Digital Commons Network^™

Critical Research Needs For Successful Food Systems Adaptation To Climate Change, Michelle Miller, Molly Anderson, Charles A. Francis, Chad Kruger, Carol Barford, Jacob Park, Brent H. Mccown

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

There is a growing sense of the fragility of agricultural production in the Global North and South and of increasing risks to food security, as scientific observations confirm significant changes in the Gulf Stream, polar ice, atmospheric CO₂, methane release, and other measures of climate change. This sense is heightened as each of us experiences extreme weather, such as the increasing frequency of droughts, floods, unseasonal temperatures, and erratic seasonality. The central research challenge before us is how global, national, regional, and local food systems may adapt to accelerating climate change stresses and uncertainties to ensure the availability, …

Block And Bridle Annual 2013

Block and Bridle Annual (1933–2021)

Dear Members, Supporters, Family, and Friends, Over the past school year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Block and Bridle Club had tremendous goal breaking accomplishments, and hosted several successful events. It is my great pleasure to recognize and thank all of the officers and members that contributed a considerable amount of time to make it a fabulous year. I would also like to thank the Animal Science Department faculty and staff for all of their support, time, and guidance throughout the year. Our advisors are a key component of our club and were crucial to the club’s success this year. They …

Plant Community Composition And Structure Monitoring For Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 2012 Annual Report, Isabel W. Ashton, Stephen K. Wilson, Daniel J. Swanson, Michael Prowatzke, Phil Graeve

United States National Park Service: Publications

Executive Summary

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (AGFO) plays a vital role in protecting and managing some of the last remnants of native mixed-grass prairie in the region. The Northern Great Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network (NGPN) and Fire Ecology Program (FireEP) surveyed 12 long-term monitoring plots in Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in 2012 as part of an effort to better understand the condition of plant communities in the park. We measured plant diversity and cover, looked for the presence of exotic species that may be newly invading the park, and evaluated the amount of human and natural disturbance …

Can Law Foster Social-Ecological Resilience?, Ahjond S. Garmestani, Craig R. Allen, Melinda H. Benson

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Law plays an essential role in shaping natural resource and environmental policy, but unfortunately, many environmental laws were developed around the prevailing scientific understanding that there was a “balance of nature” that could be managed and sustained. This view assumes that natural resource managers have the capacity to predict the behavior of ecological systems, know what its important functional components are, and successfully predict the outcome of management interventions. This paper takes on this problem by summarizing and synthesizing the contributions to this Special Feature (Law and Social-Ecological Resilience, Part I: Contributions from Resilience 2011), focusing on the interaction of …

Predicting Invasion In Grassland Ecosystems: Is Exotic Dominance The Real Embarrassment Of Richness?, Eric W. Seabloom, Elizabeth T. Borer, Yvonne Buckley, Elsa E. Cleland, Kendi Davies, Jennifer Firn, W. Stanley Harpole, Yann Hautier, Eric Lind, Andrew Macdougall, John L. Orrock, Suzanne M. Prober, Peter Andler, Juan Alberti, T. Michael Anderson, Jonathan D. Bakker, Lori A. Biederman, Dana Blumenthal, Cynthia S. Brown, Lars A. Brudvig, Maria Caldeira, Chengjin Chu, Michael J. Crawley, Pedro Daleo, Ellen I. Damschen, Carla M. D'Antonio, Nicole M. Decrappeo, Chris R. Dickman, Guozhen Du, Philip A. Fay, Paul Frater, Daniel S. Gruner, Nicole Hagenah, Andrew Hector, Aveliina Helm, Helmut Hillebrand, Kirsten S. Hofmockel, Hope C. Humphries, Oscar Iribarne, Virginia L. Jin, Adam Kay, Kevin P. Kirkman, Julia A. Klein, Johannes M. H. Knops, Kimberly J. La Pierre, Laura M. Ladwig, John G. Lambrinos, Andrew D. B. Leakey, Qi Li, Wei Li, Rebecca Mcculley, Brett Melbourne, Charles E. Mitchell, Joslin L. Moore, John Morgan, Brent Mortensen, Lydia R. O'Halloran, Meelis Partel, Jesus Pascual, David A. Pyke, Anita C. Risch, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Mahesh Sankaran, Martin Schuetz, Anna Simonsen, Melinda Smith, Carly Stevens, Lauren L. Sullivan, Glenda M. Wardle, Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Peter D. Wragg, Justin Wright, Louie Yang

