Focus on global climate change can overlook the nuances of local weather and climate impacts. This study describes tools and methods for creating and observing weather and climatic conditions on a temporal and geographic scale that represents the environment of Nebraska. Recognition of the limited resources available for continuous application of new data and gathering of observations provides a guide for a “best practice” scientific, yet economic, model for maintaining an observational network and deriving value-added products.
Utilizing Federally maintained datasets of geographically relevant cooperative observations as a backdrop, the locally implemented and maintained weather observation network, the Nebraska Mesonet, is assessed against the official national climate records. Strategies for increasing the relevance and reliability of the Nebraska Mesonet observed parameters that show inconsistencies are discussed. Quality control techniques are tested and evaluated to provide confidence in the recorded observations, with recommendations made to mitigate and limit errant data from entering an official Nebraska Mesonet record.
To examine the relationships among stunting, water quality, and zoonotic pathogen sharing, we used primary data collected in Karongi district in western Rwanda, an area with high stunting prevalence, as well as secondary national survey data. We linked data from the 2019-2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) with national water quality testing data. We used generalized linear regression to identify demographic, socio-economic, livestock ownership, and water quality factors associated with stunting. Child factors (birth order, age, gender) and household factors (wealth status, mother’s education, rural or urban location, number of children in the household) were associated with increased stunting. Water quality (pH) was also marginally associated with stunting.
In our Karongi district field study, we paired household surveys with biological sample collection from children, livestock, and drinking water in upstream and downstream communities in the Musogoro River watershed. Water samples from surface water, public taps, and household drinking water storage containers were tested for basic physical water quality parameters, bacterial contamination (total coliform bacteria and E. coli), and potential hazardous elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn) with public health importance. We cultured and isolated potentially zoonotic pathogens (Campylobacter, E. coli, and Salmonella) from child stool samples, livestock fecal samples, and drinking water. Surface water sources and household drinking water containers had high levels of biological (total coliform/E. coli) and chemical contaminants (iron and manganese). The prevalence of Campylobacter was high (>60%) across child, livestock, and water samples in upstream and downstream communities. High levels of E. coli were also detected across samples (>40%), with significantly higher prevalence in upstream children and livestock. Salmonella was less commonly detected, but the prevalence was significantly higher in upstream livestock. Whole genome sequencing analyses of cultured pathogens are planned to define population structures and assess pathogen sharing at the child-livestock-water interface. Our results highlight the need for further research to assess environmental factors associated with child stunting and to facilitate development of more holistic household- and watershed-based intervention strategies to improve human, animal, and ecosystem health outcomes.
Environmental leaders are tasked with finding innovative solutions to dynamic and ever-changing environmental challenges. Leaders must possess the ability to gain and use new knowledge and experiences that motivate resolving gaps in one’s knowledge (i.e., curiosity) to find forward thinking solutions. Curiosity is an integral part of human existence but may be experienced in various ways. Studies have shown men and women may possess different leadership styles, but the influence of curiosity on leadership between genders has not been as readily explored. Women have shown unique characteristics for successful leadership in many contexts but are often underrepresented in natural resource management. Characteristics of curiosity and those of women leaders are similar to qualities in transformational leadership who are successful environmental stewards. This explanatory mixed methods study investigated the role of curiosity in transformational leadership and seeks to understand the influence of curiosity and leadership in women environmental leaders.
We assessed gender, trait curiosity, and transformational leadership scores of participants in the year-long Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. Regression analysis found that curiosity was a strong predictor of transformational leadership while gender was not, from both the participant and rater’s perspectives. Thematic analysis of interviews with women environmental leaders produced seven themes that inform the essence of how curiosity and transformational leadership influence the women’s experiences. Participants expressed constant awareness of stereotypical gender roles and how this played into power imbalances that both limited and supported elements of their curiosity and leadership. Their people-oriented curiosity supported communication, relationship building, and perspective gaining which were strengths of women leaders.
Landscape composition and anthropogenic pressure can shape the transmission of pathogens between hosts in shared or adjacent habitats. Human-driven environmental changes such as urbanization can increase contact between people and animals, increasing the risk for pathogens to be transmitted at the human-domestic animal-wildlife interface. Toxoplasma gondii, a globally distributed zoonotic parasite shed by domestic and wild felids, can accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic environments leading to exposure in diverse hosts. As T. gondii can be spread through food webs (consumption of infected animal hosts) as well as by ingesting oocysts in contaminated soil, plants, and water, changes in landscape composition and configuration can impact exposure by changing contact among hosts or the potential for contacting oocysts in the environment. Although most animals and people infected with T. gondii experience mild or no clinical signs, the severity of the infection is highly dependent upon the immune system of the hosts and the strains of T. gondii involved. We used logistic regression to assess the association between landscape characteristics and T. gondii exposure as well as T. gondii genetic diversity in bobcats, coyotes, foxes and feral domestic cats from coastal California. We analyzed anthropogenic (human population density and global human footprint), demographic (sex and age), landscape composition (urbanized, agricultural, and less developed areas), and landscape configuration (diversity and evenness indices) factors as potential predictors. We found that landscape heterogeneity was positively associated with T. gondii exposure in feral cats. Animal age was consistently a strong predictor for exposure in all wild and domestic species. We also found associations between human population density and occurrence of novel atypical strains of T. gondii in wild host species. Results from this study provide insight into the ecology of T. gondii transmission among sympatric hosts in heterogeneous landscapes and highlight the need for further research to identify areas where new strains of T. gondii may emerge.
Great Plains landscapes are undergoing changes at multiple spatial and temporal scales due to processes ranging from woody encroachment to demographic change. These changes may fundamentally alter the agroecosystems of the Great Plains such that the provisioning of ecosystem services such as biodiversity and livestock production is affected. Improving our understanding of the effects of landscape change and how humans perceive and respond to these changes is important for facilitating research and management that enhances the resilience of these agroecosystems. In order to examine landscape change in the Great Plains and the roles of scale and human response to change, I first applied discontinuity theory and graph theory to evaluate the functional connectivity of the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) for mammal species interacting with the landscape at multiple scales. I found that the CPRV was highly connected for mammal species at larger scales and less connected for those at smaller scales. I also found limited overlap in the patches of habitat most important for connectivity for mammals interacting with the landscape at smaller and larger scales. These results suggest that a multiscale approach to management in the CPRV will be most beneficial in supporting diverse species communities. Second, I interviewed ranchers in the Great Plains states of Nebraska and Colorado in order to examine their perceptions of landscape change and potential coping strategies. The ranchers interviewed identified numerous changes affecting Great Plains landscapes, and they generally expressed a willingness to learn and adopt new practices, including in response to landscape change. These results indicate a need and opportunity for research and management partnerships between governmental and nonprofit entities and the ranching community in order to develop coping strategies. Cumulatively, by examining landscape change and the role of scale and human response to change, we gain insight into potential approaches to research and management in changing Great Plains agroecosystems, which is valuable in maintaining the resilience of these systems.
