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Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Theses/Dissertations

Articles 1 - 9 of 9

Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Evaluating Restored Oyster Reefs In Chesapeake Bay: How Habitat Structure Influences Ecological Function, Janet A. Nestlerode Jan 2004

Evaluating Restored Oyster Reefs In Chesapeake Bay: How Habitat Structure Influences Ecological Function, Janet A. Nestlerode

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

A shortage of shell resources for restoring reefs of the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, has led to widespread use of substitute materials. The effectiveness of such alternative substrates as habitat for reef-associated fauna other than oysters is largely unresolved. I investigated the habitat value of oyster shell, surf clam (Spisula solidissima) shell, and pelletized coal ash reefs for benthic and nektonic communities. Oyster recruitment, survival, and growth were monitored on reefs of oyster and surf clam shell near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and York River, USA. Oyster shell supported greater oyster growth and survival and offered the highest degree …


A Semi-Empirical Cellular Automata Model For Wildfire Monitoring From A Geosynchronous Space Platform, Brian D. Killough Jan 2003

A Semi-Empirical Cellular Automata Model For Wildfire Monitoring From A Geosynchronous Space Platform, Brian D. Killough

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The environmental and human impacts of wildfires have grown considerably in recent years due to an increase in their frequency and coverage. Effective wildfire management and suppression requires real-time data to locate fire fronts, model their propagation and assess the impact of biomass burning. Existing empirical wildfire models are based on fuel properties and meteorological data with inadequate spatial or temporal sampling. A geosynchronous space platform with the proposed set of high resolution infrared detectors provides a unique capability to monitor fires at improved spatial and temporal resolutions. The proposed system is feasible with state-of-the-art hardware and software for high …


Ecosystem Analysis Of Water Column Processes In The York River Estuary, Virginia: Historical Records, Field Studies And Modeling Analysis, Yongsik Sin Jan 1998

Ecosystem Analysis Of Water Column Processes In The York River Estuary, Virginia: Historical Records, Field Studies And Modeling Analysis, Yongsik Sin

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Analyses of EPA long-term datasets (1985--1994) combined with field studies and ecosystem model development were used to investigate phytoplankton and nutrient dynamics in the York River estuary. Analysis of the EPA dataset showed that algal blooms occurred during winter-spring followed by smaller summer blooms. Peak phytoplankton biomass during the winter-spring blooms occurred in the mid reach of the mesohaline zone whereas during the summer bloom it occurred in the tidal fresh-mesolialine transition zone. River discharge appears to be the major factor controlling the location and timing of the winter-spring blooms and the relative degree of potential nitrogen (N) and phosphorus …


Impact Of Artificial Reef Associates On Macrobenthic Community Structure In Florida Bay, Heinz Michael Proft Jan 1995

Impact Of Artificial Reef Associates On Macrobenthic Community Structure In Florida Bay, Heinz Michael Proft

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Crassostrea Virginica On Constructed Intertidal Oyster Reefs: The Effects Of Tidal Height And Substrate Level On Settlement, Growth, And Mortality, Ian K. Bartol Jan 1995

Crassostrea Virginica On Constructed Intertidal Oyster Reefs: The Effects Of Tidal Height And Substrate Level On Settlement, Growth, And Mortality, Ian K. Bartol

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Characterization Of Anti-Tumor Immunity In Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus Tau), And The Effects Of 7,12 -Dimethylbenz(A)Anthracene On This Immune Response, Kenneth R. Seeley Jan 1993

Characterization Of Anti-Tumor Immunity In Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus Tau), And The Effects Of 7,12 -Dimethylbenz(A)Anthracene On This Immune Response, Kenneth R. Seeley

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Cell-mediated lysis of cultured tumor target cells by nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) was examined in the oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau), an estuarine teleost. NCC activity was evaluated in cells taken from the head kidney, peripheral blood, spleen and peritoneal cavity. NCC activity was a property of plastic nonadherent cells which lacked phagocytic activity, indicating that in terms of their functional capacity, the cells which mediate nonspecific cytoxic immune responses in oyster toadfish do not appear to be monocytes or macrophages. However, light and electron microscopic examination of these cells revealed that morphologically, they resemble monocytes and macrophages. A new technique …


Interspecific And Intraspecific Variability In Placoid Scale Morphology In Relation To Body Form Variability In Squaliformes, Christopher R. Tabit Jan 1993

Interspecific And Intraspecific Variability In Placoid Scale Morphology In Relation To Body Form Variability In Squaliformes, Christopher R. Tabit

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

An ontogenetic series of nine species; Centrophorus granulosus, Centroscymnus coelolepis, Dalatias licha, Deania calcea, Echinorhinus cookei, Isistius brasiliensis, Oxynotus centrina and Squalus acanthias were studied to determine swimming capabilities, boundary-layer flow conditions and placoid scale functional morphologies. Body morphometric variables included the girth and the distance from snout to the orbitals, origin of the median and paired fins, and the caudal peduncle, body and fin surface area, fin aspect ratios and caudal fin angles. Placoid scales were sampled from sixteen regions across the body. Morphometric variables included the number of scales per area of integument, scale crown width, length and …


Dynamics Of Fish Assemblages Associated With An Offshore Artificial Reef In The Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight, Aaron J. Adams Jan 1993

Dynamics Of Fish Assemblages Associated With An Offshore Artificial Reef In The Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight, Aaron J. Adams

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Shading By Open-Pile Structures On The Density Of Spartina Alterniflora, Heather L. Mcguire Jan 1990

The Effects Of Shading By Open-Pile Structures On The Density Of Spartina Alterniflora, Heather L. Mcguire

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.