Digital Commons Network^™

Reducing Energy Consumption In The Unl Residence Halls: A Case Study Of Unl's Participation In The 2015 Campus Conservation Nationals, Kyle Chapo

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Energy conservation has become an increasingly discussed topic in recent years as climate change marches onward and energy prices fluctuate. In response to the ever-present problem of energy cost rises, Campus Conservation Nationals was created to promote energy-saving behaviors in universities throughout the United States. UNL has participated in CCN before, but due to several external factors, failed to produce significant improvements to its energy consumption. The purpose of this project was to monitor their 2015 participation in an attempt to identify methods of increasing energy conservation in the future.

Small-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Investment: Payback Periods, Net Present Value, And The Impact Of Epa 111(D), Shea C. Winkler

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Increasingly, states are using policy and incentive to promote the development of small-scale distributed solar energy generation systems (DG). Net metering is the most common state policy approach (enacted by 46 states), but various states have also enacted other incentives and different approaches to net metering. Investments with faster payback periods are more attractive to investors. In this study we analyze five different state approaches at various projected electricity cost escalation rates with respect to the payback periods for a 5-kilowatt (kW) DG. We also weigh the potential impact that proposed United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations to 111(d) …

The Effects Of Urbanization On Fear In Wildlife, Sarah Spier, Joseph J. Fontaine

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Through this study we sought out to determine if Fox Squirrels in Lincoln, Nebraska exhibited a change in response to aerial versus terrestrial predators in urban areas. We addressed the possible consequences that human disturbance has on daily stimuli, predator behaviors, and, in turn, prey behaviors. Specifically, the experiment exposed Fox Squirrels to the vocalizations and visual models of an aerial predator, terrestrial predator, and a control species. Squirrels did not show a significant change in behavior between predator types. However, fox squirrels displayed correct anti-predator behaviors by only responding to the predators and not the control. The time it …

Temperature Dependency Of Population Dynamics And Trophic Cascades In A Model Aquatic System, Reed Brodersen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Determining how temperature alters direct predation and indirect trophic cascade effects will be crucial in understanding how global climate change affects community structure and stability. While we are starting to comprehend the effects of warming on individual trophic interactions and underlying mechanisms, effects of warming on multilevel food webs are mostly unknown. This study sought to experimentally observe potential effects of temperature on population and community dynamics, and the magnitude of trophic cascades. To reach these objectives, a three-tiered food web (Scenedesmus, Daphnia and Hydra) was designed, maintained, and observed at two different temperatures (17°C and 21°C) …

Comparative Analysis Of Aquaponic Grow Beds, Thomas Malachi Mcguire, Geoffrey Addison Popken

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The global agricultural system has become a major source of stress on the earth’s natural resources. The current food production and distribution system is not secure and will not sustain future populations as global food production pressures intensify. It will be important to explore other avenues of food production in order to build a more sustainable system in the future. Aquaponics eliminates soil from the equation of food production by combining aquaculture(fish farming) and hydroponics(growing plants in water saturated media). Aquaponics may provide a source of relief for areas without suitable soil or dense human populations. This experiment looks to …

Riparian Area Vegetation Response To High And Low Flows In The Platte River Through Digital Imagery, Joe Arneson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Images can be helpful in explaining different aspects about science that is unfamiliar to some. This study looked at two separate locations on the Platte River through images. High and low flow events were studied at each location. The riparian areas of these two locations were studied. The RGB values of each location and each flow event were used to rank the healthiness of the vegetation and to see how the vegetation responded to the different flows. The results were inconclusive, with no statistically significant answer. It did however look as if the healthiness of the vegetation, as determined by …

Industrial Facilities, Public Parks And Community Composition: Examining Environmental Justice In Lincoln, Nebraska, Brynn Stewart

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Environmental injustice involves the discrimination of low-income or minority populations in regards to environmental conditions in comparison to society at large. This study uses the net-environmental equity concept to analyze the state of environmental justice in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska. To what extent are Lincoln’s environmental burdens located around low-income/minority residents? To what extent are Lincoln’s environmental benefits located away from low-income/minority residents? To what extent do Lincoln’s policies promote environmental justice? A distributional analysis of Lincoln’s public park system and toxic releasing industries is completed along with a policy review. Lincoln’s policies and environmental conditions of minority residents …

An Ethical Analysis Of Lethal Control Practices For Invasive Species Management, Avery Messing

