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At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
USGS2018

Raptor interactions with wind energy: Case studies from around the world

The global potential for wind power generation is vast, and the number of installations is increasing rapidly. We review case studies from around the world of the effects on raptors of wind-energy development. Collision mortality, displacement, and habitat loss have the potential to cause population-level effects, especially for species that are rare or endangered. The impact on raptors has much to do with their behavior, so careful siting of wind-energy developments to avoid areas suited to raptor breeding, foraging, or migration would reduce these effects. At established wind farms that already conflict with raptors, reduction of fatalities may be feasible by curtailment of turbines as raptors approach, and offset through mitigation of other human causes of mortality such as electrocution and poisoning, provided the relative effects can be quantified. Measurement of raptor mortality at wind farms is the subject of intense effort and study, especially where mitigation is required by law, with novel statistical approaches recently made available to improve the notoriously difficult-to-estimate mortality rates of rare and hard-to-detect species. Global standards for wind farm placement, monitoring, and effects mitigation would be a valuable contribution to raptor conservation worldwide.

Journal of Raptor Research↗
USGS2013

Book review: Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a changing world

The Peregrine Fund has published proceedings of several conferences over the years and has become experts, and this 2 volume set is no exception. The title of the proceedings sounded especially interesting in this era of almost daily accounts in the media about climate change, its causes and its effects on the planet, including its flora and fauna. This 772-page Proceedings is loaded with useful information regarding Gyrfalcons and their prey and should be in the library of all serious raptor bibliophiles. The sponsors are to be commended for supporting the conference and for publishing the proceedings. Proceedings are available at http://www.peregrinefund.org/gyr-conf Review info: Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a changing world . Edited by Richard T. Watson, Tom J. Cade, Mark Fuller, et. al., 2012. ISBN: 978-1461129073, 978-1469943305, 400 pp.

Journal of Raptor Research↗
USGS2023

Enhancing the predictability of ecology in a changing world: A call for an organism-based approach

Ecology is usually very good in making descriptive explanations of what is observed, but is often unable to make predictions of the response of ecosystems to change. This has implications in a human-dominated world where a suite of anthropogenic stresses are threatening the resilience and functioning of ecosystems that sustain mankind through a range of critical regulating and supporting services. In ecosystems, cause-and-effect relationships are difficult to elucidate because of complex networks of negative and positive feedbacks. Therefore, being able to effectively predict when and where ecosystems could pass into different (and potentially unstable) new states is vitally important under rapid global change. Here, we argue that such better predictions may be reached if we focus on organisms instead of species, because organisms are the principal biotic agents in ecosystems that react directly on changes in their environment. Several studies show that changes in ecosystems may be accurately described as the result of changes in organisms and their interactions. Organism-based theories are available that are simple and derived from first principles, but allow many predictions. Of these we discuss Trait-based Ecology, Agent Based Models, and Maximum Entropy Theory of Ecology and show that together they form a logical sequence of approaches that allow organism-based studies of ecological communities. Combining and extending them makes it possible to predict the spatiotemporal distribution of groups of organisms in terms of how metabolic energy is distributed over areas, time, and resources. We expect that this “Organism-based Ecology” (OE) ultimately will improve our ability to predict ecosystem dynamics.

Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics↗
USGS2024

Wildlife health capacity enhancement in Thailand through the World Organisation for Animal Health Twinning Program

