Digital Commons Network^™

Integrative Highway Rights-Of-Way Management To Reduce Stormwater Run-Off And Enhance Habitat, Madeline M. Showers, Robin M. Rotman

Faculty Publications

Nature-based management along highway rights-of-way (ROW) has been a focus in several states to benefit pollinators through supporting diverse and native vegetative communities. There is the potential to enhance the ecological benefits of this practice by integrating stormwater management into restoration plans and incorporating other complex, multidisciplinary factors. Historically, lack of technical assistance and limited resources has led managers to use unsustainable roadside practices that reduce the potential ecological services of the ROW; however, integrative management can aid in the prioritization of management efforts and link objectives of various resource agencies. In this literature review, we address the ecological impacts …

The Effects Of Wildfires On The Mental And Physical Health Of School-Age Children In North America: A Scoping Review, Sarah Oerther, Sarah Manspeaker, Alison Wix, Daniel Oerther, Carmen Marsit

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Wildfires are occurring more often and with greater intensity, leading to longer and harsher fire seasons. As a result, children are more frequently exposed to wildfire smoke, which increases their risk of mental and physical health effects. Purpose: The purpose of our scoping review is to explore the current literature on what is known about the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on the mental and physical health of school-age children in North America (5 to 18-year-olds). Methods: A health sciences librarian-assisted literature search, with input from the research team, was performed. Results: A total of 16 studies were …

Pengaruh Larangan Ekspor Karang Hias Terhadap Kondisi Terumbu Karang Di Indonesia, Fitrian Dwi Cahyo, Muhammad Halley Yudhistira

Jurnal Kebijakan Ekonomi

Indonesia has the largest coral population in the world, contributed as the world’s second largest ornamental corals exporter after Japan. Coral trade sparked the issues of habitat destruction, illegal trade, and coral health problems has prompted the government to banning of ornamental coral export. This study aims to find an empirical evidence does the policies mentioned above affect the condition of coral reefs in Indonesia. The author uses the Fixed-Effect Model on the Difference in Difference regression equation whose result show that export banning of ornamental corals does not significantly affect the condition of coral reefs in Indonesia.

San Diego Collaboration For Conservation: Sustaining The Region's Legacy Of Biodiversity Conservation, Tessa Tinkler, Darbi Berry, A-Bel Gong, Bryan Cardenas, Daniela Olguin, Connelly Meschen, Eo Hanabusa

Environment

We are living through significant environmental, social, political, and economic challenges. These challenges have strained our communities and humanbuilt systems, as well as our interconnected habitats, wildlife, and natural systems. Lack of adequate infrastructure to withstand natural disasters and climate change, as well as historical and presentday inequities in resources across neighborhoods, are examples of the multifaceted and interconnected threats contributing to the accelerated loss of our rich biodiversity. This natural abundance is integral to our region’s health, history, and continued prosperity.

Identifying Invasive Species Sightings From Geoai-Validated Social Media Posts, Nathan Fox, Derek Van Berkel

I-GUIDE Forum

The spread of invasive species requires scalable monitoring techniques to help guide management and conservation strategies. Here, we explore the potential of GeoAI for the rapid validation of invasive species sightings through social media data. We utilized the Flickr API to retrieve 23,000 images from posts that contained the names of 72 invasive species across various taxonomic categories within the contiguous USA. Then using BioCLIP, a computer vision model capable of identifying over 450,000 species, we assessed whether these posts genuinely contained the species that the user tagged. Results varied, with some species like the European Starling showing high match …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Warner Basin Tui Chub (Siphateles Bicolor Ssp. 15), Eleanor P. Gaines, Jesse Laney

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Warner Basin tui chub (Siphateles bicolor ssp. 15) using NatureServe methodology, 2024.

