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Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, August 26, 2013, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Graduate Council Report
• Research Council Report
• Election of new Committee on Committees Member
• PRPC Section 402, Language on RCDE and USU Eastern
• Post Tenure Review process revision update (e.g. results of straw poll vote)

Collapsible Space Telescope (Cst) For Nanosatellite Imaging And Observation, Elwood Agasid, Kimberly Ennico-Smith, Abraham Rademacher

Small Satellite Conference

Nanosatellites have gained broad use within the university and scientific communities for a variety of applications ranging from Space Weather, Space Biology and Astrobiology. There is great interest to develop high-quality nanosatellite imaging applications to support Earth Observations, Astrophysics and Heliophysics Missions. NASA Ames Research Center is developing a low cost, deployable telescope that, when coupled with the appropriate imager, will provide high-resolution imaging for Earth and Space Observations. The collapsible telescope design is a Strain Deployable Ritchey Chrétien Cassegrain telescope that can fit within the volume of 1U x 4U portion of a 6U nanosatellite platform. Additional telescope optical …

A River Continuum Analysis Of An Anthropogenically-Impacted System: The Little Bear River, Utah, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Nicholas A. Heredia, Patsy Palacios, Jared Baker, Chance Broderius, Katie Fisher, Jason Fuller, G. Andrew Pappas, Christian Smith, Marc Weston

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

In September 2012 the Aquatic Ecology Practicum class from Utah State University studied the 51km river continuum of the Little Bear River located in northern Utah (Figure 1). The relatively pristine headwaters of the river begin in the Wasatch Mountain Range at an altitude of 1800 m. The river flows northward into Cache Valley where it terminates in Cutler Reservoir (1345 m elevation). Agricultural development and urbanization have modified the natural terrain and chemical characteristics of the river, and Hyrum Reservoir, located midway along the gradient causes a discontinuity in river processes. The results from analyses of stream condition indicators …

Anthropogenic Impacts On The Longitudinal Gradient Of Nutrients In The Little Bear River, Jason Fuller

Natural Resources and Environmental Issues

I measured the anthropogenic impacts from land use on nutrient concentrations along the Little Bear River in Cache Valley, Utah. Water samples from twelve stations along the Little Bear River were collected and analyzed using an auto analyzer in order to determine conductivity and concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), ammonia (NH3), and nitrate (NO3-). Samples were collected at stations thought to reveal anthropogenically influenced nutrient loading. Some of the anthropogenic land usages that potentially impact the nutrient concentrations include agricultural land use, urban land use, Hyrum Reservoir, the Trout of Paradise fishing reserve located near …

A Fisheries Investigation Of The Previously Un-Surveyed Little Bear River, Christian Smith

Natural Resources and Environmental Issues

To evaluate the effects of human impacts on the composition and abundances of fishes on the Little Bear River, the 2012 Aquatic Ecology Practicum class conducted backpack electrofishing surveys in four sites of the river on 29 September and 4 October 2012. At these sites, species composition, biomass, and abundances were documented utilizing 2-pass electrofishing. In total, ten species were captured, with native species being represented by Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncoryhnchus clarki Utah) and mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii). Mottled sculpin comprised the majority of native fish captured (n= 241), while brown trout accounted for the majority of nonnatives …

Periphyton And Phytoplankton Chlorophyll A Levels In The Little Bear River And Hyrum Reservoir, Utah, Katie Fisher

Natural Resources and Environmental Issues

This study was conducted to assess the applicability of the River Continuum and Serial Discontinuity Concepts to the Little Bear River, using chlorophyll a values along the gradient of the river and within Hyrum Reservoir. Periphyton was analyzed from seven sites and phytoplankton from nine sites (including Hyrum Reservoir) in September 2012. The lower parts of the Little Bear River is heavily influenced by agricultural and anthropogenic sources of nutrients and other pollution, creating poor water quality in its lower reaches. Periphyton levels in the river increased along the gradient, peaking just below Hyrum reservoir, and then decreased with distance …

Algal Nutrient Limitation Throughout The Little Bear River Watershed, Jared Baker

Natural Resources and Environmental Issues

The objective of this study was to use a 5 day bioassay experiment to assess whether nitrogen or phosphorus limited the growth of algae in the Little Bear River watershed. Four sites were sampled along the river in September 2012. The locations of the sites were south of Avon (Station 2), near Paradise, UT (Station 6), downstream of Hyrum Reservoir (Station 7), and downstream of the Waste Water Treatment Facility in Wellsville (Station 10). Chlorophyll a analysis was conducted prior to, after 2.5 days, and at the conclusion of the 5 days. Varying combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus were added …

