Funded Grant Projects: 2006
 Ms. Juanita Choo, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
“Evaluating the Weevil Cultivation and Palm Harvesting Practices of the Amazon Hoti to Discover Non-Pesticide Solutions for Controlling Weevil Damage”
(Category: Conservation of Natural Resources; Agriculture)
Weevil damage in palm trees has caused severe economic losses in palm plantations in regions such as Costa Rica, Honduras, and the Middle East, despite the use of modern pest control methods. The Hoti people of the Venezuelan Amazon have a harmonious relationship with the pests because they attract the weevil adults to lay eggs in cut logs of old or pest-damaged palms, then harvest the larvae for food, which provides an important source of protein to the people. Ms. Choo plans to study the Hoti cultivation practices as well as the implications of weevil population, movement, and damage to harvestable palms. She will use mini radio-trackers on individually trapped weevils to evaluate whether provided palm logs can effectively lure weevils to feed, mate and lay eggs away from harvestable palms. Preliminary studies indicate that the Hoti method may be applied to palm plantations, allowing pest managers to simultaneously attract weevils to lay eggs away from healthy palms, and prevent new generations of weevils from entering the environment by collecting and destroying the immature weevils within the felled palms.
 Professor Robert Dell, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York City
“Harvesting and Re-circulating Surplus Heat to Warm the Soil of Small Urban Gardens in New York to Accelerate Plant Growth and Extend the Growing Season”
(Category: Waste Management and Minimization)
In New York City, more than 2,500 buildings use steam generated by Consolidated Edison, however not all of the steam is used. There is no recirculation system. The waste steam heat, in the form of steam condensate, is currently mixed with and cooled by the municipal water supply. This fluid is dumped into the sewer system creating thermal pollution, which wastes both potable water and energy. Prof. Robert Dell, Director of Mechanical Engineering’s Laboratory for Energy Reclamation and Innovation, will determine the feasibility and economic viability of recapturing the waste steam to heat the soil of small urban gardens that will prolong the growing season and significantly increase crop yields. Prof. Dell is creating a self-regulating green-engineered system of heat exchangers, expansion tanks and controls that will heat the soil while replenishing the water using a modified drip-irrigation process. If the concept is proven to be economically viable, green gardens could be found in New York City year round, enhancing the quality of life while conserving valuable resources. This technology could then be applied worldwide, wherever there is thermal pollution.
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. is providing technical assistance and The Albert E Nerken School of Engineering at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is providing additional space and laboratory facilities. Diversified Heat Transfer, Inc., will make its resources in Ridgewood Queens available for this grant.
This Lindbergh Grant in Waste Management and Minimization is sponsored by J. Knox Bridges.
 Dr. Tony Goldberg, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois
“Determining if the South Eleuthera Marine Protected Area in The Bahamas Can Sustain “Catch and Release” Angling of Bonefish by using Transmitters to Track their Movements”
(Category: Conservation of Animal and Water Resources)
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are “no take” zones where harvesting of marine resources is prohibited. This designation may help overexploited fisheries to recover, however approximately 800 Bahamian families will no longer be able to fish in waters upon which they have relied for subsistence and income for over two centuries. Strategies are needed to balance the conservation benefits of MPAs with their socioeconomic costs. Dr. Goldberg and collaborators at the Cape Eleuthera Institute plan to evaluate the sustainability of “catch-and-release” fishing for bonefish, a popular sport fish, in and near the South Eleuthera MPA in The Bahamas. A recreational catch-and-release sport fishing industry in the area could provide income to local communities without violating the “no take” philosophy of MPAs. To determine the sustainability of this type of fishing, Dr. Goldberg plans to use ultrasonic telemetry to track bonefish and to determine their movements into, within, and out of the MPA. He will also evaluate the population status of bonefish in and near the protected area, estimating the short- and long-term effects that catch-and-release fishing might have on the bonefish population. Dr. Goldberg plans to integrate this project with The Cape Eleuthera Island School through a program emphasizing community-based learning and environmental sustainability. Dr. Goldberg and colleagues will produce management recommendations that will help the Bahamian government and various non-governmental organizations balance the needs of local communities with those of threatened marine resources.
