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How Sustainable Is Grazing Sheep On Annual Pastures In The Woolbelt?, Don Mcfarlane, Richard George

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Low wool prices have reduced the profitability of producing wool from clover-based annual pastures in the south-western woo/belt. The heavy reliance on one commodity is economically unsustainable for many farmers. But we should also consider how ecologically sustainable the practice is.

Shallow-rooted annual pastures contribute to widespread salinity in the area, annual legumes are acidifying the soils and making them water repellent, and bare, detached soils from heavy grazing cause sheet and rill erosion during autumn storms. In addition, stock are degrading remnant vegetation and destroying the soil's structure.

To counteract this degradation, the woo/belt needs more perennial pastures and …

Red Mud : Cutting Pollution And Boosting Yields, Rob Summers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A by-product from the refining of bauxite ore in the South-West is proving a bonus for agriculture.

When spread over the land, not only is it improving soil quality, but it is helping to prevent leaching of phosphorus and the consequent massive algal blooms in the waterways.

Bauxite residue is also showing considerable promise in human and animal effluent disposal systems, composting urban refuse, sewage treatments and as a road base.

Western Australia is now in the forefront of this research which is attracting world-wide interest.

Grade/Dukes Timber Sale Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, United States Forest Service

Final Environmental Impact Statements (ID)

This Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) documents the analysis of the modifications made to the original Record of Decision Alternative for the proposed Grade/Dukes timber sale, which the Regional Forester sent back to the Payette National Forest on remand. The Proposed Alternative responds to the additional analysis required from the appeals and remand points and new concerns received during public scoping. This document is tiered to the original Grade/Dukes Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD).

Nursery Pest Management Final Environmental Impact Statement, United States Forest Service

Final Environmental Impact Statements (ID)

The Forest Service, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, is presenting three alternative ways of managing pests (weeds, diseases, insects, and animals) at the Lucky Peak Nursery in the Intermountain Region.

A Trophic Gradient Analysis Of Lake Powell: The 1994 Utah State University Aquatic Ecology Laboratory Analyses, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Megan Barker, Ron Brunson, David Fogle, Scott Hawxhurst, Chad Mellison, Lis Phillips, Felipe Queiroz, Daniel Zamecnik

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

From 9-11 April, 1994, the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory Class (FW462) of Utah State University sampled the upper reaches of Lake Powell to assess if a trophic gradient existed. We °ampled physical and chemical parameters (temperature, oxygen, conductivity, and total phosphorus), phytoplankton chlorophyll a, littoral and pelagic zooplankton biomass and composition, littoral and profundal benthic invertebrates, and fish abundance measured in the littoral zone (gill nets) and the pelagic zone (hydroacoustics). Data was collected along the upper 50 miles of the reservoir between Bullfrog and the Hite marina near the Colorado River inflow.

Our field trip was done just prior to …

Habitat Selection By Lacustrine Rainbow Trout Within Gradients Of Temperature, Oxygen, And Food Availability, Chris Luecke, D. Teuscher

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss [Walbaum]) in Castle Lake, California were concentrated at certain depths during day and evening hours. A fish bioenergetics simulation model based on vertical gradients of temperature, oxygen concentration, and food availability indicated that rainbow trout selected habitats that maximized growth rate. In 1 of the 2 years of study, a strong pattern of diel vertical migration of rainbow trout was evident and was associated with vertical migrations of daphnids in the lake. The simulation model correctly predicted the occurrence and magnitude of fish migration. During the day some trout resided at depths with little potential for …

Diamond Mountain Resource Area Resource Management Plan And Record Of Decision, United States Bureau Of Land Management

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

The Diamond Mountain Resource Management Plan is approved. The plan was prepared under the regulations for implementing the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 CFR 1600). An environmental impact statement was prepared for this plan in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The plan is identical/nearly idential to the one set forth in the proposed plan and associated final environmental impact statement published in August 1993. Specific areawide management decisions are presented in Chapter 2 of the RMP.