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Invasions have increased the size of regional species pools, but are typically assumed to reduce native diversity. However, global-scale tests of this assumption have been elusive because of the focus on exotic species richness, rather than relative abundance. This is problematic because low invader richness can indicate invasion resistance by the native community or, alternatively, dominance by a single exotic species. Here, we used a globally replicated study to quantify relationships between exotic richness and abundance in grass-dominated ecosystems in 13 countries on six continents, ranging from salt marshes to alpine tundra. We tested effects of human land use, native …

The Influence Of Plants On Atmospheric Methane In An Agriculture-Dominated Landscape, Xin Zhang, Xuhui Lee, Timothy J. Griffis, John M. Baker, Matt D. Erickson, Ning Hu, Wei Xiao

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The primary objective of this study was to clarify the influence of crop plants on atmospheric methane (CH₄) in an agriculture-dominated landscape in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Measurements were carried out at two contrasting scales. At the plant scale, CH₄ fluxes from soybean and corn plants were measured with a laser-based plant chamber system. At the landscape scale, the land surface flux was estimated with a modified Bowen ratio technique using measurements made on a tall tower. The chamber data revealed a diurnal pattern for the plant CH₄ flux: it was positive (an …

Ensc 220: Introduction To Energy Systems—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Francis Hay

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio investigates "Introduction to Energy Systems," a cross departmental class that is part of the Energy Sciences Minor. The class has a diverse student population and is taught accordingly. Students learn units, magnitudes, terminology, and basic function of current and emerging energy systems. Students finish the semester able to compare and discuss energy systems related to their feedstock, efficiency, capacity factor and environmental impacts. Student learning was evidenced throughout the course in tests, quizzes, writing assignments, discussions, and projects.

Hydropower: It’S A Small World After All, Gina S. Warren

Nebraska Law Review

Part I of this Article will explore the history and rise of hydroelectric power generation—from water mills to mega dams—and its regulation in the United States. The water mill was one of the first mechanisms used by mankind to harness power. It is a simple use of momentum to create energy. Water mills were used to grind grain, saw logs, create textiles, and fashion tools. As societies evolved, so did the use of water mills, and once electricity and generators arrived on the scene in the late 1800s, hydropower proved to be an efficient means of producing electricity. By the …

“In Landlessness Alone Resides The Highest Truth”; Or, At Sea With Honors, Don Dingledine

Honors in Practice Online Archive

The recent explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico was a grim reminder of the BP disaster in 2010, from which Gulf Coast residents and workers are still trying to recover. We all must have responded to that disaster with a similar sense of outrage as we watched the live underwater video feed of millions of gallons of oil spewing into the ocean and saw images of oil-soaked wildlife, coastlines, and marshlands. Shared memories of Hurricane Katrina heighten our collective sympathy for the people whose livelihoods this disaster still threatens. At the same time, our individual responses …

References From Landslide Ecology, Lawrence R. Walker, Aaron B. Shiels

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Plant Community Composition And Structure Monitoring For Scotts Bluff National Monument, 2012 Annual Report, Isabel W. Ashton, Michael Prowatzke, Stephen K. Wilson

United States National Park Service: Publications

Executive Summary

the last remnants of native mixed-grass prairie in the region. The Northern Great Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network (NGPN) surveyed 8 long-term monitoring plots in Scotts Bluff National Monument in 2012 as part of an effort to better understand the condition of plant communities in the park. We measured plant diversity and cover, estimated tree and shrub density, looked for the presence of exotic species that are of concern to park management, and evaluated the amount of human and natural disturbance at all plots. This effort was the second year in a multiple-year venture to document the current …

Connecting Children To Nature: A Multiple Case Study Of Nature Center Preschools, Patti Ensel Bailie

