Environmental Sciences Commons^™

Determine The Feasibility Of Using Isolated Solar/Wind Hybrid Power System To Augment Power At A Signalized Intersection, Yang Liu

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

An estimation to the monetary profit a solar/wind power system can make when powering a traffic light signal is presented. There are two approaches investigated. One is tracking the price of the equipment and the money it can save to obtain the result. The other approach is to estimate the environmental benefit and then convert it into a monetary value for comparison. A discussion of the results and suggestions on the new solar/wind hybrid power system is presented

The Plant Based Diet: Increasing Overall Health Through Simple Diet, Tyler Sorensen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Conserving The Platte: A Documentary Short, Steven Speicher

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

With a history of litigation, deliberation, and conversation, the Platte River’s waters have been topic of much debate. In recent memory, historical decisions have been made regarding how to successfully manage this crucial water resource that sustains life in the Great Plains. The Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, a federally mandated tri-state conservation organization, began after years of consideration and an adamancy to avoid major litigation battle. Audubon Society has been a major player in conservation of habitats and protecting endangered species; Audubon Society’s Rowe Sanctuary, in specific, has worked in a variety of community- centered ways to conserve the …

Middle School Student Attitudes Towards Garden Based Learning: A Case Study At Park Middle School, Jake Arneson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

A case study was performed at a middle school in Lincoln Nebraska. The study centered around how to effectively implement an after school garden program through the Boys and Girls club on site at the school. The first year of the study showed low attendance numbers. The second year of the study recorded participation frequencies of individual students and gathered attitude assessments. The assessments were then matched with the participation frequencies in order to determine reasons for attending or not attending. The study found that social aspects and a feeling of importance of knowing how one grows and obtains food …

Increase In Ponderosa Pine Density In The Nebraska Sandhills: Impacts On Grassland Plant Diversity And Productivity, Alexa Armstrong

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Increase in woody species encroachment into semi-arid grasslands and savannas has been of great concern at a global level. Temperature and precipitation are key factors determining vegetation cover; however other factors, such as fire regime and grazing may be at play in semi-arid ecosystems. Historically, in Nebraska’s semi-arid grasslands, woody species have been controlled by periodic fires. Changes in social values and land use, fire suppression, overgrazing, increased N deposition, and climate change, have attributed to the observed shift from grasslands to shrublands or woodlands. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the impacts of Ponderosa pine ( …

Demographic Indicators Of Reported Value Of Nebraska's Natural Resources, Chelsea Forehead

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This research was conducted in various towns of eastern and central Nebraska using a survey which asked respondents about how valuable the resources and ecological benefits are that were to be involved in the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Surveys were administered in public locations using a combination of convenience and snowball sampling. A total of 38 respondents from the eastern region and 40 from the central region were surveyed. The research seeks to investigate if there is correlation between certain demographic categories and high value placed on the environmental facets in question. Do males or females place higher …

Evaluating The Success Of Individually Owned Vs. Cooperative Agritourism Businesses In Nebraska, Craig Easley

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Agritourism has been practiced by Nebraskans for many years; it offers an alternative land use

and has a positive economic impact for business owners as well as the local community. The agritourism industry in Nebraska is relatively minor but the unique landscape and traditions allow great potential to for it to grow. Consumer demand for rural nature-based activities remains a largely untapped source of income on the Northern Great Plains’ privately owned grasslands (Schutz). The potential for agritourism to expand and become a large economic incentive for Nebraska is the reason Nebraska was chosen for this study. Agritourism is often …

Microcystin Toxin In Nebraska Lakes With Correlation Of Population And Agriculture Use, Kaitlyn Haras

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Small-Wind And Residential Photovoltaic In Nebraska: Barriers To Development, Jerrod Bley

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Warming Nighttime Temperatures And Crop Health In The Corn Belt, Justin Hladik

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Over the last century nighttime minimum temperatures have been increasing at a faster rate than daily maximum temperatures. This warming trend has caught the attention of climatologists and agricultural scientists as they attempt to address the potential effects of elevated nighttime minimum temperatures on the health of these crops, which are so important to the U.S. economy. In this study, ten sites represent the Corn Belt of the United States. Those sites are spread across an area in which the average minimum nighttime temperatures for each of the three primary growing months of the year (June, July, August) increased from …

Water Scarcity And Our Global Footprint, Jarad Kinyoun

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The study was conducted in Lincoln, Nebraska to test when individuals are educated on water scarcity issues and water saving techniques; they will make choices that lower consumption at the individual level.

The twenty households participated in this study on a volunteer basis. Each household was educated on current water issues, water saving techniques, and on their current ecological water footprint. These households were monitored over a four month period for actual reduction in water consumption and economic savings.

The water consumption patterns of the participants after being educated on water scarcity and water saving techniques correlated directly resulting in …

Using Landsat Imagery To Monitor Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery In The Sandhills Of Nebraska: A Multitemporal Approach., James Mcbride

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The objective of this study was to look at a wildfire in the Nebraska Sandhills as a case study for multi-temporal monitoring of burned areas using Landsat-7 satellite images. Eight Landsat-7 scenes were selected and a shapefile of the perimeter of a September 2000 wildfire in the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. A true color composite, color infrared composite, and a single-band NDVI output was used for visual analysis. A subset of burned and unburned sections was taken from the NDVI images; the values were graphed and compared. The visual analysis of the true color and color infrared images show …

Predicting Lemna Minor Growth Rate Response To Temperature Fluctuations, Elizabeth Novich

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The effects of global climate change on populations may be further understood when environmental variability is included. There are strong theoretical reasons that support the idea that environmental fluctuations matter when studying ecological systems. In order to further explore this, we parameterized a model of the growth rate of Lemna minor at constant temperatures and made predictions on how L. minor would respond to fluctuating temperatures based on this model. There were four trials performed that compared the difference between growth rates at constant and fluctuating temperatures in order to test if our predictions were correct. For our results, only …

