This thesis presents an analysis of 1996/97 survey research data regarding the relationship between three types of Teton Science School (TSS) programs and classroom teachers ' ability to teach about the environment. Based on observations by resident instructors and faculty at TSS, three research questions were developed. The primary objective of the research questions was to consider the relationship between TSS residential education programs and participating teachers' ability to teach about the environment. Analyses are based on comparing descriptive statistics of teachers who have participated in one of the three types ofTSS programs or a combination of the three types of programs. Where appropriate, first-order distributional comparisons are considered. Findings of the thesis include: 1) in general, teachers who participate in TSS programs reported doing a great deal of teaching about the environment and have a positive attitude toward environmental education (EE); 2) both TSS residential education programs and outreach programs, although specifically designed for students, help teachers to incorporate EE into their teaching; 3) specific components of TSS teacher workshops, TSS residential education programs, and TSS outreach programs, which include spending time outdoors and observing others teach, were rated very highly by participating teachers for teachers' ability to incorporate EE into their teaching. This thesis supports the idea that teacher training in environmental education can include programs that are designed for students, specifically participation in residential education programs. This thesis contributes to the future design of programs at TSS and similar centers and to the literature on long-term evaluation studies in EE, specifically teacher training in EE.

Two field experiments determined an effective intertrap distance (ITD) for early detection and delimitation sparse gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae, Lymantria dispar L.) populations in mountainous terrain. This study found that current Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service trapping guidelines are not sufficient for early detection of small gypsy moth populations in mountainous terrain. Detection trapping in mountainous terrain should have an ITD of not more than 804 m. Delimiting trapping should use a grid design with an ITD of 152 m. A related study determined natural adult male mortality in the climate of the intermountain West, which includes Utah, Nevada, western Wyoming, and southern Idaho. An interaction was found between mortality, temperature, and humidity. During high temperatures, most mortality occurred on the second day. When lower temperatures prevailed, the largest percent mortality occurred on the third or fourth day.

Large carnivores have been subjected to overexploitation and extensive habitat loss for centuries. Reintroduction has become an increasingly used tool for recovering and reestablishing large carnivore populations; however, most reintroductions have either failed or resulted in small populations that are vulnerable to deleterious demographic, environmental, and genetic effects that can lead to population loss or extinction. Longterm monitoring of small, reintroduced populations is critical to population persistence and viability. To evaluate long-term reintroduction success and current status of a recently reintroduced, small black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the Big South Fork area of Kentucky, I used non-invasive hair sampling in a systematic, closedpopulation capture-mark-recapture study design. I used ≥ 20 microsatellite loci to identify individual bear, quantify genetic diversity, investigate genetic relatedness, estimate population abundance and density, and investigate patterns of range expansion. The Big South Fork population is comprised of closely-related individuals, is small (N = 40; 95% CI: 30-113), of low density (0.03 bear/km2), has experienced minimal range expansion, and exhibits decreased genetic diversity (HE = 0.698). Because of prolonged isolation from nearby subpopulations, the Big South Fork population remains vulnerable and requires immediate and continued monitoring.

We evaluated the influence of a landscape dominated by agriculture and an extensive road network on fine-scale movements of black bears (Ursus americanus) in south-central Florida. The objectives of this study were to (1) define landscape functionality including corridor use by the directionality and speed of bear movements, (2) to develop a model reflecting selected habitat characteristics during movements, (3) to identify habitat characteristics selected by bears at road-crossing locations, and (3) to develop and evaluate a predictive model for road-crossing locations based on habitat characteristics. We assessed models using GPS data from 20 adult black bears (9 F, 11 M), including 382 unique road-crossing events by 16 individuals. Directionality of bear movements were influenced by the density of cover and proximity to human infrastructure, and movement speed was influenced by density of cover and proximity to paved roads. We used the Brownian bridge movement model to assess road-crossing behavior. Landscape-level factors like density of cover and density of roads appeared more influential than roadside factors, vegetative or otherwise. Model validation procedures suggested strong predictive ability for the selected road-crossing model. These findings will allow managers to prioritize and implement sound strategies to promote connectivity and reduce road collisions.

Three small (< 1 ha) mountain wetlands located in eastern Kentucky, host populations of two rare orchids, the white fringeless orchid, Platanthera integrilabia, and the crested yellow orchid, Platanthera cristata. Recently, concern has arisen about the persistence of the orchids. To better understand these wetlands and determine if hydrology is affecting the orchid populations, a hydrologic characterization study was initiated in 2009. Each wetland was equipped with a well nest consisting of piezometers, tensiometers, and a shallow well with a data logging pressure transducer. Chemistry and stable isotopes analysis (deuterium and 18O) of groundwater and precipitation were analyzed, and soil, topographic and channel cross-section surveys were conducted. Hydrology data suggest the primary source of water is precipitation and the primary output is evapotranspiration. Between 10 and 30 cm below the soil surface soil and tensiometer data revealed the presence of a weak fragipan, which likely contributes to seasonal ponding at the site. Management recommendations include thinning and construction of debris dams to increase the hydroperiod, surface area, and total potential volume of the wetlands.

