Why ecosystem management can't work without Social science: An example from the California northern spotted owl controversy

It is increasingly obvious that social science, while not a sufficient condition for making ecosystem management effective, is a necessary condition. A social science typology of ecosystems is developed, applied, and shown to have substantial and unexpected implications for the practice of ecosystem management. Ecologists and environmental scientists, in particular, will find some conclusions uncomfortable. The application involves a case material from the California northern spotted owl controversy.     

Hematology and Some Biochemical Parameters of Wild Rodents in Pistachio Gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran

Wild rodents were collected using live snap traps in pistachio gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran from 2007 to 2009, then some physiological parameters of them were measured. The samples were identified as follow: Nesokia indica, Meriones persicus, Meriones lybicus and Tatera indica. Blood samples were obtained from the heart, then the blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, HDL, red and white blood cell number) in wild species of rodents and laboratory rat were compared. The results showed that there were no significant differences in serum glucose, triglyceride, HDL and total protein levels among different experimental groups. The concentration of cholesterol in T. indica was more than that in N. indica (P < 0.01). The total numbers of red blood cells also showed significant difference between wild garden rodent species and laboratory rat (P < 0.01), while the numbers of white blood cells showed no significant difference.     

'Making a wish': Children and the local landscape

The links between children's rights and their participation in environmental decision-making is a growing field of interest. This paper describes findings from a six-month in-depth pilot study with a small group of children aged 6-10 years located in a village in the northeast of England. The focus of this paper is on the relationship of these children with their local landscape and how they felt about involvement in decision-making that might affect that environment. The methodology was child-centred responding to the 'languages' of children. Two main findings are discussed in this paper: (a) issues of boundary were particularly important in physical and emotional terms for both children and parents and this had little to do with the rurality of the location; (b) children believe they have special knowledge about the environment, which they may express using a range of communication methods. The author reflects on what implications this might have for the design and layout of local environments generally.     

Can Eco-Labels Tune a Market? Evidence from Dolphin-Safe Labeling

In this paper we test whether the dolphin-safe labels altered consumer purchases of tuna. We also provide a partial measure of the total welfare effects of the dolphin-safe labeling policy. The results confirm our hypothesis that the dolphin–tuna controversy and the subsequent implementation of dolphin-safe labeling affected consumer behavior. Further, the paper provides market-based evidence that consumers can respond to eco-labels; the dolphin-safe label increased the market share of canned tuna. The welfare analysis provides a partial measure of society's willingness to pay to avoid personally contributing to dolphin mortality as a result of tuna fishing.     

Vertical distributions of euphausiids and fish in relation to light intensity in the Northeastern Atlantic

The relationship between the vertical distributions of euphausiids and fish and light intensity has been studied directly by using a photometer in conjunction with an acoustically controlled rectangular midwater trawl. Samples were taken at a position centered on 47°N; 17°W on 15 and 16 May 1978. Five species of euphausiid and six species of fish have been analysed, both groups contained migrant and non-migrant species. The population of each of these species occurred throughout a light regime spanning at least three orders of magnitude of intensity; none of them was restricted to, or followed, and isolume. There were no sexual or size differences in the distributions of the euphausiids, but the population of Argyropelecus hemigymnus was probably stratified during the day, with smaller individuals occurring shallower than large ones. The results are discussed in relation to previous observations and to the theories of photic regulation of distributions and migrations.     

Differential tree and shrub production in response to fertilization and disturbance by coastal river otters in Alaska

We explored the interacting effects of marine-derived nutrient fertilization and physical disturbance introduced by coastal river otters (Lontra canadensis) on the production and nutrient status of pristine shrub and tree communities in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. We compared production of trees and shrubs between latrines and non-latrines, while accounting for otter site selection, by sampling areas on and off sites. Nitrogen stable isotope analysis (delta15N) indicated that dominant tree and shrub species assimilated the marine-derived N excreted by otters. In association with this uptake, tree production increased, but shrub density and nonwoody aboveground shrub production decreased. The reduced shrub production was caused by destruction of ramets, especially blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), through physical disturbance by river otters. False azalea (Menziesia ferruginea) ramets were less sensitive to otter disturbance. Although surviving individual blueberry ramets showed a tendency for increased production per plant, false azalea allocated excess N to storage in leaves rather than growth. We found that plant responses to animal activity vary among species and levels of biological organization (leaf, plant, ecosystem). Such differences should be accounted for when assessing the influence of river otters on the carbon budget of Alaskan coastal forests at the landscape scale.     

