Digital Commons Network^™

Do Older Siblings Differentiate From Their Younger Siblings? Predictors And Longitudinal Correlates, Iliana Wilkinson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Families are a critical part of an individual's development, yet sibling influences on development are rarely studied. Siblings often share the same genetics and live in the same environment, yet many remark that they are nothing like their brothers or sisters. One proposed reason for these differences is sibling differentiation, a process by which individuals become different from their sibling in order to reduce conflict and rivalry as well as increase intimacy in the sibling relationship. To date, this process has been studied from the perspective of the younger sibling; the current study focused on older siblings. Using longitudinal data …

An Examination Of The Effects Of Prey Density, Mortality, Nutrients, And Foraging Tradeoffs On A System With Inducible Defenses: An Empirical And Theoretical Approach, Benjamin C. Ralston Daniel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

To grasp the functioning and stability of ecosystems, it is important to understand species interactions. With many ecosystems becoming more imperiled from urbanization and anthropogenic influences it is important to understand ways in which species can adapt to rapid changes in their environment. Phenotypic plasticity is one such tool at nature’s disposal to initiate rapid change, where species with the same genetic makeup can have different expressed traits depending on their environment. Inducible defenses are one such form of phenotypic plasticity in which prey can express different levels and forms of defense depending on the threat of predation present in …

Metal Assisted O2-Dependent Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage Of Β-Diketones And Flavonols, Stephen N. Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Almost everything we interact with on a daily basis has been synthesized by chemists ranging from plastics, food preservatives, and medications. The diversity of synthetic molecules are achieved by the formation of new bonds between existing molecules and/or through the cleaving of bonds found in a molecule. There are uncountable amount of conditions reported to facilitate chemical reactions which all depend on the nature of molecules being used and the environment it is used in.

In recent years, more attention has been paid to identify chemical reactions that can use more environmentally favorable conditions and reduce the use of limited …

Healing Through Caring And Knowledge-Making In Everyday Food Practices Among Lgbtq+ Black, Indigenous, People Of Colour, Elizabeth Grace Wong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Three different models are used in this study to understand how everyday food practices carry healing potential through the interwoven process of caring and knowledge-making. Daily food practices reflect a mixture of tradition and modernity— borne out of our roots and our contexts. Anzaldúa’s (1987) Borderland Theory helps us understand how this mixture is made by people who straddle two borders or worlds and contest those confines. Chavez-Dueñas et al.’s (2019) HEART model names strengthening our cultural and familial traditions and roots as part of the broader processes of building cultural consciousness and connection, and engaging in collective healing. Finally, …

Soil Additives And Alternative Crops For Drought Defense In The Intermountain West, Tina M. Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Western U.S. looks for water optimization and conservation as agriculture is the largest water diverter, and resources are pressured by urban growth, winter snowpack instability, and drought persistence. Agricultural producers have several potential options to optimize water use with different investments associated with them. Options with varying levels of risks and known management practices include alternative crops, soil wetting agents, and crop biologicals.

An alternative crop that grew incredibly fast in popularity was industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) despite limited agronomic knowledge for best management practices. Field trials occurred (2020-2022) near Logan, UT to test a total of …

Environmental Physiology Of Medical Cannabis, F. Mitchell Westmoreland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) is increasingly being cultivated for industrial and medical uses. Medical cannabis is grown for cannabinoids and terpenes, compounds that continue to show promising therapeutic potential. Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) are the two most common cannabinoids, but more than 150 have been identified in cannabis. The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC and high-THC medical cannabis is legal in 38 states. There is a need to understand environmental effects on yield and quality to ensure safety and quality for medical use.

The cultivation of medical cannabis is centered around …

Socially Valued, Ecologically In Decline: Place Attachment Influences Support For Management Actions In A Quaking Aspen Forest Impacted By Recreation, Soil Contamination, And Ungulates, Georgie Corkery

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) spark strong emotional attachments among many people, yet they are ecologically in decline across North America. Aspen landscapes are also popular outdoor recreation destinations. Site-specific strategies are required for both managing for healthy aspen landscapes and enhancing the outdoor recreation experience. Our study investigated a highly-recreated and ecologically declining aspen forest in Summit County, Utah facing population decline. There were two distinct phases of data collection. First, we evaluated the condition of the aspen and identified potential management actions that could improve the condition of the aspen. Second, we surveyed people who visited the site …

Citizen Science Project On Urban Canids Provides Different Results From Camera Traps But Generates Interest And Revenue, Neville F. Taraporevala

