Effects of Arctic Alaska Oil Development on Brant and Snow Geese

Black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) and lesser snow geese (Chen c. caerulescens) breeding in and near arctic Alaska oil fields could be affected by oil development actions such as releases of contaminants, alteration of tundra surfaces, creation of impoundments, and human activities. These actions could affect geese directly (e.g., through oil spills) or indirectly (e.g., by altering food supplies or predator populations). Studies to date indicate no changes in the distribution, abundance, or reproduction of these geese that clearly can be attributed to development; rather, their numbers and recruitment have responded in the oil fields, as elsewhere, mainly to weather and predation. When snowmelt in spring is later than usual, the birds postpone or forego nesting, with consequent diminishment in recruitment. Predation by arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus), glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus), and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) sometimes causes substantial losses of eggs and young, and predation by ravens (Corvus corax) has also been observed. Development-related changes in weather (microclimate) and loss of feeding habitat have involved small percentages of the total areas traditionally used, and populations of the birds probably have not been affected by these changes. Some studies and observations suggest that development has elevated local populations of some predators, but whether the level of predation on geese has in consequence risen above that which would have occurred in the absence of development is unknown; further investigation of this mechanism of potential impact is recommended.La bernache noire (Branta bernicla nigricans) et la petite oie des neiges (Chen c. caerulescens) nichant dans les champs pétrolifères de l'Alaska ou à proximité pourraient être affectées par des actes reliés à l'exploitation pétrolière, tels que le déversement d'agents de pollution, les modifications à la toundra de surface, la création de bassins, et par l'activité humaine. Ces interventions pourraient affecter les oies de façon directe (p. ex., par le biais de déversements de pétrole) ou indirecte (p. ex., en modifiant l'approvisionnement alimentaire ou les populations de prédateurs). Jusqu'à l'heure actuelle, les études ne montrent pas de changements dans la distribution, l'abondance ou la reproduction de ces oies, dont la cause puisse être clairement attribuée à l'exploitation; dans les champs pétrolifères, le nombre d'oies et leur augmentation ont surtout réagi, comme ailleurs, au climat et à la prédation. Quand la fonte des neiges printanière a lieu plus tard que d'habitude, les oiseaux retardent la ponte ou s'abstiennent de pondre, ce qui entraîne moins d'augmentation. La prédation par le renard arctique (Alopex lagopus), le goéland bourgmestre (Larus hyperboreus) et le grizzli (Ursus arctos) entraîne parfois d'importantes pertes d'oeufs et d'oisons, et on a également observé des cas de prédation par le corbeau (Corvus corax). Des modifications climatiques (microclimat) reliées à l'exploitation et la perte d'aires d'alimentation ne concernent qu'un faible pourcentage du total des zones utilisées traditionnellement, et les populations d'oiseaux n'ont probablement pas été affectées par ces changements. Quelques études et observations suggèrent que la mise en valeur a fait augmenter les populations locales de certains prédateurs, mais on ne sait pas si le niveau de prédation de l'oie qui en a résulté était plus élevé qu'il ne l'aurait été en l'absence de la mise en valeur; on recommande que le mécanisme de ces retombées potentielles soit étudié plus à fond

Managing Bison to Restore Biodiversity

Prior to their demise in the late 1800s, bison coexisted with and helped sustain a diverse and spectacular assemblage of animals and plant communities on the Great Plains. Bison, in concert with fire, exerted strong control on the structure of the vegetation by grazing, trampling, and wallowing. The changes in the vegetation induced changes in many animal populations. These impacts, coupled with the bison\u27s role as the major converter of grass to meat, so greatly affected other species that some have called bison a keystone species in the Great Plains ecosystem. The black-tailed prairie dog, dependent on bison grazing over a large part of the Great Plains, amplified the keystone influence of bison by its own grazing and burrowing activities and its utility as prey. Although modern bison-growing practices usually will preclude restoration of the large predators and scavengers that once were a part of the great faunal spectacle, other species can return, often even on small acreages. Maintenance of a habitat mosaic is the key to restoring some of the original biodiversity lost to the historic pursuit of single species pastoralism

