Environmental Studies Undergraduate Student Theses

The Plant Based Diet: Increasing Overall Health through Simple Diet

Tyler Sorensen — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:51:12 PDT

Using Slow-Release Permanganate to Remediate Pah Contaminated Water

Lindy Rauscher — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:51:10 PDT

The Role of Emotion in Understanding and Promoting Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Behavior

Chevelle Schreiner — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:51:07 PDT

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of empathy and perspective-taking in influencing

environmental concern (Sevilliano, Aragones, & Schultz, 2007) Although there may be a number of internal factors that inhibit pro-environmental behavior, it is important to evaluate the ways by which we can use emotion to encourage this type of behavior. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of emotion on eco-friendly behavior by investigating the effect of viewing high- or low-fear appeals on changing consumers‘ food choices will have on their attitudes and behaviors. Results show that the

likelihood that a participant intended to partake in more pro-environmental behaviors was generally greater after viewing the low-fear video after viewing the high-fear video. The investigation of emotions‘ role in sustainability suggests that while high-fear interventions may have a positive effect on intention to be more sustainable, a low-fear intervention may have an even greater progressive influence. These results provide preliminary evidence for the importance of emotion in efforts toward a more sustainable environment.

A Comparison of Moist-Soil Seed Sampling Techniques in the Nebraska Rainwater Basin

Lisa Zilli — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:51:06 PDT

Wetland managers sometimes estimate seed production of wetlands managed for migrating waterfowl habitat. Using estimation techniques, managers can determine if wetland plants produce enough seed to support the nutritional needs of migrating waterfowl. Usually, a one-time sampling method is used; this technique samples seeds once a year during peak seed production. However, this technique may underestimate seed production due to plants producing large quantities of seed before or after peak seed production or producing seed throughout the growing season. Season long sampling may be more representative of a wetland’s seed production. We comparing one-time sampling with season- long sampling by setting up and sampling seeds from plots; one plot was sampling once every two weeks; the other plot was sampled once during peak seed production.

Overall, we found that one-time sampling tends to underestimate seed production relative to season long sampling. If a wetland contains large quantities of early-seeding species, late-seeding species, or species with indetermination growth, the season long sampling technique may be more representative of a wetland’s seed production. If the wetland is dominated by species that produce most of their seed during peak seed production, the one- time sampling method is efficient at capturing a wetland’s seed production.

Determine the Feasibility of Using Isolated Solar/Wind Hybrid Power System to Augment Power at a Signalized Intersection

Yang Liu — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:51:05 PDT

An estimation to the monetary profit a solar/wind power system can make when powering a traffic light signal is presented. There are two approaches investigated. One is tracking the price of the equipment and the money it can save to obtain the result. The other approach is to estimate the environmental benefit and then convert it into a monetary value for comparison. A discussion of the results and suggestions on the new solar/wind hybrid power system is presented

Developing Environmental Sustainability Criteria for University Research Laboratories: A Tool for Rating and Implementing Green Methodology in Labs

Maxine White — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:51:00 PDT

This study examines sustainable behavior and methodology in university research labs. Environmental problems like global warming are becoming common knowledge to many people throughout the world, and it is necessary for humans to live in more sustainable ways that leave a healthy planet for future generations. Universities are an important part of the global community, and it is pertinent that they become more involved in sustainable efforts. University research laboratories produce large amounts of regular and hazardous waste, use massive amounts of energy, and are currently not operating in sustainable ways. The purpose of this study is to determine the criteria of sustainable research labs and how these can be used to implement green methodology in labs. A literature review was performed to determine the criteria, and these were used to create a Lab Sustainability Checklist that can be used to help labs become more sustainable. The established criteria fall into five categories, including: energy conservation, green chemistry, waste reduction, sustainable management practices, and water conservation. The most common criterion found in the literature involved educating and training researchers, lab employees, and students about sustainable best practices in the lab, and this will be key to improving sustainability. While there are many barriers to lab sustainability, improvements in technology and education can go a long way in implementing sustainable practices.