This Lindbergh Grant in animal and water conservation is sponsored by The Laura Jane Musser Fund.
 Dr. Gail Langellotto, Fordham University, Armonk, New York
“Assessing the Dispersal of Bees and Butterflies Among Greenspace Garden Habitats in Urban and Suburban Areas in Order to Preserve these Necessary Pollinators”
(Category: Conservation of Animal and Plant Resources)
Hundreds of bee and butterfly species are native to the United States, and as pollinators, they are necessary to the survival of many plants. The ecological services provided by these insects include the pollination of cultivated food crops and native plants. In the United States alone, pollination services are estimated to be worth billions of dollars per year. Unfortunately, the loss of natural habitats and the infestation of bee colonies by a parasitic mite is threatening pollination services. In fact, farmers are now renting honeybee hives to help pollinate flowers and set fruit in their fields. Using mark-release-recapture studies and GIS technology to track the distance each insect can travel, Dr. Langellotto will attempt to show how important individual gardens are to supporting the population of bees and butterflies in suburban and inner city neighborhoods. The ability of gardens to support a population of pollinators is dependent on the ability of the insects to move to other gardens. This study is among the first to examine the consequences of urbanization on pollinator services and will provide new data on how bees and butterflies may be negatively impacted by extreme urbanization. At the same time, she will evaluate how homeowners and park managers can contribute to enhancing bee and butterfly populations in urban and suburban areas via their garden and park management strategies. Dr. Langellotto will develop a website, pursue educational outreach activities, and compile and distribute to gardeners a “Pollinator Identification Guide” containing pictures of various bees and butterflies.
This Lindbergh Grant in Plant and Animal Resources is sponsored by the Lindbergh School District and Community.
 Mickie L. Powell, Ph.D. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama
“Understanding the Importance of Nutrition in the Early Development of Sea Urchins Used in Human Biomedical Research”
(Category: Health - Biomedical Research and Conservation of Animal Resources)
The use of model organisms, a surrogate for human beings or human biological systems, has doubled since 2000. As drug development increases, the need for model organisms that can provide effective screening will also increase. Sea urchins have been an important model organism for the study of embryonic development for more than a century. The early development of sea urchin embryos is virtually the same as human embryos and other higher vertebrates making them an important organism for use in understanding the molecular biology of early development, toxicology studies and other biomedical research. In addition, pharmaceutical companies could use a well-developed sea urchin model instead of animal testing, which is under increased scrutiny. However, current sea urchin husbandry techniques have not kept pace with the rapid advancements in molecular biology so they are still being harvested from natural populations where environmental factors such as nutrition and exposure to various compounds in the water are known to impact the quality of the gametes (eggs and sperm) obtained from the urchins. Intense harvesting of sea urchins can also adversely impact the delicate environment on the sea floor. To address this problem, Dr. Powell plans to develop a nutritionally complete diet that will provide consistent high-quality urchins in the laboratory for use in biomedical research, providing year-round access, which has never before been possible.
This Lindbergh Grant in Biomedical Research is sponsored by Knox Bridges.
 Dr. Ocky Radjasa, Diponegoro University, Central Java, Indonesia
“Conserving Reef Invertebrates by Studying Coral Reef Bacteria’s Importance to Medicinal Products”
(Category: Conservation of Animal Resources)
Coral reefs are some of the most productive ecosystems on earth, and are the most productive and species-rich environments in the oceans. The ocean is the source of a large group of structurally unique natural products like sponges, soft corals, and mollusks. However, the concentration of these natural products is often miniscule, making it difficult to gather sufficient amounts for pharmacological use. On the other hand, many of these have bacteria on them that could be a source for new antibiotics or other drugs. Dr. Radjasa plans to determine if the coral-associated bacteria are the source of interest to the pharmaceutical industry, and if so, he will develop a procedure to re-create the bacteria in the lab, which would decrease the need to disturb the valuable Indonesian coral reefs. Dr. Radjasa will also hold an educational symposium to share project results with the Indonesian scientists interested in marine natural products chemistry.
