Life Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Tree Growth And Restoration Treatment Persistence In Riparian And Upland California Montane Forests, Scott D. Burdette

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This thesis analyzes the growth of red fir (Abies magnifica) and California white fir (Abies concolor var. lowiana) in three different sites in California and creates an individual-tree, distance-independent growth simulator. The first chapter of this thesis is a literature review discussing the issues facing the forests composed of these montane true fir in California and the forest growth simulators in common use. The second chapter uses AICc model comparison to determine which models for each species best predicts growth of individual trees in terms of basal area increment (BAI). The third chapter of this thesis uses these individual-tree growth …

Abundance, Growth, And Predation By Non-Native Brown Trout In The Trinity River, Ca, Justin S. Alvarez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Brown Trout were introduced to the Trinity River in Northern California in the 1890’s. Since 1932, Brown Trout have sustained their population without additional stocking. Over the last 15 years, fisheries managers have been concerned that predation by piscivorous Brown Trout may impede efforts to restore native salmonids, in particular endangered Coho Salmon. I investigated predation by Brown Trout on native fish in the 64 km of the main stem Trinity River below Lewiston Dam. Using a bioenergetics approach parameterized with field measurements of Brown Trout abundance and growth, I estimated the amount of energy needed to sustain the 2015 …

The Bee Fauna Of The Horse Mountain And Grouse Mountain Region, Humboldt County, California, Carrie Lopez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Recent concerns about the ecological well-being of bee communities in California and elsewhere have increased the need for monitoring programs and studies that evaluate the impact of habitat loss and alteration on bee diversity and abundance. Such studies depend critically on the expertise of people trained in taxonomy, but their numbers have declined in recent years. My primary goal was to gain a comprehensive first-hand experience with bee identification by documenting the fauna of a previously unstudied area in the mountains of northwestern California and by writing an identification key, intended for dedicated non-specialists, to the area’s 35 species of …

The Facilitators And Barriers To Physical Activity: The Perspective Of Adults With Disabilities, Elizabeth K. Keener

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Children and adults with disabilities are at greater risk of developing higher levels of obesity, and chronic diseases associated with obesity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). Physical activity is crucial to maintaining health, mobility, and slowing disease progression for all people, especially those experiencing disability. Despite this fact, physical activity levels in individuals with disabilities are very low (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2006). Lower physical activity levels in are the result of a complex interactions of personal and environmental factors that unfold across a lifespan. Research on the facilitators and barriers to physical activity …

The Differences In Academic Achievement In Fit, Healthy, And Unfit 7th Grade Students, David Pauls

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

There is an abundance of research showing significant positive relationships between academic achievement and physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between academic achievement and different levels of physical fitness. The participants were 283 7^th grade students from a small, rural middle school in Northern California during 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15 academic school years. Academic achievement data came from the STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) test and CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Learning and Progress) test. Physical fitness data came from the FITNESSGRAM Physical Fitness Test. A MANOVA was performed on the academic achievement and …

In The Face Of Drought: Do Fuel Treatments Promote Resistance To Multi-Year Drought In A Mixed-Conifer Forest Of Northern California?, Michael Vernon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency, duration, and severity of drought events across many bioregions. Forest managers have two active management techniques to promote resistance and resilience to drought: prescribed fire and mechanical thinning. Generally applied to reduce fuels and fire hazard, treated areas may also reduce competition for resources that may improve tree-growth during drought and reduce mortality. The recent severe and prolonged drought in California allowed me to investigate the effects of climate stress and fuel treatments on tree growth responses in a dry mixed-conifer forest ecosystem.

To assess tree-growth responses to fuel treatments during severe …

Multiscale Habitat Suitability Modeling For Canary Rockfish (Sebastes Pinniger) Along The Northern California Coast, Portia N. Saucedo

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Detailed spatially-explicit data of the potential habitat of commercially important rockfish species are a critical component for the purposes of marine conservation, evaluation, and planning. Predictive habitat modeling techniques are widely used to identify suitable habitat in un-surveyed regions. This study elucidates the predicted distribution of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) along the largely un-surveyed northern California coast using data from visual underwater surveys and predictive terrain complexity covariates. I used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling software to identify regions of suitable habitat for S. pinniger greater than nine cm in total length at two spatial scales. The results of …

A Comparison Of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages Between Perennial And Intermittent Headwater Streams Of The Mattole River In Northern California, Usa, Mason S. London

