U.S. Geological Survey External Quality-Assurance Project Report for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program / National Trends Network and Mercury Deposition Network, 2011-12

The U.S. Geological Survey operated six distinct programs to provide external quality-assurance monitoring for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) / National Trends Network (NTN) and Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) during 2011–2012. The field-audit program assessed the effects of onsite exposure, sample handling, and shipping on the chemistry of NTN samples; a system-blank program assessed the same effects for MDN. Two interlaboratory-comparison programs assessed the bias and variability of the chemical analysis data from the Central Analytical Laboratory and Mercury Analytical Laboratory (HAL). A blind-audit program was implemented for the MDN during 2011 to evaluate analytical bias in HAL total mercury concentration data. The co-located–sampler program was used to identify and quantify potential shifts in NADP data resulting from the replacement of original network instrumentation with new electronic recording rain gages and precipitation collectors that use optical precipitation sensors. The results indicate that NADP data continue to be of sufficient quality for the analysis of spatial distributions and time trends of chemical constituents in wet deposition across the United States. Co-located rain gage results indicate -3.7 to +6.5 percent bias in NADP precipitation-depth measurements. Co-located collector results suggest that the retrofit of the NADP networks with the new precipitation collectors could cause +10 to +36 percent shifts in NADP annual deposition values for ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate; -7.5 to +41 percent shifts for hydrogen-ion deposition; and larger shifts (-51 to +52 percent) for calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. The prototype N-CON Systems bucket collector typically catches more precipitation than the NADP-approved Aerochem Metrics Model 301 collector.National Atmospheric Deposition Programpublished or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

A Review of Shark Control in Hawaii with Recommendations for Future Research

In an attempt to allay public fears and to reduce the risk of shark attack, the state government of Hawaii spent over $300,000 on shark control programs between 1959 and 1976. Six control programs of various intensity resulted in the killing of 4,668 sharks at an average cost of$182 per shark. The programs furnished information on diet, reproduction, and distribution of sharks in Hawaii, but research efforts of the programs had a number of shortcomings. Analysis of the biological data gathered was not directed toward the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier (Peron & LeSueur), which is responsible for most attacks in Hawaii. Reliable estimates of shark populations in Hawaii cannot be made based on catch data from control programs because of sampling biases. Most of the information gained from the control programs was not published in reviewed journals and is not readily available to the scientific community. The ability of the control programs to reduce shark populations and to remove large sharks from coastal waters appears to have been stated with more confidence than is warranted, considering seasonal changes observed in shark abundance and variable fishing effort. Shark control programs do not appear to have had measurable effects on the rate of shark attacks in Hawaiian waters. Implementation of large-scale control programs in the future in Hawaii may not be appropriate. Increased understanding of the behavior and biology of target species is necessary for evaluation of the effectiveness of small-scale control efforts, such as selective fishing after an attack. Acoustic telemetry, conventional tagging, and studies on population dynamics concentrating primarily on the tiger shark may be used to obtain data about activity patterns, distribution, and population parameters, providing information useful for reducing the risk of shark attack in Hawaii and elsewhere

Recalculated diet and daily ration of the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), with a focus on quantifying predation on bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in the northwest Atlantic Ocean

The diet and daily ration of the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the northwest Atlantic were re-examined to determine whether fluctuations in prey abundance and availability are reflected in these two biological variables. During the summers of 2001 and 2002, stomach content data were collected from fishing tournaments along the northeast coast of the United States. These data were quantified by using four diet indices and were compared to index calculations from historical diet data collected from 1972 through 1983. Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) were the predominant prey in the 1972–83 and 2001–02 diets, accounting for 92.6% of the current diet by weight and 86.9% of the historical diet by volume. From the 2001– 02 diet data, daily ration was estimated and it indicated that shortfin makos must consume roughly 4.6% of their body weight per day to fulfill energetic demands. The daily energetic requirement was broken down by using a calculated energy content for the current diet of 4909 KJ/kg. Based on the proportional energy of bluefish in the diet by weight, an average shortfin mako consumes roughly 500 kg of bluefish per year off the northeast coast of the United States. The results are discussed in relation to the potential effect of intense shortfin mako predation on bluefish abundance in the region

Supplemental Feeding for Ecotourism Reverses Diel Activity and Alters Movement Patterns and Spatial Distribution of the Southern Stingray, Dasyatis americana

Southern stingrays, Dasyatis americana, have been provided supplemental food in ecotourism operations at Stingray City Sandbar (SCS), Grand Cayman since 1986, with this site becoming one of the world’s most famous and heavily visited marine wildlife interaction venues. Given expansion of marine wildlife interactive tourism worldwide, there are questions about the effects of such activities on the focal species and their ecosystems. We used a combination of acoustic telemetry and tag-recapture efforts to test the hypothesis that human-sourced supplemental feeding has altered stingray activity patterns and habitat use at SCS relative to wild animals at control sites. Secondarily, we also qualitatively estimated the population size of stingrays supporting this major ecotourism venue. Tag-recapture data indicated that a population of at least 164 stingrays, over 80% female, utilized the small area at SCS for prolonged periods of time. Examination of comparative movements of mature female stingrays at SCS and control sites revealed strong differences between the two groups: The fed animals demonstrated a notable inversion of diel activity, being constantly active during the day with little movement at night compared to the nocturnally active wild stingrays; The fed stingrays utilized significantly (

