Morphological Plasticity of Invasive Silver Carp in Divergent Midwestern Rivers

In the past decade, silver carp (SC; Hypopthalmicthys molitrix) have incited a great quantity of scientific research because their establishment and success in the Midwestern U.S. has led to concerns that they could invade the Great Lakes Basin. These previous studies have identified phenotypic plasticity in SC behavior and spawning as they invade novel environments. Although divergent habitats have been shown to elicit morphological plasticity in multiple fish species, similar research has not been conducted for SC despite their observed plasticity in other traits. I examined SC collected from two hydrogeomorphically divergent rivers, the Illinois River (IR) and middle Wabash River (MWR), as examples of rivers that support SC populations at different invasion stages. I compared differences in SC body shapes through geometric morphometric analysis and life history characteristics through population demographics between rivers. MWRSC were in better condition, lived longer, attained greater total lengths, and had higher GSIs than IRSC. Morphometric analysis revealed a significant divergence in body morphology between MWRSC and IRSC, whereby MWRSC had deeper body sections and narrow, tapered heads, while IRSC had shallower bodies and deeper heads. Principle component analysis indicated that contrasts in morphology were most strongly associated with river, as opposed to other factors like sex, hybrid status, and time sampled. While I do not assert causal evidence for the difference in shape based on specific environmental characteristics of the two rivers, I speculate that IRSC and MWRSC are undergoing different selection pressures due to population demographics and environmental characteristics of the two rivers. Regardless of the specific causal factors, it is clear that body shapes were different between the two rivers, suggesting that location-based selective agents are driving phenotypic outcomes in invasive SC

Climate Change Impact on Arctic Activities and Behaviors

This research study assesses how water navigability affects Arctic Circle security cooperation through the question: how does the increase in Arctic navigability affect security cooperation in the region? Several publications are discussing why countries should increase their activities, whether military or diplomatic, but they do not address how security cooperation has shifted over the last several years due to the increase in navigable waters. Previous works fail to address how countries should behave with one another in the Arctic region and why they should or should not work with one another. This research addresses the fundamental issue of ice-shrinkage, leading to a surge in navigable waters, which could lead to the need for countries to work with one another to establish security cooperation in the region. This study incorporates data from non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, press conferences, and other published documents that discuss Arctic activities. Russia, China, and the United States are all interested in the Arctic Circle for different strategic purposes. With the rise of navigable waters, security cooperation could play an essential role in establishing dominancy in the region, playing into the larger global topic: great power competition. The United States should view it as an opportunity to exert leadership in a mostly uncharted region. The United States is limiting itself by not investing more resources in an ice-breaker fleet, and it will not be seen as a strategic partner to others if it cannot operate independently in the region, effectively rendering the United States impotent in the Arctic

Ontogenic development of spermatids during spermiogenesis in the high altitude bunchgrass lizard (Sceloporus bicanthalis)

The body of ultrastructural data on spermatid characters during spermiogenesis continues to grow in reptiles, but is still relatively limited within the squamates. This study focuses on the ontogenic events of spermiogenesis within a viviparous and continually spermatogenic lizard, from high altitude in Mexico. Between the months of June and August, testicular tissues were collected from eight spermatogenically active bunchgrass lizards (Sceloporus bicanthalis) from Nevado de Toluca, México. The testicular tissues were processed for transmission electron microscopy and analyzed to access the ultrastructural differences between spermatid generations during spermiogenesis. Interestingly, few differences exist between S. bicanthalis spermiogenesis when compared with what has been described for other saurian squamates. Degrading and coiling membrane structures similar to myelin figures were visible within the developing acrosome that are likely remnants from Golgi body vesicles. During spermiogenesis, an electron lucent area between the subacrosomal space and the acrosomal medulla was observed, which has been observed in other squamates but not accurately described. Thus, we elect to term this region the acrosomal lucent ridge. This study furthers the existing knowledge of spermatid development in squamates, which could be useful in future work on the reproductive systems in high altitude viviparous lizard species

Innovative Technologies for a Resilient Marine Transportation System: A Conference Summary and Call to Action

The 2014 biennial Marine Transportation System (MTS) research and development conference entitled Innovative Technologies for a Resilient Marine Transportation System was held on June 24-26th, 2014, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. The Conference was organized by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and sponsored by the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS). The purpose of the conference was to work towards a more resilient Marine Transportation System (MTS) through the identification of current innovative technologies, the gaps in knowledge or future technology needs, determine current and future disturbances to the MTS, and uncover opportunities for collaboration. This report is a research and development call to action to help guide near-term MTS research by assimilating broad ideas that were presented during the conference keynote and plenary panels and introducing the innovative emerging technologies that are being developed by academia, the federal government, and private industry. The specific action items are found within the document

The substituent group distribution in a Michael reaction: carbamoethyl cellulose.

Ph.D

Applying the Ecosystem Service Concept to Waterborne Transport Infrastructure

Ecosystem Services (ES) are the benefits that mankind derives from nature. These are based on the functions that natural features and organisms perform (structures of and processes within ecosystems), and of which humans make direct use, whether consciously or not. Considering ES or applying any ecosystem-based approach in environmental decision making results in a general broadening of perspectives by considering the myriad effects of human activities on ecosystems, as well as the costs and benefits to the services they provide. This presentation introduces the ES concept in the context of the Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (WTI) community. Considering the potential multi-functionality of WTI, well-designed projects can create economic, social and environmental benefits well beyond their intended transport objectives. When planning a project, the consideration of how project engineering aspects interact with biodiversity, fisheries, recreation and other sectors can allow planners and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about trade-offs and opportunities. The ES concept can help to make these visible and integrate these considerations in the project set up and evaluation (to strive for sustainability, identify win-win opportunities and avoid unintended impacts), possibly even enhancing overall project cost-benefit analysis. Building on a range of case studies, we provide practical guidance on how ES concepts can be successfully applied at different stages of a WTI project, signposting further guidance on how the navigation sector can successfully and supportively use ES concepts to enhance and promote WTI projects. This study has been undertaken as part of a PIANC Working Group and the final results will be published as a PIANC Report

Applying the Ecosystem Service Concept to Waterborne Transport Infrastructure

Ecosystem Services (ES) are the benefits that mankind derives from nature. These are based on the functions that natural features and organisms perform (structures of and processes within ecosystems), and of which humans make direct use, whether consciously or not. Considering ES or applying any ecosystem-based approach in environmental decision making results in a general broadening of perspectives by considering the myriad effects of human activities on ecosystems, as well as the costs and benefits to the services they provide. This presentation introduces the ES concept in the context of the Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (WTI) community. Considering the potential multi-functionality of WTI, well-designed projects can create economic, social and environmental benefits well beyond their intended transport objectives. When planning a project, the consideration of how project engineering aspects interact with biodiversity, fisheries, recreation and other sectors can allow planners and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about trade-offs and opportunities. The ES concept can help to make these visible and integrate these considerations in the project set up and evaluation (to strive for sustainability, identify win-win opportunities and avoid unintended impacts), possibly even enhancing overall project cost-benefit analysis. Building on a range of case studies, we provide practical guidance on how ES concepts can be successfully applied at different stages of a WTI project, signposting further guidance on how the navigation sector can successfully and supportively use ES concepts to enhance and promote WTI projects. This study has been undertaken as part of a PIANC Working Group and the final results will be published as a PIANC Report