Explore past environmental studies SMPs to inspire future projects and learn more about the broad variety of topics research in environmental studies can cover. Search by year, mentor, department, or keyword to narrow your findings, or select one of the column headers to sort your search alphabetically or chronologically.
Name | Department | SMP Title | Abstracts | Mentor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lusby, Louise Victoria | Economics | Determinants of Canadian softwood lumber exports to the United States from 1994 to 2004 | This paper empirically examines the impact of macroeconomic variables on the quantity of Canadian softwood lumber exports to the United States. Monthly data was used ranging from January 1994 to August 2004. The results indicate that U.S. housing starts have a highly significant impact on the quantity of lumber exports. This study also found that U.S. policies such as the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), countervailing duties, and antidumping duties have considerably reduced exports of softwood lumber from Canada. | Ye, Michael M. | 2005-05 |
| Dorsey, Donald Wayne | Biology | Effects of environmental changes on snow algae | Extreme environmental conditions surround snow algae in the High Mountains of Wyoming freezing temperatures and very high light levels. Light intensity, temperature, and medium content are the three main focuses of this experiment. In theory, varying the temperature and light may promote two different visible life stages of snow algae into the other form. This algae, Chlamydomonas nivalis, can be obtained commercially from University of Texas and naturally from Wyoming. The naturally occurring algae is in its resting, aplanospore stage while the one obtained from University of Texas is in its motile stage. In using two different medium types, I found that Bold Basal medium sustained longer algae growth than M-1 medium. The other part of my experiment was to compare the two different originating algae's chloroplast-encoded large subunit of the ribulose-1,5-5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rblcL) gene. Due to inadequate amplified DNA I was unable to conclude whether the two algae were the same species. | Williams, William E. | 2000-05 |
| Simms, Tiffany Marie | Biology | Exploring my back yard : Calvert Marine Museum bay trek program | My plan is to develop an environmental-education curriculum that allows students to explore and learn about the Chesapeake Bay. This Chesapeake Bay program will be used as a Summer Youth Camp (grade 6-8). The first offering of the program will take place June 26- July 7, 2005, from 9am to 4pm at the Calvert Marine Museum located on Solomon’s Island in Calvert County, Maryland .… Lessons are designed for hands-on interactive learning. Some of the topics being taught include geology, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), marshes and wetlands, Bay organisms and biodiversity. I am convinced children learn more when they are able to get their hands dirty and interact with the lesson going beyond just classroom lecture. To encourage this each student will be given a field guide and a lab notebook to write down observations allowing him/her a chance to experience the true essence of science. This process will culminate in a student project during the last week of camp. The students will be divided into three groups and assigned a specific topic on biodiversity. They will have time to do research and make conclusions about the issue given to them. The final day of camp is dedicated to biodiversity where the students will be required to present their findings to the group. [from "project purpose"] | Williams, William E. | 2006-05 |
| Nelson, Michael Andrew | Chemistry | Cool season analysis of particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at Piney Point, Maryland | The ground-level atmospheric concentration of particulate phase Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined over a set of sampling dates between October 25, 2007 and December 7, 2007. Samples were collected in a rural residential area in Piney Point, MD a few hundred yards away from the Piney Point Lighthouse State Park and the Mirant-Piney Point Pipeline fuel offloading facility. This study was directed with the intent to see whether any significant PAH concentrations are found in this community as a result of the pipeline. Found in any organic fuel source or biomass, PAHs are highly suspect carcinogens which are persistent in the environment, especially in areas of high industry, population, or fuel-burning traffic. The results in this study were compared to those taken in a much closer proximity to the pipeline one year previously. This study determined benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, triphenylene and napthacene at a total of 2.88 ng/m3, Fluoranthene and pyrene at 1.43ng/m3, cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene at 0.38 ng/m3, to be the compounds of highest concentration for samples collected after November 5. The variety of PAHs detected are indicative of petrogenic sources. The day with the highest total PAH concentration was December 2, 2007 containing 28.50 ng/m3 PAH. These values are an order of magnitude lower than those detected in the previous year, suggesting that the presence of PAHs in colder late fall months at Piney Point, MD is quite limited when compared to summertime concentrations. It also implies that the effect of the offloading and pipeline facilities have a greatly reduced effect on PAH atmospheric concentrations outside of their immediate vicinity. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2008-05 |
| Talisa, Victor Brodzik | Biology | Effects of direct and diffuse light on growth of Brassica rapa | The rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations is predicted to lead to increases in precipitation and cloud cover, which can increase the diffuse component of light as much as 85%. Closed-canopy vegetative ecosystems benefit from significantly increased productivity under diffuse light, which optimizes light availability at all levels of the canopy. In contrast, at the leaf-level, specific adaptations allow more efficient absorption of direct light over diffuse light. Little is known about the effects of the directional character of light at the organismic level. Here I investigated the effects of direct and diffuse light on plant growth. Brassica rapa grown under 94% diffuse light were 52% taller than those grown under 29% diffuse light, all other variables remaining the same. These preliminary results should be replicated and possible complication from mutual shading should be investigated. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2008-12 |
| Spehnkouch, Patrick Thomas | Biology | Live bait or lures : the effects of temperature on the feeding preferences of Micropterus salmoides, the largemouth bass | The phylogeny of the family Centrarchidae is well documented, and extends back to almost 34 million years ago. From there on, the family has extended its range far beyond its ancestral habitat within the Gulf of Mexico and its tributaries. Centrarchid species are found throughout lentic and lotic environments. Of the 31 species and 9 genera contained within the family, Micropterus salmoides, the largemouth bass, has managed to dominate not only the trophic webs of many of those environments, but also the sportfishing scene as well. Their feeding habits vary according to the environment, though they often correlate with temperature of the environment, be it flowing or still. M. salmoides feed more voraciously with increased temperature, up to an optimum feeding temperature of 26°C (Winemiller and Taylor, 1987), and feeding becomes negligible at or below 10°C (Lemons and Crawshaw, 1985). After an extensive review of the literature, I evaluate in further detail the feeding behavior of the largemouth bass, incorporating temperature, environment, and intra- as well as inter-species competition. At the conclusion of my literature review, I suggest an experimental proposal to gather much needed data on M. salmoides feeding preferences for artificial lures which is otherwise absent from the literature. | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2010-05 |
| Fisher, Trina | Biology | Critical analysis of the umbrella species concept in conservation biology | Among the many concepts in use in conservation biology is the “umbrella species” concept, in which the protection of one species confers protection for other species living within the same habitat. This paper addresses the ways in which the umbrella species system may prove to be inadequate as a conservation tool. Through the examination of such organisms as the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) and the giant panda (Ailuropoda melonoleuca), along with several others, it becomes clear that a strict definition of what constitutes an umbrella species is of immediate necessity. An umbrella species may have several shortcomings such as low population viability or misidentification, which can lead to the collapse of the umbrella system. This paper suggests that the umbrella species approach be abandoned as a conservation tool for long-term planning, and that conservation efforts turn instead to a more holistic approach of ecosystem management rather than a species-based management approach. | Price, J. Jordan | 2005-05 |
| Aburn, Cailey | Environmental Studies | Controlling air pollution sources to restore water quality in the Chesapeake Bay | [abstract not available] | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2012-05 |
| Wilson, Erika J. | Anthropology/Sociology | Measuring environmentalism | [no abstract] | Hicks, Louis E. | 1999-12 |
| Smith, Adam Gordon | Economics | Should the government provide subsidies for the use of cover crops in agricultural production? | [no abstract] | Alafita, Theresa A. | 2001-05 |
| Costa, Johanna Lynne | English | Ten thousand miles of bugs : essays from the road | [no abstract] | Hammond, Jeffrey A. | 2002-05 |
| Hall, Shane Donnelly | English | Bringing carbon emissions out of the clouds, down to earth and into our parlors : an analysis of recent key rhetoric in the climate debate | [no abstract] | Click, Benjamin A. | 2009-05 |
| Shearin, Charlotte Bruce | English | Writings from nature | [no abstract] | Hammond, Jeffrey A. | 2003-05 |
| Pineo, Isaac William; Sawyer, Rebecca Lynn | Environmental Studies | Costa Rica study tour | [no abstract] | Poor, P. Joan | 2006-05 |
| Ciske, Phillip John | History | Plant and animal evidence for the neolithic settlement of Crete | [no abstract] | Hall, Linda J. | 1999-05 |
| Andreone, Peter Karl | English | Maryland oyster wars | [no abstract] [Oral histories with John Mattingly and Roy Thompson of St. Mary's County, Maryland] | Hammer, Andrea G. | 2001-05 |
| Seward, Rebecca Cecere | Environmental Studies | Space for stars : essays and poetry | A collection of creative writing from a fledgling female farmer. An SMP which insights on experiences in wild and tame natural worlds. A work of self-exploration, environmental ethics, and mind-wandering acknowledging the beauty and mystery of cycles and systems. [from presentation announcement] | Norlock, Kathryn J. | 2006-05 |
| Moore, Campbell Byron | Environmental Studies | Environmental, economic, and social problems of globalization within the context of a sustainable future | A multi-pronged strategy involving governments, economists, environmentalists, civil society, indigenous groups, and ordinary people is needed to help move the world towards a sustainable future where human rights are recognized and the natural world is utilized in the present so as not to impede the rights of future generations or further degrade the amazing natural heritage we are a part of. A quick survey of the solutions I have proposed will show that I believe globalization is both the problem undermining Sustainable Development and the solution to the problems associated with the status quo global economy. A globalization of ideas, law, civil society, and governance is needed to match the globalization of the economy .… The idea of a ‘Global Village’ is not a bad one. The world ‘village’ conjures up images of different and diverse people working together in an idyllic environment to live their lives as they wish and help their neighbors when necessary. But, this idyllic social order is not what globalization has created. Globalization as we know it is heading towards a global serfdom where people and resources are stripped of identity and individuality and forced through the system imposed on them to work for the benefit of a few feudal lords. Today’s feudal lords are the economically and politically powerful, subverting democracy and the freedom of others for their own selfish desires — almost always at the expense of nature. This is not a vision of a sustainable or stable world. The destructive cycle must be broken. A globalization of the interests of the poor and disenfranchised, and ordinary people is necessary to counter the system of globalization that has protected the interests of the few at the costs of the many. All peoples of the world must unite in the pursuit of admirable goal, while still maintaining regional identity and pride, yet respecting others’ rights to do the same. There is no other sustainable option, and the consequences are dire. [from conclusion] | Norlock, Kathryn J. | 2004-05 |
| Nelson, Katherine Elizabeth | Environmental Studies | Seeds for growing green schools : an environmental education guide | Environmental education is an engaging and motivating style of teaching which can significantly improve student academic achievement and test scores, critical and creative thinking, attention, and behavior. However, environmental education plays a limited role in schools due to the focus on state mandated curriculum and standardized test preparation. The consequences of children’s reduced exposure to nature have been documented both in research and anecdotally and include attention difficulties, behavior problems, and the diminished use of senses. Teachers must find ways to accommodate and engage students affected by nature deficits. Environmental education, whether taught on its own or integrated into interdisciplinary studies, is one way of ensuring that all students are able to achieve at high levels. Becoming an effective environmental educator takes time and practice, although it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Educators must consider effective teaching strategies, expectations for their students, and the logistics of lessons and activities. Ten environmentally-themed lesson plans are included in this guide to help teachers incorporate the environment into the curriculum. These plans include background information and resources to provide a clear and accessible reference and are correlated to Maryland’s Voluntary State Curriculum. Schools that integrate the environment into the curriculum fulfill a major requirement of Green School recognition by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE). Information about the application process is included. This guide aims to inspire and assist teachers in finding the right place for environmental education in their classrooms and schools. | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2009-05 |
| Friedel, Elizabeth Anne | Environmental Studies | Fatal beauty : times of prosperity, hardship, and cultural change on the Eastern Shore | For those who are familiar with Maryland’s Eastern Shore, isolation and a rural lifestyle have defined the region for the majority of its history. Located on the Delmarva Peninsula, which is named for the three states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, the Eastern Shore has enjoyed relative seclusion from the chaos of metropolitan sprawl and its highly controversial impacts. Bordered by the Chesapeake Bay on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, the Delmarva Peninsula is, as Erica Wagenhals of the Institute for Governmental Service describes, “about as close as it can get to being considered an island” (Bell, Favero, and Wagenhals 2005). It is precisely for this reason that the region has largely remained dependent upon a natural resource-based economy. [first paragraph] | Sheeran, Kristen A. | 2005-05 |
| Luciano, Christina Marie | Environmental Studies | Environmental history of the Zekiah Swamp and Wicomico River drainages | Humans have inhabited the Zekiah Swamp and Wicomico River Drainage Area for almost 8000 years. Because of this, its environmental history is very much centered on changes in human land use. As human populations grew, the Wicomico drainage area and the Zekiah began to be more intensely utilized. Human population growth continues to be the primary source of environmental problems in these areas. This paper will describe how the landscape has formed and changed, as well as how humans utilized the resources in the area over time. | King, Julia A. | 2012-05 |
| Meiklejohn, Anthony Stuart | Environmental Studies | Way of taking care | I began studying philosophy early on as a St. Mary’s student, by chance really. I was backing out of the biology department and felt somewhat directionless. Attempting something new I choose an introductory class on western philosophy. Quickly taken by the continual friendly debates that dominated class I had to have more. From there I slowly traveled eastward across the philosophical horizon. I studied some Buddhism and South Asian philosophy in the beginning, and then headed into China. I took a gander across the sea at Shinto and Chan Buddhism, but found a home among the eccentrics in Zhuangzi’s writings. As this was the slow eastward progression on my academic career, my extracurriculars took me in the opposite direction. While searching for ways of building a make shift sauna in my back yard I tripped across the name of Tom Brown. The more I read about him and his wilderness school the more curious I became. Having found no real outlet at school into which I could satisfy my out - of - doors interests, this seemed like a fitting place. The more I got involved the more hooked I became. His philosophy and teaching style paralleled my East Asian studies. His passion and enthusiasm for the outdoors made mine seem petty. I was continually learning more and more about the wilderness and survival, and it seemed only to fuel my passion. The teaching was true “Coyote teaching”; a teaching method driven by the passion of the student. Advances are only made when one skill is mastered and somehow drifts into the next lesson, easier and easier as the student becomes more aware of their interconnection. Spending time with Tom and his fellow teachers has helped expand my spiritual tendencies. I do not necessarily believe in God or the supernatural. But I do believe through our own awareness we may enhance our existence beyond what is strictly considered the physical. What is spiritual is what each of us believes in, and into which we put our faith. These beliefs guide us through life. That is why they must work on both a large and small scale and why we must not let our faith and belief stagnate. Spirituality is necessary for the passionate and intimate existence I believe is necessary to optimize the human experience. These two philosophies have directed the majority of my collegiate experience. Alternating between the two I have spent the last two years focused on practicing and analyzing these philosophies. I would by no means call myself an expert, and have much still to learn about both of these practices. But I hope that I may share some of what I know with others so that we may all enjoy living a little more. [“a note to the reader”] | Poor, P. Joan | 2006-12 |
| Norris, Jacqueline Corinn | Environmental Studies | Residential stormwater best management practices : a survey of a St. Mary’s County neighborhood | I did my St. Mary’s Project on residential stormwater management through the Environmental Studies department. I conducted an online survey about residential stormwater best management practices with participants being homeowners from the Breton Bay neighborhood in Leonardtown. The survey assessed residents’ knowledge about watersheds, stormwater, and fifteen residential best management practices (BMPs), such as rain gardens and rain barrels. It also assessed whether residents have any of the BMPs and if they were willing to install any of them on their property. Finally, the survey gathered some basic information about the residents such as whether they live on waterfront property, how long they’ve lived in the neighborhood, how much money they spend on lawn maintenance, etc. I compared the answers from waterfront residents to those who live on the non-waterfront property. I found that waterfront residents seemed to be more knowledgeable about stormwater management, more likely to have BMPs on their property, and to be more willing to install BMPs. I created a poster outlining my projects and results, and a handout containing information on the fifteen BMPs in the survey, and I presented my project at the St. Mary’s County Going Green Expo on April 21st at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. | Takacs, Jacqueline U. | 2012-05 |
| Everett, Jessica Caitlin | Environmental Studies | Ecotourism and sustainable development | In this paper I will strive to address what constitutes ecotourism, and how it fits into the greater theme of sustainable development, particularly in the developing world. In order to examine the issues more closely, I will also take an in-depth look at how ecotourism has manifested itself in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica as well as at the eco-camp at Tumani Tenda in the Gambia. | Nguyen, Ho | 2008-05 |
| Selle, Caroline A. | Environmental Studies | Fossil fueled stories : political change, the American dream, and the Keystone XL controversy | In this paper, I look at how storytelling both creates and influences the outcomes of social movements. I use the Keystone XL pipeline controversy as a case study, partially because there are clear examples of intentional storytelling within the anti-Keystone pipeline movement and also because I am intimately involved with the issue. To gather information, I first interviewed a handful of activists involved in different parts of the anti-pipeline movement. Next, I read dozens of blog posts written by activists about their decision to get involved. Finally, I used newspaper articles (“mainstream journalism”) and academic research on storytelling, narrative, and social movements. Ultimately, I conclude that the Keystone XL issue became a national debate because of storytelling – especially because, through two weeks of arrests, the anti-pipeline movement broke the institutional rules of storytelling and thus garnered massive amounts of attention. Once the issue was a national one, however, the anti-pipeline activists were less successful. Anti-pipeline stories had to compete with the traditional American narrative of prosperity for prominence. In my research, I found three main groups of anti-pipeline narratives. First, there were those who argued that the pipeline would contribute to climate change. Second, some argued that the pipeline would exacerbate current issues of social justice, especially for people of color. And, third, the people of Nebraska argued that the pipeline would threaten their livelihoods and traditional, American way of life if it were to leak and spill into the Ogallala aquifer. The Nebraska story prevailed, and once it was resolved, the pipeline was quickly approved because activists failed to cast it as a harmful object rather than a symbol of prosperity. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2012-05 |
| Krembs, Greer Elizabeth | Environmental Studies | Saving the wildlife or the people : is there a balance between conserving wildlife and preserving indigenous cultures in Kenya? | Kenya has some of the world’s most diverse wildlife and human cultures, and the two are constantly impacting each other. The wildlife are not receiving proper conservation from people’s impacts and the government is ignoring the people’s need to be protected from the wildlife. Impacts that people have on the wildlife are divided into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct impacts directly affect the lives of the wildlife and include killing for bush-meat, poaching, killing problem animals, and killing as political statements. People’s indirect impacts on wildlife include habitat fragmentation and insularization of protected areas, and habitat displacement and degradation. The wildlife’s impacts on people are destruction of property, livestock injury or death, and human injury or death, and although there are positive impacts—tourism and hunting—neither are available to the people. Based on these impacts, the possible solutions should center around landscape conservation because both the wildlife and people’s cultures are protected, and community-based conservation (CBC) because communities play central roles in the development and management of the projects. Fencing around consolidated areas of agriculture is necessary in some situations to lessen the frequency of crop raiding. Sustainable harvesting programs could be implemented on small scales, with local management by the national parks. If sustainable harvesting programs are not possible, compensation for wildlife damage could be reintroduced since its cancellation in the 1990s. Programs for monitoring poaching and ivory trade, such as CITES’ Monitoring of the Illegal Killing of Elephants, need to be made for efficient and effective. Further habitat fragmentation needs to be prevented and one method that has been successful is to pay landowners to keep their land open. Wildlife and cultural conservation are possible in Kenya under the new landscape conservation paradigm. | Williams, William E. | 2004-05 |
| Vossbrinck, Alice Margaret | Environmental Studies | Building a connection to our natural landscape : a guide | My SMP was done to help create a deeper connection between the campus community and our natural environment. Environmental problems are lately becoming of major concern. I believe that my project offers important ways to promote environmental understanding as well as addressing some of the issues. St. Mary’s College has some valuable environmental opportunities but should seek to increase these opportunities. This project had three parts that can be easily broadened. I ordered and installed sixty tree labels that included common name, species name and native range. Additionally I organized a group of students to remove a small portion of the invasive plants on campus. Lastly I ordered native trees and meadow grass to incorporate into the college landscape. Through all parts of my project other students gave me significant help in accomplishing these goals. The feedback from the students has led me to believe that this project has made a positive impact on the campus. My hope is that these ideas will continue and expand in the future. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2007-05 |
| Griffin, Shaun Hamilton | Environmental Studies | Local environmental awareness experience | So, the purpose of the SMP, both the paper and experiential ecology tour is to provide an introduction to several examples of Non-Western environmental ideologies and practices. Hopefully, in this way, the project will help active environmentalists be more prepared to make correct choices in their local relationships with the biotic community through an increased awareness of cross cultural models of ecological thought from around the world. [from introduction] | Norlock, Kathryn J. | 2004-12 |
| Knipp, Megan A. | Environmental Studies | Normative messages influence on conservation behavior : study on the Townhouse Greens | The following study examines the influence of normative messages on subsequent energy consumption behavior on St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s campus. A series of four door hangers, each containing either an injunctive, descriptive, combined descriptive and injunctive normative, or control message, were randomly distributed to the residences of St. Mary’s Townhouse Greens. Although the results were not significant, there was a reduction in energy use over time after the distribution of the normative message. A post-test self-report survey revealed significant correlations between the influence of the normative message, intention to perform energy conservation behavior, and reasons for adopting behavior. | Platt, Richard D. | 2011-05 |
| Sedon, Samantha Rose | Environmental Studies | Cooking and community : hope for the American food system | The hope for the future of the American food system is in reclaiming cooking. Cooking allows us to pay attention to the ingredients we use, and to the people we share meals with. As consumers and eaters we have the choice to reject industrially produced and processed foods and we can choose food that comes from and is shared within our local communities. Starting with the early 1900’s, I have outlined the historical background of scientific cooking and the American industrialized food system that convinced us to be more concerned with convenience than flavor and health. I argue that consumers have the power to avoid advertisements for conventionally produced foods and to make food choices that will nourish our minds as well as our bodies. By incorporating personal nonfiction about my experiences in creating new food traditions, as well as including recipes, I hope to empower us to embrace a cooking community that is based in morality and sustainability. | Anderson, Karen L. | 2012-05 |
| Flexner, Robert Williams | Environmental Studies | Developing a forest stewardship plan | There are many properties in St. Mary’s County, as well as throughout the state and country which require a detailed forest management plan in order to best preserve, protect and harvest timber. A forest management plan is usually undertaken by a registered forester and involves many pieces of data to be collected and analyzed to give the best possible recommendations for up to 15 years into the future for a given piece of land. The lands can be owned by either the state or a private owner. The property of Richard C. Wildes was one which required such a management plan. The type of plan which Mr. Wildes received is a forest stewardship plan, one which is intended neither for the purposes of commercial harvesting, nor for preferential taxation. This particular type of plan can be enacted by a lay person, or an unregistered forester. The plan was formed under the guidance of a local forester. | Poor, P. Joan | 2007-05 |
| Flanigan, Eileen Louise | Environmental Studies | Nature versus drugs : alternative treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | There has in the last half-century been a change from an agriculturally based culture to a culture focused on urban development and technological productivity. This has lead to an environment of constant stimulation and high pressure to succeed. One of the outcomes of this over-stimulation is an increase in learning and behavioral disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The main symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While the exact cause is unknown, ADHD is thought to be from an interaction between vulnerable genes controlling extracellular levels of dopamine in the brain and certain environmental risk factors. Pharmaceutical treatments focus on correcting dopamine levels in the brain, correcting for the genetic flaws. These treatments are today by far the most common treatment of ADHD. Because ADHD is usually a lifelong disorder, people often take their medication long-term. While short term improvements are clearly shown in patients taking these drugs, the effectiveness of long-term use and its possible risks are unknown. Alternative treatments to medication focus on decreasing environmental risk factors. Several of these focus on increasing the ability of the subject to self-control their symptoms. One treatment that recent research is finding to be very effective is Nature Therapy. It has been found that spending time in nature doing unstructured activities can decrease the severity of the common symptoms of ADHD. These alternatives to medication are not often used because lack of public knowledge of these possibilities. Another reason is that these treatments often take more effort on the caregiver’s part and do not have the clear immediate improvements in ADHD symptoms that medications produce. | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2009-05 |
| Stillwell, Jeffrey Alan | Environmental Studies | St. Mary’s College of Maryland carbon profile | This [SMP] has been designed to produce a carbon profile for St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The carbon profile presented here details the carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions produced by the operation of the campus and the campus community and provides a means of comparing individual sources of emission. This report is meant to be used as an administrative decision making tool to aid the college in identifying its greatest contributing aspects, as a historical reference to identify how past trends have affected our greenhouse gas emission, and as a means of directing the advancement of sustainability initiatives. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2008-05 |
| Hachadorian, Jason | Environmental Studies | Vacant lots to garden plots : a case study of community gardens in Baltimore City | This project examines the current literature regarding urban community gardening efforts in the United States paying particular attention to the historical context of the movement. Urban food problems such as food deserts and supermarket redlining are discussed, with special attention given to the reasons and responses to these issues. The movement in Baltimore City is highlighted and contrasted to the larger movement in the United States. Four urban community gardens in Baltimore City were visited as part of assessing the current situation in the city. Successes and failures from other parts of the country are also noted. Community gardens represent an important response to food access inequalities in Baltimore City, but are unable to address the problem in its entirety, primarily due to the movement’s infancy in the City. | Roberts, William C. | 2012-05 |
| Williams, James Conrad | Environmental Studies | Goats vs. aliens : an analysis of a goat browsing’s effectiveness on removing invasive plant species at Historic St. Mary’s City | This St. Mary’s Project explores the experiment at Historic St. Mary’s City in the summer and fall of 2011 in which a herd of goats was used as an herbicide-free method to eliminate invasive plant species. In my paper, I analyzed invasive non-native plants found at the site and included descriptions of the plants, brief histories of their arrival in the United States, how they escaped from cultivation, the sorts of habitats that they colonize, why they are difficult to eradicate, their occurrence on site at HSMC, methods for their removal, and recommendations of native plants for substitution. Non-native invasive plant species found at Historic St. Mary’s City include: English Ivy (Hedera helix), Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’), Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), and Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare). The results of the project demonstrated that the goats were effective as a first measure on the site to remove these invasive plants; however, manual and mechanical labor is required as a follow-up. | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2012-05 |
| Simmers, Megan | Environmental Studies | Tropical Caribbean ecosystems | This webpage has been created as a platform to share my research on tropical ecology. It is designed to encompass general knowledge about the Caribbean's ecosystem and Belize. Included is an educational resource in the form of a WebQuest that is designed for college students to help their understanding of tropical ecosystems. [from index.htm] | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2003-12 |
| Grigsby, Kaitlyn J. | Environmental Studies | Rise up and walk : how official aid to Africa fosters environmental crises and how America can help Africa back on its feet | United States official development assistance endeavors to encourage American security and financial interests abroad by alleviating poverty and establishing stable and democratic governments in poor countries. Despite receiving almost $4 billion in official development assistance from the United States in 2009, Africa continues to suffer from poverty, poor governance, and environmental and human rights crises. The types of development projects to which the United States government disburses funds contribute to the intensification of poverty and environmental crises in some African nations. This paper also addresses appropriate solutions to some of the problems of international aid, including increased funding for indigenous sustainable development organizations and decreased assistance to African governments. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2011-05 |
| Kaylor, Meghan Rose | History | Brief and truer report of the new found land of Virginia | “A Brief and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia” was originally written by Thomas Harriot in 1587 and republished in Theodor de Bry’s America Part I in 1590 with engravings of the John White watercolors and additional comments made by Harriot. John White was a commissioned artist on the second expedition to Roanoke in 1585. His mission along with Thomas Harriot was to report back to England the conditions experienced in Virginia such as the vegetation, animals, and people who may inhabit the area. Harriot was to be the recorder and White the ‘photographer’. Their findings subsequently served as propaganda for English colonization. Both White and Harriot purposely depicted Virginia in a fashion that would entice English settlement, neglecting the hardships and violence they encountered while in the New World. White also drew the New World Indian in Europeanized fashion which is further enhanced by the engraver Theodor de Bry. This can be seen through his various watercolors and de Bry’s engravings. The figures that are drawn were placed into classical positions and the background material was enhanced to suit the European observer’s eye. White has long been noted for his ethnographic accuracy and drawing “exactly what he saw,” but his Natives are drawn with obvious classical conventions that were common in art in the late sixteenth century. | King, Julia A. | 2006-12 |
| Smith, Kevin Thomas | Computer Science | Creating geospecific 3-dimensional databases for real-time visual simulations | Virtual SMCM is a 3-dimensional model of St. Mary's College of Maryland as it exists today. The database utilizes geospecific imagery and correlated vector data to place 3-dimensional features very accurately upon a detailed terrain skin. Unlike the extraordinarily detailed landscapes you might find in computer-rendered films, this database can be traversed in real-time. Whereas it may take overnight to render a scene for Hollywood, the database is redrawn at 60fps, fast enough to make any lag unnoticeable to the naked eye. The buildings and other 3-dimensional features, including trees, light posts, etc. were created in MultiGen Creator, a modeling tool heavily utilized in real-time database development. The database was assembled using Terrex TerraVista, a comprehensive tool that simplifies the integration of all the database components including: elevation data, raster imagery, vectors, models, and textures. Specific sources from this database include Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED), Digital Feature Analysis Data (DFAD), Digital Orthographic Quarter Quadrant (DOQQ) imagery, hundreds of textures derived from digital stills around the campus, and dozens of models. | Sterling, Ivan | 2003-05 |
| Tornabene, Michael William | Biology | St. Mary’s gone wild : a vegetative survey of both maintained and un-maintained lawns | Saint Mary’s College of Maryland has joined a growing trend among business to appear more green and have a more beneficial impact on the environment. The college has a series of areas called Audubon Wildlife habitat restoration areas, which are designed to increase animal and vegetative biodiversity. These plots were maintained as lawns for a number of years prior to April 2010, at which point they were no longer maintained. I performed a survey in five of these plots throughout the campus to determine if there was an increase in vegetative biodiversity. After sampling in both fall 2010, and Spring 2011, I found that biodiversity in the unmaintained plots was higher in terms of species cover and in terms of how many individuals of each species were present in all cases, and was significantly higher in three of four cases (T-tests, p<0.05). In addition to that, I found that biodiversity increased in all plots from the fall to the spring (T-test, p<0.05). This study while being detailed and showing clear trends begs for more research on how wildlife reclamation projects should be performed. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2011-05 |
| Scudder, Chelsea Joy | Biology | Toxin production in sexually reproducing Convolutriloba macropyga | Convolutriloba macropyga, an acoelus flatworm, is shield shaped and when mature can grow up to 8 mm long and 6 mm wide. It possesses two round lateral caudal lobes and one to nine median caudal lobes. Like other members of the genus, Convolutriloba macropyga shares a symbiotic relationship with zoochlorellae. This symbiosis gives the worm’s body a green-brown coloration. Also visually prominent in the flatworm’s body are aposematically colored red rhabdoid cells. When ruptured these cells release a yellow-orange toxin. Toxin production in Convolutriloba macropyga could potentially be different from other toxic flatworms. Most flatworms acquire their toxin, but evidence suggests that C. macropyga may produce its own toxin. Observations under UV light have shown an absence of algae in both eggs removed from pregnant macropyga worms and in eggs collected after oviposition. UV observations have demonstrated the absence of toxin in eggs prior to oviposition and the development of toxin in eggs collected post-oviposition. These findings suggest that larval worms produce the toxin themselves independent of either their parents or their symbiotic zoochlorellae. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2010-05 |
| Frederic, Ann Elise | Art History | Golden age of British railway posters : romanticism and modernity in advertising imagery | In 1923, the British railway system was amalgamated into four regional and geographic companies. The years between 1923 and 1947 are known as the golden age of posters. During this time innovations in graphic design flourished and some of the railways used these new techniques in developing their visual advertising campaigns. In my paper, I looked at the way fine art movements at the time, influenced graphic art and design, and examined the ways these images were used in developing advertising that not only looked good, but worked in a poster format. I focused my investigation on imagery that I saw as expressing the tension of the railway, as both a possible means for escaping modern life into the great “outdoors” and the representation of the train as a modern and innovative form of transportation. Poster designers constructed images of nature to advertise the romance of travel and sight seeing. While the train advertised where it could take its passenger, it also had to advertise itself. Images of the train began to appear in posters, using modern art movement vocabularies to advertise the speed and efficiency of the trains. As a form of advertisement, these posters were created for public consumption and therefore needed public spaces in which to be presented. The railway station became a gallery space, where it could show its work to all its passengers. | Lucchesi, Joseph E. | 2004-05 |
| Giuliano, Angela Marie | Biology | Effects of urbanization and prioritizing potential restoration sites in Hilton Run | Land use, particularly urbanization, can greatly affect water quality. Negative effects include channelization, higher stormwater flows, higher nutrient and sediment concentrations, and decreased biodiversity. This study examined the effects of urbanization on Hilton Run, a tributary to the St. Mary’s River in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This watershed has experienced extensive development pressure with the growth of the Patuxent Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, Maryland. This study quantified instream habitat and documented the extent of erosion in the watershed using a geographic information system. The results of the study showed high amounts of erosion in the lower section of catchment 201. In the upper portion of the catchment, the stream sediment was mostly silt, common in areas with agriculture and mining activity. This study lends further support to previous studies which suggest the large beaver ponds are mitigating the effects of urbanization in the watershed. Previous studies have prioritized catchment 201 for restoration because of its low levels of imperviousness and its high biological integrity. Because of the extensive erosion documented in this study, it is suggested that restoration priorities be placed on the lower section of catchment 201. | Paul, Robert W. | 2005-05 |
| Campanella, Camille Maria | Economics | Crouching farmer, hidden dragon : how China’s economic growth has affected the Argentine economy | The economic relationship between Argentina and China surrounds Argentina’s booming soy industry and China’s vastly increasing demand for natural resources. However, the relationship between China and Argentina cannot simply be described via supply and demand; the ebb and flow of goods and services between the countries is influenced by dynamic and complex cultures, economics, and politics. Argentina, the smaller, less influential, and (in GDP terms) poorer country gains more as a whole from bilateral trade with China than China does with Argentina. However, China remains committed to the relationship with Argentina because of Argentina’s productive soy industry. While both parties gain from trade, Argentina, a politically stubborn nation, still imposes restrictions on its own industry and on incoming Chinese imports. Argentina’s actions can be explained easily through an examination of its turbulent economic past, but they seem irrational in light of the current global economic climate. Certainly, Argentina feels the need to maximize gains from trade with China, which explains its high export taxes and import restrictions, but at times it has taken these measures too far. In the recent past, Argentina has angered not only its own people, but also the Chinese government through inappropriate policy measures. In order to sustain healthy economic and political relations with China, Argentina must enact liberal trade policies and diversify its exports beyond the soy industry. | Dillingham, Alan E. | 2012-05 |
| Smith, Nathan R. | Philosophy | The American Gastronome: why the slow food movement is needed in the United States | Current agricultural methods and food consumption habits in the United States are harming our bodies, communities, and land for the sake of profit and speed. The effects of this lifestyle are unsustainable and unjust. Slow Food, a cultural preservation movement born in Italy in the late 1980’s and focused on food as means of preservation and moral education, aims to counter the fast-paced lifestyle that America was exporting to Italy. The founder of the movement, Carlo Petrini, calls its members gastronomes. Gastronomes follow the principles of Slow Food in order to preserve distinct food traditions, sustain the planet, and act justly towards people and communities involved in food production. I am calling for Americans to join the Slow Food movement and create a community of American gastronomes. What this will take is a change in our conception of food. Slow Food views food as everything involved in its process of becoming, thus opening all elements of production to moral scrutiny. This idea, though difficult to adopt, is the key to meeting the goal of Slow Food, a goal that is desperately needed in the United States. | Taber, Michael S. | 2013-05 |
| Forbes, Amy Lee | Economics | Finding an alternative crop for tobacco after the Maryland state tobacco buyout : the case for grapes | Over the past three hundred years, Maryland has recently seen a change in agriculture. This change has been brought forward by the Maryland State Tobacco Buyout. In 1999, former Maryland Governor Perris Glendening and the Maryland Department of Agriculture initiated the Maryland State Tobacco Buyout. This buyout is a voluntary program, in which the farmer when taking the Buyout must agree to remain in agriculture for over a ten-year period. Finding an alternative crop that would provide farmers with an income level more than or equal to tobacco is the focus of this research. Of the twelve wineries in Maryland, all are in need of grapes, in which they are encouraging farmers within the state to grow this particular crop. Having conducted a survey on two hundred two buyout farmers in St. Mary’s County, showed that farmers have an interest in alternatives. Having ventured to a local commercial grape producer helped with the process of this research. With much help from this farmer, the idea of grapes being grown as an alternative may become true in Southern Maryland. What is important though is that the grape growers must first research on how grapes can be productive by using specific training methods and soil types. It is through this research that grapes could be the next best thing to tobacco. | Poor, P. Joan | 2003-05 |
| Painter, Kathleen R. | Biology | Status of the barn owl (Tyto alba) in St. Mary’s County, Maryland | This project is a continuation of Melissa Boyle’s St. Mary's Project on the Barn Owl in St. Mary’s County, begun in the Fall of 1998. Boyle constructed and erected 16 owl nest boxes and searched marshes and duck blinds for owls. I monitored the boxes she constructed, used aerial photographs to determine unexplored areas of good habitat, and erected seven additional boxes in those areas. As of the end of her study period in the Spring of 1999, Boyle had observed no owl activity at her box sites. Since that time, a landowner at one of her sites has reported two sightings of a barn owl, and I have collected barn owl feathers and pellets from this farm and from three other sites. There was no evidence of nesting activity in the boxes. I compared the results of the St. Mary’s County Barn Owl Project with similar projects in Calvert and Prince George’s Counties, and compiled statistics on the changes in agricultural practices in all three counties since 1954. I believe that barn owls are still present in small numbers in St. Mary's County, but that they are more scarce than in past years. This apparent decline coincides with a decline in overall agricultural land in the area, and may be due to decreased habitat. The barn owl nest box program has been more successful in Calvert and Prince George’s Counties than in St. Mary’s, possibly due to differences in types of land and habitat available. | Willoughby, Ernest J. | 2000-05 |
| Bumgarner, Suzanne Nicole | Economics | Southern Maryland farmers' markets : the value consumers place on local agricultural products | The overall goal of this research is to better understand the customer tastes and preferences for local agricultural products at the St. Mary’s County, California Farmers’ Market in Maryland. This paper focuses on expectations toward produce at the local farmers’ market by administering a questionnaire during the 2006 market season from July through late-October. Results from the questionnaire found St. Mary’s consumers comparable to the typical consumer found at farmers’ markets across the United States according to current literature. In general consumers expect lower prices and better quality of produce at farmers’ markets than at grocery stores. | Poor, P. Joan | 2006-12 |
| Fennelly, Nicole | Biology | Nutrient Management Plans: A Compromise between Agriculture & the Chesapeake Bay | Agriculture within the Chesapeake Bay region has been a major contributor to the Bay’s nutrient loading. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers and manure feed harmful algal blooms that deplete the bay of oxygen and harm its overall ecosystem. In 1989, Maryland developed the Maryland Nutrient Management Program that requires farmers to follow a nutrient management plan designed from soil analyses on their farm. This plan aims to minimize the usage of nutrients and maximize uptake by the crops and therefore reduce the amount of nutrients leaching into the environment. Statistics from the Maryland Department of Agriculture revealed that only 73% of Maryland farmers were in full compliance with the nutrient management plan and thus urged me to perform a review of the program to see what is deterring 100% compliance from the farmers and what could encourage it. In this project I interviewed four Maryland farmers and two nutrient management officials responsible for implementing nutrient management plans and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the program as they see it as well as its overall effectiveness. The participants gave overall good reviews of the program and gave me valuable insight on how well the nutrient management plans work out in the field. Using an analysis of this research and my interview responses, I made recommendations for how the Maryland Nutrient Management Program could be even more effective in reducing agricultural nutrient run-off into the Chesapeake Bay from agriculture. | Paul, Robert W. | 2014-05 |
| Volpitta, Alice Marie | Biology | How do direct and diffuse light differentially affect chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in morphologically distinct leaves? | Models of global climate change predict an increase in cloud cover and atmospheric water vapor in the near future. Additionally, air pollution levels are continuing to rise around the world, thereby increasing the amount of particulate matter in the air. Both the water vapor and particulates will scatter sunlight, effectively increasing the amount of diffuse light that reaches the earth’s surface. Experiments conducted under diffuse-light conditions show increased photosynthetic efficiency at the canopy level and for understory plants, due to a more uniform distribution of light to leaves that would otherwise be shaded when exposed to direct light. In contrast, photosynthesis at the leaf level is enhanced under direct light. Here I use measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence to assess the photochemical efficiency of PSII under direct and diffuse light of equal irradiances in species with structurally different leaves: Magnolia grandiflora, Antirrhinum majus, and Vicia faba. The rate of electron transport is significantly higher in direct light than in diffuse light for both M. grandiflora and V. faba leaves. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2008-05 |
| Wilhelm, Matthew Lucas | Biology | Alarm signaling in UV damaged soft coral | Marine species have adapted many defense strategies to cope with predation and disturbance in their surrounding environment. Chemical alarm signaling has been one strategy that provides an effective means to warn conspecifics of potential dangers in the area. This strategy is highly useful in the phylum Cnidarians, which includes the soft coral Capnella. Chemical alarm signaling in Capnella has been highly effective in warning for predation, but its effectiveness in warning for other hazards, such as UV radiation, is not well known. The research for this experiment focuses on determining if UV radiation can act as a stimulus for chemical alarm signaling in Capnella and in determining if UVA (320-400nm) or UVB (290-320) radiation promotes a higher level of response. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2007-05 |
| Capone, Emily Elizabeth | Psychology | Investigations into the effectiveness of alternative medicine from traditional Asian practices | The term alternative medicine encompasses any therapy not a part of conventional modern medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda are alternative medical systems that have been practiced for thousands of years in China and India, respectively. The traditional Chinese herb Huperzia serrata and Ayurvedic herb Bacopa monniera have historically been used for memory enhancement. Studies investigating the effects of Huperzia serrata and Bacopa monniera on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cognitive and neurological symptoms are proposed. Another alternative therapy from TCM is acupuncture. In the United States acupuncture is most often used to treat pain. A study investigating the effectiveness of acupuncture on pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis is also proposed. | Bailey, Aileen M. | 2010-05 |
| Clayton, Jessica | Political Science | The Eclipse of Individuality: The Food Industry in Today's Advanced Capitalism | In this paper, I pursue a critical analysis of America’s contemporary food system to argue that as an arm of advanced capitalism, it threatens the development of individuality through modes such as marketing, commodification, and advertisement of false needs and desires to consumers. Specifically, those methods preclude the hard work, struggle and creative potential found in working hands-on with our food at its source. As a result, our individual potentiality is exchanged for a more lethargic and effortless existence as consumers. But before diving into the evidence of repressed individuality, I demonstrate the false sense of individuality Americans value today. Philosophical works derived from early American settlement and expansion describe the American character as a self-reliant, hardworking individual. This account helpfully demonstrates the lack of individuality and false understanding of freedom actually characterizing Americans in today’s American food system. To develop an initial understanding of the individual as threatened, I primarily utilize Critical Theory from Theodore Adorno’s “culture industry” and many of Herbert Marcuse’s pieces on advanced capitalism. Once the relationship between advanced capitalism, its “culture industry”, and the resulting loss of individuality is demonstrated through Critical Theory, I resort to a handful of historical narratives to illustrate the transformed relationship between the individual and food through the post-WWII industrialization of the American food system. It is at this point that the parallel threat to the individual posed by the culture industry and the American food industry--both arms of advanced capitalist order-- will become apparent. | Boros, Diana | 2014-05 |
| Garvey, Leslie A. | Biology | Amphibian population declines : causes and theories | Amphibians are considered by the scientific community to be the early warning system for problems in the environment. They are very sensitive to contaminants and changes in their surroundings because their eggs lack protective shells, they have semi-permeable skin, and most have an aquatic stage during development. Recent reports of declining populations and site specific extinction events are cause for concern. I performed a literature review of the research into possible causes of these population declines. In this paper I site specific examples of the present lines of research, outline some of the current theories to explain these population declines, and discuss the possible implications for global environmental problems. | Crawford, Karen | 2002-05 |
| McVae, Bridget Christine | History | Lost but not forgotten : an analysis of shipwrecks on the Chesapeake Bay | This is a database and analysis of shipwrecks in the Chesapeake ranging from pre-colonial times to the present. This project represents the continuation and expansion of a project begun in 2004 to create a searchable database of Chesapeake Bay shipwrecks in Maryland waters. Begun solely as a Microsoft Access database recording the particulars of each wreck, the project has expanded to include a Geographic Information System (GIS) component. The inclusion of the GIS aspect allows for examination of wreck distribution by various features including vessel type, means of propulsion, cause of casualty, and even the time of year in which the casualty occurred. The paper goes beyond a simple explanation of the database construction, and endeavors to illustrate how this research can be used for historical analysis purposes and resource management, primarily archaeological in nature. Two case studies - of Southern Maryland and war on the Chesapeake - were used to demonstrate how this combination of sources can be used to go beyond merely recording location information and allow a more comprehensive analysis of a region using two different approaches - historical and archaeological. This work will eventually become incorporated into the State of Maryland’s archaeological records and become the system of wreck management state. | Hall, Linda J. | 2006-05 |
| King, Mary Ann | Biology | Unusual animal behavior : a component in earthquake prediction | Unusual animal behavior has been observed prior to earthquakes for thousands of years. There have been many accounts, mostly in China and Japan, of unusual animal behavior being observed prior to an earthquake. Many Western Scientists are skeptical as to whether it is possible to predict an earthquake or if it is luck of the draw. However, with an increase in knowledge and understanding of earthquakes there has been growing support of earthquake prediction. There have been earthquakes that have been successful predicted, with unusual animal behavior being a component in earthquake prediction. One example is the first successfully predicted earthquake in Haicheng, China 1976. Scientists have obtained research that animals have sensory mechanisms that sense the low-frequency seismic waves or the seismic electrical signals that radiate from the epicenter prior to the earthquake occurring. Most animals have specific mechanisms that sense low-frequency seismic waves from an earthquake because low-frequency vibrations are used in communication, courting, defense, or the warning of the presence of predators. I am suggesting using unusual animal behavior as a component in earthquake prediction, along with the seismic technology that is available to sense geological changes in the earth’s surface. | Williams, William E. | 2009-05 |
| Nguyen, Minh Bao | Biology | Effect of white noise on primary stress response in zebrafish (Danio rerio) | Very little is known about the effects of chronic anthropogenic noise on fish physiology. Furthermore, little research has been done on the stress response of fishes to long-term noise exposure. Zebrafish are an appealing model for a noise/stress study because they are hearing specialists and a model organism. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) are exposed to Gaussian white noise (114 db re1uPa) over a one hour period. Zebrafish cortisol levels are tested at 0, 15, 20, 40, and 60 minutes of white noise exposure to determine stress response. Cortisol concentrations over time did not prove significant against each other (ANOVA; p > 0.05). | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2010-05 |
| Walker, Sarah McCready | Biology | Correlations between nutrient and steroid hormone concentrations in Chesapeake Bay tributaries receiving poultry waste | Natural sex steroid hormones excreted into the environment from human and animal waste can act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic endogenous hormones and alter reproduction in wildlife. Animal waste and sewage treatment plants are the two greatest sources of nutrients and the natural steroid hormones estrogen and testosterone. While the source and transport of nutrients has been studied in depth, the fate of steroid hormones in the environment is not fully understood, despite occurring in concentrations known to alter endocrine systems in aquatic animals. In this study I examined correlations between hormone concentrations and nutrient concentrations in tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay receiving poultry effluent. In collaboration with the Wye Institute of Maryland I collected samples from tributaries of the Choptank River during the first spring storms, when poultry manure is washed off crops into adjacent streams. I determined nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations and 17ß-estradiol and testosterone concentrations in each water sample and ran bivariate correlation tests. Significant amounts of hormones were found in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; 17 of the 18 tributaries contained estradiol concentrations known to feminize male fish (>10 ng/L). The maximum estradiol concentration (112 ng/L) was found downstream of the Easton sewage treatment plant. Estradiol and testosterone concentrations were both positively correlated with nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations. Phosphorous and ammonia. were the best predictors of hormone concentration in the storm runoff conditions. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2006-05 |
| Davis, Elizabeth Fors | Chemistry | Determination of hexabromocyclododecane in Chesapeake Bay fish | Commercial hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant (BFR) commonly used in polystyrene foams. 1,2,5,6,9,10-HBCD is synthesized using a process that produces a raecemic mixture of three diastereomers: a-, b-, and y-. This study employs liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to detect and quantify the three enantiomers of HBCD in fish collected from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Twenty two samples of various fish species were analyzed. Total HBCD concentration ranged from not being detected (nd) to 0.3411 ng g-1 (wet weight; w/w). Isomer specific concentrations ranged from nd to 0.2950, 0.0347, and 1.7900 ng g-1 for a-, b-, and y-, respectively. The highest total HBCD concentration number was found in a sample of white perch (Morone americanus) caught in the Upper Magothy River. Though the literature suggests that the a- isomer should exist at a higher concentration in fish samples, this study found that no one isomer was consistently higher than the others. The only sample with detected b- concentrations was a striped bass (Morone saxatilis) sample from the Chesapeake Bay, North of Swan Point. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2005-05 |
| Van Parys, Rachel Sarah | Sociology | Decision-making processes and behaviors of St. Mary’s College of Maryland students regarding anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis while traveling abroad in malaria-endemic areas | St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) has many students who choose to study abroad in malaria-endemic areas. As malaria is a serious and devastating disease, anti-malarial medications play a vital role in the health of these students. This research sought to understand the decision-making processes and behaviors of SMCM students regarding these medications, including different modes of influence, compliance, and the presence of side effects. I have found that SMCM students often do not understand the risks of not taking anti-malarial medications, and have dangerously low rates of compliance. Awareness of these issues will hopefully lead to increased appropriate and adequate anti-malarial coverage of students while they study abroad. | Osborn, Elizabeth A. | 2012-05 |
| Schneider, Alexander Reed | English | Autumn ash | Autumn Ash is set in a post-apocalyptic future where ash falls like snow and humanity has been split in two. The majority lives far below the surface in military-style bunkers and have become listless, surviving without purpose or point. The rest of humanity still walks the surface, but they have succumbed to their most primal instincts and become barely more than beasts and monsters. The plot of the story centers on the grown orphan, Ethan Straussman, his life and thoughts, and his role in the fate of not only of his bunker, but ultimately, in the redemption of humanity. Told from his perspective, the novella is highly introspective and often volleys between bittersweet memories and present events. Ethan’s mental wanderings often lead to his father and his disappearance, a critical event in the narrator’s life. The writing is gritty and dramatic, often employing a leaning balance of description and dialogue, tinged with a melancholic human. Though dark, hidden within the depths of the novella is a burning hope that waits patiently to illuminate the shadows of the dark and gray world it calls home. When the end seems near, Ethan and his fellows find purpose for the first time in their lives and summon forth a courage previously unknown to them, though their bravery may not be enough to save them. The return of a mysterious man ignites what is left of the spark not only in Ethan but everyone shackled beneath the surface. | Gabriel, Gerald D. | 2009-05 |
| Ruthenberg-Marshall, Daniel | Theater, Film, and Media Studies | Faces of the Appalachian Trail | Faces of the Appalachian Trail is a 25 minute video documentary looking at life along the trail, everything that goes into making it possible, and the different personalities that are drawn to the trail. Film student Danny Ruthenberg-Marshall spent five months traveling along the Appalachian Trail by foot and by car, talking with all different categories of people affected by it: thru-hikers, day hikers, trail maintainers, trail administrators, hostel owners, and more. These people came from all walks of life, from the big city and the backwoods, academics and illiterates, rich and poor. The one thing everyone had in common: a love of the Appalachian Trail. In the film, we meet Traveler, an eighteen-year-old thru-hiker from Illinois taking a gap year between high school and college. Laurie Potteiger gives us a rundown on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, her employer and the managing organization of the trail. A cook and river guide named Vish tells us about his experience on the trail after being forced to abort his thru-hike attempt due to a knee injury. Bob Peoples talks about Kincora, his hostel in Tennessee which has served more than 16,000 hikers. Throughout the film, Dewlap, Rainer and Sly walk with us along their hiker marathon, a 26.2 mile day heading into Damascus, Virginia. Faces of the Appalachian Trail is an original look at the many diverse personalities who have their lives shaped by the trail. Each person has their own unique story to share, and they invite you to join them on their journey through life along the Appalachian Trail. | Ellsworth, David N. | 2011-05 |
| Auger, Paul L. | Biology | Quantitative comparison of two marine mesocosmal filtration systems | Success within any aquatic field, be it aquaculture, the tropical fish hobby, or research mesocosms, depends on the systems which are used to maintain water quality. Over the decades new and exciting means of nutrient removal have been developed. Many different systems have been used and tested independently showing effective control over the amounts of organic wastes. These systems are also able to keep the quality of the water stable enough to provide proper habitat for the survival of many aquatic species. In marine research both the NMR plenum and Berlin foam fractionation methods fall into this category. These two systems are probably the most popular in use today. However, neither has been pitted head to head in a quantitative analysis. This study hopes to provide some conclusive data showing which system is more effective. | Hatch, Walter I. | 1998-05 |
| Osterberger, Michelle A. | Biology | Microbial community development : a look at microbial community development through use of biofilm communities and studying the effects of phosphorus on community development | Water quality plays an important role in the community development and biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring changes in biotic factors, such as community development and biodiversity, enables us to comprehend how abiotic factors, such as water quality, impact the health of aquatic ecosystems. A new and innovative way to monitor marine communities and to observe the impact that factors such as water quality have on them is through the use of biofilm communities. Biofilm is a layer of bacteria that provides an advantageous environment for particular invertebrate organisms, which in turn forms biofilm communities that can be used for study and observation. This research observed the general process of community development of sessile organisms and than specifically looked at the effects of the introduction of excess phosphorus on water quality and the development of the sessile community. The hypothesis for this research is that changes in water quality, such as the addition of excess phosphorus, will decrease biodiversity within the biofilm communities. The research was conducted in two parts; one part looked at community development along the Patapsco River and the other part took a specific look at the effects of excess phosphorus on community development and biodiversity. Although statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference among biofilm communities exposed to different water quality conditions in both parts of the research, key observation were made in community development and the impact of water quality on that development. The first study illustrated the effects of competition and predation upon community development. The second study revealed how the addition of excess phosphorus can affect water quality by altering dissolved oxygen concentration and thus altering the community development. Many other key observations are made during the research which could lead to possible future study. | Paul, Robert W. | 2000-12 |
| Robey, Joanna Marlow | Biology | Developmental effects of exposure to androgenic and antiandrogenic chemicals in the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) | In this study I tested the effects of methyl-testosterone (M-T; androgen) and flutamide (antiandrogen) on the sexual development of the mosquitofish. It has been shown that exogenous androgens can induce elongation and increases to the number of segments in the anal fin both males and females. In the first experiment, I showed that the number of segments in the anal fin is a more sensitive measure of androgen exposure than anal fin elongation, as the difference in the number of segments, but not anal fin length, was greater for both sexes in the M-T (0, 3, 30, and 300 ppb) treated fish. No overall effect was seen in anal fin development in fish treated with flutamide. In the second experiment, fish exposure to a 3 ppb M-T for 7, 24, 42, or 56 days, grew longer anal fins for all time periods, so even the shortest exposure altered the development of the anal fin. No difference was seen in number of segments for any time period. These data support action on the androgen receptor as the cause of masculinization in this study and in studies finding similar results in situ. | Orlando, Edward F. | 2004-05 |
| Goerling, Genevieve Blythe | Anthropology | Comparative archaeological analysis of three 17th-century Catholic mission sites in North America | This paper compares the archaeology of three Catholic mission sites from the 17th century – Sainte Marie among the Hurons, Saint Inigoes, and San Luis. The sites are located in French Canada, the English Mid-Atlantic, and Spanish Florida respectively. My approach models James Deetz’s call to produce ‘archaeographies,’ or ethnographies of material life in the past. Through this approach, differences in how the sites have been excavated are minimized as the comparative focus is on the interpretations. The founders should have shared similar goals, such as the promotion of European culture through colonization and the conversion of native populations to Christianity. Yet, my analysis reveals differences between the missionary efforts linked to both varying New World environments and cultural homelands, both European and Native. | King, Julia A. | 2009-05 |
| Reif, Randall Dean | Chemistry | Constructing a superior arsenic detector | Arsenic is a known human carcinogen. Over the past few years arsenic concentrations in groundwater have become a serious environmental concern. For this reason it has become critical to identify methods of measuring trace levels of arsenic that are inexpensive and field deployable. In response to this we have constructed an inexpensive, sensitive, and field deployable instrument that measures trace levels of inorganic arsenic. This instrument uses an intense chemiluminescent reaction between arsine and ozone over a photomultiplier tube (PMT) to correlate the intensity of the light emitted to the concentration of arsenic in the water. The instrument uses a syringe pump to distribute the proper amount of the reagents to a reaction chamber where the sample is first acidified then the As is reduced to arsine using sodium borohydride. The arsine is then pumped along with the ozone to the reaction cell over the PMT. The preliminary trials using this newly constructed instrument indicate an unknown error in the amplifier circuit causing the signal to remain a constant +15 volts which matches the voltage from the power supply. Once remedied the instrument should function properly. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2006-05 |
| Weirich, Sarah Jane | Art History | Art in National Parks: exploring the roles of landscape artists as preservation advocates | This art historical St. Mary’s Project explores the changing ideas of land preservation that have been incorporated into the work of artists connected with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). The SMP studies the artists’ involvement with the U.S. National Parks ranging from the parks’ inception to the present day. The emphasis of the SMP will be placed on the contemporary artists working within individual U.S. National Park artist in residence programs. This contemporary study serves to anchor the historic artists who also worked in the NPS. The SMP explores the evolving portrayals of ecological restoration and its importance in preserving land through visual representation. With an understanding of these artists’ intentions and commissions concerning the NPS, I then pose the question: how can these artists be considered advocates as environmental stewards and how does their art serve their stewardship goals? | Lucchesi, Joseph E. | 2013-05 |
| McIsaac, Naomi Rhodes | Art History | Craft, commerce, and the environment : art in America’s national parks | My St. Mary’s Project is the result of a two month long trip across the country, where I traveled to twelve different national parks. It is an investigation of twentieth century and contemporary art that is sold in the national parks or in the gateway towns just outside the park’s boarders, with a specific focus on craft. I chose to separate my SMP into three different essays that focus on the three main factors that influence the artists in these areas: Craft, Commerce, and the Environment. These three essays eventually took the form of three artist’s books, hand bound and accompanied by the visual information that I gathered during my trip: photographs, pamphlets, et cetera. All three books are supplemented by the same introduction and although they can be read separately, much of the information is interwoven and they are intended to be read as a whole. Included in this archival documentation are my introduction, each essay, my presentation power point and script, and the covers of the three books. | Lucchesi, Joseph E. | 2003-05 |
| Likas, Leonard Paul | Art | Mixed media abstract art | Nature, and by nature I mean to include man, is the subject of my painting. Landscape painting is the visual forum where I attempt to come to terms with the nature of all existence, most importantly my own. I seek to elicit powerful, primitive emotions from the viewer such as awe, tragedy, and ecstasy - emotions that arise from the depths when one stands in the mysterious and potentially threatening grandeur of nature. I define this experience as the sublime. My artwork is a reaction against the prevailing values of American society. I feel the sublime experience is the antithesis of modernity and technology, which seeks to assert mankind's dominance over nature. I would argue that nature can never be controlled or replaced. I believe that sublime experience is the understanding of the fragile, impermanent space we occupy as part of nature, through which we come to understand our relationship with the world. By choosing to evoke the sublime through the liberating, creative act of making art, I seek to enter a protest against modernity and offer an important artistic contribution to this ongoing dialogue. I choose to create monumental artworks with varied media to distill my own experience of nature. The media consist of sand, dirt, leaves, twigs, wax, and splattered paint - reflecting my interest in the material presence and metaphorical content that can arise from it. The spontaneity of the action painting allows my emotion to become a tangible presence in the work. In addition, I often burn or scar the surfaces of the paintings, which reflects my notion of the art making process as being comprised of both creative and destructive acts. Great things can happen in an open-ended art making process. Unexpected associations are discovered, new visions developed, and revelations experienced. To be sure, great things can also come of planning and systematic execution. I feel that the different approaches to art making are all viable and should be wholly embraced. | Scheer, Lisa N. | 2000-05 |
| Hernly, Kenna Deirdre | Art History | Earth : art in the natural environment | [no abstract] | Brown, Rebecca M. | 2003-05 |
| Ferrer, Montserrat Isabel | Art | St. Mary's project | Water and oil mixing on the street, the gritty sludge that now seeps into the white snow, a chalk drawing on the pavement; these are all nothing, but when noticed become something. I make art based on the little moments in my environment ranging from small sounds, changes in light, reflections and other sensual encounters. The long winter has inspired me to create a series of paintings based on the physical sensations and visual events that I experience daily. The paintings focus on the optical effects achieved when light and dark pigments are married together on a field of a single color. These works carry a specific mood in comparison to pieces I have done in other seasons; a mood darkened and dulled by the elements, but brought to life with small moments of light. Each one of my paintings is an exploration of texture and tools, as I vary using toothpicks, knives, syringes and sticks to splatter, pull, puddle and drag my paint across the surface. It is a meditative process, one that is all about the paint, my hands, my tools and the surfaces onto which I embed my images. I see beauty in working on a process where a painting is born from a single gesture or moment that can’t be repeated. My marks become maps, water, paths and veins; all traces of what I experience throughout the day. My pigments take flight, jumping, leaping from the canvas only to rest in puddles of muddled grays and pools of mauves and blues. Paint streams across my canvas, staining it with streaks of color, fighting for small odds in the dark. Winter’s sullen mood is now dashed with light, harsh and unforgiving on my naked eyes. Silence has been interrupted. [artist statement] | Patterson, Carrie C. | 2010-05 |
| Akbarova, Anzhela M. | Art | Art as a reflection on nature : a process of self-discovery | Lee Krasner believes that nature is within the creator. She produces her paintings by relying on her impulses and unconscious desires of creation. The focus and meaning is not behind the final product of the work, but on the process of making the art. Following her example, I want to express myself through my artwork in response to my experience within the landscape. Nature is all around us; however, artists should not forget that nature is inside us; art is inside us. It is through our hand and mind that we can recreate the art of nature. Through the process of creating, I develop an experience; I reflect on landscape and express myself through brushstroke and color. Nature, art, and psychology are sources for my work. Nature is an object outside of me that I connect with and draw inspiration from. Art is the process of making that reflects on my experience within the landscape. Psychology has influenced my art process because, from a psychological perspective, art is an experience and a tool for self-expression. I want my work to reflect on my experience within the landscape and focus on my expressive process of mark making. My procedure of creating artwork focuses on letting the unconscious govern the path towards reflecting on nature through an artistic medium. As an artist, I do not want to recreate the environment I am in, but instead present the spiritual experience that the environment creates for me. I respond towards the fleeting moments within nature, such as the motion of the clouds and the water, and the changing light and color in the sky and its reflection on the water. My strokes are quick and meditative and express my emotional reaction towards my experience in nature. The artists Vincent Van Gogh, Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollock, and Lee Krasner use art as a tool for expression and discovery. Van Gogh uses nature as inspiration for creation and expresses himself through varied stroke and vibrant color. Mondrian begins with an interest in nature, but then develops a system for an ideal abstract form by representing landscape geometrically. Pollock’s psychoanalytic works reveal the relationship between his emotional state and mark making. Krasner discusses her art as an autobiography and combines her unconscious marks with her experience. These artists’ works and theories have helped me develop my own artwork. My mark has a meditative quality but it is not predetermined; it functions as a discovery process and focuses on the inner experience between myself and my environment. My artwork is an experience and allows me to express my connection to landscape. I want the viewer to realize that art is not limited to the painting, but it exists within the natural environment and the self. [artist statement] | Johnson, Susan R. | 2008-05 |
| Yancone, Allison Nicole | Art | St. Mary's project | My art making is an extensive process that is saturated in time and ritual. While it is easy to assume that my work is about oysters, it is actually about ideas of place and nature, specifically St. Mary's. My connection to the landscape has led me to consider how I develop a personal relationship with nature—moments of time and place—through collection. Collecting is a habit I find to be a natural human reaction. We as humans have an internal ache to understand objects and connect to the tangible. In many ways I believe that is a foundation for making art; to make emotions, relationships, thoughts and concepts concrete. That sense of concreteness is important in my own work; it allows me to make apparent how I am connecting to the world and understanding my own relationship with St. Mary's. People and places are both impressionable; not only have I left indentations upon the shoreline of the river here, but the shoreline has indented upon me. To remember this importance, I collect oyster shells. At other important places I have visited in my lifetime, I have also collected—rocks, coral, shells, leaves—all have found their way from their natural, original location and accumulated in my hands, pockets, and shelves. [from art smp archive website] | Caldwell, Colby | 2011-05 |
