Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons^™

Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (Cdom) Workshop Summary, Catherine A. Corbett

Reports

The Charlotte Harbor NEP hosted a 2-day technical exchange workshop on CDOM as an imperative first step in implementation of the program’s numeric water quality targets to initiate a dialogue with local researchers and resource managers on the importance of CDOM dynamics and the roles it plays in estuaries. Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program hosted the technical exchange workshop to discuss and gain a better understanding of CDOM dynamics in the Lemon Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Estero Bay watersheds.

Reclamation: Managing Water In The West, Steinaker Reservoir Normal Water Surface Elevation Increase Final Environmental Assessment And Finding Of No Significant Impact, U.S. Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Reclamation, W. Russ Findlay

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

This document is an environmental assessment (EA) of the proposal to raise the normal water surface elevation from 5517.8 feet above mean sea level (msl) to 5520.5 msl for Steinaker Reservoir in Uintah County, Utah. The Uintah Water Conservancy District (UWCD) has requested Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) authorization for this action. The Steinaker State Park, managed by the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, maintains several campgrounds, an entrance station and other associated buildings and associated infrastructure. Modifications or relocations of some of these facilities would be needed in conjunction with an increase in the reservoir’s normal water surface elevation.

Land Cover Types Of The Las Vegas Wash, Nevada, Seth A. Shanahan, Dave Silverman, Art Ehrenberg

Publications (WR)

Vegetation type, extent, continuity, and structure are some of the most important factors that determine wildlife diversity and distribution. Other contributing factors that shape wildlife communities include disturbance, competition, climate, and water availability. Because vegetation communities in the southwestern U.S. gradate sharply along zones of soil moisture, wildlife are often restricted to specific vegetation types. Along the Las Vegas Wash (Wash), Nevada, more than 250 wildlife species have been documented to occur in distinct wetland, riparian, and upland vegetation types. Recent studies have investigated the diversity and distribution of amphibians, birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles (Shanahan 2005, 2005a, Van Dooremolen …

Antarctica, The Southern Ocean, And Climate Evolution: Insights From Drilling, Coring, And Geophysical Surveys, Timothy R. Naish, Ross Powell

ANDRILL Research and Publications

1.P2.A-1: The diatom record of the ANDRILL – McMurdo Ice Shelf project drillcore
Reed Scherer, Diane Winter, Charlotte Sjunneskog, and Paola Maffioli4

1.P2.A-2: Preliminary ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar results from the AND-1B core
Jake I. Ross, William C. McIntosh, and Nelia W. Dunbar

1.P2.A-3: Preliminary chronostratigraphy for the upper 700 m (upper Miocene–Pleistocene) of the AND-1B drillcore recovered from beneath the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica
Gary S. Wilson, Richard H. Levy, Greg Browne, Fabio Florindo, Stuart A. Henrys, Ian Graham, William C. McIntosh, R. M. McKay, T. R. Naish, Christian Ohneiser, Ross D. Powell, Jake I. Ross, Leonardo Sagnotti, Reed …

Risk Assessment For Hazardous Materials Incident, Washington County, Tennessee: Road Transportation, Rail Transportation, And Hazardous Materials Storage., Steed Kenlee Stagnolia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to provide a quantitative risk assessment for road transportation, railway transportation, and storage of hazardous materials in Washington County, Tennessee. A roadside survey, railroad hazardous materials survey, and a chemical inventory were conducted. It revealed an estimated 267,858 HAZMAT shipments per year on primary and secondary roadways and an estimated total of 9.4 x 109 tons of HAZMAT shipped by rail per year. There are 49 facilities that store a daily average of 33,722,700 lbs of HAZMAT. The risk of a hazardous materials incident occurring in Washington County is highest for Interstate transportation. The risk for …

