Digital Commons Network^™

Drone Law: Legal Research Basics And Sources, Kincaid C. Brown

Law Librarian Scholarship

Drones, legally called “unmanned aircraft systems” (UAS), are primarily governed by federal law with some aspects overseen by state and local law. The system includes the aircraft itself and its associated elements for communication and operation. This article discusses the basic framework of federal and Michigan law governing UAS.

Plaster Creek Floodplain And Adjacent Ravines Near Stanaback Park: Botanical Inventory Highlights And Management Considerations, David Warners, Garrett Crow, Haley Weesies

Faculty and Professional Research

In the summer of 2021, the research team visited this area of ravines and floodplain a total of twenty-one times to conduct our field research. During the visits, they carefully walked throughout different sections of the study site, identifying each vascular plant species they saw growing there and observing how the flora developed throughout the season. In addition to keeping detailed field notes, they documented permanent records of the findings of our inventory by collecting voucher specimens that have been deposited in the Calvin University Herbarium. Additionally, they sent duplicate specimens to the Michigan State University Herbarium and/or University of …

A Review Of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination In Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using A Detroit Lens, Carol J. Miller, Melissa Runge-Morris, Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow, Jennifer K. Straughen, Timothy M. Dittrich, Tracie R. Baker, Michael C. Petriello, Gil Mor, Douglas M. Ruden, Brendan F. O'Leary, Sadaf Teimoori, Chandra M. Tummala, Samantha Heldman, Manisha Agarwal, Katherine Roth, Zhao Yang, Bridget B. Baker

Public Health Sciences Articles

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of aromatic or chlorinated organic chemicals commonly found in manufactured products that have high vapor pressure, and thus vaporize readily at room temperature. While airshed VOCs are well studied and have provided insights into public health issues, we suggest that belowground VOCs and the related vapor intrusion process could be equally or even more relevant to public health. The persistence, movement, remediation, and human health implications of subsurface VOCs in urban landscapes remain relatively understudied despite evidence of widespread contamination. This review explores the state of the science of subsurface movement and remediation …

Fetal And Early Postnatal Lead Exposure Measured In Teeth Associates With Infant Gut Microbiota, Alexandra R. Sitarik, Manish Arora, Christine Austin, Lawrence F. Bielak, Shoshannah Eggers, Christine C. Johnson, Susan V Lynch, Sung Kyun Park, Kuan-Han H. Wu, Germaine Jm Yong, Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow

Public Health Sciences Articles

BACKGROUND: Lead (Pb) is an environmentally ubiquitous heavy metal associated with a wide range of adverse health effects in children. Both lead exposure and the early life microbiome- which plays a critical role in human development-have been linked to similar health outcomes, but it is unclear if the adverse effects of lead are partially driven by early life gut microbiota dysbiosis. The objective of this study was to examine the association between in utero and postnatal lead levels (measured in deciduous baby teeth) and early life bacterial and fungal gut microbiota in the first year of life.

METHODS: Data from …

Barriers And Facilitators To Voting For People With Disabilities In Michigan Rural Communities, Christian Aguilar-Quiroz, Kaylyn Brzys, Chris Paclibar, Kyle Witte

Community Based

Objective: In this study, we sought to investigate and obtain data on the perceived barriers and facilitators that rural Michigan residents with disabilities face throughout the voting process.

Method: We conducted two separate focus groups in two different rural areas of Michigan asking a series of semi-structured questions about the participants’ voting experiences. We obtained recorded interviews, qualitative data, of their answers to these prepared questions.