| Holloway, Cristy Lynn | Art | Landscape painting | Since studying art on the college level, I have been introduced to numerous artists, cultures and ideas. I believe that every piece of art that I have viewed has effected me as an artist in some manner, however, I feel that certain artist and art movements have had direct influence on the imaginative landscapes that I produce. I have studied the intentions of the Romantic artists and the emotional exploration and depiction of feelings contained within their work. I have also studied classical artists such as Claude Lorraine and the academic composition and perspective that is used to create illusionistic space. There are other art movements and individual artists that have been influential in applying concepts of space in my landscape paintings. The Chinese and Hudson River Artists produce interesting spaces such as focal points and fore-ground areas that I have studied and applied similar ideas to my work in the attempt to improve as an artist. My intention as an artist is to combine my knowledge of the history of landscape painting with my own skills in order to create emotionally expressive landscapes. In displaying my work of western-American landscapes, I wish to offer a journey to the viewer of an aesthetically pleasing depiction of my own experiences and fantasies. These landscapes are based on my dreams and visions which contain emotional responses to life. | Johnson, Susan R. | 1999-05 |
| Smigel, Abigail | Art | St. Mary's project | My [SMP] is in the discipline of Art and focuses in Underwater Photography. My body of work entails photographs of women and their movement in the underwater environment. The printed photographs are quite small, for the purpose of an intimate interaction with the viewer. The women in each of the photographs remain anonymous so that the viewer can associate with the figure more freely. I photograph in calm water, and position my models in ways that are natural in the water, to achieve a response of comfort and pleasantry from the viewer. My motivations behind this project lie in my enjoyment of the water environment. I have been a member of swim teams since the age of six, and have always found relaxation when swimming. I have desired to express this enjoyment in some creative form, and I have found that the medium of underwater photography provides me with an outlet for that artistic expression. I have utilized photography for over nine years and have been influenced by many other photographers and their use of the reflection of light on human figures. Man Ray and his use of the anonymous female figure in his photographs has motivated me to disguise the models in my photographs. The nostalgic images and methods of printing that Sally Mann uses in her photographs have influenced the dreamlike quality in my images as well. I find that the use of underwater photography has provided me with a creative outlet and medium to better express my enjoyment of the underwater environment. | Johnson, Susan R. | 1998-05 |
| Sullivan, Meghan Anne | English | Lost and found in the night sky | My [SMP] consists of a collection of creative nonfiction pieces about astronomy. The pieces focus on astronomical phenomena, blending scientific facts and explanations with literature, theology, mythology, sociology, and history. Main themes occurring throughout the collection include faith vs. reason, travel, curiosity, the imagination, the mysterious, the unknown, and the magical. Besides educating readers, the main purpose of my SMP is to open minds to the possibility of blending the sciences with the arts and humanities. | Hammond, Jeffrey A. | 2008-05 |
| Bogel, Kenneth John | Biology | Investigation into the effects of atrazine on the gonadal differentiation of the mangrove rivulus (Rivulus marmoratus), a self-fertilizing, simultaneous hermaphrodite | In teleost fish, sexual differentiation can be directed genetically, environmentally or behaviorally. Four main types of life history are followed in teleosts; gonochorism, protandrous hermaphroditism, protogynous hermaphroditism, and simultaneous hermaphroditism. In all life history types, besides simultaneous hermaphrodites, androgens are important in differentiation of testicular tissue and estrogens (and the enzyme aromatase which produces estrogens from androgens) are important in the differentiation of ovarian tissue. In simultaneous hermaphrodites the role of sex steroids in differentiation and maintenance of gonadal tissue is unknown. Endocrine disrupting contaminants (EDCs) can influence the actions of steroid hormones and modify gonadal differentiation and normal reproductive functioning. Atrazine, the most widely used herbicide in the world, increases aromatase activity in human cell lines and also disrupts normal gonadal differentiation (at very low concentrations) in two species of frog. This study looks at the effects of similar concentrations of atrazine on the gonadal differentiation in the simultaneous hermaphrodite, Rivulus marmoratus. Atrazine had no significant on any effect on gonadal differentiation in R. marmoratus. The lack of an effect of atrazine could be due to a variety of factors: improper dosage, improper timing, a decreased sensitivity in simultaneous hermaphrodites to changes in sex steroid levels, and a different role of aromatase in gonadal differentiation of simultaneous hermaphrodites. Future studies need to be done to determine the effects of sex steroids on the gonadal differentiation of simultaneous hermaphrodites. Also, more research needs to be focused on the effects of low, environmentally relevant concentrations of man-made chemicals. | Orlando, Edward F. | 2003-05 |
| Prasher, Emma Claire | Biology | Comparison of isolated soil bacteria and nematode intestinal bacteria from an organic farm | To make a comparison between bacteria found in the soil and bacteria isolated from the intestines of nematodes, soil samples were taken from three different fields at EvenStar Organic Farm: a currently planted field, a 2 year fallow field, and a 12 year fallow field. Bacteria were isolated directly from the soil samples as well as from the intestines of nematode. From an initial 193 isolates, 69 were gram stained and subjected to the Biolog microbial identification system. 13 isolates were successfully identified at the genus and species level and 2 isolates were identified to the genus. Identified isolates were Aeromonas eucrenophila DNA group 6, Cardiobacterium hominis, Pediococcus acidilactici/parvulus, four Pseudomonas maculicola, two Staphylococcus xylosus, and three Tsukamurella inchonensis. Further characterization is needed to identify the remaining isolates before a comparison can be made. | Elliott, Samantha L. | 2009-05 |
| Nugent, Kenneth Ryan | Biology | Identification of unknown bacterial soil isolates from a two year fallow organic farm field | The goal of this study was to identify a subset of bacteria isolated from a two year fallow field at Even Star Organic Farm. Emma Prasher isolated the set of bacteria in order to study correlations between bacteria in the soil and bacteria present in the intestines of soil nematodes. After culturing the bacteria from their frozen state, 51 isolates were classified according to gram staining, oxidase test, and spore staining. Of these isolates, 14 were chosen to be identified using the Biolog identification system. Seven isolates were identified at the genus and species level, and one isolate was identified only at the genus level. The identified isolates were two cultures of Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype G, two cultures of Enterobacter aerogenes, two cultures of Pseudomonas putida biotype A, and one culture of Microbacterium testaceum. Using data from this study, further analysis of bacteria involvement in soil hierarchy can occur. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2010-05 |
| Johnson, Scott Byron | Biology | Disturbance and its Effect on Avian Populations on New Providence Island, Bahamas | Natural disturbances, such as hurricanes, and human disturbances, such as bulldozing forest habitats, can have different effects on wildlife and ecosystems. In my study, I hypothesized that human disturbance has had greater effects on the bird populations of New Providence Island, Bahamas than have hurricanes. I used Christmas Bird Count data for New Providence from 1995-2010 to determine if there were significant changes in bird populations during these years, and I used information from land development agencies and data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to investigate changes in land development and storm frequency. My results revealed that of the 180 species investigated, 26 species have had significant population change during the 15 years of study. Of these 26 species, the population sizes of 13 species increased (eight residents and five migrants), 10 species decreased (eight residents and two migrants) and three species were extirpated (two residents and one unknown). My analysis also found that there was no significant effect of storms on bird population sizes, suggesting that human activity was the main reason for their change in population numbers. My data also revealed that most of the birds that showed an increase in population size (61.5%) were resident, non-migratory birds adapted to urban areas whereas most of the birds that decreased in population size (80%) were resident birds that preferred natural and early successional habitats. This indicates that human disturbance and urbanization on New Providence may be selecting for species more adapted to human dominated areas. | Price, J. Jordan | 2012-12 |
| Thompson, Elizabeth Marie | Biology | Ballast water regulation : a critique of the National Invasive Species Act of 1996 | In this paper I hope to thoroughly explain the National Invasive Species Act and to support the idea that while laws regarding the control of invasive species in our waterways exist they are difficult to enforce and do not provide any incentive for further innovation and are therefore rendered ineffective. I also hope to show that there are other alternatives available that would better address the problems than the current accepted practices in Ballast water management (BWM). [from introduction] | Paul, Robert W. | 2006-05 |
| Crawford, Kelly Elaine | Biology | Banding patterns in eastern oysters | Sclerochronology is the study of growth patterns in the skeletons of invertebrates (Hudson, et al. 1976). Growth patterns in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica can best be identified by the patterns in band deposition. When the oyster clamps its shell together the concentration of hydrogen increases, stripping the calcium carbonate from the shell, creating a band. Oysters shut down during stressful situations such as during a storm event. Storms cause oysters to shut, which creates a band so the storms that an oyster has experienced will be recorded in the shell. In this experiment oysters were taken from the St. Mary’s River, a tributary of the Lower Potomac, and analyzed for growth and band number. Growth and band number was related to the amount of precipitation, the days of precipitation, severity of the event, seasonality, and the duration of storm event. This study showed that patterns of growth were indeterminate from precipitation data, however the number of bands per year showed a direct negative correlation (p<0.01) with the amount of precipitation. | Paul, Robert W. | 2001-05 |
| Boyle, Melissa Elizabeth | Biology | Status of the barn owl (Tyto alba) population in St. Mary’s County, Maryland | The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is a relatively uncommon and highly nocturnal member of the Maryland avifauna. Although relatively few Barn Owl studies have been conducted in Maryland, it is suspected that populations are declining, possibly due to loss or fragmentation of nesting and feeding habitats. Because some Barn Owl populations across the country have decreased significantly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed them as a species of management concern. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the current status of the Barn Owl population in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. I first sought information about Barn Owls from the public through newspaper articles and personal contacts. I then surveyed duck blinds and barns, common nesting and roosting sites for this species, to determine whether Barn Owls were present in the county. I erected 16 Barn Owl nest boxes throughout the county in an effort to attract and detect any owls that may be present. These boxes were monitored over a six month period and at this time there has been no detectable Barn Owl nesting activity in the boxes. This initial data suggests that the Barn Owl population of St. Mary’s County has declined over the past 25 years. These Barn Owl nest boxes should continue to be monitored in the future, to more accurately determine the status of the Barn Owl population in Southern Maryland. In addition to extended monitoring, this nest box program should be expanded to include all parts of St. Mary’s County, especially the northern section. A more intensive education program could also be implemented to better inform residents about the status of the Barn Owl population. | Willoughby, Ernest J. | 1999-05 |
| Bove, Andrew Philip | Anthropology | Bean tobacco barn at historic St. Mary's City | Tobacco barns are a unique and very important element of the physical and cultural landscapes in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Using the symbolic interactionist theoretical perspective one can determine that tobacco barns represent different things to those who worked around them and those who have never had a part in tobacco production. Farmers see the barns as a testament to their culture and a way of life that sustained their families for centuries. Everyday citizens see the barns as a symbol of rural character. Using oral history interviews to analyze the Bean Tobacco Barn in St. Mary’s City, Maryland I was able to ascertain these meanings and determine some of the reasons the Bean family feels their barn should be preserved. | Ingersoll, Daniel W. | 2007-12 |
| Hunt, Seanna | Biology | How to Protect Honeybees: Understanding and Combatting colony Collapse Disorder | Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a malady leading to the sudden death of honeybee colonies that was first identified in 2006. Honeybee health has a direct impact on both ecology and the economy, meaning colony loss has widespread consequences. There are different hypotheses for the cause of CCD, including pesticide use, susceptibility to parasites, and other environmental factors. One of the leading theories behind CCD is the use of neonicotinoids, a class of pesticide that disrupts the nervous system of insects and has become increasingly popular in use throughout the world. Transmission of parasites, including fungi and mites, has also been implicated as a cause of CCD. Current government policies are being enacted to protect honeybees; however, more aggressive defense of honeybees may be necessary. I propose that there is no single cause for CCD, but rather the combination of pesticides, parasites, and environmental changes have created the circumstances which led to the emergence of CCD. Analysis of this research indicates the need for a multi-factorial approach for treatment and prevention, which includes limiting pesticides such as neonicotinoids, cross-breeding honeybees to increase resistance to parasites, and optimizing nutrition to create healthier and more stable colonies. | Price, J. Jordan | 2014-05 |
| Clark, Kathryn Elizabeth | Psychology | Effects of differing environments on the physiological and behavioral characteristics of the vervet monkey | There are approximately 20 different subspecies of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops), all of which occupy different environments. Vervet monkeys adapt very well to various environments. This paper investigated the different types of environments that vervets occupy (natural, captive, and domesticated) in various parts of the world to see if physiological and/or behavioral modifications existed in the species according to the environment in which they lived. It was shown that, overall, vervets do present differences between the environments; however, these differences are not to a great extent, and do not appear to pose any threat for the survival of the species. | Bailey, Aileen M. | 2004-05 |
| Sprague, Laura M. | Biology | Relative health assessment of the St. Mary's River watershed using benthic macroinvertebrates as biological indicators | The objective of this study was to assess the current condition of the St. Mary’s River watershed through rapid bioassessment of various tributaries throughout the watershed. Six streams representative of the entire watershed were chosen for assessment. Analysis of physical, chemical, and biological parameters were used to classify each stream. Habitat assessment was used to evaluate the potential of each stream to support benthic macroinvertebrates. Chemical parameters were measured to look for potential problems of acid deposition, and benthic macroinvertebrates were used as biological indicators. Macroinvertebrate samples collected from each stream were sorted, identified to order, and used in a series of biological indices to assign scores to each stream. Scores were then used to classify each stream. Four biological indices were used to analyze data from each site, which included; 1) Species Richness, 2) A modified Hilsenhoff Biotic Index, 3) An index which looks at the number of sensitive organisms present in the stream, which include Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT). This is referred to as the EPT index. 4) The percent contribution of dominant taxa. Results of this study reveal that one site is severely impaired, one site is moderately impaired, and the remaining four sites are not impaired. Results were not conclusive enough to classify the entire watershed, although there is an apparent need for further research as to the health of streams and larger tributaries that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. | Paul, Robert W. | 1998-05 |
| Sanders, Courtney | Chemistry | Proposal for the investigation of the effects of organic and inorganic mercury on oviparous fish reproduction | Mercury has established itself as a potentially deadly substance, most significantly causing damage to the central nervous system. Less acknowledged is its more indirect role that it plays in the environment. Humans can encounter pure mercury, but the majority comes from bioaccumulation in food sources, such as seafood, and, more specifically, fish. Therefore, it is important to study the effects of mercury on aquatic life in order to determine how much mercury is too much – and then prevent the level of mercury in our environment from crossing that critical line. A key aspect of mercury exposure is its effect on reproduction, as it is important to assess whether one generation of high mercury exposure will lead to years of contaminated fish. As in any experiment involving living organisms, it is very difficult to plan a controlled experiment and produce unambiguous results. The routine factors such as housing conditions, bias, and individual variance, as well as unexpected ones like behavioral changes or sudden death, need to be taken into account for a productive experiment. This paper encompasses methods to perform experiments and analyze results, taking numerous factors into account in order to answer a specific question effectively. The proposed experiments investigate the effects of organic and inorganic mercury on first and second generations of different species of fish via direct exposure and indirect exposure such as maternal or paternal transfer. | Koch, Andrew S. | 2012-05 |
| Grace, Gabriel Bernard | Biology | Fungal biodegradation of plastics | Plastic is the general term referring to a group of polymers able to be molded for unlimited uses. As plastics became an integral part of modern society and our dependence on plastic grew, serious environmental problems arose from plastic’s production, incineration, and waste. Plastics as part of their nature cause aesthetic pollution, but even more so plastics cause detrimental effects to many ecosystems because of their persistence in environments. Most plastics are non biodegradable and have accumulated in sinks over the last century. In order to solve this problem production of biodegradable plastics or degradation of plastics needs to occur. The study of fungal biodegradation of plastics contributes to the formation of degradable plastics as well as a system for degrading plastics for a usable resource. Until recently, the study of plastic degradation has pertained mainly to bacteria; however fungi have shown to degrade plastics to the same extent. Fungal degradation of plastics has yet to reach practical applications, but with recent discoveries pertaining to pre-oxidative treatment, complete degradation of plastics could be conceived. Bio-reactor landfills specifically engineered to enhance fungal degradation through oxidative pretreatment, and controlled environmental settings have potential degrade plastics for a usable resource. | Williams, William E. | 2011-05 |
| Surgent, Andrew Francis | Public Policy | Great Room to gas tank : biodiesel policy for St. Mary’s College | Biodiesel has long been an alternative to petroleum diesel but today with heightened concerns over the availability and environmental impact of fossil fuels a greater emphasis is being placed on renewable sources of energy. As a result, biodiesel is gaining popularity as more and more individuals and institutions engage in its use. Colleges are among those taking interest in biodiesel, and some have already incorporated it into their campus planning. In order for others to adopt this technology they must have the information necessary to create a successful plan. This study examines a range of sources relating to the properties and use of biodiesel in order to document its benefits and the unique behaviors required for its successful utilization. It will then analyze the policies of the colleges who have implemented biodiesel to show the relevance of their motivations to the mission of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The policy climate at St. Mary’s will be defined in order to frame the issue of biodiesel in the most relevant way possible. Specific models for the use of biodiesel will then be described and recommendations given for the most effective use based on calculations of the likely benefits and costs. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2012-05 |
| Zabel, Gabriela Melissa | Biology | Comparison of the biodiversity of two tributaries of the St. Mary’s River | The biodiversity of estuarine ecosystems is affected by many factors including salinity, nutrients, and development. Estuaries such as the Chesapeake Bay are some of the most productive habitats in the world. The St. Mary’s River is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Two tributaries of the river are St. John’s Creek and Fisher’s Creek. To measure the biodiversity of these creeks, I collected fish and invertebrates using a seine net and kicknets and calculated the Shannon diversity indices and species evenness indices of each creek. St. John’s Creek and Fisher’s Creek are not significantly different in terms of diversity, which is expected since they are situated next to each other along the St. Mary’s River. | Williams, William E. | 2008-05 |
| Baab, Jamie | Biology | Biofertilizer Synthesis: Screening Bacteria for Nitrogen Fixation and Phosphate Solubilization | One aspect of sustainable farming is the use of biofertilizers, which use microorganisms to increase limiting nutrient concentration in the soil. Nitrogen and phosphorus, although abundant in the soil, are limiting to plant growth because they are not found in a state that can be readily used by plants. Certain bacteria, through the process of nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization, increase the availability of these nutrients in the rhizosphere by converting them to a usable form. The relationship between non-legume crops, such as radishes (Raphanus sativus) and diazotroph bacteria is the least studied of these plant growth promoting relationships. Here I analyze the nitrogen fixing ability of 30 bacterial isolates that were isolated from organic farm soil, and the phosphorus solubilizing ability of six of those bacteria. I determined that one isolate has no nitrogen fixing ability, ten have low fixation ability, and 19 have high fixation ability. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the only isolate to significantly solubilize phosphorus. My results help indicate treatments for a future greenhouse trial of biofertilizer development, which will be useful in comparing the effects of microbial diversity and the effects of bacterial specialization or generalization of fixation and solubilization. | Elliott, Samantha L. | 2014-05 |
| Tynan, Chelsea | Biology | Enhancing Biofertilizers: exploring the relationship between paenibacillus glucanolyticus and c. elegans in nitrogen cycling | This project attempts to document the pathogenesis of four bacteria to C. elegans for future agricultural science applications. In Spring and Summer 2012, I identified bacteria isolated from soil samples originating from an organic farm. In order to identify these bacteria, I used a metabolic assay, GEN III MicroPlate from Biolog, Inc. (Biolog, Inc., Hayward, CA). I then screened these identified isolates using a single nitrogen-free agar to narrow down a bacterium of interest for pathogenesis study. In total, the project group has identified about 30% of the isolates from the three soil samples using the metabolic assay and determined their abilities to fix nitrogen. The chosen single nitrogen fixing isolate, Paenibacillus glucanolyticus, was used in conducting survival assays on C. elegans in order to observe the relative pathogenesis of this bacterium to nematodes. Survival assays were conducted with fresh P. glucanolyticus and fresh controls (Escheria coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis). The resulting data suggests that C. elegans exposed to P. glucanolyticus has a lower survival rate than nematodes relative to C. elegans exposure to both positive and negative controls. Future directions will aim in further reviewing the pathogenesis of the Paenibacillus genus to invertebrates by conducting survival assays over longer periods of time and using this information to determine the potential nutritional effects of this relationship for agriculture in closed, green-house contexts using lettuce plants. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2013-05 |
| Hines, Keith Edward | Biology | Bioluminescent biosensors : an analytical tool for the future | The world around us is ever changing and our tools for studying it must keep up. Bioluminescent biosensors have advanced over the last decade to a level where they are rivaling current analytical techniques used in the industry. Their ability to be engineered specifically to an application has allowed bioluminescent biosensors to offer the high specificity and selectivity that is necessary to unlock new information. Techniques that express fluorescent signals must take phototoxicity and photobleaching into account when designing their study. Certain applications are out of reach for these techniques because of the damage they may cause to the cell and the time constraints they are under before the fluorophore burns out. Bioluminescent biosensors can be used across a broad range of applications from environmental monitoring to medical research and biological warfare defense due to their various design strategies that offer high selectivity and specificity. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2011-05 |
| Vaughan, Colleen Michelle | Sociology | Nature nurtures : bringing the outdoors into the healthcare environment | Contact with nature optimizes human health and well-being by fulfilling the evolved need of humans to interact with nature (termed biophilia) and allowing the establishment of roots and connections to place to form. This is the theoretical basis supporting why incorporation of nature into healthcare facilities can improve human health. Nature plays a special role in each stage of life, with relatively little research regarding the elderly. Architecture enhances humanity’s connection to nature, and the principles of design that best allow this to happen in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice are explored, with a focus on healing gardens. Nature promotes physical healing mainly through stress reduction, as well as facilitating social support, companionship, and intergenerational mingling. Two movements that are changing the culture of nursing homes, the Eden Alternative and the Green House Project, are evaluated and appear to be the future of long term care as the baby boomer generation ages. | Osborn, Elizabeth A. | 2011-05 |
| Divens, Laura Elizabeth | Biology | Category A bioterrorism agents : biology, U.S. preparedness and response, and ethical critique | After the attacks of 9/11, focus throughout various levels of government, from the Department of Defense to local public health departments, has focused on garnering a standard biodefense protocol to use in response to acts of bioterrorism. The Centers for Disease Control have identified 5 pathogens that are most likely to be used by bioterrorists: the bacteria Francisella tularemia, Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis, and the viruses Variola major and filoviruses Ebola and Marburg. An exercise created by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense (JHCCB), the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Advancing National Strategies and Enabling Results (ANSER) created an exercise called Dark Winter that simulated a smallpox attack on U.S. soil. This study enabled researchers to assess and analyze specific weaknesses to U.S. response to a potential attack. The anthrax 2001 served as a case-study, and similar weaknesses were found. In response to 9/11 and the lack of standard U.S. biodefense protocol, the Johns Hopkins and Georgetown Universities collaborated to create the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (MSEHPA) which has now become embedded in 20 state legislatures. The MSEHPA takes into account varying aspects of both public health and ethics, yet the possible subordination of individuals for national security and public health has come under fire by many critics. | Myerowitz, Rachel | 2006-05 |
| Niewood, Jennie Marie | Biology | Function of call length variation and vocal overlapping behavior in Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) | Songbird communication systems appear to rival their social relationships in complexity. Two aspects of vocal signaling in chickadees, varying call length and overlapping of these calls between group members, are used for within-group communication in winter chickadee flocks. No previous research has investigated vocal overlapping in the calls of these birds outside the breeding season. To investigate this, I performed playback experiments in which I played recorded calls that varied in length and that either overlapped or did not overlap the calls of subjects. Responses of subjects indicated that a greater number of “chick-a-dee” calls were given in response to overlapping playbacks compared to non-overlapping playbacks, which suggests that overlapping is an important signal during social communication in these birds. The study showed no effect, however, of changing call length on the behavior of chickadees around a winter feeding station. | Price, J. Jordan | 2005-05 |
| Reichard, Dustin G. | Biology | Vocal recognition of conspecifics in northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) | Unlike most songbirds, which develop a species-specific song that is prominent throughout their geographic ranges, mimic thrushes (family Mimidae) such as northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) and brown thrashers (Toxostoma rufum) develop large syllable repertoires, including imitations of other species, without forming a species-specific song. In the field, mockingbirds and thrashers are distinguishable to birdwatchers by the number of times they repeat each song syllable, with mockingbirds sequentially repeating their syllables more times than thrashers. However, the vocal cue that these birds use to differentiate between species is unknown. This study investigates the potential role of repetition pattern as a cue for species recognition in northern mockingbirds. I altered songs with northern mockingbird syllables or brown thrasher syllables to a standardized mockingbird repetition pattern of five repetitions per song syllable and a standardized thrasher repetition pattern of two repetitions per song syllable. I then presented these four treatments to fifteen mockingbird subjects and compared their behavioral responses. Mockingbirds responded significantly more strongly to treatment with mockingbird syllables and a mockingbird repetition pattern than to either treatment that included thrasher syllables. Responses to treatment with mockingbird syllables and a thrasher repetition pattern were intermediate between treatment with mockingbird syllables and both treatments with thrasher syllables. My results support that mockingbirds can differentiate between species based on syllables alone regardless of repetition pattern, but repetition pattern may still play a minor role in conspecific recognition. | Price, J. Jordan | 2007-05 |
| Champion, Jonathan | Biology | Effects of tributyltin toxicity on regeneration in the California blackworm, Lumbriculus variegatus | Lumbriculus variegatus has been studied extensively in both toxicological and developmental experiments. Effects of tributyltin on regeneration in L. variegatus are described. Our results demonstrate that both anterior and posterior regeneration were retarded by TBT concentrations of 35 mg/L and above as compared to controls. This effect appeared dose dependent for anterior regeneration, but not for posterior regeneration. Tributyltin concentrations of 45 mg/L and above yielded morphological abnormalities, in the form of a swollen and oddly shaped cuticle, anterior of regenerating tails. These observations are consistent with findings in other groups of organisms, although effective concentrations in these experiments are significantly higher than in other studies. Therefore, L. variegatus is poorly suited to be a sensitive low level bioindicator of TBT contamination. | Crawford, Karen | 1999-05 |
| Simpson, Cara A. | Biology | Modeling Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Growth in the Chesapeake Bay | The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, supports one of the most important fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay. Managing a fishery requires a detailed understanding of the biology and population dynamics of the species involved. Mathematical modeling serves as a powerful tool in fisheries management by providing the ability to estimate population status and simulate potential management strategies before implementation. However, most present day applications in the Chesapeake Bay, due to a lack of understanding of blue crab growth, only use general estimates of growth rates. These approaches ignore several important aspects of blue crab growth and development such as the potential for growth rates to change over time, differences in growth rate by sex, and growth in discrete stages. Our objective was to develop a sex-specific discrete growth model for C. sapidus in the Chesapeake Bay. This study first adapts a previously developed, individual-based modeling approach and revises estimates of the parameters (growth per molt, molt frequency, and probability of maturation) using data from an annual winter dredge survey in the Patuxent River. We used a maximum likelihood function Our model should provide a more reliable projection of blue crab growth in the Chesapeake, and the method could be easily adjusted and applied to different regions where blue crabs are present. | Rauschert, Emily S. | 2013-05 |
| Lyzinski, Rebecca Anne | Biology | Using a mathematical model to describe and predict the population of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in the Chesapeake Bay | In recent years, the population of blue crabs has experienced a major decrease, which is affecting both the ecosystem and fisheries of the Chesapeake Bay. Overharvesting by commercial fishing industries has been considered as a reason for the decline, especially because fishery mortality rates have been reported around .9 in recent years for the Chesapeake Bay, meaning fisheries have caught 90 percent of the crabs capable of reproducing (Ernst, 2003). While some mathematical modeling has been performed on blue crabs concerning the recent decline, there has not been much research conducted with a focus on overharvesting. By using commercial harvest and effort data (where effort is measured in amount of gear used to catch the crabs), a mathematical model was created to represent the known data and then predict the population into the future to calculate maximum sustainable yield. Maximum sustainable yield was compared to current commercial catch amounts and found to be much lower than the current catch rates. This implied that overharvesting is a contributor to the recent decline in the blue crab population and that more restrictions should be applied to the commercial blue crab fishery. | Elliott, Samantha L. | 2008-05 |
| Barreyro, Pablo Alessandro | Biology | Applications for biochemical indicators in studying stress and metabolism in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathburn) | [abstract not available] | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2008-05 |
| Trout, Lucas J. | Chemistry | Effects of using recombinant bovine growth hormone in dairy cattle | Bovine growth hormone (rbGH) significantly increases milk yields in dairy cattle. Controversy over its link to adverse affects, in both humans and animals, has been prevalent since its approval by the FDA in 1993. This comprehensive review synthesizes information from studies and analyses published within the last twenty-five years. It was determined that persistent use of rbGH causes adverse health effects in dairy cows. Bovine growth hormone is inactive in humans, however, increased insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations in bovine milk, stimulated by rbGH, pose a threat to human health. Contrary to initial conclusions, this growth factor has been shown to survive digestion in both neonates and adults. It can be absorbed and remain biologically active in humans. Since human and bovine IGF-1 is 100% homologous, it is capable of affecting a variety of metabolic pathways. For these reasons, use of rbGH is recommended only as a management tool during a single lactation in low-yielding cows. It is not to be used throughout the milking herd or in consecutive lactation periods. These limitations decrease the risk of mastitis, lameness and reproductive complications in the treated animal. They also ensure that bulk-tank milk IGF-1 concentrations do not significantly exceed normal levels, so no human health risk is present. | Blanchette, Paul P. | 2012-05 |
| Maness, Kari A. | Biology | Brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) : determining a vendor for the “white rat” of ballast water treatment | Invasive species are a common problem across the world that seems to increase with human population. Congress has passed legislation and given the United States Coast Guard permission to implement rules and regulations to combat potential aquatic nuisance species delivered to US waters via ships’ ballast water. As vendors develop management systems to treat ballast water (e.g., using filtration or chlorination units), the systems must be verified to determine their efficacy in meeting proposed discharge standards. Therefore, a “white rat” for ballast water treatment is required to standardize treatments. Brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) have often been used as a surrogate species because of their viability, low cost, and ability to hatch out large quantities in a short time. The Naval Research Laboratory, in Key West, Florida, has used one Artemia vendor for experiments (Brine Shrimp Direct). My study tested cysts from Brine Shrimp Direct and two other vendors of Artemia franciscana to evaluate hatching success and survivability in a ballast water treatment test (heat test) to determine the “best” vendor to be used in future experiments. There was no significant difference among the vendors in their hatching success, survivability, but there was a significant difference in mean percent hatch for the ballast water treatment. Brine Shrimp Direct had a higher percent hatch rate than the other two vendors. Therefore, it might be beneficial to choose among these three vendors based on cost or continue to use Brine Shrimp Direct. Future experiments would include additional vendors, more ballast water treatment tests, and different species of Artemia (i.e. A. salina). | Paul, Robert W. | 2010-05 |
| Hitchings, Michael R. | Biology | Effects of Monsanto’s Roundup on regeneration in the benthic invertebrate oligochaete, California blackworm (Lumbriculus variegatus) | California Blackworms generally live in freshwater systems that are susceptible to pollutants in the form of runoff, and in the case of applied herbicides and pesticides, over-spray. Since these organisms regenerate asexually by fragmentation, their overall health and fitness is crucial to their survival and reproductive success. In this study, healthy, non-regenerating worms were amputated and treated with Monsanto’s Roundup. Roundup is a general topical herbicide that is commonly used both commercially and domestically. Its widespread use creates the potential for it to flow in runoff and be sprayed in over-spray into streams and other freshwater habitats of the Blackworm. In this study, amputated and treated worms were periodically checked and their regeneration was quantitatively and qualitatively measured to assess their ability to regenerate in the presence of Roundup. The application of Roundup, even in small amounts, has inhibited the rate of regeneration and the size of the regenerate in L. variegatus. | Crawford, Karen | 1999-05 |
| Barkley, Jonathan Steven | Biology | Are children more affected by the air we breathe? : investigating the link between in utero PAH exposure and childhood cancer epidemiology | Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cancers of the brain and central nervous system (CNS) are the most prevalent forms of childhood cancer and evidence suggests their incidence has been increasing over time. Experiments have shown children are more susceptible to ubiquitous air pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and that cancer can be initiated in utero by such compounds. The focus of this paper is to elucidate air pollution’s role in these childhood cancers by exploring in utero and other mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) data were also utilized to analyze the role pollutants play in childhood cancer by examining incidence rates in urban and rural counties. Additionally, cancer rates in cities with differing emission standards were compared pre and post regulation. Data analysis supports the difficulty of associating areas of increased air pollution with increased childhood cancer rates. This is congruent with several findings in the literature and could be due to the complex nature of the disease or that although PAHs can contribute to cancer, they are not a salient cause. Continued research in the area of molecular epidemiology will help better elucidate the exact role pollutants play in childhood carcinogenesis. | Elliott, Samantha L. | 2012-05 |
| Reighart, Andrew Robert | Public Policy | Carbon Taxation: turning dirty words into clean action | Carbon taxation is a policy tool that the United States should implement in order to address its high volume of greenhouse gas emissions as they are contributing to the likelihood of catastrophic global warming. A carbon tax is the most economically efficient way to achieve the intended results, allows enough policy design flexibility to assuage concerns about economic growth and regressive socioeconomic impacts, and presents both major political parties and diverse interest groups with the potential for compromise. While the adoption of a unilateral carbon tax is certainly not a perfect solution, especially given that some major economies do not currently have any carbon pricing mechanisms in place, such unilateral action could provide a new front for American environmental foreign policy. A post-carbon tax U.S. would now have an incentive to demonstrate new global leadership that could ultimately encourage international peers to follow suit given that more countries with carbon prices would aid the environmental goals of the international community and help to assuage competitiveness concerns within the United States. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2013-05 |
| Hankins, Jeffrey Nutt | Biology | Causes and effects of harmful algal blooms in the Chesapeake Bay | This review examines the historical and current trends of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the Chesapeake Bay. Anthropogenic activity over the last 200 years, particularly nutrient efflux, has drastically damaged The Bay, and the frequency of HABs has risen. Key harmful species from the diatoms, dinoflagellates, and cyanobacteria are examined in this review, with particular focus on historically and economically significant examples. Among these are Pfiesteria sp., the “cell from hell,” Dinophysis acuminate, the causative agent of diuretic shellfish poisoning, Pseudo-nitzschia spp., causer of amnesiac shellfish poisoning, and Microsystis sp., a toxic blue green algae. HABs kill aquatic life by accumulation of toxins, depletion of oxygen, and reduction of photic zone. HAB dynamics are controlled by turbulence, temperature, salinity, nutrients, storms, light, grazers, and others. Most of there parameters are out of our control, yet it may be possible to channel nutrient waste out of the shallow estuary and into the ocean, where algal blooms may be harmless. They may even sequester atmospherically derived carbon in the bottom of the ocean, ultimately healing the bay, and reducing global atmospheric carbon levels. | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2009-05 |
| Eaton, William Hamblen | Environmental Studies | Chancellor's Point : a cultural landscape report | This cultural landscape report analyzes Chancellor's Point, a waterfront property on the St. Mary's River [Maryland] owned by Historic St. Mary's City. Using a collection of published and unpublished sources, as well as research studies regarding the Chesapeake Bay area and Chancellor's Point, this report gives context to the formation and use of Chancellor's Point throughout time. Various groups including Native Americans, Colonists, and people of the modern period are examined in light of their use of and ownership of Chancellor's Point. In addition, various physical features and archeological resources of the property are noted in an effort to give light to the underlying character of Chancellor's Point as it has evolved over time. Recent interest in utilizing Chancellor's Point as an outing location, campground, and environmental studies outpost have put forth a need to establish a long- and short-term maintenance plan which is a main priority of this report. Through the use of this report the future use and preservation of this pristine Leave-No-Trace location can be accomplished and correctly guided. | Ingersoll, Daniel W. | 2011-05 |
| Corwin, Cheryl Matillie | Anthropology | Useful plants of Chancellor’s Point : an ethnobotanical survey of common plants | The main focus of this project is a botanical site survey of Chancellor’s Point [in St. Mary’s City, Maryland], resulting in a field guide that depicts some of the historically useful plants found. The field guide will present basic information on the characteristics of each plant, as well as use by Native American tribes of the Mid-Atlantic region. These uses primarily include medicinal, provisional, and material. This field guide will include a research paper that addresses the cultural significance of each plant as well as the history of foraging in the area. The description will touch on historical documentation of uses spanning from pre-colonial contact to modern times. I will also assess a few possible explanations of landscape characteristics; for example, why only certain plants were found, and in what abundance, at this site. The methods for this paper include field work, literature review, and research assessment. Keywords: ethnobotany, conservation, Native American, plant identification, native plants, invasive species, Chancellor’s Point, Historic Saint Mary’s City | Roberts, William C. | 2010-05 |
| McGinnes, Meghan Mary | History | Analysis of an early eighteenth century domestic site in Calvert County, Maryland | This paper explores the history and archaeology of three early sites in Calvert County, Maryland. Located on the land that comprises Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, these sites are found on property once owned by Richard Smith, the first Attorney-General of Maryland. An extensive history of the lands that make up Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum is covered here. The three sites analyzed here cover a period of three centuries, from the seventeenth through the nineteenth. These sites functioned in a variety of ways: as transient sites, as outbuildings, and as domestic residences for both affluent people as well as people of lower status. Surface-collected materials formed the basis for the analysis. | King, Julia A. | 2001-05 |
| Crowley, Kathleen | Chemistry | Soil phosphate : a reinvestigation after twenty years of storage | Soils from archaeological excavations are carefully labeled and stored after initial testing for various chemical characteristics. This study was done to see if the inorganic phosphate content of soils changes over time in storage. The soils used were taken from the van Sweringen site in Historic St. Mary’s City in 1979, tested by the Soils Agronomy Lab at the University of Maryland, and stored at the Archaeology Laboratory of St. Mary’s City in cardboard boxes. It was thought that if changes did occur, the changes would be predictable. A computerized diode-array spectrophotometer was used with the molybdo-vanado-phosphate complex to quantitatively analyze the samples for inorganic phosphates and the Murphy-Riley molybdenum blue complex for total phosphates. Atomic absorption was used to analyze calcium and iron concentrations in the soils. The results are inconclusive in that some samples appeared to have increased amounts of inorganic phosphates, some relatively the same amount, and others displayed a decrease from the initial amounts reported in 1979, although no obvious reason for these changes could be determined with sufficient certainty. | Armitage, Ruth A. | 2000-05 |
| Gross, Lyndsie Suzanne | Biology | Effects of nutrient loading and trace metals on the carbon to chlorophyll (a) ratio in estuarine phytoplankton | The following research is a very small part of a larger project supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Coastal Ocean Program Office. The NOAA project which is being conducted at the Academy of Natural Sciences Estuarine Research Center (ANSERC) in St. Leonard, Maryland, looks at the change in responses throughout the estuarine food web to nutrients and trace metals and how these stressor effects are passed through trophic levels. The stressors used were nutrient loading (N and P) and trace element loading, using mixtures of Cu, As, Cd, Ni, Zn. Each stressor was tested together and alone to examine their individual and combined effects. The trophic level dealt with in this study was phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is often used as a bioindicator for water quality. Productivity and biomass are used as indicators of the growth or decline of phytoplankton. The parameters used to find productivity and biomass of phytoplankton are chlorophyll and carbon content respectively. These parameters are put together to form a ratio. This study looked at the factors that affect the ratio. Much of what the data showed was that the ratio is variable depending on the environmental conditions, mostly those affecting biomass. Further studies could be done to tease out the differences in the effects of nutrients and toxins on biomass alone. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 1999-05 |
| McKone, Katie Lynn | Biology | Role of salinity in the disease resistance of eelgrass to the wasting disease pathogen Labyrinthula zosterae | The temperate seagrass eelgrass (Zostera marina) suffered severe worldwide population declines in the 1930s, including in the Chesapeake Bay. Since then, smaller more localized diebacks have been observed. Wasting disease, caused by species of the net-forming protist Labyrinthula, is suspected in many of these declines. In the 1930s and more recent diebacks, populations of eelgrass in low salinity areas have been observed to be less affected. The goal of my study is to understand the relationship between eelgrass wasting disease and salinity, and how presumptive defensive compounds (i.e. phenoic aicds) vary with infection and salinity. I hypothesized that as salinity decreases the degree of infection present on eelgrass leaves will also decrease. I also hypothesized that eelgrass will respond to infection by increasing levels of phenolic acids that play roles in pathogen resistance in many higher plants. These hypotheses were tested through mesocosm experiments in which eelgrass shoots were exposed to Labyrinthula under different salinity treatments. Our studies have shown that there is a positive relationship between salinity and infection area (p<0.01), and a positive relationship between infection area and the induction of phenolic acids (p<0.05). | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2006-05 |
| Buckner, Gregory Charles | Economics | Internet advertising in the Chesapeake Bay charter fishing industry | Charter fishing in the Chesapeake Bay is a pastime that many people from all across this country have enjoyed for years. It is an activity that more and more people every year are trying and coming back for more. Charter fishing in the Chesapeake Bay is a business that has seen rapid growth in the last ten years or so. There are many more charter trips ran today than there were 10 years ago in the Bay. Charter fishing has become a popular way for persons who enjoy fishing to offset their expenses by starting a business …. Like in any business, in order to attract new clients some sort of advertising is necessary. In the charter fishing industry various forms of advertising are used. They range from word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers, to phone book ads, to business card displays, to ads in local fishing publications, to Internet advertising. As my title implies, I will be looking at the use of Internet advertising in the Chesapeake Bay charter fishing industry. My objective for this project is to find out if selected independent variables justify the reasoning to invest in a website for an individual who owns and operates a charter fishing business. In addition, to support this justification with the increase or decrease found in new charters gained from web advertisement. [from paper] | Ye, Michael M. | 2002-05 |
| Pessagno, Keri Lee | Economics | Hedonic property valuation study of the St. Mary’s River watershed | The St. Mary’s River watershed is located in the southern part of St. Mary’s County along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, within a sub-watershed of the Potomac River. This research investigates the value that residents within the St. Mary’s River watershed place on environmental quality as proxied by water quality data from twenty-four monitors located throughout the watershed. A hedonic property value model is used to investigate the marginal implicit values of the following chemical and biological water quality variables: total suspended solids, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved oxygen saturation, secchi disk depth, aesthetic rating, Index of Biological Integrity and Fish Index of Biological Integrity. No other studies have taken into consideration the effects of ambient water quality within a watershed. The results for variables with significant coefficient estimates indicate the marginal implicit prices for the chemical variables, total suspended solids and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, are $874.94 and $18,780, respectively. The marginal implicit prices of the variables with significant coefficient estimates for qualitative measures of stream health and quality, as measured by biological abundance, are $1,515.84 and $25,224.93, respectively. | Poor, P. Joan | 2004-05 |
| Smith, Lauren Maureen | Biology | Study of Chesapeake Bay rehabilitation projects | This study looks at the Chesapeake Bay and the rehabilitation activities in and around the Bay’s watershed. After a brief history of the Bay and the human activities that have taken place around it, this study looks at the Bay’s water quality, habitats, and animal communities. Each one of these categories has its own set of projects that are focused on fixing the problems and protecting the natural resources in the Bay. One of the interesting problems with rehabilitation is knowing, to what level to rehabilitate to, this study focuses on a goal of sustainability not necessarily to a completely unaffected Bay. This study also goes into some of the different associations and groups that are essential for Bay rehabilitation. This is a project that has been going on for over 30 years and has countless numbers of supporting groups. Spreading out all the efforts is what makes and progress in rehabilitation possible. Overall this study shows that Bay rehabilitation has made progress but that in recent years progress has been slowed and in some ways reversed. All of the areas of rehabilitation have improved in one way or another except for one. That aspect is the impact of development on the Chesapeake Bay. | Paul, Robert W. | 2009-05 |
| Overman, Helen E. | Biology | Germination and growth rate of Zostera marina seedlings and adult plants when planted with Ruppia maritima | Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) play an important role in Chesapeake estuaries. They provide habitat and food, as well as prevent erosion, and buffer nutrients. Since 1930’s, the population of this important contributor has declined drastically. Many attempts to restore SAV have been conducted over the years with poor results. Zostera marina, an important SAV species to the Chesapeake ecosystem, has been observed to have a better survival rate when grown with R. maritima in comparison to bare sediment. In this study I evaluated the growth of Z. marina adults and seedlings when grown with and without R. maritima. Z. marina and R. maritima were planted in mesocosms with flow through estuarine water, where the height and number of leaves for the adult and seedling Z. marina was measured over a three month period. At end of this study the data did not support my hypothesis that the height and number of seedlings being lower for Z. marina planted with R. maritima than that of Z. marina planted in bare sediment. My redox found that the sediment for R. maritima had less dissolved oxygen in it than that of the bare sediments. This suggests that my hypothesis may not be entirely wrong because I predicted that Z. marina would grow better when planted with R. maritima because the redox of the R. maritima sediment should be higher than with bare sediment, but I found the complete opposite. I believe that if you fixed the variables that caused the oxygen to be less in the R. maritima sediment, like the amount of organic matter, than you should find results that support my hypothesis. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2008-05 |
| Ader, Kevin Raymond | Biology | Experimental identification and classification of mercury-methylating deltaproteobacteria in the Chesapeake Bay | This study attempts to identify and classify as specifically as possible the bacteria responsible for production of high levels of methyl mercury sampled from the water column of the Chesapeake Bay using cloning and DNA sequencing techniques. Using Chesapeake Bay water samples, we created a clone library consisting of 96 bacterial clones. Using these clones, we created plasmids using primers specific to Deltaproteobacteria and sequenced the DNA in order to identify and classify the bacteria. Deltaproteobacteria comprised 41 of the 85 clones identified. Of those 41 clones, 10 were Desulfobacterales or Desulfuromonadales which contain the dissimilatory sulfate- and iron-reducing bacteria responsible for methyl mercury production. Six clones were uncultured unidentified Deltaproteobacteria. Some primers were not completely effective in fully isolating Deltaproteobacteria. Unidentified Deltaproteobacteria need to be classified, as they may be vital to the understanding of the biotic microbial mercury methylation process. | Williams, William E. | 2009-05 |
| Zienda, Bartosz | Political Science | Regulatory policy and recreational boating in Maryland : diagnosing and treating the problems that recreational boaters create for the Chesapeake Bay | Increased environmental awareness, depleting natural resources, and the impact of a tremendous recession have pushed recreational boating into a corner, yet despite the popularity of other waterway issues on the policy making agenda, the recreational boating community establish a solid foundation for progressive attitudes and meaningful change in the Chesapeake Bay. The State of Maryland provides countless opportunities for non-commercial waterway activities, yet without a more concise study of the problems that boaters specifically cause and endure, it is difficult to evaluate new policy objectives for recreational boaters without intimately knowing their needs and desires. Using qualitative analysis, Maryland and its community of recreational boaters are investigated and assessed in local, state, and national contexts. Regulatory and voluntary policies, along with Federal agency involvement are identified as meaningful external influences on a group of consumers that is yet to be united, despite years of sharing the same waterways. A critical approach to governmental, recreational, and industrial aspects of recreational boating reveals that insufficient efforts have been made to regulate the activities of boaters, and even less has been done to hold individuals accountable for their actions beyond the confines of marinas and harbors. Ultimately, a comprehensive policy suggestion is made that challenges government organizations to cooperate within the means of the law and provide incentives for boaters to regulate the actions within their own community. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2009-05 |
| Rodkey, Christopher Neil | Political Science | Chesapeake Bay : restoration politics and policies | The Chesapeake Bay is dying. Blue crab populations, oyster harvests and aquatic grass data all indicate that bay dead zones are increasing largely due to nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment input from agriculture, sewage and the combination of deforestation and increased impervious surfaces. Despite nearly 30 years of politics and policy aimed at bay restoration across the six watershed states, the bay has yet to see significant improvements. Economic and political factors are working against the bay’s recovery. With avid public stewardship backing the bay, gains can be made to sustainably manage the Chesapeake’s resources. Civic activism can prompt a paradigm shift to streamline the restoration effort, pushing beyond rhetoric to earnestly save the bay. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2010-05 |
| Perry, Kathleen Hayes | English | Imperviousness and the Chesapeake Bay : an environmental and literary examination of urban sprawl | Imperviousness, which is defined as the sum of impermeable surfaces that make up the urban landscape, is an issue of environmental, political, and literary significance in Chesapeake Bay watershed. Impervious surfaces do not absorb precipitation and therefore contribute to runoff that pollutes the Chesapeake Bay. These surfaces also facilitate auto use, thereby contributing to auto-related pollution of the watershed. Increasing presence of imperviousness in the landscape is representative of patterns of urban sprawl and the dominance of auto use in American culture, both of which are affected by zoning laws. This project discusses zoning options that may reduce the amount of land that is converted into impervious surfaces during development. Attention is called to the fact that there is room for improvement in zoning practices, which can either prevent or encourage degradation of the Bay and its political and social environments, depending on methods used. Watershed based zoning, sustainable development, and the principals and recent work of LEED and the Congress for New Urbanism are discussed. The origin and affects of urban sprawl and imperviousness relate to American culture and literature, beginning with the pastoral ideal of the nineteenth century and leading up to the work of contemporary authors Wendell Berry and Tom Horton. Both authors address the issue of the heightened speed of travel associated with impervious surfaces and how that speed affects our ability to fully absorb our experiences in and appreciation of nature. | Poor, P. Joan | 2007-05 |
| Cambardella, Claire Anna | English | Waterview : home on the Chesapeake | The Chesapeake Bay region is a unique place with a culture built on traditional ways of life like fishing and farming, but this is rapidly changing. The population has drastically increased in the past fifteen years and traditional ways of making a living are being pushed out due to this growth. As a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, one of the last truly rural places in the Chesapeake region, I have felt these changes throughout my life. Growing up feeling a strong connection to my environment has led me to explore the substance and meaning behind my connection to the Chesapeake as well as others' connections to the Chesapeake. [The project] is a collection of creative nonfiction short story/essays. Each one is centered on a person from, or theme having to do with the Chesapeake Bay region. Some are autobiographical in nature and deal with the challenge of finding and being comfortable in a place to call home. Others simply deal with the idea of finding meaning in living in this region. | Hammond, Jeffrey A. | 2005-05 |
| Herman, Emily Rose | Art History | Feng shui in the USA : the appropriation of feng shui from China to America | Feng shui, the originally Chinese practice based on the premise the space a person lives and works in (both indoors and outdoors) effects wellbeing, now exists in America in varying degrees. Prior to feng shui becoming widespread in America, Upper middle-class Western Europeans and Americans appropriated Japanese and Chinese art and architecture for its visual appeal under the Aesthetic Movement, but they were also inspired by how Asian cultures apparently lived with more reverence for nature. Following the post WWII industrial boom of the 1950’s-1960’s the yearning for naturalism re-emerged, as did a deeper questioning of the conventions of western hegemony. This allowed for acceptance of not just Asian aesthetics, but Asian philosophies—feng shui being one of them. Many of my sources cite Lin Yun as the father of American feng shui, which is a mix of Chinese and Tibetan religious influences. Lin Yun fortified the practice further with a scientific and technological perspective. Americans primarily understand feng shui as an Asian art of placement which has implications for interior design. Currently, feng shui appeals to the upper-middle class intellectual elite. Feng shui corresponds not only to the values of this class, but design ideals already in place in America. Ray and Charles Eames and Frank Lloyd Wright are two examples of highly acclaimed designers/architectural firms whose ideals appeal to the same ethos that feng shui does. It is likely that reverence for nature and the natural order of space is what makes these architectural entities, and feng shui, appealing to Americans. | Lucchesi, Joseph E. | 2005-05 |
| Fafoutis, Matthew James | Public Policy; International Languages and Cultures (Chinese) | Mysterious land : an inquiry into Chinese environmental policy | Chinese environmental policy is deserving of great attention for a number of reasons. China’s economy has grown at over 8 percent for thirty years, a tenfold increase from the 1978. This has both been a blessing and a burden for China as it continues to develop. Much of the burden has been on China’s environment. Currently seventy percent of water in China is polluted and sixteen of the world’s twenties worst polluted cities are in China. China’s unique political structure makes Chinese environmental policy worthy of study. Because policy changes are enacted from the highest reaches of the Chinese government, establishing seemingly effective and comprehensive environmental policy is relatively straightforward. However, because the responsibility for enforcing this policy is at the local level, the efficacy of the policies in law can sometimes be severely compromised. The increased influence of actors on the policy making and implementing process has been an important change in recent years. The influences of NGOs and the media have arguably become the most significant change in the history of China’s environment. As these influences increase, NGOs and the media can hold the government to a higher standard for enforcing environmental policy. A comprehensive understanding of Chinese environmental policy is essential when one considers that China is a nation at the forefront of industrialization. China serves as a model for other developing nations, and it is therefore in the collective interest of the nations of the world to help China evaluate its current practices, and make changes in order to create a comprehensive and effective policy. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2009-05 |
| Tse, Jonathan Dennis | Biology | Anti-microbial effects of chitosan on the Escherichia coli K12 and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 under various conditions | Chitosan (poly-B-1,4-glucosamine) is a by-product of the deacetylation of chitin. Chitin exists all throughout nature, and is found primarily on the exoskeletons of marine crustaceans, such as crabs, shrimp, and lobster. Chitosan has been introduced in many different forms for uses such as a food preservative, weight loss supplement, as well as n anti-microbial agent. Some recent studies (Rhoades and Roller, 2000; Gardiner and Dudash, 2000) have shown that there are some anti-microbial properties to chitosan when tested against certain bacteria. In this research experiment, varying concentrations of chitosan were tested, along with varying pH and temperature conditions. Escherichia coli K12 and 0157:H7 were used to test the effectiveness of chitosan in these various conditions. The objective of this research is to determine the effectiveness of chitosan at killing Escherichia coli K12 and 0157:H7 and apply the data to see whether chitosan is a viable solution as a pasteurization process of commercial products such as apple juice. Data collected from the following experiments were promising thus far, with the experiments showing a definite decline in the CFU’s/ml of E. coli K12 and E. coli 0157:H7 growth in both nutrient broth and in apple juice with the addition of chitosan. The data shows that chitosan kills Escherichia coli K12 and 0157:H7 at concentration 1% and higher. Therefore, chitosan was shown in this research to kill E. coli 0157:H7 in apple juice. Chitosan is a viable alternative to traditional pasteurization processes commonly used today in the apple cider and apple juice industries. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2001-05 |
| Platt, Sarah E. | Anthropology | “Their Pipes are made of Clay, very neat, and of Reddish Colour”: Local Tobacco Pipes During the Atlantic Trade in the Senegambia | The following paper is an examination of regional trade in the Senegambia during the Atlantic era by way of locally made tobacco pipes. Following the incorporation of tobacco into West Africa a tobacco pipe production industry employing local clays formed. The local pipes were generally more popular than imported white clay pipes up until the mid-nineteenth century when they dwindle in the archaeological record. The local tobacco pipe, being a regionally produced object, can act as a barometer for local networks of trade. Examining collections from fourteen sites in the Niumi, Foni, and Central River Regions of The Gambia and the Falémé River region of Senegal the following study employs a combined methodology of artifact attribute analysis and X-Ray fluorescence element testing. It will be argued that the sites along the Gambia River and the Senegal sites represent two separate spheres of exchange, however within the spheres themselves it may be less of a physical exchange of commodities and rather an exchange of knowledge of production and conceptions of taste. | Gijanto, Liza | 2013-05 |
| Hession, Megan Elise | Biology | Water quality monitoring under the Clean Water Act : big solution or big problem? | This objective of this study was to gain insight into our current system of collecting and sharing water quality data and find places for improvement. Our current system for monitoring water quality in the United States was implemented 20 years ago. Could a twenty year old water monitoring system possibly be keeping current with science? I used data collected under section 303d of the Clean Water Act (CWA) to determine whether geology has an impact on water quality. Some cases showed signs of stratification along physiographic boundary lines, but most cases, especially those in the Rappahannock River, had too few data to determine anything conclusive. The glaring lack of data for the Rappahannock River gave insight into places for improvement in the monitoring system. Lack of data on STORET could be the result of a monitoring agency being in non compliance with the CWA, a lack of funding, or data sharing issues. All of these factors point to the problem of small monitoring agencies being coordinated by federal agencies. A possible solution for these problems would be to localize resources management using the watershed agencies. | Paul, Robert W. | 2009-05 |
| Insley, Shannon | Biology | Implications of the Clean Water Act: The reins of residential rains | Polluted storm water runoff is defined as a non-point pollution source making it a challenge to control. Growing human populations residing in suburban or urban developments along with climate change further complicate the problem by increasing impervious surface cover and alternating precipitation patterns. Since the beginning of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1948, several government attempts to mitigate storm water have been done. This paper explores implications of the control measures proposed by the CWA and state design protocols geared to residential storm water discharge. Design protocols for Best Management Practices (BMP) provided by the Low Impact Development (LID) center composed by the EPA was investigated to inquire the most appropriate use for residential neighborhoods. Three principals were explored regarding the best design techniques. The three principals were integrated design, hybrid design, and micro managed designs. A meta-analysis was then conducted to test the three principals using the Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load (STEPL), a computer modeling system that qualifies nutrient loads for individual and combined BMPs. Results showed integrated and different BMPs used on a small scale in residential neighborhoods filtrated higher amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, BOD, and sediments. Implementation coupled with the results from STEPL was then explored using six common main objects. With this, it is believed additional economically, and politically factors such as economic incentives and community outreach programs for implantation of a storm water control programs should be done for the best results. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2014-05 |
| Knoll, Sarah Therese | Biology | Chemical response of the seagrass Zostera marina to salinity stress | Zostera marina plants collected in the field were grown for one week at different salinities under controlled conditions. After this period, the plants were harvested and the leaves and rhizomes were analyzed for phenols and proteins which decreased in response to increasing seawater concentration. The Folin-Cioclateu method was used to estimate the total phenolic content of the tissues. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for separation and identification of two specific phenolic compounds caffeic and rosmarinic acid found in high concentrations of plants grown at 40psu. Finally, a Bio-Rad microassay for solubilized proteins was used to test the Protein Competition Model (PCM) which proposes protein and phenolic synthesis compete for the limiting resource phenylalanine. The varying concentration of phenolic acids among salinities was not previously found in a seagrass suggesting that phenolic acids may play a role in the adjustment of Z. marina to more or less saline environments. The highest concentrations of phenolics and protein were most often found in the young primary leaves and the rhizomes. High concentrations of both protein and phenolics at the lower salinities do not support the PCM and the observed increase of rosmarinic and caffeic acid at the higher salinities is inconsistent with the Folin-Cioclateu results from this experiment. However, these results indicate that during salinity stress significant chemical changes occur within Z. marina. The possible role of these chemicals in osmotic adaptation of Z. marina is discussed. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2005-05 |
| Hermans, Brett Stephen Perou | Biology | Effects of direct light and diffuse light on growth of eelgrass (Zostera marina) | Global climate change scenarios predict increasing cloud cover and an increasing proportion of diffuse light. Previous studies have shown increased productivity in canopies of terrestrial plants under diffuse light conditions. A laboratory study was carried out to determine the effects of degree of light collimation on blade elongation in a temperate seagrass, Zostera marina (eelgrass). Plants were given equal irradiances of direct (collimated) or diffuse (scattered) light. Blade elongation was significantly longer under the diffuse treatment possibly because of self-shading or shading by neighboring plants. Future studies could test the relationship between blade elongation, degree of collimation and seagrass bed density. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2009-05 |
| McDonough, Megan Lin | Biology | Evaluation of the threat of West Nile virus in a changing environment | West Nile virus (WNV) has been increasing in its incidence and range since its introduction to the United States in 1999. Since then, the disease has spread throughout the United States, with outbreaks annually. The virus is transmitted mainly from urban-dwelling mosquitoes to birds, with humans and other animals as incidental hosts. Several factors may create an increasingly ambient environment for mosquitoes, and thus the spread of WNV. These include population growth, increased precipitation or droughts, and warming climates. Increasing public health information on WNV and the importance of limiting contact with mosquitoes are essential in preventing a WNV epidemic. Global climate change will most likely create a very hospitable climate for both mosquitoes and WNV, but with a comprehensive public health program and infrastructure, an epidemic may be avoided. | Williams, William E. | 2009-05 |
| Samuels, Kelly | Biology | Global Climate Change: The Future of Chesapeake Bay SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) | Although global climate change will enhance the growth of most vegetation, some Chesapeake Bay submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) may indirectly suffer from elevated CO2. Seven common SAV species of the Bay were investigated to discover how each will respond to the effects of global climate change. Factors considered were: temperature rise, sea level rise, and ocean acidification; these will result in limited light reaching SAV due to enhanced epiphyte growth, shading by canopy-forming species, and increased water depth. SAV will also face shifts in tidal magnitude, current velocity, and saltwater intrusion into the Bay. Species that will efficiently combat these changes are those that concentrate photosynthetic tissue near the water’s surface and live in deeper water such as, Hydrilla verticillata and Myriophyllum spicatum. The amalgamation of these factors will favor deep canopy-forming species, while the shallow, meadow-forming species will be displaced and face extinction. Overall, there will be large shifts in SAV composition, abundance, and distribution throughout the Chesapeake Bay. | Paul, Robert W. | 2014-05 |
| Smith, Katherine Leland | Economics | Effectiveness, efficiency, equity : an analysis of the international market for carbon reduction credits | Confronted with overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is real and has a discernible human cause, the international community is aggressively moving to stave off the potentially destructive impacts of climate change by reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide. Since the industrial revolution, emissions of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels for energy, industry and transportation, and from land use change and deforestation, have risen dramatically. If the international community is to be successful in preventing catastrophic climate change, it must reduce carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol, the prevailing international treaty on climate change, sets binding emissions limits for participating industrialized countries and allows for international trading in certified carbon emissions reduction credits. The Kyoto Protocol, coupled with the increased focus of most countries on reducing carbon emissions, has given birth to a new global carbon emissions reduction credit market. This market consists of the European Emissions Trading Scheme, the UK trading scheme, the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), and the New South Wales (NSW) greenhouse gas abatement scheme. This SMP investigates the new international carbon emissions credit market and assesses it from a global perspective in terms of its’ overall effectiveness, efficiency, flexibility and equity. The international market will be effective if it succeeds in achieving its overall objective of lowering global carbon emissions. To get there, the short term goal is to have the market enable countries and firms to begin to reduce carbon emissions. The long term goal is to have the market provide incentives to countries and firms for further innovation and reduction in order to achieve substantial reductions in global CO2 emissions. The market will be efficient if it achieves these objectives at the lowest possible cost. The international market needs to be flexible in order to adapt to changes that may occur such as changes in markets, technology, knowledge, inflation and social, political and economic conditions. The market will be equitable if it distributes the costs of reducing carbon emissions across countries in a way that the international community deems fair and acceptable. [from introduction] | Sheeran, Kristen A. | 2006-05 |
| Latham, Sophie Alexandra | History | Thawing ponds and dying tobacco : land and climate change in Baden, Maryland | Baden, Maryland is your typical quaint rural town, a fact of which its residents are fiercely proud. Up until the tobacco buyout ten years ago, the town was centered around the planting, growing, and harvesting of Maryland’s historical cash crop, tobacco. Two of the town’s most prominent residents, Philip Watson and Elaine Baden, were born and raised within half a mile of the homes in which they now live well into their seventies. Growing up on farms and continuing to farm to this day, both Phil and Elaine have seen firsthand how the landscape of Baden has changed over the better part of the last century. By exploring their individual experiences in the context of the environmental histories of the Chesapeake Bay area and current global warming theories, this paper argues for the importance of the individual experience in the global issue that is climate change. The social aspect of ecology is often overlooked in favor of sweeping global generalizations, a practice which alienates those people who do not connect with a generality and need to connect with the issue of climate change on a personal level before committing to making positive, sustainable changes. This paper seeks to put a face on climate change, and in doing so, to show the vital role social issues, including economics, plays in the study of ecology, the environmental movement, and getting people to care enough about their environment to sustain and improve it. | Cohen, Kenneth | 2009-05 |
| Brown, Payton | Biology | Effects of Eelgrass and Salinity on Biocalcification of Eastern Oyster | Effects of anthropogenic climate change will likely affect the distribution and success of species within the century. Ocean acidification threatens biocalcifying organisms, especially those that use calcium carbonate like the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Factors such as change in precipitation regimes, and sea level rise may change the salinity exposure to eastern oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay. I investigated whether eelgrass (Zostera marina) promotes oyster biocalcification at oyster salinity tolerance limits. I compared conditions for calcification (pH, total alkalinity, calcite and aragonite saturations) between eight microcosm treatments: high salinity (35) control, low salinity (10) control, eelgrass in high salinity, eelgrass in low salinity, oysters in high salinity, oysters in low salinity, oysters+eelgrass in high salinity and oysters+eelgrass in low salinity. Conditions for biocalcification were generally improved with the addition of eelgrass in the absence of oysters, and were more favorable in higher salinity. A higher density of eelgrass would likely increase the benefits of eelgrass photosynthesis on oyster biocalcification. This may have implications for the future of oyster and SAV restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. Further research should be conducted to determine the relationship between SAV and biocalcifiers at projected levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2014-05 |