There is an increasing need for robust wildlife health programs that provide surveillance and management for diseases in wildlife and wild aquatic populations to manage associated risks. This paper illustrates the value of a systematic method to enhancing wildlife health programs. The U.S. Geological Survey and Mahidol University, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Thailand National Wildlife Health Center formally twinned under the auspices of the World Organisation for Animal Health to enhance wildlife health capacity in Thailand and the Southeast Asia Region. We used a system-wide approach to holistically and interdependently enhance capacity. The project commenced with a wildlife health program needs assessment, and capacity enhancement focused on strengthening the general wildlife health surveillance network and improving wildlife health information management. Activities included partner surveys, interactive and didactic workshops, and individual personnel training. Topics included development of wildlife health information management systems, analysis of the current surveillance network, development of a Theory of Change for a strengthened surveillance network, planning workshops to create a wildlife health network, training on wildlife disease outbreak investigation and field sample collection, leading networks, and individual training on bioinformatics and laboratory techniques. Engagement of stakeholders at all levels, continuous communication throughout the project, use of both strategic planning tools and pedagogical methods, and using iterative and adaptive approaches, were key factors to the success of this project.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science↗
USGS2012

Twitter earthquake detection: Earthquake monitoring in a social world

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is investigating how the social networking site Twitter, a popular service for sending and receiving short, public text messages, can augment USGS earthquake response products and the delivery of hazard information. Rapid detection and qualitative assessment of shaking events are possible because people begin sending public Twitter messages (tweets) with in tens of seconds after feeling shaking. Here we present and evaluate an earthquake detection procedure that relies solely on Twitter data. A tweet-frequency time series constructed from tweets containing the word "earthquake" clearly shows large peaks correlated with the origin times of widely felt events. To identify possible earthquakes, we use a short-term-average, long-term-average algorithm. When tuned to a moderate sensitivity, the detector finds 48 globally-distributed earthquakes with only two false triggers in five months of data. The number of detections is small compared to the 5,175 earthquakes in the USGS global earthquake catalog for the same five-month time period, and no accurate location or magnitude can be assigned based on tweet data alone. However, Twitter earthquake detections are not without merit. The detections are generally caused by widely felt events that are of more immediate interest than those with no human impact. The detections are also fast; about 75% occur within two minutes of the origin time. This is considerably faster than seismographic detections in poorly instrumented regions of the world. The tweets triggering the detections also provided very short first-impression narratives from people who experienced the shaking.

Annals of Geophysics↗
USGS2003

[Book review] Pheasants of the World . . . Again

Review of: The Pheasants of the World: Biology and Natural History, 2nd edition. Paul A. Johnsgard. 1999. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 398 pages.$50.00 (cloth).

Prairie Naturalist↗
USGS2004

Non-invasive exploration in an environmentally sensitive world

Modern remote sensing provides a means for locating and characterizing exposed mineralized systems in many parts of the world. These capabilities are non-invasive and help target specific areas for more detailed exploration. An example of how remote sensing technology can be used is evident from a study of the Questa Mining District, New Mexico. Analysis of low spectral resolution data from the Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite system clearly shows the regional distribution of two broad mineral groups often associated with mineralized systems: clay-carbonate-sulfate and iron oxides-iron hydroxides. Analysis of high spectral resolution data from the Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging System (AVIRIS) shows the occurrence and distribution of many individual mineral species that characterize the pattern of hydrothermally altered rocks in the district.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2009

Influence of Old World bluestem (Bothrichloa ischaemum) monocultures on breeding density of three grassland songbirds in Oklahoma

Despite persistent and widespread declines of grassland birds in North America, few studies have assessed differences between native grasslands and seeded monocultures as songbird habitat. In the Great Plains, many fields enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program have been seeded to Old World bluestems (OWB), but there is evidence to suggest that OWB may not provide suitable conditions for several grassland bird species. Our objectives were to investigate the influence of OWB monocultures on vegetation structure, composition, and breeding densities of three common grassland bird species. In 2007, we used distance sampling to survey breeding songbirds in 6 native mixed grass prairie and 6 OWB fields in Garfield, Grant, and Alfalfa counties, Oklahoma. Native mixed grass prairie supported taller and denser vegetation, as well as greater forb cover than OWB fields. Breeding density of Grasshopper Sparrow ( Ammodramus savannarum ) was higher in OWB monocultures, while density of Dickcissel ( Spiza americana ) and Eastern Meadowlark ( Sturnella magna ) was similar among field types.