The Pivotal Role Of Evaporation In Lake Water Isotopic Variability Across Space And Time In A High Arctic Periglacial Landscape, Pete D. Akers, Ben Kopec, Eric S. Klein, Hannah Bailey, Jeffrey M. Welker

Michigan Tech Publications

Rapidly changing climate is disrupting the High Arctic's water systems. As tracers of hydrological processes, stable water isotopes can be used for high quality monitoring of Arctic waters to better reconstruct past changes and assess future environmental threats. However, logistical challenges typically limit the length and scope of isotopic monitoring in High Arctic landscapes. Here, we present a comprehensive isotopic survey of 535 water samples taken in 2018 and 2019 of the lakes and other surface waters of the periglacial Pituffik Peninsula in far northwest Greenland. The δ18O, δ2H, and deuterium-excess values of these samples, representing 196 unique sites, grant …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 65 Number 2, Fall 2024 [Print Issue 62:2], Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

12 - INCREASING ACCESS Discerning one’s dream requires a whole set of experiences based on community, opportunity, and, yes, cash. Leslie Griffy

16 - UNPACKING UTOPIA It seems like billionaire-backed utopias are popping up all over the map. What does it take to build a perfect city? Lauren Loftus

22 - A WEALTH OF WELL-BEING In his new book, Professor Meir Statman explores a holistic approach to financial and life well-being. Leslie Griffy

26 - A WOMAN'S PLACE Despite being denied access to the priesthood, Catholic women find new ways to lead. Leslie Griffy

Evaluating The Efficacy Of The Albufeira Convention In A Time Of Water Uncertainty: The Case Of The Guadiana Basin, Hudson Sizemore

Portugal: Sustainability and Environmental Justice

This study evaluates the Albufeira Convention’s effectiveness in managing transboundary water resources in the Guadiana River Basin under increasing water scarcity. The primary objectives are to assess the Convention's capacity to balance ecological preservation with competing agricultural and municipal water demands, and to identify areas for improvement in its implementation. The research uses a qualitative methodology, relying on a systematic review of media, policy, and academic sources, supplemented by a structured SWOT analysis to organize findings and provide actionable insights. The analysis reveals that while the Convention fosters cooperation between Portugal and Spain, it falls short in addressing evolving hydrological …

Thirst For Power: Exploring The Impact Of The 2023 Israel-Gaza War On The Jordanian Water Crisis, Lucas Geromini

Jordan: Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action

This study examines the impact of the 2023 Israel-Gaza War on Jordan’s escalating water crisis, a challenge compounded by rapid population growth, climate change, and regional geopolitics. Jordan, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, relies heavily on transboundary water-sharing agreements, particularly with Israel. However, the war has intensified tensions between the two countries, disrupting existing agreements and exposing Jordan’s vulnerability to Israel’s hydro-hegemony. Through qualitative research, including interviews with Jordanian experts in water policy, environmental studies, and geopolitics, the study explores three key themes: Israel’s dominance over regional water resources, the domestic and international pressures constraining Jordan’s …

Harvesting Connections: A Creative Documentary On Sustainable Food Practices & Community In The Byron Shire, Abigail Wadkins-Daub

Australia: Sustainability and Environmental Action

This research explores the intersection of sustainable food practices and community connection in the Byron Shire, New South Wales Australia. This study specifically focuses on how practices such as composting, organic agriculture, farmers markets, and shared meals encourage both environmental well-being and social bonds. This project is presented as a 21 minute documentary titled Harvesting Connections, which included five semi-structured interviews with community members, including local farmers, home gardeners, market managers, and community garden leaders. Interviews were conducted over a five week period in November 2024, with participants including Sharon Gibson, Dave Forrest, Sue Mangan, Allie Godfrey, and Ahbi. These …

Wrack Lines Volume 24, No. 2, Fall-Winter 2024-2025, Farwa Mohsin, Seth Kinter, Elena Smith, Eden Torres, Dominic Moore, Isaiah Sosa

Wrack Lines

Six recipients of the Wrack Lines Voice of Diverse Youth Scholarship share personal essays about their relationship to nature and climate change.

