The predatory beetle, Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), has been released in the eastern U.S. since 2003 for the management of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). The establishment of L. nigrinus at release sites in Virginia was assessed in 2017 and 2018. Sampling was performed in both years to determine presence or absence L. nigrinus. Stand level HWA densities, tree health, predator-prey ratios, and Laricobius spp. identifications were also assessed at each site. Laricobius nigrinus established at 82% of sites and was the primary species recovered. HWA densities appeared to decline, and tree health appeared to improve in year two. Predator-prey ratios were lower than those indicated in the native range, however much is left to be understood about the dynamics of this system in its introduced range. A separate two-year study to assess the impact of L. nigrinus on HWA was initiated in 2014 (Phase One) at nine sites in the eastern U.S. Significant predation of HWA sistens ovisacs was demonstrated during this period, therefore, it was continued from 2016-2018 (Phase Two) to provide longer-term evaluations. Predator exclusion cages were used to monitor predator and prey populations. In Phase Two of the study, mean ovisac disturbance rates on no-cage branches were significantly greater than caged branches and were as high as 80%, suggesting that L. nigrinus can have a significant impact on the sistens generation. Microsatellite analysis of Laricobius larvae indicated that L. nigrinus was the primary species recovered at study sites. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect native to Asia and western North America, is a significant threat to two native hemlock species in the eastern U.S. Since 2003, a predatory beetle, Laricobius nigrinus, has been released for management of HWA. In biological control programs such as this one, it is important to evaluate the ability of predators to establish and impact prey in areas where they are introduced, as this helps guide future management decisions. As such, a study was conducted to examine the ability of L. nigrinus to establish after being released at 26 locations in Virginia. In those investigations we found that L. nigrinus established at 82% of the sites. Although promising, longer-term studies are needed to understand if the predation of HWA by L. nigrinus helps improve the health of our native hemlocks. A separate two-phase study was carried out from 2014-2016 and 2016-2018 evaluating the impact of L. nigrinus on HWA at nine release sites in the eastern U.S. In Phase Two reported here, cages were used to exclude L. nigrinus on some HWA infested branches while on others, no cage was applied to allow free access to HWA. Comparisons between branches were made to determine the level of predation by L. nigrinus. These studies showed a significant impact by L. nigrinus on the winter generation of HWA with as many as 80% of those insects being attacked on study branches which indicates that this species has potential as an effective predator.

This study assesses the research benefits of IPM technologies and management practices aimed at reducing the virus problem in tomatoes in West Africa. Surveys are conducted with producers, extension agents, scientists, and other experts to obtain information and economic surplus analysis is used to project benefits over time. The determinants of adoption are assessed using a probit model. Results show that adoption of the host-free period reduced the amount of insecticide sprays by 71% and the production cost by $200/ha in Mali. The cost-benefit analysis indicated that the use of virus-tolerant seeds generated profits ranging from $1,188 to $2,116/ha in Mali and from $1,789 to $4,806/ha in Senegal. The likely factors influencing adoption of the technologies in both countries are the frequency of extension visits, farmer's field school training, gender, education, seed cost, tomato area, and experience in tomato losses. The benefits in the closed economy market vary from $3.4 million to $14.8 million for the host-free period, $0.5 million to $3 million for the virus-tolerant seeds, and $4.8 million to $21.6 million for the overall IPM program. In the same order, the benefits under the open economy market range from $3.5 million to $15.4 million, $0.5 million to $3million, and $5 million to $24 million. The distribution pattern indicates that producers gain one-third and consumers two-thirds of the benefits. Our results support policies aiming to increase the adoption rate or the expected change in yield. / Master of Science

Eggplant grafting implemented implemented in two field sites in the Philippines, in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan are used as proofs of concept to illustrate and validate the feasibility of an impact assessment framework for determining the nutritional impact of technology-oriented agricultural activities. Nutritional impacts are assessed by disaggregating the market demand curve into demand curves by income groups using their separate price elasticities of demand. Considering only price effects, the increase in yields following a per unit cost reduction due to eggplant grafting has positive effects on the daily caloric intake per capita in the different income classes with the greatest impact on the lowest income class for both sites. Net increases in calorie intake ranges between 0.09 and 0.6 kilocalories per capita per day. / Master of Science