Oklahoma↗
USGS1999

Comparative ecology of exotic invaders and ecologically equivalent species of hydrobionths in the Great Lakes of the world: Results of Russia-USA cooperation

This paper presents brief fragments of the results of joint Russia-US research conducted through the cooperative project entitled, 'Comparative ecology of exotic invaders and ecologically equivalent species of hydrobionths in the Great Lakes of the world: Lake Baikal and the Laurentian Great Lakes.' The project was executed under the Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between the Institute of General and Experimental Biology (formerly Buryat Institute of Biology) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Great Lakes Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2006

The conservation and population status of the world's waders at the turn of the millennium

Using information from many sources, but especially data collated for the third edition of Wetlands International’s Waterbird Population Estimates, we review the status of the world’s waders in the late 1990s. There are widespread declines in most regions and biotopes caused principally by loss and degradation of wetland (and other) habitats. On different flyways, between 33%and 68% of populations are in decline, compared with only 0% to 29% increasing. Non-migratory, island species have especially poor status, with about half of all island waders being globally threatened with extinction. Of particular conservation concern is the declining environmental status of several key staging areas,which provide energetic ‘spring-boards’ for long-distance migrants. The degradation of these areas compromises the status of many migrant waders. The rapid collapse of populations, forced below threshold levels, has been predicted theoretically, and now appears to be occurring in a number of rapidly declining populations. Conservation responses must urgently address causes of wetland loss and degradation, as well as enhancing monitoring and research so as better to inform appropriate conservation policies. National and international strategies and conservation instruments have scope to help, but need to be much more strategic in their implementation so as to address root causes.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2017

Episodic formation of the world-class Waihi epithermal Au-Ag vein system, Hauraki Goldfield, New Zealand

The world-class Waihi vein system in New Zealand has produced more than 248,400 kg Au and 1.43 million kg Ag. New high-precision 40Ar/39Ar dates of adularia from different veins show that some veins formed at different times (6.15 Ma Martha vs. 5.83 and 5.85 Ma Empire and Welcome, respectively), even though they have similar mineralogy. The Martha vein formed over a period of approximately 150,000 years. The Moonlight vein, which has a different ore mineral assemblage, appears to have formed over a longer time interval that spanned formation of the Martha, Welcome, and Empire veins. These dates suggest that some veins in the Waihi vein system formed relatively quickly during only part of the lifetime of the hydrothermal system, whereas other veins may have formed over longer periods of time. However, the Au endowment of the Martha vein exceeds the Au endowment of the Moonlight vein, indicating that the total lifetime of the vein-forming hydrothermal system does not determine metal endowment.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2020

Learning from real-world experience to understand renewable energy impacts to wildlife

The project team sought to use real-world data to understand adverse effects to wildlife of renewable energy production that is critical to meeting California’s climate and clean energy goals. The project had three main components. First, a systematic literature review studied 20 peer-reviewed publications and 612 reports from other nonreviewed sources from 231 wind and solar facilities in North America. Within California, 50 percent of facilities collected pre- and post-construction data, 30 percent had experimental study designs, and fewer than 7 percent estimated detection probability during habitat use surveys. Mitigation at wind power plants focused on repowering to reduce risk to soaring birds and at solar facilities emphasized wildlife deterrence and compensatory mitigation. Second, the authors developed a best-practices approach to employ environmental isotopes (for example, hydrogen obtained from animal tissue) and rescaling functions (a statistical approach to modeling the relationship between variables) to assign individual birds or bats to their place of origin. The team applied this approach to feathers from 411 individuals of 12 species killed at wind facilities and 515 individuals of 19 species killed at solar facilities. From 24 percent to 100 percent (mean +/- SD = 49 percent +/- 33 percent) and 25 percent to 100 percent (73 percent +/- 25 percent) of birds grew feathers at a location outside the collection site at wind and solar facilities, respectively. Third, the authors constructed Bayesian integrated population models (probability models) for 29 focal species affected by wind or solar energy generation in California. Species predominantly local in origin generally had lower population growth rates than did species that were predominantly nonlocal in origin. These patterns illustrate the complex linkages between behavioral ecology, vulnerability to mortality, and population-level impacts to wildlife from fatalities at renewable energy facilities. This project benefits the renewable energy sector by providing a framework and specific tools for understanding environmental impacts of renewable energy generation.