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

As more people live in cities, wildlife increasingly encounters people. Coyotes (Canis latrans) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are two carnivores that have easily adapted to urban environments causing them to come into conflict with people and their pets. Citizen science, where members of the community aid scientists in the collection of data, has emerged as a low-cost method of studying these species that can provide benefits to management agencies but may provide different results than traditional methods. We analyzed data collected by citizen scientists and data collected via motion-triggered camera traps to see how each …

Sparks, Belonging, And Relationships: High School Teachers' Use Of Developmental Context To Engage Students In Career Pathways, Dave Francis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The 4-H Thriving Model outlines how a foundation for youth sparks, belonging, and relationships can lead to short and long-term outcomes. This study explored how high school teachers in Utah integrate the elements of the foundation of the 4-H Thriving Model in environmental science and natural resources management classroom teaching. A mixed method of interviews and surveys was used to understand teaching practices. Teachers described helping students discover their interests (sparks), nurturing these interests, and linking them to careers using methods like guest speakers, field trips, contests, and student presentations. They also worked on creating a sense of belonging in …

The Drivers And Ecological Importance Of Streamflow Permanence For Native Salmonids: Evaluated At Multiple Spatio-Temporal Scales, Skylar Rousseau

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In freshwater ecosystems, aquatic resources are distributed patchily across both space and time. Non-permanent streams, which go through periodic episodes of drying and rewetting, account for more than half of all streams in North America and help create much of the diversity that defines aquatic ecosystem form and function. While non-permanent streams have become increasingly common under climate change, we have a poor understanding of both their distribution across the landscape as well as how native stream fishes make use of them when they are flowing. I analyzed a large data set that spanned multiple decades across the northern Rocky …

From Inbreeding To Admixture: How The Diverse Consequences Of Gene Flow Shape Evolutionary Dynamics And Population Viability, Amy L. Springer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

When Homo sapiens traveled out of Africa and interbred with the Neanderthals of Europe, human genes spread into the Neanderthal population. Likewise, genes from Neanderthals spread into the human genome—genes humans still carry to this day. The process whereby genetic material from one population is spread to another is known as gene flow. Gene flow—or the absence thereof—can have critical consequences for a population’s health and survival. On one hand, if no gene flow occurs, mating among close relatives can lead to high levels of inbreeding. Inbreeding can have devastating consequences for the health of populations, in some cases even …

Shifting Paradigms In Recreation Management: Applying Social-Ecological System Frameworks To Parks And Protected Areas, Noah Creany

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Park and protected area (PPA) recreation management is often characterized by social, ecological, and managerial dimensions. These dimensions have increasingly been conceptualized as social-ecological systems (SESs) to understand the complex interrelationships between them. Contemporary trends of increased visitation on public lands in the United States, including US National Parks, have accentuated the complex interactions between the amount of recreation use, the capacity of the setting, the quality of the visitor experience, and ecological resource conditions. These challenges of managing recreation use and understanding these interactions will be further compounded by climate change and its effects on ecosystem composition and dynamics. …

Evidence For Partitioning? A Comparison Of Thermal Niche In Three Species Of Sympatric Lizards In Northeastern Utah, Kristopher B. Pedersen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Lizards actively maintain a narrow range of body temperatures through behavioral thermoregulation and microhabitat selection. Body temperature plays a critical role in many physiological processes. As a result, there is a range of body temperatures at which a lizard’s reproductive success (fitness) is maximized, known as the lizard’s thermal niche. There is strong evidence linking the available temperatures, or thermal properties of a microhabitat, to success in maintaining body temperatures within a preferred set range. Microhabitats have differing thermal properties, and so have different relative quality. Because thermal properties are limited in space and time, competition for high quality microhabitat …

Evaluating Bluebunch Wheatgrass Plant Materials For The Central Great Basin And Range, Mckenna Delton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Bluebunch wheatgrass is a perennial grass from North America’s Intermountain West. This area has faced many ecological disturbances, including dryland farming, wildfire, and grazing. These have led to a decline in the populations of native perennial grasses. While bluebunch used to be widespread throughout the region, it often cannot compete with some non-native grasses that are better adapted to these disturbances. Therefore, there is a demand for bluebunch wheatgrass plant materials that have undergone selection for overall better performance in restoration.

