This master’s thesis deals with design and creation of ULP program for export of vector images in EMF (Enhanced Windows Metafile) format. The main aim of this thesis is to add support of all features of Autodesk Eagle version 9. Thesis is important due to bugs and imperfections of other ULP programs for exporting of vector images to other formats also because of they aim for older versions of Autodesk Eagle. With regard to small quantity of EMF literature, thesis is beneficial as it describes behaviour of base structures and describes creation of EMF metafile. It also provides example of iteration over individual parts of schemes and printed circuit boards. Main goal of this thesis was completed. User is allowed to export currently visible layers, set order of their printing, with remain of true colors and orientation. Program was tested in Autodesk Eagle systems version 9.1.3 and 9.3.2.

During the spring of 1969 and 1970, 28 Golden Eagle eyries in four locales in central Utah were observed to determine the prey utilized during the nesting season. Visits were made every two weeks to the eyries. Prey were removed from the nests upon counting to avoid recounting at the next visit. Sixteen species of vertebrates were found as prey for nesting Golden Eagles. Mammals comprised 96 per cent of the prey, and lagomorphs alone accounted for 92 per cent. The blacktail jackrabbit occurred as 77.8 per cent of all prey items. Avian species constituted 3.9 per cent of prey items brought to the nests. Game animals utilized as prey were exclusively birds, and accounted for 2.7 per cent of all prey. No remains of domestic animals were found in the nests.

This thesis attempted to study the bottom productivity both qualitatively and quantitatively with reference to the distribution of bonthos. The study of the bottom fauna in large reservior lakes is a relatively new field. This work will give more information on an unknown field than previously existed, although its scope is not intend to be exhaustive.

This research is focused on explaining the concentrations of mercury found in juvenile bald eagles (Halieattus leucocephallus) as a function of the physical and anthropogenic landscape. Due to it's location in the food chain this species is susceptible to a wide range of contaminants (xenobiotics), particularly those that bioaccumulate and biomagnify as they move through the food chain. Previous research has indicated that areas in coastal environments are less susceptible to methylation than those in freshwater environments. Sampling efforts for this research were conducted in such a manner as to obtain an equivalent number of samples from the coastal plain (expected to be low mercury) and the inland regions (expected to be statistically significantly higher). In all cases, results indicated that both feather and blood mercury concentrations were higher in the inland population (Blood: Prob > t = 0.0003, Feather: Prob > t = 0.0002). Utilizing classification and regression tree models (CART), we were able to relate metrics such as the percent of deciduous forest, percent of mixed forest, percent of pasture, and percent of wetland to measured blood mercury concentrations. We also found that the best models were produced using the USGS HUC 12 watersheds (the smallest watershed produced by the USGS). Moreover, we found that metrics describing the amount and type of fragmentation within the watersheds exhibited a significant influence on measured blood mercury concentrations. Contrary to previous research, we found wetlands to be negatively associated with higher blood mercury, whereas the abundance of core forest and a larger patch density (PD) in the deciduous and mixed land cover classes was positively associated with higher blood mercury concentrations. We also found that a higher percentage of pasture was associated with higher blood mercury. / Ph. D.

The availability of water is a limiting resource for many wildlife species in arid and semi- arid environments. Free water is essential for critical life stages for numerous species, including migration, reproduction, survival, and habitat selection. Riparian areas in the desert occur relatively infrequently, but support a disproportionally large percentage of plant and wildlife species found in arid environments. Our study covered two aspects of water use in the west desert of Utah. The first was assessing the impacts of nonnative ungulates (specifically feral horses and cattle) on natural springs, and how they influenced water quality, vegetation, and wildlife diversity at those springs. We found that these ungulates reduced plant cover and plant species richness at our sites. Additionally, we found that the number of plant species positively correlated with wildlife diversity. This indicates that further management of these nonnative ungulates may be warranted. In our second chapter we investigate how Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) use water by quantifying seasonal use, behavior, and testing a hypothesis that a ‘runway’ with drop in elevation is needed for eagles to have a quick exit. We found that eagle use of water resources was strongly concentrated in the summer months during the hottest temperatures. Adult birds used water features more often than younger birds. The most common behavior exhibited at water features was drinking, followed by bathing and preening. We found that there was a positive relationship between the number of visits and the maximum slope at each site, supporting the idea that the ‘runway’ is not required but is preferred at water sources. Overall, our results indicated that Golden Eagles use water regularly in arid environments, particularly during summer months. This research provides insight into how species are using desert riparian areas and how these species and habitats should be managed in future decades.

