Environmental Sciences Commons^™

Assessment Of Groundwater Resources In Selected Areas Of Al Ain In The U.A.E., Fatma Abdullatif Al Shahi

Theses

The sustainable development of any region depends on the availability of water resources. In arid and semi-arid regions, the shortage in freshwater resources constitutes the major constraint against the expansion in agricultural and industrial activities. Therefore, every possible effort should be made to assess, develop and sustain the limited freshwater water resource in such regions.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in an arid region, where the climate is harsh and the renewable freshwater resources are very limited. Despite the severe shortage in water resources, water is misused and sometimes wasted. The per capita daily consumption in the UAE …

Optimization Of Edxrf For The Study Of Heavy Metal Pollution Of Lake Victoria, Nk Mahommed, In Makundi

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study reports on the optimisation and calibration of the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer installed in the Department of Physics, University of Dar es Salaam. The spectrometer was subsequently utilized to determine concentrations of heavy metals in water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms.) found growing along the shore of Lake Victoria. The optimal conditions and detection limits were determined experimentally by variation of the excitation parameters. The study found that the use of a collimator with two apertures of diameter 4 mm each placed 8 mm apart and made of materials that do not interfere with elements to …

Breeding Bird Community Response To Vegetation Succession In Hardwood Shelterwood Cuts In The Virginia Piedmont, Pamela Coleman

Theses & Honors Papers

Population declines of many Neotropical migrant bird species (NTMs) in parts or all of their North American breeding ranges have prompted concern regarding the conservation of these species. Many NTMs have specific habitat requirements and are thus negatively affected by habitat alteration. In eastern North America, habitats have changed significantly since European settlement and those changes have had different impacts on different suites of breeding birds. Forest birds are frequently identified as species particularly sensitive to habitat changes though, more recently,marked declines of shrubland or early successional songbirds have raised concern. My goal was to examine the effects of a …

A Socioeconomic And Biological Evaluation Of Current And Hypothetical Crappie Regulations In Sardis Lake, Mississippi: An Integrated Approach, Brian Dorr, Ian A. Munn, Keith O. Meals

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We conducted a socioeconomic survey and review of existing biological data in an integrated evaluation of current and hypothetical fishery regulations on crappies Pomoxis spp. in Sardis Lake, Mississippi. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess angler acceptance of current and hypothetical harvest restrictions, (2) determine the recreational value of the crappie fishery to its participants, (3) estimate possible changes in recreational value based on angler responses to hypothetical regulations, and (4) integrate the results of the socioeconomic surveys with existing biological information. Using the travel cost method, we estimated mean expenditures at US$29.48 and average consumer surplus …

Field Evaluation Of Flight ControlTm To Reduce Blackbird Damage To Newly Planted Rice, John L. Cummings, Michael L. Avery, Owen Mathre, E. Allen Wilson, Darryl L. York, Richard M. Engeman, Patricia A. Pochop, James E. Davis Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An effective, economic, and environmentally safe bird repellent is needed to reduce blackbird (Icterinae) depredations to newly planted rice. We evaluated Flight Control^TM, a 50% anthraquinone product, as a seed treatment for newly planted rice. We treated rice seed with Flight Control at a 2% (g/g) concentration (1% active anthraquinone) the day of planting. This concentration reduced the number of blackbirds (P=0.0003) using treated fields and blackbird damage to rice seed (P=0.0124). The chemical concentration of anthraquinone on rice seed averaged 0.79% (SE=0.06%) at planting; 0.39% (SE= 0.04%) at day I, 0.34% (SE=0.05%) at …

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process: Quarterly Progress Report 8/16/02- 11/15/02, Yitung Chen, Randy Clarksean, Darrell Pepper

Separations Campaign (TRP)

Two activities are proposed in this Phase I task: the development of a systems engineering model and the refinement of the Argonne code AMUSE (Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction). The detailed systems engineering model is the start of an integrated approach to the analysis of the materials separations associated with the AAA Program. A second portion of the project is to streamline and improve an integral part of the overall systems model, which is the software package AMUSE. AMUSE analyzes the UREX process and other related solvent extraction processes and defines many of the process streams that are integral …

Affects Of Organic Fertilizers On The Growth And Biomass Production Of Agricultural Crops, Deanna Marshik

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

The Nadca Probe, Issue 225

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

Beaver Management- Nevada 1942-1943

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

If I think an animal may have been poisoned or exposed to a toxin, is there a source of information-a non-human animal poison control center?

