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2631. [Article] Geology of the Hamlet-North Fork of the Nehalem River area, southern Clatsop and northernmost Tillamook Counties, northwest Oregon
The middle to late Eocene tholeiitic Tillamook Volcanics compose the oldest rock unit in the Hamlet-North Fork of the Nehalem River area. Geochemical plots and field relationships indicate that these rocks ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Geology of the Hamlet-North Fork of the Nehalem River area, southern Clatsop and northernmost Tillamook Counties, northwest Oregon
- Author:
- Rarey, Phillip Jay
The middle to late Eocene tholeiitic Tillamook Volcanics compose the oldest rock unit in the Hamlet-North Fork of the Nehalem River area. Geochemical plots and field relationships indicate that these rocks were produced in an extensional tectonic setting in the developing forearc and formed an extensive tholeiltic oceanic island. The volcanics consi5t of a thick sequence of normally and reversely polarized subaerial basalt and basaltic andesite flows in the Hamlet-North Fork of the Nehalem River area. The "Gray's River area" Goble Volcanics in southwest Washington are chemically and stratigraphically correlative to the Tillamook Volcanics. Cessation of Tillamook volcanism resulted in thermal subsidence and transgression of the overlying Hamlet formation. Upper Narizian (middle to upper Eccene) nearshore fossiliferous basaltic boulder-pebble conglomerates and basaltic sandstones of the Roy Creek member of the Hamlet formation (informal) were deposited along a rocky basaltic coastline over the subsiding volcanic "island". Scanning electron microscopy shows that radial pore-filling chloritic cement has significantly reduced porosity in Roy Creek member sandstones. Micaceous and carbonaceous silty mudstones and rare thin basaltic turbidite sandstones of the Sweet Home Creek member of the Hamlet formation (informal> were deposited on the outer shelf to upper slope above the Roy Creek member as the basin continued to deepen. The Sweet Home Creek member contains abundant bathyal benthtc foraminifera assignable to the upper Narizian stage. Calcareous nannofossils collected from the unit have been assigned to subzone CP-14a which is in agreement with foraminifera data. The upper part of the Sweet Home Creek member is in part a deep marine correlative to shelf arkosic sandstones of the Cowltiz Formation which pinches out into the Sweet Home Creek member in eastern Clatsop County. Much of the detritus in the Sweet Home Creek member was derived from plutonic and metamorphic sources in contrast to the locally derived Roy Creek member. Calc-alkaline Cole Mountain basalt (informal) intrudes and overlies the Sweet Home Creek member. Cole Mountain basalt was formed in a compressional tectonic environment and emplaced on the outer continental shelf as shallow intrusions and submarine flow. The unit is chemically and petrographically distinct from the Tillamook Volcanics and chemically similar to and stratigraphically correlative to the type Goble Volcanics (e.g. low Ti02 and low P205). Unconformably overlying the Cole Mountain basalt and the Sweet Home Creek member is the bathyal, Refugian (upper Eocene), Jewell member of the Keasey Formation. It consists of three parts a basal glauconitic sandstone-siltstone, a laminated tuffaceous sandstone unit with rare small arkosic sandstone channels and occasional clastic dikes, and an upper laminated to bioturbated tuffaceous silt-mudstone. trkosic sandstones were derived from an ancesteral Columbia River system whereas abundant tuffaceous detritus was derived locally from the Cascade arc. The Refugian lower Smuggler Cove formation (informal) gradationally overlies the Jewell member and consists of bioturbated, tuffaceous, bathyal mudstones. Outer shelf, very fine-grained tuffaceous sandstones of the David Douglas tongue (informal) of the Pittsburg Bluff Formation and deeper marine correlative outer shelf to upper slope glauconitic sanstones of the middle Smuggler Cove formation overlie the lower Smuggler Cove formation. The upper Smuggler Cove formation consists of uppermost Refugian to Zemmorian bathyal, bioturbated, fossiliferous, well-indurated tuffaceous siltstone. Laminated carbonaceous mudetones and thin (<1/2 m) arkosic sandstone beds of the ball park unit in the Smuggler Cove formation overlie and interfinger with (7) the upper Smuggler Cove formation. The ball park unit is late Zemorrian (Oligocene) or Saucesian (Early Miocene) in age. Fluvial-deltaic to shallow marine sandstones and conglomerates of the lower to middle Miocene angora Peek member of the astoria Formation unconformably overlies the Smuggler Cove formation. Numerous middle to upper Miocene basalts and gabbros intrude the sedimentary rocks in the thesis area. The intrusive rocks are chemically, magnetically, petrographically, and chronologically correlative to the Grande Ronde Basalt, Frenchman Springs Member, and Pomona Member of the Columbia River Basalt Group on the Columbia Plateau. The Grande Ronde Basalt intrusives have been divided into three chemical-magnetostratigraphic units in the thesis area and correlated to subaerial Columbia River Basalt flows located approximately 35 km to the northeast. The intrusive rocks are thought to have formed by invasion of voluminous subaerial flows into soft, semiconsolidated marine sediments as first envisioned by Beeson et. al. (1979). Uplift of the Coast Range forearc ridge from late Miocene to present has resulted in subaerial erosion and exposure of rock units. Thin alluvial gravels and sands were deposited in the southeastern corner of the thesis area during the Quaternary. Structure in the thesis area is dominated by a series of east-west trending high angle faults and a younger series of conjugate northeast-and northwest-trending high angle oblique slip faults. Proton precession magnetometer traverses confirm the presence of the faults. The structure may have been produced by partial coupling of the forearc region with the subducting Farallon plate. The thesis area has been actively explored for hydrocarbons. Geologic mapping, however, shows that significant sandstone reservoirs are not present in the subsurface and, therefore, the area has low potential of hydrocarbon production. Mudstones in the thesis area average approximately 0.9-1.1% total organic carbon with vitrinite reflectance values ranging from 0.53% Ro (unbaked) to 0.72% Ro (baked). Therefore, the mudstones are a marginal to poor source of thermogenic gas but a possible source of methane gas.
