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The Fierce Green Fire: Vol. 2 Issue 26, Wofford College Environmental Studies Program

The Fierce Green Fire

No abstract provided.

Regimes And Resilience In The Modern Global Food System, Sara W. Tower

Student Publications

Much public discourse surrounding the modern global food system operates on the assumption of the primary agency of individual consumers in ensuring an equitable and sustainable food supply. However, this approach fails to account for the larger structural forces of the system which frame the limits of how we interact with and are affected by our food system. Taking a closer look at the global economic, political, cultural, and environmental forces that have collectively shaped historical food regimes reveals the deeper structural patterns that currently determine how we produce, distribute, and consume food around the world. Due to the underlying …

Spatial Patterns Of Herbaceous And Woody Recruitment In A Recently Restored Mixed Tidal Regime Freshwater Wetland, James B. Deemy

Theses and Dissertations

Ecological restoration of a converted wetland was characterized within a recently drained impoundment along the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. Colonizing vegetation was assessed over three growing seasons in both tidal and non-tidal environments. Study objectives were to (1) examine geospatial relations of recruitment patterns among colonizing species over three growing seasons, (2) quantify species composition and potential differences between extant species cover and soil seed banks across restored and natural wetland habitats and (3) assess geospatial patterns to develop a GIS model of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum L.) recruitment. The two most common native colonizing species during …

An Education On Growing Water Scarcity And The Benefits Of Domestic Greywater Recycling Systems, Patricia Cates

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Water scarcity is becoming an ever growing concern in the world today. Fresh potable water is a natural resource which is being used more rapidly than it is being replenished. A growing global population, agriculture, and industry have placed great demands on our water resources. There is a need to help conserve our planet’s fresh water reserves. A tremendous percentage of household drinking water in the United States is currently being used to flush toilets, water yards and wash laundry or dishes. A practice termed ‘greywater recycling’ allows a person to utilize slightly used water to irrigate landscapes and flush …

Aggressive Acoustic Behavior In Yasuhikotakia Modesta: Does The Lombard Effect Hold Water?, Bethany Coffey

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The Lombard effect is the automatic and involuntary change in the intensity of vocalizations in the presence of background noise in order to maintain a constant signal to noise ratio. While this phenomenon is commonly found in vocalizing terrestrial vertebrates, it had not previously been examined in aquatic vertebrates such as fishes. This experiment tests the presence of the Lombard effect in the red-finned loach, Yasuhikotakia modesta, which make two types of sounds: butting and clicking. I recorded three pairs of Y. modesta during aggressive interactions over territory and compared the sounds produced in silence with sounds produced …

Integrating Human Variables In Cross-Boundary Monitoring Of Aberdare Preserves In Kenya, Peter K. Njuguna

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research critically examines extant data systems and their linkage of scientific research to policy and public education in east African highland forest conservation preserves. The research indicates that the current state of data and monitoring systems in the region imposes substantial limitations on the ability to manage these preserves. Major outcomes of those constraints manifest in unprecedented cross-boundary pressure such as encroachment and conversion of forest to agriculture, increased human-wildlife conflicts, and constrained relations among primary stakeholders. Current monitoring is biodiversity focused within preserves and fails to capture human dimensions in adjoining areas across preserve boundaries. This study proposes …

Synergy Of Alum And Chlorine Dioxide For Curbing Disinfection Byproduct Formation Potential At Central Arkansas Water, Corey W. Granderson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Central Arkansas Water (CAW), the water utility for Little Rock, AR, draws their source water from Lake Maumelle and Lake Winona. To curb disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation, CAW has begun retrofitting their two plants to use chlorine dioxide as an alternative primary disinfectant followed by free chlorine secondary disinfection in the distribution system. In this study, fluorescence parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis was combined with free chlorine simulated distribution system (SDS) tests and DBP formation potential (DBPFP) tests to study the benefit of chlorine dioxide primary disinfection (CDPD) with alum coagulation. Of the DBPs screened, trichloromethane (TCM) was formed in highest …

The Communicator, Volume 8, Issue 1, May 2012

The Communicator: News from the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Research Highlight: Assessing the Effects of Habitat Incentives and Public Access Programs on Pheasant Populations

Honors and Awards: Jason DeBoer, Kent Fricke, Shana Sundstrom, Karie Decker, Dan Uden, Josiah Dallmann, Victoria Simonsen, Valerie Egger, Michelle Hellman, and Bethany Teeters

