Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons^™

Restore The Shore: A Guide To Lakeshore Revegetation In The Great Basin, Jes V. Braun, Rae Robinson, Annie L. Henry, Karin M. Kettenring

All Current Publications

Lakeshore vegetation supports many valuable aspects of lake ecosystems: foraging areas for birds, rearing grounds for fish, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual values. Yet, the vegetation of many lakeshores has been lost or heavily impacted by humans. What can be done to restore lakeshore vegetation to ensure that lakes remain healthy for future generations? In this guide, we summarize best practices for lakeshore revegetation (i.e., the process of actively reintroducing vegetation, usually native species, to a restoration site through seeding and planting) in the Great Basin.

Exploring Single Cell Microbial Protein As A Sustainable Fishmeal Alternative In Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi) Diets: Impacts On Health And Gut Microbiome, Luke Pilmer, Lindsey Woolley, Alan Lymbery, Chinh Dam, Abigail Elizur, Md Javed Foysal, Gavin Partridge

Fisheries Research Articles

Background

With the global expansion of aquaculture and the increasing demand for fish meal, identifying appropriate and sustainable alternative protein sources for aquafeeds has become essential. Single-cell protein (SCP), derived from methanotrophic bacteria, presents a promising alternative by converting methane into protein, potentially addressing both the need for alternative protein sources and reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of SCP inclusion (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% fish meal replacement) on the health, gene expression, and gut microbiome of yellowtail kingfish (YTK, Seriola lalandi) following a 35-day growth trial.

Results

The …

Pesticide Runoff From Conventional, Minimum, And No-Tillage Cropping Systems: Meta-Analysis Of Published North American Data, Daniel Fleming, Dave Spencer, Chicot Irrigation

WRRI Publications

Pesticide applications may soon be regulated by laws predicated on the presupposition that reducing tillage, and thereby increasing soil surface crop residue cover, decreases sorbed and soluble agrochemical losses in surface runoff and erosion. This analysis was conducted to determine whether pesticide transport via surface runoff and erosion could be manipulated by tillage practices. Estimates of the amounts of crop residue cover within each tillage practice were averaged from data reported in the original articles. Response ratios of the paired means of runoff, erosion, and pesticide losses and concentrations from the effects of tillage practices were meta-analyzed as paired t-tests …

Managing Usda Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes In The Intermountain West (Region 4): A Program For Training Future Forest Managers, Justin Derose

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy As A Method For Identifying Variation In Puparial Morphology And Establishing Characters For Taxonomic Determination, Christian Elowsky, Leon G. Higley

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Calliphoridae, or blow flies, are of much ecological and practical importance given their roles in decompositional ecology, medical and veterinary myiasis, and forensic entomology. As ephemeral and rapidly developing species, adults are frequently not present for identification, but puparia (the remaining outer integument of the third instar larvae) are frequently found. These heavily sclerotized remains are stable in the environment but they are of a conservative character. Historically, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used for characterization, a technique which is not only time-consuming but also often expensive, effectively making large numbers of specimens impossible to quantify. As an alternative, …

Does Biofluorescence Enhance Visual Signals In Birds-Of-Paradise?, R. P. Martin, E. M. Carr, J. S. Sparks

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Irrigated And Non-Irrigated Land Use On Convective Environments And Related Diagnostic Variables During Grainex In Nebraska, Usa, Daniel Whitesel, Rezaul Mamood

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Woody Plant Reinvasion Shortens The Lifespan Of Grassland Restoration Treatments, D. T. Fogarty, M. Beadle, C. R. Allen, C. Bielski, D. Twidwell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Heat Stress Induced By Irrigation Over The Us Great Plains And Related Uncertainties, L. Chen, I. C. Achugbu, Rezaul Mamood, K. Kintziger, J. Bell, G. Meredith

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Proximal Remote Sensing: An Essential Tool For Bridging The Gap Between High Resolution Ecosystem Monitoring And Global Ecology, Z. Pierrat, T. Magney, W. Richardson, B. Runkle, J. Diehl, X. Yang, J Gamon Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Annual Variation In Attribute Importance To Upland Game Hunter Satisfaction In Nebraska, M. P. Gruntarod, J. J. Lusk, C. J. Chizinski

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Devising Optimized Maize Nitrogen Stress Indices In Complex Field Conditions From Uav Hyperspectral Imagery, Jiating Li, Yufeng Ge, Laila A. Puntel, Derek M. Heeren, Geng Bai, Guillermo R. Balboa, John A. Gamon, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Yeyin Shi