Florida’S Non-Native Avifauna, Michael L. Avery, Michael P. Moulton

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Florida has a mild climate, diverse natural habitats, and a growing, mobile human population. Florida also hosts thousands of species of introduced plants, fish, and wildlife. A recent compilation lists 196 non-native bird species, comprising 15 orders, which have occurred in Florida. The list includes 72 species of parrots and parakeets (psittaciformes), 51 passerines, and 22 species of waterfowl (anseriformes). First sightings of newly introduced bird species in Florida increased rapidly through the 1980s, but numbers of new species detected appear to have subsided since then. Sources of introductions are often not reported, but of those that are known, most …

Managing Starlings In Australia – Can Drc-1339 Be The Answer?, Tina Bentz, Steven Lapidge, David Dall, Ronald G. Sinclair

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are one of the most abundant and widespread bird species on earth. Introduced to Australia in the late 1850s, their highly adaptive ecology has enabled them to become a major pest. Concerns include public health and safety, economic impacts, detrimental environmental effects, and bird strikes at airports. Unfortunately current Australian control methods are ineffective and more efficacious, humane methods need to be developed. A feasibility study was undertaken of the likely risks/benefits of avicide DRC 1339 (3-chloro-4-methylbenzenamine hydrochloride) in Australia. This included a risk-analysis, a multi-industry survey and non-toxic bait trials to assess target-specificity. …

Invasive Rats And Bubonic Plague In Northwest Uganda, Jeff N. Borchert, Jeff J. Mach, Timothy J. Linder, Asaph Ogen-Odoi [Deceased, In Memoriam], Santos Angualia

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Major introductions of roof rats (Rattus rattus) likely occurred in the ports of East Africa during the Third Plague Pandemic in the late 1800’s. Transport via trains, boats, and trucking likely introduced this species to inland areas of East Africa, ultimately including Northwest Uganda. Historic plague outbreaks occurred during the early part of the 20th century and continue to cause a human disease burden in the West Nile region of NW Uganda via the bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic forms. Four field sites in this area were trapped to determine the rodent species composition in commensal and peridomestic areas …

Island Biosecurity As A Pest Management Tactic In New Zealand, Keith Broome

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

New Zealand is an archipelago with many islands of conservation significance, none of which has the full suite of invasive vertebrate pests found on mainland New Zealand. Managing invasive species on New Zealand islands involves prevention of pests establishing and controlling or extirpating those already there. Prevention measures, referred to as island biosecurity, focuses on the three major pathways for pests to arrive: deliberate release, accidental release and swimming. Managing deliberate release is largely reactive but does have opportunities for prevention depending on the motivation of offenders. Managing accidental release is where most proactive work is done by Department of …

The Role Of Early Detection And Rapid Response In Thwarting Amphibian And Reptile Introductions In Floridalorida, Todd S. Campbell

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Prevention is the best policy for dealing with introduced species. However, biologists often spend an inordinate amount of time studying their spread and impacts rather than focusing on what should be done to thwart their establishment in the first place. Amphibian and reptile introductions are reaching epidemic proportions in Florida, largely due to irresponsible behavior by pet owners and the pet industry, but also due to ineffective preventive policies and actions. Prevention of additional amphibian and reptile introductions in Florida will require a comprehensive approach involving legal restrictions of certain problematic species, a massive public education effort, and a well-funded …

Can Temperature Be Used As A Tool For Limiting Brown Treesnake Invasion Via Transportation Pathways?, Michelle T. Christy, Julie A. Savidge, Richard Bischof, Gordon H. Rodda

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The use of extreme temperatures is one of the few chemical residue-free techniques available for control of pest species and has proven fast and effective in a variety of applications. We determined the upper and lower lethal temperatures for the brown treesnake. We also investigated whether gender, size, body condition and exposure time influenced survival at temperature extremes. Elevating snake core temperatures to 40°C and 41°C for one hour resulted in 99% mortality within seven days (40°C) and 100% mortality within one hour of exposure (41°C). Mortality decreased sharply to 51% for a one hour exposure to 39°C. Shorter, heavier …

Multiple-Species Exclusion Fencing And Technology For Mainland Sites, Tim Day, Roger Macgibbon