"The Critter Control Handbook: Pro Secrets for Stopping Sneaky Squirrels & Other Crafty Critters in Their Tracks" by Dan "The Critter Man" Hershey.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Launches Assault on an Animal Rights Movement

Rodent Rabies - Bolivia

Counter Terrorism Includes Animal Rights and Eco-Violence

Report To The Minister For Agriculture, Forestry And Fisheries By The Integrated Fisheries Management Review Committee, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

The Integrated Fisheries Management Review Committee was established to develop a strategy to integrate the management and sustainable use of fish resources. The Committee’s report proposes an alternative management framework and a set of guiding principles for allocating fish stocks to ensure optimal benefits are realised for the WA community. The report does not, and was not intended to, address specific allocation issues in particular fisheries – this will be a function of the framework and processes put in place following this review.

Data Summary From The Tampa Bay Interagency Seagrass Monitoring Program Through The Year 2001, Roger Johansson, Walt Avery

Reports

This paper presents a general overview of the Tampa Bay Interagency Seagrass Monitoring Program and results concerning seagrass distribution within Tampa Bay. Further, a summary of trends in areal coverage and major changes in species composition observed during the course of the monitoring program are also included. Data collected during the course of the program pertaining to water quality, sediment composition, and epiphytes are not discussed within this report. All inf

Federal Consistency In New Jersey, Urban Harbors Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

A discussion paper prepared as part of a focus group on the topic of Federal Consistency in New Jersey.

In 1972, the U. S. Congress passed the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), designed to “preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore and enhance the resources of the nation's coastal zone.” The CZMA encouraged coastal states to develop and implement comprehensive management programs that balance the need for coastal resource protection with the need for economic growth and development within the coastal zone.

In the latter portion of the 1970s New Jersey developed a coastal management plan that was fully …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (Aug. 01 – Oct. 31, 2002), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu, Woosoon Yim

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

After two month intensive work in LANL, some preliminary sensor calibration curves have been obtained. Further data analysis shall be performed to assess the theoretical and measured data. Also, a new experimental apparatus shall be designed and located in UNLV to continue the left work.

Technical Progress:

• A set of calibration curves of voltage vs. temperature ranging from 300⁰C to 500⁰C under various oxygen concentrations in liquid LBE for the YSZ oxygen sensor has been obtained and has been reported in one paper.

• A meeting with LBE committee and other faculty members in AAA …

A Progression Of Avian Radar Studies At Airfields, Edward J. Zakrajsek, Carolyn Matkovich, Andreas Smith

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

We used our Mobile Avian Radar Systems on two different projects this past year. A study at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, used the old configuration, with a vertical-scanning radar and our image-processing technique. A study at Vancouver International Airport, B.C. used the new configuration with both vertical and surveillance radars and our new radar data processing technique. The Robins study was a preliminary assessment of seasonal bird-hazards, especially regarding the altitude distribution of birds near the airfield. Data was collected. The Vancouver study was a preliminary survey and system evaluation for the development of a real- time, dedicated Airport …

Progress Report On Development Of A Terminal Area Bird Detection And Monitoring System Using The Asr-9, Seth Troxel, Beth Echels, Will Pughe, Mark Weber

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

Lincoln Laboratory has been tasked by the FAA to investigate utilization of existing terminal area surveillance radars as the basis for a real-time, automated bird hazard advisory system for the immediate airport vicinity. With its on-airport siting and rapid scan rate, the ASR-9 is a logical choice as the primary sensor for the Terminal Avian Hazard Advisory System (TAHAS). Using multi-dimensional image processing and fuzzy logic techniques, a bird-flock detection module that operates on ASR-9 data has been developed and was described at last year's conference. Refinements to the flock detection module are ongoing. Recent efforts have focused on detection …

Advances In Radar Technology For Bird Strike Risk Assessment, T. Adam Kelly, Ronald Merritt, Ronald L. White, Mark Howera, Timothy West

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

Since the 2001 BSC meeting in Calgary, Geo-Marine, Inc. has made dramatic advances in the development of avian radar systems. The Mobile Avian Radar System (MARS) has undergone major revisions. New radar processor cards provide the computer workstations with higher resolution data than was previously possible. The system now incorporates both horizontal- and vertical-scanning radars. The vertical scanning radar antenna now includes a shield to reduce side-lobe interference. Significant improvements have been made in ground clutter and weather reduction algorithms. The system has been tested for use in real-time monitoring of bird hazards on airports. GMI is currently working with …

Strides In Bird Hazard Control At Entebbe International Airport, Gloria Korabo Bitebekezi

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

The location of Entebbe International Airport within the Entebbe peninsula bird sanctuary would make it one of the most bird-strike prone airports in the world. However the airport actually has a relatively clean strike record. Since 1998, the number of bird strike incidents that caused damage to aircraft has been on the decline. This paper illustrates the methods used at Entebbe International Airport and their effectiveness in controlling different species of birds.

