Digital Commons Network^™

Investigation Of Environmental-Friendly, Membraneless Hydrogen Peroxide Fuel Cells, Bao Nguyen

Dissertations and Theses

Human-induced climate change is one of the biggest threats to humanity in the 21^st century. This is caused by the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of climate change. This problem can be addressed by replacing fossil fuels with fuel sources that have clean by-products and are cost-effective. For the last few decades, hydrogen (H₂) has been extensively studied as an alternative to carbon-based fossil fuels. Currently, H₂ still has many shortcomings for commercial applications. The photocatalytic production of H₂ still suffers from …

Continental-Scale Network Reveals Cross-Jurisdictional Movements Of Sympatric Sharks With Implications For Assessment And Management, Charlie Huveneers, Yuri Niella, Michael Drew, Rory Mcauley, Paul A. Butcher, Victor Peddemors, Daniela Waltrick, Chris Dowling, Silas Mountford, Ian S. Keay, Matias Braccini

Fisheries Research Articles

Understanding the movement ecology of marine species and connectivity of populations is required for effective fisheries management. This is especially the case for species with wide-ranging distributions for which movement can span across several jurisdictions with different management regulations. We used the Australian national network of acoustic receivers facilitated by the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) to describe the extent and frequency of movements for two large epipelagic shark species, the bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus) and dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus). A total of 210 sharks (117 bronze whalers and 93 dusky sharks) were tracked for a …

Assessment Of Groundwater Quality In Areas Surrounding Thundulu Phosphate Mine, Phalombe District, Malawi, Philip Jailos, Peter J. Chimtali, Ephraim Vunain

Tanzania Journal of Science

Water is one of the renewable resources essential for sustaining all forms of life and quality of drinking water is very fundamental for human health. Human activities such as mining act as sources of water contamination which consequently lead to ecological, environmental and health problems. To the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted around the Thundulu Phosphate Mine to establish the quality of drinking water. In this regard, this study was carried out to evaluate the physico-chemical water quality parameters of areas surrounding the Thundulu Phosphate Mine in Phalombe District. Groundwater samples from the villages surrounding the …

Physicochemical And Bacteriological Water Quality Parameters In Relation To Land-Use Practices At A Rural Catchment, Mbinga District, Tanzania, Harieth Hellar-Kihampa, Patrick Isdory Ndunguru

Tanzania Journal of Science

Data on physicochemical water quality parameters and contamination levels is crucial for protection and sustainable utilization of water resources. This study assessed the physicochemical water quality parameters, faecal coliform bacteria and nutrient loads in water at a catchment used for municipal supply in Mbinga District, Tanzania. Samples were seasonally collected from three areas characterized by distinct geographical features, settlement patterns and land-use practices, and analyzed using standard analytical protocols. Data were subjected to paired-sampled t-test and cluster analysis. The parameters varied as follows: pH (4.75–6.83); temperature (16.4–26.2 ºC); electrical conductivity (14.6–121.1 µS/cm); total dissolved solids (7.0–23.2 mg/L); total suspended solids …

University Sustainability Initiatives Impact On The Surrounding Areas Economy, Sara Kathleen Saucedo

Student Theses and Dissertations

The preservation of the environment depends on sustainability initiatives. Universities influence policy through their impact on their surrounding communities. Universities should, therefore, place a higher priority on campus sustainability efforts. This study examines how universities’ sustainability initiatives impact local area economy. Using data reported by various governmental agencies, I construct a sustainability index based on university initiatives in energy, green buildings, food waste, permaculture, water use, recycling, sustainability council, and AASHE. I model the impact of universities on the local economy using this index and other institutional characteristics. I define the local area economy as effects on poverty rates, unemployment, …

A Study Of Adoption And Costs Of Nrcs Avoid, Control, And Trap (Act) Agricultural Conservation Practices In Arkansas, Samuel Edward King

Student Theses and Dissertations

The USDA NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to support farmers and landowners who implement conservation practices through land retirement and cost-share programs. We analyze NRCS cost-shared conservation activities in Arkansas to determine what has been conducted, when it occurred, and what may have led to the adoption of these conservation practices. We investigate temporal trends in conservation adoption based on changes following the 2002 Farm Bill using regression analysis and evaluate spatial hotspots at the HUC-12 watershed scale using the Getis-Ord Gi*. Results suggest that conservation adoption differs regionally by practice type and land use category, and adoptions increase …

Spectroscopic Investigation Of Environmental Pollutants In Water And Air, Mohd Kotaiba Abugazleh

Student Theses and Dissertations

Intensive industrial activities have contributed to the increased pollution of the environment. The existence of chemical contaminants in the environment is of substantial concern to the soil, air, and aquatic system due to their potential health risks to humans, animals, and plants. In order to reduce environmental pollution, water treatment and carbon capture using adsorption on metal oxides were investigated successfully in this study. Removal of organic compounds hydroquinone and catechol on the surface of TiO2 and Fe2O3 was carried out in aqueous solutions. The resulting treated water was tested for toxicity on freshwater organisms. Promising results were obtained especially …