| Zemke, Tammy J. | Biology | Growth of Helianthus annus in direct vs. diffuse light | Plants on Earth receive both direct and diffuse light. As the amount of pollutants within our atmosphere increases, the proportion of diffuse light also increases. It is obviously important for plants to be able to utilize the type of light they grow in. This study examined the growth of sunflowers (Helianthus annus) under direct and diffuse light treatments in a growth chamber. Total leaf area and plant dry weight did not differ between treatments, but there were some differences in growth allocation that might be important. Light levels were difficult to control precisely, so it is conceivable that total light levels were not exactly equivalent for the two treatments. | Williams, William E. | 2008-05 |
| Walker, Jennifer | Biology | Photosynthetic Response to Elevated Bicarbonate Levels by Four Species of Low-Salinity Submerged Aquatic Vegetation | Carbon dioxide dissolves into aquatic systems from the atmosphere to become different forms of dissolved inorganic carbon, including carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and carbonate. Aquatic ecosystems will become more acidic as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations rise because hydrogen ions are released during the dissociation of carbonic acid and bicarbonate. Decreasing pH results in a shift to higher proportions of bicarbonate and carbon dioxide. Some aquatic primary producers, such as algae and some seagrasses, benefit from increased levels of bicarbonate because they can convert it into carbon dioxide for use in photosynthesis; however, less is known about the ability of low-salinity submerged aquatic vegetation to use bicarbonate. I examined the photosynthetic rate of four common low-salinity species of the Chesapeake Bay at nine different concentrations of bicarbonate ranging from 0.4 to 2.0 mM in the absence of carbon dioxide to determine the ability of each species to use bicarbonate. Coontail, Eurasian Watermilfoil, and Stargrass had significant positive linear trends in response to elevated bicarbonate, but photosynthesis Wild Celery was unaffected. As a result, Coontail, Eurasian Watermilfoil and Stargrass may have a competitive advantage because they can use the dominant form of dissolved inorganic carbon, bicarbonate, for photosynthesis in addition to using carbon dioxide. Altered DIC and pH levels may affect the future range of invasive species, including Eurasian Watermilfoil. Considerations for SAV restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay should include which plants will do best in future conditions as pH and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations continue to change – plants like Coontail and Stargrass may be better alternatives to the plants being used at present. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2013-12 |
| Henriquez, Ibonne Koeller | International Languages and Cultures (Spanish) | Aroma de cacao con sabor rebelde : antesala de la independencia de Guayaquil de 1820 : historical fictional novel | The story focuses on the desires of independence from Spain of the wealthy cocoa bean growers of Guayaquil, a small port that was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru in South America. As their dissatisfaction intensifies because the Viceroy of Peru has restricted the landowners to export their produce to only very few places, and because they have to pay elevated taxes for its sale, the farmers in Guayaquil come to the conclusion that it is time to separate from Spain in order to obtain commercial freedom. After many years of denied pleas by the Viceroy of Peru for fairer commercial polices that would benefit both sides, the farmers began to secretly conspire against Spanish abuse of power. With the support of Generals Simon Bolívar and San Martin, two heroes of the independence of South America, the cocoa bean farmers of Guayaquil understand that the time to fight for independence has come and decide to join the cause spearheaded by Simon Bolivar. The setting is South America in 1820 at a time when the desire for independence from Spain were strong all over the Spanish colonies in America. At the end of the story, Guayaquil declares its independence on October 9 of 1820, obtaining economic freedom for exporting the coca bean production. | Rogachevsky, Jorge R. | 2009-05 |
| Heigl, Barbara Ann | Computer Science | Virtual St. Mary’s College audio processing | This St. Mary’s Project (SMP) was done in conjunction with a team of students lead by Kevin Smith. Kevin’s 2002 SMP involved the construction of a virtual St. Mary’s College (SMC) campus using computer flight simulation software. The college recognized the potential for future improvements to Kevin’s work. A team of students was formed to implement additional functionality. My area of responsibility was to implement computer sound into the simulation. The sound was intended to make the virtual flight through St. Mary’s College more realistic by playing sounds recorded on campus. [from introduction] | Sterling, Ivan | 2003-05 |
| Mercado, Stephania | Art | Recycling at St. Mary’s. “Save the Environment, Help the Economy. Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle” | Aside from an education, hard work, and talent the most important thing for mental growth is experience. With the help of my family and my Bolivian and Portuguese background I have been blessed with the opportunity to not only learn and live abroad but also to study my true passions at one of the best colleges in Maryland. My experiences abroad, my family background, all combined with an American education have enhanced my persona and lead me to believe enough in myself to chose art as a career. From my infatuation with the Tiahuanaco ruins in Bolivia to my love for protecting the environment I have traveled a long way this year regarding my artistic concepts. My studies in the Art major have lead me to create an environmentally friendly piece for my St. Mary’s Project. While researching on both the artistic and social aspects of economic and environmental sustainability I was able to create an interactive trading center, similar to a store, encompassing everyday functional items made out of found and recyclable materials. | Friebele, William E. | 2014-05 |
| Swaim, Heidi Lee | Biology | Comparison of extraction yield of bovine DNA from animal feed using commercially available test-kits : preventing the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy | This experiment compares the amount of DNA extracted from dairy feed enriched with 0.1% Bovine Meat and Bone meal using ten different commercially available DNA extraction kits – Invisorb Forensic Kit, Invitrogen ChargeSwitch for Feed Kit, Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit, Qiagen Blood Mini Kit, Qiagen Stool Mini Kit, Roche High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit, Promega Wizard Plus Midipreps DNA Purification System and the Nucleon HT Genomic DNA Extraction Kit. The kits used in this experiment were previously validated with pure meat and bone meal. The DNA extracted from each kit was then analyzed using Real-time PCR with Bovine Primers. DNA concentration was measured and compared between the different kits. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2009-05 |
| French, Aaron | Religious Studies | St. Mary's County community garden project : an experiment in faith-based community agriculture | The following is a collection of documents, both written by myself and created by other sources (including church members and members of the media) regarding the organizing and formation of the St. Mary’s County Community Garden Project. This portfolio is comprised of three large written documents, the first of which explains the history and current resurgence in popularity of community gardens, and in particular, faith-based community gardens in the United States. The second written work seeks to capture the work that was done from August to late December to help this project come to fruition, and covers mostly the networking and outreach that was done during these months. The third paper is similar to the second, but covers the activities from January up to late April, including mostly the formation of a coordinating council and the in-the-garden work that was done. Also included is a Memorandum of Understanding that was drafted to help the involved parties find common ground on how to work together. Also included are several documents used in the outreach stage of this project, as well as photos and a map of our garden plot. It is my hope that these documents (in particular the two process papers) will highlight and help elucidate how a community garden is started and maintained for all those interested in taking up this extremely valuable work for themselves and their community! | Von Kellenbach, Katharina | 2011-05 |
| Farley, Kristen Quinn | Biology | Conserving endangered fauna and their habitats : a comparative study of four national parks in Australia and the United States | Almost every existing country has some sort of park system to preserve and conserve natural, historical, and cultural aspects of a designated area. In this study, the management of two parks in Australia was examined and compared to that of two parks in the United States. Assateague Island National Seashore in the U.S. was compared to Green Island National Park in Australia, and Big Bend National Park in the U.S. was compared to Moorrinya National Park in Australia. Each pair of parks was chosen on the basis of ecological similarity. This paper examines the history, ecology, fauna, and management of each of the four parks. Each park has a series of unique but in many cases similar management issues, including management of endangered species. The management of these species is examined in-depth. Overall, Australia has been more successful at resisting development and managing tourism. Australia and the U.S. have different park systems which are appropriate for their specific circumstances. I suggest that parks provide extensive park-specific training for all staff and officials. Management should continue to be cooperative and collaborative in nature at the local, federal, and even international level. | Price, J. Jordan | 2005-05 |
| Timmins, Sara Marie | Economics | Feasibility study : composting Great Room organic wastes | The purpose of this report is to present a full assessment of the available options for composting food waste produced in the Great Room at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. This will include several examples of other composting programs in operation, an assessment of where St. Mary’s currently stands regarding food waste and composting, descriptions of various options available to the college, and an assessment of the full costs and benefits associated with each option. This will provide the administration at St. Mary’s College with the knowledge and resources needed to make an informed decision regarding whether, and how, to expand the College’s composting efforts. | Dillingham, Alan E. | 2011-05 |
| Blaik, Sarah Michelle | Environmental Studies | Proposal for full composting of Great Room food waste | This research project is a feasibility study of the logistics required in order to implement a program for composting Great Room food waste at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The project was intended to be a Joint-SMP; however it culminated in the production of two separate papers, the other being “Feasibility Study: Composting Great Room Biodegradable Wastes" by Sara Timmins. It includes background on what composting is, the biological factors needing to be monitored for successful composting, and the benefits of composting. It details the information learned from visits to the University of Maryland College Park and Dickinson College in regard to the processes of composting and the idea of each of these composting programs being integrated into an ‘integrated system.’ It further explains the current composting situation on campus in regard to recent changes in Bon Appetit Management and our relations with Sustainability office members. | Ingersoll, Daniel W. | 2011-05 |
| Bates, Justin Hayes | Biology | Canis conflict | Throughout the history of human civilization there has been fierce competition between humans and nature. At the heart of the conflict lies human land use and the habitat requirements of large organisms, both plant and animal. Society has become a spider’s web of sciences, ethics, religious beliefs, and lifestyles in which the natural environment tends to take a back seat to human advancement. With the expansion of civilization, humans have taken on a god like role of determining which species will survive. This seems to be especially true for large predators and humans in highly developed or rapidly developing countries. In the United States, the plight of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) is a perfect example of an important keystone predator fighting for survival against land use agendas set by both government and private establishments. [from introduction] | Paul, Robert W. | 2006-05 |
| Arguello, Alexander Clayton | Biology | Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the rudis species complex of the ant genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) | Despite our increasing knowledge of ant taxonomy, much work remains to be done to understand evolutionary relationships in this ecologically important group of organisms. While most ant phylogenetic studies have concentrated on relationships above the species-level, my study investigates species-level relationships within Aphaenogaster rudis, a common myrmicine ant. Previous molecular analyses of A. rudis have uncovered genetic differences between various populations based on karyotype analysis, despite the morphological similarity within and between A. rudis and other species. Due to this result, A. rudis is now thought of as being a complex of sibling species. Using mitochondrial DNA sequence data of genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (cyt b), I propose a preliminary molecular phylogeny for A. rudis populations in New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland. My results further support the hypothesis that the A. rudis complex is composed of genetically dissimilar sibling species. These results will hopefully provide direction for ant taxonomy as well as for future conservation efforts. | Price, J. Jordan | 2008-05 |
| Custead, Michelle | Biology | Study of hemogregarines and trypansomes in Australian freshwater turtles | Hemogregarines and trypansomes were found in newly caught Australian freshwater turtles at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Through the use of thin blood smears, the prevalence and incidence of infection was found. Using morphological characteristics, attempts were made at characterizing the species of the parasites. Due to similarities between different life forms the species of hemogregarine found within these turtles could not be assessed. All 251 turtles at the aquarium had leeches associated with their epidermis. Out of these turtles 16.7% (42/251) of the turtles were infected with hemoparasites. Out of those turtles which originally showed infection and were re-bled, 25.0% (7/28) were infected with trypanosomes while 57.1% (16/28) of the turtles were infected with hemogregarians. Incidence of infection seemed to be related to species but not to sex or weight. Furthermore the time of year that blood was drawn did not correlate with a change in incidence. All the trypanosomes were found within the species Chelodina rogusa and Emydura victoriea. This species of hemogregarine belongs to the genus Hepatozoon. These data help to illustrate the need for a consensus within the hemogregarines. Morphological characteristics are not adequate for describing the parasite. There is no consensus on the diagnostic characteristics at the genus as well at the species level. More advance microscopes or molecular techniques such as the use of genetic or antibody labeling would be more useful. With wide-spread use of these new techniques, the usefulness of those previous diagnostic characteristics will be elucidated, making characterization easier. Due to these parasites ability to affect multiple trophic levels, understanding their role both within their hosts as well as on an ecological level has broad implications for conservation biology and veterinary medicine. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2006-05 |
| Poirier, Pauline Martine | Anthropology/Sociology | Conservation of biodiversity and improvement of living standards : the case of Costa Rica | Conservation has been an increasingly popular topic of discussion for the past decade. A part of the discussion concerns whether developing countries tend to overuse their natural resources to improve their quality of life. Costa Rica has been identified as a leader for balancing these two issues. Looking at its history, population, economy, and its course of action regarding its environment, I set out to analyze the factors that could help explain Costa Rica’s position as a leader in conservation and improving the standards of living. One of the main reasons behind this success is its ability to maintain peaceful relations within the country. Costa Rica’s government has allocated more money in areas such as education rather than in its military forces. More than a quarter of Costa Rica’s land is protected, and in some areas such as education, Costa Rica is doing better than the high developing countries. Also, Costa Rica has found in ecotourism, a way to improve their agriculture-based economy. Costa Rica has used ecotourism in a profitable way for both areas, improvements of living standards and conservation. Although Costa Rica’s efforts have been successful in the short-term, there is concern that the conservation of biodiversity might become less successful over the long run due to the increase in large foreign-owned tourist facilities. | Roberts, William C. | 2000-05 |
| Krause, Elizabeth Anne | Biology | Galapagos Islands : conservation first, ecotourism second | The Galapagos Islands, famous for their contribution to Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection, are visited every year by 60,000 ecotourists who come to learn about the flora, fauna and legends surrounding the islands. Ecotourism is seen by some as a panacea for conservation/development discrepancies and by others, it is seen as the problem. However, ecotourism has been successful in the Galapagos due to the implementation of the Charles Darwin Foundation, established to promote conservation in the islands. Acting out conservation first and ecotourism second is the secret to their success. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2003-05 |
| Freilicher, Mollie | History | Wading toward conservation : wetland nature parks in Croatia | This is a comparative study of three Croatian wetlands and their historical development toward achieving conservation status as Nature Parks. I examine the Neretva Delta, Kopacki Rit, and Lonjsko Polje, three of Croatia’s most well known wetlands and important areas for migratory birds and other wildlife. The three wetlands have shared similar historical experiences and undergone similar measures, such as the modification and transformation of parts of these areas to agriculture and other industries. Each of these wetlands is located in different regions of Croatia varying the experience of each. However, out of the shared past of empires and communism, all have moved on the path toward conservation and face similar obstacles in maintaining the quality of conservation, including developing positive attitudes of residents toward wetlands, creating a local economy that can sustain conservation, such as tourism, and general challenges of development. This project is based on primary research conducted in Croatia in the fall of 2002. | Barrett, Thomas M. | 2003-12 |
| Hartman, Rosemary Kay | Biology | Untapped resources : an evaluation of several invasive plant species for introduction into the American diet | The American diet lacks fresh produce both in quantity and variety. In many other cultures, wild plants make up an important part of total fresh produce, but these are in developing nations where sustainable collection of wild plants is relatively easy. This paper looks at the nutritional value of several invasive edible wild plants as a possible food source in America. Eating invasive species would also serve to control the population of these exotic species. I tested eight invasive exotics for total lipids, sugars, starch, protein, and calories and then compared them to five cultivated analogs. Most species had macronutrient profiles very similar to their cultivated analogs. The largest differences were usually in amount of sugar and starches, which may indicate that the wild species should not be used in the same way that the cultivated species are used. I also conducted a workshop on wild edible plant identification and surveyed the participants on whether they would continue to use wild edible plants. The survey results indicated there is interest in greater use of wild plants amongst St. Mary’s College students, however educating enough people on edible plant ID to make it a biological control device for invasive species will be difficult. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2008-05 |
| Zitnick, Kimberly Korthauer | Biology | Structural and biological shoreline erosion control : all natural? | Erosion, like other natural phenomena, is common and as wide spread as thunderstorms. As long as there has been land, there has been erosion. From farmlands in the Midwest to the shorelines of the Atlantic seaboard, erosion constantly reshapes the land. Shorelines are constantly moving as wind and waves shape, and reshape our beaches by wearing away sand and soil. Even on still days, ebbing and flooding tides have been called the wave of the tide (Pilkey and Kaufman, 1970). Maps identifying the shorelines and beaches that we see today are not the same that our ancestors saw when they first approached our shorelines centuries ago. Going from map to map, islands change shape, inlets appear and disappear, shoals shrink or grow, and capes of land stretch farther and farther out to sea (Pilkey and Kaufman, 1970) …. The purpose of this paper is to examine the different methods that are currently being used to control the rate of shoreline erosion, and to demonstrate that biological methods are more effective than structural methods in preventing shoreline erosion. [from introduction] | Paul, Robert W. | 2006-05 |
| Kafami, Brooke Kathryn | Biology | Effects of Arabian light crude oil and Arabian light crude oil dispersed with Corexit EC9500A | Coral reefs are diverse ecosystems that are sensitive to pollution. Dispersants are commonly used to cleanup oil spills. In my experiment I tested the effects of different concentrations of Arabian light crude oil and Arabian light crude oil dispersed with Corexit EC9500A on the soft coral Xenia elongata; this soft coral is an excellent model for measuring stress because it pulsates. I measured percent bleaching, pulse rate, and percent dissolved oxygen for both experiments at 0ppm, 1000ppm, and 2000ppm. Data did not support my hypotheses that all parameters would increase as concentration of both oil and dispersed oil sea water media increased; I also hypothesized that dispersed oil would have more exacerbated effects than the oil alone. Data supported the null hypothesis, no effect, for percent bleaching and percent dissolved oxygen for both oil and dispersed oil experiments. Data supported the null hypothesis for pulse rate in oil, but showed decreased pulse rate with increased concentration of dispersed oil. Only percent dissolved oxygen was significantly different between oil and dispersed oil. Some of the data is consistent with the literature, whereas some is not; it is possible that limited sample size and unhealthy corals may have influenced the data. Future studies could look into why stressed corals did not bleach when exposed to additional stress. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2012-05 |
| Baker, David Michael | Biology | Comparison of photosynthetic efficiency relative to irradiance in the hexacoral Porites porites acclimated to temperature stress | The increased frequency of bleaching on tropical coral reefs is a topic of concern. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet. As global temperatures rise, so do the seasonal thermal maxima on coral reefs. Since most hermatypic corals live within degrees of their upper thermal tolerance, it is vital to understand the physiology of coral species with respect to high temperatures. One such species Porites porites may be capable of acclimation to high temperatures (Brown, 1997). The purpose of this experiment was to test whether corals cultured in to high temperatures (29ºC and 31ºC) for 50 days would be capable of acclimation. In addition, corals not acclimated to high temperatures were exposed to these temperatures briefly to analyze shock effects. Measurements of photosynthetic O2 evolution were made to determine photosynthetic efficiency and dark respiration of the clones. Photosynthetic efficiencies and dark respiration rates were expressed on a total chlorophyll basis. There was no significant difference in photosynthetic efficiency or dark respiration among groups of corals acclimated to high temperatures. There was no significant difference among shocked and acclimated groups for photosynthetic efficiency; however, there was a difference in mean dark respiration rate between the 31ºC shock and 31ºC acclimated groups (t- test, one-tailed, p<0.05). | Gorton, Holly L. | 2001-05 |
| Carrier, Laura Brooke | Biology | Management of Maryland’s hard blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) commercial fishery : an investigation into the interactions between science and law | The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, of Chesapeake Bay is both an ecologically and economically important species. Its intricate life cycle knows no state boundaries and therefore complicates management plans. The Chesapeake Bay’s intensive commercial fishery is the leading region for blue crab production on the Atlantic coast. However, there has been a steady decline in the blue crab population and harvests over the last decade. This vital species and industry is in danger of collapse. Watermen, scientists, political representatives, and the general public are all concerned, yet they widely differ in their opinions on the reasons for this decline and the possible solutions. Recent management efforts to control the exploitation rate and increase the spawning stock have met stern contention, and even resulted in the filing of a lawsuit. The watermen and seafood processors filed a complaint that the Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s 2001 regulations were arbitrary, unreasonable, and improperly implemented. Although this case was dismissed, it demonstrates the relationship between science (biology of the blue crab) and law (in the form of regulations and management strategies). In this paper, I examine this relationship between science and law and offer suggestions for future blue crab management strategies. | Orlando, Edward F. | 2002-05 |
| Bruestle, Eric Lee | Biology | Calcium content of the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) carapace following experimental 17a-ethinylestradiol exposure | Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been released into the environment for the past 70 years but are getting the scientific concern they deserve in recent decades. These compounds interfere with hormonal mechanisms in organisms and can cause reproductive and physiological dysfunction. There are several different mechanisms of action through which these compounds alter endocrine systems. Declines in bird populations as well as hermaphroditism in fish and marine snails have been attributed to endocrine disruption by chemicals. Invertebrates are an important component of many food webs but their responses to endocrine disruptors is not as well understood as vertebrate responses. This is a notable gap in the literature due to invertebrate’s great diversity and abundance in aquatic ecosystems. This study examines the effects of the endocrine disrupting synthetic hormone 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2) on the calcium content of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) shells. Three groups of crayfish in a 10% Holtfreter’s solution were kept in glass jars. One group was exposed to an EE2 concentration of 1 ng/L, the next a concentration of 1 ug/L and the third group was the control. The data show that the control group had significantly more calcium in their shells than the two experimental groups. These findings are corroborated in the literature. In order to effectively protect our waterways from endocrine disruptors we need to develop better research methods and tests to fully comprehend EDs effect on the natural environment. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2009-05 |
| Norris, Jennifer Lynne | Computer Science | Creating a virtual St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Historic St. Mary’s City circa 1685 | The idea for this St. Mary’s Project is a continuation of a previous project started by Kevin Smith. In the Fall of 2002 a team of students were put together as a St. Mary’s Project team to expand and continue with the idea of a Virtual St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The initial idea for the project stemmed from the development of flight simulators for the Navy at the Naval Air Systems Command, in Patuxent River, Maryland. The database is different from those used in simulators in that it has a much more local focus and does not cover such a large area. However, this allows us to densely populate the database with a number of cultural features. In other words, more buildings, trees, fences, boats, etc.… When first beginning work on the Virtual St. Mary’s Campus and project team, there was a huge learning curve. This meant spending time watching and learning as more work was done to complete the Virtual Campus, and also taking on tasks to learn the software and exactly how to create a model. After creating a few sample buildings and some training sessions with Kevin Smith, the floor plans of the Campus Center were retrieved and the building was modeled. Expansion of the project has included creating a Virtual Historic St. Mary’s City circa 1685 and creating a video for the admissions office using the Virtual Campus. Also, since this project will be continued by other students much time was also spent helping them to understand the project, learn the software, and eventually take on tasks of their own. [from Introduction] | Sterling, Ivan | 2003-05 |
| Klump, Leah Jayne | International Languages and Cultures (Chinese) | Soy ArgenChina | This thesis is a case study of the cultural, social, and economic impacts of the soy trade on the agriculturally-based Latin American nation of Argentina, and growing world superpower, China. It analyzes the development of the trade relationship, based on mutual gain and an absence of political involvement, between two countries with very different histories and cultures. China, the original cultivator of soy in the world, must now import millions of metric tons of soybeans, soy meal, and soy oil from Argentina each year; and Argentina, therefore, must produce more and more soy each year, which cuts into its production of its main dietary products- beef and wheat. It explains why this happened and the role that soy plays in the foundation and future of each individual culture. Additionally, it explores the role that multinational companies, particularly Monsanto and its Roundup Ready Soy, and globalization have to play in both the development and effects of this trade relationship. Ultimately this study reveals the negative side of a free market economy, through Argentina’s disadvantages in its trade relationship with China, and how it factors into the diminishment of unique cultural values in the world as a whole. | Fu, Jingqi | 2012-05 |
| Weiss, Marlena J. | Political Science | Transition : southern Maryland and the tobacco buyout | Transition is a 13 minute film that covers the implementation of the Maryland Tobacco Buyout and revisits the landscape of Southern Maryland agriculture ten years after the Buyout was initiated. Tobacco was the “cash crop” of Maryland for the majority of its history. When the tobacco companies were sued for violating consumer protection laws, Maryland was faced with the loss of its entire agricultural community. In an effort to preserve those farmlands, the Maryland State Legislature enacted the buyout, which would pay farmers to not grow tobacco. Transition features interviews with legislators, farmers, and other individuals from Southern Maryland who were heavily involved in the process. The film documents the history of tobacco in Maryland, the process leading up to the buyout and the current agricultural situation in Southern Maryland. Particularly highlighted is the risk of farmlands being converted into developments now that the ten year time period is up. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2011-05 |
| Lowry, Ashley Elizabeth | Biology | Plight of the eastern oyster : is a non-native the answer? | With the decline in the native eastern oyster, the Chesapeake Bay is losing a commercially and ecologically important species. With restoration efforts failing to re-establish the oyster into the Bay many residents are demanding action, especially those people that rely on the oyster for their livelihood. In this paper I will analyze the literature available on the controversy surrounding the possible introduction of the non-native oyster in the Chesapeake Bay. To do this I will discuss the biology of C. virginica, the factors leading to its decline, as well as its ecological importance. Furthermore, I will investigate the biology of the suminoe oyster, recent scientific investigations, and provide an ecological risk assessment associated with the possible introduction of the non-native oyster into the Chesapeake Bay. In the end, aided with the above knowledge I will conclude whether or not the non-native oyster is an acceptable answer to the plight of the eastern oyster. [from introduction] | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2004-05 |
| John, Meghan Lucille | English | Vanishing traditions : the decline of the oyster shucking industry | In selecting the photographs to include in my photo essay on the oyster shucking industry, I was faced with many options. After working on the assignment for nearly eight months I had over seven hundred negatives from which I need to select nine for publication. These shots ranged from documentary style photographs of boats builders to formal studies of antique oyster shucking tools. I knew that I wanted the displayed photographs to share a common aesthetical sense, and over the course of several months, arrived at a concrete idea of what I wanted this style to be. Entering the field knowing little about the business, I felt pressed to capture the overall scene, to depict everything I saw so as to not miss anything that may have ended up being of importance. Each time I returned to the shuck houses, the Calvert Marine Museum, or to the homes of the watermen, I found myself focusing in more and more on individual objects, and even single aspects of those objects. I became fascinated with the reflection of light off the stainless steel oyster-rinsing equipment, the range of lights and darks in the shucking rooms, the qualities of these tones. [from introduction] | Hammer, Andrea G. | 2002-05 |
| Hay, Kristin Michelle | Biology | Labyrinthula: Seagrass Decomposer, Pathogen, or Both? | Seagrasses are known to serve fill many important ecological roles in the coastal marine environment, including acting as a habitat and food source, and stabilizing the sediments. Many large scale declines of seagrasses have been attributed to Labyrinthula spp, a net forming protist that restricts the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. This pathogen is a ubiquitous presence in seagrass beds, but wasting disease symptoms aren’t always witnessed. This indicates that the pathogen may act as a decomposer in seagrass beds, but it doesn’t explain why large outbreaks of wasting disease occur. Current literature indicates that the susceptibility of the plant, pathogenicity of the protist, or both may play crucial roles in outbreaks. Many factors influence the susceptibility of the plant, such as salinity, irradiance, temperature, and secondary defensive compounds. Some of these factors may also play a role in the pathogenicity of Labyrinthula, in addition to cell morphology. Theories state that some strains of the protist may naturally be more pathenogenic or that environmental factors may allow some strains to have a competitive advantage over less competitive ones. If this is the case, it is of the upmost importance to expand our knowledge of these factors in order to conserve seagrass meadows, one of the most productive marine environments. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2013-05 |
| Bishton, Alexandra Christine | Biology | Seeds! Are they the solution for the large-scale restoration of Zostera marina beds in the Chesapeake Bay? | The recent decline in SAV throughout the Chesapeake Bay has prompted many restoration efforts. It is essential to restore SAV beds because of the integral role they have in the overall ecosystem and because of their role as indicators for the entire health of the ecosystem. SAV beds provide important functions in an estuarine system including, habitat, food, and protection. Therefore it is imperative to maintain the existing beds and restore SAV to areas historically supporting it. Current SAV restoration techniques focus on the use of shoots. This study investigated the use of seeds as a restoration technique and the optimal conditions for seed germination and growth. There were three components to this study: the use of mesocosms, natural field conditions and Taylor floats. Within the mesocosms there were two separate treatments, ambient, flow-through and re-circulated, temperature controlled tanks. Seed germination favored natural temperature conditions in the flow-through tanks and the Taylor float, while optimal growth favored the warmer conditions of the re-circulated mesocosms. This study concluded that a form of seed protection was crucial to increasing seed germination. It also concluded that if seeds are to be used for large-scale restoration there are still critical questions that must be answered before it is an effective restoration technique. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2001-05 |
| Studholme, Katharine Ryder | Biology | Multifaceted approach to investigating nutrient anomalies near Johnson Bay, Maryland coastal bays, USA | Water quality in Maryland’s coastal bays has been declining in recent years with high nutrients and human and farm animal waste contaminants contributing greatly to the problem. ‘Hotspots’ for such anthropogenic inputs have been identified and include Johnson Bay; however, the rapidly worsening water quality in the area is unusual since land use intensity in the watershed of Johnson Bay is very low compared to other known hotspots. I sought to better understand these regional anomalies through assessments of aquatic microorganism abundances, water quality parameters, stable nitrogen isotopes, and land use composition along four creeks near Johnson Bay. Fecal bacteria were found to be good spatial indicators of contamination, and their abundances were found to be in excess of EPA primary contact standards at a majority of sites. Microorganism abundances differed at localized spatial scales which, together with high fecal bacterial abundances and nutrient loadings, suggest that anthropogenic point-source inputs were prevalent. Spikes in bacterial abundance in response to rainfall also suggest the presence of nonpoint-source inputs. Percent cropland, farmstead, and residential land use, as well as δ15N were not positively correlated with fecal bacterial abundances, suggesting that watershed-based sources of reworked nitrogen are not solely responsible for the elevated δ15N observed in Johnson Bay and that natural within-system nutrient cycling and microbial processing, as well as groundwater upwelling, may be important contributors. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2011-05 |
| Findiesen, Andrea Lauren | Biology | Effects of Liquidambar styraciflua leaf pack spatial arrangements on Gammarus fasciatus abundance in Saint John’s Creek | The majority of the energy in headwater streams comes from allochthonous sources, entering the stream in the form of organic detritus from land vegetation. Therefore, the breakdown of organic input is an essential task for obtaining nutrients in local food webs. Gammarus fasciatus is the primary invertebrate decomposer of leaf material in Saint John's Creek (Saint Mary’s City, MD). In this experiment, I studied G. fasciatus density in relation to the spatial arrangement of leaf packs. I also compared densities of G. fasciatus to sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaf decomposition rate over seven weeks. G. fasciatus densities depend more on distance downstream and small-scale variations within the streambed than on their proximity to other leaf packs. Also, G. fasciatus densities over time are variable and do not necessarily correlate with the steady decomposition rate of Liquidambar styraciflua. | Paul, Robert W. | 2001-05 |
| Phipps, Daniel J. | Biology | White tailed deer density and implications for herd management in St. Mary’s City, Md. | Historic St Mary’s City, MD, is comprised of approximately 750 acres of state-owned land and museum grounds in Southern Maryland. Hunting has been prohibited in the area in recent decades, leaving little to no pressure on the local white-tailed deer (Odocoilus virginianus) population. A survey was performed to determine the actual population size and dynamics of white-tailed deer in Historic St Mary’s City during the summer of 2006, and to advise on a need for any further management strategies following an administration sponsored controlled hunt the previous winter. Population density from spotlight counts was determined to be 30.37 +/- 3.59 deer per km2, a figure which greatly exceeds estimates for white-tailed carrying capacity of around 10 deer per km2. Sex ratios were determined to be between 1:4 buck to does and 1:7 buck to does. Fawn to doe ratios were even smaller and did not offer any index as to how the population was changing. Further sampling of the population in subsequent years would yield insight into how the population is changing. The results indicate that further management initiatives may be necessary in Historic St Mary’s City; however such initiatives should be conducted side by side with continued monitoring of the deer population. | Price, J. Jordan | 2007-05 |
| Bowden, Heather Elizabeth | Biology | Cyanogenic glycosides : the plants, the herbivores, the people | Cyanogenic glycosides are common defense compounds in thousands of plants. They function as feeding deterrents because of their bitter taste, and they also release cyanide to poison herbivores. Although cyanogenic glycosides can benefit humans as natural insecticides, they can be harmful if they are in our food supply. Over 500 million people depend on a highly cyanogenic plant, cassava (Manihot esculenta). Humans can exploit this system by inserting genes for cyanogenic glycoside synthesis into crop plants that otherwise require pesticides. Some specialist herbivores can resist cyanogenic glycosides and study of these organisms provides clues on how we can develop ways to reduce the danger of ingestion of cyanogenic glycosides. Reduction of cyanogenic content in cassava through genetic means functions in cassava leaves and roots, and leaves have more protein and vitamins than roots. Through a combination of genetic means, simple education, and incorporation of cassava leaves into cassava root meal, cassava could become a much safer source of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2009-05 |
| Zdilla, Katherine M. | Biology | Piliocolobus badius temminckii and Chlorocebus sabaeus distribution, resource use, and behavior in a forest fragment of the Gambia | Primates include some of the most charismatic and endangered species on the planet, and the continent of Africa is of particular concern for primate conservation since it is home to a third of extant primate species. Many anthropogenic factors contribute to extinction rates, but deforestation poses the greatest threat. Fragmentation increases the exposure of valuable forest habitat to the edge effect, which promotes a different climate, unique soil properties and species, frequent fires, the spread of disease, and harmful interspecies interactions. This study compared the influence of the unbuffered edge, buffered edge, and forest interior communities of a fragment on the behavior of two primate species (Piliocolobus badius temminckii and Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Abuko Nature Reserve, The Gambia. By surveying vegetation and recording primate behavior along transects in each community, I observed how the primates utilize each part of the fragment. P. badius frequented the buffered edge despite the greatest resource availability and safety on interior transects. C. sabaeus was most often on the buffered or unbuffered edges, even though vegetation resources were more plentiful on the protected buffered edge. Both species displayed threat behaviors and group dynamics to suit each community type and changed behavior patterns with location. The balance of pressures and benefits from regional community composition drove P. badius and C. sabaeus to utilize each fragment community differently. | Paul, Robert W. | 2010-05 |
| Borlo, Jonathan Peter | Anthropology | The Effects of the Rapa Nui Palm on Agriculture | The deforestation of trees from Rapa Nui had a major impact on the culture of those living on the island. Agriculture and the production of food is an important aspect in all cultures, and on Rapa Nui an important aspect of agriculture was the presence of palm trees. Key to the survival of the crops was the moisture of the soil, which is affected by the palm trees on the island. These trees may have affected crops in a variety of ways. It is possible that the trees made it more difficult to grow crops due to transpiration and the removal of water from the soil. Or, the palms may have exhibited hydraulic lift, in which they would have added moisture to the higher layers of soil, helping crops grow. Additionally, the role of other soil factors, other native plants, and crop requirements must be taken into account when analyzing Rapa Nui food production. It is important to know exactly how the environment affected agriculture and crops on Rapa Nui in order to truly understand what happened on the island. | Roberts, William C. | 2013-05 |
| Evans, Thomas Terrance | English | Portrait of Poolesville : preserving small town America | The following collection of creative non-fictional essays dramatically portrays true stories of threats faced by the rural town of Poolesville, Maryland in the past 20 years, bridging connections between it and small town America as it exists today. The true conflict in small town America is deciding how much of this globalizing world to incorporate into its own without losing its own sense of identity. In the case of Poolesville, opposing parties often clash over which world they believe Poolesville should eventually become; the world of self-sufficiency, individuality and tradition or the world of economical prosperity, assimilation and development. These parties can include outsiders that come to Poolesville with the intent on changing it as seen in the stories Poolesville Indians and The Prince, or they can simply want to use Poolesville for their own personal gains as in Family Business. It can even be a vision of the past, connecting a town’s historical heritage to the present as seen in Unsettled History. Ultimately, as a community we must decide to what extent we should distance ourselves with the developing world surrounding us, and at what cost is preserving our small town identity justified? | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2005-05 |
| Larsen, Rachel Elizabeth | English | Beachers | For this project I looked at the dynamics of a small Southern Maryland town and examined the interactions between my family and the community. By showing how members of my family have come to know and experience this particular place, the project looks at how a small-town creates familiarity and comfort. However, these stories also depict the way that the community can become suffocating, and the loss of anonymity can become a burden. The stories begin by explaining why my family moved from a Washington suburb to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. They show how we have come to love and loath the place where we have lived for the past nine years. The project ends by illustrating my personal frustration with small-town life, and my need to move on. | Hammond, Jeffrey A. | 2004-05 |
| Ebron, Jasmine Monique | Biology | Sex ratio in white-throated sparrows | I studied white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albiollis) to determine if there was a deviation from the 50:50 sex ratio. No differences were displayed in the overall sex ratio, supporting the law of equal segregation. However, there were some various to the 1:1 sex ratio based on environmental resources. In the bog, where conditions were ideal, the number of males increased. In contrast, the number of males decreased in the pond, where resources were limited. This could be an indication of a manipulated sex ratio adapting to varying environments. | Myerowitz, Rachel | 2001-12 |
| Clavio, Sarah Nicole | Biology | Comparison of the antimicrobial activity of Xenia species and other soft corals | Corals are found in biologically rich ecosystems, in the midst of extensive interactions with other marine organisms. They are known to possess a variety of secondary metabolites that have been found to have a variety of purposes, such as predator deterrence, communication, inhibition of microbial attachment and growth, and inhibition of fouling. Microbial inhibition is of interest due to a recently observed increase in coral disease and death. Some soft corals, however, have been observed to be resistant to microbial infection. Resistant corals have also been shown to inhibit terrestrial as well as marine microorganisms using disk diffusion and microbial adhesion assays. In the Aquatic Laboratory at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Xenia elongata was found to be resistant to a disease that killed many of the other corals in the tanks. Xenia elongata also propagates very quickly, and its tissue does not appear to degrade even when left in the open air. A study by a former St. Mary’s College student found that extracts of Xenia elongata were able to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. This study confirms that a green fraction from Xenia elongata is able to inhibit S. aureus. It also shows that a coral with very similar morphology, green Xenia, also exhibits similar antimicrobial activity. Two other species of Xenia with very different morphology, “pom pom” Xenia and Bali pulsing Xenia, did not inhibit S. aureus. In addition, Sarcophytans exhibited greater inhibition of S. aureus than Xenia elongata and green Xenia, suggesting the presence of different secondary metabolites. Spectroscopic analysis revealed similarities among the absorbances of all three corals that inhibited S. aureus. Finally, this paper speculates on the role of coral secondary metabolites. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2002-05 |
| Howard, Douglas | Biology | Sediment requirements for Zostera marina (Z. marina) transplants | Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is an important part of an aquatic ecosystem. However, since the late 1960s, populations of SAV have declined dramatically. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has created a model for SAV transplantations. According to the model, the St. Mary’s River meets the requirements for SAV transplants, but past transplants have resulted in near one hundred percent death rates. Because of this mortality, I looked at characteristics of grassbeds left out of the DNR model that may be causing the lack of transplanting success. Specifically, I studied the percent organics, redox potential, and average particle size of sediments of two well-defined Zostera marina (eelgrass) beds in Sinepuxent Bay, Maryland, and compared them with those of possible transplanting sites in the St. Mary’s River. Results show that there wasn’t a significant difference between average particle size and percent organic content between the sediments. However, 100 percent plant mortality at Graveyard Point and over 100 percent increase in the number of shoots at Chicken Cock Creek suggest that redox potential is an important factor that should be considered when selecting transplant sites. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2000-05 |
| Jelliffe, Stephanie Juliana | Biology | Constructed wetlands : how natural are they? | Wetlands are the transitional boundaries between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Because of their structure they serve many vital functions such as habitat, shoreline erosion prevention, and water quality improvement. Before the last half of the 20th century, however this country had a policy of draining and filling wetlands. Since the 1960’s a number of laws have changed this policy to one of protection through preservation, restoration, and mitigation. Mitigation takes the form of site construction or restoration; this practice however is debated as to whether it is adequate compensation for the loss of natural wetland sites. In this study I examined species composition, and vegetative and soil properties to determine whether four constructed brackish marshes in Historic St. Mary’s City, MD were serving similar functions to a reference site in Point Lookout State Park, MD. The four constructed sites were part of two phases of a shoreline restoration project, one phase completed in 1998 and the other in 2001. I looked at species composition, zonation, above/belowground biomass, and plant height within the low marsh, and organic matter and particle-size composition of soil samples for all sites. My results often showed significant differences between the natural reference site and the 2001 sites, suggesting that the 2001 sites had not yet established equivalence in form or function to the reference site. I found little significant difference between the natural and 1998 sites, suggesting that those sites had begun to perform more like the reference site. | Williams, William E. | 2004-05 |
| Haramis, Christina Frances | Biology | Effects of aquatic interactions between wild dolphins and humans | Human interactions with wild dolphins has been an inevitable occurrence for centuries. The close contact we have with dolphins as well as other marine mammal species through continued tourism, will only increase with time. Tourism is harmful to wild dolphin populations for it causes them to change natural behavioral patterns. Any outside influence that limits dolphin interaction, foraging for food or reproductive success can have long term negative effects on the species. Wild dolphins are already subject to many environmental threats, and tourism is one more factor dolphins are forced to contend with in their struggle to survive. There are regulations in place to prevent the disruption of natural behaviors for dolphins and other marine mammals, however, these regulations are not being met. It is important for the public to realize what harm tourism can have so that they will be respectful of the rules and guidelines present. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2008-05 |
| Rogalski, Jerilyn Marie | Psychology | Using dolphins as therapy tools : possible effects on the animals and implications for future interaction programs | There is little research examining dolphin interaction programs. A few studies have measured stress levels of dolphins in various interaction programs (Brensing et al., 2005; Trone et al., 2005) and one study that measured the effectiveness of treating depression with dolphin therapy (Antonioli and Reveley, 2005). The purpose of these three proposed experiments is to expand on the research of dolphin interaction programs. The first study will measure the effects different human interaction situations have on the stress and aggression levels of dolphins. The second study will examine the effects of dolphin therapy, dog therapy, swimming therapy, and medication only on children with autism. The third study will examine the effects of dolphin therapy versus swimming therapy on the positive emotions of cancer patients. Following the three proposals is a literature review discussing the cognitive capabilities that dolphins possess. All three proposed studies are novel research ideas and the results could revolutionize the prevalence of animal therapy, specifically dolphin therapy. Results could also raise awareness to ensure that the dolphins are being treated appropriately and protect against aggressive behavior towards human participants. If dolphin therapy proves to be the most effect method for treating autism or cancer patients, families may be encouraged to come up with additional creative and effective ways to treat their children with these illnesses. | Bailey, Aileen M. | 2009-05 |
| Rafferty, Shannon | Art | Mt. Gretna [art SMP] | Prior to making this group of paintings, I traveled to Mount Gretna, PA where I drew from the landscape every day. The landscape fluctuated between densely forested mountains to the open farmlands. I began to develop a mental catalogue and physical relationship to these different landscapes through drawing. When I transcribe and physically experience something, such as when I take notes in class, I am much more likely to recall that information later. Likewise, when I transcribe landscapes on site, I am able to later recollect atmosphere, form and color in the studio. Just as memory is important to me when I draw from life, recollection is also central to my studio process. The drawings and paintings that I do outside in the landscape shape the paintings that I make in the studio. Recently, I have made several trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains where I have spent time observing and drawing the landscape. In the studio, I have infused those elements of the mountains into my large-scale works on canvas and paper by paring down my color palette and exploring ways of masking forms. Through these techniques, I am able to allude to the elusive horizon of the Blue Ridge. I let go of the specificities of a landscape and try to remember what it felt like to be there. My past experiences of the landscape combines with my physical relationship to the painting process to create echoes of places I have been. | Friebele, William E. | 2014-05 |
| Nickey, Samantha Lynn | Art | Draw of light : transformation taking form | During my SMP, examining such a small, seemingly insignificant creature as a moth has made the divide between life and death more ambiguous. Each piece in my Luna/Sol series represents an intermediary state of change, pushing and pulling from the light that summons it. Though my earlier work also concentrated on the ambiguity of life and death, instead of focusing on natural light’s relationship to obscuring these boundaries, the work focuses on artificial light. Moth’s circle artificial light because they naturally navigate by moonlight, so their distraction is representative of following a false path on a journey. The tragedy of moth’s death from light is possibly a result of innocence or possibly a result of ignorance, but either way it is self-destructive. In observing moth’s attraction to artificial light, I wrote in my journal, 'The light is merciless, deceptive, man-made. It does nothing but tempt and distract, and ironically, as it lights, it allows the human viewer to take witness. I look at the lights in my art studio and despite my uneasiness of fluttering moths, my uneasiness of even death itself, there is a constant bug funeral hanging above my head to which I am completely indifferent. From this distance their bodies look like abstract patterns or stars.' Ultimately, the nocturnal moth’s place of refuge is darkness, with darkness usually being associated with danger and the unknown. Overall, moths symbolize the parts of ourselves we are not always willing to show – the delicate, intricate parts of ourselves. When paired with the universal, divine associations of light, moths represent vulnerability in spiritual discovery. [overview statement] | Caldwell, Colby | 2012-05 |
| Brock, Christine Suzanne | International Languages and Cultures (Spanish) | Changing perspectives : an ecofeminist reading of Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y así me nació la conciencia | Ecofeminism in Latin America is a growing movement and philosophy that is useful as a tool for literary analysis as well as social change. An important goal of ecofeminist literary analysis is retrieving historical works that display both a feminist and ecological sensibility. In this SMP, the testimony Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y así me nació la conciencia by Elizabeth Burgos, in collaboration with Rigoberta Menchú, is analyzed under this ecofeminist lens. This work was chosen due to its international fame, widespread accessibility, and inclusion in many curricula. Five subcategories -“The Construction of the Woman,” “Indigenous Traditions and Cosmology,” “Christianity,” “The Relationship between Humans and Nature,” and “The Vision of the Future”- are employed to demonstrate how the feminist and ecological sensibilities are evident in Rigoberta Menchú’s words. This work is relevant to the contemporary world because global climate change will demand radical transformations in society such as those proposed by ecofeminists. Contrary to some criticism that regards these changes as utopian, ecofeminism offers new alternatives to the current globalized capital system that has undeniably contributed to much of the environmental destruction and social problems plaguing Latin America and several other regions of the world. Ecofeminism offers an optimistic vision of the future led by the people who have been disproportionately affected by these issues, including women and indigenous groups, who can call on ancient wisdom and traditional practices often overlooked as sources of knowledge in the era of modern technology. | Bayers, Leslie | 2010-05 |
| Earlbeck, Jessica | Philosophy | Is an ecofeminist political theory possible? | I first start with the indicators I’m going to be using in order to judge if an ecofeminist theory is possible in a nation. These indicators include, but are not limited to, health care for women, women in positions of government, environmental policies, and the public’s support of such policies. From here, I go on to Thailand and talk about how they do not have very many ecofeminist policies, but do have the ground work for an ecofeminist political theory in their future. I then discuss Germany and their policies, coming to the conclusion that they have ecofeminist policies, but not an ecofeminist political mindset. Next, I discuss what ecofeminism is and how this can be related into an ecofeminist political theory, using Karren Warren, Stephanie Lahar, and Chris Crittenden for support, the basis of ecofeminism being that the domination of women and the domination of the environment by a patriarchal society is parallel, and we cannot begin to fix one without fixing the other. In conclusion, I state that an ecofeminist political theory is possible, although highly unlikely. The ideal way to come about an ecofeminist political theory is to have the people believe in such an idea, and then work to promote policies and laws that match this ideal. | Norlock, Kathryn J. | 2010-05 |
| Liebrecht, Amanda Isabel | Biology | Pathogen defense in the seagrass Zostera marina | Between 1931 and 1932, a wasting disease caused by the protist pathogen Labyrinthula zosterae nearly wiped out Atlantic Zostera marina (eelgrass) populations and continues to be a threat to eelgrass health on a smaller scale. While not much is known about the mechanisms seagrasses use to defend themselves against pathogens, terrestrial plants employ Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR), a complex pathway that uses secondary messengers such as salicylic acid (SA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). I investigated the possibility that eelgrass is utilizing a similar pathway to defend against attack by L. zosterae. Eelgrass plants were maintained in mesocosms, treated with SA and then infected with the pathogen to determine resistance. Other plants were infected and then assayed for H2O2 production. Treatment with SA was expected to decrease the extent of infection by the pathogen, while infection was expected to increase H2O2 production. Plants treated with SA showed significantly smaller necrotic lesions from L. zosterae than control plants, suggesting that SA is helping eelgrass defend itself against wasting disease. Additionally, plants that were infected with L. zosterae showed higher levels of H2O2 than control plants, indicating that H2O2 is part of the defense mechanism used by the eelgrass. The defensive roles of both salicylic acid and hydrogen peroxide provide evidence that the eelgrass plants are undergoing the SAR response in order to gain resistance against wasting disease. As a result of the SAR response, eelgrass beds that have survived wasting disease may show increased resistance to both L. zosterae and other pathogens. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2011-05 |
| Chronowski, Joseph John | Biology | Feeding behavior and preferences of the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin), with special attention to the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria | Few studies have examined the diet preferences and feeding behavior of diamondback terrapin, and have generally focused on subspecies other than the northern subspecies found in the Chesapeake Bay. Terrapins are opportunistic feeders and previous studies have shown that Littorina irrorata, the salt marsh periwinkle, can comprise 79% of an individual’s diet. To study feeding behavior, M. arenaria were divided into three shell-length size classes (<4.5cm; 5.5-6.5cm; >7.5cm) and offered to individual adult female terrapins in environments with and without sediments in which to burrow. Northern diamondback terrapins refused to eat Littorina irrorata of any size in the laboratory setting. However, northern diamondback terrapins do prey on M. arenaria and have a preference for smaller clams when exposed without sediment for protection. Terrapins were only able to consume the siphons of large clams. When clams were allowed to bury in sediment prior to exposure, terrapins exhibited no size preferences and consumed few clams compared with the number of clams consumed when sediment was not present. The lack of predation on L. irrorata by M. terrapin terrapin contrasts with the preferences of M. terrapin centrata found by Tucker et al. (1995). Due to their high population densities in the Chesapeake Bay, M. arenaria may constitute a large portion of the diet of adult female northern diamondback terrapins in the wild. | Paul, Robert W. | 2003-05 |
| Farkas, David Stephen | Economics | Economic analysis of oyster aquaculture on the Patuxent River | The state of the Oyster Fishery in the Chesapeake Bay is in a prolonged state of collapse. A relatively new idea aimed at increasing the oyster population is aquaculture. The aquaculture model involves a transition from the traditional wild harvest model to an agricultural model. This paper provides the theoretical background to oyster aquaculture, case studies of successful transitions to aquaculture and analysis of a current oyster aquaculture businesses or demonstration projects. Specifically, this paper focuses on an active demonstration project on the Patuxent River run by the Morgan State University Estuarine Research Center in St. Leonard, Maryland. Through such analysis one can gain an idea of the policies and preconditions necessary to a successful transition to aquaculture. These include continued research and feasible changes in state regulations, specifically to allow a transferable lease system that allows the market to allocate the best areas for aquaculture to those with the ability to exploit them. Within an aquaculture business, there are three main factors influencing the outcome of any aquaculture activity on this scale; growth rates, survival rates, and price. Growth rates and survival rates both influence the profitability of any aquaculture venture, but in the sensitivity analysis neither variable caused farm survival to drop below 90%. A change of price however, by $0.05 in either direction made an incredible difference in whether the aquaculture project would fail or be successful. Key words: aquaculture, oysters, Chesapeake Bay, Morgan State University Estuarine Research Center, Patuxent River | Dowla, Asif U. | 2010-05 |
| Baden, Matthew David | Economics | Miss Chesapeake : head boat fishing business | Financial analysis of an existing head boat business was done to determine profitability within the market based on monthly expenses versus revenues. A business plan was constructed to promote the opening of the ideal head boat business in today’s economy. The “Miss Chesapeake” concept was built around the idea of being located at the Rod ‘N’ Reel Marina in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, which has been regarded as the charter fishing capital of Maryland sing 1946. Many key business factors were analyzed within the plan such as location, the current economical state of charter fishing, and marketing strategy. | Rhine, Russell M. | 2011-05 |
| Long, Graham William | Economics | Changing relationships between crude oil price and related factors in recent years | This paper investigates the changing dynamics between economic variables and crude oil prices since the year 2000. This study was conducted to gain an insight into the causes for the recent dramatic increase in crude oil price levels, which have been observed since early 2004, and have warranted the empirical investigation of multiple factors that have changed the crude oil pricing regime. This study has investigated factors, which may one day help to explain why crude oil prices have been consistently under predicted since the beginning of the year 2000. Granger causality and correlation coefficients were analyzed to determine the structural breaks in the crude oil pricing regimes. The factors, which were selected for this investigation, are the booming Asian economy, OPEC production policy, interest rates, exchange rates, and the devaluation of the US Dollar. In addition, widely accepted variables such as Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) crude oil inventory levels, Saudi Arabian excess production capacity were to observed correlations with crude oil prices. This study concluded that the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices are affected by the Asian economy, foreign exchange rates, or interest rates. These variables alone were unable to significantly improve crude oil price forecast. However, it should be used as stepping stone towards determining the new crude oil pricing structures. It is assumed that the petroleum market is thus, either in a transitional period, or that vital economic variables are missing, which would explicate the recent disconnect in crude oil prices. | Ye, Michael M. | 2006-05 |
| Bykowsky, Spencer P. | Biology | Ecosystem model of the St. Mary’s River | Recent decline in global fisheries have lead to increased awareness that a problem is occurring. Little has been done to quell the over harvesting of most commercially important fisheries. While Aquaculture will most likely be a big part of the futures fisheries, resource management through the use of ecosystem modeling is needed to better understand ecosystems. In an effort to better understand the Chesapeake Bay I constructed an ecosystem model using Ecopath with Ecosim of the St.Mary’s River. The model behaved and yielded interesting and reliable results. I was however not able to validate that it is anyway a true representation of the St.Mary’s River. I have included the basic information for the model in this paper so that other may use it. | Paul, Robert W. | 2007-05 |
| Egorova, Elena | Biology | Influence of tourism on the behavior of the callithrix monkey, Chlorocebus sabaeus, at Abuko Nature Reserve and Bijilo Forest Park, the Gambia | Tourism impacts wildlife in both the short and long term by increasing wildlife aggression, changing activity budgets, and eventually reducing reproduction rates and population sizes. Primates are significantly impacted by tourism, and often from artificially feeding by reserve guides or tourists. The artificial feeding of primates can lead to management problems in tourist areas when animals bite visitors or steals possessions, and pose a health risk to both humans and primates. Impacts of tourism on the behavior of callithrix, Chlorocebus sabaeus, were studied at Abuko Nature Reserve and Bijilo Forest Park in The Gambia. Fed significantly more by tourists and guides at Bijilo than Abuko, the Bijilo callithrix exhibited more aggression towards other callithrix and humans. Provisioned foods provided by tourists at Bijilo resulted in more direct human – animal contact, a great concern to conservationists. Artificial feeding at Abuko Nature Reserve and Bijilo Forest Park must be eradicated to limit the negative impacts of tourism. | Baltzley, Michael J. | 2010-05 |
| Meatyard, Abigail Myles | Anthropology/Sociology | Effects of tourism on conservation : a community’s response to the changes at Katchikally Sacred Crocodile Pool | Conservation efforts are taking place daily throughout the world. Groups are working to preserve culture, heritage, wildlife, and wild lands in order to protect and encourage diversity worldwide. In order to achieve funding for these projects, groups receive money through government agencies and through tourism. Katchikally Sacred Crocodile Pool, located in The Gambia, West Africa, plays an important role in the everyday life and spirituality of the local community. For the past 20 years, Katchikally has brought in hundreds of tourists a year allowing the Bojang family the monetary means to maintain the pool and its residents. With the influx of tourists and income, the family has made additions to the pool and its surroundings to encourage more tourists. With these changes the local community has become worried that the pool is losing its sacredness and its true spiritual meaning. | Roberts, William C. | 2004-12 |
| Parr, Genevieve Rose | Anthropology/Sociology | Thailand and ecotourism | Over the years tourism research has been carried out by economists and statisticians, but only recently has there been an emergence of an anthropological approach. There is growing interest in who the tourists are and what they are doing in their respective destinations. Ecotourism is seen as a surfacing branch of the tourism industry as many travelers are becoming more environmentally sensitive. Thailand is a country that has illustrated a concern for the ecosystem and has produced alternative forms of tourism that are geared towards conserving nature and supporting the local community. The following paper draws data from personal experience, electronic sources, and hard-texts. | Roberts, William C. | 2004-05 |
| Jones, Nathalie Gerhard | Anthropology/Sociology | Ecotourism in Senegal : a proposal to combine local community initiative with international experiential education | As the tourism industry continues to expand throughout the world, related trends are taking place simultaneously. Within the industry itself, a culturally and environmentally based form of tourism, termed ecotourism, is experiencing incredible growth due to a heightened sense of responsibility on the part of the tourist. The world of higher education - in an age of globalization - is putting more stress on the importance of international education, as they work to globalize their curricula and encourage students to study abroad. With the simultaneity of such trends, a study abroad experience based on ecotourism becomes a sensible reality. Through research concerning ecotourism and West Africa, a proposal for a summer field study rooted in ecotourism in Senegal becomes a possibility with very real potential. | Roberts, William C. | 2001-05 |
| Herman, Damaris Marie | Biology | Educating middle school students on environmental change | As a future teacher of biology, I wanted to incorporate an educational aspect into my St. Mary’s Project. I was able to blend both biology and education into one project, which was conducted during my teaching internship .… For my teaching internship, I was assigned a seventh grade classroom at Esperanza Middle School, located in Lexington Park, Maryland. Esperanza had 883 students enrolled for the 2005-2006 school year, with a population of 406 female students and 477 male students. I taught six different classes, comprised of approximately 150 students. During my semester stay at Esperanza, I created and implemented a unit on Chesapeake Bay studies. This fit well with the curriculum of St. Mary’s County public schools, which required that I teach environmental studies. Environmentalism has always been an important part of my life, as I was taught at an early age to respect the Earth and all its inhabitants. I wanted to explore these ideas more deeply with my students, and choose to concentrate on four environmental subjects: invasive exotic species, eutrophication (nutrient pollution), biodiversity, and global warming …. This St. Mary’s Project focuses on changing students’ ideas, beliefs and conceptions on four environmental subjects. In analyzing the results of the test scores, I was able to conclude that there was an overall comprehension of the material taught. [from background] | Williams, William E. | 2006-05 |
| Travers, Allison Morgan | Biology | Exploring the optimal conditions for eelgrass (Zostera marina) seeds to be used in restoration projects | Historically, eelgrass (Zostera marina) is the most abundant seagrass found in the Chesapeake Bay area. Bay restoration efforts have previously focused on the transplanting of adult plants to restore these grass beds, however, research is now shifting to the use of seed dispersal. This study focused on different possible methods of seed storage before dispersal in restoration efforts in order to maintain the highest possible percentage of viable seed. Both a controlled, recirculated water system and a river water system with ambient conditions were used for each storage treatment. Treatments included: (1) no aeration, 0.5 inch seed layer; (2) no aeration, 1.0 inch seed layer; (3) low aeration with a daily mix; (4) high aeration; and (5) a sterilized treatment. A significant treatment effect was found with the high aeration treatment resulted in lower overall viability (p < 0.05); however the result trends indicate the low aeration treatment as being the most effective in retaining seed viability. Percent germination of original viable seed was examined for each treatment and yielded similar results, with the high aeration treatment having the lowest rates of germination and the low aeration treatment having the highest percent germination. This project was done in conjunction with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) which found similar results. Future research should be conducted to discover the optimal storage conditions for future seed dispersal that can be utilized in large-scale restoration projects. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2006-05 |
| Josberger, Alexander Scott | Biology | Colder than optimal water temperature effects on Zostera marina’s resistance to wasting disease | Eelgrass Zostera marina experienced widespread die out in the 1930s on much of the east cost of the United States as well as the western shores of Europe. The cause cited by many as Labyrinthula. Though subsequent years have shown die off, none since has been as severe. Environmental factors which accompanied the 1930’s mass die off such as temperature are thought by many as possible reasons for the severity of that particular die off. Decreased resistance of eelgrass to Labyrinthula due to temperature induced stress could be to blame. Zostera marina was grown up in two different temperature tanks, 9oC and 18oC with both eelgrass types being infected with Labyrinthula at 9oC and 18oC for the 4 day incubation time. Two hypotheses were tested one expecting that Zostera marina will have a similar response to colder temperature, decreasing its resistance to Labyrinthula. The other hypothesis formed looking at variations in the photosynthesis and respiration ratio as temperature decreases, resulting in an increased resistance of eelgrass to Labyrinthula due to an overall abundance of plant defense compounds. Experimental results supported the later hypothesis. Zostera marina at 9oC, showed significantly smaller lesions than by than those plants grown and infection incubated at 18oC temperature. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2008-05 |
| Norwood, Danielle | Biology | Eelgrass defense responses to the wasting disease pathogen | Seagrass beds are essential to marine environments because they provide, protection to marine life, nutrient cycling, and carbon sinks for atomospheric carbon. Zostera marina, eelgrass, is the most common cool-water seagrass along the northern Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe. Eelgrass has experienced large die-offs due to a detrimental disease known as wasting disease. Wasting Disease is causes photosynthetic breakdown of plants resulting in brown and black lesions and ultimately death of the plant. While it is known wasting disease is caused by Labyrinthula zosterae, an omnipresent marine protist, causes wasting disease it is unknown exactly how eelgrass defends itself. From the literature it can be speculated that phenolic compounds, the hypersensitive response and systemic required response have a significant effect on inhibition of Labyrinthula zosterae, the wasting disease pathogen. Although very little research has been done specifically on defense responses in eelgrass, this paper hopes to shed some light on what we already know as a call for more research. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2014-05 |
| Puzak, Julia Patricia | Biology | Effect of high temperature on eelgrass (Zostera marina) and on the wasting disease pathogen (Labyrinthula zosterae) | Zostera marina (eelgrass) is a common seagrass found along the United States and European Atlantic coasts. In the 1930s, eelgrass populations were diminished due to an outbreak of wasting disease, caused by the pathogenic microorganism, Labyrinthula zosterae (the wasting disease pathogen). Environmental factors that allowed for the mass die-off of eelgrass may be associated with the effect of increased temperature on eelgrass and L. zosterae. I conducted two experiments to study the influence of high temperatures on eelgrass and L. zosterae individually. My results suggest that the overall growth rates of eelgrass were negatively affected by increased temperature due to significant impacts on primary leaf growth. My observations of irregular clumped formations of Labyrinthula growth suggest that temperature stress may be associated with temperatures of 20°C and 25°C. I propose that during the 1930s wasting disease outbreak, the increases in temperature negatively impacted both eelgrass and Labyrinthula. Because such little information is known about the life cycle and effects of environmental factors on Labyrinthula due to inconsistency in growth patterns it is necessary to continue research in order to prevent a future marine disease outbreaks, such as the one of the 1930s. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2010-05 |
| Hunter, Sarah Elizabeth | Biology | Can eelgrass (Zostera marina) be successfully restored to the lower Potomac River? | Eelgrass (Zostera marina) has historically been the dominant species of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay. As a result of poor water quality over the last century, eelgrass has declined in the Bay, particularly in the lower salinity areas of its distribution. In response, restoration projects have been conducted to create new eelgrass beds in regions of improving water quality. Large scale restoration efforts at Piney Point in the lower Potomac River, a mesohaline subestuary of the Bay, have been underway for several years as part of mitigation for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, but have had little success. The primary goal of this project was to follow the progress of eelgrass planted in the fall of 2005 to determine both what factors contributed to the success or failure of this restoration project and whether Piney Point should be used in the future as a SAV restoration site. Eelgrass plots at Piney Point were monitored during the summer and fall of 2006. Data from a water monitoring program was used to determine whether the site met habitat requirements for eelgrass. Eelgrass at Piney Point declined through the summer and did not recover in the fall. The most likely causes for the eelgrass decline at Piney Point were a combination of low oxygen and high water temperatures and reduced light availability as a result of poor water clarity and high epiphyte loads. However, unlike the past two years of planting, some recovery was observed in the spring of 2007. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2007-05 |
