Environmental Health and Protection Commons^™

Integrating Ecology And Information Technology: Conserving Natural Resources, Melissa M. Grigione, Dan Farkas

Cornerstone 3 Reports : Interdisciplinary Informatics

The goal of this project is to develop an interdisciplinary collaboration in technology, spatial analysis and the conservation of natural, environmental, and ecological resources. The proposed collaboration involved independent research projects so that students can participate in both field‐based and laboratory activities. The Thinkfinity project has initiated continued work and expansion of our goals to include a multi‐college collaboration and possibilities for outside funding (NSF).

Invasive Species And Public Investment In The Green Economy, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

Invasive Species and Public Investment in the Green Economy, approved by ISAC on June 24, 2010

ISSUE

Invasive species are intricately linked to the economy. Trade, travel, and transport facilitate their spread. Invasive species management requires extensive human and financial resources. The impacts of invasive species can substantially undermine economic growth and sustainable development. United States Executive Order (EO) 13112 defines invasive species as “alien [non-native] species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” and states that Federal agencies should …“not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that are likely …

Marine Bioinvasions And Climate Change, James T. Carlton, Sandra C. Lindstrom, Celia M. Smith, Jennifer E. Smith

National Invasive Species Council

BACKGROUND

Invasive species are second only to habitat destruction as the greatest cause of species endangerment and global biodiversity loss. Invasive species can cause severe and permanent damage to the ecosystems they invade. Consequences of invasion include competition with or predation upon native species, hybridization, carrying or supporting harmful pathogens and parasites that may affect wildlife and human health, disturbing ecosystem function through alteration of food webs and nutrient recycling rates, acting as ecosystem engineers and altering habitat structure, and degradation of the aesthetic quality of our natural resources. In many cases we may not fully know the native animals …

Refuge Update Article Index

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Use the “Find” function on your browser to search the index by topic, refuge name or article author.

Creating A Habitat Suitability Index Model For Argali Sheep (Ovis Ammon), And Siberian Ibex (Capra Sibirica) In Ikh Nartin Reserve, Mongolia, Nanette Bragin

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Mongolia is a country with a park system of protected areas, preserving native flora and fauna. In order to inform decision makers about the status of endangered species and park land health, two species of concern, the Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) and Siberian ibex Capra siberica) in the Ikh Nart Reserve in Mongolia were studied. A Habitat Suitability Index Model was developed to study the Argali and ibex habitat preference and discern if the reserve and core zone offer optimal habitat. A total of 57 animals were examined, creating 95% and 50% home range kernels, and minimum convex polygons. The …

Fire: Ecology & Prevention, Justin R. Frey

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Sea Change For Aquatic Sustainability : Meeting The Challenge Of Fish Resources Management And Aquatic Sustainability In The 21st Century, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

New Bedford/Fairhaven Municipal Harbor Plan, Fort Point Associates, Inc., Apex Companies, Llc, Urban Harbors Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston, Fxm Associates

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

The historic harbor lying between the City of New Bedford and Town of Fairhaven has shaped the identities and economies of these two municipalities for centuries. Today, the Harbor is one of nation’s preeminent fishing ports, ranked #1 nationally in 2007 in dollar value ($268 million) of fish landings with an estimated total economic regional impact of nearly $1 billion. The New Bedford’s seafood processing industry has grown in size and sophistication in recent years and is an internationally established center for this industry. Marine service and vessel repair industries, centered in Fairhaven, have an excellent reputation with commercial fleets …

Robin Lite 3d Fmcw Bird Radar: Revolutionizing Airport Birdstrike Prevention, Addy Borst

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 11th (2009)

Table of Contents:
The avian radar arena
A new kid in town: ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW avian radar
Our roots in radar technology
Our roots in avian radars
From raw radar data to realtime info bird movements
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW: System design requirements driven by users
Main avian radar system requirements
System design conclusions ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW implementation
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW: Horizontal radar
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW: Vertical radar
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW: Data acquisition electronics
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW Signal/image processing
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW ground clutter filter
ROBIN Lite 3D FMCW …

Raptors On Three Rnlaf Airbases, Numbers, Strikes, Trapping And Relocation.