Most existing plant materials for bluebunch wheatgrass come from the Columbia Plateau region, but interest is growing in new …

Reactivity On Student On-Task Behavior: An Analysis Of On-Task Operational Definitions And Observer Presence On Student Behavior, Daria G. Fuell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study examines student engagement during academic tasks, specifically investigating how the presence and type of observer affect student performance. The objective was to understand the influence of different observer conditions—no observer, an observer behind an observation window, a researcher in the session room, and a caregiver in the session room—on student behavior. Using a multi-element design, the study assessed three measures: active on-task behavior, passive on-task behavior, and academic work completion. The literature review identified a lack of recent research on how students respond to adult observers during academic tasks and highlighted the variability in definitions of engagement. To …

Impacts Of Anthropogenic Disturbances And Urbanization On The Behavior And Morphology Of Two Free-Living Lizard Species (Uta Stansburiana And Aspidoscelis Neotesselatus), Layne O. Sermersheim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Urbanization can alter wildlife, requiring species to adjust to anthropogenic changes via life history strategies. Reptiles are particularly vulnerable to these changes, as ectotherms directly rely on their environment to maintain their optimal homeostatic state. As urbanization changes the landscape, reptiles will have to adapt to anthropogenic change, but it is unclear what behaviors may be aiding in this adaptation and whether there are morphological tradeoffs existing to support this change. To analyze the impact of urbanization and anthropogenic disturbances on reptile behavior and morphology, I conducted three research studies on two different species – the common side-blotched lizard and …

Advancing Quantitative Approaches For Estimating Avian Population Responses To Environmental Change Using A Data-Rich Species: The American White Pelican, Aimee Michele Van Tatenhove

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Advancements in wildlife data collection technology and analysis are helping us understand how human-caused environmental change is impacting bird species. Yet data collection for many species remains challenging, and often the data are difficult to analyze. Improved methods for collecting and analyzing avian data are needed to understand how species respond to environmental change. However, before applying new methods to poorly understood species, it is crucial to test methods on well-studied species to ensure their effectiveness. The American White Pelican is a well-studied species that is ideal for testing new analysis methods. Pelicans have been studied extensively due to conservation …

Herbivore Effects On Litter Quality And Quantity And Influences On Carbon Cycling, Taylor Saunders

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Plants are responsible for a large amount of the movement of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) through terrestrial systems. One way that plants affect the movement of C and N is through plant litter inputs to soils. Plant litter highly influences processes such as soil microbial respiration and decomposition. Herbivores, such as geese in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, affect these processes by changing litter quality and quantity. These changes cause differences in soil respiration, microbial communities, and nutrient turnover. However, because geese influence litter quality, quantity, and habitat characteristics simultaneously, it is not yet clear which of these …

Comparative Morphology And Development Of The Trigeminally Innervated Infrared-Imaging System In Boas And Pythons, Helen Bond Plylar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Boas and pythons use specialized sense organs called pit organs to detect radiant heat. Pit organs in these lineages occur in paired arrays along the upper and lower jaws and are served by the trigeminal nerve (the fifth cranial nerve and one of the largest). Information from the pit organs travels via branches of the trigeminal to the brain and ultimately is processed in the optic tectum, along with information from the visual system. That means these snakes effectively “see” heat. While studies of the pitviper infrared-imaging system are numerous, very few studies of this system in pythons or boas …

An Examination Of Traumatic Brain Injury And Genes For Neurotrophins And Apolipoprotein E In Predicting Cognitive Function In Older Adults: The Cache County Study, Mikaela A. Drewel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Recovery from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is influenced by a wide array of factors including age at incidence, number, and severity as well as genetic factors, some of which exhibit sex-dependent effects. This study examines how TBI history influences rate of cognitive decline in older adults, exploring the characteristics of TBI (e.g., number, severity, and timing) as predictors and interactions of TBI history with genetic variants suspected to play a role in brain health and late-life cognitive functioning. These genes include the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) as well as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptors. This study analyzed …

Gpr171 Modulates Mood, Consummatory Behaviors, And Morphine Antinociception In A Sexually Dimorphic Pattern In Mice, Megan C. Raddatz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Receptors in the brain influence everything from complex behaviors related to mood, all the way to simple physiological functions like the way a person moves. Receptors are activated or inactivated by chemicals or hormones that the body produces or that are created to mimic the body’s natural chemicals. Of the hundreds of receptors in the brain, GPR171 is particularly interesting because new drugs have been created to activate or block the receptor, and are being proposed for the treatment of different disorders, particularly disorders related to pain. GPR171 has been shown to affect pain behaviors, eating, and mood-related behaviors, but …

Using Wasp Specimens In Taxonomic, Biogeographic, Evolution, And Informal Education Studies, Brenna Lynn Decker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Entomology collections hold an untapped wealth of information, from insect morphology, genetics, locality and association data, and potential for use in education. Especially with insects that generate initial fears, such as wasps, seeing insect specimens provides a safe environment to learn about their behaviors. Wasps are insects in the order Hymenoptera, along with ants and bees. The public may hold fears against wasps, due to their negative portrayal in various media, but they serve as integral components of a functional ecosystem. Even with their importance, many groups of wasps are still highly understudies. This dissertation aims to tackle this fear …

Siwa's Influence On Alexander The Great's Self-Presentation, Luke Boardman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis analyzes the changes in Alexander the Great’s public image and how his visit to the Oracle of Ammon was a catalyst for these alterations. Examining moments of Alexander in isolation, his adoption of ostentatious habits, and enrobing himself in foreign attire and culture reveals a connection to his time in the Egyptian desert where Alexander was promised eventual authority over all mankind. The post-Siwa Alexander used these tools to leave behind the Hellenistic leader and become the Lord of Asia.