| Bourdon, Robert Joseph | Biology | Effects of ocean acidification on the resistance of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) to wasting disease | Seagrass beds are some of the most economically and ecologically valued habitats in the world. One seagrass in particular, Zostera marina (eelgrass), is the dominant seagrass in the North Atlantic, yet also one of the most threatened. It suffers under primarily anthropogenic stressors (poor land use, physical damage by poor fishing practices, etc.), but also from the debilitating effects of wasting disease caused by the protist pathogen Labyrinthula zosterae. While some facets of the disease are understood, many, such as the effects of ocean acidification on the ability of eelgrass to defend itself against L. zosterae, are yet to be investigated. I studied the effects of acidification on eelgrass in a controlled laboratory environment by measuring growth and total phenolic content of plants maintained under various pH conditions. Total phenols were used as an indicator of the level of defensive compounds in plants. Eelgrass exhibited greater growth than the control with reduced pH. Total phenolic content did not vary between the control or reduced pH treatments. In this experiment, acidification does not appear to have an effect on the abundance of phenolics in eelgrass tissue. However, a more specific protocol for quantifying defensive compounds could produce different results. I also measured C:N ratios of eelgrass grown under the two treatments to get an idea of the role that nutrient levels play in phenolic allocation. I found higher ratios than those reported in literature for seagrasses, indicating that growing conditions during my experiment may have been nutrient limited. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2012-05 |
| Benson, Jacqueline Marie | Biology | Effect of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid on the defense of Zostera marina against labyrinthula zosterae | Zostera marina (eelgrass) is an ecologically important seagrass that suffered dramatic declines in the North Atlantic in the 1930’s. Major factors thought to have contributed to these diebacks are poor water quality and a wasting disease caused by the pathogen Labyrinthula zosterae, a net-forming protist. One way that plants defend themselves against microorganisms is by initiating systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Research on terrestrial plants demonstrates that SAR can be induced by signaling molecules such as salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). I have been testing the effects of SA and JA on pathogen resistance in eelgrass as indicated by the size of lesions created by L. zosterae and by the production of defensive molecules such as pathogenesis-related proteins and phenolic compounds. Microcosm experiments were conducted in which eelgrass were treated with either SA or JA and then infected with L. zosterae. Lesion areas were quantified using Image J and total phenolic compounds were determined with a Folin-Ciocalteau Assay. Specific phenolics acids thought to be involved with pathogen resistance were analyzed with HPLC. I found that there was a significant increase in gallic and caffeic acid concentrations when the plant was infected by L. zosterae and/or treated with JA (p=0.014 and p=2.79x10-4, respectively). There have been few studies investigating seagrass plant defense so this may be the first paper to report JA-induced phenolic acid production in seagrass. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2007-05 |
| Cantor, Gabrielle R. | Biology | Seagrass-microorganism interactions : enhancing eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration | Seagrass populations are declining worldwide. Seagrass restoration has been attempted in areas of high water quality but has not always been successful. In addition to the effects of water quality, scientists are studying microorganisms that affect nutrient cycling and in some cases form symbiotic relationships with aquatic plants. I investigated soil microorganisms from natural seagrass beds to see if they promote nutrient uptake and growth in transplanted eelgrass (Zostera marina). Using microcosms, I did two experiments where I planted eelgrass, one in which the soil was from a restoration site with a small proportion from a natural donor bed and another where the entire make-up was from the donor bed. In both of these experiments I sterilized the natural soil in one treatment and compared the grass growth to a control treatment. In the first experiment I also compared nutrient content of the soil and plant tissue, and looked for mycorrhizae in the roots. There was neither mycorrhizae, nor significant differences in growth or in soil nutrient content, suggesting that either the microorganisms involved with nutrient cycling were not present, the eelgrass was not nutrient limited or the microorganisms remained on the plants and unintentionally were added to the microcosms. However, I did find that the nitrogen content of the leaves was higher in the sterilized soil treatment in the first experiment. It is possible autoclaving may have affected the availability of nitrogen to eelgrass. Further research will be necessary to understand the importance of microorganisms in seagrass restoration. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2012-05 |
| Allan, Dustin | Biology | Effect of storage salinity on the viability and germination success of eelgrass (Zostera marina) seeds | At one time eelgrass (Zostera marina) was the predominant species of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay. The slime mold Labyrinthula (wasting disease), along with other environmental factors, resulted in a massive decline in eelgrass populations. Current large-scale eelgrass restoration projects are costly and labor intensive. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently involved with restoration projects that reseed damaged beds. In order to match the higher salinity of seed donor sites, salt is added to the water at the processing and storage facility. This supplementation required over $24,000 in 2008. In this study I attempt to determine how much salt supplementation is actually required. For the experimental design I stored eelgrass seeds at 5 different salinities for 8 weeks. After the 8-week storage period, the seeds were assessed for viability and the viable seeds were planted in peat pots submerged in flow-thru ambient St. Mary’s River water in a greenhouse. Twelve weeks after planting, no germination from any of the pots was visible. However, in early April I observed several small seedlings that were later identified as eelgrass. Statistical analysis of seed viability post-storage revealed no significant difference in seed viability between storage salinities. Although the data are inconclusive, I speculate that salt supplementation during the seed processing may be unnecessary. What is clear is the need for further research to ensure the long-term survival of this ecologically important species. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2009-05 |
| Abend, Georgia Anna | Biology | Effects of summer conditions on the survival of transplanted Zostera marina L. in the St. Mary’s River | Zostera marina L., better known as eelgrass, has been the subject of several transplant studies in the St. Mary’s River over recent years. Eelgrass is a major component in coastal habitats where it is found, and thus there has been a great deal of interest in reintroducing eelgrass into habitats where it has been lost. The St. Mary’s River is thought to have possibly been one of these lost habitats. Previous transplants into the St. Mary’s River have been unsuccessful. This study investigates the carbon budget to explain how the allocation of carbon over the first year affects the survival of newly transplanted eelgrass. Eelgrass was transplanted reciprocally at two sites, one in the Sinepuxent Bay near the donor bed and the other in the St. Mary’s River at Chicken Cock Creek in the fall of 1999. Over the following year 6 sampling collections were made at both the original donor bed and the two transplanted sites. The sampled plants were analyzed for total carbohydrates and this information was used as an indicator of plant health when compared to the original donor bed’s total carbohydrate reserves. My results indicated that overall more carbon is allocated to the rhizome in the form of glucose and during times of stress, such as high water temperature or low light, the plant relies on this reserve for survival. Carbon allocation at the St. Mary’s River site varies from the donor bed during the late summer months and by fall the river was void of plants. However, in March during the final sampling period plants had reappeared in the St. Mary’s River. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2001-05 |
| Boemio, Megan Elizabeth | Biology | Role of temperature in the susceptibility of eelgrass, Zostera marina, to wasting disease, Labyrinthula zosterae | Eelgrass, Zostera marina, is a seagrass that plays a very important ecological role. For instance, it buffers the shorelines, prevents erosion, and acts as a fish nursery. Unfortunately, in the 1930s there was a large eelgrass die out which is assumed to be due to a combination of increased summer water temperatures and the presence of the pathogen Labyrinthula zosterae. The effect of temperature on the spread of wasting disease, L. zosterae, was examined by infecting eelgrass grown in two different temperature treatments. I hypothesized that eelgrass grown at 15° C would be healthier, grow at a faster rate and have smaller lesion areas after being infected with wasting disease than plants grown at 22°C. I hypothesized that the increased temperature, which causes increased respiration rates, would environmentally stress the plants grown at 22°C. The plants would be using too much energy trying to adapt to their increased respiration rates to adequately fight off the wasting disease and then quickly use their stored carbohydrates, depleting their energy stores. Contrary to my hypothesis, there was no significant difference in primary leaf length, and the plants grown at 22°C grew at a faster rate. Also there was no significant difference in the size of the lesion area between the two treatments. This could be because 22°C is actually an optimal temperature for eelgrass growth than 15°C when the plants are not light limited. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2009-05 |
| Anderson, Rebecca Lynn | Biology | Effects of transplantation on growth rate, carbohydrate storage, and phenolic compounds in Zostera marina L | Zostera marina, also known as eelgrass, is a species of submerged aquatic grass intensely studied in recent years. Currently, there are no native populations of eelgrass found in the St. Mary’s River, a subestuary of the tidal Potomac River on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay. Because of the many ways Z. marina benefits the estuarine community, it was thought that eelgrass would help the river if it were to be reintroduced. Unfortunately, attempts to transplant the grass from various donor sites to the St. Mary’s River have not been successful enough to support a year-round meadow. The die-off may be due to the amount of stress the plants undergo in the transplanting process, perhaps causing the plants to use too much of their carbon reserves early. Mirta Teichberg, a 1997 graduate of SMC, studied the soluble carbohydrates and phenolic concentrations of transplanted eelgrass in the laboratory. In accordance with her work, I examined these factors, as well as growth rate, as indications of plant health in populations of Zostera marina, at a donor site in the Sinepuxent Bay and plants transplanted into the St. Mary’s River. In my study, the transplants to the St. Mary’s River had the highest levels of sugars and starches stored in the rhizomes during late October, three weeks after transplantation. Leaf phenol levels were highest at the donor site in early October, when the plants were harvested. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2000-05 |
| Smith, Ross Patrick | Biology | Effect of a common herbicide on segment regeneration in an oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus | Amputations within the 8-segment head of L. variegatus resulted in the equimeric regeneration of the same number of segments lost. As expected, posterior regeneration proceeded hypermerically with segments continually added to the growth zone of the blackworm at all amputation levels. The natural position of L. variegatus at the land/water interface makes the organism very susceptible to herbicide runoff, which includes glyphosate. Mortality testing using glyphosate proved inconclusive. However, organisms exposed to glyphosate exhibited altered movement and response to stimuli. While this is not quantified data, it certainly suggests that glyphosate interacts with internal mechanisms in the blackworm which may or may not have an affect on the crucial process of regeneration in an organism which relies upon it to proliferate. Further experiments, both short- and long-term, need to be conducted to characterize what affect, if any, this herbicide has on such an integral organism in the ecosystem. [from conclusion] | Crawford, Karen | 2001-05 |
| Wood, Kelsey M. | Biology | Are white-tailed deer prejudiced? : a behavioral examination of a leucistic white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and her normally-colored counterparts | Integument coloration, the outward coloring of an organism, can affect the behaviors of that individual. Being cryptic by blending in with one’s environment has been shown to be crucial to an animal’s survival. Differences in integument coloration in disorders such as leucism, the lack of integument pigmentation, may affect an animal’s survival and therefore its behavior. Behavioral differences between a leucistic and normally-colored white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were tested by varying methods to determine the effect abnormal coloration had on behavior. These methods included the frequency of fleeing, the frequency of tail flagging, staring duration, and average distance between deer. The leucistic deer’s frequency of fleeing and tail flagging in the presence of a human was significantly less than the normally-colored deer’s. This possibly indicated the leucistic deer feared humans less than normally-colored deer did. The staring durations by the leucistic and non-leucistic deer did not differ significantly. This possibly indicated that deer react to a predator’s presence in the same manner. Both observed the potential predator for similar time durations to contemplate the threat. In addition, non-leucistic deer stood closer to one another than they did to the leucistic deer. Thus, white-tailed deer have the ability to identify non-similar individuals. They possibly segregate themselves from that individual to prevent the attraction of predators to their herd. White coloration in this individual had observed effects on her behavior. Lack of crypsis in other organisms may also cause behavioral changes. | Price, J. Jordan | 2012-05 |
| Leathers, John Stancill | Biology | Embryonic sensitivity of Kryptolebias marmoratus to endocrine disrupting chemicals atrazine and fadrozole | Atrazine is a very common herbicide that is proposed to alter sexual development in aquatic organisms by upregulating the CYP19 aromatase gene. Fadrozole is a widely used aromatase inhibitor. In this study, we look at the effect of these two chemicals on the self-fertilizing hermaphrodite mangrove rivulus fish, Kryptolebias marmoratus. We can narrow down the period of sensitivity to endocrine disrupting chemicals of developing K. marmoratus by treating late stage embryos. We predicted that the most notable effect of the chemicals would be a change in the frequency and development of mature oocytes. We therefore hoped to see to a concentration dependent increase in the relative percentage of mature oocytes in fish treated with atrazine. Conversely, we hoped to see a decrease in the relative percentage of mature oocytes in embryos treated with fadrozole. Basic observations of testicular tissue were made as well. Neither atrazine nor fadrozole was shown to have a significant effect on development of mature oocytes or mature spermatozoa. However, four out of six treated in fadrozole at 100 parts per billion (ppb) were completely masculinized. Further research is needed to draw conclusions regarding atrazine’s effect on the sexual development of K. marmoratus and its period of sensitivity to endocrine–disrupting chemicals. | Crawford, Karen | 2010-05 |
| Mastny, Jacqueline Louann | Biology | Toxicity of sodium perchlorate on developing vertebrate and invertebrate systems, using Danio rerio (zebrafish) and Lumbriculus variegatus (California blackworm) | Lumbriculus variegatus is a freshwater oligochaete that undergoes epimorphic and morphallatic regeneration. Following asexual reproduction or autotomy it consistently regenerates an eight segment head from the anterior wound site. Posterior regeneration originates from a growth zone called the pygidium from which new segments are continually added throughout growth. Lumbriculus variegtus is an excellent biomonitor since it inhabits the boarders of freshwater ponds and streams. They are used for both ecological and toxicological studies. The goal of this study was to examine the effect the potential endocrine disruptor, sodium perchlorate (NaClO4), on regeneration in Lumbriculus variegatus. NaClO4 is commonly found as a byproduct of jet/shuttle fuel and propellents. It has been shown to compete with iodine in the uptake in the sodium-iodine symporter in thyroid cells. In this study, whole, halved and 1 centimeter fragments of worms were treated with NaClO4 ranging from 5 to 5000mg/L. Worms were allowed to regenerate for approximately one week at which time control worms had complete head regeneration. Our results indicated a dose-dependent inhibition of head segment regeneration in response to NaClO4 concentrations. We also observed that worms treated with NaClO4 became more tolerant of the ethanol anesthetic used to amputate and quiet for observations. Induction of stress proteins by other endocrine disruptors has been reported and may also be responsible for the changes we observed. Ongoing experiments designed to rescue worms exposed to NaClO4 by supplementing their environment with exogenous thyroxine (T4) are being performed. | Crawford, Karen | 2010-05 |
| Nesmith, Crystal Nicole | Biology | Modeling the effect of urban sprawl on the northern harrier and the peregrine falcon | It is believed that urban sprawl has an effect on raptor species. An agent-based model was created to model the effects of urban sprawl, specifically in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, on northern harrier and peregrine falcon populations. Simulations were performed and the results are compared to the resulting population trends from an ordinary differential equation that models the effect of habitat destruction on a population. From the simulations is was found that the northern harrier population began to decline after 40-60% of the land was developed and the peregrine falcon populations started their decline after 95% of land was developed. When comparing the agent-based and analytical model, the population trends for both species were similar which lead to the conclusion that they are successful in modeling the effect of urban sprawl on raptor species. | Paul, Robert W. | 2005-05 |
| Tracy, Travis N. | Biology | Analyzing the effects of climate change on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) distributions using the bioclimatic envelope model Maximum Entropy | Both plants and animals face uncertain futures with regard to climate change. Predictive models, specifically Bioclimatic Envelope Models (BEMs), can help assess the impacts of climate change on future species distributions. They have become important tools in determining what species are most threatened and to what extent. I used a bioclimatic envelope model, called Maximum Entropy, or Maxent to evaluate the effects of climate change on Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) distributions during the 2020’s, 2050’s, and 2080’s. I chose Loblolly pine (P. taeda) for four reasons; 1) a fraction of the north eastern edge of the P. taeda species range in North America occurs in southern Maryland, 2) there is a wealth of information on the growth of P. taeda under different environmental conditions, 3) P. taeda has commercial significance in the southeastern United States, and 4) P. taeda is expected to shift its range as a result of climate change. This study of Pinus taeda is also directed towards understanding some of the general properties of such bioclimatic envelope models. There are several areas of concern with regard to bioclimatic envelope modeling that this paper addresses. Although not 100% accurate, bioclimatic envelope models can be an important predictive tool. Thus, they provide a useful resource for conserving those species most at risk because of climate change. | Williams, William E. | 2012-05 |
| Voigt, Erin Patricia | Biology | Effects of coastal acidification on juvenile oyster calcification rates (Crassostrea virginica vs. Crassostrea ariakensis) | Coastal and estuarine ecosystems are subject to several potential anthropogenic factors that reduce pH, including atmospheric carbon dioxide, hydrologic changes to freshwater input, acid deposition, and eutrophication. Increased acidity lowers the availability of dissolved calcium carbonate, CaCO3, to shell forming organisms. My study sought to determine whether acidification in accord with typical in-situ conditions of the Chesapeake Bay had a significant effect on calcification rates of newly settled juvenile oysters (Crassostrea virginica and Crassostrea ariakensis). Oysters were subjected to three pH levels (~7.4, ~7.6, ~8.0) in factorial combination with two salinities (~16, ~32) and temperatures (20°, 30° C). Calcification rates were determined by measuring the change in alkalinity over time in experimental flasks which were bubbled with a CO2-air mixture to regulate pH. For both oyster species, net calcification rates decreased significantly with decreased pH, and shell dissolution occurred at the lowest pH in the low salinity, low temperature treatments. Calcification rates for both species were significantly affected by all treatment conditions (temperature, salinity, pH); these factors may be explained by CaCO3 saturation state (or availability of CaCO3). C. ariakensis calcified at significantly higher rates than C. virginica at the high CaCO3 saturation state, but calcification rates were not significantly different at low saturation and undersaturated states. My findings suggest increased anthropogenic acidity may have significant consequences to shell growth of both species of oysters. | Kolesar, Sarah E. | 2009-05 |
| Glikin, Andrew Benjamin | Biology | Effects of storm events and land use on the erosion in the Hilton Run sub watershed | The Hilton Run subwatershed, located in Saint Mary’s County of southern Maryland, is small 2,102-acre track of land. Lexington Park, the largest city in St. Mary’s county is located at the headwaters of Hilton Run’s watershed. In recent years, Lexington Park has become highly developed and populated following the demands of the incoming population. With the increase of population and business has also come the destruction of the natural habitat surrounding the headwaters of Hilton Run’s stream and the St. Mary’s River. With deforestation comes the loss of sediment resulting in the degradation of stream and river health. It is the primary goal of this study to determine which sections of Hilton Run are contributing to the overall sedimentation and health degradation of Hilton Run and the St. Mary’s River. During storm events, sections of the northern headwaters were producing elevated concentrations of TSS in the water column. Although the highest amounts of TSS entering the stream were found to be alongside of Rt. 5. Although large amounts of TSS were expected from this site the numbers that were discovered were vastly larger than expected. | Paul, Robert W. | 2004-12 |
| Mason, April Elizabeth | Biology | Effects of development on water quality in Hilton Run subwatershed | Hilton Run is a small stream in the middle of St. Mary’s River (Maryland) Watershed. The 850-hectare Hilton Run subwatershed comprises only 4% of the total St. Mary’s River watershed. Hilton Run’s headwaters are in Lexington Park (St. Mary’s County), an area experiencing high development pressure. In the stream’s middle reaches, 202-243 hectares of forest have been recently cleared. As residential and commercial development increases, aquatic ecosystem integrity becomes compromised due to increased imperviousness, runoff, and erosion, which degrade biotic diversity. This study’s objective was to determine how urbanization and development impact stream discharge and water quality during storm events. Although most of Lexington Park development is near the headwaters of Hilton Run, all reaches are impacted by the impervious surfaces due to cumulative flow and export downstream. During storm events HR1, the site nearest most impervious surfaces, experienced more fluctuation in orthophosphate and TSS concentrations compared to the reference stream and NT10, the downstream site. This result was expected since there is more input from runoff and less time for infiltration into the soil. The highest change in Hilton Run discharge was found at the headwaters. These results can be applied to the St. Mary’s River watershed as a whole and used to formulate management plans to improve water quality. | Paul, Robert W. | 2004-05 |
| Gillis, Madeleine S. | Biology | Effects of environmental conditions on great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) distribution in Mossel Bay, South Africa | Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) can be found in all seas, but are most often observed in temperate coastal waters, especially around pinniped colonies. I looked to see if different environmental conditions affected great white shark distribution in Mossel Bay, South Africa, a known aggregation site. I hypothesized that more sharks would be present around Seal Island during environmental conditions that would give them a predatory advantage over the seals, such as cloud cover and turbidity which would decrease water visibility, or winds from the northwest which would push against the seals, fatiguing them and outlining them with the increased turbulence. I collected the data for this study along with the other interns of the South African Marine Predators Lab (SAMPLA) from June-August in 2010, and was also given data from previous years (2001-2010). During "chum" trips to one of four locations (Seal Island and three river mouths: Hartenbos, Kleinbrak, and Grootbrak) sharks were lured to the boat using fish chum and environmental conditions (wind speed and direction, water temperature, water depth, water visibility, turbidity, and cloud coverage) and the number of sharks were recorded. Environmental conditions had much less of an effect than I had predicted, but there was a large seasonal effect. More sharks were present around Seal Island during the winter and spring, when seal pups are just starting to swim, and more sharks were present around Grootbrak during the spring and summer, when dusky kob (Argyromus japonicus), a type of large predatory fish, comes into the estuaries to spawn. Great white shark distribution in Mossel Bay seems to be closely associated with the lifecycles of their main prey species, Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus), and dusky kob. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2011-05 |
| Bond, Patrick Tyler | Political Science | Effects of environmental regulation on the health of the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem | The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America. Disturbingly, a precipitous decline in the overall health of this ecosystem has been observed since the first colonization by European settlers. In order to reverse this trend and protect the Chesapeake, laws and regulations have been enacted in a variety of jurisdictions. Some of these actions have been very successful at achieving their stated goal, while others have been much less so. In an effort to identify what factors lead to achieve the desire results, various components of the ecosystem were reviewed to see if any marked improvement in their conditions could be attributed to any government action. Several factors in legislation and the resulting regulations were found to increase their effectiveness, as observed by seeing an improvement in the health of the Chesapeake Bay. These factors can be broken down into the ‘scope’ and ‘severity’ of efforts. The two best examples of these factors are the Clean Water Act which is sweeping in the scope of controls covered and the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act which allows for a complete moratorium on certain fisheries. Coupled with these factors is the range of government involvement. Federal regulations have appeared to be more effective, because of their application across the Bay, while regulations imposed by a single jurisdiction have the least observable impact of the health of the Chesapeake Ecosystem. With these simple guidelines in mind, it is hoped that more effective legislation can be enacted to protect the health the Chesapeake Bay. | Grogan, Susan E. | 2004-12 |
| Lychenheim, Sara Elizabeth | Economics | Empirical analysis of horse farm pricing in Maryland | My project explores different barns located in the Maryland area and the services each of them provides. My project helps to identify these services and helps horse owners and riders find a good barn for a reasonable price. The report strives to point out the determining factors that reflect the broad range of monthly board fees across the state of Maryland. [from introduction] | Rhine, Russell M. | 2005-05 |
| Birnbaum, Samuel Carpenter | Political Science | Energy security as a public good : a proposal for multilateral action | States seeking to acquire legitimate energy security must possess both reasonably secure access to energy supplies for a period of at least three months, and the ability to defend internal energy resources from outside incursion. Under this definition the United States, the EU, and most energy dependent states lack legitimate security. Energy security’s basic nature also ensures that no one state can secure it unilaterally. Energy security is thus best understood as an international public good. States seeking to acquire it can do so only though collective action. Three basic forms of multilateral action have the potential to improve global energy security: a formal physical security alliance, a joint stockpiling regime, and a technology sharing agreement. A transnational alliance composed of the US, the EU, and other energy-dependent states could use these techniques to improve the stability of international energy markets and deter aggressive energy-producer states. Low energy prices and the high salience of energy issues in developed countries suggest that coordinated action should commence immediately. | Cain, Michael J. | 2009-05 |
| Palumbo, Jamie Robin | Political Science | Is the US in the dark on a new energy policy? : shining light on the threats facing US energy security | Energy is crucial to the functioning of the United States. Every country must secure its access to energy, especially as oil and gas prices rise. The problem, however, is most Western states can no longer unilaterally provide their own energy security. There are insufficient resources to domestically produce the levels of fuels necessary in most countries and renewable resources are not yet viable for mass consumption. Countries that are endowed with plentiful oil and gas reserves are thus at a distinct comparative advantage. Energy resources are now being used as a form of political leverage to obtain both energy and non energy related governmental objectives. Powerful Western countries without sufficient energy sources must unilaterally obtain private contracts for energy supplies in an increasingly political world; thus the heightened importance of economic and political alliances over energy. This paper suggests that it is only through international cooperation and coalition building can a state successfully maintain its energy security. Energy security should be viewed as an international public good, requiring diplomatic collective action. The solution will lie in the creation of a diverse global policy that both ensures reliable affordable access to oil and gas reserves and researches a broad span of energy alternatives. It is therefore essential for the United States to immediately begin to negotiate binding energy alliances with both energy exporting and importing countries. These alliances will secure access to fossil fuels in the future, and diminish the seemingly prohibitive costs of alternative energy sources. The overall level of energy security will be increased for the United States and the world at large. | Cain, Michael J. | 2007-05 |
| Carey, Jeffrey | English | Ashes of Eden | Ashes of Eden is a science fiction novelette in which an inexplicable evolutionary “leap” takes place in the earth’s arthropods, making it so 1 in 1,000 individuals develops into a “faerie,” humanoid in form and intelligence. Combining human intelligence with arthropod instinct, the creatures prove catastrophically disruptive to human society even when they don’t overtly mean any harm. Protagonist Ben Rice has been the leader of a house church for over a decade, the latter half of which has consisted of a struggle to meet his congregations’ needs as the Apocalypse provoked a massive rebound in American church attendance. He’s in the process of writing a sermon on how to reach out to “nomes”(nomads): 21st-century hippies who partner up with faerie “psychopomps” and set out to the wilderness in search of enlightenment. In his research, Rice comes to know that the astonishing success of the nome movement came from how it presented a worldview where faeries not only made sense but were potential guides to a less anthropocentric vision for the world’s future. If Christianity is to have a future, it would need to open its doors to humanity’s new neighbors. | Coleman, Jeffrey L. | 2014-05 |
| Walter, Julie Rebecca | Educational Studies | Digging up the dirt on environmental education : the development and implementation of the 'Dirt Alert' camp in children ages 6 to 9 at Jefferson Patterson Park | Environmental education (EE) and outdoor education are relatively new terms; however, the foundations for such programs have been building for over 200 years. Recent research has provided ample evidence about the benefits of these types of programs, especially in relationship to increasing awareness of their surroundings and general health of children in America. The primary focus of EE educators centers on allocating children the opportunities to simply experience nature. Through the incorporation of the growing research on EE programs and the combination of educational theories with environmental science concepts, I developed a week-long summer camp curriculum for children ages 7 to 9-years-old. By implementing my “Dirt Alert” camp at Jefferson Patterson Park, in St. Leonard, MD, I was able to provide campers with a vast set of hands-on learning experiences within the natural world. With Maryland becoming the first state to require environmental education literacy standards, my EE focused summer camp was designed to help younger students become familiar with concepts they are likely to encounter later in their education. | Filbert, Teresa H. | 2011-12 |
| Wyskida, Benjamin A. | Dramatic Arts | Directing for change : foregrounding environmentalism in postmodern performance | Environmentalism and the prospect of environmental apocalypse as topics for postmodern performance are new and relatively unexplored territories in both the dramatic arts and environmental studies. Drawing on a background in both disciplines, [this SMP] is my attempt at theatricalizing environmental issues through a fully mounted production of Marisol, by Jose Rivera. The scholarly component of the project … explores the structural, political, and thematic contexts of three postmodern scripts rooted in environmental calamity. The paper focuses on each play's development of an environmentalist position through uses of place and setting, as well as on the larger social issues of urban abandonment and environmental justice implicit in each script. Marisol, a dark comedy in which a Puerto-Rican copywriter struggles to survive on the post-apocalyptic streets of New York City, confronts a number of social issues, from capitalist excess and homelessness to loss of faith. My directorial emphasis, however, was on the larger environmentalist position that dominated the world of the play and encompassed the other social issues explored by the production. Through a re-conceptualization of narrative constructs, material/design choices, and work with actors, this practical component of the St. Mary's Project culminated in a mainstage production of Marisol staged to effect social change through the medium of live performance. The St. Mary's Project includes this abstract, the thesis, a final reflection on my directing choices, a videotape of the forum discussion, and photos of the production. | Klein, Joanne R. | 1999-05 |
| Fussell, Ashley Lauren Kerschner | Human Studies | No child left inside : using children’s literature and drawings to compare minority and white children’s attitudes towards nature | Minority children in our school systems today continue to be underserved as evident in the achievement gap between minority and non-minority children (Howard, 2006). A lack of culturally relevant curricula designed for minority students affects environmental education as well (Runningrass, 1994). Environmental education has become an important part and goal of public education (Brown, 2005) and environmental attitudes play a large role in pro-environmental behavior in the future (Jacobson et al, 1997). Third graders’ attitudes towards the environment were assessed before and after a day-long environmental education lesson at a local environmental education center. Amount of pro-environmental attitudes were obtained from coded verbal responses to a story about the environment and coded written responses to two prompts. Amount of environmental awareness was obtained from coded drawings by participants of their neighborhoods. In order to assess and compare the attitudes of minority and non-minority students, data was organized by race. No significant increase in environmental attitudes or awareness was found in the non-minority group. No significant increase was found in environmental awareness in the minority group. The minority group expressed significantly more environmental attitudes expressed as environmental concepts and more relational concepts in the pretest when compared to the non-minority pretest. When looking at both groups together, an increase in relational concepts and environmental concepts was found representing an increase in environmental attitudes. | Johnson, Angela C. | 2007-05 |
| King, Emily E. | Biology | Effect of salinity and temperature on the growth of eelgrass, Zostera marina | Seagrasses are important in the health of many aquatic ecosystems, including the Chesapeake Bay, and they filter the water, serve as a nursery grounds to many species, and improve the water quality. Zostera marina, eelgrass, is a seagrass that has been experiencing declines in the Chesapeake Bay since the 1970’s and more recently in 2005. These declines are due to many environmental factors including poor water quality, low dissolved oxygen, an increase in temperatures, reduced light, and disease. In the Chesapeake Bay, eelgrass is typically found at salinities greater than ten, and salinities at either high or low extremes can have negative effects on the health of eelgrass. There are many models to assess the aptness of sites for seagrass restoration, but these do not take into account salinity. In this study I set out to investigate the effects of low salinity on the growth of eelgrass as well as the effects of salinity when paired with high temperature, another stressor. I hypothesized that low salinity when paired with high temperatures would have an adverse effect on eelgrass growth. Salinity treatments did not prove to be significant treatments on eelgrass growth, but general trends were observed that suggest a correlation between a decrease in salinity and an increase in temperature, with a decrease in eelgrass growth. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2010-05 |
| Novak, Robyn Michelle | Biology | Variation and dynamics of immunocompetence in a wild white-throated sparrow (Zonotricia albicollis) population | In this study I examine the correlation between humoral immunocompetence and several variables including morph, sex and age in white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). This species characterized by a genetic polymorphism in both sexes that results in two phenotypic morphs, white and tan. White morphs tend to have brighter plumage, less parental and more aggressive reproductive and territorial behavior than tan morphs. The more aggressive behavior of the white individuals may indicate higher testosterone levels. Folstad and Karter suggest that the suppression of immune-system functions that is caused by higher testosterone levels necessary for elaborate displays can only be maintained by certain high quality males, making these displays an honest signal of quality. In addition, workload and other forms of stress have been related to immunocompetence in a number of previous studies. In this experiment I conduct an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the antibody response of wild white-throated sparrows to black fly (Simullium spp.) saliva (an ectoparasite). I expected the aggressive white morphs to have a lower mean antibody response than the tan morphs, females to have a lower response than males and nestlings to have a lower response than adults. I further expected immunocompetence to be positively correlated with hematocrit and weight. I found significant a difference between nestlings and adults and several significant positive correlations between hematocrit and weight and antibody response in nestlings only. Individual differences may result from interactions between internal and environmental conditions and may fluctuate due to different levels of parasitism between individuals. | Myerowitz, Rachel | 2002-05 |
| Wates, Tyler | Philosophy | Radical Environmental Activism | Environmental destruction is one of the biggest issues facing us today, but over the past decades groups within the environmental movement have been performing increasingly radical action to protect the environment and animals therein. To examine these groups I first examine the process of radicalization that occurs within them. I then explain how this radicalization relates to activism in general through what I call the spectrum of activism. Next I discuss the issue of terrorism, a label that is often applied to these groups and discuss what my qualifications for being labeled a terrorist. Then I discuss the history of these groups to show how they have formed and how that relates to my theory of radicalization. With the spectrum of activism and definition of terrorism, I discuss the some common tactics performed by Radical Environmental Activists to draw distinctions to further classify them on the spectrum of activism. Finally, I analyze the distinctions I found in my research and use them to clarify the spectrum of activism as it pertains to these types of actions. | Park, Bradley D. | 2014-05 |
| Drzewianowski, Cheryl A. | Biology | Developing environmental stewardship in youth through education | For my St. Mary’s Project, I completed a yearlong internship in the Environmental Education Department at the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Estuarine Research Center, in St. Leonard Maryland. During my time at ANSERC, I was able to shadow the educators and help contribute to the programs that were taught to both school and community groups. As part of my project, I took the programs, that were previously undocumented, and created a volunteer handbook that describes in detail the programs offered at ANSERC. I also created a teacher information packet, including internet and literature resources, estuarine vocabulary, and activities that can be supplied to teachers before they come to the center in order to help prepare their students. For the last part of my project, I created a new program about plankton for the center to use based on the research that the scientists are currently studying at ANSERC. It can be used at the center or as an in-classroom activity when visiting other schools. The goal of my project was to get a better understanding of the environmental education field, and use that knowledge to create useful activities and a new program for the ANSERC Education Department. | Williams, William E. | 2001-05 |
| Santoni, Christina Renee | Biology | Herpetofauna of The Gambia, West Africa | Environmental education is a growing trend in The Gambia, West Africa, and the government is working on means to continue to encourage its programs. One major problem is that the government cannot protect species if their status is unknown. Over a three-week period I conducted a drift fence survey in the two different environments at Abuko Nature Reserve. Twelve species of amphibians and fourteen species of reptiles were recorded. Of these, 11 were new records for the nature reserve, and four were new to the country. This information was then compiled together to form a field guide for the workers at the reserve and a series of educational posters for their Education Center. These resources will be used as environmental education materials in order to encourage conservation of different species of The Gambia’s herpetofauna. | Crawford, Karen | 2001-05 |
| Buchbinder, Joanne Rae | Educational Studies | Teaching tough topics : high school biology resources for trickier subjects to teach | High school biology teachers often have difficulty teaching certain topics to students. This can be related to student interest and student understanding of the importance of the material. Through a literature review, teacher interviews, college student interviews, and analysis of state and national biology standards I identified the topics that students tend to be the least interested in and tend to lack a deep understanding of their importance. I offer suggestions and resources to get students interested and increase student understanding of each topic’s importance on a website that includes background information for teachers and activities pertinent to the difficulty associated with teaching each topic. | Muilenburg, Lin Y. | 2009-12 |
| VanDeusen, Andrew Robert | Biology | Teaching high school students to use and interpret environmental data | Environmental education is crucial for the preservation and improvement of the health of Earth because, without it, future generations would be doomed to repeat our mistakes. One aspect of environmental education which has not garnered much attention is the area of statistical analysis, without which, we would have a difficult time interpreting the data collected in the field. Today’s students need more experience evaluating environmental data so that they can become tomorrow’s ecologists. This study examined the current state of environmental and statistical education in the United States, focused on Maryland, in relation to general education. A lesson plan was created, based on scientifically reinforced practices, to introduce data interpretation through the examination of local water quality data. This optimal lesson plan was sculpted to fit within a single 47 minute class period and a pre-designed curriculum, and administered to high school environmental science students. Pre- and post-tests were used to establish the effectiveness of the lesson plan and compare the learning of 9th grade and Advanced Placement students. The results suggested that a longer, more in depth, and more interactive lesson plan would have heightened effectiveness. However, if such resources are not available, students can still learn if a relationship is established between the data and themselves and sufficient time is allotted for the lesson. | Paul, Robert W. | 2012-05 |
| Grimes, Emily | Biology | Ecological history and environmental effects of domestic swine in St. Mary's County, 1660-1750 | Swine have long been an essential element in human society. From the beginnings of their domestication in the Mediterranean to their essential role in colonial society, swine have provided a food source and been a significant part of the human landscape. Yet these animals are not like other domesticated creatures. Intelligent and equipped with a highly sensitive sense of smell, they use their strong snouts to root and dig up their favorite foods, including roots, tubers and nuts from various trees. This rooting, when done on a large scale, can cause massive environmental damage. Prior to colonization by Europeans, there were no native species of swine on this continent. This paper attempts to determine the effect that the introduction of these animals had on the environment of one colonial area in particular: St. Mary’s City, Maryland. | Paul, Robert W. | 1998-12 |
| Ernst, Zachary Joseph | Chemistry | Quantification of hopanes and steranes in natural, blended, and synthetic motor oils | A review of the environmental importance of quantification and analysis of the biomarkers hopanes and steranes is provided. Hopanes and steranes are currently the most reliable means of producing a chemical fingerprint for characterizing petroleum products. These molecules are also used to determine the relative contributions of gasoline powered vehicle emissions to atmospheric particulate matter. Current analytical techniques, including sample collection, extraction, separation and fractionation, as well as quantification and analysis are examined. Limitations of biomarker analysis are investigated in an effort to promote future advancements. In addition, the relative concentrations of hopanes and steranes present in a variety of natural, blended, and synthetic motor oils are quantified utilizing gel permeation chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2006-05 |
| Robinson, Natasha Camille | Political Science | Not in my backyard : a critical analysis of environmental justice in minority communities | The format of this [paper] … will consist of an introduction which analyzes the history of environmental awareness after the 1950s. Following this brief introduction, the environmental hazards that exist in predominantly minority communities will be discussed in detail. The awareness and activist actions that were created as a result of minority groups such as “Mothers of East Los Angeles” have heightened the awareness of the surrounding minority community. Grassroots organizations such as this have left an indelible mark on the communities that they have served. Thus, the bulk of this project will examine the environmental problem, the groups that have attempted to combat this problem, and the successes that these groups have had. Also, the future goals of such groups and my personal beliefs regarding the future of Los Angeles will be incorporated into the paper. | Smith, Nancy P. | 2001-05 |
| Kelly, Garrett McAndrew | Philosophy | Home grown philosophy | This paper is an analysis of the second formulation of the categorical imperative, Tom Regan's Radical Egalitarian case for animal rights, and Paul Taylor's Bio-centric Egalitarianism all with regard to environmental ethics and Kant’s legacy. Deep ecology and a sample of Val Plumwood’s critique of the dualistic approach to environmental philosophy demonstrate the need for a point of view which Kant’s system cannot accommodate. The world view and method of knowing developed by Rudolph Steiner is briefly presented as an alternative direction to that taken by Kant and his followers. By bringing these six philosophies together a path to personal meaningful relationships with self and environment appears to be a solution to the personal level of environmental degradation. This solution may only be appropriate to St. Mary’s College and may only be useful for a limited time. | Norlock, Kathryn J. | 2002-12 |
| O'Hara, Kathleen | Biology | Environmental risks of genetically modified crops in comparison to conventional crops and farming practices | There are two main misconceptions regarding GM crops that this paper analyzes. The first is that genetic modification is the only technique that creates crosses not found in nature and that introduces novel genes into plants. The second misconception is that GM crops pose a much greater threat to the environment that conventional crops and farming practices. In relation to the first misconception, there are numerous traditional breeding techniques that create successful hybrids from crosses that would not occur in nature (e.g., crosses between geographically isolated plant species and forced hybridization) and that introduce novel, unpredictable genes into crops (e.g., mutagenesis and somaclonal variation). In relation to the second misconception, I analyzed five commonly cited environmental risks of GM crops: the potential for transgenes to make crops more invasive weeds, for transgenes to make the wild relatives of crops more invasive weeds, for antibiotic resistance marker genes to be passed to bacteria, for Bt crops to create superpests, and for Bt crops to have adverse impacts on non-target insects. A wealth of scientific research has found the impacts of these environmental risks to be minimal. Additionally, in situations where particular risks of a GM crop are deemed problematic, there are strategies by which these risks can be effectively managed. | Price, J. Jordan | 2006-05 |
| Scheuerman, Heather Jean | Biology | Seasonal distribution of halophilic Vibrio in the water column and sediment of the St. Mary’s River | Vibrio, a genera of Gram-negative, curved, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacteria, are an autochthonous member of the estuarine flora. This study examined the seasonal distribution of Vibrio in multiple-site water column and sediment samples of the St. Mary’s River, St. Mary’s County, MD, USA. The total viable CFU/mL of water was significantly lower that the total CFU/g of sediment throughout the study (p<0.001). Data collected indicates that Vibrio is more prevalent in the sediment than the water column, although statistical significance is variable. Concurrently, Vibrio CFU/mL, in the water column decreased with the onset of colder environmental temperatures. The Vibrio CFU/g of sediment increased at the onset of cold temperature (4°C). The ability of Vibrio to attach to chitin and the observed increased polychaete density in the February sediment samples may account for the rise in Vibrio CFU/g. The percentage of total microorganisms in the St. Mary’s River that are detectable Vibrio varies from 0 to 32% depending on sampling site and date, which is a smaller percent of the microbial flora than previously reported in the Chesapeake Bay (26 to 40%; Oliver et al., 1982). Identification of the isolates was inconclusive but data indicates that there is a flux in the population of Vibrio in the St. Mary’s River. Previous research states that Vibrio enter into a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state upon environmental stresses including temperature, salinity, and pH. The results of this study suggest that Vibrio in sediment and water respond differently to temperature upshift of 25°C and 37°C. Although increased CFU/mL or CFU/g, of water and sediment respectively, were observed further experiments are warranted to differentiate between resuscitation of VBNC Vibrio or regrowth of a few culturable cells. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2000-05 |
| Cole, Luke William | Biology | Responses of the acoelous tubellarian Convolutriloba retrogemma to environmental changes | Convolutriloba retrogemma is an acoelous flatworm with an algal endosymbiont. This flatworm is capable of producing a potent and unidentified toxin. In aquaria, these Indo-Pacific tubellarians reproduce asexually via budding. I postulated that C. retrogemma would reproduce and produce defense chemicals adhering to the outline of the Carbon-Nutrient Balance hypothesis (CNB). I analyzed the effects of light and nutrient treatments on toxin production and reproductive rates in C. retrogemma using a 2 x 2 factorial experimental design. Treatments included light / food, light / no food, no light / food and no light / no food. As previous studies have shown high light/ low nutrient environments produce high levels of defense chemicals, I hypothesized that light / no food treated worms would produce the maximum amount of toxin per body weight. Inversely, no light / fed worms would produce minimal toxin levels as light also limits toxin production. When exposed to both light and food for extended periods, C. retrogemma reproduced with the highest rate, while worms deprived of light and/or food had a tenfold decrease in reproductive rate. The presence of light and absence of food facilitated the highest level of toxin production. The photosynthetic carbon products of the endosymbiotic algae appear to have been allocated to chemical defense and the presence of a nitrogenous food source provided growth potential. These results suggest that C. retrogemma exposed to light and deprived of food channel photosynthetic products into toxin production, as nitrogen, a requiem for reproduction is unavailable. Deprived of light, the worms follow the CNB hypothesis by neither reproducing nor producing toxin, suggesting a light / food interaction is necessary for increased reproduction. Light deprived environments appear to be unnatural to C. retrogemma, as suggested by observed toxin production and reproductive rates. Without light, both toxin and reproductive rates drop, indicating a trend toward population extinction. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2001-05 |
| Buchsbaum, Karen Duha | Biology | Biological succession as an environmental education tool | Due to the fact that very few environmental education programs are available for middle school aged children, I created such a program focusing primarily on biological succession, or the directional change of ecological communities due to drastic landscape or environmental changes. The program was implemented over several weeks at Sterling Middle School, during the Naturalist club meetings, and proved to be quite successful despite some setbacks early on in the project. | Williams, William E. | 2005-05 |
| Robusto, Lindsay Ann | Chemistry | Viability of the stereospecific enzymatic synthesis of S(+)-ibuprofen in the pharmaceutical industry | Ibuprofen, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is one of many chiral pharmaceuticals on the market sold as a racemic mixture. Studies have shown S(+)-ibuprofen is the sole enantiomer that produces therapeutic effects in the humans, while the R(-)-isomer has evidence of adverse effects. Stereospecific synthesis of ibuprofen has been researched extensively and has produced several viable synthetic options to the pharmaceutical industry. Of these syntheses, enzymatic catalysis has earned attention because of the mild, environmentally friendly reaction conditions associated with the use of enzymes. The present review examines several proposed methods of enzymatic stereospecific synthesis of S(+)-ibuprofen and compares these protocol with alternative syntheses including syntheses currently used in the pharmaceutical production industry. | Eller, Leah R. | 2011-12 |
| Spencer, Jean-Paul | Chemistry | Extraction of maltol from Fraser fir needles using "green" materials : an experiment for the organic chemistry laboratory class | In order to find a more environmentally‐friendly extraction protocol for the isolation of maltol from Fraser fir needles, Me‐THF and aqueous EtOH were used in place dichloromethane. The isolation was carried out by microwave‐assisted extraction and by basic bench‐top extraction, both commonly performed in organic teaching laboratories. Yields and purities were compared to results from standard extractions using DCM. A recycling process of Me‐THF was also attempted to discover if recycling the solvent postlaboratories could offset the expensive cost of Me‐THF. | Eller, Leah R. | 2010-05 |
| Rockler, Jeremy Michael | Economics | Adapting to climate change : ethics and economics | Climate change is a worsening problem that will have enormous human costs if carbon emissions continue at business-as-usual trajectories. In this project, I look first at the underlying ethical and economic issues surrounding climate change. From the ethical perspective, I include a survey of ethical theories as related to climate change and a discussion of the specific relevancy of Rawls’ Justice as Fairness philosophy to this issue. From the economic perspective, I include an evaluation of climate change as a market failure and discuss responses to this market failure in the form of global public goods. I then narrow my focus and apply this theory to what I refer to as a central dilemma in the human impact of climate change: the fact that a majority of developing countries will suffer negative effects of climate change first and worst, have nearly zero responsibility for cumulative carbon emissions, and are the least prepared financially to deal with these negative effects. It is from this position that I argue for the urgency of investment in climate change adaptation measures in these countries. After establishing this urgency, I look at the specific process of providing adaptation finance to these countries, and offer criticisms of the current process as well as potential solutions. I then discuss the application of this theory to climate change adaptation in Bangladesh, a unique example of concern and optimism. I conclude with six specific points that I hope the reader will take away from this project with a sense of urgency. | Dowla, Asif U. | 2009-05 |
| Epp-Schmidt, Dietrich Jonathan | Biology | Evolution of syllable repetition pattern in the Mimidae | The structure of birdsong is affected by many factors, both environmental and social. Species that mimic the song of other species face particular difficulty recognizing conspecifics. The Mimidae are a family of songbirds that are particularly known for heterospecific mimicry. It has often been assumed that the particular patterns of repeated sounds employed by each species are a means by which the Mimidae are able to identify conspecifics. Few previous studies have investigated how such repetition patterns change over evolutionary time or the factors that select for such changes. Habitat may affect song by limiting the range of sounds and the complexity that can be transmitted. If habitats differ significantly in acoustic characteristics, then repetition rates may correlate with habitat. But, syllable repetition may not be a response to an acoustic condition. Widespread mimicry may have lead to the use of syllable repetition as an additional means of identifying conspecifics. If syllable repetition patterns are used to recognize conspecifics or used in territorial displays, then there will be interspecific competition over the use of the signal, and it is expected to diverge in sympatric species. It is also possible that syllable repetition is used only in mate choice and repetition patterns are entirely a result of sexual selection. To test these ideas, I reconstructed the evolution of syllable repetition patterns using a molecular phylogeny and compared aspects of behavior, such as mimicry and migration, and habitat to syllable repetition patterns. My evidence suggests that while syllable repetition patterns are not correlated with habitat or behavioral characteristics, they have been affected by character displacement, and sexual selection also has contributed to their evolution within the Mimidae. | Price, J. Jordan | 2011-05 |
| Jones, Victoria Leigh | Biology | Examination of the Effect of Ocean Acidification on the Growth and Bleaching of the Hard Coral. Galaxea Fascicularis | The rapidly increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the subsequent changes in the pH and carbonate ion concentration of seawater are of particular concern for coral reefs. Reef accretion is significantly affected by changes in the pH and carbonate saturation of seawater, especially when pH and carbonate saturation are low. This experiment investigated the effect of decreasing ocean pH on Galaxea fascicularis using climate change model predictions for global ocean pH over the next 150 years. Four computer-controlled countercurrent exchangers were used to acidify seawater to pHs of 8.2, 7.9, 7.7, and 7.4. Colonies of G. fascicularis were subjected to each pH for 7 days. Initial and final buoyant weights of the colonies were used to calculate the weekly percent growth of G. fascicularis colonies exposed to pH stress. The results reveal that a computer-modulated counter-current exchange system is an effective means of acidifying seawater for ocean acidification studies. The density of the G. fascicularis skeleton is 1.11 ± 0.019 and the skeleton represents 9.98 ± 1.40% (mean ±SEM, n=6) of the total colony buoyant weight. Although the only significant difference in weekly percent skeletal growth was between corals exposed to pH 7.7 and pH 8.2, there is an apparent trend that growth decreases with decreased pH. Time did not allow for the quantification of coral bleaching however it was determined that the ZR Tissue & Insect DNA Microprep protocol (Zymo Reasearch) does work for isolating G. fascicularis DNA. Global climate change is an incredibly complicated phenomenon with multiple drivers and far-reaching effects. It is important to understand how individual components of climate affect vulnerable ecosystems such as coral reefs so that a better understanding of the earth and how it is changing can be obtained. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2013-05 |
| Knight-Gack, April | Biology | Factors affecting fecundity and recruitment of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Chesapeake Bay | The blue crab Callinectes sapidus, has long been regarded as an iconic symbol of the Chesapeake Bay. In recent years the population has been in decline and many factors including habitat degradation, predation and possibly changes in fecundity have been implicated in that decline. A change in blue crab fecundity may be attributed to declining blue crab size, thus lowering their reproductive potential. Analyzing data, provided by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Winter Dredge Survey, from 1989-present shows carapace width of the blue crab has, in fact, increased and this should result in an increase in their reproductive capabilities. However, low abundance of both male and female crabs in the Chesapeake Bay; suggest a decline in overall reproduction. My findings indicate further investigation into the factors affecting blue crab fecundity should be investigated in order to prevent the possibility of stock collapse. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2009-05 |
| LaShier, William Seth | History | Awakened from a spirit of lethargy : the history of the Maryland Farmers’ Alliance, 1889-1897 | The Farmers’ Alliance in Maryland is a topic that has largely been ignored by historians. The size and success of Alliances in other states, particularly in the South and the West has overshadowed the movement in Maryland. Founded in Texas in the early 1880s, the Alliance’s purpose was to help the struggling farmer. In the late 1880s the organization quickly spread throughout the South. By 1889 the Farmers’ Alliance established itself in Maryland, but was never as popular as in other regions. More than likely this apathy was the result of the economic, geographic and demographic differences of Maryland from the South and the West. In Maryland easy access to credit, alternative employment opportunities and a large urban center proved farmers more alternatives than the oppressive agricultural system. In 1891, though, the Maryland Farmers’ Alliance had spread through much of the state and many regarded the organization as a potent political threat. The Alliance’s venture into the politics of that year had mixed results. The Alliance influenced the nomination and election of Governor Brown, but Alliances failed at exerting as much influence as they desired in local elections. Inexperience and an uncertainty in purpose prevented the county Alliance from creating a unified farmer voting bloc. 1891 was the height of Alliance influence in Maryland. In the following years the organization turned its back on partisan-politics, and concentrated on the social and economic concerns of the rural community. By 1897 the Maryland Alliance was defunct. | Holden, Charles J. | 2009-05 |
| Brule, Rina Marie | Economics | Socio-economic aspects of open space and agricultural land preservation | In some regions of the United States the growing number of strip malls and residential communities are creating suburban sprawl which is a growing concern. Where land becomes a precious commodity, many decisions about whether to preserve or sell are being made. This study investigates the claim that the decision to preserve is being made using insufficient criteria – in particular, leaving out the socioeconomic aspects. Using state-level data, regression analysis is used to determine whether there is a significant relationship between the amount of land preserved and socio-economic indicators. Three socio-economic indicators are found to be significant: income level, housing values, and the percentage of the population that is African-American. These results suggest that the socio-economic impact should be considered when estimating net preservation benefits associated with open space and farmland preservation programs which may adversely impact minorities and low-income families. | Poor, P. Joan | 2005-05 |
| Fagergren, Eve Danielle | Biology | Comparison of Ruppia maritima and Zostera marina as habitat for fish communities in the St. Mary’s River and Sinepuxent Bay, MD | Seagrass beds support significantly higher faunal abundance and diversity than bare sediments. They serve as nursery habitat for juveniles, such as the blue crab. Seagrass beds also produce an abundance of food, such as detritus and epiphytes, reduce predation, and offer a more complex habitat than bare sediments. Different seagrass species support different faunal communities possibly due to differences in leaf morphology and habitat heterogeneity. In this study, I compared the fish communities from two seagrass species, Ruppia maritima and Zostera marina, in Sinepuxent Bay, MD. It is believed that a more complex habitat supports a more diverse and abundant faunal community than a homogenous habitat. Therefore, I hypothesized that Ruppia would support a higher abundance and diversity of fish than Zostera because Ruppia’s thin, highly branched leaf blades would create a more complex habitat and provide more protection from predators than Zostera’s wider, unbranched blades. Samples were collected during the day and at night using a beach seine and box trap. Fish abundance, number of species, biomass and mean length of each fish was measured. Also, the above ground plant biomass and drift algae biomass for each seagrass species was quantified to compare the habitat complexity between these two seagrass beds. In Sinepuxent Bay, fish biomass, number of species, median weight, median length, and density of fish was higher in the Zostera bed than the Ruppia bed. At this site, mean weight of Callinectes sapidus was higher in the Zostera bed during the day. Also, there was a trend towards increased fish abundance and diversity at night compared to the day in both grass beds. But the only significant increases occurred in the Ruppia bed, where there was a greater number of species, median weight, and median length of fish at night than during the day. In contrast, in the St. Mary’s River, there was a significant decrease in fish biomass, number of species, and density of fish sampled in the Ruppia bed. The differences in the fish communities between the Zostera bed and Ruppia bed that I observed did not support my hypothesis. It appears that the Zostera bed was a more complex habitat than the Ruppia bed because it had a higher aboveground plant and drift algae biomass. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2000-05 |
| Leung, Lisa Marie | Biology | Determination of the origin of nonpoint sources of Escherichia coli in St. Inigoes Creek, St. Mary’s City, MD using antibiotic resistance analysis | Fecal contamination in coastal waters poses a continuous threat to the population. Fecal coliform bacteria are harmful to indigenous marine organisms and can cause illness in humans as well. (Osterblad et al., 2000) Escherichia coli bacteria were isolated at four different sites and analyzed by discriminant analysis to determine the source of fecal pollution in St. Inigoes Creek, St. Mary’s City, MD. Temperature, salinity, and bacterial populations were also monitored weekly at each site. Discriminant analysis of known sources had an average rate of correct classification of 66.9%. Analysis of nonpoint sources of E. coli from human and non-human sources showed a fairly even distribution at each site with slightly higher numbers of non-human origin observed at all sites. During the summer, temperature and salinity remained at levels optimal for bacterial growth, and populations were high throughout the study. However, as temperatures dropped, bacterial populations dropped at all sites. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2004-05 |
| Monroe, Amelia Norton | Anthropology | On the outside : feral felines in society | This paper discusses the plight of the feral cat in America. It looks cats and the roles they played from the time of domestication to today. The roles of domesticated cats are examined but the paper focuses on the lives lead by felines that do not have homes. The quality of life of feral and stray cats is often very poor. Disease, malnutrition, and accidents take the lives of thousands of these animals a year. By observing the work done by local and national agencies to help cats, this paper takes a close look at the programs being put into action and the effect they have. Euthanasia, adoption, and Trap-Neuter-Release are the main focus. Stories of feral and stray cats provide real life examples of life for feral and stray cats. | Ingersoll, Daniel W. | 2010-05 |
| Lott, Cassandra Alyson | Biology | Comparison of aggressive interactions in feral ponies, Equus caballus, on Assateague Island, Maryland/Virginia, USA, based on population control mechanisms employed | Until recently, feral horse populations worldwide have been controlled with cruel and inhumane mechanisms when they upset the ecosystems that they inhabit and compete with domesticated livestock. These mechanisms of population control, such as roundups and the shooting or adoption of captured horses, are unacceptable to the public, but they predominate when other options are not available. The explosive population growth of the feral ponies on Assateague Island has similarly jeopardized local endangered species, but the nostalgia surrounding the ponies and their high visibility to the public has rendered such population control methods impractical. In response to the demand for a benign, effective contraceptive that could be administered remotely, the porcine zona pellucida (PZP) immunocontraceptive vaccine was developed. The zona pellucida (ZP) surrounds the mammalian ovum and is instrumental in attracting the sperm and providing binding sites for fertilization. Annual dart injection of the PZP into mares causes them to produce antibodies to the ZP, blocking binding sites and preventing conception. This vaccine is physiologically effective, but there have been few studies investigating the possible behavioral side effects. This prompted me to examine the possible effect of the immunocontraceptive on aggression displayed by the ponies. If the mares continue to cycle but do not conceive, stallions might be forced to defend them for longer periods of time than would occur under natural breeding conditions, possibly resulting in an increase in aggression experienced throughout the year. I hypothesized that more aggression would be observed in a population whose reproduction is controlled by PZP than in a control population that is allowed to reproduce naturally. To investigate this hypothesis, bands from each population were observed on consecutive days, and observations were made of individuals within a band every minute during the observation period between 0800 and 1300 hours. Behaviors were recorded using an ethogram of 31 behaviors, including both aggressive and maintenance behaviors. There was no significant difference in aggression between populations. This result is encouraging for proponents of the vaccine, which must be both physiologically effective and have minimal behavioral side-effects if it is to become a more widely used method of population control for other feral horse and mammalian populations. Further studies are required to confirm the results and negate the effects of several unforeseen variables that were introduced during the course of the study. This future research is important to ensure that the PZP immunocontraceptive has minimal behavioral side effects on the populations is it used to control. | Orlando, Edward F. | 2002-05 |
| Murphy, Anna-Marie | Biology | Effect of brominated flame retardants on the Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants in plastics, paints, electrical components and synthetic textiles. These chemicals have been detected in sediments, lakes and the tissues of fish and mammals. PBDEs exhibit a base composition of up to nine bromine atoms surrounding two benzene rings connected by an oxygen atom. This composition is similar to natural thyroid hormones (TH), and have been shown in certain animal systems to perturb the endocrine system. The Mexican axolotl is an obligate neotene, so it is unable to undergo metamorphosis because it does not release thyroid hormones. The axolotl can be induced to metamorphose by exogenous treatment of TH. To explore whether synthetic chemicals disrupt the endocrine pathway, I injected axolotls with different PBDE congeners: BDE-47, BDE-99 or DE-71. In my experiment, treatment of TH induced complete metamorphosis but PBDEs did not. These results set the foundation for follow-up studies on the mechanism of PBDE action in the axolotl. | Crawford, Karen | 2008-05 |
| Wetherill, Bethany Anne | Political Science | Trading safety for trade liberalization? : US food safety and international free trade agreements | As food systems have become more globalized, a process aided through international free trade agreements, international standards of safety have been developed to promote free trade. Critics of these standards claim these standards result in downward harmonization of standards and point to the increasing number of cases of foodborne illness in the US as evidence. This paper examines the effects of these international standards on the perceived and actual levels of food safety as well as the extent to which higher standards would limit trade. Finding no direct evidence that international standards are responsible for the high number of cases of foodborne illness or an overall lower level of food safety in the US, but still high incidence and costs of foodborne illness, it explores policy options at the producer, supplier, local, state, national, and international level to improve food safety in the US within existing trade agreements. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2010-05 |
| Heck, Evan Kobert | Biology | Tree regeneration in late-successional spruce-fir forests of coastal Maine | Forests dominated by Picea rubens and Abies balsamea represent an important ecosystem of the northeastern United States. Despite the ecological significance of this system, very little research has been done to understand what conditions facilitate the regeneration of these forests. This study surveyed multiple undisturbed, late-successional remnant stands in order to quantify characteristics of regeneration in a natural system. The results of the survey suggest that mature stand characteristics can take a long time to develop. Furthermore, the development of a mosaic forest structure with a cyclical regeneration pattern is characteristic of the climax state. Finally, balsam woolly adelgid has fundamentally changed forest structure by damaging A. balsamea and reducing regeneration. These findings highlight the need for continued research into spruce-fir regeneration and the necessity of informed management practices. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2012-05 |
| Burns, Samuel Alan | Biology | Maximizing carbon sequestration through forest management in Maryland | In this study, I researched how and why forest carbon storage is a viable method for carbon sequestration. It is widely accepted that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been and continue to rise as a result of human activity. The carbon cycle was investigated and it was concluded that the atmospheric buildup of CO2 would be most-effectively mitigated through an increase in land-based carbon sinks. Due to the influence CO2 has on the greenhouse effect as well as the existence of several natural positive feedbacks associated with greenhouse warming, it was concluded that steps need to be taken to address this build-up of atmospheric CO2 because it has the potential to bring about global climate changes. This paper explored a variety of forest management methods as well as individual tree species that are applicable toward increasing forest carbon storage in Maryland. The Quercus genus of oaks was concluded to have the greatest potential for carbon storage due to their dense tissues which possess the highest proportions of dry-biomass to water. For this reason, it was argued that these species should be promoted through active management, such as shelterwood trimming and the harvest of less-efficient-carbon-storing species like Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubra, and Pinus taeda that presently out-dominate native oaks in Maryland. | Williams, William E. | 2011-05 |
| Alexander, Zachary David | Biology | Forests as carbon sinks : estimating carbon sequestration across successional stages | Anthropogenic contributions to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are leading to global climate change. Scientists and government officials are starting to put a value on carbon sequestration as a natural way to mitigate these effects. A slow recovery of forested land has occurred since 1910 after European colonization introduced widespread deforestation practices to the United States in its first centuries as a nation. Consequently, various successional stages of forest are currently reverting back to more mature states. My study estimated the amount of carbon sequestered on three different stages of successional forest at Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary’s County, MD, USA. Carbon stock estimations were made for an old-field successional site (~5-10 years since the last clearing), a young successional forest site (~25-30 years since the last clearing), and a mature successional forest site (50~75 years since the last clearing). Carbon sequestration estimations were significantly different for all three successional stages of forest with the old-field successional site having the lowest and the mature successional forest having the highest. In the successional transition from old-field to mature forest there is a substantial shift in carbon storage from belowground to aboveground during initial forest successional stages. This study demonstrates the importance of studying carbon sequestration on younger successional forests and recently abandoned farmland for its potential use to mitigate global climate change effects. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2012-05 |
| Araujo, Kristlyn Rianna L. | Chemistry | Extraction and quantification of hopanes and steranes in urban particulate matter standard reference material 1649a | The following report begins with the topic of Fossil Fuel Biomarkers and how these compounds can be of help when attempting to determine the sources and extent of air pollution. Two biomarker classes, hopanes and steranes, are integral in tracing the presence and source of one major area of air pollutants: vehicular petroleum combustion. The Environmental Protection Agency is concerned with keeping PM10 and, more recently, PM2.5 at an acceptable standard according to human health. However, recent studies show that even smaller particles called ultrafine particles are equally if not more hazardous to human health. Fossil fuel biomarkers can be utilized in atmospheric studies as a correlational tool to trace all three classes of particulate matter. It is important to determine an exact method of extraction of these organic compounds from air sample so their concentrations may be used to their utmost potential. The literature has been explored for different methods of extraction as well as different methods of data interpretation so that a singularly effective method for quantification and analysis can be attempted in quantifying hopane and sterane concentrations in NIST SRM1649a. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2005-05 |
| Specht, Rachel E. | Biology | Effect of perchlorate exposure on Danio rerio development and Lumbriculus variegatus regeneration | Lumbriculus variegatus is a freshwater oligochaete that undergoes epimorphic and morphallatic regeneration. Following trauma or autotomy it consistently regenerates an eight segment head from the anterior wound site. Posterior regeneration originates from a growth zone called the pygidium from which new segments are continually added throughout growth. Because Lumbriculus inhabits the borders of freshwater ponds and streams it is an excellent biomonitor for both ecological and toxicological studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect the putative endocrine disruptor sodium perchlorate has on regeneration in Lumbriculus. Sodium perchlorate is commonly found as a byproduct of ammunitions and propellants. As a potential endocrine disruptor it has been shown to outcompete iodide in uptake at the sodium iodide symporter in thyroid cells. In this study, whole, half and one centimeter fragments of worms were treated with perchlorate ranging from 5 to 5,000mg/L. A series of worms was also exposed to perchlorate and exogenous thyroxine (10nM). Worms were allowed to regenerate for approximately one week at which time the control worms had completed head regeneration. Our results showed a dose dependent inhibition of head segment regeneration in response to perchlorate treatment. Moreover, we observed that worms treated with perchlorate became more tolerant of the ethanol anesthetic used to both amputate and quiet worms for observations. Altered locomotion was also noted in worms exposed to perchlorate. | Crawford, Karen | 2010-05 |