Do Tree Species in a Bornean Mixed Dipterocarp Forest Display Preferential Uptake of Different Nitrogen Forms?

Jocelyn Onley — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:40:53 PDT

Lambir Hills National Park in Malaysian Borneo is composed of dipterocarp tree species which specialize on different soil types. Although the mechanisms contributing to this distribution of tree species are unknown, one hypothesis is that tree species at Lambir differ in their preferences for different nitrogen forms. In this study we investigated (1) whether clay soil and sandy loam soil types at Lambir differ in the availability of ammonium and nitrate and (2) whether tree species specializing on either clay soil or sandy loam soil at Lambir have differing preferences or capacities to take up ammonium, nitrate, or glycine (organic nitrogen). We expected sandy loam specialists to show a greater capacity to absorb ammonium, relative to clay specialists, and clay specialists to exhibit greater capacity to absorb nitrate, relative to sandy loam specialists. Generalist species were expected to have no preference for different nitrogen forms. We had no apriori expectations with regard to the expected uptake of glycine. An anion and cation exchange resin experiment revealed that as expected, clay soil consisted of significantly more nitrate than ammonium. However, contrary to predictions, sandy loam soil did not have significantly more ammonium than nitrate. We conducted a 15N tracer experiment by injecting 15N labeled solutions of nitrate, ammonium, or glycine in the soil of potted seedlings with different soil type specialization. 15N and 13C analysis of leaf tissue from treated seedlings did not support our hypotheses that sandy loam specialists would have significantly greater uptake of ammonium over nitrate, and that clay specialists would have significantly greater uptake of nitrate over ammonium. For a majority of the species, uptake of ammonium, nitrate, and glycine was similar. This indicates that these species have the ability to take up organic nitrogen in the form of the simple amino acid, glycine. It appears that nitrogen form preference in not likely to be a mechanism in the distribution of tree species at Lambir.

Predicting Lemna minor growth rate response to temperature fluctuations

Elizabeth Novich — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:40:44 PDT

The effects of global climate change on populations may be further understood when environmental variability is included. There are strong theoretical reasons that support the idea that environmental fluctuations matter when studying ecological systems. In order to further explore this, we parameterized a model of the growth rate of Lemna minor at constant temperatures and made predictions on how L. minor would respond to fluctuating temperatures based on this model. There were four trials performed that compared the difference between growth rates at constant and fluctuating temperatures in order to test if our predictions were correct. For our results, only the high temperature treatment with sine wave fluctuations proved to match our predictions significantly, which could be due to the simplicity of our model from which we made predictions. Our results suggest that in order to fully describe how populations respond to environmental variability, we may need to find a more complex model.

Conserving the Platte: A Documentary Short

Steven Speicher — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:40:43 PDT

With a history of litigation, deliberation, and conversation, the Platte River’s waters have been topic of much debate. In recent memory, historical decisions have been made regarding how to successfully manage this crucial water resource that sustains life in the Great Plains. The Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, a federally mandated tri-state conservation organization, began after years of consideration and an adamancy to avoid major litigation battle. Audubon Society has been a major player in conservation of habitats and protecting endangered species; Audubon Society’s Rowe Sanctuary, in specific, has worked in a variety of community- centered ways to conserve the central Platte and wildlife from competing interests. With the federal listing of endangered species such as the Whooping Crane, Piper Plover, and Interior Least Tern, as well as the presence of migratory Sandhill Cranes, how has the Platte River’s waters and wetland habitat management been influenced? The author sought to explore this topic and, in the process, record interviews and shoot original footage to produce, write, and edit a documentary short. Here within is a DVD, the director’s intent, a synopsis of the project, the working video script, a personal reflection of the project, and a literature review of referenced materials.