Invasion Potential Of Nonnative Fishes Through A Large Western Dam Into A Prized And Vulnerable Ecosystem, Barrett T. Friesen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Native river fish face threats from habitat fragmentation, water overallocation, invasive species establishment, and powerful synergies amongst these factors. In the Colorado River Basin, USA, these threats coalesce at Glen Canyon Dam (GCD), which impounds the Colorado River to create Lake Powell, a reservoir inhabited by nonnative fish species. There is widespread concern low water level in Lake Powell may allow nonnative fish to escape through the dam, adversely affecting native fish species downstream in the Grand Canyon. In this study we characterized the seasonal distribution of nonnative fishes in the vicinity of GCD and identified environmental conditions that may …

Addressing The Great Salt Lake Desiccation: Exploring Support For Alternative Frameworks On Rights Of Nature And Multispecies Justice, Sadie Braddock

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Currently, there is a lack of social science research on the Great Salt Lake – a shrinking lake that faces potential ecological collapse as more water is taken upstream for human uses before it can get to the lake. The drying lake has received national attention, as it will lead to a loss of wildlife habitat, contribute to public health concerns, and impact Utah’s economy. In response to this issue, environmental scientists and activists have pressured policymakers to prioritize actions to conserve water for the lake. However, while polices have been implemented, water saved from these efforts are not guaranteed …

Rapid Prediction Of Buoyancy-Driven Exchange Flows At The Great Salt Lake: Ml Models And A 1d Shallow Water Approach, Eric M. Larsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA, is a hypersaline terminal lake divided in to northern and southern arms by the Union Pacific Railroad causeway since the 1950's. This separation has caused a difference in density and water surface elevation between lake arms. These differences result in a buoyancy-driven exchange flow occurring through an engineered breach in the causeway. Traditionally, modeling the flow through the breach has been done by numerically solving the 1D steady shallow water equations, and using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The CFD models yield high accuracy results, but require substantial computing resources. This research proposes the …

A Framework To Unveil Design Decisions In Ecological Urbanism, Addison C. Martin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Ecological urbanism offers a framework for landscape architecture to address the challenges posed by dynamic infrastructure projects in the face of changing climates and human impacts. As Nature-based Solutions (NbS) become more prevalent, the role of aesthetics in these solutions becomes increasingly important. However, there has been a lack of systematic approaches to assess the design aesthetics of landscape architecture in practice. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a rapid assessment framework tailored for landscape architecture practitioners. Drawing from the concepts of regenerative design and ecological urbanism, the framework comprises three sections: Ecological Function (EFx), Anthropocentric Function …

A Scoping Review On The Experiences Of Queer And Trans Students In Stem, Elliot P. Tingey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Efforts to increase diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are ongoing, but within these efforts queer and trans individuals are often left out. While initial data does suggest that queer and trans individuals are significantly absent from the STEM workforce, research into the causes of such underrepresentation is scattered. Given the importance of educational experiences in the pursuit of a STEM career, it is likely that these early experiences may play a role. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the current research on the experiences of queer and trans students in STEM educational spaces, what …

Interactions Between Nano/Micro-Sized Particles And Microbes For Agricultural And Environmental Applications, Li-Ting Yen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Among the challenges posed by a growing global population, diminishing arable land and water resources affected by climate change are critical for enhancing crop yields, ensuring food security, and maintaining water quality and environmental health.

Iron (Fe), an essential micronutrient, is vital to plant growth. The partially oxidized form of vivianite, metavivianite (metaVT), is reported to be a promising alternative Fe fertilizer. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of bulk metaVT on plants grown on calcareous soil for mitigating Fe efficiency and the extremely low solubility of bulk metaVT (Ksp=10^-36) in electrolyte solutions, such as CaCl₂. …

Cherry Powdery Mildew In Utah, Marion Murray, Christina Lilligren, Megan Kast

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information on powdery mildew, a common problem in commercial tart and sweet cherry orchards in Utah and throughout the western U.S. Hosts, disease biology, symptoms and signs, and management are covered.