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2632. [Article] Land use distributions and changes in the Willamette Valley in relation to soil characteristics
A study was undertaken in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, to document 1971 land use patterns as well as land use change in a smaller study area in the 16 years prior, and to relate these to soil characteristics. Quantification ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Land use distributions and changes in the Willamette Valley in relation to soil characteristics
- Author:
- Wiens, John Herbert
A study was undertaken in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, to document 1971 land use patterns as well as land use change in a smaller study area in the 16 years prior, and to relate these to soil characteristics. Quantification of these inter-relationships was aided by use of computer tabulation and graphic methods. Use of the data base generated and methods developed was expanded somewhat and applied to calculation and mapping of composite indices of suitabilities and limitations of soils for selected uses. Mapping of land use for 1971 and 1955 was done on color and black and white photos respectively, having a scale of about 1:62,500. To avoid creating artificial, apparent land use changes by differences in delineation and classification, mapping was done first on the higher quality 1971 color photos and then by comparison on 1955 black and white photos. Importance of various photo-interpretive factors to legend development and consistent delineation and classification became apparent and was documented. The legend utilized was, with some modification, the 1972 U.S.G.S. proposed national system for use with remote sensor data. To facilitate comparison of land use and land use change with soil survey map information, photo mapped land use information and available soil association map information was transferred to transparent mylar film over planimetric U.S.G.S. 15' topographic quadrangle sheets. This also allowed use of the square, 1000 meter Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid as reference for point sampling and geo-referenced coding of land use and soil information for computer storage. Tabulation of land use classes for the entire study area for 1971 showed the largest proportion of land to be in agricultural (53.5 percent) and forest land (38 percent) use. A further 6.5 percent was in urban use. Within the selected townships of the land use change study area the proportions were different; 65.7 percent, 14.3 percent and 17.2 percent for agricultural, forest, and urban uses respectively. Analysis of changes in land use between 1955 and 1971 in the land use change study area was done by means of transition matrices; diagonal elements represent areas of land not subject to change; off diagonal elements represent components of change. In total, between 55.9 and 72.4 percent of the land in the area studied experienced no use change, the range being due to uncertainty of classification of some land on the 1955 black and white photos. Urbanization was shown to have occurred largely at the expense of agricultural land and particularly non-irrigated cropland, pasture and orchard land uses. Some conversion of forest to urban land use (0.9 percent of the area) was documented, however. The most significant agricultural use change was a net increase in irrigated land of between 5 and 8.4 percent. A net decrease in orchard land was also recorded. Land use for 1971, not unexpectedly, showed significant concentration in certain physiographic areas and in areas with particular soil characteristics. Thus for example, urban uses were found more frequently than expected on valley-floor and stream-cut terraces, and forest land uses more frequently on foothills and mountainous uplands. Irrigated cropland was somewhat concentrated on soils in sandy, coarse loamy, coarse silty and fine silty particle size classes. Urban and cropland agriculture use classes have obviously avoided steeply sloping areas. Irrigated cropland and orchard land uses have avoided soil areas with high shrink-swell potential whereas grass seed producing croplands have not. Numerous other examples could be given. In summary, Chi-square analysis on the contigency tables of land use class and physical land characteristic classes gave highly significant values (eg. for 1971 land use/physiographic areas x ² calc = 9108.25 and x ² tab = 137.68), and thus the null hypotheses of no association between land use classification and these physical land characteristics were rejected. Three-way tabulation of soil characteristics and physiographic area classification against 1971 and 1955 land use classification allowed analysis of land use change in relation to these physical properties. The idea of composite model soils was used to provide a framework for summary of the kinds of soils subject to smallest and largest changes in particular kinds of urban, agricultural, and forest land uses. As examples, it appeared that greatest relative increases of residential and industrial uses occurred on poorly drained, fine textured, slowly permeable soils; greatest relative losses of agricultural land occurred on soils having the highest capability for agriculture, and; greatest relative increases in irrigation cropland uses occurred on soils rated good to excellent for irrigation. Other examples and trends were observed. A method for computer calculation of composite soil suitability or limitation indices for various uses was developed. Ranked indices were compared to interpretive groupings by best subjective judgement. Class frequency correlations were found to be generally good. Indices were further mapped using a computer graphics system, GRIDS. The index calculation method interfaced with a mapping capability was shown to have potential for rapid, flexible display of various soil, land use, as well as soil and land use patterns for land use planning purposes.
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2633. [Article] Physiological Responses of Loblolly Pine and Douglas-fir Seedlings from Various Provenances to Timing and Frequency of Drought Stress
Drought is expected to increase in many parts of the world and has been shown to affect tree physiology and growth, with seedlings being particularly vulnerable. Seedling drought responses are often species ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Physiological Responses of Loblolly Pine and Douglas-fir Seedlings from Various Provenances to Timing and Frequency of Drought Stress
- Author:
- Mosel, Jamie E.
