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Municipal Recycling In Waterville: A Choice Experiment, Katharine V. Eddy, Alec A. Finigan
Municipal Recycling In Waterville: A Choice Experiment, Katharine V. Eddy, Alec A. Finigan
Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics at Colby
The city of Waterville, Maine has experienced many struggles with establishing an economically and socially beneficial method for collecting recyclables from residents. In 2006, the town made the choice to terminate its curbside recycling pickup and open the Skills facility, where residents were able to transport there recyclables and dispose of them at the facility. This proved to also not be economically beneficial and the town ended this option for residents in 2012. The motivation behind establishing a new recycling program in Waterville is making Waterville more environmentally friendly, the creation of jobs for residents in the trash collecting business, …
The Natural, Jeff Clark
The Natural, Jeff Clark
Colby Magazine
Just before Thanksgiving Day last November, Kent Wommack '77 got the classic good-news, bad-news, worse-news call. Wommack is head of The Nature Conservancy in Maine, and the caller was a timberland manager who had asked Wommack to back a client in acquiring prime acres of Maine forest on the upper St. John River, one of the most unspoiled waterways left in the United States. The good news was that the owner had agreed to sell the breathtaking chunk of land in the first place. The bad news was that the client was no longer interested in the deal. The worse …
Biotransformation Of Halogenated Flame Retardants, Stefanie Lai
Biotransformation Of Halogenated Flame Retardants, Stefanie Lai
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
At the end of a computers life cycle, its final destination is often unknown to the average consumer. Consumers unwittingly contribute to electronic waste (e-waste) pollution, even if they attempt to recycle old monitors, televisions, gaming consoles etc, in an environmentally friendly way. In recent years e-waste has become an emerging global issue as electronics usage increases and questionable methods of disposal are exposed. Approximately, 70% of the worlds e-waste is shipped back to China, where it is often disposed of using hazardous methods. These include open-flame burning and acid digestion directly into the soil causing a widespread presence of …
Weighing The Cost And Benefits Of Ecotourism: A Quantitative Evaluation Of Six Preserves Around The World, Andrew Newcomb, Tianyang Zhou, Savannah Judge
Weighing The Cost And Benefits Of Ecotourism: A Quantitative Evaluation Of Six Preserves Around The World, Andrew Newcomb, Tianyang Zhou, Savannah Judge
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Ecotourism is considered an effective way to preserve biodiversity, educate ecotourists, economically benefit local communities, and foster respect for different cultures. The ecotourism industry is booming, yet this growth may result in the degradation of local ecological systems while contributing little to local communities socioeconomically. Our study aims to assess the relative impact of ecotourism by comparing negative effects of the operation on the environment and positive socioeconomic effects for local communities in three pairs of large and small parks in Canada, Chile and China. While the conservation benefits of ecotourism are important, we do not attempt to measure these …
The Conservation Implications Of Climate Change On Predatory Mammal Distributions In North America And Europe: A Three Case Study, Carla Nyquist, Elizabeth Elliott, Helaine Linden
The Conservation Implications Of Climate Change On Predatory Mammal Distributions In North America And Europe: A Three Case Study, Carla Nyquist, Elizabeth Elliott, Helaine Linden
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
As the impacts of anthropogenic-induced climate change become more pronounced around the globe, the implications on specific species and ecosystems are increasingly becoming areas of concern. Changing temperatures and vegetation patterns suggest alterations of species distribution and global biomes altogether. These predicted changes may have a negative impact on large predatory mammals, as they will most likely need to alter their ranges in order to adapt to the changing temperatures and habitats. In this study we focused on three predatory mammals: the wolf (Canis lupus spp.), the lynx (Lynx spp.), and the brown bear (Ursus arctos). We made predictions regarding …
Spatial Variation, Institutional Structures And Forest Composition In Northern Ethiopian Church Forests, Ellen Evangelides, Jacob Wall
Spatial Variation, Institutional Structures And Forest Composition In Northern Ethiopian Church Forests, Ellen Evangelides, Jacob Wall
