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Sustainable Auto-Mobility The Case Of The Bicycle, Devin K. Frechette
Sustainable Auto-Mobility The Case Of The Bicycle, Devin K. Frechette
Theses & ETDs
This thesis seeks to contribute to sustainable transport research and policy through an exploration of the bicycle as sustainable auto-mobility. To contribute to the promotion of bicycling as sustainable transport, the thesis explores the connection between gender and perceptions of bicycle safety in a stated-preference survey of regular bicyclists in Sarasota, FL. Increased bicycling among women has been correlated with an increased proportion of bicycle modal share, suggesting gender as a necessary variable to consider in bicycle planning and policy. Though no significance was found between gender and safety perceptions, the research nonetheless contributes to the growing body of research …
Pay Attention To Biophilia It's In The Flow, Ashley King
Pay Attention To Biophilia It's In The Flow, Ashley King
Theses & ETDs
This study sought to explore the possible relationship between two theories addressing psychological health: Wilson�s Biophilia Hypothesis and Csikszentmihalyi�s Flow. Undergraduate college students played Tetris before viewing either a nature video or a built environment video. After the video, participants completed another game of Tetris and a shortened version of the Flow State Scale. It was hypothesized that contact with nature would restore attention capacity and facilitate the flow experience, leading to a higher level of improvement from pre-test to post-test and also higher scores on the FSS in the nature condition than in the built environment condition. As expected, …
Homegrown Harvest A Beginner's Guide To Small-Scale Edible Gardening, Mallika Nair
Homegrown Harvest A Beginner's Guide To Small-Scale Edible Gardening, Mallika Nair
Theses & ETDs
Small-scale edible gardening is a multifaceted solution to many of the environmental, dietary, social and economic issues of our time. This guide provides information on small scale organic growing methods with the intention of helping new gardeners grow food at home or in a community plot. I used information from new and classic gardening books, websites, magazines, blogs, and scientific articles. I drew from my experience gardening as well as from conversations with other gardeners. This guide consists of ideas, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) instructions, and reviews of products for gardening in small spaces such as balconies, terraces and windows. Methods for …
Teaching To Cultivate Gardening Education Programs In Public Elementary Schools, Andrew Noune
Teaching To Cultivate Gardening Education Programs In Public Elementary Schools, Andrew Noune
Theses & ETDs
In an attempt to explore ways that the educational system can encourage an understanding of food production systems and their effect on the environment and human health, I explore the components of edible school gardening programs. Eight public elementary school programs in a county in southwest Florida were studied by interviewing the facilitating teachers and observing in-class activities. Components related to horticultural procedures, academic connections, and students' home life were identified and analyzed. The findings of this research suggest that in-ground school gardens are likely to contain more horticultural components and academic connections than earth box or hydroponic gardens. Therefore, …
Bioremediation Of Contaminated Effluent An Integrated Approach, Arielle Vicaria
Bioremediation Of Contaminated Effluent An Integrated Approach, Arielle Vicaria
Theses & ETDs
This thesis explores the use of constructed wetlands to bioremediate effluent from municipal wastewater treatment. An effluent is wastewater, which is released into natural bodies of water from a wide variety of industrial and municipal sources. Polluted effluent that joins fresh water can disturb the self-regulating process of downstream ecosystems. Bioremediation, the use of living organisms such as fungi, plants and bacteria, to degrade environmental pollutants is a promising method for detoxifying aquatic environments. Constructed wetlands provide a practical and environmentally friendly means of treating contaminated wastewaters before release into the environment.
