Juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) abundance differs among nearshore reefs, but why some sites are preferred over others is unknown. My study had two objectives: to quantify differences in abundance over time (one year) and to determine what ecological factors were correlated with those differences. I conducted quarterly surveys on reefs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties and compared reef sites with respect to (i) water depth, (ii) algal abundance and composition, and (iii) changes in reef area (caused by sand covering) through time (11 years). Turtles were most abundant on shallow reefs exposed to high light levels that remained stable (uncovered by sand) for long periods of time. These reefs had the highest diversity of algal species, in part because cropping by the turtles prevented any one species from becoming dominant. My results suggest that both physical and biological factors make some reefs more attractive to turtles than others / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

The objective of the research is to develop various green-house gas (GHG) mitigations scenarios in the energy demand and supply sectors for state of Florida through energy and environment modeling tool called LEAP (Long Range Energy Alternative Planning System Model) for 2010-2050. The GHG mitigation scenarios consist of various demand and supply side scenarios. One of the GHG mitigation scenarios is crafted by taking into account the available renewable resources potential for power generation in the state of Florida and then the comparison has been made for transformation sector and corresponding GHG emissions through this newly developed mitigation scenario versus Business As Usual and Florida State Policy scenario. Moreover two master mitigation scenarios (Electrification and Efficiency and Lifestyle) were crafted through combination of certain GHG mitigation scenarios. The energy demand and GHG emissions assessment is performed for both master mitigation scenarios versus business As Usual scenario for 2010 – 2050. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this single-site case study was to examine the organization and leadership change process of Palm Beach State College, a publicly funded institution in Florida, as it embarked on offering bachelor’s degree programs. The study examined the organizational change process and the extent to which Palm Beach State College’s organization transformation aligned with the eight stages of John Kotter’s (1996, 2012) Change Management Model. This qualitative research was conducted using triangulation of data collection and analysis methods via interviews, observations, and document review. This study found that the organizational transformation was a success, and that while expanding its offerings, the college remained true to its core mission. Kotter’s model was found to be appropriate to examine the change process, and the college was well aligned in all but the final stage of the model. This research contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of higher education, primarily for two-year colleges embarking on the endeavor of organizational change process to confer baccalaureates. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

Populations of a marine invertebrate symbiont were found on the outer surface and internal spaces of a keratose sponge from a shallow bay in the Florida Keys in May 2014. A total of 24 specimens of the seagrass and reef-dwelling sponge were collected between May 2014 and August 2015 to provide material to identify both host and symbiont, and elucidate information on the nature of the association. Based on a morphological analysis via light microscopy, histology, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 99% similarity in aligned partial sequences from 28S and 18S nuclear ribosomal genes (rDNA), the symbiont was identified as the solitary entoproct Loxosomella vivipara Nielsen, 1966 (Entoprocta: Loxosomatidae). A partial sequence from the Internal Transcribed Spacer Region 2 (ITS2) of L. vivipara was registered to GenBank for the first time. The identity of the host sponge, based on a morphological investigation, is resolved as “velvet sponge” Hippospongia cf. gossypina Duchassing and Michelotti, 1864 (Demospongiae: Spongiidae). This is the first report of an entoproct commensal from Hippospongia cf. gossypina, a sponge that formerly had great commercial value when it was abundant throughout the Bahamas, Florida Keys and Gulf of Mexico. Other common sponge species at the study site were collected to investigate the host specificity of L. vivipara. Evidence that L. vivipara favorably selects the sponges Hippospongia cf. gossypina and Chondrilla nucula over other potential host sponges at the study site is provided. Commensalism is the most plausible justification for this relationship: L. vivipara is dependent on sponges for protection and food particles, while the sponges are unaffected by its presence. Further evidence of host-specific inquilinism is provided for L. vivipara associated with Hippospongia cf. gossypina, but not for L. vivipara associated with C. nucula. An inquilinistic association between an entoproct and sponge is a rare discovery only mentioned in one previous study. Sponge aquiferous qualities such as aperture and canal size, canal and choanocyte chamber arrangement, seawater pumping rate, and food particle size selection are likely factors that inhibit or enable inquilinism in sponge-entoproct associations – a potential topic for future researc / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Narratives are a very important part of public policy negotiations and deliberations. Public policy research has shown that policy narratives are manipulated to fit the motives of the creators and enforcers of that narrative (Stone, 2002). The creators and enforcers of these narratives use symbols, language, and other techniques to ensure that the narrative survives and dominates the political and social environment by becoming the favored policy prescription (Stone, 2002; Miller, 2012; Jones & McBeth, 2010; Schneider & Ingram, 1993). This study employs a qualitative content analysis to trace the genealogy of the following narratives that make up the “Stand Your Ground” discourse from 2005-2013: (1) Prosecutorial Discretion Narrative, (2) Vigilante Justice Narrative, (3) Race Narrative, and (4) Law-abiding Citizen Narrative. The “Stand Your Ground” discourse is used to test what this dissertation terms the “institutionalized policy narrative” thesis which states, Policymakers and policy advocates use policy narratives which consist of powerful symbols, politically motivated language, and ideographs to both shape and respond to public opinions by appealing to both the heart and intellect of the public. Once a winning narrative becomes institutionalized it is nearly impossible to replace that winning narrative even in the wake of a powerful new emerging narrative. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of West Florida, 2007. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 152 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

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"Perhaps few would question Olsen's premise that amiable public relations are essential to the successful building of bridges between school and community life. This study deals with a recent experiment in school-community bridge building- namely, a cooperative curriculum survey that was made in South Broward High School, Broward County, Florida"--Introduction. / "August, 1952." / Typescript. / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-62).

Much of the historical research that has taken place over the past 50 years regarding student absenteeism has focused on influences on students over which the principal had very little control such as student demographics, family characteristics and the student personal or psychological factors. Researchers have begun analyzing school climate and its effect on student attendance from the perspectives of students and teachers. School climate is the one aspect that influences a student attendance patterns and can be modified by the principal. This study sought to identify if there was a relationship between the high school principals‟ perspective on student absenteeism and the percentage of average daily attendance of the school. Much of the emphasis placed on improving attendance has been examined at the school level. This study, though focused on student absenteeism from the principal‟s perspective, was also approached in regard to actions within the school‟s control. It may well be, that districts need to take a stronger leadership role with respect to attendance. Providing more information to principals could contribute initially to improving principals‟ desire to be proactive in regard to attendance. District officials should examine carefully the support they provide that will result in proactive policies in the schools. It would seem appropriate that district level and building level policies would be examined by district and building leaders with a goal of establishing policies that not only support building leaders but also support individual teachers and encourage them to be proactive in their approach to attendance for every student in the class room

Since the invention of the cinema, people have been taking home movies. The everincreasing popularity of this activity has produced a hundred years worth of amateur film culture which is in desperate need of preservation. As film archival and public history have coalesced in the past thirty years around the idea that every person’s history is important, home movies represent a way for those histories to be preserved and studied by communities and researchers alike. The University of Central Florida is in a perfect position to establish an archive of this nature, one that is specifically dedicated to acquiring, preserving, and presenting the home movies of Central Florida residents. This project has resulted in the establishment of The Central Florida Home Movie Archive, and the resulting analysis will show that the archive will be a benefit for researchers from all areas of academic study as well as the residents of Central Florida.