Utah State Magazine, Spring 2019

The quarterly magazine for friends and alumni of Utah State University.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/utahstatemagazine/1112/thumbnail.jp

NOT GONE WITH THE WIND: Addressing Effects of Offshore Wind Development on Bat Species in the Northeastern United States

Development of coastal and offshore wind energy resources has the potential to add considerable renewable electricity capacity to the United States electrical grid, but could have detrimental impacts on wildlife. Land-based wind energy facilities are estimated to kill hundreds of thousands of bats every year in the United States, and could threaten population viability of some species. Little is known about the potential impacts of offshore wind development on bat populations along the North Atlantic coast, but a number of species are known to frequent marine islands or fly over the ocean during migration. This dissertation helps to characterize risks of offshore wind development to bats through increasing our knowledge of bat habitat use and behavior in the coastal and offshore environments of the northeastern United States. Chapter I provides a general introduction to the topics of offshore wind energy development and bat mortality at wind energy facilities. Chapter II details the first scientific survey of bat use of the offshore island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with a focus on the federally threatened Northern Long-eared Bat. Chapter III describes bat flight behavior on and around the offshore island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Chapter IV explores the fall migratory behavior of eastern red and hoary bats radio-tagged at sites along the New England coast and tracked using an extensive network of automated telemetry stations. In Chapter V, I estimate the economic costs of curtailment as a bat fatality minimization option for a set of theoretical offshore wind energy facilities located at sites along the Eastern Seaboard

Fruit crops, 1980: a summary of research

Performance of selected apple cultivars on semi-standard rootstocks in southern Ohio / David C. Ferree, Donald A. Chandler, and John C. Schmid -- Influence of summer pruning and alar on growth, flowering, and fruit set of Jerseymac apple trees / D. C. Ferree and E. J. Stang -- Influence of promalin on Delicious in Ohio / D. C. Ferree, E. J. Stang and R. C. Funt -- The effects of overtree misting for bloom delay on soil water status, net photosynthesis, transpiration, and carbohydrate levels of apple trees / R. M. Crassweller and D. C. Ferree -- Effect of orchard heaters on vertical temperature profiles / R. D. Fox, R. D. Brazee, and D. C. Ferree -- The effect of orchard heaters on air movement and temperature / R. D. Fox, R. D. Brazee, and D. C. Ferree -- Organotins and mite control on apples in Ohio / Franklin R. Hall -- Model of the air sprayer / R. D. Fox, R. D. Brazee, D. L. Reichard and F. R. Hall -- Effects of application equipment variables on spray deposition by orchard air sprayers / D. L. Reichard, F. R. Hall and H. R. Krueger -- Fungi associated with moldy-core of apple and their location within fruit / Michael A. Ellis -- Nutrient content of twelve french and american hybrid grape cultivars grown under a wide range of soil conditions / Garth A. Cahoo

საქართველოს ამპელოგრაფია

The editing commission of the book decided to re-publish “Georgian Ampelography” as it was created the first time by N. Ketskhoveli, M. Ramishvili and D. Tabidze. However, the decision was made to complement the definitions of terms and toponyms with brief description and illustration reflecting the development of Georgian viticulture and enology from the 1960s to present day.The new edition of Georgian Ampelograpy is translated in english

Seasonal and spatial heterogeneities in host and vector abundances impact the spatiotemporal spread of bluetongue

Bluetongue (BT) can cause severe livestock losses and large direct and indirect costs for farmers. To propose targeted control strategies as alternative to massive vaccination, there is a need to better understand how BT virus spread in space and time according to local characteristics of host and vector populations. Our objective was to assess, using a modelling approach, how spatiotemporal heterogeneities in abundance and distribution of hosts and vectors impact the occurrence and amplitude of local and regional BT epidemics. We built a reaction–diffusion model accounting for the seasonality in vector abundance and the active dispersal of vectors. Because of the scale chosen, and movement restrictions imposed during epidemics, host movements and wind-induced passive vector movements were neglected. Four levels of complexity were addressed using a theoretical approach, from a homogeneous to a heterogeneous environment in abundance and distribution of hosts and vectors. These scenarios were illustrated using data on abundance and distribution of hosts and vectors in a real geographical area. We have shown that local epidemics can occur earlier and be larger in scale far from the primary case rather than close to it. Moreover, spatial heterogeneities in hosts and vectors delay the epidemic peak and decrease the infection prevalence. The results obtained on a real area confirmed those obtained on a theoretical domain. Although developed to represent BTV spatiotemporal spread, our model can be used to study other vector-borne diseases of animals with a local to regional spread by vector diffusion

Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Local Wine Production and Consumption in Texas: Using LCA to Inspire Environmental Improvements