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Studies conducted in Northern Ethiopia to date have found that a majority of Ethiopian Tewahido Orthodox Church followers believe in the importance of protecting forests. Indeed, many of the forest fragments still in existence in Ethiopia today have survived only due to conservation efforts by priests and followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which has a tradition of retaining patches of native trees around churches. Access to church forests by outsiders (including scientists) has been limited in the past which in part explains how these stands of native trees have survived in spite of widespread deforestation. Today however there is …
Historical Baselines For Large Sharks In Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Usa): Putting Recent Observed Increases Into Context, Elizabeth Mccormack
Historical Baselines For Large Sharks In Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Usa): Putting Recent Observed Increases Into Context, Elizabeth Mccormack
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Over the last decade, observations of sharks in the waters around Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA) have increased, possibly related to increases in seal populations. However, historical data are needed to put these recent increases into a long-term context. Using newspaper articles, photographs, and fishing tournament records, we compiled historical data on sharks in the waters around Cape Cod from approximately a one hundred year period, from 1830 to 1939. We compared these to trends in modern observations to establish baselines. As well, we document trends in commercial and cultural value of sharks in New England since the early 19th century. …
The Effects Of Climate Change On Food Borne Diseases And Nutrition, Erin Griffin, Hannah Twombly
The Effects Of Climate Change On Food Borne Diseases And Nutrition, Erin Griffin, Hannah Twombly
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Despite the need for more research in order to assess fully the effects of climate change on human health, there is significant evidence to suggest the implications of climate change on food- and waterborne diseases and nutrition are significant. This study assesses the extent to which increasing temperatures and extreme weather events are increasing the incidence of foodborne disease and malnutrition in humans. Our study will focus on current research illustrating the connection between the incidence of these diseases with periods of high temperatures and rare weather patterns. We will also assess current policy in place governing climate change and …
The Effects Of Anthropogenic Nitrogen On Public Health, Grace Fowler, John Sears
The Effects Of Anthropogenic Nitrogen On Public Health, Grace Fowler, John Sears
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Human activities that add nitrogen to the environment are dramatically affecting the nitrogen cycle. Advancements in the production of reactive nitrogen in the 1950s rapidly increased the production of nitrogen fertilizers used in agricultural food production, a significant source of nitrogen in the cycle. Increased crop yields have been tied to the rapidly ascending human population and associated environmental impacts, and the alteration of the nitrogen cycle itself is associated with documented environmental detriment. A review of the history of ascending anthropogenic nitrogen production in agricultural and industrial processes also reveals its role in negatively altering greenhouse gas levels, spreading …
Maine's Eelgrass Habitat Loss Between 1997 And 2010, Mary Parks
Maine's Eelgrass Habitat Loss Between 1997 And 2010, Mary Parks
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Maines eelgrass meadows serve as an important habitat for many marine organisms. The sea grass, Zostera marina grows in beds anchored to the marine floor and reaches lengths of up to five feet. The unique structure of the beds provides protection to a large span of marine invertebrates and juvenile fish, prevents erosion by stabilizing sediment layers, and improves water quality by filtering nutrients and sediments. It is also consumed by various marine invertebrate species as a primary food source. However, eelgrass meadows have been subject to significant environmental degradation over the past century due to boat traffic, mooring, docking, …
People, Plants, And Places: A Spatial Study Of The Relationship Between Vegetation And Demography, Mackenzie Nichols
People, Plants, And Places: A Spatial Study Of The Relationship Between Vegetation And Demography, Mackenzie Nichols
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This study examines the relationship between demographic factors and vegetation abundance and change in the SNNP and Amhara regions of Ethiopia. Regressions were run using the 2007 Ethiopian Census and satellite imagery in order to identify potential relationships between a variety of demographic factors and the change in NDVI (normalized differential vegetation index) in various weredas (municipalities) in Amhara and SNNP.