Savant Sage Record Of Decision, United States Forest Service

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

The 7,500-acre Savant Sage Resource Area forms a mountainous backdrop and prominent landscape for the communities of Athol, Belmont and the surrounding areas. The majority of the area was burned by the fires of the late 1800's, and there has been little timber resource management since. During early scoping activities, the public expressed concern for personal use of water resources in the area; the importance of visual resources to both local residents and seasonal visitors to the area; the forest health of the area; and the complexity of the area as a whole.

Dietary Comparisons Of Adult Male Common Grackles, Red-Winged Blackbirds, And Yellow-Headed Blackbirds In North Central North Dakota, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier, Robert B. Carlson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We compared the esophageal contents of adult male common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus),and yellow-headed blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) collected in north central North Dakota from July through October 1989. Temporal variation in the diets of all species was related to food availabilities, which were heavily influenced by crop phenology. Depending on species, mean percent dry weight of sunflower achenes during August increased 2-6 times over July. Yellow-headed blackbirds migrated from north central North Dakota by early September, but substantial numbers of common grackles and red-winged blackbirds remained until mid-October. Sunflower was an …

Age And Developmental History Of Iowa Fens, C. A. Thompson, E. A. Bettis Iii

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Iowa fens are small, mineorotrophic peatlands maintained by shallow groundwater. Eighteen fen sites located across northern Iowa were mapped and radiocarbon dated to assess the timing of initial peat accumulation. The radiocarbon ages span the Holocene, ranging from 1,240 to 10,900 B.P.; however most fens postdate 5,000 yr B.P. The dominance of late-Holocene ages suggests that Holocene climatic change may have strongly influenced the record of peat accumulation. During the mid-Holocene Iowa was warmer and drier than at present, and peat was degraded or accumulated slowly in fens. The range of ages also implies that the commencement and subsequent rate …

Synthesis Of Malathion, Malaoxon, And Isomalathion Enantiomers And Examination Of Their Interactions With Acetylcholinesterase, Clifford E. Berkman

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, Volume 3-1, Winter 1994/1995

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre: Newsletters and Publications

Ecology of Waterfowl Botulism
Responses to the Questionnaire to Readers
Mycoplasma gallisepticum in House Finches in the Eastern United States
Unusual observations of harp and hooded seals
Morbillivirus infection (canine distemper) in a bobcat
Cerebral nematodiasis in a bobcat
Stranding of two bottlenose whales in the St. Lawrence estuary
Prevalence of parasitic cataracts in St. Lawrence River fish
Rupture of a dissecting aneurysm of the pulmonary trunk in a beluga whale from the St. Lawrence Estuary
Tularemia in beavers
Ring-billed gulls - False Duck Island
Lead poisoning in loons
Salmonella and Campylobacter in gulls
Other observations
Mortality patterns in orphaned …

Identification And Assessment Of Wildlife Damage: An Overview, Richard A. Dolbeer, Nicholas R. Holler, Donald W. Hawthorne

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Wildlife management is often thought of in terms of protecting, enhancing, and nurturing wildlife populations and the habitat needed for their wellbeing. However, many species at one time or another require management actions to reduce conflicts with people or with other wildlife species. Examples include an airport manager modifying habitats to reduce gull activity near runways, a forester poisoning pocket gophers to increase tree seedling survival in a reforestation project, or a biologist trapping an abundant predator or competing species to enhance survival of an endangered species.

Wildlife damage control is an increasingly important part of the wildlife management profession …

Raccoons (Procyon Lotor), Edward K. Boggess

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is found throughout the United States, with the exception of the higher elevations of mountainous regions and some areas of the arid Southwest. Raccoons prefer hardwood forest areas near water. Raccoons are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal foods. Raccoons may cause damage or nuisance problems in a variety of ways, and their distinctive tracks often provide evidence of their involvement in damage situations. Raccoons are protected furbearers in most states, with seasons established for running, hunting, or trapping.