Monitoring Agroecosystem Productivity And Phenology At A National Scale: A Metric Assessment Framework, Dawn M. Browning, Eric S. Russell, Guillermo E. Ponce-Campos, Nicole Kaplan, Andrew D. Richardson, Bijan Seyednasrollah, Sheri Spiegal, Nicanor Saliendra, Joseph G. Alfieri, John Baker, Carl Bernacchi, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, David Bosch, Elizabeth H. Boughton, Raoul K. Boughton, Pat Clark, Gerald Flerchinger, Nuria Gomez-Casanovas, Sarah Goslee, Nick M. Haddad, David Hoover, Abdullah Jaradat, Marguerite Mauritz, Gregory W. Mccarty, Gretchen R. Miller, John Sadler, Amartya Saha, Russell L. Scott, Andrew Suyker, Craig Tweedie, Jeffrey D. Wood, Xukai Zhang, Shawn D. Taylor

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Effective measurement of seasonal variations in the timing and amount of production is critical to managing spatially heterogeneous agroecosystems in a changing climate. Although numerous technologies for such measurements are available, their relationships to one another at a continental extent are unknown. Using data collected from across the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network and other networks, we investigated correlations among key metrics representing primary production, phenology, and carbon fluxes in croplands, grazing lands, and crop-grazing integrated systems across the continental U.S. Metrics we examined included gross primary productivity (GPP) estimated from eddy covariance (EC) towers and modelled from the Landsat …

Control Technology And Supervision Of Sulfur Oxide Emission From Ships, Keshun Li

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

Research On Legal Problems In And Countermeasures For Prevention And Control Marine Environment Pollution By Ships, Dapeng Sun

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Port Climate Change Adaptation Strategy And Climate Change Mitigation Strategy Based On The Case Study Of Shanghai Port, Jingjie Xia

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Summer To Autumn Population Of Wild Eumaeus Atala On The Ft. Lauderdale Campus Of Nova Southeastern University, Alexandra M. Lens

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Eumaeus atala is an endangered tropical butterfly native to the Caribbean and some parts of Florida, USA. Following population reductions primarily due to habitat loss, E. atala populations are now increasing due to conservation efforts of its cycad host plants, especially Zamia integrifolia (coontie). The purpose of this study was to observe, document, and measure the population of wild E. atala on the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida campus of Nova Southeastern University where landscaping use of host plants supports a natural population of E. atala. Forty-four host plants located in two different sites were observed for 14 weeks. One site …

Effects Of Hunter Movement And Habitat Use On Observation Rate Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus), Alyssa N. Meier

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Hunting by humans is the primary tool for population control for many ungulate species across the United States, including white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Previous research has focused primarily on the effects of hunting on prey behavior while neglecting the potential effects hunter behavior has on the probability of harvest success. I examined the influence of hunter movement and habitat use across the landscape on observation rate of white-tailed deer. During the 2008 and 2009 Oklahoma hunting seasons, we recorded GPS and observation data of 83 individual hunters over 487 total hunts. Hunters that moved non-linearly through forested cover at a …

The Growth Of Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis Obtusa), An Aquatic Invasive Species, In Two Michigan Lakes, And Its Suitable Habitats In The Midwest And Northeast United States, Emily Neuman

Masters Theses

The growth of starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa), an aquatic invasive species, in two Michigan Lakes, and its suitable habitats in the Midwest and Northeast United States Aquatic invasive species are a major threat to freshwater ecosystems, but gaps remain in our knowledge on how these species invade, grow, and thrive. This thesis aims to understand how an invasive macroalga, Nitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort), grows within the littoral zone of two drowned river mouth lakes and suitable habitat preferences across 17 Midwest and northeast U.S.A. states to aid in aquatic invasive species management. In chapter II of this thesis, …

Spatial Analysis Of Landscape Characteristics, Anthropogenic Factors, And Seasonality Effects On Water Quality In Portland, Oregon, Katherine Gelsey, Daniel Ramirez

REU Final Reports

Urban areas often struggle with deteriorated water quality as a result of complex interactions between landscape factors such as land cover, use, and management as well as climatic variables such as weather, precipitation, and atmospheric conditions. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) has been introduced as a strategy to reintroduce pre-development hydrological conditions in cities, but questions remain as to how GSI interacts with other landscape factors to affect water quality. We conducted a statistical analysis of six relevant water quality indicators in 131 water quality stations in four watersheds around Portland, Oregon using data from 2015 to 2021. Indiscriminate of station …

