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Articles 1 - 30 of 68
Full-Text Articles in Environmental Studies
Distribution Modeling Predicts Pacific Newt (Genus Taricha) Road Mortality Near Remote Lakes In Santa Clara County, California, Anna Petrosky
Distribution Modeling Predicts Pacific Newt (Genus Taricha) Road Mortality Near Remote Lakes In Santa Clara County, California, Anna Petrosky
Master's Theses
The California newt (Taricha torosa) is listed as a State Species of Special Concern across its southern range due to habitat degradation and loss, and limited studies indicate it may be experiencing these threats in its northern range as well. This project assesses where the California newt may be encountering roads as migration barriers and experiencing high mortality in western Santa Clara County, California, in an effort to inform future conservation efforts. I conducted surveys of California newt roadkill on roads bordering two reservoirs used as breeding habitat and accessed roadkill data collected by the Lexington Reservoir Newt Patrol. Roadkill …
Biologically-Based Alternatives To Plastic Mulch Enrich Microbiome And Buffer Yield In Small-Scale Strawberry Production, Olivia L. Fragiacomo
Biologically-Based Alternatives To Plastic Mulch Enrich Microbiome And Buffer Yield In Small-Scale Strawberry Production, Olivia L. Fragiacomo
Master's Theses
Much of commercial agriculture has used plastic mulch since the 1950s to contain fungicides and fertilizers, control weeds, retain soil moisture, and warm the top soil to start the growing season earlier. Research suggests that small-scale strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) growers may be able to incorporate biological techniques, such as wheat straw mulch with microbial amendments, to reduce the use of single-use plastic mulch with a comparable yield. For this study, I carried out a randomized complete block comparison of five strawberry management techniques: plastic mulch (PM), straw mulch alone, and straw mulch inoculated with either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), …
A Socio-Ecological Study Of Coyote And Human Interactions In San Francisco Bay Open Space Preserves, Zhiyi Zhou
A Socio-Ecological Study Of Coyote And Human Interactions In San Francisco Bay Open Space Preserves, Zhiyi Zhou
Master's Theses
Urban open space preserves support both intensive recreation and wildlife, but the information on carnivore activity and visitor perceptions is limited. This study combined camera-trap monitoring and on-site visitor surveys to evaluate activity patterns of medium- to large-bodied mammals and perceptions of coyotes at Windy Hill and Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserves (South San Francisco Bay Area). From October 2024 to July 2025, thirteen cameras recorded 213,681 photo events; detections were standardized as detections per 1,000 camera-hours. Ten mammal species and two avian species were detected, including four focal carnivores: coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), mountain lion (Puma …
Motivating Passion And Purpose In Grade Six Students Through Game-Based Learning, Violet H. Harada, Patricia Louis
Motivating Passion And Purpose In Grade Six Students Through Game-Based Learning, Violet H. Harada, Patricia Louis
Learning Hub
This article examines how a sixth-grade pathways course at Kamehameha Schools in Hawai‘i leveraged Game-Based Learning (GBL) and Indigenous knowledge to foster student agency, creativity, and environmental stewardship. Designed and taught by school librarian Patricia Louis with support from a multidisciplinary instructional team, the Nā Lawai‘a Hawai‘i (Fishing, Hawaiian Style) elective engaged students in researching the ‘Ama‘ama (Hawaiian striped mullet) and the ecological challenges it faces, then translating their learning into the design of a board game, ‘Ama‘ama Escape. Grounded in constructivist, learning-by-making principles, the course guided students through an iterative design process that included inquiry, collaboration, prototyping, and playtesting. …
Mobile Markets And Farmers’ Markets: Evaluating Food Accessibility For Underserved Communities In The Bay Area, Rajeshwari Rajesh
Mobile Markets And Farmers’ Markets: Evaluating Food Accessibility For Underserved Communities In The Bay Area, Rajeshwari Rajesh
Master's Theses
Studies indicate including farmers’ markets, mobile markets, and other local food systems improve fresh food access for low-income communities, especially when paired with food assistance programs that offer financial incentives. This study aims to evaluate mobile markets and farmers’ markets in the Bay Area using the five dimensions of food access: accessibility, availability, acceptability, affordability, and accommodation. The study is based on primary data collected from 173 in-person surveys at six mobile and eight farmers’ markets in the Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties. Key survey participants were market shoppers participating in food assistance programs. A mixed research methodology included …
A Methodology To Reconstruct The Extent And Dynamics Of Historic Wildfires (1850-1950) In The Santa Cruz Mountains Of California, David Vásquez Ospina
A Methodology To Reconstruct The Extent And Dynamics Of Historic Wildfires (1850-1950) In The Santa Cruz Mountains Of California, David Vásquez Ospina