Across the country, Indigenous Peoples have developed and implemented adaptation plans to improve their resilience to climate and weather disturbances. An essential component of these plans is to use environmental information effectively. Institutions like universities and governmental agencies usually provide this environmental information. However, many studies have shown that much of this information is not usable for its intended users. Additionally, there has been little research into the issues that can affect Indigenous Peoples’ usage of environmental information in the U.S. Therefore, this case study aimed to assist the Santee Sioux Nations’ Office of Environmental Protection (OEP) capacity in using environmental information by investigating how to improve it. Moreover, the study also explored how others can improve their collaborative practices with the OEP since the environmental information’s usability depends not only on its quality but also on the relationships that establish its accessibility, validity, and ultimately, its usability.
Through a rigorous ethical process with employees from the OEP, a case study was developed that consisted of a focus group, document analysis, and observations. The results reveal that, unlike previous research on usable science that focuses on technical issues, the main obstacles to usability result from present-day structural issues that connect to past U.S. actions. A similarity with the previous research is that the relationship between the information producers and users is a critical factor in this study for increasing the usability of environmental information.
Current Use Pesticides (CUPs), which are important for continued productivity within the agricultural industry, exhibit a growing influence on water resources and aquatic ecosystems. Worldwide, over 411,000 kilograms of pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) are applied annually, leading to chronic pollution in streams and rivers. While substantial work has been completed on the occurrence and distribution of neonicotinoid in both surface and groundwater environmental, little is known on the degradation and transformation of neonicotinoids in natural river environments. Therefore, the overarching goal of this study was to quantify the potential role of two rivers on the photochemical transformation of neonicotinoids and potential fate and transport mechanisms of these insecticides and their degradants in aquatic environments. To evaluate this, we established the following objectives: review the current knowledge of neonicotinoids insecticides in aquatic environments (Chapter 1), evaluate the impact of neonicotinoids fate and transport in watersheds with varying land uses (Chapter 2), and evaluate specific photochemical transformation rates, mechanisms, and byproduct formations of two neonicotinoids (imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) in river water with varying dissolved organic matter (Chapter 3). Findings from this study provide an improved understanding of pesticide and their degradants fate and transport mechanisms in river environments.
The Delphi Method is used throughout a wide range of scientific disciplines for collecting copious amounts of qualitative data about topics of interest. However, the structure and process can be vague and variable. Within 81 peer-reviewed scientific journals, we identified 115 publications addressing the use of the Delphi Method in the fields of natural resources, fisheries, wildlife, and conservation. Our research showed that the Delphi method can successfully provide insight into a wide range of natural resources topics when reported and explained in the methodological structure. Specifically, this project used the example of the adoption of precision agriculture for conservation purposes, to display the Delphi methods abilities to address prominent questions and provide feedback that will help guide researchers to the best next steps in research and management decisions. Our research meets the demonstration of a complex issue by the need for strategic development of agricultural lands to ensure we can feed a growing world, while simultaneously reducing impacts on our natural resources such as water pollution from runoff, soil degradation, and habitat fragmentation.
To address these growing concerns, researchers are looking for ways to optimize both agricultural production and natural resource conservation. Therefore, precision conservation was developed to ensure sustainable ecosystems for future generations. Precision conservation leverages various precision agricultural tools like yield monitor data, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). to identify areas in fields that can be diversified to optimize financial return on investment while benefiting conservation. The role conservation specialists play and their influence on the implementation and adoption of emerging precision agricultural practices remains in question. To ensure conservation specialists can clearly articulate how precision conservation can help agricultural producers feed a growing world, while simultaneously reducing impacts on our natural resources, we convened a panel of 20 conservation specialists to examine the current diverse perspectives on the progression and integration of precision agriculture in conservation management prescriptions. We used the E-Delphi method to gather data through a series of three surveys to test the hypothesis that the use of precision agriculture is becoming increasingly prevalent in the field of conservation. Our results support the hypotheses, suggesting that conservation specialists are, in fact, using precision agriculture practices in their conservation positions, but with noticeable variance in the confinements of which practices were utilized. Furthermore, the results highlight the need to provide a united message when delivering precision agriculture across varying agency and organizational platforms
As changes in climate, land-use, and vegetation alter the landscape of the Great Plains, new threats to public health are emerging. Incidences of tick-borne disease contraction in Nebraska have increased nearly 250% over the past two decades – newly established species like Ixodes scapularis may introduce challenges for health practitioners, including more cases of Lyme disease. Strategies for tick-borne disease prevention must incorporate effective health messaging. Audience segmentation may be a useful technique to provide health communication, as it allows for targeted messaging that speaks to specific attitudes and beliefs of a given population. One tool for usefully segmenting populations is the Risk Perception Attitude Framework (RPAF) – this groups individuals into four categories based on their perceived risk towards a threat and their efficacy in protecting themselves from the threat. We applied the RPAF to a sample of hunters in Nebraska to assess differences in level of intention to perform preventative behaviors between the four RPAF groups. Our Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) model found significantly higher behavior intent among individuals in the RPAF group with highest perceived risk and self-efficacy, backing up previous RPAF literature. This information can be used to identify clusters of individuals with similar beliefs towards tick-borne disease and provide more effective health messaging about this threat.
The degree to which sustainability is taught is often varied and inconsistent across colleges, departments, and higher education institutions. However, educating students and future generations regarding the different pillars of sustainability, including economic, social, and environmental topics, is increasing in importance and urgency.
A mixed methods case study utilizing surveys and interviews investigates why instructors incorporate sustainability, what impacts course incorporation of sustainability, and barriers that instructors face.
The study found that instructors’ beliefs regarding the importance of sustainability transfers to the level of incorporation in their curriculum. Topics of sustainability incorporated are determined by instructors’ industry and college versus instructors' specific beliefs. Instructors are more intrinsically versus extrinsically motivated to teach the topic and face a variety of external barriers, such as lack of resources, time, and opportunities. By investigating instructors’ beliefs regarding sustainability from multiple fields, this research fills a void in the published literature and provides general recommendations for how to support faculty and university change.
Marginal cropland is cropland that is suboptimal due to historically low and variable productivity and limiting biophysical characteristics. To support future agricultural management and policy decisions in Nebraska, it is important to understand where cropland is marginal for its two most economically important crops: corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max). A multi-criteria evaluation model was conducted using Google Earth Engine to identify and classify marginal cropland in Nebraska. Eight criteria, including crop yield, slope, climate and soils criteria, were individually thresholded then aggregated to create crop-specific marginal classifications. A new method for classifying long-term crop rotations was devised to examine differences in marginality classification between rotation classes. The results show statewide spatial trends in, as well as the net positive benefits of crop rotation on, marginality classification. The identification of marginal land will also provide evidence to facilitate discussion on biofuels production using perennial biomass crops, targeted land for conservation practices and solar energy capture, both of which have potential to be integrated into current cropping systems. Future work will involve connecting the results of this study with researchers and outreach professionals to aid in ensuring the long-term viability of agriculture in Nebraska.
