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We studied greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in northcentral Montana, USA, to examine the relationship between nest success and habitat conditions, environmental variables, and female sage-grouse characteristics. During 2001-2003, we radiomarked 243 female greater sage-grouse, monitored 287 nests, and measured 426 vegetation plots at 4 sites in a 3,200-km2 landscape. Nest survival varied with year, grass canopy cover, daily precipitation with a 1-day lag effect, and nesting attempt. In all years, daily survival rate increased on the day of a rain event and decreased the next day. There was temporal variation in nest success both within and among years: success of early (first 28 d of nesting season) nests ranged from 0.238 (SE=0.080) in 2001 to 0.316 (SE=0.055) in 2003, whereas survival of late (last 28 d of nesting season) nests ranged from 0.276 (SE = 0.090) in 2001 to 0.418 (SE = 0.055) in 2003. Renests experienced higher survival than first nests. Grass cover was the only important model term that could be managed, but direction and magnitude of the grass effect varied. Site, shrub and forb canopy cover, and Robel pole reading were less useful predictors of nest success; however, temporal and spatial variation in these habitat covariates was low during our study. We note a marked difference between both values and interpretations of apparent nest success, which have been used almost exclusively in the past, and maximum-likelihood estimates used in our study. Annual apparent nest success (0.46) was, on average, 53% higher than maximum-likelihood estimates that incorporate individual, environmental, and habitat covariates. The difference between estimates was variable (range = +8% to + 91%). Management of habitats for nesting sage-grouse should focus on increasing grass cover to increase survival of first nests and contribute to favorable conditions for renesting, which should be less likely if survival of first nests increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses issues concerning conservation biology from the perspective of natural resource management disciplines. Some natural resources management practitioners describe conservation biology as being entirely different from their disciplines because it seems more focused on protection of selected species or ecosystems than on management of populations and habitats. The author believes that natural resource disciplines have contributed to origins of conservation biology by providing the impetus and building materials for the emergence of the discipline.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Comments on the direct and indirect effects of humans on wildlife and wildlife habitat. Importance of professional credibility to wildlife; Integrity of the biologists; Discussion of professional ethics.

Discusses the relationships between the fields of ecology, wildlife biology, and conservation biology. Legal and political necessity to deal with a single subspecies; Evolution of ecosystem management.

Provides the story of one pilgrim regarding his progress in wildlife management profession. What wildlife management consists of; Expansion of concerns for the animals; Changes in wildlife management studies.

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reports on the development of ecosystem-based strategies directed at the Forest Service (FS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by President Bill Clinton for the management of the lands in the Interior Columbia River Basin. Considerations for revision of current management plans; Setting of goals based on the FS and BLM guidelines; Principles of ecosystem management.

Summarizes the final report from the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee panel that evaluated the ecological impacts and implications of the 1988 fire in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). Damage done by the fires and how they were ignited; Known and unknown ecological impacts; Post fire management interventions; Research philosophy; Management implications.

Focuses on the United States Forest Service's perspective on ecosystem management. Adoption of an ecological approach to the management of public lands; Description of an ecosystem in terms of national forests and grasslands; Problems associated with the implementation of the ecological approach.

In this paper, high performance top-gated WSe2 field effect transistor (FET) devices are demonstrated via a two-step remote plasma assisted ALD process. High-quality, low-leakage aluminum oxide (Al2O3) gate dielectric layers are deposited onto the WSe2 channel using a remote plasma assisted ALD process with an ultrathin (∼1 nm) titanium buffer layer. The first few nanometers (∼2 nm) of the Al2O3 dielectric film is deposited at relatively low temperature (i.e. 50 °C) and remainder of the film is deposited at 150 °C to ensure the conformal coating of Al2O3 on the WSe2 surface. Additionally, an ultra-thin titanium buffer layer is introduced at the WSe2 channel surface prior to ALD process to mitigate oxygen plasma induced doping effects. Excellent device characteristics with current on–off ratio in excess of 106 and a field effect mobility as high as 70.1 cm2 V–1 s–1 are achieved in a few-layer WSe2 FET device with a 30 nm Al2O3 top-gate dielectric. With further investigation and careful optimization, this method can play an important role for the realization of high performance top gated FETs for future optoelectronic device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If 'scientific management' means that elite experts are isolated from outside influence and make decisions based solely on 'science,' we agree that such should be abandoned. However, we don't believe such acircumstance ever existed. Foresters strive to satisfy the objectives of their employers within the boundaries of law, economic rationality, and ecological feasibility. We doubt that many, if any, worship at the altar of the Church of Scientific Management-or ever did. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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