Bird Strike Committee-USA/Canada Joint Annual Meeting: 11th (2009)

Since gulls, pigeons, starlings, waders and corvids are the dominant bird species on NW European airfields it is not surprising that habitat management systems are aimed at reducing the numbers of these species from the runway environment. In the RNLAF this is realized by a “poor grass” regime. This is based on the idea that by bottoming out the soil the available biomass will decrease and hence the number of birds foraging on this biomass. In practice this means that the grass is mown and the clippings are removed without applying any fertilization. Neither length nor species composition of the …

Degradation Of Chlorophenols In Swine Waste, Srilatha Gangula

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Naturally occurring plant derived phenols can be degraded through bacteria in swine waste. Chlorinated phenols, which are not naturally present in the environment, are toxic and generated from industrial activities as such petrochemical, pharmaceutical, plastic, rubber, pesticide, iron, steel, paper production, coal conversion, wood preserving, and cellulose bleaching. Large scale coal gasification and carbonization plants are another source of chlorinated phenols. Although not normally present in the environment, chlorinated phenols are structurally similar to many plant derived phenolics.

It is our hypothesis that bacteria located in swine wastes may also have the ability to degrade chlorinated phenols. Identifying situations (and …

Refuge Update – May/June 2010, Volume 7, Number 3

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Table of Contents:

After Rehab, Vessel Starts Over in Alaska The latest addition to the Refuge System’s fleet of vessels in Alaska spent much of its life on the wrong side of the law.

In Arizona, Refuges Are Oases for Fish Fish in the desert? Yes. At San Bernardino and Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuges, protecting fish is in the establishing mission.

FOCUS: Marine National Monuments The four marine national monuments are among the Refuge System’s most distinctive components. As such, they present special challenges, rare opportunities and unparalleled beauty.

Can You Hear Me Now? Looking for a low-cost way …

Fire On The Mountain: Growth And Conflict In Colorado Ski Country, Michael W. Childers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation examines the environmental, economic, and cultural conflicts over the private development of ski resorts in Colorado's National Forests between 1910 and 2000. Downhill skiing emerged as an increasingly popular winter activity during the first half of the twentieth century, particularly in western state such as Colorado. A part of the a larger outdoor recreational boom throughout the United States' during the interwar years, downhill skiing challenged the Forest Service's ability to meeting the public's growing appetite for year-round recreational opportunities. These challenges increased following World War II as the nation's growing population and affluence drew millions to their …

Characterization Of Plutonium Particles Originating From The Bomarc Accident -1960, Richard Charles Gostic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Within the U.S. arsenal, 32 accidents with nuclear weapons were reported between 1950 and 1980. One of these accidents occurred at McGuire AFB in 1960. A BOMARC missile armed with a nuclear warhead caught on fire and as a result the warhead was destroyed. Sub-millimeter particles consisting of weapons grade plutonium (WGPu) produced by this accident were distributed around the site and remained in the environment for 47 years. Soil cores known to contain WGPu particles produced by this accident were obtained. The particles were localized and removed from the soil with the aid of high resolution computed tomography. The …

Transforming Space Into Place: Development, Rock Climbing, And Interpretation In Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 1960-2010, Megan Sharp Weatherly

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Though Americans tend to view wilderness as separate from nature, environmental historians have argued that wilderness is a cultural construct more than a quantifiable geographic category. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), a 195,000-acre tract located west of Las Vegas, Nevada, is one such cultural construction. Since 1960, this BLM-managed parcel has served as a local and regional expression of broader, national trends in outdoor recreation, interpretation, and development and thereby forced visitors to engage (often unknowingly) in a cultural dialogue about consumerism, technology, and identity. With information from newspapers, archival collections, oral histories, and government documents, this thesis …

Effects Of Variable Oceanographic Conditions On Forage Fish Lipid Content And Fatty Acid Composition In The Northern California Current, Marisa N. C. Litz, Richard D. Brodeur, Robert L. Emmett, Selina S. Heppell, Rosalee S. Hellberg, Linda O'Higgins, Matthew S. Morris

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Lipids and fatty acids (FA) were investigated in 4 species of forage fish: northern anchovy Engraulis mordax, Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax, Pacific herring Clupea pallasi, and whitebait smelt Allosmerus elongatus, for their ability to serve as biological indicators of ocean conditions in the California Current large marine ecosystem (CCLME). Samples were collected during the oceanographically contrasting years of 2005 and 2006. Upwelling was severely curtailed in the spring and early summer of 2005, leading to delayed biological productivity, whereas upwelling was relatively normal in spring 2006. Principal components analysis described 78% of the variance within the …

