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Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo) As Bioindicators For Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus) Distribution In The Gulf Of Maine, Logan R. Becker

Student Publications

Effective fisheries management is increasingly challenged by climate-driven shifts in species distribution and by a lack of data on early life stages of key forage fish species. In the Gulf of Maine, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), a once economically dominant fishery species and a key prey species for many dependent predators, has declined due to poor early-stage recruitment and warming waters. Despite this decline, current trawl surveys do not inform early-stage Atlantic herring distribution due to mesh size limitations, leaving critical gaps in our knowledge. To address this knowledge gap, I used common terns (Sterna hirundo) …

Perceptions Of Internship Experiences For Environmental Science Undergraduates, Sydney Brock

Senior Theses

Internships are widely recognized as valuable components of undergraduate education, yet their accessibility, impact, and role in shaping student development vary significantly across disciplines and individual experiences. This thesis investigates the undergraduate internship experience within the School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment (SEOE) at the University of South Carolina, drawing on survey data and reflective responses from students who participated in internships between 2022 and 2024. The study explores the professional, academic, and personal benefits of internships, with particular attention to how these experiences influence students' career direction, confidence, and skill development. Findings indicate that regardless of format, duration, …

Fossil Leaf Cuticle: Best Practices For Preparation And Paleo-Co2 Analysis, Xiaoqing Zhang, Dana L. Royer, Carina E. Colombi, Juan Martin Drovandi, Jennifer C. Mcelwain, Gaëtan Guignard, Qin Leng, Barry H. Lomax, Nathan D. Sheldon, Rebekah A. Stein, Garland R. Upchurch, Yongdong Wang, Hong Yang, Richard S. Barclay, Ying Cui, Wolfram Kürschner, Joseph N. Milligan, Isabel Montañez, Jon D. Richey, Tammo Reichgelt, Gongle Shi, Selena Y. Smith, Margret Steinthorsdottir

Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department Faculty Journal Articles

Leaf cuticle is the waxy envelope that protects leaves from desiccation, UV damage, and abrasion. The cuticle encodes information about a plant's chemistry and leaf epidermal and stomatal cell morphology. Fossil leaf cuticle has been used to determine taxonomic affinities for almost two centuries and recognized in recent decades for its value in reconstructing paleoenvironments and paleoclimates, especially atmospheric CO2. Fossil leaf cuticle preparation techniques are typically reported as single workflows tied to individual studies, starting with finding fossils in the field through the steps of preparing cuticle for chemical and morphological analysis, including decisions about type of microscopy and …

Exploring The Few Nexus Through Community Engagement: A Watershed Restoration Case Study From Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Tolulope P. Akinbobola, Kumar Chaudhary Anil

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

Given the pivotal role of education in comprehending the intricacies of the FEW nexus, the pedagogical approach employed is important in fostering the intentional integration of food, energy, and water systems across disciplinary boundaries. Non-formal education is experiencing a resurgence in its role in establishing a sustainable knowledge society. As we delve into understanding the FEW nexus, we must acknowledge the strategies, practices, and experiences underpinning our knowledge and contributions to the FEW nexus. Against this background, this practice paper demonstrates the multifaceted dimensions of integrating formal and non-formal education approaches in driving development in the FEW nexus field.

Lessons Learned From A Collaboration Process For Implementing Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education With The Food-Energy-Water (Few) Nexus, Caterina B. Azzarello, Chelsie Romulo Dr., Bhawani Venkataraman, Susan Caplow Dr., Shamili Ajgaonkar Dr., Craig R. Allen, Aavudai Anandhi, Steven Anderson, Katja Brundiers, Eunice Blavascunas, Jenny M. Dauer, Daniel L. Druckenbrod, Ennea Fairchild, Lydia R. Horne Dr., Kyungsun Lee, Marizvkuru Mwale Dr., John Mischler, Emily Pappo, Nirav S. Patel, Nicole D. Sintov, Carla S. Ramsdell, Shirley G. Vincent

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

This extended abstract highlights the role of the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus as a tool for fostering sustainability education and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It emphasizes the integration of key sustainability competencies, such as systems thinking and problem-solving, within interdisciplinary environmental programs (IEPs). Drawing on literature and real-world examples, the abstract illustrates how the FEW Nexus serves as a framework to address complex global challenges by connecting content knowledge with actionable solutions. Additionally, it shares lessons from a collaborative manuscript involving over 20 authors, showcasing strategies to engage students in developing skills for transformative societal change.