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Eradication of invasive vertebrate pests from increasingly large islands has become an important wildlife management and conservation tool internationally. Success on islands has prompted attempts to exclude and eradicate vertebrate pests from mainland sites. Early mainland exclusion efforts often failed due to ineffective or poorly maintained barriers to pest reinvasion. Over the last 10 years, we have conducted extensive experiments to design effective pest exclusion technology. We have determined the behavior and physical abilities of many of the vertebrate pest species found in New Zealand and other parts of the world. Pest species have been tested against a variety of …

The Path To Eradication Of The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat In Florida, Richard Engeman, Gary W. Witmer, Jean B. Bourassa, John W. Woolard, Bernice Constantin, Parker T. Hall, Scott Hardin, Neil D. Perry

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

A thriving population of Gambian giant pouched rats became established on Grassy Key, a 550-ha island in Florida, following escape(s) from an exotic pet breeder. After existence of the population was verified, computer models indicated that Gambian giant pouched rats could successfully invade a large portion of North America if they reached the mainland. This largest of rat species is highly prolific, and its dispersal to the mainland could result in substantial negative impacts to agriculture, environment, and wildlife. Additionally, Gambian giant pouched rats are known vectors of a variety of diseases transmissible to humans and livestock. The first action …

The Political, Economic And Management History Of A Successful Exotic Eradication: The Case Of Black-Tailed Jackrabbits In One Part Of Florida, Richard M. Engeman, Bernice Constantin, Jeffrey Bunting

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Black-tailed jackrabbits are a prolific, mobile species that became established at Miami International Airport, Florida. These animals posed a potential threat for colonization through additional parts of Florida if they were able to spread beyond the expansive airport property. Moreover, their carcasses from collisions with vehicles and aircraft attracted large scavenging and predatory birds to the airport, causing potential airstrike hazards. While the jackrabbits ultimately were successfully eradicated, the political, economic and management paths to that success were convoluted. We describe that history here and how a beneficial outcome was ultimately achieved.

Foreword, Gary W. Witmer, Will C. Pitt, Kathleen A. Fagerstone

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The effects of invasive vertebrate species on agriculture, human health and safety, and the environment are a growing concern around the world. The number of incidents of invasive species causing harm continues to climb with increased worldwide travel and transportation of goods. The focus for many decades was on invasive pathogens, plants, and invertebrates because they can greatly affect human and animal health and food supplies. In recent years, invasive vertebrate species, such as rats, feral pigs, and feral cats, have garnered more attention because the magnitude of their impacts have been repeatedly highlighted in the media. In response, better …

Managing Non-Native Wildlife In Florida: State Perspective, Policy And Practice, Scott Hardin

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Florida has more non-native wildlife species than any other state: 439 introduced species of fish, wildlife and marine organisms have been observed and at least 123 are established, i.e., highly unlikely to be extirpated without human intervention. Florida is an epicenter for non-native species with a long established pet industry, major tourist attractions, and major ports, primarily Miami. The large number of established species is due to climate match with that of popular tropical pets, habitat disturbance that facilitates invasion, and a depauperate vertebrate fauna in tropical and subtropical portions of Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s approach …

Custom Trucks, Radio Snake Jingles, And Temporary Tattoos: An Overview Of A Successful Public Awareness Campaign Related To Brown Treesnakes In The Commonwealth Of The Northern Mariana Islands, Nathaniel B. Hawley

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) was introduced on Guam during post World War II cargo movements. Brown treesnakes (BTS) have now become exceptionally abundant on Guam and pose a direct, significant, and growing threat to other areas outside of their historic range, including the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the State of Hawaii, the United States mainland and other sites regionally and internationally. The CNMI is at high risk for a BTS introduction due to its close proximity and the types and amount of cargo received. Limited BTS awareness efforts between 1986 and 2002 in the …

Control And Eradication Of The North American Ruddy Duck In Europe, Iain Henderson, Peter Robertson

