Digital Commons Network^™

The Slater Fire Was The Product Of Settler Colonialism, William Joseph Curtis

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Slater Fire of 2020 burned in Karuk aboriginal territory overseen by the Klamath National Forest. It burned over 200 homes to the ground and ravage over 100,000 acres of forest. This thesis argues that state-enforced fire suppression policies and methods are tools of settler-colonial erasure and the continuation of genocidal violence towards Karuk people. It analyzes the conflict between interests of the colonial state on one side and Indigenous resistance and survival on the other. Fire is an essential tool for the survival of Indigenous cultural identities, the material security of said populations, and the health of the environs …

Evaluating Relative Abundance, Fish Length, And Marine Protected Area Effectiveness For Four Key Rocky Reef Species Along The Northern Californian Coast, Leon Davis

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Marine protected areas (MPAs) were created with the purpose of helping conserve and restore diminished populations of marine organisms. Measuring the effectiveness of MPAs requires long-term monitoring, investigating the abundance and size distributions of the species that utilize the conservation areas, and comparing the results to neighboring reference sites that are not currently protected. In this study, observations from long-term MPA monitoring in northern California (2010-2019) were modeled with substrate, oceanographic, spatial, temporal, and body size variables to describe the variability in abundance and size of three fish groups: Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops), the Blue rockfish group (comprised …

Does Bisphenol-A, An Estrogen-Like Environmental Toxin, Disrupt Expression Of The Neuronal Chloride Exporter Protein During Early Brain Development?, Mayra S. Mendez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Bisphenol A (BPA), a manufactured compound found in consumer products, is known to adversely affect early brain development by disrupting normal estrogen signaling. Recently, BPA was reported to suppress expression of a gene encoding the neuron-specific chloride ion transporter, KCC2. Human and animal studies show suppressing KCC2 can cause neuronal and behavioral hyperactivity. Therefore, some adverse effects of BPA may be due to KCC2 suppression and consequent neuronal hyperactivity. This study aimed to determine whether BPA exposure during brain development alters KCC2 expression. A secondary purpose was to evaluate whether a new transgenic zebrafish line, KCC2:mCitrine,could be used to track …

Johnson V. M'Intosh: Christianity, Genocide, And The Dispossession Of Indigenous Peoples, Cynthia J. Boshell

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Using hermeneutical methodology, this paper examines some of the legal fictions that form the foundation of Federal Indian Law. The text of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1823 Johnson v. M’Intosh opinion is evaluated through the lens of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to determine the extent to which the Supreme Court incorporated genocidal principles into United States common law. The genealogy of M’Intosh is examined to identify influences that are not fully apparent on the face of the case. International jurisprudential interpretations of the legal definition of genocide are summarized and used as …

Winter Sandpiper Communities On Humboldt Bay: High-Tide Roost Use And Habitat Features That Influence Roost Site Selection, Chelsea Polevy

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Roosts, locations at which birds and other animals come together to rest and preen while remaining vigilant for predators, are a common facet of the nonbreeding biology of many shorebirds. Roosts fall on a continuum from traditional to ephemeral; traditional roosts are used consistently by the same individuals, whereas ephemeral roosts are used inconsistently and may be used only once or a few times. Studies show that roost habitat preference is the result of an individual shorebird’s attempt to optimize the costs and benefits associated with time constraints, energetic demands, and danger risks as they relate to overall fitness.

In …

Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga Angustirostris) Colony Establishment And Growth In The King Range National Conservation Area, California, Emma Hatton Levy

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The King Range colony is the northernmost successful and expanding breeding site for northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris). To evaluate the composition and growth of this colony, I conducted systematic surveys recording counts, age classes, births, and resighting seals with individually identifiable flipper tags. The timing of life-history events (breeding, molting, and resting) of all elephant seal sex and age groups at the King Range was consistent with observations at other colonies. Colony counts during breeding and molting have increased steadily over the 4-year study period (2018-2021), and pup production has increased by 87% since the first year …

“There's Always People In The Room For Whom This Is Not Merely Theory”: Emergent Pedagogies, Casey Mccullough

