Dynamic riparian buffer widths from potential non-point source pollution areas in forested watersheds

Efforts to manage National Forests in the USA for wood production, while protecting water quality, are currently constrained by models that do not address the temporal dynamics of variable non-point source (NPS) areas. NPS areas are diffuse sources of contaminants contributed mostly by runoff as a result of different land use activities. Riparian vegetative buffers are often used to control contaminants from NPS areas but defining suitable widths require different policy considerations. In this study, the approach for defining suitable buffer widths is to apply a distributed process-based model that predicts potential NPS areas prone to generating runoff in relation to overland flow distances. A case study of the concept was applied to the 72 km² Pete King watershed located in the Clearwater National Forest (CNF) in central Idaho, USA. This grid modeling approach is based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) and it integrates the soil moisture routing (SMR) model with probabilistic analysis. The SMR model is a daily water balance model that simulates the hydrology of forested watersheds using real or stochastically generated climate data, a digital elevation model, soil, and land use data. The probabilistic analysis incorporates the variability of soil depth and accounts for uncertainties associated with the prediction of NPS areas using Monte Carlo simulation. A 1-year simulation for the case study location was performed to examine the spatial and temporal changes in NPS areas prone to generating runoff. The results of the simulation indicate that the seasonal variability of saturated areas determines the spatial dynamics of the potential NPS pollution. Use of this model for the design of riparian buffer widths would increase the effectiveness of decision-making in forest management and planning by mapping or delineating NPS areas likely to transport contaminants to perennial surface water bodies.     

Finding the appropriate level of complexity for a simulation model: An example with a forest growth model

The topic of model complexity is fundamental to model developers and model users. In this study, we investigate how over- and under-fitting of a driving function in a simulation model influences the predictive ability of the model. Secondly, we investigate whether model selection approaches succeed in selecting driving functions with the best predictive ability. We address these issues through an example with the forest simulator SORTIE-ND. Utilizing maximum likelihood methods and individual tree growth data we parameterize five growth functions of increasing complexity. We then incorporate each growth function into the simulation model SORTIE-ND and test predicted growth against independent data. Compared to the independent data, the simplest and the most complex growth functions had the poorest predictive ability while functions of intermediate complexity had the best predictive ability. The poor predictive ability of the simplest model is caused by poor approximation of the system while the poor predictive ability of the most complex model is caused by biased parameter estimates. A growth function of intermediate complexity was the most parsimonious model where error due to approximation and error due to estimation were simultaneously minimized. The model selection criteria AIC and BIC were found to select complex functions that were over-fitted according to the independent data comparison. BIC was closer to choosing the model that minimized prediction error than AIC. In this example, BIC is the more appropriate model selection criterion. It is important that both model developers and models users remember that more complex models do not always result in better predictive models.     

Factors affecting in-transit shrink and liver abscesses in fed steers

Live weight loss (shrink) and liver conditions (abscesses) were determined on 3,570 crossbred steers of predominantly British breeding over a 5-yr period. Starting in November 1979, steers were placed on feed at bimonthly intervals and provided one of three housing treatments: no shelter, access to overhead shelter or confinement. All steers were implanted with Synovex during the first 3 yr and Compudose the last 2 yr and fed a diet consisting of high-moisture corn grain, which provided 85% of the energy, and corn silage, along with a protein, vitamin and mineral supplement. Cattle were processed into beef after a feeding period of approximately 160 d. Year affected shrink (P less than .001), and month on feed and housing type tended to alter shrink. Cattle marketed during summer and fall and those outside without overhead shelter tended to shrink more. Year, month on feed and housing type affected liver condition (P less than .01). Cattle started on feed in November and January and cattle housed in confinement or outside without overhead shelter had higher incidences of liver abscesses and slower average daily gains (P less than .01). Daily gains for steers with normal and abnormal livers were not different (P greater than .19) for any month started on feed or housing treatment. These results indicate that under the conditions of this study a 2 or 3% weight loss should be expected during the marketing of finished steers and a 16% incidence of liver abscesses should be anticipated, with some modification of the latter due to time of year and housing. The presence of liver abscesses at the time of processing steers into beef did not reduce feedlot performance.     

Effects of fluid therapy on total protein and its influence on calculated unmeasured anions in the anesthetized dog

Objective – To determine the effects of IV lactated Ringer's solution at a rate of 10 mL/kg/h in anesthetized dogs on total protein (TP) measurement and calculation of unmeasured anions (UAs) using 2 quantitative methods of acid‐base status determination, strong ion gap, and modified base deficit. Design – Prospective clinical study. Animals – Forty‐three dogs, anesthetic health status I or II according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. Interventions – Arterial blood analyses for gas tensions, acid‐base balance, electrolytes, lactate, hemoglobin (Hb), PCV, and TP were performed under general anesthesia immediately after induction and again after administration of approximately 10 mL/kg of lactated Ringer's solution (given over 1 h). UAs were determined using strong ion gap and modified base deficit. Measurements and Main Results – Fluid replacement for 1 hour decreased TP, Hb, and PCV by 8%, 7.8%, and 8.6%, respectively. The degree of decrease in TP did not impact the calculation of UAs by quantitative methods when the prefluid administration TP value was used instead of the postfluid TP value in the calculation. Comparison of the two methods showed a low correlation (r≤0.68) and marked differences in the precision (1.96 SD). Conclusions: The degree of decrease in TP after 1 hour of fluid replacement at approximately 10 mL/kg does not affect determination of UAs when prefluid TP is used within that time period.     