Results: Physical accessibility was limited by poor lighting for people with low vision problems and a lack of accommodations for those who are not able to stand for a prolonged time while waiting in …

Detection And Classification Of Eurasian Watermilfoil With Multispectral Drone-Enabled Sensing, Colin Brooks

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Littoral zones support growth of submerged aquatic vegetation, creating productive areas that provide food and habitat for fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and other parts of the food web. Understanding macrophyte dynamics requires the identification of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) taxa, which can be possible if taxa of interest are spectrally distinct with data collected at appropriate scales. Eurasian watermilfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum or EWM, is a non-native SAV species that forms thick, often monotypic beds that reduce benthic species richness, restrict recreation, reduce property values, clog water intakes, and lower dissolved oxygen concentrations. Remote sensing of SAV species has to address the …

Effects Of Wild Pig Disturbance On Forest Vegetation And Soils, Steven M. Gray, Gary J. Roloff, Daniel B. Kramer, Dwayne R. Etter, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Robert A. Montgomery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In North America, wild pigs (Sus scrofa; feral pigs, feral swine, wild boars) are a widespread exotic species capable of creating large‐scale biotic and abiotic landscape perturbations. Quantification of wild pig environmental effects has been particularly problematic in northern climates, where they occur only recently as localized populations at low densities. Between 2016 and 2017, we assessed short‐term (within ~2 yrs of disturbance) effects of a low‐density wild pig population on forest features in the central Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA. We identified 16 8‐ha sites using global positioning system locations from 7 radio‐collared wild pigs for sampling.Within each …

Effects Of Infanticide Risk And Timber Harvest On American Black Bear Space Use, D. Cody Norton

All NMU Master's Theses

Space use is an important aspect of bear ecology that maybe influenced by infanticide risk and timber harvest. I used generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine if female American black bear (Ursus americanus) space use was consistent with avoidance behavior to reduce infanticide risk in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the 2009–2011 and 2013–2014 breeding seasons. Females with cubs occupied core areas and home ranges of similar size and relative probability of male use to females without cubs. Additionally, females with cubs did not reduce movements during times of day when male movements were greatest. Female …

"A Flood Of Problems" In Michigan: An Urban Environmental History, Nancy M. Germano

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Climate Change And Postdelisting Management On Long‐Term Population Viability Of The Conservation‐Reliant Kirtland's Warbler, Donald J. Brown, Deahn M. Donner, Christine A. Ribic, Carol I. Bocetti

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Rapid global climate change is resulting in novel abiotic and biotic conditions and in‐ teractions. Identifying management strategies that maximize probability of long‐term persistence requires an understanding of the vulnerability of species to environmen‐ tal changes. We sought to quantify the vulnerability of Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii), a rare Neotropical migratory songbird that breeds almost exclusively in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and winters in the Bahamian Archipelago, to pro‐ jected environmental changes on the breeding and wintering grounds. We devel‐ oped a population‐level simulation model that incorporates the influence of annual environmental conditions on the breeding and wintering grounds, …

Gvsu Press Releases, 2019, Grand Valley State University

University Press Releases, 1961-Present

A compilation of press releases for the year 2019 submitted by University Communications (formerly News & Information Services) to news agencies concerning the people, places, and events related to Grand Valley State University.

Who Takes The Bait? Non-Target Species Use Of Bear Hunter Bait Sites, Ellen M. Candler, William J. Severud, Joseph K. Bump

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Hunting bears (Ursus spp.) over baits is legal in many countries, states, and provinces, but the practice remains a controversial topic among wildlife managers, hunting groups, and the general public. The baits used to attract bears may also provide a pulsed resource on the landscape that can be used by other wildlife species, particularly carnivores. To determine what other species might use bear bait sites, we constructed and monitored 21 bear bait sites with camera traps from August to October 2016 in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. The sites mimicked typical American black bear (U. americanus …

Effects Of Fire Season And Temperature On A Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea Stoebe) Infested Grassland, Zachery T. Pitman

Masters Theses

Invasive species, including the non-native forb Centaurea stoebe (spotted knapweed), constitute an imminent threat to degraded and restored native prairies. Considering the major threat that C. stoebe poses to imperiled prairie ecosystems, I examined the effectiveness of fire as a control agent of C. stoebe and (±)-catechin. I conducted a 2-year experiment in part of a restored tallgrass prairie community at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County, Michigan between May and August of 2016 and 2017. My experiment consisted of individually burning 60 1-m² plots with a propane torch to achieve high (316° C) and low (103° C) temperatures …

Lonely This Side Of Nowhere, Anne Okonowski

All NMU Master's Theses

In this creative work, the writer explores familial relationships as well as what is home. Combining nonfiction essays, fiction, poetry, and images in one narrative, this work is comprised of multiple stories to create a related narrative. This project is a celebration of storytelling through multiple genres, and draws from multiple sources of inspiration, including both creative and critical works.

