SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry: Digital Commons @ ESF (State University of New York)Not a member yet
1478 research outputs found
Sort by
Predation Avoidance Mechanisms of Juvenile Arapaima spp.: Significance of Synchronized Breathing and Sound Production
Get PDFArapaima spp. are large, commercially important but poorly studied freshwater fishes endemic primarily to the Amazon and Essequibo rivers of South America. Arapaima are obligate air breathers with a modified lung-like swim bladder. Surfacing to respire exposes arapaima to a heightened predation risk, especially the small juveniles. Surfacing in synchrony could reduce predation risk of individual arapaima. Synchronous breathing has been observed with many air-breathing fish, but it has not been documented with arapaima. Many fishes also are known to produce characteristic sounds to startle predators when attacked, but such sounds have not been reported for arapaima. An investigation of predation defenses of juvenile arapaima was conducted by quantifying breathing frequency patterns over a diel cycle. Also, the ability to produce startle sounds was evaluated by simulating predation (i.e. grasping the fish). Young arapaima exhibited synchronized breathing throughout the day; mean number of arapaima per breathing event was significantly higher (
What do Participants Think of their Experience at an ESF Summer Camp? An Analysis of ESF SCIENCE Participant Surveys from 2006-2013
Get PDFSUNY-ESF (State University of New York college of Environmental Science and Forestry) has many outreach programs, including ESF SCIENCE (Summer Camps Investigating Ecology in Neighborhood and City Environments). SCIENCE is a camp with ESF students as instructors that exposes middle- to high- school age participants to urban environmental science. In order to provide immediate feedback about the camps, an end-of-camp survey was created and has been administered to SCIENCE participants since 2006. Approximately 741 surveys from 2006 to 2013 were analyzed and categorized according to emergent themes. Answers that contained parts of multiple categories were counted in each of those categories, and percent responses per category were averaged over all 8 years. The overwhelming majority of responses were about activities that included a food component. Overall, 92% said they would recommend this camp to a friend; 62% of these said they would recommend it because it was fun or “cool,” and an additional 25% would because the camp is educational. The results of this survey can help the ESF SCIENCE program in the future by providing baseline data that instructors can reference for methods to alter their programs. Additionally, it can help to show potential funders that the camp is successful in approaching informal science education in a way that is educational as well as fun for all participants and instructors. A more effective survey for obtaining specific data, as well as more information on non food-based activities and lessons, could include utilizing more specific questions, multiple choice questions and a Likert rating scale
Gold Nanoparticles in the Environment: Studying the Genetic Toxicity and Bioavailability in Soils and Hydroponic Exposures with Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato ‘Brandywine’)
Get PDFGold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be introduced into our environment through many pathways and applications such as biosolids, pesticides, fertilizers, soil remediation, waste from consumer products, or through biomedicine applications. This creates regulatory concerns, as NPs possess unique chemical and physical properties that can impact living systems. The use of AuNPs is increasing, but there are insufficient studies looking at the toxic effects on food crops and the environment. It has been shown that AuNPs cause biotoxicity and necrosis as they have the potential to be internalized in the exposed plants. There are studies indicating bioaccumulation of AuNPs through trophic transfers in food chains from exposed plants. There are two objectives of this study: to look at the real world bioavailability that occurs in heterogeneous, soil-based systems and to determine how different times of exposure (4, 24, 72 h) impact the expression of stress response genes to AuNPs using the model crop, tomato. Tomatoes were exposed to 3.5 nm AuNPs for increasing times, while the controls were in water. In the soil study, tissues were analyzed by ICP-MS to determine the uptake of AuNPs. In the genetic study, q-RT-PCR was used to analyze the changes in gene expression levels. The results showed that difference in soil characteristics does affect the plant’s uptake; agriculture soils allowed the highest level of uptake AuNPs. For the genetic study, the stress response genes showed changes in expression at different exposure times. This shows that tomatoes grown in agriculture fields have the potential to take up AuNPs which can cause cellular toxic effects
Poplar and Willow News
No full textWelcome to the 3rd Newsletter of the International Poplar Commission (IPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Below you will find the different activities that are taking place in the field of the Salicaceae: conferences and meetings hosted by the Poplar National Commissions of the different member countries, as well as other events of interest related to the production and research in poplar and willow. Besides, this space aims to inform and review the main activities of the IPC and other organizations with the aim of spreading useful information that may be of interest to the whole community of the Salicaceae. Also, is included a section of publications with the aim of presenting papers, abstracts, books, research advances, among other things. We invite you to participate with articles, papers, progress in research, discussions of papers, interviews, etc. emailing to [email protected]
Research Summary: Development of a Single-Pass Cut-and-Chip Harvesting System for Short Rotation Woody Crops
No full textMany types of specialized machinery for harvesting short rotation woody crops (SRWC) exist, including small and large single-pass cut-and-chip systems, whole stem harvesters, and baling systems. However, due to the limited scale of SRWC deployment, evolving technology, different operational scales, and management objectives, there is presently no dominant harvesting system in use. In New York State, several existing or modified harvesting platforms for SRWC from Europe and North America have been evaluated since 2001 for use in short rotation willow. Technical hurdles encountered on various harvesters that were tested during that time include the durability of equipment, low production rates, irregular feeding of stems into the harvester, limits on maximum stem sizes, and inconsistent size and quality of chips
Nest Site Characteristics of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) on the South Fork of Long Island, NY
Get PDFTo properly manage the populations of endangered birds it is important to understand the factors affecting nest survival. Ground nesting birds, such as the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), are at risk of nest loss from predation and tidal flooding, which varies among nesting sites. Nest site selection characteristics may affect those threats. I compared nests from the low-wave energy Peconic Bay shorelines (n=25) and the high-wave energy Atlantic Ocean shorelines (n=26) on the South Fork of Long Island, NY in 2013. I measured nest site characteristics including the substrate composition and vegetation cover as well as nest distance from vegetation and high tide line. Mean ± SE percent sand cover was greater for ocean nests (87.61%±1.63%) than bay nests (51.44±3.76%; P \u3c 0.001), as was percent vegetation cover (Ocean- 7.80±1.75%; Bay-1.34±0.68%; P \u3c 0.001). Percent shell cover was greater for bay nests (10.34±1.54%) than for ocean nests (2.56±0.73%; P \u3c 0.001). The distance to the high tide line relative to the width of the beach (distance/width) was 0.87 for ocean nests and 0.72 for bay nests. These findings can be used to assist land managers in the protection of the threatened Piping Plover. Understanding the nest site characteristics, land managers can use vegetation management on ocean beaches due to the large percent of vegetated nests, and continue predation management on both bay and ocean beaches. Also understanding the preferred nest sites, pre-nest fencing can be established to protect ideal nesting habitats from human disturbance
Shrub Willow Living Snow Fences
Get PDFShow potential for snow trapping and reduced drift length shortly after plantin
