Low reproductive success has been typical of high elevation populations of the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) or nēnē. Researchers identified predation and inadequate nutrition as limiting factors. Reproductive success remained low in most years despite on-going predator control programs. I used a supplemental feeding program over two breeding seasons in...
Adiabatic parcel models suggest specific relationships between cloud thickness and cloud properties. Such relationships govern cloud radiative forcing and thus cloud feedbacks in the climate system. Current remote sensing techniques work well at measuring these properties in low-level cloud systems that are overcast. Significant biases exist, however, when measuring cloud...
Environmental quality and the spatial distribution of economic activities affect each other in many ways. The primary purpose of this dissertation is to contribute to understanding the complex interrelationship and its policy implications. This dissertation consists of three essays.
The first essay examines the roles that locational amenities and increasing...
Shorebirds display great variation in mating systems and breed in dynamic environments that are increasingly subject to human threats worldwide. In order to adequately assess productivity and demography of shorebird populations, it is important to understand factors that influence patterns of parental care and reproductive success. The Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus...
Epigenetic mechanisms are important for control of plant development, and may play a particularly important role in trees given their long life cycles and distinctive and stable tissue types. To help understand the role of epigenetics in tree development, we produced transgenic poplars with reduced activity of the DDM1 genes,...
The response of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa cultivar
Jubilee) to 12 populations and four nitrogen rates was studied in a
field experiment. Populations ranged from 43, 904 to 329,800
plants/ha with nitrogen levels ranging from 0 to 224 Kg/ha. A systematic
spacing design was used. Plant height,...
Inflorescence necrosis (IN) is a recently described disorder in grapes
characterized by partial or complete deterioration of the pedicel and rachis near
bloom. Elevated levels of ammonium in the rachis are associated with the
incidence of IN and hypothesized as the cause of the disorder. An incubation
system with single-node...
Pectinmethylesterase (PME) activity in fresh cucumber
fruit was determined. The effects of several cationic
species, temperature, pH, and acetic acid on the activity
of cucumber PME was investigated. The efficacy of
blanching, infiltration with CaCl₂ or acetic acid, and
fermentation with 0 and 40 mM CaCl₂ on inhibition of
cucumber...
Distribution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Oregon and Washington oystergrowing areas was studied between November 2002 and October 2003. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 14.3% of oyster, 23.0% of seawater, and 44.4% of sediment samples with very low levels (≤7.4 MPN/g) of pathogenic strains being detected in oysters. Occurrence of V....