Temporal And Spatial Distribution Of Cetacean Strandings Focusing On The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) With A Synthesis Of Potential Causes,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Temporal And Spatial Distribution Of Cetacean Strandings Focusing On The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) With A Synthesis Of Potential Causes, April D. Clark
HCNSO Student Capstones
A comprehensive review of the literature and a quantitative statistical analysis of that information are presented. A total of 6,015 cetaceans stranded at 36 locations from 24 peer reviewed articles published between 1999 and 2014 are documented, with the two most common stranding locations being the Canary Islands - accounting for 49 of the total cetacean stranding events - and Cape Cod - accounting for 31 of total cetacean stranding events. The documented cetacean stranding events included 805 for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at a total of ten locations from 11 peer reviewed articles. When all single stranding …
Multiple New-Particle Growth Pathways Observed At The Us Doe Southern Great Plains Field Site,
2016
Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Multiple New-Particle Growth Pathways Observed At The Us Doe Southern Great Plains Field Site, Anna L. Hodshire, Michael J. Lawler, Jun Zhao, John Ortega, Coty Jen, Taina Yli-Juuti, Jared F. Brewer, Jack K. Kodros, Kelley C. Barsanti, Dave R. Hanson, Peter H. Mcmurry, James N. Smith, Jeffery R. Pierce
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations
New-particle formation (NPF) is a significant source of aerosol particles into the atmosphere. However, these particles are initially too small to have climatic importance and must grow, primarily through net uptake of low volatility species, from diameters ∼ 1 to 30–100 nm in order to potentially impact climate. There are currently uncertainties in the physical and chemical processes associated with the growth of these freshly formed particles that lead to uncertainties in aerosol-climate modeling. Four main pathways for new-particle growth have been identified: condensation of sulfuric-acid vapor (and associated bases when available), condensation of organic vapors, uptake of organic acids …
Transgenerational Effects Of Thermal Stress: Impacts On And Beyond Coral Reproduction,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Transgenerational Effects Of Thermal Stress: Impacts On And Beyond Coral Reproduction, Alyson Kuba
HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Ocean warming causes stress to corals and records reveal that periods of thermal stress are increasing in frequency and severity. Previous studies show that thermal stress negatively impacts the reproductive output of corals. However, the transgenerational impacts of coral bleaching have never been quantified. As a consequence, it is unclear how ocean warming may alter population dynamics due to effects on reproduction and recruitment. This study quantified the transgenerational impacts of thermal stress in Montastraea cavernosa. To assess transgenerational effects of temperature stress during gametogenesis, colonies were exposed to elevated temperature for two weeks four months prior to spawning, …
Can Skeletal Morphology Support New Molecular Phylogenies Of Antedonidae (Crinoidea: Comatulida)?,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Can Skeletal Morphology Support New Molecular Phylogenies Of Antedonidae (Crinoidea: Comatulida)?, Brenna Hays
HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Antedonidae (Crinoidea: Comatulida) is the largest of extant crinoid families; it currently includes ~155 accepted species in 50 genera and accounts for ~23% of extant crinoid species (~29% of feather stars) and 27% of genera. Molecular phylogenies have returned the family as polyphyletic, with several clades scattered among non-antedonid sister groups (Hemery 2011, Hemery et al. 2013, Rouse et al. in prep.). Traditional morphological characteristics are thus inadequate for reconstructing relationships among taxa. SEM imaging was used in an effort to discover new diagnostic features that will support the molecular data, focusing on skeletal ossicles within the calyx, specifically the …
Artificial Reefs As Juvenile Fish Habitats In Marinas,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Artificial Reefs As Juvenile Fish Habitats In Marinas, Allison Patranella
HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Coastal infrastructure has replaced many vital fish nursery habitats with structures designed without fully mitigating for the loss of the natural ecosystems. This thesis details research focused on the use of small, inexpensive, artificial reef modules as replacement juvenile fish habitat within marinas. My research hypothesis was that the placement of small, structurally complex artificial reef modules would increase fish abundance and species richness relative to unmodified marina seawalls. Non-destructive visual surveys of fishes were completed monthly for 14 months for 12 artificial reef sites and 12 control (unmodified) sites within the Nova Southeastern University Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center (NSU-GHOC) …
Reproductive Ecology Of Dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae) In The Gulf Of Mexico,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Reproductive Ecology Of Dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae) In The Gulf Of Mexico, Alex D. Marks
HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
The most speciose group of fishes in the Gulf of Mexico is the dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae). These fishes are dominant mesopelagic predators occurring throughout the world’s oceans, including the Antarctic seas. Little is known regarding their reproductive ecology, a consequence attributed to insufficient sample sizes of mature adults due to inadequacies of sampling gear; larger, sexually mature stomiid adults are more adept at net avoidance, thereby obfuscating synoptic reproductive biology studies. Between 2010-2011, the Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program was initiated in the northern Gulf of Mexico over all four seasons using a discrete-depth sampling system (MOCNESS) and a …
Sunlight Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence In The Near-Infrared Spectral Region In Natural Waters: Interpretations Of The Narrow Reflectance Peak Around 761nm,
2016
Nanjing University
Sunlight Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence In The Near-Infrared Spectral Region In Natural Waters: Interpretations Of The Narrow Reflectance Peak Around 761nm, Yingcheng Lu, Linhai Li, Minwei Zhang, Shaojie Sun, Chunguang Lv
Marine Science Faculty Publications
Sunlight induced chlorophyll a fluorescence (SICF) can be used as a probe to estimate chlorophyll a concentrations (Chl) and infer phytoplankton physiology. SICF at ∼685 nm has been widely applied to studies of natural waters. SICF around 740 nm has been demonstrated to cause a narrow reflectance peak at ∼761 nm in the reflectance spectra of terrestrial vegetation. This narrow peak has also been observed in the reflectance spectra of natural waters, but its mechanism and applications have not yet been investigated and it has often been treated as measurement artifacts. In this study, we aimed to interpret …
Modeling The Global Atmospheric Transport And Deposition Of Mercury To The Great Lakes,
2016
Utah State University
Modeling The Global Atmospheric Transport And Deposition Of Mercury To The Great Lakes, Mark D. Cohen, Roland R. Draxler, Richard S. Artz, Pierrette Blanchard, Mae Sexauer Gustin, Young-Ji Han, Thomas M. Holsen, Daniel A. Jaffe, Paul Kelley, Hang Lei, Christopher P. Loughner, Winston T. Luke, Seth N. Lyman, David Niemi, Jozef M. Pacyna, Martin Pilote, Laurier Poissant, Dominique Ratte, Xinrong Ren, Frits Steenhuisen, Alexandra Steffen, Rob Tordon, Simon J. Wilson
USU Uintah Basin Faculty Publications
Mercury contamination in the Great Lakes continues to have important public health and wildlife ecotoxicology impacts, and atmospheric deposition is a significant ongoing loading pathway. The objective of this study was to estimate the amount and source-attribution for atmospheric mercury deposition to each lake, information needed to prioritize amelioration efforts. A new global, Eulerian version of the HYSPLIT-Hg model was used to simulate the 2005 global atmospheric transport and deposition of mercury to the Great Lakes. In addition to the base case, 10 alternative model configurations were used to examine sensitivity to uncertainties in atmospheric mercury chemistry and surface exchange. …
Can Twilight Reefs Usher In A New Dawn For Depauperate Shallow Coral Reefs?,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Can Twilight Reefs Usher In A New Dawn For Depauperate Shallow Coral Reefs?, Hunter Kg Noren
HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
As shallow reefs continue to decline, scientists are searching for the key to their persistence; as it turns out, they may just need to look deeper. Below many shallow tropical reefs, there exist healthy and more stable mesophotic coral reef communities. The ability of these reefs to act as a refuge for declining shallow populations has garnered significant interest among the scientific community; however, the reproductive and larval aspects necessary for this to occur are unknown. This study assesses the ability of deep reefs to act as a reproductive refuge for shallow counterparts by examining gametic compatibility, viability and larval …