A Multi-Reservoir Study Of The Impact Of Uncertainty In Pool Evaporation Estimates On Water-Availability Models, R. C. Phillips, Nigel Kaye, John Saylor

Journal of South Carolina Water Resources

Quantifying evaporative loss from reservoirs plays a critical role in sound water-availability management plans and in reservoir management. Various methods are used to quantify reservoir evaporation; however, each method carries a degree of uncertainty that propagates to model predictions of available water within a reservoir or a reservoir network. Herein, we explore the impact of uncertainty in reservoir evaporation on model outputs of historical and future water availability throughout the five major reservoirs in the Savannah River Basin in South Carolina, USA, using four different evaporation methods. Variability in the total available water is evaluated using the United States Army …

Beef Cow Operations During Drought: Dealing With More Than Dry Conditions, Matthew Stockton

Cornhusker Economics

The most recent drought conditions have grown to cover a large portion of the west and the central United States, as shown in Figure 1. Those depending on rain continue to watch and hope that conditions will change, while implementing and considering various strategies to preserve their livelihoods. Those who have been in the business for years have seen other occasions when dry conditions limited forage production and created hardship. Each occurrence has varying outcomes, depending on the many factors faced by individuals. While drought may produce the same dry conditions for many, its effects are individualized. There are as …

Primary Industries Development Research Highlights 2021, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Tim Scanlon

Books & book chapters

The Primary Industries Development Research Highlights 2021 showcases the breadth and depth of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s research and development activities over the past several years.

Stories featured in Research Highlights 2021 stem from about 60 (of 140) current and recently-completed projects undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) 1100 scientists, technical experts and economists throughout the State.

Explore our Research Highlights 2021.

The publication demonstrates the innovative and applicable research that DPIRD and its collaborators and investment partners deliver to Western Australia.

Download the Research Highlights 2021 here. Alternatively, …

Environment Protection And Public Policies: The Case Of The Brazilian System Of Protected Areas (Snuc), Wainesten Da Silva

International Programs

This poster aims to present the Brazilian System of Protected Areas (SNUC), which is the result of the enforcement of the Brazilian society in promoting public policies to reduce the impact of human activity in nature. It has presented the concept of a public policy, a short history of public policies regarding the environment in Brazil, the main points of the Brazilian System of Protected Areas (SNUC), and a map exposing the protected areas in Brazil. The main finding is that the SNUC is a strong instrument to promote public policies to protect the environment, not only excluding the use …

Empirical Fitting Of Periodically Repeating Environmental Data, Pavel Bělík, Andrew Hotchkiss, Brandon Perez, John Zobitz

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

We extend and generalize an approach to conduct fitting models of periodically repeating data. Our method first detrends the data from a baseline function and then fits the data to a periodic (trigonometric, polynomial, or piecewise linear) function. The polynomial and piecewise linear functions are developed from assumptions of continuity and differentiability across each time period. We apply this approach to different datasets in the environmental sciences in addition to a synthetic dataset. Overall the polynomial and piecewise linear approaches developed here performed as good (or better) compared to the trigonometric approach when evaluated using statistical measures (R^{2 …}

Population Structure Analysis Of The Endangered Oak Quercus Brandegeei, Carolyn Brinckwirth

DePaul Discoveries

As humans continue to impact landscapes and ecosystems throughout the entire world, many plant and animal species have faced major changes in their environments. The rare endemic oak, Quercus brandegeei, is one such endangered species located in the Sierra La Laguna mountains of Baja California Sur, Mexico. This tree occurs solely on the ephemeral riverbeds of the mountains, which are inundated seasonally by hurricane waters. It is important to understand the fundamental characteristics, like spatial distribution, of Q. brandegeei in order to develop restorative management practices to protect this tree against extinction. Determining the geographic distribution of a species …

From Farm To Fork: Crickets As Alternative Source Of Protein, Minerals, And Vitamins, Dorothy K. Murugu, Arnold N. Onyango, Alex K. Ndiritu, Isaac M. Osuga, Cheseto Xavier, Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Globally, there is growing interest to integrate cricket-based ingredients (flour) into food products to combat food and nutrition insecurity. However, there is lack of information on in-depth nutrient profile of the two cricket species (Scapsipedus icipe and Gryllus bimaculatus), which are the most widely consumed in Africa. Here we determined the nutrient composition of two cricket species and compared them with published records of key animal and plant sources. Our results revealed that the crude protein contents of S. icipe and G. bimaculatus were similar (56.8 and 56.9%, respectively) and comparable to those of animal protein sources. Both cricket species …

Interactions Between Humans, Crocodiles, And Hippos At Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, Ivan Marowa, Joshua Matanzima, Tamuka Nhiwatiwa

