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Articles 1 - 19 of 19
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Tire-Wear-Particle Leachate Toxicity To Americamysis Bahia: Analysis Of Sublethal And Molecular Effects, Karrin Leazer
Tire-Wear-Particle Leachate Toxicity To Americamysis Bahia: Analysis Of Sublethal And Molecular Effects, Karrin Leazer
WWU Graduate School Collection
Tire-wear particles (TWPs) are considered among the largest contributors of microplastics to the environment. They are subject to break-down due to environmental weathering, which allows for potentially toxic chemicals to be released from and sorbed onto the particles. In this study, leachate generated from “weathered” and “un-weathered” TWPs were used for sublethal toxicity tests with Americamysis bahia. Organisms were exposed for 2, 4, and 6 days and the effects endpoints included changes in respiration rate and molecular responses (i.e., changes in the abundance of transcripts after 4 days of exposure). A threshold for stimulated respiration rate was detected for weathered …
Transport Mechanisms Of Nitrate On The Washington Shelf, Liesl G. Danyluk
Transport Mechanisms Of Nitrate On The Washington Shelf, Liesl G. Danyluk
WWU Graduate School Collection
Nutrient supply is a fundamental driver of primary productivity, and often a limiting factor for organism growth in both open-ocean and coastal systems. Continental shelves are locations of high primary productivity in the world’s oceans because of high nutrient supply. Understanding the dominant transport mechanisms of nutrients in these locations is paramount to understanding patterns in primary productivity. While there have been extensive studies of nutrient transport and productivity on the Pacific Northwestern coast of the US (Davis et al., 2014, Siedlecki et al., 2015, Ware and Thomson, 2005, Banas et al., 2009), there is renewed interest in understanding these …
The Effects Of Ocean Acidification And Temperature Rise On The Thermal Tolerance And Critical Thermal Limit Of Pacific Herring (Clupea Pallasii), Nicole R. Singh
The Effects Of Ocean Acidification And Temperature Rise On The Thermal Tolerance And Critical Thermal Limit Of Pacific Herring (Clupea Pallasii), Nicole R. Singh
WWU Graduate School Collection
Anthropogenic climate change, including the interactive effects of ocean acidification and temperature rise, is projected to affect marine ecosystems by challenging the environmental tolerance limits of individual species. Such impacts have been documented in a handful of marine fishes, including major physiological effects experienced in early-life stages of Pacific herring, an important forage and commercial fish species widely distributed in coastal systems across the North Pacific. In this study, we investigated the effects of temperatures between 10- 16°C and two pCO2 levels (ambient and high pCO2) on hatching and survival of Pacific herring. Survival after acute temperature exposure was assessed …
Somatic Learning And Eco-Anxiety In Environmental Education Teacher Preparation, Pippa Hemsley
Somatic Learning And Eco-Anxiety In Environmental Education Teacher Preparation, Pippa Hemsley
WWU Graduate School Collection
This study investigated the potential for somatic pedagogies to address eco-anxiety among prospective environmental educators. Although it can also have positive effects, eco-anxiety often becomes an overwhelming experience that contributes to high levels of burnout and inaction. Somatic pedagogies are those that purposefully include a sensory-reflective component. A short curricular intervention was implemented in an environmental education curriculum class of 19 undergraduate students to explore how using somatic pedagogies to reflect on eco-emotions impacted readiness to address eco-anxiety in their future teaching, and in what ways somatic pedagogies might support environmental education teacher preparation. Using grounded theory methodology to analyze …
Methane Emissions In Port Susan Bay: The Missing Link In Carbon Accounting, Rachel S. Yonemura
Methane Emissions In Port Susan Bay: The Missing Link In Carbon Accounting, Rachel S. Yonemura
WWU Graduate School Collection
Coastal wetlands have the ability to sequester large amounts of “blue carbon” in sediments that would otherwise act as a harmful greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. The recently restored marsh in Port Susan Bay, Washington sequesters 231gC m-2 yr-1 and accretes 2.75cm of sediment per year. While this restored marsh stores nearly twice as much carbon as the nearby natural marsh, it can also emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that has the potential to outweigh the benefits of carbon storage. It is critical to measure these emissions to determine if this site is a net source or …
The Photochemical Evolution Of Dissolved Black Carbon In Snow: A Case Study From The North Cascades, Molly Peek
The Photochemical Evolution Of Dissolved Black Carbon In Snow: A Case Study From The North Cascades, Molly Peek
WWU Graduate School Collection
Black carbon (BC) is partially combusted organic material from natural and anthropogenic sources, and is a highly effective driver of melt in the cryosphere. BC has been found in both populated and remote areas around the globe. This study follows the evolution of UV-exposed dissolved BC (DBC) in the cryosphere using the Benzenepolycarboxylic Acid (BPCA) markers B4CA, B5CA, and B6CA. Samples were collected from Mount Baker, Washington, and from both an in situ field study and a controlled photodegradation study, both using natural and anthropogenic BC standards. Both natural and experimental samples had a dominance of B5CA relative to other …
Analysis Of Eelgrass In Padilla Bay, Washington Using An Uncrewed Aerial System, Hannah Hein
Analysis Of Eelgrass In Padilla Bay, Washington Using An Uncrewed Aerial System, Hannah Hein
WWU Graduate School Collection