Home-Range Dynamics And Resource Selection Of American Marten (Martes Americana) In Michigan’S Northern Lower Peninsula, Angela Kujawa

Masters Theses

American marten (Martes americana) are typically associated with mature coniferous forests. Marten were extirpated from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula due to human impacts, such as fire, logging, and over-harvest. Little is known about the resource selection and distribution of marten in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula since their reintroduction in 1985-86. Resource selection functions are valuable tools to estimate the relative probability an animal will utilize an area and predict where they may occur. When creating a resource selection function, potential sources of variation in data collection methods and wildlife populations should be considered to ensure accurate results. We sought …

Gvsu Press Releases, 2018, Grand Valley State University

University Press Releases, 1961-Present

A compilation of press releases for the year 2018 submitted by University Communications (formerly News & Information Services) to news agencies concerning the people, places, and events related to Grand Valley State University.

Improving The Lifestyle Of Andrews Korean Seventh-Day Adventist Church Members, Myung Do Park

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Andrews Korean Seventh-day Adventist church in Berrien Springs, Michigan has holistic lifestyle problems that are on the rise. Church members are experiencing health issues such as cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and insomnia. In observing dietary patterns, it was noticed that some of our members do not bother to ascertain the content of the food being eaten. Other members have express the desire to learn about a healthy lifestyle. Purposeful attention to this need of the church is necessary. As a church community comprised of mostly pastors, university students and their families it is time to advocate …

The Palimpsest Boys, Brandon Stump, Brandon Stump

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

These short stories deal with young boys and men who raise themselves in the absence of proper parenting. In particular, they wrestle with big questions about the family unit, sex, and love.

Cordulegaster Erronea Hagen In Sels (Tiger Spiketail) Rediscovered In Michigan (Odonata: Cordulegastridae), Mark F. O'Brien, Darrin S. O'Brien, Julie A. Craves

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cordulegaster erronea Hagen in Selys (Tiger Spiketail) has been included on the list of Michigan Odonata based on one specimen collected in 1934. In 2016, the species was found in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It is the least abundant Cordulegaster species in Michigan, and the habitat requirements in Michigan are compared with known C. erronea habitats in Ohio and New Jersey

Our Cruise In The Baltic, Delivered On June 15, 2017, Arend D. Lubbers

Presidential Speeches

Our Cruise in the Baltic, delivered on June 15, 2017 by Arend D. Lubbers, who served as President of Grand Valley from 1969-2001.

Trapped: Steel, Whiskey, Extinction, And The Upper Peninsula Fur Trade, Robert Archibald

Upper Country: A Journal of the Lake Superior Region

This article examines the detrimental ramification to the Upper Peninsula’s environment due to the cultural exchanges of the fur trade. It highlights the often exploitative trade between the Native Americans and European newcomers and the impact in the region.

I-69 Thumb Region Asset Mapping Of Work-Based Programs And Initiatives: Final Report, Lee Adams, Bryan Bommersbach, Brian Pittelko, Claudette Robey, Jim Robey, Bridget Timmeney

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Trash Birder's Guide, Ashely Adams

All NMU Master's Theses

This collection of essays details the author’s experience with birds and the bird watching sub-culture. The author grapples with obsession, exploration, and human-animal relationships. Essays include the search for peregrine falcons and ‘u’aus, navigating “The Biggest Week in American Birding,” and tending to owls and geese at a bird sanctuary. In addition, the essays seek to use the langue and images of birding to create an interconnected narrative that not only illuminates the birding sub-culture, but also the world of a transient young birder.