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Non-native species are invading foreign ecosystems at a rate that has never been seen before, and they cause significant damage to these ecosystems. In order to preserve species diversity, these invasive organisms are often eradicated. Typically, conservation biologists run a cost-benefit analysis to determine what action they should take. In this project, I identify the need to also conduct ethical analyses. I chose three scenarios in which invasive species are eradicated: yellow crazy ants on Christmas Island, barred owls in the Pacific Northwest, and leafy spurge in the central United States. Each of these scenarios was analyzed using two ethical …

Do Adults Who Attend A Family Nature Event Have Correlations Between Environmental Responsible Behaviors, Connection To Nature, And Environmental Attitudes?, Angel Iverson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Environmental education is an important way to provide information to the public regarding natural resources, ecosystems, and sustainability. The School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hosts an annual family nature event, NaturePalooza, with the goal to educate families with hands-on activities about the environment, nature, natural resources. My main objectives are to find if there are correlations between environmental responsible behaviors, connection to nature, and environmental attitudes; also to determine if new knowledge is learned and new behaviors willing to be practiced at home. A ten minute survey was provided using Qualtrics online survey system on tablets …

“At-Risk” Food Deserts In Lincoln, Nebraska, Samantha Corr

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This investigational study conducted in Lincoln, Nebraska seeks to explore the link between geographic and economic barriers to food access. Food access is a problem in the United States. 29 percent of U.S. ZIP codes do not contain a grocery store or supermarket. Families also face barriers to food economically, as low income individuals are less able to afford food. Through the use of ArcGIS 10.2.2 for Desktop software this project seeks to visually represent the areas in which access to food is limited both geographically and financially. Creating one mile buffer zones around each grocery store in Lincoln, Nebraska …

Challenges Associated With Municipal Curbside Recycling In Matsudo City, Chiba, Japan, Jasmine Frazier

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Improper waste disposal and management globally is linked to a variety of problems with the environment and health. This problem can be addressed by following the 3 R’s; reduce, reuse, and recycle. Japan is continually aiming towards becoming a sustainable, recycling oriented society with the implementation of the 3 R’s, reducing GHG emissions, and innovating new technologies for recycling and waste management. This research aims to expand the knowledge on the challenges and ways to improve curbside recycling systems and to be able to provide suggestions for improvements to the system with input from Japanese middle school students from a …

Water Quality Comparison Of Minnesota Streams: A Need For Buffer Maintenance, Caitlin Miller

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

A study was conducted to determine the affect riparian buffers have on water quality in perennial streams in southern Minnesota. A report from the Environmental Working Group was used to determine how well each county maintained a 50 ft. buffer on perennial streams. Six counties were chosen from across the southern half of Minnesota, three counties receiving a passing grade from EWG and three receiving a failing grade. The counties were paired (one passing, one failing) based on soil type, stream size, and hydrology. Monthly averages for total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity were determined over a period of four …

Assessing The Effects Of Juniperus Virginiana Removal On Cattle Forage, Elise Jarrett

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Over the past several decades, expanding eastern red cedar (Juniperus viginiana) populations have altered prairie and grassland ecosystems in the Great Plains, causing a reduction in livestock grazing capacity. This study examined the effects of eastern red cedar removal on cattle forage coverage located on private property in northeastern Nebraska. An analysis of collected field data obtained using a line intercept method in a control and an experimental plot was performed on Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye), Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), and Bromus inermis (smooth brome), three common grassland species that serve as forage for cattle.

Results show Canada …

The Effect Of Climate Patterns On Fruit Ripening Near Lincoln, Nebraska, Taylor Nissen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The research for this project was conducted at an orchard 12 miles north of Lincoln, Nebraska. The climate data came from the far north side of Lincoln, Nebraska. This study used a mixed methods approach to combine quantitative and qualitative data retrieved. The purpose of the study was to come to conclusions as to where fruit ripening patterns and production can look for the future, to bring about an estimation of fruit ripening patterns based on climate to help stimulate more production and efficiency for businesses and because knowing what climate trends will allow for new growth in Nebraska down …

A Visual Conservation Effort For Wilderness Park, Mariah Lundgren

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Conservation photography has been practiced since the early 1800’s by photographers who had the talent for photography, and passion for protecting our planets most precious resources. The photographical works of many photographers used their images as conservation tools to protect areas of land they intrinsically valued. Like these photographers, I have found a piece of land close to home that I intrinsically value, and this piece of land is Wilderness Park. Wilderness Park is 1,472 acres of riparian woodland and is part of the Salt Creek watershed, which is a tributary of the larger Platte River Basin. However, I am …