THE EFFECT OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE ON RADIOGRAPHIC CARDIAC SILHOUETTE SIZE IN HEALTHY CATS

Dexmedetomidine, an alpha₂‐adrenergic agonist, may be used in companion animals for chemical restraint, including cardiac evaluation. Echocardiographic changes associated with alpha₂‐adrenergic agonists have been described; however reports of radiographic changes in cats were not found at the time of this study. Aims of this observational, prospective, experimental study were to describe the effects of dexmedetomidine on the radiographic appearance of the cardiac silhouette in healthy, adult cats. Fourteen healthy adult cats received dexmedetomidine 40 mcg/kg IM. Right lateral, left lateral, ventrodorsal, and dorsoventral thoracic radiographs were obtained for each cat at three time points: presedation, intrasedation, and postsedation (≥ two hours after reversal with atipamezole). Radiographs were evaluated in a blinded, randomized fashion by two independent observers using the vertebral heart score on all four views, the number of intercostal spaces on lateral projections, and the percent width of thorax on ventrodorsal and dorsoventral projections. Median vertebral heart score on right lateral view was significantly increased intrasedation (median = 7.8; range = 7.25–8.25) compared to presedation (median = 7.5; range = 7–8 [P = 0.001]). Median percentage width was significantly higher intrasedation (70% on VD; range 65–80 [P = 0.001], and 75% on DV; range 65–80 [P = 0.006]) compared to presedation (65%; range 65–75 on both projections). Dexmedetomidine was associated with a small but significant increase in cardiac silhouette size on right lateral (vertebral heart score), ventrodorsal (percentage width), and dorsoventral (percentage width) radiographs in healthy adult cats. This effect should be taken into consideration for future interpretation of thoracic radiographs in dexmedetomidine‐sedated cats.     

From past patterns to future potential: using historical ecology to inform river restoration on an intermittent California river

Context

Effective river restoration requires understanding a system’s potential to support desired functions. This can be challenging to discern in the modern landscape, where natural complexity and heterogeneity are often heavily suppressed or modified. Historical analysis is therefore a valuable tool to provide the long-term perspective on riverine patterns, processes, and ecosystem change needed to set appropriate environmental management goals and strategies.

Objective

In this study, we reconstructed historical (early 1800s) riparian conditions, river corridor extent, and dry-season flow on the lower Santa Clara River in southern California, with the goal of using this enhanced understanding to inform restoration and management activities.

Method

Hundreds of cartographic, textual, and visual accounts were integrated into a GIS database of historical river characteristics.

Results

We found that the river was characterized by an extremely broad river corridor and a diverse mosaic of riparian communities that varied by reach, from extensive (>100 ha) willow-cottonwood forests to xeric scrublands. Reach-scale ecological heterogeneity was linked to local variations in dry-season water availability, which was in turn underpinned by regional geophysical controls on groundwater and surface flow.

Conclusions

Although human actions have greatly impacted the river’s extent, baseflow hydrology, and riparian habitats, many ecological attributes persist in more limited form, in large part facilitated by these fundamental hydrogeological controls. By drawing on a heretofore untapped dataset of spatially explicit and long-term environmental data, these findings improve our understanding of the river’s historical and current conditions and allow the derivation of reach-differentiated restoration and management opportunities that take advantage of local potential.

     

Grain-dependent functional responses in habitat selection

Context

Spatial scale is an important consideration for understanding how animals select habitat, and multi-scalar designs in resource selection studies have become increasingly common. Despite this, examination of functional responses in habitat selection at multiple scales is rare. The perceptual range of an animal changes as a function of vegetation association, suggesting that use, selection and functional responses may all be habitat- and scale-dependent.

Objectives

Our objective was to determine how varying grain size affects our interpretation of functional response in habitat selection and to elucidate scalar and landscape effects on habitat selection.

Methods

We quantified the functional response of GPS-collared, female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, n = 18) in Riding Mountain National Park, Canada, to different habitat types. Functional responses were quantified at multiple spatial scales by regressing proportion of habitat used against proportion of habitat available at different buffer radii (ranging from 75–1000 m radius) surrounding used (telemetry) locations and available points within the individual’s seasonal home range. We examined how functional responses changed as a function of grain by plotting grain size against the slope of the functional response.

Results

We detected functional responses in most habitat types. As expected, functional responses tended to converge towards 1 (use proportional to availability) at large buffer sizes; however, the relationship between scale and functional response was typically non-linear and depended on habitat type.

Conclusions

We conclude that a multi-scalar approach to modelling animal functional responses in habitat selection is important for understanding patterns in animal behaviour and resource use.