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Using Bivalves To Assess Levels Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In Tampa Bay, Jonelle Tamara Basso
Using Bivalves To Assess Levels Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In Tampa Bay, Jonelle Tamara Basso
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
Persistent Organic Pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) have been measured in water and sediment samples as well as marine fauna regionally and globally. PCBs and PBDEs persisting in the environment not only impact organisms inhabiting contaminated ecosystems, but may pose a serious threat to human health. This study seeks to measure the concentrations of these anthropogenic compounds in Tampa Bay waters, with the assumption that a representative fraction of the toxins will accumulate in bivalve tissue. Through GC ECD analysis, it was shown that there is an incidence of PCBs and PBDEs in the …
The Hanson Family Archives Of Fort Myers, Florida, Cynthia Marie Mott
The Hanson Family Archives Of Fort Myers, Florida, Cynthia Marie Mott
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
The Hanson Family Archives of Fort Myers, Florida offers a comprehensive overview and select examination of a privately owned, family collection of historical artifacts, currently held by the Woody Hanson family of Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida. This collection spans five generations, generally from the 1880s through today, with subject matter being mostly Southwest Florida, its settlement, development, and the effects growth and modern progress had on South Florida Indians. The Collection contains thousands of extremely high-quality, black & white photographs, taken over a span of fifty years. The images cover every facet of regional growth, from waterways to architecture …
Linking Watershed, Soil And Landuse Characteristics To The Spatial Variability Of In-Stream Water Quality In Selected Florida Watersheds, Frederick B. Bradley
Linking Watershed, Soil And Landuse Characteristics To The Spatial Variability Of In-Stream Water Quality In Selected Florida Watersheds, Frederick B. Bradley
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
This thesis characterized terrestrial source and aquatic sink relationships of water mediated transport of terrestrial materials from the adjacent terrestrial source (watersheds) to the aquatic sinks (streams and coastal waters). Previous researchers noted that coastal waters of the West Florida Shelf showed variation in concentrations of Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) along the north-south gradient. It was hypothesized that since the dominant constituents of CDOM are derived from terrestrial sources, characterization of the adjacent watersheds in terms of their source and water mediated transport potential of terrestrial materials to the aquatic sinks would help explain the variability reported along the …
An Evaluation Of Image Processing Techniques For Mapping Seagrass From Ikonos Satellite Imagery In Springs Coast Florida And Evaluating The Effectiveness Of These Techniques In Replacing Traditional Photo-Interpretation Methods, Rene Dieter Baumstark
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
Seagrass mapping in Florida provides important information about the spatial distribution and density of seagrass habitat in coastal waters. New image processing and satellite technologies present the opportunity to leverage quantitative, objective and cost effective techniques that have the potential to improve upon traditional aerial photography photo-interpretation techniques. Pan-sharpening, light attenuation correction and spatial/spectral image processing techniques were evaluated for their effectiveness in mapping seagrass from an IKONOS satellite image of Springs Coast, Florida. Pan-sharpening techniques, which are limited by the quality of the panchromatic band, were found to alter original multi-spectral pixel values in a statistically significant way and …
Reality Skewed: Newspaper Codification Of Stay-At-Home Mothers And Working Moms, Janet K. Keeler
Reality Skewed: Newspaper Codification Of Stay-At-Home Mothers And Working Moms, Janet K. Keeler
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
Newspaper portrayals of stay-at-home mothers and working moms often limit and distort the motherhood experience and don’t reflect scientific and academic research. They perpetuate stereotypes and fuel “Mommy Wars,” which pit women against women on the issue of raising children. Through a content analysis of seven American newspapers from Jan. 1 to July 31, 2010, my research reveals pervasive, although probably unconscious, framing and labeling by the media – especially Southern and Midwestern journalists –about stay-at-home mothers and working mothers. The sample reviewed shows that stories that label a source as a working mom are mostly about guilt, challenges and …
A Humble Vulgar Tree: Explorations Of The Natural And Cultural History Of The Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palmetto, Jonathan Miller
A Humble Vulgar Tree: Explorations Of The Natural And Cultural History Of The Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palmetto, Jonathan Miller
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
