samples from the production bore indicate very high levels of salinity and hardness which may lead to severe scaling and corrosion of pumps, pipes and pipe fittings.

Projecting Range Expansion Of Invasive European Green Crabs (Carcinus Maenas) To Alaska: Temperature And Salinity Tolerance Of Larvae, Anson Hines, Greg Ruiz, Natasha Gray Hitchcock, Catherine E. De Rivera

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

The European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) is a global invader, successfully colonizing many world regions and having significant ecological and economic impacts. The Green Crab colonized western North America in the late 1980s, spreading primarily northward from the initial establishment in San Francisco Bay to several other bays in northern California, Oregon, and Washington. Initial analysis, based largely upon temperature tolerance of postlarval crabs, suggests Green Crabs will continue to spread and become established throughout much of Alaska. However, establishment of self-sustaining populations in Alaska may be restricted by environmental conditions for reproduction and larval development, instead of the broad …

The Biodiversity And Biogeochemistry Of Cryoconite Holes From Mcmurdo Dry Valley Glaciers, Antarctica, Dorota L. Porazinska, Andrew G. Fountain, Thomas H. Nylen, Martyn Tranter, Ross A. Virginia, Diana H. Wall

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Once thought of as inert, ice has been increasingly recognized as a habitat suitable for life. The landscape of the MCMurdo Dry Valleys (MCM) of Antarctica is dominated by glaciers, and glacier melt is the primary water source for life in soils, streams, and lakes. The glaciers, despite their cold and lifeless appearance, offer functioning habitats for life. The major objective of this study was to examine biogeochemical characteristics of miniecosystems present in cryoconite holes and to determine links to other components (soils, streams, and lakes) of the dry valley landscape. We examined cryoconite holes from 5 glaciers spanning the …

Establishing A Uae Database Using Str Loci, Ibrahim Abdullah Ali Al-Housani

Theses

The analysis of DNA polymorphism has become an indispensable tool in forensic science and criminal cases. Today, the amplification of Short Tandem Repeat (STR) loci using PCR is the perfect method for typing biological evidence found at crime scenes. Forensic laboratories all over the world have been progressively expanding their databases for better discrimination among individuals and suspects of crimes.

The objective of this thesis was to analyze the DNA profile of native and non-native populations, and to study the similarities and dissimilarities among them. Blood samples were collected from three non-natives (Egyptian, Indian and Pakistani) and native populations from …

Optimization Of Ordered Distance Sampling, Ryan M. Nielson, Robert T. Sugihara, Thomas J. Boardman, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Ordered distance sampling is a point-to-object sampling method that can be labor-efficient for demanding field situations. An extensive simulation study was conducted to find the optimum number, g, of population members to be encountered from each random starting point in ordered distance sampling. Monte Carlo simulations covered 64 combinations of four spatial patterns, four densities and four sample sizes. Values of g from 1 to 10 were considered for each case. Relative root mean squared error (RRMSE) and relative bias were calculated for each level of g, with RRMSE used as the primary assessment criterion for finding the …

Watershed Study Results Offer Strategies For Reducing Erosion And Sedimentation Associated With Cattle Grazing, Lynn E. Moody

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

The Morro Bay estuary is arguably the most important wetland system on the south central coast of California. It supports commercial fishing industries, numerous recreation activities, and a variety of natural habitats. The estuary and its watershed, representing a diverse biological and economic resource to the people of California, are impacted by various pollutants, with sediment of particular concern. As part of a 10-year national monitoring program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through California's Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board), a paired watershed study on California Polytechnic State University's Escuela Ranch has shown that Best Management …

Remediating Rdx-Contaminated Ground Water With Permanganate: Laboratory Investigations For The Pantex Perched Aquifer, M. L. Adam, Steven Comfort, Matthew C. Morley, Daniel D. Snow

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Ground water beneath the U.S. Department of Energy Pantex Plant is contaminated with the high explosive RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5- trinitro-1,3,5 triazine). The USDOE Innovative Treatment and Remediation Demonstration (ITRD) program identified in situ oxidation by permanganate as a technology fit for further investigation. We evaluated the efficacy of KMnO₄ to transform and mineralize RDX by determining degradation kinetics and carbon mass balances using ¹⁴C-RDX. Aqueous RDX solutions (2–5 mg L^–1) and RDX-contaminated slurries (50% solids, w/v) were treated with KMnO₄ at 1000, 2000, 4000, and 20,000 mg L^–1. Treating an aqueous RDX solution of …

Sensor And Electronic Biases/Errors In Air Temperature Measurements In Common Weather Station Networks*, X. Lin, Kenneth Hubbard