Problems developing tall oak seedlings of high abundance have become a concern throughout many eastern hardwood forests. The decline in oak seedling recruitment into canopy positions is often attributed to the increasing abundance of shade tolerant midstory species, especially red maple (Acer rubrum L.). Studies have shown that increasing light to the understory by way of a midstory removal has the ability to favor oak seedlings over competitors. The majority of studies to date have examined northern red (Quercus rubra L.) and cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) on productive sites, but relatively little is known about the effects of midstory removal on white (Quercus alba L.) and black (Quercus velutina L.) oaks, which are valuable species commercially and for wildlife. This study tests the effect of a midstory removal on oak seedlings and red maples six years after treatment implementation. In addition to seedling growth, survival, and competitiveness, the study also illustrates the changes in canopy structure and light transmittance resulting from the midstory removal. Basal clipping response of white oak seedlings following six years under a midstory removal is also examined as a method for regenerating more vigorous oaks. Results from this study support implementation of midstory removal as a method for improving oak regeneration.

Harvest data are typically used to evaluate mesocarnivore population dynamics in many states, including Kentucky. While relatively easy to collect, these data are subject to reporting biases, and inferences about population trends can often only be made at coarse spatial scales. Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), and coyote (Canis latrans) populations in Kentucky are managed primarily through harvest data used to establish future harvest quotas. Increasingly, noninvasive survey methods have been used to characterize a number of population parameters for a variety of species; however, successful use of these methods is often site-specific. We assessed the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of two noninvasive survey methods, scat detection dogs and rub-pad hair snares, for surveying mesocarnivore species at two sites in the mixed-mesophytic forest of northeastern Kentucky. We sampled 100 hair snares covering approximately 100km2 and 27 transects covering approximately 27km2 from which 7 hair samples and 261 scat samples were collected respectively. Hair snares cost $397/sample at 6.4 hours/day, while scat detection dogs cost $47/sample at 4.9 hours/day. Genetic methods were used to identify biological samples to species and individual. Our findings should prove useful to state wildlife managers in comparatively evaluating methods for future mesocarnivore monitoring.

Elk (Cervus elaphus) were historically present throughout Kentucky, but were extirpated by the mid 19th century. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources initiated elk reintroduction efforts in 1997, resulting in a self-sustaining population. I designed this project to study the effects of a parasitic nematode, meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis), on Kentucky’s elk herd. I examined potential maternal transfer of P. tenuis antibodies to elk calves, and investigated the relationship between elk habitat use and meningeal worm infection. I captured neonatal elk in 2004-06, fitted them with VHF transmitters, and collected blood samples for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine P. tenuis infection. I monitored animals to determine habitat use, and attempted to recapture each individual to collect a follow-up blood sample. I found substantial rates of maternal meningeal worm antibody transfer (55%) over the course of the study. Neither sex nor predicted birth weight was associated with increased likelihood of obtaining maternal antibodies. Habitat variables associated with P. tenuis infection included herbaceous, shrub, and bare cover types, herbaceous mean core area, forest edge density, and forest mean core area. Confounding variables complicated habitat data analysis, but high rates of maternal P. tenuis antibody transmission suggested that meningeal worm infection does not threaten the long-term viability of the Kentucky elk herd.

Kentucky, USA, is the site of recent natural recolonization by the American black bear (Ursus americanus); however, bears are rarely observed outside the Cumberland Mountains along the state‘s southeastern border. I examined the influence of roads in constraining the distribution of this population by altering animal space use and movement. I identified patterns of road avoidance and road crossing using data from Global Positioning System collars worn by 28 adult bears (16M, 12F), and described road mortality trends using 27 roadkill events. Bears avoided roads at the home range and landscape scale, primarily crossed low-traffic roads, and crossed in sites that minimized detection by humans. Males displayed more evidence of road avoidance than females, but females crossed roads more selectively than males. Bears were most often killed on high to moderate traffic roads, and in areas less forested than expected. Roadkill and road crossing sites bore different attributes. The results of my study support previous findings that space use near roads and road crossing reflect a tradeoff between the risks of road mortality and human harassment, and the benefits of access to habitat, mates, and anthropogenic food. Road-mediated restriction of black bear space use and movement is indicated.

The environmental and human impacts of wildfires have grown considerably in recent years due to an increase in their frequency and coverage. Effective wildfire management and suppression requires real-time data to locate fire fronts, model their propagation and assess the impact of biomass burning. Existing empirical wildfire models are based on fuel properties and meteorological data with inadequate spatial or temporal sampling. A geosynchronous space platform with the proposed set of high resolution infrared detectors provides a unique capability to monitor fires at improved spatial and temporal resolutions. The proposed system is feasible with state-of-the-art hardware and software for high sensitivity fire detection at saturation levels exceeding active flame temperatures. Ground resolutions of 100 meters per pixel can be achieved with repeat cycles less than one minute. Atmospheric transmission in the presence of clouds and smoke is considered. Modeling results suggest fire detection is possible through thin clouds and smoke. A semi-empirical cellular automata model based on theoretical elliptical spread shapes is introduced to predict wildfire propagation using detected fire front location and spread rate. Model accuracy compares favorably with real fire events and correlates within 2% of theoretical ellipse shapes. This propagation modeling approach could replace existing operational systems based on complex partial differential equations. The baseline geosynchronous fire detection system supplemented with a discrete-based propagation model has the potential to save lives and property in the otherwise uncertain and complex field of fire management.