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

Environmental degradation, childhood obesity, and aggression of youth are societal problems that appear unconnected. However, their cause (and possible solution) may be linked to a common experience – the amount and quality of time spent in the natural world. Environment based education, significant life experience research, and studies involving urban youth and green spaces have shown that children’s experiences in the natural world have a positive effect on their attitudes, behaviors, and environmental awareness. Nature center based preschools are one approach for connecting children and nature, but little is known about the quality and consistency of their practices. This study …

Establishing A Student Organic Farm At The University Of Nebraska–Lincoln: Collected Ideas From Student Organic Farms At Other Midwestern Universities, Daniel Martin

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate and discover what is necessary to establish a Student Organic Farm (SOF) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). A case study evaluated student farms at three different Midwestern Universities: University of Wisconsin (UW), University of Minnesota (UM), and Iowa State University (ISU). The study consisted of an investigation into the establishment of each university’s SOF and the factors contributing to each SOF’s success. The investigation was conducted over the course of a six day field study in August 2012 at the three universities. Prior contacts with key players from the …

The Effect Of Racial Distribution On Environmental Education In Two Rural Elementary Schools: A Case Study, Jimmy J. Simpson Jr

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this research is to help identify whether or not race plays a role in how much Environmental Education (EE) is being taught in elementary schools throughout the region. This study takes place in two rural elementary schools, less than 20 miles apart, in Northeast Nebraska; one with a mostly white population and the other mostly Native American. The researcher interviewed 7 teachers total at both schools in order to gain information about EE in the classroom and the extent to which it is being taught. Results indicated that race did not play a role in the amount …

Motivation For Consumers Participating In A Sustainable Food System, Brittney Albin

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Currently there are trends for consumers to start choosing more sustainable options in every aspect of their life, including food. There are many negative consequences for both the environment and human health due to conventional industrial agricultural practices (Horrigan et al., 2002; Leitzman and Cannon, 2005). Sustainable agricultural practices are being promoted as part of a larger sustainable food system. As Leo Horrigan et al. describe it, “sustainable agriculture is not merely a package of prescribed methods. More important, it is a change in mindset whereby agriculture acknowledges its dependence on a finite natural resource base” (Horrigan et al., 2002: …

How Can An Anaerobic Digester Benefit A Community Both Environmentally And Economically?, Sam Neal

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this study was to analyze the current practices for utilizing biomass within a municipality and discuss what changes can be made to make the process more efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly. The study was conducted using the town of River Forest, Illinois as a representative town of America. The findings and structure of the study can be used as a template to improve other cities environmentally and economically.

"Good. Fresh. Local." An Examination Of Local Food Initiatives In College Systems In Lincoln, Ne, Jennifer Simons

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

In September of 2005, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln University Dining Services/University Housing set out to try an innovation at the cutting edge for this region’s universities. The Good. Fresh. Local. (GFL) initiative was the product of a team of people and organizations looking to implement a program integrating the local food movement at the university level. The program has since grown in scale and prominence within the UNL setting. Students living in the dorms were surveyed to acquire an inside look at students’ definitions of “local,” measures of its value, awareness of the GFL program, and desire for more locally …

Ecology And Invasive Properties Of Musk Thistle (Carduus Nutans) In The Central Prairies Of Nebraska, Chengchou Han

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) is an herbaceous monocarpic herb introduced to the U. S. from Eurasia. The invasion of musk thistle can reduce forage area, soil stability, and reduce recreation and open areas for humans and wildlife.

Resistance of warm season and cool season perennial grass communities to musk thistle invasion is important for land managers to consider, especially where disturbance has made an area particularly susceptible. Our results show that disturbances, such as overgrazing can open up niches in canopies of warm season grass communities and facilitate invasion but not in cool season grass communities. The mechanism …

Indirect Consequences Of Hypolimnetic Hypoxia On Zooplankton Growth In A Large Eutrophic Lake, Daisuke Goto, Kara Lindelof, David L. Fanslow, Stuart A. Ludsin, Steven A. Pothoven, James J. Roberts, Henry A. Vanderploeg, Alan E. Wilson, Tomas O. Höök