A River Continuum Analysis Of An Anthropogenically-Impacted System: The Little Bear River, Utah, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Nick Heredia, Patsy Palacios, Jared Baker, Chance Broderius, Katie Fisher, Jason Fuller, G. Andrew Pappas, Christian Smith, Marc Weston

Natural Resources and Environmental Issues

In September 2012 the Aquatic Ecology Practicum class from Utah State University studied the 51km river continuum of the Little Bear River located in northern Utah (Figure 1). The relatively pristine headwaters of the river begin in the Wasatch Mountain Range at an altitude of 1800 m. The river flows northward into Cache Valley where it terminates in Cutler Reservoir (1345 m elevation). Agricultural development and urbanization have modified the natural terrain and chemical characteristics of the river, and Hyrum Reservoir, located midway along the gradient causes a discontinuity in river processes. The results from analyses of stream condition indicators …

Using Field-Level Characteristics As Proxy Measures To Test For The Presence Of Economies Of Scale In Nonpoint Pollution Control, Arthur J. Caplan, John Gilbert, Devalina Chatterjee

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

We use parametric and nonparametric methods to estimate correlations between average control cost and three field-level characteristics—field size and delivered phosphorous per field and per acre—as proxies for economies of scale in controlling nonpoint pollution. We combine load and delivery-ratio estimates for more than 12,000 fields in the Bear River Basin, Utah, with estimates of control costs and effectiveness of management practices from the literature. Results suggest a negative relationship between control cost and delivered phosphorous per field and per acre. Ranking fields by phosphorous load therefore prioritizes management-practice subsidies by economies of scale.

Sagestep News, Summer 2013, No. 21, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Longitudinal Analysis Of Resource Competitiveness And Homelessness Among Young Adults, Mathew F. Prante

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Homelessness occurs when individual resources are not enough for the demands of a given environment. It is not an arbitrary state of being, or a class of individual, it is a marker that signals a person has fallen to the extreme low end of a continuum of poverty. Perceiving homelessness as a point on a spectrum versus a discrete state, leads to research and explanations concerning how someone goes from being housed to being homeless, which can lead to more meaningful results than conceptualizing the homeless population as a class of people. It allows for the exploration of identification markers …

Preventative Behavioral Parent Training In A Primary Care Context: Initial Evaluation Of A Universal Prevention Program For Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Jessica L. Malmberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

One of the biggest challenges parents face is effectively managing their child’s engagement in various disruptive behaviors including noncompliance, tantrums, and aggression. Typically when children begin exhibiting disruptive behaviors, parents will express their concerns to their pediatricians; however, there are significant barriers to parents gaining adequate guidance due to clinic time constraints, insurance reimbursement issues, and the limited training pediatricians receive in addressing these concerns. As such, children are generally referred to outside mental health clinics where additional barriers arise including waitlist delays and mental health stigmatization. The treatment for conduct problems (CP) that has proven most effective is referred …

Invasive Plants In U. S. National Wildlife Refuges: A Coordinated Research Project Using Undergraduate Ecology Students, Martha F. Hoopes, David M. Marsh, Karen H. Beard, Nisse Goldberg, Alberto Aparicio, Annie Arbuthnot, Benjamin Hixon, Danelle Laflower, Lucas Lee, Amanda Little, Emily Mooney, April Pallette, Alison Ravenscraft, Stephen Scheele, Kyle Stowe, Colin Sykes, Robert Watson, Blia Yang

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Answering large-scale questions in ecology can involve time-consuming data compilation. We show how networks of undergraduate classes can make these projects more manageable and provide an authentic research experience for students. With this approach, we examined the factors associated with plant species richness in US national wildlife refuges. We found that the richness of harmful invasive plants and the richness of native plants were positively correlated in mainland refuges but negatively correlated in island refuges. Nonnative richness and invasive richness were also positively correlated with colonization pressure as indicated by nonnative richness around each refuge. Associations between refuge characteristics and …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For The Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Among Adolescents, Michelle R. Woidneck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The prevalence of exposure to traumatic events among youth in the United States is alarmingly high. Trauma exposure has been linked to numerous negative outcomes, including the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and problematic posttraumatic stress symptomology. Effective trauma-focused treatments for children and adolescents have been identified; however, these treatments also possess various limitations, including a substantial number of individuals who do not respond, show minimal responsiveness, or drop out before completing treatment. Such limitations indicate that investigation into alternative treatment modalities is warranted.

