#1 Research details impact of energy development on deer habitat use

Date:August 22, 2019 Source: University of Wyoming

For every acre of mule deer habitat taken by roads, well pads and

other oil and gas development infrastructure in Wyoming's Green River Basin, an average of 4.6 other acres of available forage is lost, according to new research by University of Wyoming scientists.

That's because deer avoid areas close to such human disturbance, even when there's quality forage in those areas, says the research published in the journal Ecological Applications.

"Large herbivores have adapted to the naturally occurring constraints of their foodscape, but certain levels of human disturbance appear to prompt behaviors across multiple scales that, in turn, result in exaggerated losses of forage," the scientists wrote. "Recognizing the cumulative losses of forage is key to providing wildlife managers and industry with realistic expectations of population effects that are likely to ensue on winter ranges where energy development occurs. Such knowledge can guide the evaluation of trade-offs between energy development and the performance and abundance of large herbivore populations."

The new findings help explain why previous research showed a 36 percent decline in the mule deer population during 15 years of energy development on the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming's Sublette County. While those previous studies correlated energy development with declining deer numbers, the new research

specifically documented changes in the foraging behavior of deer in relation to oil and gas activity.

The research involved measuring production and use of the primary food for deer during winter -- sagebrush -- along with the capture, collaring and monitoring of a total of 146 deer between March 2013 and March 2015 in three sagebrush-covered areas of the Green River Basin. All provide winter range for components of the Wyoming Range deer herd, historically Wyoming's largest mule deer population.

The scientists found that, above all, deer favor areas where new growth of new leader shoots of sagebrush is high, but that human disturbance from oil and gas activity negatively influenced their use of such forage.

"Across three winter ranges and different development scenarios, mule deer avoided areas close to disturbance, tended to move away from disturbance and increased vigilant behavior when near disturbance," the researchers wrote. "Mule deer selected for areas with high foraging opportunities, but their use of available forage near energy development was never realized to the same potential as similar forage patches farther from development."

As a result, the indirect loss of deer forage due to human disturbance far exceeded direct habitat loss from roads, well pads and other oil and gas infrastructure. In fact, across all three study areas, human disturbance resulted in a 10.5 percent decrease in use of available forage; direct habitat loss from construction accounted for just 2.3 percent.

Overall, the scientists hope their findings will help guide decisions on energy development in important wildlife winter ranges.

"To meet global demands for energy resources, oil and gas resources will continue to be extracted from critical wildlife ranges, including winter ranges of migratory, large herbivores," they wrote. "Accordingly, understanding how those disturbances associated with energy development can affect behavior, foraging and, ultimately, population dynamics will help identify ways to minimize the effects."

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A. Short Answer

Which is more important, using land for needed energy resources or for wildlife range land? Why?

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C. Fill in the Blank

The indirect loss of deer forage due to human 1. ______________ far exceeded direct habitat loss from other oil and gas 2. ___________________

3. Large herbivores have adapted to the naturally occurring constraints of their ___________ .

4. Deer favor areas where new growth of new leader shoots of ____________ is high.

5. Overall, the scientists hope their findings will help guide decisions on energy

_______________ in important wildlife winter ranges.

B. Word Search

S R S H O E E T R E R N A E M A S N F G P N L O B C R P G O P A A X R I U D M O R E C U N J Z T N Z B A V S B Q O G N A D U G V D I M R R S E L A E O O R H B W U E Y U N P O Y E J E R V S D P C F W R L C Y X E O H O E X T R A C T E D H N P Y R O T A R G I M S V J E C N A B R U T S I D P

Forage Herbivores Infrastructure Foodscape Population Extracted Sagebrush Migratory Abundance Disturbance

D. Snapchat Story

Things fall apart: why do the ecosystems we depend on collapse?

January 22, 2017 Author David

Lindenmayer

People collapse, buildings collapse, economies collapse and even entire human civilizations collapse. Collapse is also common in the natural world – animal populations and ecosystems collapse. These collapses have the greatest impact on us when they affect resources our industries depend on, leaving ecosystems in tatters and sometimes ruining local economies.

From the infamous 1980s collapse of the Canadian cod industry to the apparent imminent collapse of the Heyfield sawmill in southern Victoria, we can see a recurring pattern. And by getting better at predicting this pattern, we might be able to avoid collapse in the future.The stages of collapse

Native forest harvesting in Australia is a highly capital-intensive industry. It uses heavy machinery that costs a lot to purchase, leading to high interest repayments. Such efficient harvesting may not only employ relatively few people, but also outstrip the amount of timber that can be sustainably harvested.