Evaluation And Mitigation Of Bird Hazards In Ex-Vaso De Texcoco: The Proposed Site Of A New International Airport For Mexico City, Edward C. Cleary

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

If Mexico is to meet increasing demands for air travel, a new international airport for Mexico City must be constructed. At the request of the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT), we evaluated Ex-Vaso de Texcoco (EVT), one of several sites considered for construction of the new airport, to determine if birds would pose an unacceptable risk to aircraft. Aerial (by helicopter) and ground surveys were conducted on 6 occasions during fall and winter from 1996-2002 to census birds and evaluate aquatic habitats at EVT and other locations in the Valley of Mexico. Total populations estimates for waterfowl and shorebirds …

The Evolution Of Transport Canada’S Wildlife Management And Planning Program, Bruce Mackinnon, Kristi Russell

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

As a follow-up to a paper presented at International Bird Strike Committee meeting #23 in 1996, discussing Transport Canada’s emphasis on education and awareness programs as a means to reduce bird hazards to aircraft, this paper will describe significant changes that have occurred in Canada since that time. The 1994 Government of Canada National Airports Policy led to the devolution of Canada’s major airports. Private sector airport authorities now operate these airports and Transport Canada’s focus has shifted from management by policy to one of regulatory oversight. In addition to building on the awareness program that was in place in …

Aspects Of The Feeding Ecology Of Avifauna At An Inland Airport, South Africa, Ordino Kok, Lettie Kok

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

Bloemfontein airport, situated in the central Free State, experiences the greatest number of bird-aircraft collisions at South African airports, relative to its (low) air traffic. In an attempt to rectify the situation, aspects of the feeding ecology of birds presenting a potential hazard at the airport were investigated. Plant surveys indicated that the study area can be classified as a dry Cymbopogon – Themeda veld type in a relatively good condition. Using 270 pitfall traps over a continuous period of 15 months, it was established that more than twice as many ground-living invertebrates, mainly insects, occurred in grass kept permanently …

Potential Of Grass-Endophytes As A Bird Deterrent: Concept Testing With Canada Geese, Chris G. L. Pennell, Phil Rolston

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

Problems caused by birds in the agricultural, horticultural, recreational and the aviation industries are escalating world wide as man develops environments that are attractive to birds. Chemical repellents, bird scarers, and exclusion netting are being used to keep birds away by taste, fright and containment. Habitat management using grasses with selected endophytes may be a new tool for minimizing bird nuisance problems in these industries. Canada geese (Branta Canadensis) were offered selected ryegrass/endophyte Neotyphodium lolli seed and herbage to examine the effects of known endophyte alkaloids on their feeding behavior in 2000-2001. Forty geese were captured annually, contained …

Management Of Rodent Populations At Airports, Gary W. Witmer, Jessica Dewey

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

Birds pose serious hazards at U.S. airports. Raptors are hazardous to aircraft safety due to their size, hunting behavior, and hovering/soaring habits. Abundant food sources, open space, and availability of perches at or near airports contribute to ideal hunting opportunities for many raptors. The ability to directly manage raptor populations is limited by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Reduction of small mammal populations at an airport may decrease raptor populations in the area and therefore, reduce the risk that raptors pose to aircraft. Rodents can be managed by population management or by habitat management. Reduction of small rodent populations can …

Conducting An Economical Wildlife Hazard Assessment Using A Wildlife Incursion Log (Poster), Elizabeth Rogers, David Tiller

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

Small and moderate-sized airports face increasing financial constraints. A need for a wildlife hazard assessment can represent a real financial hardship. We describe how a wildlife incursion log maintained by airport personnel can provide an economical means of assessing wildlife hazards in a rural landscape. Using such a log with records for 208 days, we created a relational database that could be analyzed with simple summary statistics. Using the incursion log, we examined seasonal shifts in average daily incursions (such as increased sandhill cranes in the spring), persistent year- round presence of some species (such as American crow), and the …

Compliance With Wildlife Hazard Regulations: An Air Carrier’S Perspective, Vern Berry

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

As a safety professional at Evergreen International Airlines, I have first-hand experience of the damage caused by wildlife. Seven major bird strikes have cost Evergreen approximately $20 million in damages and lost revenue over a 5-year period. These events often occurred during critical phases of flight. For example, one Evergreen B-747 suffered severe damage to engine and pylon structure with subsequent loss of control during climb. You cannot train for every possible aircraft failure induced by bird strikes. The time will come, with or without the collection of additional bird-strike statistics, when damage from a bird strike will exceed the …

