Digital Commons Network^™

Simulated Effects Of Postpartum Depression On Maternal-Infant Bonding: Mediated By Reward-Related Responses To Infant Facial Cuteness, Caitlin Harp

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Infant cuteness (facial cuteness in particular) is linked to evolutionary adaptations to motivate caretaking and protective behaviors (Kringelbach et al., 2008). Previous neuroimaging work has demonstrated that infant cuteness activates reward-related regions in the brain (Glocker et al., 2009) and behavioral work suggests that the reward value of cuteness is linked to maternal tendencies (Hahn et al., 2015). It is estimated that 15% of new mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD) (Wisner et al., 2013), which impacts the mesolimbic system and is linked to anhedonia (i.e., reduced ability to experience pleasure). Based on the above literature, this study used a simulated …

Diet, Growth, And Survival Of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch) In Off-Channel Restoration Projects In Humboldt Bay Tributaries, Katherine Rose Stonecypher

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Anthropogenic degradation of off-channel floodplain habitats has contributed to widespread declines in Pacific salmonid populations. These habitats are critical to the survival and growth of juvenile Coho Salmon during their first year of life. Restoring connectivity between mainstem and floodplain habitats could provide juvenile salmonids access to a mosaic of heterogenous foraging opportunities, with important consequences for salmonid growth and survival. I analyzed the diet, growth, and survival of juvenile Coho Salmon rearing in three restored off-channel ponds and adjacent mainstem habitats in Humboldt Bay tributaries to evaluate project performance. Juvenile Coho Salmon diet composition was significantly different among sites …

"Kindness Eases Change / Love Quiets Fear": Mapping Change And Movement In Octavia Butler's Parable Of The Sower, Elizabeth Hershey

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In this project I take a digital mapping approach to reading and analyzing Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower. A lot has been said about this novel’s relevance to our own world, and the ways it forces us to think about possible futures. To contribute to the conversations surrounding this novel, I add a digital humanities element to the conversation in order to see what digital mapping has to offer in the way of literary analysis and connecting this novel to our own world. Since the novel is so focused on movement and change, I mapped out the movement of …

“Bad At Reading”: Narratives Of Boys With Negative Reading Self-Concept, Aimee Talmadge

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

There is a clear and consistent gender gap between students who view themselves as readers and those who do not (Love & Hamston, 2003). Overwhelmingly, young men report a lower self-perception of their ability and interest in reading and literacy, and this in turn impacts their growth and motivation in literacy learning. Through this study, I interviewed six students, specifically male high school students who self-identified as bad at reading or disliking reading. Through one-on-one interviews and focus groups, I explored how they viewed themselves as “non-readers” and why their reading self-perception is negative. The findings show how the lack …

Examining The Drivers Of Nocturnal Behavior Of Pikas At Lower Elevations In Lassen National Forest, California, Evan Burnett

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a charismatic mammal species adapted to occupy rockslides and boulder fields in western North America. Historically monitored due to their climate sensitivity, pikas have experienced extirpations along their lower range margins—driven by chronic and acute temperature stress—prompting increased concern and monitoring over the risks posed by anthropogenic climate change. Traditionally considered an alpine species, pikas occupy a wide range of elevations, with those at lower elevations exhibiting higher rates of nocturnality than their counterparts at higher elevations. Temperature is hypothesized to be the driver, but this has yet to be confirmed. Pikas …

Mouralherwaqh: Coastal Wetland Road Crossing Da’Luk, Filip Amborski

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The integration of Indigenous and Western science plays an essential role in Tribally led collaborations for land management. This process of woven sciences is rooted in reciprocal relations and partnerships guided by Tribal Nations. Our cohort was invited by Wiyot Tribal Representatives to investigate a culvert located within the wetlands of Mouralherwaqh— a parcel of land reacquired by the Wiyot Tribe in 2022. This document seeks to share our experience and analysis as part of the Wiyot Tribe’s broader journey in navigating ecocultural restoration projects within Mouralherwaqh. The four community interests we investigated for the wetland crossing included a resized …