An Analysis of the Impact of Sport Utility Vehicles in the United States

It may be labeled sport utility vehicle, SUV, sport-ute, suburban assault vehicle, or a friend of OPEC (Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries). It has been the subject of comics, the object of high-finance marketing ploys, and the theme of Dateline. Whatever the label or the occasion, this vehicle is in great demand. The popularity of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) has increased dramatically since the late 1970s, and SUVs are currently the fastest growing segment of the motor vehicle industry. Hoping to gain market share due to the popularity of the expanding SUV market, more and more manufacturers are adding SUVs to their vehicle lineup. One purpose of this study is to analyze the world of the SUV to determine why this vehicle has seen such a rapid increase in popularity. Another purpose is to examine the impact of SUVs on energy consumption, emissions, and highway safety

Revision of the MCSAP Allocation Formula: Summary Report

In 1982, Congress authorized the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP), a Federal grant-in-aid program to improve commercial motor carrier safety. MCSAP was reauthorized in 1986, 1991, and 1998. In June 1997, in anticipation of and preparation for reauthorization, a MCSAP Formula Workgroup convened to analyze requirements for a new allocation formula and to develop the formula. Because of provisions in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), a major change in approach was to consider including performance (i.e., safety improvements) in the formula. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) actively participated in the Workgroup activities, provided technical assistance in evaluating factors and conducting scenario analyses, prepared regulatory language for the Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), analyzed NPRM comments and recommended responses to the comments, assisted with preparation of the Federal Register Final Rule, developed the final spreadsheet, and prepared an informational brochure on MCSAP for use by the States. The allocation of MCSAP funds for FY2001 will use the new formula

A method for testing and rating the acoustic performance of caulking compounds

Inadequate sealing of edge gaps of building partitions (walls, ceilings etc.) can adversely affect the acoustic insulation of a building partition, with consequent loss of amenity to building occupants. Measuring and rating the effectiveness of caulking compounds to protect against such adverse effects is somewhat problematic for a variety of reasons. This paper proposes a method based on ISO 10140-1 Amendment 1 Annex J, and AS/NZS ISO 717.1:2004 to enable laboratory measurement of sound transmission through controlled gaps sealed with the compound under test, and determination of the suitability of such compounds for use in sealing building partitions with specified acoustic insulation requirements. Some examples are provided, from laboratory experiments with test-gaps sealed by different means, demonstrating the outcome of the proposed method in a variety of circumstances

Effects of habitat composition and landscape structure on worker foraging distances of five bumblebee species

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are important pollinators of both crops and wild flowers. Their contribution to this essential ecosystem service has been threatened over recent decades by changes in land use, which have led to declines in their populations. In order to design effective conservation measures it is important to understand the effects of variation in landscape composition and structure on the foraging activities of worker bumblebees. This is because the viability of individual colonies is likely to be affected by the trade-off between the energetic costs of foraging over greater distances and the potential gains from access to additional resources. We used field surveys, molecular genetics and fine resolution remote sensing to estimate the locations of wild bumblebee nests and to infer foraging distances across a 20 km2 agricultural landscape in southern England. We investigated five species, including the rare B. ruderatus and ecologically similar but widespread B. hortorum. We compared worker foraging distances between species and examined how variation in landscape composition and structure affected foraging distances at the colony level. Mean worker foraging distances differed significantly between species. Bombus terrestris, B. lapidarius and B. ruderatus exhibited significantly greater mean foraging distances (551 m, 536 m, 501 m, respectively) than B. hortorum and B. pascuorum (336 m, 272 m, respectively). There was wide variation in worker foraging distances between colonies of the same species, which was in turn strongly influenced by the amount and spatial configuration of available foraging habitats. Shorter foraging distances were found for colonies where the local landscape had high coverage and low fragmentation of semi-natural vegetation, including managed agri-environmental field margins. The strength of relationships between different landscape variables and foraging distance varied between species, for example the strongest relationship for B. ruderatus being with floral cover of preferred forage plants. Our findings suggest that favourable landscape composition and configuration has the potential to minimise foraging distances across a range of bumblebee species. There is thus potential for improvements in the design and implementation of landscape management options, such as agri-environment schemes, aimed at providing foraging habitat for bumblebees and enhancing crop pollination services