Drought is expected to increase in many parts of the world and has been shown to affect tree physiology and growth, with seedlings being particularly vulnerable. Seedling drought responses are often species dependent, and even within species different populations may demonstrate a spectrum of responses to drought, from susceptibility to resistance. As both loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) have broad geographic ranges, they provide an opportunity to assess drought resistances of provenances associated with a variety of site climate conditions across their ranges. Furthermore, while studies of singular drought events have revealed important information about seedling stress responses, it has been shown that drought may impart effects even following the release from drought. In some cases, effects of drought exposure can be detrimental or lethal; however, exposure to non-lethal drought may also lead to drought acclimation, which could potentially enhance seedling functioning under subsequent droughts. This potential phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the extent to which a seedling can acclimate to drought conditions, may vary across species and across provenances within a species. This study used physiological (electron transport rate, fluorescence, and water potentials) and growth (biomass accumulation and height increment) responses for two goals: 1) to assess the drought resistances of three provenances of loblolly pine and three provenances of Douglas-fir associated with varying site climate conditions, and 2) to investigate whether previous exposure to a drought results in acclimation to a second drought. We hypothesized that: 1) drought responses would differ among the provenances in accordance with associated site climate conditions (i.e., provenances associated with mesic site climates as characterized by low climatic moisture deficit and high mean annual precipitation would be drought susceptible, and more xeric site climates as characterized by high climatic moisture deficit and low mean annual precipitation would be more drought resistant) as evidenced by physiological measures of electron transport rate, fluorescence, water potentials and growth; and 2) previous exposure to drought would result in acclimation to drought as evidenced by maintenance of physiological function (i.e., higher levels of electron transport and fluorescence) in previously drought exposed seedlings compared to previously unexposed seedlings. We also hypothesized that levels of acclimation would vary among provenances. The study yielded some evidence to support the first hypothesis regarding provenance differences in drought resistances in both species. Provenance drought resistances conformed largely to expectations, though differences were less than expected. In loblolly pine, although not statistically significant, during the second drought there was a pattern of lower maximum electron transport rates, which appeared sooner in the more mesic provenance than in the other two provenances. There were also provenance differences in seedling heights, with the most xeric of the three provenances being shorter at the beginning and the end of the study. In Douglas-fir, there were significant differences in provenance and in the interaction of treatment and provenance for maximum electron rates and fluorescence. Dark-adapted fluorescence was lower in the Coos Bay (mesic site climate) provenance during drought than in the Cascades (mesic site climate) and New Mexico (xeric site climate) provenances. The New Mexico provenance showed the least differences in fluorescence between droughted and watered treatments. The study also yielded some evidence to support the second hypothesis regarding drought acclimation in both species and among provenances. During the second drought, there was a pattern of higher maximum electron transport rates and fluorescence in previously drought exposed seedlings as compared to seedlings previously unexposed to drought. This difference was significant in the mesic provenance (North Carolina) of loblolly pine, with maximum electron transport rates significantly higher in the previously drought exposed treatment compared to the newly exposed treatment during and following the second drought. Patterns of lower electron transport rates in seedlings previously unexposed to drought compared to seedlings previously exposed to drought also appeared in Douglas-fir during the second drought, though not with statistical significance. However, the most xeric provenance showed the reverse pattern during and following the second drought, with lower maximum electron transport rates in the previously drought exposed treatment compared to the treatment previously unexposed to drought. Chlorophyll fluorescence values were significantly higher during the second drought in the previously droughted treatments compared to newly drought-exposed treatments in some provenances of loblolly pine and Douglas-fir. Lastly, seedlings exposed to an early drought had significantly lower final heights than seedlings unexposed to an early drought in both species, although the differences were greater in loblolly pine than Douglas-fir. It may be that growth acclimation, especially in the form of height reductions, influenced physiological responses during a second drought. Further studies are necessary to provide more conclusive evidence in support or against the two hypotheses. Nonetheless, this study provides valuable information on the drought responses of young, greenhouse-grown seedlings of two species that are widespread in North America and that are economically important throughout the world. Further studies in a wider range of age classes, incorporating field studies or more natural settings, may help better predict plant responses in the face of changing climate.