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Colleges and universities are generally regarded as a place for students to expand their skill sets and knowledge in preparation for specific fields of work. Many academic institutions and disciplines are also focused on recruiting and retaining students from socially marginalized communities in the name of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Despite this, some institutions in practice prioritize image, status, and wealth while deprioritizing resources, care, and support for students and their learning conditions. Often within these institutions are educators who challenge these systems in their courses, on campus, and across the country, encouraging and empowering students to directly confront those …

Geographic And Seasonal Variation Of Flying Squirrel Vocalizations In California, Travis A. Farwell

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Advancements in bioacoustics field studies have further elucidated spatial, temporal, and behavioral aspects of otherwise-cryptic species, as well as offering insights into species communication. The discovery of high-frequency vocalizations in North American flying squirrels in particular has allowed researchers to use ultrasonic acoustic recorders to detect these cryptic species in the wild. Investigations into vocalizations of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) and southern flying squirrels (G. volans) have highlighted call type variation between species and the potential use of recorders as a tool to examine vocal activity patterns. However, high-frequency vocalizations had yet to be quantitatively …

Techno-Economic Feasibility Of Electrifying Food Markets In Nigeria With Biogas Hybrid Mini-Grids, Demi Temitope Ogunwo

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This thesis explored the feasibility of electrifying a food market in an urban city in Nigeria with a hybrid biogas-powered mini-grid. Under the Energizing Economies Initiative of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, nine markets in the country currently receive constant access to electricity via hybrid mini-grid systems. As a majority of these systems are diesel-solar-battery systems, this thesis explored the use of biogas generators as a substitute for diesel generators in hybrid mini-grids for food markets. A fruit and vegetable market in Ketu, Lagos was used as a case study for the research. The research for this thesis was …

Estimating The Ecosystem Service Of Aleutian Cackling Goose Droppings On Pastures, Brian G. Fagundes

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Aleutian cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia) experienced a population low of 790 geese in 1974 and has recovered to the current estimate of 186,100 geese in 2021. Private livestock producers view geese as pasture competitors and use hazing and hunting to scare geese from private lands to adjacent public lands. I investigated if geese provide an ecosystem service via dropping fertilizing effects to improve pastures in northern California.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted from February-August 2019 at Cal Poly Humboldt, divided into two experiments: freshly sown ryegrass pasture and established plant and soil communities removed intact from …

Comparing Molecular Methods To Estimate Fish Stomach Contents And Gastric Evacuation Rates: Implications For Measuring The Impacts Of Predation On Central Valley Chinook Salmon, Cory M. Dick

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) migrating through the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta (the Delta) in central California have higher mortality rates than salmonids migrating through other west coast estuaries. Some hypotheses for high mortality rates include entrainment into water export facilities, physical alterations of the river system, and predation. Of these factors, predation is considered the least understood but may have the largest impact. Predation from large populations of non-native piscivorous fishes in the Delta is believed to effect abundances of Central Valley Chinook salmon, however sufficient data supporting this hypothesis is scarce. In this study, I …

Carnivore And Ungulate Responses To Cattle In A Grazed Forest Ecosystem, Rebecca Carniello

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Habitat disturbance, a leading threat to biological diversity, comes in many forms and can alter the behavior of wildlife and reduce the amount of suitable habitat. Livestock grazing, a form of habitat disturbance, is the most widespread influence on native ecosystems of western North America. Research on the impacts of introduced domestic herbivores on wild carnivores and ungulates varies, and the degree to which wildlife species are affected is often species-specific. I used remote trail cameras to compare the activity patterns of black bears (Ursus americanus), coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), mountain lions …

Comparison Of Environmental Dna And Underwater Visual Count Surveys For Detecting Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch) In Rivers, Jason T. Shaffer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has developed into a useful tool for determining the distribution of rare aquatic species, but relatively few studies have directly compared the detection probabilities of this method with other conventional survey techniques. These comparisons can inform which method may be better suited to address study objectives. In this study, the overall goal was to compare the ability of eDNA and underwater visual count (UVC) surveys to detect juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), a species of conservation concern at the southern extent of its geographic range. Specifically, I address two objectives: (1) compare the ability of …