Master's Theses
This thesis reconstructs the extent and dynamics of historic wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California between 1850 and 1950 using qualitative archival evidence from historical newspapers, maps, and related documents. A systematically coded database of 225 reports, consolidated into 155 unique wildfire events, was developed to analyze temporal and spatial patterns, ignition sources, vegetation types, suppression strategies, and impacts on communities and infrastructure. Historical rainfall records from the Boulder Creek station were integrated using water-year totals, three-year rolling averages, and standardized precipitation indices to examine how multi-year dryness relates to fire occurrence and size. Linear regressions show only …
A Triple Bottom Line Analysis Of Food Waste-To-Bioenergy At California University Campuses: Social Enablers Break Down Economic Barriers, Anjali Sharma
Master's Theses
Greenhouse gas emissions from food waste (FW) and energy generation are two major hurdles to the climate crisis. Previous research shows that waste-to-energy systems may provide a solution to both these challenges, particularly at university campuses, due to their high FW generation and high energy needs. Despite this, few academic institutions in California, US, have adopted waste-to-energy systems, and campus-specific challenges and opportunities associated with these systems remain underexplored. For this study, I use an Environmental, Economic, and Social (EES) lens to document the current landscape of FW management and implementation of food waste-to-bioenergy at campuses in each of the …
Alameda Song Sparrow Habitat Use Of Salt Pond Restoration Sites In South San Francisco Bay, Bradley A. Speno
Alameda Song Sparrow Habitat Use Of Salt Pond Restoration Sites In South San Francisco Bay, Bradley A. Speno
Master's Theses
Restoration is acknowledged worldwide as a conservation need to return ecosystem functions. However, projects require monitoring to track system changes and assess restoration progress. In the San Francisco Bay, several large restoration projects are implementing plans to return salt-producing ponds to the historical ecosystem, tidal salt marsh. The Alameda song sparrow (Melospiza melodia pusillula), a California species of special concern, has been documented to use restored and historic marshes, but their use of restored salt ponds is not fully understood. The birds’ use of restored marshes may be a useful measure of restoration progress. This research investigated the relationships comparing …
California Utility-Scale Solar Energy Land Use Impacts On Species And Ecosystems, Ingrid Salazar
California Utility-Scale Solar Energy Land Use Impacts On Species And Ecosystems, Ingrid Salazar
Master's Theses
Utility-scale solar energy (USSE), defined as projects of at least 1 megawatt, is rapidly expanding in California, which generated 37.5% of its electricity from renewables in 2023, with 24% coming from solar. While USSE supports decarbonization, it can also cause environmental harm, including biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation, and land conversion. This study uses ArcGIS Pro 3.4.0 and public environmental data to analyze the spatial distribution of USSE projects, land use changes from 2013 to 2023, and occurrences of at-risk species across California’s bioregions. USSE development is heavily concentrated in the Mojave Desert, San Joaquin Valley, and Colorado Desert, which are …
Riparian Restoration Increases Soil Microbial Biomass In Marin County Rangelands, But Soil Carbon Stock Is Less Responsive, Sherilyn Kathryn Reinhart
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 …
Post-Fire Succession In An Old-Growth Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) Forest In The Santa Cruz Mountain Bioregion, Mojgan Mahdizadeh
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 …
Sea Otter Behavior And Prey Composition Across Alternative Reef States In Monterey, Ca: Applying Ecological Theory To Kelp Restoration, Carter Hawkins
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 …
Experienced Latinx Urban Gardeners In San Jose, Ca, Offer Strategies For Climate Justice And Resilience, Claudia S. Damiani Fontana
Experienced Latinx Urban Gardeners In San Jose, Ca, Offer Strategies For Climate Justice And Resilience, Claudia S. Damiani Fontana
Master's Theses
Low-income and underinvested communities will be disproportionately affected by climate change due to limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient support systems. Urban gardeners are responding to the need to adapt to new climate conditions while sustaining their food sources and cultural practices. Many have adapted thanks to local interventions led by the government and non-profit agencies. For this study, I partnered with La Mesa Verde (LMV), a gardening and food justice program that works with low-income Latinx families in San José, and I documented the contributions of experienced Latinx gardeners, especially those with agricultural backgrounds, to climate-resilient gardening in San …
The Impacts Of Recreational Infrastructure On Mammal Use Of Riparian Zones In Northern California Regional Parks, Emily A. Matthews