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Diel vertical migration (DVM) of some zooplankters in eutrophic lakes is often compressed during peak hypoxia. To better understand the indirect consequences of seasonal hypolimnetic hypoxia, we integrated laboratory-based experimental and field-based observational approaches to quantify how compressed DVM can affect growth of a cladoceran, Daphnia mendotae, in central Lake Erie, North America. To evaluate hypoxia tolerance of D. mendotae, we conducted a survivorship experiment with varying dissolved oxygen concentrations, which demonstrated high sensitivity of D. mendotae to hypoxia (≤2 mg O2 l−1), supporting the field observations of their behavioral avoidance of the hypoxic hypolimnion. To investigate the …

Reduction In Carbon Uptake During Turn Of The Century Drought In Western North America, Christopher R. Schwalm, Christopher A. Williams, Kevin Schaefer, Dennis Baldocchi, T. Andrew Black, Allen H. Goldstein, Beverly E. Law, Walter Oechel, Kyaw Tha Paw U, Russel L. Scott

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Fossil fuel emissions aside, temperate North America is a net sink of carbon dioxide at present^1–3. Year-to-year variations in this carbon sink are linked to variations in hydroclimate that affect net ecosystem productivity^3,4. The severity and incidence of climatic extremes, including drought, have increased as a result of climate warming^5–8. Here, we examine the effect of the turn of the century drought in western North America on carbon uptake in the region, using reanalysis data, remote sensing observations and data from global monitoring networks. We show that the area-integrated strength of the western North American …

Determine The Feasibility Of Using Isolated Solar/Wind Hybrid Power System To Augment Power At A Signalized Intersection, Yang Liu

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

An estimation to the monetary profit a solar/wind power system can make when powering a traffic light signal is presented. There are two approaches investigated. One is tracking the price of the equipment and the money it can save to obtain the result. The other approach is to estimate the environmental benefit and then convert it into a monetary value for comparison. A discussion of the results and suggestions on the new solar/wind hybrid power system is presented

The Plant Based Diet: Increasing Overall Health Through Simple Diet, Tyler Sorensen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Conserving The Platte: A Documentary Short, Steven Speicher

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

With a history of litigation, deliberation, and conversation, the Platte River’s waters have been topic of much debate. In recent memory, historical decisions have been made regarding how to successfully manage this crucial water resource that sustains life in the Great Plains. The Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, a federally mandated tri-state conservation organization, began after years of consideration and an adamancy to avoid major litigation battle. Audubon Society has been a major player in conservation of habitats and protecting endangered species; Audubon Society’s Rowe Sanctuary, in specific, has worked in a variety of community- centered ways to conserve the …

Validation Of Pcr-Based Assays And Laboratory Accreditation For Environmental Detection Of Aquatic Invasive Species, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

This white paper provides:

a) Background information on the use, accuracy and reliability of PCR-based assays such as environmentally sampled DNA (eDNA) for early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and;

b) Recommendations for establishing a system for validating assays and accrediting laboratories that report on the presence or absence of AIS.

This white paper was developed by the members of ISAC and discusses the need for developing validation requirements for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and other DNA-based molecular assays that are increasingly being used to detect AIS. It does not provide a simplified checklist for evaluation of their ability …

150 Years Of Making History, Don Comis, Tara Weaver-Missick, Robert Sowers

Agricultural Research Magazine

The only thing that stands between the United States and an invasion of cattle-killing screwworms is a daily flight of airplanes flooding a 100-mile-wide section of the Isthmus of Panama with male screwworm flies raised in a laboratory and sterilized with radiation in Panama. The screwworm infestations of the past would probably come back if the releases stopped for a couple of months or so, says Dan Strickman, Agricultural Research Service national program leader for veterinary and medical entomology.

“This is a great example of agricultural research changing the history of this country, and it’s a cutting-edge example of integrated …

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 ( …

Evaluating The Success Of Individually Owned Vs. Cooperative Agritourism Businesses In Nebraska, Craig Easley

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Agritourism has been practiced by Nebraskans for many years; it offers an alternative land use

and has a positive economic impact for business owners as well as the local community. The agritourism industry in Nebraska is relatively minor but the unique landscape and traditions allow great potential to for it to grow. Consumer demand for rural nature-based activities remains a largely untapped source of income on the Northern Great Plains’ privately owned grasslands (Schutz). The potential for agritourism to expand and become a large economic incentive for Nebraska is the reason Nebraska was chosen for this study. Agritourism is often …

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 …