| Pierzga, Anneka | Biology | Cataloging and leveraging the private and government concerns of the wildlife rehabilitation community in the Maryland - Virginia area | Wildlife rehabilitation is the care and treatment of injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife with the ultimate goal of returning the wildlife to their original habitat. Wildlife rehabilitators are in a unique position to collect and record information about the wildlife presented to them for rehabilitation. This information may be useful in identifying trends in disease and injury, as well as identifying issues of potential conservation concern. At present, there is little, if any, government support of private wildlife rehabilitation efforts. In this study, a survey was developed to catalog the concerns of the private wildlife rehabilitation community in the Maryland – Virginia area. From this, it was determined that the majority of the rehabilitators identified lack of funding as inhibiting their efforts the most. When the various government agencies that regulate wildlife permits were contacted to identify their involvement and support of the private wildlife rehabilitators, it was found that these government agencies required the submission of annual reports of the animals received for rehabilitation by the rehabilitators. However, none of these government agencies utilize this information except when reviewing requests for permit renewals, and even then, it is only to assure that the rehabilitators have complied with record submission requirements. At present, the work and potential of wildlife rehabilitators is undervalued, though the value of their efforts can be magnified if the data they collect and records they keep could be systematized, regularized and centralized so that the wildlife and public health community could access and readily analyze this information for any number of purposes. Once this information becomes both standardized and centralized into an easily accessible public database and detailed analyses of the data become possible, various items of valuable information, as well as opportunities for funding, may be discovered. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2011-05 |
| Pitt, Margaret Frances | Biology | Controlling powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis sp. fragariae) on strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) | Agricultural plants are always endangered by various plant diseases, including the pathogenic fungi powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis sp. fragariae) and producers are continually searching for new methods for protecting their crops. The main method of defense today is fungicides. Due to fungicide resistance and possibly harmful environmental affects, alternate methods of defense are being pursued. In this experiment, the plant activator Actigard® and the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Companion® were tested singly and in combination in comparison with sulfur fungicide for effectiveness in controlling powdery mildew on Diamante strawberries. Over the course of 33 days, the average number of colonies on each plant and the ratio of infected leaves to healthy leaves were recorded. While certain trends were observed, no significant results were produced, most likely due to the short duration of the experiment. | Williams, William E. | 2006-05 |
| Paguirigan, Jessica | Religious Studies | Liturgies of the Earth: Rituals for Gardening | All living things are subject to the same life cycle, and so we are all connected. It is based on this principle of interconnectedness that I regard the relationship between the gardener and garden as a transcendent and sacred connection; due to the repetitive nature of the life cycle, I perceive the repeated tasks of gardening as rituals that must be performed in order to maintain a healthy understanding and relationship with the earth. In this project, I present gardening as a ritual, spiritual practice and encourage others to garden at the Campus Community Farm by conveying these ideas in a publicity campaign. My publicity campaign is the creative portion of my project in which I have designed and distributed an assortment of publicity materials, including flyers and free handouts (e.g. gardening gloves) that draw people’s attention to a website containing written statements in which I share my personal spiritual experiences in the garden, and short animations that visually portray the ritual and spiritual aspects of gardening. The written portion defines ritual in relation to gardening, and then thoroughly describes the creative process implemented in the creation of the publicity campaign. Here, I explain how my choices in symbolic imagery and artistic medium represent my ideas, deconstructing my complex visuals that show the connections between the physical and the spiritual, and between nature and humans to effectively convey the perception of gardening as a spiritual ritual. | Von Kellenbach, Katharina | 2014-05 |
| Markey, Rachel Petersen | Biology | Enzymatic production of pyruvic acid : a measure of pungency in Allium sativum grown in Maryland and Vermont | Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for thousands of years by people around the world in a variety of ways, including food and medicine. The antibacterial properties and other health benefits of garlic have been studied extensively. Recently, there has been an increasing demand for natural antibacterial medicines due to an increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria. Diallyl disulfide-S-oxide, or allicin, is the main antibacterial compound formed in crushed garlic. Allicin is useful against bacteria, however it is very unstable and difficult to isolate. One can, however, measure pungency. In this experiment I looked at five varieties of garlic grown in both Maryland and Vermont. I measured the pungency of each variety by measuring the concentration of pyruvic acid, which is formed in a one-to-one ratio with allicin, and then measured the antibacterial activity of each variety against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli using a Kirby-Bauer test. My goals were to assess whether climate might affect pungency, and whether pungency is correlated to antibacterial activity. There were no significant correlations found between garlic pungency and antibacterial activity, however there were significantly higher levels of enzymatically-produced pyruvate in varieties grown in Maryland than in the same varieties grown in Vermont. In the future, more research is necessary to find another indicator other than pungency for antibacterial activity in order to eliminate complications in finding valuable, antibacterial garlic varieties. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2007-05 |
| Ross, Ryanne | Biology | Novel Roles of Genetically Engineered Plants | This literature review was undertaken to assess whether the benefits of genetically engineered plants with novel roles outweigh the risks. For nearly two decades, genetically engineered plants have been a source of controversy with consumers who have questioned or rejected genetically engineered crops with agronomic or quality traits. Plants are now being engineered for novel roles that may affect pharmaceutical and vaccine production, industry and pollution prevention and removal. Before assessing the benefits and risks of genetically engineered plants of the future, it was important to first reevaluate the benefits and risks of genetically engineered plants with agronomic or quality traits, as they would have benefits and risks in common. I then researched and evaluated the benefits and risks unique to genetically engineered plants with novel roles. Genetically engineered crops have been an essential part supplying the food demands of an world population undergoing accelerated growth. However, while most risks associated with genetically engineered plants are minimal, gene flow from genetically engineered crops to conventional crops has occurred though the risk can be reduced by taking proper precautions. Genetically engineered plants with novel roles can do much to improve human and environmental health as long as consumers take an informed and active role in their development and use. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2013-05 |
| Welsh, Susan L. | Biology | Genetically modified staple foods : the solution to iron deficiency anemia in developing countries | Iron deficiency anemia is the world’s leading micronutrient deficiency, harming over one third of the global population. Attacking mostly women and children, the disease causes impaired mental and physical development, resulting in a decreased working capacity and an economic burden to the developing nation. Current solutions of iron supplementation and iron fortification are costly and difficult to implement in developing countries. Present trends lean towards genetically modifying staple foods generally consumed by populations inhabiting developing nations. Researchers believe that adding micronutrients to plants will increase the health of the plant and the yield of the crop, while enhancing the nutrient quality of the plant for human consumption. Although many critics are skeptical of genetically modified products, they may be the only feasible solution existing to feed our rapidly increasing population in the 21st century. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2001-05 |
| Balla, Agnes | Biology | Genetic modification of crops : an analysis of Bt corn in the United States and its potentials in developing countries | Genetically modified (GM) corn products are consumed by millions of Americans every day and line the shelves of most American grocery stores without a label. In stark contrast, most countries in the European Union (E.U.) have adopted the precautionary principle of completely rejecting GM crops and continue to urge other nations to do the same. In the face of a new revolution in food production, developing countries are looking toward the example set by the industrialized countries, namely those in the E.U. that reject the technology and Canada and the United States who have embraced it. This paper analyzes what the best course of action is for Lesser Developed Countries where pests, disease and drought continue to devastate staple crops. | Price, J. Jordan | 2006-05 |
| Heydt, Katelyn Ann | Biology | Comparison of the AZA and EAZA husbandry manuals to improve the welfare of captive giraffes (Giraffa cameloparidalis) | As of 2008, Europe and the United States held 82% of the world’s captive giraffe population. Holding such a large percentage of the captive giraffe population, maintaining the health and genetic diversity is imperative. I investigated the care and regulation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) giraffe husbandry manuals focusing on four major points: (1) the effect of climate on overall effectiveness of enclosure type, (2) enrichment as an effective tool in reducing stress, (3) training as an effective tool in reducing stress, and (4) the effect of diet on the health of captive giraffes. My findings revealed that the AZA and EAZA have similar care and regulation protocols. The AZA and EAZA both recommend that giraffes go indoors when temperatures fall to roughly 50 degrees Fahrenheit and indoor enclosures should be maintained well above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, both organizations advocate enrichment to reduce stress and enhance natural behaviors in giraffes. Unlike the EAZA, the AZA highly promotes training to increase safety for the animal and the staff. Lastly, the AZA and EAZA recommend feeding giraffes a diet composed of hay, pellet feed, and supplements; however, access to high quality products is difficult for European institutions to obtain compared to U.S. facilities. Understanding the economic burden of manipulating the enclosure structure, if the AZA and EAZA worked together to provide standard care and practices for captive giraffes the captive giraffe population will maintain its health and genetic diversity. This can be done by providing lectures on training by experts at AZA facilities to facilitate the integration of training at EAZA institutions, and proper nutrition for all captive giraffes by sharing suppliers to help standardize hay and specially formulated pellet feed at a global level. | Price, J. Jordan | 2012-05 |
| Sivilich, Michelle Diane | Anthropology/Sociology | Building a GIS coverage of Historic St. Mary's City | GIS (Geographical Information System) is a computer based mapping system that links each map feature to a database. It is more than just desktop software; it requires the recourses of hardware, software and trained personnel. It is a powerful spatial analysis tool that allows features to be layered and comparisons between them drawn as well as provide for a useful management tool. The data can then be queried to answer complex questions. The use of GIS in archaeology is a relatively new application. It is just now being realized the potential GIS has in aiding in archaeology such as mapping, site analysis, and report writing. Recently Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) has decided to create and implement GIS for use in archaeology with the help from EMA (Egan McAllister Associates), a nationally recognized management consulting firm. EMA is providing pro bono assistance to HSMC. My St. Mary’s Project has been to work with Historic St. Mary’s City in creating GIS coverage of the archeological sites located within their boundaries. The hopes for this project were to create the framework that would allow for future projects. Since this has never been done before it was a slow process, but there is great potential for more sophisticated analysis and data management not too far down the road. The possibilities for future work are almost limitless such as being able to query the data to show only one specific site such as all 17th century sites. A database of all the artifacts found could be linked to the site, which would allow for easy distribution analysis. Environmental data can be added such as the locations of historic shorelines, distance to water, soil types, etc. These are just a few of the future applications of this work. | Hurry, Silas D. | 2002-05 |
| Doubt, Danielle Elizabeth | English | From the global to the local : a personal and political approach to understanding what we eat | This St. Mary’s Project encompasses my English major, as well as my minors in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Political Science. It is a series of four, public-intellectual essays focusing on food and agricultural practices at the local and global levels using a feminist perspective. The first essay, entitled “The Tipping Cow: Has Industrial Agriculture Pushed Too Far?” describes the cow’s exploitation in the current agricultural industry, focusing on concentrated animal feeding operations and slaughterhouse procedures. The second essay, “Powder-puff Football, Sumo Warriors, and Food: Gender Dichotimization in the Food Network’s Iron Chef: America and Cupcake Wars” focuses on the Food Network’s gendered portrayals of male “chefs” and female “cooks” through a comparison of “Iron Chef: America” and “Cupcake Wars.” In the third essay, “I Eat the World: A Personal History of Food Politics” I analyze how major revolutions in food production, from the advent of cooking, to the agriculture overhaul, to the industrial revolution and globalization of the food chain have affected gender relations across history. In my fourth and final essay, “Women in Farming: The Local and the Global” I focus on women farmers at the two extreme end of the spectrum: those farmers in St. Mary’s County and those across the globe, but particularly in India. | Cognard-Black, Jennifer | 2012-05 |
| Howard-Foley, Chelsea Claire | Political Science | Climate justice now! : the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the emergence of a global grassroots climate movement | The last half of the twentieth century has seen many changes in the global environment as well as a major transformation of the international political system, largely because of economic globalization, decolonization, and an increase in the number of states. As a result of this transformation there has been an increase in the number and power of both international organizations and non-governmental organizations. This period has witnessed the emergence of a global grassroots climate movement that is active not on the local and national level but also increasingly at the international level of contention. The global grassroots climate movement is one of the world’s first global social movements and is closely connected to the social justice and anti globalization and neoliberalization movements, and has in many ways become an all-encompassing movement struggling to transform the world at all levels of existence (economic, political, cultural, and social). It is a movement that is different from the climate movements of years past, with a heavy influence from global youth, and over the last few decades has focused not only on environmental protection and reducing global carbon emissions but also on justice in all forms (environmental, climate, economic, and international), intergenerational equity, anti-oppression, and in bridging the divide between the Global North and the Global South. The movement was influential in putting climate change on the international political agenda, instrumental in the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and continues to be involved with and mobilize around meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This project analyzes the development of the global grassroots climate movement and discuss how the movement has interacted with other actors in international politics in order to put global climate change on the international agenda and create the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and how the global grassroots climate movement continues to mobilize around and target the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. | Shafqat, Sahar | 2011-05 |
| Wise, Adam Randolph | Mathematics | Importing a CAD model between Openflight and Google Earth’s 3D warehouse | [no abstract] | Sterling, Ivan | 2009-05 |
| Straus, Nathan Aaron | Biology | Looking for a Greener Goodpaster Hall | Goodpaster Hall is the newest academic building planned for construction at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Under the supervision of the United States Green Building Council it is the first building to be designated green on the St. Mary’s campus. In keeping with the environmentally conscious focus of Goodpaster’s construction the objective of this study is to apply a novel method of landscape design to improve building energy efficiency. The study of trees in providing energy savings to buildings has been researched for almost three decades. These studies have provided strategies for calculating potential tree benefits according to species, distance and orientation. Based on tree type, species can be classified to their benefit values based on the climate region they are being planted within. Previous studies have shown that large trees provide the greatest degree of benefits. Research has also concluded that deciduous trees should be planted on east, wrest and southern, while conifers are ideal windbreaks. This study has found that for the planting design already in place for Goodpaster Hall there is room for change to maximize the savings potential of each tree towards the new building. Using geographic information systems, projections were made for species, types, distances, and orientations of trees around Goodpaster Hall. These maps were analyzed and species distribution was altered to show how and why orientations and distances should be altered to effectively achieve a better planting design. | Paul, Robert W. | 2007-05 |
| Bruno, Nicholas Charles | Chemistry | Investigation into novel green chemical transformations in ionic liquids and a treatise on novel reactivities of diaryl-A3-iodanes | [no abstract] | Koch, Andrew S. | 2010-05 |
| Epstein, Meredith Brooke | Environmental Studies | Consumer’s guide to opting out | Out of the new, “green” consumerism that mainstream society has embraced grows a false sense of mitigation. Industry has led the average American consumer to believe that individual environmental impact can be lessened simply by buying “greener” versions of what we typically consume. However, maintaining high levels of consumption – whether or not the products are more “eco-friendly” – does little to nothing to reduce one’s ecological footprint. The only real solution to today’s greatest environmental crises is to consume less by changing our buying habits, the way companies make things, and our economic system. Capitalism is based on the idea that unbounded economic and population growth are good. Success is more stuff. We need a less stuff model. “Opting out” of the more stuff model is electing to grow alternative economies instead of contributing to ones that perpetuate suffering and environmental degradation, forcing companies to change how they operate to meet increasing consumer demand for more sustainable and just methods. This guide provides a set of navigational tools to see past marketing ploys and identify the real impacts of goods as well as routes for opting out of our consumption-oriented ideology and infrastructure. We must use our dollars and our votes to convey the values of Sustainability, Conscientiousness, Compassion, and Community rather than Productivity, Progress, Growth, and Development. We, the consumers, have the power—the power to opt out of the complex and detrimental systems that have taken us out of touch with the way the world really works. The power to rejoin the cycles that sustain life. | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2008-05 |
| Wood, David | Biology | Growth and Survival of North American Native Species versus Non-native Species on a Southern Maryland Green Roof | While there has been a recent push in the landscaping industry to move towards the use of native plant species because of their ecological benefits, the rapidly growing green roof industry still largely utilizes plant species imported from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Using plant cuttings provided by the National Arboretum, I tested the growth and survival of five North American native plant species against three commonly used non-native green roof species on a southern Maryland green roof. To measure the success of each species, I monitored plant height, ground area covered, and survival rates over one calendar year. Heuchera richardsonii was the only native species that exhibited growth and survival comparable to the non-native species, and I recommend further research into its potential marketability to green roof plant nurseries. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2014-05 |
| Tarbox, Lauren Virginia | Chemistry | Solid phase microextraction of alkanes in contaminated groundwater | The purpose of this experiment is to develop a method using a relatively new green technology that will extract alkanes from water. Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) is a green technology that allows for sampling and analysis to be done without extractions of hazardous chemical solvents that will be disposed of and pollute the environment. Using the SPME 100µm polydimethyl siloxane coated fibers from Supelco, the extractions are performed through direct extraction and are immediately analyzed in the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer. The procedure for the extractions was determined by optimizing conditions from literature research. The G.C. method was determined by testing and altering a generic G.C. method. The SPME fiber was able to detect all alkanes in solutions of concentrations greater then 5ppm. Testing was performed on a 100ppm solution composed of n-hexane, n-heptane, iso-octane, n-nonane, n-decane and n-undecane using method ALKANES_REV8.M and the determined extraction procedure. The method developed was able to separate each of the six alkanes during analysis and give each alkane a different retention time. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2008-05 |
| Van Parys, Brian Patrick | Chemistry | Attempts at a novel synthetic pathway to substituted pyrroles | This project set out to develop a synthetic pathway to substituted pyrroles starting with itaconic acid. To date, I have successfully synthesized 3-(2-aminoethyl)-1,4-dibromobutane, which may be capable of being closed into a pyrrolidine. There is also hope that 4-(2-nitroethyl)octane-3,6-dione can be synthesized for formation of a Paal pyrrole. However, this pathway would require the methyl groups to be removed from the pyrrole if it is to be incorporated into a cyclo[8]pyrrole. While green chemistry has been an underlying goal of any proposed synthesis, this has not always been easy to do, so further revisions may be applied to any synthetic pathway to try and obtain a greener pathway. | Eller, Leah R. | 2011-05 |
| Schindel, Daniel M. | Biology | Can pyrolyzed paper towels increase soil fertility and sequester carbon? | Greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic activities have increased drastically since pre-industrial times, and these gases have begun to affect the Earth’s ecosystem. They are contributing to and speeding up global warming and we may soon reach a tipping point in which vast swaths of biodiversity are lost forever. Carbon sequestration will play a vital role in reducing our carbon footprint, and we must endeavor to rethink, with an eco-friendly focus, the way that we consume and dispose of materials. In this experiment I examined the possibility of reusing waste paper towels by removing them from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream by pyrolysis to sequester its carbon content. The carbon content has the potential to remained sequestered upwards of 1000 years. Soil fertility has been shown to increase when charcoal made from woody sources is added as a soil amendment. The relative growth rate (RGR) in Wisconsin Fast Plants™ (Brassica rapa) was found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater in a soil treated with a 20% charcoal (weight/weight) addition than in an untreated soil. While this study shows promise, further research into pyrolyzed waste paper’s effects on an agricultural scale is needed. | Paul, Robert W. | 2009-05 |
| Niles, Jonathan Marconi | Biology | Study of imperviousness in Hilton Run, St. Mary’s County, Maryland and its impact on biotic integrity | It has been known for many years that as development increases in a watershed, the number of aquatic species and their diversity decreases. However, at what point stream degradation begins is not exactly known. Habitat degradation and biodiversity decline within aquatic systems is dependent upon several factors, most notably the amount of impervious surface within a watershed. In this study, three monitoring locations within Hilton Run (St. Mary’s River Watershed) were established. Each location differed because of land use, and other physical features of the stream. In order to compare biological integrity, stream segments were sampled by electroshocking and the fish identified. The collection of benthic macroinvertebrates was done using d-frame kick nets and all specimens were then identified to the family level. The number of fish and benthic macroinvertebrate species present and their total numbers were used to construct an Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). An IBI assigns a site a numerical value based upon comparison to a reference stream that has little human disturbance. From this comparison it was determined that sites in the headwaters of Hilton Run has been adversely impacted by the amount of impervious surface in the watershed. Analysis showed that downstream there is biological recovery, possibly due to mitigation by a large tract of riparian buffer. Overall, Hilton run is beginning to be effected by the total impervious level of the watershed. | Paul, Robert W. | 2000-05 |
| Skrabacz, Kelly A. | Biology | Red colobus (Procolobus badius temminckii) parasite ecology and behavior | Habitat destruction, forest fragmentation, and hunting have forced humans to come in closer contact with Procolobus badius temminckii (red colobus). Increased contact has facilitated interspecific parasite transmission between humans and primates. Because parasite infection is detrimental to red colobus and interspecific transmission is destructive to human health, I attempted to examine and identify parasites found in P. badius temminckii at Abuko Nature Reserve, The Gambia. Ecological factors such as habitat, intraspecific contact, and diet have been found to affect parasite infection, therefore I collected data on colobus location in the canopy, contact rates, type of contact, and diet. In addition, I collected data on daily behaviors to distinguish intraspecific differences between the frequency and location of these behaviors. This study suggests that colobus spend most of their time in the middle canopy (5-10m), distance themselves 1-5m from one another, and spend more time feeding, resting, and being alert. | Paul, Robert W. | 2010-05 |
| Whilden, Joseph David | Economics | Harvest sustainability for the northern diamondback terrapin | The Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is the state reptile of the state of Maryland as well as the mascot for the University of Maryland. Making its home along the whole eastern seaboard, including the Chesapeake Bay, the Terrapin has been historically harvested for food. An empirical model is used to estimate Terrapin harvests in the Chesapeake Bay based on the harvest levels of Oysters and Rockfish. Using a simple sustainable growth model and the harvest estimates, future populations of a small case study a predicted. In the small case study of the Patuxent River it is estimated that the harvest is a sustainable harvest. | Poor, P. Joan | 2006-05 |
| Sikorski, Paul Matthew | Biology | Heavy metal pollution sources and their effect on the predator-prey behavior of Fundulus heteroclitus | The toxicity of heavy metals, especially mercury, is the topic of much research in the field of fish toxicology. Heavy metal contaminants in aquatic environments act as neurotoxins and target the nervous system. As a result, the release of neurotransmitters is blocked, inhibiting certain behaviors. Studies have shown that multiple trace metals can affect feeding abilities as well as the appetite of fishes. The killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, has been used to illustrate the effect of heavy metals on fish behavior. The observations in such experiments predictably result in decreased predation capabilities by the exposed fish. As a result, the use of Fundulus heteroclitus as behavioral biomarkers for metal pollution has yielded some success. My study uses this species to determine if trace metal pollution exists in a tributary of the St. Mary’s River which receives input from the nearby St. Andrews Landfill. Over a two week trial period, fish were fed 10 grass shrimp every 48 hours and the number remaining after 30 minutes was recorded. Markedly decreased predation was observed in the fish exposed to the sediment from the Landfill Tributary as opposed to fish exposed to known clean sediments. Sediment samples were analyzed to confirm the presence of heavy metals in the Landfill Tributary. The results yielded trace metal levels that were significantly higher in the Landfill Tributary sediments than in a pristine comparison site. While the results were significant, whether the concentrations were high enough to induce the behavioral changes witnessed is still questionable. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2005-05 |
| Backof, Daniel Robert | Biology | Effect of glyphosate on regeneration in a benthic oligochaete invertebrate, Lumbriculus variegatus | The use of glyphosate as a herbicide for agricultural and commercial use is considered safe since it is readily biodegraded by photosynthetic bacteria in the environment. Despite this belief, the potentially detrimental effects of glyphosate on organisms inhabiting primary contamination sites along the freshwater-land interfaces remains to be fully explored. This study examines the effect of glyphosate on a freshwater oligochaete worm, Lumbriculus variegatus. To begin to characterize the effects of glyphosate on L. variegatus, experiments involving amputation at different levels in the head and tail region were performed. These studies demonstrated that regeneration within the head but not the tail resulted in the development of the same number of segments originally amputated. Mortality tests on whole L. variegatus to determine sub-lethal concentrations to glyphosate between 5.0 parts per million (ppm) and 10.0ppm were performed. Results from these tests revealed that concentrations above 6.0ppm were lethal. Regenerating L. variegatus exposed to a glyphosate concentration of 5.0ppm exhibited a statistically significant reduction in overall regeneration rate. This observation demonstrates that glyphosate has an effect on regeneration in L. variegatus at lethal and sub-lethal concentrations (<6.0ppm), and raises questions on the safety of glyphosate to the environment. | Crawford, Karen | 2000-05 |
| Yakowenko, Ellyn Dean | Biology | Diversity of soil microfungi across a disturbance gradient : a comparison of tropical and temperate ecosystems | Soil microfungi are known to play key roles in ecosystem function and are often the first indicators of a breakdown in stability (Volk, 2001). This study sought to link modern land use across a disturbance gradient to microfungal diversity both in the tropics of Costa Rica and in the temperate deciduous forests of the eastern United States. Microfungi were cultured from soil samples using the Soil Dilution Plate Technique (Christensen, 2001). In Costa Rica, 36 soil samples collected from primary forest, secondary forest, pasture, and coffee farm sites yielded a total of 17,321 isolates of 41 different morphological species. Secondary forest sites were the most diverse (H’= 2.213), followed by coffee farm (H’= 1.113), pasture (H’= 0.506), and primary forest sites (H’= 0.314), respectively. Differences in diversity across habitats were found to be statistically significant. In the USA, 2,024 isolates of 36 species were recovered from samples of new secondary forest, old secondary forest, field habitat, and commercial farm sites. The field habitat was most diverse (H’= 2.543), followed by the commercial farm (H’= 1.937), the old forest (H’= 1.867), and the new forest (H’= 1.594). Field sites were statistically distinct in their diversity while the other habitat types were statistically indistinct. Each habitat type in both ecosystems was characterized by the dominance of a few abundant species while the rest of the community was comprised of an extensive number of ‘rare’ species. In contrast to previous studies on microfungal diversity (Cabello and Arambarri, 2002), this study determined that intermediate to high levels of soil disturbance caused by human land use actually may facilitate microfungal diversity, instead of hindering it. | Williams, William E. | 2005-05 |
| Garbart, Katherine L. | Educational Studies | Red-Winged Blackbird Songs: developing a high school curriculum to explore a scientific phenomenon | I designed and developed a website about animal communication and birdsong to provide a series of high-school level lesson plans that align with the 2013 Next Generation Science Standards. The curriculum addresses animal communication, particularly birdsong in red-winged blackbirds and the unusual phenomenon of song dialects. High school students will develop skills in graphing, data analysis, sound spectrogram analysis, information literacy, and scientific inquiry. The website is accessible at <rwbsongs.pbworks.com>. | Muilenburg, Lin Y. | 2013-05 |
| Beebe, Brittany N. | Economics | Obesity : result from agricultural corn subsidies or just a casualty of 'creative destruction'? | Living during a time in which three out of every five Americans finds themselves classified as overweight (Pollan 2003, 1), I decided to use my economic background to explore possible causes for this current obesity epidemic; I believe that if there is a better understanding of what is causing a problem, we can have a better understanding of the necessary steps to fix it. One of the popular reasons for obesity in the media today is the possible link between subsidizing commodity crops in the United States, specifically corn and soybeans, and the decreasing cost of snack/junk food that is could be causing Americans to eat more and thus weigh more. By taking a look at the history of agriculture in the United States and the corresponding economic forces driving the political policy, I hope to provide a more factual understanding behind the media’s argument. The media’s argument seems logical enough so I tried to prove a correlation between agricultural policy and obesity using basic statistical analysis but my study could not provide a strong enough correlation coefficient to suggest that the media’s argument is the ultimate answer. I then tried to use the economic analysis of the price elasticity of demand to perhaps find a link between the subsidies and the cost of food but this approach also could not provide any significant evidence. From these approaches I could not prove any direct correlation between agriculture subsidies and obesity but through my research I was able to discover that there are other possible economic factors at could be affecting obesity besides corn subsidies. Being aware of the different factors suggests that there is not one factor to blame entirely and there may be a higher force at work that we may not have any control over, such as the process of “Creative Destruction” that economist Joseph Schumpeter describes, but either way, being aware of different possibilities gives for the causes gives us more options for possible solutions to the current obesity problem. | Stabile, Donald R. | 2012-05 |
| Cleghorn, Jessica Ann | Anthropology | This little piggy went to the market : the hog market of St. Mary’s County | The hog market once thrived in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. In the past 30 years, agricultural censuses on the county level have revealed that the hog market is now in a state of fluctuation but seems to be leaning more into a decline. Several factors are involved with the process of decline. These factors fall under the categories of technology, economy, and demographics. The factors involved in the decline of St. Mary’s County’s hog market were analyzed using the anthropological theory of cultural materialism though an etic perspective. This study reveals that the county’s inability to produce the products for the market may cease the county’s hog market to exist. | Ford, Iris C. | 2011-05 |
| Hogan, Edward Francis | Chemistry | Hopanes as biomarkers : hopanes in marine sediment samples | When oil is discharged into the environment, the constituent chemicals present in the oil persist in the surrounding areas for some time. The length of this persistence is dependant upon a number of factors. The dynamics of the affected environment plays a crucial role in the bioremediation of the effected areas. One important factor in gauging the effects of these oil spills and the extent of both natural bioremediation and cleanup efforts is to be able to effectively quantify the amount of oil that has been removed. One strategy in doing this is to identify biomarkers that are present in a variety of oils. Hopanes are one such biomarker that have been shown to be present in oils. This St. Mary’s Project has been undertaken to determine the amount of hopanes present in a variety of marine sediment samples. The sediment samples that were analyzed in this project were collected from both pristine and industrialized areas. This wide spectrum of sampling should yield good results in determining what the background concentrations these biomarkers have in the environment. The samples SRM 1939, SRM 1941b and SRM 1944 were collected from industrialized areas with some history of oil spills and releases in the past. These areas include: New York Harbor, Baltimore Harbor and Newark Bay. The sample PACS-2 was collected from a more pristine environment, Esquimalt Harbour, British Columbia. The results of the analyses do indeed show that the concentrations hopanes vary over the range of the samples. The highest levels of the biomarker came from the Newark Bay sample, while the concentrations in the Esquimalt Harbour sample was indeed markedly less than the others tested. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2005-12 |
| Parzynski, Paul A. | Biology | Multi-generational study of fluctuating asymmetry within a white-tailed deer population | Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is random differences in bilateral characteristics, typically resulting from an individual’s inability to properly develop. FA can be affected primarily by environmental stress and individual quality. Deer antlers are an exceptional indicator of FA because they are secondary sexual characteristics, and thus are low on the animal’s energy budget, allowing for FA to be amplified in these ornaments. I measured FA in a deer population over time using data from hunting records dating back to 1982. Using this data, I found a gradual decrease in FA over time and a sharp decrease in FA from 1990 to present. This sharp decrease coincided with an increase in hunting pressure around 1987. It was likely that the increase in hunting pressure thinned the population of low quality individuals as well as lowered the population density. These changes both likely allowed for a decrease in FA. The increased hunting pressure on the study’s population therefore increased the overall genetic quality of the population over time. | Price, J. Jordan | 2010-05 |
| Raulin, William | Art | Ocean Dwelling | In Ocean Dwelling, I convey my experiences and relationship with water through an immersive video installation. I fully encapsulate the viewer with fabric in order to force them to focus on the content at hand. I am creating a cinematic experience in order to instill a feeling of progression in my audience. Everyone has preconceptions of water, which will lead them to project their own associations onto my installation. I’m interested in exploring how my audience’s varying reactions to my content differ from my own. I incorporate elements of sculpture and digital media into my installation to reinforce the interactivity and immersion. Ocean Dwelling utilizes an Xbox Kinect to locate and track the various users that enter the space. People increase the speed and volume of the projected video as they enter the space and decrease the speed and volume as they exit. This effect reflects the dynamic aspect of water - calm at times while turbulent at others. I create a small, contained space in order to better encapsulate the viewer. Video is rear-projected on the sculpture to allow the viewer to get closer to the image without casting a shadow. The audio plays from multiple, overhead speakers to better engulf the viewers. | Friebele, William E. | 2014-05 |
| Stottlemyer, Jesse Michael | Chemistry | St. Mary's project | Hydraulic Fracturing is a process of applying fracturing fluid, a slurry of sand, groundwater, and chemicals, and high pressure to gain access to underground natural resources, such as gas and oil. The present process can involve large quantities of water and chemicals to help in the process or upkeep of the equipment used. The amount of water used in the process of hydraulic fracturing is significant and some of the water may be unusable by organisms even after being processed and sterilized. The chemicals used vary anywhere from hazardous sir pollutants to carcinogens such as lead and benzene. The escape of gases, such as methane, during fracturing is also a significant problem. In many cases the process of fracturing has led to water supplies contaminated by chemical run off, damaging ecosystems and even endangering human life. The release of methane serves in the continual presence of global warming. Unless methane release is regulated not only is the process losing most of its target energy source but also the amount of greenhouse gases increases significantly. New regulations and technologies are necessary to safeguard our world in the future if hydraulic fracturing is to sustain a world that desperately needs access to energy. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2013-05 |
| Gibbons, Julie Anna | Biology | Impact of Claviceps purpurea on witchcraft throughout history | The parasitic fungus, ergot, which is commonly found growing on rye, produces several toxic alkaloids. These alkaloids affect the nervous and vascular system to produce two different diseases: convulsive ergotism and gangrenous ergotism. Convulsive ergotism produces hallucinations and crawling skin while gangrenous ergotism causes vasoconstriction, gangrene and spontaneous abortion. The symptoms of these diseases are apparent throughout history and may have been the underlying cause of witch trials, specifically Scotland, Finnmark and Salem witch trials. The evidence supporting ergotism in Scotland is weak, due to the inaccurate representation of diet and the use of torture to elicit confessions during the trials. Finnmark seems to have been propagated by ergotism with women passing the demonic possession to one another in the form of bread or ale made from rye. Salem has both strong evidence for and against ergotism involvement, but ergot does appear to be an underlying cause. Overall ergot does seem to be a contributing factor to these specific witch trials. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2007-05 |
| Riesett, Jessica Marie | Biology | Stylochus ellipticus predation on Crassostrea virginica under low oxygen stress | Hypoxia is a threat to many Chesapeake Bay organisms, including the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, a commercially and ecologically valuable species. President Obama’s recent executive order to restore the Bay, along with other efforts, is likely to improve Bay water quality and reduce the number and severity of hypoxic events. Under hypoxic conditions, S. ellipticus is often a voracious predator of C. virginica spat, but hypoxic conditions have been shown to lower predation rates. This implies that there is a potential for predation pressures to increase when the Bay’s health is restored. C. virginica spat from the St. Mary’s River, and S. ellipticus from Panacea, Florida were exposed to varying levels of hypoxia, producing statistically insignificant results due to a general lack of predation. The S. ellipticus did not consume many spat overall, nor did they consume significantly more spat in any treatment type. I have four ideas based on my experimental results and to my pre- and post-experimental results: (1) regional variations in S. ellipticus response to hypoxia account for lack of significant difference in predation (my null hypothesis - there was no treatment effect); (2) oyster spat under the stress of hypoxic conditions are more susceptible to predators; (3) the lack of water flow in my tank failed to replicate an environmental condition vital to S. ellipticus predation; (4) most S. ellipticus that I used preferred barnacles and therefore refused to eat the oyster spat whatsoever. | Paul, Robert W. | 2011-05 |
| Kessler, Michael Steven | Chemistry | Analysis of unknown residue on daub fragments from St. Johns Site, St. Mary’s City, Maryland, utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry | This study used trace analytical chemistry techniques to help identify a new discovered building in Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC). Identification was done by analyzing residue on daub fragments recovered from the structure. Researchers at HSMC hypothesized the building was a smokehouse and the residue was from soot. Chemical evidence supporting this hypothesis would come from markers found in the soot. Molecular markers would include cholesterol and fatty acids. These compounds are tracers used to identify the cooking of meat. Further evidence would include indicators of the burning of wood to cook the meat. Biomass combustion produces markers from the incomplete combustion of its main parts, cellulose, lignin, and resin. The presence of certain biomass markers could give evidence of source and type or wood (gymnosperm or angiosperm). Evidence of cholesterol and fatty acids was found in all daub samples. A resin acids combustion product, dehydroabietic acid, was found. This compound is found in smoke from gymnosperms. Dehydroabietic acid sample spectra were very similar to its counter library spectrum. The major cellulose combustion product levoglucosan was not found, this is potentially due to the reactivity of the compound. The compounds found through analysis support the hypothesis from HSMC. The unknown structure was indeed a smokehouse. The source of wood used was unclear, although some evidence of soft wood is noticed. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2008-05 |
| Elliott, Nora Kathryn | English | Cultivating the self : close readings and narrative essays on American landscapes | The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways individuals create self identities based on their relationship to the Nature. In particular, this paper examines the development of the pastoral form in western literature. Through close readings of two nineteenth century American novels, The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett and O Pioneers! by Willa Cather, I propose that the American pastoral originates in the conflict of how one establishes self identity in relation to their landscape. From my research I have gathered that the American pastoral differs from its predecessors in that the landscape is both ordered and wild, as seen in Jewett’s social landscape of the Maine countryside and Cather’s wild Nebraskan prairie. In my discussion of the pastoral many issues arose which should be considered for further discussion, namely that of the sacred landscape and the sacred self suggested by Conrad Eugene Ostwalt Jr. in After Eden: The Secularization of American Space in the Fiction of Willa Cather and Theodore Dreiser. Based on extensive research, I have concluded that Jewett and Caher’s American pastorals are different from their British counterparts and although the natural landscapes of the novels differ, the characters create a self-identity based on the common feeling of loss specific to the human and natural landscape of America. | Wooley, Christine A. | 2007-05 |
| Pajak, Zachary Edward | English | SlackWater : a journal of environmental and cultural change in Southern Maryland's tidewater : volume 6, the instant city | SlackWater Volume VI: The Instant City explores and communicates the impact of the 1960s and ’70s on Southern Maryland. St. Mary’s College students and faculty, as well as people from the community who lived and breathed the era, share stories, visuals, and artwork that, together, pull the past into the present, enabling us to see how the challenges and transformations of the age of great dreams profoundly reshaped our environment and culture. The civil rights movement, women’s rights, Vietnam, the space race, a growing environmental awareness, counterculture, and rock and roll music are among the many narratives of the changing tidewater told throughout this volume of SlackWater. The literal and figurative conversation the magazine embodies is comprised of many voices, often imbued with the deeply felt fervor of the dreams and changes they may recall, nostalgically mourn, or venerate as progress. Oral history narratives told by Southern Marylanders Emma Hall and Fred Talbert, as well as a poem by St. Mary’s College Professor Emeritus and former Maryland Poet Laureate Michael S. Glaser, for instance, tell of the pains and triumphs of overcoming segregation, of staying hopeful and strong in the pursuit of dreams and equality. Stories by Vietnam veterans Frank Maio and the late J. Abell Longmore, Jr. tell, respectively, of the horrors of war and the difficulties of re-acclimating to Southern Maryland after the return home. Together, stories such as these affirm how the era of turbulence and visions continually urges us to plumb the depths, to look past our own reflections and confront the rich complexity of life beneath the surface. | King, Julia A. | 2009-05 |
| Moore, Melissa L. | Biology | Relationship of nutrient concentrations and light availability on morphology and allocation in the wildcelery Vallisneria americana | The combined effects of nutrient enrichment and light availability on Vallisneria americana, were tested using a manifold (continuous running water system). There were two different nutrient concentrations and four different ambient light levels used in the experiment. The tests were done over a one month period. The results suggested that an increase in light level and nutrients, produces an increase in leaf length. They also suggested that an increase in the two treatments, causes and increase in phenolic content, being higher in the tuber portion of the plant. However, the results seen here were obtained from plants that were in poor condition at the start of the experiment, as a result there was a low amount of replicates used. The data does show a pattern, but more replicates should be used to give better results. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 1998-05 |
| Casey, Madeline Hart | Biology | Effect of Ocean Acidification on the Growth of the Macroalgae Chaetomorpha Linum (Chlorophyta) | Since the industrial revolution, the carbon dioxide concentration in the earth’s atmosphere has risen by over 40%, a rate that is at least one order of magnitude faster than has been experienced on earth for millennia. This rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide has been accompanied by its diffusion into ocean surface waters. This phenomenon causes a decrease in pH and is thus referred to as ocean acidification. Currently, much research is focused on evaluating the potential impact of ocean acidification on individual species, populations and marine ecosystems as a whole. This study examines the effect of acidification on the growth of Chaetomorpha linum, a macroalgae that grows in eutrophic shallows and coastal areas worldwide. Over a 7-day period, I exposed C. linum to CO2 concentrations corresponding to pHs ranging from 8.2, the average pH of ocean surface waters prior to ocean acidification, to 7.4, the projected average pH of ocean surface waters in 2100. Macroalgae exposed to higher CO2 levels showed a significant increase in growth when compared to algae exposed to lower CO2 concentrations. The chlorophyll concentrations in algae tissue increased, but at the same rate for all pH treatments, which were not significantly different from one another. Macroalgae maintained at a pH of 7.4 exhibited significantly less protein concentration than macroalgae exposed to the pH treatments of 7.7, 7.9, and 8.2, presumably due to greater and more rapid carbohydrate production at higher CO2 concentrations. These results have implications for the future of coral reefs under conditions of increased ocean acidity. As coral survivability wanes under acidifying conditions, increases in macroalgal production will further reduce coral survivability and may eventually result in a phase shift from coral dominated reef systems to algae dominant reefs. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2013-05 |
| Beall, Nathan Andrew | Religious Studies | Roots of the Banyan tree : environmentalism and the vision of Auroville | The international community of Auroville was established in 1968 in an effort to realize human unity based on the ideals of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Environmental activism has historically formed a large part of the community’s rhetoric and practice. This paper will draw from literature which inspired Auroville, as well as testimonies of Aurovillians, to examine the relationship between spirituality and environmentalism in this community. It will be argued that, while the vision of Auroville implicitly encourages environmental activism, the emerging environmental consciousness in the world is also shaping the vision of Auroville. This conclusion will then be applied to the broader contexts of religion and identity to suggest that change must be incorporated into any identity in order for it to stay relevant to the world. | Meckel, Daniel J. | 2011-05 |
| Simmons, Brian Grant | Biology | Effects of nonnative centrarchids on fish community diversity in the St. Mary’s River watershed | Due to the known repercussions associated with the introduction of nonnative fish species, the effects of transplanted largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) on native fish diversity were investigated in third-order streams within the St. Mary’s River watershed. These transplanted species, belonging to the family Centrarchidae, were not found to have a greater aggregate biomass than the native community. Additionally, while species diversity was reduced in two of the three streams in which these fish were present, the third stream had both the greatest overall diversity and the greatest richness of nonnatives. Aside from this stream, streams comprised solely of native communities had higher diversity values, suggesting that introduced Centrarchids are impacting native freshwater fish communities in Southern Maryland. | Paul, Robert W. | 2009-05 |
| Rugila, Allison | Biology | Mud Crab (Xanthidea: Eurypanopeus and Rhithropanopeus Spp.) Parasitism by the Invasive Sacculinid Barnacle (Loxothylacus Panopaei) | The invasive barnacle, Loxothylacus panopaei, was introduced to the Chesapeake Bay from the Gulf of Mexico in the 1960’s. Mud crabs (Xanthidae) parasitized by L. panopaei were unintentionally transported in conjunction with oysters brought to the Bay to supplement diseased populations. Since then L. panopaei parasite has become established and its range has expanded. L. panopaei requires mud crab hosts for its reproductive life stage, during which the host is castrated and removed from the breeding population. However, the impacts of this parasitism in the Chesapeake are poorly understood. With the potential for invasion by a close relative, L. texanus, that affects Callinectes sapidus in the Gulf, the prevalence of L. panopaei and the effect it has on host distribution and fitness needs to be assessed. I investigated the abundance of L. panopaei in a tributary of the lower Potomac River, and compared parasitized crab abundance by species and size. I also investigated the potential effect of L. panopaei on the distribution of Rhithropanopeus harrisii and Eurypanopeus depressus, by influencing crab osmoregulation. This study suggests that mud crab parasitism is most frequently for the crabs of 6-8 mm carapace width and that crab abundance may be positively correlated with salinity. Long-term impacts of this parasitism and the use of salinity refugia by mud crabs need to be researched further with longer time scales and in tributaries with larger salinity gradients. Then we can extrapolate the effects of this parasitism to mud crabs residing in the rest of the Chesapeake Bay. | Paul, Robert W. | 2014-05 |
| Stanton, Michael Phillips | Biology | Dealing with an invasive species : the mute swan (Cygnus olor) in the Chesapeake Bay | The introduction of the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) in the Chesapeake Bay has raised concerns among the scientific community about the potential threats that they pose to the estuaries’ vegetation and other native organisms. Through analyzing State and Federal management efforts to control Nutria (Myocastor corpus), Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), and Gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar), it was found that all efforts centered on suppression of spread or eradication of the species. Other key elements of the management processes included educating the public, prevention strategies, and development of quick response action plans. Mute swan provide an interesting exception to invasive species management because they are admired by many for there aesthetic beauty. This has led to this ecological issue to transform into a widely disputed political debate. It is determined that the most appropriate plan of action would be to compile research, continue to educate the public, and eventually reduce the feral population of mute swans on the bay to a manageable side. | Price, J. Jordan | 2004-12 |
| Beebe, Rachel Faye | Biology | Zebra Mussels (Dreissensa Polymorpha): Predicting the Future | Although invasive species have been creating problems for a long time, globalization has accelerated their proliferation, with humans and associated technology serving as convenient vectors for spread of larvae, seeds, and adult organisms through trade, shipping, and travel. Aquatic invaders are of particular concerning given the limited management options available. In cases of particularly severe invasions, prediction and prevention may be the most effective and least costly options available to managers. The ecosystem-altering invasive species, D. polymorpha, has been recently sited in Maryland. To address the question of where D. polymorpha management might be needed, I constructed a predictive model based upon surface water variables including salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and water surface temperature. The model was developed using training sites from D. polymorpha invasions elsewhere, and used to make predictions of the potential distribution in Maryland. The model was tested using analytical and field survey methods, indicating reasonable reliability of a model developed using annual average values of environmental variables. The best-fitting model indicates one favorable site in Maryland, and two moderately favorable sites. These sites should be more heavily monitored to prevent transport of D. polymorpha. | Rauschert, Emily S. | 2013-05 |
| White, Rebecca Ann | Political Science | Not a drop to spare? : developing a sound joint water agreement in Israel and the Palestinian Territories | The sensational aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; terrorism, borders closings, disengagement, religious extremism, usually get the bulk of attention in international media. Underneath the veil of prominent news headline lays a complex web of lesser conflicts and cooperation including shared water sources. The history of water management reveals the discrepancy in aptitude between Israel and the Palestinian Territories. While Israel established formal water policies early in its inception while the state of water management in the Palestinian Territories advanced at a slow rate. The peace accords of the 90s that promised to usher in a new era of cooperation ultimately failed in several areas, water cooperation being one. The current state of water sources and management requires a cooperative agreement in the future. This agreement will cull the basic functions outlined in previous agreements but will also institute reforms between Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Two additional factors, foreign donors and internal reassessments will also be taken into consideration. | Hill, Walter W. | 2007-07 |
| Walsh, Michael Joseph, Jr. | Biology | Estivation and air breathing among fishes : responses to environmental perturbations | Estivation, much like hibernation, allows organisms to endure and survive through harsh environmental conditions. Like estivation, aerial respiration has developed in a number of fish species, and allowed them to sustain in seemingly intolerable habitats. Aerial respiration was an accessory to branchial respiration in the most ancient teleost fish and persists today in many primitive fishes, forced to move about on land during times of drought (Smith, H.W., 1931). This paper analyzes the behavioral and physiological mechanisms behind these adaptations with a focus on the mangrove killifish, Rivulus marmoratus, as an example of an organism which exhibits both the ability to estivate and to efficiently obtain oxygen from the air in times of environmental stress. [from introduction] | Orlando, Edward F. | 2002-05 |
| Hagerty, Bridgette Elissa | Biology | Storm monitoring in the St. Mary’s River watershed : the impact of land use on runoff | Non-point source pollution is due to runoff from disturbed land and threatens the ecological integrity of watersheds. Land use type can directly affect runoff volume, which can thereby increase the quantity of organic and inorganic materials entering a stream. Rainfall affects runoff, and storm events cause concentrated inputs of nutrients and suspended sediment. Deforestation and changes in land use in St. Mary’s County, MD may significantly reduce water quality. This study evaluates the effects of land use on runoff and water quality in the St. Mary’s River watershed, specifically Hilton Run. Nutrients (NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, PO43-, and total N and P) and total suspended solids (TSS) were measured bimonthly from 10/7/99 to 2/7/00 and during a representative storm event on 2/18/00. Stream discharge and other stream characteristics (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductivity) were also measured on a bimonthly basis. Hilton Run included three sites of varying land use (agriculture, urban/residential, and residential) and a site at the Elms Environmental Education Center was established as the reference stream. Water quality at the reference site was significantly higher than the Hilton Run sites. A combination of physical land characteristics and human disturbance has degraded water quality at Hilton Run. Disturbed riparian buffers in the upper half of the subwatershed caused a gradual decrease in water quality at upstream sites due to a cumulative downstream effect. Extensive riparian forest in the lower half of the watershed provided some recovery, and water quality at the downstream site was similar to the reference site. | Paul, Robert W. | 2000-05 |
| Zitnick, Jill Korthauer | History | Land use of St. Mary's County, 1850-1880 | I had the opportunity to consider the land and agricultural use of Sotterley Plantation, an historic site in southern Maryland recently listed as one of America's most endangered historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation …. After the American Civil War, a drop in property value was expected, yet the farm value of Sotterley increased. While tobacco farming was being replaced by wheat in many other tidewater regions, the data indicated that St. Mary's still remained committed to tobacco production. Was Sotterley typical or atypical of St. Mary's county? To answer this question, one must ask, what was the typical farm of nineteenth-century St. Mary's county? This question is not a simple one. An examination of the impact of the Civil War must consider many different factors. If the third and sixth election districts of St. Mary's county did not follow the general shift away from tobacco, what did they do and why? | King, Julia A. | 1998-05 |
| Benton, Kara Melanie | Biology | Landfill efficiency : tackling environmental and societal impacts | Despite technological and regulatory advancements, there are still challenging societal and environmental impacts associated with waste disposal. Landfill standards and methods have vastly improved over the past 30 years, and have focused on broad environmental protection measures. My research calls for continued landfill environmental methods, and emphasizes source reduction. In this paper, I discuss the major environmental impacts of United States landfills, current treatment methods, and future waste management procedures. Leachate groundwater contamination and methane emissions are the major environmental impacts of landfills. Current treatments for landfill leachate include collection systems, leachate recirculation, anaerobic treatments, and disposal into municipal sewage systems. Methane is an explosive gas generated by organic matter degradation and emitted from landfills. Methane is collected by specialized gas recovery systems and biocovers. Extensive siting procedures are established by the Environmental Protection Agency to develop standards for safe landfill placement. Landfill siting results in strong public opposition. To combat these difficulties, I suggest leachate recirculation cycled with anaerobic digestion, methane gas recovery systems, larger public involvement and education, and waste reduction. | Paul, Robert W. | 2010-05 |
| Foreman, Justin Ian | Theater, Film, and Media Studies | Were they here before the war | Were they here before the War- is a 13 minute abstract documentary about Point Lookout State Park that is shot in high definition format. The intention with this film is to make the landscape of Point Lookout, nearly 150 years after the Civil War, the subject of the film. The film examines the landscape of the area using a rhythmic combination of ambient sound and image, using no intelligible narration or generated text to provide direct meaning. By utilizing methods of observational and poetic documentary techniques, the result is a complicated portrait that generates questions about landscape and historical context. The park is located at the very tip of the peninsula of Scotland, MD. First beginning as a site of recreation, families flocked to the beautiful site to enjoy their summers renting cottages and enjoying the Potomac River and views of the Chesapeake Bay. After the Battle of Gettysburg the function of the landscape changed completely, as it became a site of a Prisoner of War Camp for Confederate soldiers and southern sympathizers, many of which lived in southern Maryland. The site was transformed shortly after the war yet again into a site of recreation, and eventually into its current function as a state park. [film on DVD] | Ellsworth, David N. | 2012-05 |
| Veblen, Bonnie Virginia | Art | Wondrous suchness | To see is to breathe. Or at least it is the same sort of experience. Each moment, we are taking in air as well as light, color, and forms from the world around us, and these things affect us, they move us, they transform us. At the same time, we are adding our breath, our thoughts, our emotions, contributing to our surroundings. When I paint, my surroundings permeate me; I dissolve into them. There is a continual shifting, an accumulating and evaporating of sensation. I reflect back out what I have taken in, I translate and transform it. What I take in is the same landscape that is always outside my studio window, and yet it is never the same. How different yet wonderful is warm afternoon light as it slides across tree branches from the slipping, sinking luminosity as evening falls into night, and from the growing darkness as a storm blows in, pulling the trees to and fro as they helplessly dance in the wind. I, like the Romantic painter, J.M.W. Turner, am interested in conveying the fragile beauty that is in the light and the land, and in ourselves as well, because this sort of engagement with our surroundings is nourishing. However, I believe that this sense of being nourished by the land is being forgotten. In our age, which is marked by an overwhelming amount of information, we have learned to shut out our surroundings in order to not shut down. In the process, we have begun to forget what it is to really be open, to be unafraid of letting our surroundings permeate us. In my paintings, I aim to create an experience where we do not have to feel this fear, but instead we can delight and wonder at life in its suchness. So often our supposedly mundane experiences, like walking and seeing, go unnoticed amidst the chatter of our minds racing around, thinking of Important Things—of where we are going or what we are looking for. And breathing? It is supposedly the most mundane experience of all. It just happens, and we live because of that breath, that air, taking for granted its effortlessness. (but how wondrous is a single breath when you feel it. and each one is always different, though the same—rising//falling//pausing. but you have to feel it.) Similarly, we are forgetting the wonder of our surroundings—the trees as they stand rooted each day, quietly surrendered yet steadfast through the light and darkness, the wind and thunder, the heat and cold. We are forgetting the branches and blossoms that are so close, and the dissolving horizon that reaches out beyond. I paint these things so that we may come to them anew. Along with the changing light and weather that emerges in my paintings, elements of the here and the beyond, the open and the closed, and the seen and the obscured, continually arise. A joining of similar opposites also appears in the paintings of Edgar Degas and the photographs of Uta Barth, whose artworks resonate with me for their ability to at once present a here and a beyond. To sense at once the close and the far, the known and the unknown is to be at once floating and grounded. It is to be in-between, awakened to things in their suchness and in their wonder. This wondrous suchness is here at every moment. It is your eyes on these words, it is the breath flowing in and out of your body, it is the light and shadow that surrounds you. It is this, this, this. [artist statement] | Johnson, Susan R. | 2009-05 |
| Donovan, Laine | Art | Thought wandering | Imagine you are standing on the edge of a peninsula. What lies before you is a vast panorama in which sky meets water. At sunset, the body of water reflects the colors in the clouds. As the landscape turns from vivid shades of orange, yellow and blue, the immense beauty becomes impossible to fully perceive. Before your eyes can cover the entirety of the vista, the colors have changed and the shapes in the sky have transformed into a completely different scene. As your awareness of the natural world increases, the connections between all aspects of life become clearer. The elements that make up this landscape are found within all forms of life, as well as all the things that allow civilization to grow. Patterns of shapes found in the sky and the ripples of the water seem very similar to those found on tree bark and rock formations. The colors of a sunset become reminiscent of the changing leaves in autumn. Through the medium of painting, I explore questions related to essential qualities of nature and the way sensory and cognitive perceptions of the world vary. A painting is an object, as well as a representation or illusion of something else. It has the ability to create tension between what is considered real and what is considered an illusion. My process involves a translation of images of nature into abstraction. I use abstract form as a means of visually depicting the way different aspects of nature are connected and involved in constant change. The images that I make have an elongated format so that the viewer has to move his/her focus across the image over time. This action engages the viewer in the idea that a landscape is impossible to experience within a single moment. In making art, I can only represent one individual view; an illusion of how life can be understood. In fact, one may posit that all perceptions of reality are only illusions when compared to any other view, and I happen to believe that the illusion is what makes life interesting. This perceptual way of understanding the world is only my illusion of reality, but I invite you to experience it with me. [artist statement] | Patterson, Carrie C. | 2010-05 |
| Wiech, Hilary Ann | Art | In the landscape | As I became interested in landscape photography, I found myself looking at many iconic images in the genre. The traditional landscape images that I found seemed to follow a canon with their greatest variable being their unique geographical locations. The norm is a photograph taken from a perfect vantage point with no signs of human presence and nothing to impede the vista. This omnipotent point of view often covers a large distance and gives the viewer the feeling that they occupy a special place from which they can survey the scene. As the viewer looks at the photograph they see dramatic moments, which highlighted through perfected printing, encompasses a large tonal range. The rule of thirds creates a strong foreground, middle ground, and background, thus dividing the photograph into thirds where the horizon line coincides with one of these divisions. Ansel Adams, a household name in photography, set these ideals that I have come to know. On of his most famous photographs Moonrise, Hernandez emulates the ideals of a perfected landscape photograph. He captures the moonrise illuminating the landscape beneath it, freezing the perfect dramatic moment. The significant depth of field with its sharp focus makes the viewer feel as if the moment is endless. Adams captures the moment in a rectangular shape, emphasizing the horizon line and containing this seemingly endless view. These ideals of what a landscape photograph is supposed to look like are what I refer to as the grand view. I have created a series of landscape photographs that take issue with this norm. My work rejects the grand view approach to constructing landscape images in order to represent an experience in the landscape. I want the viewer to be placed within the image; this changes where the audience is located and therefore what they see. [from artist statement] | Scheer, Lisa N. | 2007-05 |
| Paul, Kevin R. | Anthropology | Natural advantages : city, country, and the pastoral ideal in the landscape of suburbia | Development at the fringe transforms landscapes once perceived as natural or wild into something different, but not entirely. The construction of residential subdivisions, shopping centers, and off-ramps alters the landscape from its prior state, often in a visually drastic fashion. What was once field and forest are translated into an end result that ultimately reflects the interests and perspectives of planners, developers, residents, and other actors as well as culturally-informed criteria for what constitutes an ideal community. These factors are in constant flux, but certain “traditions” of suburbanization have remained relatively coherent since they emerged over the course of almost two hundred years. The aim of this paper is threefold. First, I describe a number of theoretical perspectives that underpin my research. Suburbia is a term with multiple definitions and connotations, many of which are sharply opposed. This section attempts to establish a telescoping series of analytical frames that clarify our situation, beginning with broad conceptions of landscape and ending with pastoral idealism in suburbia. Lenses in hand, I then provide a cultural-historical overview of suburbanization in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This project concludes with a case study of Wildewood, a housing development on the urban fringe of Washington, DC whose landscape is dominated by a distinctively natural aesthetic. | King, Julia A. | 2012-05 |
| Huber, David Matthew | Anthropology/Sociology | Dendrochronological assessment of Clocker’s Fancy | This project is a dendrochronological assessment of Clocker’s Fancy plat, in Historic St. Mary’s City. The plat consists of about 16 acres. The project deals primarily with the landscape. Tree species are identified and tree distribution (stands) are mapped; ages of trees are determined by cross-sections and cores. Core and cross-section samples were brought back to the laboratory, prepared, and measured. For this project, I concentrated on surveying the literature regarding tree identification, dendrochronology, and environmental history of the Clocker’s Fancy area. | Ingersoll, Daniel W. | 2007-05 |
| Rizzo, Katherine Oliveri | Art | Personal landscapes | One of the main reasons why I chose to attend St. Mary’s College was because of its location, or more importantly its landscape: the river, the relationship between the water and the land, the air and the smells, as well as the crosswalks and architecture. All of these are a part of this landscape and help me to define this place. I am interested in how we as humans relate to and view our surroundings and thus create our own personal landscapes. My body of work re-defines scenes of natural beauty in a way that questions this relationship and calls attention to the intrusiveness of mankind by juxtaposing and overlapping images and sound. Because I want to fully engage the viewer I use both video projections and large digital prints obtained from video grabs. I find these mediums to be much more effective in expressing my ideas than the charcoal landscape drawings and small digital prints I had used in the past. Many of my ideas stem from the works of Eadweard Muybridge and Karen Halverson because each of these artists uses photography in a unique way to present a truth. I have combined Muybridge’s scientific approach and Halverson’s subtle documentary style to create work that is both accurate and thought provoking by taking images and sounds directly from my surroundings and presenting them my own documentary style that enhances its validity. These current works have a timelessness quality to them that draws on Bill Viola’s use of ambiguity created through repeated forms and elements as well as freeze frames and looping. By creating a question as to the time frame of the work, I also want to pose the question “do these images still exist?” …. | Johnson, Susan R. | 2002-05 |
| Alderman, Lee Otis | Chemistry | Determination of lead in St. Mary’s College drinking water | The purpose of the experiment is to test several samples of tap/drinking water in St. Mary’s College for the presence of lead. As many people know, drinking water is a common and abundant source of exposure to this toxic metal. Anodic Stripping Voltammetry is the method used to determine the presence of lead in drinking water samples taken from the college. In most of the samples, the lead is not detectible. Fortunately, none of the samples have lead levels above 5 parts per billion (ppb). The sample with the highest concentration of lead is the one from Schaefer Lab. The concentration of lead in the sample is around 3.4ppb. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2005-05 |
| Hofmann, Laurie Carol | Biology | Effects of leaf age and herbivory on the severity of wasting disease in Zostera marina (eelgrass) | Zostera marina is the dominant seagrass species in temperate coastal environments and is suffering global declines due to poor water quality and the wasting disease pathogen, Labyrinthula zosterae. Little is known about the mechanism via which L. zosterae enters Z. marina tissue and its relationship to the seagrass community is debated. L. zosterae has been described both as a decomposer that plays an important role in decomposing senescent Z. marina tissue and as a primary pathogen that infects healthy tissue and kills the plant. In this study, we examined the effect of mechanical damage on the severity of L. zosterae infection in Z. marina by simulating amphipod grazing. Our results showed that artificially grazed plants were more severely infected than non-grazed plants. This suggests that physical openings or wounds in the plant tissue provide an entrance point for L. zosterae. We also observed that there was a difference in the severity of infection among different ages of Z. marina leaves. Senescing leaves had larger lesions than young leaves thereby causing a more severe infection in the older leaves. These results imply that the protist is more likely a decomposer of senescent tissue than a pathogen. The ability of L. zosterae to enter the plant through physical openings is consistent with the decomposer hypothesis because senescent tissue is more epiphytized and is therefore likely to have more mechanical damage than younger tissue, providing easier access for L. zosterae to aide in the decomposition process of aging tissue. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2007-05 |
| Murrow, Michael S. | Physics | Gizmo project : a lock in light transmittance meter for biological applications | Biologists have found that the leaves of certain types of plants exhibit chloroplast locomotion in response to certain environmental stimuli. One method of studying this phenomenon utilizes a change in light transmittance through the leaf as an indication of chloroplast movement. The Gizmo and Gizmo II are instruments designed to measure these minute changes in transmittance through the use of lock in amplification, a technique commonly used for increasing signal to noise ratio. The purchase and modification of commercial lock in amplifiers can be cost prohibitive so the goal of The Gizmo Project was to design and build a low cost instrument to measure these light transmittance changes. The original Gizmo measured light transmittance but was sensitive to temperature fluctuations. The Gizmo II succeeded in meeting or exceeding all design specifications. | Adler, Charles L. | 1999-05 |
| Kovacs, Michael | History | Lewis & Clark : the search for the Western Passage | The Lewis and Clark Expedition’s main goal was to find the Western Passage. Secondly, the Expedition was to establish commerce with the Native tribes along the passage, which would ensure safe trade along the rivers. After returning in 1806 the Lewis and Clark Expedition had not found the quick water route they had searched for. The Expedition did find a route across the continent and had very successfully established relations with the native tribes. Therefore the idea of a successful Expedition changed. The goal of the Lewis and Clark Expedition changed from finding the Western Passage to establishing commerce with the Natives. The Lewis and Clark Expedition were still considered a success, but the myth of the Western Passage disappeared. [from introduction] | Holden, Charles J. | 2003-12 |
| Morgan, Katherine Ann | Biology | An Argument for Ammonia Emissions Regulation From Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations | Livestock agriculture is an important industry in the United States. Since the 1960’s, however, this industry has dramatically altered its production capacity, moving away from the family farm and towards more consolidated factory processes. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s) are large scale livestock operations which raise hundreds to thousands of cattle and swine in confined spaces for extended time periods. As livestock capacity increased, waste management systems scaled up to cope with increased volume. CAFO waste lagoons store and treat feces and urine, but gaseous release from these lagoons is increasingly at the center of the air pollution debate. In 2003 the National Research Council identified atmospheric ammonia as a major concern, prompting the Environmental Protection Agency to initiate the largest scale emissions study of CAFO’s to date. This paper calls for federal action to address CAFO ammonia emissions. The negative impact ammonia emissions have on the environment and public health, as well as mitigation methods which may reduce emissions, are identified. Public policies which may address the problem in the future are reviewed. While the current political climate has led to federal inaction on the issue, there is hope and necessity for policy change in the future, to reduce ammonia emissions. | Paul, Robert W. | 2013-05 |
| Chase, Holly Elizabeth | Political Science | Stopping sprawl and saving farmland in St. Mary’s County | St. Mary’s County, Maryland is struggling to accommodate rapid development due to population growth and the expansion of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Despite its attempts, the County is facing the loss of farmland and a weakening of its historically rural character. Growth is also overwhelming the County’s infrastructure and reducing quality of life. St. Mary’s uses three major programs to protect rural land: Rural Legacy, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, and Transferable Development Rights. In order to meet its land use goals, the County must supplement these programs with addition actions. St. Mary’s should establish a low-density agricultural overlay, reward developers who propose compact, mixed-use projects, and increase the County’s impact fee. | Messitte, Zachariah P. | 2006-05 |