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2634. [Article] Northern fur seal reproductive rates and early maternal care
The majority of the world's breeding population of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) is found on the Pribilof Islands (St. Paul and St. George) in the Bering Sea, Alaska. Pup production on these ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Northern fur seal reproductive rates and early maternal care
- Author:
- Kunisch, E. (Erin)
The majority of the world's breeding population of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) is found on the Pribilof Islands (St. Paul and St. George) in the Bering Sea, Alaska. Pup production on these islands experienced an irregular but overall decline since the early 1970's. Between 1998 and 2010, pup production declined precipitously at an annual rate of 4.9% on the Pribilof Islands, and 5.5% on St. Paul Island. Specific reasons for this decline remain unknown, and contemporary estimates for many vital rate parameters including reproductive rates are unavailable. This study determined a contemporary estimate of natality and fertility rates, as well as reproductive timing on the Polovina Cliffs rookery of St. Paul Island during the 2008 (30 June-31 August) and 2009 (1 July-25 August) breeding seasons. Natality rate (defined as the number of pups born divided by the number of reproductively mature females) was determined from visual observations of parturition or associated maternal behavior in 208 and 217 individually marked females (via flipper tags) in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Data yielded observed natality estimates of 0.79 in 2008 and 0.88 in 2009. The fertility rate (defined as the number of pups born divided by the total number of females present, irrespective of reproductive maturity/age) was determined for the 2008 breeding season only. This ratio of total pup to female counts was derived from adjusted daily cross-sectional counts conducted through the breeding season. Maximum pup and female counts were derived as asymptotes of sigmoid growth models fitted to corrected daily counts. Live pup counts were corrected for mortalities by estimates of cumulative pup mortalities. Daily counts of females present in the rookery were corrected for reduced detection probabilities resulting from increased maternal foraging trip durations through the season, typical of attendance patterns associated with colonial, income breeders. Daily detection probabilities for individually marked females were generated from Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) open population models using maximum likelihood estimators (MLE) in Program MARK. Multiple a priori models accounting for the effects of possible covariates on detection probabilities were evaluated in an information-theoretic approach using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and AICc model weights. Data yielded a minimum fertility rate estimate of 0.60 in 2008. Detection probabilities derived from the top CJS model for dual flipper-tagged females only were used to adjust the daily cross-section counts of all (marked and unmarked) females. Therefore, the actual fertility rate is probably higher than the estimate presented here, which should be regarded as the lowest likely value for 2008. However, AICc model weights also demonstrated the absence of density effects on detection probability estimates. This supports the applicability of marked female-based detection probabilities for correcting cross-sectional counts of all females and further suggests that the actual fertility estimate likely does not differ much from the presented estimate. Median dates of birth were calculated as the date closest to 50% of modeled corrected pup count asymptotes, yielding median dates of 17 July in 2008 and 15 July in 2009. Pregnant females are highly consistent in their arrival dates, with parturition occurring approximately 1 day after arrival. Median observed dates of arrival from individually marked females resulted in dates of 16 July in 2008 and 15 July in 2009. These dates occurred 5 to 13 days later than historic reports from 1951 through 1995. With median arrival dates 1 day prior to parturition, the observed match between birth dates derived from pup counts and from observed arrival dates of marked females supports the finding of a contemporary delay in the timing of parturition. Median arrival derived as the date closest to 50% of the asymptote from corrected and modeled female counts yielded 13 July in 2008. This earlier data is likely an effect of the inclusion of immature and nulli-parous females. In a subset of 62 females with pregnancy confirmed through a trans-rectal ultrasonography procedure in November 2007 and 29 females in 2008, the return rate for the following reproductive season was 0.92 and 0.76, respectively. In 2008, the return and natality rate was measured by radiotelemetry data, detected from females outfitted with VHF-radio transmitter. In 2009 both rates were determined by observational data. Observed natality rates for returned females of a known pregnancy status were 0.95 in 2008 and 0.96 in 2009. Radiotelemetry data from 76 females was analyzed for early maternal attendance patterns (duration and ratio of presences and absences) in 2008. The mean date of detected return was 18 July. The mean duration of the perinatal period was 7.5 days (+/- 1.3 SD). Excluding the perinatal period, the mean duration of presence on shore for the first five visits was 1.47 days (+/- 0.21 SD). The mean duration of absence at sea for the first five trips was 7.07 days (+/- 0.42 SD). Results presented from this study do not provide any direct evidence of a contemporary reduction in natality or fertility rates in northern fur seals. Since observed rates were comparably high and consistent between 2008 and 2009, it is unlikely that reduced natality rates are contributing to the current population trajectory. Attendance patterns do not provide any evidence of increased maternal foraging effort or secondarily, reduced prey availability. Interestingly, median pupping dates were found to occur significantly later than historical estimates. Potential reasons for this shift could be an increase in younger females within the reproductive female population at this rookery, or a shift in the timing of ocean climate conditions and peak prey availability during the breeding season.
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2635. [Article] Selection on larval and adult body size in a marine fish: potential evolutionary responses and effects on population dynamics
Many species have complex life cycles in which a dispersive larval stage is followed by a relatively sedentary adult stage. For such species, reproductive output is often high and large variation in survivorship ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Selection on larval and adult body size in a marine fish: potential evolutionary responses and effects on population dynamics
- Author:
- Johnson, Darren W.
