Digital Commons Network^™

Hand, Wrist, Forearm And Finger Occupational Injuries In Pork Processing: Comparison By Work-Site And Source Of Injury, Autumn Cummings

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study looked at injury incident reports from Farmland pork processing plant in Crete, Nebraska. Over a 25-week period in 2012, 300-injury incident reports were analyzed by body part injured. After determining the upper extremities to be the major source of injury, they were then analyzed further with work-sites where injuries occurred, and the source of the injury. Fingers along with hands, wrists and forearms were found to be the majority of the body parts injured. Common among these body parts injured were the location of the incident in the plant. Most of the injuries occurred in the cold work-sites, …

Management Of Invasive Bullfrogs, Jason Martz

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of the paper was to look at control methods that are being used currently in the field to control the bullfrogs. Also, to see the future of management and control of the bullfrog. Investigate to see if these plans could possibly be used in Lincoln, NE in places like Pioneers Park. The bullfrog has outcompeted many native species when it invades an ecosystem. It is considered one of the worst invaders in the world. Once established it is very hard to eradicate. So it is important to understand and investigate control being used currently. Literature review was used …

The Impacts Of Environmental Education On Youth And Their Environmental Awareness, Katherine A. Grimmette

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this article is to identify the effects of environmental education (EE) programs on youth, including: creating environmental awareness, building a connection to the environment, and changing the perceptions youth has on the environment. The study examines the EE program, Science Camp Explore, hosted at the Cedar Point Biological Station and Lake McConaughy Water Interpretive Center in Ogallala, Nebraska. The camp emphasized two main themes, soil and water. To acquire data the study called for a mixed method of questionnaires, cognitive maps (drawing exercise), and the 3CM model. In order to measure the awareness of the pre and …

Determining Effect Of Defaults On Grid Parity, Jacob M. Smith

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Human activities emitting greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide) are the main cause of observed warming since the mid-20^th century. Because a large fraction of human emissions are from conventional power sources it will be important to adopt carbon neutral technologies such as alternative energy sources (IPCC, 2013). Grid parity is the point at which alternative energy sources reach a levelized cost of electricity that is less than or equal to conventional power sources (Ueckhardt, 2013). It is thought that once it is reached alternative energy will be adopted en masse (Yang, 2010). But this concept ignores marketplace choice and …

Characterization Of Enzymatic Properties Of Maize Tps And Tpp Proteins Involved In The Trehalose Pathway, Allison C. Siekman

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Plant metabolism’s most important skill is its ability to perform photosynthesis, converting light energy of particular wavelengths to stored biochemical energy¹. Like many organisms, plants follow a circadian rhythm. This means that the plant’s energy cycles each day, depending on whether it is day or night. During the day, light energy strikes the plant and is used to make soluble sugars, amino acids, lipids, nucleic acid, and complex carbohydrates. Not all of these compounds are used for immediate growth; a major fraction is saved for storage². During the night, the plant uses 95% of starch, the …

Evaluating The Success Of Tool-Lending Libraries And Their Contributions To Community Sustainability, Neil Tabor

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Tool Lending Libraries function much like that of a public library, offering users the chance to check out a variety of tools at no cost, as part of a membership fee or on a tool by tool fee basis, far lower than the purchase price for each tool, and below rates offered by for-profit rental agencies. This study attempts to determine what factors make a successful tool lending library and how these operations contribute to community sustainability. Findings for specific criteria were inconclusive, but suggest it is extremely difficult to isolate variables enough that insight will be provided into criteria …

Determining The Feasibility Of Including Historic Roads And Routes Connecting The Eastern Legacy Sites In The Extension Of The National Historic Lewis And Clark Trail, Kiana Mathew