River Otters (Lutra Canadensis), Edward P. Hill

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

River otters (Lutra canadensis) are best known for their continuous and playful behavior, their aesthetic value, and the value of their durable, high-quality fur. River otters occur throughout North America except the arctic slopes, the arid portions of the Southwest, and the intensive agricultural and industrialized areas of the midwestern United States. The diet of the river otter throughout its range is primarily fish. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. The presence of river otter(s) around or in a fish hatchery, aquaculture, or fish …

Skunks, James E. Knight

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The skunk (Mephitis mephitis and Spilogale putorius), a member of the weasel family, is represented by four species in North America. The skunk has short, stocky legs and proportionately large feet equipped with well-developed claws that enable it to be very adept at digging. The striped skunk is common throughout the United States and Canada. Adult skunks begin breeding in late February. Skunks inhabit clearings, pastures, and open lands bordering forests. Skunks eat plant and animal foods in about equal amounts during fall and winter. Skunks become a nuisance when their burrowing and feeding habits conflict with humans. …

Wolves (Canis Lupus), William J. Paul, Philip S. Gibson

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Two species of wolves occur in North America, gray wolves (Canis lupus) and red wolves (Canis rufus). During the 1800s, gray wolves ranged over the North American continent as far south as central Mexico. Gray wolves occupy boreal forests and forest/agricultural edge communities in Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. Mech reported that gray wolves prey mainly on large animals including white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, caribou, elk, Dall sheep, bighorn sheep, and beaver. Gray wolves are highly social, often living in packs of two to eight or more individuals. The ability of wolves to kill …

Bats (Myotis Lucifugus), Arthur M. Greenhall, Stephen C. Frantz

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Despite their ecological value, bats (Myotis lucifugus) are relentlessly and unjustifiably persecuted. Bats, the only mammals that truly fly, belong to the order Chiroptera. Bats in North America are virtually all insectivorous, feeding on a variety of flying insects (exceptions among house bats were noted previously). Most North American bats emit high frequency sounds (ultrasound) inaudible to humans and similar to sonar, in order to avoid obstacles, locate and capture insect prey, and to communicate. Bats often fly about swimming pools, from which they drink or catch insects. Bats use roosting niches that are indoors (human dwellings, outbuildings, …

Deer, Scott R. Craven, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are probably the most widely distributed and best-recognized large mammals in North America. Deer are even-toed ungulates of the family Cervidae. The white-tailed deer is found in every state in the United States except perhaps Alaska and Utah. Deer are creatures of the forest edge rather than the dense, old-growth forest. Browse (leaves, stems, and buds of woody plants) is generally available all year and is a staple food for deer. Breeding occurs from October to January depending on latitude. Deer damage a wide variety of row crops, forage crops, vegetables, fruit trees, nursery stock, …

Elk, David S. Decalesta, Gary W. Witmer

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The elk is a large, powerful animal with an adult weight averaging over 400 pounds (180 kg). The Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) is found in the Rocky Mountain states and in scattered locations in the Midwest and East. Although elk once roamed freely into lower elevation grasslands, they are now found primarily close to heavily forested areas that are dotted with natural or human-made (clear-cut) openings. Elk graze on grasses and forbs, and browse on shrubs, tree seedlings, and saplings. Weather and human activities influence elk activity. Elk commonly impact agricultural resources by competing with domestic …

Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra Americana), Sanford D. Schemnitz

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is not a true antelope but in a family by itself (Antilocapridae). It is native only to North America. Pronghorns currently have a scattered but widespread distribution throughout western North America. Pronghorns thrive in short and mixed grasslands and sagebrush grasslands. Pronghorns eat a variety of plants, mostly forbs and browse. Pronghorns depend on their eyesight and speed to escape enemies. Pronghorns sometimes cause damage to grain fields, alfalfa, and haystacks during the winter. Pronghorns have game-animal status in all of the western states.