The Impacts Of Recreational Infrastructure On Mammal Use Of Riparian Zones In Northern California Regional Parks, Emily A. Matthews
Master's Theses
Public lands have been important for the protection of riparian habitats; however, many public lands are also used for recreation, which can reduce mammal habitat use. Understanding how mammals are affected by recreation in riparian areas can help guide management decisions. The goal of this research is to understand the effect of recreation on mammal use of riparian habitats in two popular East Bay Regional Parks, Charles Lee Tilden and Wildcat Canyon, and to map the extent of that impact. Cameras were deployed in the riparian areas of a high, moderate, and low development site (Alvarado, Tilden, and Wildcat Canyon) …
Using Moss As An Inexpensive Air Pollution Bioindicator For Environmental Equity In Santa Clara Country, California, Tam Dan Tran
Using Moss As An Inexpensive Air Pollution Bioindicator For Environmental Equity In Santa Clara Country, California, Tam Dan Tran
Master's Theses
Toxins pervade urban areas and pose long-term health risks to humans. I examine moss as an affordable bioindicator and assess whether moss monitor results reflect other air quality (AQ) indicators, environmental factors, and social vulnerability. Specifically, I investigate (1) whether moss is an effective atmospheric pollution indicator and (2) whether low-income or high-lead-risk neighborhoods experience greater exposure to air pollution. I set out Hypnum cupressiforme moss for two months of exposure in 28 Santa Clara County locations and then measured chromium, zinc, nickel, and the loss of chlorophyll fluorescence in the moss tissue. I gathered real-time particulate matter (PM2.5) measurements …
Mammal Response To Wildfire In Redwood Forests In Northern California, Kristine Doerr
Mammal Response To Wildfire In Redwood Forests In Northern California, Kristine Doerr
Master's Theses
California has historically experienced recurrent wildfires that have shaped many of the region’s unique ecosystems such as coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests. Redwood forests, particularly old-growth redwoods, are vital habitats for many wildlife species. Still, these long-living, fire-resistant trees are facing altered fire regimes due to fire suppression and climate change. The 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire was a consequence of these changes and significantly altered the landscape of the Santa Cruz Mountain region. This study analyzes mammal recovery after wildfire in high and low fire severity locations of the CZU Fire using two camera trap grids. The high-severity grid …
Exploring Community Adaptation To Public Safety Power Shutoff Events: Findings From Two Case Studies Of Unincorporated Mountain Communities In Southern California, Ramiro M. Brown
Master's Theses
As aging electrical infrastructure in the US continues to succumb to unyielding weather patterns brought on by climate change, there is an urgency among Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) to reduce the likelihood of their equipment sparking a wildfire. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) – the intentional de-energization of the electrical grid on high fire weather danger days – have become a staple in IOU Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs) since 2018 as one way to avoid wildfire ignitions via electrical infrastructure. One criticism of PSPS events is that they create their own hazard by cutting off power to thousands – sometimes millions-of …
A Trailside Study Of A Coast Redwood Forest Understory Specis, Trillium Ovatum, In The Santa Cruz Mountains, Mary Yan
Master's Theses
To fully understand one of the world’s greatest terrestrial carbon sinks, the coast redwood forest, a co-occurring species may be the key to unique and accessible opportunities to collectively monitor the health of this important habitat. I investigated the relationship between hiking trails and Trillium ovatum within the redwood forests of three California State Parks. Utilizing quadrats across 115 one-meter plots and 58 10-meter transects, T. ovatum occurrence and abundance were recorded and analyzed with factors including proximity to trails, distance from streams, elevation, slope, canopy cover, duff depth, co-occurring understory species, and tree species dominance. Results indicated a higher …
Win-Win Ecology: Can Mosses Promote Dudleya Germination To Restore California Quarries?, Kate L. Worrell
Win-Win Ecology: Can Mosses Promote Dudleya Germination To Restore California Quarries?, Kate L. Worrell
Master's Theses
Human actions directly damage habitat for native plants; restoration ecology facilitates successful plant re-establishment in these environments. Open-pit mines leave behind steep, rocky, and nutrient-deficient habitats that are some of the most degraded ecosystems on the planet. Dudleya or ‘live-forevers’— a genus of native California succulent plants that contains many rare, threatened, or endangered species — grow on rocky cliffs and may create a successful reclamation-restoration story. However, Dudleya germination is poorly understood. Much of the literature on Dudleya cites a single field report suggesting that bryophytes facilitate germination, but no previous experiments have evaluated this proposal. In this study, …
