Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons^™

Antarctic Ice Sheet Dynamics Through The Neogene From Evidence In The Andrill–Mcmurdo Ice Shelf Project Drillcore (And-1b), R. D. Powell, T. R. Naish, L. A. Krissek, G. H. Browne, L. Carter, E. A. Cowan, Gavin B. Dunbar, R. M. Mckay, T. Wilch, Andrill-Mis Science Team

ANDRILL Research and Publications

ANDRILL completed its first season in 2006-07 drilling AND-1B through the McMurdo Ice Shelf (MIS) to a depth of 1,285m below the sea floor, a record for Antarctic margin drilling, with 99% recovery. The alternating glacial-interglacial sediment packages interbedded with volcanics provide a uniquely detailed record of Antarctic glacial and climatic change through the Neogene. This paper summarizes the initial characterization of lithofacies and syndepositional structures relevant to understanding the regime and dynamics of past Antarctic ice sheets based on the ANDRILL-MIS Initial Report. Results suggest that the Antarctic Ice Sheet was relatively cold with little basal melting in the …

Palaeontologic Characterisation And Analysis Of The And-1b Core, Andrill Mcmurdo Ice Shelf Project, Antarctica, R. Scherer, M. Hannah, P. Maffioli, D. Persico, C. Sjunneskog, C. P. Strong, M. Taviani, D. Winter, Andrill-Mis Science Team

ANDRILL Research and Publications

Fossils provide key data sets for the interpretation of the AND-1B core. Calcareous plankton and benthos provide the basis for palaeoenvironmental interpretations of both surface and bottom waters. Calcareous fossils are rare throughout, but occurrences noted are significant. Some calcareous fossils provide potential for age control via ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr, and palaeoenvironmental information may come from Mg/Ca ratios as well as oxygen and carbon isotopes. Organic-walled microfossils provide an index of reworking and transport, as well as the identifi cation of a possible in situ Pliocene assemblage of previously unknown marine palynomorphs. Diatoms are abundant in the core, with …

Preliminary Chronostratigraphy For The Upper 700 M (Upper Miocene – Pleistocene) Of The And-1b Drillcore Recovered From Beneath The Mcmurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, G. S. Wilson, R. H. Levy, G. Browne, N. Dunbar, F. Florindo, S. A. Henrys, I. Graham, W. C. Mcintosh, R. M. Mckay, T. R. Naish, C. Ohneiser, R. D. Powell, J. I. Ross, L. Sagnotti, R. P. Scherer, C. Sjunneskog, C. P. Strong, M. Taviani, D. M. Winter, Andrill-Mis Science Team

ANDRILL Research and Publications

Chronostratigraphic data available for the preliminary age model for the upper 700 m for the AND-1B drill core include diatom biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages on volcanic material, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ages on calcareous fossil material, and surfaces of erosion identified from physical appearance and facies relationships recognized in the AND-1B drill core. The available age data allow a relatively well-constrained age model to be constructed for the upper 700 m of the drill core. Available diatom biostratigraphic constraints and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages allow a unique correlation of ~70% of the AND-1B magnetic polarity stratigraphy …

Preliminary Integrated Chronostratigraphy Of The And-1b Core, Andrill Mcmurdo Ice Shelf Project, Antarctica, G. S. Wilson, R. H. Levy, G. Browne, R. Cody, N. Dunbar, F. Florindo, S. Henrys, I. Graham, W. Mcintosh, R. Mckay, T. R. Naish, C. Ohneiser, R. D. Powell, J. Ross, L. Sagnotti, R. Scherer, C. Sjunneskog, C. P. Strong, M. Taviani, D. Winter, Andrill-Mis Science Team

ANDRILL Research and Publications

Chronostratigraphic data available for the preliminary age model for the upper 700 m for the AND-1B drill core include diatom biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages on volcanic material, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ages on calcareous fossil material, and surfaces of erosion identifi ed from physical appearance and facies relationships recognised in the AND-1B drill core. The available age data allow a relatively well-constrained age model to be constructed for the upper 700 m of the drill core. Available diatom biostratigraphic constraints and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages allow a unique correlation of ~70% of the AND- 1B magnetic …

