Digital Commons Network^™

Relating Diets And Food Availability To Long-Term Population Trends Of Lesser Scaup Wintering On Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Clay Michael Stroud

LSU Master's Theses

Lake Pontchartrain provides wintering habitat for a continentally-significant proportion of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis). Mid-winter aerial surveys indicate dramatic variation in annual scaup abundance (0–1,194,907), though the mechanisms driving fluctuations have not been previously investigated. In response to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, species composition, abundance, and size structure of benthic invertebrate populations in Lake Pontchartrain exhibit drastic variability among years. Given that wintering scaup feed primarily on mollusks, environmental disturbances have the potential to influence scaup dynamics on the estuary by altering the benthic community. To diagnose trophic linkages and variation in scaup abundance, we collected ducks (n=60) …

Geochemistry Of Archaeological And Marine Environments In Southwest Maine, Heather L. Bushie

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Two archaeological excavations for the University of Southern Maine collected sediment columns from select units for geological and chemical analysis. The Spiller Farms site is a Native American site located in Wells, Maine marking a transition period between the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs, 12,000 BP. The Malaga Island site was a historic mixed-race community at the north end of Casco Bay where sediment columns were obtained in near-shore and subtidal zones. The samples obtained from Malaga Island have been radiocarbon dated to 3800 +/- 30 BP at 23 meters below the low-tide line. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis is being conducted …

The Prairie Post Quarterly Newsletter Of The High Plains Regional Climate Center- April 2018, Natalie Umphlett, Crystal J. Stiles, Shellie Hanneman

Prairie Post: Quarterly Newsletter of the High Plains Regional Climate Center

Inside this issue:

Message from the interim director........................................1

Weather photo of the quarter.........................................1

Tribal climate summaries......2

Product highlights..................3

Update on regional climate conditions..................................4

State Climate Extremes Committee.................................4

Update on research................5

Recent and upcoming travel and activities.............................6

Barriers To The Elimination Of Plastic In Single Use Beverage Containers In Byron Bay, Nsw, Katherine Senechal

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Plastic debris is a global threat to the natural environment. The accumulation of plastic debris has resulted in the destruction of marine habitat as well as a threat to marine wildlife. Single use plastics, including plastics associated with single use food and beverage containers are contributing to a considerable amount of debris and other litter in the world’s oceans. As awareness of this issue spreads, both large corporations and small businesses are beginning to transition to plastic alternatives for their single use beverage containers. In Byron Bay, Australia, an area of increasing environmental awareness, businesses are beginning to reduce single …

Policy Communication And The Influence Of Agricultural Communities On Karst Landscapes: A Case Study In Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam, Elizabeth Willenbrink

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Karst landscapes are vulnerable to human influence, especially agricultural practices. The interconnectedness between surface activities and subsurface environments make karst landscapes particularly susceptible to soil erosion and water contamination. The likelihood of these two phenomena happening increases when agricultural intensification, irrigation, or fertilizer application occurs. This situation arises frequently in Vietnam, where 18% of the country is karst terrain and 60% of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods (Farming First 2009). In order to mitigate the negative consequences of agriculture on karst landscapes, effective implementation of policy to regulate human activities and increased communication of these policies to …

Carbon Flux And Weathering Processes In Icelandic Glacial-Fed Rivers, Allison Quiroga

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An investigation into the carbon dynamics and weathering processes occurring in Icelandic glacial-fed streams was conducted during the spring to summer seasonal transition in June of 2017. Four major outlet rives were sampled from the glaciers of Gígjökull, Steinsholtsjökull, Sólheimajökull, and Falljökull. Markarfljót, the major river that Gígjökull, Steinsholtsjökull, and many other glaciers drain into, was also sampled. Longitudinal sampling occurred at all sites to capture downstream trends in the hydrogeochemistry and carbon dynamics. Distinct differences in geochemistry between glacier surface meltwater, sub-glacial waters, pro-glacial lake water, and post-mixed downstream samples were evident in the data. Glacier surface streams were …

Analysis Of Clancy Drinking Water Contamination From On–Site Septic System Effluent, Matt Strozewski

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Clancy, a small unincorporated town in Montana, is situated 11 miles southwest of Helena at the confluence of Clancy and Prickly Pear Creeks. Currently Clancy residences have only on-site drinking water wells and septic systems. Drinking water testing in 2012 and 2017 found nitrate levels exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L in some of the residential drinking water wells. Elevated nitrate levels can cause a significant health concern for infants due to methemoglobinemia (Blue Baby Syndrome).

