Digital Commons Network^™

Mapping Mesic Resilience In Western Rangelands: Productivity Trends, Predictors, And Targeting Frameworks, Kristopher Robert Mueller

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Mesic ecosystems in riparian areas and wetlands make up only 2% of western U.S. rangelands but support 80% of wildlife during dry periods, providing vital late-season forage and refuge when surrounding uplands dry out. Yet, mesic habitats are often overlooked in landscape-scale conservation planning. This thesis addresses two key gaps: understanding how mesic productivity responds to environmental change and developing frameworks to incorporate these habitats into current conservation strategies. Using 40 years of Landsat imagery (1984–2024), we examined long-term trends in late-season mesic vegetation productivity and its relationship with drought across the sagebrush biome. From 1984 to 2004, mesic productivity …

Echoes Of Heritage: Understanding The Impact Of Subtractive Bilingualism On Emotional Well-Being And Bicultural Identity In First- And Second-Generation Immigrants, Anna Reszewicz

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The effects of emotional well-being and cultural identity have been widely examined, yet little research has examined these outcomes among subtractive bilinguals. This study aimed to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the relationship between emotional well-being and bicultural identity among first- and second-generation immigrants in the United States who were identified as subtractive bilinguals and non-subtractive bilinguals. Subtractive bilinguals are defined as individuals who learn a second language (L2) while experiencing a decline in proficiency or usage of their heritage language (L1). Using self-report measures, 170 participants were recruited and completed an eligibility survey that included the …

Impacts Of Fire-Driven Vegetation Changes On Evapotranspiration In North American Boreal Forests, Tyler Glen Albrethsen

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

A growing body of evidence suggests that land cover change could be impacting evapotranspiration (ET) trends more than the direct impacts of climate change (Dashti et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2015). In boreal forests, one of the Earth’s most important carbon sinks (Kang et al., 2006), climate and disturbance-driven land cover change is progressing rapidly, threatening the resilience of conifer-dominated forests (Baltzer et al., 2021; Massey et al., 2023). The spread of deciduous trees and the changing structure of boreal forests likely have large implications for the magnitude and seasonality of ecosystem water fluxes (Young-Robertson et al., 2016). This …

Identity Construction Of Post-2000s Class Monitors In The Public University Of China, Guoming Li

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The identity construction experiences of a key group of student leaders in China’s public universities, class monitors born after the year 2000, were explored through a descriptive phenomenological approach guided by Giorgi’s (2019) framework. From the in-depth interviews with 14 participants, how these student leaders interpret and make meaning of their experiences within the unique context of China’s student cadre system was investigated. Three central dimensions of identity construction were showed: (1) alignment with servant leadership discourses that emphasize responsibility, care, and moral commitment to peers; (2) navigation of a complex followership process involving compliance and responsiveness to institutional supervisors; …

Causes And Consecuences Of Gene Expression Divergence In The Rodent Placenta, Luis Fernando Rodriguez Caro

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Understanding the origin and diversification of reproductive traits is a central goal in evolutionary biology. In mammals, the placenta represents a key evolutionary innovation that reshaped developmental strategies and enabled the ecological success of the clade. Yet despite its importance, the genetic mechanisms and selective pressures driving placental evolution remain poorly understood, due in part to methodological challenges and the limited phylogenetic and genomic scope of prior studies. This dissertation research addresses these gaps by integrating comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and new analytical tools to investigate placental gene regulation across closely related rodent species. Chapter one presents an extensive comparison of …

How Perceptions Of Trauma Impact The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Events And Drinking Habits Of College Students, Caitlin M. Ward

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been consistently linked to alcohol misuse across the lifespan; however, little research has examined how individuals’ perceptions of these experiences contribute to risky drinking behaviors. The present study investigated the associations among ACEs, perceived traumatic impact of childhood adversity, gender identity, and alcohol use among 211 undergraduate students ages 18 to 25 at the University of Montana (Missoula). Participants completed measures assessing ACE exposure, perceived trauma impact, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), adult adverse experiences, and alcohol use (AUDIT). ACE scores significantly predicted higher AUDIT scores in an unadjusted model; however, this relationship was no longer significant …