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Intermittent streams are common throughout the world and comprise 60% or more of total river lengths in the conterminous United States. Despite their prevalence, intermittent streams are understudied, particularly first-order headwater streams, which are vital for maintaining the function, health and biotic diversity of river networks. In June 2016, I sampled five intermittent and five perennial headwater streams in the Mattole River watershed in northwestern coastal California, USA, to compare benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) assemblages between intermittent and perennial streams. BMI samples were collected using a 500µm mesh D-net at eight randomly located riffles along a 150-m reach, and then composited, …

Effects Of A Post-Activation Potentiation Warm-Up On Submaximal Parallel Back Squat Volume, Rating Of Perceived Exertion, Peak Velocity, And Peak Power, Carlton Wei

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Resistance training (RT) is effective for improving athletic performance, with specific training loads and volumes dictating the adaptations. A warm-up is necessary to safely and effectively engage in RT: typically with a low intensity aerobic activity, stretching, and movement specific potentiating exercises. Post-activation potentiation (PAP) acutely increases muscular power following a conditioning contraction, though limited research has assessed its use for RT. The purpose of this study was to assess how a PAP warm-up protocol affects volume, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and peak velocity and power with 75%1RM in the barbell parallel back squat (PBS) exercise across 4 sets. …

Population Characteristics And Trophic Interactions Between Pacific Mole Crabs And Redtail Surfperch On Northern California Sandy Beaches, Michelle Lynn Succow

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

A network of marine protected areas (MPAs) was established to protect northern California coastal habitats in December 2012. Populations of two indicator species, Amphistichus rhodoterus (redtail surfperch) and Emerita analoga (pacific mole crabs) were characterized within MPAs and reference sites to provide baseline ecological information for this region. Data were gathered using a series of simple field surveys (hook and line fishing surveys for A. rhodoterus along with core and transect surveys for E. analoga). Relative abundance, lengths, and sex ratios of A. rhodoterus did not differ between MPAs and their respective reference sites, whereas condition (overall health) increased …

The Influence Of Canopy Cover And Climate On Early Life-Stage Vital Rates For Northern Red-Legged Frogs (Rana Aurora), And The Implications For Population Growth Rates, Kecly Mcharry

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Many amphibian species are in decline due to habitat loss and changing climates. Understanding how habitat characteristics and climate influence vital rates, and if they act in concert or in opposition can inform management decisions. This study investigated the potential interaction of canopy cover and climate on early stage vital rates of northern red-legged frogs. Demographic data were collected from sample populations in experimental canopy cover treatments across a latitudinal distribution. Rearing cages were used to estimate hatch success, and mark-recapture surveys to estimate tadpole survival. Ambient air temperature was used as an index of climate because it is easily …

The Effects Of Kinesio Tape On Circulation And Healing: A Meta-Analysis, Stephanie A. Chuml

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

A popular topic during the 2008 Olympics was a type of tape that athletes were wearing. The tape was seen being worn by many different athletes on any number of body parts. The tape that these athletes were wearing is called Kinesio Tape (KT). KT was made to resemble the skin, in that it is elastic like the skin and can be stretched and return to its original property (Kinesio Taping Method, 2013). Since KT has become more popular, the claims of what KT can do has risen. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis on the …

Hplc-Uv Quantitation Of Folate Synthesized By Rickettsia Endosymbiot Ixodes Pacificus (Reip), Junyan Chen

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Ticks are the most important vector of many infectious diseases in the United States. Understanding the nature of the relationship between Rickettsia endosymbiont Ixodes pacificus (REIP) and Exudes pacificus will help develop strategies for the control of tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is a necessary vitamin for tick survival, and plays a central role in one-carbon metabolism in cells. Folate exist as a large family of structurally related forms that transfer one-carbon groups among biomolecules that are important to cell growth, differentiation, and survival. In Dr. Zheng’s lab, …

Seasonal Fish And Invertebrate Communities In Three Northern California Estuaries, Katherine Osborn

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The majority of Northern California estuaries are small, flooded, river valleys that are largely unstudied due to their small sizes and remote locations. Yet these estuaries serve as important nursery areas for many marine fish species including rockfish, flatfish, smelt, and herring, and they are vital to anadromous species such as Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Steelhead (O. mykiss). I sampled the summer and winter fish and invertebrate communities of the Big, Mad, and Ten Mile river estuaries. Fish were sampled via beach seine or fyke net and invertebrates were sampled via benthic cores, June 2014-June …