Due to the continued detection of elevated nitrate levels in Clancy’s on–site drinking water wells further research …

Moss Revegetation- A Process To Initiate Restoration And Repair Natural Resources Damaged By Mining, Arundeep Taduri

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Mosses are small plants within the phylum Bryophyta known for their ability to grow on acidic, metal laden soil. This project proposes the restoration of moss to barren mine waste areas which will stabilize the soil, thus reducing heavy metal contaminants released to the aquifer and the surrounding environment.

In general, the mine waste areas can be naturally recolonization by native and non-native vegetation as a remediation process. This process is very slow. The removal of the mine waste, capping and replacing it with clean soil, and subsequently replanting is a common remediation method. However, this approach is very expensive …

Japan National Energy Strategy: Energy Politics - Posc 370, Peter Wong

Political Science Student Papers and Posters

In this paper is my energy strategy for Japan, with the purpose to: provide broad strategic objectives, identify and explain the policies chosen, mobilization of political support as well as consideration of Japan’s energy resources. Additionally the paper considers economic and political feasibility, and theaters of conflict that may arise. The paper uses the knowledge and skills of looking at national energy politics and strategies learned in class.

Volume 10, Taylor Hogg, Tiffany Carter, Brandyn Johnson, Haleigh James, Josh Baker, Tyler Cernak, Kirsten Bauer, Allie Snavely, Mary Zell Galen, Eric Powell, Thomas Wise, Katie Kinsey, Beth Barbolla, Maeleigh Ferlet, Rebecca Morra, Michala Day, Alexandra Evangelista, Max Flores, Harley Hodges, Clardene Jones, Harrison Samaniego, Jamesha Watson, Abby Gargiulo, Heather Green, Haley Klepatzki, Juan Guevara, Dani Bondurant, Michael Joseph Link Jr., Pamela Dahl, Maeve Losen, Charlotte Murphey

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Roger A. Byrne

An Analysis of Media Framing in Cases of Violence Against Women by Taylor Hogg

Writing in the Discipline of Nursing by Tiffany Carter

Photography by Brandyn Johnson

The Hidden Life of Beef Cattle: A Study of Cattle Welfare on Traditional Ranches and Industrial Farms by Haleigh James

Bloodworth's by Josh Baker and Tyler Cernak

Prosimians: Little Bodies, Big Significance by Kirsten Bauer

Skinformed by Allie Snavely

Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism: The Effects of First Robotics Folklore and Culture on the Stem Community by Mary Zell Galen

Tilt by Eric Powell And Thomas Wise

The Millennial …

Gastrointestinal Helminth Prevalence In Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) Wintering On Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Usa, Sydney Cottingham

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Phylogenetic Similarities Among Bacteria Isolated From Songbirds, Rachel Croy

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Water Current, Volume 50, No. 1, Spring 2018

Water Current Newsletter

Reviving the Platte basin ecosystem symposium this June

Water Current celebrating 50 years; staff changes; full slate of activities on tap through 2018

Assessing Trade-Offs In Large Marine Protected Areas, Tammy E. Davies, Graham Epstein, Stacy E. Aguilera, Cassandra M. Brooks, Michael Cox, Louisa S. Evans, Sara M. Maxwell, Mateja Nenadovic, Natalie C. Ban

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Large marine protected areas (LMPAs) are increasingly being established and have a high profile in marine conservation. LMPAs are expected to achieve multiple objectives, and because of their size are postulated to avoid trade-offs that are common in smaller MPAs. However, evaluations across multiple outcomes are lacking. We used a systematic approach to code several social and ecological outcomes of 12 LMPAs. We found evidence of three types of trade-offs: trade-offs between different ecological resources (supply trade-offs); trade-offs between ecological resource conditions and the well-being of resource users (supply-demand trade-offs); and trade-offs between the well-being outcomes of different resource users …

The Voice Of Iceland: Communication Of Climate Science Through Choral Music, Jason Fox

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As the environmental sciences expand with the intent to more fully analyze and understand human interactions with the environment in a time of rapid environmental change, a need has arisen to more widely communicate new environmental knowledge with the public; however, environmental communication efforts often fail to capture the interest of audiences in relatable, emotional ways. This research constitutes an exploratory evaluation of the potential of choral music to effectively communicate climate change to musical audiences using Iceland as a geographic backdrop. Based on the author’s own experiences regarding climate change in Iceland, a three-movement original choral composition Icelandic Sketches: …

Biogeochemical Cycling Of Selenium In The Arctic Ocean, Kyle M. Mcquiggan

OES Theses and Dissertations

Changes in the global climate may have a pronounced effect on the biogeochemical cycling of trace elements like selenium (Se) in the Arctic Ocean. This study described the first quantitative examination of the biogeochemical cycle of selenium in the Amerasian Basin, providing the baseline from which future changes can be identified. Aerosol, dissolved and particulate water samples were collected for Se determinations during the U.S. GEOTRACES GN01 Arctic expedition that sampled the two parts of the Amerasian Basin in 2015: The Makarov Basin on the way to the North Pole and the Canada Basin on the return trip to Dutch …