Cottontail Rabbits, Scott R. Craven

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) usually can be accepted as interesting additions to the backyard or rural landscape if control techniques are applied correctly. Under some unusual circumstances, control of damage may be difficult. There are 13 species of cottontail rabbits (genus Sylvilagus), nine of which are found in various sections of North America north of Mexico. The eastern cottontail’s range includes the entire United States east of the Rocky Mountains and introductions further west. Cottontails do not distribute themselves evenly across the landscape. Rabbits live only 12 to 15 months, and probably only one rabbit in 100 lives …

American Crows, Ron J. Johnson

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is one of America’s best-known birds. American crows are widely distributed over much of North America. American crows do best in a mixture of open fields where food can be found and woodlots where there are trees for nesting and roosting. Crows are omnivorous, eating almost anything, and they readily adapt food habits to changing seasons and available food supply. Crows are among the most intelligent of birds. Experiments indicate that American crows can count to three or four, are good at solving puzzles, have good memories, employ a diverse and behaviorally complex …

Gulls, Victor E. F. Solman

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The term gull refers to members of a group of 23 North American bird species that belong to the family Laridae, subfamily Larinae. The herring (Larus argentatus) and ringbilled (L. delawarensis) gulls are the most common and widespread of the species. Most gulls nest in colonies on sand and gravel-covered shorelines and islands. Gulls feed on land or water on aquatic animals, terrestrial invertebrates and small vertebrates, plant remains, carrion, and refuse. Increasing gull populations in North America during the past century have led to a variety of problems for different segments of society.

Swallows, W. Paul Gorenzel, Terrell P. Salmon

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Eight members of the swallow family Hirundinidae breed in North America: the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), violet-green swallow (T. thalassina), purple martin (Progne subis), bank swallow (Riparia riparia), northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), cave swallow (Hirundo fulva), and the cliff swallow (H. pyrrhonota). Cliff and barn swallows are found throughout most of North America. Four basic conditions are found near most cliff and barn swallow nest sites: (1) an open habitat for foraging, (2) a suitable surface for …

Waterfowl, Edward C. Cleary

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The term waterfowl is properly applied only to ducks, geese, and swans. In North America, most waterfowl are migratory, flying long distances in the spring and fall between the summer breeding grounds and wintering areas. Waterfowl, as their name implies, are most often found near water. The food of individual waterfowl species ranges from fish to insects to plants in various combinations, depending on availability. Waterfowl are normally monogamous and solitary nesters. Goose problems in urban and suburban areas are primarily caused by giant Canada geese, which are probably the most adaptable of all waterfowl. In the United States, migratory …

Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis), Allan R. Woodward, Dennis N. David

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the most common of two crocodilians native to the United States and is one of 22 crocodilian species worldwide. The American alligator is found in wetlands throughout the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. Alligators can be found in almost any type of fresh water, but population densities are greatest in wetlands with an abundant food supply and adjacent marsh habitat for nesting. Alligators are exclusively carnivorous and prey upon whatever creatures are most available. Alligators are ectothermic — they rely on external sources of heat to maintain body temperature. Damage …

Salamanders, James L. Byford

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinumare) are smooth-skinned amphibians with no skin covering such as scales, hair, or feathers. There are several dozen kinds of salamanders found in the United States, but most occur only in parts of one or several states. Salamanders depend on water and moisture for their existence. All salamanders are predators. Salamanders generally are active when there is no sunshine—at night or on cloudy, rainy days. Salamanders do not cause damage to people or property.

Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Viridis Viridis), Walter E. Howard

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis viridis) are distinctly American serpents. There are 15 species of rattlesnakes in the United States and 25 in Mexico. Rattlesnakes are usually identified by their warning rattle—a hiss or buzz—made by the rattles at the tip of their tails. Rattlesnakes occur only in North and South America and range from sea level to perhaps 11,000 feet (over 3,000 m) in California and 14,000 feet (4,000 m) in Mexico, although they are not abundant at the higher elevations. Young or small species of rodents comprise the bulk of the food supply for most rattlesnakes. When a …

Turtles, James F. Fowler, Jimmy L. Avery

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook

Turtles (Terrapene carolina) occur on all continents except Antarctica. Any permanent body of water is a potential home for turtles. Turtles are seldom a pest to people. Most turtles are not protected by state laws.