Assessing Invasive Plant Species As Threats In Mojave Desert Parks, Sara L. Mcpherson, Donovan J. Craig, Scott R. Abella

Graduate Research Symposium (2010 - 2017)

The invasion and persistence of exotic plant species threatens the natural features that national parks are designed to protect. For example, park managers have witnessed an increase in the frequency, extent and intensity of fires along with a reduction in native species richness and diversity. Many park managers are familiar with a suite of highly invasive plants, but lack a comprehensive and systematic way of prioritizing invasive plant species based on potential threats to the parks’ resources. We have entered into a collaborative project with the National Park Service’s Inventory and Monitoring program to develop an invasive plant early detection …

Youth Initiative Hector’S Helpers: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering February 11, 2010 – April 15, 2011, Hector's Helpers

Anti-littering Programs

The third quarter has progressed with the Hector’s Helpers program. We took action with hands-on classroom activities and lead three clean-up field trips. Students learned how to protect public lands in Southern Nevada through our anti-litter and desert dumping initiative. West Career Technical Academy students completed various GIS projects and finished the Adopt-A-Block Handbook. The Hector’s Helpers staff also submitted a formal proposal to study pre- and post-program surveys of students participating in the Hector's Helpers program.

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering January 5, 2010 - April 4, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• The team presented the strategic plan to the Board for review and feedback.
• The team presented their revised Charter to the Board and received approval.
• the team met with AAEQ Manufacturing, a company interested in assisting with recycling and messaging efforts.
• The team began planning a unified recycling messaging for SNAP.
• The team met with the marketing firm B&P and discussed ideas for the messaging campaign.
• The team began collaborating with the Clark County School District on a "Hector's Helpers" program using Youth Initiative funding the BLM received.
• The team assisted the City of Las Vegas Keep America Beautiful task …

Environmental Analysis Of Toxic Metals Produced By Cigarette Smoking, Catherine H. Swandby, Melissa C. Rhoten, Joseph E. Garcia

Theses & Honors Papers

Trace metal elements introduced into our environment from anthropogenic sources can become toxic at high levels contributing to a host of human and animal health problems. The purpose of this work is to initially characterize toxic metals present in cigarette tobacco and ash using Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (ETAAS). The broader impact of this study is to assess the environmental effects of cigarette smoking around designated smoking areas on the Longwood University campus. Smokers may not be informed about the potential harm to the environment from "ashing" directly on the ground. If the toxic metals present in cigarette ash are …

Effectiveness Of Agency And Non-Government Organizational Efforts In Rhode Island Environmental Conservation, Kaitlin Goldsmith

Honors Projects in Science and Technology

The effectiveness of woodland conservation in Rhode Island is increasingly important as economic development pressures sacrifice critical forestland for commercial, residential and infrastructure purposes. This study looks to determine components of forest conservation practices that could be better suited to best protect this important land. Through the content analysis of interviews and citizen surveys, the most critical areas in need of improved efforts were revealed. It was discovered that the various lenses used by entities prevented the most beneficial cooperative efforts and further sharing of limited resources would increase efficiency. Additionally, educational efforts are limited and too often performed by …

Water Quality And Eutrophication: The Effects Of Sewage Outfalls On Waters And Reefs Surrounding Stone Town, Zanzibar, Molly Moynihan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Due to a rapid increase in Zanzibar’s in population, as well as a lack of proper sewage treatment, water quality and eutrophication have become serious issues on Unguja. These issues not only threaten public health, but also threaten the health of nearby coral reefs. This study aimed to quantify the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci) and the levels of eutrophication in the surface waters of Stone Town and its vicinal reefs, while also placing results in a larger context with respect to seasonal monsoonal variations. Meetings were held with members of the Zanzibar Municipal Council, and a survey of …

An Artesian Well System In Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, It's Development And Demise, Mary Lanik

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

ABSTRACT

Nebraska has a veritable wealth of groundwater. The High Plains Aquifer underlies most of the state, and within its sand and gravel deposits, many interconnected aquifers provide fresh water for a variety of uses.