Agricultural Climatology, Kenneth G. Hubbard

High Plains Regional Climate Center: Staff Publications

With the diversification of the U.S. economy over the past century, agriculture has changed. We can say the farm sizes have increased over time, the number of farmers and those employed in farming have decreased over time, and as the economy has grown the relative contribution of agriculture to the total economy has decreased due to growth in other sectors. The farm prices have not changed significantly over many years while costs for energy, machinery, and land have generally increased. The combination of these factors has generally narrowed the profit margin and the highest productivity will no longer ensure the …

Droughtscape, Winter 2007, Kelly Smith

DroughtScape: Quarterly Newsletter of the National Drought Mitigation Center (2007–2023)

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Policy Update: NIDIS is Law. What’s Next?

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TX, OK, Plains, Southwest Hardest Hit in 2006

Climatologically Speaking, How Bad Was It?

State Spotlight: Arizona

Drought Decision-Support Tools Evolving

Factors Controlling Patterns Of Canada Thistle (Cirsium Arvense) And Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea Solstitialis) Across The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Paul E. Hosten

National Invasive Species Council

Landscape patterns of broadleaved noxious weeds across the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument are examined in the context of environmental and management factors to improve our understanding of weed dynamics. Environmental factors include a range of topographic edaphic variables, while management factors provide insight about historic vegetation manipulation, road construction and forage utilization by wildlife and livestock. Distribution patterns of Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) across the Monument are best described by a combination of topographic, edaphic, biotic, and management factors. Variables incorporated within models describing landscape patterns of weeds varied with response variable …

U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Response To The Catfish Farmers Of Arkansas Information Quality Act (Iqa) Request For Correction

National Invasive Species Council

In February 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) received a petition from the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resources Association (MICRA) to list the black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) under the injurious wildlife provision of the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. § 42). On June 2, 2000, we published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) (65 FR 35314) to seek comments on whether or not we should propose to list black carp as injurious under the Lacey Act. The comment period on the ANPR was open for 60 days, until August 1, 2000. During that comment period, …

Training And Implementation Guide For Pathway Definition, Risk Analysis And Risk Prioritization

National Invasive Species Council

The purpose of pathway risk analysis is to provide scientific analyses and policy recommendations in support of U.S. National Invasive Species Council’s Management Plan. These analyses and recommendations must comply with the Plan’s mandates to:

• ensure Federal efforts are coordinated and effective

• promote action and partnership at local, State, tribal and ecosystem levels

• identify recommendations for international cooperation; and,

• facilitate networks to document, monitor and prioritize invasive species pathways

Though many definitions for invasive species and pathways may exist, we are defining these terms as they relate to Federal regulatory functions. Definitions are recounted, below:

Invasive …

Climate-Induced Forest Dieback As An Emergent Global Phenomenon, Craig Allen, David D. Breshears

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

An organized oral session at the annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America in San Jose, Calif., posed this question: Is climate-induced drought stress triggering increasing rates and unusual patterns of forest die-off at a global scale? Twenty-nine researchers representing five continents reported on patterns, mechanisms, and projections of forest mortality.

Hydrologic Connectivity And The Contribution Of Stream Headwaters To Ecological Integrity At Regional Scales, Mary C. Freeman, Catherine M. Pringle, C. Rhett Jackson

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Cumulatively, headwater streams contribute to maintaining hydrologic connectivity and ecosystem integrity at regional scales. Hydrologic connectivity is the water-mediated transport of matter, energy and organisms within or between elements of the hydrologic cycle. Headwater streams compose over two-thirds of total stream length in a typical river drainage and directly connect the upland and riparian landscape to the rest of the stream ecosystem. Altering headwater streams, e.g., by channelization, diversion through pipes, impoundment and burial, modifies fluxes between uplands and downstream river segments and eliminates distinctive habitats. The large-scale ecological effects of altering headwaters are amplified by land uses that alter …

Invasive Species Definition Clarification And Guidance, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