| Ducey, Elizabeth Joslin | Biology | Assessing seasonal variation of epibenthic community structure on restored oyster reefs : macroinvertebrate biodiversity and polychaete (Nereis succinea) biomass | A novel sampling apparatus was used to perform benthic sampling on three restored oyster reefs in the Magothy River to determine changes in macroinvertebrate biodiversity and biomass of the common clam worm Nereis succinea associated with oyster reefs for the summer-fall transition and fall-winter transition. Eleven species were reported, with amphipods, hooked mussels (Ischadium recurvrum) and N. succinea accounting for 90% of the total individuals found across the three reefs with a total of 5836 individuals collected. Significant increases in biodiversity from the summer to fall were seen on Persimmon Reef and Ulmstead Reef but a decrease was seen on Dobbins Hill Reef. Significant increases in biodiversity from the fall to winter were seen on Ulmstead and Dobbins Hill Reef. N. succinea biomass significantly increased from the summer to fall only at the Dobbins Hill Reef. Continued research on benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity is important in order to protect essential finfish species that rely on these organisms for prey. | Szymkowiak, Elaine F. | 2009-05 |
| Quaytman, Jacob | Biology | Analysis of Population Genomic Structure in Natural Populations of the Major Neotropical Malaria Vector Anopheles Darlingi | The mosquito species Anopheles darlingi is the primary malaria vector in the neotropics, responsible for over 300,000 cases in Brazil in 2009. Although A. darlingi is present in nearly every region of Brazil, malaria cases are highly concentrated in the Amazon region. Genetic variation between different populations of A. darlingi could exist that explains the differences in malaria transmission rates throughout Brazil. Here, we present an analysis of A. darlingi population structuring using the model-based clustering algorithm Structure as well as isolation by distance and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) techniques. Restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) was used to generate 5,618 genetic markers which were genotyped in 89 A. darlingi individuals sampled from ten different regions across Brazil with different rates of malaria transmission. We identified two main genetic clusters corresponding to Amazon and non-Amazon regions of Brazil. Isolation by distance analysis showed a positive correlation among the geographic distance between individuals and their genetic divergence. Results from the AMOVA contradicted the Structure data, showing no significant difference in genetic distance between the Amazon and non-Amazon clusters. Overall, it appears that there is some degree of population genomic structuring among A. darlingi in Amazon regions with high malaria rates and non-Amazon regions with low malaria rates. More research must be done to identify the functional significance of the observed genetic variation between clusters, which can lead to new targets for malaria control strategies. | Emerson, Kevin J. | 2014-05 |
| Brewer, Erin Elizabeth | Biology | Comparison of zooplankton populations between two Caribbean mangrove lagoons | Mangrove swamps provide an essential nursery habitat to many reef species, offering shelter from predators and an abundance of food. This ecosystem supports large populations of zooplankton relative to surrounding ecosystems, which is a major part of the diet for larval fish regardless of adult dietary preference. Deforestation of mangrove plants eliminates the security function of this nursery and results in a decrease in the abundance and diversity of mangrove-associated organisms. This experiment sampled meso- and macrozooplankton populations between a partially cleared forest and one that is intact. Contrary to prior studies, zooplankton diversity and species richness were higher in the partially cleared forest. These results might suggest a level of tolerance to lower levels of human disturbance. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2011-12 |
| Brandt, Catherine Theresa | Human Studies | Marine organisms of the Narragansett Bay : a teacher’s guide | This binder combines a general overview of the organisms of the Narragansett Bay with activities and ideas for teachers to get students involved in the material both inside and outside of the classroom. This is intended for all grade levels with a focus on secondary education. I have not seen a book that combines both an overview of organisms with activity ideas; it is my desire that this binder fills that role. I used many resources on different organisms along with my own knowledge to collate the information into an in depth, well organized resource binder. As a result, I have created an effective teachers guide for all grade levels. | Stover, Lois T. | 2009-05 |
| Reisinger, Emma Gately | English | A Sojourner in Sustainable Life: approaching sustainability through literature and practice | What is “sustainability”? In current American culture, this term is often tossed around lightly. Sustainability is talked about extensively in practically every major arena of daily life, from food to transportation to housing, but how well do we really understand this term, this idea? When Henry David Thoreau went to the woods, he wished to live deliberately to understand and practice his philosophical beliefs. Many have attempted to emulate him in the name of environmentalism. This project attempts to begin answering the question, “What is sustainability?” through three modes of inquiry: extensive reading, a personal living experiment, and writing creative non-fiction to examine the topic. | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2012-12 |
| Koenig, Johanna | Sociology | Marketing Semiotics; How Consumers are Hoaxed by the Conventional Meat and Dairy Industry | In order to be able to more clearly understand the link between the marketing of conventional and organic meat and dairy products, consumer’s perception of several commercial advertisements was noted and analyzed. A semantic differential survey and follow up questions were administered to 44 participants from St. Mary’s College of Maryland that pertained to six clips of commercial advertisements, three being from conventional and three being from organic meat and dairy products. An index of overall impression scores for each of the clips was created to determine how consumer’s perceived each advertisement and whether or not that perception matched the true nature of the product. 50 percent of the clips that were given an overall organic score were actually commercials representing organic meat and dairy, while the other 50 percent was representing conventional meat and dairy products. An analysis of marketing semiotics was completed to infer reasons for the disparity between consumer’s perception of the meat and dairy product and its actual production. The research hypothesis was confirmed; that there is a relationship between the media (commercial advertisements) and how people perceive a particular meat or dairy product. Specifically, the language and imagery used in the commercials that advertise meat and dairy can influence consumers’ decisions. | Daugherty, Helen G. | 2013-05 |
| Bradley, Sally Lynn | Biology | Should we be worried about the future of the Atlantic menhaden? | The Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, is an important ecological and commercial species that is found along the Atlantic coast of the United States. In 2004, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) stated that Atlantic menhaden are not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. Even though the ASMFC came to this decision after analyzing the 2003 Atlantic menhaden stock assessment, not all scientists and fishery organizations agree with their conclusion. They claim that the population may be in danger due to recent declines in the Atlantic menhaden’s reproduction rate, total stock size, and juvenile index. As of 2006, it appeared that the Atlantic menhaden stock as a whole was not yet collapsing. However, there is evidence that localized depletion may be occurring in the Chesapeake Bay. Precautionary measures and new management techniques should be implemented as soon as possible in order to prevent increased depletion in the Bay and the potential collapse of the entire coast-wide stock. Recently, several steps have been taken to improve the management of the Atlantic menhaden fishery, including the development of an ecosystem-based multi-species management plan and the implementation of a harvest cap in the Chesapeake Bay. Although this is a start, more must be done to improve habitat quality, effectively consolidate fishery management, and reduce the occurrence of growth-overfishing in order to ensure that the Atlantic menhaden population remains abundant along the Atlantic coast in future years. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2006-05 |
| Tarr, Shannon Elizabeth | Biology | Combined Lethal Effects Posed by Heavy Metal Toxicity and Disease in Oysters (Crassostrea Virginica) | Crassostrea virginica is a valuable organism in the Chesapeake Bay, providing significant ecological and economical benefits which both humans and aquatic organisms enjoy. Yet eastern oysters have been on the decline for centuries within our Bay, and also have undergone declines in other areas along the Eastern shore. These declines have been caused by problems such as diseases and pollution by heavy metals. There have been few studies which looked into the interactions between both heavy metals and disease over the recent years. I propose that there is an interesting parallel to be explored between the physiological and immunological effects caused by heavy metal toxicity as opposed to disease in oyster communities. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2013-05 |
| Knott, Mallory J. | Chemistry | The Corrosion of Aluminum Alloy 2024 in Aqueous Environments. A study into the causes of corrosion and current methods to prevent it | Corrosion of metallic surfaces is a major issue in the U.S. economy as it has a significant impact on utilities, production and manufacturing, transportation, infrastructures, and government. NACE international reported an estimate of $276 billion, which is about 3.1% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, for the annual direct cost of corrosion in the United States (Brongers 2002). Since this is such a high cost for a preventable problem, the U.S. has placed a large focus on researching new ways to prevent corrosion and improve on the current methods to do so. In addition to saving money, the prevention of corrosion is necessary in preventing damage to property and the environment as well as promoting public safety. In order to effectively develop and use appropriate corrosion prevention methods, it is necessary to have an understanding of how metal corrodes and what causes corrosion. This project explores the current methods for corrosion prevention as well as new methods that are being researched due to low efficiencies or undesirable side effects associated with the current methods. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2013-05 |
| Mughal, Farah Deba | Chemistry | Microwave-assisted extraction of maltol from Fraser fir needles using 'green' solvents | Using ethanol, acetonitrile, and water as extraction solvents, maltol was extracted from Fraser Fir needles via microwave using a method known as Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE). Compounds were microwaved for only 30 seconds at a time, at temperatures 1-3 °C over the boiling points of each solvent used. The highest percent yield of extracted maltol achieved was 2.6% via MAE, using 95% ethanol as the extraction solvent. This is nearly twice the percent yield obtained from bench top extractions using DCM as the reflux solvent. | Eller, Leah R. | 2008-05 |
| Geoghegan, Jessica D. | Philosophy | What walking can tell us : the connection between ourselves and the earth | For my St. Mary’s Project, I studied the relationship between the human mind, spirit, body, and the Earth. One way in which this relationship can be seen is through the differences in a person resulting from leaving society and entering nature. When we separate ourselves from society, changes occur in our thoughts, feelings, and relationship to the Earth. What effect has modern society had on our connection to the Earth? What is the connection between the spirit and the Earth? How is that connection different within society than in nature? What is the difference between our thinking when we’re in society and that when we’re separated from it? How does the body relate to the Earth? What conditions could alter that relationship and why? I will look at how and why we think, feel, and act differently in society than out of it. What is it about society that affects these things about us? I explored how walking helps reconnect us with the natural world. What can walking tell us about ourselves and our role? This walking can be done in different ways and I have explored several. Each way of walking relates us to the Earth differently. I focus on Thich Nhat Hanh’s method of walking meditation as a satisfactory way of finding and maintaining our connection with the Earth. | Ebenreck, Sara S. | 1999-12 |
| Sulkowski, David F. | Biology | Validating the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, as a model of environmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals | The steroid hormones, estrogens and androgens, act through receptors and function mainly as promoters of protein synthesis to regulate sexual differentiation in all vertebrates. Chemicals in the environment may block or mimic endogenous hormones as they bind the steroid receptors. These chemicals, called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), have the potential to disrupt normal endocrine function. Due to the potentially serious effects of environmental EDCs on all organisms, methods need to be developed to identify compounds with effects on endocrine systems. A universal, short-term, in vivo test for both estrogenic and androgenic hormonal activity that is rapid, reliable, and inexpensive is needed. Creating a single, model fish that is both effective at determining environmental estrogen and androgen exposures while also commonly found around the world would be useful to further understand the effects of EDCs in many environments. The eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, has the ability to become a sentinel species to determine environmental androgenic and estrogenic EDCs. Males normally do not produce vitellogenin, but are induced to do so when exposed to estrogens. Female mosquitofish do not normally develop a gonopodium, but females exposed to androgens develop masculinized anal fins. My goals for this research include demonstrating a dose-response relationship between (1) vitellogenin concentration in males exposed to estradiol (estrogen) and (2) altered development of the anal fin in females exposed to testosterone (androgen). I predict a positive dose-response relationship for both of these endpoints. Once a model of androgenic and estrogenic exposures is developed, field studies will be more effective and more efficient in determining the presence of these EDCs. After the initial experimentation with males, their ability to produce vitellogenin when exposed to estrogens was observed. A significant dose-response relationship between mosquitofish VTG concentration in males and E2 treatment was determined, but no significant relationship existed between an increase in length or segment number in the third ray of female eastern mosquitofish and increasing concentrations of testosterone. One goal was met, as our hypothesis of a dose-response relationship between VTG synthesis in males and increasing estradiol concentration was shown to exist. The second goal of a dose-response relationship between increasing concentrations of testosterone and increased length and segment number of the third ray in females was not validated. | Orlando, Edward F. | 2002-05 |
| Shepherd, Michael Matthew | Philosophy | Social structures : how the individual is killed by modern industrial society | This paper will examine the structure of modern industrial societies and the conditions of interactions, which that structure creates. I will focus a great deal on the environment in which the individual expends his or her labor as this is the basic situation of human existence. This paper will show how the modern industrial society robs the individual of their ability to create an authentic self. | Schroeder, John W. | 1999-05 |
| Kamleu, Viani | Biology | Phytoplankton population and its relationships to water reflectance in Mackall Cove, Patuxent River | The overriding goal of our study was to determine the feasibility of using hyperspectral remote sensing in place of microscopic evaluation for monitoring phytoplankton composition and density in the Chesapeake Bay. The phyla we chose to monitor were Dinoflagellates, Diatoms and Cyanobacteria. The best correlation between the reflectance depression and phytoplankton concentration was found for Dinoflagellates, Diatoms and Cyanobacteria at 468nm, 794nm and 727nm respectively. Since these findings are consistent only for the previously published absorption maximum for the Dinoflagellates, we conclude that reflectance data is not adequate for monitoring phytoplankton concentration and composition in the bay. | Myerowitz, Rachel | 2008-05 |
| White, Rebecca Jane | Political Science | Link between Free Trade and Environmental Degradation: the rise of monoculture and meat in Latin America | In my SMP I hypothesize that when a Latin American country signs a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, the FTA acts as a catalyst for the industrialization of agriculture in the developed country. The expansion of industrial agriculture is characterized by a rise of crop monoculture and livestock production, and, correspondingly, environmental degradation. To test our thesis, we pick three case studies: Mexico, which signed the North American Free Trade Agreement with the US in 1994; Costa Rica, which signed the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2009; and, as a control, Cuba, which is currently under a US trade embargo, and, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, lost many of its trading partners altogether. After some background information on the state of contemporary agriculture and the meaning of free trade, we provide a detailed agricultural history of our case studies. We find that liberalization reforms in the agricultural economy began well before the end of the 20th century in each country, with Cuba as one of the worst case examples of industrial agriculture pre-1990. We then examine raw data for some key economic and environmental indicators so as to ascertain the degree to which our countries have mechanized their food production as well as when. The data provide mixed results, but we find generally that NAFTA had a much more powerful effect on Mexico’s agriculture than did CAFTA on Costa Rica’s. We attribute this to the late date at which CAFTA was signed, and the globalizing pressures that had already been placed on Costa Rican farmers before it came along. We find that the cessation of trade had a profound impact on Cuban agriculture. We supplement our data with empirical sources that detail the shift of Cuban agriculture from commercial monoculture to sustainable polyculture. We conclude that free trade does have a measurable impact on agricultural operations in the developing world, although adverse environmental impacts may be slow and subtle to manifest. We suggest that small developing countries adopt a paradigm of agricultural self-sufficiency based in permaculture ethics rather than one oriented towards export, as this is the only way to avoid the depletion of natural resources that renders commercial agriculture unsustainable. | Shafqat, Sahar | 2013-05 |
| Sargent, Matthew John | Music | Senior composition recital | My main interest as a musician and a composer is in the ability music has to address and alter notions of time and silence. The regular world has its own set of tempos, often based on things being done in the minimum amount of time necessary. I am fascinated by those aspects of the landscape around us that do not function this way. Some of those aspects which had particular influence on this program include the sounds of flagpoles chiming in the wind, the automatic blinking of lights on towers, the repetitive plunging and rising of loons in the river, and the quietude of a concert hall without sounded music. When we focus on these kinds of sights and sounds, those things that can be noticed and appreciated only when they are concentrated upon past the threshold of a minimum amount of time, the tempo of the world around us, and our need to fulfill that tempo, becomes refreshingly relative. All of the pieces in this program were written in ways which attempt to remove sense of a regular passing of time from the performance. Performers are given freedom to explore passages within their own natural breath, often without regard to any sense of rhythmic pulse. I encourage performers to explore the aesthetics of their instruments and the space they occupy within my music. This lack timelessness gives the music a certain organic quality, freeing these pieces from a defined sense of pacing and expectancy. Dr. Froom once acknowledged that the beginnings and endings of my pieces usually feel like walking into a room where music has already been going on for sometime before (this very literally happens at the beginning of this recital) and is still going on as you leave. The pieces performed today, through this quality, will hopefully all create moments of extreme stillness, where the expectancy of one thing to happen after another, an awareness of progression and movement, within regular time can be lost. [from artist’s statement] | Froom, David | 2006-05 |
| Roy, Samantha Lynn | Biology | Can cranberry extracts inhibit UV-induced mutagenesis in bacteria? | This study examined the effects of naturally occurring compounds in cranberries, juice and dried, on UV-induced mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium. The Ames Test was utilized to determine the possible antimutagenic properties of cranberries. Past research has shown that blackberry extracts inhibit UV-induced mutagenesis, but research has not been attempted to show the relationship between dried cranberries and cranberry juice and its role in the prevention of mutagenesis. Overall the results showed no significant difference between the two sources of cranberries when compared to sterile water, which acted as a control. There was also no correlation between the time of exposure and the concentration of the cranberries; however, research involving the study of natural compounds is an important and expanding field. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2008-05 |
| McKee, Molly Ann | Sociology | Perfect storm and the response that followed : a case study of Greenville, Mississippi | Past research using the social interactionist and functionalist approaches has identified effects of community behavior in response to natural disasters. This research evaluates community behavior in Greenville, Mississippi following the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Research shows both positive and negative community reactions. Data was collected through multiple in-depth interviews, which revealed networking that took place between evacuees from the Gulf Coast and individuals and institutions in Greenville, MS. Both community and outside organizations supported the evacuees in many ways, most notably by providing shelter, food, money, and many other necessities in the victims' time of need. | Osborn, Elizabeth A. | 2010-05 |
| Mininger, Seth Andrew | Economics | Lost recreational use during the Chalk Point oil spill : a valuation report | The purpose of this research is to use the natural resource damage analytical framework to investigate the value of lost recreation associated with an oil spill. The case study consists of the oil spill at Chalk Point on the Patuxent River, Maryland, April 7th, year 2000, and the lost recreational use value of the surrounding area. In depth analysis of Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Benefit Transfer, and other models are present in this study. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to estimate the value of lost recreation if the oil spill had occurred in different years, taking into consideration varying weather patterns. [Purpose] | Poor, P. Joan | 2003-05 |
| Maggi, Mark James | Political Science | H$0 : can the Third World afford to privatize freshwater resources? | Ismail Serageldin, a Vice-President at the World Bank once said, “If the wars of the last century were fought over oil, the wars of this century will be fought over water.” If recent events are any indication of the future, then it seems as though Mr. Serageldin’s remarks will not have been an exaggeration. Water shortages around the world have forced governments to reexamine they way in which they deliver water to their citizens. Fresh water resources are known as a global commons, that is, they are a resource shared by users all over the world, and the actions of each user in turn affect all other users. The classic problem of the commons is believed to be a lack of ownership. Whether it is land, air or sea, it is believed that because no individual or organization holds rights over these resources, then no one has the incentive to maintain or improve them. However, I believe that recent World Bank-led privatization attempts, especially in the area of water rights, have shifted this paradigm. Within the past decade, a small number of multi-national corporations have lobbied the international financial institutions to expedite the privatization of water in many third world countries. Despite their experience in the water services industry and the financial backing of the international community, these corporations have actually proved less effective and efficient in their ability to provide water and sewerage services than when these rights were publicly held …. This SMP argues that for a common resource, such as water, then everyone has a stake in improving and maintaining it. While such public goods have typically been plagued by the free-rider problem, we have already seen examples within the third world where locally controlled water resources were more efficiently managed than those controlled by an outside firm. [from introduction] | Sheeran, Kristen A. | 2005-05 |
| Ferioli, James Thomas | Economics | China’s water crisis and its economic solutions | This report will focus on China’s water crisis. It shows China’s water resources are structured in a way that creates a harsh contrast between north and south. With southern China holding a plethora of water, while the northern has a significant dearth. Upon analysis of these resources it will become clear as to how their water shortage is structured. Then it will extend into another layer of water structure, with the further complexity of surface vs. ground water. Whereas the usage of each has vastly different consequences, with overuse of ground water being quite severe. It will show that the northern areas, without having more groundwater resources, are rapidly depleting these reserves and in doing so creating future dilemmas. In judging the future dilemma I will analyze China’s water consumption patterns and growth. This will show that China’s growth increases the strain on its water resources and the eventually something will need to change. Having created a framework upon which to understand the situation and its complexities, it will then enter into potential economic solutions. Whereas other solutions proposed have their own merits, it will analyze economic solutions, from water pricing to water rights, and conclude on how China should potentially modify its current structure. | Ye, Michael M. | 2011-05 |
| Caulker, Sheku | Economics | St. Mary's Project | Recent research conducted by the World Bank and several developmental economists has suggested a correlation between natural resources and civil conflicts. In particular, mineral resources such as diamonds and oil have led to several civil conflicts and civilian distress. In this project, I focus on a mineral resource and it relationship to the civil conflict in Sierra Leone with regards to research on natural resources and civil war … [T]his paper is organized into five sections. Section I provides a history of Sierra Leone and it civil conflict. Section II explores the nature of natural resource pertaining to developing countries. Section III provides economic and political theories that a few mechanisms with natural resources and civil conflict. Section IV provides a history of Sierra Leone diamonds in understanding the nature of the problem. Section V provides national and international measures in breaking the link between conflict diamonds and civil war. Section VI concludes. [from introduction] | Kozak, Andrew F. | 2007-05 |
| Kendrick, Molly Bronwyn | Art History | Rejecting nothing and scorning nothing : the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and early photography | In my SMP, I interpret the naturalism in Pre-Raphaelite painting in terms of the developing technology of photography. I analyze the similarities among the Romantic approach to naturalism, the Romanticism of the Pre-Raphaelite’s medieval subjects, and the conceptualization of early photography. Through these comparisons I demonstrate that in the Pre-Raphaelite work the past, present and future can coexist in a single moment. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood worked in an era alive with paradox, a culture caught between enthusiasm for technological innovations and a collective longing for a mythical, idyllic past. They focus on reproducing the details natural world as carefully as possible, focusing on details so as to render the scenery and the subject as vivid and as wild as in the real world, an affect known as naturalism. Two major intellectual forces shaped this style: the writing of famed Victorian critic John Ruskin and the earlier work of the Romantic poets. It was the work of the latter that largely informed the Pre-Raphaelite source of subject matter, as the Romantics emphasized the potency of nature through an emotional state they referred to as the “sublime”. In order to demonstrate the sublime, the Pre-Raphaelites set their works in worlds of beautified medieval drama, scenes far removed, both temporally and conceptually, from industrialization. Rejection of the pervasive influence of middle-class taste characterized the mood behind the formation of the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood perceived a distinct lack of sophisticated ideas throughout much of the work the Academy accepted. They sought to pr their work with symbolism, in order to connect with the more intellectually vigorous artistic work that the Pre-Raphaelites admired in Italian art just before the Renaissance. | Lucchesi, Joseph E. | 2010-05 |
| Coulbourne, Betsy Lea | English | Crossing bridges | This is a portrait of Maryland’s Eastern Shore as seen through my eyes, focusing specifically on Caroline and Talbot Counties, and Ocean City. Through this project I explored the town I grew up outside of, experiences I had in places I have been, and people who have been important in my life. I have attempted to recreate my home honestly, without denying my affection for it, through sharing my experiences. Nature and the rural community are contrasted with businesses in the surrounding towns and the effects of tourism. In writing these stories I have finally been able to put into words my attitudes towards change and difference, while also exploring the reasons why these attitudes exist. Through the speaker, I puzzle over the inner conflict between my deep need to be close to my family and my desire to defy their expectations. | Hammond, Jeffrey A. | 2004-05 |
| Maggio, Jessica Lauren | English | Rustling of wings : reflections on animal behavior | My [SMP] consists of ten nature essays and a short preface .… Befitting my independent student-designed major combining biology and psychology, this interdisciplinary project allowed me to utilize my writing talents to produce an essay collection centered around the same theme as my major: animal behavior. Readings from various periods and approaches to nature writing, as well as theory on the essay as a literary form, served as the basis for my project. I analyzed these works' styles, literary techniques, and definitions of the essay form before crafting my own essays. Background research and inspiration were derived from print and internet sources, previous coursework, and personal observations of the natural world. My primary goal was to create essays that would engage readers whether or not they possess a zeal for the natural world, at the same time educating readers about the behavior of animals and contributing to the established body of professional nature essays. This project challenged me to effectively express aspects of the natural world through a combination of scientific knowledge and knowledge of literary styles, resulting in a polished collection of my own nature essays. | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2003-05 |
| Dockrey, Samantha Kay | English | Order/chaos, interdependence/impermanence : nature and Buddhism as a farang’s guide in Thailand | Within this collection of twelve creative non-fiction essays, I tell of my experiences in nature during my four month study abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Using the influence of writers like Henry David Thoreau, Edward Abbey, and John Muir, I wrote nature essays within a variety of subgenres. These include travel and adventure writings, rambles, natural history essays, records of farm life, and man’s role in nature. Writing more than merely a collection of travelogues helped me to grow as a writer and to connect with multiple audiences. The essays, different in many ways, all share one common thread: each incorporates Buddhist thought. Because Thailand is 95 percent Buddhist, religion plays a large role in Thai people’s relation with nature and to the world in general. The incorporation of Buddhist thought in my essays helped me to connect my thoughts to the rich culture of Thailand. The title of my collection, “Order/Chaos, Interdependence/Impermanence: Nature and Buddhism as a Farang’s Guide in Thailand,” speaks of the dichotomies and complexities I discovered while trying to relate as farang, or foreigner. As nature proves to be both structured and disorganized, relationships prove to be both interconnected and fleeting. While writing, I found that both the order in nature and the interdependence discussed in Buddhism are related. Likewise, the chaos of nature is connected to the Buddhist concept of impermanence. These connections guided me towards a deeper understanding of my time as a Westerner in an Eastern country. | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2011-05 |
| Painter, Elizabeth Marie | Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | From storm to sea : how water imagery is connected to the transformational journeys of the female protagonists in the works of Eudora Welty, Teresa de la Parra, Kate Chopin, and María Luisa Bombal | [no abstract] | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2004-05 |
| Bergeron, Rebecca Lee | Art | Ordered disorder | There are patterns inherent in nature, controlled by natural processes and sequences. The world is composed of systems, collections of interacting parts functioning as a whole. There are also occurrences that cannot be explained by a rational pattern; they appear to be random or chance events. For example, weather patterns continually repeat themselves, but those repetitions are never quite the same. While I try to create order in my work, I also recognize nature’s affinity for chaos. On an individual level, I am ultimately in control of myself and my life. However, I too am susceptible to chance experiences. By manipulating found and derived materials, I am able to gain control of myself and nature. Different materials and textures lend themselves to various levels of controllability. The inexpensive, easy-to-find materials that I use, such as twine and cardboard, are neither perfectly formed nor built to last through time. While the twine is ultimately subject to my wishes, I am at the same time limited by its physical properties. Using materials and marks that are easily repeated, copied, and manipulated visually organizes an object or group of objects, so that I can reveal some aspects of my works while hiding others. My work deals with the natural tendency towards chaos and the human, personal drive towards control. I attempt to maintain order by repetitively and obsessively creating shapes and objects that are manipulated and that manipulate the viewer while allowing natural variations to take place. | Johnson, Susan R. | 2002-05 |
| Samoraj, Noel Louise | English | Places we call home : exploring the importance of environment in creating a community | I believe that human behavioral development relies heavily on the unique environment in which people are raised or live for a lengthy period of their lives …. My theory relies on the level of closeness each individual has with the environment, specifically the natural environment. Some people have no sense of a significant attachment to nature, whereas others make the natural environment a fundamental part of their everyday lives. With this theory of connectedness of nature and human activity in mind, I hypothesize that the natural environment of a place creates community. My objective with this project was to discover how the natural landscape combined with the history of a place creates a feeling of community and causes a group of unrelated people to become united. Within this paper I explore such questions as: How do we develop knowledge from the land? What kind of interactions do people share with the environment? How are landscape and community defined independently and how do these definitions relate to each other? And finally, what is the importance of a significant presence of nature in our determination of place and community? For purposes of this project I will refer mainly to the St. Mary’s landscape and history as an example of such a place because it is what I know personally. Throughout this paper I will draw on my own experiences as a student here. However, I want to emphasize that every place has its own uniqueness and lure that serve to develop residents individually and as groups, living and growing in the same environment. [from introduction] | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2005-05 |
| Rich, Anita Marion | Art | St. Mary's project | As a child in the forest, I was an explorer in the midst of a powerful and mysterious space. For me now, the forest represents the unknown, and directly reflects what we cannot predict or control. In my artwork I attempt to make manifest the moment when one becomes aware that the familiar path has suddenly disappeared, and accept the sense of dislocation and awe that accompanies this journey into the unknown. I do not plan my drawings; they take form when I meditate on the experience of becoming lost. As I imagine what I would feel in those moments, the forest landscape begins to abstract and becomes an environment that holds the potential to disorient. The looming tree trunks form prison bars that trap me, and the misty ferns seem to disappear before my eyes as if time is being erased. They are always lonely, solitary spaces that seem to exist far away from any path. I recognize a connection between the experience of feeling displaced - going astray, becoming lost - in the wilderness and the ideas behind the sublime. Artists such as Caspar David Friedrich and Thomas Cole paint miniscule figures in awe of their grandiose surroundings, whether it is an expansive valley at their feet or a fast approaching storm over a rough ocean. Winslow Homer’s The Fox Hunt portrays a fox running across an open snowy field to escape the attacks of multiple crows. These paintings are literal illustrations of powerless beings at the mercy of their sometimes cruel and incomprehensibly vast surroundings. My drawings differ in that they are not representational depictions of the natural landscape, but an abstract interpretation of the power of the forest. I want my work to recreate the feeling of losing control in the natural landscape so that my audience can develop a sense of what I consider the sublime. The landscapes imply a vast space beyond what is visible; it is a space of uncertainty, for the forest will never be completely illuminated. Though I am conscious of the danger, the unknown compels me to explore my surroundings, just as I did when I was a child. [artist statement] | Johnson, Susan R. | 2008-05 |
| Bowen, Constance Lore | English | Nature of Steinbeck, rhetorically speaking | Very quickly into his career, John Steinbeck became synonymous with Nature and the Salinas Valley. With lengthy passages, often entire chapters, all of the natural setting, Steinbeck’s novels have earned him that reputation. This reputation has not always result in positive feedback from critics or readers. The general reader skims these passages, avoiding long sections of setting and moving on to what they think is more important in the novel – plot, character, action. Critics view Steinbeck’s Nature as a means for him to portray his social, religious, and political opinions, while other critics think Steinbeck draws on so much Nature simply because he is a Naturalist. Nature in Steinbeck’s work, however, functions as more than just symbolic representation or a medium for his opinions and beliefs. Nature works as a setting, but also as a character, as well as motivation for the other characters. In this paper, I analyze the Nature in seven of Steinbeck’s novels as representative of his career – To A God Unknown (1933), In Dubious Battle (1936), Of Mice and Men (1937), The Grapes of Wrath (1939), The Wayward Bus (1947), East of Eden (1952), and The Winter of Our Discontent (1961). To explain Nature’s many functions in Steinbeck’s novels, I use language from rhetorician Kenneth Burke’s Pentad of Motives – “Act, Scene, Agent, Agency, Purpose” (A Grammar of Motives xv). I divide Nature into three sections – Land, Natural Phenomena, and Animals. Land functions as the Scene and Purpose for the Agents and as another Agent, Natural Phenomena functions as Agency for Land, and Animals show how Man should react to Nature. Using the Nature found in To A God Unknown as a blueprint for the structure of Nature in Steinbeck’s career, I analyze each of these seven novels with the same criteria. This study reveals a structural cohesiveness in Steinbeck’s career that some critics, such as John Ditsky, claim does not exist in Steinbeck’s fiction. | Click, Benjamin A. | 2008-05 |
| Bumgarner, Kelton Hunter | Art | Weathered | I have always been interested in how the objects around me are transformed by nature once they become discarded. Everything that is created goes through a life cycle. Objects decay because of rain and rot, but they also grow into new forms by emerging with plants and mold that transform their surfaces. Like the farmer, I am able to stand back and watch nature take its course. By documenting and decaying the object, I am able to make connections between my own idealized view of representation, and how I am able to shift my perception of these places and my perception of them as images. I want a tension within my artworks created by the preciousness of the surface in contrast to the depreciated aesthetic of its source. I look to find visual aspects of these decayed objects that show how beauty appears we wouldn’t normally go looking for it. | Friebele, William E. | 2010-05 |
| Marbourg, Jennifer Lynn | Physics | Neutral wind, ion drift, and temperature measurements in the upper atmosphere | With advances in technology comes the ability to build highly sensitive instruments with position sensitive detection concepts that may enable new charged-particle spectrometers. In this paper, we examine the design of such an instrument and perform simulations of its expected signal to establish its ability to measure the energy distributions of neutrals and ions/electrons. The energy data are reflective of the elements that are most abundant within the low earth orbit (LEO) region; namely, H, He, O, O2, N2, Ar, O+, NO+, N2+, H+, and N+. From the distributions, we will be able to determine the neutral winds, ion drifts, and temperatures in the upper atmosphere. | Adler, Charles L. | 2002-05 |
| O'Donnell, Claire Frances | International Languages and Cultures (Spanish) | Sustainable community development in Nicaragua : a case study on the Foundation for Sustainable Development | International Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play an increasingly important role in the implementation of the United Nation’s Millennium Development goals. This case study examines the methodology used by the international NGO, the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) in its development work in the marginalized community of Las Aguas Calientes, Nicaragua. The major barriers FSD faces in implementing sustainable development are the same barriers that many other international and local community development organizations face. Some of these barriers include incomplete understanding of community needs and ineffective communication leading to misconceptions on the part of the community about FSD’s mission. This case study, based on my internship experience with FSD, offers insight for NGOs and researchers, especially student researchers, into the expanding field of sustainable community development and the challenges that arise when doing development work. Key words: community development, Nicaragua, international NGOs, sustainable development, participation, empowerment | Rogachevsky, Jorge R. | 2010-05 |
| Hemady, Karim | Biology | Niche partitioning in turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) and black vultures (Coragyps atratus) | Black vultures and turkey vultures are the only avian scavengers in S. Maryland that feed exclusively on carrion. However, Gause’s competitive exclusion principle (1934) states that no two species can coexist if they occupy the same ecological niche. To examine niche diversification of food resources in black and turkey vultures, we placed camera traps near gut piles in a forested and open habitat. After analyzing the total numbers of each species in the forested and open treatments, we found that niche partitioning of gut piles did not occur at forested gut piles but did occur at open treatments, as we found significantly higher numbers of turkey vultures than expected by chance, indicating that turkey vultures outcompeted black vultures at this treatment. In regards to partitioning of each treatment temporally, we found that forested gut piles were not partitioned during the first day, and early part of the second day, but on the latter part of the second day black vultures outcompeted turkey vultures, and during the third day turkey vultures outcompeted black vultures. At gut piles in open areas, turkey vultures outcompeted black vultures during the first day and early part of the second day, and during the latter part of the second day and during the third day the resource was not partitioned. | Price, J. Jordan | 2010-05 |
| Rush, Kimberly | Biology | Effects of nutrient extraction from the soil and Drosophila on the photosynthetic rate of Drosera capensis L. | The carnivorous lifestyle has been the subject of various nutritional studies. Studies performed with members of Droseraceae show that carnivory increases the growth and nutrient levels of these plants in a nutrient-poor environment. Nitrogen is one of the most common nutrients deficient in the soils of the carnivorous habitat, so plants benefit most from carnivory in low-nitrogen soils. Because plant growth increases with the addition of insects in carnivorous plants, and photosynthetic rate increases with nitrogen concentration in many non-carnivorous C3 plants (Chandler and Anderson 1976, Field and Mooney 1986), photosynthetic rates might be greater in plants fed insects. I measured photosynthetic rates and growth of Drosera capensis L., in four different treatments including insect-fed plants grown in nutrient-rich media, insect-fed plants grown in nutrient-poor media, insect-deprived plants grown in nutrient-rich media, and insect-deprived plants grown in nutrient-poor media. ACi curves and light curves were obtained for each treatment over time. There was a significant increase in leaf length over the course of the experiment in all treatments. Because the plants deprived of nutrients and insects increased almost as much as the plants given insects and nutrients, little can be said about the benefits of carnivory or the addition of nutrients in the soil. In general, photosynthetic rate at light saturation increased similarly over time in all treatments, making it difficult to see a correlation between carnivory and improved photosynthetic rate. | Williams, William E. | 1998-05 |
| Alprin, Elaine Julie | English; Environmental Studies | Creating a road to the wild | The following pages contain all the research I conducted over the last year of my life, and the way that I think I can help relieve some of the pains of living in the inner-city. I have begun developing an idea for a non-profit wilderness therapy program to focus on inner-city teenagers and youth that have been involved in the juvenile justice system. The first section of my project is this introduction where I have stated the impetus for this project. The second section contains the necessary research and steps that one must take in order to start a nonprofit. Each step is described in detail, and the importance of it stated clearly. The third section contains a case study of the nonprofit organization that I would like to implement. It contains a mission statement, philosophy of teaching statement, and touches on all of the aspects of this specific nonprofit that were feasible for me to formulate at this time. The fourth section contains the conclusion in which I summarize the information that I have gathered. This section also details the direction that this project must take in the future in order for it to be successfully implemented. The fifth section of this project contains the appendices. Appendix A is a series of testimonials written by various individuals, of different ages and from different backgrounds. Each story explains how the wilderness has offered these individuals a place to heal and grow. This is an important section because it shows how influential the wilderness can be in helping a person make a positive change in their lives, and how the wilderness offers a serene environment where a person can heal and become a better version of themselves. [from Introduction] | Poor, P. Joan | 2005-12 |
| Moxey, Lauren Krystal | Biology | North Sea: an analysis of the human impact and issues that affect the North Sea | The North Sea is a highly productive and influenced system on the continental shelf of Northwest Europe. It is mainly influenced the North Atlantic Ocean, however, increased human activity in the North Sea has lead to changes in the health of the ecosystem. The main factors that affect the ecosystem of the North Sea are climate changes, fishing practices, and eutrophication. The health of the North Sea is currently deteriorating and protective measures are needed to help restore the North Sea to a more stable environment. There is an urgent need for marine protective areas and harsher laws to ensure the safe recovery of the ecosystem of the North Sea. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2007-05 |
| Eaton, Amy E. | Environmental Studies | Ocean Wave Energy Conversion: the latest in renewable energy | Ocean wave energy conversion (WEC) is a renewable energy technology that captures the natural energy in ocean waves and converts it for purposes of electricity generation. Currently, WEC is an emerging technology that has not yet achieved commercial scale production and it is not yet cost competitive with other well-established forms of electricity production. Motivation for increased renewable energy development stems from both natural resource and environmental issues surrounding conventional fossil-fuel energy production. Ocean wave energy conversion is advantageous compared to other energy technologies. There are significant spatial and temporal variations in the distribution of ocean energy around the globe, which places a limit on the deployment sites of wave farms. But, the quantity of energy contained in the ocean is substantial. Although there are technical and methodological challenges of quantifying the global ocean resource, scientific work-to-date convincingly establishes ocean waves as a significant, renewable power. Because wave energy is a new, emerging industry, data regarding lifecycle costs and electricity generation are not yet available. Based on the theoretical foundations of technological learning, and through analysis of the solar photovoltaic and wind industries, the wave industry can expect to experience cost reductions as cumulative installed capacity increases. Increased research, development, and experience will promote the necessary industry learning for WEC to become a viable option for electricity generation. The Pursuit of WEC technologies today will better prepare humanity for the inevitable transition to renewable energy in the future. | Henderson, Amy B. | 2013-05 |
| Studivan, Michael Scott | Biology | Effect of the oil dispersant Corexit EC9500A on bleaching of the Alcyonacean soft coral Xenia elongata | Oil dispersants have been used since the 1960s to improve oil spill cleanup efficiency, but little toxicology data has been published regarding the effects of some dispersants on coastal environments. Corexit EC9500A is a commonly applied dispersant that was used extensively on the recent Deepwater Horizon blowout (April 2010). Despite the lack of solid toxicological data for coral reef species, there is limited evidence that Corexit EC9500A can cause a bleaching response in corals. This study had two goals: (1) to determine the extent of bleaching after 24 and 96 hour exposures of sublethal concentrations (0-50ppm) of Corexit EC9500A to the soft coral Xenia elongata and (2) to investigate the use of a percent bleaching calculation in acute exposure studies using zooxanthellae counts. For future chronic studies, I explored the possibility of spicule density and soluble protein concentration as zooxanthellae normalization techniques. My zooxanthellae data suggested a strong relationship between exposure concentration and percent bleaching. Percent bleaching was an effective measure of coral health in acute (24 hour) exposures. However, zooxanthellae normalization with spicule density and soluble protein concentration in Xenia elongata was difficult because they may also be affected as a result of bleaching. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2011-05 |
| O'Reilly, Carrie | Biology | Are ribbed mussels (geukensia demissa) effective bioindicators of oil pollution? | Anthropogenic sources of pollution are increasing and may negatively impact sensitive aquatic ecosystems. Oil pollution in particular is a main concern because of increasing demand as well as extraction and transport within major waterways, especially estuaries. The effect of oil on estuarine biota may be subtle, so bioindicator species, such as bivalves, are valuable in determining sublethal effects. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of Geukensia demissa, ribbed mussels, as bioindicators of sublethal effects of oil pollution, I exposed mussels to number 2 diesel oil and measured activity of glutathione s-transferases (GST), a group of enzymes used in xenobiotic biotransformation, in response to low (0 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L) and high (2.5 mg/L and 3 mg/L) oil exposure, and their ability to detoxify, in varying salinities (5, 12, and 18). Although there is no significant difference in GST activity among salinity treatments (P=0.774), the salinity treatment of 12 had the lowest activity, with both the 5 and 18 salinity treatments having higher activity (Fig. 8). This pattern suggests that mussels are less stressed in their natural salinity. There was also no significant difference in GST activity among oil concentrations (P=0.555); however, GST activity did increase with increasing oil concentrations (Fig. 9). These trends suggest that salinity may have a synergistic relationship with oil, increasing its toxicity. The results of my experiment do not conclusively support my hypotheses. Despite there being no significant differences, there are trends that suggest that ribbed mussels may be effective bioindicators of oil pollution at higher concentrations than used in this study. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2014-05 |
| Maguire, Kerry | Chemistry | Understanding the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on sedimentary microbial processes | On April 20, 2010, The Deepwater Horizon oil spill released an unprecedented amount of oil into the Gulf of Mexico deep water, some of which was deposited to the seafloor. While studies reported that endemic microbial communities were able to breakdown this oil, it is still unclear how microbial communities in the sediments responded to this influx of oil. In conjunction with in situ experiments in the Gulf of Mexico, we carried out laboratory experiments to explore how anaerobic processes such as sulfate reduction and methanogenesis degrade oil and at what rates. We hypothesized that the addition of oil will stimulate sulfate reducers due to the influx of a new carbon source. This, in turn, will shift zones of microbial activity so that methanogens will begin to produce methane at a shallower depth than the controls. For the experiment, sediment cores (~25 cm long) were collected from a shallow-water estuary (St Mary’s College, MD) where salinity is 13 psu. The cores were permanently fitted with Rhizone samplers that filter porewater (0.2μm) every 3-5 cm. For the experiment, there were two treatments, one with surface sediment and original carbon content, and one treatment where the surface sediment was added to oil in a 5:1 ratio by volume. Five milliliters of either treatment material was then added to the surface sediment of the core and left at room temperature, approximately 22°C, for the duration of the 3 month experiment. Pore-water sub-samples were then collected every week. Pore-water samples were measured for sulfate concentrations, and a methane profile was determined at the end of the experimental period. Overall, the sulfate levels in the oiled core decreased to lower concentrations than in the control core, and methane levels increased to a much greater amount, when sulfate was exhausted. A small increase in methane was seen in the deepest part of the control core. This supports our hypothesis that methane will be present at shallower depths in sediments when oil is introduced. This may have long-term consequences on methane levels that may potentially rise to the surface through physical processes and function as a greenhouse gas. While these in-lab results shed light on oil degradation dynamics with natural microbial populations, they may not truly reflect activity in the Gulf – in-situ experiments remain the most accurate way to study true environmental conditions. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2014-05 |
| Eder, Rebecca Elizabeth | Chemistry | Elemental characterization of aerosols at Piney Point | High concentrations of atmospheric trace metals can cause adverse health effects. A common source of metals in aerosols is oil combustion. Cargo ships, such as the ones found at Piney Point [St. Mary's County, Maryland], burn numerous gallons of bunker fuel while they unload oil and are unregulated by the EPA. Samples taken from Piney Point were compared to samples from the [St. Mary's College of Maryland] boathouse to determine if these ships were contributing trace metals to the air. The results showed significantly elevated values for Ni, Cu, and Pb at Piney Point, suggesting contamination by the activities at the oil offloading facility. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2007-05 |
| Kangas, Bonnie Marie | Biology | Do VAM fungi, Glomus spp., increase nematode resistance of tomatoes, Lycopersicon esculentum, companion planted with marigolds, Tagetes erecta? | Traditionally, organic gardeners have companion planted marigolds with tomatoes because of the marigold’s reputation for endowing tomatoes with nematode resistance, thereby improved growth. I investigated whether marigolds really did improve tomato growth and nematode resistance. In addition, I investigated the possible mechanistic role of the vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi Glomus spp. in the marigold/tomato relationship and in resistance to the nematode Meloidogyne incognita, a common agricultural pest. I grew plants in the greenhouse for two months, before measuring biomass and assessing VAM and nematode infections. Controls consisted of non-VAM treatments, non-nematode treatments and tomatoes companioned with tomatoes. Tomato growth was not influenced by marigold companions in the greenhouse pot situation. VAM, however, did improve tomato growth. Nematode infection was largely unsuccessful, so effects of marigolds and VAM on nematode control could not be determined. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2007-05 |
| Fawcett, Emily M. | Biology | Analysis of the effects of organic land management on bacterial diversity through 16S rRNA sequencing | Bacterial and nematode populations show great fluctuation in biodiversity due to changes in soil characteristics, making them a good indicator for soil quality. Organic farmers employ sustainable farming techniques, including strip tilling and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve environmental and agricultural quality. 193 samples from 3 soil sites under different tilling practices were isolated: from a currently tilled region of a strip-tilled field, a 2 year fallow portion of a strip tilled field, and a 12 year fallow CRP field. The 16S rRNA gene, a highly variable region that has been previously used to identify bacterial species, was sequenced and aligned with known sequences using the Classifier algorithm. The introduction of oxygen and the interruption of water columns resulting from conventional tilling practices appear to have direct impact on the biodiversity found in soil. Acidobacteria, a recently identified phylum of bacteria, appears to be abundant in all soil sites, suggesting that it may play an unidentified but important ecological role. In addition, bacterial-feeding nematodes appear to be selective in their food choice, as they have a lower abundance of Acidobacteria and a higher abundance of Alphaproteobacteria associated with them than found in their corresponding soil location. As Gram negative bacteria were nearly 90% of the bacterial samples identified, this study suggests that better DNA extraction methods should be used to get a correct representation on true soil biodiversity. | Elliott, Samantha L. | 2010-05 |
| Schabdach, Amanda Renee | Chemistry | Determination of gas phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at Piney Point, Maryland | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants which persist in the environment (1). This particular study focuses on researching and analyzing PAHs which exist in the gas phase. An air sampling device was stationed at a small dock in Piney Point Park, Maryland. This location was chosen because there are tankers which offload petroleum products at the oil loading facility directly adjacent to the park. PAHs are known to be released by ships as decomposition products resulting from their energy use (8). The total average PAH concentrations were reported for each individual PAH. Naphthalene had the lowest concentration of 0.764 ng/m3. Phenanthrene had the highest concentration of all the PAHs of 53.016 ng/m3. The total concentrations of all the PAHs combined was also reported for each day of sampling. The day with the lowest concentration of PAHs was 10/03/06, with a concentration of 23.7 ng/m3. The date with the highest reported concentration was 9/27/06 with 887.0 ng/m3. The data gathered pointed to the fact that the tankers are polluting the atmosphere at Piney Point. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2007-05 |
| Khoury, Kaitlin Marie | Political Science | St. Mary's project | The agricultural production system in the United States, though touted as the best in the world, has wreaked social and ecological destruction since the advent of agribusiness and industrial agriculture. In this SMP, the negative affects of industrial agriculture are investigated as well as the potential for organic agriculture to become a viable alternative. In order to determine how the agricultural production system, regardless of its inefficiencies and negative externalities, became predominant, the role of the government and specifically USDA is addressed. This includes its role in the establishment and perpetuation of the current agricultural industry, as well as its part in denying sustainable agriculture, such as organic agriculture, any such support. Exploration into the history of organic agriculture, the establishment of a national organic program, as well as trends in the market today lead to the conclusion that organic agriculture, as it is now understood and implemented, will never be truly sustainable. I argue that within the current economic and political context, sustainable agriculture on a large scale will never be implemented, and the paradigm shift which must occur needs to reflect the values of eco-localism. | Shafqat, Sahar | 2006-05 |
| Collie, Claire Elizabeth | Biology | Phenolic concentrations in organically and synthetically fertilized arugula, Eruca sativa | Organic agriculture is a growing market driven by people concerned that current agricultural practices are not good for their health or for the environment. Synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides are thought to reduce production of phenolic compounds within plants whereas organic fertilizers such as bone meal, blood meal and potash do not. Phenolic compounds are synthesized by plants in response to stressors like UV radiation and herbivory and can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases because of their antioxidant characteristics. The concentration of total phenolic compounds was compared in arugula, Eruca sativa fertilized with organic and synthetic fertilizers. Plants for experimentation were grown within a greenhouse or outside in cold frames. Higher concentrations of phenolic compounds were found in organically fertilized than synthetically fertilized arugula when grown in the greenhouse. The plants grown outside did not show significantly different concentrations of phenolic compounds. Nonetheless, this study suggests one way in which organically fertilized crops may be healthier for humans. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2009-05 |
| Becker, Elizabeth Marie | Biology | Growth dynamics of two nesting populations of osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in Baja California Sur, Mexico | The numbers and locations of osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nesting sites have been collected in Puerto San Carlos and Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos, BCS, Mexico over four of the last six spring nesting seasons (2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008). Nest data were mapped with GIS, grouped by nest status and statistically analyzed. Both towns experienced a significant increase in nesting pairs and nest density over the six year study period. The two towns had significantly different population levels, but had very similar growth rates. Osprey nesting success in these areas can be viewed as an indicator of overall ecosystem health, and should continue to be researched as tourism and industry in the area grow. At present, the environment appears healthy enough to support a growing population, but pollution and development in the towns are growing problems and must be monitored. | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2009-05 |
| Howard, Shannon Kathleen | Biology | Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) predation on native and selectively-bred Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) | Native eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica populations have been declining drastically in the Chesapeake Bay for over 70 years due to numerous factors including deteriorating environmental conditions, the spread of disease, predation, and overharvesting. Researchers have recently begun to look into restoration of oyster populations in the Bay, such as selective breeding, creating reserve sites, and introducing non-native species. This study considers the effects of blue crab Callinectes sapidus predation on both native and selectively bred eastern oysters. I found blue crabs preyed on the selectively bred oysters in a significantly higher proportion than on native oysters when presented with both simultaneously. I also found a significant relationship between crab size (measured by carapace length) and weight wet and the number of oysters eaten. Though conducted under partially controlled conditions, I believe similar results would be found in natural environments, and that predation pressure by blue crabs must be considered when initiating oyster restoration projects. | Paul, Robert W. | 2009-05 |
| Sing, Jaelithe Kim | Biology | Dangers of the outdoors : a look at the domestic cat (Felis catus) | Outdoor cats are at a higher risk of danger than those kept indoors. Human influences include danger of being hit by cars, poisoning and human cruelty. Natural hazards include diseases such as Feline Leukemia (FeLV), Rabies, and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Cats are also in danger from harmful parasites that can transmit diseases onto humans and other animals. They have a tremendous impact on some wildlife species and many conservationists advocate confining cats inside. While many see no cause for worry in letting their cat roam outside, the risks outweigh the benefits. This paper aims to educate those who are unaware of the dangers to outdoor cats. Four issues involved in the outdoor/indoor debate of domestic cats will be discussed: general hazards, the effects on wildlife, risk of disease, and lastly parasites and associated zoonotic diseases. It is hoped that after reading this one will think twice before letting their cat roam freely outdoors. | Paul, Robert W. | 2003-05 |
| Dorsey, Candice Leann | Biology | Food habits of Southern Maryland barn owls | Barn owls in Southern Maryland have been decreasing in population over the past twenty years, probably due to a decline in suitable habitat and the habitat of their prey animals. An analysis of their diet in this region shows a preference for both rodents and insectivores. Pellet analysis shows a dominance of voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, comprising an average of 72.2% of their diet. House mice, Mus musculus, (8.3%), white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, (7.4%) and short-tailed shrews, Blarina brevicauda, (7.7%) are also common prey animals. These data are useful to help area naturalists in determining ideal locations to set up owl boxes by analyzing the local environment and its prey availability. | Willoughby, Ernest J. | 2000-05 |
| Sikowitz, Megan Diane | Chemistry | Examination of the role of DMSP and DMSP lyase as antioxidants in zooxanthellae | Zooxanthellae, (dinoflagellates) in the genus Symbiodinium, display a symbiotic relationship with reef building corals and other cnidarians. Healthy corals are important for the viability of reef ecosystems. Often coral death and destruction of reef habitats occurs during coral bleaching episodes in which zooxanthellae are expelled from coral polyps. Therefore, conditions which cause zooxanthellae to be expelled from their host during these bleaching episodes are of great interest, as are the mechanisms underlying these changes. Oxidative stress is one such proposed mechanism that has been shown to lead to the breakdown of the symbiotic relationship between the organisms. Investigations concerning antioxidant protection mechanisms are of great interest in understanding the bleaching process and potentially to serve as biomarkers of a stressed reef prior to the bleaching event. Corals have been shown to contain high levels of the algal derived sulfur compound, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). DMSP and the enzyme DMSP lyase (DL), which converts DMSP into more effective antioxidants (DMS and if further oxidized, DMSO), have been proposed as a potential novel antioxidant system in other algal cells. DL potential activity (DLA) has been observed in many marine organisms, but not yet, Symbiodinium spp. Baseline studies were conducted on Symbiodinium spp. to determine the levels of DLA under normal growth conditions. The role of bacteria in the DLA of the Symbiodinium cultures was also investigated to help further distinguish zooxanthallae as the major contributor to observed DL activity. Then under conditions of oxidative stress, the efficiency of DL and DMSP as antioxidant protectants was examined in one strain of Symbiodinium, where it was found that DMSP levels increased while DLA remained unchanged. | Cass, Danielle M. | 2008-05 |
| Ramsey, Lee Hutcheson | Biology | Oyster aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay : a case for the privatization of the oyster industry | The American Oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay, but their populations have remained depleted despite over a century of studies and legislation intended to help their numbers rebound. A combination of overharvesting and disease has wiped out the oyster to less than 1 percent of their historic population. Their importance both economically and ecologically creates a debate as how to best approach their restoration. They provide ecological benefits through their ability to regulate nitrogen levels through filter-feeding, their role in benthic-pelagic coupling, and through the habitat which is created by the reef structures in which they grow. The privatization of the oyster industry would divert harvesting pressure away from the natural reefs, allowing them to grow undisturbed and once again fulfill their ecological role. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2008-05 |
| Wirtz, Kelsey | Environmental Studies | Do Land Use and Bacteria Levels Limit Oyster Aquaculture in St. Jerome’s Creek, MD? | State water quality regulations in St. Jerome’s Creek (Ridge, MD) restrict all of the prongs for shellfish harvesting, while only approving the large open basin. This restricts aquaculture farms such as True Chesapeake Oyster Company from expanding aquaculture harvesting throughout the creek. To determine if restricted areas of the creek should be approved for shellfish aquaculture, I monitored stations in restricted areas adjacent to residential, agricultural, and forested land uses and compared them to samples taken from True Chesapeake Oyster Company’s aquaculture farm in approved waters. Water and oyster samples were taken biweekly for two months. To assess how the levels of coliform varied between land uses, dates, and water classifications, I determined the most probable number of coliform per 1mL of each sample. No significant difference was detected between water or oyster samples across different land uses and across sampling dates. There was also no significant difference in coliform levels between the areas of water where shellfish harvesting is approved (True Chesapeake Oyster Company’s current location) and where it is restricted (all prongs of the creek). These results suggest that closures throughout the creek may not be necessary and that the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) should reassess the current classifications of St. Jerome’s Creek. If samples from the MDE remain consistent with my findings, all waters of St. Jerome’s Creek should be approved for shellfish harvesting, allowing True Chesapeake Oyster Company to expand oyster aquaculture to other portions of the creek. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2014-05 |
| Lee, Elizabeth Marie Josephine | Biology | Comparison of Substrates for St. Mary's River Oyster Reef Restoration | Over-harvesting, disease, and other anthropogenic impacts have resulted in Chesapeake Bay Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) population declines. Many oyster restoration efforts have been undertaken, including oyster reef construction. The ideal reef substrate is natural oyster shell. Unfortunately, this material is becoming scarce, and therefore, alternative artificial materials are being explored. This study compared natural and artificial materials for oyster reef construction in the St. Mary’s River, St. Mary’s City, Maryland. Oyster larvae were set on oyster shell, concrete rubble, and polyvinyl chloride pieces (PVC). After initial settlement in the lab, oyster spat on the three substrates were relocated to the river and monitored for growth and mortality for seven months. Significantly more larvae originally settled on oyster shell than on concrete rubble or PVC. After three months, there was a significant difference between spat abundance on shell and PVC, but there was no significant difference between the spat abundance on oyster shell and concrete. After five months of growth, oyster spat on shell were significantly larger than the spat on the other two substrates. Larval settlement, spat mortality, and spat growth differed between the three substrates, and this suggests that concrete may be an appropriate alternative material for restoration projects. | Paul, Robert W. | 2013-05 |
| Brummitt, Colleen M. | Biology | Alternative Rock: Oyster Restoration Options for the Chesapeake Bay | The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) plays important roles in both the economy and ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. Oysters provide a substrate and habitat for other organisms, remove suspended particles from the water column, stabilize the surrounding substrate, and play a part in the food web. Overharvesting with destructive techniques, disease, and poor water quality have resulted in an oyster population crash that has further degraded the health of the Bay. There are several organizations and government agencies involved in oyster restoration with the hopes of increasing the number of harvestable oysters as well as the quality of the Bay. In order for an oyster restoration project to be successful, the project must be designed with clear goals in mind, placed in an ideal location, and monitored after construction to determine the success or failure of the project. Restoration construction efforts are hindered by the shortage of available oyster shell to use as a setting surface or cultch for oyster larvae. In this paper, I address several of the issues with current restoration efforts by describing the importance of goal-setting, proper site selection, and possible monitoring procedures. I also address the advantages and disadvantages of three alternative construction materials: clam shell, concrete, and limestone. Unfortunately, directly comparing materials is difficult because there are so many variables pertaining to how and where the materials are used. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Overall, clam shell is the most comparable to oyster shell. Limestone and concrete have a wider variety of uses than clam shell but also weigh considerably more. I suggest a set format for reporting information about each restoration project that can be shared universally between organizations. The database suggested would make it easy to directly compare projects and further our understanding of how site characteristics, design, and materials play a role in the success or failure of a restoration project. There are several important factors that influence the success of an oyster reef. My goal was to address each one in hopes that my recommendations may be used to improve the success of oyster projects throughout the region. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2013-05 |
| Coe, Hannah Chapman | Biology | Beyond Spat: Faunal Colonization of Oyster Reef Restoration Materials | The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) has been a decreasing resource in the Chesapeake Bay for centuries, due primarily to anthropogenic causes. Oyster reef restoration projects, including oyster reef construction, are underway to protect these ecosystems. As oyster shell availability continues to decline and shell becomes harder to access for oyster restoration projects, a viable substitute for oyster reef construction is needed. A common artificial substrate used for reef construction is concrete rubble. To compare the colonizing communities of an oyster shell reef and a reef constructed of concrete rubble, trays containing either concrete rubble or oyster shell were deployed in the St. Mary's River, Maryland to examine the differences in community composition and abundance between the two substrate types for evaluation of the best option for oyster reef construction.. Trays were set at two sites, one characterized by an undeveloped, sandy bottom and the other an existing oyster bar. After seven weeks of colonization, the trays at the reef site had significantly higher organismal abundances than the trays at the empty bottom site. However, there was no difference in diversity between the substrate types. This suggests that concrete rubble is a viable option for oyster reef construction, although oyster shell appears to be the ideal candidate for reef building. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2013-05 |
| Slife, Caitlin | Biology | Recruitment and Mortality of Crassostrea virginica on Three-Dimensional Restoration Reefs in the St. Mary’s River | The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is widely considered a keystone species in estuarine environments due to its ability to quickly and efficiently filter water of particulates, thereby improving water quality. Overfishing caused by technological advancements in combination with rampant disease has diminished populations in the Chesapeake Bay to less than 1% of ancestral levels. Restoration historically dumped dredged ancient shell on ancestral bars, but recent research suggests building artificial three dimensional reef mounds to be more effective. Recruitment to and mortality on four types of these reef (concrete reef balls, concrete rubble, concrete reef balls with shell veneer, and concrete rubble with shell veneer) was studied. Bags of shell or concrete, depending on the presence of the shell veneer, were placed on each reef for 2, 4, or 8 weeks in the St. Mary’s River every two weeks from July to November, 2013. The number of spat found in each bag was counted. Bags with known numbers of spat were then placed on the reefs from December 2013 through March 2014 and checked monthly to determine mortality. Two winter ice events prevented the completion of the mortality study. Although no statistical significance was found, overall trends suggest the concrete rubble mound with a veneer of shell attracted the most spat. Reefs with shell veneer had continuous spat recruitment over time, whereas reefs without shell veneers had initial colonization but little continuous recruitment. This research suggests that concrete rubble mounds with a shell veneer are a more effective design for three dimensional restoration reef mounds of the four types studied, however, more comprehensive research needs to be performed. | Paul, Robert W. | 2014-05 |
| Boyle, Kevin Michael | Biology | Oyster filtration : does Crassostrea virginica improve water quality? : modern culture systems and selective breeding | The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, provides a variety of ecosystem services, by providing habitat for other organisms and facilitating the transfer of suspended material to the benthos. The filtering effects of bivalves on the water column are well documented. In this study I used mesocosms to asses two strategies of modern aquaculture (1) oysters grown suspended in the water column and (2) selective breeding to observe their effects on filtration and deposition processes. In a large tanks with live oysters suspended in floats, TSS decreased over time. Tanks with live oysters had significantly lower TSS at certain times over a five hour period (hour 3: P= 0.011, hour 4: P= 0.022) than tanks with shell, but overall regressions were not significant. Small tanks with wild and selectively bred Lineback C oysters had significantly lower TSS than shell tanks after six hours (P= 0.019) and had significant differences in regression for clearance rate (P= 0.008). There were no differences in TSS between the wild and Lineback C tanks. All treatment groups had different levels of biodeposition (P≤ 0.015). Float culture and selective breeding do not appear to inhibit C. virginica’s clearance and biodeposition processes. Notably, selective breeding has produced a strain of C. virginica that after one year of growth can rival the size and filtering ability of 4-6 year old wild oysters. | Paul, Robert W. | 2007-05 |
| Schmitt, Erika L. | Biology | Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) spat settlement in the St. Mary's River, Maryland | Crassostrea virginica, the eastern oyster, is a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay because it provides habitat for a number of species and filters the water, increasing water clarity and overall ecosystem health. The eastern oyster population is shrinking at an alarming rate due to overharvesting and a decline in environment conditions, but there are a number of programs currently working on oyster restoration. I monitored natural oyster spat settlement and water quality in the St. Mary’s River, Maryland, from June through October 2011 to maintain oyster reproduction and compare it to previous years. There was a relatively low spatfall in the summer and fall of 2011 because of high water temperatures, low salinities, and high turbidity. Water quality in 2011 was generally poor when compared to previous years when the St. Mary’s River Project (1999-2005) collected water quality data. There can be large fluctuations in annual spatfall due to water quality variations, but overall oyster restoration projects in the St. Mary’s River seem to be helping promote a healthy oyster population. | Paul, Robert W. | 2012-05 |