To keep up with the global food demand, modern agriculture seeks to optimize production on current agricultural land. One method of optimization is through precision management, where field zones are managed according to variation in soil properties. For instance, activities such as irrigation, fertilization, and seeding can be guided by soil maps of available water capacity, organic matter content, and bulk density. The conventional method for obtaining soil maps is extensive soil sampling, which involves significant time and labor costs. On-the-go geophysical sensors can potentially obtain soil maps that are still accurate enough for precision management but less costly. Physical properties of the earth, such as the electrical conductivity and naturally emitted radiation of the top meter of the ground, can be correlated with various soil properties. Geophysical sensors can provide information about the variability of the soil between soil sample locations and reduce the number of soil samples needed. However, across different field conditions, the geophysical data tends to have varying correlations with the actual soil properties.
A study was conducted in three agricultural fields in North Dakota to better understand geophysical sensors’ performances in soil mapping. Electrical conductivity data from an electromagnetic-induction sensor, radioelement concentrations from a gamma-ray sensor, and neutron intensities from a cosmic-ray neutron sensor were used to build simple linear models that predict soil properties across each field. At each of the sites, different soil properties such as bulk density, texture, or available water content were predicted with satisfactory accuracy. The study shows that using just a few soil samples alongside geophysical data is a feasible method for creating soil maps for precision management. While electromagnetic induction and gamma-ray surveys are currently commercially available to producers, future work must be done to establish which sensors are best for each setting and the method’s economic value.
The United States is approaching a critical juncture regarding aging dam infrastructure. Recently, a common path forward has been to decommission and remove dams, returning rivers to a free-flowing state.
The primary focus of most literature on ecological restoration, especially dam removal, has been the ecological impact of the restoration. Attention from practitioners and researchers is shifting toward the importance of participation and the social dimensions of ecological restoration. The social situation surrounding a dam removal can lead to expedited success, delayed progress, or an abandoned removal effort. This study seeks to connect selected social dimensions of dam removal with the broader literature of ecological restoration by exploring the question, “how are social dimensions of ecological restoration expressed within public participation in a dam removal process?”
A qualitative research design using a directed content analysis was used to study selected social dimensions of dam removal contained in public comment letters sent to the federal agency in charge of removing two dams on the Elwha River of Washington. A codebook was developed to explore the social dimensions of restoration attitude, environmental attitude, place attachment, connectedness to nature, sense of community, and economics.
The findings of this study revealed those with positive restoration attitude more frequently referenced the social dimensions of environmental attitude, place attachment, connectedness to nature, and sense of community. While participants with negative restoration attitude centered more of their testimonies around the economic situation surrounding dam removals. Additionally, participants with a positive restoration attitude framed their comments and references to other social dimensions around the potential ecological, economic, and social gains following dam removal, while participants with a negative restoration attitude framed their comments around the possible ecological, economic, and social losses that would ensue following dam removal.
Findings from this study emphasize the importance of public participation in the dam removal process as well as the continued exploration of the social dimensions of dam removal. As this river restoration method becomes more commonplace, environmental managers will need to be able to effectively engage with the public and understand not only the ecological dimensions, but also the social dimensions of dam removal.
The world’s population is growing and an increasing populace requires more resources. These requirements place increasing pressure on the environment and the soil. Soils serve many important functions throughout the world. These functions range from offering a media for food production, providing a sink for organic carbon, nutrient cycling, and improving water quality. It is important to focus on the human impact on soils and their change over time.
For my research I examined how soils across Nebraska have changed over a time period of roughly 65 years. I sampled and analyzed 39 pedonsfrom four Major Land Resource Areas (MLRAs) across the state of Nebraska. These sites were selected because they each represent a distinctive combination of climate, geology, and land use within Nebraska. At the time of original sampling (1951-1961), nearly all the sites were under row-crop production. I created a correlation for estimating soil organic carbon for four MLRAs using loss-on-ignition organic matter values. Next, I examined how the soils in MLRAs 67 and 71 have changed over 65 years of continued irrigation and agricultural production. Lastly, I assessed how the soils MLRAs 102 and 106have changed after 65 years of non-irrigated agricultural production.
Land use land cover change, including irrigation, impacts weather and climate. In this thesis a precipitation event that occurred during the Great Plains Irrigation Experiment (GRAINEX) is investigated. The event was observed on the morning of 23 July 2018. Six model-based experiments were conducted which involved increase or decrease of soil moisture by 5% and up to 15% over the irrigated croplands. These changes were approximation of soil moisture content in response to different levels of irrigation applications. An additional experiment, where irrigated land use was changed to grassland, was conducted to capture pre-irrigation land use and its impacts. It was found that regardless of level of irrigation, average precipitation decreased. However, precipitation decrease was greater under drier conditions. In addition, as observed, the model did not produce precipitation over non-irrigated land use. When grassland replaced the irrigated agriculture, increases in precipitation was reported. With increased irrigation, latent heat flux increased compared to control simulation and decreased when irrigation decreased. On the other hand, sensible heat flux was decreased compared to control when irrigation increased. The planetary boundary layer over irrigated land use was shallower than over non-irrigated land use while over grassland it was higher than irrigated but lower than non-irrigated land use. The changes in precipitation, the surface energy balance, and the planetary boundary layer served as a reminder of irrigation’s complex effects on the atmosphere. Additional analysis of the other precipitation events during GRAINEX would be helpful to better understand the effects of irrigation.
Natural resource professionals, political leaders, and environmental organizations recognize the need for more informed and educated stakeholders to tackle today’s complex natural resource challenges. This dissertation investigates the nature of stakeholder engagement and its influence on natural resource management. The purpose of this study is to: 1) examine the attitudes that influence agricultural producers’ involvement in stakeholder engagement and community capacity building, 2) determine if boundary spanning skills can be developed through a professional development program, and 3) investigate the role of boundary spanners within a stakeholder-directed engagement process. Data was collected from interviews of Nebraska agricultural producers and natural resource professionals with experience in stakeholder engagement and from a survey of Nebraska Water Leaders Academy participants and their raters.
The first study explores the factors that enable or constrain agricultural producers’ engagement and community capacity building in Nebraska. A survey of agricultural producers was conducted identifying several barriers to producer participation. The findings also included enabling factors which may act as an incentive for more engagement by producers. The second study develops and evaluates an evidence-based boundary spanner development program for natural resource professionals. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy participants were asked to take part in a boundary spanner workshop as part of the year-long Academy and surveyed to assess their boundary spanning skills. The third study investigates boundary spanning skills evident among participants in an eighteen-month stakeholder engagement process in Nebraska. Twenty-five participant interviews were conducted covering a range of issues to determine if individuals participating in the stakeholder-directed engagement process exhibited boundary spanning skills and if so, how these skills were applied in practice.