Many species have complex life cycles in which a dispersive larval stage is followed by a relatively sedentary adult stage. For such species, reproductive output is often high and large variation in survivorship throughout early life-history phases (eggs and larvae) can lead to dramatic fluctuations in recruitment which may in turn drive variation in the abundance of juveniles and adults. Early in the life cycle may therefore be a critical period for both natural selection and population dynamics. On one hand, variability in survival during early stages may provide ample opportunity for selection on early life-history traits. On the other hand, phenotypic variation in early life-history traits and selective mortality may be an important source of variability in population dynamics. Variation in survival of marine fish larvae may be a major driver of variability in benthic population size. However, little is known about how variation in larval phenotype may affect larval survival, and less in known about the evolutionary potential of marine fish larvae. I quantified both environmental and genetic sources of variation in larval traits for a field population of a common Atlantic and Caribbean coral-reef fish, the bicolor damselfish (Pomacentridae: Stegastes partitus). I combined field demographic studies and manipulative experiments in the Bahamas to estimate heritability and quantitative genetic parameters for both larval size and swimming performance – two traits that are associated with early survival. I also compiled published estimates of viability selection on larval size from eight species of fish to estimate the average magnitude of selection on this trait. The initial results of these analyses were somewhat paradoxical. Despite ample heritability (h2 = 0.29 for larval size), and strong selection on larval size (mean selection differential = 0.484), the observed mean larval size is quite far from the estimated phenotypic optimum (0.481 standard deviations greater than current mean size), suggesting that marine fish larvae are on average, maladapted with respect to survival during the larval and juvenile phases. Further analyses focused on potential evolutionary constraints on larval size. First, I estimated trade-offs in individual reproductive output between larval quality and quantity. Mothers that produced larger larvae with greater swimming abilities tended to produce fewer larvae, and these effects explained a large component of the mismatch between mean larval size and the phenotypic optimum for survival. Fluctuation in direct selection on larvae may also partially explain why mean larval size is less than optimal. Evolution of larval size may also be strongly influenced by genetic correlations with body size expressed at later ages. I demonstrated substantial additive genetic covariance between adult asymptotic size and both larval size-at-hatching and swimming performance (0.212 and 0.241 on variancestandardized traits, respectively). Adult asymptotic size was also linked to larval traits via size-dependent maternal effects, in which larger mothers provisioned offspring with more yolk resources. Selection on adult body size may therefore cause a substantial correlated genetic response in larval size that may strongly affect the overall evolutionary trajectory of larval traits. I also examined natural selection on body size and growth form in S. partitus. Using data on size, growth and longevity of individual fish studied at 4 sites over a 7-year period, I analyzed both ontogenetic and spatial variation in the magnitude and direction of viability selection on body size. Selection on asymptotic (adult) size was strong and positive at some sites, but weak and negative at other sites. Moreover, fish that were small as juveniles generally experienced greater survival, even if large adult size conferred survival benefits later in life. Both spatial and ontogenetic reversals in selection on body size would be expected to produce similar reversals in the direction of correlated responses of larvae, thereby altering the evolutionary response of larvae and potentially preventing larval size from evolving toward its optimum value. Although this research identified several potential constraints on the evolution of larval traits, there is still considerable scope for an evolutionary response to selection, especially if selection is consistent and strong. Many marine fishes are subject to size-selective fishing where larger, fast-growing individuals are selectively removed from the population. Such effects are usually strong because fishing mortality rates can greatly exceed natural mortality rates and fishing selectivity and intensity are often constant. Although correlated responses to selection have been hypothesized as potentially important consequences of fishery selection, estimates of quantitative genetic parameters required to predict correlated responses to such selection have been lacking. To my knowledge, my research provides the first estimates of quantitative genetic parameters for larval traits and their links to adult size in a wild population of fish. I used these data to predict how larval size would respond to selection on adults and how evolutionary shifts in larval size would in turn affect population replenishment. My results predict that observed rates of fishery selection on adult marine fishes may decrease average larval size by approximately 0.11 standard deviations after a single generation of selection. Such a reduction in larval size is predicted to reduce survivorship through the larval and early juvenile phases by about 16%. Because the dynamics of many fish populations are highly sensitive to changes in survival of early life stages, the evolution of a higher incidence of low-quality larvae in response to fishery selection may have substantial consequences for the viability of fished populations. Overall, this research indicates that a complex interplay among trait variation, phenotypic selection, and demographic rates may have strong effects on both evolutionary responses and population dynamics. Our understanding of such interactions will be substantially advanced by applying evolutionary quantitative genetics to traditional studies of demography and population dynamics. A combination of these two approaches can yield significant insight into basic evolutionary questions (e.g., why larvae are smaller than expected), as well as applied conservation problems (e.g., predicting correlated responses to fishery selection).
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2636. [Article] Science and efficacy of mild sodium hydroxide treatments in enzyme-based wheat straw-to-glucose processing
The work described in this dissertation focused on chemistry related to the use of aqueous sodium hydroxide as a treatment in the processing of wheat straw. A major emphasis was the comprehensive evaluation ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Science and efficacy of mild sodium hydroxide treatments in enzyme-based wheat straw-to-glucose processing
- Author:
- Sophonputtanaphoca, Supaporn
The work described in this dissertation focused on chemistry related to the use of aqueous sodium hydroxide as a treatment in the processing of wheat straw. A major emphasis was the comprehensive evaluation of straw component partitioning due to sodium hydroxide (NaOH) processing. This was evaluated over a range of NaOH concentrations (0‐10%, w/v), all at 50°C, 5 h treatment period, and 3% solid loading. Solid and liquid phases resulting from NaOH treatments were evaluated. Total solids recovered in the NaOH‐treated solid phase ranged from 47.4‐88.0%. Overall carbohydrate recovery in the combined solid and liquid phases was negatively correlated with the alkali concentration of the treatment liquor. The glucan content of the NaOH‐treated solid phase ranged from 37.2‐67.4%. Glucan recovery in the solid phase was relatively high in all cases, the minimum value being ~98%. Increasing amounts of xylan partitioned into the liquid phase as sodium hydroxide concentrations increased – it ranged from 31‐83% of the xylan being recovered in the soluble phase. Carbohydrate analyses of the pretreated liquor revealed that the majority of carbohydrate loss from the solid fraction could be recovered in the liquid phase in form of oligomers and monomers due to alkaline degradation. The interconversion of glucose, fructose, and mannose under the alkaline condition played an important role in the presence of those sugars. Increase in NaOH concentration contributed to increase in amount of cellulose‐derived and hemicellulose‐derived oligomers in the pretreated liquor. All oligomers except fructooligomers in NaOH pretreated liquor were higher than those found in water extraction at 50°C, 5 h. Total carbohydrate recovery from the solid and liquid fractions was as high as 99% for glucose and glucan in 5% NaOH treatment and 