Assessing The Effects Of Remaining Northern California Kelp Forest Mesopredators On Purple Sea Urchin Abundance, Distribution, And Feeding Activity, Sandra E. Traverso

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Kelp forests are threatened by regional abiotic and biotic stressors, including overgrazing by sea urchins. On the north coast of California, purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) are prolific grazers of kelp and with the regional extinction of their main predator (sunflower stars, Pycnopodia helianthoides), it is unknown whether any remaining mesopredators could exert top-down control of purple urchin populations. Other known predators of purple urchins in northern California include rock crabs, which have been shown to control sea urchin populations in Atlantic urchin barrens and indirectly cause phase shifts back to kelp forests. Yet, little is known …

The Potential For Competency-Based Teaching Methodologies To Increase Intervention Procedural Fidelity And Reduce Self-Reported Verbal Behavior Associated With Turnover In Behavior Technicians, Dean I. Shearer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Within the field of applied behavior analysis, behavior technicians (staff who are supervised by behavioral analysists and provide direct services to clients) experience relatively high rates of turnover. It is possible that improved teaching methodologies which boost the efficacy of these staff may help reduce this turnover by reducing verbal behavior associated with burnout and improve perceptions of training and supervision. We compared intervention procedural fidelity and staff ratings of burnout, supervision, and satisfaction with training following a didactic training, a behavioral skills training, and after a month-long follow up. We found that when mastery criteria were set sufficiently high …

Human Cell Modeling Of Cdkl5-Deficiency Disorder With Patient-Derived Organoids And Hd-Mea, Alyssa Paynton

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is an X-linked disorder that leads to severe cognitive impairments as well as infantile epilepsy. The only FDA approved therapy helps to reduce seizure frequency, however there are currently no cures approved. While murine models have proven useful in characterizing CDD, there are limitations due to differences in brain structure and development across species that may lead to the reported lack of spontaneous seizures in the mouse, a hallmark in humans affected by this disorder. By the utilization of patient-specific iPSCs generated into cerebral organoids, a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis into rare neurological disorders, such …

Interactions Between New Zealand Mud Snails (Potamopyrgus Antipodarum) And Toxic Cyanoabacteria (Anabaena) In Baduwa’T (Mad River), Humboldt County, California, Cecilia F. Kennelly

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Invasive species in freshwater systems are circulated around the globe, wreaking havoc on natural communities. The New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is a very successful aquatic invader that has established populations in freshwater streams, lakes, and rivers around the globe. The goal of this project was to evaluate the interactions of invasive New Zealand mud snails (NZMS) and toxic cyanobacteria Anabaena in the Mad River in Humboldt County, California. These two species of concern are found in similar habitats along the river, but their whether NZMS consume Anabaena or affect toxin production is unknown. First, I conducted …

Finding Connection: Teaching With Culturally Responsive Texts, Chloe N. Pounds

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Deciding which texts to teach in English Language Arts (ELA) classrooms poses challenges for educators. Traditionally, many teachers rely on established curricula, however, the increasing diversity of student populations highlights the need for texts that reflect student interests and backgrounds, as well as the need for culturally responsive pedagogical practices. To investigate student perceptions and benefits of culturally diverse texts, I created a short story unit and collected student reflections and teacher observations.

Barn Owls Exert Top-Down Effects On The Abundance And Behavior Of Rodent Pests, Katherine C. Larson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Predators can exert top-down effects on their prey by direct consumption, by imposing risk of predation, or a combination of both. However, empirical evidence for these effects is mixed and inconsistent. Barn owls in agriculture present a system with attributes that should, according to theory, lead to strong top-down effects, but research is limited and the distinction between effects on prey abundance and behavior remains unresolved. Understanding the top-down effect of predators on pests is a cornerstone of integrated pest management and important where barn owls may contribute to the control of rodents on farms. Vegetation can mediate the top-down …

