Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Current Status And Long-Term Trends In Water Quality And Living Resources In The Virginia Tributaries And Chesapeake Bay Mainstem From 1985 Through 2013, Daniel M. Dauer, Todd A. Egerton, John R. Donat, Michael F. Lane, Suzanne C. Doughten, Cindy Johnson, Monika Arora

Status and Trends for Virginia Chesapeake Bay

The period prior to the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program was characterized by a marked decline in the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. The disappearance of submerged aquatic vegetation in certain regions of the Bay, declines in the abundance of some commercially and recreationally important species, increases in the incidence of low dissolved oxygen events, changes in the Bay's food web, and other ecological problems have been related to the deteriorating water quality (e.g. USEPA, 1982,1983;Officer et al.,1984; Orth and Moore, 1984). The results of concentrated research efforts in the late 1970s and early 1980s stimulated the …

Parental Care In The Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid, Herichthys Minckleyi (Teleostei: Cichlidae), Ronald G. Oldfield, M. Xavier Nieves

Faculty Scholarship

Behavioral studies have often examined parental care by measuring phenotypic plasticity of behavior within a species. Phylogenetic studies have compared parental care among species, but only at broad categories (e.g., care vs. no care). Here we provide a detailed account that integrates phylogenetic analysis with quantitative behavioral data to better understand parental care behavior in the Cuatro Ciénegas cichlid, Herichthys minckleyi. We found that H. minckleyi occurs in a clade of sexually monochromatic or weakly dichromatic monogamous species, but that male and female H. minckleyi have dramatically different reproductive coloration patterns, likely as a result of sexual selection. Furthermore, we …

Raps Sheet, October 2014, Retirement Association Of Portland State

RAPS Sheet: Monthly Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Broadsheet- Issue 8, Merrimack College

The Broadsheet

Merrimack College's English Department newsletter.

This issue features:

• Dr. Zackary Vernon
• Dr. Scherwatzky on Career Night
• Preparing for Advisement

Dreaming Larger Than Life: Perceptions Of South African Black Wealth And Aspirations Of Success Among Young Adults At Wiggins Secondary School, Mikaela Zetley

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This project seeks to understand the aspirations and understandings of success of young adults at Wiggins Secondary School and how their dreams are impacted by their perceptions of black wealth as well as their social environment and experiences. By examining the way the students interact with black wealth, it is possible to better comprehend the influence of black wealth and ideas of middle class-ness on their definitions of success. This will further inform an understanding of the means by which they hope to live out their dreams. Specifically, I also investigate the impact of role models on definitions of success …

Improving Social Resilience In Response To Climate Change In Far North Queensland And Torres Strait, Katie Costantini

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Currently, most approaches to decision-making in response to climate change have been based on biophysical knowledge, even though climate change is an inherently social dilemma. Social resilience involves communities’ ability to mitigate and prepare for the effects of climate change and recover to an improved state. Professor Allan Dale and his colleagues at the Cairns Institute at James Cook University developed a framework for social resilience based on four attributes: (1) Economic Viability, (2) Community Knowledge, Aspirations, and Capacity, (3) Community Vitality, and (4) Governance. They are using this framework to evaluate and monitor Far North Queensland and Torres Strait …

Environmental Education In Amman, Sara Lyrnn Green

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research addresses environmental education in public and private schools in Amman, Jordan and what is being done to expand environmental awareness by both schools and the government. This study’s methodology is comprised of interviews with teachers and government employees as well as analysis of material culture. The research finds that environmental education is priority for schools and the government, but that more can be done in expanding environmental awareness. This study points out barriers to environmental education in schools with the hope that these will be addressed and improved.

Regulatory Capture, The Chesapeake Bay, And Hampton Roads: What's On Your Plate, Ronnie David Gannon

Institute for the Humanities Theses

The Chesapeake Bay and its 64,000 square mile watershed are both severely impacted from excessive amounts of nutrient pollution, which contributes to a growing presence of dead zones in the Bay. What causes nutrient pollution? What are dead zones? In addition, many of the Bay's commercially valuable species of marine life have been/ are overexploited to the point of collapse / verge of collapse. Despite all of these facts, management agencies continue to weakly enforce regulations. Why?

