Digital Commons Network^™

Riparian Restoration Increases Soil Microbial Biomass In Marin County Rangelands, But Soil Carbon Stock Is Less Responsive, Sherilyn Kathryn Reinhart

Master's Theses

Land use change has caused the degradation of 70% of the Earth’s soils, directly altering soil microbial communities and carbon cycling. Interest in carbon farming practices is growing, but studies that document the nuances of soil carbon flux in specific bioregions are still too few. In this study, I examined how one practice, riparian restoration, alters soil carbon stock and microbial community structure over time. Using a paired sampling time series design, I collected soil samples from twelve riparian forests and adjacent rangelands near Marin County, California. Young and mature sites ranged from five to 29 years since restoration, and …

Tracing Priming Effects In Palsa Peat Carbon Dynamics Using A Stable Isotope-Assisted Metabolomics Approach, Christian Ayala-Ortiz, Moira Hough, Elizabeth K. Eder, David W. Hoyt, Rosalie K. Chu, Jason Toyoda, Steven J. Blazewicz, Patrick M. Crill, Ruth Varner, Scott R. Saleska, Virginia I. Rich, Malak M. Tfaily

Michigan Tech Publications

Introduction: Peatlands store up to a third of global soil carbon, and in high latitudes their litter inputs are increasing and changing in composition under climate change. Although litter significantly influences peatland carbon and nutrient dynamics by changing the overall lability of peatland organic matter, the physicochemical mechanisms of this impact—and thus its full scope—remain poorly understood. Methods: We applied multimodal metabolomics (UPLC-HRMS, ¹H NMR) paired with ¹³C Stable Isotope-Assisted Metabolomics (SIAM) to track litter carbon and its potential priming effects on both existing soil organic matter and carbon gas emissions. Through this approach, we achieved molecule-specific tracking …

Biographies, Editorial Team

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: January 21, 1976

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: October 24, 1975

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: October 17, 1975

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: October 30, 1974

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: November 17, 1972

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: Spetember 3, 1971

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: August 27, 1971

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: June 25, 1971

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: January 22, 1971

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

2025-2026 Ursinus College Course Catalogue, Office Of The Registrar

Ursinus College Catalogues, 1869-Present

A digital copy of the 2025-2026 Ursinus College Catalog. It contains details of the curriculum, departmental requirements and courses of instruction as well as the Open Questions core requirements, experiential learning and the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE). Academic policies, special opportunities and scholarships, off-campus programs and graduation requirements are also outlined.

Examination Of Cooperative Extension As A Bridging Organization To Enhance Cross-Boundary Collaborative Water Management, Mark E. Burbach, Stephanie M. Kennedy, Weston M. Eaton, Kathryn J. Brasier, Daran R. Rudnick, Walt Whitmer

Journal of Extension

We explored stakeholders’ familiarity with, the trustworthiness of, perceived competence of, and shared vision with Cooperative Extension on water-related issues in two states to determine the degree to which Extension is positioned to be an effective bridging organization. Results of surveys in Nebraska and Pennsylvania showed that overall neither agricultural producers nor non-farm households were very familiar with Extension. However, both stakeholder groups perceived Extension to be trustworthy, competent, and have similar goals on water-related issues. Extension should renew efforts to bolster their familiarity among these groups to enhance their effectiveness as a bridging organization.

Evaluation Of South Carolina’S Extension And Outreach Agents’ Knowledge Of Harmful Algal Bloom Management And The Impacts Of One-Day Training, George Strickland, Debabrata Sahoo, Michael Vassalos, Heather Nix, Sarah White

Journal of Extension

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) impact livestock producers. Most Extension agents have limited knowledge about HAB management. Our study goal was to assess agent readiness and training on HABs. We used data from in-person surveys of South Carolina (SC) Extension personnel. We examined how training influenced HAB knowledge using pre/post-tests. Training improved agent knowledge of HAB management, but water resource agents learned more. The results of this study can be used to identify Extension training shortfalls and drive policy to better prepare agents throughout the state. Further research should involve prioritizing additional extension topics and assessing knowledge in a similar manner.