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen Sufficiency Index (NSI) is an important nitrogen (N) stress indicator for precision N management. It is usually calculated using variables such as leaf chlorophyll meter readings (SPAD) and vegetation indices (VIs). However, no consensus has been reached on the most preferred variable. Additionally, conventional NSI (NSI_uni) calculation assumes N being the sole yield-limiting factor, neglecting other factors such as soil water variability. To tackle these issues, this study compared various variables for NSI calculation and evaluated two new N stress indicators in minimizing the impact of confounding water treatment. The following ground- and aerial-derived variables were compared …

Delineating Ecologically Distinct Groups For Annual Cycle Management Of A Declining Shorebird, E. C. Knight, J. Carlisle, A. J. Boyce, D. Bradley, P. Cimprich, S. Coates, L. A. Powell Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Population Increases Of The Threatened American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus Americanus) Linked To Large-Scale Collaborations In A Working Lands Ecoregion, C. P. Roberts, A. K. Ludwig, D. T. Fogarty, E. F. Stuber, Daniel R. Uden, T. L. Walker Jr., D. Twidwell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Devising Optimized Maize Nitrogen Stress Indices In Complex Field Conditions From Uav Hyperspectral Imagery, J. Li, Y. Ge, J. Gamon, L. A. Puntel Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Human Recreation Influences Activity Of A Large Carnivore In An Urban Landscape, E. C. Bolas, J. F. Benson, R. V. Blakey

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Examination Of Cooperative Extension As A Bridging Organization To Enhance Cross Boundary Collaborative Water Management, Mark E. Burbach, S. Kennedy, W. M. Eaton, K. J. Brasier, R. R. Rudnick, W. Whitmer

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Northern Bobwhite Habitat Selection During The Nonbreeding Season In A Riparian Corridor In Colorado, J. M. Wolske, A. C. Behney, L. A. Powell

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Wild rice (mannoomin; Zizania palustris) is an aquatic grain that grows in slow-moving rivers and shallow bays throughout northern Minnesota. In Headquarters Bay on Leech Lake, wild rice has served as a cultural staple for Indigenous communities for centuries. However, its population has declined in recent years due to multiple environmental issues. One potential contributor is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM), an invasive species that forms dense mats capable of outcompeting native aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. EWM was first recorded on the southern shoreline of Leech Lake in 2005 and has since become widespread. This study …

Citizen’S Rare Plant Watch, Nora Dunkirk, Gabriel Campbell, Kris Freitag

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank and Plant Conservation Program

Rare species data for plants is lacking, hindering land management decisions and conservation outcomes. With Citizen's Rare Plant Watch, we empower citizen scientists to provide the “eyes on the ground” and collect data needed for conservation decision making in Oregon.

Seedlings Of Pacific Northwest Plants: A Photographic Guide, Gabriel E. Campbell-Martinez, Roxy Olsson

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank and Plant Conservation Program

This document presents a visual, non-technical field guide of native and exotic/invasive seedlings that grow wild in the Pacific Northwest. It contains over 550 taxa representing a broad range of families and ecosystems, focusing on species that occur in Oregon and Washington. Species were selected to reflect ecological importance, frequency of occurrence, and relevance to land management, restoration, and conservation. It is intended for a broad audience, including restoration practitioners, land managers, botanists, ecologists, students, naturalists, and others interested in identifying plants at early life stages.

The Effect Of Zebra Mussels On Minnesota Fish Communities, Benjamin D. Strei

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an aquatic invasive species that has been spreading quickly throughout Minnesota water bodies since 1989. Zebra mussels are known to change certain morphological conditions in lakes such as turbidity, phytoplankton abundance, and aquatic invertebrate populations. However, studies showing impacts of the infestation of zebra mussels on the health of a fish community have been hard to prove due to a lack of repeated surveys and a suite of other confounding variables such as natural and seasonal variability, plant community, and lake morphometry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether zebra mussels have …

Investigating Woody Vegetation Recruitment Post Riparian Enhancement Extraction Along The Baduwa't, Rize Martins De Oliveira, Wiley Hughes, Owen Lenox

Forestry, Fire, & Rangeland Management Senior Capstones

The Baduwa’t River in Humboldt County, California, faces a legacy of channelization, poor land management, and severe flooding that has left high, dry floodplain terraces disconnected from the river and dominated by invasive vegetation. In response to sediment deficits during drought years, Riparian Enhancement Extractions (REEs) were introduced as an alternative gravel mining method that simultaneously presented opportunities for habitat restoration. This study evaluates five REEs along the Baduwa’t to identify the construction features and site conditions that promote successful riparian vegetation establishment. Findings show that REEs can create seasonal wetlands conducive to native riparian habitat reestablishment, when excavation is …

