Protecting and managing National Parks and Monuments effectively is very important for their future sustainability. Urban encroachment on areas adjacent to protected areas is often considered a potential threat to the natural resources inside the protected areas. To minimize these threats, evaluating and assessing the effects of urban encroachment on protected areas and developing effective management strategies is critical. To implement any management strategy, interactions, support and perceptions of changing conditions from neighboring communities is imperative. The goal of this study was to develop a framework to assess perception of land use change along the borders surrounding Saguaro National Park East. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) the change in landscape that has occurred as a result of urban encroachment in and adjacent areas to Saguaro National Park (SNP) over a 15 year period 2) the degree to which neighbors surrounding SNP perceive that these changes have occurred due to urban encroachment 3) the perception of neighbors surrounding SNP that increased urbanization has led to more impacts on local wildlife 4) the possible planning and management strategies that neighbors agree would lead to reduce impacts of urban encroachment on protected areas and how strongly do they support the implementation of these proposed planning and management strategies. Results of this study indicated that landuse / landcover changes have occurred over the landscape at a rapid rate and in large areas within one mile of lands adjacent to the boundary of SNP East. Urban area increased 2.45%, agricultural lands decreased 76.15% and forested lands decreased 6.19% from its previous class in one mile adjacent land to the park from 1992 - 2001. Building units (residential) increased dramatically by 71.53% in this one mile buffer in the period between 1992 and 2007. In addition, respondents that live in adjacent lands perceive these changes over the landscape due to urban encroachment at a moderate degree strongly agree that increased urbanization has led to more negative impacts on local wildlife. Further, respondents strongly support more communication between authorities, developers and neighbors and environmental education programs with regards to urban encroachment on SNP.

No description available.

<p> The work described is aimed at developing a unique and modifiable model for analyzing transit system improvements, with specific emphasis on the concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). In particular, the use of multiple variables that have been developed over the years as a result of a number of transit analyses, in a novel manner is described. The area of study was the light rail transit system (LRT) known as Lynx in Mecklenburg County, NC and over a period of development between 2001 and 2012 which included the actual construction phase from 2005 to 2007. An index model was developed to combine and magnify the potential impacts of each of the identified variables as they related to one another and the surrounding urban environment. These variables included land value, housing unit density, and others that are often been associated with TOD. The results of this combined and comprehensive analysis served to identify areas that are likely associated with the transit system, primarily proximity to the LRT system, i.e., areas where changes in the TOD-related variables were consistent with a positive relation to recognized TOD principles. Some areas within the service area showed especially high positive attributes of TOD, for example, Uptown Charlotte, a major hub of a current phase of LRT development, as well areas of other future enhancements. An extension of the work described should include the evaluation of additional variables as applicable data sets are made available, including, but not limited to, employment change, property vacancy statistics, and crime.</p>

<p> Riparian vegetation restoration efforts demand cost effective, accurate, and replicable impact assessments. In this thesis a method is presented using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) equipped with a GoPro digital camera to collect photogrammetric data of a 2.02-acre riparian restoration. A three-dimensional point cloud was created from the photos using Structure from Motion (SfM) techniques. The point cloud was analyzed and compared to traditional, ground-based monitoring techniques. Ground truth data collected using the status-quo approach was collected on 6.3% of the study site and averaged across the entire site to report stem heights in stems/acre in three height classes, 0-3 feet, 3-7 feet, and greater than 7 feet. The project site was divided into four analysis sections, one for derivation of parameters used in the UAV data analysis, and the remaining three sections reserved for method validation. The most conservative of several methods tested comparing the ground truth data to the UAV generated data produced an overall error of 21.6% and indicated an r² value of 0.98. A Bland Altman analysis indicated a 99% probability that the UAV stems/plot result will be within 159 stems/plot of the ground truth data. The ground truth data is reported with an 80% confidence interval of +/- 844 stems/plot, thus the UAV was able to estimate stems well within this confidence interval. Further research is required to validate this method longitudinally at this same site and across varying ecologies. These results suggest that UAV derived environmental impact assessments at riparian restoration sites may offer competitive performance and value.</p>

This study was initiated after finding two chromosomal types of Peromyscus maniculatus north and south of the Red River in Texas and Oklahoma. The problem was to explain the chromosomal variations and their implications to the systematics of the grassland subspecies of P. maniculatus in this region.