Not to mention, much of the Bay's marine life is unsustainably caught in the contaminated waters of Hampton Roads. How, and for what? …

Biosafety: Evaluation And Regulation Of Genetically Modified (Gm) Crops In The United States, Richard E. Goodman

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

This review of the safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops is focused primarily on the process and progress in the United States (US). It reviews the development of the safety evaluation process from the Asilomar conference in 1975 considering issues relevant to recombinant DNA technology, to discussions between the US government, academic and industrial scientists between 1984 and 1994 when the first GM crops were being field tested and evaluated commercial release for food and feed production. International guidelines were also reviewed for consistency with the US system. The overall process includes consideration of information relating to history of …

Green-Technology Automobiles: Can Modern Innovations Save The Environment And Consumers' Pockets, Nicholas M. Uline, Steven M. Mahon, Jason P. Potter

Student Publications

Cars of the past are notorious for poor fuel efficiency and high carbon emissions. With the presence of hybrid technology, along with a variety of other green innovations, many of these negative side effects can be mitigated. The purpose of this study is to answer the question: how do green technology vehicles compare with similar models that exclude such innovations in relation to efficiency and price? A total of 47 green-tech vehicles were identified and compared against their base model counterparts. Vehicle weight, horsepower, fuel efficiency and other variables were matched within pairs (green-tech vs. base) and between car types …

Noise Pollution? What's The Solution?: Understanding Traffic Noise Pollution In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Andrew F. Kapp, Joseph M. Passmore, Anika H. Schneider

Student Publications

Noise pollution can be damaging to a community by impacting its atmosphere as well as the health of its residents, local quality of life, and local economy. Our study sought to gain insight into the level of noise pollution in Gettysburg, both in-town and on the Gettysburg College campus, and how noise pollution may be affecting the local residents and students. We selected 9 sampling sites, 6 in-town and 3 on the college campus, and measured the noise pollution in dBA with portable sound meters three days a week and three times a day over a three week period. Our …

What Drives Car Attitudes: An Analysis Of How Demographics And Environmental Views Relate To Car Attitudes, Kelly M. Gross, Alexandra S. Isaacson, Brian J.B. Lonabocker

Student Publications

Successfully marketing new, clean, car technologies to consumers requires an advertising strategy that fits consumers’ priorities and attitudes towards cars. We created a survey to study how attitudes towards cars are associated with demographics and environmental views. Our study examined car preferences and environmental concerns of a sample of Gettysburg College students in comparison to a national sample obtained from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Overall, we concluded that environmental beliefs are a significantly better prediction of car behaviors than demographics. We found that on average people would pay more for a car with a higher fuel economy, but not enough to …

Walkable Gettysburg— How Pedestrian Friendly Is The Borough Of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania?, Samuel C. Gilvarg, Shane A. Kesnig

Student Publications

Walkability is a measure of how easily pedestrians can reach a variety of destinations via walking. Greater walkability has been linked to several benefits, including improvements in human health, economic stimulus, and improved air quality. We surveyed 37 blocks in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to record the presence of 13 design factors such as street trees and pedestrian oriented amenities that have been shown to encourage walking. These results were then compared with the Walk Score from walkscore.com, a common measurement tool of walkability. Based on the surveys, we calculated a design quality score (DQI) for each block. There was no correlation …

The Perfect Pitch: Car Commercials In The Environment, Alyssa P. Beyer, Sara Moyer

Student Publications

Car commercials, like many advertisements, tempt its viewers with comfort, capability, or safety features, as well as being well‐engineered, affordable, attractive, large or compact sized, or fuel efficient. This study examines the pitches in YouTube car commercial video clips from the 1960s until 2014. We coded a total of 263 total car commercials based on pitch, setting, narrator, decade, and country of origin. The analysis revealed that most car commercials were presented in rural settings and capability was pitched most frequently overall. Fuel efficiency was ranked third overall; however, within urban settings, fuel efficiency had the highest frequency. During the …