These three research projects identify strategies that can lead to more effective and sustainable stakeholder engagement processes and highlight the challenges inherent in bringing a diverse group of individuals together to solve complex natural resource concerns.
Monitoring vegetation dynamics in an efficient and non-invasive way has become increasingly more important for assessing and modeling their responses to the environment and mitigating for climate change. Vegetation optical properties can be used to derive vegetation indices (VIs) which can be used as proxy measures for plants’ biophysical traits. The goal of this dissertation is to use proximal and remote sensing techniques to identify scalable indices and indicators that can be used efficiently to assess vegetation health and performance. The dissertation consists of four studies, each of which tackles different ecological questions utilizing proximal and/or remote sensing methods.
Results from this study are important for the ability to monitor vegetation shifts across multiple scales, important for predicting directional changes of these ecosystems in the face of anthropogenic management and climate change, and the development of effective mitigation plans.
The idea of "working landscapes" has received considerable notoriety as a tool to better engage with private landowners for the purposes of conservation. These frameworks often rely on top-down approaches that do not account for the socioeconomic conditions of rural areas nor elicit feedback about program design or implementation from its participants. Through a discrete choice analysis, we asked ranchers across Nebraska's remaining grassland ecoregions to assess a series of program offerings that would compensate participants for an array of conservation and environmental objectives. Using an ecosystem services framework, adapted to Nebraska’s statewide wildlife management plan (Nebraska Natural Legacy Project), we explore what attributes of "conservation ranching" are most preferable and why such an approach is necessary for both public and private interests.
Haemosporidian parasites are a significant source of morbidity and mortality for birds. However, factors influencing haemosporidian transmission, especially transmission between species, are poorly understood. To gain insight into these influences, we compared prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian blood parasite infections among avian species in a behaviorally and ecologically diverse host assemblage. We studied whether interspecific associations could explain community-wide trends in infection by pairing molecular diagnostics with direct observations of species interactions. Haemosporidian prevalence in the community was low (8.6%), but varied substantially with host phylogeny. Most (94.8% of all infections) infections were identified as Haemoproteus spp. Few Plasmodium spp. infections were detected, and no Leucocytozoon spp. infections were found. We found no evidence for an effect of interspecific sociality on Haemoproteus infections, but we did find evidence for an effect of intraspecific sociality. Individuals of species that had smaller average conspecific group sizes were more likely to be infected than those of species with larger groups. We also found that species with relatively long lifespans had higher prevalences than species with shorter lifespans. No other individual- or species-level traits were associated with Haemoproteus infection. We identified 7 Haemoproteus mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages, which clustered at the host family level. Two Plasmodium lineages were also identified, each of which was previously detected in different host species in the region. The apparent host-family specificity of the parasite lineages may partly explain the lack of effect of interspecific sociality on Haemoproteus infection probability, and implies the presence of barriers to transmission that are associated with host phylogeny.
Efforts to improve water quality in eutrophic ponds often involve implementing changes to watershed management practices to reduce external nutrient loads. While this is required for long-term recovery and prevention, eutrophic conditions are often sustained by the recycling of internal nutrients already present within the water body. In particular, internal phosphorus loads have been shown to delay lake recovery for decades. Thus, in-situ pond management techniques are needed that not only reduce external nutrient loading over the long-term but also mitigate the effects of internal nutrients already present. Our objective was to demonstrate a biological and chemical approach to remove and sequester nutrients present or entering a eutrophic pond. We designed a novel biological and chemical management technique by constructing a 37 m2 (6.1 m x 6.1 m) floating treatment wetland (FTW) coupled with a slow-release lanthanum composite inserted inside an airlift pump. The FTW promoted microbial denitrification and plant uptake of N and P, while the airlift pump slowly delivered lanthanum to the water column over the season to adsorb and precipitate soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). The design was tested at the microcosm and field scales, where N and P removal was significant (α=0.05) at the microcosm scale and validated at the field scale. The proposed treatment provides a unique and effective technology to address internal phosphorus loads and minimize the effects of nutrient runoff entering urban retention ponds.
Over the past few decades, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of foraging for wild products and foods. Despite the cultural importance and ubiquity of foraging, there have been relatively few scientific investigations of social factors influencing foraging behavior, landscape preferences, and the types of materials foraged in the United States. As such, there is a fundamental need to better understand more about those who participate and their foraging behaviors. Two surveys were conducted to gather information on foragers’ motivations and characteristics and to contextualize foraging within the larger recreation landscape. The first survey used snowball sampling to reach foragers throughout the United States and collected information on motivations, types of land foraged, and the type of taxa foraged. Results indicated that respondents were motivated to relax and escape, to feel self-empowered and know about food sourcing, and for the social benefits of participation. We grouped respondents into four clusters based on motivations: 1) self-empowered foragers, 2) multimotivation foragers, 3) casual foragers, and 4) social foragers. While there were differences in in the reasons why individuals forage, there was little difference among the socio-demographic variables as well as where and what they forage.
A second survey was used to estimate the recreational demand among 16 recreational activities among the general population of Nebraska. The results indicated that approximately 13% of the Nebraska population engaged in at least one day of foraging. While activities such as recreational sports, spectator sports, culture and arts were more preferred than foraging, other outdoor activities such as hunting & shooting sports, fishing, and wildlife viewing were less preferred than foraging. Older Nebraskans gained more utility from foraging than their younger counterparts, but there was little difference in utility gained among other sociodemographic factors. Further, there was indication that foraging by Nebraskans was already at satiation, whereas other activities like the arts and culture were still not at satiation. By understanding the behaviors and motivations of foragers and how foraging fits into the recreation landscape, we gained further insight into the importance of foraging and the behaviors of those participating, which has important implications in the formulation of appropriate policies and management of recreational opportunities.
Wetlands contribute important ecosystem services such as water filtration and storage, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration. The objective of this study was to compare both the morphology and the carbon and nitrogen stocks between the upland, basin edge, and basin floor in playa wetlands of eastern Nebraska. This work was conducted in three playa wetlands in the Todd Valley. Morphological descriptions were evaluated to two meters’ depth using cores collected along three transects from the upland to the playa floor in three playas, carbon and nitrogen stocks were evaluated in two of those playas. Results show evidence of erosion, deposition, and both leaching and accumulation of clay in all three playas, and presence of calcium carbonate in one playa. In one playa, both carbon and nitrogen stocks were lower at the basin edge compared to the surrounding uplands and in the other, there was no significant difference in carbon and nitrogen stocks between the upland, basin edge, and playa floor. Morphological features of the soils show colluvium deposition and clay accumulation in two basins and calcium carbonate accumulation in one basin. Profile distributions of carbon suggest that the limited carbon storage in these playa wetlands is, at least in part, due to leaching losses of dissolved organic carbon. The playas of eastern Nebraska show evidence of colluvium deposition caused by human-accelerated erosion and, compared to other depressional wetlands in the region, a limited capacity to accumulate organic matter and store carbon.
