The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records th... more The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records the work of the University's researchers. It is an open access, organic resource and is freely available via the web to researchers worldwide.
The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records th... more The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records the work of the University's researchers. It is an open access, organic resource and is freely available via the web to researchers worldwide.
Seabirds are often used in ecosystem monitoring programs not only because they are ubiquitous, co... more Seabirds are often used in ecosystem monitoring programs not only because they are ubiquitous, conspicuous and charismatic but also because they are relatively well studied, time-series exist for many species, and because some species are tightly linked to their habitats, prey resources, or climatic/oceanographic conditions. The marine bird community of the Salish Sea is composed of over 70 species that are relatively abundant and highly dependent upon marine resources but their relative abundance changes dramatically throughout the year. During the summer months, the Salish sea seabird community is dominated by locally breeding birds including gulls, alcids, and cormorants. However, during the period between late-fall and early spring there is nearly a four-fold increase in abundance and the community becomes much more diverse with the influx of ducks, mergansers, grebes, and others. To help set the stage for a broader discussion about the mechanisms responsible for seabird populat...
The ground snake Erythrolamprus ornatus is a dipsadid endemic to Saint Lucia, West Indies; it is ... more The ground snake Erythrolamprus ornatus is a dipsadid endemic to Saint Lucia, West Indies; it is currently categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. There have been no sightings of the snake on the main island of Saint Lucia since the 1800’s, and although the species is believed to have once been common on Saint Lucia prior to the introduction of the small Indian mongoose ( Herpestes javanicus ), by 1936 the species was presumed extinct. In 1973, a single E. ornatus was found on the mongoose free, 9.4 ha (12.3 ha surface area) islet of Maria Major, less than one kilometer off the southern tip of Saint Lucia. All subsequent accounts of the species have been from Maria Major alone. Here we report the findings of the first detailed study of the population size, diet, and ecology of the Saint Lucia racer, which took place on Maria Major over 30 days between October 2011 and March 2012. Daylight searches produced a total of 41 snake encounters resulting in capture of 11 individuals...
.................................................................................................... more ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Grant Background ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Puget Sound Seabird Survey Background ................................................................................................. 7 Survey Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 7 Data Entry ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Periodic Data Summaries .......................................................................................................................... 9 Project Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................... 9 Goals ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Expansion of the Puget Sound Seabird Survey ........................................................................................... 10 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Narrative of Survey ................................................................................................................................. 11 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 Species Richness ................................................................................................................................. 13 Species List .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Seabird Relative Abundance ............................................................................................................... 15 Focal Species ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Species of Concern in Washington ..................................................................................................... 22 Early On-Scene Oil Spill Reconnaissance .................................................................................................... 25 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 25 Confirmation of a Spill ........................................................................................................................ 26 Observation of the Presence of Oil ..................................................................................................... 26 Additional Seabird Survey ................................................................................................................... 26 Oil-Spill Drill......................................................................................................................................... 26 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 Discussion.................................................................................................................................................... 29 Reaching the Goals and Objectives ......................................................................................................... 30 Assessment of the Feasibility of this Program ........................................................................................ 32 Recommendations for Changes to the Program..................................................................................... 32 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 33 References .................................................................................................................................................. 34
The Offshore Islands Conservation Programme (Antiguan Racer Conservation Project) has successfull... more The Offshore Islands Conservation Programme (Antiguan Racer Conservation Project) has successfully eradicated omnivorous Black Rat Rattus rattus from 11 Antiguan islands using brodifacoum bait since 1995. Near-annual monitoring of seabirds revealed the resident bird populations increased by at least five-fold on the restored islands, and natural re-colonisations of rat-free islands has also been observed by several species (e.g. Brown Booby, Roseate Tern). Furthermore, since rat eradication efforts began, the critically endangered Antiguan Racer (Alsophis antiguae), has increased from 50 to more than 1,000 individuals. A comparative study of rat-free islands and rat-infested islands found a significantly higher density of birds and reptiles on the former, and the rat-free islands also exhibit visible improvements in invertebrate populations and vegetation biomass. While restoring islands is costly, Antigua’s rat-free offshore islands now attract more than 50,000 visitors annually, d...
This study examines the attitudes of probation officers monitoring intensive supervision probatio... more This study examines the attitudes of probation officers monitoring intensive supervision probation caseloads in Texas regarding arming probation officers. The results from this survey indicate that intensive supervision officers are a somewhat diverse group and hold a variety of opinions regarding their use of firearms. While the survey respondents indicate support for requiring ISP officers to carry a firearm, they
The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records th... more The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records the work of the University's researchers. It is an open access, organic resource and is freely available via the web to researchers worldwide.