2024 Celebration Of Scholarship, Creativity, And Engagement, Todd Bruns, Anna Nelson

Programs

Annually, Eastern Illinois University honors faculty achievements in the areas of research, creativity, and engagement. The list of faculty accomplishments is truly impressive, reflective of an engaged faculty committed to excellence and the ongoing pursuit and creation of knowledge. Many of these accomplishments occurred in collaboration with our students, who serve as co-authors, research assistants and partners in bringing these activities to fruition. In some cases, these professional ambitions transpired over many years and are a testament to persistence and tenacity. We extend a sincere message of congratulations for this diverse range of achievements, which bring distinction to our departments, …

Food Science Affiliated Publications, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville: Snapshot Of The Research Publications, Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report provides a snapshot of the research publications for authors affiliated with the Food Science department at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, for the period 2018-2023. It includes publications by material type; co-author characteristics; ranking of journals according to journal citation reports.

Effects Of Land-Use Types On Avian Functional Diversity In Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania, Ava Joan Boettiger

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

This research examined avian abundance and functional diversity across four human land uses— monoculture, mixed farming, rural, and urban areas—in the Kilimanjaro Region of Northern Tanzania. Conducted in November 2024, the study aimed to assess how different land-use types influence avian composition and functional diversity. A quasi-experimental design was employed, using purposive sampling to select study sites and systematic random sampling point counts to observe bird species present in each land-use type. A literature review was also conducted to classify species into families and categorize them into functional feeding guilds: predators, insectivores, frugivores, granivores, and nectarivores. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, …

Little Island, Leah R. Nath

Student Publications

After spending two full months living on a remote island off the coast of Maine, I had a difficult time adjusting to mainland life again; the noise, the people, the lack of birds a shock to my system after getting used to such a different way of living. In this piece, I wanted to capture the feeling of becoming part of Petit Manan island, trying to learn the language of the land and the birds, and then the feeling of loss and change once I left. I hope readers can experience the feeling of falling in love with the island …

Monitoring Of Cadmium And Lead Accumulation In Soil-Forage-Animal Continuum In Pasture Land Irrigated With Ground Water In Bhalwal, Punjab, Pakistan, Zafar Iqbal, Kausar Parveen, Kafeel Ahmad, Tasneem Ahmad, Naila Riaz, Abrar Hussain, Asma Ashfaq, Faiza Zubair, Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Abid Ejaz, Hafsa Memona, Shahzadi Mahpara, Allah Bakhsh Gulshan, Tayyaba Aziz, Tayyba Liaqat, Mumtaz Akhtar, Muhammad Umer Farooq Awan, Farzana Siddique, Abdllah Saleh Alsubail, Rand Suleiman Alhuthayli

Journal of Bioresource Management

Recent study was directed to check the accumulation of Cd and Pb in pasture land treated with ground water. In particular the transfer of cadmium and lead from soil to forages and in turn to animal (buffaloes) was conducted in Bhalwal, Punjab, Pakistan which comes under sub-tropical environmental conditions. The Cd and Pb concentration in selected samples was explored by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA-6300 Shimadzu Japan). The results depicted the concentration of cadmium in water, soil, forages, milk and hair of buffaloes was in the range of 0. 00320 – 0.00866 mgL^-1, 1.9500 to 5.3000 mg/kg, 0.300 to …

A Midwest Perspective On Biochar Integration In Extension, Blake C. Colclasure, Elizabeth Bose, Jack Dempsey, Taylor K. Ruth

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Biochar can be considered a climate-smart, agricultural soil amendment due to its ability to provide long-term storage of carbon. Research examining the impacts of biochar-enriched soils reported improved soil characteristics often leading to agricultural benefits, especially in nutrient-poor soils. Despite the potential use of biochar in the Midwest, United States, few studies have examined biochar in Extension. This study, guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action, used survey methodology to collect information on Midwest Extension agents’ (n = 125) knowledge, attitudes, and subjective normative beliefs toward biochar. These factors, along with agents’ demographics and perceptions toward sustainable soil amendments, were …

Key Largo Mangrove Population Monitoring: A Remote Sensing Analysis And Classification Methodology Review, David Lackajs

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Mangrove forests are some of the world's most bio-diverse habitats, providing essential services to the surrounding coasts. Removal of these habitats has a devastating impact on the ecosystems within them. The Florida Keys are some of the last areas in the United States with extensive mangrove populations. One specific area, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, has been under state protection since 1959. For that reason, mangrove forest habitats there are less fragmented. This study uses remotely sensed imagery to quantify and analyze mangrove populations in this area using two methods: sub-pixel analysis and supervised classification. The …