Patterns and selectivity in the feeding of certain mesopelagic fishes

Stomach contents were analysed from the 7 most numerous species of mesopelagic fish caught in a series of 11 hauls over a 24 h period at 230 to 266 m depth in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. The numerical abundance of organisms per filled stomach and the frequency of occurrence of empty stomachs were used to indicate feeding periodicity. The ecological significance of the feeding periodicity was considered by examining it in connection with an investigation of the day-night vertical distribution of zooplankton and micronekton to 2000 m at the same station. Additional dietary evidence on the 7 species considered was also obtained from the vertical series. Feeding selectivity was examined by comparing the composition of the zooplankton population, sampled separately but simultaneously with the micronekton, with that from the overall stomach contents of the species examined. Feeding periodicity was demonstrated for 6 species, of which 3 were found to be feeding selectively: Valenciennellus tripunctulatus on calanoid copepods, Argyropelecus aculeatus on ostracods, and Lampanyctus cuprarius on amphipods and possibly euphausiids. The limited data available on the other 3 species suggested that they were either random feeders (A. hemigymnus and Lobianchia dofleini) or perhaps selecting against a particular group (Notolychnus valdiviae). No indication of feeding periodicity or selectivity was found for Chauliodus danae. The overall pattern of results confirmed the supposed close correlation between vertical migration and feeding in mesopelagic fish.     

Ecological impacts on the limpet Lottia gigantea populations: human pressure over a broad scale on island and mainland intertidal zones

Here long-term monitoring data taken at 33 sites in southern and central California coast and islands were used to evaluate the size structure of the large intertidal limpet, Lottia gigantea in restricted-access and in easily accessible intertidal zones that encompass a wide range of ecological variables. Using multi-dimensional analysis of population size structures, we found that sites on islands and strictly protected mainland sites have significantly larger median limpet sizes and a greater range of limpet sizes than unprotected mainland sites, while no pattern occurs in latitudinal or regional comparison of sites. Although intertidal predators such as oystercatchers were not the primary focus of the monitoring efforts, extensive natural history notes taken during sampling visits support the argument that predation was not a primary cause for the size structure differences. Finally, substratum differences were determined not to have biased the observation of larger limpets in protected sites. In regard to human interactions with limpets, we conclude that the degree of enforcement against poaching is the better predictor of limpet size structure than proximity to population centers or visitation to intertidal sites.     

Species- and stage-specific differences in trace element tissue concentrations in amphibians: implications for the disposal of coal-combustion wastes

Information on species- and stage-specific patterns of contaminant accumulation is generally lacking for amphibians, yet such information could provide valuable knowledge on how amphibians interact with contaminants. We assessed concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn in whole bodies of larval, recently metamorphosed, and adult life stages in Bufo terrestris and Rana sphenocephala from a site that currently receives coal combustion waste (CCW) discharge, a site where CCW was formerly discharged that has undergone natural attenuation for 30 years, and a nearby reference site. For the majority of elements (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn), concentrations were highest in larvae, but Se and Sr concentrations remained elevated in later life stages, likely because these elements are S and Ca analogs, respectively, and are thus retained throughout structural changes during metamorphosis. Element concentrations were generally higher in B. terrestris than in R. sphenocephala. Concentrations of As, Se, and Sr were up to 11-35 times higher in metamorphs emigrating from CCW-polluted wetlands compared to unpolluted wetlands, suggesting metamorphosed amphibians can transport trace elements from aquatic disposal basins to nearby uncontaminated terrestrial habitats. In addition, anurans utilizing naturally revegetated sites up to 30 years after CCW disposal ceases are exposed to trace elements, although to a lesser degree than sites where CCW is currently discharged.     

Concentrations of V,Cr, Mn,Fe, Ni,Co, Cu,Zn, As and Cd in mesopelagic crustaceans from the North East Atlantic Ocean

Specimens of oceanic decapods, mysids and euphausiids, collected from the North East Atlantic Ocean during July 1985, were analysed for V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As and Cd. Measurement of the metals was carried out using two techniques: inductively-coupled plasma-source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption (AAS). With the exception of the iron data, good agreement was observed between the data from the two techniques. Baseline-metal data are presented for the species measured, along with any effects of animal size on metal concentration. The data presented for oceanic animals from different trophic levels are important in studies of metal fluxes and for the assessment of markers within the food web in the oceans.