4 research outputs found
Factors Affecting Capture Rates of Insect Taxa by Retail Electrocutors and Eliminators in Northern Lower Michigan
We compare the abundance and types of insects captured at several locations, with and without a chemical attractant and in varying weather conditions using two different devices advertised to kill biting insects. Using both an insect electrocutor that uses ultraviolet light as an attractant, with and without octenol as an added attractant, and an insect eliminator that uses carbon dioxide, heat and octenol as attractants, more non-biting than biting insects were captured. Numerous harmless and beneficial insects were killed with electrocutors. Although eliminators were more target-specific, they captured fewer insects overall compared to electrocutors. The numbers and types of insects captured also varied by location and temperature conditions. More insects were killed by electrocutors located next to a lake compared to those located in an inland forested area and more were killed at lower compared to higher heights above the ground. More insects were also killed by electrocutors on warmer than on cooler nights. More non-biting insects were killed with electrocutors baited with octenol than without octenol
Factors Affecting Capture Rates of Insect Taxa by Retail Electrocutors and Eliminators in Northern Lower Michigan
We compare the abundance and types of insects captured at several locations, with and without a chemical attractant and in varying weather conditions using two different devices advertised to kill biting insects. Using both an insect electrocutor that uses ultraviolet light as an attractant, with and without octenol as an added attractant, and an insect eliminator that uses carbon dioxide, heat and octenol as attractants, more non-biting than biting insects were captured. Numerous harmless and beneficial insects were killed with electrocutors. Although eliminators were more target-specific, they captured fewer insects overall compared to electrocutors. The numbers and types of insects captured also varied by location and temperature conditions. More insects were killed by electrocutors located next to a lake compared to those located in an inland forested area and more were killed at lower compared to higher heights above the ground. More insects were also killed by electrocutors on warmer than on cooler nights. More non-biting insects were killed with electrocutors baited with octenol than without octenol
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Quantifying seasonal variations in water source and nutrient concentrations: a catchment comparison in Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM, USA
The purpose of this study is to examine the interactions between physical and biological processes, and their influence on nutrient cycling and export in two semiarid, montane, headwater catchments. We measured stream chemistry in two neighboring catchments within the Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico from February through August 2005 to identify (1) how variable water sources and flowpaths affect carbon and nutrient concentrations, and (2) how these solutes were modified as they were transported out of the catchments. Both catchments were characterized by a large snowmelt flush of carbon and nutrients in spring and a smaller flush of carbon and nutrients during the monsoon season. Although similar in elevation, soil, vegetation, and climate, the catchments exhibited significantly differences in stream water C, N, and P concentrations during the spring flush. End member mixing using conservative solutes identified the cause of this variability was due primarily to differences in hydro logic residence time and streamflow generation between catchments. These mixing models for each catchment indicated that variability in carbon and nutrients was explained by physical transport during the spring snowmelt and the first flushing events of the monsoon season. In contrast, conservative mixing did a poor job of predicting carbon and nutrient chemistry during other season suggesting biological modification during transport was a major control on streamwater chemistry. After correcting for variability in water sources, both catchments exhibited higher than expected N concentrations during winter and snowmelt, switching to higher than expected P concentrations during the summer monsoon season suggesting a seasonal switch in limiting nutrients. These data demonstrate how simple, quantitative evaluation of hydrologic flowpaths and residence time can be used to separate physical and biological controls on catchment-scale stream water chemistry.Digitized from paper copies provided by the Department of Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences
A study comparing efficiency of insect capture between Stinger electric zapper and Mosquito-deleto at varying locations and heights in northern Michigan.
In the attempt to reduce biting insect populations, the general public has relied on many methods to kill mosquitoes and other biting insects. Presently, the most commonly used device, the electric zapper, utilizes ultraviolet light and electricity to lure and electrocute the targeted insects. Science has demonstrated that electric zappers do not catch as many biting insects as they claim; they also are harmful to beneficial, non-biting insects. A new, alternative technology uses carbon dioxide, heat, and octenol (a derivative of mammalian body odor) to attract biting insects. The study was run at two sites (a lakeside and a forested hilltop) in northern Michigan for five nights (20:00-23:00) with relatively similar weather. Two Stinger?zappers were raised to two feet and nine feet in order to compare heights, and one Mosquito DeletoTM was used to compare the insect lure methods. The experiment produced a total insect catch of 11, 078 insects; mainly from five predominate operational taxon units (Ichneumonidae, Noctuidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, and Coleoptera). A relationship was shown to exist between total number of insects caught and each location, but height was shown as a significant variable (x2 = 759.17, df = 1, p <0.05) with preference towards the two-foot height. When location and height were combined as an inter-related factor, a significance factor could not be found. Although the Mosquito DeletoTM caught fewer total biting insects, its percent capture rate of biting insects was three times greater than the Stinger. Still, neither device was considered effective due to either ecological impacts (Stinger) or low number of biting insects caught (Mosquito Deleto). Regardless of treatments, we found that present technology is ineffective and neither the Stinger Electric Zapper nor the Mosquito Deleto work effectively.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54969/1/3410.pdfDescription of 3410.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station