Effects Of Emf Emissions From Undersea Electric Cables On Coral Reef Fishes,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Effects Of Emf Emissions From Undersea Electric Cables On Coral Reef Fishes, Robert F. Jermain
HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
The objective of this project was to determine if the electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from undersea power cables impacted the local and transient marine life, with an emphasis on reef fishes. The work was done at South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Broward County, Florida. This facility functions as the hub for a range of active undersea detection and data transmission cables. It has multiple active submarine power cables that extend several miles offshore and which can deliver power and enable data transmission to and from a range of acoustic and EMF sensors. The …
Using Regression-Based Effect Size Meta-Analysis To Investigate Coral Responses To Climate Change,
2016
Nova Southeastern University
Using Regression-Based Effect Size Meta-Analysis To Investigate Coral Responses To Climate Change, Niklas Alexander Kornder
HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Attempts to quantify the effects of ocean acidification and warming (OAW) on scleractinian corals provide a growing body of response measurements. However, placing empirical results into an ecological context is challenging, owing to variations that reflect both natural heterogeneity and scientific bias. This study addresses the heterogeneity of climate change induced changes in coral recruitment and calcification. To discern scientific bias and identify drivers of the remaining heterogeneity, 100 publications were analyzed using a combination of weighted mixed effects meta-regression and factorial effect size meta‑analysis. A linear model was applied to quantify the variation caused by differing stress levels across …
Reducing Pollen Dispersal Using Forest Windbreaks,
2016
University of Connecticut - Storrs
Reducing Pollen Dispersal Using Forest Windbreaks, Carol Auer, Thomas Meyer, Vernie Sagun
Plant Science Articles
The adoption of genetically engineered (GE) crops has created a demand for practical methods to mitigate pollen dispersal and gene flow. The goal of this project was to measure the ability of a narrow forest windbreak to reduce downwind pollen fluxes from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a North American grass and model biofuels feedstock. Switchgrass fields were established in two identical plots where one had a forest windbreak and the other was in an open (control) site. Switchgrass reproduction, pollen dispersal, wind speed, and wind direction were measured over two years. Daily release of switchgrass pollen peaked at 11:00-13:30 …
Overview Of The Phytoplankton And Water Quality Of Lake Maumelle For 2009,
2016
University of Arkansas Little Rock
Overview Of The Phytoplankton And Water Quality Of Lake Maumelle For 2009, Rich Shaver
Theses and Dissertations
Since 1989 the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Central Arkansas Water (CAW) have collected water quality and phytoplankton samples from Lake Maumelle in Central Arkansas. These samples were collected from three locations within the reservoir. Phytoplankton samples for 2009 were identified to genus and counted. The phytoplankton did not follow a typical succession pattern for north temperate lakes. Starting in late winter, Chlorophyta tended to be the dominant division followed by Cyanophyta in the fall. Diversity was relatively high at all sampling locations and no differences among sites were detected. Total phosphorus appeared to be the limiting nutrient. Based …
Using A High-Altitude Balloon Platform To Observe And Measure Ozone Uptake Over Agricultural Landscapes In Central Illinois,
2016
DePaul University
Using A High-Altitude Balloon Platform To Observe And Measure Ozone Uptake Over Agricultural Landscapes In Central Illinois, Cody Sabo
DePaul Discoveries
An increase in the amount of factories and machines that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) has caused the concentration of GHGs to rise steeply since the industrial era. These emissions create compounds that react with sunlight to form ozone, a GHG. Ozone not only traps heat in the atmosphere causing long-term global issues, but it also causes direct harm to both plants and animals. The damage that ozone causes to plants is due to plants taking the gas up through their stomata. Measuring ozone uptake has traditionally been a difficult and expensive process. This study proposes a novel approach towards measuring …
Combinatory Effect Of Changing Co2, Temperature, And Long-Term Growth Temperature On Isoprene Emissions,
2016
DePaul University
Combinatory Effect Of Changing Co2, Temperature, And Long-Term Growth Temperature On Isoprene Emissions, Michael Cole