California↗
USGS2020

Understanding the golden eagle and bald eagle sensory worlds to enhance detection and response to wind turbines

The objective for this study was to measure the auditory and visual physiology of Golden and Bald Eagles in order to use eagle sensory capabilities to inform the design of potential deterrent stimuli that could be used to reduce eagle/turbine collisions with wind turbines. The rationale for this approach is that sensory systems of any organism will limit the capability of that organism to perceive aspects of the world around it. Moreover, species can differ dramatically in their sensory physiology so it is important to examine these characteristics in the species of concern, rather than relying on data from similar birds. Our project consisted of two main phases. The first phase was the acquisition and analysis of visual and auditory information from Golden and Bald Eagles in rehabilitation centers. This was performed in order to identify light and sound stimuli tuned to sensitive areas in the eagle’s sensory systems. The second phase of the project was to present these stimuli to both species of eagles in a behavioral experiment to identify which stimuli would be the most effective in changing the behaviors of the eagles. Results of phase one indicated that the visual system of the Golden Eagle strongly absorbs ultraviolet light, making it unlikely the Golden Eagle (and most likely the Bald Eagle) will detect ultraviolet light signals. The Golden and Bald Eagles have differences in the sensitivities of their visual systems to light within the eye, but mathematical models indicate that both species are able to detect indigo/blue and orange/red light produced by LEDs (light emitting diodes) very well. We also found that both species of eagles have a blind spot above their head. This blind spot is particularly large in Golden Eagles due to a pronounced brow ridge above the eyes. This blind spot will result in the inability of a Golden Eagle to see something in front of it when its head is pointed down during flight – as might happen while hunting (i.e. searching the ground for prey). As such, the blind spot may increase the chance of collision with wind turbines if the eagle is actively hunting. This problem is less pronounced in Bald Eagles because their blind spot is smaller than in the Golden Eagles and their foraging strategy is different. Results of phase one also indicated that the auditory systems of the Golden and Bald Eagles respond differently to a variety of sounds (static tones, static chords (i.e. stacked tones), and sounds with dynamic changes through amplitude modulation or frequency modulation). Both species’ auditory systems responded strongly to tones across a wide range of frequencies (0.5 – 5kHz ), however the Bald Eagles’ auditory system was much better at processing complex sounds with dynamic rapid changes in amplitude or frequency modulation than the Golden Eagle. All of these sounds were then played with two types of noise in the background (white or pink). White noise more closely resembles the sound of wind and pink noise more closely resembles wind turbines or other sources of anthropogenic noise. Most sounds were more strongly masked by pink noise than by white noise, but several sounds (especially sounds with rapid modulation changes) showed little or no masking, indicating these were good candidate signals. However, even though rapidly changing sounds are less subject to noise masking, they are also less strongly processed by the Golden Eagle auditory system. This tradeoff does not exist in Bald Eagles because individuals of this species are very good at processing rapidly changing sounds. Given that Golden Eagle populations are at greater risk than Bald Eagle populations, we suggest that the most efficient alerting sound stimuli used in deterrent systems should be complex sounds that do not change very rapidly. We identified candidate light (indigo/blue and orange/red LED lights) and sound (sinusoidal frequency modulated sound, linear frequency sweeps, amplitude modulated sound, and a mistuned harmonic stack) stimuli that both eagle species sensory systems are highly sensitive to. Results of phase two, in which we presented these stimuli to eagles in a behavioral experiment, indicated that eagles behaviorally responded to all the stimuli presented, but at varying degrees. The Golden Eagles, especially, elicited higher rates of visual exploratory behavior with a flashing blue light stimulus and all sound stimuli. Our results suggest using these stimuli in field-testing of light/sound eagle deterrent systems on wind turbines. The eagles showed lower rates of behavior over the course of an experiment, suggesting either that they habituated to our stimuli or were initially stressed by the setup of the behavioral tests. These results underscore the need to test for habituation effects. Nonetheless, habitation to the stimuli in these field tests would likely be reduced by the use of random presentations of the four sounds and if possible random presentation of the candidate lights.