The future viability of wine production is directly linked to its environmental impacts and conditions in which it is required to operate. The environmental impacts related to the production of a food product are directly influenced by the amount of materials, energy, waste and the emissions the product releases throughout the products life cycle. A life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a framework that can identify a food products relative environmental impacts and provides insights into the complexities of our modern food production activities. This research employed an LCA to quantify the impacts and potential improvement scenarios for the wine production industry in Texas. To quantify these impacts, the LCA examined all life cycle phases of the wine industry: viticulture agricultural practices (conventional or organic), the type of grapes cultivated, scope of processing activities (viniculture), use of packaging materials (bottles, corks, labeling), transportation links, consumption, and final disposal. Evaluating these processes addressed the primary research question: Which factors contribute to the relative environmental impacts associated with the production of a 750ml bottle of wine produced and consumed in Texas? In order to carry out this research I followed the 14040 standardized framework as a first step. This framework helped identify how the Texas wine industry contributes to the environmental impacts associated with the production of a 750ml bottle of wine. The LCA quantified these impacts and identified how the industry could benefit from switching from the business as usual approach by tackling the most impactful areas associated with the wine production. By modeling different scenarios, I tested the hypotheses that both organic farming techniques, and the use of lighter bottles, would reduce the impact categories. The results for the organic farming scenarios showed that restrictions on the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers lowered environmental impacts associated with eutrophication, ecotoxicity and global warming potential. Results for the lighter bottle scenario demonstrated that a reduction in the weight of the glass bottles will reduce both packaging and transport related CO2 emissions associated with the production processes of the bottle. A sensitivity analysis also determined if the study was influenced by any uncertainties. These results suggest recommendations to increase sustainability in the Texas wine industry based on the LCA. Based on the cultural and economic importance attached to wine production in Texas, it is vital that quantification and mitigation of the environmental impacts associated with this industry takes place. Utilizing an LCA ensured that any efforts to improve upon the performance of the Texas wine industry will not unknowingly “shift” the burden to another aspect of the production chain (Baumann & Tillman, 2004). The results help inform future decisions that can improve upon the industry’s environmental profile and marketability, and provide a foundation that helps Texas continue to pursue an economic growth strategy that is not only economically sustainable, but environmentally and socially acceptable as well

Spatial dynamics of airborne infectious diseases

Disease outbreaks, such as those of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003 and the 2009 pandemic A(H1N1) influenza, have highlighted the potential for airborne transmission in indoor environments. Respirable pathogen-carrying droplets provide a vector for the spatial spread of infection with droplet transport determined by diffusive and convective processes. An epidemiological model describing the spatial dynamics of disease transmission is presented. The effects of an ambient airflow, as an infection control, are incorporated leading to a delay equation, with droplet density dependent on the infectious density at a previous time. It is found that small droplets ($\sim 0.4\ \mu$m) generate a negligible infectious force due to the small viral load and the associated duration they require to transmit infection. In contrast, larger droplets ($\sim 4\ \mu$m) can lead to an infectious wave propagating through a fully susceptible population or a secondary infection outbreak for a localised susceptible population. Droplet diffusion is found to be an inefficient mode of droplet transport leading to minimal spatial spread of infection. A threshold air velocity is derived, above which disease transmission is impaired even when the basic reproduction number $R_{0}$ exceeds unity.Comment: 31 pages, 6 figures, to appear in the Journal of Theoretical Biolog

Sensors Application in Agriculture

Novel technologies are playing an important role in the development of crop and livestock farming and have the potential to be the key drivers of sustainable intensification of agricultural systems. In particular, new sensors are now available with reduced dimensions, reduced costs, and increased performances, which can be implemented and integrated in production systems, providing more data and eventually an increase in information. It is of great importance to support the digital transformation, precision agriculture, and smart farming, and to eventually allow a revolution in the way food is produced. In order to exploit these results, authoritative studies from the research world are still needed to support the development and implementation of new solutions and best practices. This Special Issue is aimed at bringing together recent developments related to novel sensors and their proved or potential applications in agriculture

Grapes and Wine

Grape and Wine is a collective book composed of 18 chapters that address different issues related to the technological and biotechnological management of vineyards and winemaking. It focuses on recent advances, hot topics and recurrent problems in the wine industry and aims to be helpful for the wine sector. Topics covered include pest control, pesticide management, the use of innovative technologies and biotechnologies such as non-thermal processes, gene editing and use of non-Saccharomyces, the management of instabilities such as protein haze and off-flavors such as light struck or TCAs, the use of big data technologies, and many other key concepts that make this book a powerful reference in grape and wine production. The chapters have been written by experts from universities and research centers of 9 countries, thus representing knowledge, research and know-how of many regions worldwide

Influence of Organic and Conventional Management Systems on Soil Microarthropods in Protected and Non-Protected Areas

Aim: The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 aims to increase land-protected areas at 30% and organic farming at 25% of agricultural lands. But which measure could be more effective in preserving soil biodiversity? The aim of the study is, therefore, to assess soil health of arable lands under organic and conventional managements in Non-protected (NPAorg) and Protected (PAcon) areas of Marche region (Italy) and compare the influence of the applied farming practices on soil microarthropods in two seasons, characterized by different intensities of soil management practices: spring (lower) and autumn (higher). Method: Soil health has been assessed through the Biological Quality of Soil index based on arthropods (QBS-ar). Novel approaches (QBS-ab and FAI indices) which consider microarthropods’ abundance in the index calculation, have been also applied. Density (ind/m2), Acari/Collembola ratio, % of Oribatid mites on total mites, biodiversity indices, correlations with chemical-physical parameters, and ordination analysis (nMDS) have been evaluated. Results: In both seasons, different communities have been found according to management and, particularly, PAcon sites showed significantly higher levels of biodiversity compared to NPAorg. However, in autumn, microarthropod communities present higher stability in NPAorg sites, showing an opposite trend and fewer fluctuations of the indices compared to PAcon. Conclusions: PA, even in conventional managed soils, seem to enhance soil biodiversity, while organic farming in NPA, confers a higher resilience to soil, making microarthropod communities more stable. Results showed that agricultural intensity reduction combined with the increased integration of agroecosystems in protected areas may represent an effective, and sustainable measure to preserve soil biodiversity and its ecological services