Enhancing School Counselor Preparedness: The Effect Of Emotional Regulation Training On Outcomes Of Emotional Regulation, Self-Efficacy, And Wellness Measures, Allison Lynn Bristow

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

School Counselors in Training (SCITs) face distinctive challenges while developing their clinical skills and managing the complexities of school counseling. These challenges can lead to emotional strain and burnout, making it essential for SCITs to cultivate strong emotional regulation skills. Counseling and education researchers have discussed various strategies to assist counselors in enhancing emotional regulation skills. However, limited research has assessed the effectiveness of specific trainings on emotion regulation, especially for SCITs. This quantitative study investigates the effectiveness of an emotional regulation (ER) training program offered to SCITs during their field placements in schools. The central research question is whether …

Ecology-Driven Machine Learning For Predicting Risk Of Spread For Aquatic Invasive Species., Leif Eric Howard

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Effective management of aquatic invasive species (AIS) requires predictive tools that leverage environmental and ecological data to forecast spread into uninvaded areas. However, species distribution models (SDMs) often struggle to capture key invasion processes such as dispersal, propagule pressure, and biotic interactions. This thesis integrates ecological, dispersal, and environmental predictors within a machine learning framework to enhance AIS risk prediction and model transferability across space.

In Chapter 2, 61 novel predictors were developed for 2,203 Minnesota lakes to model zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) occurrence, incorporating variables related to propagule pressure (e.g., boat visitation), community composition (e.g., fish species …

Counselor Educators’ Understanding Of Ableism: A Mixed Methods Study, Cynthia Renee Boyle

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Ableism, defined as beliefs and practices that prioritize able-bodiedness and lead to disability discrimination, is a prevalent but often overlooked form of oppression rooted in the historical American legacy of other forms of prejudice, discrimination, and is foundationally rooted in higher education through eugenics. Despite the counseling profession's mandate for multicultural competence, disability issues and ableism are often excluded from mainstream curriculum, contributing to a knowledge gap among counselor educators. This convergent mixed methods study explored and analyzed counselor educators’ understanding of ableism using a cross-sectional questionnaire administered to 48 participants. Quantitative results indicated a positive correlation between more formal …

The Hardheaded Got To Feel It To Believe It, Magdalene Eden Luna-Buckelew

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Memoire short stories about the author’s experiences in Southern California working as an artist, exotic dancer, and going through various 12 step recovery programs and therapies to heal from childhood trauma.

Who Are We Restoring Maunalua For? Place Name Resurgence And Environmental Restoration In Maunalua, O‘Ahu, Cassidy J. Hollenbeck

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

While numerous research studies have been published in recent decades on biological degradation and climate risks facing Maunalua, very few studies have centered on the sociopolitical dimensions of this region. By celebrating community pilina (intimacy, relationship) and biocultural restoration in Maunalua, this project aims to challenge the dominant narratives of degradation on this region. Centering Decolonizing and Kanaka ‘Ōiwi methodologies, this project builds on N. Ha‘alilo Solomon’s book chapter, Maunalua: Shifting Nomenclatures and the Reconfiguration of Space in Hawaii Kai (2022), celebrating ongoing projects of inoa ‘āina (place name) resurgence. Engaging snowball sampling in qualitative community-based participatory research methods, I …

An Assessment Of The California Logging Workforce, Kendra Jean Gerstenberg

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

There is limited literature describing the capacity and capabilities of the logging workforce in California. This study examines the logging workforce in California to quantify the number of logging crews, assess demographic diversity, and evaluate capacity and capabilities. The target population was California Licensed Timber Operators (LTOs) who have the legal right to harvest timber. A survey was developed and distributed to LTOs on the CAL FIRE database. Surveys were also distributed at regional logging conferences or collected by phone. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and emergent coding for follow-up interviews was conducted. There …