Integrating Education For Sustainable Development Into Elementary Curriculum Through Transdisciplinary Learning: A Case Study Of Teachers At Designated Green Schools, Amanda Ferguson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The rising number of sustainability-focused jobs in the United States has underscored the need for greater exposure to Education for Sustainable Development in early education. While higher education and secondary schools offer courses on sustainability and the environment, elementary students have limited opportunities to engage with these topics. This embedded multiple-case study examined the role of Education for Sustainable Development in elementary classrooms, specifically through transdisciplinary lessons. The research was guided by the question: How do elementary teachers in county-designated Green Schools in a Florida district use transdisciplinary lessons to teach sustainability within their existing curriculum?

Using the theoretical framework …

Flowing Progress: Transforming The Danube Through Infrastructure, Stefan Dorondel, Luminita Gatejel

Central European Studies

Flowing Progress: Transforming the Danube Through Infrastructure focuses on how different political regimes and forms of governance have imagined and technologically transformed the most international river in the world. Multidisciplinary and drawing on methodologies of history, anthropology of infrastructure, and science, technology, and society, this collection explores the tensions between the river and its natural pulses, the humans that populate its floodplains, state agencies, and infrastructure. The book engages the concept of disturbance to point out the circular and spiraling dynamics between hydrological processes and technopolitical and economic practices. Disturbance denotes a specific type of long-term dynamic between human attempts …

Rooted In Resilience: Exploring Indigenous Economic Models And Sustainability On The Rocky Boy Indian Reservation., Dominique Nault

Capstone Collection

This study examines how traditional practices and cultural values of the Chippewa Cree shape the economic identity and sustainability of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined demographic surveys with culturally grounded interviews, the research reveals that economic development in the community is inseparable from traditional knowledge systems, collective well-being, and ecological stewardship. Rather than centering on financial accumulations, wealth is defined by family, community, and cultural continuity, placing traditional knowledge on par with land and monetary resources.

Three central themes emerged from the data: (1) the enduring role of traditional values and cultural knowledge in …

From Coastal Retreat To Seaward Growth: Emergent Behaviors From Paired Community Beach Nourishment Choices, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Arye Janoff, Oshane Thomas, Di Jin, Porter Hoagland, Andrew Ashton

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Coastal communities often address shoreline erosion through beach nourishment, adding externally sourced sand to widen beaches for recreation and property protection. While nourishment enhances beachfront property values, the need for periodic maintenance creates interdependencies where the actions of neighboring communities affect local shoreline dynamics. Using a coupled model of two neighboring communities, we examine the interplay between community nourishment decisions and the redistribution of nourishment sand. We find that the value a community places on wider beaches not only influences their propensity to nourish, but also their and their neighbors' nourishment efficiency and net benefits. Communities that nourish more frequently …

Post-Fire Succession In An Old-Growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) Forest In The Santa Cruz Mountain Bioregion, Mojgan Mahdizadeh

Master's Theses

Fire is a common disturbance in the western United States, and variation in its frequency and intensity can significantly impact species recovery and distribution across ecosystems. While fire frequency and intensity are increasing in coast redwood forests, little is known about how this forest type responds to high-intensity wildfires. In 2020, a high-intensity wildfire burned large portions of the coast redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains, including over 1,700 ha of old-growth. This event created a unique opportunity to evaluate post-fire succession. This research assessed vegetation recovery across high and low to moderate severity burned areas using random sampling …

Post-Fire Succession In An Old-Growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) Forest, Mojgan Mahdizadeh, Will Russell

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In 2020, a high-intensity wildfire burned over 35,000 ha in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, including over 1700 ha of old-growth coast redwood forest. This event created a unique opportunity to evaluate post-fire succession. We compared vegetation recovery in high versus low/moderate severity burned areas using data collected one year and four years following the fire. Random plot sampling was conducted at Big Basin Redwoods State Park to assess the regeneration of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used to assess recovery over time and across burn severities. Results indicate significant increases in shrub …

Phenotypic Evaluation Of F10 Soybean Generations From Grobogan X Slamet Cross For Large Seed Size Selection, Ponendi Hidayat, Nurtiati, Zulfa Ulinnuha, Adellansyah

Jurnal Kultivasi

Soybeans are an important crop with high nutritional value and diverse uses. Current consumer and industry preference is for soybean varieties with large seeds and high productivity. To meet these demands, one effective approach is through hybridization. This study aims to evaluate the phenotype of F10 soybean line from a cross between Grobogan and Slamet for large-seeded and high-yield. The study was conducted in the screenhouse and Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Soedirman University. The experiment used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, testing genotypes from Slamet x Grobogan crosses and three check …

Social Science Division Minutes 08/14/2025, Social Science Division

Social Science Division

No abstract provided.