Eelgrass is an important part of coastal environments in the Pacific Northwest as it provides crucial habitat and moderates storm surge. Padilla Bay, Washington is home to one of the largest eelgrass meadows in North America and contains the native Zostera marina and the non-native Z. japonica. The relationship between these two species is of interest due to the influx of Z. japonica in previously unvegetated areas. I used an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) and a multispectral camera to study species dynamics. I compared the ability of values derived from the band data, two vegetation indices, and a principal …
Ecological Risk Assessment Of Tire Wear Particles In The San Francisco Bay Using A Bayesian Network Relative Risk Model, Emma E. Sharpe
Ecological Risk Assessment Of Tire Wear Particles In The San Francisco Bay Using A Bayesian Network Relative Risk Model, Emma E. Sharpe
WWU Graduate School Collection
Here we present an ecological risk assessment for a specific type of microplastic in the San Francisco Bay. There has been an increased interest in understanding and managing the impacts that microplastics may have on ecological systems because recent studies have shown that plastic particles are widespread in the environment and that exposure to these particles has toxicological effects. Until now, an ecological risk assessment for microplastics that meets the current standards for risk assessment, has not been completed. This study lays the groundwork for future ecological risk assessments of microplastics and identifies key uncertainties that need to be addressed. …
Uav Remote Sensing Approaches To Mapping Glacier Ablation And Snow Algae Radiative Forcing In The North Cascades., Shannon Healy
Uav Remote Sensing Approaches To Mapping Glacier Ablation And Snow Algae Radiative Forcing In The North Cascades., Shannon Healy
WWU Graduate School Collection
The stability of our cryosphere relies on highly reflective snow surfaces that reflect solar radiation, thereby maintaining the energy balance of the earth. The advances in Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology allow for researchers to assess snow surfaces in remote terrain at unprecedented scales. With this thesis, we demonstrate the range of UAV applications to assess glacier ablation and map snow algae in the North Cascades. The first chapter employs a low-cost, light-weight UAV to measure ablation of the Sholes Glacier using Structure-from-Motion technology and validates the measurements with outlet stream discharge data collected by the Nooksack Indian Tribe. We …
Faith In A Changing Climate: Policy Framing And Southern Evangelical Christian Views On Climate Policy, Sydne Tursky
Faith In A Changing Climate: Policy Framing And Southern Evangelical Christian Views On Climate Policy, Sydne Tursky
WWU Graduate School Collection
As the effects of climate change become more severe, many environmentalists push for federal climate policy to limit greenhouse gas emissions. However, no federal climate policy has amassed enough support to pass, largely because of America’s contentious political climate. White evangelical Christians, who are often Republican, trend toward climate change skepticism and climate policy opposition. They comprise 25% of voters in the United States (National Election Pool, 2016). Therefore, climate policies must have bipartisan appeal to pass. Policy makers may generate bipartisan appeal through creative framing of climate policy that emphasizes more than just the environmental benefits of climate change …
Assessing The Use Of The California Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus Californicus) Within Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (Imta), Casey Pruitt
Assessing The Use Of The California Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus Californicus) Within Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (Imta), Casey Pruitt
WWU Graduate School Collection
There has been recent interest in Washington State, USA in the culture of the California sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) for both wild-stock enhancement and as an aquaculture resource. The species is a good candidate for Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), where the animals are supported entirely on the excess organic biodeposits from existing floating aquaculture operations (e.g., bivalves or finfish). In IMTA, excess nutrients and organic materials from higher-trophic-level organisms are taken up by lower-trophic-level species, providing both environmental benefits and secondary products for sale. Unfortunately, a reliable longterm tagging and tracking method is not currently known for A. …
Off-Channel Habitat Restoration Using Groundwater Infiltration Galleries In The Methow River Basin, Washington, Nicole Masurat
Off-Channel Habitat Restoration Using Groundwater Infiltration Galleries In The Methow River Basin, Washington, Nicole Masurat
WWU Graduate School Collection
Anthropogenic development in river floodplains has diminished the extent groundwater and surface water interact. This interaction plays an important role in the formation of floodplain habitats that provide essential refuge for stream biota when extreme seasonal conditions arise. To address the need for more off-channel habitat in the floodplain, a novel strategy of habitat construction was implemented by the Yakama Nation in the Methow River Basin. At two locations, groundwater infiltration galleries were installed in relic side channels disconnected from the mainstem by infrastructure. These installations collect subsurface flow and drain it to excavated channels connected to the mainstem channel …
Bioaccumulation Of Metals In Whatcom County Estuaries By Native Tidal Plants, Margaret Critchlow
Bioaccumulation Of Metals In Whatcom County Estuaries By Native Tidal Plants, Margaret Critchlow
WWU Graduate School Collection