Social Perceptions Of Government Regulated Ecological Managment In Sarasota County Past, Present, And Potential Future Of Tree Ordinances, Dayna Lazarus
Theses & ETDs
Rules that require us to consider the health of the environment have been increasingly finding their way into American politics. However, rigid regulations are sometimes more of a monkey wrench in the gears of sustainability than a catalyst for achieving a community�s sustainability goals, especially when regulations require expert knowledge and careful consideration of local conditions. An overall negative social perception of a regulation is one indication that the monkey-wrench phenomenon may be in play. Negative social perception, and any other indication that a regulation is either not working or causing more harm than good, calls for a code review. …
Water Wars Down South An Analysis Of The Tri-State Battle Over The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, Marilyn Payne
Water Wars Down South An Analysis Of The Tri-State Battle Over The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, Marilyn Payne
Theses & ETDs
This thesis examines the southeastern water war among Alabama, Georgia, and Florida over the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. It focuses on the political and legal issues at hand, while analyzing the circumstances of each that contributed to the current resource battle. I argue that the political factors associated with the ACF River Basin, coupled with the environmental and economic aspects at stake, have over time led to an inefficient use of water that created the battle over the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Furthermore, this thesis examines the three main possibilities for a resolution: congressional apportionment, judicial apportionment and interstate compact. After analyzing …
More Green, Less Grief? Post-Katrina Reconstruction In New Orleans, Jessica Anne Plante
More Green, Less Grief? Post-Katrina Reconstruction In New Orleans, Jessica Anne Plante
Theses & ETDs
This thesis will explore, specifically in regards to the Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans in the wake of Katrina, how construction of risk and pre-existing social/ environmental vulnerability leads to disaster, how cultural and social attachment necessitates the rebuilding of vulnerable cities, and how reconstruction can address vulnerability while preserving cultural-social importance. To achieve this, I use archival research on the subject, along with fieldwork and interviews with non-profit employees in New Orleans. How this reconstruction progresses will determine the future city. On the one hand, people are attached to the city because of its social and cultural history, …
Understandings Of Invasive Species In The United States, Cindy Li
Understandings Of Invasive Species In The United States, Cindy Li
Theses & ETDs
Invasive organisms hold a certain place of notoriety to many who know and deal with them, and in recent years, legislation�from federal to county levels�has been passed to reduce or eradicate their populations. These efforts are spearheaded by ecologists and industries negatively affected by invasive organisms; however, they are not the only forces influencing how we think about invasive exotics. This thesis will attempt to draw connections between the cultural values and science that affect such policies and offer alternative ways of thought. Does our historically nativist view on nature carry through to today? How can alternative views benefit our …
Pacha Mama Politics Indigenous Environmental Discourse In Contemporary Ecuador, Nina C. Barraclough
Pacha Mama Politics Indigenous Environmental Discourse In Contemporary Ecuador, Nina C. Barraclough
Theses & ETDs
This thesis examines the relationship between indigenous identity and environmentalist discourse in the case of Ecuador's indigenous movement. The first chapter situates contemporary politics with a historical overview of indigenous marginalization and resistance in Ecuador. The second chapter analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of environmental identity politics as practiced by indigenous groups. The third chapter shows how the evolving language on indigenousness and environmental protection manifests itself in the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador. This thesis argues that the document's incorporation of indigenous-crafted alternatives to western discourses of nationality, nature, and development signified a reshaping of national values that better reflects …
Coral Reefs In The Gulf Of Mexico Strengthening Protection Policies, Christine Bowden
Coral Reefs In The Gulf Of Mexico Strengthening Protection Policies, Christine Bowden
Theses & ETDs
This thesis delves into coral reef protection policies as they exist today in the Gulf of Mexico, and how they can be improved in the future using existing and new legislation. My research describes the stressors, both anthropogenic and natural, that are affecting the health of the Gulf reef ecosystems, and goes into depth about the effects of each stressor and its causes. This thesis then goes into detail about the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, including several examples both on a global scale and more locally, in the Florida Reef Tract. Many of the coral reef ecosystems in the …
Herbivory In The Amazon Lowland Tropical Rainforest, With A Special Focus On Myrmecophytes (Genus Tococa), Meghan Mcavoy
Herbivory In The Amazon Lowland Tropical Rainforest, With A Special Focus On Myrmecophytes (Genus Tococa), Meghan Mcavoy
Theses & ETDs