Baseline Characterization Of Nearshore Rocky Reef Fishes Found In Northern California Marine Protected Areas, Jay M. Staton

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The nearshore rocky reef habitat along California’s North Coast supports a diverse assemblage of ecologically, economically, and culturally important fishes. In December 2012, a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) was established in Northern California with the goal of protecting these species. Our study utilized collaborative hook and line fishing methods, while employing local charter fishing vessels, to establish a baseline of rocky reef fishes associated with four MPAs and four unprotected reference sites. These baseline data were then used to inform generalized additive models (GAMs) to explore potential drivers of relative abundance, size, and diversity of fishes. Understanding what …

Genetic Structure And Connectivity Of The Endangered Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Ingens) In A Heterogeneous Environment, Nathan Alexander

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Movement ecology and dispersal are important aspects of species’ life histories that can inform conservation and management. Dispersal is often cryptic and difficult to detect, but recent advances genetic technology and applications have provided new approaches to identifying and describing dispersal patterns. Giant kangaroo rats (Dipodomys ingens) are an endangered heteromyid that appear to persist in small subpopulations in a heterogeneous environment of their northern range, the Ciervo-Panoche Natural Area, California. Previous work suggested high levels of genetic diversity between populations with genetic distances not being correlated to geographic distances. Here, I identified landscape population structure through clustering …

Evaluation Of Parameter Estimation And Field Application Of Transgenerational Genetic Mark-Recapture, Ryan W. Whitmore

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Use of a genetic-based analogue of the traditional mark-recapture method (transgenerational genetic mark-recapture, tGMR) is rapidly expanding as a means to estimate total escapement of Pacific salmon. The tGMR approach is similar to the simple Lincoln-Peterson mark-recapture method. In tGMR, adults returning to fresh water to spawn are collected in the first sampling occasion and their juvenile offspring that are migrating out to sea are collected during the second sampling occasion. Recaptures are determined by the number of parent-offspring pairs identified through genetic parentage analysis of the adult and juvenile collections. Two versions of tGMR are currently in use, referred …

Molt In Individuals: A Description Of Prealternate Molt Phenology In A Population Of Snowy Plovers In Humboldt County, California, Alexa Dejoannis

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Molt in birds is an essential physiological process. Intrinsic and extrinsic conditions, such as age, sex, location, or food stress, may cause individual variation in molt phenology. This study describes the timing of prealternate molt in western snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) wintering in Humboldt County, California, USA. Between July 2014 and April 2015, I photographed uniquely marked plovers twice a month and assigned dates of initiation and completion. I modeled sex, age, hatch date, and breeding location as predictors of molt phenology. I observed prealternate molt from October to April, which is earlier than previously described. Males …

The Effectiveness Of Physical Activity Interventions On Young Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis, Adam Nacario

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine the efficacy of physical activity interventions and practices on psychomotor, cognitive, or affective outcomes on young individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Methods: Standard meta-analytical procedures determining inclusion criteria, literature searches in electronic databases, coding procedures, and statistical methods were used to identify and synthesize articles retained for analysis. Cohen’s d (1988) will be utilized in order to interpret effect sizes and quantify research findings. The impact was assessed using coding procedures that categorize independent variables.

Results: A total of 23 independent samples (N=896) were utilized in this analysis. Results …

Performance And Morphology In Sequoiadendron Genotypes Outside Of Their Range, Christopher M. Valness

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In its current fragmented distribution in 75 groves along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, Sequoiadendron giganteum (SEGI) may be vulnerable to extreme shifts in environmental conditions such as warming temperatures and drought stress, which may reduce the already limited habitat for SEGI in native groves. Interest in outplanting of this iconic species for the objectives of genetic conservation and timber utilization due to decay resistance of heartwood would be supported by information on population variation to inform seed collection for these plantings. To that end, I assessed three SEGI common-garden trials which had been planted in spring 1981 …

Ninety-Two Years Of Tree Growth And Death In A Second-Growth Coast Redwood Forest, Benjamin Iberle

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Mature second-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests are an important and uncommon resource in the redwood region. Development of second-growth redwood forests beyond rotation age (~50 years) is not well understood. Continuous long-term data are especially lacking, considering that the maximum possible age of second-growth stands is now over 150 years. Two permanent observation plots in Arcata, CA, established in 1923 by Woodbridge Metcalf and last measured in 1990, provide a unique opportunity to examine the development of coast redwood forest regenerating after logging in ~1880. We surveyed the Metcalf plots using modern methods and assembled a complete …