Return To Wolf Country: Exploring Rancher Knowledge Of Gray Wolves In Wallowa County, Oregon, Theodore Masters

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

With the extirpation of gray wolves (Canis lupus) from the American West in the early 20^th Century, generations of ranchers have grazed livestock free from any threats by wolves. The absence of wolves from the western landscape has created an inter-generational gap in the experiential knowledge held by ranchers regarding how to manage livestock in wolf country. Using Wallowa County, Oregon, as a case study site, 18 cow-calf ranchers were interviewed to gain insights into the ways they generate and share knowledge of running livestock in landscapes shared with wolves. This study revealed the arrival of wolves …

Escherichia Coli And Salmonella Sp. In Domestic Cattle And Wild Roosevelt Elk: Fecal Pathogens At The Wildlife-Domestic Interface, Emily A. Buck

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Direct or indirect contact between domestic populations of animals and wildlife carries an inherent risk for transmission of pathogens that cause infectious disease. In Humboldt and Del Norte counties of northern California, ongoing conflict between ranchers and Roosevelt elk groups results from elk use of ranching pastures and pastures on private land. Fecal samples from elk in association with cattle, cattle, and from elk not in known association with cattle were assessed for the presence of bacteria Salmonella enterica and pathogenic Escherichia coli to assess whether association with cattle increases risk of infection for elk. Group identity (one of the …

Hormonal Medications And Partner Odor Preferences, Jeffrey Lee Frederick

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The ability to recognize kin through the olfactory sense has important survival and evolutionary implications when choosing mates. Failing to recognize kin when making a choice of whom to mate with can lead to an increase in detrimental genetic outcomes in offspring. Previous studies have indicated that normally ovulating heterosexual women and men prefer the body odor of those with dissimilar immune systems than those with similar immune systems. The use of hormonal contraceptives has shown a preference for similar immune system odors. The current study examines whether the use of hormonal medications predicts preference for body odor. Importantly, this …

Differentiating The Effects Of Two Non-Native Fish In The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Sarah Richardson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This study seeks to determine the individual effects of two non-native fish, the brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans, and pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, on the aquatic invertebrates and food webs of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR). Ten ponds were analyzed and compared with stable isotope analysis and invertebrate abundance data. Three ponds were chosen to represent each of the following categories: fishless, brook stickleback invaded (BS), and coinvaded, along with a single pumpkinseed (PS) pond. Overall, δ[superscript]13C and δ[superscript]15N values increased in invaded ponds, indicating shifts in the zooplankton community structure and the carbon source of predatory invertebrates. Mean δ[superscript]13C was the …

Exploring The Knowledge Of Wildfire Smoke Mitigation And Tolerance Measures Within A High-Risk Community In San Diego County, California, Nicole C. Salas

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study focuses on a community’s interest and knowledge on air quality mitigation measures in regard to smoke exposure from wildfires. A combination of semi-structured in person interviews and online surveys were available for those individuals that lived or worked in Ramona, California. The residents in Ramona had varying knowledge, concern levels and responses when discussing air quality mitigation measures with regards to wildfire smoke effects and impacts. Wildfire smoke itself was not a major concern of most residents within the area and many had described wildfire smoke mitigation measures as being conditional measures not applicable to the entire community …

Demographic Modeling Of Conservation Strategies For The Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus Canorus), Corrina Rebecca Kamoroff

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus) is an anuran species endemic to the Sierra Nevada in California that, like many amphibians globally, has suffered population declines. The documented decline in A. canorus populations across their historic range highlights the need for an effective management strategy to protect the species from future extirpation. For this study, I estimated survival rates of A. canorus using a Cormack-Jolly-Seber model populated with data from a demographic study. I then used a female-only post-birth pulse stochastic Lefkovitch matrix model using vital rates I estimated and from the literature to simulate the effect of different …

Investigating How Bat Ectoparasites Influence The Skin Microbiome Diversity And Composition In Washington State Bats, Dana E. Colley