Significant amounts of timber and pulpwood need to be processed continuously to pay the interest and other bills for equipment.

Moreover, logging may continue even though it is highly uneconomic to do so and other industries that are damaged by logging (such as the water and tourism industries)

are significantly more economically lucrative.Why do industries overharvest?

Fisheries and forestry often allocate greater harvest limits than the ecosystem can produce without declining.

One key reason this happens is that fish or timber allocations often don’t account for losses from natural events.

For example, the mountain ash forests of Victoria rely on severe wildfires to regenerate. They are also extensively logged for paper and timber production.

Yet the organisation responsible for scheduling of logging in these forests (VicForests) does not account for losses due to fire when calculating how much timber can be harvested.  But environmental accounting analyses indicate there has been relatively little change in sustained yield allocation since these fires.

Yet, modelling suggests that, over 80 years, wildfire will damage 45% of the forest estate. This amount should therefore should not be included as timber available for logging.

Another driver of the problem of resource over-commitment can be gaming, where stock availability and direct employment are deliberately overstated. This may be to secure the status and influence of a given institution with government, or for other reasons such as leverage in negotiations over access to resources.What can we do?

Early intervention in fisheries and forestry industries can prevent ecosystem and industry collapse. We also need to better ways to assess resources, including accounting for losses of resources due to natural disturbances.

However, in some cases resources have been so heavily over-committed that

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industry collapse is virtually inevitable. For example, environmental accounting work in the wet forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria suggests very little sawlog resource is left as a result of many decades of overcutting and associated wildfire. Clearfell logging makes these forests more prone to particularly severe fires.

The collapse of the sawlog industry is highly likely, even if there is no fire. This is clear from the pleas from sawmills for access to further forest resources – even when such extra resources basically do not exist.

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A. Short Answer

How can we keep our forestry industry from collapsing? ____________________________________

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B. Fill in the Blank

Early intervention in fisheries and forestry industries can prevent 1. ___________ and 2. _____________ collapse.

3. ___________ is also common in the natural world – animal populations and ecosystems collapse

4. The collapse of the _______________ industry is highly likely, even if there is no fire.

5. Another driver of the problem of resource over-commitment can be ______________ .

C. Word Search

S Q C G W T S Z B F S Q E T T N Z L X E M U W T R V I M E T S Y S O C E I M I N O C O T E S E X F E Q T E U A E L W O H D I K Z A I T L P T Q L L J P L N R I S Q I A R I S W A H M C I T K G G W M B M W U N U G R M U T L E A D V R H L G I J Y Q S P U L P W O O D P E T A C O L L A Z U J F

Sawmills Ecosystem Losses Lucrative Overcommitted Pulpwood Outstrip Sustainably Allocate Wildfires

D. 3 -2- 1 Summary

Air pollution can accelerate lung disease as much as a pack a day of cigarettes

Date: 8/13, 2019Source: University of Washington

Air pollution -- especially ozone air pollution which is increasing with climate change -- accelerates the progression of emphysema of the lung, according to a new study led by the University of Washington, Columbia University and the University at Buffalo.

While previous studies have shown a clear connection of air pollutants with some heart and lung diseases, the new research published Aug. 13 in JAMA demonstrates an association between long-term exposure to all major air pollutants -- especially ozone -- with an increase in emphysema seen on lung scans. Emphysema is a condition in which destruction of lung tissue leads to wheezing,

coughing and shortness of breath, and increases the risk of death.

"We were surprised to see how strong air pollution's impact was on the progression of emphysema on lung scans, in the same league as the effects of cigarette smoking, which is by far the best-known cause of emphysema," said the study's senior co-author, Dr. Joel Kaufman.

In fact, the researchers found, if the ambient ozone level was 3 parts per billion higher where you live compared to another location over 10 years, that was associated with an increase in emphysema roughly the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 29 years. And the study determined that ozone levels in some major U.S. cities are increasing by that amount, due in part to climate change. The annual averages of ozone levels in study areas were between about 10 and 25 ppb.

"Rates of chronic lung disease in this country are going up and increasingly it is recognized that this disease occurs in nonsmokers," said Kaufman. "It appears that

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air pollution exposures that are common and hard to avoid might be a major contributor."

The results are based on an extensive, 18-year study involving more than 7,000 people and a detailed examination of the air pollution they encountered between 2000 and 2018 in six metropolitan regions across the U.S.

“To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study to assess the association between long-term exposure to air pollutants and progression of percent emphysema in a large, community-based, multi-ethnic cohort," said first author Meng Wang, who conducted the research as a postdoctoral researcher at the UW.

