Sustainability Commons^™

Using Pimephales Promelas>/Em> As An Indicator Species For The Presence Of Endocrine Disruptors In Nebraskan Streams, Megan Rosno

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Specific sites in Southeast and Southwest Nebraska were chosen to add to the collective knowledge on how cattle feed lot effluents continue to have significant effects downstream of their point source locations. Both locations were sampled via seining net in first: 40.241249 latitude, -95.616191 longitude (near Barada, Nebraska), and second: 41.117368 latitude, -100.794332 longitude (directly South of North Platte in the South Platte River). They were chosen not only for their proximity to differing livestock practices of pasture vs. feed lot, but also where locals fish for the best bait fish including but not limited to fathead minnows (Pimephales …

Drought Perceptions And Management Techniques For Outdoor Recreation In The Great Plains, Lauren Uhlig

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Outdoor recreation generates nearly $887 billion dollars in annual consumer spending and improves quality of life by promoting physical activity (Oftedal & Schneider, 2013; Outdoor Industry Association, 2017b). This industry relies heavily on the environment and these societal benefits are at risk as climate fluctuates. Drought is a regular component of the Great Plains climate (Miao et al., 2007) and can alter the landscape, changing the demand for outdoor recreation and creating challenges for managing recreation opportunities (USDA, 2017). This thesis explores the influence of drought on individual’s willingness to participate in outdoor recreation, the variation in that influence across …

Critical Wedges And Penetrative Strain: How Does Penetrative Strain Alter The Concept Of A Critical Wedge?, Nicole L. Smith

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

By definition, a critical wedge shows limited internal deformation, and, also by definition, penetrative strain is deformation occurring on a microscale within a deforming rock sequence. Critical wedge theory is typically used to understand the development of fold thrust belts, where variables such as the internal and basal friction, surface taper and dip of the décollement are taken into account. Numerical modeling shows that the minimum stable surface taper is dependent on the basal friction and the overburden, but that there are a range of possible tapers for a stable wedge. This study presents a series of analog models, where …

Examining The Effects Of Uv On Latex And Nitrile Glove Degradation, Dana Christine Handke

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Medical gloves, both nitrile and latex, are used as a protective barrier to limit the spread of disease. Gloves are a single use product and their demand is set to increase by 9 to10 percent each year. In 2008, it was estimated that 100 billion gloves were used globally each year (Scott, 2008). This study is exploratory in nature, to determine if Ultra Violet light (UV) exposure can cause an acceleration in the breakdown of latex and nitrile gloves. It was hypothesized that the tensile strength and length to breakage for both glove types, latex and nitrile, would decrease after …

Exploring How Animals Are Viewed In Society Over The Past 150 Years Within Classic Children's Literary Works, Ambrosia Keefe

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Changes In Plant Phenology In The Central United States In Response To Climate Change, Sarah Fagras

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Plant phenophases are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, precipitation, and photoperiod and have recently been identified as an indicator of climate change. Flowering time in particular appears to be sensitive to changes in temperature and plants around the world have already been observed flowering earlier than previously recorded. To determine how plants in the Midwest and Great Plains have reacted to climate change from the 1880s to present, 1,926 plant specimens made up of 10 species were examined to determine their phenophase and date of collection for each specimen was recorded. Analysis of these specimens shows that flowering time …

Age Structures And Growth Patterns Of Aplodinotus Grunniens In The Red River Of The North, Manitoba, Canada, Kaitlyn Elder

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

A fishery and its components are an integral part of society and contribute not only economically, but also socially and physically to the health and well-being of many countries. There are approximately 12.5 million people who are employed in fishery-related careers, and according to the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, there were over 33.1 million people who fished recreationally. To successfully manage a fish population, one must have a well-rounded knowledge about the species and the environment it inhabits. There is very little previous research done on the growth of Aplodinotus grunniens, otherwise known as freshwater drum (FWD), making it …

Comparisons Of Drought Institutions Between The U.S. And Korea, Sungbyung Chae

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Drought occurs in basically dry area around the area of less precipitation but it affects all around the world that can occur anywhere there is a deficit of rainfall from expected levels. This happened by the extreme climate event over land lower precipitation over a period of months to years. This could affect agricultural systems around the world, within food, ecologically atmosphere condition and also the habitation food security. From the developing in the modern technology, since the environment of nature is the basic element of living creature, human would be facing the challenging of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food …

Student Perception Of Industrial Agriculture: Effects On Migrant Workers And The Environment, Brigitta Bogue, Emma Sorensen

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Companies such as Tyson Foods and Costco are creating problems through their use of industrial farming practices in Nebraska, such as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and monocropping, to generate profit at the cost of humans and the environment. Those most affected are migrant farmworkers from Mexico. The environment is threatened because CAFOs generate greenhouse gases, and pollute nearby waterways with nitrogen. This paper addresses the following research questions: Are students’ perceptions of industrial agricultural companies, such as Costco and Tyson, positive or negative? Are students aware of these issues? How do these perceptions affect issues of sustainability and environmental …

