<p> The energy needs of rorqual whales (f. Balaenopteridae) govern their relationship to marine habitats during the foraging season. However, their cryptic foraging strategies and extreme feeding behaviors complicate our effort to identify and protect habitats &ldquo;critical&rdquo; for rorquals. What is the relationship between rorquals and their habitat, and how must that shape conservation strategies? I addressed this question in the case of sympatric humpback (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>) and fin whales (<i> Balaenoptera physalus</i>) in the marine territory of the Gitga&rsquo;at First Nation in the Kitimat Fjord System of British Columbia. For three summers (2013-2015) I studied whales, their prey, and their environment aboard the <i> RV Bangarang</i> using oceanographic station sampling, systematic transect surveys, and opportunistic focal follows of whales (Chapter 1). Ocean sampling demonstrated the strong coupling of water features with offshore patterns in storm forcing and regional meteorology (Chapter 2). By combining these surveys with a long-term Gitga&rsquo;at dataset, area humpback whales were found to practice a structured and persistent pattern in seasonal habitat use, which demonstrates how complex and habitat-specific a rorqual&rsquo;s habitat use can be (Chapter 3). Both humpback and fin whales were found to respond to changes in krill supply in aggregative and behavioral thresholds that are set by a combination of intrinsic energetic needs and the context of local prey supply (Chapter 4). Associations with non-prey habitat features were markedly different in the two species (Chapter 5). Humpback distribution was more closely coupled to that of their prey and other habitat features, while fin whale distribution was driven broadly by site fidelity. Novel spatial analytics were used to identify the most probable environmental cues used by foraging whales (Chapter 6). Both species were found to be particularly sensitive to the depth of prey layers, which is governed largely by oceanographic features (Chapter 7). This coupling of habitat features and feeding performance influences the competitive dynamics of rorqual whales. The findings in this case study advance general theories on marine predator ecology and conservation, and have direct implications for the management of Gitga&rsquo;at territory and the identification of fin whale critical habitat in Pacific Canada.</p>

<p> Estimating the water budget of three mid-latitude extratropical cyclones is attempted from the perspective of the precipitation efficiency (PE), using a method proposed for the study of convective columns. Using a lagrangian, system-relative volume centered on the surface low pressure, each cyclone was followed for most of its lifetime within a pre-defined volume (7 degrees latitude x 9 degrees longitude, or approximately 700 x 700 km). A comparison is then made of total atmospheric water vapor ingested to total moisture eliminated (as precipitation). We hypothesize that the PE increases with the intensity of the cyclone. This small sample confirms that idea, and thus encourages further study with this approach.</p><p>

<p> This dissertation has both science and policy components. The research examines the presence or absence of two amphibian species in one Virginia County. Two amphibian species <i>Pseudacris crucifer</i> (Spring Peeper) and <i>Hyla versicolor</i> (Gray Tree Frog) are proposed to serve as a biotic indicator, or proxy, for water quality/watershed condition and ecosystem services. My dissertation hypothesized that amphibian presence of the target species would correlate with watershed integrity values, which was verified by statistical analysis. Greater amounts of amphibian presence correlated with higher watershed integrity scores. Detailed studies of amphibian occurrence, with continued monitoring, can document trends and behaviors of the target species. Facing concern for thresholds and factors that allow or limit amphibian presence, amphibian monitoring contributes to our understanding of anthropogenic impacts on biotic communities. </p><p> Both of the targeted amphibian species were distributed county-wide; occurrences were recorded in each of the major sub-watersheds. Areas surrounding the monitored road segments were calculated (using GIS technology) for the amount of areas assigned to one of four watershed integrity values. Amphibian occurrences correlated with watershed integrity scores using Spearman Rank Correlation. </p><p> What it means to possess watershed integrity sufficient to host amphibian populations brings science into the realm of public policy. Values, economics, demographics, education, politics and culture come into play. Watershed integrity, water quality and ecosystem condition, function and services directly impact human health and wellbeing, and can have profound influences on economic and cultural circumstances. </p><p> County-wide amphibian monitoring can establish an important baseline for ecological conditions, with the potential for citizen engagement. It is one more portal through which citizens may connect with the natural world. Connections to nature, along with environmental literacy and forward-looking public policies will be required to protect the ecosystem services upon which our communities depend. Monitoring for two or three amphibian species from public roads can become a citizen science effort that raises awareness of water resource issues. Aware and engaged citizens are needed to inspire governments and elected representatives to plan for 21^st century conditions and sustainability. If engaging citizens, of all ages, in the workings of their own watershed will deepen their understanding of this vital, complex and dynamic system, then we may realize higher levels of water stewardship and sustainability.</p><p>