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Worked with landscape architects and interdisciplinary study team conducting congressionally mandated Special Resource Study to determine the significance, desirability and feasibility of adding Eastern Sites and Segments, in several Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southern states, to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail as a formal Trail extension. Duties involve substantial field survey work and travel and included landscape evaluations, site and segment documentation and field verification of mapped data to support a National Historic Trail Extension feasibility determination based on National Trails System Act criteria. Knowledge of planning principles and cultural landscapes, strong computer, research, writing, and communication skills were …

How Has Climate Change Impacted Summertime Rainfall Amounts In Nebraska?, Erinn Richert

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Recent weather events have led people to believe that climate change is the cause of them. El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, has a major influence, in certain parts of the United States. Climate models are predicting that there will be an increase of precipitation in the Midwestern United States. A previous study regarding the eastern portion of Nebraska investigated the impact of climate change on the precipitation schedule (Gershunov et al, 1997). For this study, three stations across Nebraska were investigated, one from the eastern, central, and western part of the state. Different statistical tests will be applied to …

Relating Incoming Uv Radiations To Melanoma Cases In The Country Of New Zealand, Madeline Paige Eversoll

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this study is to look at how incoming ultraviolet rays might have an impact on skin cancer occurrences for the country of New Zealand. Looking at the atmospheric conditions and assessing how it can be related to areas like public health, can show how interconnected the environment can be with the welfare of human beings. If such connections can be made, relationships between melanoma toward UV and ozone can show how effective the Montreal protocol was in prohibiting the emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). According to Chemistry Climate Model Projections, if it weren’t for the Montreal protocol 67% …

Building Conservation Through Cycling: Exploring The Relationship Between Bicycling And Environmental Conservation, Claire Love

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Greenhouse Gas Flux In Nebraska’S Saline Marshes: An Analysis Of Frank Shoemaker Marsh, Alicia Lenners

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

For my thesis I will be studying the flux of greenhouse gases (CH₄, CO_2, and N₂O), focusing on methane production, released from wetlands, specifically the saline wetlands of Lincoln, NE. Methane is an important greenhouse gas (GHG), and wetlands are the biggest producers of the gas. With time most of the methane will be oxidized into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO₂), but meth (Laing, Shreeve, & Pearce, 2008).

The Effects Climate Variability On Avifauna, On The Platte River In Nebraska, Miranda Cynova

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study 1) looked at how weather patterns are predicted to change as a result of global climate change, 2) considered how these changes could affect the survival of Piping Plovers, Interior Least Terns, and Whooping Cranes and 3) considered the importance of managing wildlife in the Great Plains in light of the predicted consequences of global climate change. Correlation (Spearman r_s) tests were completed to compare the abundance of each species of birds and the amount of water flowing in the Platte River. Piping Plovers and Interior Least Terns have a specific amount of water that is …

Management Of Invasive Garlic Mustard Populations, Jillian M. Schneider

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate current practices regarding known Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) populations in Lincoln, Nebraska and to determine the most effective management techniques in controlling garlic mustard invasions. A.petiolata is a shade tolerant, cool season growth plant invasive to North America. It is an allelopathic biennial whose established first year rosettes overwinter giving garlic mustard a head start on native annuals allowing it to outcompete indigenous species in the understory of woodland areas. Information regarding the histories and extent of invasions, management methods, and impacts on ecosystems was gathered from personnel at Fontenelle Forest Nature …

Navigating Todays Grocery Stores: Food Labels And The Regulations Behind Them, Jessica Furlan

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Rising concern over food safety issues by consumers has resulted in an increased demand for what are perceived to be healthier food options. Labels have become major marketing tools, and instrumental in consumer choices. This study looks at the history and regulations behind three certified labels: USDA Organic, Demeter Certified Biodynamic, and Certified Naturally Grown, as well as the highly prevalent “natural” food claim, in an attempt to discover whether the claims made by their labels are factually sound. With the exception of the “natural” claim, which is neither certified nor regulated by the FDA, USDA or other organizations, it …

Causes And Effects Of Streambank Erosion And Mass-Wasting Along Stevens Creek In Northeast Lancaster County, Nebraska: A Photographic Qualitative Case Study, Jared A. Norris