Estuaries are unique environments which provide many needed ecosystem services, but are threatened by anthropogenic activities. Contamination with metals represents a significant concern, as even small amounts can persist in the soil and affect biological functions. Phytoremediation, or the use of plants to take up contaminants from the soil, is one possible solution. There is a lack of research on estuarine phytoremediators native to the Pacific Northwest, as well as the ultimate fate of these metals following plant senescence. In this study, we evaluated the total metal concentration at three Whatcom County, WA estuaries and sampled four native plant species …
Soil Mesofauna And Microbial Community Response To Mixed Biochar And Compost Application In A Skagit Silt Loam, Jameson Goff
Soil Mesofauna And Microbial Community Response To Mixed Biochar And Compost Application In A Skagit Silt Loam, Jameson Goff
WWU Graduate School Collection
I sampled Skagit silt loam soils from a field trial at the WSU NWREC where biochar and compost were added to potato crops in late spring pre-planting. Soil mesofauna were sampled at mid and late-summer, while soil microbes were sampled at late summer exclusively. Soil treatments included mixed biochar and compost, compost-only, and an unamended control. Mesofauna were extracted with Berlese funnels and sorted to functional groups. F:B ratios and total microbial C were determined using microbiometer test kits. To test whether biochar and compost induced changes to soil mesofauna communities, I used permutational ANOVA. Differences in F:B ratios and …
Responses Of The Symbiotic Sea Anemone Anthopleura Elegantissima To Microplastics, Robert Beck
Responses Of The Symbiotic Sea Anemone Anthopleura Elegantissima To Microplastics, Robert Beck
WWU Graduate School Collection
The Salish Sea, a large and complex fjord estuary, receives waters impacted by a watershed that includes 8 million people aggregated in several large urban and industrial centers. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in their largest dimension, are transported from this watershed into the Salish Sea where they are easily ingested by filter feeders, herbivores and predators. To measure effects of microplastics on one common and important intertidal species, we exposed the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima to polyester microfibers at concentrations of 0, 0.01, or 0.1 g/L in the laboratory and measured the responses of the …
Living In Pele's Workshop: Using Community-Informed Planning To Address Housing Needs In Puna, Hawai'i, Taylor Webb
Living In Pele's Workshop: Using Community-Informed Planning To Address Housing Needs In Puna, Hawai'i, Taylor Webb
WWU Graduate School Collection
The purpose of this research project is to understand the ways in which the current land use regulations in Puna, Hawai’i have impacted accessibility to a variety of affordable housing forms. The 2018 Kīlauea eruption and COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated issues in the community that were already prevalent in the area including rising housing costs, lack of housing options, and insufficient infrastructure and access to essential services. As more people continue to move into the Puna District, these issues are becoming intensified. With these complexities in mind, I utilized a mixed-method research approach to study both the physical and social …
Using Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus Laevis (Fetax) To Study Metals And Temperature As Multiple Stressors In Cascades Frog (Rana Cascadae), Adam Turner (Cockrill) Crispin
Using Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus Laevis (Fetax) To Study Metals And Temperature As Multiple Stressors In Cascades Frog (Rana Cascadae), Adam Turner (Cockrill) Crispin
WWU Graduate School Collection
Amphibian populations have been declining globally since at least the 1970s. In the western United States, disappearances have resulted in significant range contractions due to habitat loss, climate change, predation by non-native species, pesticide use, and disease, most recently by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Several recent studies have addressed amphibian population declines due to climate change, yet few studies have examined the interacting effects of climate change and metal contaminants as they relate to amphibians. Risks may be especially pronounced in amphibians that reside in high-alpine aquatic ecosystems, such as the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae), which may be affected …
Avian And Shallow Water Community Response To Pacific Herring (Clupea Pallasii) Spawn Events, Heidi Stewart
Avian And Shallow Water Community Response To Pacific Herring (Clupea Pallasii) Spawn Events, Heidi Stewart
WWU Graduate School Collection
Pacific Herring play a critical role in the food web of the Salish Sea. The Cherry Point stock, centered 30 miles north of Bellingham Bay, has declined roughly 97% since the 1970s. This massive decline is a point of concern for environmental and fishery managers and has led to research into both the initial decline and the stock’s inability to recover. One key data gap in need of research is whether the Cherry Point herring stock is experiencing increased predation from the nearshore fish, bird, and invertebrate community due to its unique late spawn timing and spawning behavior. To that …
Species Distribution And Abundance Of Bering Sea Tunicates With Implications For Coastal Food Security, Meghan Bugaj
Species Distribution And Abundance Of Bering Sea Tunicates With Implications For Coastal Food Security, Meghan Bugaj
WWU Graduate School Collection
The use of sessile macroinvertebrates as leading indicators of change in marine ecosystems makes them potentially valuable as a management tool for predicting habitat suitability for more mobile, commercially important fishes. In addition to potential use as an ecosystem indicator in fisheries management, tunicates are used as a food resource by some Alaska Native communities. Variability in abundance and distribution, driven by changing physical conditions in the Bering Sea, could impact food security for these communities. I used fishery-independent NOAA survey data from the Eastern Bering Sea summer surveys from 1987 to 2019 to examine abundance and distribution of several …