Sustainable Sediment Management In Jordanian Dams: Feasibility, Economic Viability, And Agricultural Reuse Potential, Ahmed Al-Taani, Nazem El Radaideh, Wesam Al Kateeb, Fares Howari, Yousef Nazzal, Jibran Iqbal, Abeer Al Bsoul

All Works

Jordan has long faced severe water scarcity, which has significant implications for agriculture, industry, and domestic consumption. This crisis is further exacerbated by climate change, population growth, regional conflicts, and unsustainable water use. In response, Jordan has focused heavily on dam construction to secure water supplies, despite the high financial and environmental costs. However, rapid sedimentation threatens dam storage capacity and operational efficiency, reducing their lifespan and long-term sustainability. This study evaluates the feasibility of sediment removal as an alternative to constructing new dams, considering environmental, technical, agricultural, and economic factors. The research is based on case studies from King …

Meeting Carbon Dioxide Removal Demand In 2030: The Potential Of Macroalgae Cultivation And Harvest, Lotta Siebert, Jiajun Wu, Lena-Katharina Bednarz, David Keller, Felix Meier, Christine Merk, Sonja Peterson, Wilfried Rickels

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

A growing number of countries have announced net-zero and net-negative emissions targets, but only a few countries provide incentives for carbon dioxide removal (CDR). We derive estimates of countries' hypothetical demand for CDR in 2030 based on their emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement. The aggregated average global demand for CDR in the compliance year 2030 is 1064 MtCO₂, 353 MtCO₂, and 124 MtCO₂ for the low, medium, and high-cost CDR scenarios, respectively. This demand comes exclusively from countries and regions with relatively high GDP per capita, relatively high abatement costs and a limited …

Assessment Of Water Pollution Levels In Lake Batur, Indonesia And Their Effect On Water Weed Presence, Syarif Prasetyo, Tri Retnaningsih Soeprobowati, Tirtaduna Tirtaduna, Agus Purnomo, Sri Hartati, Umi Chodrijah, Prihatiningsih Prihatiningsih, Ari Wahyono, Jumari Jumari, Rossi Prabowo

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Lake Batur in Bangli Regency, Bali Province is a priority area for ecological quality restoration in Indonesia due to its vulnerability to environmental changes caused by diverse and intensive utilization. Agricultural activities, fisheries, and tourism affect the lake’s water quality, leading to the uncontrolled growth of water weeds such as water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes). To determine the relationship between water quality, community activities, and water weed presence, water samples were collected from 9 locations consisting of residential, tourist, aquaculture, and agricultural areas. In situ analysis was then conducted to measure turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved …

Perceived And Recorded Temperature In Aircraft Cabins During 143 Flights, Matthew Nicholls, Peter Vink

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This essay reports on the perceived and recorded temperature in aircraft cabins during 143 flights. In each flight, passengers reported their experience. They recorded temperature and humidity after boarding and one hour later. The reports show that fewer than half of the passengers perceived the temperature as “good.” Most passengers (39%) perceived it as hot, and some (17%) perceived it as cold. Comparing the temperatures with guidelines shows that 18% of the recorded temperatures in the cabin were empirically too hot and 2% empirically too cold. The differences between passengers in what they perceive as a good temperature are large, …