Drought's Lingering Shadow: Monitoring The Recovery Of Sagebrush Steppe Plant Communities After Four Years Of Experimental Drought, Francisco Jesus Chavez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Droughts are projected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change, which will significantly impact terrestrial ecosystems. However, the response magnitude will vary depending on a system's resistance and resilience to drought. Furthermore, drought may elicit different responses within the hierarchical levels of plant communities (i.e., individual, community, or ecosystem responses). These effects can extend beyond the drought's duration as legacies persist and influence previously disturbed systems. I assessed whether hierarchical responses occurred within two different adjacent sagebrush plant communities, dominated by Artemisia arbuscula and Artemisia cana, during and after an experimental drought. I used nondestructive point frame …

Producing Knowledge Together: A Participatory Approach To Synthesising Research Across A Large‑Scale Collaboration In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health, Kathleen P. Conte, Alison Laycock, Jodie Bailie, Emma Walke, Leigh-Ann Onnis, Lynette Feeney, Erika Langham, Multiple Additional Authors

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

Background

Despite that stakeholder participation in evidence synthesis could result in more useful outcomes, there are few examples of processes that actively involve them in synthesis work. Techniques are needed that engage diverse stakeholders as equal partners in knowledge co-production. The aims of this paper are to describe an innovative participatory process of synthesising a large body of academic research products and compare the findings of the participatory process against two traditional approaches to synthesis: a rapid review and a structured review.

Methods

First, a rapid synthesis of all research outputs (n = 86) was conducted by researchers with …

Alternative Shelter Evaluation Report, Jacen Greene, Todd Ferry, Emily Leickly, Franklin H. Spurbeck

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

This report summarizes research by Portland State University’s Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative for the Joint Office of Homeless Services on the cost, participant experiences, and client outcomes in village-style and motel shelters as compared to each other and to traditional, congregate shelters.

Mouralherwaqh Coastal Wetland Road Crossing Da'luk, Pakunihanich Nicoli Martin

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The integration of Indigenous and Western science plays an essential role in Tribally led collaborations for land management. This process of woven sciences is rooted in reciprocal relations and partnerships guided by Tribal Nations. Our cohort was invited by Wiyot Tribal Representatives to investigate a culvert located within the wetlands of Mouralherwaqh— a parcel of land reacquired by the Wiyot Tribe in 2022. This document seeks to share our experience and analysis as part of the Wiyot Tribe’s broader journey in navigating ecocultural restoration projects within Mouralherwaqh. The four community interests we investigated for the wetland crossing included a resized …

Mouralherwaqh Coastal Wetland Road Crossing Da'luk, Natalie Mendez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The integration of Indigenous and Western science plays an essential role in Tribally led collaborations for land management. This process of woven sciences is rooted in reciprocal relations and partnerships guided by Tribal Nations. Our cohort was invited by Wiyot Tribal Representatives to investigate a culvert located within the wetlands of Mouralherwaqh— a parcel of land reacquired by the Wiyot Tribe in 2022. This document seeks to share our experience and analysis as part of the Wiyot Tribe’s broader journey in navigating ecocultural restoration projects within Mouralherwaqh. The four community interests we investigated for the wetland crossing included a resized …

Mouralherwaqh Coastal Wetland Road Crossing Da'luk, Romel Robinson Ii

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The integration of Indigenous and Western science plays an essential role in Tribally led collaborations for land management. This process of woven sciences is rooted in reciprocal relations and partnerships guided by Tribal Nations. Our cohort was invited by Wiyot Tribal Representatives to investigate a culvert located within the wetlands of Mouralherwaqh— a parcel of land reacquired by the Wiyot Tribe in 2022. This document seeks to share our experience and analysis as part of the Wiyot Tribe’s broader journey in navigating ecocultural restoration projects within Mouralherwaqh. The four community interests we investigated for the wetland crossing included a resized …

Exploring The Realities Of Queer/Trans, Black, Indigenous, And/Or People Of Color Students At Humboldt State University, Kat Hồng Nguyễn