80‐95% for xylose and xylan in 1-10% NaOH treatment. The presence of NaOH as extraction reagent dramatically induced lignin and ash removal from the pretreated solid with up to 63% acid insoluble lignin (AIL) and 87% ash extraction. Solid fractions resulting from NaOH pretreatments (up to 5% NaOH) were tested for their susceptibility to enzymatic saccharification using cellulase and cellulase/xylanase enzyme preparations. The cellulase/xylanase enzyme preparation was found to be more effective at cellulose saccharification than the cellulase enzyme preparation alone. Maximum glucose yield, which corresponded to the 5% NaOH treatment, was 82% over the standard 48 h saccharification period. Extended saccharifications times to 120 h showed that the conversion yield approached 90%. Sequential treatments of the straw (i.e. initial alkali treatment – first enzyme saccharification – second alkali treatment ‐ second enzyme treatment) revealed the NaOH treatment has the potential to render essentially all (~99%) of the straw glucan susceptible to enzyme saccharification. This suggests that the layered molecular arrangement of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in the cell wall impacts biomass recalcitrance and glucan conversion yield. The other major focus of this dissertation research was the characterization of alkali neutralization, which occurs during the aqueous alkali processing of wheat straw. The approach taken was to evaluate the time course of alkali uptake and to determine the underlying nature of alkali uptake. The knowledge generated from this study is useful for understanding the nature of the alkali‐induced chemistry that is at the heart of alkali processing of agricultural byproducts, foods, and forest products. Alkali uptake/acid generation measurements were monitored for wheat straw suspensions at pH 11 and 30°C. The first phase of alkali uptake corresponded to the 30‐second time period over which the pH of the wheat straw suspension was adjusted from its original pH (~6.6) to pH 11. Alkali neutralization during this period was attributed to the instantaneous ionization of solvent accessible Bronstad acids. Following pH adjustment to 11.0, the time course of subsequent alkali uptake was recorded. The time course appeared biphasic. The early phase, which corresponded to the relatively rapid uptake of alkali, was evident during the first 24 hours. The later phase, which was characterized by the relatively slow uptake of alkali, was maintained for the length of the study (up to 96 hours). Alkali uptake during the early phase of the time course appears to be determined by the rate of hydrolysis of readily accessible esters – primarily acetic acid esters (acetyl groups). Alkali uptake during the later phase of the time course appears to be impacted by the rate of alkali penetration into the straw and the rate of production of alkali‐induced acid degradation products. The uptake of alkali in the pH adjustment phase was ~ 120 μEq per gram wheat straw, the uptake of alkali in the early phase of time course was ~ 1,064 μEq per gram wheat straw, and the rate of uptake in the later phase of the time course 6.10 μEq per gram wheat straw per hour. Amount of acetyl groups, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid generated during 96-h pretreatment revealed that they are major esters being hydrolyzed under the studied condition. Combined, these ester-derived acids contributed up to ~ 28% of overall alkali uptake. In addition, alkaline degradation products quantified in this study showed additional ~ 28% contribution to the overall alkali uptake.
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2637. [Article] Study of Prestige and Resource Control Using Fish Remains from Cathlapotle, a Plankhouse Village on the Lower Columbia River
Social inequality is a trademark of Northwest Coast native societies, and the relationship between social prestige and resource control, particularly resource ownership, is an important research issue ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Study of Prestige and Resource Control Using Fish Remains from Cathlapotle, a Plankhouse Village on the Lower Columbia River
- Author:
- Rosenberg, J. Shoshana
- Year:
- 2015
Social inequality is a trademark of Northwest Coast native societies, and the relationship between social prestige and resource control, particularly resource ownership, is an important research issue on the Northwest Coast. Faunal remains are one potential but as yet underutilized path for examining this relationship. My thesis work takes on this approach through the analysis of fish remains from the Cathlapotle archaeological site (45CL1). Cathlapotle is a large Chinookan village site located on the Lower Columbia River that was extensively excavated in the 1990s. Previous work has established prestige distinctions between houses and house compartments, making it possible to examine the relationship between prestige and the spatial distribution of fish remains. In this study, I examine whether having high prestige afforded its bearers greater access to preferred fish, utilizing comparisons of fish remains at two different levels of social organization, between and within households, to determine which social mechanisms could account for potential differences in access to fish resources. Differential access to these resources within the village could have occurred through household-level ownership of harvesting sites or control over the post-harvesting distribution of food by certain individuals. Previous work in this region on the relationship between faunal remains and prestige has relied heavily on ethnohistoric sources to determine the relative value of taxa. These sources do not provide adequate data to make detailed comparisons between all of the taxa encountered at archaeological sites, so in this study I utilize optimal foraging theory as an alternative means of determining which fish taxa were preferred. Optimal foraging theory provides a universal, quantitative analytical rule for ranking fish that I was able to apply to all of the taxa encountered at Cathlapotle. Given these rankings, which are based primarily on size, I examine the degree to which relative prestige designations of two households (Houses 1 and 4) and compartments within one of those households (House 1) are reflected in the spatial distribution of fish remains. I also offer a new method for quantifying sturgeon that utilizes specimen weight to account for differential fragmentation rates while still allowing for sturgeon abundance to be compared to the abundances of other taxa that have been quantified by number of identified specimens (NISP). Based on remains recovered from 1/4" mesh screens, comparisons between compartments within House 1 indicate that the chief and possibly other elite members of House 1 likely had some control over the distribution of fish resources within their household, taking more of the preferred sturgeon and salmon, particularly more chinook salmon, for themselves. Comparisons between households provide little evidence to support household-based ownership of fishing sites. A greater abundance of chinook salmon in the higher prestige House 1 may indicate ownership of fishing platforms at major chinook fisheries such as Willamette Falls or Cascades Rapids, but other explanations for this difference between households are possible. Analyses of a limited number of bulk samples, which were included in the study in order to examine utilization of very small fishes, provided insufficient data to allow for meaningful intrasite comparisons. These data indicate that the inhabitants of Cathlapotle were exploiting a broad fish subsistence base that included large numbers of eulachon and stickleback in addition to the larger fishes. This study provides a promising approach for examining prestige on the Northwest Coast and expanding our understanding of the dynamics between social inequality and resource access and control.