In collaboration with Utah State University (USU), a psychology professor, Dr. Michael Twohig, and a …

The Ecology And Genetics Of Schoenoplectus Maritimus, An Important Emergent Macrophyte, Across Diverse Hydrologic Conditions—Implications For Restoration, Amanda Clare Sweetman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wetlands in the Intermountain West are typically dominated by large monotypic stands of emergent wetland plants, are highly productive, and support millions of migratory birds as important stops along the Pacific Flyway. In systems with low species diversity, such as these, diversity within a species (intraspecific diversity) can play an important role in population fitness and ecosystem functioning and can impact restoration success. Our research was designed to inform future restoration and management activities by studying the pattern of diversity within and among natural plant populations, and by studying how hydrology and plant materials used in restoration (source and diversity …

Nutrient And Carbon-Dioxide Requirements For Large-Scale Microalgae Biofuel Production, Benjamin K. Shurtz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ever-increasing fuel prices and a limited supply of oil worldwide are threatening our economy and way of life in both the near and distant future. In order to reduce oil
dependence, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has established a goal that by the year 2030, 30% of the US transportation fuel will be renewable. The goal equates to
approximately 60 billion gallons per year of renewable fuel.

In an effort to reach the DOE renewable fuel goal, numerous types of plants are being studied, whose oil can be harvested and refined to serve as replacement fuel.
Among the various …

Utilizing Remote Sensing And Geospatial Techniques To Determine Detection Probabilities Of Large Mammals, Patricia A. Terletzky-Gese

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Whether a species is rare and requires protection or is overabundant and needs control, an accurate estimate of population size is essential for the development of conservation plans and management goals. Wildlife science has traditionally relied on human observers in airplanes, helicopter, or ground vehicles to count the number of individuals seen during wildlife surveys. However, these traditional surveys of wildlife require significant resources, are difficult to conduct quickly and safely over remote and/or extensive locations, are disruptive to the studied species, and are prone to significant error due to unobserved or missed animals and multiple counts of single animals. …

Mechanisms Of Vegetation-Induced Channel Narrowing On An Unregulated Canyon-Bound River, Rebecca Blanche Manners

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The accurate prediction of river channel width remains a fundamental area of investigation in the field of geomorphology. River managers and scientists are interested in understanding how a channel will respond to environmental perturbations such as altered runoff patterns from climate change, a new dam, or a pulse of sediment from a landslide. Increasingly, studies that focus on this question acknowledge the importance of accounting for the vegetation that lines the river banks. For this dissertation, I strove to identify some of the primary ways by which vegetation affects channel width.

At a fundamental level, vegetation influences the size of …

Characteristics Of 4-H Participants And Their Psychosocial Development, Lauralee Lyons

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Volunteerism is an important component in the 4-H program. It was initially used as a method to help agents reach the many youth interested in participating in 4-H. Community service has since become a required component for every club project. Research shows that volunteering can impact youth in many different ways. Other research shows that 4-H youth are more likely to contribute or do some type of community service.

The present study uses the Modified Extended Version of the Object Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOMEIS), the Cognitive Autonomy and Self-Evaluation (CASE) inventory, and an instrument specifically designed to study …

Common Raven Density And Greater Sage-Grouse Nesting Success In Southern Wyoming: Potential Conservation And Management Implications, Jonathan B. Dinkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Declines in the distribution and abundance of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter "sage-grouse") in western North America over the past century have been severe. The goal of my research was to increase the understanding of factors influencing where sage-grouse hens placed their nests, how common ravens (Corvus corax: hereafter "raven") impacted sage-grouse nest success, and whether high raptor densities negatively impacted hen survival of sage-grouse. I compared raven and raptor densities at sage-grouse nest and brood locations to available habitat. I also assessed how sage-grouse positioned their nests and broods relative to proximity to man-made structures, …

Utilizing Municipal And Industrial Wastes For The Production Of Bioproducts: From Metagenomics To Bioproducts, Joshua T. Ellis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Developing renewable sources of energy is gaining interest due to limited supplies, rising costs, and environmental impacts of exploiting fossil fuels. Biosolvents such as acetone, butanol, and ethanol are attractive sources of fuel which can aid in replacing our dependence on foreign oil. Butanol is of particular interest due to its ability to directly replace gasoline, thus considered a drop-in-fuel. Biological hydrogen and methane gas are also attractive energy sources that can lower dependence on fossil energy.