<p> The transport of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) from land to coastal environments strongly influences coastal ecosystems. The presence of first flush phenomena due to rainwater runoff traveling from land into waterways can greatly affect carbon fluxes to coastal areas. This research utilizes sensors, autosamplers, and standard watershed sampling in order to assess for the presence of first flush and its significance. </p><p> A rainfall simulator was built in order to collect runoff on two land use types. Time series data suggest that first flush of dissolved organic carbon was present for all rainfall intensities simulated on an impervious surface. At this location, approximately 40% to 51% of DOC flux occurred within the first 20% of runoff. At the permeable sampling location, first flush was observed in surface runoff collected during 12.7 and 25.4 mm hr^-1 simulated storms, with 31% and 26% of DOC flux occurring within the first 22% of runoff. </p><p> Seven storm events at two locations in the Neponset River Watershed, Massachusetts, USA were monitored to study the impact of storm events on DOC export from an urban watershed. Real-time CDOM fluorescence sensor measurements were better able to capture the variability present in riverine DOC and CDOM concentrations due to runoff influxes. Using modeled flow data, estimates of total DOC export fluxes during storms were compared to estimated total annual export. Based on these calculations, the seven sampled storm events account for 7 to 10 percent of the calculated yearly flux during 4 to 5 percent of the year. Additional work is needed to collect consistent year round data using sensors at these locations. </p><p> DOC was sampled throughout the Neponset River Watershed monthly for seven years. Increased concentrations were observed following storm events and snowmelt, and were an average of 28% greater than concentrations observed during dry periods. Based on daily sampling data in September 2011, monthly fluxes may be underestimated by 38% or overestimated by 35%. More frequent sampling allows for better certainty in estimations of monthly and yearly fluxes from the watershed, but must be balanced with logistical and cost constraints.</p>

<p> Magnetic susceptibility is a property that can be used to effectively determine the compositional changes of mineral materials in soil. The objective of this study is to detect the presence of magnetic particles related to the migration of fly ash from a nearby coal-burning power plant over parts of Pointe Coupee Parish, LA. This is based on the idea that the fly ash that is released into the atmosphere during the coal burning process contains heavy metals and magnetic particles in the form of ferrospheres, which can be used to trace back to the source. Maps of the top and sub soil were generated to differentiate the magnetic susceptibility values of the heavy metals potentially attributed to the migration and settling of fly ash onto the surface from any pre-existing or naturally occurring heavy metals in the sub soil. A 60 km² area in Pointe Coupee Parish was investigated in approximately 0.5 km² subsets.</p><p> At each site, a minimum of 20 magnetic susceptibility measurements were obtained using a field probe along with discrete surface and subsurface samples collected for subsequent laboratory analysis. Samples of fly ash obtained directly from the source were also analyzed to verify the field and laboratory analysis. Contour maps representing the spatial distribution of the fly ash along with histograms of magnetic susceptibility values, reflective light microscope, and chemical analysis indicate a correlation between the proximity to the power plant and the predominant wind direction. Acquisition curves of the isothermal remanent magnetization demonstrate the presence of predominantly low coercivity minerals (magnetite) with a small amount of a high-coercivity phase. The microstructure of the magnetic fractions of the fly ash along with select top and sub soil samples were observed using a reflective light microscope for identifying and confirming the presence of ferrospheres associated with fly ash.</p>

<p> One of the least researched phenomena within the alpine regions of mountain biomes is the combination of primitive plants, algae, fungi, and lichens that are generally referred to as biological soil crusts. Sites containing well-developed biological soil crusts were examined in a variety of alpine, non-forested, vegetated landscapes in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington, USA. For each site, data were recorded for percent ground cover of biological soil crusts, slope aspect, and slope gradient of the terrain where the crust communities were located. For all of the sites, biological soil crusts were common, with a percent ground cover median of 29% and a range of 11% to 73%. The arrangement of the biological soil crusts on all sites was quite similar: all were clumped, as opposed to single, and random, as opposed to uniform. All of the soil crusts were found on soil exposed to direct sunlight. Few, if any, crusts were found in the shade of heavy forbs, or forest, or under accumulations of organic litter. When biological soil crusts were found associated with higher-order vegetation, it was with sparse graminoids, ericaceous woody shrubs, and stunted or krummholz Pinaceae trees. The biological soil crusts from this study exist on all locally undisturbed soil slope-gradients from 0% to almost 100%, and occurred on all aspects except for those in the Southwest quadrant. This study contains an extended literature review for desert and high latitude circumpolar crusts, as well as alpine biological soil crusts. Studies of biological soil crusts in subalpine and alpine environments are not common; it is hoped that this study will stimulate more research interest in these often overlooked pioneer biotic communities.</p>