Road Salt Runoff: Impervious Surface Area and Salt Concentrations in Urban Water Bodies

Jordan Pharris — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:58:05 PDT

Resource Distribution and the French Revolution

Louan Pagan — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:58:03 PDT

Throughout the centuries following the French Revolution (1789 -1799), social scientists and historians have attributed a myriad of causes to the sociopolitical upheaval. Food and beverages played a key role in the coming of French Revolution, for the people were in effect fighting for the right to have nutrition rather than for social or political ideals. Literary analysis of both primary and secondary sources illustrated the integral role of the peasant’s stomach to the uprising. The Enlightenment disillusionment of the royals, rising bread prices, discrepancy in food distribution both within and around Paris, and substandard quality of food, wine, and water all combined to create rancor among the commoners. Had the Ancien Régime (Old Regime) taken its responsibility to the people more seriously and ensured their necessities, rather than exploiting the commoner’s mercilessly, the French Revolution may never have started, much less caused the death of so many.

Achieving Sustainability In The Craft Brewing Industry

Mike Boden — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:55:19 PDT

Continued growth in the craft brewing industry, coupled with natural resource limitations suggests the need for implementation of sustainable initiatives on a wide scale. These initiatives discussed include the areas of economic sustainability through cooperative growth and equilibrium, social sustainability through employee and community development, and environmental sustainability through energy and water conservation and renewable energy use. Specific techniques to achieve sustainability in the craft brewing industry are reviewed alongside case studies of craft breweries currently implementing these techniques. A sustainable metric is outlined for use in accomplishing these goals.

Using Landsat Imagery to Monitor Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery in the Sandhills of Nebraska: A Multitemporal Approach.

James McBride — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:55:18 PDT

The objective of this study was to look at a wildfire in the Nebraska Sandhills as a case study for multi-temporal monitoring of burned areas using Landsat-7 satellite images. Eight Landsat-7 scenes were selected and a shapefile of the perimeter of a September 2000 wildfire in the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. A true color composite, color infrared composite, and a single-band NDVI output was used for visual analysis. A subset of burned and unburned sections was taken from the NDVI images; the values were graphed and compared. The visual analysis of the true color and color infrared images show the presence and absence of vegetation. The NDVI can be used to quantify the amount, and relative health of the vegetation present. Landsat-7 imagery, especially when converted to NDVI is a useful tool for land managers looking a cheap, and efficient way to monitor landscape level changes.

Pharmacists' Role in Safe and Legal Medication Disposal

Allyson Lamb — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:55:17 PDT

Water Scarcity and Our Global Footprint

Jarad Kinyoun — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:55:15 PDT

The study was conducted in Lincoln, Nebraska to test when individuals are educated on water scarcity issues and water saving techniques; they will make choices that lower consumption at the individual level.

The twenty households participated in this study on a volunteer basis. Each household was educated on current water issues, water saving techniques, and on their current ecological water footprint. These households were monitored over a four month period for actual reduction in water consumption and economic savings.

The water consumption patterns of the participants after being educated on water scarcity and water saving techniques correlated directly resulting in a decrease in water consumption and an increase in monetary savings. This indicates that individuals have the potential to make an impact on conserving water regionally and globally when motivated and educated.

Competing for Land: The Relationship between Urban Development and Agriculture for Lancaster and Seward Counties

Carole Kerrey — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:50:38 PDT

This study examined the development patterns in Lancaster and Seward Counties and their interaction with local agriculture. The Lincoln-Lancaster Planning Department approved a development plan through the year 2040, referred to as LPlan 2040. Data from the USDA Census and the Lincoln-Lancaster Planning Department was collected in Excel and used for multivariable regressions. Historical trends in development and factors of development were analyzed, and then compared to LPlan 2040. The factors of development include the value of farmland, the number of farms, and the population of Lincoln. The focus of the agricultural analysis was the change in farm size due to the connection between farm size and local food markets and environmental conditions. Factors of change in farm size that were examined include the value of farmland, the price of corn, and the cumulative area of Lincoln. Additionally, these trends in farm size were examined over time and projected to estimate the characteristics of agricultural production in 2040.