Nature Center Preschools: A Teaching Tool For Early Childhood Environmental Education, Blair Kalinski

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The data used in this study was obtained at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center (SANC) preschool in Milwaukee, WI. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively and quantitatively examine how effective nature center preschools are as a teaching tool for early childhood environmental education. This study is significant for generating new knowledge of the ecological concepts young children do and don’t understand, as well as to the future application of designing curriculum and implementing early childhood environmental education programs in the United States. Children are unhealthy, spending less time outside, and are environmentally illiterate (Louv, 2008; Roberts & Foehr, …

Determining Groundwater Flux From Temperature Variance, James Cope

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this research is to identify the underlying cause of the atypical temperature oscillation of groundwater temperature within the Ashland-1 nesting well site. Groundwater in this area experiences temperature peaks within the 50-ft screened well, while temperature data from the 15-ft screened well experiences a lesser range of temperature fluctuation. The first phase of the project involves gathering data from these nesting wells can comparing that data to surface water temperature data taken from a USGS gauging station. The second phase was to associate these temperature oscillations with possible geological factors that could be driving this temperature fluctuation. …

An Economic Analysis Of Land Values In The Nebraska Rainwater Basin Using Hedonic Pricing, Hannah Janda

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This project was designed to determine the significant drivers of land prices near wetlands, with the goal of offering recommendations to landowners that may be trying to choose the best option for their wetland. This process included measuring whether or not the presence of wetlands reduced property values in a section of Seward County within the Nebraska Rainwater Basin. To accomplish this, I use the hedonic pricing method with statistical regression analysis. The results indicate that although there is a bias against wetlands, it accounts for less than half of the change in sale price within these parcels of land. …

Religion And Environmental Worldviews, Stephanie Emodi, Madison Hergenrader

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study examined religions role in forming an environmental worldview. It was hypothesized that the more religious one is the more anthropocentric their worldview would be. It is imperative to find what influences values so steps can be made to promote pro environmental behavior. If religion is found to influence one’s behavior and worldview, the social structure of religion could be a possible avenue for encouraging an ecocentric worldview. A survey was conducted and dispersed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, targeting college-aged students. It was found that although religion does influence behavior, it cannot be concluded that religion influences environmental …

The Effects Of Plant Species And Water Table Height On Methane Transport In Wetlands, Cain L. Silvey

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This paper describes two complementary experiments in which methane flux from individual wetland plants was monitored. The first experiment was designed to explore species-specific differences in methane transport and took place in a greenhouse on the University of Nebraska - Lincoln's east campus during the summer of 2013. The second experiment took place the following summer at a restored wetland near Dayton, OH and investigated the effect of water table height on plant-mediated methane transport and provided supporting data for the first experiment regarding species-specific differences in methane transport.

Amphibian Conservation In Urban Areas, Emma Trewhitt

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The topic of amphibian decline has become a primary concern partially due to increased urbanization causing habitat loss and fragmentation (Fahrig, 2003). Focusing on this, a project was outlined with the main goal to enhance the conservation and ensure sustainable biodiversity of native amphibians within a substantially urbanized habitat. Currently, there are several storm water retention ponds, and aesthetic ponds around the parking lot and within the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. Utilization of these ponds by amphibian species will be examined through frog call surveys and visual occurrences. From the results of these surveys, we are better able to understand …

Sandhill Crane Hunting In Nebraska: Predicted Economic Effects, Benjamin Wilson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Following the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 a major rebound in the Mid-Continent Sandhill Crane population began. States allowing hunting have seemingly profited from this segment of wildlife management, except for Nebraska. Being the only state in the Central Flyway not to allow hunting of Sandhill Cranes, Nebraska has been ignoring possible gains from this economic sector. Although the current economic gain from recreation and tourism of Sandhill Cranes is near $10.33 million, the predicted profits of hunting could add more inflow to the economy. Using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Status and Harvest Report on Sandhill Cranes from …

Students’ Connectedness To Nature In Relation To Academic Major And Learning Style, Brett Kelly

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this research is to explore the relation between students’ connectedness to nature, academic major type and learning style. This study categorized student’s academic major into whether it was oriented toward business/advertising or natural resources/agriculture. Understanding students’ relationship with nature is important in a world that faces many environmental challenges. Studying academic major type and learning style provides references for chosen career paths and how students learn most efficiently. By running correlational analyses of these variables, more is understood about how connectedness to nature plays a role in students’ academic choices and learning preferences. Results showed a significant …

