Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Niche-Based Modeling Of Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium Vimineum) Using Presence-Only Information, Nathan Bush

Masters Theses

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The Connecticut River watershed is experiencing a rapid invasion of aggressive non-native plant species, which threaten watershed function and structure. Volunteer-based monitoring programs such as the University of Massachusetts’ OutSmart Invasives Species Project, Early Detection Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) and the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) have gathered valuable invasive plant data. These programs provide a unique opportunity for researchers to model invasive plant species utilizing citizen-sourced data. This study took advantage of these large data sources to model invasive plant distribution and to determine environmental and biophysical predictors that are most influential in dispersion, and to identify …

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Experimental Test Of Genetic Rescue In Isolated Populations Of Brook Trout, Zachary L. Robinson

Masters Theses

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Translocations are an important aspect of the management of natural populations in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Maintaining connectivity and gene flow is beneficial for both contemporary fitness and adaptive potential in the face of environmental change. Genetic rescue (GR) can alleviate inbreeding depression, genetic load, and increase adaptive potential of populations. Here, I have translocated 10 (5 of each sex) brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) to four geographically proximate and environmentally similar fragmented stream-dwelling populations of brook trout in Virginia to test for genetic rescue. The translocated brook trout contributed to more families than would be expected under neutral …

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Assessing Mammal And Bird Biodiversity And Habitat Occupancy Of Tiger Prey In The Hukaung Valley Of Northern Myanmar, Hla Naing

Masters Theses

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I used results from camera traps set for tigers (Panthera tigris) during 2001-2011 in the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary of northern Myanmar to assess overall biodiversity of large mammal and bird species, and to identify differences in photo rates inside and outside of the most protected core area of the Sanctuary. A total of 403 camera stations were deployed during October-July in the dry seasons of 2001-2011, 260 inside the Core area and 143 Outside. From 10,750 trap-nights I obtained 2,077 independent photos of wildlife species and 699 of domestic animals and humans, including 35 species of wild …

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Wellspring Waste To Energy Feasibility Study, Andrew Clinton, Emily Hajjar, Frank Nakashian

School of Public Policy Capstones

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This study was conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst public policy masters students for Springfield based Wellspring Cooperative, a nonprofit focused on cooperative job creation and training. The project assesses three potential scale options for Wellspring in order to use organic material to heat and/or generate electricity to power its hydroponic greenhouse. Though the greenhouse is not constructed as of yet, its source of energy is an important element for Wellspring. Motivations for utilizing organic waste to power the greenhouse are due in part to the influx of food waste sources being diverted due to the new Massachusetts Food …

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Assignment: Climate Action Plan 3.0 (Sustainable Living), Lena Fletcher

Sustainability Education Resources

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The UMass Amherst Climate Action Plan 2.0 lays out strategies to meet UMass’s energy goals by 2050, but many projects are still in the planning phase and have not been implemented on campus yet. It’s time for you to design the Climate Action plan 3.0!

As a team, you will create and present one solution from your Climate Action Plan 3.0 to help UMass become carbon neutral ahead of schedule. Your energy solution can be a policy, program, transportation improvement, or energy-saving technology. Research the Climate Action Plan 2.0 thoroughly to make sure your solution has not already been proposed.

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Syllabus: Sustainable Living: Solutions For The 21st Century, Lena Fletcher

Sustainability Education Resources

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In this innovative interdisciplinary course you will work with your peers to research and understand how sustainability in different contexts presents solutions to many problems facing modern society. You will work in teams to investigate, evaluate, communicate, and reflect on the multifaceted challenges associated with natural resource use, food systems, energy, transportation, waste, the built environment, water quality, and climate change. You will also research case studies, debate controversies, assess political and cultural contexts, investigate technological advances, and identify gaps in scientific knowledge. Using these resources, you and your peers will be tasked with developing your own sustainable solutions for …

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Syllabus: Solar Energy Systems And Building Design, Ho-Sung Kim

Sustainability Education Resources

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This course introduces the fundamental concepts of solar building design and energy systems. Through project based study and possible field visits, students will explore the theory, technologies, applications, and benefits of solar design of buildings and discover how to utilize solar energy systems for residential and commercial buildings. Students will be required to research and document technology and complete a semester case study project in which they will examine various energy conservation aspects and economics underlying solar energy systems.

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The Active River Area (Corridor), Christine E. Hatch

Water Fact Sheets

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This is a Fact Sheet created by RiverSmart for the Fluvial Geomorphology Task Force defining methods for delineating a river corridor. The “Active River Area,” is defined as the place where hydrologic connectivity, floodplain hydrology, and sediment movement occur along the river corridor.

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Assessing Metal Exposures In A Community Near A Cement Plant In The Northeast U.S., Zhao Dong, Michael S. Bank, John D. Spengler

Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series

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Abstract

Cement production is a major source of metals and metalloids in the environment, while exposures to metals and metalloids may impact human health in the surrounding communities. We recruited 185 participants living in the vicinity of a cement plant in the northeast U.S., and measured the levels of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se) in blood and Hg in hair samples from them. A questionnaire was used to assess potential sources of Hg exposure. Multivariate regressions and spatial analyses were performed to evaluate the relative importance of different routes of exposures. The …

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Will Remote Sensing Shape The Next Generation Of Species Distribution Models?, Kate S. He, Bethany A. Bradley, Anna F. Cord, Duccio Rocchini, Mao-Ning Tuanmu, Sebastian Schmidtlein, Woody Turner, Martin Wegmann, Nathalie Pettorelli

Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series

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Two prominent limitations of species distribution models (SDMs) are spatial biases in existing occurrence data and a lack of spatially explicit predictor variables to fully capture habitat characteristics of species. Can existing and emerging remote sensing technologies meet these challenges and improve future SDMs? We believe so. Novel products derived from multispectral and hyperspectral sensors, as well as future Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and RADAR missions, may play a key role in improving model performance. In this perspective piece, we demonstrate how modern sensors onboard satellites, planes and unmanned aerial vehicles are revolutionizing the way we can detect and …

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