Oil and Gas Wells and Pipelines on U.S. Wildlife Refuges: Challenges for Managers

The increased demand for oil and gas places a burden on lands set aside for natural resource conservation. Oil and gas development alters the environment locally and on a much broader spatial scale depending on the intensity and extent of mineral resource extraction. The current increase in oil and gas exploration and production in the United States prompted an update of the number of pipelines and wells associated with oil and gas production on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands. We obtained geospatial data on the location of oil and gas wells and pipelines within and close to the boundaries of NWRS lands (units) acquired as fee simple (i.e. absolute title to the surface land) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We found that 5,002 wells are located in 107 NWRS units and 595 pipelines transect 149 of the 599 NWRS units. Almost half of the wells (2,196) were inactive, one-third (1,665) were active, and the remainder of the wells were either plugged and abandoned or the status was unknown. Pipelines crossed a total of 2,155 kilometers (1,339 miles) of NWRS fee simple lands. The high level of oil and gas activity warrants follow up assessments for wells lacking information on production type or well status with emphasis on verifying the well status and identifying abandoned and unplugged wells. NWRS fee simple lands should also be assessed for impacts from brine, oil and other hydrocarbon spills, as well as habitat alteration associated with oil and gas, including the identification of abandoned oil and gas facilities requiring equipment removal and site restoration.     

Wildlife trade products available to U.S. military personnel serving abroad

Military personnel and affiliates have significant buying power that can influence demand for wildlife products. Purchase and transport of certain wildlife products violates United States laws, military regulations, and national country laws where the items were purchased. We surveyed military bazaars (n = 4) in Kabul, Afghanistan from June 2007 to March 2009 to observe which species were available to soldiers. In June 2008, we conducted a pilot survey of U.S. Army personnel (n = 371) stationed at Fort Drum, New York, USA, who had been deployed or stationed overseas including in Afghanistan and Iraq. Soldiers reported skins of wild felids and gray wolf Canis lupus as most commonly observed wildlife products available for sale in Afghanistan. Forty percent of respondents said they had either purchased or seen other members of the military purchase or use wildlife products. The U.S. military was willing to assist in curtailing supply and demand for wildlife products in order to protect soldiers from unknowingly breaking the law and to conserve wildlife in the countries where they serve. Regular, focused training of military personnel should be considered an important step to reducing trade in wildlife products by addressing both demand and market supply.     

Decadal Changes in Zooplankton of the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf

The abundance of the subarctic copepod, Calanus finmarchicus, and temperate, shelf copepod, Centropages typicus, was estimated from samples collected bi-monthly over the Northeast U.S. continental shelf (NEUS) from 1977–2010. Latitudinal variation in long term trends and seasonal patterns for the two copepod species were examined for four sub-regions: the Gulf of Maine (GOM), Georges Bank (GB), Southern New England (SNE), and Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB). Results suggested that there was significant difference in long term variation between northern region (GOM and GB), and the MAB for both species. C. finmarchicus generally peaked in May – June throughout the entire study region and Cen. typicus had a more complex seasonal pattern. Time series analysis revealed that the peak time for Cen. typicus switched from November – December to January - March after 1985 in the MAB. The long term abundance of C. finmarchicus showed more fluctuation in the MAB than the GOM and GB, whereas the long term abundance of Cen. typicus was more variable in the GB than other sub-regions. Alongshore transport was significantly correlated with the abundance of C. finmarchicus, i.e., more water from north, higher abundance for C. finmarchicus. The abundance of Cen. typicus showed positive relationship with the Gulf Stream north wall index (GSNWI) in the GOM and GB, but the GSNWI only explained 12–15% of variation in Cen. typicus abundance. In general, the alongshore current was negatively correlated with the GSNWI, suggesting that Cen. typicus is more abundant when advection from the north is less. However, the relationship between Cen. typicus and alongshore transport was not significant. The present study highlights the importance of spatial scales in the study of marine populations: observed long term changes in the northern region were different from the south for both species.     