| McQuain, Liana de Maar Teodoro | Chemistry | Qualitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at Cremona, MD and Lexington Park, MD : a comparative study | Particulate and gas phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) samples were collected over a period between October 13, 2008 and February 9, 2009 in two different locations. Samples were collected on the shores of the Patuxent River in Cremona, MD, approximately 18 miles south a visible oil, natural gas, and coal-fired plant, where observed soot deposits were believed to have originated. In order to obtain a qualitative assessment of PAHs found in the atmosphere, samples were also collected near the same time frame at a second location in Lexington Park, MD and under the flight path of Naval Air Station Patuxent River. At Cremona, MD, the particulate phase PAHs with the highest average percentage were cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene at 15.6%, benzo[b,k]fluoranthene at 9.8%, benzo[e,a]pyrene at 12.9%, and perylene at 25.5%. Similarly, in Lexington Park, MD, the same particulate phase PAHs were detected at average percentage values of 10.0%, 7.3%, 13.4%, and 19.0% respectively. Average percent abundance in the gas phase at Cremona were naphthalene at 25%, 1-methylnaphthalene at 11.3%, 2-methylphenanthracene at 12.4%, methylanthracene at 13%, and 9, 10-dimethylphenanthrene at 10.5%. In Lexington Park, gas phase PAHs with the highest average percentages were naphthalene at 23.2%, 1-methylnaphthalene at 15%, acenaphthene at 8.0%, dimethylnaphthalene at 12.5%, and 9, 10-dimethylphenanthrene at 10.1%. The petrogenic and pyrogenic sources related to these types of emissions indicate a positive correlation between PAH emissions from fossil fuel combustion and the energy plant near Cremona. Smelting derivatives were also detected, indicative of another source of PAH pollutants in Southern Maryland. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2009-05 |
| Fenske, Marka Rose | Chemistry | Metabolomic study of polychlorinated biphenyl exposure on snapping turtles | This study evaluates metabolomics as a method to examine the cellular chemistry changes in snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) livers as a result of exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). The Hudson River in New York has been historically contaminated with PCBs that primarily reside in the sediments. Turtles and other benthic animals of the Hudson are at high risk of exposure to this potential carcinogen. Significant research has quantified PCB levels in the Hudson River ecosystem, but few studies have examined how high concentrations of PCBs may alter the chemical physiology of exposed organisms. Metabolomics is such a method. Metabolomics measures metabolic responses to changes in gene and protein expression. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics allows for simultaneous measurements of a variety of polar and non-polar metabolites. In this study 1H-NMR and Principle Component Analysis (PCA) is used to differentiate metabolite profiles in samples of turtle livers. Turtle liver samples were obtained from the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) where they were exposed to varying levels of PCBs. Samples were then analyzed using 1H-NMR single-pulse experiments and PCA. The findings from this study suggest that metabolomics is a useful method for studying the effects of PCBs as an environmental toxin in turtle livers. Future experiments will strengthen and support the understanding of metabolomics as a valuable method of analysis. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2007-05 |
| Brandenburg, Bethany Yvette | Biology | Responses of Littoraria irrorata to an ascomycete fungus using water-borne chemical cues | Littoraria irrorata promote the growth of fungus on Spartina alterniflora leaves by providing nitrogen-rich fecal pellets. L. irrorata, also called marsh periwinkles, consume live S. alterniflora as well as senescent material and fungi surrounding these wounds. Although some of their actions are most likely mediated by visual cues, these snails have been shown to be attracted to chemical cues. I proposed that L. irrorata are capable of detecting fungal odors and should exhibit a positive response to them. When given the choice between fresh leaves and fungus infected leaves I suggested that marsh periwinkles would prefer fungus infected leaves because they are a major food source. In order to test this, I used two chemical cue experiments using a maze and water-borne odors made from S. alterniflora leaves. I categorized each snails’ response and then examined how many times L. irrorata chose S. alterniflora leaves infected with fungus compared to fresh leaves. To determine whether or not marsh periwinkles have a statistically significant preference for one type of leaf over the other I performed a two-sample t-test assuming unequal variances. Both experiments indicated that L. irrorata responded positively to S. alterniflora regardless of whether or not fungus was present. When L. irrorata were initially given the choice of fresh leaves and fungus infected leaves they did not statistically prefer one type of leaf to the other. On the other hand, when given the same choice in a second experiment, the snails appeared to have a slight preference for fresh leaves. Although snails responded positively to fresh and fungus infected S. alterniflora, results are unclear about their preference between the two leaves. This suggests that the relationship between L. irrorata in a S. alterniflora is more complicated than I originally thought. Snails possibly did not react as expected because they could not detect fungus or they simply do not have a preference between the two types of leaves. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2007-05 |
| McGillen, Liane Noel | Biology | Integrated pest management in the St. Mary’s College of Maryland greenhouse | Integrated pest management (IPM) aims to reduce the risks associated with the use of chemical pesticides while diminishing pest populations. IPM can provide an economical and practical means to control the pests in the St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) greenhouse through the use of control tactics. The SMCM greenhouse had a large population of scale and spider mites that were damaging the plants. I released Neoseiulus californicus (a predatory mite) which preys upon spider mite and Chryosperla rufilabris (the green lacewing) whose larvae feed on a variety of soft bodied arthropods, to control the populations of scale, spider mite and some other pests. I also cleaned some plants with ethyl alcohol and insecticidal soap to assist in reducing scale populations. N. californicus appeared to significantly reduce the total spider mite population, and C. rufilabris did not show a significant treatment effect on the reduction of the total population of scale. In addition, the application of insecticidal soap did not significantly reduce the total scale population. C. rufilabris could have been negatively impacted by the temperature, humidity or the presence of ants in the greenhouse. IPM can be an effective method of control for the pest populations in the SMCM greenhouse, but more research and experimentation should be conducted to find the best method of pest reduction. | Williams, William E. | 2007-05 |
| Szychowski, Brian | Chemistry | Impact of pesticide use on [alpha]-solanine in potatoes | Glycoalkaloids, such as [alpha]-solanine, are naturally produced by plants as part of their defense mechanism against infection, pests, and other harm. This study attempts to quantify the amount of [alpha]-solanine in russet potatoes grown organically versus those grown using traditional growing techniques. Based on the compound’s role in plant defense, it was hypothesized that potatoes grown organically would contain higher levels of [alpha]-solanine. The amount of [alpha]-solanine was measured using high performance liquid chromatography. The levels of [alpha]-solanine detected were 9.30+/-5.66mg/kg fresh weight in non-organic potatoes and 18.60+/-5.49mg/kg fresh weight in organic potatoes. These results indicate at the 95% confidence level that potatoes grown organically do in fact contain higher concentrations of [alpha]-solanine. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2012-05 |
| Sherwood, Devin Margaret | Psychology | Does deodorant influence attraction? : female perceptions of male body odor | Evolutionary Psychology suggests that pheromones, or odors given off to signal reproductive characteristics, still play an active role in mate selection today. Research shows that both males and females detect and use pheromones when considering a mate. Past research has shown evidence that female mate preferences are correlated with the ovulatory cycle. Women who are ovulating, or at higher fertility risk, have also shown to be more in tune with evolutionary indicators of attractiveness including fluctuating asymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry is defined as the absolute difference between the left and right sides of the body. However, no research has looked at these findings from a more modern standpoint. Today, especially in America and other industrialized cultures in which media defines societal norms, the act of “masking” or “covering up” one’s scent with deodorant, cologne, perfume, or other fragrances is the standard. Yet, research has not yet focused on how these products influence the ability to perceive fluctuating asymmetry or attractiveness through pheromones. Very few research has also looked at the impact of hormone-based birth controls, such as the pill, on mate selection. The current study looks at the effects of fertility, birth control usage, and both male and female-targeted deodorants, on the ability to perceive pheromones as measured by fluctuating asymmetry. The results of this study indicate that fluctuating asymmetry and deodorant are both significant predictors of attractiveness. Fertility was also found to be significantly correlated with the offensiveness and intensity ratings. Birth control usage yielded no significant findings. | Hiris, Eric J. | 2011-05 |
| Teed, Courtney Elizabeth | Art | St. Mary's project | I carry with me at all times an urge to look closer at whatever catches my eye. With a camera in hand, the urge feels natural, and I act on it instinctively. I’m struck by irregularities, things that stick out in an otherwise mundane setting. When I photograph, I am alone. My camera is my tool for investigating. Through the lens, I can take a piece of something tangible and re-formulate its appearance. I’m most drawn to the materials that make up a scene. Metal. Large slabs. Heavy objects. Sharp Edges. Dangerous objects and structures. I’m most drawn to photograph places where the average passerby won’t normally go, and because of this impulse, I often run into boundaries. They make me curious. Even in places that aren’t blocked by something as real as a fence, I can sense when my curiosity or presence is not encouraged. But to me, such boundaries beg to be crossed. Lurking behind supermarkets, trekking around abandoned vehicles or underneath delivery trucks. Climbing through industrial yards and on loading docks. Places that exist on the peripheral lines of everyday terrain. Sometimes people notice me with a camera as they drive by, and they’ll stop to look and wonder what I’m doing. I think people are intrigued by the idea of quiet and solitary exploration. It’s a scarce sight to see someone out on their own doing something unusual, especially in a place where only some are permitted. This is where I step in and photograph. [from art smp archive website] | Caldwell, Colby | 2011-05 |
| Rowan, Anne C. | Art | St. Mary's project | I am driving on Route 7 in Baltimore, tempted to close my eyes as the innumerable lights and repetitive glaring reflections in the CarMax parking lot hurt my eyes. It is now that I realize how backwards things have become. I should want to open my eyes to see, to drink in, and to savor the abundance of naturally occurring stimulation with which the world provides us. In his book Outside Lies Magic John Stilgoe explains the phenomenon of the diminishing importance placed on visual acuity. It is this lost skill that I aim to at least create a desire to resurrect. I want viewers to enjoy and crave the exercise of eye and mind that comes with true looking and seeing. The first time I saw one of Richard Avedon’s portraits I was struck by how much I could see. Time slowed down. I noticed the way freckles scattered carelessly across skin; I noticed the slight raise of an eyebrow, a bitten lip, a rusted button. I was in awe of the sensations caused by what was able to be gleaned from the photograph, how well I felt like I knew the subject, and how deeply resonating and long lasting their gaze was, all captured in the stillness of a photograph, the same stillness that forces us to look, and to notice things we often miss in the natural motion of our lives. I strive to create portraits that arouse this kind of reaction in the viewer. When photographing, I sometimes think of a guitar. Seeing, for me, is like someone playing a guitar; their fingers come across the strings and send reverberations out into the world and back into the fingers themselves. What I’m interested in most is the reverberations, the sensations caused by seeing. Because of my interest in engaging visual sensations, I am able to capture moments or frames that highlight unique beauty in the people and environments that surround us. My aim is to create works that use composition to highlight certain features that make people or objects unique such as textures, flaws, personality traits, physical habits, visible signs of age. If we purposefully notice these things and engage in the sensations they create our lives will become richer and more fulfilling without the need to consume more. In the disposable world we’ve created I am interested in savoring details and moments. The delicate features of our everyday can be simply isolated through the stillness of photographs to show their innate complexity and their enriching power in our lives. I see portraiture as a way to re-conceptualize the way we look at and think of the body, the face, personality, and identity and how these aspects of humanity relate to one another. The sculptor Tony Feher said that “I think people are looking all the time, but I don’t think they’re seeing anything.” I want to create work that asks people to not only look, but to actively see and engage the eyes. The photographs I produce are an invitation to others to see, to savor the moments and details that I have, and then in turn begin to savor their own. [artist statement] | Johnson, Susan R. | 2009-05 |
| Morell, Sara Meredith | Art | Investigative pictoral photography | I am trying to visually represent a sense of my personal spirituality. This spirituality comes from my belief in the secret forces of nature. Sometimes when I am in the woods I imagine that I can hear the trees breathing. When the wind gentle rustles the leaves I imagine the resulting sound are the trees talking to one another or to me. When I lie down on the ground I can feel the earth breath like someone's chest moving up and down and I can hear and feel the earth's heart beat. I inhale the smell of the decaying leaves and dirt like it is. I welcome humidity because I can actually feel the air. This is the spirit of nature, the idea that the earth and all things that grow upon it are alive and breathing and seem to take on an anthropomorphic character. This is what my art is about. The fairy is just a body to contain this spirit. It is something to represent the abstract concept of spirituality so in the fairy I am trying to represent the imaginary embodiment of the spirit of nature …. | Johnson, Susan R. | 2001-05 |
| Newell, Delia May | Psychology | Behavioral and developmental differences in wild- and captive-bred cetaceans | The current literature review seeks to explore the physiological and psychological differences between killer whales and dolphins that were raised both in the wild and in captivity. Categories for comparison include feeding behaviors, territoriality, communication, reproductive habits, parental care, and pod structure. Though differences do exist, so little is known about each species that it is difficult to draw conclusions as to whether or not these differences could be detrimental to the animal. | Bailey, Aileen M. | 2005-05 |
| Plante, Lauren Elizabeth | Biology | Effect of nitrogen enrichments on the growth and community structure of St. Mary’s River phytoplankton | The St. Mary’s River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, has recently been experiencing tremendous development and population growth in its watershed. To study nutrient enrichment, St. Mary’s River water samples were filtered into 4-liter mesocosms. The mesocosms were separated into a high nitrate (3.0 mg/L), medium nitrate (1.5 mg/L), and control (0.04 mg/L) treatments. The control contained only the base nitrate concentration of river water at the start of the experiment. Changes in phytoplankton cell counts, pennate diatom, centric diatom, and dinoflagellate concentrations, and chlorophyll concentrations were monitored over an 8-day period. Significant (P<0.05) increases in centric diatom and dinoflagellate concentrations occurred in the medium and high nitrate treatments. Significant increases in total cell concentration and pennate diatom cell concentration occurred in the high nitrate treatment, while a significant decrease occurred in the control group. Chlorophyll in the control group decreased significantly throughout the 8-day period. In the medium nitrate treatment, chlorophyll increased significantly until day 6 at which time it peaked, and then rapidly decreased. In the high nitrate treatment, chlorophyll increased significantly until day 4 and then decreased significantly. The St. Mary’s River phytoplankton community was affected by the nitrogen enrichments, and the effect was dependent on nitrogen concentration; however, cold winter temperatures probably influenced the response to elevated nitrogen. | Paul, Robert W. | 2001-05 |
| Oblath, Emily Anna | Chemistry | Determination of gas phase polychlorinated biphenyls at Piney Point Lighthouse Park | This study examined the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the gas phase at Piney Point Lighthouse Park on the Potomac River in Maryland. PCBs are a class of organic chemicals that are especially persistent in the environment and are also probable carcinogens. Piney Point Lighthouse Park is located adjacent to an oil offloading facility that is frequented by oil tankers that could have an effect on the local air quality. Since tanker exhaust is not suspected to be a source of PCBs, the concentration of PCBs in the air at Piney Point was compared to past studies at nearby locations to indicate the levels of atmospheric pollutants unrelated to the tankers. There was no past data available on gas phase PCBs at Piney Point so it is impossible to say whether the concentrations found show improvement or decline, but they can be used to compare with future studies. Samples were collected from Piney Point over approximately 23 hour periods from September 19, 2006 to October 5, 2006 and from October 11, 2006 to October 13, 2006. The average total PCB concentration over the sampling period was 3.962 ± 1.993 ng/m3. This concentration is higher than levels found at other rural locations. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2007-05 |
| Perry, William Scott | Chemistry | Determination of particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at Piney Point Lighthouse Park, Maryland | This study looked at the particulate PAH concentration at Piney Point Lighthouse Park. The park is in a rural area of southern MD, and is in close proximity to an oil off-loading facility operated by Valero L.P. Samples were collected from September 2006-October 2006 using a high volume air sampler and 0.4μm glass fiber filters. After analysis by GC/MS, 16 priority PAHs were quantified. It was determined that PAH levels at Piney Point were elevated with respect to levels in other rural areas previously studied. Average PAH levels ranged from 50-350 ng m-3, roughly a 1-10x increase from other rural areas. The increase is most likely due to the Valero facility, but levels remain well below any danger level for humans. The highest concentration of PAH were the three largest molecules, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2007-05 |
| Ditillo, Jessica L. | Biology | Phytoremediation of vanadium, gallium, cadmium and lead using Azolla caroliniana | Coal mining and combustion can expose the environment to toxic heavy metals. Phytoremediation, the process of using plants to neutralize or sequester hazardous pollutants, has been employed in the remediation of toxic heavy metals. In this experiment I explored the rhizofiltration of four heavy metals found in coal fly ash – gallium, cadmium, lead and vanadium – by the free-floating, aquatic fern, Azolla caroliniana. Plant samples were exposed to a trace metal solution containing 1 ppb, 5 ppb, 10 ppb, or 50 ppb of all four trace metals. I analyzed the plant material and the solution initially and at the end of a five-day exposure period using an inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Over the five days, cation concentrations decreased more than anion concentration in the water samples, and increased more than the anion concentrations in the plant material. Plant samples also had greater absolute accumulation but lower percent accumulation of all trace metals when exposed to higher concentrations of the trace metal solution. Root elongation decreased in A. caroliniana exposed to higher concentrations of the trace metal solution. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2012-05 |
| Monie, Dominique | Biology | Comparison of chloroplast and leaf movement in Oxalis stricta grown in various environmental conditions | Changing light conditions, part of the environment for all plants, have profound affects on photosynthesis. In general, as irradiance increases so does photosynthesis, but at low irradiances there is no net photosynthesis and at high irradiances damage to the photosynthesis apparatus, especially photosystem II, can occur. These stressful high light conditions can either occur around midday or as sunflecks and plants have evolved a variety of ways to minimize the damage. Plants can avoid high light damage by reducing absorbance and there are two ways they might do this. One way is by folding their leaves down, the other is by moving their chloroplast from periclinal to anticlinal walls in high light. Both leaf movement and chloroplast movement are mediated by blue light. Many physiological processes of plants are adapted to their growth environment, so I tested the hypothesis that these two light driven protective responses would be invoked by different light levels depending on growth conditions. Plants were grown under normal, high and low light and some normal light plants were water stressed. I used percent transmittance to assess chloroplast movement and leaf angle for leaf folding. The general pattern of percent transmittance, increased transmittance with increased light and then saturation, was the same for all treatments except the water stressed plants which did not saturate. There was a significant difference between the curves for the high light and low light plants. The leaf folding data showed significant results at the low, mid and high light ranges. At the low light range only the water stressed, which showed the highest degree of folding, and normal light plants were statistically different. At the mid light range all but the normal and high light plants were statistically different and at the high light range all treatments were statistically different. | Gorton, Holly L. | 1998-05 |
| Rust, Robert Altimus | Biology | Post-fire succession in the alpine grasslands of Ecuador : a test of two alternative models of succession | Two competing models of succession are the gradient-in-time and competitive-sorting models. Simply, the gradient-in-time model attributes community structure to differential species requirements while the competitive-sorting model emphasizes plant interactions as structuring the community. Succession in the alpine grasslands of New Zealand was found to occur via the competitive-sorting model. To evaluate the extent to which the competitive-sorting model can be applied to other grassland systems, I assessed succession in paramo plant communities with respect to time since most recent fire. Paramo is an alpine grassland system of South America whose origin and persistence has been attributed to the occurrence of fire. Succession in the paramo occurs in three phases, moving from tussock to shrub dominated communities, as revealed by clustering and DCA ordination. Analyses using plant functional types (PFT) suggest fluctuations in community structure (PFT proportionality) and inconsistent patterns of plant relationships (PFT correlation associations) in years following fire. Consequently, the gradient-in-time model is superior to the competitive-sorting model in describing páramo succession. | Paul, Robert W. | 2006-05 |
| Hart, Thomas Chesley | Anthropology/Sociology | Building the past : the creation and analysis of a phytolith type collection | Throughout much of the plant kingdom, small inorganic silica bodies known as phytoliths are formed in different types of plant tissues. Small amounts of silica are imported from the soil and deposited in every segment of a plant via the vascular system. This silica then hardens into the shape of the surrounding tissue thereby forming a cast or mold. These casts are known as phytoliths and may be specific to a certain family, genus, or even species. Yet because these silica bodies do not decay over time, they can remain in the soil for very long periods. Because phytoliths resist decay and are relatively plant specific, they prove to be a very useful tool for archaeologists. Archaeologists can use these small microbotanical remains to reconstruct past landscape uses or ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to create a phytolith type collection of tree species that were used in 17th century Maryland. Trees were utilized in almost every aspect of colonial life from ship and home construction, to common household chores. Certain species of trees were used predominately in the construction of a variety of colonial houses such as hole-set framed and cruck structures. The archaeological excavations at the St. Johns site at Historic St. Mary’s City provide an excellent opportunity to discover what types of trees were used in home construction. In order to do that however, this phytolith type collection was needed first. Phytoliths were extracted from the stem and leaf tissues of nine different species of historically important trees. Digital photographs of the samples were taken and a preliminary analysis of diagnostic ability was made. All nine species produced some level of phytoliths. Of these species, only two were deemed to be the most useful diagnostically. Four species were determined to have some diagnostic value while the remaining three had little to no worth. However, the creation of this type collection added to the slowly growing body of knowledge surrounding phytoliths found in the Tidewater region. | Meatyard, Kathleen B. | 2004-05 |
| Wildey, James Forsting | English | River reflections : the permanence of the temporary | My St. Mary’s Project seeks to unite poets and artists who are inspired by the environment in which we live, work, and play. The St. Mary’s river, the college, the city, and Historic have had a profound impact on my life, and I know that I’m not the only one. I’ve seemingly done more writing this past year of working on my SMP than any other year that I’ve been here, but I know I’m not done, because this project has motivated me to forge ahead with my writing. The poetry and literature that has been compiled in this project has either been written by artists inspired by St. Mary’s, or I feel are applicable to my project, while the bench I built is my attempt to make a mark, to leave a legacy, at our wonderful college. My hope is that people come to my bench, to sit, to read, to study, to relax, or to do whatever gives them peace or purpose in the world. I’d also like to be able to visit in a few years and have it still be there, but that’s another story. | Wilson, Bruce M. | 2009-05 |
| Grube-O'Brien, William Howard | Economics | Economic valuation the Civil War attributes of Point Lookout State Park | Point Lookout State Park, located in Southern Maryland, is a unique cultural heritage site that offers a variety of outdoor activities. As a public good the value of benefits Point Lookout State Park provides must be estimated using non-market valuation methods. We investigate the value of the sites Civil War attributes using an open-ended willingness-to-pay (WTP) contingent valuation model. The WTP question that was posed, asked respondents what they would be willing to pay via a one time household tax for a hypothetical self guided audio tour of the Park’s Civil War sites. The mean WTP for the sample of visitors used in this study was $18.92 with a median of $5. A Tobit regression model was used to investigate what explanatory variables significantly influenced the respondents WTP. | Poor, P. Joan | 2004-05 |
| Evans, Jocelyn Mariah | Chemistry | Fluorometric analysis of dissolved organic matter in local surface waters | The character of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic ecosystems plays an important role in carbon cycling in the system. DOM can also be used to track water from varying origins and determine the fates of river-borne pollutants. Thirteen samples from local waterways around St. Mary’s College of Maryland were characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy and ParaFac analysis. Spectra were analyzed for previously described peaks specific to certain types of chromophoric DOM (CDOM) and the general molecular compositions of the samples were compared. Samples all displayed humic-like fluorescence, with the highest concentrations in non-tidal samples. Several samples showed spectra with protein-like peaks and also marine humic peaks, which indicate anthropogenic sources of DOM. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2009-05 |
| Fritz, Katharine Alanna | Biology | Effects of eutrophication on secondary metabolites in Zostera marina (eelgrass) : implications for disease resistance | One of the most productive aquatic grasses in the world is Zostera marina, eelgrass, a temperate species that once dominated estuaries of the Northern hemisphere. Eelgrass suffered large population declines in the 1930s from a marine slime mold, Labyrinthula zosterae, also known as wasting disease. The outbreak of this disease is thought to have been influenced by degraded environmental conditions. Eelgrass has been heavily affected by the increasing concentration of nutrients found in the runoff that is devastating waterways worldwide. The inhibiting effect of nutrients on the production of defensive chemicals in terrestrial plants has been well documented, but this defensive scheme in aquatic plants has not been well studied. This study performed a controlled laboratory experiment which enriched eelgrass seedlings with increased amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous in the water column and measured the resulting concentrations of defensive chemicals in these plants. Analysis of total polyphenolic content revealed an important but not significant trend of decreased total polyphenolics in primary ranked tissue. A significant decrease in the enzyme PAL was shown to be significantly inhibited by the nitrogen (p=0.045) and the phosphorous (p=0.033) treatments compared to the control, for the secondary ranked leaves. Eelgrass has similar inhibition of phenolic metabolism by increased nutrients, paralleling the defensive schemes studied in terrestrial plants. The results from the study have larger implications that the increased eutrophication of the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways may be decreasing the defensive capabilities of aquatic grasses leading these important plants to be more susceptible to outbreaks of the disease Labyrinthula zosterae. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2004-05 |
| Zieman, Sandra Michelle | Chemistry | Detection of hexabromocyclododecane in river sediments | The Brominated Flame Retardant (BRF) Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is used commercially for applications ranging from mass transit textiles to building insulation. Synthesis of HBCD yields a racemic mixture of the three diastereomers labeled α, β, and γ. Using Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) sediment samples collected from the Anacostia River in Washington, DC and the Back River in Baltimore, MD were analyzed for concentrations of each diastereomer. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2006-05 |
| Russell, Brian Thomas | Biology | Effects of heavy metals on growth rates in Crassostrea virginica | The effects of metals on the growth rates in oysters have not been well studied. The current study is aimed to look at metals in the tissues of Crassostrea virginica and the negative effects metal might have on growth. A preliminary study was done to look at concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Ag, Cd, Pb, and As in sediments and oyster tissue collected from St. Mary’s River, St. George’s Creek, Piney Point Creek, and Herring Creek. The order of metal concentrations in soft tissues were Zn >> Cu > As > Se > Ni > Cd > Cr > Ag > Pb. An exposure experiment was carried out to determine the effects of metals (Cu, Zn, and combined Cu and Zn) on growth rates in C. virginica. No significance was found between metal treatments for either percent change in weight or percent change in oyster shell area. Oysters were shown to accumulate metals during the experimental period but significant differences were not seen in copper or zinc concentrations within treatments. Experimental concentrations of copper in the soft tissue were found to be comparable to those collected from the lower Potomac River. Zinc concentrations from experimental soft tissue were found to be two orders of magnitude higher than those collect from the lower Potomac River. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2008-05 |
| Phillips, James E. | Theater, Film, and Media Studies | Ponded : a St. Mary's ritual dissected | This documentary examines the phenomenon of ponding at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Ponding is a birthday rite that students partake in to celebrate their friends’ “special day” by throwing them into the St. John’s Pond on or around their birthday. The film opens establishing the omnipresence of ponding, from the Admissions Office’s promotion of our “quirky” campus culture to the College Archives’ photographic records. After establishing the popularity of the ritual, the film examines more thoroughly the definition of the phenomenon, from how it’s organized to what it means to its participants and the community at large. Through participant observatory filming of several pondings, interviews with participants in those pondings as well as with passersby, and presentation of photos from the Archives and students’ Facebooks, I give a face and a story to the ritual. For statistical validity, I conducted a simple random sample that I created to address students’ perceptions and participation in ponding through numerical data, which I emailed students. The film highlights the ritual nature of the tradition, and how it functions to initiate students into the community and tighten bonds of friendship within smaller communities around the school. Throughout research and production, I gathered that students’ participation in ponding varied according to many factors, from time of year and temperature of the water, to subculture and attitude or personal opinion of the ritual. The film explores how the tradition continues and demonstrates St. Mary’s character through its unique nature and the variety of reactions to it. | Ellsworth, David N. | 2011-05 |
| Caretti, Olivia | Biology | Alternative Settlement Habitat for Blue Crab Larvae in Shifting Coastal Ecosystems | The fitness and success of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) depends on the quality of habitat in which its post-larvae (megalopae) settle. The deterioration of optimal Zostera marina nursery habitat for these megalopae may be accelerating the population decline of blue crabs in the Maryland coastal bays. I investigated the potential suitability of two increasingly dominant submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) species, the macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla and the seagrass Ruppia maritima, as alternative habitat for young blue crabs. Blue crab megalopae preferentially settle in SAV over other substrates; however, differences in preference between SAV have not yet been distinguished. Differences in structure between Zostera, Ruppia, and Gracilaria may provide varying degrees of protection from predation and other benefits, and thus vary in suitability for young blue crabs. I conducted field surveys to assess the natural abundance and distribution of juvenile blue crabs and controlled microcosm experiments to determine megalopae settlement preference in these alternative habitats. This study suggests that although megalopae can use various SAV for initial settlement, Gracilaria does not provide appropriate habitat for the youngest juvenile blue crabs, and may be more suitable for later life stages. The ability of larval and juvenile blue crabs to utilize various SAV habitats suggests that they may be able to adequately adapt to future conditions in temperate estuaries brought about by climate change, although this relationship should be investigated further to understand how young blue crabs will respond to climate driven habitat shifts. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2015-05 |
| Sprinkle, Elizabeth Rose | Mathematics | Math of population dynamics | Mathematical models are an important tool in understanding population dynamics. Models can be used to describe single populations or interacting populations such as the relationship between predator and prey. They can be very helpful in studying both the causes of population changes as well as the effect that those changes have on a population. Additionally, once it is shown that a certain model can be used to describe a particular population or ecological system, that same model can then be very useful in studying and understanding other similar systems. Perhaps one of the most important applications of population modeling is in studying extinction rates. Mathematical models allow us to use current population data to predict the future of a population which is currently endangered. We can use modeling to estimate how much longer the population can survive at its current level of pressure. (This pressure might include interspecific and intraspecific competition, predation, habitat destruction, poaching or hunting by humans, and much more.) Furthermore, we can estimate at what level of pressure the population would be able to rebound to a stable size. Having this information can lead to suggestions as to how to save the endangered species. For example, Dobson (1994) used a Leslie model to study the effects of overexploitation on populations of African elephants. [introduction] | Burke, Matthew M. | 2004-05 |
| Ichniowski, Mary Ruth | Biology | Smart growth in Southern Maryland : protecting and preserving a living resource | Southern Maryland is expected to see an increase in its population by one million people in the next 25 years. This increase in growth will call upon Southern Maryland developers to come up with innovative solutions by incorporating smart growth principles into future development plans. Smart growth is a viable solution to the problems associated with sprawling development and many areas across the nation have proved just how doable they are. Maryland is no stranger to incorporating smart growth initiatives into development plans as a way of committing itself to past policies that have placed focus on the state’s environmental resources. Protecting the Maryland’s natural resources like the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, as well as the states dense forestland is elemental to ensuring future generations ability to use and enjoy these resources. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2006-05 |
| Kullberg, Kathryn Marie | English | Depiction of animals in literature : a selective examination of the portrayal of animals throughout the eras | This paper surveys the depiction of animals in literature over the course of five different time periods, and comments on the importance of the portrayal for these times: Ancient Greek; Medieval; Renaissance; Romantic; and Contemporary. In Ancient Greek times, I chose to discuss “The Calydonian Boarhunt” as well as the myth involving Zeus and Europa. By the portrayal of the boar and the bull, I found that the Greeks held strong the belief that animals are inferior, and had to tame the chaotic natural world. In Medieval times I discussed Aesop’s “The Man and the Lion” as well as “St. Jerome and the Lion.” I found that anthropomorphism was a common teaching tool in myths and fables; however this did not necessarily foster respect toward animals as they were deemed human-like. During the Renaissance, Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona and A Midsummer Night’s Dream both use animals in distasteful and negative symbolism. Blake and Byron both return to nature and write about the cruelties humans inflict on animals during the Romantic time period. In Contemporary times, Sinclair proves in The Jungle that the suffering of animals and man is one in the same. The way animals are portrayed in literature directly correlates to the way they are perceived and treated in society, thus it is imperative to render them with respect and the dignity they deserve. | Norlock, Kathryn J. | 2003-05 |
| Moore, Sarah Cooperrider | Biology | Effect of the allelopathic chemical juglone on seed germination and the outcome of interspecific competition | Black walnut trees produce an allelochemical, juglone, which selectively inhibits growth of plants. The goal of this study was to determine if juglone acts as a selective herbicide, while allowing simultaneously reseeding of a native, juglone-resistance species. To determine the relationship between species with differential juglone sensitivity beebalm, a juglone resistance species, and blue wild indigo, a plant sensitive to juglone, were used in the target-neighbor experiment. Juglone significantly reduced blue wild indigo biomass at concentrations equivalent to 1.5 and 2.5 mg juglone/kg dry soil and reduced its overall survival. Juglone exposure at any concentration didn’t reduce beebalm biomass or survival. Therefore, the preliminary study suggests that juglone has the potential to be a selective herbicide, perhaps for use against invasive exotic species. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2006-05 |
| Doyle, Sherri Leigh | Anthropology/Sociology | Pathways & parks : community development in Lexington Park, Md. | [no abstract] | Daugherty, Helen G. | 2002-05 |
| Coons, Laura Brianne | History | Seeking the back of beyond : Horace Sowers Kephart and romantic preservation in the Great Smokey Mountains | My analysis of the impact of nature on Horace Kephart reflects the ecological perspective of environmental history as I emphasize the relationship between one man and the natural world. I will discuss the background of a historical interpretation of environmental issues and the influence of intellectual historians on my study. I will also consider other historians’ treatment of the wilderness and the public domain as well as the particular historiography of the Southern Appalachian region. My analysis draws influence from previous Appalachian historians, but unlike other studies, I will portray the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. That nature provides humans with far more that material wealth and resources. For a true pioneer like Horace Kephart, nature was a home, a refuge, a hospital, and a return to the self-sufficient and independent life of his youth. In return, Kephart became the literary champion of the Smokey Mountains, advocating their preservation and popularizing their legacy. This relationship truly represents the ecological interdependence between man and nature. [from chapter one] | Barrett, Thomas M. | 2004-12 |
| Johnston, Christine Ninette | Biology | Wintering waterbird biodiversity and abundance in relation to submerged aquatic vegetation in the St. Mary’s River, Maryland | Winter is a harsh time for waterbirds and understanding how waterbirds use their resources has become an important focus for winter avian ecology. One of the resources that waterbirds of the St. Mary’s River, Maryland use during the winter is submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). A geographic information system was built to map beds of SAV and results of direct counts of waterbirds seen at three sites from November 2004 until March 2005. There were 16 different species of waterbirds counted, made up of mostly diving waterfowl. The SAV seemed to attract waterbirds at each site, but biodiversity was not greater directly over beds of SAV. Wintering waterbird resources and habitats should continue to be protected because of their benefit to waterbirds as well as the environment. | Paul, Robert W. | 2005-05 |
| Kalm, Shelby | Political Science | The Push for Green Cities: Public Policy's Relationship with Urban Agriculture in the United States | Public policy in the United States has had an inconsistent relationship with urban agriculture. During slower economic periods, particularly during times of war, there has been more instances of federal policy and government assistance relating to these practices. Community support, along with a renewed interest in local produce and environmental issues have brought more recent attention to urban agriculture. There are many cities and municipalities that are working to clearly define and improve the conditions for gardening practices in urban areas. However, antiquated zoning laws and outdated policy are holding back the development of the urban agriculture movement. By updating these laws and creating policy that clearly supports these practices, the urban agriculture movement can continue to grow in not only the short-term, but the long-term as well. | Eberly, Todd E. | 2014-05 |
| Falk, Christina Maureen | Chemistry | Investigating the co-catalytic behavior of pyridinium anthraquinones in N-hydroxyphthalimide catalytic oxidation reactions | This research investigates the co-catalytic behavior of pyridinium anthraquinones as a means in the oxidation of hydrocarbons. Pyridinium anthraquinones in conjunction with the catalyst N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) were investigated in oxidation reactions using dioxygen as the oxidizing reagent. Implications of this research are very valuable in enabling a greener method for oxygenation to be developed, which could further be applied to industry. We found that solvent plays a large role in NHPI catalyzed oxidation reactions, in some cases solvent even negating the need for a co-catalyst. | Koch, Andrew S. | 2008-12 |
| Polster, Devin B.; Ting, Tina Ray-yee | Psychology; Philosophy | Psycho-philosophical statuses : a multivariate analysis between and within vegetarians and nonvegetarians | The current researchers endeavored to ascertain the psychological and philosophical statuses of those individuals who adhere to either a vegetarian or nonvegetarian diet. A sample of 141 participants was secured from various four-year institutions across the Eastern United States. Participants were administered a battery of (predominantly) personality-based inventories intending to assess variables such as Gender/Sex-Role, Philosophies of Human Nature (i.e., Trustworthiness, Independence, Altruism), Neuroticism/Extraversion/Openness/ Agreeableness/Conscientousness, Self-Efficacy, Aggression, Empathy, and Liberalism/Conservatism. Results indicate that Vegetarians are more Open, Agreeable, are better able to take on the perspective of others, are more Empathic, and are globally more Liberal. The results tentatively suggest that Vegetarians do not view others as Altruistic, and may possess higher levels of Hostility. The Results additionally indicate that Nonvegetarians have higher levels of stereotypical Masculinity, are more Angry, and Physically, Verbally, and Globally Aggressive, and are more globally Conservative. There were no statistically significant differences between Vegetarians’ and Nonvegetarians’ levels of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and ability to identify with fictional characters. Philosophical and empirical foundations of this research are presented and discussed. | Finkelman, David G.; Taber, Michael S. | 2000-05 |
| Kapur, Preeya | Chemistry | Radiocarbon dating prehistoric rock art | Archeologists and chemists have been working together over the past decade to determine the chronology of rock paintings around the world using radiocarbon dating. While sample size and contamination have remained problematic, a plasma-chemical extraction method was developed in the early 1990’s at Texas A&M University (Russ et al. 1991) to oxidize available organic material for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry radiocarbon analysis. We modified a plasma chemical extraction system to establish a new oxidation facility here at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. This new facility will make radiocarbon analyses more readily available to archeologists involved in rock art studies. To investigate whether modifications have introduced any contamination or isotopic fractionation, we oxidized and analyzed samples of known age materials (e.g., previously dated charcoal). On the completion of these tests, we pretreated and prepared samples from Box Canyon, Texas for AMS radiocarbon analysis. Unfortunately, we determined a large source of contamination and had to terminate use of this radiocarbon dating facility until the system can be cleaned. | Armitage, Ruth A. | 2001-05 |
| Stout, Aaron Richard | Physics | Colors of the sky due to Rayleigh and Mie scattering | The sky has been studied for millennia, but until Lord Rayleigh in the late 19th century understood light scattering, nobody knew why the sky was blue. It wasn’t until Straton wrote up Mie theory in 1941 that the scientific world knew why the clouds in the sky are blue. Light scattering is a relatively new scientific study and has been thoroughly analyzed. With the new technology of the computer, there is a large emphasis on generating realistic graphics of all objects, especially the sky. My St. Mary’s Project was to further analyze the studies of Straton, Rayleigh, and many other scientists to generate computer graphics of the sky. Using Mathematica I analyzed the intensities reaching a viewer on the earth looking up into the sky. Using these intensities, I was able to generate a color map of the sky. | Adler, Charles L.; Read, Simon | 2006-05 |
| DiGiovanni, Alyssa Justine | Biology | Ontogenetic Effects of Carnivorous and Herbivorous Diets in Omnivorous Trachemys Scripta Elegans | Red-eared sliders turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, have ontogenetic diet shifts as they mature from juveniles to adults. Juveniles tend to consume animal matter, while adults change to a diet of mainly plant matter. Proteinaceous diets permit rapid growth of red-eared sliders allowing them to avoid predation as hatchlings. My experiment was designed to determine what diet enabled hatchling turtles grow quickiest: an omnivorous diet (stock turtle food), a fish diet (goldfish), or a plant diet (Elodea). I found there was significant difference in growth between treatments for weight, , plastron length, and shell height and no significant difference in growth between treatments for carapace length over 61 days. When the turtles were switched from a goldfish to Elodea diet, the turtles lost significant weight. When turtles were switched from an Elodea to goldfish diet, the turtles gained significant weight. The turtle food diet produced the fastest growth rate compared to the other treatments, but turtles do not have access to turtle food in the wild. Therefore, a high protein diet, such as goldfish, would promote faster growth rates than a plant-based diet. The higher protein diet would be most beneficial for predator avoidance and survivorship. | Paul, Robert W. | 2013-05 |
| Porter, Bonnie Coy; Thur, Steven Michael | Biology | Do phenols deter predation on the tropical marine sponge Aplysina fistularis? | Our study, performed on Glover’s Reef, Belize, indicates that the tropical sponge Aplysina fistularis contains Folin-Denis positive compounds that play a significant role in its chemical defense. Feeding trials were conducted by comparing whole sponge extracts with extracts from which Folin-Denis positive compounds were removed using insoluble polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP). Previous studies have shown that PVPP selectively binds phenolic compounds. Feeding trials were conducted in the field using pairs of baited agar popsicles, one containing whole sponge extract and the other containing PVPP-treated extract. Whole sponge extract was found to significantly deter fish feeding when compared to the same extract treated with PVPP. Preliminary chemical analyses indicate that the Folin-Denis positive compounds in A. fistularis are simple phenolic compounds. Our study suggests that they play a significant role in the chemical defense of this sponge. | Tanner, Christopher E.; Hatch, Walter I. | 1999-05 |
| Cramer, Sarah Delia | Biology | Effects of sublethal glyphosate exposure on Lumbriculus variegatus regeneration | Lumbriculus variegatus (Annelida, oligochaeta) was chosen as an experimental model to test the sublethal effects of glyphosate on regenerating tissue. Lumbriculus was chosen as a model because it had been previously observed to exhibit a consistent pattern of anterior regeneration and because it is a common subject in toxicity tests due to its easy culture and habitation of benthic environment at the land-water interface. Experiments were conducted to quantitatively examine Lumbriculus anterior and posterior regeneration. Anterior amputation induced equimeric regeneration in Lumbriculus, and a 7 or 8 segment head was restored. Upon posterior regeneration, an increasing number of segments were grown over time. Further experiments were performed to test the effects of sublethal concentrations of glyphosate, a common herbicide additive, on regeneration. Glyphosate was found to reduce the length of regenerating blastemas in all tested sublethal concentrations. To explore the possibility that glyphosate causes shortened blastema lengths by competing with glycine during amino acid synthesis, competitive exclusion experiments were conducted. Results suggest that the presence of glycine limits the effects of glyphosate on regeneration. These results, then, challenge the previous understanding that glyphosate has no interaction with animal systems. | Crawford, Karen | 2002-05 |
| Toper, Karla L. | English | Natural occurrences : essays of growth through nature | During the early stages of creating my SMP, I realized that I wanted most of all to complete something that has social impact on readers. I thought that the content had to “click” with people now and in the future. Personal experiences can often be moving for others because of shared awareness. For example, many people have enjoyed walks in the woods, which is one aspect that can be shared in some of my pieces. Therefore, I chose to focus upon the following creative non-fiction essays based on my own experiences with nature. While my experiences in their entirety may not match up with those of any of my readers’ perfectly, the common shared elements are what make them compelling to read. The creative non-fiction genre allows me to create a bridge between what I know and what I have learned both inside the classroom and as a person who experiences nature. Both of these worlds carry lessons for life and for developing into a caring, intelligent and responsive individual. [from preface] | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2004-05 |
| Dickieson, Philip Harold | Political Science | Renewable Energy in the United Kingdom and Germany | Countries around the world confront the complex and urgent problems of environmental degradation and climate change, and no country acting in isolation can solve these problems. This project examines the work of the United Kingdom and Germany to address these issues through the use of renewable energies, as well as the role of the European Union in renewable energy development. In the absence of a prior analysis focused specifically on the role of public opinion data and the presence and capacity of ‘green’ parties on renewable energy implementation, this paper considers these forces. It concludes that public opinion data and strong green parties, which act as ‘pushers’ for government action, are imperative to the development of renewable energy, with public opinion being the most significant factor. Another notable finding is that citizens of the United Kingdom do not support the work of the European Union on environmental issues to the same extent as Germans. Germany’s green party, ‘Alliance 90/The Greens,’ has been a much more effective force in the development of renewable energy policy than the UK’s three separate green parties. These findings have numerous implications. Countries seeking to develop more robust policies on renewable energy must cultivate public support through the use of green parties as well as other means and may use these findings in that effort. | Shafqat, Sahar | 2013-05 |
| Burns, Emily Alice | Public Policy | From Polluters to Consumers: a market approach to small-scale renewable energy generation | This paper investigated possible public policy solutions for the implementation of renewable energy within the United States. My research indicated that the current electricity market is distorted due to fossil-fuel subsidies, and the generation of negative externalities, i.e. pollution and carbon dioxide. The remedy proposed in this paper is based on an expansion of the Coase theorem, which states that a party generating a negative externality may bargain with the affected party for an efficient form of compensation. The theorem is based on a transaction between two parties, but I argue that this theorem may be applied on a larger scale, with the government acting as an intermediary between polluters and consumers. I propose a graduated carbon tax on both coal producers and utility firms, while allowing utility firms to bypass the carbon tax via a reduction in fossil-fuel derived electricity. The tax revenue will then be disbursed to consumers in the form of vouchers for household renewable energy projects. The successful growth of renewable technology in Europe was largely a result of grassroots public support and local investment in renewable energy projects, which spurred future investment in larger projects. Following this example, I argue that small-scale renewable energy is the most politically feasible approach for the United States in the short-term, due to technological uncertainty and public apprehension regarding renewable energy. The solution proposed in this paper will directly compensate consumers for the negative externalities generated by producers, while also allowing consumers more freedom in their energy choices. | Cain, Michael J. | 2013-05 |
| Snyder, Elina Miriam | Economics | Production of biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol in Southern Maryland : a feasibility study | My St. Mary’s Project evaluated the feasibility of developing a biodiesel and/or cellulosic ethanol industry in Southern Maryland. A locally-owned and operated renewable fuel industry, using feedstock from local sources, contributes to the ability of the region to preserve agricultural and forest areas, curb suburban sprawl, promote alternative fuel use, and boost the local economy. I narrowed my research to analyzing potential in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties. My hope is that, in addition to other profitable alternatives to tobacco, a biofuel industry could add value to agricultural production and forest areas such that it provides the extra revenue necessary to give farmers the incentive to stay in farming, and to give the region an incentive to extend land preservation. Biodiesel is an alternative for diesel fuel that can be used as per petroleum diesel in diesel engines, and ethanol is an alcohol that can be used as a fuel additive in gasoline, and can also be used to operate “Flex Fuel” engines. Looking at the production of soybeans, and thus soybean oil, I predict how much biodiesel we could produce locally, and offer different structures and ownership models for its’ production. To estimate the potential available amount of cellulosic ethanol, I predicted how much could be produced using corn stover and wheat straw, given the production of those two crops in Southern Maryland. I estimated the cost and average costs of producing these fuels, and predicted potential revenue to determine feasibility. | Sheeran, Kristen A. | 2007-05 |
| Moody, Bryan Russell | Biology | Determining the reproductive seasonality of the striped killifish, Fundulus majalis, collected from St. John’s Pond, St. Mary’s College of Maryland | Intertidal teleosts, including the striped killifish, rely on photoperiod, water temperature, and lunar cycle to time their reproduction. Each month from May 2001 to October 2001 and again in April 2002 approximately 12 female and 12 male striped killifish were seigned from St. John’s Pond. Male and female mean gonad masses were highest in April and were associated with increased water temperatures and photoperiod. There was a significant decrease in gonad masses for both sexes from April to September (P < 0.0001). Liver masses were highest in June for both sexes. Striped killifish could not be collected from November 2001 to March 2002. Current data supports early spring recrudescence, synchronized spawning efforts in late spring and early summer, and gonadal regression in late summer and fall seasons. A further understanding of the reproductive seasonality of this animal could be obtained through increasing the frequency and sample size at which fish are collected, coordinating fish collections with lunar cycles, and examining gonad tissue histologically. | Orlando, Edward F. | 2002-05 |
| Macinko, Beth A. | Anthropology | Cultural reasoning towards resource management among St. Mary’s County watermen | Southern Maryland has a history of economic dependence on commercial fishing. Over the past half-century, recognition of declines in resource population stocks has drawn attention to the need for industry regulations. One response of the state management agencies has been to limit watermen’s catches. Watermen do not agree with these regulations and incidents of illegal behavior show a level of detachment from the reasoning behind the state’s overall management plan. Looking at watermen’s understanding of their environment and their role in it is useful to identify the reasons behind this management failure. This paper uses oral history interviews to establish a cultural model of watermen toward the fisheries. The cultural model is then analyzed in regards to its implications for resource management and possible solutions for the future of watermen are explored. | King, Julia A. | 2009-12 |
| Kuschner, Michael Andrew | Biology | Box model of nutrient transport within the St. Mary’s River estuary | The overall health of an estuary depends on the estuary’s response to nutrient inputs from point and non-point sources. The St. Mary’s River is a healthy estuary compared to other tributaries within the Chesapeake Bay. However, the St. Mary’s River response to elevated nutrient inputs from the watershed and its interaction with the Potomac River is relatively unknown. A quantitative assessment of the estuary’s response to these nutrient inputs (nitrogen and phosphorus) was conducted using a box model approach. This box model was designed to create estimates of both physical transport and net biogeochemical production of a variety of fluxes within the estuary. I analyzed a 7-year dataset (1999-2005) of water quality conditions, which included two dry years and three wet years. Average monthly rates of the physical transport of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP), as well as, total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) were calculated using a salt- and water- balance model. The point and non-point nutrient loadings from the watershed were model values from the Chesapeake Bay Program. The shallow St. Mary’s River estuary was shown through the box model to have a net release of both nitrogen and phosphorus toward the Potomac River. The upper St. Mary’s River provided a sink for both nitrogen and phosphorus, while the lower St. Mary’s River was a source for nutrients over the seven-year study period. The transport and uptake of these nutrients were considered to be watershed driven and thought to be limited by the residence time of the estuary. There were two years where the Potomac River influenced the net nutrient flux within the lower St. Mary’s River. However, the overall estuary response to elevated nutrient inputs has resulted in a net release of nutrients out of the system, indicating that resource management and nutrient loading reductions could improve water quality within the St. Mary’s River estuary within relatively short time-scales. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2010-05 |
| Saunders, John Martin | Anthropology | Barn then, barn now : an examination into the history and restoration efforts of the Klobusicky tobacco barn | The Klobusicky tobacco barn which now stands on the corner of Route 5 and Rosecroft Road represents an important part of Southern Maryland agricultural heritage. By examining the long history of its agricultural use and the history of the land on which it stands, this Saint Mary’s project will explore the past and future functions of the barn. Also discussed is the National Slavonic Society who sold much of the land around Saint Mary’s City to Slavonic immigrants, including the original builders of the tobacco barn in question. Through the efforts of Saint Mary’s College Professor Dan Ingersoll, Historic Saint Mary’s City curator of buildings Peter Rivers, Historic Saint Mary’s City executive director Gina Faden, myself and others funding has been generated from the Saint Mary’s College Student Government Association and the Department of General Services of the Maryland State Government. Southern Maryland tobacco history, efforts to save Southern Maryland tobacco barns, the history of the Klobusicky barn as a functional agricultural structure, and future uses for the Klobusicky barn and others are discussed as a way to determine the best means of saving the Klobusicky tobacco barn. | Ingersoll, Daniel W. | 2010-05 |
| Laskin, Matthew Benjamin | Biology | Succession and restoration of the new townhouse pond | With the new construction of the New Townhouse Pond at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a unique opportunity to study the progression of succession on a man-made pond presented itself. This study tracks this progression and compares it to an already established pond located on the Magnani farm in Lexington Park, Maryland. Results demonstrated that while succession in the New Townhouse Pond had not progressed far enough along to make it comparable to the Magnani Pond, the New Townhouse Pond was responding to the seasons in a similar way. | Williams, William E. | 2005-05 |
| Romaine, Jennifer Purdie | Biology | Restoration possibilities for the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, in the Chesapeake Bay | The Eastern oyster, a bio-indicator of health for the Chesapeake Bay, has reached alarmingly low numbers in recent years. This decline has been attributed to a variety of factors, including deteriorating water quality, decades of over-fishing, degradation of viable oyster environments due to dredging methods in the Bay, and the emergence of two devastating diseases called Dermo and MSX. There have been several initiatives taken on at both the federal and state-wide level, as well as states working in conjunction with each other to resolve this issue. While efforts have not successfully improved the water quality or restricted the amount of nutrients entering the Bay, research to introduce the Asian oyster and proposals for industry privatization have been investigated as alternative ways to cultivate the oyster population. While many organizations are pointing to water quality as the main cause for the oyster’s decline, it seems that historic over-fishing has been the main culprit. Privatizing the industry and cleaning up contamination of the Bay are the most effective ways to deal with this situation. While the Bay significantly boosts the local economy, the impact of the oyster is not only a local issue, but is a predictor for the future health of the Bay. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2006-05 |
| Marian, Claire Louise | Psychology | Why natural environments restore directed attention : an alternative explanation | Previous research has found that exposure to natural environments can restore directed attention abilities. The primary explanation cited for this effect involves the four component parts of a restorative environment proposed in Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory (ART). The current study assessed the perceived restorative potential of images collected from the St. Mary’s College of Maryland campus through an online survey. The images rated with the highest and lowest perceived restorative potential were then assessed for their actual ability to restore attention using a Sustained Attention Response Task. The study also observed what effect length of exposure to an environment has on attention restoration. Findings indicate that there is a minimum threshold of exposure that must be met to observe attention restoration effects. I conclude by proposing several alternative explanations for the observed attention restoration effect of natural environments. These theories bring ART back into the field of cognitive psychology by connecting the effect to previous findings involving visual perception and control of attention. | Stanton, Roger D. | 2010-05 |
| Stuble, Katharine Lisa | Biology | Role of environmental factors in the germination of Campanula americana | Seeds of Campanula americana, an herb native to eastern North America, germinate in sloped woodlands in April and October. To explain this pattern, we examined how factors including photoperiod, soil, nutrients, burial depth, leaf-litter coverage, and wet-dry cycles influence C. americana germination. Photoperiod did not affect germination percentage, except that few seeds germinated in continuous darkness, but it did affect the timing of germination: seeds germinated earliest in a 12:12 L:D photoperiod and later in 10:14 L:D. Thus, photoperiod probably does not force germination into April and October. Seeds did germinate in soil collected from locations in which C. americana is known to grow, but the results for soil from the sites where it does not occur were mixed: soil from one such site promoted germination but soil from another site inhibited it. Thus, soil type may affect germination in the wild. The addition of nitrate increased germination while calcium addition had not effect. Exposure to wet-dry cycles reduced both the proportion and speed of germination. Germination percentage and speed generally decreased as depth of burial in soil increased, except that poor germination occurred with seeds not buried at all. Leaf-litter cover also reduced germination percentage as its depth increased, but did not affect speed. This may partially explain why the species grows on slopes, where litter doesn’t accumulate deeply. Since no single factor accounts for when and where this species germinates in the wild, the process is probably controlled by a complex interaction of several factors. | Williams, William E. | 2004-05 |
| Lempert, Mariann Ildiko | English | SlackWater : a journal of environmental and cultural change in Southern Maryland's tidewater : volume 5, the rural issue | This volume of SlackWater explores what rural character means to the residents of Southern Maryland and, in particular, of St. Mary's County in the face of a rapidly changing landscape. [from introduction] | King, Julia A. | 2006-05 |
| Jones, Christopher Michael | Biology | Abundance and distribution of waterfowl in relation to SAV beds on the St. Mary’s and Magothy rivers | Waterfowl depend heavily on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) for food. SAV itself is not only an important food source for waterfowl, it is also a habitat for invertebrates and fish, which are another important food source for some species of waterfowl. The goal of this project was to see if the number of species of SAV in a bed had any effect on the number of waterfowl present over that bed. Six known SAV beds on separate tributaries, the St. Mary’s and Magothy Rivers, were used as study sites. Each site was counted a total of five times. Waterfowl were more abundant over SAV beds with 2 or more species of SAV present (p<0.05). However, using the Shannon-Weiner Index, a higher diversity of waterfowl was present over the beds comprised of only one species of SAV (Ruppia maritima). My observations support numerous other studies which concluded that SAV beds do attract waterfowl. These SAV beds provide sustenance for thousands of waterfowl on a yearly basis, and we must continue to make a concerted effort to restore and maintain these beds. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2007-05 |
| Townsend, Troy Kearney | Biology | Schistosomiasis, snail vectors, and the effects of ecosystem disturbance on the disease | The threat of schistosomiasis infection along the shores of Lake Malawi, Africa is increasing due to anthropogenic sources of environmental degradation. Over fishing and deforestation in the Lake Malawi ecoregion are linked to an increase in the intermediate freshwater snail host for schistosomiasis, Bulinus nyassanus. The natural predators of these snails, moluskivorous cichlids such as Trematocranus placodon, have been decreasing in number due to the rising human population in the area and the perpetual demand for fish. Over fishing has had striking ecological influences on Trematocranus placodon distributions as well and gastropod densities. This study also found that the preferred habitat for the vector snails is fine (< 1000μm) as opposed to course (>1000μm) substrate and the extensive deforestation over the past twenty years has caused fine sand and silt to accumulate in the lake, promoting the growth of these snails. The novel use of core samples as a method for estimating vector snail densities along the shore has revealed that the snails are burrowing as deep as 63 in the lake’s sediments. In addition, the first night samples taken with SCUBA were obtained in Lake Malawi during this study, and the results indicate diurnal behaviors of the common gastropod, Melanoides ssp., and Bulinus nyassanus. The implications of diurnal snail movements and snail burrowing on the incidence of schistosomiasis are: 1) that previous estimations of vector snail densities were severely under-estimated since studies were conducted during the day and on the sediment’s surface and 2) proposed control strategies for the reduction of schistosomiasis infection must be revised to account for these behaviors. The use of Trematocranus placodon as a natural biological control agent of schistosomiasis was demonstrated to be an effective solution as well as ecologically enticing. Lake Malawi ecosystem restoration is linked to the human right to a clean and safe environment, and several actions need to be taken to improve human health in the region. | Paul, Robert W. | 2007-05 |
| Michaels, Darren Joseph | Biology | Meeting the national and state science standards their way : one school's story of success | The National Science Education Standards were published with the major focus of guiding the U.S. schools in science education. With this publication and its dissemination into the educational system in 1996, a closer investigation is needed to determine how well schools across America are, or are not, incorporating these Standards into their science curriculum. In this study, Hollywood Elementary School (H.E.S.), located in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, was selected for an in-depth investigation as to how well they are meeting these standards. Standardized test scores, portfolio assessments, and interviews with classroom teachers and the school principal are being used to assess this research. In 1996, H.E.S. was one of 40 schools chosen in a national educational study and has become a leader in a new paradigm shift by using “environment-based education” in its curriculum. Research on Lemna minor, a study of grass shrimp, and a meadow project are but a few examples of how H.E.S. students are using the environment in their study of science. Not only have classroom test scores increased, so have the state standardized test scores (MSPAP). The milestone achievements in the sciences at H.E.S. are not only leading the way for schools in our county and state, but in schools across the country as well. | Tuttle, Elaina M. | 1999-05 |
| Leikach, Jennifer Rose | Biology | Improving science literacy in elementary school-aged children | Science literacy in elementary school-aged children is a vital part of students’ education. Improving students’ attitudes toward the sciences may be an integral aspect of increasing science literacy. Many students learn more effectively when they are interested in the subject they are studying. In this study, five different lesson plans, which are complementary to the St. Mary’s County Public School Curriculum, were administered to a fifth grade class at Hollywood Elementary School in Hollywood, Maryland. These lessons were hands-on experiences that included the following topics: pH values, inquiry-based projects, and the ecosystem. The students who participated in these lessons showed a bigger improvement in their attitudes toward the sciences compared to the students that only followed the normal curriculum. A survey was given to this class and to the control class that did not participate in the complementary lesson plans at the beginning and end of the five-week period allotted for this study. The purpose of the survey is to assess students’ overall attitudes toward science before, during, and after approaching the sciences in different ways via the five lessons. The five-week period began February 2, 2000, and continued until March 31, 2000. At the end of this period, the previously administered surveys from the participating class and the control class were analyzed for any changes in the students’ attitudes towards the sciences. Privacy for all students involved with this study is ensured. | Hovland, Allan K. | 2000-05 |
| Marzano, Olivia Marie | Educational Studies | Teaching Diversity of Life Using Web-based Resources and the Next Generation Science Standards | This project consists of three parts. I began by looking at the Maryland State Standards on teaching Diversity of Life in elementary and middle school. I created a website in which I found resources that teachers at each grade level could use to teach these particular standards. These resources included websites with interactive games, lesson plans, classroom activities, graphic organizers, and images of different plants and animals. Each resource has a description as well as how that particular resource relates to the standard. I then began to look into the Next Generation Science Standards. These are national standards that have recently been completed and states are beginning to adopt them. I wrote a paper detailing the need for a national set of science standards, and an explanation of how the Next Generation Science Standards are laid out. I also compare the Next Generation Science Standards to the current Maryland State Standards for Diversity of Life. As a final component, I created a second website. This website details the Next Generation Science Standards on teaching Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity, which was the set of standards most similar to the Diversity of Life standards of the Maryland State Standards. This second website also included a variety of web-based resources that teachers can use to teach these standards. Next Generation Science Standards: https://sites.google.com/a/smcm.edu/ngssbiologicalevolution/home Maryland State Science Standards: https://sites.google.com/site/diversityoflifecc/ | Muilenburg, Lin Y. | 2013-05 |
| Leis, Amy Lynn | Chemistry | Development of an arson analysis laboratory experiment using SPME/GC/MS | To increase a student’s interest in chemistry, it is beneficial to connect what is currently being taught to a practical application. Forensic science is an ideal application to choose due to the increasing public interest in the subject. A laboratory experiment with a forensic chemistry theme was developed for use in an undergraduate Instrumental Analysis course. The experiment was modeled after an arson investigation. The students play an active role within the lab by burning small model houses, collecting the evidence, performing the analysis of the fire debris and identifying the accelerant. The lab was successful in teaching students the SPME/GC/MS method and the application of this method to forensic analysis. The evaluations indicated that the students found the format of the experiment enjoyable and interesting. | Armitage, Ruth A. | 2001-05 |
| Carlozo, Nicole Michelle | English | How did we get here? : a collection of short stories and reflections | Science and literature are connected through fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and literary analyses. In the 1980s scholars recognized the incorporation of science within many literary works, specifically within the speculative and science fiction genres. This led to a variety of scholarly publications, bringing the issues of science, technology, and ethics into the academic world in a new and different manner. How did we get here?: A Collection of Short Stories and Reflections adds to the “science in literature” phenomena with three short stories and one creative non-fiction piece. “Footsteps in the Snow” and “The Baby Making Business” explore changes in medicine, science, and technology from the 1600s through the 1980s, “An Outsider’s Legacy” speculates on future advancements, and “A Triplet’s Testament” describes the author’s personal experiences with medicine, science, and technology. While each piece focuses on the issue of fertility, they all examine the overall development of technology, medical or otherwise. Questions about ethics and community dynamics are explored. | Coleman, Jeffrey L. | 2008-05 |
| Ernest, Angela Christine | Biology | Scientific illustration of a vertebrate zoology laboratory manual | Scientific illustration in biology is the combination of biological information with aesthetic appeal in various visual media. It clearly shows relevant information that is not easily evident in photographs or through direct observation. For this project, I will make illustrations of two different salamanders, a large-mouth bass, a frog, a toad, a snake, a turtle, a lizard, and three different mammal skulls. These will show morphologic and taxonomic characteristics that distinguish species, as part of a laboratory manual. I first obtain information about taxonomic and morphologic characteristics for each species. Next, I draw preliminary pencil sketches based on observation of preserved specimens. From these I prepare “clean-up” sketches and then render final illustrations in technical pen and ink on acetate. Scale bars are added to these illustrations through a computer program. Color illustrations are also rendered using a computer program as well as watercolor paint. | Willoughby, Ernest J. | 1999-05 |
| Jackson, Eric Clark | Art | Outdoor sculptures | Try to imagine encountering a large conical mountain. On one side of the hill is a dense forest of virgin pines and tall redwoods. It creates a majestic landscape of green wilderness; completely uninhabited and undisturbed. However, beneath the shallow layer of wild flowers, roots, and soil there is a deep layer of granite, copper, and aluminum. On the other side of the hill is a large strip mine that has slowly dug its way into the hill in search of the minerals known to be there. It creates an equally powerful image of the mountain’s true composition; completely solid and inorganic. Which side of the mountain would you choose to stand on? I think this a good example to help illustrate what my art is about. What it boils down to is basically the relationship between man and nature, and more specifically, the function of architecture in our natural environment. Hence, one may think that it’s a juxtaposition of opposite concepts, but what I’m actually interested in is finding the meeting point between the two ideas. For me, this meeting point is in the effect that each of these macroscopic systems has on an individual at a microscopic level. I want to focus on the individual’s relationship to the structures man creates, and then to nature and the structures that she creates. It doesn’t necessarily have to be on the magnitude of climbing Mt. Everest, or looking up to the top of the Petronas towers. As an individual, I think it is much easier to appreciate things in a scale proportionate to myself. At this scale, the experience is much more intimate, and the relationship to a space becomes more apparent and focused. My focus being on the individual’s relationship to these systems; what I’m interested in is the effect that one person can have on a space or setting and then the reflexive effect that that has on the individual. Over the past year, all the work I’ve made is somehow exploring this junction between two worlds that are existing simultaneously on one Earth. We get such little exposure to architecture and architectural theory, yet we spend so much of our lives living in and being surrounded by human engineering. We learn so much about nature and natural beauty, yet we spend such little time there. So often I hear people talking about how great nature is, but I think if people had a better understanding of architecture and engineering, then they would not be so opposed to its proliferation. I know a lot of people have an appreciation for certain buildings and are often touched by a structure’s beauty, the key is to find the same beauty in the individual organization of the parts that make up the whole. Because like I said before, it is easier to relate to something on a more intimate scale. John McPhee once wrote that wilderness was now so definable, and so demonstrable, it could be entered in the sense that one enters a room. While the concept of nature may be dwindling under the stress of the increasing human presence in the world, they both still exist in a complex dichotomous relationship. I don’t think anyone would argue that there is no need for architecture, and I’m sure no one would argue that there is no need for nature. 1000 miles away from the mountain, a family has a picture of the forested landscape they visited on vacation hanging on their wall. Behind that wall is a network of copper tubing and a layer of aluminum flashing, made from the minerals mined from the other side. Is what’s on one side of the wall any more natural than what is on the other? | Caldwell, Colby | 2004-05 |