An Assessment Of Anthropogenic Injuries On White Sharks (Carcharodon Carcharias) In Central California, Kaitlyn Yee
An Assessment Of Anthropogenic Injuries On White Sharks (Carcharodon Carcharias) In Central California, Kaitlyn Yee
Master's Theses
As human activities increasingly impact marine ecosystems, understanding the effects of anthropogenic activity on white sharks is important for their continued conservation. Human-induced injuries are observed in many shark species. Such injuries have been found to have physiological and ecological impacts. Four sites in Central California off the coasts of Aptos, Año Nuevo Island, Southeast Farallon Island, and Point Reyes are all known areas of white shark aggregation with varying levels of human use and protection. Utilizing a vast video database, this study evaluated the effects of natural and non-natural anthropogenic shark injury types across all locations, age classes, and …
Effectiveness Of Digital Communication In Tackling Environmental Degradation In Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, Bjc Anyanwu, Cynthia N. Jumbo, Oba Sunday Aikuirawo Anyi, Emeka Williams Etumnu, Alexander Chima Onyebuchi, Ezekiel S. Asemah
Effectiveness Of Digital Communication In Tackling Environmental Degradation In Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, Bjc Anyanwu, Cynthia N. Jumbo, Oba Sunday Aikuirawo Anyi, Emeka Williams Etumnu, Alexander Chima Onyebuchi, Ezekiel S. Asemah
Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)
Environmental deterioration as a whole is dangerous because it is currently causing widespread health concerns. The technological determinism theory served as the basis for this study. A descriptive survey was used in the investigation. The Australian sample size calculator was used to select 385 participants from the 983,000 total population. The multistage sampling was applied. Data was collected via a questionnaire, and analysis was done using percentages. Results revealed that 53.6% of the respondents confirmed that digital communication is used to circulate information on the dangers of environmental degradation in Owerri, Imo State, but to a low extent. The results …
Comparing Shade And Impervious Surface Area With Extreme Heat And Environmental Equity: An Analysis Of The Urban Heat Island Effect In Santa Clara County, California, Jamsheed R. Mistry
Comparing Shade And Impervious Surface Area With Extreme Heat And Environmental Equity: An Analysis Of The Urban Heat Island Effect In Santa Clara County, California, Jamsheed R. Mistry
Master's Theses
In the modern epoch of the Anthropocene, the rapid rise in urban sprawling has prompted a disproportionate exposure to extreme heat within underserved communities. As the global populace becomes increasingly urbanized, the inevitable formation of urban heat islands is becoming an imminent cause of concern for environmental and social justice. Due to an increase in urbanization, anthropogenic activities have not only increased the energy demand for cooling initiatives but also have increased the intensity of heat-related illnesses, such as heart attacks, dehydration, and respiratory diseases. Additionally, urbanization has yielded an unequal distribution of heat exposure and heat-related illnesses, particularly in …
Habitat Characterization Of American Badgers (Taxidea Taxus) Of Northern California, Mitchell Victoria
Habitat Characterization Of American Badgers (Taxidea Taxus) Of Northern California, Mitchell Victoria
Master's Theses
American badgers (Taxidea taxus) are a semi fossorial mammal that lives in grassland and open prairie ecosystems as well as coastal prairies, agricultural fields, deserts, and deforested habitats. Many researchers have published work on badgers, but we still require more information on their ecology. The American badger is a semi fossorial, solitary, predatory mammal of grassland ecosystems. They are classified as mesopredators when compared to larger apex predators such as brown bears, wolves, and pumas. However, when larger carnivores are absent, Badgers become apex predators of their ecosystems. Los Vaqueros Watershed in Brentwood, California, was my study site because badgers …
Assessing The Effectiveness Of Non-Traditional Climate Change Communication Tools In The City Of Santa Cruz, Saara Ranabhat
Assessing The Effectiveness Of Non-Traditional Climate Change Communication Tools In The City Of Santa Cruz, Saara Ranabhat
Master's Theses
Coastal cities face significant challenges from climate-induced coastal hazards. The City of Santa Cruz is a medium-sized municipality in Monterey Bay on California's Central Coast with over $1 billion worth of property and infrastructure at risk to climate-induced coastal hazards by 2100. However, city officials have noticed a lack of representation of climate-vulnerable communities in the development of various climate adaptation plans and policies. In order to remedy this problem, the City is experimenting with various climate change communication tools, such as virtual reality (VR), card games, murals, and comic books, in collaboration with different agencies. But limited understanding exists …
Justice And Equity In Urban Water Allocations And Conservation Solutions: A Case Study Of Non-Traditional Housing Dwellers, Matthew J. Mangoni
Justice And Equity In Urban Water Allocations And Conservation Solutions: A Case Study Of Non-Traditional Housing Dwellers, Matthew J. Mangoni
