Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington. / Bibliography: l. [394]-403.

The objective of this research was to improve our understanding of how changes in the environment affect ecological processes. Change detection is often confounded by the large variation found in ecological data due to the difficulty of finding replicates in nature. Intertidal communities were chosen for studies of biophysical interactions because the physical gradients are very strong, thus creating complex systems within spatial scales that are easily sampled. The selection of replicate beach habitats was the first step in designing a sampling protocol for comparative analyses of nearshore community structure. A high resolution shoreline partitioning model was developed to quantify the physical attributes of homogeneous shoreline segments and to statistically cluster replicate segments. This model was applied at 3 locations in Washington State. A portion of the south shore of San Juan Island was partitioned and the physical attributes quantified. Three groups of rocky segments differing only in slope angle were selected for biological sampling. The objective was to test the fidelity of macroalgal and invertebrate populations to replicate bedrock shore segments. The results showed that community structure and population abundances were more similar within groups of replicate segments (similar slopes) than among groups (different slopes). In South Puget Sound, community structure was compared to test for a deterministic organization of communities among replicate soft sediment beaches in an estuary. The results showed that replicate beach segments support similar communities, that communities become less similar as the distance between replicates increases, and that replicates within or among nearshore cells with similar temperature and salinity support communities that are more similar than replicates among cells with different water properties regardless of distance. On the outer Olympic coast, community comparisons were made among 9 sand beaches over a shoreline distance of 250 km. The results show that these communities are similar within segments and within nearshore cells, but because of population abundance fluctuations, the communities were different among cells and among years. This study shows that processes determining patterns in nearshore habitats can be quantified, which is a significant contribution to studies of habitat distribution and the siting of marine preserves. / Graduation date: 2000

Natural radionuclides may be indicators for dense mineral placers along marine shorelines. Relict beach and river deposits occur in continental shelf sediments. These deposits result from the reworking of beach sands by wave action during the Holocene Transgression. Some dense, resistant minerals associated with placer deposits are known to contain ²³⁸U and ²³²Th activities. Shelf sediments, enriched in heavy minerals, might be expected to be high in these natural radioactivities. The usefulness of natural radioactivity to locate and to map dense mineral deposits was therefore explored and relations between natural radioactivity in marine sediments and dense mineral content were established. High ⁴⁰K activity in sediments was positively correlated significantly with high mud content. High ²³⁰Th and ²³²Th activities were associated with fine, well-sorted sands and correlated very highly with the weight percent total heavy mineral sands in the sediment. These relations distinguish depositional environments as high in ⁴⁰K content and erosional environments as high in ²³⁰Th and ²³²Th content. Two areas of enrichment were found by radiometric mapping and by mineral analyses. Off Destruction Island, Washington, maximum ²³⁰Th and ²³²Th activities were found in 30 m water depth. Activity distribution and mineral enrichment were consistent with general northward transport of nearshore sediment. In 33 m water depth off Clatsop Spit, Oregon, the second enrichment area was found. The ²³²Th/²³⁰Th activity ratios are different for these two areas. Probably the heavy minerals in these two areas are from different sources. / Graduation date: 1975

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-120).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "May, 2007." Library also has microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [2008]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 15, 2009). "Department of History." Includes bibliographical references (p. 222-235).

This review was undertaken to present the 1962 Amendments to the Social Security Act of the Federal Government of the United States of America; what they are; the rationale behind them; and, what they are expected to accomplish. Attention was given to the administrative problems involved in putting such an ambitious service program into effect, including those of the individual caseworkers. The impact of the program on the problem of dependency was reviewed in terms of 8$ cases, closed after the inception of the program. Answers to 2 questions were sought: 1. Did concentration on services, particularly those prescribed by the Federal Government result in termination of assistance? 2. Were the caseworkers able to make valid judgements concerning severity of problems and potential for avoiding dependency in classifying their cases? It was concluded that the majority of the case terminations were fortuitous and likely to have occurred with or without services, though service was a factor in a minor percent of the cases. Caseworker judgements, however, were found to be reasonably reliable. Some other general conclusions were also drawn concerning directions for focus of casework service and additional research. Experiences in other areas were reviewed and found not to be too different from those in Whatcom County. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

No description available.