Campesino World-Building: Stories Of Migration, Memory, And Care In The Tension Of The Colonial Frame, Chelsea Ríos Gómez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Campesinos, often reduced to the label of “farmworkers”, are too often seen only through the lens of their labor within profit-driven systems. This thesis disrupts that limited narrative by illuminating the rich, expansive nature of vivencias campesinas, ways of being that transcend capitalist measures of value. These vivencias are lived, embodied experiences rooted in campesino lifeways, encompassing cultural, spiritual, and relational practices that nurture and sustain life.

My research is guided by four central questions: (1) In what ways have campesinos in pixley resisted exploitative labor systems, and how can this resistance be understood as a form of care labor? …

Exploring The Influence Of Ethnic Studies On Latinx Students In Rural Northern California, Georgina C. Salvarrey

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Latinx students have historically encountered a traditional education system that often neglects their perspectives, histories, and epistemologies through curricula and pedagogical practices that favor hegemonic narratives. This marginalization has led to the obscuration of significant aspects of the histories of non-dominant racial and ethnic groups, effectively diminishing students’ ability to engage with both their local and global realities critically. Ethnic Studies, as an academic field, proposes an interdisciplinary educational approach that challenges the colonizing methods inherent in the Western educational paradigm by centering the narratives and experiences of People of Color. This ethnographic study investigates the experiences of Latinx high …

From The Ashes: Lessons In Community Recovery From 2020 Wildfires In Northern California And Southern Oregon, Catriona Grace Barr

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As wildfires grow in size, frequency, and severity, it is increasingly important to understand how communities recover from destructive fire. Working closely with partner organizations, I examined post-fire recovery in three communities impacted by the record-breaking 2020 fire season: Talent and Phoenix, Oregon; Happy Camp, California; and Ruth and Zenia, California. While each of these communities experienced severe losses as a result of fire, they embody a range of social and economic contexts. Evaluating recovery three to four years after fire, I explored how these distinctly different communities have defined and worked towards post-fire recovery. Through 76 interviews with fire …

Exploring Coastal Spaces Of Tribal Sovereignty And Self-Determination In Ancestral Waters Proposed For Offshore Wind Development, Alyssa Suarez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Proposed offshore wind development off California’s North Coast raises novel questions about Tribal sovereignty offshore. This project specifically engages claims, assuming the Yurok Tribe’s framing that offshore wind development poses a coastal hazard. The research followed a co-production framework. The research questions were co-designed with the Yurok Tribe and the research itself governed by a Data Sharing Agreement. The work presents findings from 13 semi-structured interviews with individuals and experts navigating sovereignty in the offshore wind space, including government representatives; lawyers; legal researchers; academics; foundation staff; journalists; and Humboldt Bay community members. Participants identified several key tensions surrounding claims of …

"Gen Z Climate Being": Podcast Series On Youth, Climate Emotions, And Affective Climate Justice, Rachel Wynne Moszkowicz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

My project is a co-created 6 part podcast series with youth and the program lead from the Climate Mental Health Network’s Gen Z Advisory Board informed by affective climate justice, youth, mental health and education. This work foregrounds the embodied climate knowing and being of youth climate activists, offers ideas for a different relationship to climate change and climate education futures. In this podcast, Gen Zers speak to the youth mental health crisis as it relates to climate. My thesis project engages with and invites conversations that reflect the climate itself, which is non-linear, complex, porous, creative, expansive, and woven …

An Evaluation Of Fuel Model Accuracy And Multi-Scale Mitigation Strategies In The Wildland-Urban Interface Of Southern Humboldt County, Julia I. Cavalli

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Strategic placement of fuel treatments is critical for mitigating wildfire risk and reducing potential structure losses in wildland-urban interface (WUI) communities. As wildfire activity accelerates across the western United States, the need to identify high-impact fuel treatment locations grows increasingly urgent. Concurrently, housing development in the WUI is expanding, intensifying the exposure of homes and infrastructure to wildfire threats. In response, many communities are looking to mitigate the likelihood and severity of losses during wildfire events. The success of these efforts depends, in part, on robust data to support strategic placement of effective treatments that reduce fuel availability.