Navigating Wastewater: Minnesota Mining Wastewater Permit Challenges And Evolving Compliance Standards, Madelaine Adamich

Journal of Earth and Life Science

February of 2021 marked the beginning of Minnesota clearly establishing that groundwater qualifies as a Class 1 water in a legal battle involving United States Steel, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, WaterLegacy, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and eventually the Minnesota Supreme Court (MNSC). Minnesota has a water classification system, as required by the federal Clean Water Act, with 7 classes of use. Class 1 waters are waters used for domestic consumption (MPCA 4, n.d.). According to Minnesota Statute § 7050.0220, the acceptable level for sulfate is 250 mg/L in Class 1 …

Groundwater Pumping Impacts On Stream Depletion In Humboldt County, Ca: Integrating Analytical Models And Field Data, Andy Hans Heise

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study addresses the significant concern of stream depletion from groundwater pumping in Humboldt County, CA. The objective of this study is to develop an analytical model for estimating stream depletion and integrating field data into model parameters.

The methodology involved conducting a field study near three operating wells by a stream, installing stream gages upstream and downstream of the wells, and recording pumping rates and schedules for two of the wells. The third well’s pumping data was synthetically generated, for privacy concerns of the well owner. The StreamDepletR package was used for estimating depletion rates in a stream in …

Snag Failure And Fuel Recovery Following Stand-Replacing Fire In The Klamath Mountains, Joseph R. Nicholas

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

High-severity wildfires can produce extensive patches of standing dead trees (snags), which later contribute to surface fuel loading and present a hazard as they decay and fall. In the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, recent increases in the occurrence of large stand-replacing wildfires have raised concerns about fuel and vegetation recovery trajectories, the likelihood of future fires, and resulting impacts to local communities. Nevertheless, the post-fire environment may offer opportunities to enhance ecological and community resilience. Estimates of snag failure and fuel loading can support land management planning and risk assessment following wildfire, though such work is …

Spatial Analysis Of American Chestnut (Castanea Dentata) Distribution And Ecology In Kentucky’S Federal Lands, Jacob Raymond Pease

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Anthropogenic factors have been the cause of the decline of tree species across the globe. From unsustainable logging and development to disease and improper management, threats to forests have taken their toll. The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once an integral basal tree species in Appalachian forests, but chestnut blight drove the species to functional extinction by the mid-1900s. The recent creation of genetically modified chestnuts gives hope for future restoration of the species throughout its historical range. Despite blight resistance, effective restoration will require optimal site selection for finding and planting chestnuts, which will maximize limited resources. …

Igniting Change: Assessing Language Access Gaps For Spanish-Speaking Communities In Wildfire Preparedness Resources In Yakima County, Washington, Rebecca N. Mitre

All Master's Theses

Limited-English proficiency (LEP) individuals across the United States face barriers in accessing information and other resources relating to natural hazard resources, particularly in areas prone to wildfire. In the Pacific Northwest, wildfires are predicted to increase in frequency, severity, and intensity and may also increase the social and economic vulnerability of LEP communities. The 2023 wildfire season underscored how economic, public health, and social impacts disproportionately impact minorities and socially vulnerable communities. This research investigates the inclusion of LEP communities in the development and dissemination of local wildfire resources in Yakima County, using the disaster management cycle as an analytical …

Dataset For "The Role Of Metacognition And Confidence In Quantitative Reasoning In College Biology Courses", Joseph Dauer, Anum Khushal, Brian A. Couch, Robert L. Mayes, Kent Rittschof

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Quantitative modelling is a fundamental skill for biology students with performance determined by a host of cognitive and metacognitive resources and requiring instructors to integrate key quantitative dimensions into teaching biology. Using an assessment of quantitative modelling in biology, we explored biology students’ (n = 930 higher education students) modelling practices (i.e., abilities to create, test, revise), metacognition about the nature of models and confidence in their capabilities to model. Students performed best on items related to understanding variables used in models and performed more poorly on items related to interpreting, creating, and using models to understand biological phenomena. …

Sites 45ch01104 And 45ch00402 Determinations Of Eligibility, Chelan County, Washington, Benjamin Aa Hodges

All Graduate Projects

This Master of Applied Science (MAS) project report assesses the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of archaeological sites 45CH01104 and 45CH00402 near Wells Dam in Chelan County, Washington. Field investigations conducted in 2024 included pedestrian surveys, subsurface testing, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) analysis to gather data on site conditions and potential cultural features. Site 45CH01104 was characterized by pre-contact lithic and fire-cracked rock (FCR) scatters and is recommended as eligible in this report for the NRHP under Criteria A and D due to its association with Indigenous subsistence activities and its potential to yield important archaeological information. It …