The authors developed novel and accurate exposure assessment methods for air pollution levels at the homes of study participants, collecting detailed measurement of exposures over years in these metropolitan regions, and measurements at the homes of many of the participants. While most of the airborne pollutants are in decline because of successful efforts to reduce them, ozone has been increasing, the study found. Ground-level ozone is mostly produced when ultraviolet light reacts with pollutants from fossil fuels.

"This is a big study with state-of-the-art analysis of more than 15,000 CT scans repeated on thousands of people over as long as 18 years. These findings matter since ground-level ozone levels are rising, and the amount of emphysema on CT scans predicts hospitalization from and deaths due to chronic lung disease," said Dr. R. Graham Barr.

"As temperatures rise with climate change," Barr explained, "ground-level ozone will continue to increase unless steps are taken to reduce this pollutant.”

"This study adds to growing evidence of a link between air pollution and emphysema," said James Kiley, director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

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A. Short Answer

How can we reduce the dangers of air pollution on lung health?

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B. Fill in the Blank

1. They found air pollution's impact on the progression of emphysema on lung scans was in the same league as the effects of __________________ smoking.

“This study adds to the growing evidence of a link between 2. _______________ _____________ and 3. _____________ .”

4. As temperatures rise with climate change ground level __________ will continue to increase.

5. While most of the airborne _________________ are in decline because of successful efforts to reduce them, ozone has been increasing.

C. Word Search

E N R O B R I A P O M D V Z E K S H P B O W X S G B J U O M R Z N E E T M E T R O P O L I T A N C T Y S M N G K F G B A T P S C E S R P E C Z T E M P H Y S E M A R H U Q Z E X P O S U R E S L O B Z K G G S Z A V U L S L E U F L I S S O F O V D Q W F N O F I M X P T U Y E H R N M N Q N H

Ozone EmphysemaAirborne Pollutants Exposure Progression Fossil Fuels Hospitalization

Smokers Metropolitan

D. Instagram Post

Human impacts on oceans nearly doubled in recent decade

Date: 8/13, 2019 Source: University of California

Over the recent decade, total human impacts to the world's oceans have, on average, nearly doubled and could double again in the next decade without adequate action. That's according to a new study by researchers from the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at UC Santa Barbara.

Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the study assessed for the first time where the combined impacts that humans are having on oceans -- from nutrient pollution to overfishing -- are changing and how quickly. In nearly 60% of the ocean, the cumulative impacts are increasing

significantly and, in many places, at a pace that appears to be accelerating.

"That creates even more urgency to solve these problems," said lead author Ben Halpern, director of NCEAS and a professor at UC Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.

Climate change is a key factor driving the increase across the world, as seas warm, acidify and rise. On top of that, commercial fishing, runoff from land-based pollution and shipping are intensifying progressively each year in many areas of the ocean.

"It's a multifactor problem that we need to solve. We can't just fix one thing if we want to slow and eventually stop the rate of increase in cumulative impacts," said Halpern.

The study also projected the impacts one decade into the future, based on the rate of change in the recent past, finding that they could double again if the pace of change continues unchecked.

The assessment provides a holistic perspective of where and how much human

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activities shape ocean change -- for better or worse -- which is essential to policy and planning.

"If you don't pay attention to the big picture, you miss the actual story," said Halpern. "The bigger picture is critical if you want to make smart management decisions -- where are you going to get your biggest bang for your buck."

There is an upside to the story, however. The authors did find "success stories" around every continent, areas where impacts have declined, such as the seas of South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom and Denmark, all of which have seen significant decreases in commercial fishing and pollution.

These declines suggest that policies and other actions to improve ocean conditions are making a difference.

"We can improve things. The solutions are known and within our grasp. We just need the social and political will to take action," said Halpern.

To assess the pace of change, the authors leveraged two previous and similar assessments conducted by several of the same team members and others in 2008 and 2013, which provided first glimpses into the full, cumulative extent of humanity's impacts on oceans.

"Previously, we had a good measure of the magnitude of human impacts, but not a clear picture of how they are changing," said co-author Melanie Frazier, a data scientist at NCEAS.

Frazier was surprised to see in the data how dramatically ocean temperatures have increased in a relatively short period of time.

"You don't need fancy statistics to see how rapidly ocean temperature is changing and understand the magnitude of the problem," said Frazier. "I think this study,

along with many others, highlights the importance of a concerted global effort to control climate change."