The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records th... more The UBR (University of Brighton Repository) is a central institutional repository that records the work of the University's researchers. It is an open access, organic resource and is freely available via the web to researchers worldwide.
Seabirds are often used in ecosystem monitoring programs not only because they are ubiquitous, co... more Seabirds are often used in ecosystem monitoring programs not only because they are ubiquitous, conspicuous and charismatic but also because they are relatively well studied, time-series exist for many species, and because some species are tightly linked to their habitats, prey resources, or climatic/oceanographic conditions. The marine bird community of the Salish Sea is composed of over 70 species that are relatively abundant and highly dependent upon marine resources but their relative abundance changes dramatically throughout the year. During the summer months, the Salish sea seabird community is dominated by locally breeding birds including gulls, alcids, and cormorants. However, during the period between late-fall and early spring there is nearly a four-fold increase in abundance and the community becomes much more diverse with the influx of ducks, mergansers, grebes, and others. To help set the stage for a broader discussion about the mechanisms responsible for seabird populat...
The ground snake Erythrolamprus ornatus is a dipsadid endemic to Saint Lucia, West Indies; it is ... more The ground snake Erythrolamprus ornatus is a dipsadid endemic to Saint Lucia, West Indies; it is currently categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. There have been no sightings of the snake on the main island of Saint Lucia since the 1800’s, and although the species is believed to have once been common on Saint Lucia prior to the introduction of the small Indian mongoose ( Herpestes javanicus ), by 1936 the species was presumed extinct. In 1973, a single E. ornatus was found on the mongoose free, 9.4 ha (12.3 ha surface area) islet of Maria Major, less than one kilometer off the southern tip of Saint Lucia. All subsequent accounts of the species have been from Maria Major alone. Here we report the findings of the first detailed study of the population size, diet, and ecology of the Saint Lucia racer, which took place on Maria Major over 30 days between October 2011 and March 2012. Daylight searches produced a total of 41 snake encounters resulting in capture of 11 individuals...
.................................................................................................... more ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Grant Background ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Puget Sound Seabird Survey Background ................................................................................................. 7 Survey Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 7 Data Entry ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Periodic Data Summaries .......................................................................................................................... 9 Project Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................... 9 Goals ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Expansion of the Puget Sound Seabird Survey ........................................................................................... 10 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Narrative of Survey ................................................................................................................................. 11 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 Species Richness ................................................................................................................................. 13 Species List .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Seabird Relative Abundance ............................................................................................................... 15 Focal Species ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Species of Concern in Washington ..................................................................................................... 22 Early On-Scene Oil Spill Reconnaissance .................................................................................................... 25 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 25 Confirmation of a Spill ........................................................................................................................ 26 Observation of the Presence of Oil ..................................................................................................... 26 Additional Seabird Survey ................................................................................................................... 26 Oil-Spill Drill......................................................................................................................................... 26 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 Discussion.................................................................................................................................................... 29 Reaching the Goals and Objectives ......................................................................................................... 30 Assessment of the Feasibility of this Program ........................................................................................ 32 Recommendations for Changes to the Program..................................................................................... 32 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 33 References .................................................................................................................................................. 34
The Offshore Islands Conservation Programme (Antiguan Racer Conservation Project) has successfull... more The Offshore Islands Conservation Programme (Antiguan Racer Conservation Project) has successfully eradicated omnivorous Black Rat Rattus rattus from 11 Antiguan islands using brodifacoum bait since 1995. Near-annual monitoring of seabirds revealed the resident bird populations increased by at least five-fold on the restored islands, and natural re-colonisations of rat-free islands has also been observed by several species (e.g. Brown Booby, Roseate Tern). Furthermore, since rat eradication efforts began, the critically endangered Antiguan Racer (Alsophis antiguae), has increased from 50 to more than 1,000 individuals. A comparative study of rat-free islands and rat-infested islands found a significantly higher density of birds and reptiles on the former, and the rat-free islands also exhibit visible improvements in invertebrate populations and vegetation biomass. While restoring islands is costly, Antigua’s rat-free offshore islands now attract more than 50,000 visitors annually, d...
This study examines the attitudes of probation officers monitoring intensive supervision probatio... more This study examines the attitudes of probation officers monitoring intensive supervision probation caseloads in Texas regarding arming probation officers. The results from this survey indicate that intensive supervision officers are a somewhat diverse group and hold a variety of opinions regarding their use of firearms. While the survey respondents indicate support for requiring ISP officers to carry a firearm, they
Uploads
Papers by Toby Ross