Through a mixed methods approach, my work explored students’ decision-making practices as they worked through a structured decision-making tool to reason about socioscientific issues (e.g., how do we manage water?). The resulting tools can help researchers explore how students:
Modification of natural prairie grasslands into irrigated and rainfed agriculture in the Great Plains produced significant impacts on regional weather and climate including temperatures, precipitation, energy fluxes, and the planetary boundary layer (PBL) atmosphere. The Great Plains Irrigation Experiment (GRAINEX) during the 2018 growing season collected data over irrigated and non-irrigated crop fields to further understand these impacts. The data were collected during two intensive observation periods (IOPs) in early June (IOP 1: 30 May – 13 June of 2018) and late July (IOP 2: 16 July – 30 July of 2018). The data analyzed include latent (LE) and sensible (H) heat fluxes, air temperature, dew point temperature, specific humidity, and equivalent temperature (moist enthalpy). PBL and lower tropospheric development was assessed using radiosonde data. In addition, near surface soil moisture data collected during IOP 1 and 2 were used to model and subsequent analysis of root zone soil moisture utilizing Wang et al. (2017) Exponential Filter Model. The results from this extensive analysis of the GRAINEX data set will be presented for the consideration of the degree of Master of Science. Committee members include Rezaul Mahmood, Trenton Franz and Michael Hayes.
Disturbances are inherent in every socio-ecological system (SES). However, the spate and scope of upheavals in contemporary SES has increased dramatically in recent years. These events, which have a global reach, include earthquakes in Mexico, hurricanes in the Caribbean and severe floods in India. Agricultural systems are perhaps the most impacted when disasters occur because different aspects of agricultural production are directly affected. The burgeoning farmers-Fulani herdsmen conflict in West Africa is a manifestation of these challenges. The industrial revolution, the 1930s Dust Bowl, and the current COVID-19 pandemic are examples of events that transformed, or are transforming, agricultural systems. When faced with events like these, contemporary food systems are faced with two options: collapse or transform. It is essential to have resilient agricultural systems because these systems lie at the nexus of resolving emerging global issues.
Nigeria is an important country in western Africa; it is the most populous African country. Agriculture play an indispensable role in the country employing two-thirds of the labor force. However the sector is bedeviled by a plethora of challenges like outdated land tenure system that constrains access to land, very low adoption of irrigation, limited adoption of research findings and technologies, high cost of farm inputs, poor access to credit, inefficient fertilizer procurement and distribution, inadequate storage facilities and poor access to markets. Despite these challenges, it is the world’s largest producer of Cassava with about 50 million metric tons produced annually. The average yield of 13.63 metric tons (MT) per ha, against potential yield of up to 40 MT per ha (FAO, 2020), this huge difference between current yield and potential yield underscores the importance of resilience. In Agricultural systems resilience analysis research, the work of Meuwissen et al. (2018) stands out. They developed a five-step framework (“Resilience of what?”, “Resilience to what?”, “Resilience for what”, “Resilience Capacities”, “Resilience enhancing attributes”), which was used in this work to analyze the resilience of food systems in Nigeria. This is an important research because after decades of reliance on crude oil, the government is now going back to an agriculture driven economy. We conclude that food systems in Nigeria have been at the reorientation phase of the adaptive cycle and that there is need for increased stakeholder involvement, particularly at the government level, to help farmers harness the benefits of resilience in the system.
Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Bighead Carp H. nobilis, and Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, collectively known as Asian carp, are a group of invasive fishes in the U.S. that have garnered much attention over the last couple decades. Most research devoted to this group of fishes has been focused in the Mississippi River basin with little investigation in the Missouri River drainage, particularly in tributary systems. The Kansas River is a major tributary to the Missouri River that has multiple anthropogenic barriers creating varying levels of connectivity within the Kansas River itself, and with the Missouri River. Information on various life history traits of Asian carp are needed before a management plan can be formed. Here, we investigated 1) population demographics, 2) distribution with environmental DNA (eDNA), and 3) environmental history using otolith microchemistry of Asian carp in the lower Kansas River. Silver Carp exhibited spatiotemporal differences in population demographics. Individuals captured above the lowermost barrier had longer lengths-at-age, longer total lengths, and occurred at lower relative abundance than individuals captured below the barrier. Neither Silver Carp nor Bighead Carp were detected above the second barrier on the river with mechanical sampling or with the eDNA assay. However, Black Carp were detected near the confluence with the Missouri River with the eDNA analysis. Otolith microchemistry results indicated the population of Silver Carp in the Kansas River is comprised of predominantly residential individuals. Few carp exhibited natal origin signatures of the Missouri River. Transient individuals within the population exhibited short durations of signatures indicative of the Missouri River, suggesting that movements into the Missouri River are brief. These results highlight the importance of tributary habitat for Asian carp in the Missouri River drainage. Management efforts within the Kansas River could be effective means of population control and mitigating secondary introductions. Additionally, management efforts focused in particular reaches of the Kansas River could affect the greater Missouri River population.
In March of 2019, many of Nebraska’s streams and rivers had the worst flooding in decades, and in some locations, the worst flooding on record occurred. The historic floods in Nebraska presented an optimal case study to examine how current technological resources can be used to enhance our understanding of floods and how these floods impact in situ stream ecosystem processes like nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. Currently, there are only a few resources available to quantify the extent of floods. However, by analyzing the discharge records of 94 streams across the state, flood stage records and calculated flood return intervals. While the flood stage was reached primarily along streams in the Niobrara, Platte, and Elkhorn River watersheds, seventeen streams across the state had a flood return interval of over 100 years. The average return interval was 48 years ± 73. We also compared nutrient spiraling metrics in ten streams across the state in the summer before and after the flood to compare the flood impacts on stream ecosystem processes. There were no differences (p> 0.05) of NH4 or PO4 in uptake length (Sw), vertical velocity (Vf) ,or aerial uptake rate (U) between years. These data suggest Nebraska streams were resilient to the flood. Yet, given the high uptake lengths and low uptake velocity and areal uptake values, these data also suggest that small streams are enriched with N and P well beyond their biological demand for these nutrients. Furthering our knowledge of the quantification of floods and their impacts on stream ecosystem processes can help mitigate the deleterious consequences of floods.