Time-Transgressive Microbial Diversity In A Tropical Bat Guano Accumulation, Deer Cave, Mulu, Borneo, Joyce Lundberg, Donald A. Mcfarlane

International Journal of Speleology

Bat guano accumulations in caves can constitute large deposits of organic material, particularly chitin and its degradation products, that host a diverse microbiome. Previous microbiological studies have not addressed the stratified nature of these deposits in the context of the timeframe of the decomposition process. We present such data (temperature, pH, DNA sampling of eight carbon-dated strata) for a 75 cm-deep tropical guano accumulation that undergoes complete decomposition over a timescale of ~120 years. The aerobic, surface layer of freshly-fallen guano has the greatest diversity of taxa, with Bacteroidota co-dominant with Pseudomonadota, and includes many taxa unique to this …

Characterization And Bioremediation Potential Of Heavy-Metal Resistant Bacteria Isolated From Agricultural Soil, Kheira Dahnoun, Fatima Djadouni, Badiaa Essghaier, Chahnez Naccache, Nadia Zitouna, Salwa Zehdi-Azouzi, İsmai̇l Bayyi̇ği̇t, Hijran Rafiyeva Latif, Maha Mezghani-Khemakhem, Hedia Bourguiba

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Heavy metal pollution is a major environmental issue that has a negative impact on soil quality and food security. As a result, heavy metal removal or remediation from hazardous sites has become mandatory. Bioremediation based on microorganisms is a promising method to remediate heavy metal-contaminated areas due to its eco-friendly, cost-effective, and highly efficient characteristics. This study aimed to isolate, identify and characterize rhizospheric bacteria able to resist, reduce, and detoxify heavy metals (chromium [Cr], nickel [Ni], and aluminum [Al]) from agricultural soil. Two isolates were chosen due to their high level of heavy metal resistance and could serve as …

A Lifetime Of Climate Changes: Female Farmers' Perceptions Of Climate Change Impacts To Well-Being And Livelihood In Antigua And Barbuda, Jamie Matthews

Capstone Collection

This capstone project emphasizes the value of smallholder farmers working on small island developing states (SIDS) in an era of climate change—with a particular focus on female farmers in light of the global feminization of agriculture. This research study engaged female farmers living in Antigua and Barbuda, a SIDS in the Caribbean, to capture their perceptions of climate risks and the impacts climate change has had on their well-being and livelihood. Qualitative data was collected via life history interviews (LHI), as well as focus group discussions (FGD). These methodologies addressed the primary questions of this research: (i) How do female …

Modern Building Structures Are A Landscape-Level Driver Of Bat–Human Exposure Risk In Kenya, Tamika Lunn, Reilly T. Jackson, Paul W. Webala, Joseph G. Ogola, Kristian M. Forbes

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Identifying the locations and drivers of high-risk interfaces between humans and wildlife is crucial for managing zoonotic disease risk. We suggest that continent-wide improvements to residential housing in Africa are inadvertently creating artificial roosting habitat for synanthropic free-tailed bats (family Molossidae), and that improved buildings are a rapidly accelerating exposure interface that needs urgent research attention and investment. Along a residential gradient in rural southern Kenya, we mapped building use by free-tailed bats in 1109 buildings. We show that bats often roost in human-occupied buildings, with almost one-in-ten buildings exhibiting evidence of bat occupation (9.2%) and one-in-13 found to contain …

Living Dead Forests: Assessing Detrital Services In Puget Sound Pseudotsuga Menziesii Ecosystems, Forrest Becker

Capstone Collection

Coarse woody debris (CWD), the detrital result of down wood recruitment, contributes to wildlife habitat, nutrient cycling, morphological processes like soil formation, and each forest’s sense of place but if undermanaged can fuel wildfires or obstruct stakeholder use. Despite its ubiquity in Puget Sound Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests in Washington, USA, few studies quantify the exact ecosystem services which down wood provides. This study seeks to understand how forest managers can estimate the ecosystem services of down wood and how human communities perceive down wood management between community, public, and private Douglas fir (P. menziesii) …

