Farmers Markets and Single-Use Plastic: Why Environmentally Conscious Consumers Don’t Bring Reusable Bags

This study looks at the role of Extension in helping local officials reduce plastic bag use at farmers markets in three Lake County, OH communities. We distributed free reusable bags to shoppers and conducted an education and outreach program. We then took observations to determine if the free reusable bags were being used. We also invited shoppers to take a voluntary survey about their environmental attitudes, why or why not they use the reusable bags, and how best to reduce plastic bag use moving forward. Results from the study suggest that supplying free reusable bags at farmer markets is not an effective strategy for Extension professionals attempting to reduce plastic bag use. Instead, we recommend working with local officials to develop financial incentives and disincentives tied to the type of bag option shoppers use, implement plastic bag bans at markets, and conduct locally-focused education and outreach. Although shoppers’ environmental literacy and desire for sustainability is high, it is shown that behavior change is unlikely to occur without financial or policy incentives.

Presence of a cryptic Onchocerca species in black flies of northern California, USA

Background Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) serve as arthropod vectors for various species of Onchocerca (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) that may be associated with disease in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The emergence of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi in North America and reports of cervid-associated zoonotic onchocerciasis by Onchocerca jakutensis highlight the need for increased entomological surveillance. In addition, there is mounting evidence that Onchocerca diversity in North America is far greater than previously thought, currently regarded as Onchocerca cervipedis species complex. This study reports new geographic records and black fly vector associations of an uncharacterized Onchocerca species. Methods To better understand the biodiversity and geographic distribution of Onchocerca, 485 female black flies (2015: 150, 2016: 335) were collected using CO2-baited traps from February to October 2015–2016 in Lake County, northern California, USA. Individual flies were morphologically identified and pooled (≤ 10 individuals) by species, collection date, and trap location. Black fly pools were processed for DNA extraction, and subsequent PCR and sequencing targeting of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene of filarioids. Results Among the pools of black flies, there were 158 individuals of Simulium tescorum (2015: 57, 2016: 101), 302 individuals of Simulium vittatum (sensu lato [s.l.]) (2015: 82, 2016: 220), 16 individuals of Simulium clarum “black” phenotype (2015: 5, 2016: 11), and 13 individuals of S. clarum “orange” phenotype (2015: 6, 2016: 7). PCR analysis revealed the percentage of filarioid-positive pools were 7.50% (n = 3) for S. tescorum, 3.75% (n = 3) for S. vittatum (s.l., likely S. tribulatum), 7.69% (n = 1) for S. clarum “black” phenotype, and no positives for S. clarum “orange” phenotype. Genetic distance and phylogenetic analyses suggest that the northern California Onchocerca isolates belong to the same species reported in black flies from southern California (average pairwise comparison: 0.32%), and seem closely related to Onchocerca isolates of white-tailed deer from upstate New York (average pairwise comparison: 2.31%). Conclusion A cryptic Onchocerca species was found in Lake County, California, and may be a part of a larger, continentally distributed species complex rather than a single described species of North America. In addition, there are at least three putative vectors of black flies (S. clarum, S. tescorum, S. vittatum) associated with this cryptic Onchocerca species. A comprehensive reassessment of North American Onchocerca biodiversity, host, and geographic range is necessary. Graphical abstract

Occupancy of Semi-Aquatic Mammals in an Urban Landscape

Throughout midwestern North American ecosystems, semi-aquatic mammals including beaver (Castor canadensis), mink (Neovision vision), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), and river otter (Lontra canadensis) co-exist in wetlands. These species are ecologically important through their manipulation of habitats and interactions with other species present. Although natural resource managers in urban ecosystems are interested in semi-aquatic mammals and factors affecting their ecology, few such studies exist in the literature. We studied impacts of restoration practices and other environmental covariates on detection and occupancy of the 4 aforementioned focal species on forest preserves managed by the Lake County Forest Preserve District (Lake County, Illinois, USA). Sign surveys were conducted during December-April in 2018-19 and 2019-20. We quantified 12 variables representing bank measurements, temperature, precipitation, soil type, and survey replicate to inform the detection process and quantified 12 variables representing forest cover measurements, aquatic plant measurements, dominant landcover, restoration practices, and anthropogenic disturbances for the occupancy process. Single species, multi-season occupancy models were run in RStudio using the package unmarked. Detection probabilities ranged from 0.10 ± 0.07 for river otters to 0.60 ± 0.03 for muskrats; occupancy probabilities ranged from 0.28 ± 0.18 for river otters to 0.90 ± 0.05 for muskrats. Detection and occupancy were influenced by similar environmental factors (bank measurements, precipitation, and survey replicate for detection; and stream measurements and food availability for occupancy) compared to more rural locations. We provide further evidence that muskrats are urban adapters and document the initial stages of river otter recolonization in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.

