Sarcocystis neurona retinochoroiditis in a sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)
J. P. Dubey, N. J. Thomas
2011, Veterinary Parasitology (183) 156-159
Sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of fatal disease in sea otters in the USA. Encephalitis is the predominant lesion and parasites are confined to the central nervous system and muscles. Here we report retinochoroiditis in a sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) found dead on Copalis Beach, WA, USA. Salient...
The effect of structural complexity, prey density, and "predator-free space" on prey survivorship at created oyster reef mesocosms
Austin T. Humphries, Megan La Peyre, Gary A. Decossas
2011, PLoS ONE (6)
Interactions between predators and their prey are influenced by the habitat they occupy. Using created oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reef mesocosms, we conducted a series of laboratory experiments that created structure and manipulated complexity as well as prey density and “predator-free space” to examine the relationship between structural complexity and prey...
A framework for sea level rise vulnerability assessment for southwest U.S. military installations
B. Chadwick, Reinhard Flick, J. Helly, Tracy Nishikawa, Fang Wang Pei, W. O'Reilly, R. Guza, Peter Bromirski, A. Young, W. Crampton, B. Wild, I. Canner
2011, Conference Paper, OCEANS'11 - MTS/IEEE Kona, Program Book
We describe an analysis framework to determine military installation vulnerabilities under increases in local mean sea level as projected over the next century. The effort is in response to an increasing recognition of potential climate change ramifications for national security and recommendations that DoD conduct assessments of the impact on...
Pseudospectral modeling and dispersion analysis of Rayleigh waves in viscoelastic media
K. Zhang, Y. Luo, J. Xia, C. Chen
2011, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (31) 1332-1337
Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) is one of the most widely used techniques in environmental and engineering geophysics to determine shear-wave velocities and dynamic properties, which is based on the elastic layered system theory. Wave propagation in the Earth, however, has been recognized as viscoelastic and the propagation of...
Survey of stranded gas and delivered costs to Europe of selected gas resources
Emil D. Attanasi, Philip A. Freeman
2011, Conference Paper
Two important trends affecting the expected growth of global gas markets are (1) the shift by many industrialized countries from coal-fired electricity generation to the use of natural gas to generate electricity and (2) the industrialization of the heavily populated Asian countries of India and China. This paper surveys discovered...
Excess nitrogen in the U.S. environment: Trends, risks, and solutions
E.A. Davidson, M.B. David, J.N. Galloway, C.L. Goodale, R. Haeuber, J. A. Harrison, R. W. Howarth, D.B. Jaynes, R.R. Lowrance, Nolan B. Thomas, J.L. Peel, R.W. Pinder, E. Porter, C.S. Snyder, A.R. Townsend, M.H. Ward
2011, Issues in Ecology
It is not surprising that humans have profoundly altered the global nitrogen (N) cycle in an effort to feed 7 billion people, because nitrogen is an essential plant and animal nutrient. Food and energy production from agriculture, combined with industrial and energy sources, have more than doubled the amount of...
Polyphase Neoproterozoic orogenesis within the east Africa- Antarctica orogenic belt in central and northern Madagascar
R. M. Key, P. E. J. Pitfield, Ronald J. Thomas, K. M. Goodenough, D. Waele, D. I. Schofield, W. Bauer, M. S. A. Horstwood, M.T. Styles, J. Conrad, J. Encarnacion, D. J. Lidke, E. A. O’connor, C. Potter, R. A. Smith, G. J. Walsh, A.V. Ralison, T. Randriamananjara, J. M. Rafahatelo, M. Rabarimanana
2011, Geological Society Special Publication (357) 49-68
Our recent geological survey of the basement of central and northern Madagascar allowed us to re-evaluate the evolution of this part of the East Africa-Antarctica Orogen (EAAO). Five crustal domains are recognized, characterized by distinctive lithologies and histories of sedimentation, magmatism, deformation and metamorphism, and separated by tectonic and/or unconformable...
The flow dynamics of an extremely large volume pyroclastic flow, the 2.08-Ma Cerro Galán Ignimbrite, NW Argentina, and comparison with other flow types
Ray A.F. Cas, Heather M. Wright, Christopher B. Folkes, Chiara Lesti, Massimiliano Porreca, Guido Giordano, Jose G. Viramonte
2011, Bulletin of Volcanology (73) 1583-1609
The 2.08-Ma Cerro Galán Ignimbrite (CGI) represents a >630-km3 dense rock equivalent (VEI 8) eruption from the long-lived Cerro Galán magma system (∼6 Ma). It is a crystal-rich (35–60%), pumice (<10% generally) and lithic-poor (<5% generally) rhyodacitic ignimbrite, lacking a preceding plinian fallout deposit. The CGI is preserved up to 80 km...