A systematic study of highly branched isoprenoids (HBI) was carried out in suspended particulate material (SPM) and Washington coastal sediments to determine their origin and fate. SPM collected at 10 m depth was filtered through Nitex membranes. C₂₅ HBI were found only in the 1.2-40 μm range over the shelf. The particle size fractionation of SPM shows different enrichment for HEH, a common hydrocarbon in phytoplankton, and the sum of C₂₅ HBI in the finer fractions suggesting these hydrocarbons do not share a common source. The distribution of C₂₅ and C₃₀ HBI correlates with the chlorophyll maxima suggesting an upper-water microbial source associated with phytoplankton biomass. It has been hypothesized that sulfur addition into specific biomarkers occurs during the early stages of diagenesis. Incorporation of the HBI into a refractory geomacromolecule via a sulfur linkage or formation of HBI-thiophenes are not evident in the sedimentary lipids. HBI show a rapid decrease in concentration with depth in both midshelf and slope sediments suggesting that biodegradation is the major pathway for their disappearance in Washington coastal sediments. Sediment cores from a midshelf and slope locations show the existence of suboxic/anaerobic conditions within the first 5 cm in the sediments. Elemental sulfur distribution in the midshelf appears to be controlled by bioturbation. On the slope, its profile indicates a quasi steady state regime. Phytane and phytenes (∑Phy) are the major products of Raney nickel desulfurization in both midshelf and slope sediments. Spinach and a strain of Emiliana huxleyi treated with Raney nickel showed strikingly similar patterns to the desulfurization products of sedimentary lipids. The amount of ∑Phy in the slope decreases abruptly by a factor of 6 in the top 2 cm and gradually increases with depth. These results are interpreted as phytyl coming from two sources: (1) chlorophyll-a and (2) S-bound to geomacromolecules. Partial released of phytyl moieties from chlorophyll-a warrants a reevaluation of Raney nickel as a selective desulfurizing agent before its application for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Reducing micro-environments appear to exist within the bioturbated zone in shelf sediments. However, there is no clear evidence for phytyl moieties S-linked to macromolecules within the mixed layer. Results obtained during this study indicate that sulfur incorporation to biomarkers, although present, does not represent a significant mechanism for the preservation of organic carbon in normal marine sediments. / Graduation date: 1994

The purpose of this study was to identify the strategies and tactics community college presidents used to influence state legislators. Selected State Board for Community and Technical Colleges staff and legislative staff members were asked to independently name 3-5 presidents whom they perceived to be most influential with legislators. Ten names were nominated; however, only five presidents were invited to participate in the study. The research identified five strategies and supporting tactics presidents used to influence state legislators. The strategies and tactics were: Strategy One: Build and Maintain a Relationship with Legislators and the tactics were: cultivate the relationship, make the interactions worthwhile, make personal contact, and invite legislators to campus; Strategy Two: Know the Players and the Process and the tactics were: contact legislative staff, know the legislative structure and protocol, and know legislators' issues. Strategy Three: Become a Resource for Legislators and the tactics were: be factual and knowledgeable, be broader than the college, be an advisor, and be accessible. Strategy Four: Broaden your "Sphere of Influence" and the tactics were: involve the community and staff, work with other legislators, and be bipartisan. Strategy Five: Communicate and Frame the Issue and the tactics were: use State Board staff expertise, ask for legislators' support, make the message meaningful, and testify at hearings. The findings suggest that successful community college presidents must develop personal and professional relationships with legislators based on honesty, trust, respect, care, and genuineness. Presidents should devote time to learning the legislative process to determine when and how decisions are made and by which political leaders. Because political work is time consuming, presidents must involve others, such as community leaders, faculty and staff, in the college's legislative activity. All the presidents in this study exhibited similar viewpoints on particular issues that the researcher contributes to these presidents' ability to influence. The presidents shared common viewpoints related to how they viewed legislators, themselves, the college, and the community. Community college presidents must be actively involved in influencing public policy decisions that affect the mission, finances, curriculum, support services, facilities, and overall operations of the college. / Graduation date: 2002