The Perceptions Of Michigan Hunters Regarding Wolves (Canis Lupus) And The Ldea Of A Wolf-Hunt As A Management Option, Zachary A. Merrill

Masters Theses

Gray wolves (Canis lupus) are an important keystone species in mixed forest ecosystems throughout the Great Lakes region. Due to wolves being placed on the Endangered Species List in 1974, the wolf population of Michigan has increased from near extinction in 1974 to greater than 650 in 2013. The return of wolves to northern Michigan ecosystems has re-ignited complex debates regarding how humans and wolves should best coexist. Wildlife professionals have become increasingly aware of the importance of human response for sound wildlife management decisions. The most effective management plans require cooperation from all parties, including farmers, citizens, tourists, wildlife …

Assessment Of A New Healthy Food Policy At Two Food Pantries In Grand Rapids, Mi, Katherine D. Hekstra

Masters Theses

Background The purpose of food pantries has traditionally been to provide short-term assistance to food insecure individuals, however recent research indicates that food pantries are often used longer periods of time. This increased use indicates a greater importance for food pantries to distribute nutrient-dense foods to food insecure individuals, some who may suffer from chronic disease. Objectives This study measured food pantry client satisfaction pre- and post- implementation of a new healthy food policy at two Grand Rapids, MI food pantries. An additional purpose was to measure the change in food environment and distribution of nutrient-dense foods after implementation of …

The Upper Peninsula As It Was: What The Europeans Encountered, Robert Archibald

Upper Country: A Journal of the Lake Superior Region

This essay establishes a baseline for measuring environmental change caused by the influx of Europeans beginning in the seventeenth century. In it the author describes the natural forces including volcanism, sedimentation, geologic metamorphism, and glaciation as natural forces that shaped the landscape of the Upper Peninsula and created deposits of minerals. He uses survey notes, travel accounts and journals to describe flora and fauna prior to large-scale commercial exploitation

Investigating The Social Habitat Of Deer Hunters In Michigan, Christopher Henderson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

State wildlife management agencies are funded primarily by revenue from hunting and angling license sales as well as federal excise taxes on equipment. These agencies are also responsible for managing wildlife populations and providing recreational resources to the public. Declines in hunting participation across much of the United States throughout the last two decades have prompted researchers and wildlife professionals to search for explanations and solutions that will ensure a level of funding for state agencies that allows continued management of wildlife within biological and social carrying capacities, engagement in conservation initiatives, and development of recreational opportunities. Most of the …

Fitting In: A Study Of Lesbian Mothers In Rural Southeastern Michigan, Allison Amadea Ranusch

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Lesbian parents residing in rural and small communities have received little scholarly attention. The primary focus of the existing research has highlighted the isolation experienced by lesbian parents within such locations, but little examination has been made of other issues or their coping mechanisms. This study was designed to address these deficits in knowledge and understanding through a series of eleven in-depth, qualitative interviews. Several stigma management strategies were discovered. For example, it was reported that engaging in farming and trade helped lesbian mothers "fit in" enough to gain some level of acceptance from their immediate neighbors. Stigma was also …

The Daily Gamecock, Wednesday, January 21, 2015, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

January

No abstract provided.

Elucidating The Conservation Status Of Michigan's Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys Scripta Elegans): A Phylogeographic Approach, Patrick J. Terry

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The geographic origin of Michigan’s Trachemys scripta elegans has been a contentious subject since its first description in 1934. At that time two explanations were proposed: 1) populations of T. s. elegans are native to Michigan and naturally expanded their range from Ohio and Indiana; or 2) populations are non-native and have been introduced by humans via the pet-trade from throughout the United States. To differentiate between these possibilities, I compare the genetic structure of six populations throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, using six microsatellite markers. No isolation-by-distance was detected and model-based statistics support two genetic clusters with five populations …