Do Tree Species In A Bornean Mixed Dipterocarp Forest Display Preferential Uptake Of Different Nitrogen Forms?, Jocelyn Onley

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Lambir Hills National Park in Malaysian Borneo is composed of dipterocarp tree species which specialize on different soil types. Although the mechanisms contributing to this distribution of tree species are unknown, one hypothesis is that tree species at Lambir differ in their preferences for different nitrogen forms. In this study we investigated (1) whether clay soil and sandy loam soil types at Lambir differ in the availability of ammonium and nitrate and (2) whether tree species specializing on either clay soil or sandy loam soil at Lambir have differing preferences or capacities to take up ammonium, nitrate, or glycine (organic …

Developing Environmental Sustainability Criteria For University Research Laboratories: A Tool For Rating And Implementing Green Methodology In Labs, Maxine White

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study examines sustainable behavior and methodology in university research labs. Environmental problems like global warming are becoming common knowledge to many people throughout the world, and it is necessary for humans to live in more sustainable ways that leave a healthy planet for future generations. Universities are an important part of the global community, and it is pertinent that they become more involved in sustainable efforts. University research laboratories produce large amounts of regular and hazardous waste, use massive amounts of energy, and are currently not operating in sustainable ways. The purpose of this study is to determine the …

The Role Of Emotion In Understanding And Promoting Sustainability And Eco-Friendly Behavior, Chevelle Schreiner

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of empathy and perspective-taking in influencing

environmental concern (Sevilliano, Aragones, & Schultz, 2007) Although there may be a number of internal factors that inhibit pro-environmental behavior, it is important to evaluate the ways by which we can use emotion to encourage this type of behavior. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of emotion on eco-friendly behavior by investigating the effect of viewing high- or low-fear appeals on changing consumers‘ food choices will have on their attitudes and behaviors. Results show that the

likelihood that a participant intended to partake in more pro-environmental behaviors …

A Comparison Of Moist-Soil Seed Sampling Techniques In The Nebraska Rainwater Basin, Lisa Zilli

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Wetland managers sometimes estimate seed production of wetlands managed for migrating waterfowl habitat. Using estimation techniques, managers can determine if wetland plants produce enough seed to support the nutritional needs of migrating waterfowl. Usually, a one-time sampling method is used; this technique samples seeds once a year during peak seed production. However, this technique may underestimate seed production due to plants producing large quantities of seed before or after peak seed production or producing seed throughout the growing season. Season long sampling may be more representative of a wetland’s seed production. We comparing one-time sampling with season- long sampling by …

Resource Distribution And The French Revolution, Louan Pagan

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Throughout the centuries following the French Revolution (1789 -1799), social scientists and historians have attributed a myriad of causes to the sociopolitical upheaval. Food and beverages played a key role in the coming of French Revolution, for the people were in effect fighting for the right to have nutrition rather than for social or political ideals. Literary analysis of both primary and secondary sources illustrated the integral role of the peasant’s stomach to the uprising. The Enlightenment disillusionment of the royals, rising bread prices, discrepancy in food distribution both within and around Paris, and substandard quality of food, wine, and …

Potential Effects Of Two Asian Carp Species On Pallid Sturgeon, Daniel Kent

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Invasive species have had a major impact all over the world in their introduced ranges. In the U.S., none has been more obvious than the Asian carp species Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Famous for their jumping abilities, these carp have also had a detrimental effect on many of our native fish species by out competing them for food sources. Asian carp are found in many of our central waterways and reside within the same range as one of our nation’s endangered fish species, the Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). This is …

Achieving Sustainability In The Craft Brewing Industry, Mike Boden

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Continued growth in the craft brewing industry, coupled with natural resource limitations suggests the need for implementation of sustainable initiatives on a wide scale. These initiatives discussed include the areas of economic sustainability through cooperative growth and equilibrium, social sustainability through employee and community development, and environmental sustainability through energy and water conservation and renewable energy use. Specific techniques to achieve sustainability in the craft brewing industry are reviewed alongside case studies of craft breweries currently implementing these techniques. A sustainable metric is outlined for use in accomplishing these goals.

Road Salt Runoff: Impervious Surface Area And Salt Concentrations In Urban Water Bodies, Jordan Pharris

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Competing For Land: The Relationship Between Urban Development And Agriculture For Lancaster And Seward Counties, Carole Kerrey

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study examined the development patterns in Lancaster and Seward Counties and their interaction with local agriculture. The Lincoln-Lancaster Planning Department approved a development plan through the year 2040, referred to as LPlan 2040. Data from the USDA Census and the Lincoln-Lancaster Planning Department was collected in Excel and used for multivariable regressions. Historical trends in development and factors of development were analyzed, and then compared to LPlan 2040. The factors of development include the value of farmland, the number of farms, and the population of Lincoln. The focus of the agricultural analysis was the change in farm size due …

Pharmacists' Role In Safe And Legal Medication Disposal, Allyson Lamb

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Childhood Obesity In Elementary Schools In Lincoln, Nebraska: A Study Of Children On Free Or Reduced Lunches, Eric Barth

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of the project is to show that there is a direct relationship between childhood obesity and socioeconomic status. Other factors that go into this relationship include: physical activity and foods available in vending machines. My ultimate objective is to prove that children coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds are showing higher levels of obesity during childhood. I believe that this work, as well as other studies similar to this, can be used show that these children need more help and assistance. Many of these children are not taught proper eating habits; generally because cheaper foods are generally not nutrition …

Using Slow-Release Permanganate To Remediate Pah Contaminated Water, Lindy Rauscher

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.