Master's Theses
Access to water is a human right. With droughts becoming more frequent and severe, equitable and just access to fresh water is a critical concern for policymakers and regulators. Allocation-based (AB) water rates are used widely to incentivize conservation. Previous authors document benefits of this approach for single family homes (SFH) in urban areas. People living in homeowners’ associations (HOAs) or multi-family homes and renters – commonly grouped as non-traditional housing (NTH) tend to face barriers to understanding or controlling water use and costs. This thesis investigates the equity and effectiveness of 1) AB water rate structuring and 2) a …
Daunting Encounters: La Hague’S Infrastructures Of Secrecy, Agnes Villette
Daunting Encounters: La Hague’S Infrastructures Of Secrecy, Agnes Villette
Secrecy and Society
The article explores secrecy, more particularly, nuclear secrecy in relation to two nuclear facilities situated at the tip of the Norman peninsula of La Hague, in France. Both sites - the CSM nuclear waste repository and the close-by refueling plant - were developed at the end of the 1960s in connection with France’s extensive civil and military nuclear program. While institutional archives and access to the sites remain tedious, the article contends that the nuclear secrecy shielding the facilities can be approached by unpacking the numerous accidents that took place at the site. Silenced and subjected to amnesia, spills and …
Habitat Value Of Stormwater Retention Basins For Avian Species In The South San Francisco Bay, Maya D. Briones
Habitat Value Of Stormwater Retention Basins For Avian Species In The South San Francisco Bay, Maya D. Briones
Master's Theses
Shorebird populations are declining worldwide due to habitat fragmentation, degradation, and loss. A potential, understudied set of resources that might be used to benefit waterfowl, especially breeding shorebirds, are artificial wetlands such as stormwater retention basins. This study evaluated the habitat value of stormwater retention basins in the San Francisco Bay Area by measuring species abundance, richness, and behavior. Seston, or biota and other suspended material, was collected and tested for mercury contents. Additionally, the habitat features within each basin were recorded and tracked for changes over a year. The stormwater retention basins supported a higher diversity of bird species …
Linking Social Dynamics To Private Land Management: A Study Of Prescribed Burn Associations In Northern California, Spencer R. Klinefelter
Linking Social Dynamics To Private Land Management: A Study Of Prescribed Burn Associations In Northern California, Spencer R. Klinefelter
Master's Theses
Prescribed fire is one way to improve the adaptive capacity of communities in the wildland urban interface in terms of managing wildfire risk and meeting socio-ecological goals. In California, Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) are a way of organizing private landowners with the goal of engaging in more widespread and frequent prescribed fires. This research uses semi-structured interviews with private landowners, along with key informants from public agencies such as CalFire and Regional Parks, to explore PBA development and functioning in northern coastal California. Sonoma and Marin counties were chosen as the primary study sites as they are represented by the …
Tree Removal From An Encroached Coastal Grassland Restores Soil Bacterial Communities Before Fungal Communities, Ka Ki Law
Master's Theses
Woody species encroachment depletes historic grassland biodiversity and degrades ecosystem function around the world. In particular, the encroaching trees can shift soil properties and microbial communities, which play critical roles in plant health and global nutrient cycling. Little is known about how removing encroached trees affects soil ecosystems, however. Over the last century, Pinus radiata and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (non-native to the area) both encroached into coastal prairies at Rancho Corral de Tierra in California, and selected trees were removed in 2017 and 2018 to restore grassland habitats. To examine the impacts of encroachment and removal on the soil ecosystem, I …
Distribution And Habitat Use By Western Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia Hypugaea) In Alameda, Contra Costa And San Joaquin Counties, California, Jacqueline Taylor
Distribution And Habitat Use By Western Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia Hypugaea) In Alameda, Contra Costa And San Joaquin Counties, California, Jacqueline Taylor
Master's Theses
Grasslands are regularly altered for development, agriculture, and animal farming which leads to habitat destruction and fragmentation and, ultimately, a loss of wildlife species. Though degraded, grassland ecosystems – including native and non-native species - dominate the landscape in the region of the San Francisco Bay Area east of the Bay. The western burrowing owl (Athene cuncularia hypugaea) is a native grassland species of California. The breeding burrowing owl population in the San Francisco Bay Area is resident, but burrowing owls from other parts of the range migrate into the region for the winter. The breeding owl populations in the …