Federal and state laws and regulations intersect when discussing grazing rights in Nevada, yet the federal government is the bigger player when it comes to land rights. The federal government owns and administers 85% of Nevada's land area. Thus the federal level has a large influence on states and local resources and laws. The federal land in Nevada that is used for … [Read more...]
Adaptive Management
Adaptive management is a structured decision making process that attempts to "embraces uncertainty and provides opportunities for learning and adapting to change (Gray)." Although AM is designed to promote change and evolution, there are a series of standardized, scientific procedures that are generally followed (Figure 1). This incorporation attempts to implement the qualities … [Read more...]
Acheson and Cardinale
The Acheson reading breaks down the different resources management methods and the flaws associated with each method. The reading speaks to the divide and the variety of opinions that exist within research and the environmental movement. The Cardinale article discusses the pertinence and fragile state of the earths biodiversity and the variation of research behind this … [Read more...]
Ecological Concept: Metapopulation
Metapopulation is “a group of populations that are separated by space but consist of the same species. These spatially separated populations interact as individual members move from one population to another.” Groups of the same species that are separated by space and belong to different local populations make up metapopulation. The local population is referred to … [Read more...]
Ecological Concept: Eutrophication
Eutrophication is an ecosystem reaction “to human activities that fertilize water bodies with nitrogen and phosphorus.” This often occurs due to sewage treatment plants and fertilizer run off that inevitably makes its way to the lakes and rivers. Pristine aquatic ecosystems maintain balanced nitrogen and phosphorus levels by relying on byproducts of microbial and animal … [Read more...]