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The Stevens Creek watershed borders the eastern side of the city of Lincoln, Nebraska. The study site for this investigation is located near the intersection of the Murdock recreation trail bridge and the Stevens Creek waterway. This research examined the causes and effects of streambank erosion within approximately 75 meters upstream and downstream of the Murdock Trail bridge-Stevens Creek intersection. The investigation utilized extensive photographic evidence, field observations, and some water and soil sampling to qualitatively determine that the extent of streambank erosion within the given study site is occurring at an accelerated rate, likely as a result of increased …

A Model In Waiting: How Lincoln Nebraska Could Be The Ideal City For Recycling Progressivism, Caleb Greenfield

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Lincoln Nebraska currently has a recycling diversion rate of only 18.4% lagging far behind the national average of 34% and alarmingly low when compared to San Francisco, California with a rate of 80%. This study was to determine the forces that propelled California and San Francisco to the highest diversions rates in the nation from a policy, waste collection process and management standpoint. Then look at what forces there are in Lincoln, Nebraska and what could be done to improve its diversion successfully. This study was conducted primarily through the literature review process.

The results were that California was not …

Amphibian Community Composition And Its Relationship To Salinity Along The Salt Creek In Wilderness Park, Lancaster County, Nebraska, Nicholas Arneson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Amphibians serve as an indication of proper ecosystem health. Due to their permeable skin and cutaneous respiration, amphibians are prone to be adversely affected by intensified water quality parameters (Welsh and Olliver 1998) . Salinity (the measure of dissolved salts) can have a serious effect on amphibian reproduction and recruitment (Smith et al 2006). A research project was enacted during the 2012 summer field season in Wilderness Park located in Lancaster County, Nebraska to determine if a relationship exists between amphibian species richness and relative abundance with measures of salinity (ppm). Breeding sites were determined and placed in three relative …

Exploring Prairie Diversity: Plant Parasitic Nematodes Of 9 Mile Prairie, Maggie Olson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Nematodes are some of the most diverse and abundant animals on Earth. These microscopic invertebrates are found in virtually all terrestrial and aquatic habitats. While their abundance and diversity of form is well documented, their genetic diversity and distribution is largely unknown (Boag and Yeates, 1998). How this diversity is distributed across continents, ecoregions, and landscapes is still being discovered.

There are two primary objectives of this project. First, we wanted to determine how patterns of nematode diversity are distributed within and among tall grass prairies. Additionally, we wanted to generate new knowledge about belowground prairie diversity. One component to …

Proprietary Research To Determine Feasibility Of Commercializing The Pink Oyster Mushroom, Evan P. Bumann

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This project serves as a feasibility experiment to bring the Pink Oyster mushroom(Pleurotus flabellatus) into constant domestic cultivation for the purposes of commercialization. Important data acquired from growth trials were growth timelines and yields. This information was used to generate interactive spreadsheets with which one can determine possible cost and profit in a variety of scenarios. The first portion of the experiment involved constructing a growth chamber, which can achieve and maintain stable environmental conditions. This portion was successful. Secondly, the numbers obtained from the experimental growth trials were used to determine future projections from the perspective of …

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.

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 …

"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 …

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: …

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 …

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 ( …

Road Salt Runoff: Impervious Surface Area And Salt Concentrations In Urban Water Bodies, Jordan Pharris

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Using Landsat Imagery To Monitor Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery In The Sandhills Of Nebraska: A Multitemporal Approach, James Mcbride

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The objective of this study was to look at a wildfire in the Nebraska Sandhills as a case study for multi-temporal monitoring of burned areas using Landsat-7 satellite images. Eight Landsat-7 scenes were selected and a shapefile of the perimeter of a September 2000 wildfire in the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. A true color composite, color infrared composite, and a single-band NDVI output was used for visual analysis. A subset of burned and unburned sections was taken from the NDVI images; the values were graphed and compared. The visual analysis of the true color and color infrared images show …