Summary

Invasive species are those that are not native to the ecosystem under consideration and that cause or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal, or plant health. Plant and animal species under domestication or cultivation and under human control are not invasive species. Furthermore for policy purposes, to be considered invasive, the negative impacts caused by a non-native species will be deemed to outweigh the beneficial effects it provides. Finally, a non-native species might be considered invasive in one region but not in another. Whether or not a species is considered an invasive …

Effects Of Predator Removal On Upland Nesting Ducks In North Dakota Grassland Fragments, Kristen D. Chodachek, Michael J. Chamberlain

The Prairie Naturalist

Low nest success rates in the Prairie Pothole Region are attributed mainly to changes in the predator community coupled with reductions in availability of suitable nesting cover. We evaluated effects of removal of mammalian predators on pair density and nest success of ducks nesting on 259 ha sites in northeastern North Dakota during 2001 and 2002. We monitored pair density and duck nests on 10 sites with removal and 10 sites without removal. Overall nest success for both years was greater on trapped (53.4%) than nontrapped sites (28.7%). Pair densities were not affected by predator removal, but did increase across …

Predicting The Percent Live Cover Of Corals: An In Situ Remote Sensing Approach, Deepak R. Mishra, Sunil Narumalani, Ronald Bahl, D. Rundquist, Merlin P. Lawson

Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies: Publications

Percent reflectance of corals is perhaps the most important remotely sensed data that can be related to their biophysical properties. Because most of the biophysical variables of corals (i.e., pigment content, live cover and algal overgrowth) are related to their reflectance spectra, the analysis and inversion of the spectra may provide an account of these variables. Our research was aimed at determining the relationship between the percent live cover and reflectance of corals. Two wavelength bands (405–425 nm, and 590–600 nm) were identified to establish the relationship. A linear relationship was observed, which showed higher correlation (R² = …

Differential Expression Of Immune Response Genes In Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias Jubatus): An Indicator Of Ecosystem Health?, Lizabeth Bowen, Brian Aldridge, Kimberlee Beckmen, Tom Gelatt, Lorrie Rea, Kathy Burek, Ken Pitcher, Jeffrey L. Stott

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Characterization of the polygenic and polymorphic features of the Steller sea lion major histocompatibility complex (MHC) provides an ideal window for evaluating immunologic vigor of the population and identifying emergence of new genotypes that reflect ecosystem pressures. MHC genotyping can be used to measure the potential immunologic vigor of a population. However, since ecosystem-induced changes to MHC genotype can be slow to emerge, measurement of differential expression of these genes can potentially provide real-time evidence of immunologic perturbations. MHC DRB genes were cloned and sequenced using peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes derived from 10 Steller sea lions from southeast Alaska, Prince …

Asian Carp -Aquatic Invasive Species Issues, Program Accomplishments, And Program Needs

National Invasive Species Council

Pathways and Introductions into the United States

Biology and Ecology

Distribution and Abundance

Ecological Risks and Impacts

Threats to the Great Lakes Basin

Threat to Other Basins and Locations

What is the Fish and Wildlife Service Doing?

Identifying Potential Conflict Associated With Oil And Gas Exploration In Texas State Coastal Waters: A Multi-Criteria Spatial Analysis, Samuel Brody, Himanshu Grover, Sarah Bernhardt, Zhenghong Tang, Bianca Whitaker, Colin Spence

Community and Regional Planning Program: Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity

Recent interest in expanding offshore oil production within waters of the United States has been met with opposition by groups concerned with recreational, environmental, and aesthetic values associated with the coastal zone. Although the proposition of new oil platforms off the coast has generated conflict over how coastal resources should be utilized, little research has been conducted on where these user conflicts might be most intense and which sites might be most suitable for locating oil production facilities in light of the multiple, and often times, competing interests. In this article, we develop a multiple-criteria spatial decision support tool that …

Deep Drilling With The Andrill Program In Antarctica, David M. Harwood, Richard Levy, Jim Cowie, Fabio Florindo, Tim Naish, Ross D. Powell, Alex Pyne