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) was introduced to wildfowl collections in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1940s and subsequently escaped into the wild. Estimated numbers have increased rapidly in the UK from 20 wintering birds in 1962 to 5,946 in January 2000. As the population of feral ruddy ducks in the UK rose, so did the number of records of ruddy ducks on the European mainland. In 1984, ruddy ducks were first recorded in Spain, which is home to internationally important populations of the rare indigenous white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala). By 1991, hybrids resulting from …

Ecology Of An Invasive Predator In Hawaii, Steven C. Hess, Heidi Hansen, Paul C. Banko

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Cats (Felis catus) brought to Hawaii in the 1700s now occupy most habitats throughout the islands, including montane and sublapine zones. We studied home range, population genetics, diseases, and diet of feral cats on Hawai`i Island. Feral cats on Mauna Kea live in low densities and exhibit some of the largest reported home ranges. While 95% kernel home range estimates for 4 males ( x = 1418 ha) were nearly twice as large as 3 female home ranges ( x = 772 ha), one male maintained a home range of 2050 ha. Population genetics revealed that Mauna Kea …

Invasive Species Management And Research Using Gis, Tracy Holcombe, Thomas J. Stohlgren, Catherine Jarnevich

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are powerful tools in the field of invasive species management. GIS can be used to create potential distribution maps for all manner of taxa, including plants, animals, and diseases. GIS also performs well in the early detection and rapid assessment of invasive species. Here, we used GIS applications to investigate species richness and invasion patterns in fish in the United States (US) at the 6-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) level. We also created maps of potential spread of the cane toad (Bufo marinus) in the southeastern US at the 8-digit HUC level using regression …

The Failed Regulatory System For Animal Imports Into The United States – And How To Fix It, Peter Jenkins

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

This paper provides a synopsis of the Defenders of Wildlife report entitled Broken Screens: The Regulation of Live Animal Imports in the United States, released in August 2007. That report assessed the complex federal system for regulating live wild animal imports as applied to the 2,241 non-native species that were identified in United States Fish and Wildlife Service records as being imported between 2000 and 2004, inclusive. The report describes the “coarse risk screening” conducted for those species by searching the scientific literature and United States and international databases. If one or more reliable sources indicated a species was …

Probabilistic Bioenergetic/Toxicity Modeling Approach For Estimating Toxicant Induced Mortality To Target Invasive Species And Non-Target Wildlife, John Johnston, Randal S. Stahl, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, Will C. Pitt

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Non-target species may be exposed to rodenticides via feeding on rodenticide baits or the carcasses of poisoned target species. As invasive species frequently negatively impact threatened or endangered (T and E) species, there is frequently spatial and temporal overlap of invasive species and T and E species. Risk assessments provide a means to estimate the probability of rodenticide associated adverse effects to non-target species (including T and E species). Quantification of risk provides critical information for decision-makers to weigh the benefits and risks of proposed rodenticide uses and to compare the risks of management with risks associated with no management …

Using Pathway Analysis To Inform Prevention Strategies For Alien Reptiles And Amphibians, Fred Kraus

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Alien reptiles and amphibians are deserving of greater attention that has hitherto been bestowed upon them by managers and researchers. Eradication or control of established taxa will generally be infeasible, leaving prevention of introductions as the primary management tool for controlling herpetological invasions. I analyzed >5,700 introductions of alien reptiles and amphibians worldwide to obtain the pathway information necessary for design of informed prevention programs. Six pathways account for the large majority of introductions: accidental introductions via cargo and the nursery plant trade and intentional introductions for biocontrol, food use, the pet trade, and aesthetic purposes. Pathway importance varies taxonomically, …

Global Harmonisation In The Field Of Invasive Species Management Product Development, Steven Lapidge, Simon Humphrys, David Dall