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A. Short Answer

What can YOU do to make a positive impact on the ocean? ____________________________________

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B. Fill in the Blank

1. The solutions are ___________ and within our grasp.

2. Over the recent decade, total human impacts to the world's oceans have, on average, nearly _______________ .

The combined impacts that humans are having on oceans -- from 3. ___________ __________ to 4. ______________ -- are changing and quickly.

5. The assessment provides a holistic perspective of where and how much human ______________ shape ocean changeC. Word Search

T O B U H F W E Z B F G E N K B V E T Y C K N G M V E S F A N Z I I N G P I A I M C O N T R O L E D D I R G A A S D M O R O L Q C T R L I J E B

A C P O I E U S L G L A T N P E L V Y N O V G L U O V E R F I S H I N G R S C I T S I T A T S P E C Z B B T C A P M I F A G C M K S Y I Y B M K

Statistics Global Impact Climate Nutrient OverfishingHolistic Accelerating Temperature Control

D. Make a Facebook post, including two pictures or drawings, about the article.

No New Elk for WV in 2019Jenny HarnishRegister-Herald

Elk transferred to West

Virginia from the state of Arizona in 2018 are expected to calve well this spring. But for now, Arizona has no elk to part with in 2019.

Also in 2018, West Virginia received several dozen elk from the state of Arizona. At the time those elk were considered excess and in an area where the Arizona Game and Fish Commission was looking to reduce its elk numbers. Much like L-B-L, according to Foster, Arizona isn’t ruling out future stock, but can’t commit in 2019.

“It’s just in terms of availability and getting approval from their commission and that type of thing,” he said. “I think they’re wanting to try to evaluate their herd and see

in the area where they were trapping how many excess animals they might have.”

He admitted there was pressure from license holders in those states on game and fish leaders for letting animals leave the state. Foster called it an understandable attitude and noted the delicate balance a state agency has to strike in such matters.

When the West Virginia Elk Reintroduction Plan was first being crafted, there was a strong desire to get elk from Kentucky. The thriving numbers in the Bluegrass State just across the Tug Fork River made the most sense. The animals were close so transportation would be much more efficient and less stressful on the animals. Plus the elk there have already shown a penchant for doing well in the Appalachia range. They are also a disease free herd and in some cases were already

coming over to West Virginia anyway.

But the Kentucky elk are in high

demand and West Virginia is having to wait its turn.

“We’ve been in communication with Kentucky with regard to the elk right across the state line, but right ow they’re working with Wisconsin on a translocation program,” said Foster. “Plus there moving some elk within the state of Kentucky right now.”

Former DNR Director Frank Jezioro detailed a budding plan to members of a legislative committee back in 2014 before the original launch of the program. At the time, Jezioro described a three way arrangement for lawmakers in which West Virginia planned to trade wild turkeys to Texas for quail. The quail would be traded by West Virginia to Kentucky for the elk. Foster said that arrangement never got off the ground.

“No it did not,” he explained. “That didn’t get any traction.”

What has gotten traction has been the natural reproduction of the elk now on the ground in West Virginia.

“We had a really good rut with a lot of bugling,” said Foster. “We brought in a large number of cows from Arizona and hopefully we’ll have a good reproduction year.”

The Elk Reintroduction project remains one of the agency’s most high profile programs, but Foster cautioned it also is delicate and cannot be rushed.

“We’re definitely looking to bring in another 75 to 100 and hopefully we get that done in 2020 and 2021,” he said. “However, we have to be very careful with where we get the animals. There’s very few states where we can bring animals in due to health and disease concerns. We definitely want to be very careful with it.”

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A. Short Answer

Why would elk from Kentucky be a good fit for West Virginia?

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C. Word Search

D K S V E H U B F T J N E D I T R S K W H W O B L R U T R P A R P I Z G I S J J X E I E T L N I C C B J X V S C S H I O A K Q Y I P U S T I S G T L G N R D X L F I D S E M G R O H A E C U L S K W C R H E H B C W L E E Z P Y H Y R M P Q O C R E I N T R O D U C E X R G R V G N I L G U B E

Reintroduce Rut BuglingDelicate DiseaseStressful Excess Health Reproduction Thriving

B. Fill in the Blank

The three way arrangement” involved WV trading wild 1. ___________________ to Texas for 2. ____________ which would be traded by WV to Kentucky for 3. _________

4. There’s very few states where we can bring animals in due to ______________ and _____________ concerns.

5. Kentucky elk are in high __________ and WV has to wait its turn.

D. Create two tweets about this article.

Twitter about this assignment; 240 characters

Twitter about this assignment; 240 characters