Speaking vocabulary of first grade children

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Biologisk mangfold og økosystemfunksjoner i gamle eiker

Veteran trees are keystone structures in landscapes, hotspots for biodiversity and have high cultural value. They are also declining globally, and this threatens the species that are dependent on them, and the ecosystem functions they promote. Ecosystem functions are the physicochemical and biological processes that occur within ecosystems that maintain life. A key link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is the traits of the species. This diversity of traits is also known as functional diversity, and high levels of functional diversity in a community promote multiple ecosystem processes and make these processes more resilient to change. There is a large amount of evidence to support the conclusion that biodiversity influences ecosystem functioning, but few studies address this related to invertebrate diversity in veteran trees. My research has explored the multifaceted predictors of taxonomic and functional diversity of veteran oaks invertebrate communities, and measured the contribution of these communities to ecosystem functioning. In Paper 1, I considered three possible ecosystem functions promoted by veteran oak beetle communities (decomposition, predation and pollination), and explored how the veteran oaks and their landscape contexts influence this diversity (both taxonomic and functional). In the two corresponding papers (Papers 2 and 3), I focused more closely on predation and decomposition (respectively), and examined the differences in these processes and beetle communities involved in them between veteran and young oaks. Lastly, in Paper 4 I used a mesocosm experiment to explore how community complexity influences biotic interactions and decomposition in tree hollows. All my research was conducted around veteran oaks in southern Norway. In Paper 1, I found that the features of veteran trees (e.g.: senescence, circumference and regrowth) and the landscape that they were in had different influences on species richness and functional diversity within the different groups of decomposers, predatory and flower visiting beetles. In Paper 2, I found that there were more species of predatory beetles with greater functional diversity around veteran oaks than young oaks, and this corresponded with greater invertebrate predation rates. In Paper 3, I found a similar effect on the wood decomposing beetles, with a greater number of species and higher functional diversity around veteran trees than young trees. However, I found the opposite effect on decomposition of the small diameter wood, with slower rates around the veteran trees. In Paper 4, I found that community complexity increased decomposition rates and wood mold production in tree hollows, and that macrofauna influenced the decomposition pathway and nematode community structure and maturity. The findings from my research support the concept that veteran trees are important for biodiversity, and indicate that veteran trees and their communities influence ecosystem functions, such as invertebrate predation and decomposition. They also highlight the importance of community complexity and habitat heterogeneity for promoting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Results from my work indicate that there is the potential for synergies between the conservation of veteran trees and sustainable agriculture and forestry. Protecting and valuing veteran trees and their communities, and reintegrating them into land use practices, is an essential step towards a more sustainable system of management, and has the possibility of enhancing the wellbeing of people while promoting biodiversity.Gamle trær er nøkkelstrukturer i landskapet, de er viktige for biologisk mangfold og de har høy kulturell verdi. De minker globalt, og dette truer artene som er avhengige av dem samt de økosystemfunksjonene disse trærne fremmer. Økosystemfunksjoner er de fysisk-kjemiske og biologiske prosessene som forekommer i økosystemer og som støtter opp om liv. Artenes egenskaper utgjør en sentral kobling mellom biologisk mangfold og økosystemfunksjoner. Dette mangfoldet av egenskaper er også kjent som funksjonelt mangfold, og høye nivåer av funksjonelt mangfold i et samfunn fremmer flere økosystemprosesser og gjør disse prosessene mer motstandsdyktige mot endring. Mye forskning peker på at biologisk mangfold påvirker økosystemfunksjon, men få studier tar for seg dette i sammenheng med mangfold av insekter i gamle trær. Forskningen min har utforsket de flersidige driverne for taksonomisk og funksjonelt mangfold i insektmiljøer som forekommer i gamle eiketrær, og målt bidragene fra disse til økosystemfunksjoner. Resultatene fra forskningen min støtter oppfatningen om at gamle trær er viktige for biologisk mangfold, og peker på at gamle trær og samfunnene deres bidrar til viktige økosystemfunksjoner, eksempelvis predasjon av insekter og nedbrytning av organisk materiale. Resultatene fremhever også viktigheten av samfunnskompleksitet og habitatsmangfold for å fremme biologisk mangfold og viktige økosystemfunksjoner. Forskningen min viser dessuten at det finnes mulige synergier mellom bevaring av gamle trær og bærekraftig jordbruk. Å beskytte og verdsette gamle trær og lokalsamfunnene deres, samt integrere disse på nytt i landbrukspraksis, er et viktig skritt mot et mer bærekraftig forvaltningssystem som har mulighet for å forbedre folks velvære samtidig som det fremmer biologisk mangfold

Gracious Neighbors: An Overview of Humanitarian Aid Efforts for Venezuelan Refugees in Colombia

Peter Wetherbee evaluates Colombia’s response to the Venezuelan migration crisis, highlighting the challenges posed by resource constraints and international coordination. The paper discusses the socioeconomic impact of migration and proposes measures to enhance humanitarian aid and regional stability