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In this thesis, I use participant interviews with 12 queer student activists at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) and participant observation from 2019-2021 to provide a qualitative analysis of Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) student knowledge. While student activism is not a primary site of analysis in this paper, all of the participants of this study identify as student activists which has implications on their overall experience. Participants in this study note the institutional efforts to disrupt institutional memory between student leaders and activists. This study was specifically designed to combat this issue by …

The Effect Of Interval Time On Time To Exhaustion During High Intensity Interval Training Running In Recreational Male Runners, Abraham Castrejon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

High Intensity interval Training (HIIT) in running prescription can be applied in a variety of different ways, but HIIT prescription lacks specificity and efficiency in determining what duration of interval is optimal for improved aerobic performance. The purpose of this study was to test different HIIT protocols with a 1:1 ratio active: recovery intervals of 2:2 minute (Protocol 1), 4:4 minute (Protocol 2) and a continuous run trial (CRT). Seven recreational male runners (Age= 23.1 ± 3.4 yr, Height= 1.80 ± 0.1, Weight= 75.8 ± 9.6) performed a maximal oxygen consumption test (60.5 ± 4.9 ml/kg/min) with a graded exercise …

Comparative Morphology And Ultrastructure Of Olfactory Epithelia In Plethodontid Salamanders: Effect Of Life History Variation, Emily Gremling

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Many amphibian species rely on olfaction for locating prey and for social interactions during different life stages. Despite the importance of the olfactory system, research on its structure has been taxonomically limited. The most diverse family of salamanders, the Plethodontidae, has been largely excluded from research efforts to describe olfactory morphology. Although several histological studies have been conducted, no studies have yet looked at morphology at the level of ultrastructure using electron microscopy. The primary goal of my research was to examine olfactory morphology and ultrastructure in plethodontid species with a range of life history strategies, to better understand the …

Assessing Relocation Habitats And Assisted Migration Of The Lassics Lupine, An Endangered California Serpentine-Endemic, Caitlyn M. Allchin

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Lassics lupine, Lupinus constancei, is a serpentine species endemic to the Lassics Mountains of northern California, listed as critically imperiled and federally endangered. Increased encroachment from reduced fire intervals has led to elevated herbivory from small mammals. While deployment of exclosure cages has decreased negative impacts, diminishing snowpack from shifting climate continues to threaten the Lassics lupine. To locate possible refugia, I evaluated alternative sites for assisted migration. I built a habitat suitability model (HSM) using MaxEnt software and WorldClim variables to predict optimal habitat. I then evaluated aerial imagery, topography, and geology to identify areas for microhabitat …

Fire Severity Mediates Marten And Fisher Occurrence: Impacts Of The Dixie Fire On A Carnivore Community, Christopher James Collier

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The consumption of an astounding one million acres resulted from California’s largest single fire to date, the 2021 Dixie Fire. The social and economic losses associated with the fire were immediately apparent, but the effects on wildlife remained unknown. While previous research has suggested mixed or low severity fire may be beneficial to certain wildlife species, the responses to megafires are poorly understood for many carnivores. To better understand these responses to severe fire, I used a random sampling design stratified by burn severity to survey in and around the Dixie Fire footprint using baited camera stations. This allowed me …

Beyond The Classroom: A Land-Based Approach To Outdoor Education, Jacquelyn R. Matthews

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This pilot project seeks to nurture space for Indigenous perspectives while equipping early childhood educators with tools for integrating diverse epistemology into outdoor learning practices to foster collaborative educational approaches. To align with this effort of shared knowledge, the project intends to offer a culturally sustaining educational tool that can help disrupt dominant approaches by evaluating alternative teaching strategies that center partnerships with local Indigenous communities to move toward equity-centered education. This can be achieved by modeling a resource guide after the theoretical underpinnings of Etuaptmumk Two-Eyed Seeing, and land-based pedagogy. A major component of this resource guide will include …