Bazile Creek lies within the Bazile Groundwater Management Area, characterized by high (>10 mg/L) groundwater nitrate concentrations originating from nonpoint sources. The purpose of the research was to determine how nitrate concentrations and source in Bazile Creek vary throughout the watershed and over time. Surface water nitrate samples were collected monthly from July 2018 through September 2019, and δ15N/δ18O nitrate isotope samples were collected seasonally and after three summer rain events. Surface water nitrate concentrations varied seasonally in the main channel and most tributaries, with nitrate concentrations being highest in the winter. Analysis of soils and land use indicated that nitrate was leaching from fields into the underlying aquifer, eventually entering streams as groundwater discharge. Seasonal and rain event nitrate isotope sampling showed that the primary nitrate source was ammonium from fertilizer, and evidence of seasonal microbial denitrification was also detected. The results of this research showed that surface water nitrate concentrations in an agricultural watershed can vary substantially over small distances, and that sub-watershed scale factors such as land use play a role in dictating surface water nitrate concentrations. The collection of nitrate isotope samples was shown to be beneficial, providing insight on source and seasonal denitrification. This research will provide data for future projects in the area, and ultimately aid in the development of targeted best management practices tasked with reducing overall nitrate loading to Bazile Creek.
The Great Plains biome supports biodiverse plant and animal communities, provides a wide array of ecosystem services, and is depended upon by agricultural economies. Despite these advantages, however, Great Plains grasslands are becoming increasingly degraded by land cover changes due to agriculture and urbanization, fragmentation, loss of biodiversity and invasion by woody species. Woody encroachment is a biome-wide threat to Great Plains plant and wildlife communities and is therefore managed, though with variable success. I investigated the efficacy of invasive tree management projects in restoring tallgrass prairies in southeast Nebraska and regenerating oak gallery forests along the Niobrara River. I measured plant community species composition and frequency at 9 sites in southeast Nebraska to quantify woody reinvasion of restored grasslands. Along the Niobrara River, I surveyed oak-planted plots and quantified oak survival and plant community abundance at 7 sites to determine success of restorations. In each case, restorations had mixed, but mostly negative results. Management decisions following initial treatment of invasive trees compromised the long term success of restorations. Management is therefore a process, not an action, and must extend beyond initial treatment if restorations are to sustain native plant communities. I also studied habitat use of the newly establishing cougar (Puma concolor) as they recolonize Nebraska. I used radio-collar locations of 2 cougars to evaluate habitat preferences in a use-availability design. Cougars selected riparian woodlands, but crops and tree plantings may play a role as habitat corridors.
Climate change is the paramount challenge of today for a sustainable future and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is necessary to reduce the associated risks and impacts on society. Inventories of GHG emissions are a method to provide a basis to develop effective and sustainable mitigation plans. Using the EPA’s state inventory tool and literature review, comprehensive GHG-emissions inventories were developed for the state of Nebraska over 25 years (1990-2015) and agricultural GHG emissions inventories were developed for the Midwest U.S for one year (2016). Nebraska’s net emissions increased from 56.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMtCO2e) in 1990 to 87.4 MMtCO2e in 2016. Agriculture was found to be the sector with the most emissions (36 MMtCO2e ), primarily from beef cattle, followed by electricity generation (21 MMtCO2e ), primarily from coal. Emissions in Nebraska were found to be 47.4 MMtCO2e per capita in 2015, compared to 20.6 in the U.S. due to concentrated agricultural emissions and low population. Total agricultural GHG emissions per state in the Midwest in 2016 were found to range from 10.3 MMtCO2e (Michigan) to 41.0 MMtCO2e (Iowa), with an average of 23.3 MMtCO2e. In 2016, Wisconsin was the least efficient state (0.86 MtCO2e /kg product) and Illinois was the most efficient (0.34 MtCO2e /kg product) in terms of emissions per product, which aligned with these states having the highest (71.5%) and lowest (21%) percentage of livestock, respectively. Agricultural emissions per capita ranged from 1.0 MtCO2e (MI) to 26.2 MtCO2e (SD), driven by cattle population and, largely, state population.
A review of literature was also conducted to explore the interactions between climate change and the insurance industry. Climatic events accounted for 91% of $1.05 trillion in insured costs for global catastrophic events from 1980 to 2016. Costs are driven by socio-economic development and increased frequency and severity of climatic disasters exacerbated by climate change. Insurance feedbacks in response to disaster events caused by climate change include changes in 1) premiums and insurance policies, 2) non-coverage, and 3) policy making and litigation. Alongside government policies, insurance feedbacks could be used to facilitate and manage climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Drought risk management in the United States has traditionally taken the form of drought plans at the state-level. Although drought planning efforts have been increasing over time, drought is still a poorly understood hazard and drought planning efforts at the local levels, particularly in urban areas, generally focus on short-term crisis management practices to protect water supplies rather than long-term risk management practices that aim protect water supplies before a drought event. Successful drought risk management is built upon three pillars: (1) monitoring and early warning; (2) impact and vulnerability assessment; and (3) mitigation, preparedness, and response. This research focuses on the second and third pillars of drought risk management to provide the local levels new opportunities and approaches to reduce drought risk.
The first article in this dissertation is a national risk assessment of urban counties in the United States, where risk is a product of both physical drought characteristics and societal factors that enhance the impacts on water supplies. The second article evaluates survey data of land use planners across the United States, since land use planning has strong potential for drought risk management applications, but generally does not incorporate drought risk reduction strategies. The final article uses the findings of a drought-specific THIRA workshop (FEMA risk assessment process, focused solely on drought) in the Platte River Basin, NE to evaluate the current drought planning efforts in the study area. The three research topics of this work provide local jurisdictions, particularly urban areas, new opportunities and methodologies to switch from crisis management to risk management techniques that will help protect future water supplies from the combination of drought periods and increasing water demands.
In 2006, Leon G. Higley noted a tiger beetle species, Cicindela haemorrhagica, walking and feeding in thermal pools of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Although this species was first recorded in the park more than 100 years ago (Hubbard, 1891), its distribution, ecology, and association with thermal features are not known. In this study, we examined its distribution, abundance, and habitat characteristics to determine if they are exclusively associated with thermal springs and to determine the physical and chemical extremes in which these beetles can live. We transcribed their behavior to determine if they use thermoregulatory behavior to cope with the high temperatures associated with thermal springs. Lastly, we studied their lethal thermal maxima to determine if they have an increased thermal tolerance, which indicates a structural or physiological adaptation. Our results show that C. haemorrhagica are seemingly exclusively associated with thermal springs and are habitat (thermal spring) generalists. Springs range between pH 2.73 and 9.0, temperatures of 29.1 oand 70 o, and varying metal concentrations. However, all thermal springs were surrounded by barren soil with a gradual edge (gentle slope) towards the thermal water. We propose census and observations as the best methods to estimate the abundance for highly mobile species near thermal springs. Conservative population sizes of C. haemorrhagica ranged between 500-1500 individuals for thermal springs within YNP.