Gubic: The Global Urban Biological Invasions Compendium For Plants, Daijiang Li, Luke J. Potgieter, Myla F. J. Aronson, Irena Axmanová, Benjamin Baiser, Marta Carboni, Laura Celesti-Grapow, Sonja Knapp, Ingolf Kühn, Ana Carolina Lacerda De Matos, Zdeňka Lososová, Flavia A. Montaño-Centellas, Petr Pyšek, David M. Richardson, Lauren B. Trotta, Rafael D. Zenni, Sarel S. Cilliers, Bruce D. Clarkson, Amy J. S. Davis, Rebecca W. Dolan, Marcin M. Dyderski, Franz Essl, Orou G. Gaoue, Joanne Gui, Charly Géron, Gustavo Heringer, Cang Hui, Anzar A. Khuroo, Stefan Klotz, Peter M. Kotanen, Holger Kreft, Frank A. Sorte, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Bernd Lenzner, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Scott Macivor, Cristina Martínez-Garza, Akira S. Mori, Charles Nilon, Jan Pergl, Stefan J. Siebert, Alyona S. Tretyakova, Toby P. N. Tsang, Kei Uchida, Mark Van Kleunen, Montserrat Vilà, Hua-Feng Wang, Patrick Weigelt, Peter Werner, Nicholas S. G. Williams, Marten Winter, Marc Cadotte

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Abstract Urban areas are foci for the introduction of non-native plant species, and they often act as launching sites for invasions into the wider environment. Although interest in biological invasions in urban areas is growing rapidly, and the extent and complexity of problems associated with invasions in these systems have increased, data on the composition and numbers of non-native plants in urbanized areas remain scattered and idiosyncratic. We assembled data from multiple sources to create the Global Urban Biological Invasions Compendium (GUBIC) for vascular plants representing 553 urban centres from 61 countries across every continent except Antarctica. The GUBIC repository …

Promoting Equity: Embracing Food Justice In The Transformation Of The Food Systems For Bipoc Communities, Frank Yeboah Adusei

Journal of Extension

The food justice movement addresses systemic food inequities impacting BIPOC communities, rooted in civil rights and environmental justice movements. It advocates for fair access to culturally relevant food, combating food deserts, and promoting food sovereignty. Recognizing intersectionality, it emphasizes collaboration to dismantle systemic barriers. This study aims to understand BIPOC communities' challenges and effective strategies, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts for lasting systemic change. Extension professionals face challenges but can contribute through equity-focused strategies, community engagement, and partnerships, advancing food justice and fostering inclusive food systems.

Beer And Biology, A Perfect Pairing: Using Beer To Spread Awareness About Invasive Species, Samuel Nutile, Adam Simpson, Sara Stahlman, Lynne E. Beaty

Journal of Extension

Managing the spread of introduced invasive species relies on educating recreationists that currently or potentially harbor such species. By partnering with a local brewery, we developed the Lagers for Lakes Draft Series to facilitate outreach about aquatic invasive species in Erie, Pennsylvania. To date, Lagers for Lakes drafts and associated launch events have reached over 230 individuals and increased awareness of invasive species by 86%. With the materials provided here and the lessons learned from these events, we hope similar outreach efforts can be developed elsewhere to educate and minimize the spread of invasive species.

Woody Plant Reinvasion Shortens The Lifespan Of Grassland Restoration Treatments, Dillon T. Fogarty, Michele Beadle, Craig R. Allen, Christine Bielski, Dirac Twidwell

Biology Student Work

An important question in restoration ecology is whether restored ecological regimes are more vulnerable to transitions back to a degraded state. In woody-invaded grasslands, high-intensity fire can collapse woody plant communities and induce a shift back to a grass-dominated regime. Yet, legacies from woody-dominated regimes often persist and it remains unclear whether restored regimes are at heightened vulnerability to reinvasion. In this study, we utilize a 17-year history of fire-based restoration in Nebraska's Loess Canyons Experimental Landscape to determine whether restored grassland regimes experience faster rates of Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) reinvasion compared to the initial invasion process in adjacent …