ANDRILL Research and Publications

ANDRILL (ANtarctic geological DRILLing) is a new international, multi-disciplinary drilling program that targets geological records that lie hidden beneath the icy blanket of Antarctica. The primary objective is to investigate Antarctica’s role in global environmental change over the past sixty-five million years, at various scales of age resolution, and thereby enhance our understanding of Antarctica’s potential response to future global changes. Efforts to understand the influence of Antarctica on global climate change require a fundamental knowledge of how the Antarctic cryosphere (ice sheets, ice shelves, and sea ice) has evolved, not only in recent times but also during earlier geological …

Draft Environmental Assessment For Listing Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix) As Injurious Wildlife Under The Lacey Act

National Invasive Species Council

In this environmental assessment, we consider two alternatives for the proposed action to add silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) to the list of injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act: 1) no action; and 2) adding all forms (diploid and triploid) of live silver carp, gametes, eggs and hybrids. Three alternatives considered, but dismissed from further analysis were 1) adding all forms of live and dead silver carp, gametes, eggs and hybrids; and 2) adding only diploid (fertile) forms of live silver carp, gametes, eggs and hybrids; and 3) require double-escape proof aquaculture ponds, transport vehicles and containers for typical …

Overview Of Nisc & Isac

National Invasive Species Council

Executive Order (EO) 13112

ISAC

Federal Advisory Committee Act

ISAC Charter

ISAC Subcommittees

Membership of ISAC

Maximum Size Of Fish Caught With Standard Gears And Recreational Angling, Kevin L. Pope, Gene R. Wilde, Daryl L. Bauer

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

We correlated maximum lengths of freshwater fishes captured during 10 years with standard gears (i.e., gill nets, boat electrofishers and trap nets) and angling from Nebraska water bodies to determine which methodology provided better estimates of maximum size of fishes produced within a given water body. In general, maximum length of fishes captured with standard gears was smaller than maximum length of fishes captured with angling. Although significant (based on sequential Bonferroni adjustment) correlation was found in only one of nine sport fishes assessed, all correlations were positive indicating a general trend between maximum size of fishes captured with these …

Risk And Consequence Analysis Focused On Biota Transfers Potentially Associated With Surface Water Diversions Between The Missouri River And Red River Basins, Greg Linder, Ed Little, Lynne Johnson, Chad Vishy, Bruce Peacock, Heather Goeddecke

United States Geological Survey: Publications

Section 1 provides a brief overview of the project, including a cursory summary of the history of the “Garrison Diversion” and how that history relates to this work focused on the analysis of risks and consequences potentially associated with interbasin biota transfers. The present study was initiated under the auspices of the Dakota Water Resources Act (DWRA) of 2000, which directed the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive study of the water quality and quantity needs of the Red River Valley and the options for meeting those needs. As such, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) requested technical support …

2002 Licensed Angler Survey: Summarized Results, Keith L. Hurley, Kristin L. Duppong-Hurley

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

On October 22, 2002, 5000 six-page surveys (Appendix 3) were sent to a stratified-random sample of Nebraska anglers drawn from the 2001 licensed anglers database. The database included all anglers who purchased a fishing license in 2001 as well as all lifetime fishing permit holders who purchased their license before or during 2001. The database did not include those possessing a free permit, such as veteran’s or senior citizen permits. The survey subsample (2.6% of the 2001-licensed angler database) was stratified such that the proportions of surveys in the subsample (4366 residents and 634 non-residents) matched the proportions of resident/non-resident …

Nebraska Catfish Anglers: Descriptions And Insights Derived From The 2002 Nebraska Licensed Angler Survey, Keith Hurley, Kristin Duppong-Hurley

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

Analyses in this report will refer to number of different groups. Catfish seeking anglers are defined as any angler who has spend at least 1 trip during 2002 in pursuit of a catfish species (channel, blue, flathead, or bullhead). This is the most general group included in the analyses and is also the least avid group of anglers in regards to their relationship to catfish angling. Catfish anglers are defined as those respondents who identified a catfish species as the species they most prefer to target. Catfish anglers represent a smaller group of respondents with a higher avidity for catfish …