Activity Patterns Of Nebraskan Wildlife On A Prairie Landscape, Dillon Hanson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Avoiding a particular species temporally can be an effective way to live amongst predator and competing species when spatial avoidance is not available. If a predator and prey species overlap temporally there is potential for high predation of the prey species by the predator, while if two predators overlap temporally there is high potential for competition and a loss of opportunities and resources for each species. I assessed if native mammalian species on a natural prairie landscape showed signs of avoidance through their activity patterns. I used photographic sampling to quantify the temporal activity patterns of species at Spring Creek …

The Impact Of Urbanization And Land-Use Change In Lincoln, Nebraska, Andrew Rose

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study will take place in Lincoln Nebraska to investigate population density and urban encroachment onto agricultural lands. With urbanization on the rise we will inevitably face land use issues in the future. This research will investigate one strategy on how to build the city of Lincoln while using agriculture as a focal point. Keeping land sparing techniques in mind as we build will be an important component to saving enough land to grow food, shelter, and clothing for a growing population. One important question that will be looked at in this research is how urban expansion has consumed agricultural …

Climate Action Plan Framework For University Of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lila Peterson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

No abstract provided.

Nitrate Contamination And Nitrogen Isotope Compositions In The Bazile Groundwater Management Area: A Water Quality Study. Creighton, Ne, Sydney Corcoran

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Surface water nitrogen contamination is a pervasive issue in Nebraska, and agricultural practices are the main source of nitrogen input to streams (Spalding and Exner, 1993). Nitrate can come from inorganic fertilizers such as anhydrous ammonia, or animal waste. Studies have been conducted on nitrates dating back to 1947 (Addleman, 1985). The Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) located in northeast Nebraska has historically had high nitrate contamination. This qualitative study assesses the seasonal sources of nitrogen to stream water. It is predicted that the source of input is from commercial synthetic fertilizers. By using nitrogen- oxygen isotope methods, the source …

The Role Of Dendrology In Analyzing Past Climatic And Historical, Anna Sonnenfeld

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The study of dendroclimatology uses tree growth responses to climate variables to reconstruct regional, national, and global chronologies from tree-rings (Speer, 2010). The species of focus was Q. macrocarpa (bur oak) located in Spring Creek Prairie because of its potential to hold a chronological history of environmental limitations and management practices in the area. The objective of this research is to: 1) determine the impact of available soil moisture on the annual growth of Q. macrocarpa in Wachiska Woods, 2) determine the effect of management practices on Q. macrocarpa annual growth in Wachiska Woods. Eight Q. macrocarpa specimens were identified; …

Consumer Response To Sustainable Practices Within The Fashion Industry, Gage Mruz

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study was conducted online through an environmental company called Greenstain, a registered LLC who provides environmentally sustainable solutions and plants a tree for every item they sell. The purpose of the study is to analyze consumer response to the eco-friendly apparel and other sustainable solutions offered by Greenstain after educating consumers on the extent to which the fashion industry is impacting the natural environment and the practices they can utilize to reduce these negative impacts. The sample size included any person with access to Google, Facebook, and Instagram. Scientists in the world have reached an overwhelming consensus that climate …

Hydroponics: Effect Of Ph On Different Cucumber Varieties, Mikaela Krumrei

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Plants are generally grown using soil as the main medium to supply the essentials necessary for growth, but as population grows and land decreases it is important to expand the knowledge of other growth mediums such as hydroponics. The purpose of this study is to provide information on hydroponic growing systems, specifically how the pH of the water effects cucumber plant growth and if different varieties of cucumber plants may have varying reactions to the pH. The hypothesis was that the plants would grow efficiently at pH of 5.0 and worst at pH of 7.5. This experiment was conducted in …

The Effect Of Land Development In Small Communities On A People's Sense Of Place, Alivia Michalski

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Sense of place is an extensively researched concept that refers to the relationship (cultural, economic, societal, spiritual, and physical) between a person and their surroundings. Often a person’s sense of place, or connection to the land, can lead them to develop strong place attachment, or a human-place bond, with certain physical locations. Studies done on place attachment show that people with strong connections to natural areas where they live are more willing to demonstrate environmentally responsible behavior. This kind of behavior is important in the upcoming years, as communities begin to expand, develop more land, and use more resources. In …

A Comparison Of Modern Power: Environmental Impacts, Seth Adams

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

There are many aspects of environmental influences that must be considered when evaluating power production methods. Over the course of a six-month literature review this study covered the environmental impact and sustainability of four different power production methods: coal, solar, wind, and nuclear. This study then used the information gathered to create a set of criteria by which each would be evaluated. The goal of this study was to determine the power production method that would deliver the most energy with the least amount of environmental impact. Further, the scope of this study is limited to the midwestern states of …

How Do Non-Formal Environmental Education Experiences Shape Pro-Environmental Behavior, Megan Petsch

