Status of Pacific Mackerel spawning population, 1973

This is the first annual report of the status of the spawning population of the Pacific mackerel as required by Section 8388.3 of the Fish and Game Code. During 1972 and early 1973, several methods of determining population size were investigated as mechanisms for estimating the spawning population size of Pacific mackerel stocks north of Punta Eugenia, Baja California, and a method using tagging procedures proved to be the most acceptable. The estimate of the Pacific mackerel spawning population obtained by tagging procedures was 5,480 tons. This estimate agrees generally with those obtained from alternate methods in which previously computed spawning biomass estimates were correlated with partyboat catches in three different areas and the 1973 spawning biomass estimated from the resulting regression line. The estimates derived by these alternate methods are 6,970 tons, 4,730 tons, and 6,210 tons. All estimates are below the 10,000 ton spawning population minimum and thus there is no excess by which a harvest under Section 8388.5 of the Fish and Game Code could be allowed. (17pp.

Experimental Free Energy Landscape Reconstruction of DNA Unstacking Using Crooks Fluctuation Theorem

Nonequilibrium work theorems, such as the Jarzynski equality and the Crooks fluctuation theorem, allow one to use nonequilibrium measurements to determine equilibrium free energies. For example, it has been demonstrated that the Crooks fluctuation theorem can be used to determine RNA folding energies. We used single-molecule manipulation with an atomic force microscope to measure the work done on poly(dA) as it was stretched and relaxed. This single-stranded nucleic acid exhibits unique base-stacking transitions in its force-extension curve due to the strong interactions among A bases, as well as multiple pathways. Here we showed that free energy curves can be determined by using the Crooks fluctuation theorem. The nonequilibrium work theorem can be used to determine free energy curves even when there are multiple pathways

#BorderWall

This interactive installation sculpture was erected between the Oregon Military Academy Building and the Richard Woodcock Education Center from October 29 through November 30, 2018. This installation is symbolic of both the US-Mexico Border Wall other border security walls, and provides an opportunity for the students of Western Oregon University and the surrounding community to interact with the art by utilizing graffiti to express their opinions of the international border wall proposed by the current administration. When erected outdoors, this symbolic wall is approximately 50 feet long and 8 feet high

Influences on Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Use Patterns within a Complex Trail System in Southwest Idaho

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation on public lands provides participants with the opportunity to experience positive connections with nature; however, like all outdoor recreation activity, OHV use can have impacts on the environment. In order to maintain the health of the landscape and wildlife while also providing recreational opportunities, managers must make decisions based on sound biological and social science data. We hope this research provides knowledge that may aid in the implementation of sound management strategies that are successful in fulfilling these goals. In the first chapter, in order to gain knowledge on OHV recreationists and their distributions across a landscape, we used a combination of a pre-trip written survey and visitor-employed GPS survey to determine characteristics that influence their travel within a complex trail system on federally managed land in southwest Idaho. The pre-trip written survey supplied us with characteristics of the recreationists that were put into one of four categories, group constraints, site experience, site knowledge, or motivations. The GPS survey provided spatial and temporal data in order to describe the participant’s distributions. Using principal components analysis, we found that distributions can be summarized by two distinct dimensions. The most informative dimension was a measure of overall extensiveness of the trip while the second dimension can be described as the dichotomy between “purpose driven” and “aimless” travel. Using a theoretical information approach, overall extensiveness was influenced by group constraints, site knowledge, and motivations while the second dimension (“purpose driven” or “aimless” travel) was influenced by group constraints and site experience. We found that all four variable categories influenced at least one of the distribution dimensions, supporting our conceptual model. These findings can aid land managers in meeting management objectives by giving them the necessary information to identify uneven use patterns, better direct educational and informational programs, and to allow indirect management strategies to be affectively used. In the second chapter, we concentrated on how the landscape may influence OHV use patterns and behavior, specifically stopping behavior. All outdoor recreation has an impact on the environment and on wildlife; however, heterogeneous or transitional behaviors such as stopping often increases disturbance to wildlife. It has been observed that OHV recreationists, when riding in golden eagle habitat in southwest Idaho, disturb eagles more often when they stop their vehicle(s) as opposed to continuing to ride until they are outside of the sensitive area. Using a visitor-employed GPS survey and a presence-only modeling method, our objective was to identify where OHV recreationists stopped and to describe what natural and infrastructure landscape characteristics are more suitable for this transitional human behavior to occur. We then wanted to determine if there was a significant difference in stopping suitability between areas of varying habitat utilization by the local golden eagle population. We successfully identified stopping locations and developed two distinct models. One model described the suitability for all stopping events five seconds or greater while the second model described the suitability where an accumulation of five minutes of stopping occurs. We determined what landscape characteristics contributed to stopping suitability across the study site for both models. In the “All” model, we found that the stopping suitability index was greater in unoccupied territories when compared to occupied territories. In the “Five Minute” model, we determined that stopping suitability was lower in non-territory areas than in both unoccupied and occupied golden eagle territories. When examining used and available habitats based on perch locations away from nest sites, we found no significant difference. This research exhibits how transitional human behaviors can be identified and modeled across a landscape as well as how the results can be used to aid in land management strategies in order to accomplish management objectives

