Herpetofaunal response to prescribed burning on Matagorda Island, Texas: with emphasis on Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) populations have been in steady decline over the past twenty years due to habitat loss, pesticide use, the pet trade, and invasion of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge the P. cornutum population has declined, except for on Matagorda Island. A prescribed burn regime was initiated to maintain the coastal prairie habitat. This closed environment was unique in its composition of arid adapted and wetland species. There was minimal human disturbance, and a single road bisects the length of the island. The island was invaded by S. invicta around 1993. I conducted an extensive survey of the island herpetofauna to determine the distribution of P. cornutum, as well as to quantify the influence of the burn regime on P. cornutum. I also investigated the effect of road-side habitat on both P. cornutum and habitat structure, as well as the microhabitat associations of P. cornutum. Herpetofaunal populations were investigated in six distinct habitat types on Matagorda Island by using drift-fence arrays with funnel traps, random 50-m walks, and systematic road cruising. In 2009, individual P. cornutum were captured along the road and individuals were tracked by using a fluorescent powder method. I also sampled habitat structure and ant mounds along a 60-m transect perpendicular to Middle Road. Habitat among burn treatments exhibited significant differences in percent ground cover, standing stem density, and soil compaction in 2008 and 2009. Eleven herpetofaunal species were captured in the drift fence arrays. The most abundant species were 55 six-lined racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) and 16 slender glass lizards (Ophisaurus attenuatus); however, only three P. cornutum were captured with drift-fence arrays, of which I observed high mortality rates by S. invicta. I did not observe any P. cornutum on the random 50-m searches. I captured 41 individuals in 2008 and 128 individuals in 2009 along the road, and estimated the population size at 138 individuals by using the Schnabel index. Two distinct distributions in the population were isolated by a recent burn in both 2008 and 2009. A majority of P. cornutum activity occurs within 5 m of the roadside, which accounts for only 2% of the grassland habitat. Ant species also were not randomly distributed on the island. Solenopsis invicta was observed throughout the island, along with cone ants (Dorymyrmex sp.). Acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) were concentrated on the north and south portions of the island. No Pogonomyrmex sp. were observed. Phrynosoma cornutum were associated positively with older burn treatments and the road-side habitat, and were negatively associated with recent burns. Habitat variation was not the only factor that influenced distribution. Solenopsis invicta occurred in high abundance in Burn 1 treatments. The distribution of Crematogaster sp. was congruent with the distribution of P. cornutum. In areas with the most heterogeneous habitat, I observed high diversity of ant genera. Phrynosoma cornutum were observed in alarmingly low abundance and warrant monitoring and augmented management strategies

Municipal Water Works Operating Data for Tennessee

This is a tabulation and interpretation of the results of a survey made by MTAS in the spring of 1964 designed to obtain statistical information on the operation of municipally-owned water utilities in the State

Apollo's fire : igniting America's clean-energy economy

oday the New Apollo Energy Project is poised to revolutionize the production of energy and thereby save our planet. The nation that built the world�s most powerful rockets, its most advanced computers, and its most sophisticated life support systems is ready to create the world�s most powerful solar energy systems, its most advanced wind energy turbines, and its most sophisticated hybrid cars. This will result in nothing less than a second American Revolution. Who are the dreamers in California who believe they can use mirrors and liquid metal to wring more electricity from a ray of sunshine than anyone else on earth can? Who are the innovators who have built a contraption that can turn the energy of a simple wave off the Oregon coast into burnt toast in Idaho? Who are the scientists in Massachusetts who have invented a battery that now runs your hand drill and will soon run your car? Readers will meet them all in this book. They will learn how the new energy economy will grow, the research that is required, and the legislation that must be passed to make the vision a reality. This is a thoughtful, optimistic book, based on sound facts. No one before has tied together the concepts of economic growth and greenhouse gas reductions with such concrete examples. No one has previously told the real stories of the people who are right now on the front lines of the energy revolutio

A Changing Horizon: Building Community Oil Spill Response Capacity in the Arctic

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2013Multiple environmental changes in northern Alaska are producing conditions that increase the likelihood of a hazardous release such as an oil spill. Currently, the communities in the Northwest Arctic Borough (NWAB) do not feel secure in their or the oil industry's ability to respond to a spill; thus, NWAB residents feel it is necessary to increase their capacity to respond to marine-based pollution threats. This research provides an in-depth overview of the resources available to help NWAB communities increase their oil spill response capacity. A historical analysis of community spill response in Alaska and interviews with spill response experts were the primary research methods used. Common challenges to establishing and maintaining community response are given detailed discussion. Recommendations regarding what can be done to raise spill response framework awareness in the communities are also provided. The research presented demonstrates that increasing Arctic spill response capacity cannot be addressed by simply supplying equipment and training. Rather, the process is incremental and requires significant leadership from within the community. Maintaining a core responder base is a difficult challenge, and substantial oversight is required to maintain personnel. As a result, communities should work with oil spill response organizations and their sub-contractors as the most viable way to increase their number of trained personnel in the community

The needs of home economics student teachers as evidenced in the course secondary school teaching at Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, Kansas

Digitized by Kansas State University Librarie