This thesis examines several aspects of herbivory with a specific focus on myrmecophytes from the genus Tococa in the Amazon lowland tropical rainforest. Field work was conducted at several different sites in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, selected for their proximity to the Amazon Conservatory of Tropical Studies (ACTS) canopy walkway. This enabled research at different rainforest canopy levels. I analyzed the percentage of leaves with signs of herbivory versus those with none. Of 2,000 leaves surveyed, 92.5% show signs of herbivory while only 7.5% had not been fed upon. I compared herbivory between two species of plants from the Tococa …
Creation Care: The Construction Of An Evangelical Environmentalism, Chris Toner
Creation Care: The Construction Of An Evangelical Environmentalism, Chris Toner
Theses & ETDs
As climate change becomes a serious political issue in recent decades, dialogue concerning how to address the problem has intensified. The evangelical community has made a surprising entrance into this discussion. Evangelicals have traditionally fought for conservative social causes, and environmentalism has been stereotyped as liberal and secular. The manifestation of an evangelical voice in the discourse has heavy implications for the future of environmentalism and governmental approaches to the issue. However, there has been considerable debate over how “dominion belief,” anthropocentrism, and theological and political conservatism affect environmental attitudes. In the context of this debate, then, what obstacles had …
Form And Function: The Development Of Parks And Monuments In 20th Century United States, Dana Bassett
Form And Function: The Development Of Parks And Monuments In 20th Century United States, Dana Bassett
Theses & ETDs
The difficulties faced by rapidly industrializing cities in the early twentieth-century warranted urban planning that was in a large part inspired by the rural cemetery movement in mid-nineteenth century United States. These scenic cemeteries combined pastoral scenery and commemorative art within the burial grounds to unexpected ends. Urban reformers looked to nature to ease the moral and physical depravity of the urban environment. Public parks allowed people unwelcome in the cemetery to temporarily escape the struggles of city life. Reformers also promoted the neo-classical art and architecture within the cemetery in an attempt to cultivate upright citizens. The proliferation of …
The Texture And Mineralogy Of Two Sarasota County Beaches And Implications For Beach Nourishment, Steven Norton
The Texture And Mineralogy Of Two Sarasota County Beaches And Implications For Beach Nourishment, Steven Norton
Theses & ETDs
Geological factors, environmental factors, and public policy consideration all have implication for beach nourishment. Policy drives projects to use methods that are the least destructive (Stauble, 1986). However, this aim is not always met because of lack of consideration of all possible factors. The texture and mineralogy of beaches and nourishment sources are not thoroughly considered. Improper sediment texture may cause excess erosion as well as displace biota (Frihy and Lotfy, 1994). On two beaches in Sarasota County the texture and mineralogy were compared for potential policy implications in reference to beach nourishment. This study argues, through the differences between …
Global Transitions: A Visual Portrayal Of Anthropogenic Impacts On The Environment, Deanna Erickson
Global Transitions: A Visual Portrayal Of Anthropogenic Impacts On The Environment, Deanna Erickson
Theses & ETDs
The Earth has been considerably altered by human influence with serious environmental consequences. Increasing population and consumption rates are depleting forests, oil, and freshwater resources. Land converted for agriculture and urbanization degrades essential natural ecosystems. Water and air pollution are destroying habitats and endangering the plant and animal species that depend on them. Humans are intentionally altering sensitive cycles, ignoring the important services provided by maintaining balance in atmospheric, hydrologic, and terrestrial cycles. These alterations are increasing the severity and impacts of climate change for the future. A combination of changing policy and enhancing personal responsibility could benefit the world …
Out On A Limb--Forest Canopies Science And Environmental Education Utilizing A Traveling Exhibit, Zachary Evers
Out On A Limb--Forest Canopies Science And Environmental Education Utilizing A Traveling Exhibit, Zachary Evers
Theses & ETDs
Environmental and Science education is of the utmost importance to the health and longevity of our forests and the natural world. This environmental education thesis is on informing the public about science and the environment through the use of the "Out on a Limb -- Forest Canopies" exhibit and analyzing the effectiveness of its impact. "Out on a Limb -- Forest Canopies" is a science education exhibit developed to educate people about the forest canopies and illustrate the challenges of canopy access by scientists. A traveling rain forest diorama, touch screen information kiosk, and mock canopy walkway will circulate venues …
Film-Poetry Synthesis And The Birth Of Experimental Cinema In France, Scott Ross
Film-Poetry Synthesis And The Birth Of Experimental Cinema In France, Scott Ross
Theses & ETDs
French poet Guillaume Apollinaire’s 1917 lecture “L’Esprit nouveau et les poètes” announced the beginning of the Parisian poets’ sincere engagement with cinema: in the following decade, the French literary community became increasingly involved in the development of film theory and criticism, and France’s young generation of experimental filmmakers began to consider modern poetry as a potential inspiration for their work. Some theorists and filmmakers even proposed the widely interpreted concept of a cinépoème: a cinematic poem. This thesis examines the presence and influence of French poetry in three such cinépoèmes made in the late 1920s. In Emak-Bakia, Man Ray employs …