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–wildlife conflicts (HWCs) are on the increase due to shrinking space that results in increased competition for land, water, and other natural resources between humans and wildlife. Investigating the occurrence of HWCs is important in that the results can be used to formulate better management policies and strategies. In this paper, we describe the nature of HWCs emerging between humans and the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and between humans and the African hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius; hippo) on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba is the second largest manmade lake by volume in the world. Conflicts involving humans …

Development Of Standard Operating Procedure With Modified Method To Quantify Benzene And Other Volatile Organic Compounds In Air Samples Using Gas Chromatography, Heather Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) Department of Environmental Science has recently invested in a gas chromatograph which can be used to analyze air samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). The goal of this project was to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) and modify the current method for the detection of VOCs associated with oil and gas drilling activity to accommodate the equipment and capabilities of SFASU Environmental Assessment Lab. This study aims to provide the framework for future research in air quality monitoring in the Eagle Ford Shale area. An …

Pollination Habitat And Flower Plating For City Beautification, Jim Speer

2021 Spring Reports (Sullivan)

The City of Sullivan identified needs to improve sustainable infrastructure and green space in Sullivan, IN through their Quality of Life plan. Students in ENVI460 were tasked with providing recommendations for their daily operations and site plans that could improve habitats and attractiveness for the community and tourists. Students provided recommendations for native habitat planting and community involvement/education. They also provided site recommendations for community garden and green space updates.

Invader Removal Triggers Competitive Release In A Threatened Avian Predator, J. David Wiens, Katie M. Dugger, J. Mark Higley, Damon B. Lesmeister, Alan B. Franklin, Keith A. Hamm, Gary C. White, Krista E. Dilione, David C. Simon, Robin R. Bown, Peter C. Carlson, Charles B. Yackulic, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Raymond J. Davis, David W. Lamphear, Christopher Mccafferty, Trent L. Mcdonald, Stan G. Sovern

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Changes in the distribution and abundance of invasive species can have far-reaching ecological consequences. Programs to control invaders are common but gauging the effectiveness of such programs using carefully controlled, large-scale field experiments is rare, especially at higher trophic levels. Experimental manipulations coupled with long-term demographic monitoring can reveal the mechanistic underpinnings of interspecific competition among apex predators and suggest mitigation options for invasive species. We used a large-scale before-after control-impact removal experiment to investigate the effects of an invasive competitor, the barred owl (Strix varia), on the population dynamics of an iconic old-forest native species, the northern spotted owl …

An Evaluation Of The Central Coast Rangeland Coalition: Trust And Other Factors Important For Collaborative Conservation, Dustin Tran

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

The proliferation of collaborative partnerships across the western United States and the lack of tools and protocols to evaluate them have been well documented. As the number and types (conservation-based, policy actions, information sharing) of collaboratives rises, there is a need for research that aims to evaluate these partnerships' performance and collaborative process considering their importance and potential to solve complex ecological, economic, and social problems. This study aims to contribute to this pool of research by interviewing the Steering Committee (SC) members of the Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC), a volunteer-based and information-sharing rangeland collaborative coalition. We evaluate and …

A Comparative Review Of Cell-Based Mariculture And Conventional Seafood Life Cycle Assesments, Kyle Rathbone

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

The global fishing and aquaculture industries inflict significant environmental impacts on our planet’s oceans. The overfishing, pollution, and environmental degradation currently caused by these industries threatens the sustainability of marine ecological and industrial systems. Despite this, demand for seafood is expected to rise in the coming decades to service the growing global population with nutrient-rich foods. The difficulty in reconciling the need for drastic improvements in marine sustainability and the need to continue meeting global seafood demand has produced an interest in alternative solutions to seafood production. The emerging cell-based foods industry may hold the potential to produce seafood products …

Per- And Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (Pfas) Cycling Within Michigan: Connections Between Contaminated Sites, Landfills, And Wastewater Treatment Plants, Ross W. Helmer

Masters Theses

The disposal and treatment of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) contaminated solid and liquid wastes, and associated cycling within the natural and engineered environment is a complex topic. PFAS data on contaminated sites, landfill leachates, the influent, effluent, and biosolids from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) within Michigan were compiled from publicly available and private sources. Most of the datasets are based on a 28-analyte suite generated using a modified form of the US EPA 537 analytical method, with a subset of data from the 18-analyte ASTM D7979-19 method. Approximately 70% of the 171 contaminated sites in Michigan have maximum …

Investigation Into Bacterial Impairment Of Greene And Polk County Water Systems, John C. Kincaid

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Bacterial impairment of water systems is a major issue facing mankind. Bacteria that are introduced into a system have the potential to cause harmful diseases to wildlife and humans. In Greene and Polk counties, many water systems have become bacterially impaired over the years. Despite this, little is known about the contamination of known harmful bacteria in this region. To address this issue, I investigated the presence of known human pathogens across water systems in these two counties, many of which have displayed high levels of E. coli and fecal indicator microorganisms over many years. I used a high-throughput sequencing …