University of Rhode Island

About: University of Rhode Island is a education organization based out in Kingston, Rhode Island, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Bay. The organization has 11464 authors who have published 22770 publications receiving 841066 citations. The organization is also known as: URI & Rhode Island College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.

Stable isotopes in breath, blood, feces and feathers can indicate intra-individual changes in the diet of migratory songbirds.

Abstract: We used stable isotopes of C in breath, blood, feces and feathers to identify intra-individual changes in diet and the timescale of diet changes in free-living songbirds at a stopover site. Because accurate interpretation of differences between the delta13C of breath, plasma, and red blood cells (RBCs) relative to diet requires knowing the turnover rate of C within them, we determined the rate of change of C in breath, plasma and RBCs for yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata). Half-lives of C in breath, plasma, and RBCs were 4.4+/-2.1 h, 24.8+/-12.3 h and 10.9+/-3.2 days, respectively, for yellow-rumped warblers. delta13C of breath, plasma, RBCs and feces from wild-caught golden-crowned kinglets (Regulus satrapa), ruby-crowned kinglets (R. calendula) and gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) indicated that they had maintained an isotopically consistent diet for an extended period of time. However, delta13C of breath and plasma indicated that white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) had recently expanded their diet to include a C4 dietary component. Likewise, delta13C of breath, plasma, RBCs and feces indicated that some wild-caught yellow-rumped warblers had consumed foods with a more enriched protein signature prior to their arrival on Block Island, and since arrival, they had consumed mostly northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica). Therefore, comparisons of the delta13C of breath, plasma, RBCs, feces and feathers from individual songbirds can indicate changes in diet and provide an estimate of the timescale of the diet change.

Global Increase in Quaternary Explosive Volcanism

Abstract: The worldwide distribution of volcanic ash has been determinmined from 320 deep-sea sections drilled during the Deep Sea Drilling Project. The ash distribution in the deep-sea sections, which span the last 20 million years, indicates that there has been a much higher rate of explosive volcanism from both island arc and hot spot volcanoes during the last 2 million years. This episode, and perhaps another in the Middle Miocene cprrelates with previously reported widespread synchronism in increased volcanicity in certain oceanic islands. Increased Quaternary volcanism coincides approximately with that episode of the Cenozoic marked by major and rapidly fluctuating climatic change.

Henry's Law Constant Determinations for Hydrogen Peroxide, Methyl Hydroperoxide, Hydroxymethyl Hydroperoxide, Ethyl Hydroperoxide, and Peroxyacetic Acid

Abstract: The temperature-dependent solubilities of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HOCH2O2H), methyl hydroperoxide (CH3O2H), peroxyacetic acid (CH3C(O)O2H), and ethyl hydroperoxide (C2H5O2H) were determined under conditions used in the aqueous collection and analysis of atmospheric hydroperoxides. Henry's law was obeyed over the source concentration range employed, nominally 10-6−10-2 M. Measurements were made using either pH = 3 or pH = 6 source and collection solutions. The temperatures investigated ranged from 4 to 28 °C. A solution pH 3 was used for experiments with H2O2, HOCH2O2H, and CH3C(O)O2H since these compounds decompose in less acidic solution. The solubility of HOC2H4O2H could not be accurately determined because of its rapid decomposition in solutions with pH > 3. The Henry's law solubility of H2O2, HOCH2O2H, CH3O2H, and CH3C(O)O2H are in agreement with prior determinations. The solubility measurement of C2H5O2H is the first of its kind. Dimensional Henry's law constants (M/atm...

Long-term shifts in the species composition of a coastal fish community

Abstract: To study decadal shifts in a coastal nekton community, we analyzed data on 25 fish and invertebrate species collected from 1959 to 2005 by the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanog...

Environmental regulations and technological change in the offshore oil and gas industry

Abstract: Technological progress can play a key role in raising standards of living while improving environmental quality. Well-designed environmental regulations encourage innovation, while poorly designed regulations can inhibit progress. The Porter hypothesis goes further to suggest that tougher environmental regulations could spur innovation, leading to increased productivity of market outputs. We apply frontier production analysis to measure various components of total factor productivity within a joint production model, which considers both market and environmental outputs. We test the causality between technological innovation and environmental regulation and find support for a recast version of the Porter hypothesis.