Measurement of rRNA Variations in Natural Communities of Microorganisms on the Southeastern U.S. Continental Shelf

The development of a clear understanding of the physiology of marine prokaryotes is complicated by the difficulties inherent in resolving the activity of various components of natural microbial communities. Application of appropriate molecular biological techniques offers a means of overcoming some of these problems. In this regard, we have used direct probing of bulk RNA purified from selective size fractions to examine variations in the rRNA content of heterotrophic communities and Synechococcus populations on the southeastern U.S. continental shelf. Heterotrophic communities in natural seawater cultures amended with selected substrates were examined. Synechococcus populations were isolated from the water column by differential filtration. The total cellular rRNA content of the target populations was assayed by probing RNA purified from these samples with an oligonucleotide complementing a universally conserved region in the eubacterial 16S rRNA (heterotrophs) or with a 1.5-kbp fragment encoding the Synechococcus sp. strain WH 7803 16S rRNA (cyanobacteria). The analyses revealed that heterotrophic bacteria responded to the addition of glucose and trace nutrients after a 6-h lag period. However, no response was detected after amino acids were added. The cellular rRNA content increased 48-fold before dropping to a value 20 times that detected before nutrients were added. Variations in the rRNA content from Synechococcus spp. followed a distinct diel pattern imposed by the phasing of cell division within the irradiance cycle. The results indicate that careful application of these appropriate molecular biological techniques can be of great use in discerning basic physiological characteristics of selected natural populations and the mechanisms which regulate growth at the subcellular level.     

Amphibians as metrics of critical biological thresholds in forested headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

1. Amphibians are recognized both for their sensitivity to environmental perturbations and for their usefulness as cost-effective biometrics of ecosystem integrity (=system health).
2. Twenty-three years of research in headwater streams in the Klamath-Siskiyou and North Coast Bioregions of the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A., showed distinct patterns in the distribution of amphibians to variations in water temperature, % fine sediments and the amount of large woody debris (LWD).
3. Here, we review seven studies that demonstrate connections between species presence and abundance and these three in-stream variables. These data were then used to calculate realized niches for three species, the southern torrent salamander, the larval coastal tailed frog and the larval coastal giant salamander, relative to two of these environmental stressors (water temperature and % fine sediments). Moreover, multivariate generalized additive models were used to predict the presence of these three amphibians when these three stressors act in concert.
4. Stream-dwelling amphibians are shown to be extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature, amounts of fine sediment and LWD, and specific thresholds and ranges for a spectrum of animal responses can be used to manage for headwater tributary ecosystem integrity.
5. Consequently, amphibians can provide a direct metric of stream ecosystem integrity acting as surrogates for the ability of a stream network to support other stream-associated biota, such as salmonids, and their related ecological services.     

Metals that Drive Health-Based Remedial Decisions for Soils at U.S. Department of Defense Sites

This study was undertaken to establish which metals are most likely to drive the risk-based remedial decision-making process at those U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) sites that are affected by metals in site soils. Our approach combined queries of various databases, interviews with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) experts in each Region, and communication with database administrators and DoD personnel. The databases that were used were comprehensive for DoD sites, yet sometimes contained inaccuracies. Metal concentration data for various DoD facilities were screened against established regulatory criteria for both human health and ecological endpoints. Results from this analysis were compared against the information gleaned from the interviews. This preliminary analysis indicates that the five metals that most frequently exceeded risk-based screening criteria for potential human health concerns at DoD sites, in descending order of frequency, are lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and antimony. The metals that most frequently exceeded ecological screening criteria, in order, are lead, cadmium, mercury, zinc, arsenic, chromium, and selenium. Although the majority of USEPA personnel interviewed indicated that human health risk, rather than ecological endpoints, generally drives remedial decision-making, the data indicated that ecological screening thresholds were exceeded more often than human health standards.     

Geography of Pinus elliottii Engelm. and Pinus palustris Mill. leaf life-spans in the southeastern U.S.A.