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This paper attempts to define what behaviors are, what motivates behavior, and how environmental education programs can shape pro-environmental behavior using three factors: social interaction, program structure, and various teaching methods. Data was gathered using a systematic literature review that looked at the purpose and objectives of the paper, methods used for collecting data such as demographics (age, race, gender, location, etc.), the papers focused areas of research, and results. A thematic analysis was also used to code collected data into the themes. The themes that emerged while analyzing the data include social interactions, program structure, and teaching methods. Results …

Landuse And Soil Property Effects On Infiltration And Soil Aggregate Stability In The Lower Mississippi River Valley, Rebecca Lynn Anderson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Following European settlement of the Lower Mississippi River Valley (LMRV), agricultural expansion and unsustainable, agriculturally related practices have caused groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and surface water contamination by eroded sediments and sediment-bound nutrients to become major environmental threats to the region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of common landuses [i.e., native prairie, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland, and conventional-tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) agriculture] on surface water infiltration and aggregate-stability-related properties [i.e., water-stable macroaggregate (WSA) size distribution, total water-stable macroaggregate (TWSA) concentration, and mean weight diameter (MWD)]. The overall infiltration rate …

El Esfuerzo Para Establecer La Reserva Wilapewen: Las Motivaciones Y Impedimentos De Establecer Una Reserva Ecológica En La Comuna De Curarrehue, Alexandra K. Black

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study examines a budding effort to establish an ecological reservation in the commune of Curarrehue, in the south-central Chilean region of the Araucanía. The study looks to explain the nature of the project, elaborating on the local context from which it originates. Engaging with modern theory on the current state of wilderness conservation in Chile, this study examines the effort to establish this reserve through a theoretical lens of wilderness conservation executed with local culture and current human physical impact in mind. Underneath this theory, the study uncovers and develops the motivations behind this effort to establish a reserve …

Droughtscape, Spring 2019, Cory Matteson

DroughtScape: Quarterly Newsletter of the National Drought Mitigation Center (2007–2023)

Contents

From the Director

Wet and cool conditions bring drought relief to the West

Notable numbers from Q1

Drought impact summary, 1st quarter 2019

New research examines drought effects on state recreation areas

At Ethiopian space science workshop, NDMC climatologist sees promise in preparing for drought

U.S.- affiliated Pacific Islands now part of U.S. Drought Monitor

Water conservation tips for drought, flood and other disasters

Upcoming events

Gvsu Sustainable Agriculture Project: Composting, Jillian Ashton, Eric Vaitkevicius, Nicholas Keller, Benjamin Walling

Environmental and Sustainability Studies Undergraduate Projects

Currently, the S.A.P. (Sustainable Agricultural Project) has a working composting pile that isn’t reaching its full optimization potential, due to a lack in systems planning. Our group has worked toward analyzing the S.A.P.’s current processes to eliminate the inefficiencies and to maximize the quality of the composting process and product. This final product will be used to inoculate the S.A.P.’s nursery and planting beds to produce higher quality produce for the community.

Using Residential Location To Assess The Environmental Value-Action Gap Of Students At James Madison University, Emma Martin

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

This study focuses on the environmental value-action gap of students at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. An environmental value-action gap occurs when a person has pro-environmental beliefs but does not have congruent actions. Over 1,000 JMU students completed a survey of their residence location, environmental values, and environmental actions. Students’ preservation and utilization values were assessed using a 2-Dimensional Model of Ecological Values (2-MEV), and their frequency of environmental actions was assessed through a series of Likert-scaled statements. It was hypothesized that any value-action gap would be wider in students who resided in off-campus housing compared to students …

Long Reach Lane At Long Marsh, Harpswell, 2018 Post-Project Monitoring Report; Year 5 Of 5, Matthew Craig

Publications

No abstract provided.

Limits To The World’S Green Water Resources For Food, Feed, Fiber, Timber, And Bioenergy, Joep F. Schyns, Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Martijn J. Booij, Rick J. Hogeboom, Mesfin Mekonnen

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Green water––rainfall over land that eventually flows back to the atmosphere as evapotranspiration––is the main source of water to produce food, feed, fiber, timber, and bioenergy. To understand how freshwater scarcity constrains production of these goods, we need to consider limits to the green water footprint (WFg), the green water flow allocated to human society. However, research traditionally focuses on scarcity of blue water––groundwater and surface water. Here we expand the debate on water scarcity by considering green water scarcity (WSg). At 5 × 5 arc-minute spatial resolution, we quantify WFg and the maximum sustainable level to this footprint (WFg,m), …

Investigations Of The Potential For Irrigated Agriculture On The Bonaparte Plains: Land Capability Assessment Report, Henry Smolinski

Resource management technical reports

This report describes 55 000 hectares of predominantly red sands and sandy loams — locally referred to as Cockatoo Sands — on the Bonaparte Plains about 70 kilometres north of the Ord River Irrigation Area, Kununurra. It builds on soil surveys conducted in 2009 and 2015, which identified significant areas of red soils in the Kununurra area that could be suitable for agriculture.

The Cockatoo Sands generally have loamy, sand topsoils that grade to sandy loam with depth. The soil profiles are very deep, well drained to rapidly drained, and highly permeable. These soil characteristics support a large range of …