Domestic Scale Aquaponics: The Form, Function, And Economic Viability Thereof, Ravi Banerjee
Domestic Scale Aquaponics: The Form, Function, And Economic Viability Thereof, Ravi Banerjee
Theses & ETDs
Aquaponics is the integrated production of plants and marine organisms in closed recirculating systems. The integration of fish and vegetable growth systems creates a more efficient production environment. Aquaponics systems offer numerous economic benefits stemming from many sources including nutrient reuse, decreased space and water usage, and a reduction in combined infrastructural costs. Aquaponic farming methods have been in existence for thousands of years. However, as societies develop, the benefits offered by this field of agricultural science become more applicable. Aquaponics is a viable means of enabling not only commercial farmers to increase their production but for the individual to …
Crisis Of Confidence: Cinematic Environmentalism Of The Seventies, Jacob Scott Starks
Crisis Of Confidence: Cinematic Environmentalism Of The Seventies, Jacob Scott Starks
Theses & ETDs
In the 1970's, film played a reflective and contributory role in American environmental culture. Many films of the decade reflected a cultural environmentalism driven by a crisis of confidence in government and industry's ability to ensure a viable and natural environment. This project examines six films' content, cultural context of production, and reception, which indicate a notion of American uncertainty concerning government and industry's protection or conservation of the environment. The opening chapter provides a context for the economic and political conditions of the 1970's, explaining the American “crisis of confidence.” The second chapter examines the public‟s lack of faith …
America's Agricultural Industry: Chemical Consequences And Sustainable Alternatives, Jillian Walker
America's Agricultural Industry: Chemical Consequences And Sustainable Alternatives, Jillian Walker
Theses & ETDs
Due to a number of historical factors such as a constant influx of immigrants, new technology, and sociopolitical and environmental circumstances, America faced a number of agricultural challenges from the 18th to the 20th century. These problems were met with innovative technological and scientific solutions, which, while producing initial bountiful yields, ultimately resulted in the simplification of land management. This simplification was largely centered on chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. The environmental and anthropogenic consequences resulting from widespread use of these substances has resulted in an economically and ecologically unsustainable method of food production in the United States. This thesis …
The Ethnobotany Of Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens (Bartr.) Small) In Florida, Bethany Highsmith
The Ethnobotany Of Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens (Bartr.) Small) In Florida, Bethany Highsmith
Theses & ETDs
Serenoa repens (Bartr.) Small, commonly known as saw palmetto, is a rhizomatic palm of the Arecaceae family that grows throughout the southeastern United States. Palms, in general, are acknowledged for their utility as construction materials, food, clothing, medicine and more (Balick and Cox, 1997). This local shrub in particular has not only served as such to the Seminole Indians and pioneers, but has generated its own growing industry. Every summer freelance workers scour the south Florida scrublands for ripe saw palmetto berries that sell by the pound in Immokalee (Thorner, 2003). Harvesting the fruit is an arduous and dangerous (albeit …
Lost In Legislation: The Cultural And Political Meanings Of "Organic", Lauren Alexandra Cardella
Lost In Legislation: The Cultural And Political Meanings Of "Organic", Lauren Alexandra Cardella
Theses & ETDs
In 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture launched the National Organic Program, which promises that any food labeled "organic" has been grown and processed according to nationally uniform and recognized standards. But what does "organic" mean? Organic agriculture has a long history in the United States as a radical, grassroots movement promoting human health, environmental stewardship, and a decentralized food system. The USDA has a long history of promoting chemical- and capital-intensive agriculture that leads to serious degradation of ecosystems, destruction of small farms and rural communities, and feeds a highly centralized, corporate-controlled food system. How did organic agriculture …
Interdisciplinary Approaches To Landscape Planning: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Of European And American Land-Use Practices And Policy, Daniela Demaria
Interdisciplinary Approaches To Landscape Planning: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Of European And American Land-Use Practices And Policy, Daniela Demaria
Theses & ETDs
In this thesis, I examine the meaning of landscape in a cultural context and how important ideas and individuals are to the formation of the physical landscape. I outline historical differences between Europe and America's land-use planning and development, examine contemporary problems they both face, and explore successful and unsuccessful examples of land-use policies in cities I have studied and lived in. I then discuss the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to land-use planning and management across nations that integrates research on place attachment, "sense of place" and quality of life. The European Landscape Convention serves as an example throughout …