Baseline Monitoring And Characterization Of Rocky Intertidal Fish Communities In Northern California, Kevin D. Hinterman

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

A network of new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has been established in northern California, covering 137 square miles of coastline, with the goal of maintaining commercially and recreationally important species and to preserve biodiversity. This is the first study in California to create a biodiversity and phylogenetic baseline of rocky intertidal fish communities within MPAs and nearby reference sites. Diversity, abundance, and size structure of intertidal fishes were compared among seven sites from Fort Bragg to Crescent City, CA during the summers and winters of 2014 and 2015. A total of 34 species were collected throughout sampling, just three less …

Seasonal Habitat Selection Of The North American Porcupine (Erethizon Dorsatum) In A Coastal Dune Forest, Cara L. Appel

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Wildlife-habitat relationship studies are important for understanding the factors that determine where species occur in space and time. Habitat selection by generalist species should be studied on fine spatial and temporal scales to avoid masking important differences between seasons, localities, or orders of selection. I conducted the first study of habitat use and general ecology of North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) in a coastal dune environment. Specifically, I assessed changes in body mass, home range size, and habitat selection in relation to the potential for seasonal nutritional and survival bottlenecks as reported elsewhere. Although they are considered generalists, …

Evaluating Brandt’S Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Penicillatus) Reproductive Success: Effects Of Parental Care Behaviors And Estimating Individual Chick Survival, Shannon Murphy

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Variation in reproductive success is widely measured in seabird biology in an effort to indicate changes in the marine environment, or understand basic questions about ecology or conservation of seabirds. When variation in seabird reproductive success is suggested to indicate changes in the marine environment without identifying the proximate causes of such variation, inference is limited to association, and the proximate causes themselves could prove more effective as indicators. My study informs this problem by examining and quantifying proximate causes of variation in reproductive success, at the level of nests and individual chicks.

I used video of Brandt’s Cormorant ( …

Early Seral Mixed-Conifer Forest Structure And Composition Following A Wildfire Reburn In The Sierra Nevada, Erin Alvey

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Before the era of modern fire suppression, California’s northern Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer and yellow pine forests were self-regulating; recurring short-interval, low-mixed severity wildfires maintained forest structure and composition, which in turn exerted bottom-up controls on subsequent wildfires. As a result of fire suppression, and coupled with the effects of climate warming and other anthropogenic disturbances, the fundamental structure of mixed-conifer and yellow pine forests has shifted. Wildfires may now be increasing in size, severity, and frequency across western North America. However, little is known about the post-fire impacts of repeat wildfire on a forest after a long era of suppression. …

An Experimental Test Of Response By Common Ravens To Nest Exclosures, Teresa R. King

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Common ravens (Corvus corax) are intelligent generalists and a principal predator affecting population recovery of several threatened and endangered species, including the threatened western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus). In Humboldt County, raven predation is a primary cause of low nest survival. Nest exclosures, cages around eggs that preclude entry by predators but allow plovers access to incubate, are known to increase nest success. However, speculation exists that exclosures may attract predators. The aims of this study were to summarize corvid distribution on Clam Beach County Park and Little River State Beach, evaluate habitat features associated …

Juvenile Survival And Adult Return As A Function Of Freshwater Rearing Life History For Coho Salmon In The Klamath River Basin, Molly Gorman

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Scott and Shasta rivers, Klamath River tributaries, experience spatial disparity in habitat quality in spring and summer as a result of historical and current land-use. Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) born in the upper tributary reaches often rear in natal streams before migrating to sea. However, those born in the lower reaches often encounter unsuitable habitat and emigrate during their first spring to seek non-natal rearing habitats. It is assumed that these early outmigrants are population losses. This study evaluated first-summer survival, and contribution to the adult population, of non-natal rearing juveniles in the Klamath River Basin. …

Soil Organic Matter Distribution In A Douglas-Fir-Tanoak Forest, Humboldt County, California, Hollie A. Ernest

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Soil carbon (C) affects the active gases in the atmosphere, nutrient cycling, and diversity of flora and fauna. Soil organic matter (SOM) is partially comprised of C, and a widely-accepted ratio of 0.58 organic carbon (OC) to organic matter (OM) is used to measure soil C on a landscape scale. However, this ratio varies according to vegetation, depth, hydrology, and may lead to miscalculations of soil C and SOM estimates. Soil C and SOM are inherently complex and it is not completely understood which environmental factors have the most influence in their formation, which occurs on a time scale of …