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Problems associated with managing vertebrate invasive species, defined as any exotic or native species that has spread beyond its natural range, are remarkably common around the world. Although the species may differ, the niches they fill and the damage they generally cause is often consistent. As such, a possibility exists for greater collaboration and harmonization in developing new tools to manage the impacts of invasive species. Moreover, the considerable expense of developing new products, the often onerous registration process, and the lack of return on investment leading to market failure has meant that progress within the field of invasive animal …

Spotting Cryptic Animals In The Dark: What Light Properties Should A Good Headlamp Have?, Bjorn Lardner, Julie A. Savidge, Gordon H. Rodda

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Relying on headlamp illumination for visual detection of cryptic nocturnal animals may present a challenge. To test how search light properties affect brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) detection rate, we assigned eight biologists to search for dead snakes placed in roadside vegetation. Each person conducted 4 searches using lamps with varying properties: weak versus strong light, crossed by narrow versus wide beam. On each occasion, 100 snakes were placed randomly along the roadside transect. The mean number spotted per transect search was 13.5. Using an information theoretic approach, sequential order of transect runs was the only confounding variable included …

European Starlings: A Review Of An Invasive Species With Far-Reaching Impacts, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Shannon M. Gaulker, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The introduction of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in New York City in 1890 and 1891 resulted in their permanent establishment in North America. The successful occupation of North America (and most other continents as well) has earned the starling a nomination in the Top 100 list of ‘Worlds Worst’ invaders. Pimentel et al. (2000) estimated that starling damage to agriculture crops in the United States was $800 million yearly, based on $5/ha damage. Starlings may spread infectious diseases that sicken humans and livestock, costing nearly $800 million in health treatment costs. Lastly, starlings perhaps have contributed to the …

Considering Control Of Invasive Barred Owls To Benefit California Spotted Owls: Possible Justification And Draft Methods, Kent B. Livezey, Richard M. Engeman, Dennis F. Rock, Donald A. Yasuda

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Invasive, but native to North America, barred owls (Strix varia) are negatively affecting site occupancy, reproduction, and survival of federally threatened northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina), thereby confounding the land-based conservation strategy for northern spotted owls. Barred owls are moving southward into the range of non-federally listed California spotted owls (S. o. occidentalis), but are not, at this time or in the foreseeable future, a threat to the California spotted owl population. We recommend consideration of barred owl control in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, while barred owl numbers are low enough to …

Research And Development Of A New Rodenticide For Nutria, Jeff J. Mach, Richard M. Poche

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a large semi-aquatic rodent, declared as one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world by the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group in 2000. Through USDA Small Business Innovative Research Phase I (Mach 2004) and Phase II (Mach 2006) funding, Genesis is developing a new nutria rodenticide as an alternative to the currently-registered zinc phosphide bait. Our course of research and development is described herein: live-trapping, laboratory non-toxic choice studies, laboratory toxicity bioassays, and field toxicity studies. Two active ingredients and two bait types proved to be successful, however, only cholecalciferol in …

Promoting Awareness, Knowledge And Good Intentions, Christy Martin

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Two independent studies in the 1990s found that Hawaii had the nation’s worst alien pest problem due to gaps in prevention, detection and control programs, which could be addressed through increased communication, cooperation, and public outreach. The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS), a government/non-government partnership, formed in 1995 to address these gaps and work on public awareness. Using snakes as an example, a 1996 Hawaii statewide public awareness survey found that 66% of people “had heard of brown treesnakes.” CGAPS ran the “Silent Invasion” campaign in 1997, with “shock footage” television commercials and specials about brown treesnakes on …

Prioritization Of Action On Non-Native Species – Progress In Great Britain, Niall Moore

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

There is an increasing number of calls for action on a wide range of invasive non-native species, but only a limited resource to deal with them. It is clearly important for policy makers and others to be able to prioritize where these scarce resources are directed in order to maximize their conservation benefit. Coordination of effort, and knowledge sharing are clearly important as are risk assessment methods which attempt to quantify the risk posed by a range of species that are either present or are likely to invade. Great Britain, as an island, has advantages over continental landmasses in that …