<p> Science communication research has developed theories about the way science communication operates in practice, but further investigation is needed to understand how well these models describe the practice of science communication on the ground. This thesis explores the relationship between theoretical models of science communication and the practice of science communication in long-term ecological research sites (LTERs). In particular, this exploratory study focuses on the deficit model, the dialogue model, and the participation model. I conducted semi-structured interviews to understand how science communication practitioners&rsquo; views about their work relate to established models of science communication. In particular, I asked about how they view their roles and responsibilities, how they view their audience(s), and how they view ethical considerations of their work. Results suggested that the dialogue model was the most dominant model. The deficit and participation models also appeared, though less frequently. Many practitioners are aware of the shortcomings of deficit model approaches to science communication, but may not have the resources or experience necessary to engage in the intensive public engagement activities of participation model approaches.</p>

<p> This research study explores the effectiveness of the urban gardening program Gardens for Healthy Communities (GHC) as a public health strategy intended to reverse obesity trends in New York City. The GHC program originated from the Obesity Task Force, a multi-agency work group commissioned by Mayor Bloomberg in 2013 charged identifying innovative policies to prevent as well as reduce obesity. 18 in-depth interviews with garden advocates and GHC garden members reveal that the driving motivation for participating in the selected GHC gardens was less about obesity, specifically, and more about the public health and community development benefits including: a meeting place for civic engagement and environmental awareness, a space for community and health-oriented partnership, and a social bridge to build community cohesion. Through the community right to public space and gardens, the GHC gardens reveal the power of engaging anti-obesity objectives in driving community development and urban agriculture forward.</p>

<p>Hawaiian lowland wet forest (HLWF) plant species are light-limited, yet no information exists on how the understory light varies in relation to species invasion, or if patterns of seedling regeneration and light are linked. I measured the red-to-far-red ratio (R:FR) of light to assess light quality and quantified diurnal variability in three forest types: native-dominated, partially-invaded, and fully invaded by strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum). I asked: (1) how does understory light quality vary relative to invasion? (2) Are there differences in light quality moving vertically among forest types? (3) Are patterns of seedling regeneration and understory light related? Native-dominated forests had the greatest light quality (highest R:FR), and Psidium cattleianum-dominated forests had the lowest. While I predicted that native seedlings would prefer high-quality light sites, all seedlings preferred medium quality environments. In invaded HLWF, native seedling regeneration is hindered, and restoration efforts should focus on non-native understory removal.

<p> Deforestation in the Congo Basin is altering the natural functioning and services of the ecosystem and adversely impacting highly vulnerable human populations who rely on their proper functioning. There is currently no framework that comprehensively addresses the historical and cultural complexities that are persistent in Central African societies and that also include, from a micro scale, the detailed voices of local communities. Without such a holistic framework, it is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness or harmfulness associated with current management strategies in responding to deforestation at the various levels. This transdisciplinary mixed method study determined the most salient indirect and direct causes of forest loss, the impacts resulting from an altered state, and the effectiveness of current management responses by assessing changes in forest cover, forest provisions, and trends in forest management. Because forests are common goods, the elasticity of forests are dependent on a multitude of human activities and attitudes. Therefore, data collected via survey tools were used to evaluate the role of multiple stakeholders in the state of the Congo Forest using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact- Response (DPSIR) framework, a structured analytical tool created by the European Environmental Agency for better understanding of Integrated Environmental Assessments. To best explore local to international perspectives on the effectiveness of current strategies in sustaining forests for livelihoods and ecosystem services, research methods included conducting remote sensing analysis of Landsat satellite images, interviewing over 325 individuals living in 25 communities in the Lake T&eacute;l&eacute;-Lake Tumba Landscape of northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo and 20 individuals working on forest management, conservation, and funding, and a climate analysis using 40 years of weather data collected from a scientific reserve located within the landscape. Results highlight that local populations are highly environmentally literate and their knowledge is a useful tool for qualifying environmental changes, such as reduced lake health, animal health, and plant health. Remote sensing results show the forest is in a state of decline and climate findings confirm the ecological health of the landscape has been reduced demonstrated by major shifts in the traditional agricultural calendars and the effects are having adverse public health impacts on local communities. The process of this research itself interfaces science and policy and thus recommendations focus on how to make effective payments to communities for supporting alternative livelihoods in order to prevent deforestation while next steps should focus on the implications of forest loss and the promotion of a One Health approach at the landscape level.</p>