Critical Reef Fish Habitats, Fishing Regulations, And Active Drilling Lease Sites In The Gulf Of Mexico, Tierney Dodge
Critical Reef Fish Habitats, Fishing Regulations, And Active Drilling Lease Sites In The Gulf Of Mexico, Tierney Dodge
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Human activities have been increasingly impacting the Gulf of Mexico negatively. The Gulf of Mexico is a biological rich ecosystem, with coral reefs providing a unique habitat for a diverse array of fish and other marine wildlife, including turtles. However, the increasing use of nutrient rich fertilizers in the Mississippi River Valley have created a growing dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico: a large area where there is no available oxygen due to extreme eutrophication. Overfishing has also depleted the stocks of many fish in the Gulf, further depleting the ecological health of the area. However, The National Oceanic …
An Analysis Of The Proximity Between Organic Farms And Schools In Maine, Olivia Avidan
An Analysis Of The Proximity Between Organic Farms And Schools In Maine, Olivia Avidan
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This analysis will focus on determining the number of organic farms within a 10 mile driving radius of schools in Maine. Both public and private schools are included in the study, but all higher education institutions are omitted. The farms are certified organic by MOFGA. All data will be analyzed using ArcGIS software, specifically the Network Analyst tool.
Anthropogenic Effects On The Arctic, Sara Miller, Sarah Large
Anthropogenic Effects On The Arctic, Sara Miller, Sarah Large
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
The Arctic is a sensitive location that has been affected greatly by climate change and the anthropogenic factors that contribute to global warming. It is critical to research the Arctic because the effects are significant and can be seen globally. The average temperature in the Arctic is increasing twice as fast as the rest of the world, which is causing the ice caps and permafrost to melt. Permafrost traps carbon and methane, and as permafrost melts these elements are released into the atmosphere. Since the conditions of the Arctic are changing local species are affected due to their altered habit. …
Does Alcohol Consumption Lead To Increased Cancer Rates?, Samantha Draper, Amara Weiss
Does Alcohol Consumption Lead To Increased Cancer Rates?, Samantha Draper, Amara Weiss
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Using research grounded in empirical studies, we will synthesize statistically significant correlations between alcohol consumption and cancer rates in adults. We aim to analyze which cancer types alcohol is most correlated with. Additionally, we will analyze the strength of programs that attempt to bring these findings to light.
Hydraulic Fracturing: The Neurological Effects, Shannon Oleynik
Hydraulic Fracturing: The Neurological Effects, Shannon Oleynik
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Hydraulic Fracturing, a natural gas extraction method also known as fracking, requires the use of a fracking fluid containing a number of highly toxic chemicals known to cause severe health problems to humans. The toxic wastewater produced as a byproduct of fracking leaches into and pollutes the surrounding groundwater. Among the health concerns caused by contact and ingestion of these toxic chemicals are cancer, acute respiratory issues, and severe neurological damage. This poster summarizes the current literature on the known neurological effects of the toxic chemicals produced by fracking, as well looks at case studies to examine the health of …
The Effect Of Climate Change On Respiratory Diseases, Sarah Arvidson, Eda Reed
The Effect Of Climate Change On Respiratory Diseases, Sarah Arvidson, Eda Reed
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, causing global climate change and severe weather patterns, research is being conducted to determine possible effects on human health. Climate change effects the concentration of pollutants in the air including ambient pollen and other allergens with the potential to trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory distresses. This issue is affecting humans on a global scale and the resulting damages to human health are expected to rise in the coming decades and continue well into the future. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making efforts to reduce respiratory health impacts, and reduce a major …
Does The Occupational Exposure Of Ski Wax Technicians To Perfluorinated Chemicals Result In Cardiovascular Disease?, Sarah Brockett, Jefferson Tucker
Does The Occupational Exposure Of Ski Wax Technicians To Perfluorinated Chemicals Result In Cardiovascular Disease?, Sarah Brockett, Jefferson Tucker
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Fluorinated organic compounds are used in ski waxes because of their water resistant surfactant properties which reduce friction between the skis and snow. One of the most common fluorinated organic compounds found in ski wax is perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA. Because of its water resistant properties it has been manufactured for use in various materials including Gore-Tex and Teflon. Thanks to relatively recent scientific studies the dangers of PFOA have become apparent. PFOA is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. There exists a considerable amount of animal data on the health impacts of PFOA. Studies show that exposure to PFOA …