First Report of Aphanomyces euteiches Race 1 and Race 2 Causing Aphanomyces Root Rot on Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in South Dakota

Aphanomyces euteiches causes Aphanomyces root rot (ARR) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa), along with root rot on many other legumes, including pea, clover, and lentil (Malvick et al., 2009). In 2020, South Dakota (SD) planted the most acres of alfalfa in the United States, which demonstrates the importance of alfalfa to the state. Several SD growers reported alfalfa establishment problems likely to be associated with ARR. Soil samples were collected from 16 fields under commercial alfalfa production in Lake County, SD in June 2020. Composite soil samples based on 24 subsamples were collected in a W-shaped pattern at a depth of 15 cm. Collected soil was sieved, and 80 cm3 was placed in plastic pots (6 cm x 6 cm). Each pot was planted with 25 seeds, covered with an additional 15 cm3 soil, and placed in a growth chamber with a 16-hour photoperiod at temperatures of 24 and 19 ℃ (day and night). Alfalfa seedlings, including Saranac (susceptible to races R1 and R2), WAPH-1 (resistant only to R1), WAPH-5 (resistant to both R1 and R2), and Mustang 625 (resistant to both R1 and R2 and coated with mefenoxam) grew in collected soil for 7 days, followed by 4 days under flooded conditions. Trays were drained, and at 21 days after planting (DAP), roots were removed from soil, washed in distilled water, and rated to measure severity of disease symptoms (Samac et al., 2015). The average severity index (ASI) used a 1-5 disease severity scale, 5 being a dead plant and 1 being no symptoms present (http://www.naaic.org/stdtests/Aphano.html). Race was based on ASI where R1 included an ASI of ≥3 for Saranac and <3 for WAPH-1, and R2 included an ASI of >3.0 for Saranac and WAPH-1 and <3.0 for WAPH-5 (Malvick and Grau, 2001). Race-typing experiments were repeated twice with six replicate pots per alfalfa cultivar per experiment and determined the presence of both R1 and R2 in Lake County, SD. ASI values for Mustang 625 and WAPH-5 were similar across all fields evaluated, which indicates limited confounding effects of other root rotting pathogens. DNA was extracted from three symptomatic roots from each field and was PCR amplified using A. euteiches specific primers (Vandemark et al., 2002). A PCR product was observed in all 16 fields evaluated, and the absence of a product was observed when DNA was extracted from alfalfa roots grown in vermiculite. Following race-typing, infected alfalfa roots were surfaced sterilized and placed on Aphanomyces selective media consisting of mefenoxam and benomyl in cornmeal agar (CMA) (Pfender et al., 1984). Isolates were identified as A. euteiches based on hyphal morphology (Malvick and Grau, 2001). Alfalfa seedlings (Saranac) were grown in vermiculite under growth conditions used for the race-typing assay and inoculated 6 DAP with two isolates of A. euteiches. Inoculation was completed using half plates of one week old A. euteiches mycelium on CMA blended with one liter of water (Samac et al., 2015). At 35 DAP, control alfalfa seedlings inoculated with blended CMA and water remained asymptomatic, and alfalfa infected with A. euteiches displayed symptoms including honey-brown colored lesions. For confirmation of Koch’s postulates, DNA from three re-infected seedlings was again PCR amplified using A. euteiches specific primers and confirmed our previous work. This is the first report of either R1 or R2 of A. euteiches causing ARR on alfalfa in SD. To avoid future yield loss, SD growers should consider planting available alfalfa cultivars that have resistance to both races of A. euteiches.

Eye lenses reveal ontogenetic trophic and habitat shifts in an imperiled fish, Clear Lake Hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi

Stable isotopes recorded in fish eye lenses are an emerging tool to track dietary shifts coincident with use of diverse habitats over the lifetime of individuals. Eye lenses are metabolically inert, sequentially deposited, archival tissues that can open avenues to chronicle contaminant exposures, diet histories, trophic dynamics and migratory histories of individual fishes. In this study, we demonstrated that trophic histories reconstructed using eye lenses can resolve key uncertainties regarding diet and trophic habitat shifts. Clear Lake Hitch Lavinia exilicauda chi, a threatened cyprinid, inhabits a single lake (Clear Lake, Lake County, California) and utilizes tributary streams for reproduction. Bayesian mixing models applied to δ13C and δ15N recorded in eye lenses uncovered ontogenetic diet shifts that corresponded with shifts in occupation of habitats providing spawning (tributary streams), rearing (littoral lake), and growth (pelagic lake) functions. The reconstruction of size-structured trophic and habitat information can provide vital information needed to manage and conserve imperiled species such as the Clear Lake Hitch.

The Brown Family archive : assigning intellectual order & physical arrangement to a private photographic collection

This project focuses on the methodology of assigning intellectual and physical arrangement to private family photographic collections. I selected the Brown Family Archive as a case study, working directly with the Brown Family and Lake County Historical Museum in Crown Point, Indiana. The collection brings together photographs and related artifacts from the Civil War, the First National Bank of Crown Point, Indiana, and several interrelated families. The size and scope of the collection is analagous to many family collections. It is historically and culturally significant due to its visual documentation of a sociological milieu in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. Equally important, the photographs offer insight ito the widespread problem of deterioration due to improper housing, mishandling, and chemical break down. Through research and best practices in photographic preservation and collections management, the project delivers a model for use by family historians, museums, historical societies and libraries.

The Brown Family archive : assigning intellectual order & physical arrangement to a private photographic collection

This project focuses on the methodology of assigning intellectual and physical arrangement to private family photographic collections. I selected the Brown Family Archive as a case study, working directly with the Brown Family and Lake County Historical Museum in Crown Point, Indiana. The collection brings together photographs and related artifacts from the Civil War, the First National Bank of Crown Point, Indiana, and several interrelated families. The size and scope of the collection is analagous to many family collections. It is historically and culturally significant due to its visual documentation of a sociological milieu in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. Equally important, the photographs offer insight ito the widespread problem of deterioration due to improper housing, mishandling, and chemical break down. Through research and best practices in photographic preservation and collections management, the project delivers a model for use by family historians, museums, historical societies and libraries.