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. …

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 …

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, …

Persistence And Change In Community Composition Of Reef Corals Through Present, Past, And Future Climates, Robert Van Woesik, Peter J. Edmunds, Mehdi Adjeroud, Marissa L. Baskett, Iliana B. Baums, Ann F. Budd, Robert C.C. Carpenter, Nicholas S. Fabina, Tungyung Fan, Eric C. Franklin

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The reduction in coral cover on many contemporary tropical reefs suggests a different set of coral community assemblages will dominate future reefs. To evaluate the capacity of reef corals to persist over various time scales, we examined coral community dynamics in contemporary, fossil, and simulated future coral reef ecosystems. Based on studies between 1987 and 2012 at two locations in the Caribbean, and between 1981 and 2013 at five locations in the Indo-Pacific, we show that many coral genera declined in abundance, some showed no change in abundance, and a few coral genera increased in abundance. Whether the abundance of …

Historical Roots Of Canadian Aboriginal And Non-Aboriginal Maple Practices, Ryan Huron

Geography and Environmental Studies Major Research Papers

This research is concerned with developing a historical baseline of Canadian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal maple practices and the contribution of these activities to the well-being (WB) of communities up to approximately 1950. This research measures WB using two unique frameworks developed for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities associated with maple products and practices. In order to describe WB in historical contexts the research used archival data obtained primarily from Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and Early Canadiana Online (ECO). Results from the research showed that in Aboriginal communities, dynamics related to emotional, physical and mental WB were referenced the most often …

The New Hampshire, Vol. 104 [105], No. 07 (Sep. 30, 2014), The New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Print Edition

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire. This volume was printed as 104, but it is the 105th volume in the series. This was corrected in pencil.

Updates In Academic Affairs - 09/29/14, Office Of The Provost And Vice President For Academic Affairs

Updates in Academic Affairs

This edition highlights a number of news items, including a yearlong series to discuss potential revisions to WMU’s general education program, the upcoming Academic Convocation, money-management training for students and more.

Social Science Division Meeting Minutes 09/29/14, Social Science Division

Social Science Division

No abstract provided.

Teaching Environmental Education To Native American And Alaska Native Students: A Case Study In Interdisciplinary Teaching In Higher Education, Nichlas Emmons, Travis Hardin

Journal of Indigenous Research

Teaching Indigenous students environmental education through an interdisciplinary learning approach takes advantage of a more holistic perspective that these students share. Students enrolled in three different Native American and Indigenous Studies courses were asked to contribute to a class capstone project. The three projects consisted of a land acquisition and management proposal with the Miami Nation of Indiana, a proposal for a forest management plan for the Keeweenaw Bay Indian Community, and environmental histories of the Miami, Potawatomi, and Shawnee in Indiana. The development of these service and community projects in natural resource management and environmental studies promoted an interdisciplinary …

Exurban Residents’ Perceptions Of Naturally Returning Predators: Connecticut Case Study, Margaret E. Sackrider, Susan G. Clark, Isaac M. Ortega

Yale Day of Data

As a result of reforestation, growth of exurban areas and wildlife adaptation, it is believed that the public is currently encountering more human-wildlife conflicts than ever before. The key to balancing wildlife conservation and human development is understanding the dynamic relationship between humans and carnivores. Specifically, gaining insight into the complexity of this relationship will aide in the creation of more effective conservation policy and outreach.

Reforestation throughout Connecticut has supported a tremendous population growth of pray species and subsequently the growth of predator populations including coyotes, Canis latrans, and black bears, Ursus americanus. According to some biologists, …

The Fierce Green Fire: Vol 5 Issue 3, Wofford College Environmental Studies Program

The Fierce Green Fire

No abstract provided.

Spartan Daily, September 25, 2014, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 143, Issue 13

Curriculum Minutes 09/25/2014, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

In these minutes: Science and Mathematics catalog course changes, and Education catalog course changes.

Campus Assembly Minutes 09/24/2014, Campus Assembly

Campus Assembly

No abstract provided.