Cicindela haemorrhagica populations not associated with thermal springs have a strong positive correlation between thennoregulatory behavior and temperature (Pearson Correlation Coefficient = 0.276, p= 0.0127). In contrast, C. h. haemorrhagica populations inside YNP have a strong negative correlation between thermoregulatory behavior and temperature (Pearson Correlation Coefficient= -0.224, p= 0.0001). Interestingly, the YNP populations thermoregulate to heat up at cold temperatures, but do not use this strategy to cool off at high temperatures. To our knowledge, there is no other example of dramatically different behaviors between two populations of insects in the same species. This may indicate a thermophilic adaptation of these beetles to the thermal springs of YNP. However, the lethal thermal maxima of YNP C. h. haemorrhagica (50.41 oC +/- 0.26) is only 1.08 oC higher than non-thermal spring C. h. haemorrhagica ( 49.33 oC +/- 0.20) (Mixed model, p= 0.0023). Although these lethal thermal maxima are a new record for reproductive metazoans, it is not high enough to explain its occurrence at thermal springs as much as 70 oC.
These results indicate that C. haemorrhagica filled a new niche inside Yellowstone National Park where the benefits (i.e. carrion drifting ashore, high temperatures during the winter, reduced competition, among others) outweighed the costs (i.e. high temperatures, pH, and heavy metals). These beetles were able to adapt to the extreme conditions of the thermal springs in YNP causing them to behave differently than other tiger beetles, including C. haemorrhagica outside YNP. We can conclude that the mechanism used by these beetles are not behavioral nor physiological, but are more likely to be structural.
Rangeland managers face challenges to adapt to climate extremes. Post-event assessments might be useful for understanding managers' adaptive capacity to hazards such as drought. This study evaluates adaptive capacity using an integrated vulnerability and resilience conceptual model and protective action decision-making models. Overarching research questions include: 1) For rangeland managers experiencing drought, how should we describe the relationship between protective action and impacts? 2) For rangeland managers experiencing drought, what are the best predictors of taking protective action?
The study addresses these questions using quantitative data collected from two post-drought (2012-2013 and 2016) surveys of rangeland-based livestock managers in the Northern Great Plains of the U.S. Statistical analysis showed that drought management actions only lessened impacts if taken at appropriate times during the drought. The timing of protective actions was predicted by characteristics of the operation that provided management flexibility during drought, and was associated with managers' on-farm monitoring of conditions and perception of drought management knowledge as a barrier to their success. Neither the use of drought early warning information, nor having a drought plan, was associated with the timing of most actions.
Assessing adaptive capacity requires identifying the actions (and the timing of the actions) that lessen impact, as well as the characteristics of the system that enable or support those actions. The post-drought survey appears to be an effective means of assessing these relationships and informing decisions about investments in adaptive capacity for agricultural management.
The number of individuals participating in waterfowl hunting has substantially declined since the 1980s, despite relatively abundant waterfowl populations and hunting opportunities. To avoid further losses in political support for wildlife management, losses in habitat conservation revenue, and to broaden the base of waterfowl and wetland conservation support, there has been an increased focus on growing the number of waterfowl hunters, and waterfowl and wetland conservation supporters. The purpose of this study was to aid this goal by estimating resident waterfowl hunter and Ducks Unlimited (DU) member recruitment rates, retention probabilities, and license/membership purchase probabilities; to provide a better understanding of the factors influencing these populations, and to provide a foundation for measuring the success of R3 programs aimed at these populations.
To estimate both waterfowl hunter and DU member recruitment rates, retention probabilities, and license/membership purchase probabilities, we analyzed five state electronic license systems and DU membership databases (Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota) using a Pradel model in a mark-recapture framework. We included five covariates (gender, generation, hunting opportunity, rurality, and DU membership class) to improve parameter estimates. For waterfowl hunters, the top models indicated that recruitment and retention rates decreased over time for all groups, and that while males had higher retention rates than females, females had higher recruitment rates. In addition, as DU membership class increased so did retention and license purchase probabilities. For DU members we found similar trends with males having higher retention rates and membership purchase probabilities than females, but females having higher recruitment rates. Additionally, we found in most states, that Baby Boomers had the highest retention and membership purchase probabilities compared to other generations. These results confirmed some assumptions that we have about both waterfowl hunters and DU members. Additionally, they suggest that social habitat for hunters and developing a conservationist's identity for DU members is important for recruitment and retention. These results can be used to both inform and evaluate future R3 programs focused on waterfowl hunters and DU members.
Humans have transformed much of the natural landscape, consequently changing wildlife behavior. The expansion of roads has contributed to our impact on wildlife by fragmenting habitat and introducing loud traffic noise into the environment. Birds are especially susceptible to traffic noise because they rely on singing for communication, establishing territory, and mating. Different bird species may respond differently to traffic noise. Through the first study, I show how traffic noise affects the detection of birds, specifically three different species with different songs. Conducting more experiments on individual species detection will help ecologists better understand how consequences of human behavior, like traffic noise, may influence the behavior of wildlife residing near roads.
The effect of human activity on the environment should be better understood by more than just ecologists, yet the general public lacks scientific understanding. For example, humans can impact evolutionary change, yet evolutionary concepts are challenging for people to understand and learn. When describing evolutionary change, many undergraduate biology students emphasize the importance of survival and natural selection in evolution and many leave out other important evolutionary ideas, such as reproductive potential and sexual selection. My second study shows how scenarios with different sexual selection contexts affected which ideas students included in their evolutionary reasoning.
Communities all across the U.S. face a number of challenges due to a variable and changing climate, and recent events, both climatologically and politically, have shifted climate mitigation and adaptation efforts to the local level. Although many states and cities have begun implementing plans addressing the impacts of climate change, most are focused on coastal or high population areas.
In an attempt to better understand the current use of climate data and information at the municipal level in the Central U.S., a survey and focus group sessions were conducted with communities in the four states of the lower Missouri River Basin (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska). Results indicate that the use of climate data and information is generally low for planning efforts; however, communities could be encouraged to increase this use through the development of municipal-specific resources. A direct outcome of these results was the creation of 1) eleven customized city-specific climate reports for communities in the lower Missouri River Basin and 2) a suite of web-based tools that allows communities to explore their historic climate trends and future projections, as well as example plans that address climate-related topics from cities across the U.S. Although new, some of the resources developed through this project have already been used to support planning efforts and to better communicate the issues surrounding climate change.
The global decline of native freshwater mussels has accelerated conservation projects that preserve and restore populations, but the complex life histories among species challenges biologists in determining the most effective management strategies. This study details the conservation of plain pocketbook, a Tier I threatened mussel species in Nebraska that was artificially propagated and reintroduced into 13 sites from autumn 2016 to summer 2017. The objectives of this study were: 1) determine how handling influences mussels, and 2) evaluate mussel population dynamics following introductions.