Aeolian nutrient fluxes following wildfire in sagebrush steppe: Implications for soil carbon storage
N.J. Hasselquist, M.J. Germino, J.B. Sankey, L.J. Ingram, N.F. Glenn
2011, Biogeosciences (8) 3649-3659
Pulses of aeolian transport following fire can profoundly affect the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients in semi-arid and arid ecosystems. Our objective was to determine horizontal nutrient fluxes occurring in the saltation zone during an episodic pulse of aeolian transport that occurred following a wildfire in a semi-arid sagebrush steppe ecosystem...
An open-water electrical geophysical tool for mapping sub-seafloor heavy placer minerals in 3D and migrating hydrocarbon plumes in 4D
J. Wynn, M. Williamson, S. Urquhart, J. Fleming
2011, Conference Paper, OCEANS'11 - MTS/IEEE Kona, Program Book
A towed-streamer technology has been developed for mapping placer heavy minerals and dispersed hydrocarbon plumes in the open ocean. The approach uses induced polarization (IP), an electrical measurement that encompasses several different surface-reactive capacitive and electrochemical phenomena, and thus is ideally suited for mapping dispersed or disseminated targets. The application...
Mapping and monitoring Louisiana's mangroves in the aftermath of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil spill
S. Giri, J. Long, L. Tieszen
2011, Journal of Coastal Research (27) 1059-1064
Information regarding the present condition, historical status, and dynamics of mangrove forests is needed to study the impacts of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and other stressors affecting mangrove ecosystems. Such information is unavailable for Louisiana at sufficient spatial and thematic detail. We prepared mangrove forest distribution maps of...
Episodic soil succession on basaltic lava fields in a cool, dry environment
K.L. Vaughan, P.A. McDaniel, W.M. Phillips
2011, Soil Science Society of America Journal (75) 1462-1470
Holocene- to late Pleistocene-aged lava flows at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve provide an ideal setting to examine the early stages of soil formation under cool, dry conditions. Transects were used to characterize the amount and nature of soil cover on across basaltic lava flows ranging in...
Migration delays caused by anthropogenic barriers: Modeling dams, temperature, and success of migrating salmon smolts
E.A. Marschall, M. E. Mather, D.L. Parrish, G.W. Allison, J.R. McMenemy
2011, Ecological Applications (21) 3014-3031
Disruption to migration is a growing problem for conservation and restoration of animal populations. Anthropogenic barriers along migration paths can delay or prolong migrations, which may result in a mismatch with migration-timing adaptations. To understand the interaction of dams (as barriers along a migration path), seasonally changing environmental conditions, timing...
Shortnose sturgeon use small coastal rivers: The importance of habitat connectivity
Gayle B. Zydlewski, M.T. Kinnison, P.E. Dionne, Joseph D. Zydlewski, Gail S. Wippelhauser
2011, Journal of Applied Ichthyology (27) 41-44
Contrary to conventional wisdom for shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), we document shortnose sturgeon use of habitats beyond large rivers. Telemetry data from 2008 to 2010 in the Gulf of Maine demonstrates that adult shortnose sturgeon (up to 70%) frequently move between Maine’s two largest rivers, the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers....
Nest success of snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) in the Southern high plains of Texas
S.T. Saalfeld, Warren C. Conway, D.A. Haukos, W.P. Johnson
2011, Waterbirds (34) 389-399
Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus) nesting on edges of saline lakes within the Southern High Plains (SHP) of Texas are threatened by habitat degradation due to reduced artesian spring flow, making many saline lakes unsuitable for nesting and migrating shorebirds. Factors influencing nest success were evaluated, current nest success estimates in...
Seasonal movements and environmental triggers to fall migration of Sage Sparrows
K.A. Fesenmyer, S.T. Knick
2011, Wilson Journal of Ornithology (123) 803-807
Post-breeding ecology of shrubland passerines prior to onset of migration is unknown relative to dynamics of breeding areas. We radiomarked and monitored 38 Sage Sparrows (Amphispiza belli ssp. nevadensis) at one site in Oregon and two in Nevada from September to mid-November 2007 to track local movements, estimate seasonal range...