Detection Of The Pharmaceuticals Carbamazepine And Diphenhydramine In Tissue Extracts Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Gc-Ms), Emily Hoehn

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The increasing occurrence of pharmaceuticals at low concentration and other “emerging contaminants” in the surface and ground water, has led to a critical need for a wide variety of methods for the accurate measurement of chemicals at low concentrations in a cost effective manner. The objective of this study was to develop a sample preparation method that allows the quantification of two pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine and diphenhydramine) commonly reported in treated municipal wastewater in plant tissue (leafy lettuce) extracts using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used to extract analytes while additional sample purification was attempted through the …

The Public Perception Of Green Infrastructure Technologies In Omaha, Nebraska, Matthew Spohr

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This project takes place in two neighborhoods in Omaha, Nebraska: the Saddle Hills neighborhood and the Benson neighborhood. A survey was distributed to neighborhood residents in order to gauge their understanding of stormwater management and green infrastructure technologies. Currently, Omaha uses two types of stormwater/sanitary sewer systems: a combined sewer system (CSS) and a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). Approximately half of Omaha operates using the CSS and due to the amount of impermeable surfaces across the city when rainfall events occur the sewer treatment facility discharges untreated excess storm and sewer water into the Missouri River. According to …

Prairie Pines: Water For Life, A Visual Short, Steven Schubert

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Oft defined by the people that inhabit it, land has taken many shapes and forms. The spiritual relationship between indigenous Native Americans and nature preserved the virgin beauty of the New World. Here, life of all kinds throve. However, this measured balance was not to be lasted. With the passing of years and advancement of human technology, social order, and insatiable desire North America was found, claimed, and sullied. European (and American) colonialism brought irreversible change to the land of the Americas. Economic emphasis on the maximization of resources defiled flora and fauna alike and interrupted thousands of years of …

The Restorative Effects Of Natural Decor, Tobias Burnham

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Humans are continually opting to live in urban environments, furthering us from the innate connection to the natural environment we have evolved with over millennia. These urban settings place several stressors on us in the form of stimuli that requires directed attention (cars, billboards, traffic lights, etc.) in which deplete our attentional resources leading to Direct Attention Fatigue (DAF). Attentional Restoration Theory (ART) is based on the ability of natural environments to have restorative effects on these depleted resources due to the relative ease of experiencing nature through involuntary attention. The focus of this study is to determine how nature-based …

Assessing The Effects Of Soil Moisture On Germination Of Winter Wheat, Ellie Smith-Eskridge

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Drought is a major issue in wheat production globally and in Nebraska particularly during germination. Rapid germination is important for satisfactory stands whereas late germination may lead to a lower yield. Laboratory experiments were conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to compare germination of five Nebraska-grown wheat varieties, or cultivars, under water stress conditions.

The cultivars, Anton, Nuplains, Pronghorn, Trego, and Wesley were selected because of their presumed differing water use efficiency (WUE). Tests were conducted on a Nebraska soil to create a soil water release curve and to select soil moisture level or water treatments. The experimental design …

Soil Health After Intense Ponderosa Pine Forest Fire In North Central Nebraska, Amanda Hefner

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

In late July 2012, the Region 24 Complex fire consumed over 76, 000 acres of north central Nebraska. This area consists of ponderosa pine forest with high densities of eastern redcedar, deciduous hardwood forest, and Sandhills prairie. This incredible event provided an occasion to examine the effect of the fire on soil nitrification and soil erosion at The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve. Eighteen 900m² plots were established in regions chosen for their topographic location (footslope, midslope, and ridgetop), forest density, and directional slope (north vs. south facing slope). Each plot was split into nine subplots with 25 erosion …

College Students’ Use Of Farmers’ Markets In Lincoln, Nebraska, Amber Reinkordt

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of college students’ use of local farmers’ markets in Lincoln, Nebraska and the barriers that prevent college students from attending farmers’ markets, and noting the incentives that could motivate them to attend.

Currently there are no research articles about college students and their attendance at farmers' markets. There are, however, articles pertaining to getting students on the farm, school gardens, low income families and making farmers' markets more accessible and affordable, health benefits for customers who shop locally, and environmental, economic, and societal benefits of local farm operations.