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), caused by the psychrophilic pathogenic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), has killed millions of bats in the eastern United States since its initial introduction in 2006 and recent expansion into the western U.S. Understanding factors that contribute to the spread of Pd and risk of infection is crucial for management of WNS. Bat ectoparasites, including bat mites and bat flies, are omnipresent in bat populations, yet the relationship between these ectoparasites and bat health is still unknown. We examined the relationship between bat ectoparasites and the skin microbiome in relation to WNS infection risk in Washington State bats. …

A Theater Of The Absurd: Economic Sanctions In The Emerging Age Of Multipolarity, Travis Cunha

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Economic Sanctions have been imposed on nations throughout the Global South during the post-World War Two era. This led to the “Sanctions Decade” of the 1990s which saw the most devastating impacts on civilians in nations like Haiti and Iraq. The 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea resulted in sanctions being imposed on Russia by the European Union (EU), and retaliatory counter-sanctions from Moscow ensued shortly after. The Russian counter-sanctions banned the importation of certain agricultural foodstuffs from the EU, and this ban had significant implications for farmers in the EU who were now unable to sell to the large Russian …

Settler Colonialism And White Environmentalism In The 'Uba, Aleena Church

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Settler colonialism continues to shape present injustices of Indigenous Peoples. The settlers of Nevada County do not recognize the historical past of colonialism and how it has changed the Nisenan Tribes relationship to these lands/waters. Or how colonization still thrives in Nevada County through settler relationships with these lands/waters. Settler colonialism is ongoing, it is not an event that happened during the gold rush. I use the South 'Uba River (South Yuba River) as an example for how settler colonialism continues to perpetuate violence and genocide amongst the Nisenan Peoples. As we, settlers, occupy these lands and waters we must …

A Characterization Of The Sandy Beach Surf Zone Fish Community And Their Ecology In Northern California And The Effects Of Marine Protected Areas, Katie B. Terhaar

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Historically written off as dull and homogenous, the dynamics of the sandy beach surf zone remains under studied world-wide. Northern California has been no exception to this global standard, as the sandy beach surf zone ecosystem in this region has yet to be characterized, and the effect of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the fish and macroinvertebrate community fully ascertained.

Considered data-poor by local wildlife officials, commercially, recreationally and culturally important Amphistichus rhodoterus (redtail surfperch) and common Hyperprosopon ellipticum (silver surfperch) utilize the sandy beach surf zone in Northern California. Little is known about the effect of various environmental factors, …

Plant-Pollinator Interaction Networks In Remnant And Reconstructed Palouse Prairie In Eastern Wa, Usa, Emma Hoskins

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Ecological restoration is often focused on re-establishing native plant communities, without considering the larger ecological community, specifically pollinators, despite their being critical to native forb reproduction. Further, ecological restoration has the potential to mitigate global pollinator declines by rebuilding native ecosystems, providing pollinators with floral resources and nesting habitat. This is especially true for prairie restoration, which struggles to establish diverse, abundant native forb communities. The USDA Conservation Reserve Program State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (CRP SAFE) Palouse Prairie Project provides funding to convert agricultural fields into native Palouse Prairie habitat for the benefit of wildlife. Due to financial and …

Prospective Analysis Of Intoxicated Patients Developing Shock And/Or Organ Failure, Faysal Teki̇n, Ayça Açikalin Akpinar, Ömer Taşkin, Ufuk Akday, Nezi̇hat Rana Di̇şel, Emre Karakoç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Data on intoxication patients with shock and acute organ failure is valuable for the prediction of the tailored scale prognosis of the patients in the emergency department. Materials and methods: Our study was designed prospectively as a cross-sectional and observational over the course of four years. The patients over 18 years of age were included and the epidemiological data related to development of shock and acute organ failure, the treatments, and the outcome were recorded. The organic phosphate severity score was also calculated for all patients. Results: A total of 89 patients with shock and/or acute organ failure 72 …

