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Comparing Macroinvertebrate Total Abundance And Total Biomass On Five Substrate Types From Upstream To Downstream On The North Branch Of The Au Sable River, Paul David Dingman
Comparing Macroinvertebrate Total Abundance And Total Biomass On Five Substrate Types From Upstream To Downstream On The North Branch Of The Au Sable River, Paul David Dingman
Masters Theses
The North Branch of the Au Sable River is located in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan and is known for prolific hatches of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Trichoptera (caddisflies), and Plecoptera (stoneflies). Macroinvertebrates play an important role in processing and recycling organic material in rivers and are a valuable food source for trout. In 2018, anglers were reporting catching fewer numbers of brook and brown trout (Salmo trutta and Salvelinus fontinalis). The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) determined significantly lower abundance than the historical average. We hypothesized that trout abundances were lower due to a lack of prey …
Barriers And Facilitators To Voting For People With Disabilities In Michigan Rural Communities, Christian Aguilar-Quiroz, Kaylyn Brzys, Chris Paclibar, Kyle Witte
Barriers And Facilitators To Voting For People With Disabilities In Michigan Rural Communities, Christian Aguilar-Quiroz, Kaylyn Brzys, Chris Paclibar, Kyle Witte
Community Based
Objective: In this study, we sought to investigate and obtain data on the perceived barriers and facilitators that rural Michigan residents with disabilities face throughout the voting process.
Method: We conducted two separate focus groups in two different rural areas of Michigan asking a series of semi-structured questions about the participants’ voting experiences. We obtained recorded interviews, qualitative data, of their answers to these prepared questions.
Results: Physical accessibility was limited by poor lighting for people with low vision problems and a lack of accommodations for those who are not able to stand for a prolonged time while waiting in …
Bilingual Family Literacy Programming In West Michigan: Points Of Alignment And Disconnect Among Learners, Instructors, And Local Partners, Thomas J. Rogers
Bilingual Family Literacy Programming In West Michigan: Points Of Alignment And Disconnect Among Learners, Instructors, And Local Partners, Thomas J. Rogers
Masters Theses
This research explores the beliefs and experiences of stakeholders in a family literacy program through the Literacy Center of West Michigan and Head Start for Kent County. The program is currently developing a curriculum to improve outcomes for learner specific goals. Therefore, one motivation behind this research is to analyze the goals, needs, and understandings for the multiple stakeholders within the program. On a national scale, there exists a need to better define the goals of family literacy programming in general. Points of alignment and disconnect for the participants in this study reflect realities that extend beyond the program at …
Implementation Of The Vaccines For Children Program In A Midwest, Urban Clinic Dedicated To The Underserved Population, Akmal Saydazamov
Implementation Of The Vaccines For Children Program In A Midwest, Urban Clinic Dedicated To The Underserved Population, Akmal Saydazamov
Doctoral Projects
Background: Low immunization rates weaken herd immunity and endanger children. The Safety Net Health Clinic (SNHC) study site serves an underprivileged and refugee population with significantly lower than ideal coverage. Series completion disparities persisted after control for demographic, access-to-care, poverty and language effects (Varan et al, 2016).
Objectives: SNHC implemented the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in order to increase the vaccination rates among the underserved population.