Report↗
USGS2009

Geology and resources of some world oil-shale deposits

Oil-shale deposits are in many parts of the world. They range in age from Cambrian to Tertiary and were formed in a variety of marine, continental, and lacustrine depositional environments. The largest known deposit is in the Green River Formation in the western United States; it contains an estimated 213 billion tons of in-situ shale oil (about 1.5 trillion U.S. barrels). Total resources of a selected group of oil shale deposits in 33 countries are estimated at 409 billion tons of in-situ shale oil, which is equivalent to 2.8 trillion U.S. barrels of shale oil. These amounts are very conservative because (1) several deposits mentioned herein have not been explored sufficiently to make accurate estimates, and (2) some deposits were not included in this survey.

Book↗
USGS2019

Conservation status of the world’s swan populations, Cygnus sp. and Coscoroba sp.: a review of current trends and gaps in knowledge

Recent estimates of the world’s swan Cygnus sp. populations indicate that there are currently between 1.5–1.6 million birds in 8 species, including the Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba as an honorary swan. Monitoring programmes in Europe and North America indicate that most populations increased following the introduction of national and international legislation to protect the species during the early- to mid-20th century. A switch from feeding primarily on aquatic vegetation to foraging on farmland (especially high-energy arable crops) in winter during the second half of the 20th century, is also considered a contributing factor. Trumpeter Swans Cygnus buccinator famously increased from just 69 individuals known to exist in 1935 (although small numbers were missed) to c. 76,000 at the present time, and most of the northern hemisphere swan populations have continued to show increasing/stable trends over the last 20 years. The exception to this pattern is a decline since 1995 in the Northwest European Bewick’s Swan population, following an increase in its population size during the 1970s–1980s, which is now being addressed through implementation of an International Single Species Action Plan. A proposal to change enforcement regulations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States is also of concern, as potentially undermining protection for Trumpeter Swans in North America, illustrating the importance of politics and legislation as well as on-the-ground measures for species conservation. Elsewhere, less is known about the trends and conservation status for swans in central and eastern Asia, though count and research programmes introduced in China, added to those underway in Japan and Korea, have recently greatly enhanced our knowledge of swan populations on the East Asian flyway. Trends for the Black Swan Cygnus atratus in Australia and for the Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus in South America are also poorly known, because of the large numbers involved for the former and a lack of coordinated counts across difficult terrain for the latter. These southern hemisphere species are considered vulnerable to water resource developments ( i.e . where diversion of water is shrinking wetlands), and to droughts associated with El Nino events and climate change. More extensive monitoring is therefore required to determine whether swan populations and species are stable, fluctuating or in decline.

Wildfowl↗
USGS2021

Turtles of the World: A guide to every family

Turtles of the World reveals the extraordinary diversity of these amazing reptiles. Characterized by the bony shell that acts as a shield to protect the softer body within, turtles are survivors from the time of the dinosaurs and are even more ancient in evolutionary terms than snakes and crocodilians. Of more than 350 species known today, some are highly endangered. In this beautiful guide, turtle families, subfamilies, and genera are illustrated with hundreds of color photographs. Each genus profile includes a population distribution map, a table of information, and commentary that includes notable characteristics and discussion of related species.

Book↗