Moving On: Ryan Stutzman, Chris Jorgensen, Kody Unstad

Teaching: Joseph (TJ) Fontaine and Kevin Pope

Outreach Activities: Karie Decker, Carla Bobier, Chris Jorgensen, Caroline Jezierski

Training: Creel Survey Workshop

Invasive Species Update: Nebraska LB 391

Publications: Jason DeBoer, Dustin Martin, Kevin Pope, Shana Sundstrom, Craig Allen

Announcements: Stella Elizabeth Spirk, Milo Leroy Bobier

Conferences/Meetings/Workshops:
Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference held in …

A Study Of The Spawning Ecology And Early Life History Survival Of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, Phaedra E. Budy, Sarah Wood, Brett B. Roper

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

We completed a large-scale field experiment in four tributaries of the Logan River, Utah, where the largest metapopulation of imperiled Bonneville cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii utah persists. We documented the spatial and temporal distributions of spawners, quantified substrate use versus substrate availability, and evaluated differences in hatch and emergence fry success between and among sites in relation to habitat characteristics. We observed considerable variability in the timing, magnitude, and duration of spawning among study areas (streams), in part as a function of a variable, multipeaked hydrograph. Nevertheless, across study areas, >70% of redds were constructed on the final descending limb …

Environmental Assessment Of Streams: Linking Land Use, Instream Stressors, And Biological Indices To Infer Likely Causes Of Ecological Impairment, Jacob J. Vander Laan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To protect and restore stream biota, managers need to be able to both detect biological degradation and infer likely causes of impairment. Managers commonly develop indices based on stream biota to assess the biological condition of streams. However, the performance of these indices dictates the ability to detect degradation, and although index performance varies widely, the sources of this variation are often unclear. In addition, bioassessments do not identify causes of impairment. My thesis research had two general goals: 1) develop indices to measure biological condition in Nevada streams and 2) quantify relationships between land uses, stressors, and biological condition …

Factors Influencing The Distribution Of Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta) In A Mountain Stream: Implications For Brown Trout Invasion Success, Christy Meredith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Brown trout (Salmo trutta), one of the world’s most successful introduced species in river and lake systems, negatively impacts native species through predation, competition, and systemwide effects. Thus, there is a need to understand factors controlling the distribution of brown trout, in order to prioritize and develop conservation and management strategies. Within the context of invasion success, I investigated how the physical characteristics of the Logan River influence the distribution of brown trout, as well as the potential for brown trout predation on a native fish, the mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi).

In chapter 1, I evaluated …

Reducing Lead And Selenium From Drinking Water Using Limestone-Based Material, Sindhu Tumati

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Contamination of drinking water with metals is a major problem facing many areas of United States and the World. There is a need for an inexpensive remediation technology for the removal of metals in drinking water that can be applied to small rural water systems. This research will focus on the development of a process for removal of select metals from drinking water by limestone-based material. Metals in drinking water considered for this research include lead and selenium. Limestone-based material has demonstrated the potential to reduce select metals (lead, cadmium and arsenic) in drinking water, with the additional benefit of …

The Effects Of Property Rights On Ocean Resources: Two Possible Solutions To The Tragedy Of The Commons, Nathan David Miller

Honors Program Theses

Property rights affect how people use resources. Enforcement regimes are able to set clear laws with well-defined property rights. Governments set laws for conservation and economic success. Ocean resources suffer from overuse. Industry and the environment both benefit from regulations that promote ocean conservation. This paper will analyze how the current state of ocean property rights leads to the depletion of ocean resources. Though there are many possible solutions to overfishing, I will analyze two potential solutions to overexploitation in the commercial fishing industry: marine protected areas (MP As) and individual transferable quotas (ITQs ). A synthesis of previous research …

Interspecific Hybridization Among Black Basses (Micropterus Spp.) In The Chattahoochee River, Columbus Georgia, Kimberly S. Holley

Theses and Dissertations

Interspecific hybridization can lead to the evolution of a new hybrid species or extinction of parental species due to competition or excessive backcrossing, When parental populations differ in abundance, hybrids tend to backcross more frequently with the more abundant parent, resulting in asymmetrical introgression. The objective of this study was to determine the extent and apparent direction of hybridization between shoal bass {Micropterus cataractae), a rare endemic species to the Apalachicola drainage, and spotted bass (M. punctulatus), an introduced and more abundant species. Pelvic fin tissue (N = 130) was taken from bass species in the Chattahoochee River between Columbus, …