This study …

Place-Based Learning Practices: A Diptych Case Study Of Human And More-Than-Human Relationality At The Tribal And Western Academic Institutional Interface, Karley M. Rojas-Vienneau

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The ‘Place-Based Learning Practices Project’ is a graduate project under the Native American Studies Department Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute (FSL). Making contributions at the intersection of Western academia and Indigenous science, it imagines and realizes content, policies, and protocols surrounding two case studies and the larger cal poly humboldt (cph) institution which respect, honor, and uplift Indigenous sovereignty and resurgence in partnership with the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe and the greater regional tribal community. Encompassing two projects internal and external to the institution, I aim to address the construction of controlled and protective environments …

North American River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Prey Selection Of Wintering Waterbirds In A Wetland Complex, Gina Yael Culver

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Generalist predators are assumed to take a wide variety of prey throughout an annual cycle, often switching between food sources depending on availability. Prey selection is often studied by way of variables such as prey age class, body size, and various topics related to anti-predator behaviors, all variables used to measure how predators target prey. Following prior studies in coastal Northern California documenting that river otters (Lontra canadensis) had selected waterbirds as prey, we identified undigested prey items in scat to evaluate prey selection of waterbirds at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS). We compared feathers found …

Our Stories Of Coming Home: Project Rebound Student Experiences At Cal Poly Humboldt And College Of The Redwoods, Eddie Peña

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The explosion of the prison population over the last 50 years has dramatically increased the number of people in the reentry process. Understanding the reentry process, and how students connected to Project Rebound experience reentry is crucial to developing prescriptive services that will support student success. The study used semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions. The questions focused on the time before release, immediately after release, and future goals. Interviews were coded line-by-line and themes were discovered using a modified Grounded Research approach. Results suggest being incarcerated and the reentry process comes with mixed emotions. Students felt anxious and afraid in …

The Menstrual Cycle, Dual-Hormone Hypothesis, And Competition: Implications For Athletic Performance, Camille Burns

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Female athletes perceive that the fluctuating hormones of the menstrual cycle affect their performance. However, research on objective performance is inconclusive, partly due to a lack of studies conducted in real-world competitive contexts. Testosterone is often seen to be elevated near ovulation and is related to social competitiveness. Under the dual-hormone hypothesis, testosterone only predicts competitive behavior when cortisol is low. The current study had two goals: (1) to test whether the dual-hormone hypothesis applied to competitive drive and objective athletic performance, and (2) to examine whether competitiveness and the intensity of one’s response to competition varied across the menstrual …

Testosterone Reactivity And Parental Care Motivation In Men As A Function Of Parental Status, Nathan Boone

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Paternal investment and caregiving quality have lasting impacts on children's well-being. Children with sensitive, involved fathers typically develop more secure attachments and have fewer behavioral and psychological problems than children with less sensitive and involved fathers. While the importance of fathers’ engagement with their children is well established, the biological mechanisms that underpin paternal behavior are not fully understood. Previous research has found that baseline testosterone levels and testosterone reactivity to infant stimuli are both relevant predictors of paternal sensitivity. Short-term decreases in testosterone in nurturant contexts, and short-term increases in testosterone in challenging contexts have both been linked to …

Representation In Higher Education: A Closer Look Into Cal Poly Humboldt’S Hsi Designation Through The Courageous Cuentos Retrospective, Audriana Peñaloza