Effects Of Beaver Dams On Urban Stream Hydraulic Response During Storm Events, Erin Poor

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

Urbanization of landscapes alters watershed hydrology, leading to changes in the natural flow regime of local streams. Runoff from impervious surfaces and routing of stormwater can cause a rapid increase in the volume and velocity of streamflow. This is observed in the hydrograph as a steep rising limb, followed by a high peak, and a rapid falling limb. This rapidly varying streamflow, often referred to as flashiness, can increase erosive forces on the channel bed and banks, leading to channel incision and bank erosion. In areas where the hydrologic regime is less impacted by humans, beaver dams and ponds attenuate …

Interactive Effects Of Hypoxia And Pcb Co-Exposure On Expression Of Cyp1a And Its Potential Regulators In Atlantic Croaker Liver, Md. Saydur Rahman, Peter Thomas

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Although marine and coastal environments which are contaminated with xenobiotic organic compounds often become hypoxic during the summer, the interactive effects of hypoxia and xenobiotic exposure on marine species such as teleost fishes remain poorly understood. The expression and activity of monooxygenase enzyme cytochrome P450-1A (CYP1A) in fishes are upregulated by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), whereas they are down-regulated during hypoxia exposure. We investigated the interactive effects of hypoxia and PCB co-exposure on hepatic CYP1A expression in Atlantic croaker and on potential regulators of CYP1A. Croaker were exposed to hypoxia (1.7 mg/L dissolved oxygen), 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 77, dose: 2 …

Gouldian Finch Non Breeding Population And Habitat Assessment 2018: Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project - Weaber Plain Development Area, Save The Gouldian Fund

Irrigated Agricultural Development in the North

As part of the requirement for State approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, an assessment and regular monitoring of the endangered Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) is required during the operation of the Ord River Irrigation Area Weaber Plain Development Project in the Kimberley, Western Australia. This report details the findings from the habitat and vegetation surveys of non breeding Gouldian finches (September 2017 – March 2018).

Metagenomic Profile Of The Bacterial Communities Associated With Ornithodoros Muesebecki (Acari: Argasidae) Ticks On Socotra Cormorant Colony In The United Arab Emirates And Presence Of Three Important Pathogenic Groups In Them, Raheel Nasser Alkayyoomi

Biology Theses

Ticks are well known to transmit various pathogens including bacteria, viruses and protozoa to humans and animals. The soft tick (Omithodoro muesebecki) was common on a breeding colony of the Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) in Siniya Island, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aims of the study were: i) instigating the prevalence and conduct genetic characterization of the important bacterial pathogens Borrelia spp. (causal agents of relapsing fever), Rickettsia spp. (causal agent s of spotted fever), and Coxiella burnetii (causal agent of Q fever); ii) understanding the overall bacterial community associated with 0. Muesebecki by using Illumina-based metagenomics approach; and …

Newwater Regimes: An Editorial, Alida Cantor, Jacque Emel

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

This editorial is an introduction to the special issue of Resources on New Water Regimes. The special issue explores legal geographies of water resource management with the dual goals of providing critiques of existing water management practices as well as exploring potential alternatives. The papers in the special issue draw from numerous theoretical perspectives, including decolonial and post-anthropocentric approaches to water governance; social and environmental justice in water management; and understanding legal ecologies. A variety of themes of water governance are addressed, including water allocation, groundwater management, collaborative governance, drought planning, and water quality. The papers describe and analyze water …

The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act: Proposed Modifications To Improve Resilience To Sea Level Rise, Christopher Antoine

Virginia Coastal Policy Center

There are a number of ways to increase resiliency to sea level rise, and localities should consider all of the potential methods available to them, as not all methods are feasible in every locality. This paper will examine how the CBPA [Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, the "Act"] currently works to protect water quality and its current capability to help localities improve resilience. It will also consider some potential changes to the CBPA and other programs that may increase the Act’s ability to promote community resilience to sea level rise through rational development while maintaining the water quality benefits that the …

Groundwater Injection Projects: Mitigating The Risk Of Emerging Contaminants, Conor Jennings

Virginia Coastal Policy Center

The Hampton Roads region is one of the fastest growing population centers in Virginia, meaning that demand for clean drinking water is only increasing. In response to this growing problem, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), whose mission is to treat the region’s wastewater, has developed and begun to implement the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) project to better reclaim treated wastewater by directly injecting it into the aquifer. Currently, HRSD’s treated wastewater is simply released into surface waters but this process does not help replenish the aquifer because the natural replenishment of the underground aquifer through surface water …