Management of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), is currently being implemented through several different methods including the release of host-specific predators such as Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Coleoptera: Derodontidae). Releases of this predator began in 2003. In 2014, an assessment of the efficacy of L. nigrinus at release sites from New Jersey to Georgia. Field sites were chosen based on the presence of moderate to high densities of HWA, that L. nigrinus was released at least four years prior to the start of the study, and that the predator was determined to be established at that site. Three treatments were set up at each of the sites: no cage, closed exclusion cage, and open cage. Three assessments were taken during key points throughout the season in order to monitor both HWA and L. nigrinus populations. Larval predator were recovered from most of the sites in year one and in higher numbers in year two. Many sites at which L. nigrinus were recovered showed high predation rates of HWA in uncaged samples ranging from 1.5 to 47.3% in year one and 0 to 66% in year 2. A survey for L. nigrinus establishment at previous release sites in VA was conducted. These sites date back as far as 2003 and as recently as 2015. Beat sheeting and branch clippings were conducted to recover Laricobius spp. adults and larvae, respectively. The recovered insects were then identified to species through genetic analysis. A mix of the introduced L. nigrinus and the native L. rubidus LeConte (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) were recovered at some sites, and only L. rubidus were recovered from others. Higher numbers of Laricobius were recovered in spring of year two. Overall, tree health in Virginia decreased from spring 2015 to 2016. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / <i>Laricobius nigrinus</i> is a beetle predator of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an aphid like insect covered by wool. HWA is a serious pest of both eastern and Carolina hemlock, two important tree species found in Appalachia which provide species diversity and habitat to numerous animal and plant species. Damage to hemlock trees include death, dieback, and disease. We began releasing <i>L. nigrinus</i> in 2003 in the eastern United States to manage HWA. There are now over 900 documented releases of <i>L. nigrinus</i> from Maine to Georgia. Nine field sites were set up to assess the impact <i>L. nigrinus</i> is having on HWA populations throughout the geographic range of its releases. At many of these sites we found that <i>L. nigrinus</i> adults and larvae are significantly reducing HWA populations. A large proportion of the predators of HWA recovered at these sites are <i>L. nigrinus</i>, which shows that this species is primarily responsible for the observed predation. The second study conducted assessed for establishment of <i>L. nigrinus</i> at release sites around Virginia. <i>Laricobius nigrinus</i> was found at four of the fourteen sites sampled. Continued sampling is necessary to get a more accurate assessment of establishment since many of the sites were recovering from low HWA populations resulting from extreme cold temperatures in 2014 and 2015.

While extensive research has been carried out to examine the yield growth brought about by innovations in agricultural technology, not enough work has been done to document the economic impacts of these innovations on areas besides yields and income. This study presents two papers which contribute to our understanding of the health and environmental impacts of agricultural innovation, "Expected economic benefits of meeting nutritional needs through biofortified cassava in Nigeria and Kenya," and "Projected farm-level impacts on income of conservation agriculture in the Andean Region." The first paper is motivated by the public health consequences of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which affect more than two billion people worldwide and can lead to increased incidence of illness, disability, and mortality. Through the use of the disability adjusted life years concept (DALYs), economic surplus analysis, and benefit-cost analysis, the authors determine the economic impact of a staple crop biofortification project. The study finds that biofortified cassava in Nigeria and Kenya is a cost effective means of reducing health problems associated with vitamin A and iron deficiency. The second paper considers the significant livelihood challenges faced by rural communities in the Andes, including poverty, food insecurity, and natural resource constraints. Through the development and implementation of a linear programming model, the study analyzes the economic impact of a conservation agriculture project in central Ecuador, and finds that certain experimental cropping activities designed to decrease soil degradation may contribute to increased incomes for farm households. / Master of Science

In the late 1970s, Southern California Edison Company proposed the construction of a 500 Kilovolt transmission line from Buckeye, Arizona (just west of Phoenix) to the Devers substation near Banning California. The proposed routes crossed the traditional territory of numerous Native American groups such as the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi Southern Paiutes, Cocopah, Mojave, Maricopa, O’Odham, Quechan, and Yavapai. As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, an environmental impact assessment was conducted to understand potential impacts this project could have on human and natural resources. For the first time since the passage of NEPA, Native American concerns were fully considered. This report presents the findings of the first Native American social impact assessment in the United States. This report presents contemporary Native American values that were pertinent to planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of high voltage generation and transmission facilities. The ethnographic study also considered the following aspects: (a) determine if, where, and in what manner such values were relevant to the Devers Palo Verde study area, (b) define differing levels of significance that Native Americans assigned to geographical points, zones, or issues within the subject study area exhibiting such values, (c) assign appropriate sensitivity ratings to the pertinent points, zones, or issues of significance and rank such points, zones, and issues from highest to lowest, explain what actions might constitute varying degrees, kinds of impact to those points, zones, or issues, and (e) provide recommendations for mitigation of negative impacts to those points, zones, or issues.