Geomorphological Setting And Palaeoenvironment Of The Pottery Neolithic Site At Tel Yosef (Tell Esh-Sheikh Ḥasan) (Pp. 61–64), Arlene Miller Rosen

'Atiqot

The Pottery Neolithic site at Tel Yosef is located on the southern fringe of the Ḥarod Valley, on heavy clay vertisol soils, formed in the marshy environment of the valley. Several springs, situated within easy walking distance from the site, served convenient water resources for the prehistoric residents. A deep geological section at the eastern edge of the site allowed for a reconstruction of the landscape and environmental history of the site’s vicinity.

Long-Term Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Crop Water Supply–Demand Relationship In Response To Climate Change And Vegetation Greening In Sanjiang Plain, China, Chi Xu, Wanchang Zhang, Zhenghui Fu, Hao Chen, Xia Jiang, Shuhang Wang, Bo Zhang, Zhijie Zhang

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The Sanjiang Plain (SJP) in Northeast China, a crucial black soil region, serves as a quintessential example of a high-intensity agricultural development zone and stands as China's largest commercial grain production base. In the context of global climate change, pronounced global warming and increased vegetation greening are expected to significantly impact the agricultural water resource supply and its alignment with crop water requirements in the SJP. This study assesses how climate change and vegetation greening affect the crop water supply–demand relationship in the SJP, addressing the critical question of whether natural precipitation can sustain regional agricultural development. Using the extensively …

A Global Dataset Of Nitrogen Fixation Rates Across Inland And Coastal Waters, Robinson W. Fulweiler, Megan E. Berberich, Shelby A. Rinehart, Jason M. Taylor, Michelle Catherine Kelly, Nicholas E. Ray, Autumn Oczkowski, Sawyer J. Balint, Alexandra H. Geisser, Catherine R. Mahoney, Mar Benavides, Matthew J. Church, Brianna Loeks, Silvia E. Newell, Malin Olofsson, Jimmy C. Oppong, Sarah S. Roley, Carmella Vizza, Samuel T. Wilson, Peter M. Groffman, J. Thad Scott, Amy Marcarelli

Michigan Tech Publications

Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of dinitrogen (N2) gas into bioavailable nitrogen by microorganisms with consequences for primary production, ecosystem function, and global climate. Here we present a compiled dataset of 4793 nitrogen fixation (N2-fixation) rates measured in the water column and benthos of inland and coastal systems via the acetylene reduction assay, 15N2 labeling, or N2/Ar technique. While the data are distributed across seven continents, most observations (88%) are from the northern hemisphere. 15N2 labeling accounted for 67% of water column measurements, while the acetylene reduction assay accounted for 81% of benthic N2-fixation observations. Dataset median area-, volume-, …

Supporting Wildlife Restoration In Eastern States Via State Wildlife Action Plans, L. Mark Elbroch, John Vucetich, Christa Rose, Jeremy T. Bruskotter

Michigan Tech Publications

The biodiversity crisis is driven by extinction at two scales: the global extinction of species and the local extirpation of populations (i.e., range contraction). Local extirpations are especially acute in the eastern United States, which has lost a substantial portion of its native mammalian fauna. Species restoration in the U.S., therefore, should be utilised more to revitalise and restore degraded systems. State wildlife agencies can elevate discussions about species restoration and facilitate internal capacity to conduct restoration projects by including locally extirpated species in State Wildlife Action Plans, which are currently under revision, and will guide state conservation programs for …

Impact Of Nature-Based Tourism On Bird Vocalization Rate In The Bajo Del Tigre Reserve, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Abby K. Bressette, Adriana Arias Aguilar