This Lindbergh Grant in Animal Conservation is sponsored by Knox Bridges.
 Dr. Crickette Sanz and David Morgan, Goualougo Triangle Chimpanzee Project, Republic of Congo
“Using Remote Acoustic Sensors to Monitor Ape Populations and Behavior Within Protected Rainforests and Local Logging Areas in the Republic of Congo”
(Category: Conservation of Animal Resources)
The remaining pristine forests of the Congo Basin are increasingly subject to the rapid expansion of mechanized logging and other human activities like the commercial bush meat trade. The number of tree species in the Congo that are attractive to the international market have tripled in the last 10 years due to advances in forestry technology and changes in timber product market values. The forests of central Africa also have important populations of endangered chimpanzees and gorillas. Effective monitoring of the remaining wild ape populations and identification of the effects of timber exploitation on them are urgently needed to ensure the long-term survival of chimpanzees and gorillas throughout this region. Dr. Sanz and Mr. Morgan working with Mr. Gulick of Wildland Security will be the first to use remote acoustic recording devices to simultaneously monitor ape and human activity in the Goualougo Triangle in the Republic of Congo. They will document the behavior of apes residing within both protected areas and adjacent logging areas to determine the effects of logging on apes. In addition, they are working with the Wildlife Conservation Society to formulate recommendations for government and private officials in the forestry industry to minimize the impact of timber exploitation on chimpanzees and gorillas. This remote sensing technology has the potential to become a model monitoring program with far-reaching conservation benefits world wide.
 Dr. Ying (Gina) Tang, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey
“Developing an Analytical Model for Electronics Disassembly to Make Electronics Recycling Safer and More Automated”
(Category: Waste Management and Minimization)
Discarded electronics like cell phones and computers have been characterized as one of the fastest growing categories of municipal solid waste, and among the most harmful to the environment. These electronics are filled with toxins that can leak into the groundwater through landfills or produce carcinogens and dioxins during incineration. Up to 80% of the electronics waste has been exported to Asia, where it ends up in riverbeds or is illegally or improperly disposed. Currently, recycling and disassembling electronic waste is done manually causing a significant health risk to the people who are exposed to these hazardous substances. Several companies have initiated industry models for preventing environmental harm and health risks from electronics waste, however they have not been profitable. Dr. Tang sees automation of the disassembly and recycling of discarded electronics as the only viable solution to this problem. She plans to develop an analytical model of the decision making process necessary to disassemble and recycle electronics. The model and algorithms will be integrated into software and robotic hardware to automatically control and manage the disassembly process. This system would be economically efficient and could lead to a reduction in the amount of electronics waste going into landfills as more materials are recovered and reused. Human exposure to hazardous substances could also be prevented. To increase the understanding of the importance of this issue, Dr. Tang will also hold a Green Engineering workshop for teachers to help them integrate electronic product disposal issues into their science curriculum.
 Luis Vinueza, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
“Discovering How Human Disturbance and Climate Change will Affect the Biodiversity of the Galapagos”
(Category: Conservation of Plant and Water Resources)
The Galapagos rocky shores harbor some of the most remarkable ecological and evolutionary treasures on the planet, including marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and penguins. However, the Archipelago region faces increasing threats from fishing, pollution and climate change. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand how these threats will affect the biodiversity of the Galapagos. The unique location of the Archipelago (where warm tropical and cold temperate currents converge) makes the Islands an ideal model to study how temperature and nutrient levels affect the local diversity of marine algae, the main source of food for marine iguanas. Mr. Vinueza plans to study how the interplay between different levels of temperature, productivity and herbivory affect the distribution and abundance of marine algae. Understanding how climate change and human exploitation will alter marine communities is urgently needed to guide the conservation efforts of the Galapagos National Park Service as they select sites for protection within the Galapagos Marine Reserve. It will also provide better insight into the effects of climate change on tropical marine communities.
This Lindbergh Grant in Plant and Water Conservation is sponsored by Clare Hallward.