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2638. [Article] An Analysis of the Ability and Achievement of Business Education Students Compared to Non-Business Education Students
Since some educators believe the underachiever and the low-ability student are frequently placed in business education classes for the purpose of finding him an easy way through school, this study attempts ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- An Analysis of the Ability and Achievement of Business Education Students Compared to Non-Business Education Students
- Author:
- Warberg, William B.
- Year:
- 1971
Since some educators believe the underachiever and the low-ability student are frequently placed in business education classes for the purpose of finding him an easy way through school, this study attempts to determine just where the business education student actually ranks in achievement and ability as compared to students in other academic areas. The students used in this study come from the graduating classes of 1969 and 1970 of Beaverton and Sunset High Schools in Beaverton School District 48, Beaverton, Oregon. A business education student has been defined as one who has successfully completed at least two of the following courses: Shorthand II; Office Techniques or Vocational Office Block; Bookkeeping; and Business Law. A survey instrument was used to separate the business education from the non-business education students. The survey instrument records the scores of DAT (Differential Aptitude Tests) and the GPAs (grade point averages) of all students included in this study. Mean scores were computed reflecting the DAT scores and GPAs of both groups. These mean scores reflecting the difference between the business education and non-business education students were tested to determine the level of significance. StUdents included in this survey numbered 1705: 199 classified as business education students and 1506 classified as non-business education students. The study revealed a sharp decline in the number of students enrolled in business education in 1970, as compared to 1969. The mean DAT score for the business education student was 56.35 as compared to 62.60 for the non-business education student. The difference of 6.25 was tested and had a critical ratio of 3.11, which is significant at the .01 level. The mean GPA for business education students was 2.56 as compared to 2.68 for the non-business education students. This difference of .12 was tested and had a critical ratio of .86, which is not significant. The reasons for the decline in the number of students enrolled In business may be: (1) the addition of new courses to the school curriculum; (2) fewer students are taking business education classes as defined by this study; and (3) business education is not as appealling as it once was because of changing business patterns. The fact that business eciucation students are of a lower ability might be because; (1) business education classes appeal to the lower ability student; or (2) that counselors do, in fact, use business education as a dumping ground. Since this study revealed that the GPA of business education students nearly equals that of other students, the possibility exists that: (1) business education is more Interesting than some other subjects; (2) the content of business education classes is less challenging; (3) less student performance is required in business education; or (4) business education attracts the overachiever. The main purposes of this study were to: (1) provide more effective guidance and placement of students in business education; (2) provide informative data upon which to base future curriculum planning; and (3) verify or disprove the prevailing assumption that business education students are of a lower caliber. Since this study has revealed that the number of students enrolled in business education has declined and that business education students are in reality of lower ability, the results have been given to the counseling and business education departments at the schools involved. It is hoped that the results will help educators make a realistic assessment of the condition that does exists, so students can be placed and schooled in their areas of interest. Further studies are needed to: (1) determine whether or not the decline of students enrolling in business education will continue; (2) determine if the low-ability students are being channeled into new courses added to the school curriculum; and (3) reveal how business education students are performing in specific academic areas. Such studies might be of additional value to counselors through a more effective channeling of students into appropriate interest areas and careers.
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2639. [Article] Understanding the Emission from Semiconductor Nanoparticles
This dissertation describes the synthesis and characterization of fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) in order to optimize their biomedical utility for imaging and sensing applications. While ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Understanding the Emission from Semiconductor Nanoparticles
- Author:
- Manhat, Beth Ann
- Year:
- 2012
This dissertation describes the synthesis and characterization of fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) in order to optimize their biomedical utility for imaging and sensing applications. While both direct and indirect bandgap semiconductor NPs have been studied, control over their emission properties vary. Quantum confinement (QC), which primarily controls the emission wavelength of nanosized semiconductors, dictates that as the size of semiconductor NPs decrease, the magnitude of the bandgap increases, resulting in changes in the observed emission wavelength: smaller NPs have a larger bandgap, and thus a bluer emission. However, surface, interfacial, or shell defects can act as non-radiative or radiative recombination sites for excitons formed within the NP; the latter results in emission competition with the bandgap transition, as described Chapters 1 and 2. Because the emission wavelengths of direct bandgap semiconductor NPs correlate with size according to the expectations of QC, and are stable in aqueous environments with high quantum efficiencies (quantum yield, QY), current research focuses on their potential biomedical applications. Chapter 3 describes red-emitting CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) that exhibit a concentration-dependent decrease in fluorescence intensity in response to the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). A mechanistic study was performed to understand a 5-HT-dependent decrease in QD emission and calibration curves relating QD intensity loss to 5-HT concentration in ensemble and single QD studies were generated. Unfortunately, the known toxicity of CdSe-based QDs has generated interest in more benign semiconductor NPs to replace these QDs in biological applications, while maintaining the same degree of control over the emission color and QY. Bulk indirect bandgap semiconductors, such as Si, have low efficiency inter-band transitions, and Si NPs are known to contain radiative defects that can alter the emission wavelength from QC-based size expectations; these competitive emission pathways must be controlled in order for Si NPs to be successfully used in biological applications. In general, synthetic methods that gives precise control over both the particle size and surface termination are needed in order to produce emission controlled Si NPs. Relative to groups II and VI QDs, synthetic routes to prepare Si NPs are few in numbers, and the size vs. defect emission events are difficult to assign. Not only do these assignments vary amongst reports, but they also vary with particle size, solvent, sample age, and identities of the surface ligands. Si NPs have been prepared through two synthetic routes using the Zintl salt, sodium silicide (NaSi) and ammonium bromide (NH4Br) as precursors. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis performed in the solvent N,N,-dimethylformamide (DMF). This reaction produces blue-emitting Si NPs (5.02 ± 1.21 nm) that bear partial hydride surface termination. However, it was determined that the solvent was able to interact with the Si NP surface, and prevent subsequent functionalization. This observation was used advantageously, and Chapter 5 describes a one-pot Zintl salt metathesis of Si NPs (3.9 + 9.8 nm) performed in a bi-functional (amine or carboxylic acid) solvent ligand, where the observations indicated that the solvent ligands coordinate to the Si NP. The emission maxima of the Si NPs prepared from the Zintl salt metathesis exhibited a dependence on the excitation energy, and is indicative of emission that is influenced by QC, which likely originates from deeply oxide embedded 1-2 nm crystalline cores. The Si NPs prepared from the one-pot Zintl salt metathesis were exposed to metals salt ions of varying reduction potentials to determine the band edges by what will or will not be reduced (Chapter 6). By monitoring the emission intensity of the Si NPs, in addition to the UV-Vis of the metal ions, the band edge of Si NPs may be determined. The value of the band edge may lend insight into the origin of Si NP emission. To utilize fluorescent Si NPs for biological applications, red emission is strongly preferred. Unfortunately, when preparing aqueous Si NPs, red emission usually changes to blue, likely from the oxidation of the Si NP surface. Therefore, the red emission needs to be efficiently protected from surface oxidants. Because both increased chain lengths and steric modalities have been found to protect the emission properties of Si NPs, red-emitting, ester-functionalized Si NPs (5.51+1.35 nm) with varying chain lengths and ester termination moieties were prepared to determine the best method of preserving the observed red emission in the presence of potential alcoholic oxidants. By determining the best was to protect Si NPs emission, the red-emission from Si NPs may be preserved for biological applications.
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Investment in Research and Development (R&D) is necessary for innovation, allowing an organization to maintain a competitive edge. The U.S. Federal Government invests billions of dollars, primarily in ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Development of a Technology Transfer Score for Evaluating Research Proposals: Case Study of Demand Response Technologies in the Pacific Northwest
- Author:
- Estep, Judith
- Year:
- 2017
Investment in Research and Development (R&D) is necessary for innovation, allowing an organization to maintain a competitive edge. The U.S. Federal Government invests billions of dollars, primarily in basic research technologies to help fill the pipeline for other organizations to take the technology into commercialization. However, it is not about just investing in innovation, it is about converting that research into application. A cursory review of the research proposal evaluation criteria suggests that there is little to no emphasis placed on the transfer of research results. This effort is motivated by a need to move research into application. One segment that is facing technology challenges is the energy sector. Historically, the electric grid has been stable and predictable; therefore, there were no immediate drivers to innovate. However, an aging infrastructure, integration of renewable energy, and aggressive energy efficiency targets are motivating the need for research and to put promising results into application. Many technologies exist or are in development but the rate at which they are being adopted is slow. The goal of this research is to develop a decision model that can be used to identify the technology transfer potential of a research proposal. An organization can use the model to select the proposals whose research outcomes are more likely to move into application. The model begins to close the chasm between research and application -- otherwise known as the "valley of death." A comprehensive literature review was conducted to understand when the idea of technology application or transfer should begin. Next, the attributes that are necessary for successful technology transfer were identified. The emphasis of successful technology transfer occurs when there is a productive relationship between the researchers and the technology recipient. A hierarchical decision model, along with desirability curves, was used to understand the complexities of the researcher and recipient relationship, specific to technology transfer. In this research, the evaluation criteria of several research organizations were assessed to understand the extent to which the success attributes that were identified in literature were considered when reviewing research proposals. While some of the organizations included a few of the success attributes, none of the organizations considered all of the attributes. In addition, none of the organizations quantified the value of the success attributes. The effectiveness of the model relies extensively on expert judgments to complete the model validation and quantification. Subject matter experts ranging from senior executives with extensive experience in technology transfer to principal research investigators from national labs, universities, utilities, and non-profit research organizations were used to ensure a comprehensive and cross-functional validation and quantification of the decision model. The quantified model was validated using a case study involving demand response (DR) technology proposals in the Pacific Northwest. The DR technologies were selected based on their potential to solve some of the region's most prevalent issues. In addition, several sensitivity scenarios were developed to test the model's response to extreme case scenarios, impact of perturbations in expert responses, and if it can be applied to other than demand response technologies. In other words, is the model technology agnostic? In addition, the flexibility of the model to be used as a tool for communicating which success attributes in a research proposal are deficient and need strengthening and how improvements would increase the overall technology transfer score were assessed. The low scoring success attributes in the case study proposals (e.g. project meetings, etc.) were clearly identified as the areas to be improved for increasing the technology transfer score. As a communication tool, the model could help a research organization identify areas they could bolster to improve their overall technology transfer score. Similarly, the technology recipient could use the results to identify areas that need to be reinforced, as the research is ongoing. The research objective is to develop a decision model resulting in a technology transfer score that can be used to assess the technology transfer potential of a research proposal. The technology transfer score can be used by an organization in the development of a research portfolio. An organization's growth, in a highly competitive global market, hinges on superior R&D performance and the ability to apply the results. The energy sector is no different. While there is sufficient research being done to address the issues facing the utility industry, the rate at which technologies are adopted is lagging. The technology transfer score has the potential to increase the success of crossing the chasm to successful application by helping an organization make informed and deliberate decisions about their research portfolio.