The Effects Of Κ-Casein, Ss-Lactoglobulin, Prolactin And Dgat1 Polymorphisms On Milkyields In Turkish Holstein Cows, Emi̇ne Şahi̇n Semerci̇, Murat Soner Balcioğlu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of κ-casein, β-lactoglobulin, prolactin, and DGAT1 (diacylglycerol acyltransferase1) gene polymorphisms on milk yields in Holstein cows raised in Antalya province, Turkey. A total of 517 cows were genotyped by the PCR-RFLP method to detect κ-casein/HinfI, β-lactoglobulin/HaeIII, prolactin/RsaI, and DGAT1/Cfr1 polymorphisms. In the study, two types of alleles were identified as A and B for κ-casein, ß-lactoglobulin, and prolactin loci, while K and A alleles were detected for DGAT1 locus. The frequencies of A and B allele were calculated as 0.8279 and 0.1721 for κ-casein, 0.4662 and 0.5338 for ß-lactoglobulin, 0.8762 …

Gene Expression And Doppler Flowmetry Of The Reproductive Tract In Nelore (Bos Indicus)Cows Synchronized With Estradiol And Equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin, Itamara Gomes De França, Nancyleni Pinto Cahves Bezerra, Alcina Vieira Carvalho Neta, Larissa Sarmento Santos, Diego Luiz Ds Santos Ribeiro, Jose Ribamar S Torres Junior

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Forty Nelore cows were submitted to timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol and randomly assigned to groups according to estradiol (E2) ester (cypionate or benzoate, i.e. EC or EB) and equine chorionic gonadotrophin treatment (eCG or No-eCG) in a factorial 2x2 design. On a random day of the estrous cycle (Day 0), cows received a P4 intravaginal device plus 2 mg im injection of EB. At the time of P4 device removal (Day 8), cows were treated with 0.150 mg im of D-cloprostenol (PGF) and randomly divided to receive or not 400 UI im of eCG, as well as randomly assigned …

Interaction Effects Of Age And Body Weight Losses During Moulting On The Performance Ofcommercial Laying Hens, Mian Mubashar Saleem, Jibran Hussain, Usman Elahi, Ehsaan Ullah Khan, Muhammad Usman, Syed Ghulam Mohayudin Hashmi, Sohail Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study evaluated the interaction effects of different age groups and body weight losses during moulting on the productive performance, egg quality, and immune response of commercial laying hens. In total 324 Lohmann Selected Leghorn Lite laying hens of 80 and 108 weeks old were studied. A completely randomized experimental design in factorial arrangement, with 6 treatments of 6 replicates with 9 hens each, was applied. Treatments consisted of 2 production cycles (80 and 108 weeks) and three body weight losses during moulting (20%, 25%, and 30%). Productive performance (body weight, feed intake, egg weight, production percent, egg mass, feed …

Determination Of Plant-Specific Retrotransposons In Chicken, Levent Mercan, Ci̇hat Erdem Bülbül, Fati̇h Bi̇lgi̇, Sevgi̇ Marakli

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mobile genetic elements are also known as transposons, comprising a significant proportion of plant and animal genomes. Retrotransposons, a class of transposons, move copy and paste mechanism and, therefore, cause genome obesity. Moreover, the transferability of retrotransposons within and between different kingdoms has provided valuable information for evolutionary relationships in addition to detailed knowledge about genomes. We identified barley-specific retrotransposons (Nikita and Sukkula) and determined polymorphism ratios of these retrotransposons in a chicken genome for the first time to gain new insights for retrotransposons found in different genomes. Transposon sequences belonging to chicken and barley genomes were also investigated to …

The Effects Of Polymorphisms In The Cx3cr1 Gene On The Development Of Canine Hipdysplasia, Sertaç Atalay, Süleyman Kök

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Hip dysplasia, caused by both environmental and genetic components, is a common disorder characterized by hip instability in humans and dogs. Unfortunately, the genetic mechanisms that cause the disease in both have not been fully determined. The aim of this study was polymorphisms in the exon 2 and 3' UTR regions of the CX3CR1 gene were determined and their effects on the development of Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) in three dog breeds (German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retriever). For this purpose, a case -control study was designed with 172 dogs in Dog Breeding and Training Center (DBTC) in Turkey. Each …