Placental 11b-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Expression And Birth Weight In Hamilton County, Tn, Colleen Katherine Mikelson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Infants born below 2,500 grams are classified as low birth w eight. Reduced birth weight has been shown to increase the risk of infant mortality and chronic adulthood diseases. In 2007, Hamilton Country reported 12.0% of live births to be low birth weight, compared to the state average of 9.4%. An excess in utero exposure to cortisol has been linked to restricted fetal growth. Placental production of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) inactivates cortisol before passage into the fetus. This study tests the hypothesis that increased placental 11β-HSD2 expression has a positive correlation with an individualized birth weight centile. A …

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 ( …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Host Fish Assessment And Gravidity For The Mussel Elliptoideus Sloatianus, Andrew Hartzog

Theses and Dissertations

Elliptoideus sloatianus (purple bankclimber) is a freshwater mussel that m endemic to the Apalachicola River Basin, which includes the Chattahoochee, Flint, Chipola, and Apalachicola Rivers. Populations of E. sloatianus also exist in the Ochlockonee River, which discharges independently from the ACF basin into the Gulf of Mexico. In 1998, E. sloatianus was listed as federally threatened due to the loss of suitable habitat and the potential blockage of host fish passage into areas where the mussel lives. For this study, we located three populations of £. sloatianus in the Flint River in southwest Georgia. Gravid mussels were collected in late …

Best Management Practices For Reducing Coyote Depredation On Loggerhead Sea Turtles In South Carolina, Trent Eskew

All Theses

Sea turtles are one of the most recognizable and charismatic marine species worldwide that continue to be the focus of many conservationists. However, their populations and habitat continue to decline at an alarming rate due to predation, development, pollution, rising sea levels, beach erosion, and commercial fishing. Consequently, maximizing nest production in current nesting regions is fundamental to sea turtle recovery efforts. On the southeastern coast, coyotes (Canis latrans) and sea turtles have a relatively new relationship, but the presence of this latest predator has dramatically reduced sea turtle nesting success in certain areas. An active predator management strategy for …

Ecology Of The American Mink & The Potential Impact On Species Of Concern In Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina, Caroline Gorga

All Theses

Species reintroduction projects are becoming more common as a conservation tool to reestablish populations following extirpation. The implementation of these projects can be controversial due to the potential impact the reintroduced animal could have on endangered, threatened, or at risk prey species. In 1999, South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) reintroduced the American mink (Neovison vison), a SCDNR designated species of high conservation priority, to the northern coastal marshes of the state, including Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR). In order to estimate the impact of this opportunistic predator on other species, especially those of special concern to the …

Using Bald Eagles To Monitor Hydroelectric Projects Liscense Requirements Along The Au Sable, Manistee And Muskegon River, Michigan, Peter Datema

All Theses

Consumers Energy operated hydroelectric projects located along the Au Sable, Manistee, and Muskegon Rivers underwent environmental studies in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing. One of the questions posed during these studies was, would passage of Great Lakes' fishes over barrier dams along these rivers cause detrimental impacts to sensitive wildlife species. Relicensing also required that the operation of all hydroelectric projects on the Au Sable, Manistee, and Muskegon rivers be maintained as run-of-river. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were chosen as a biomonitor. This risk assessment included calculating new hazard quotients …

Avian Communities And Landscape Characteristics Of Golf Courses Within The Beaufort County Sea Island Complex, Jessica Gorzo

All Theses

The native breeding bird community of Beaufort County, South Carolina is experiencing landscape alteration in several forms. A prevalent human land use in the coastal zone is golf course development. This study explored the relationship between golf course land cover (n=23) and avian community metrics. Each study site consisted of the in-play area of the golf course, surrounded by a 400 m zone. Landscape metrics were calculated for each study site, and served as independent variables. The dependent variables were the following avian community metrics: species richness, neotropical migrant richness, abundance, diversity, evenness, and mean Partners in Flight (PIF) score. …

Nutrient Dynamics In Stormwater Runoff From Green Roofs With Varying Substrate, John Michael Fohner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

One major concern with urban development is the increasing amount of stormwater runoff from large expanses of impervious surfaces. These impervious surfaces reduce the ability of stormwater to infiltrate into the soil and eventually groundwater, which leads to greater amounts of surface runoff. Green technology serves as a viable solution to many of the environmental problems presented by modern development. Fifteen mock, extensive green roofs were built in the fall of 2008 at the Watershed Research and Education Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The goals of this project were to (1) measure the amount of stormwater runoff from varying treatments and …