Aim Past studies have investigated differences in leaf life‐spans between deciduous and evergreen species. Environmental controls such as light, temperature, and nutrient and moisture availability explain differences in leaf life‐spans between species. This study examined intraspecific leaf life‐spans across climate and nutrient gradients within the geographical range of Pinus palustris Engelm (longleaf pine) and Pinus elliottii Mill. (slash pine). Location Five study areas in the southeastern United States were selected along the north–south geographical range of Pinus elliottii and Pinus palustris. Methods Leaf life‐span was calculated based on stand inventories and annual litterfall totals for each site, and allometric relationships between d.b.h. and foliar biomass. Results Leaf life‐span of P. elliottii ranged from 1.28 to 1.95 years between sites. Leaf life‐span of P.palustris varied by nearly a factor of 5 between the study site with the lowest and highest value (0.58–2.49 years). anova indicated that leaf life‐spans of P. elliottii were not significantly different among sites. In contrast, anova indicated a significant difference for P. palustris leaf life‐spans among sites (P < 0.05). The Tukey multiple comparisons tests showed that 2 study areas were the only pair of P. palustris sites with a significant difference in leaf life‐spans. Main conclusions The geographical variation in leaf life‐spans between two species illustrates the different phenotypic responses to environmental controls. The variation in leaf life‐spans by individuals of P. palustris across a geographical range illustrated in this study suggests that P. palustris may exhibit a greater phenotypic plasticity than P. elliottii.     

Iodine Content of U.S. Weight-Loss Food

ObjectiveThe recommended iodine intake is 150 μg/ day in adults, 220 μg/day during pregnancy, and 290 μg/ day during lactation. Individuals exclusively consuming restricted diets as part of a weight-loss program may be at risk for mild to moderate iodine deficiency. The purpose of this study was to assess the iodine content in meals and snacks from 3 U.S. commercial weight-loss programs, all of which are intended to be the sole source of dietary intake during the desired weight-loss period.MethodsThe iodine contents in the products representing 1 week of all meals and snacks from 3 U.S. commercial weight-loss programs were measured by spectrophotometry. The measured total iodine content in 1 week’s worth of food from each program is reported as an average level per day.ResultsA total of 53 total items were analyzed (29 different items [7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, 6 snacks, 2 desserts] from Jenny Craig®, 21 different items [7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners] from Nutrisystem®, and 3 different items [1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner; each to be intended to be eaten daily for 1 week] from Medifast®). Daily iodine content (mean ± SD) of meals and snacks from the weight-loss programs were 34.2 ± 1.2 (Jenny Craig®), 12.2 ± 0.7 (Nutrisystem®), and 70.1 ± 1.1 (Medifast) μg/day.ConclusionThese results indicate that the dietary content in the foods from 3 U.S. commercial weight-loss programs is far less than the recommendations for iodine intake of 150 μg/day in nonpregnant, nonlactating adults. Individuals following each weight-loss program should be advised to take a multivitamin containing 150μg of iodine daily. (Endocr Pract. 2014;20:232-235)     

Weight Counseling Patterns of U.S. Pediatricians

Objective: To estimate the proportion and characteristics of U.S. pediatricians who reportedly counsel their patients about maintaining a healthy weight. Research Methods and Procedures: Beginning in October 1998, information was collected from 813 primary care pediatricians randomly selected from a nationally representative sample. Pediatricians were asked how frequently they counseled about maintaining a healthy weight during the well‐care visits of patients in three age groups. Multivariable logistic regression determined which physician characteristics were associated with counseling. Results: Approximately fifty percent of pediatricians reportedly always counseled about maintaining a healthy weight. Those who always counseled were more likely to be women, to spend more time with patients during well‐care visits, and to conduct more well‐care visits per week from patients in one particular age group. Most pediatricians who responded that they always counseled about healthy weight reported that they counseled about physical activity and nutrition, but not about balancing caloric intake with expenditure. Discussion: Although many pediatricians report counseling about healthy weight, the frequency of counseling might be further increased by increasing the amount of time the patient spends during office visits with the pediatrician or with other professional staff, such as nurses or dieticians.