We conducted a 12-week laboratory experiment to assess the effects of handling on plain pocketbook growth and survival. We found this species is tolerant of short-term repeated handling and used results to develop a mark-recapture sampling design to assess population dynamics of introduced mussels. We then sampled mussels and habitats seasonally 2017 - 2018 to relate mussel growth and survival to habitat, timing of introduction, and shell size. We found mussels were at heightened risk for mortality during introduction and spring and correlated these time periods to environmental stressors. We used this information to develop a rigorous process for identifying suitable habitats as well as choosing optimal introduction times.
Handling is an anthropogenic stressor for mussels that can be moderated through proper research and techniques. Short-term monitoring studies can provide valuable insight on introduced mussel populations. Implementing best management practices for future introduction projects will enhance the conservation of this imperiled taxon.
In recent decades, government staff and local citizens have increasingly employed cooperative schemes of natural resource management (co-management), in lieu of more conventional, top-down approaches of addressing user conflicts as they relate to water resources. The focus of this project was on the Niobrara Council, a partnership of local, state, and federal representatives charged with cooperatively managing the reach of the Niobrara River that was federally designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1991. The project's purpose was to explore the co-management framework of the Council, using the methodology outlined by Carlsson and Berkes (2005). This methodology involved investigating the functional tasks of the Council and analyzing the linkages between those tasks and the individuals who perform them in order to develop a descriptive picture of how the Council functions. Qualitative data for this project was gathered through interviews with the Council members, Council meeting minutes, and enabling documents and laws related to the Niobrara National Scenic River (NNSR) and the Council. This data was used to inform a qualitative thematic analysis of the Council and clarify how relationships between participants and management activities in a co-management framework are organized, and how they might be enhanced to promote institutional capacity-building and long-term problem solving.
The findings from this project provided a clearer picture of how the various partners involved in the co-management framework of the Council manage the NNSR. A better understanding of the roles of various partners and the specific management tasks that they were responsible for was uncovered; illustrating where various actors play key roles, how responsibility for some tasks is shared, where collaboration is most prevalent and where it is intermittent, and at which junctures entities outside of the Council play a significant part. Additionally, data was analyzed in order to define what aspects of the co-management framework could be enhanced for capacity building, the most prevalent needs being increased access to resources, enhancing institutional arrangements, supporting appropriate government policies and planning, and enhancing stakeholder participation. These and other themes that emerged from the findings of this analysis provide a starting point for the Council to use when reflecting upon potential enhancements to their management framework and planning for future endeavors.
Since the mid-1980s, there has been a decrease in individuals participating in waterfowl hunting in the United States. The decline in participation has over-arching consequences for state and federal wildlife agencies in their ability to fund and ability manage habitat and waterfowl populations. There is a fundamental need to understand why individuals participate in waterfowl hunting and what barriers there are to participating in waterfowl hunting.
An online survey was conducted in the summer and fall of 2018 asking waterfowl hunters, anglers, big game hunters, combination users (i.e., hunters that have multiple hunting and fishing permits), and small game hunters about their motivations, barriers toward waterfowl hunting, stated preferences, mentorship, and demographics. Results suggested that all respondents, regardless of the activity they preferred, were strongly motivated by being outside and connecting with nature. In addition, big game hunters were strongly motivated by consumptive motivations, such as eating meat and knowing where their food came from. The most limiting barrier toward waterfowl hunting was land access (i.e., lack of public land and private land access), crowding at hunting locations, and encounters with other hunters. All individuals were likely to increase participation in waterfowl given the scenarios provided but highest ranked scenarios were to hunt an area with a quality hunt or someone to take them hunting. Further, respondents who had never participated in waterfowl hunting were more likely to hunt waterfowl with a mentor who is someone they know (i.e., family, friend, co-worker).
The study results provides information on factors associated with hunting participation and future. By understanding multiple attributes of hunters and anglers within the central United States, we gain further insight into participation trends and recreationists needs and expectations, with important implications to the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters and anglers.
The largescale movements and spatial behavior of channel catfish in the Red River of the North, have direct interactions with geopolitics, anthropogenic structures, and ecosystems. Investigating the spatial dynamics and exploitation of this mobile and internationally managed fish species provides opportunities for resource managers to design evidence-based policy for the diverse interest groups that utilize the fishery. My thesis comprised two parts: 1) characterize system-wide movement and survival patterns using mark-recapture methods and acoustic telemetry and 2) project the interaction of hypothetical exploitation scenarios and alternative movement methodologies to assess the fishery from an ecosystem service flow perspective. Channel catfish were tagged with T-bar tags and acoustic transmitters to track movement patterns and quantify harvest. Approximately 40% of individuals tagged with acoustic transmitters moved into Lake Winnipeg at least once during the study. Conversely, about 30% of T-bar tag recaptures in the U.S.A. had been initially marked in Canada. A large proportion (0.89- 0.97) of the individuals remained within the initial study reach where they were tagged. Fishing mortality was estimated to be less than 0.001, and natural mortality was estimated to be 0.16 across the entire system. Projection models demonstrated that trophy stages of channel catfish were highly sensitive to exploitation and were typically depleted at or below a 0.30 exploitation rate. Depletion of populations and changes in stock structure affected subregions within the Red River system differently which resulted in competing strategies among countries and fishers from the perspective of economic valuation of harvests. We found that recruitment from areas with greatest population size appeared to buffer aspects of harvest within regions and to some extent immediately adjacent regions. Movement, regardless of methodology, was critical in supporting exploitation for regions with low recruitment. The sustainability of exploiting highly mobile fish species from an ecosystem service flow perspective hinges on the ability of fisheries management organizations to incorporate spatial variability and understand the economic consequences of exploitation for competing interests.
Urban trees perform several ecosystem services important to humans. Climate variability and poor management threatens urban forests with ecological and socio-economic consequences. Therefore, it is critical urban trees are sustainably managed. For an urban tree management plan to succeed, social inputs at the residential scale must be taken into consideration.
The aim of this research is to help inform urban forest managers of social variables that may play an integral role in successful implementation of urban forest management plans. Social factors behind home-owner decision-making to plant or remove trees in the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas show that 75% of respondents consider aesthetics as extremely important in motivating tree planting, 74% cited space availability as very or extremely important for choosing the tree species planted, and 83% responded that tree health was the most important factor for removing trees. Most common types of trees planted were maples, and the most common types of trees removed were pines. Additionally, respondents primarily received information about trees from the internet (38.1%), and acquiring trees from nurseries (55.7%). Additionally, 59% of respondents agreed that changes in climate were already occurring, 46% agreed that climate change is mainly caused by humans, and 47% thought climate change will have negative consequences. Respondents generally perceive themselves as moderately knowledgeable about climate change. The majority of respondents (72.3%) are concerned about climate changes impacts on trees and most (63%) believe planting trees to reduce climate change is important. Overall, 59.8% are extremely likely to support more tree-planting in parks, streets, and other public places. Results from these studies are important for the development of sustainable management plans, and educational outreach programs related to urban tree management.