 Professor Gary Wagenbach, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota
“Researching the Applicability of Current Eco-Machine Technology to a Cold Climate Residential Community House”
(Category: Waste Management and Minimization)
The question of how to deal with human waste, generated in a residential setting, is an old one that still begs ecologically sound answers. Presently, in rural or lakeshore homes, septic systems are widely used and can break down waste so it is not a pollutant. System failure is all too common though resulting in release of nutrients and pathogens into surface and ground water. Municipal sewer facilities are another option. These systems, while they can be effective, are energy demanding and very expensive. The cost of treating human waste by a local municipal sewer facility is about $2.51 per hundred cubic feet, and there are minimal or no usable products resulting from the process. Prof. Wagenbach plans to guide the design and construction of student housing that includes a version of “eco machine” technology first developed by John Todd (1998 Lindbergh Award recipient) to clean the grey and black water from a 15-student residence. The intent is to develop versions that use little or no fossil fuel energy, that retain nutrients for growing plants, and produce clean water as a by-product. The results of this study will be used to provide governmental and regulatory bodies with the research data necessary for granting approvals on similar projects in the future.
We regret that this project was unable to be completed.
 Lesley A. Weitz, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
“Reducing Fuel Inefficiencies and Noise Pollution from Aircraft by Exploring the Wider Use of Continuous Descent Approaches at Busy Airports”
(Category: Aviation/Aerospace)
Projected increases in air traffic are placing a growing strain on the National Airspace System (NAS), which is the common network of airspace, airports, and air traffic controllers across the United States. The capacity demand on major commercial airports is rapidly increasing, even returning to, or exceeding, pre-September 11 levels. With the larger volume of air traffic, delay time and noise restrictions in airport areas have increased and these issues will continually worsen without changes to the current NAS. In addition, increased air pollution, locally and regionally, resulting from aircraft emissions not only degrade air quality at the ground level, but impact regions from a few miles to thousands of miles from the airport through acid rain. In this research project, Ms. Weitz will explore the combination of cockpit control systems and Continuous Descent Approaches (CDAs) to safely increase airport capacity, while reducing engine noise in neighboring residential areas and decreasing fuel consumption and emissions from aircraft. Cockpit control systems precisely space aircraft along common approach paths to the runway, allowing a safe increase in runway arrival capacity. The CDA significantly reduces the noise of landing aircraft by keeping aircraft at higher altitudes on approach to the airport and reducing power during descent, and previous research has shown it to contribute up to a 17% reduction in fuel consumption over traditional descent methods. Results from this study will be published and shared with NASA Langley Research Center for possible integration with other air-traffic-management research.
This Lindbergh Grant in Aviation is Sponsored by Lycoming, Inc.
 Kristin C. Young, University of California, Irvine, California
“Restoring Productivity to Degraded Lands in Costa Rica by Planting Nurse Trees to Remove Aluminum and Enrich the Soil Naturally, Facilitating the Growth of Endangered Trees”
(Category: Conservation of Plant Resources)
It is estimated that only half of the world’s rainforests remain. In Costa Rica, more than 50% of the natural forests have been converted to agricultural and pasture land, driven by the economic needs of local farmers struggling to provide for their families. Large agro-corporations have destroyed substantial areas of the forest to make way for banana, oil palm, and coffee plantations. The severity of soil erosion and infertility in the tropics makes rehabilitation of rainforest trees vital. Applying fertilizer to restore soil fertility is not economically feasible, nor is it an effective long-term method. To address this problem, Ms. Young plans to plant native tree species as nurse trees alongside endangered tree species, which are valuable for their wood. The combination of these trees is twofold. To facilitate the growth of the endangered tree, the nurse trees may increase nitrogen and phosphorus (essential plant nutrients) in the soil and remove harmful aluminum from the soil. Restoring degraded tropical lands has profound environmental and socioeconomic importance in Costa Rica. By planting trees in unproductive pastureland, the quality of the soil can be improved, erosion rates can be reduced, and endangered tree species can be restored, providing long-term benefits to the community’s economy. Ms. Young will establish a restoration workshop for local farmers near the study site on the importance of investing in their land by planting trees, and will present the data at national and international conferences.
This Lindbergh Grant in Plant Conservation is sponsored by Reeve Lindbergh.
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