This project examined the potential impacts that construction of the Western Transmission System of the Allen-Warner Valley Energy System would have on the ethnographic and historic resources of the Mojave Desert area. The Western Transmission System of the Allen-Warner Valley Energy System project consisted of two 500-kilovolt transmission lines extending from Southern California Edison Company’s Eldorado Substation in southern Nevada westward across the Mojave Desert to Lugo Substation in Victorville, California. The ethnographic component of this study included the identification of culturally affiliated Native American groups and extensive field investigations which focused on ethnohistory and ethnogeography of the study area. The ethnographic study also documented Native American recommendations for mitigation by Southern California Edison Company of potential adverse impacts that the project had on Native American values and resources.

Orientador: Leandro Eugenio da Silva Cerri / Banca: Fábio Augusto Gomes de Vieira Reis / Banca: Flávio Henrique Mingante Schlittler / Resumo: A avaliação da significância dos impactos ambientais continua a ser um importante componente crítico ainda mal compreendido da prática da avaliação de impactos ambientais. Este trabalho é um estudo sobre as conclusões de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a avaliação e comunicação de avaliação do impacto ambiental praticada no Brasil. É dada especial atenção para a importância da utilização de critérios, padrões e métodos de avaliação de impactos ambientais que pretendendo incorporar mais eficiência nos estudos de impacto ambiental. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi a realização de uma proposta, incluindo o desenvolvimento de procedimentos e aplicar na avaliação de impactos ambientais situações relativas à sua formulação, aplicação e interpretação da significância dos critérios, conclusões e recomendações pertinentes para respeitar o objetivo da avaliação de impacto ambiental que é garantir a viabilidade ambiental das atividades humanas. / Abstract: The evaluation of the significance of environmental impacts remains an important critical yet poorly understood component of environmental impact assessment practice. This work is a study upon the findings of a bibliographic review about the evaluation and communication of environmental impact assessment in Brazil practice. Particular attention is given to the use of significance criteria, thresholds and EIA methodologies intending to incorporate more efficiency of environmental impact statement. Thus, the aim of this research was the accomplishment of a proposal including the development of procedures to apply in EIA issues surrounding the formulation, application and interpretation of significance criteria, conclusions and recommendations relevant to respect the aim of EIA that in provide environmental viability of men activities. / Mestre

<p>Surface mining is a common method of accessing coal. In high-elevation environments, vegetation and soils are typically removed prior to the blasting of overburden rock thereby allowing access to mineable ore. The removed waste rock is deposited in adjacent valleys where it may bury existing streams. Previous research, predominantly in Appalachia, has focused on downstream water quality impacts with less focus on how streamflow response and flow pathways are affected by surface mining. This study reports on how surface mining affects streamflow hydrological and chemical responses at the headwater catchment scale in the Elk Valley, British Columbia. A paired catchment approach was utilized between May and October 2012, where a reference catch- ment (Dry Creek - DC) was compared to an impacted catchment (West Line Creek - WLC), whose area is 30% covered by deposited waste rock. Hydrometrically, WLC had considerably lower flows and exhibited a damped, slower response to precipitation events than DC. Dissolved ions were an order of magnitude greater in WLC, with conductivity (SpC) ranging between 400 μS/cm at high flow to 1300 μS/cm at low flow. A strong hysteretic pattern was observed between SpC and flow and with specific ions at WLC, suggesting dilution or changing flowpaths as the season progressed. In contrast, patterns of SpC and flow at DC did not exhibit hysteresis. Major ion hydrochemistry at WLC shows dilution affecting ion concentrations whereas results at DC are consistent with chemostatic behavior. Stable isotopes were more depleted at DC compared with WLC, suggesting different sources and timing of water contributing to streamflow. Future research will work towards a conceptual model of surface mining impacts on catchment scale processes in montane environments through increased understanding of residence time and flowpath distributions at a number of impacted and reference catchments.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIA) are carried out in order to determine how a project or regulation affects the economy, society and environment. Traditionally, RIAs are carried out through cost benefit assessments and by monetizing different variables in order to assist policymakers with their decision. The main disadvantage of it, is that highly relevant social and environmental factors are difficult to quantify, thus providing weak or "incomplete" support to policy-makers in their final decision and enabling long-term consequences. An option to improving RIAs, is by taking into account such factors with the introduction of Sustainable Development (SD) concerns early in the decision making process. This is a trend that has been gaining more momentum and support, especially in OECD and EU members. The shift towards the inclusion of such concerns at a regulatory and legislative level nonetheless still presents itself to be a challenge and has wide room for improvements. On this research, four different countries and the European Union are analyzed and compared, presenting their current RIA practices and how much they take into account sustainability concerns with the intent on showing where can they be improved and better included.