Determining a subsidy rate for Taiwan's recycling glass industry: an application of bi-level programming

[[abstract]]This study attempts to optimize the operations of the Recycling Fund Management Board (RFMB), founded by the Environmental Protection Administration of the R.O.C. Government (on Taiwan), through the decision of a subsidy rate for the domestic glass recycling industry. The hierarchical and interactive nature between the two parties is modelled by bi-level programming, where the RFMB plays the upper-level decision unit while the recycling industry is the lower-level counterpart. In order to solve the problem by optimization software, the bi-level formulation is transformed to a single-level problem via Karush-Kuhn-Tucker optimality conditions and is further transformed to a 0—1 mixed integer programming problem by variable substitution. The problem is solved with real-world data, and the obtained solutions are analysed and compared with the RFMB's current operations. The results suggest that the proposed approach can improve the operations of the RFMB.[[notice]]補正完畢[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]紙本[[countrycodes]]GB

System/subsystem specifications for the Worldwide Port System (WPS) Regional Integrated Cargo Database (ICDB)

A system is being developed by the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) to provide data integration and worldwide management and tracking of surface cargo movements. The Integrated Cargo Database (ICDB) will be a data repository for the WPS terminal-level system, will be a primary source of queries and cargo traffic reports, will receive data from and provide data to other MTMC and non-MTMC systems, will provide capabilities for processing Advance Transportation Control and Movement Documents (ATCMDs), and will process and distribute manifests. This System/Subsystem Specifications for the Worldwide Port System Regional ICDB documents the system/subsystem functions, provides details of the system/subsystem analysis in order to provide a communication link between developers and operational personnel, and identifies interfaces with other systems and subsystems. It must be noted that this report is being produced near the end of the initial development phase of ICDB, while formal software testing is being done. Following the initial implementation of the ICDB system, maintenance contractors will be in charge of making changes and enhancing software modules. Formal testing and user reviews may indicate the need for additional software units or changes to existing ones. This report describes the software units that are components of this ICDB system as of August 1995

Standards and conventions for the Worldwide Port System (WPS) regional Integrated Cargo Database (ICDB)

This document, prepared for the Worldwide Port System (WPS) Regional Integrated Cargo Database (ICDB), provides standards and conventions for the screens developed using ORACLE`s SQL*Menu, SQL*Forms, and SQL*Reportwriter; for the ORACLE keys; and for commenting ORACLE code. It also covers standards for database system transfers. The results of adherence to these standards and conventions by all developers at both geographically separated development sites, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and The Military Traffic Management Command`s Eastern Area (EA), will be a consistent appearance of ICDB to users, code that is easily maintained, and a system that will be quicker to develop and integrate. This final report of the Standards and Conventions contains general guidelines to be followed for the development of the ICDB user interface screens. Though additional ICDB user interface screens are being developed both at ORNL and EA, and existing screens may have fields added to or deleted from them, the standards and conventions presented in this document should remain unchanged

Transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in Marshland and Hilly Regions of China: Parasite Population Genetic and Sibship Structure

The transmission dynamics of Schistosoma japonicum remain poorly understood, as over forty species of mammals are suspected of serving as reservoir hosts. However, knowledge of the population genetic structure and of the full-sibship structuring of parasites at two larval stages will be useful in defining and tracking the transmission pattern between intermediate and definitive hosts. S. japonicum larvae were therefore collected in three marshland and three hilly villages in Anhui Province of China across three time points: April and September-October 2006, and April 2007, and then genotyped with six microsatellite markers. Results from the population genetic and sibling relationship analyses of the parasites across two larval stages demonstrated that, within the marshland, parasites from cattle showed higher genetic diversity than from other species; whereas within the hilly region, parasites from dogs and humans displayed higher genetic diversity than those from rodents. Both the extent of gene flow and the estimated proportion of full-sib relationships of parasites between two larval stages indicated that the cercariae identified within intermediate hosts in the marshlands mostly came from cattle, whereas in the hilly areas, they were varied between villages, coming primarily from rodents, dogs or humans. Such results suggest a different transmission process within the hilly region from within the marshlands. Moreover, this is the first time that the sibling relationship analysis was applied to the transmission dynamics for S. japonicum