The Lincoln-Lancaster Planning Department stated that the goal of LPlan 2040 was to reduce urban sprawl (2011). This is important because urban sprawl not only reduces natural spaces and agricultural land, but can generate hazardous environmental consequences. This study found that the planning department was successful at keeping the size of Lincoln in 2040 under the projected cumulative area based on the historical annual rate of development. Also, the size of farms in Lancaster and Seward Counties appears to be strongly bimodal by 2040. Moderately sized farms are projected to reach zero, while the majority of farms will be either under 140 acres or over 1,000 acres in 2040. This could have significant impacts for local food markets as well as environmental conditions in these counties.

Potential Effects of Two Asian Carp Species on Pallid Sturgeon

Daniel Kent — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:50:37 PDT

Invasive species have had a major impact all over the world in their introduced ranges. In the U.S., none has been more obvious than the Asian carp species Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Famous for their jumping abilities, these carp have also had a detrimental effect on many of our native fish species by out competing them for food sources. Asian carp are found in many of our central waterways and reside within the same range as one of our nation’s endangered fish species, the Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). This is why it is important to assess what kind of impacts these invasive carp might have on Pallid sturgeon. The thesis objective is to determine if Asian carp have any direct or indirect impacts on Pallid sturgeon. Previous studies were reviewed and the data was placed in a table and used to determine the diet overlap Asian carp might pose on sturgeon and its food sources. Four shared food sources or consumption of zooplankton by Asian carp of 25% or more of the amount the studied species were considered as an overlap. Parasites were determined by the chance of infecting sturgeon by being present in their waterways. If present in the range of Pallid sturgeon, the consumption of copepoda was determined as a possibility of being infected with the parasite Asian tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi). What was found was Asian carp did not appear to pose much of a direct threat to sturgeon but could have an impact on some of its food fish. The parasite Asian tapeworm may also affect sturgeon and its food fish.

Warming Nighttime Temperatures and Crop Health in the Corn Belt

Justin Hladik — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:50:36 PDT

Over the last century nighttime minimum temperatures have been increasing at a faster rate than daily maximum temperatures. This warming trend has caught the attention of climatologists and agricultural scientists as they attempt to address the potential effects of elevated nighttime minimum temperatures on the health of these crops, which are so important to the U.S. economy. In this study, ten sites represent the Corn Belt of the United States. Those sites are spread across an area in which the average minimum nighttime temperatures for each of the three primary growing months of the year (June, July, August) increased from 1950-2011. Since this is a relatively new phenomenon, the effects of increased nighttime temperatures are not well understood. The main variables that can affect the growth of crops under elevated nighttime temperatures are: a shift in agro climatic zones resulting in an introduction of new pests formerly foreign to the crops, deviation from prime respiration temperatures and lastly the subsequent change in the properties of air associated with warmer air that would likely exist in a changing climate. Warmer nighttime temperatures raise the respiration rate of corn plants to levels above the optimum rate. This leads to “wasteful respiration,”which often compromises the plant structure (leading to “stalk cannibalization”), negatively affects the overall health of the plant, and jeopardizes maximum production. Most crop simulation models and experimental results used in climate and agriculture studies were not designed well enough to quantify multiple stress effects associated with this research. The complexity and input requirements of a reliable agro ecosystem model are such that the predictive capacity of the simulation models represents a much smaller area than desired, decreasing the validity of a large-scale application. More research needs to be conducted comparing differing agro environments (since each environment contains a different set of target variables like soil type, rainfall, plant species, and climate events). Such research is necessary to help untangle climate effects from other factors affecting maximum crop yield.

Small-Wind and Residential Photovoltaic in Nebraska: Barriers to Development

Jerrod Bley — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:50:34 PDT

Microcystin Toxin in Nebraska Lakes with Correlation of Population and Agriculture Use

Kaitlyn Haras — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:31:27 PDT