No description available.

With a population estimate of 99 pairs, the Madagascar fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) is one of the rarest birds of prey in the world. I investigated the ecological requirements of the Madagascar fish-eagle in 1994 and 1995 to help determine management action to prevent its extinction. I investigated fish-eagle foraging ecology in 1996 to determine its prey preference and whether fish abundance and availability affect fish-eagle foraging rates and foraging success. Madagascar fish-eagle nest and perch trees were taller, broader, had more unobstructed branches, and had a greater arc of accessibility than unused trees. Perch trees also were deciduous more often and had a narrower growth form than unused trees. Nest sites had more shoreline perch trees than unused sites. Lakes occupied by fish-eagles were deeper and clearer, and had more shoreline perch trees, more fish, a greater total fish weight, and more fish species than unoccupied lakes. I developed logistic regression models to predict the probability of Madagascar fish-eagle use based on the measured habitat variables. Nest and perch tree models included tree height. The nest site model included number of shoreline perches. Lake models included number of shoreline perches and either number of fish, total fish weight, or number of fish species. These models can be used to predict fish-eagle habitat use with > 70% accuracy. Introduced tilapia, Oreochromis spp. and Tilapia spp., made up the majority of both the gill net (66.3%) and fish-eagle catch (64.7%) in similar proportion, which suggests that the fish-eagle is an opportunistic predator. Replacement of native fish species by exotics, thus, probably has not been detrimental to the island's fish-eagle population. Male fish-eagle foraging success was positively correlated with number of fish, total fish weight, and number of fish species, which suggests that declines in the fish population could adversely affect the fish-eagle population. The results of this study indicate that Madagascar fish-eagles require bodies of water with large shoreline trees and an ample fish population. I recommend greater protection of aquatic habitats, monitoring and management of freshwater fish populations, and education of local people in sustainable tree harvesting practices. / Ph. D.

In the interest of maintaining lands to fully support the military mission, Department of Defense (DOD) installations must manage competing objectives under constraints related to mission operations, regulation and compliance requirements, and budget reductions. Silviculture offers promise for ecosystem management while providing financial means through the sale of forest products. This study used forest inventory and bald eagle nest site data to investigate the potential effects of silviculture on bald eagle nesting habitat at Naval Support Facility Indian Head. Mahalanobis distance was used to define and classify preferred nesting substrate. Silviculture was simulated using the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) to assess forest nesting substrate, economic yields and the tradeoffs between these two objectives. An alternative substrate model based on cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and Boolean logic allowed evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the Mahalanobis distance method. The Mahalanobis distance model provided greater relative fit to the sample of nest sites compared to the CDF model but had lower discriminating power between presence and absence data. Simulation results indicate that top performing silvicultural treatments resulted in greater substrate availability compared to no-action over equal time periods. Uneven-age management was shown as the best system for providing nesting substrate as well as favorable economic yields in hardwood stands. Results also stress the importance of thinning in providing future nesting substrate and maintaining preferred substrate late in the rotation. Economic and habitat tradeoffs varied by treatment, suggesting that optimum prescriptions could be identified to provide for both objectives and minimize tradeoffs. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH / by Neil Ray Klopfenstein. / M.C.P.

I examined the nest site selection of the Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti population of the Donana National Park (SW Spain) from 1984 to 1994, in relation to the microhabitat and macrohabitat representing vegetative composition, degree of human influence and land use. The study included 75 active nest sites and 75 random sites. Univariate analyses and Generalized Linear Models were used. Nest sites differed significantly from the random sites for 87% of habitat variables measured. The model correctly classified 85.3% of the nest sites and 86.7% of the random sites. The probability of occupation of a site by a Spanish Imperial Eagle increased with tree height, angle of aperture of the wood stand, distance to paved roads, distance to urban centre and distance to water body. / Four productivity parameters (laying date, number of eggs, number of nestlings and number of chicks fledged) were measured over the same 10-year period for 16 territories in the Donana Park. Spearman correlation coefficient analyses ($r sb{s}$) were used to test for relationships between territory habitat characteristics, representing microhabitat, vegetative composition, degree of human influence and land use, and productivity. Egg-laying was later in territories situated closer to urban centres (n = 16 $r sb{s}$ = $-$0,529, $P < 0.05)$ and those with more kilometres of power lines (n = 16, $r sb{s}$ = 0.518, $P < 0.05)$. No other productivity parameter was found to be influenced significantly by any of the territory features measured.