Environmental Justice In The Us: Fracking And Nuclear Plant Site Location And Their Spatial Relationship To Low-Income Communities, Tianyang Zhou
Environmental Justice In The Us: Fracking And Nuclear Plant Site Location And Their Spatial Relationship To Low-Income Communities, Tianyang Zhou
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
In the United States, communities with a large percentage of minority or low-income household appear to be disproportionally exposed to environmental pollutants. The intersection of race and socioeconomic status may results in this inequality of rights to an adequate living standard and human health. This project intends to explore the extent to which underprivileged communities are disproportionally affected by environmental degradation problems. The environmental problems are represented by fracking sites location and nuclear plants location across the country. The spatial distribution of the most affected counties with various environmental problems will be mapped. Spatial analysis suggests that a large portion …
Recreating Ground-Truth Land-Use Classifications From Landsat Images, Alexa Junker
Recreating Ground-Truth Land-Use Classifications From Landsat Images, Alexa Junker
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This study attempts to recreate existing datasets of land-use classifications for Brevard County in east-central Florida from Landsat 5 satellite images using two different classification tools provided by the GIS program ArcMap. After acquiring the Landsat images from the USGS for the years 1995, 2000, 2004, and 2009, the unsupervised classification tool was used in order to identify 6 different land-use classes: urban, agriculture, non-forested land, forest, water, and wetland. Then, 6 sample polygons for each class were used as a basis for the software to recognize different land-use types, and the classification was repeated. In order to measure the …
Colony Collapse Disorder: An Assessment Of Causes And Their Pervasiveness, Anne Schechner, Beatrice Smith, Olivia Collins
Colony Collapse Disorder: An Assessment Of Causes And Their Pervasiveness, Anne Schechner, Beatrice Smith, Olivia Collins
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a widespread condition throughout honeybee populations across the globe, resulting in either partial or total failure of Apis mellifera hives including death and/or hive abandonment. Many factors, either independently or concurrently, contribute to CCD, making it difficult to establish a singular cause of collapse. Research was performed to evaluate several prevalent causes and establish a singular most pervasive one based on four major criteria. These included: potential to expand, frequency of threat, geographic range, effectiveness of treatment. This study tested the hypothesis that a singular predominant cause could be identified based on the results of …
Sacrificing The Sacred: Land-Use Changes And Moral Shifts In Northern Ethiopian Church Forests, Ellen Evangelides, Jacob Wall
Sacrificing The Sacred: Land-Use Changes And Moral Shifts In Northern Ethiopian Church Forests, Ellen Evangelides, Jacob Wall
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
No abstract provided.
Impacts Of Marine Plastics On Seabirds, Sea Turtles, And Whales, Elizabeth Mccormack, Sergei Poljak, Michelle Burt
Impacts Of Marine Plastics On Seabirds, Sea Turtles, And Whales, Elizabeth Mccormack, Sergei Poljak, Michelle Burt
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Plastics are durable, cheap, and have high tensile strength resulting in their ubiquitous incorporation into society. There has been a rapid increase in plastic production worldwide. A significant amount of plastic waste, like other garbage, inevitably ends up in the worlds oceans. Marine species can be impacted by plastics by ingestion, entanglement, bioaccumulation, and even incorporation as a nesting material. This study aims to determine the effect of plastic on marine megafauna - namely seabirds, sea turtles and whales - using a variety of case studies worldwide. The percent of animals impacted by plastics was recorded from each case study. …
Discovering Maine's Own Freshwater Snail, Emma Donohoe, Alice Hotopp
Discovering Maine's Own Freshwater Snail, Emma Donohoe, Alice Hotopp
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Maine has several freshwater snails but one is found only within the state, a type of pond snail called Stagnicola mighelsi. Previous work shows that it has been lost at half of the lakes in its Fish River Lakes stronghold, and that it survives only in very big and remote lakes. However, there are 100 year-old reports from other watersheds, and possibly undiscovered populations. Learning about this snail and the other snails we will identify can help us protect a special part of Maines wildlife, and learn about the health of our lakes and rivers. Few people know or care …
Ecological Role Of Anadromous Salmon In Aquatic Ecosystems, Janice Liang
Ecological Role Of Anadromous Salmon In Aquatic Ecosystems, Janice Liang