This research focused on incorporating DNA sequencing technologies in parallel with fermentation methods for understanding and producing energy. The natural environment provides diverse …

Climate Change And Plant Demography In The Sagebrush Steppe, Aldo Compagnoni

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We used demographic methods to address one of the main challenges facing ecological science: forecasting the effect of climate change on plant communities. Ecological forecasts will be crucial to inform long-term planning in wildland management and demographic methods are ideal to quantify changes in plant abundance. We carried out our research in the sagebrush steppe, one of the most extensive plant ecosystems of Western North America. Our research intended to inform ecological forecasts on an exotic invader, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Moreover, we investigated the general question asking: to what degree competition among plants influences the outcome of ecological …

Presence And Function Of Tetrodotoxin In Terrestrial Vertebrates And Invertebrates, Amber N. Stokes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin found in a variety of species. This toxin has long been of concern to human health as it is found in puffer fish, which are a delicacy in Japan. Since the distribution of this toxin is so great, there are many questions regarding the evolution and ecology of organisms that have TTX. My research has focused on further investigating three topics with this research: production, predation, and identification of novel TTX bearing taxa. In order to perform this research I first refined a Competitive Inhibition Enzymatic Immunoassay methodology to quantify levels of TTX in …

Modeling Habitat Use Of A Fringe Greater Sage-Grouse Population At Multiple Spatial Scales, Anya Cheyenne Burnett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) are a prominent bird species of sagebrush-dominated landscapes across the western United States. Over the past 15 years, sage-grouse have gained international attention due to decreasing population trends despite management efforts. In 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated this species as warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act, but the listing was precluded by other species at higher conservation risk. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation have been implicated as primary sources of declines in sage-grouse distribution and abundance. The Bald Hills population in southwestern Utah occupies an area with …

Corporations: Manufacturing Psychopaths?, Dallen Stanley Hansen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The impact & harms of white-collar offenses (corporate crime) on society are severe, & cost society many times what violent offenses do. I argue the occurrence of corporate crime is a function of corporate culture and environment (Organizational Strain). According to some analyses, there is an increased prevalence of psychopathic personalities in corporate management positions. To study this, I analyzed data collected from 203 managers & executives at seven corporations with employees numbering 150 to 40,000 - using the Psychopathic Personality Inventory Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). I then conducted content analysis on independent biographies of four prominent, criminal CEO's to track the …

A Review Of Apomixis And Differential Expression Analyses Using Microarrays, Jonathan Harris Cardwell

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Apomixis is a complex trait of great interest to the agricultural community, as it has the potential to fix hybrid vigor in many agriculturally significant crops. Although apomixis has been studied extensively morphologically, the genetic and epigenetic factors responsible for apomixis are still very poorly understood. As no apomictic species has been sequenced and annotated, various low-cost tools and techniques are being utilized to begin profiling the trait. These include cross-species microarrays using probe masking, which deletes information from array probes that do not hybridize to the genomic DNA of the cross species. Despite their limitations, these tools are providing …

Spotted Wing Drosophila (Espanol), Diane Alston, Ryan Davis, Cory Vorel

All Current Publications

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is a new Utah pest (first found August, 2010) that can infest un-ripened (pre-harvest), ripe, over-ripe, and spoiled fruits.

Squash Bug (Espanol), Diane Alston, James Barnhill

All Current Publications

Squash bug (Anasa tristis) is a “true bug” with piercingsucking mouthparts (Order Hemiptera) in the leaffooted bug family (Coreidae). It is common throughout the U.S. and found from Canada to Central America. Adults (Fig. 1) emit a foul odor when disturbed and may be called “stink bugs”; however, true stink bugs are in a different true bug family.

La Arana Hobo, Nicole Peña, Alan Roe, Erin W. Hodgson

All Current Publications

La araña hobo, Tegenaria agrestis, es miembro de la familia de “funnel-web spider”/ “araña de tela de embudo” Agelenidae. Las arañas ‘de tela de embudo’/‘funnel-web’ tienen las patas largas (Fig. 1), corren rápidamente y construyen lugares para retirarse en forma de embudos o tubos.

Avispas “Chaqueta Amarilla,” Avispones Y Avispas De Papel, Erin Hodgson, Alan Roe, Nicole Peña, Ricardo Ramirez

All Current Publications

Las avispas “chaqueta amarilla” o vespula (“yellowjackets”), avispones (“hornets”) y avispas de papel (“paper wasps”) son avispas sociales estrechamente relacionadas que son comúnmente encontradas en Utah.