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The biases of four commonly used air temperature sensors are examined and detailed. Each temperature transducer consists of three components: temperature sensing elements, signal conditioning circuitry, and corresponding analog-to-digital conversion devices or dataloggers. An error analysis of these components was performed to determine the major sources of error in common climate networks. It was found that, regardless of microclimate effects, sensor and electronic errors in air temperature measurements can be larger than those given in the sensor manufacturer’s specifications. The root-sum-of-squares (RSS) error for the HMP35C sensor with CR10X datalogger was above 0.2􏰆C, and rapidly increases for both lower (􏰋􏰂20􏰆C) …

Animal Anti–Apoptotic Genes Enhance Recovery From Drought Stress In Tobacco, Tala Awada, David D. Dunigan, Martin B. Dickman

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The anti–apoptotic nematode CED–9 gene and a 3’ non–coding mRNA region of the human Bcl–2 gene, referred to as 161–1, enhanced resistance to drought and recovery after re–watering in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum L. CV Glurk plants. The effect of drought on plant functions was investigated by withholding water from pots for 6, 8, 10 and 13 days. Results showed that controls and transgenic tobacco did not differ among each other under well–watered conditions. Differences appeared however, on day 3 of water deprivation, where controls exhibited a significantly steeper decline in photosynthesis (A) compared to the transgenic lines. On day 10 …

The Wide Dynamic Range Vegetation Index And Its Potential Utility For Gap Analysis, Geoffrey M. Henebry, Andrés Viña, Anatoly A. Gitelson

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

In this brief note, the authors illustrate the prevalence of reduced sensitivity of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), introduce the Wide Dynamic Range Vegetation Index (WDRVI), and illustrate the advantages of the WDVRI over the NDVI using Landsat ETM+ data that spans a range of canopy densities.

Remote Estimation Of Net Ecosystem Co2 Exchange In Crops: Principles, Technique Calibration And Validation, Anatoly A. Gitelson, Andrés Viña, Shashi Verma, Donald C. Rundquist, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Galina P. Keydan, Bryan Leavitt, Veronica Ciganda, George G. Burba, Andrew E. Suyker

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Accurate and synoptic estimation of spatially distributed CO2 fluxes is of great importance for regional and global studies of carbon balance. A technique solely based on remotely sensed data was developed and tested for estimating net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) in maize and soybean. The model is based on the reflectance in two spectral channels: the near-infrared and either the green or red-edge around 700 nm. The technique provides accurate estimations of mid-day NEE in both crops under either rainfed or irrigated conditions, explaining more than 85% of NEE variation in maize and more than 81% in soybean, and shows …

Snake River Birds Of Prey National Conservation Area Case Study, Kathryn M. Mutz, Doug Cannon, Chris Simmons, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Books, Reports, and Studies

34, A-5, B-2 p. : ill., map

Private Lands Conservation In Belize, Joan Marsan, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Books, Reports, and Studies

49 p. : map ; 28 cm

Private Lands Conservation In Papua New Guinea, Sonja Klopf, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Books, Reports, and Studies

35 p. ; 28 cm

Greening Connecticut Cities And Towns, Managing Public Trees And Community Forests, Glenn D. Dreyer, Robert M. Ricard

Other Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Risk Management Criteria For Metals At Blm Mining Sites, Karl L. Ford

United States Bureau of Land Management: Staff Publications

This report sets forth acceptable soil and sediment criteria for heavy metals released from abandoned hard rock mining sites as they relate to ecosystem management and protection of human health and wildlife. The USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages approximately 270 million acres of public lands, primarily in the Western U.S. These lands include several hundred thousand abandoned mining sites, some of which may be releasing heavy metals into the environment at levels toxic to wildlife.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Case Study, Jim Martin, Doug Cannon, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Books, Reports, and Studies

30, A-8, B-5 p. : ill., map

King Range National Conservation Area Case Study, Ann Morgan, Doug Cannon, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Books, Reports, and Studies

25, A-2, B-4, C-2 p. : ill., map

Operation Of Flaming Gorge Dam Draft Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary, Bureau Of Reclamation; Upper Colorado Region; United States

Elusive Documents

No abstract provided.

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.

The Development Of An Environmental Ethics Undergraduate Curriculum For California, James Rowland Roberts

Theses Digitization Project

This study included an environmental ethics syllabi research project, an environmental ethics curriculum development survey of all colleges in California, and the subsequent development of tables to compare the results. The curriculum development survey of California colleges includes a listing of all course descriptions of environmental ethics and related courses.

Habitat Conservation Plan For The Cedar City Golf Course And The Paiute Tribal Lands, Cedar City Corporation, Paiute Tribe Of Utah

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

No abstract provided.