Using Habitat Modeling To Locate New Populations Of Dunn's Salamander (Plethodon Dunni) Near Its Southern Geographic Range Limit, Mary A. Mackey

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Habitat suitability models were utilized to direct survey efforts for Plethodon dunni in Northern California. Two models were created, one using traditional statistical methods (GLM or Generalized Linear Modeling) and the other using a machine learning method (MaxEnt or Maximum Entropy modeling). Plots were selected from areas of agreement and disagreement between the models to carry out presence surveys. The MaxEnt model yielded better predictions than the GLM model. The two models had three variables in common (annual temperature range, precipitation of driest month, and precipitation seasonality) and predicted suitable habitat within the known range of P. dunni. The …

Physical And Mental Health Benefits Of An Intergenerational Yoga Intervention On Individuals And Communities, Crystal Rose Mckinney

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Intergenerational health programming has been shown to elicit positive physical, mental, psychological and social health benefits of all participants due to the educational impact and social engagement of synchronized movement and understanding of other generations. Research continues to show the efficacy of yoga in mind - body - spirit - connection health benefits and is accessible to bodies across the lifespan. People of all ages can benefit from an intergenerational yoga program, particularly in a rural location where there are less opportunities for physical activity participation. The purpose of this project is to apply for Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild …

Adoption Of Holistic Education Practices: A Survey Of California K-12 Educator Experiences, Arianne M. Nova

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, the federal government must explicitly consider holistic approaches to education as essential for the well-being and future of students in public schools. Holistic education, which extends beyond traditional academics to nurture the 'whole child,' has garnered substantial support in the literature for its positive impact on academic performance, behavior, and student well-being. This research explores educator perspectives on holistic education in a K-12 California school district. By surveying teachers, counselors, school social workers, and principals within this district, I assess their awareness concerning structural levels, available resources, and implementation capabilities related to holistic education. …

Longevity Of Prescribed Fire Effectiveness In Mixed-Evergreen Forests Of The Klamath Mountains, Kaily M. Fineran

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Prescribed fire is a common management tool used across the western United States to create wildfire-resilient ecosystems and communities. The Klamath Mountains of northern California, USA has experienced numerous, large wildfires in recent years. This is due in part to a combination of highly flammable fuels, uncharacteristic weather events, and high fuel accumulations as a result of fire exclusion and forest management practices. Within the last decade, local land management organizations and the Karuk Tribe have begun re-introducing prescribed fire in low elevation, mixed evergreen forests. While the long-term effects of fuel treatments are not well-known, these efforts provided a …

Post-Fire Persistance Of Sequoia Semperviens In A Secondary Forest: Examining Drivers Of Basal Resprouting Response, Jackson T. Carrasco

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Historically frequent-fire forest ecosystems are now facing increased size, frequency, and severity of fires attributed to climate change, intensive forest management, and fire exclusion. Understanding post-fire resilience in forest ecosystems is critical amidst escalating challenges posed by recent increases in fire activity. This study examined the basal resprouting response of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in a secondary forest two years after the CZU Lightning Complex fire on the central coast of California. Robust allometric equations were developed to quantify redwood resprout biomass and leaf area, revealing strong explanatory power for biomass equations (R² > 0.85). Probability of …

Characterizing The Habitat Use Of Pacific Coast Feeding Group Gray Whales (Eschrichtius Robustus) And The Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Their Benthic And Planktonic Invertebrate Prey In Northern California, Robyn E. Norman

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As opportunistic foragers, the Eastern North Pacific population (~20,000) of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) feed on diverse benthic and planktonic invertebrates in northern Alaska foraging grounds before they undertake one of the largest yearly migrations of any mammal to breed in Baja California, Mexico. While most of the population travels to the summer foraging grounds in Alaska, a sub-group of whales (~230) called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) summer between British Columbia, Canada, and northern California. The diet of PCFG whales typically includes high-density and/or high-caloric prey items like mysids and diverse species of amphipods, yet a …