The focus of this research is Virginia’s Secondary Highway Construction System funding allocations and its impact on statewide deficient lane miles reduction. The research question guiding this study is: “Which of the four allocation models -- the current Secondary Highway System allocation model or one of three alternatives of this model based on Brian D. Taylor’s geographic equity categories (outcome, opportunity, and market) best maximizes statewide deficient lane miles reductions?” Taylor defines each of these geographic equity categories (independent variables for this study) for all levels of government. While Taylor’s research focus has been on equity as it relates to transit and congestion pricing, this study applied his construct to highways. As a result of scanning subjects related to transportation, the need for this study became apparent. Since the 1980’s, Virginia’s highway allocation formula has not changed (Virginia Department of Transportation, 2005). The Virginia General Assembly has sponsored follow-up studies through a series of resolutions over the years (Auditor of Pubic Accounts, 2004). To date, none of the legislatively sponsored research findings have prompted an update of Virginia’s highway allocation formula (Virginia Transportation Research Council, 2008). There is a significant academic and professional literature on federal transportation politics and specific transportation engineering issues. However, there is very limited research on the development of state level highway transportation funding methodologies. This study used the quantitative research approach, which is concerned with determining the relationship between one factor (an independent variable) and another (a dependent or outcome variable) in a population (Walker, 2005, Newman, 1998, and Geddes, 1990). Therefore, this study employed the quantitative research approach to study cause and effect (Mulhall, 2004, Loughborough, 1995, and Collier 1995) relationships of Virginia’s Secondary construction allocations to individual counties and statewide deficient lane miles reductions overall. The .20 portion of the formula for area was examined because this data rarely changes due to locality annexations. Conversely, the .80 portion of the formula was excluded from the analysis because of the demographic variability due to population shifts. As such, the Federal Highway Administration and states update population statistics from the decennial census with the apportionment of funds for formula based programs such as Virginia’s Secondary Highway Construction program (Federal Register, 2002). This researcher concluded that of the four geographic allocation models, the geographic opportunity equity maximized an additional 4.15 statewide deficient lane miles reductions over the baseline model. This study recommends using the geographic opportunity equity model when allocating Virginia’s Secondary Highway Construction funds to maximize the statewide deficient lane miles reductions above the baseline model, the geographic market equity model and the geographic outcome equity model.

<p> Over the past 30 years, wildland fire and native bark beetle outbreaks have increased in intensity, severity, and extent across the fire-prone forests of the western United States, raising concerns about whether bark beetle outbreaks increase wildfire severity and/or wildfire occurrence. Furthermore, current estimates predict a two-fold increase in area burned by wildland fires over the next 25 years and bark beetles are forecasted to expand in the coming century, shifting toward higher latitudes and elevations. Thus, it is important to better understand how insect-driven tree mortality may affect fire risk and how these disturbance interactions may affect ecosystem structure and dynamics across biophysical settings under current and future climate scenarios. </p><p> In this dissertation, I investigated the relationships between bark beetle outbreaks, wildfire, and climate across the western United States and within subalpine forests of the Southern Rocky Mountains, CO, USA. The main research questions of this dissertation were: (Chapter II) what is the relative importance of mountain pine beetle (<i>Dendroctonus ponderosae</i> (Hopkins)) outbreaks versus antecedent climatic variability on the occurrence of large wildfires in the western U.S.? (Chapter III) how do pre-outbreak forest conditions mediate the effects of spruce beetle (<i>Dendroctonus rufipennis</i> (Kirby)) outbreaks on fuels complexes in subalpine forests of Colorado? and (Chapter IV) how do changes in fuels following spruce beetle outbreaks affect expected fire potential under current and future climate conditions? </p><p> Chapter II employed a variety of remotely sensed data and GIS products of fire occurrence, mountain pine beetle outbreaks, physiographic gradients, and climatic condition to test whether prior-disturbance or antecedent climate conditions influenced subsequent wildfire events. Extensive field surveys of stand attributes and fuel arrangements across a chronosequence of spruce beetle outbreaks in the 20th and 21st century were employed to address research questions of Chapter III. Results from Chapter III were used as base inputs for custom fire behavior models in Chapter IV, to test the sensitivity of potential fire behavior across a variety of wind speeds, weather, and climate scenarios. </p><p> Despite widespread concern that mountain pine beetle outbreaks lead to unprecedented increases in wildfire activity, results from Chapter II demonstrated minimal effects of these pre-fire disturbances on subsequent fire occurrence. Instead, occurrence of large wildfires across the western US has been driven by extreme weather (e.g., hot, dry conditions). Chapter III revealed that the changes to fuels following spruce beetle outbreaks are strongly contingent on pre-outbreak stand structure and disturbance history. For instance, we found that spruce beetle outbreaks reduce canopy fuels in all stands, yet this effect is relatively minor in old spruce-fir stands as compared to young spruce-fir stands. Spruce beetle outbreaks during the 20^th and 21^st century decreased canopy fuels and increased their heterogeneity, regardless of pre-outbreak conditions. Surface fuel loads were more variable with increased time since spruce beetle outbreak and did not return to pre-outbreak conditions over the 75-year period considered in this study in both young and old stands. Chapter IV concluded that under all weather and climate scenarios, stands affected by spruce beetle had the lowest potential for increased surface fireline intensities, rates of spread, and active crowning among both young and old stands as compared to endemic stands (i.e., non-outbreak). Chapter IV used future climate projections (2016-2100) of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 as proxies for moderate and severe climate change and concluded that moderate climate change will not substantially increase the most important types of fire behavior among young or old stands, nor stands affected by spruce beetle outbreak as compared to current climate (1985-2015). However, under severe climate change projections (RCP 8.5) all characteristics of fire behavior will increase, regardless of stand age, spruce beetle outbreak, and wind and weather scenarios. This research provides much needed insight into the disturbance dynamics in fire-prone forests and informs forest management and policy concerns under a changing climate. Overall, this research highlights the 1) dominant effect of climate, rather than outbreaks, has on fire regimes across the western United States and 2) the importance of accounting for pre-disturbance stand structure and disturbance histories on subsequent disturbance patterns and severities.</p>