Mandatory Strike Reporting: The Time Has Come, Paul Eschenfelder

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

The reporting of wildlife collisions with aircraft in almost all places, worldwide, is voluntary. As a result data with which to design, manufacture and operate aircraft to mitigate this hazard is poor. Voluntary reporting of strikes has resulted in data collection rates in the USA of around 20%, and only about 9% of the reported strikes contain complete data on bird species. Aviation manufacturers also agree that collection of strike data is difficult, incomplete and without an industry best practice. Air carriers, when research is done, are amazed to find that strike rates may be eight times higher than their …

Development And Maintenance Of Airport Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Website For The Faa And Its Use As A Communication Tool, Archie M. Dickey, Allen R. Newman

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) William J. Hughes Technical Center has contracted with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott to develop and maintain a website dealing with a variety of issues and concerns related to wildlife and aviation. Our goal is to increase the transfer of information among biologists and the aviation community regarding the nature of wildlife hazards to aircraft and methods for reducing these hazards. The site has an on-line wildlife strike report form (FAA Form 5200-7) which also enables users submitting strike reports to access information on wildlife management, bird identification, FAA guidelines, and strike statistics. A query system has …

Influence Of The Bash Phase Ii Program On Reduction Of Birdstrikes To Air Mobility Command Aircraft, Brian D. Oswalt

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

The purpose of the proposed study was to examine the reduction of birdstrikes to aircraft during the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Phase II flight restriction periods and their affect on Air Mobility Command (AMC) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF). This study sampled the entire population of AMC airfields with BASH Phase II flight restrictions. The test period consisted of damaging birdstrike data collected 5 years before BASH Phase II operations began (1991-1995), and the years during BASH Phase II (1996-2000). It was hypothesized that since the implementation of BASH Phase II flight restrictions, there had been no significant …

Bird Hazard Control Program At Panama Airports, Esteban Godinez

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

ICAO Bird Information System (IBIS) has been conduced at Panama airports since 1996. Bird strike notifications, technical reports as well as wildlife control procedures have been developing as essential roles of the National Bird Hazard Committee and its Wildlife Limitation Programs. Sixty-four (64) bird strikes with different aircraft were recorded and sent to ICAO so far, while an additional 154 collisions (71%) were not reported to ICAO because of the failure to determine the aircraft involved. Among the birds struck at airports, the most outstanding species are the common barn owl (Tyto alba) and the black vulture (Coragyps …

The Brazilian Civil Aviation Department (Dac) And Bird Strike Control In Brazil, Jandrisson Gurgel Do Amaral Jr.

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

The subject addressed in this paper is the participation of Brazilian Civil Aviation Department (DAC), and more specifically the Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Division (DIPAA) in the efforts regarding civil aircraft bird strike control in Brazil. In order to successfully achieve this intent, this paper will briefly introduce the recordings of civil aircraft bird collision registered in Brazilian Civil Aviation Department, reported by the civil aviation community (airliners, air operators, airport staff, general aviation personnel, ATC, etc.). In addition, the paper will outline the dimension of the bird strike hazard encountered by the civil fleet operating in Brazilian skies …

Efficacy Of Aircraft Landing Lights In Stimulating Avoidance Behavior In Birds, Bradley F. Blackwell, Glen E. Bernhardt

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

A potential non-lethal technique to reduce bird-aircraft collisions, aircraft-mounted light, has been considered for nearly 3 decades, but has received no formal research as to its efficacy. We tested the hypothesis that during daylight hours birds exposed to an approaching vehicle exhibiting pulsing landing lights would react more quickly than birds experiencing an on-coming vehicle with non-pulsing (steady) or no lights (control). We used the Pulselite^TM system (Precise Flight, Inc., Bend, Oregon, USA), an early recognition lighting system that allows an aircraft pilot to pulse the landing, taxi, or forward-facing recognition lights, and 2 General Electric sealed-beam 250-W aircraft …

Effects Of Location And Phase Of Flight On The Behavioral Responses Of Birds To Aircraft: Preliminary Observations, T. C. Kelly, M. J. A. O'Callaghan, P. D. Bourke, L. Buurma, R. Bolger

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 4th (2002)

Based on an earlier classification of avoidance movements shown by birds to moving aircraft (Kelly et al. 2001), we have studied the evading maneuvers of the rook (Corvus frugilegus) in relation to the phase of flight of air traffic at Dublin Airport, Ireland. The percentage of individuals which did not show avoidance movements was almost identical for approach/landing and take-off /climb-out movements. However, the nature of the avoiding-response in relation to the phase of flight was different. Thus 78% of responses were “Simple” in the approach/landing flight phase whereas only 5% were in this category during take-off. On …