Transcript Research on Environmental Sustainability of Semi

Research on Environmental
Sustainability of Semi-Arid
Coastal Areas
Centers for Research Excellence in Science and
Technology
National Science Foundation
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Vision
CREST-RESSACA serve as a center of
national excellence of research on
environmental sustainability, and address
the significant under-representation of
Hispanics at the MS and PhD levels in
Environmental Engineering.
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History of CREST-RESSACA
• CREST-RESSACA was conceived in Fall of 2001
• CREST-RESSACA I was approved by NSF and initiated in
September 2002
– Funded at $ 1 Million/Year + $0.3 Million/Year (match)
• Reverse Site Visit in March 2005
• CREST-RESSACA II was approved by NSF and initiated in
September 2007
– New proposal and review
– Funded at $ 1 Million/Year (No NSF Match
requirements)
• CREST RESSACA will continue to function under the
Institute of Sustainable Energy and Environment (ISEE)
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Current CREST-RESSACA TEAM
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8 Faculty + 4 Staff + 27 Students
CREST-RESSACA Research Overview
Our Faculty study a wide range of issues pertinent
to environmental sustainability of land, air and water
systems at a variety of scales
Nano-materials (10-9)
Global Climate Change (107 m)
Research Interests & Breadth of the 9 Faculty Spans 16 orders-of-magnitude
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Faculty and Specializations
Lee Clapp
Environmental Biotechnology
Jennifer Ren
Water Quality and Monitoring
Kim Jones
Ecological Engineering
Venkatesh Uddameri
Environmental Modeling and
Water Resources
Alvaro Martinez
Air Quality and Emissions Control
Hongbo Su
Remote Sensing Technology and
Hydrologic Evaluations
David Ramirez
Atmospheric Pollution and Nanoscience
Kuo-Jen Liao
Air Pollution Modeling and
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Climate Change
Example Instrumentation
GC-MS
Thermo Electron
Series II ICP-MS
FE-SEM
Flume
High Performance Computing Cluster
CREST-RESSACA Research Organization
• CREST-RESSACA research is divided into three
sub-projects
– Environmental Monitoring & Assessment (EMA)
• Use monitoring to understand fundamental behavior of
pollutants in air and water systems
– Environmental Modeling and Informatics (EMI)
• Develop decision support systems using state-of-the-art
mathematical tools and techniques for fostering sustainable
natural resource management
– Sustainable Technologies for the Environment (STE)
• Develop innovative products stressing reuse and processing
of natural and recycled materials while reducing pollution in
a variety of applications.
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Graduate
Research
Activities
CREST
Robotics
YESTexas
GEMS
Research
Experience for
Teachers
ESF
Undergraduate
Research
Experience
May-mester
NSF STEP
Books and Special Issue Journals:
• Uddameri, V.; Ren, J., Ramirez, D. (2012) Environmental
Sustainability in South Texas; Springer Verlag
• Norwine, J. and John, K. eds. (2007) South Texas Climate
2100: Problems and Prospects, Impacts and Implications,
BookMasters, Inc., Columbus, Ohio. ISBN 978-0-9798426-0-3
• V. Uddameri; guest editor (2007) Systems Analysis for
Sustainable Aquifer Management in Semi-Arid South Texas;
Special Issue - Environmental Geology, Vol. 51 (1)
Disclosures of Invention
• R. Rivas, K. Jones and P. Mills (2009); Process for Citrus waste
Pretreatment & Conversion to Bioethanol and Value Added
Products
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What Does CREST-RESSACA Bring
to CESAR RCN
• A broad range of research activities and
expertise related to climate change and its
impact on environmental sustainability
– Sustainable groundwater management
– Air quality studies focused on shale gas
development
– Sustainable use of alternative and renewable
energy
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Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
CKWRI Mission
To produce scientifically sound,
unbiased information
•Research
One of the most prestigious
research institutes in North
America
•Information
Scientific and popular
publications
•Education
Top graduate program in
collaboration with TAMUK
CKWRI Mission Focuses on
South Texas & Northern Mexico
A Region of Key Importance for Wildlife
• Game species
• Threatened &
endangered
species unique to
South Texas
• Primary funnel for
migratory birds
Game Species
Sensitive Species
Song Birds
Wetland Birds
Birds of Prey
Diseases & Contaminants
Ecological Impacts of Exploration
on Wildlife Habitat
by Carter P. Smith, Executive Director
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Fred C. Bryant, Director
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Presenter: Mohamed Abdelrahman
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
The Value of Habitats
Examples
Worst Habitat Concrete, pavement
Bermuda Grass
Other Exotic Plants
•King Ranch Bluestem
•Wilman Lovegrass
•Buffelgrass
Fragmented Native Habitat
Best Habitat
Unfragmented Native Habitat
Oil and Gas Development Impact
• Direct Impacts
–Roads
–Pads
–Flow-lines
–Pipelines
–Pits
Oil and Gas Development Impact
• Indirect Impacts
–Habitat fragmentation
–Loss of topsoil
–Altered wildlife movements
–Spread of invasive plants
The Impact
• The Cascading Effects…
Overabundance of Exotics
Reduced Number of Flowering Plants
and Native Grasses
Lower Native Plant Diversity
Reduced Number of Insect Numbers and
Species
The Impact
• More Cascading Effects…
Reduced Populations of Species that
Require Insects as Food
50% Decline in Bobwhite Quail Populations
(affects landowner income and rural
economics)
May last forever without restoration
A Proposed CKWRI evaluation
• Baseline site
–Habitat/ecological assessment
–Periodic ecological review
–Mitigation strategies on impacts
implemented
–Review of location and habitats