One of the major themes of geography is human and environment interaction. Human activities shape and influence the natural environment in numerous ways, and the effects of these activities vary across space and time. Conservation planning is concerned with the mitigation of human-induced habitat degradation and frequently involves spatial analysis of human impacts on natural ecosystems for the purpose of formulating conservation strategies. The goal of this thesis is to employ spatial analysis tools, namely Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial multiple criteria decision-making methods, to prioritize a network of potential conservation sites according to their relative conservation value. I compared state-managed roadsides within Leon County, Florida in terms of their relative suitability for ground-nesting bees in order to determine which roadsides would best meet the goals of pollinator conservation through the Florida Wildflower Program. Using GIS, in combination with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), I created a spatial model depicting nesting suitability for ground-nesting bees in Leon County according to relevant site characteristics. The analysis combined both quantitative information sources and qualitative judgements applied through the AHP weighting procedure, which determines the relative significance of different factors through pair-wise comparisons. This model provided a means of comparing the relative habitat suitability of all state-managed roadsides in the county for ground-nesting bees based on the chosen factors. The suitability model was validated through a statistical analysis involving presence/absence data for three genera of ground-nesting bees. The model was found to be significant for two of the three genera, indicating that the suitability values generated through the modelling process are meaningful. I conclude that the method employed for this analysis is effective in assessing the relative suitability of potential insect pollinator conservation sites and can aid in the process of determining the best locations to focus future conservation efforts. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Geography in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester 2018. / April 6, 2018. / AHP, conservation, GIS, habitat suitability, MCDA, native bees / Includes bibliographical references. / Xiaojun Yang, Professor Directing Thesis; Victor Mesev, Committee Member; Tingting Zhao, Committee Member.

In Chapter one I introduce the subject of geographic profiling, its use in criminology and its previous application to biology. I go on in Chapter two to examine the original model and develop a likelihood-based approach to fit the parameters to data from 53 UK invasive species. GP performs well on this novel problem, and outperforms other simple spatial modelling techniques. Using simulations I show that GP is particularly efficient at locating sources when there is more than a single source. Chapter three develops a Bayesian approach using Dirichlet Processes to account for the problem of multiple sources. This model was developed in collaboration with Robert Verity. This new Bayesian model outperforms the original model used in criminology and offers a range of additional information from the data. The Bayesian GP model is then used to determine the sources of malaria outbreaks in Cairo. These developments significantly improve and extend the theory and application of GP. In Chapter four I discuss the possible shapes of dispersal functions. I conduct a review of the literature and find a geometric mistake in the way linear distributions have been extracted from two-dimensional data. The correct back-transformation allows these dispersal distributions to be properly generated. Using this information; ecologists, conservationists and resources managers can now apply GP to real world problems and effectively allocate limited resources to locate sources of species invasions and disease outbreaks. I go on in Chapter five to develop a method for fitting the primary parameter sigma from the point pattern data and run simulations to show the effectiveness of this new approach. In Chapter six I illustrate the application of GP to three problems, one in criminology, one in ecology and one in epidemiology. I finish by summarising the work in this thesis and discussing the potential future developments and applications of GP.

At the turn of the twentieth century, the modern epistemological framework of science superseded indigenous Chinese knowledge categories as the organizing unit for empirical knowledge about space. By the 1920s, pioneering Chinese intellectuals housed spatial knowledge under the new category of modern geography. While this framework for modern knowledge was rooted in the West, Chinese scholars innovated the discipline in ways that enabled them to consistently attend to fluctuating nation-building imperatives. Using autobiography, memoir, and periodicals produced by early Chinese geographers, this study explores how the intellectual shift toward spatial epistemological modernity facilitated modern China's entrance into the global nation-state system. Modern geographic knowledge ushered in new geopolitical claims and notions of citizenship that would define the new Chinese nation and its position in the world until today. / 2016-10-17