Methods: As an efficacy study, the project focused on three major areas in the VFC implementation – cost, staff preparedness and patient need. Cost was determined by utilizing electronic medical records (EMR) and …
Effects Of Fire Season And Temperature On A Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea Stoebe) Infested Grassland, Zachery T. Pitman
Effects Of Fire Season And Temperature On A Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea Stoebe) Infested Grassland, Zachery T. Pitman
Masters Theses
Invasive species, including the non-native forb Centaurea stoebe (spotted knapweed), constitute an imminent threat to degraded and restored native prairies. Considering the major threat that C. stoebe poses to imperiled prairie ecosystems, I examined the effectiveness of fire as a control agent of C. stoebe and (±)-catechin. I conducted a 2-year experiment in part of a restored tallgrass prairie community at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County, Michigan between May and August of 2016 and 2017. My experiment consisted of individually burning 60 1-m² plots with a propane torch to achieve high (316° C) and low (103° C) temperatures …
Home-Range Dynamics And Resource Selection Of American Marten (Martes Americana) In Michigan’S Northern Lower Peninsula, Angela Kujawa
Home-Range Dynamics And Resource Selection Of American Marten (Martes Americana) In Michigan’S Northern Lower Peninsula, Angela Kujawa
Masters Theses
American marten (Martes americana) are typically associated with mature coniferous forests. Marten were extirpated from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula due to human impacts, such as fire, logging, and over-harvest. Little is known about the resource selection and distribution of marten in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula since their reintroduction in 1985-86. Resource selection functions are valuable tools to estimate the relative probability an animal will utilize an area and predict where they may occur. When creating a resource selection function, potential sources of variation in data collection methods and wildlife populations should be considered to ensure accurate results. We sought …
Assessment Of A New Healthy Food Policy At Two Food Pantries In Grand Rapids, Mi, Katherine D. Hekstra
Assessment Of A New Healthy Food Policy At Two Food Pantries In Grand Rapids, Mi, Katherine D. Hekstra
Masters Theses
Background The purpose of food pantries has traditionally been to provide short-term assistance to food insecure individuals, however recent research indicates that food pantries are often used longer periods of time. This increased use indicates a greater importance for food pantries to distribute nutrient-dense foods to food insecure individuals, some who may suffer from chronic disease. Objectives This study measured food pantry client satisfaction pre- and post- implementation of a new healthy food policy at two Grand Rapids, MI food pantries. An additional purpose was to measure the change in food environment and distribution of nutrient-dense foods after implementation of …
Sociodemographic Characteristics Of Heart Failure Associated Hospital Readmissions In Michigan Medicare Patients, Kelsey A. Peterson
Sociodemographic Characteristics Of Heart Failure Associated Hospital Readmissions In Michigan Medicare Patients, Kelsey A. Peterson
Masters Theses
Repeated hospital admissions constitute a large proportion of healthcare expenses, but are incurred by a small minority of chronically ill patients. Rising healthcare expenditures and the link between readmissions and quality of care make readmission rates a high priority for clinicians as well as insurance payers. Though hospital readmissions have many components, one of the relationships which is still inconclusive is that between socioeconomic status and hospital readmission rates.
Investigating the conditions which have a substantial impact on the rate of hospital readmissions, heart failure stands out as it is the leading cause of death in the United States. This …
Resting Site Characteristics Of American Marten In The Northern Lower Peninsula Of Michigan, Robert L. Sanders
Resting Site Characteristics Of American Marten In The Northern Lower Peninsula Of Michigan, Robert L. Sanders
Masters Theses
American marten are usually associated with forests that are characteristically late successional, closed canopy, and diverse in structure; attributes that meet habitat requirements and provide resting site structures. Resting site structures are required habitat components that are used daily and provide protection from predation and inclement weather. I identified resting site characteristics of American marten in the Manistee National Forest in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula from May 2011 to December 2013. Twenty five marten (15 male and 10 female) were monitored using radio telemetry to identify what types of resting sites structures were used. I identified 522 unique resting site structures; …
Climate Change And Metapopulation Implications For Species Re/Introductions: A Spatial Analysis Of Suitable Habitat For The American Marten (Martes Americana) In Northern Michigan, Joshua Michael Green
Climate Change And Metapopulation Implications For Species Re/Introductions: A Spatial Analysis Of Suitable Habitat For The American Marten (Martes Americana) In Northern Michigan, Joshua Michael Green
Masters Theses
The American marten (Martes americana), which was extirpated from Michigan by 1939 due to logging and trapping, has cultural significance as a clan animal to Great Lakes Native American Tribes and ecological significance as a forest health indicator. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SBD) is considering reintroduction, but several factors must first be considered in assessing the habitat suitability. The goals of this study were to 1) enhance an existing habitat suitability model by including additional relevant variables, 2) conduct a spatial analysis of the habitat within the study area using a metapopulation perspective and 3) incorporate climate …
Winter Habitat Selection And Genetic Relatedness Of Southern Flying Squirrels In Southwest Michigan, Sheila M. Miara
Winter Habitat Selection And Genetic Relatedness Of Southern Flying Squirrels In Southwest Michigan, Sheila M. Miara
Masters Theses
Few studies have examined winter habitat selection for southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) in northern latitudes where winter conditions are harsher than southern latitudes and resource availability is particularly limiting. Winter den tree characteristics and use by 19 southern flying squirrels (10 females and 9 males) were investigated from November through February in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. The mean home range size using 100% minimum convex polygon for 18 individuals was 3.40 ha (±0.46 0.46 SE) and there was no significant difference between genders (P= 0.56) or ages (P=0.50). The mean 95% fixed kernel home range size was 0.15 …