Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Recent Unprecedented Tree-Ring Growth In Bristlecone Pine At The Highest Elevations And Possible Causes, Matthew W. Salzer, Malcolm K. Hughes, Andrew G. Bunn, Kurt F. Kipfmueller

Andrew G. Bunn

Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) at 3 sites in western North America near the upper elevation limit of tree growth showed ring growth in the second half of the 20th century that was greater than during any other 50-year period in the last 3,700 years. The accelerated growth is suggestive of an environmental change unprecedented in millennia. The high growth is not overestimated because of standardization techniques, and it is unlikely that it is a result of a change in tree growth form or that it is predominantly caused by CO2 fertilization. The growth surge has occurred only in …

Birch Bay Village Lakes 2009 Final Report, Robin A. Matthews, Joan Vandersypen, Jessie Rosanbalm

Birch Bay/Village Lakes

The Institute for Watershed Studies was contracted by the Birch Bay Village Lakes Committee to continue water testing at two sites in Kwann Lake and two sites in Thunderbird Lake (Figure 1, page 4). The sampling effort was initiated in August 2007 and the results were summarized in the Birch Bay Village Lakes 2008 Final Report. The 2009 final report summarizes all results collected from August 2007 through August 2009.

The Planet, 2009, Fall, Kaylin Bettinger, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

The Rock And Ice Problem In National Parks: An Opportunity For Monitoring Climate Change Impacts, Andrew Godard Bunn

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The fundamental physics of an enhanced greenhouse effect due to fossil fuel combustion is well understood, and Earth is warming (IPCC 2007). Considerable uncertainty exists regarding the impacts of climate change, but high latitudes and high elevations are thought to be leading indicators of future trends. The suite of high-elevation lands protected by the National Park Service is ideal in terms of documenting and monitoring the physical, floral, and faunal impacts of climate change. Indeed, the network of alpine lands managed by the Park Service in the mountainous western United States spans maritime-to-arid ecosystems over a dozen degrees of latitude …

The Planet, 2009, Spring, Emily A. Linroth, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Environmental Citizenship And Carbon Intensity; Evaluating The Carbon Masters Educational Program, Andrea Jean Thomas

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This honors senior project is composed of two separate, but integrated documents which, taken together, act as the foundation for a formal, systematic program evaluation model for the climate change education group Carbon Masters. The first section is comprised of a “policy analysis" proposal which outlines a policy problem, two solutions by which to address it, and a method by which to analyze the solutions for their effectiveness, efficacy, and community-building. The policy problem is defined as the fact that there are too little educational programs available to the public that offer valid, proactive, constructive and informational tools to empower …

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2007/2008 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program. This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University.

The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Retention Of Salmon-Derived N And P By Bryophytes And Microbiota In Mesocosm Streams, Michael G. (Michael George) Peterson, Robin A. Matthews

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Annual migrations of anadromous salmon are an important source of nutrients for many coastal streams. Much of the current research on salmon-derived nutrients has focused on nutrient retention via carcass consumption by mammals, birds, and macroinvertebrates, whereas retention and transfer of nutrients by microbiota has received less attention. Our research objective was to investigate nutrient movement from decomposing salmon tissue into periphyton, bryophytes, leaf-pack microbiota, and amphipods in laboratory mesocosm streams. We measured δ¹⁵N of microbiota growing on unglazed tiles (periphyton), microbiota growing on leaf packs, bryophytes on partially submerged stones, and amphipods; C:N and C:P ratios of …

The Planet, 2009, Winter, Emily A. Linroth, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Illuminating Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing: Ultraviolet Radiation, Phototoxicity, And Pah-Contaminated Groundwater, Jason C. Fortner

WWU Graduate School Collection

In this study, the acute toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) - contaminated groundwater to Daphnia magna and Pimephales promelas were characterized under both ambient laboratory lighting and ambient laboratory lighting supplemented with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) using USEPA Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) test methods. Research has shown the toxicity of some PAHs to aquatic organisms increases significantly in the presence of sunlight or artificial UVR, a phenomenon known as photoactivated toxicity or phototoxicity. Based on these findings, the discharge of PAH-contaminated groundwater to surface waters may be a phototoxic hazard to aquatic organisms. Since WET tests are frequently employed to …

A Comparison Of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages Among Kryal And Rhithral Lake Outlets In The North Cascade Mountains, Kelley L. Turner

WWU Graduate School Collection

This study compares the physico-chemical conditions and composition of benthic macroinvertebrates from five rhithral (snowmelt-fed) and five kryal (glacially-fed) lake outlet streams in the North Cascade Mountains, WA. Non-metric, non-parametric cluster and association analysis (NMCAA) clearly separated outlet streams of kryal and rhithral origin based on physico-chemical and taxon variables. Kryal lake outlets were characterized by lower water temperatures, unstable in-stream channels and higher turbidity, discharge and fine substrates than rhithral sites. A total of 24,985 specimens representing 93 macroinvertebrate taxa were collected. Rhithral lake outlets had significantly higher densities and supported more taxa than kryal sites (9,049 ind./m2 and …

Effects Of Salmon-Derived Nutrients On An Artificial Stream System, Danielle M. Love

WWU Graduate School Collection

An artificial stream system was constructed to study responses of autotrophic and heterotrophic stream communities to salmon-derived nutrients. The artificial stream system contained 12 raceways (1.2 m long x 20 cm wide x 13 cm tall) that were provided with a constant flow of well water. The experimental treatment group consisted of clay pots filled with pureed salmon carcasses and agar to simulate decomposing salmon carcasses; a control group was included consisting of pots containing agar without salmon tissue. Unglazed clay tiles were placed downstream from the clay pots for periphyton to colonize. Periphyton samples were collected from these tiles. …