Walmart Supercenters a suitable alternative to shopping at the commissary for eligible military patrons

MBA Professional ReportFrom 1961 to present day, Walmart has expanded its number of Supercenters to 3,336 locations throughout the continental United States, growing to be the most readily accessible grocer in the lower forty-eight states. This thesis will demonstrate that concentrated populations of active duty and retired military personnel are subject to shorter commutes when shopping at Walmart Supercenters rather than military commissaries. This thesis will further demonstrate that the average military base is closer to a Walmart than a military commissary and that the average number of Walmart Supercenters exceeds the number of commissaries within specific distances from military bases. With rising fuel costs and the number of Walmart Supercenters available nationwide, eligible commissary patrons may be less willing to drive long distances in order to save money on groceries. The closer and more convenient option may best serve the needs of the military customer. If better alternatives exist outside of the commissary, the government can reexamine the practicality of dedicating annual appropriations to the Defense Commissary Agency.http://archive.org/details/walmartsupercent1094544562Lieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Understanding Free-Roaming Horse Conflicts with Wildlife in the Great Basin

Horses and burros were introduced to North America in the 1600s with European missionaries and explorers. Over time, abandoned and released horses and burros formed herds and by the time European-American settlers began to explore North America in the 1700s, these free-roaming horses and burros had adapted to their habitat and been incorporated into Native American culture. By the mid-1900s, most Americans considered these horses as wild and symbols of freedom and beauty. In 1971, Congress passed the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (Public Law 73-482) to provide federal protection for free-roaming horses and burros (also known as wild horses and burros) in the western United States. In 1978, the Act was amended (Public Law 95-514) to require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to “determine appropriate management levels (AMLs) for wild horses and burros on [designated] public lands.” The Bureau of Land Management set AML at 26,715 wild horses and burros on 29 million acres of public land across 10 western states. The U.S. Forest Service was also tasked with managing over 7,100 wild horses and 900 burros on 53 wild horse territories (USFS, 2020). Managing free-roaming horses and burros on public lands has its challenges. In this article, we explain some of the potential conflicts free-roaming horses create with native wildlife on western public lands

Group Characteristics Influence Distribution Patterns of Off-Road Vehicle Recreation within a Complex Trail System in Southwest Idaho

Recreation on public lands is growing and is increasingly recognized as an ecosystem service providing improved health, connection to nature, and social time while also disturbing and degrading ecosystems. Human impacts must be managed, but often managers have little information about the factors that affect recreation patterns. We combined data from global positioning system receivers to record off-road vehicle (ORV) travel with a pretrip survey to determine how group characteristics, site experience, site knowledge, and motivation are associated with ORV trip patterns on public lands in southwest Idaho. Spatial and temporal extent and distribution could summarize most variation in ORV trips. Both trip distribution and extent were associated with group characteristics and site knowledge. Spatial and temporal extent was additionally associated with motivations and distribution was associated with riding experience. These findings can help land managers to identify use patterns, direct informational programs, and effect indirect management strategies