Gps Accuracy Of Smartphones For Crowdsourcing Research, Derron L. Dike

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

ABSTRACT GPS Accuracy of Smartphones for Crowdsourcing Research Derron Dike Utilizing crowdsourcing with smartphones as a method for field data collection can contribute an array of data for scientific studies and land management applications. This study used crowdsourcing to examine smartphone built-in GPS performance for providing location-specific information with potential forestry applications. The usability of smartphones for GPS data collection in forestry studies or other practical applications is dependent on the level of accuracy required for those applications. A Smartphone Accuracy Trial was designed to test the GPS accuracy performance of current smartphones. Participants used the ArcGIS Field Maps application …

Exploring The Motivations And Determinants Of Farmer’S Market Consumers And Organic Specialty Crop Producers, Jane Arnold

All Theses

This two-chapter thesis evaluates the motivations and determinants of the central figures in farmers’ markets and organic markets. The first chapter explores the rise of farmers’ markets popularity through an in-person survey that was designed and distributed to 274 farmers' market consumers. Logit and ordered logit regressions were used to identify the motivations and characteristics that affect the likelihood of being a frequent farmers’ market customer (visiting 5 times or more per season) and spending over $50. The second chapter investigates the organic markets for cucumber and kale, which are dominant specialty crops on today’s grocery shelves. To identify the …

Exploring The Vulnerability Of Small-Scale Fisherfolks In Selected Barangays, Arlon Ponce Cadiz, Blesshelyn Guevarra Sanchez, Eden Vela Evangelista

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Small-scale fisherfolks contributed to the livelihood and economic aspects of the fishery sector in the region. However, they are vulnerable regarding potential risks and threats caused by various conditions. This study explored the vulnerability of fifty-two small-scale fisherfolks selected from six barangays near Laguna's Northern West Bay, Philippines. The case study design guided the data collection from multiple sources, including survey questionnaires, unstructured interviews, and document analysis for triangulation and analysis of fisherfolks' exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Results show that there are indicators that contribute to the vulnerability of fisherfolk in terms of exposure, which involves hydrometeorological hazards, water …

Inter-Kingdom Communication And The Sympoietic Way Of Life, Scott F. Gilbert

Biology Faculty Works

Organisms are now seen as holobionts, consortia of several species that interact metabolically such that they sustain and scaffold each other’s existence and propagation. Sympoiesis, the development of the symbiotic relationships that form holobionts, is critical for our understanding the origins and maintenance of biodiversity. Rather than being the read-out of a single genome, development has been found to be sympoietic, based on multigenomic interactions between zygote-derived cells and symbiotic microbes. These symbiotic and sympoietic interactions are predicated on the ability of cells from different kingdoms of life (e.g., bacteria and animals) to communicate with one another and to have …

A Decade Of Earth-Centered Scholarship And Activism, Elizabeth Allison

CIIS Faculty Publications

Origin stories reveal the myriad causes that converge to birth a new initiative. On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, this essay looks back to document the context and intellectual lineage out of which the Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion graduate program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) emerged in 2013, and suggests some possibilities for the future of transdisciplinary education and the fields of religion and ecology (e.g. Tucker and Grim 2001), religion and nature (e.g. B. Taylor 2010), and spiritual ecology (e.g. Sponsel 2012) more broadly.

The Effect Of Chemical Coagulant Dosages On The Removal Of Turbidity From Wastewater, Estabraq Ali Hameed, Rodhan Abdullah Salih, Ali Mohammed Saleh, Hussein M. Issa, Mahmod A. Abdulqader

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This research aims to compare different coagulants, which are alum, ferric chloride, and polyaluminum chloride, in treating turbidity in water. The objective is to determine the optimal dosage of each coagulant for the removal of visible turbidity at levels of 400, 85, 70, and 40 NTU, respectively. The study also considers the (pH) levels resulting from the addition of coagulants, measures the percentage of remaining materials from the used coagulant (sulfates from alum, chloride from ferric chloride, and chlorides from polyaluminum chloride). A 1000 l tank and its components were controlled by adding the desired pollutants (clay and plant impurities) …