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

When it comes to representation in education, it can be inconsistent. For many students of color, it can either feel like their identity is included in the conversations in the classroom and on campus, or it can feel like an afterthought — especially in higher education. Many colleges in the country are classified as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Cal Poly Humboldt being one of them. This designation claims that Humboldt has the resources and support systems for all students of color, especially for the Hispanic/Latine population on campus. However, it looks like it is the student population that rise …

The Experience Of Child Language Brokering In Latin/Hispanic Students: Understanding How Clb Shapes Attitudes Towards Higher Education, Noemi Maldonado

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Immigrants often pursuing a better life than that in their own places of birth migrate to the states. In order to make lives in the states they bring their families with them or begin to create their own already inside the host country. With little knowledge of the place, they arrive and with nothing more than the help of their children, they seek to find a place in the society they became a part of. Immigrant children or those who come from migrant families often must help their parents, caretakers, or extended family manage the English language and American culture …

Lineation To Liberation: The Transformative Power Of Poetic Rhetoric, Amber Rae Alvarez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project explores the transformative power of poetic rhetoric and examines how poetry as a form of expressive art serves as a means of reclamation in the aftermath of encounters with the American criminal justice system. I contend that poetry provides a space where folks can reimagine (and reclaim) their identities, asserting their agency in empowering and authentic ways. Taking a Cultural Studies and Critical Prison Studies informed approach, this project engages the concept of lineation to liberation to conduct a close reading analysis of artist (Reginald) Dwayne Betts’ poetry. Betts’ work not only provides a powerful example of how …

Power & Danger: A Glimpse Into K-12 Sexual And Reproductive Health Education Via Instagram, Sade Perez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Within the Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12) public school system, educators teach a wide array of subject areas and topics with the intention of preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Navigating legislative requirements, community acceptance and opposition, curriculum developments, evolving political landscapes, and a multitude of other challenges, educators that teach controversial subjects are faced with unique challenges. In California, legislation such as the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) of 2016, impacts the teaching experiences of those teaching what many deem controversial; sexual and reproductive health education (SRHE). While there is extensive research on the experiences of educators across …

Environmental And Spatial Drivers Of Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes Maliger) Growth In The Northeast Pacific Ocean From California To Alaska, Claire E. Stuart

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger) are a nearshore fishery species found across the Northeast Pacific Ocean, but recent stock assessments have identified a research gap for biological growth parameters, particularly for the southern end of their range. Age-length data compiled from California to Alaska (n=34,396) was used to generate extended von Bertalanffy models with spatial, biological, and environmental covariates, specifically region, sex, depth, and an upwelling index. The objectives of this study were to explore how 1) spatial and 2) environmental covariates affect model parameters L_∞, k, and t₀. Four total models were developed: …

Curriculum Addressing Recidivism: A Case Study Of Project Rebound’S Youth Empowerment Program, Julie Stewart

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Providing effective rehabilitation for justice-involved youth is an increasing priority within the American social justice system, yet remains a significant challenge. The Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) at Cal Poly Humboldt uses curriculum to support learning objectives related to emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and emotional maturation, with the broader goal of reducing recidivism among youth in Northern California. Although curriculum design is widely understood in education as essential for effective learning, limited research examines how youth rehabilitation programs in carceral settings use curriculum to address the developmental and learning needs of participants. Using a case study methodology, this research examines how …

The Effects Of Anxiety On Rock Climbing Performance In A Competition Setting, Jackson W. Miller

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how anxiety affects rock climbing performance in a simulated competition setting. Anxiety is known to influence motor performance in athletic environments, often impairing fine motor coordination, decision-making, and movement efficiency. This research aimed to explore whether elevated competitive pressure would alter climb time, move count, and total mistakes made during bouldering performance. Fifteen intermediate climbers (V5 level) were recruited and completed three separate trials of the same route under varying conditions: (1) a control climb, (2) a self-competition trial where participants attempted to beat their own baseline time, and (3) a head-to-head …