Environmental Studies Publications

Nature-based tourism benefits economies, communities, and conservation initiatives, but it can also have unintended negative effects on wildlife. For birds, vocal communication is essential, yet it can be disrupted by anthropogenic noise. In this study, I used passive recording to examine how human visitation impacts the rate of bird vocalizations in the Bajo del Tigre Reserve in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Overall, bird vocalization rate was not affected by visitation (p > 0.05), but species-specific differences were found. Vocalizations of the lesser greenlet showed no significant change with visitation (p > 0.05). In contrast, the orange-billed nightingale-thrush exhibited a decrease in vocalization rates …

The Impact Of Large, Manipulated Rainfall Events On Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes Is Mediated By Warming, Spatial Heterogeneity And Hurricane Disturbance Recovery In A Puerto Rican Wet Tropical Forest, Nibia Becerra Santillan

Biology Honors Projects

Substantial uncertainty surrounds how terrestrial ecosystems may respond to the interaction of multiple global change drivers, especially the interaction of atmospheric warming and more frequent or severe extreme weather events. Climate models suggest that the Caribbean may experience more frequent and/or heavier rainfalls under future climate, which is likely to also interact with increased atmospheric temperatures. In this thesis, I investigate how long-term (“press”) soil moisture and temperature conditions interact with acute (“pulse”) extreme precipitation events to influence CO₂ fluxes, labile carbon, and microbial carbon in a wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico. I conducted a fully-factorial soil incubation experiment …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Emily A. Patton

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This is a masters Thesis for MS in Environmental Biology containing four chapters including a literature review, grant proposal, journal manuscript, and stakeholders report on a current environmental issue. (1) Noise Pollution and Avian Communication in Urban Ecosystems: When the Natural World Struggles to Hear Itself. Urban noise masks essential bird vocalizations, which harms avian fitness. Most species are displaced, and those few urban birds which counteract this noise with song adaptations likely experience trade-offs. America's noise policy remains undeveloped, threatening the health of both humans and avian wildlife (2) Application of Noise Barrier Technology for the Restoration of Urban …

Coffee Farmgate Price And Post-Harvest Processing In Honduras., Isaac Desouza

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Volatile commodity markets and changing climate expose coffee farmers to price and production risk. Proponents recommend specialty coffee as a strategy to combat price risk, because its unique attributes differentiate it from commodity coffee. Extrinsic and intrinsic attributes define specialty coffee and affect prices at many levels of the supply chain. Despite much work on extrinsic attributes, little is known about how intrinsic attributes relate to farmgate price. Post-harvest processing is itself an intrinsic trait and driver of coffee quality. In 2024 we surveyed 261 coffee farmers from La Paz, Honduras, to uncover relationships between capital, post-harvest processing, and farmgate …

Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Wild rice (mannoomin; Zizania palustris) is an aquatic grain that grows in slow-moving rivers and shallow bays throughout northern Minnesota. In Headquarters Bay on Leech Lake, wild rice has served as a cultural staple for Indigenous communities for centuries. However, its population has declined in recent years due to multiple environmental issues. One potential contributor is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM), an invasive species that forms dense mats capable of outcompeting native aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. EWM was first recorded on the southern shoreline of Leech Lake in 2005 and has since become widespread. This study …

René Dubos: An Annotated Bibliography, Carol L. Moberg

René Dubos: An Annotated Bibliography

René Dubos (1901–1982), a prominent 20th century scientist, humanist, and philosopher, was a prolific author. Affiliated for more than 50 years with The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research/The Rockefeller University, his studies ranged from antibiotics and the role of bacteria in human diseases to formulating broad ecological and environmental questions affecting human health and disease. His seminal writings explore a lifelong belief that a living organism—whether microbe, human being, society, or the Earth itself—could be understood only through its relationships with everything else.