Deep rock damage in the san andreas fault revealed by P- and S-type fault-zone-guided waves
William L. Ellsworth, Peter E. Malin
2011, Geological Society Special Publication (359) 39-53
Damage to fault-zone rocks during fault slip results in the formation of a channel of low seismic-wave velocities. Within such channels guided seismic waves, denoted by Fg, can propagate. Here we show with core samples, well logs and Fg-waves that such a channel is crossed by the SAFOD (San Andreas...
Nest-site fidelity and dispersal of Gyrfalcons estimated by noninvasive genetic sampling
Travis L. Booms, Sandra L. Talbot, George K. Sage, Brian J. McCaffery, Kevin G. McCracken, Philip F. Schempf
2011, Conference Paper, Condor
We used feathers from adult Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) molted in breeding territories and blood samples from nestlings to document nest-site fidelity and dispersal of breeding adults and juveniles at three areas 100- 350 km apart in Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2003-2007. We used genotypes from seven polymorphic microsatellite...
Ecological strategies in california chaparral: Interacting effects of soils, climate, and fire on specific leaf area
Brian Anacker, Nishanta Rajakaruna, David Ackerly, Susan Harrison, Jon E. Keeley, Michael Vasey
2011, Plant Ecology and Diversity (4) 179-188
Background: High values of specific leaf area (SLA) are generally associated with high maximal growth rates in resource-rich conditions, such as mesic climates and fertile soils. However, fire may complicate this relationship since its frequency varies with both climate and soil fertility, and fire frequency selects for regeneration strategies (resprouting...
Incorporating biodiversity into rangeland health: Plant species richness and diversity in great plains grasslands
Amy J. Symstad, Jayne L. Jonas
2011, Rangeland Ecology and Management (64) 555-572
Indicators of rangeland health generally do not include a measure of biodiversity. Increasing attention to maintaining biodiversity in rangelands suggests that this omission should be reconsidered, and plant species richness and diversity are two metrics that may be useful and appropriate. Ideally, their response to a variety of anthropogenic and...
Nocturnal aerosol optical depth measurements with a small-aperture automated photometer using the moon as a light source
T.A. Berkoff, M. Sorokin, T. Stone, T.F. Eck, R. Hoff, E. Welton, B. Holben
2011, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology (28) 1297-1306
A method is described that enables the use of lunar irradiance to obtain nighttime aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements using a small-aperture photometer. In this approach, the U.S. Geological Survey lunar calibration system was utilized to provide high-precision lunar exoatmospheric spectral irradiance predictions for a ground-based sensor location, and when...
Response of non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) to 15 years of harvest in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park
J.M. Syslo, C.S. Guy, P.E. Bigelow, P.D. Doepke, B.D. Ertel, T.M. Koel
2011, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (68) 2132-2145
Introduced lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) threaten to extirpate native Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) in the 34 000 ha Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, USA. Suppression (and eventual eradication) of the lake trout population is deemed necessary for the conservation of Yellowstone cutthroat trout. A US National Park...
Foaling rates in feral horses treated with the immunocontraceptive porcine zona pellucida
J.I. Ransom, J. E. Roelle, B.S. Cade, L. Coates-Markle, A.J. Kane
2011, Wildlife Society Bulletin (35) 343-352
Locally abundant feral horses (Equus caballus) can rapidly deplete available resources. Fertility control agents present promising nonlethal tools for reducing their population growth rates. We tested the effect of 2 forms of the immunocontraceptive porcine zona pellucida (PZP) on foaling rates in 3 populations of feral horses in the western...
Landslide stability: Role of rainfall-induced, laterally propagating, pore-pressure waves
G. R. Priest, W.H. Schulz, W. L. Ellis, J.A. Allan, A. R. Niem, W. A. Niem
2011, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (17) 315-335
The Johnson Creek Landslide is a translational slide in seaward-dipping Miocene siltstone and sandstone (Astoria Formation) and an overlying Quaternary marine terrace deposit. The basal slide plane slopes sub-parallel to the dip of the Miocene rocks, except beneath the back-tilted toe block, where it slopes inland. Rainfall events raise pore-water...
Spatial variation in transient water table responses: Differences between an upper and lower hillslope zone
D.R.W. Haught, H. J. Van Meerveld
2011, Hydrological Processes (25) 3866-3877
To better understand storage-runoff dynamics, transient groundwater responses were examined in one of the steep watersheds in British Columbia's coastal mountains. Streamflow and piezometric data were collected for 1year to determine the spatial and temporal relations between transient groundwater levels and discharge. Correlations between piezometer responses and lag-time analysis were...