Information For U.S. Scientists About Participation In The Inaugural Projects Of The International Andrill Program Including An Overview Of The Andrill U.S. Science Support Program, Andrill-U.S. Steering Committee, Andrill Science Management Office

ANDRILL Project Information

This document provides guidance for potential U.S. participants in the two inaugural projects of the ANDRILL Program. It includes information on eligibility, application procedures, proposal review criteria, expected numbers and positions of on-ice and off-ice personnel, staffing decisions, science support levels, participant responsibilities, and project timelines. Information provided in this document (Version 3_23_05) may be modified after the U.S. ANDRILL Workshop (April 1-2, 2005). The final version will be posted no later than 4-15-05.

The reader should refer to the Appendices of this document for more detailed information on U.S. and international management of the ANDRILL Program, and for a …

Drought Preparedness Planning: Building Institutional Capacity, Donald A. Wilhite, Michael Hayes, Cody L. Knutson

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Past attempts to manage drought and its impacts through a reactive, crisis management approach have been ineffective, poorly coordinated, and untimely, as illustrated by the hydro- illogical cycle in Figure 1. The crisis management approach has been followed in both developed and developing countries. Because of the ineffectiveness of this approach, greater interest has evolved in recent years in the adoption of a more proactive risk-based management approach in some countries (see Chapter 6). Other countries are striving to obtain a higher level of preparedness through development of national action programs that are part of the United Nations Convention to …

A New Approach For Predicting Drought-Related Vegetation Stress: Integrating Satellite, Climate, And Biophysical Data Over The U.S. Central Plains, Tsegaue Tadesse, Jesslyn F. Brown, Michael Hayes

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Droughts are normal climate episodes, yet they are among the most expensive natural disasters in the world. Knowledge about the timing, severity, and pattern of droughts on the landscape can be incorporated into effective planning and decisionmaking. In this study, we present a data mining approach to modeling vegetation stress due to drought and mapping its spatial extent during the growing season. Rule-based regression tree models were generated that identify relationships between satellite-derived vegetation conditions, climatic drought indices, and biophysical data, including land-cover type, available soil water capacity, percent of irrigated farm land, and ecological type. The data mining method …

New Developments In The Remote Estimation Of The Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation In Crops, Andrés Viña, Anatoly A. Gitelson

Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies: Publications

The fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, fAPAR, is an important biophysical characteristic in models of gas exchange between the terrestrial boundary layer and the atmosphere, as well as in the analysis of vegetation productivity. Synoptic estimation of fAPAR has been performed by using NDVI as a linear proxy of fAPAR, despite the saturation of NDVI at fAPAR beyond 0.7. This paper analyzes the NDVI/fAPAR relationship in row crops (i.e. maize and soybean), and evaluates alternative vegetation indices to overcome the loss of sensitivity of NDVI at moderate-to-high vegetation biomass. Red-edge NDVI, which uses NIR and a band around 700 …

Five-Year Review Of Executive Order 13112 On Invasive Species

National Invasive Species Council

Invasive species inhabit all regions of the United States and every nation. The price society pays for invasives is reflected not only in significant economic damage but also in high level of environmental degradation, loss of recreational opportunities, and harm to animal, plant, and human health. Executive Order 13112 (EO) was issued in 1999 to enhance federal coordination and response to the complex and accelerating problem of invasive species. As directed by the EO, the National Invasive Species Council has approved this report for the Office of Management and Budget to assess the effectiveness of the EO and evaluate whether …

Guidelines For Ranking Invasive Species Control Projects

National Invasive Species Council

Invasive species issues challenge all of us everyday. Whether you are formally tasked with land management or simply active in exploring and protecting ecosystems, dealing with the threats presented by the multitude of terrestrial, aquatic, or microbial invasive species is a complicated matter. The National Invasive Species Council (NISC) has been tasked, since the signing of Executive Order 13112 in 1999, with assisting in the coordination of efforts to combat invasive species. The NISC developed the National Invasive Species Management Plan (Plan) and Action Item #32 of the Plan states: By January 2003, NISC will develop and issue guidance for …