Snake Spirits, Fishermen And Water Birds On Lake Victoria: A Case Study Of Cultural Conservation In The Musambwa Islands, Uganda, And Prospects For Tourism To Improve Local Livelihoods, Joel T. Heinen, Henry Batenda

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

Abstract.

Using a combination of site visits, document reviews, focus group and key informant surveys of fishermen, we explore the cultural beliefs, taboos and norms that protect Musambwa Islands, Uganda. The islands form part of a large protected wetland with nesting habitat for thousands of water birds and a large population of highly-venomous forest cobras that coexist in and around fishermen dwellings. There are strong taboos against cutting trees, allowing women on the island, and harming cobras. We present some of our ideas on how to improve the economic situation of fishermen through the promotion of nature-based and cultural tourism …

Sea Otter Behavior And Prey Composition Across Alternative Reef States In Monterey, Ca: Applying Ecological Theory To Kelp Restoration, Carter Hawkins

Master's Theses

Due to a myriad of factors, giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) abundance along the California coast has decreased in select areas, leading to the formation of lower-diversity ecosystems dominated by purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), known as “urchin barrens.” While sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are keystone predators that help maintain kelp forests through predation on sea urchins, in Monterey, they avoid barren sea urchins due to their low energetic value and abundance of other habitat types, limiting their influence in these areas. From 2021-2023, sea urchin culling at Tankers Reef, a former barren site in Monterey Bay, was conducted to promote …

How Effective Is HawaiʻS'S Sunscreen Ban? Tourism Impact On The Health Of KauaʻI'S Coral Reefs, Meghan E. Parker

Capstone Collection

This study seeks to determine whether the level of human-impact, and in particular sunscreen use, influences the health of coral reefs on the island of Kauaʻi. Six paired sites in different regions of Kauaʻi were identified, each having a human-impacted site and an isolated counterpart site. By obtaining quantitative data on the coral reef at each site using 25-meter video transects, the overall health of the reef was assessed by measuring live coral cover, coral species abundance, prevalence of coral bleaching, and fish abundance. The level of human-impact in the form of number of people present and type of sunscreen …

Shimmering Mirage Or A Promised Land? Climate Change, Agriculture, And Internal Migration In Sabha, Jordan, Tyler J. Rak

Capstone Collection

Given the rapidly shifting climate, high vulnerability, and low adaptability to climate related changes that rural areas face, this study highlights the complex relationship between climate change -- especially water scarcity -- agriculture, and internal migration in rural Jordan. I predict that if water scarcity is present and climate changes are occurring, they will undercut the rural agriculture sector which could contribute to rural out-migration. To study this relationship, I conducted a case study in Sabha, a small rural community in the Northern Badia of Jordan. Data was gathered by engaging in semi-structured interviews with current community members in Sabha …

Textile Work And Its Interface With Climate Change For Quechua Communities In Peru, Esmeralda Torres-Martinez

Capstone Collection

English – Indigenous communities have argued that their knowledge, lived experiences, and representation are crucial to address the climate transition because their communities have adapted to past climatic changes. Although climate change and culture can be interconnected in ways that are unique to each community, little research is done on how cultural practices can be catalysts for climate action. In fact, communities around the world have sparked socio-political movements from within their cultural context to solve both local and global issues. Therefore, this research asks how the practice of traditional textile making and weaving assist Quechua communities with adapting to …

Summer Commencement: August 8, 2025, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Summer Commencement program from August 8, 2025.

Shark Wildlife Tourism’S Influence On Conservation Efforts, Elizabeth C. Saraf

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Shark wildlife tourism has the potential to shape pro-environmental values and attitudes, fostering meaningful conservation behaviors. Understanding the influence of participating in shark tourism activities provides valuable insights into its effectiveness as a conservation tool. This study compared different intervention types related to wildlife tourism, including both direct (i.e., swimming with sharks) and indirect (i.e., viewing a related documentary) interactions with sharks. To evaluate the impact of these intervention events, participants were surveyed at three time intervals: before, immediately afterwards, and one month after the event. The surveys assessed respondents’ psychological constructs related to the environment, specifically their value orientations, …