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
As the economic, cultural, and ecological concerns grow for decreasing salmon populations, scientists and resource managers have been expanding our understanding of the ecological role of salmon and other anadromous fishes, which return from the sea to spawn in fresh water. Spawning salmon not only serve as a food source for species like bears and seals, but when they die after spawning (as all Pacific species and most Atlantic species do), their remains provide nutrients to freshwater systems, having significant impacts on the communities in the ecosystem. Given the heterogeneity in habitats, the ecological impact of nutrient inputs varies among …
The Ecological Effects Of Overfishing In Japan, Katrina Chicojay Moore, Emily Walker
The Ecological Effects Of Overfishing In Japan, Katrina Chicojay Moore, Emily Walker
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Since the beginning of WWII in 1937, Japan has faced a number of difficult decisions regarding its economy, environment and nationalistic interests. During the war, the Japanese economy experienced rapid development. Its nationalism and desire to meet the West in economic and industrial levels drove its extreme postwar economic development which, along with its nuclear reliance, has spurred a number of environmental issues, including population growth, increased fossil fuel emissions, waste management and overfishing practices. We plan to explore each of these issues that have resulted from Japans rapid industrial expansion, with a focus on its overfishing practices, specifically regarding …
The Presence Of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Found In Cosmetics And Personal Care Products For Children, Molly Nash, Marie Abrahams
The Presence Of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Found In Cosmetics And Personal Care Products For Children, Molly Nash, Marie Abrahams
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Endocrine disrupting chemicals including parabens, triclosan, and phthalates are commonly found in popular personal care products. Research shows that children are especially vulnerable to the negative health impacts of these chemicals and face increased risk of chronic diseases and developmental deficiencies. Due to minimal governmental regulation, endocrine disrupting chemicals are commonly found in cosmetics intended for children. Previous literature indicates that early exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals can cause cognitive defects, early puberty, reproductive birth defects in males, fertility problems in females, obesity, diabetes, and increased risk of cancer and other diseases later in life. Although the regulation of cosmetic …
Shellfish Closure Trends Near Mt. Desert Island, Maine, Marianne Ferguson
Shellfish Closure Trends Near Mt. Desert Island, Maine, Marianne Ferguson
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Shellfish are a popular commercial fishery harvest in Maine. However, they are susceptible to biotoxins transmitted by toxic phytoplankton, which can lead to paralytic or amnesic shellfish poisoning of the humans that consume them. The Maine Department of Marine Resources has a phytoplankton monitoring program in place to detect such biotoxins and to close areas of shellfish harvesting if need be. Since 2001, they have archived the data from every closure. One of Maines shellfish species, the Blue Mussel, is sensitive to environmental changes and is known as a bio-monitor of pollution. Therefore, a method will be developed to analyze …
The Neurotoxic Effects Of Mercury Vapor Exposure From Artisanal Gold Mining, Mackenzie Kennedy
The Neurotoxic Effects Of Mercury Vapor Exposure From Artisanal Gold Mining, Mackenzie Kennedy
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining is the worlds second largest source of atmospheric mercury pollution behind coal combustion (United Nations Environment Program 2012). It is estimated that 10 to 15 million people in 70 countries work in the ASGM trade and are exposed to toxic effects of mercury from an inexpensive yet effective gold processing technique. Adult mercury exposure produces localized damage to the cerebellum, visual cortex, and motor strip, leading to visuospatial problems and effects on executive functioning, mood, and memory. Early life exposure, however, is most harmful because increased exposure can damage the whole brain. In its organic …
Does Air Pollution Lead To Increased Incidence Of Breast Cancer?, Naomi Schmidt
Does Air Pollution Lead To Increased Incidence Of Breast Cancer?, Naomi Schmidt
CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium
This project will be examining what kinds of chemicals are released into the environment and how those chemicals affect human health in terms of cancer, specifically lung cancer. This will include looking at chemistry to look at the health effects, to see if theoretically common chemicals that are in air pollution, such as NO2 and PM, affect the likelihood of getting cancer. It will also involve looking at empirical data to see if there are more incidences of lung cancer in places with more air pollution. If there is a disconnect between theoretical expectations and reality, I will attempt to …