This thesis is a collection of separate essays exploring aspects of the natural and cultural history of the Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palmetto. It includes general observations about the plant, a description of an effort to determine how long they live, how cabbage palms came to appear on the State Seal of Florida, the persistence of cabbage palms in an area of rising sea level along Florida’s Big Bend coast, a discussion of the historic practice of leaving mature palms in citrus groves, the role of cabbage palms in Florida Scrub Jay nesting and honey production, the practice of placing a …
Understanding Environmental Deficit Phenomenon: Influences Affecting Children's Connectedness To Nature, Lauren Bates
Understanding Environmental Deficit Phenomenon: Influences Affecting Children's Connectedness To Nature, Lauren Bates
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
The contemporary generation of young people experiences a childhood unlike any other previous generation. Federal funding for high achievement on standardized tests in the areas of reading and math have resulted in a narrowed school curricula focusing predominantly on these two subjects, and leaving little instructional time and resources for hands-on learning and unstructured time outdoors. Furthermore, children report spending less time outdoors and note that their parents are too busy to take them out to play. These circumstances at school and at home may indicate a decreasing value for nature experiences held by the adults who supervise children, which …
The Ethics Of Shaping Perceptions Of Reality: What Journalists Can Learn From Cartographers And Shamans, Christopher J. Dorsey
The Ethics Of Shaping Perceptions Of Reality: What Journalists Can Learn From Cartographers And Shamans, Christopher J. Dorsey
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
Journalism has the unique ability to shape the public’s perception of reality. Because humans are limited in experience and knowledge, an understanding of the world is shaped by what information is available to each individual. As a major societal institution, journalism has a public forum with which to release relevant, timely and useful information that can influence these perceptions. When it comes to building perceptions of reality, there are potential harms that can arise such as enhancing fear, confusion, stress, and building a worldview that can lead to uninformed or destructive decisions. Essentially, a journalist has as much ability to …
Anthropogenic Changes Over The Last 100 Years In Dove Sound, Upper Florida Keys, Usa, Thomas S. Harmon
Anthropogenic Changes Over The Last 100 Years In Dove Sound, Upper Florida Keys, Usa, Thomas S. Harmon
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
Dove Sound located near Key Largo, Florida (USA) was investigated to determine potential anthropogenic influences from land use alteration such as highway and residential developments. The sediment load and nutrient flux was investigated using 210Pb dating of a sediment core, combined with stable isotope values δ15N, δ13C and pigment analysis. A 210Pb CRS model 130 year horizon was determined for the upper 12cm of the core. Mass sedimentation rates over this time period increased approximately 10 fold from 5.0 ±0.97 mg cm-2 yr-1 (10-12cm depth interval) to 48.58±3.61 mg cm-2 yr-1 (0-1cm depth interval). Reduction in the atomic C/N values …
The Effects Of Artificial Floating Wetland Islands On Water Quality In A Eutrophic Lake, Alexandra S. Jangrell-Bratli
The Effects Of Artificial Floating Wetland Islands On Water Quality In A Eutrophic Lake, Alexandra S. Jangrell-Bratli
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
Artificial floating wetland islands are alternatives to traditional treatment wetlands in areas with limited shoreline. Artificial floating wetland island vegetation enhances water quality due to direct uptake of nutrients from the increased surface area available for microbial growth. Three artificial islands and two Pontederia tussocks were enclosed in an urban eutrophic lake in St. Petersburg, FL to determine the effects of artificial floating wetland islands on water quality for two months at the end of the growing season. Excess nutrients from anthropogenic input have decreased water quality in the lake which might affect Coffee Pot Bayou and Tampa Bay into …
Bagels, Beaches, & Bombers: Florida’S Jewish Community From 1929 – 1945, Jason Ashley Memmer
Bagels, Beaches, & Bombers: Florida’S Jewish Community From 1929 – 1945, Jason Ashley Memmer
USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)
The purpose of this thesis is to recount the history and discover the beginning of modern Florida’s impressive Jewish community. While it is believed that Jews have lived in the state under Spanish, British, Confederate, and American flags, the Hebrew population did not see rapid expansion until the mid-twentieth century. Therefore, I will seek to examine the various events and people who influenced the massive waves of migrations, and show how World War II is responsible for creating the lasting affinity between Jews and the Sunshine State. This study will also provide insight into today’s population distribution, voting trends, and …