This comprehensive bibliography of more than a thousand works by René Dubos includes brief annotations for each …

The Effect Of Zebra Mussels On Minnesota Fish Communities, Benjamin D. Strei

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an aquatic invasive species that has been spreading quickly throughout Minnesota water bodies since 1989. Zebra mussels are known to change certain morphological conditions in lakes such as turbidity, phytoplankton abundance, and aquatic invertebrate populations. However, studies showing impacts of the infestation of zebra mussels on the health of a fish community have been hard to prove due to a lack of repeated surveys and a suite of other confounding variables such as natural and seasonal variability, plant community, and lake morphometry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether zebra mussels have …

An Overview Of Current Education Efforts Within The Ecological Society Of America, Kenneth M. Klemow, Christopher W. Beck, Loren B. Byrne, Carmen R. Cid, Et Al.

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Education has been and remains an important focus within the Ecological Society of America (ESA). Since the late 1980s, the number of initiatives, sections, and committees devoted to education, especially at the undergraduate level, has increased greatly. The purpose of this article is to identify and describe the education-related initiatives and groups within ESA (as of May 2025), especially to provide information for new members. Education activities within ESA are coordinated by the Office for Education and Diversity Programs (OEDP). The Education Committee, which reports to ESA’s Governing Board, engages in various education-related activities on behalf of the Board. Three …

Assessing Understory Along The Elk River (Hikshari') In Headwaters Forest Reserve, Humboldt County, California, Julie R. Meyers, Aliyah M. Ingram, Caleb N. Larkin, Joshua L. Carpenter

Environmental Science & Management Senior Capstones

Northern California’s extensive logging history and lack of forest management has altered old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests, leaving dense, homogenous second and third-growth forest stands. This has led to the use of modern restoration techniques such as variable density thinning (VDT) which aims to rehabilitate old-growth forest conditions by improving stand heterogeneity and light availability for understory species. Our study was done in Headwaters Forest Reserve (HFR) along the Elk River (Hikshari’) Trail in Humboldt County, California. Initially, the project was supervised by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arcata Field Office. However, the 2025 U.S. government …

Critical Environmental Communication Framework, Shumaila J. Bhatti, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Andrea Feldpausch-Parker, Bruno Takahashi, Silje Kristiansen

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This study develops a Critical Environmental Communication (CEC) framework to assess the landscape of Environmental Communication research and to what extent and in which ways critical and justice-oriented perspectives are included. The CEC framework consists of four interconnected themes: (a) Marginalized Ecocultural Identities, (b) Context and Scale, (c) Power and Agency, and (d) Justice, Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion (JEDAI). Using this framework in a bibliometric analysis examining 1,297 Environmental Communication publications, we assess the occurrence of these themes in the scholarship. Our analysis found that Marginalized Ecocultural Identities, and Context and Scale were most frequently occurring, while Power and …

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

An Apple A Day: Have The Growing Conditions Of Apples In Maine Changed Over The Past 20 Years, Anooshka Sethi

Honors Theses

Climate change is increasingly affecting the growing conditions that farmers face. This study focused on if and how the growing conditions of apples have changed over the past two decades. Apples are an economically, socially, and culturally important crop to Maine's agriculture landscape. By production acreage, Maine is the second largest state in New England, with 2700 acres of land used to grow apples (USDA NASS CoA, 2022). A unique characteristic of agricultural production in Maine is that most farms are small-scale, run by families or small groups, making adverse changes to the growing conditions of a major crop in …

The Future Of Shipping At The Biodiversity-Climate Nexus : Round Table Report, Mary S. Wisz, Fabio Berzaghi, Mikaela Gomez, Maud C. Quinzin, Renis Auma Ojwala, Emily Nuckolls

Reports

This report presents the outcomes of a cross-disciplinary Round Table hosted by the World Maritime University (WMU) from May 13-15, 2024, in Malmö, Sweden. The event brought together 51 experts from academia, industry, NGOs, and international organizations, including the IMO, to explore shipping’s role at the biodiversity-climate nexus. The Round Table had a particular focus on the impacts of shipping that are currently unregulated or under-regulated, and opportunities to address biodiversity loss and pollution as the sector decarbonizes. The report highlights the need to apply comprehensive, ecosystem-based approaches to effectively manage shipping's impacts, including cumulative impacts, on the environment, people, …