Construction Of A Pen-Scale Methane Collection System And Dietary Strategies For Methane Mitigation From Growing And Finishing Cattle, Thomas M. Winders

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Methane production from ruminants has been researched for many years because it has a global warming potential 25x that of carbon dioxide, meaning that mitigating smaller amounts of methane can have a large environmental impact. Research has focused on individual animal methane measurements, but the literature lack in industry-scale measurements. For that reason, the methane barn was built to evaluate dietary strategies on pens of cattle rather than on individual animals. In order to test the methane barn capabilities, an experiment designed to produce differences in methane production was conducted. Cattle received the same growing diet, at either ad-libitum access …

Does Gender Matter In The Adoption Of Push-Pull Pest Management And Other Sustainable Agricultural Practices? Evidence From Western Kenya, Beatrice W. Muriithi, Kassie Menale, Gracious Diiro, Geoffrey Muricho

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This paper examines whether there is a difference in the adoption of push-pull pest management technology (PPT) and other sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) on field-plots managed by males or females and those that are jointly-managed by males and females using plot-level and gender disaggregated data from Western Kenya. The econometric results suggest that there was no gender heterogeneity in the adoption of PPT after controlling for the manager of the field-plot and plot characteristics. However, gender differences in the adoption pattern of some other SAPs were evident. Jointly-managed plots were more likely to receive animal manure and soil and water …

Geochemical And Radiological Baseline Studies And Environmental Impact Of The Area Surrounding Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, Uae, Mouza Rashed Mohamed Al Rashdi

Dissertations

Geochemical, mineralogical and natural radiation analysis techniques were used for establishment of geochemical and radiological baseline around Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, UAE. The natural radioactivity concentrations of ²³⁸U (²²⁶Ra), ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured for soil, shore and bottom sediment samples, using gamma spectrometry equipped with HPGe detector. In addition, alpha spectrometry was used to measure ²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratio for some selected samples. Furthermore, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy was used to measure the concentrations of heavy metals and Rare Earth Elements (REE). The grain size of the samples ranged from fine …

Let’S Talk Takataka: Impacts Of Plastic In The Stone Town Harbor Area, Zanzibar, Cj O’Brien

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Plastic pollution has become an anthropogenic crisis worldwide. In the Stone Town Harbor area in particular, consumerism, population growth, tourism and a deficient municipal waste management system contribute to alarming amounts of mismanaged plastic that enter the ocean. This is devastating for the diverse marine ecosystem that provides valuable resources to its flora and fauna and to it human inhabitants. In this study, micro-plastic at the sea surface as well as plastic on coastal beaches was quantified to determine the effects of plastic pollution in the area by use of a standard plankton net methodology. This study contributed to the …

A Disappearing Island: An Impact Assessment Of Coastal Erosion On The Mnemba Island House Reef, Zanzibar, Kat Grellman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Sedimentation is one of the greatest threats reefs face today due to climate changeinduced sea level rise. Mnemba Island has experienced rampant coastal erosion as a combined result of global processes and local anthropogenic impacts, which has in turn caused severe reef degradation. The house reef was surveyed over a 3-week period to determine the amount of sediment deposited on the reef and the impact of this sedimentation on coral reef health. Sediment traps were deployed to measure the sediment flux rate. The line-intercept transect method was used to measure the benthos cover of the reef and point-transect method was …

A Comparative Tree Survey Of Disturbed And Primary Forest Areas: Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve, Pemba Island, Skyler Smith

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Off the coast of Tanzania, in East Africa, the island of Pemba was once covered in pristine forest despite having a small, agriculturally-based human population. Beginning around 1840, however, the island began to be deforested on a large scale for colonial plantations of cash crops such as cloves and rubber as well as for small-scale farms and firewood. Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve covers about 1,440 hectares and is all that remains of these once vast forests. The reserve was officially designated in 1957 but timber extraction and exploitation there continued until the late 1980s. In the early 1970s, a large …

Cuando La Vida Era Tranquila: Land Use And Livelihood Changes Following The Construction Of The Chan 75 Dam In Nance Del Risco, Bocas Del Toro, Patrick Mckenzie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Ngobe are Panama’s most populous indigenous group. While the Ngobe that live in the comarca have land and resource rights, those that live immediately outside of it do not. This issue has been exacerbated by the creation of Palo Seco Forest Reserve which has removed all land rights from the Ngobe living within it. In order to meet its growing demand for energy, Panama is expanding its hydroelectric sector. One such hydroelectric dam built by AES is Chan 75. However, Chan 75 has had a controversial history, especially regarding its treatment of the Ngobe people of the corregimiento Nance …