One of the most spectacular examples of this resource is the artesian well. Beaver Crossing, Nebraska was once home to one of the most prolific artesian systems in the state before its demise. Founded in the 1880’s, Beaver Crossing soon became known for its many artesian wells, that provided leisure activities and supported profitable business ventures such as small farming, ice production and aquiculture. Eventually …

A Proposed Plan For Managing Eastern Nebraska's Saline Wetlands, Vandhana Rabadinanth

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Abstract Eastern Nebraska’s saline wetlands play a major role in Nebraska’s environmental place in the world. Besides the role of scientific changes being important, education also is essential in the conservation of these wetlands. Through the observation of Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana) and soil electroconductivity, I propose that we need to reform Nebraska’s education system to help schools play a bigger part in environmental issues such as this one. There is a drastic trend in the correlations between Salt Creek tiger beetle populations and wetland degradation. Since many Lincoln residents have a limited knowledge of what is …

Interactions: Newsletter Of The Wildli Fe Society Wildlife Damage Management Working Group, Volume 16 Issue 2, Spring 2010

TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group Newsletter

SUMMER IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING -- Gary San Julian
C O N F E R E NC E ANNOUNCEMENT SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 17TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY
NEW ON-LINE TWS MENTORING PROGRAM
TWS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT -- GOOSE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT -- SHOOTING IN SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT -- BIRD STRIKE USA
RECENT WILDLIFE DAMAGE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
13TH WDM CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE
UPCOMING MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND EVENTS

Minimum Riparian Buffer Width For Maintaining Water Quality And Habitat Along Stevens Creek, Sammi Bray

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

ABSTRACT Riparian buffer zones are important sites of biodiversity, sediment trapping, pollutant removal, and hydrologic regulation that have significant implications for both people and wildlife. Urbanization’s influence on and need for adequate water quality increases the need for careful planning in regards to riparian areas. Wildlife are key components in the ecosystem functions of riparian zones and require consideration in peri-urban planning as well. This study reviews relevant literature to determine the recommended minimum riparian buffer width for maintaining water quality and habitat along Stevens Creek in Lincoln, Nebraska. Only sources that listed a specific purpose related to water quality …

Comparative Analysis Of Recycling Programs: A Case Study Of Three Universities, Jenny Jones

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Abstract

The goal of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of three university recycling programs. This study looked at several aspects of the programs that included the diversion rates, per capita ratios of materials recycled and disposed, and the average net costs of waste disposal and waste diversion. The universities included in this study were the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Oregon.

To gather the information necessary for this analysis, I contacted each of the university’s recycling coordinators. To determine the average net costs of waste disposal and waste diversion …

Yellowstone Super-Volcano: Evaluation, Potential Threats, And Possible Effects On Nebraska Citizens Health And Prosperity, Jennie Korgie

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Abstract Yellowstone National Park is located over a hot spot under the North American tectonic plate and holds a potentially explosive super-volcano that has the ability to cause deadly consequences on the North American continent. After an eruption the surrounding region would see the greatest devastation, covered by pyroclastic deposits and thick ash fall exterminating most all life and destroying all structures in its path. In landscapes of greater distance from the event the consequences will be less dramatic yet still substantial. Records of previous eruption data from the Yellowstone super-volcano show that the ash fall out from the eruption …

Distribution Of Rain Gardens In Lincoln Nebraska: Are Rain Gardens More Likely To Be Built Near Bodies Of Water, Eric Voecks

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Abstract Rain gardens are an important tool in reducing the amount of stormwater runoff and accompanying pollutants from entering the city’s streams and lakes, and reducing their water quality. This thesis project analyzed the number of rain gardens installed through the City of Lincoln Nebraska Watershed Management’s Rain Garden Water Quality Project in distance intervals of one-eighth mile from streams and lakes. This data shows the distribution of these rain gardens in relation to streams and lakes and attempts to determine if proximity to streams and lakes is a factor in homeowners installing rain gardens. ArcGIS was used to create …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 27, Number 1 (April 2010), Gary L. Doster , Editor, Scwds Briefs, Michael J. Yabsley

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

White Nose Syndrome Update

Respiratory Disease in Gopher Tortoises

Feral Hog Information

Frogs and Salmonella

Feral Cats and Wildlife

The Early Worm Gets the Bird

TB in Elephants

Accolades