DePaul Discoveries
Isoprene, the most abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere, plays a significant role in atmospheric chemistry. Its reactions with NOx lead to the formation of ozone in the lower troposphere, which is harmful to plants and detrimental to human health. As air temperatures and CO2 concentrations increase with climate change, it is uncertain how isoprene emissions from plants will respond. We hypothesized that isoprene emissions will increase with the combination of increasing temperature and CO2 concentrations. We predict that oaks grown at a higher temperature will exhibit an increase in isoprene emissions with combined short-term increases in temperature …
The Correlation Between Basal Isoprene Emissions And Climate Of The Native Range Across Oak Species,
2016
DePaul University
The Correlation Between Basal Isoprene Emissions And Climate Of The Native Range Across Oak Species, Mary J. Babiez
DePaul Discoveries
Isoprene is a biogenic volatile organic compound that is emitted by various plant species and plays an important role in the chemistry of the atmosphere. When it reacts with pollutants in the air, such as nitrogen oxides, the precursor to ozone (O3) is formed. In this experiment, we measured leaf emissions from 20 different oak species at the Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois). The aim was to better understand differences in isoprene emissions across oak species. Since emissions have been found to protect leaves against brief periods of heat stress, we hypothesized that oaks native to areas with greater …
The Influence Of Model Resolution On The Simulated Sensitivity Of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Maximum Intensity To Sea Surface Temperature,
2016
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
The Influence Of Model Resolution On The Simulated Sensitivity Of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Maximum Intensity To Sea Surface Temperature, Sarah Strazzo, James Elsner, Timothy Larow, Hiroyuki Murakami, Michael Wehner, Ming Zhao
Publications
No abstract provided.
Monitoring And Mitigation Of Elevated Co2 Impacts Using Microalgae,
2016
University of South Florida
Monitoring And Mitigation Of Elevated Co2 Impacts Using Microalgae, Terry-Rene Wiesner Brown
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Climate change is arguably the greatest environmental and economic challenge of our time. There are considerable documented and projected impacts to both human and natural systems as a result of climate change. These impacts include changes in temperature, sea level, precipitation patterns, and biogeography of ecologically and economically relevant species, including pathogens. One of the main drivers of climate change is elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas. Since pre-industrial times, atmospheric CO2 levels have increased from approximately 280 ppm to over 400 ppm, as a result of fossil fuel combustion, cement production and …
Low-Cost Hab Platform To Measure Particulate Matter In The Troposphere,
2016
DePaul University
Low-Cost Hab Platform To Measure Particulate Matter In The Troposphere, Mark J. Potosnak, Bernhard Beck-Winchatz, Paul Ritter
2017 Academic High Altitude Conference
High-altitude balloons (HABs) are an engaging platform for formal and informal STEM education. However, the logistics of launching, chasing and recovering a payload on a 1200 g or 1500 g balloon can be daunting for many novice school groups and citizen scientists, and the cost can be prohibitive. In addition, there are many interesting scientific applications that do not require reaching the stratosphere. In this poster presentation we discuss a novel approach based on small (30 g) balloons that are cheap and easy to handle, and low-cost tracking devices (SPOT and 900 MHz spread spectrum) that do not require a …
Karst Landscape Influence On The Planetary Boundary Layer Atmosphere,
2016
Western Kentucky University
Karst Landscape Influence On The Planetary Boundary Layer Atmosphere, Zachary S. Sullivan
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Karst landscapes cover approximately 20% of the ice-free land area worldwide. The soluble nature of the bedrock within a karst landscape allows for the formation of caverns, joints, fissures, sinkholes, and underground streams, which affect the hydrological behavior of the region. Currently, the Noah Land-Surface Model (Noah- LSM), coupled with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, does not provide a representation of the physical behavior of a karst terrain. Previous research has attempted to model karst behavior through soil moisture and land cover/land use changes to determine the influence this unique landscape may have on atmospheric phenomenon. This highlights …
