Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science

Symmetry Equivalents of the Weak Value Measurement Pointer Hamiltonian

Allen Parks — 2024-06-04

Quantum mechanical weak values and their measurement have been a focus of theoretical, experimental, and applied research for more than two decades. The concept of PT symmetry was also introduced into quantum mechanics during this time. This paper defines the notion of a weak value measurement pointer Hamiltonian and establishes equivalences between its Dirac symmetries, its PT symmetries, its eigenvalues, and the associated weak value. The affect of these symmetries upon measurement pointer observables is also identified.

New Northern Record of the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans Wied-Neuweid, 1838) in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA

Ryan Shell — 2024-10-08

We report an update to the distribution of Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) in Michigan. The species is presumed to be native to some parts of the state but invasive in others. The occurrence is based on skeletal remains of a Red-eared Slider recovered in Oscoda County, which is the first record for the county. This finding extends the known range of the species in Michigan and suggests that human-made structures like oil and gas well pads may be useful for finding evidence of both native and non-native species.

Paddlefish movement and dam passage in the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, West Virginia

Stuart Welsh — 2024-10-22

The Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), a large-bodied and highly migratory species of large river systems, has experienced population declines or extirpation in parts of its native range. As an effort to reestablish a Paddlefish population in the Ohio River of West Virginia, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has stocked fingerling Paddlefish in the previous two decades. Post-stocking studies could assess the status of the reintroduced population, which includes collecting information on their seasonal movements and dam passage frequency through navigation dams of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. Using acoustic telemetry techniques, we monitored seasonal movements and assessed dam passage of five Paddlefish in the Robert C. Byrd Pool of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. Paddlefish were highly mobile with two individuals using the entire R.C. Byrd Pool during the 11-month study period. Most movements occurred during the expected spawning period of April and May, where all individuals frequented the upper section of the pool in the Kanawha River. Downstream passage was documented for one individual at the R.C. Byrd lock during July 2023, but no evidence of upstream passage was documented for the locks at Racine (Ohio River) or Winfield (Kanawha River). Tagging of additional Paddlefish would be beneficial to increase sample size for future assessments and continue efforts toward the long-term conservation and management of Ohio River Paddlefish.