| Fugera, Kimberly Sharon | Art | Kimberly Fugera | Being inspired by objects found in my surroundings, my sculptures are an expression of my connection with my environment. I choose to work with old or abandoned objects and use them to create new forms, in a sense giving them a 'new history'. The new forms are inventive enigmatic artworks born through my direct physical interaction with the found items, which are released from their original identities and are freed from having specific meanings, or associations with particular timeframes. Creating 'new forms' results in products that are familiar but whose connotations are ambiguous, leaving viewers to nominate possible interpretations. While walking through the countryside, or along the shore, I often collect things that show evidence of spent energy and life. I find beauty in aged or dying things, and find them as poetic indicators of time passing which can remind us of our mortality. My reaction to these materials is to recreate them and give them a new purpose. Once given new forms, the objects are no longer tied to their former meanings, and become part of a visual language that allows them to be signifiers of ideas, emotions, and information that may produce original content. I like to think of my works as my imagination made tangible. They are an exploration of possibilities, and experimentation with combinations of materials, which are chosen on the basis of formal and physical appeal. I feel most interested and expressive when I am physically engaged with the materials. The labor of making and the problem solving challenges of construction are my favorite part of creating an artwork. It is important for me to create well-crafted artworks that reflect my investment of time and energy, and are expressive of my environment and personal sensibilities. | Scheer, Lisa N. | 2003-05 |
| Kuck, Tanya Scarlet | Biology | Feeding preferences of the sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, based on chemical differences within and among species of tropical seagrass | The feeding preferences of the sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, may be influenced by differences in chemical aspects of two species of tropical seagrass, Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme. This study tested the feeding preferences of the urchins in response to levels of phenolic compounds in the grasses using a “Y-maze.” Phenolic compounds may serve as a form of defense against predators. Levels of phenolic compounds in the grasses have been shown to have an inverse relationship to the nutrient level of the environment in which the grasses are growing. The only significant difference in phenol content of the grasses was found between Syringodium and Thalassia, not between patches of Thalassia from presumably oligotrophic and hypereutrophic areas, as previous research observed. The urchins showed clear preferences for Syringodium over Thalassia. There was no preference between Thalassia from nutrient enriched and unenriched areas. A method of phenol-reduction was also used to see how the urchins would respond to the grasses without phenols present, resulting again in a clear preference for Syringodium over Thalassia, and a preference for phenol-reduced Syringodium over phenol-containing Syringodium. Analysis of nutritional qualities of the grasses, including carbohydrate and protein content, as well as carbon to nitrogen ratios, combined with phenol and feeding choice results suggest that phenolic compounds have the greatest effect upon urchin food choices. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2000-05 |
| Wright, Rebecca | Biology | Wave energy and seagrass epiphyte growth | Wave energy alters the growth of epiphytes. High wave action can loosen epiphytes, while very low wave action increases the boundary layer, also decreasing epiphyte growth. In this study, I designed a mesocosm to measure the effects of a wave energy gradient on biomass and species diversity of epiphytes growing on both on the seagrass, Zostera marina, and on artificial seagrass blades. The biomass of epiphytes increased with increasing wave energy. Epiphyte species richness increased over the wave energy gradient; and species diversity appeared to follow the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. The biomass and organic matter of epiphytes growing on the artificial seagrass differed from those growing on Zostera marina. Using the mesocosm in conjunction with Mylar strips in field studies should control for the variability between field sites and using Mylar instead of SAV blades. Understanding the growth of epiphytes will enable researchers to judge the successes of replanting efforts before expending unnecessary time and money. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2010-05 |
| Walker, Julie Emily | Biology | Is Seagrass the Solution? The Effect of Eelgrass on Eastern Oyster Biomineralization | Rising atmospheric CO2 levels are causing the pH of coastal waters to decrease. Acidification especially affects organisms that form calcium carbonate skeletons by causing the dissolution of calcium carbonate and reduced rates of calcification. For some calcifying organisms these effects are increased for juveniles due to differences in morphology and shell chemistry. The uptake of dissolved CO2 through photosynthesis can potentially reduce the effects of on calcified organisms. My study examines the effects of the seagrass Zostera marina (eelgrass) on the calcification of Crassostrea virginica (eastern oysters) of two different size classes when grown together in microcosms. Daily analyses of pH, total alkalinity, and calcite saturation state were used to measure differences in biomineralization of shell. Results indicate that Z. marina significantly increases the saturation state of calcite and pH, while increasing uptake of CaCO3 in oyster of both size class with the presence of eelgrass, suggesting that seagrasses can ameliorate the effects of acidification. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2013-05 |
| Wilhelm, James Keith | Biology | Can seagrasses promote shell growth in the eastern oyster? | Ocean acidification is projected to have deleterious effects on marine organisms and has become a primary focus of ecological research in the past decade. Decreased pH in ocean waters can have debilitating effects on a variety of organisms, particularly those that acquire calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in order to build their shells such as the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. However, photosynthetic organisms such as seagrasses can mitigate the negative effects of ocean acidification on local scale. I examined the effects of photosynthesis by the seagrass Zostera marina (eelgrass) on the growth of the eastern oyster. In laboratory experiments juvenile oysters were placed in microcosms with or without eelgrass. I analyzed oyster shell growth by measuring daily changes in total alkalinity. Eelgrass significantly improved growth conditions for oysters by increasing water pH and increasing the calcite saturation state. Oysters with eelgrass shoots exhibited significantly faster growth and CaCO3 acquisition than those without eelgrass. My research indicates there may be an indirect beneficial relationship between oysters and eelgrass. As estuaries continue to acidify and endure environmental changes, understanding the impacts on these ecologically important organisms and their ability to cope with altered water chemistry will be crucial to implementing protective policies and measures. Further experimentation is needed to examine this relationship in the coastal estuaries these species inhabit. Future research should also look to determine if other seagrasses have similar effects on bivalve growth under low pH conditions. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2012-05 |
| Banwarth, Rebecca Marietta | Biology | Investigation of seagrass cohabitation and sediment composition effects on Zostera marina transplant success | The presence of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay is very important to the ecosystem as a food source, habitat and nursery area, attachment substrate, nutrient source, nutrient absorber, erosion baffle, and oxygen source. Recovery from a severe die-off during the 1970’s and 1980’s has been very slow, despite transplanting efforts. St. Mary’s River Z. marina transplants have experienced minimal success, often resulting in total loss, except within existing R. maritima beds. It was hypothesized that R. maritima improved site quality for Z. marina by providing oxygen or additional nutrients via its roots. It is also possible that the sediment quality of selected transplant areas was not sufficient to support Z. marina growth. This study investigated the effects of species cohabitation and sediment composition on growth using sandy and natural sediment treatments in single and dual species pots. The short-term growth experiment was conducted in a mesocosmal system in the St. Mary’s College greenhouse. Primary blade growth, new blade production, and rhizome growth were evaluated for all treatments. Cohabitation did not positively affect growth in this instance, but should not be ruled out of future investigation. Growth rates show that Z. marina grew best by itself in sandy sediment from the mesocosm, contrary to what was hypothesized. Organic content correlated inversely with increasing particle size, while percent composition showed significantly different particle distribution between the experimental sediment types in the mesocosm experiment. Field sediment analysis at the original transplant sites yeilded significantly different organic contents in sediment inside versus outside of R. maritima beds (P<0.001). The N:P ratio within the bed is approximately twice as high as outside of the bed, with N acting as a limiting nutrient. Oxygen measurements were significantly higher inside than outside of the bed (P<0.001), suggesting that oxygenation of the sediment by the roots of the seagrass was occurring. Further mesocosm studies will be necessary to better understand the role of sediment dynamics in seagrass transplant survival. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 1999-05 |
| Shero, Michelle Rebecca | Biology | Post-molt condition of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and links with overwinter diving behavior | Despite the extensive amount of research that has been conducted on Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii), there has been remarkably little work to assess physiological condition at the end of the breeding season (Jan/Feb) after ~4 months of limited activity. Therefore, I measured body composition and oxygen storage capacities of 22 adult Weddell seals (18 females:4 males). As predicted, animals were relatively thin and lean by the end of the breeding season. Oxygen stores were higher at the end of the breeding season compared to Oct/Nov literature values due to an unexpected increase (by ~50%) in muscle myoglobin concentrations. Still, because metabolic rates were higher for smaller animals in Jan/Feb, calculated aerobic dive limit (cADL) times remained remarkably similar between seasons. Myoglobin augmentation may be attributed in part to varied muscle use among animals to reach different depths on dives. Since diving behavior is predominately constrained by the ability to carry oxygen while submerged, I determined correlations between physiological parameters and diving behaviors via satellite-linked tags attached to the study animals. There was a strong relationship between animal mass and dive frequency, duration, and dives that exceeded the cADL. Therefore, post-molt Weddell seal physiological factors and diving behaviors were linked. | Myerowitz, Rachel | 2010-12 |
| Kitchen, Blair Davis | Computer Science | Searchable herb database | At Historic St. Mary’s City, a public museum recreating life in Maryland’s first capital, there is some research being conducted on the historical use of herbs. The idea for the Searchable Herb Database grew out of a discussion as to whether or not it would be possible to index this research electronically in order to facilitate searching. The searchable herb database is an attempt to provide a means of gathering the researched information into a central location, thus allowing for easy indexing, storage and retrieval of the data. The searchable herb database was implemented using separate components: an SQL database server, a graphical user interface, and an interface between the SQL database server and the GUI. Furthermore, in implementing the database, every effort was made to achieve three goals: leveraging preexisting code and software whenever possible, extensibility, and cross-platform operation. Open source software was used throughout the project in order to cut down on the amount of code that must be written and tested from scratch. In addition, the graphical user interface was implemented in an object-oriented fashion in order to provide extensibility. Finally, the graphical user interface was written in the Tcl/Tk programming language in order to allow cross-platform operation. The searchable herb database provides an easy way to index and search research on herbs and their historical uses. In addition, it facilitates the dissemination of said information by providing the ability to automatically create HTML web pages from the archived data. | Sterling, Ivan | 2002-12 |
| Oliver, Mary Virginia | Psychology | Prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and subsyndromal-SAD in a college sample : an examination of changes in appetite, sleep and activity level | This study focused on determining the prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and subsyndromal-SAD in a college sample. High levels of SAD and S-SAD may warrant preventive or therapeutic measures to be put in place to treat students who suffer from winter depression. The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was administered to 48 participants in two psychology classes at St. Mary’s College of Maryland to determine the prevalence of SAD and subsyndromal-SAD in a college sample. A second survey was administered to look at specific vegetative symptoms, changes in appetite, sleep and activity levels typical of SAD and subsyndromal-SAD. The prevalence of SAD was 6.25% (n = 3), and 29.2% (n=14) met the two criteria for subsyndromal-SAD. This study suggests that subsyndromal-SAD may have a higher rate of occurrence in college students than an adult population, so measures should be taken to detect individuals with subsyndromal-SAD and offer them treatment. | O'Donnell, Deborah A. | 2004-05 |
| Christianson, Dana Elizabeth | Environmental Studies | St. Mary’s County almanac : a collection of seasonal nature essays | I feel compelled to confess, for the sake of my own integrity and that of the writing: I am a charlatan. I would prefer, though, to employ a term less incriminating. I am a “bridger.” I come from western Maryland and have lived the majority of my life not more than five miles away from where the Shenandoah converges with the Potomac River, a beautiful specimen of whitewater but certainly no St. Mary’s River. It was my grandparents who first introduced me to the wondrous ways of this county. Every summer my family and I would make the trek a handful of times down Indian Head Highway to visit the Christi II, the boat my grandparents consider their second home. Often times we would just stay for the weekend, but this was time enough for a child to become familiar with the surroundings. It was time enough to connect. [from introduction] | Chandler, Katherine R. | 2004-05 |
| O'Neil, Colleen Erin | Chemistry | Classification of Beaufort Sea sediment using a FTIR-DRIFT methodology | This studied employed FT-IR DRIFT analysis to determine the carbon content and general mineral makeup in sediment samples taken from the Arctic region. A major advantage to using this is that it allows for a less time consuming, simple, sensitive and non-destructive analysis method. Furthermore, it has been shown that FT-IR DRIFT is a suitable method for determining the organic makeup of sediment samples. Analysis was performed on sediment samples taken in varying locations surrounding the Beaufort Sea. The sediment samples were between the Colville River, the largest of the rivers in Northern Alaska, as well as the Mackenzie River, a major source of terrestrial material to the Beaufort Shelf as well as the fourth largest river draining into the Arctic Ocean. Results indicate that all sediment samples are composed of kaolinite, calcite, quartz and organic carbon. Kaolonite was the most abundant mineral found within all of the samples followed by quartz and calcite. PC03 and PC14 when compared to the rest of the cores do show drastically less carbon levels whereas the other cores appear to stay within similar ranges. Furthermore, PC03, PC08, PC10 and PC14 were the only cores to show variation in their carbon levels with PC08, PC10 and PC14 showing a trend of increasing carbon as you approach the surface. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2011-05 |
| Castellan, Allison Catherine | Biology | Elevated sediment ammonium levels as a possible chemical cue to physical disturbance in soft-bottomed estuaries | Physical sediment disturbance is an important process in shaping terrestrial and aquatic community structure. Recent studies indicate that physical sediment disturbance is common in estuaries and that flow-mediated sediment erosion, deposition and/or resuspension all have the ability to impact benthic organisms and alter sediment geochemistry. Nonetheless, physical disturbance effects on benthic macrofaunal communities in soft-bottom estuaries remain poorly understood. One important way physical disturbance can affect macrofaunal community structure in through recruitment processes. For example, disturbance may create chemical signals, such as elevated NH4+ levels, that deter recruitment. In this study, juvenile amphipods (Leptocheirus plumulosus) were exposed to sediment spiked with either 3, 500, 1000 or 2500 M NH4+ concentrations, and their burrowing times and behavior were recorded. Results indicate that NH4+ does significantly deter Leptocheirus burial; mean burial times increased significantly with increasing sediment porewater NH4+ concentrations. Also, as NH4+ levels increased, Leptocheirus exhibited increased restlessness, repeatedly scratching the sediment surface, swimming into the water column and running across the sediment surface before eventually burrowing. In natural environments, delayed burrowing can increase the susceptibility of new recruits to erosion and predation, resulting in a generally impoverished benthic community. However, the NH4+ concentrations which caused a significant increase in burial times are at the upper limit of natural porewater NH4+ ranges. Thus, it is likely that disturbance induced pre-recruitment NH4+ cues play a very minor role in juvenile Leptocheirus recruitment in natural settings. | Hatch, Walter I. | 1999-05 |
| Tenberg, Amelia Katherine | Biology | Detection of Ensifer Adhaerens in Soil and Its Response to Trace Minerals | Bacterial populations in soil are affected by both biotic and abiotic qualities of their environment. Ensifer adhaerens is a non-obligate bacterial predator of bacteria in soil that displays a tracking behavior to find its prey. The specific mechanism that this predator uses to lyse the prey is unknown. To test for the presence of this bacterium in St. Mary’s, MD and Parkton, MD soils, a bacteriophage assay was used with an extract from a soil sample incubated with either predator or prey cell amendment. E. adhaerens specific bacteriophage were isolated from both Maryland soils, indicating that the bacterium was present in these samples. Whether or not this species is found could be influenced by the makeup of trace minerals in a particular soil. Agar medium was supplemented with zinc, manganese, or copper, and then the growth and tracking ability of E. adhaerens was evaluated. E. adhaerens did not grow on copper as low as 0.01%, nor did it track the prey species Micrococcus luteus. There was a significant decrease in growth of E. adhaerens at 0.5% manganese and 0.1% and 0.5% zinc compared to the control. At increasing concentrations, manganese appeared to lengthen the tracking distance of the prey, while zinc lowered it. The mean tracking distance was significantly higher at 0.1% manganese compared to any other concentration. Further analysis of the predatory behavior of E. adhaerens and what factors can influence the presence of this bacterium in soil are needed to elucidate a natural role for the species. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2013-05 |
| Tono, Cristina | Sociology | Economic Development and Trash: The Overlooked Consequence | The definition of development and how it is perceived by developing countries has shifted from solely an economic focus to a definition that includes social programs. While this movement towards a more sustainable approach to development has become more popular, there is still an emphasis on economic growth. This phenomenon has manifested itself within the economies of developing countries such as Nicaragua. A monoculture of capitalism and neoliberal ideals is spreading. This paper focuses on Nicaragua, and how the latent consequence of development leads to an increase in need to address solid waste management. A case study of Limon 2, a small community in Nicaragua, examines the everyday non- economic determinants of economic development and the latent problems of increase in waste or trash. | Daugherty, Helen G. | 2014-05 |
| Yuan, David He Hua | Biology | Repertoire size and song sharing in tropical mockingbirds (Mimus gilvus) | In many songbird species, males have been shown to have repertoires of several different song types of which some songs are shared with other males. Few studies, however, have studied song sharing in species with very large song repertoires. Here I studied patterns of song sharing among male tropical mockingbirds (Mimus gilvus) in an island population in Belize. I estimated the repertoire sizes of seven territorial males and measured the proportion of song types they shared. Our results showed that the birds had large repertoires of 99 and 182 distinct song types (mean = 133 song types), similar in size to those of northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), and that males shared up to 30% of their song types with neighbors. Neighboring males shared significantly more song types than did non-neighboring males. This pattern of song sharing suggests that males are open-ended learners who incorporate neighboring males’ songs into their repertoires. Song sharing may act as an honest indicator of male competitive ability because it could indicate long-term possession of a territory. | Price, J. Jordan | 2006-05 |
| Schaefer, Natalie Ruth | Biology | Effects of noise on auditory function of Chesapeake Bay fishes | The characteristics of sound transmission in water place the challenge of detecting and interpreting complex acoustic signals, from both biological and non-biological sources, on aquatic organisms. Studies have demonstrated that elevated levels of sound in aquatic media can have an adverse effect on the hearing of fish such as temporary hearing loss and auditory threshold shifting. Examination of gross morphology and AEP technology was used to compare the hearing abilities of three species of Chesapeake Bay fish under masked and unmasked conditions. Under unmasked thresholds, menhaden showed a significant difference from both spot and stripped bass for frequencies 100-200Hz and 600-1000Hz. They also show a significant difference from just the stripped bass at 300Hz. Significance was seen among all species at 500-600 Hz. Menhaden showed the highest sensitivity at 100 and 200Hz while spot and stripped bass showed the highest at 100-300Hz. Both stripped bass and Menhaden showed a significant threshold shift upwards when a masking signal was present. By comparing morphology to hearing ability, it was shown that variations in hearing structures correlate with the ability of fishes to detect sound. It can also be inferred that rises in environmental noise could potentially have a negative impact on sound detection capabilities. | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2009-05 |
| Smith, Jacob M. | Biology | Sound source localization in fish | Sound is an important biological signal in both terrestrial and aquatic environments; being useful both for avoiding predators as well as for finding potential mates. In order to use these signals, an organism must be capable of both detecting them and localizing them in space. It is now generally accepted that fish are able to determine the location of a sound source …. While the mechanics of directional hearing are fairly well understood in terrestrial vertebrates such as mammals, the strategies used by mammals are unlikely to work well underwater. As such, it seems unlikely that fish and mammals utilize the same strategies to localize sound. In recent years, numerous advances have been made in the understanding of how fish may detect and localize sound, especially in terms of their auditory physiology. The goals of this review are: 1) to discuss the challenges presented to sound localization underwater, 2) to describe the characteristics of sound stimuli underwater, 3) to explore the auditory anatomy and physiology of fish, and 4) to review mechanisms by which fish may solve the problem of sound localization underwater, and discuss the likely contributions of each strategy to audition by fish in general. [from introduction] | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2008-05 |
| Backhaus, Keith Richard | Art History | American suburb : systems and situations of power | This work is a convergence of a variety of theoretical schemata upon a cohesive and familiar social and physical space, that of the American suburb. The American suburb in its evocation alone, elicits thoughts of conformity/homogeneity, property/wealth, and family, but what is it about this space that brings these ideas to mind? And are they truly applicable to the actual lived space? Throughout the analysis that follows, the suburb is scrutinized on the terms of its landscape and architecture, of its physical and social manifestations of space. The suburban space itself is a direct result of a way of seeing, a particular means of ordering the world that is quintessentially American, that of Manifest Destiny. This means of seeing produces a schemata upon the space, to make it fit for living and society, it imposes order upon it. This order, this imposition of power upon the landscape, is similar to the means by which individual control is enacted in Foucault’s Panoptic and plague town models. The interaction of these two social means of ordering space and imposing power interrelate to create a lived environment that is wholly unique. Finally, just as in any system that power is imposed upon those dwelling within it, the suburb creates pockets of resistance, both physical and social, to its power, and the hierarchy created as a result of this implementation of power. The example of resistance used here is that of the suburban punk rock movement, particularly my own personal connection to the crust punk movement in Baltimore and Towson, Maryland. | Lucchesi, Joseph E. | 2004-05 |
| Norris, Emily Marie | Art | St. Mary's project | A place could become familiar. Backyards become boring, overworked, overplayed - flat. Space does not spark the stream of consciousness it had in the past. But there are areas that can be revived. Scanning the yard, I find a hydrangea bush. I can cut a blossom from its roots, and put it into my grandmother’s vase. Reflections appear; surfaces meet for the first time, layers act upon each other. Memories come rushing to the surface, new ideas are presented, and habit or intuition keeps these ripples alive. Two trees form an arched doorway to the river. A brick wall cuts off the glowing orange pile of leaves. Specks on a shoulder match those of a jetty that floats in the distance. Edges of geometric surfaces against fluid and irregular forms are curious. A border, a frame, or an edge is just as important as the adjacent image. Without separation, there would not be a connection. A collection of media and experience affect the way we perceive our surroundings. I want to combine reproductions – drawings, photographs, memories, models. Constructed space made up of layers of surfaces and material can extend the boundaries of a place. Reflections and layers distort and deceive. Numerous threads of contrasts and comparisons keep associations active. You should waver in between a satisfied and strange point of view. Challenges arise in the explanation of this rearranged yet familiar space. There may not be room to rest. A series of panels cut apart attention onto a singular plane. There is not a set solution; the pieces do not fit neatly together. Space, time, and thoughts are always on the verge of resolution. If rearranged effectively, I am able to look at a place with a fresh set of eyes. Reflection occurs. A passenger side window warns that objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. There are traces of familiarity but thoughts are also able to surprise– jump out of blind spots. An old pond, your backyard is rearranged and able to captivate and inspire. Through making art, I have learned it is important to work what you have. To understand what is going on around me before I move on towards the next flashing light. The way I collage source material helps to both explain and expand the space where I reside. I am able to absorb the landscape and construction of space. This fusion of the natural and digital in my work is about a hyper-real experience – it stops and starts in fragmented harmony. [artist statement] | Johnson, Susan R. | 2009-05 |
| Gonda-King, Liahna Melinda | Biology | Importance of light conditions and species interactions in the invasive species, Microstegium vimineum | Microstegium vimineum (Japanese Stilt Grass) is an invasive species predominant along the east coast of the United States that displaces native species by forming monocultures that alter nitrogen and phosphorus cycling and increase soil pH. Although M. vimineum uses a C4 photosynthetic pathway, it is shade tolerant and often invades disturbed habitats that have mesic, low light conditions. I observed species interactions between M. vimineum and two native grasses, Andropogon gerardii and Elymus virginicus, grown from seed over a nine week period in low light and full light conditions mimicking competition in a disturbed environment. In the M. vimineum/A. gerardii mixed populations, M. vimineum had greater above-ground biomass and was the dominant species in both low light and full light treatments. In the M. vimineum/E. virginicus mixed populations, the dominant species varied with light conditions. The M. vimineum had greater above-ground biomass and was the dominant species in the low light environment, but E. virginicus had greater above-ground biomass and was dominant in the full light environment. These results suggest that M. vimineum is a poor competitor, but has high environmental stress tolerance. Microstegium vimineum utilizes a mixed reproductive strategy and its unexpected senescence allowed me to compare chasmogamous (CH), potentially outcrossing, and cleistogamous (CL), self-fertilizing, seed production in varied light treatments. In low light environments there was a significantly greater biomass of self-fertilizing seeds. However, there was a significantly greater biomass of potentially outcrossing CH seeds in the low light treatment which refutes the reproductive assurance hypothesis. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2010-05 |
| Peng, Suha Dylan | Biology | Analysis of vegetation distribution in relation to soil type in the wooded areas and campus tree map of St. Mary’s College of Maryland using a geographic information system | A large volume of studies has been focused on the relationship between species diversity and environmental conditions. The relationship between vegetation composition and environmental factors such as climate, topography, and soil has been a great source of interest for those studying forest succession in the eastern deciduous forests of the United States. Geographic Information System (GIS) has also been used as tool by scientists to study ecological phenomena, especially with spatial interactions. The objective of this study were to study the possible relationship between soil type and woody species composition in 4 wooded areas on the property of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. GIS technology was used to create vegetation maps of growth patterns and abundance of woody species in these wooded areas. In addition, tree maps of more than 1000 campus trees were created. The results showed that forests of St. Mary’s College are in various stages of succession. While there are similarities between the vegetation layers of all the forests studied, species richness and diversity vary based on soil type. These are due, in part, to land-use history and differences in soil properties. The campus tree maps show that the species composition is a mixture of native and nonnative species. More work needs to be done with the quantitative aspect of this project in order to improve our understanding of species-environment interactions in the St. Mary’s County forests. The campus GIS and tree maps are a valuable tool for a variety of uses including tree management and education. | Paul, Robert W. | 2003-05 |
| Craton, Andrew | Biology | Comparing the hunting effectiveness of Spiders (Araneae) in Maryland | Spiders fulfill a vital ecological role as consumers of invertebrates. I researched 45 species in16 families of Araneae found naturally in Maryland; Pholcidae, Theridiidae, Araneidae, Tetragnathidae, Agelenidae, Pisauridae, Amourobiidae, Thomisidae, Salticidae, Lycosidae, Oxyopidae, Corrinidae, Gnaphosidae, Dysderidae, Miturgidae, and Scytotidae to determine which species had the most varied diet (most generalized). Before my research began, I believed that Hogna carolinensis of Lycosidae would have the greatest variety of prey due to its mobile nature and large size. After continued research, I was unable to find conclusive numerical data relating the variety of prey that Maryland spiders hunt. I did find that size is an important factor to consider in the diet of spiders, as each as specific size ranges of prey which they are able to hunt. Hunting strategies are also important to consider, as they may allow for the capture of generalized or specialized prey, even if the strategy is more effective. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2014-05 |
| Bzdyk, Emily Luzia | Biology | Native plants of Historic St. Mary’s City : for use with the Key Swamp trail and adjacent areas | Historic St. Mary’s city is a place where people go to enjoy nature and get a taste of local history. I have created a guide to the native plants of this area to allow people to learn more about the environment and how plants have been used throughout history. I walked the Key Swamp Trail and took photos of plants that would stand out to a visitor. I narrowed my list of plants to 15. For each plant I included scientific and common name as well as a GPS location I gathered using a Trimble GPS unit. I did research on historic medicinal and other uses for each of the plants and wrote a description for each plant. I completed scientific illustrations of each plant’s leaves, fruits and flowers to help people identify plants they might encounter. I formatted the text and figures into a booklet format that visitors may pick up at a new kiosk to be installed at the trailhead. | Williams, William E. | 2008-05 |
| Rothschild, Devon Michelle | Biology | Oysters in the St. Mary's River : an historical overview and assessment of reproductive success | The American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, has long been a valuable component of the Chesapeake Bay, acting as filters, providing habitat for many marine organisms, and offering work for a people known as watermen. An extreme decline in the oyster population over the past centuries has prompted studies of its relevance to the Bay area. Many strategies and methods have been deployed to increase the oyster population in the Bay, however, none have resulted in a notable rise in the remaining population. This specific study was two-fold, providing an historical overview of the oyster’s exploitation in the Chesapeake Bay, and specifically in the St. Mary’s river, as well as a collection of data from the St. Mary’s River with which to assess reproductive success. Parameters such as water quality, and spat set density, growth, and mortality were analyzed by monitoring seven stations along the River. These data show that the St. Mary's River exhibits near optimal conditions for spat set and growth. An average spat set occurred in the St. Mary’s River this season, with the most set occurring upstream and the most growth downstream. | Paul, Robert W. | 2000-05 |
| Benjamin, Eileen Ruth | Biology | Removal protocol of kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) for Saint Mary's campus | Pueraria montana var. lobata, commonly known as kudzu, is a climbing vine of the pea family. Native to Asia, this plant species was introduced to the United States in 1876 and was planted extensively throughout southeastern states as an ornamental plant, livestock fodder, and erosion control. Extensive planting coupled with the plant’s fast growth rate and lack of native biological controls has allowed kudzu to spread over an estimated 3 million hectares of land in the United States. P. montana is considered to be among the most widespread and harmful invasive species. During growing season it can elongate by as much as 30 cm in a single day; it grows over and around native plants and trees, shading them from sunlight and sometimes uprooting trees or shearing off limbs. While there is no single method that is 100 percent effective in eradicating kudzu, there are many different methods of control. My project focuses on developing and implementing a protocol for control of a kudzu invasion on St. Mary’s campus. Based on research and my time at Kudzu Kollege, I developed an eradication protocol using mechanical methods of kudzu removal and began implementation of this protocol at the St. Mary’s site. I hosted two volunteer-based work days, where we were able to begin the kudzu removal process as outlined in my protocol. Although these work days were a wonderful start and the protocol can effectively be used to rid the site of kudzu in the future, continued work and maintenance is needed over the next several years to make this plan a reality. | Williams, William E. | 2009-05 |
| Varady, Philip Barry | Chemistry | Enhancing electrical current generation in a two-chamber pure-culture microbial fuel cell | Electricity generation was observed under five different setups in a two chamber H-type microbial fuel cell inoculated with pure S. Oneidensis cultures. Sodium lactate was used to sustain power generation over many days and potassium ferricyanide was used as the terminal electron acceptor in all experiments. The effect of using a phosphate buffer in the MFC solutions was observed as well as the outcome of a novel inoculation technique aimed at enriching bacterial biofilms present on the anode surface. Phosphate buffer was found to have an adverse effect on MFC operation due to antibacterial properties of autoclaved sugar phosphate derivatives. Novel biofilm enrichment appeared to cause higher internal resistance while permitting more stable long term power generation, however further research is required to qualify the validity of these observations. | Blanchette, Paul P. | 2010-05 |
| Chop, Kathryn Ana | Biology | Analyzing the amount of phenolic acids present in the different life history stages of Zostera marina (eelgrass) | Phenolic compounds are an important component of both terrestrial and aquatic plants. These acids have various functions within the plant, and their concentration varies depending on numerous factors including plant age, season, and environmental growing conditions. This study aimed to analyze the amount of phenolic compounds present in the different life history stages of Zostera marina (eelgrass). Many theories have been hypothesized in order to explain the variation of phenolic compounds in terrestrial plants. One such theory, the protein competition model, developed by Jones and Hartley (1999), predicts phenolic concentration to be inversely related to protein concentration and that phenolic concentration would be higher in the later developmental stages where phenolics are needed for structural support and to aid in protection and defense. In this study, more phenolics were found in the mature stage compared to the younger developmental stages. These results support the protein competition model. An increasing trend of the ferulic and p-coumaric acids, which are precursors to lignin, was observed as the grasses aged. From these results, we can theorize that as the plants mature, more phenolic compounds are needed for structural support. Understanding at what stage in their life cycle eelgrass produce the most phenolic compounds can help us understand when they are most protected from such factors as disease agents and wave action. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2005-05 |
| Keppel, Andrew George | Biology | Analysis of total suspended solids (TSS) in stormwater runoff | Total suspended solids (TSS) is an easily measured pollutant, which is representative of many other pollutants. Urbanization and associated increases in impervious surface cover result in increased runoff and storm flow, which carry large sediment volumes. Therefore, TSS measurements can be used to evaluate the health of watersheds. Five watersheds with a variety of land uses were examined during and after storm events to evaluate the effect of urbanization on stream pollutant levels. It was determined that John’s Creek, the most developed watershed, did indeed have the highest TSS levels during storm events. At the opposite extreme, the Below St. Mary’s Lake site seemed to be completely protected from high TSS levels by the lake, which serves as a settling basin. When this unusual site was excluded from analysis, several measures of human impact, including land usages and quantity of road crossings, were correlated with storm water TSS concentrations and the length of time to peak TSS values during storm events, two estimates of water quality. | Paul, Robert W. | 2010-05 |
| DeRieux, Claire Lynne | Biology | Stream health assessment using benthic aquatic macroinvertebrates | Recent population growth in Southern Maryland has lead to an increased development of roads and housing developments. The impacts of these anthropogenic factors on stream health are the focus of this study. Benthic aquatic macroinvertebrates are a common choice for the biomonitoring of streams, and I inventoried them to assess stream health. I surveyed three streams with varying levels of anthropogenic impact. Elms property stream was the reference stream with little anthropogenic impact, while St. John’s Creek was disturbed by a road crossing it and Hilton Run was disturbed by a nearby housing development. At each stream, I sampled 180 meters upstream and downstream of disturbance, as well as at the site of disturbance. I analyzed biodiversity using the Shannon index. I hypothesized that the two streams with anthropogenic impact would show lowered diversity downstream of and at the site of disturbance, due to the effects of runoff, erosion, and a smaller buffer zone. In general, the data supported the hypothesis. The Elms Stream had the highest biodiversity, with no consistent evidence of anthropogenic-related lowered biodiversity. Hilton Run had clear evidence of disturbance with lowered biodiversity at the site of impact (p<0.05). St John’s Creek, however, did not show clear signs of anthropogenic impact because of the confounding factor of a dominant species. | Gorton, Holly L. | 2008-12 |
| Breece, Matthew W. | Economics | Contingent behavior of Southern Maryland rockfish charter fishing industry | The Rockfish or Stripped Bass population of the Chesapeake Bay has fluctuated significantly over the last century. More recently over fishing, pollution and associated poor water quality caused the size and numbers of the Rockfish to fall dramatically in the 1970s and early 1980s. As a result a moratorium was placed on Rockfish from 1984 to 1990 to allow the population to recover. The population was declared fully recovered in 1995. Since 1995 the population has risen even further which has made for great sport fishing. This research determines the value that the fishers place on water quality improvements and associated effects on the fish quality. We surveyed charter-fishing parties from June until December in 2003. Numbers of trips taken along with a contingent behavior question were used to determine the additional number of trips that would be taken if water quality improved. We estimated individual consumer surplus for increased fish size due to an increase in water quality of $152.07. We also found that other factors such as; membership in an environmental organization, size of Rockfish, whether the participant always fished in Maryland, and whether they had gone out with the same captain before, were also factors that influenced the frequency of trips taken. | Poor, P. Joan | 2004-05 |
| Butterfield, John Gregory | Chemistry | Studies towards a green synthesis of sulfur based macrocycles | Microwave irradiation is a tool of great use in the chemistry community. It allows for great energy to be poured into a reaction to improve yields and perform synthesis that give poor yields or do not work by benchtop methods. This experimental study focuses on the possibilities for the usefulness of microwave irradiation in the synthesis of multiple macrocycles. The study was inconclusive to weather or not microwave irradiation will improve the synthesis of the macrocycles in question but upon further research concrete conclusions may be reached. The results from the synthesis of the simple Calix[4]Pyrrole show some promise that this method will work with further experimentation but this study was over all inconclusive. | Eller, Leah R. | 2009-05 |
| Bishop, Alex Sabeti | Interdisciplinary Studies | Study of land and wind effects in the St. Mary’s River | This project studies the effect land formations on wind direction and velocity for Northwest winds and South winds in the St. Mary’s River, St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This study took place from January 2009 to December 2009. | Poor, P. Joan | 2009-12 |
| Schwartz, Samantha Mindy | Biology | Studying Otoliths - What is the Point?: an overview and evaluation of the importance of otolith research and the efficiency of research techniques in aquatic science | Otoliths are solitary calcareous structures located in the inner ears of vertebrates that aid in hearing and vestibular senses. They are composed of alternating layers which creates visible rings that allow for ageing of the organism in which they reside. Fish also incorporate elements from the external aquatic environment into their otoliths, creating a chemical signature within the otolith depending on the body of water in which the fish is located. These attributes have allowed otoliths to become an important research focus that has contributed valuable information to various scientific fields including fisheries science and environmental science, especially as an indicator of water quality and water toxicity levels. There are numerous methods of extraction and analysis that are in current use in otolith research, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Using chosen methods, I extracted and performed analysis on otoliths of Ictalurus punctatus and found no indication of toxicity. Despite the numerous problems otolith research is still facing, it has already made a positive impact on the scientific community and will continue to have an even greater impact with proper attention and focus on perfecting the techniques and theories surrounding otolith science. | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2013-05 |
| Robinson, Charlotte J. | Biology | Epiphyte loading of seagrass as affected by wave energy : a field study using artificial SAV | Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay has been in decline over the last century, threatened in large part by anthropogenic nutrient loading of waterways. High nutrient levels encourage the growth of epiphyte communities on the SAV, which attenuate light before it can reach the leaves and increase mortality rates. Recently improved water quality and increased restoration initiatives have presented the opportunity to restore lost SAV to the Bay, and the ability to choose successful transplant sites is crucial to this process and must be refined. To this purpose, I tested the effect of wave energy on epiphyte growth at three locations of varying exposure around St. George Island (MD) using artificial SAV during two trials during Fall of 2010. Light attenuation (%) was significantly lowest at the most exposed site during a high intensity storm, and in the other trial was significantly lowest at the least exposed site. Organic Content (%) increased as light attenuation increased in the second trial, but had the lowest % in the intermediate area during the first trial. The data potentially indicate that epiphyte growth is limited at unusually high and low wave energy, and that the degree of wave disturbance has a significant effect on the composition of epiphytic matrices. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2010-12 |
| McConkey, Katelin Eileen | Biology | Behavior effects of hand rearing on the stereotypy levels of adult captive sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) | Sun bears are the smallest species of bear and are native to South East Asia. Their diet consists mainly of fruit and insects. They are a CITES 1 species, but very little is being done to conserve the species. Existing sanctuaries focus on managing the bears that are turned over from the public. In captivity, it is common for animals to perform stereotypic behaviors. Stereotypies are repetitive, functionless behaviors often exhibited when an animal is physiologically stressed and can be used as an indicator of poor welfare. Animals in optimal conditions display fewer stereotypies than those in sub optimal conditions. I observed the stereotypies of eleven adult captive sun bears in the Phnom Tamao Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center, Phnom Tamao, Cambodia. The bears were grouped based on their rearing conditions as either non-pet (staff-reared at Phnom Tamao or wild-reared by their mothers) or pet (illegally-reared), and on whether or not they were visible to the public. Stereotypic behaviors were scored using instantaneous sampling every 30 seconds for twenty minutes. The proportion of time spent stereotyping did not differ significantly based on rearing conditions or on visibility to the public. The number of stereotypic behaviors displayed was associated with the bears’ previous rearing conditions, but not with visibility to the public. Because the non-pet bears had a smaller repertoire of stereotypic behaviour, I concluded that the bears reared at Phnom Tamao are similar to bears reared by their mothers in that the number of stereotypic behaviors performed was minimal. I then created a guide to hand-rearing sun bears based on the Free the Bears’ methods of raising infant sun bears at Phnom Tamao. These guidelines can be used at other sun bear sanctuaries, which will aid in the management of orphaned or rescued sun bear cubs as well as those involved in conservation breeding programs. | Wolovich, Christy K. | 2010-05 |
| Durfee, Lauren Catherine | Economics | Methods of controlling growth | In my SMP, I examine the trends of three different phases of suburban and urban planning: New Deal Public Housing, Planned Communities, and Urban Growth Boundaries. I also examine how these phases relate to the current goals of sprawl control. During each phase of development, the trust in the government, economic climate and other important social and environmental issues, and the use of rural America as an inexpensive alternative to urban land contribute to the reasons behind the development as well as the lessons learned for the future. [from introduction] | Sheeran, Kristen A. | 2007-05 |
| Cammarata, Christopher Ryan | Chemistry | Lipid energy stores in striped bass eggs | Morone saxatilis (striped bass), an important aquatic species in the Chesapeake Bay, are being studied extensively by fisheries scientist. This peak in interest is due to impact from the seafood and sport fishing industries on population. One aspect being studied is how well the bay population of striped bass replenishes itself. New methods to examine this are based on availability of energy for the developing offspring. In this experiment, energy in the form of egg lipids is explored. Solid phase extraction with amino propyl columns was used to isolate different classes of lipid from egg samples obtained from different female striped bass. The experiment aimed to look at differences in survival of offspring from each female and relate that to fatty acid composition in triglycerides stores in early egg development. Difficulties arose from the lipid isolation procedure and determining if it accomplished its goal proved to be difficult. The rest of this experiment focuses on attempting to identify aspects of the isolation that worked and those that needed to be changed. Importantly, a change in the thin layer chromatography method for detection needs to be addressed. | Mertz, Pamela S. | 2009-05 |
| Lewis, Brian Michael | Political Science | Revising Our Social Contract to Save the World: Achieving Sustainability through Political Theory | As Daniel Quinn explains in his book Ishmael, the idea that we exist separately from the natural world and that it exists for our convenience is a central principle of civilization. This meme permits us to dominate and abuse the environment to satisfy even our most trivial desires, and is the ultimate reason for the climate crisis we currently face. The only way to permanently fix this crisis is to change the way we think about ourselves in relation to the environment and to each other. Quinn calls those who believe the world was made for man, “Takers” and those who live in harmony with the environment, as other animals do, “Leavers.” I argue that the philosophies of Hobbes and Locke share many foundational ideas with the Takers, while Rousseau’s philosophy demonstrates similarity with the Leavers. This being the case, we can attempt to save our planet by adopting Rousseau’s philosophy, which acknowledges and supports our naturally empathetic and cooperative tendencies, as our new societal model. This will produce a sustainable society because it fosters a sense of community and interconnectedness that encompasses not only other people but the environment of which we are an inextricable part rather than the acquisitive individualism that drives Locke’s philosophy. | Boros, Diana | 2013-05 |
| Shaull, Anna Marie | International Languages and Cultures (Spanish) | Agricultores pequenos, pero ?cuanto cambio? : los retos a los que se enfrenta el comercio justo | For my SMP, I studied fair trade. I wanted to determine what its true impacts were in the lives of third world producers; whether it was able to provide all the benefits it claims to provide; and whether its current practices and strategies are sustainable. I looked at fair trade in the context of neo-liberalism and the vast disparities that exist between rich and poor, giving a context for the high stakes in which fair trade functions. I analyzed fair trade values, goals, prices, requirements, and benefits to help answer my research questions. I also provided the opinions of scholars on subjects such as the ideal and actual definition of fair trade, and the growth of fair trade. Finally, I provided portraits of four different producer communities, outlining their experiences with fair trade. I concluded that while fair trade has tremendous benefits in some situations, in many others, its benefits are not noteworthy. In many ways it has strayed from its original mission statements, especially due to the increasing pressures of competition. Overall, my research showed that although fair trade has grown significantly, it has not grown in a way that replicates its original ideal starting point. The more it grows, the farther away it moves from its starting point, and the more similar it becomes to the conventional market. Producers who didn’t find success with fair trade often do find success when moving to smaller organizations; fair trade is compromising itself and functioning less and less well the more it attempts to expand. | Rogachevsky, Jorge R. | 2012-05 |
| Jones, Robert Emanuel | Biology | National Heritage Trail and Campsite Network : sustainable ecotourism for The Gambia? | Ecotourism is a booming industry and has the potential to be an invaluable tool for combating world wide ecological such as loss of habitat, loss of biodiversity, and global climate change. Additionally ecotourism can be an important tool for sustainable development. Unfortunately ecotourism has fallen victim of its own success and is attracting conventional tourism businesses that would like to paint themselves green. This greened conventional tourism refers to itself as ecotourism effectively diluting the strength of the real thing. I take a transdisciplinary approach in determining the relationship between ecotourism and the ecology, economics, and culture of the host country. The country I focus on is The Gambia specifically the idea of a National Heritage Trail and Campsite Network (NHTCN) for The Gambia. This is a network of trails campsites and lodges that would link up all of the major protected areas in The Gambia and stretch the entire length of the country. It would bring tourists to areas that have never seen any significant amount of tourism. Using examples from other developing nations that have been in a similar situation I explore the possibilities and the pitfalls of this proposed ecotourism project. The goal is to determine whether or not the NHTCN could be implemented in a manner that is in the true spirit of ecotourism and takes into account the potential impact on the ecology, economy, and culture of The Gambia. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2004-05 |
| Koster, Teresa Annmarie | Environmental Studies | Classroom Gardens: Improving Student Outcomes and Promoting Sustainable Farming through Agricultural Education | Both education and agriculture are highly industrialized systems. In the public school sector, most of the available attention and resources go to the middle part of the bell curve, where the vast majority of students lie. Clearly this is the most efficient way to educate the most people. Standardized tests and teacher accountability place a numerical value on what students are learning to ensure that maximal efficiency is reached. The agriculture system functions similarly—the most efficient means of producing food are tested, determined, and enacted in a scientifically predetermined manner, all with the intention of gaining maximum profit with minimal labor and fuel expenditures. Unfortunately, some students are excluded from the “success group,” granting them less access to future financial independence and self-efficacy, and highly efficient agriculture is more concerned with profit than with environmental impacts of intensive farming. Neither field is concerned with futures: farmers function on a year-to-year basis, and student outcomes are based on a credit system instead of long-term self-efficacy goals. The literature shows that frequent and prolonged access to gardening activities has an extremely positive effect on all students, particularly students with special needs. I argue that by increasing the accessibility of agricultural education and by making it available to all students, it might be possible for more students to find employment after graduation. Given that the number of farmers in the U.S. is rapidly falling, an increase in the number of interested and educated youth entering the field could promote sustainable agriculture goals and support the dwindling farming population. A pilot study involved the implementation of a classroom garden at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School; it was found that even given limited time and resources, student engagement and involvement was high. (Key terms: agricultural education, agriculture, classroom gardens, special education.) | Johnson, Angela C. | 2012-12 |
| Adashek, Michael Kory | Biology | Correlating destructive vs. non-destructive anthocyanin measurement within the leaves of Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet gum), Acer rubrum (Red maple), and Catalpa speciosa (Northern catalpa) | Anthocyanin production in plants has been associated with exposure to UV-B radiation, high PAR irradiance, extreme temperatures, drought, injury, fungal infection, and nitrogen-phosphorus deficiency. Summarily, anthocyanin content in leaves potentially provides insight into the presence of environmental stressors. Most current measures of anthocyanin content in plant leaves require laboratory-based techniques that cannot be conducted in the field. However, reflectance measurements can be taken quickly and non-destructively in native environments and are promising for time-efficient, large-scale measurements of anthocyanin. My objective was to test the accuracy of the anthocyanin content index (ACI) and the modified anthocyanin content index (MARI) in measuring foliar anthocyanin in 3 species; Liquidambar styraciflua (Liquidambar), Acer rubrum (Red Acer Rubrum), and Catalpa speciosa (Catalpa). The results from this experiment showed no correlation between ACI and extracted anthocyanin content or MARI and extracted anthocyanin content in any of the species tested. These findings do not indicate that reflectrometry can be used to reliably calculate foliar anthocyanin content. | Williams, William E. | 2012-05 |
| Omess, Brittany Anne | Biology | HPLC as a technique to quantify convolutrilobin in Convolutriloba retrogemma | Convolutriloba retrogemma is an acoelous flatworm of the phylum Acoela. It is commonly found in the tropical coral reefs of the Indio-Pacific. There are two unique features about C. retrogemma worth mentioning. One is that it has a symbiotic relationship with green alage. It consumes the algae and uses its photosynthetic products as nutrients. The algae are also related the reproduction rate of the worms. If the worms are kept out of a light source, they do not receive the photosynthetic nutrients and asexual reproduction decreases. Another feature of C. retrogemma is that it contains a toxin known as convolutrilobin. There is very little known about this toxin including its quantification. The applications of knowing the concentration of toxin per worm would help to understand its feeding habits, biosynthetic pathway of production as well as its function. I hypothesized that using an analytical HPLC was an effective technique to quantify convolutrilobin. To accomplish this I set up an internal standard determination. Purified toxin was run through the HPLC in varying concentrations of methanol and in an acidic or basic mobile phase. I found that the compound did not react with the column in the basic phase, but it did in the acidic phase. The progress I have completed thus far is close to getting a retention time suitable to run an unknown concentration of the toxin with. It supports my hypothesis that HPLC is an effective tool in the quantification of convolutrilobin. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2007-05 |
| Shannon, Thomas | Biology | Study of the trophic relationship between the acoelous turbellarian Convolutriloba retrogemma and its obligate algal endosymbiont | The symbiotic relationship between Convolutriloba retrogemma and its yet unidentified algal endosymbiont has been described by its discoverers as less advanced compared to symbioses between other marine invertebrates and algae. This study looked at irradiance preference and chlorophyll, protein, carbon, and nitrogen concentrations of starved and fed worms in an effort to further understand the trophic relationship, particularly as it applies to observed, unique basking behaviors exhibited by C. retrogemma. Although not conclusive, results of this study support a hyperosmotic stress hypothesis to explain the basking behaviors. The hypothesis states that C. retrogemma cannot fully metabolize symbiont photosynthate without holozoic feeding and therefore must seek areas of low irradiance to minimize a build-up of photosynthate which would result in hyperosmolarity of the worm. The basking behaviors are purported to afford C. retrogemma a range of irradiance suitable for varied nutritional status at a minimal energy expenditure to the worm. The results also indicate the photosynthate to be an organic carbon species. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2000-05 |
| Vignati, Aimee Jewell | Mathematics | Exploration of symmetry | We have explored symmetry in a number of different areas: math, physics, nature, art, and architecture. While most people believe that symmetry is solely bilateral symmetry, we have shown that it is much more. We have watched the definition expand to include beauty, harmony, and proportion. Starting with the basic definition of bilateral symmetry, we altered it to include transformations that resulted in an image identical to the initial state. The definition then grew to encompass congruencies and similarities, so that an image was viewed to be symmetrical to its initial state if the shape and/or size was preserved. Again, the definition was altered slightly, this time to be applied to the physical laws of nature. When we viewed symmetry in art and architecture, the focus was directed to proportion, balance, and harmony rather than perfect bilateral symmetry. This is because broken symmetry is considered to be more appealing and interesting. However, the repetition of the same proportions illustrates translational symmetry. [from conclusion] | Stark, Richard K. | 2001-05 |
| Francis, Jennifer Ann | Biology | Possible effects of tributyltin on anal fin development in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) | Tributyltin (TBT), an antifouling agent in marine paint, has been shown to have masculinizing effects in some aquatic organisms. In this study, the possible effect of TBT on anal fin morphology in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) was examined. Male and female adult guppies were exposed to concentrations of 0, 5, 25, 50 or 100 ng/L of TBT for twenty-eight days. Following treatment, standard length, anal fin length and number of anal fin segments were measured. No difference was observed in anal fin length or in the number of anal fin segments in either sex. By isolating the guppies in this experiment, they were effectively removed from the food chain, eliminating one mechanism by which TBT can enter into the organism. Also, adult guppies have already formed their anal fins, so exposing fry to TBT during development may yield different results. Other potential future studies may include examining the internal concentration of TBT in guppies exposed to this toxin, or studying the reproductive development of native fish in an environment high in TBT concentration. | Orlando, Edward F. | 2001-05 |
| Hlavinka, Gena Marie | Educational Studies | Environmental literacy pedagogy | The goal of Environmental Science education is not only to give students content knowledge but also develop attitudes that support environmentally conscious behaviors. However, many Environmental Science students do not demonstrate environmentally sustainable behaviors. I suggest that the best way to alter student perceptions of environmentally literate behaviors is to implement teaching pedagogy that will conceptually change students understanding of conservation. Through an in-depth literature review I have found that constructivism is an effective teaching pedagogy that facilitates conceptual change. Furthermore this teaching pedagogy is already used successfully in chemistry and physics classrooms to enhance student understanding. If applied to environmental science education, constructivism has the potential to alter students’ behaviors. Through the application of constructivism to the learning environment, teaching strategies, and learning tasks teachers will be able to foster conceptual change and alter students’ current perceptions of environmentally sustainable practices. Two types of learning activities that I suggest teachers use to incorporate constructivism into the classroom are place based learning and problem based learning. I argue that by incorporating constructivism into environmental literacy education students will develop environmentally conscious behaviors that will be perpetuated throughout their life. (Key words: Environmental Literacy, constructivism, conceptual change, knowledge-as-theories, knowledge-as-elements, place based learning, problem based learning) | Johnson, Angela C. | 2012-05 |
| DeBord, Chelsea Brooke | Biology | Effect of incubation temperature on embryonic and larval development in the Clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria | The embryonic and larval development of the Clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria, was investigated as a result of maintaining egg cases at different temperatures as part of a study conducted to attempt to increase incubation duration of skate embryos by lowering incubation temperatures. Statistical analysis reported that a decrease in incubation temperature was found to increase the duration of embryo incubation. Additionally, lowering incubation temperature to extend incubation duration did not have a statistically significant effect on the growth rate of skates after hatching. Taking this one step further, a significant difference in juvenile skate size did not exist between males and females, or between skates born to different mothers. Further analysis revealed that incubation temperature also has no significant effect on determination of skate sexes. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2005-05 |
| Dougherty, Michelle Anne | Biology | Isolation of estuarine bacteria, with special attention to Vibrio vulnificus, from the feces of northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) and analysis of the change in bacterial population while overwintering in captivity | Previous studies have shown that the feces of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) contain fecal coliforms. This study examines the presence of Vibrio spp. and other bacteria in the feces of the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin). Eleven terrapins were collected from the St. Mary’s River, Maryland and fecal bacteria were grown in both alkaline peptone water (APW) and EC broth. Positive tubes of APW were plated on VVM agar and individual colonies were isolated and identified. Bacterial genera identified included Vibrio, Aeromonas, Citrobacter, Providencia among others. All terrapins collected from the river yielded colonies on VVM agar between 105 and 107 MPN per turtle. Three terrapins were then housed in estuarine tanks and analyzed monthly for changes in bacteria. APW and EC trends remained constant for each turtle in captivity over the five months (105 or109 MPN per turtle). This study shows that during non-hibernation months, the northern diamondback terrapin may harbor and distribute Vibrio spp. and additional studies should be done in the future to determine the impact the terrapins have on the estuary. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2003-05 |
| Carr, Benjamin Martin | Biology | Nesting site selection of the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, in the St. Mary’s River using Geographic Information Systems | Northern diamondback terrapins are a brackish water chelonian, or turtle species, that come ashore to nest on sandy beaches to nest. In this paper I analyze the specific vegetation and spacial characteristics associated with the terrapin nests. Diamondback terrapins usually nest in close proximity or next to vegetation, generally chose nesting sites in which there is low to moderate vegetation cover, at vegetation between 30-120 cm tall. At the nesting sites I evaluated, there was a very high disturbance rate. Other studies have shown terrapin nest disturbance to be from 74-96% (Burger, 1976 and Roosenburg, 1991). Terrapins nest in at least seven different types of wetlands, as identified by the National Wetlands Inventory, exclusively choosing sites characterized by intertidal waters, irregularly flooded, and low to moderate vegetation. This species of turtle also exhibits a visually even density pattern of nests along two of the most populated beaches. The nests, when they are deposited, are overwhelmingly deposited between 2 to 8 m from the beach. | Paul, Robert W. | 2004-05 |
| Formica, Vincent Anthony | Biology | Territoriality in Zonotrichia albicollis (white-throated sparrow) : spatial correlates of reproductive behavior | White-throated sparrows are North American passerine birds that exhibit a genetic polymorphism in both sexes. As a result, individuals can be divided into two distinct morphs, white and tan. Plumage color has a genetic basis, and all white birds are heterozygous for an inversion of the second chromosome; tan birds do not carry the inversion. In addition, the morphs have adopted alternative reproductive strategies that include behaviors designed to increase the frequency of extra pair copulation (EPC). Evidence suggests that these alternative reproductive strategies combined with the inversion genetics are primarily responsible for the maintenance of genetic diversity in this species because the behavioral differences tend to increase variation in reproductive success, which, in turn, increase the intensity of the selection on certain males. This study focuses on how territoriality further affects the ecology and the intensity of selection on white and tan males. My methods integrated modern techniques in ecology, including Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Morphometric characters of individual males do not explain territory area. White males have larger territories, mostly settle in the bog habitat, and white females nest in darker sites. Territories of tan males were smaller, mostly in pond habitat, and tan females nested in lighter areas. The overall light intensity of territories did not vary between morphs suggesting that although morphs tend to establish territories in different habitats, the amount of “open” habitat is relatively similar. Males of both morphs tend to segregate in different types of micro-habitats. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 2001-05 |
| Reiner, Stephanie Lynn | Biology | Changes in vitellogenin production with age in male fish | The release of environmental estrogens into our water systems poses a serious threat to the endocrine systems of aquatic organisms. These contaminants, known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are threats due to their ability to bind to the intracellular receptor proteins designed for the organisms’ natural hormones, resulting in the artificial feminization or masculinization of the organism. Female fish naturally produce and thus expose themselves to estrogen, which has a role in the manufacturing of an egg yolk protein, vitellogenin. Thus, female fish are not as drastically affected by estrogenic EDCs as are males because of this natural estrogenic exposure. In contrast, males can be induced to produce vitellogenin if exposed to an estrogenic EDC. I performed a study on endocrine disruption in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in U.S. streams, in which I examined changes in vitellogenin and hormone levels with age. Vitellogenin levels decreased significantly with age in male carp, while remaining at a steady concentration with age in females. This decrease in vitellogenin in males could be due to the ability of older carp to process and expel hormones from their bodies or because of the egg yolk’s ability to store exogenous hormones during the egg stage. The high hormone concentration in the yolk could then carry over to the newly-hatched fry, causing vitellogenin production. | Price, J. Jordan | 2007-05 |
| Newkirk, Brad | Chemistry | Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in dairy milk | PBDEs and PCBs are man made compounds that were developed for several industrial uses, most notably as flame retardant additives. Society’s use of these compounds has complicated the world’s growing environmental problems. In this study, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in skim and 1% dairy milk. PBDEs were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). PCBs were quantified using gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Concentrations of individual PBDE congeners were less than detectable in the skim milk samples. Concentrations of individual PBDE congeners found in the 1% milk samples varied from 1.2-17.5 ng/kg milk. The tetra- and penta-BDE homologs were found to be present in the highest concentrations. The amount of individual PCB congeners in the skim milk varied from 0.2-5.1 ng/kg milk. The 1% milk samples had individual PCB congener concentrations ranging from 0.05-447.1 ng/kg milk. According to the USDA’s recommended daily allowance of milk these concentrations translate to an annual consumption of 2.7-7.4 ug PBDE and 0.04-45.7 ug PCBs. These values show that milk as well as other food products should be recognized as a mechanism for human exposure to PBDEs and PCBs, which should encourage future toxicological research. | Larsen, Randolph K. | 2004-05 |
| Campbell, Gretta Lynn | Biology | Analysis of the regenerative abilities of Lumbriculus variegatus after exposure to glyphosate | This study examines the toxicity of the active ingredient (n-phosphonomethyl glycine) found in many popular herbicides on the animal-model system Lumbriculus variegatus. Lumbriculus, a common oligochaete, was selected as the animal model because it is inexpensive, requires little maintenance, and most importantly, is known to demonstrate consistent patterns of regeneration. Normally, this worm undergoes fragmentation, its primary mode of reproduction, followed by regeneration. A new head forms from the anterior wound site and results in the formation of a seven or eight segment head. The posterior wound site forms growth zone that continues to add segments until fragmentation occurs again. In this experiment, worms were decapitated and then exposed to solutions containing glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine, or its soil metabolite, aminomethyl-phosphonic acid. The worms were cultured in a range of concentrations spanning 5 to 100 parts per million (ppm) to determine the lethal and sub-lethal concentrations, and whether disruption of regeneration occurs in a dose dependent manner. Many different experimental parameters were explored in an attempt to assess the toxicity of glyphosate on Lumbriculus variegatus. Inconsistent results do not show a definitive link between the worms’ ability to regenerate a normal head and concentration of glyphosate. | Crawford, Karen | 2003-05 |
| Gamache, Christine Jo | Biology | Tracing fecal coliforms from the source into the St. Mary's River | The St. Mary's River provides many uses for the inhabitants of its watershed; it is a habitat and feeding ground for many animals, the watermen harvest shellfish and fish out of it to maintain their livelihood, and everyone benefits from its recreational qualities. However, all of these uses provide potential fecal coliform contamination, which could lead to disease caused by pathogenic bacteria associated with this type of pollution. Prevention of fecal contamination is the only way to prevent these diseases. However, the introduction of these organisms to the river is mainly from non-point sources, which is hard to prevent. A technique that would identify the strains present in the river, and aid in tracking them back to their source is comparing isolates' 16S rDNA sequences. The total and fecal coliform levels were monitored in the main channel of the St. Mary's river and three of its tidal tributaries. Isolates were subjected to ribotyping and sequencing to identify differences in the targeted gene. The fecal coliform counts were lower than the total counts at all sampling sites. These counts decreased as the sites moved closer to the mouth of the creek and river. There was positive correlation between temperature and coliform counts. Sequences determined for 5 isolates were mostly conserved but differences were seen between locations. The fecal coliforms entering a viable non-culturable state combined with the absence of animals due to hibernation explains the temperature dependence of coliform counts. The change of width and depth correlates with the decrease of organisms from head to mouth in the creeks. Finally, while few samples were sequenced, differences were seen, warranting further research of this technique for identification of sources of pollution. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2000-05 |
| Pinkerton, Hannah Elizabeth | International Languages and Cultures (Spanish) | Traditional Latin American medicine in a modern world | Traditional medicine plays an important role in the health of many Latino individuals and communities. These practices and beliefs build upon years of accumulated knowledge but are threatened by the influence of conventional medicine. My analysis demonstrates that the medical culture of some Latinos in the U.S. and some practitioners in Latin America is marginalized and stigmatized because of their use of complementary and alternative medicine. This marginalization is observed through the analysis of the categorization of illnesses and remedies, the evolution of the role of and perception of curanderos over time, arguments for and against alternative practices, medical studies, the lack of standard definitions, and the relationship between postmodern theory and perceptions within the community of conventional medicine. As a result, the use of complementary and alternative medicine is sometimes not reported to medical providers, which can cause severe problems for patients. This lack of communication is intensified by other barriers to medical care that Latin Americans face. Complementary and alternative medicine is slowly being accepted in mainstream culture but still faces many challenges to integration. However, a public more informed about these implications would promote better relations between patients and providers, between complementary or alternative and conventional medicine, and ultimately between cultures. | Bayers, Leslie | 2011-05 |
| Oakley, Miranda Negla | International Languages and Cultures (Spanish) | Translating information for Point Lookout State Park | When I started to think about doing a St. Mary’s Project in the beginning of my senior year I knew that I wanted to do something productive and worth while. If I was going to spend two semesters working on a project I wanted it to be something helpful or useful for myself or others. I wanted to do something that would benefit the community that I was in. With a major in Latin American Studies I knew that I needed get outside of my immediate community of St. Mary’s College. During my three years of living in St. Mary’s County I found the main application of my knowledge learned in Latin American Studies classes in the area was meeting and talking to Spanish speaking people. They come down here for their days off, for fun and recreation. At Point Lookout State Park I noticed that my friends and I were practically the only ones speaking English. My friend who worked for the park expressed frustrations with the lack of communication and complications resulting in the language barrier between the park and the many Latinos who spend time there. [first paragraphs] | Ballesteros, Jose R. | 2006-05 |
| Myers, Sara E. | Biology | Physiological and biochemical effects of tributyltin compounds on microalgae | Tributyltin (TBT) compounds are highly toxic biocides which are primarily employed in antifouling boat bottom paints. Prior to the restriction of TBT use by the EPA in 1988, these compounds were the most popular antifoulants available for use by the general public. One of the primary concerns of using these compounds in paint, however, is that they leach directly into the aquatic environment over time and that their high toxicity could cause negative impacts to aquatic organisms and trophic relationships in aquatic ecosystems. It is necessary to assess the toxic effects of TBT compounds on microalgae because they are a major source of food for higher trophic levels. In my previous studies, TBT compounds were found to be highly toxic to the marine diatom Thalassiosira weisflogii. Since these diatoms are at the base of the food chain, determination of the effects of TBT to physiological and biochemical functions is necessary to determine their availability as a viable food source for higher trophic levels. In this study, exponentially growing cultures of Thalassiosira weisflogii were exposed to concentrations of tributyltin oxide (TBTO) ranging from 20 to 60 ug/l. This study demonstrates that TBTO significantly reduces growth, chlorophyll a content, respiration, and photosynthesis in Thalassiosira weisflogii cultures. These results suggest that tributyltin could influence the success of phytoplankton populations in environmental conditions in addition to causing stress to other organisms through trophic transfer. | Tanner, Christopher E. | 1998-05 |
| Stephanos, John Thomas | Biology | St. Mary's project | What is a Tropical Marine Microcosm (TMM)? In simplest terms the word microcosm can be defined as “a miniature model of something” (Dictionary.com 2005). Ergo, if a microcosm is a scaled down replication of something larger, than a TMM could be said to be a miniature replica of the Tropical Marine Environment (TME). While this may sound simple at first, there is a distinct difference between a TMM and a simple salt water aquarium, in that while a salt water aquarium often has several species from the TME, aside from these species, a salt water aquarium system only has the bare minimum of necessary elements from the TME to keep said desired species alive (Aquarium Design 1999). A TMM on the other hand is not just a support system for a few species of the TME, rather it is a scaled down working model of the TME, including as many of the intricate symbiotic, parasitic, and mutualistic relationships of the natural environment as possible. Thus theoretically, if it was properly constructed, almost any given species (of the appropriate size) could be taken from the TME and be placed into a TMM without suffering any trauma (aside from being moved and losing its territory). [first paragraph] | Hatch, Walter I. | 2006-05 |
| Cassidy, Jaclyn | Anthropology/Sociology | Tale of two counties : ‘smart growth’ in Harford County and St. Mary’s County, Maryland | Smart growth emerged as a response to the unmanaged land use practices that led to “sprawl.” The goals of the smart growth movement have been preserving open space, revitalizing communities, balancing economic growth with environmental preservation, and enhancing overall quality of life. In 1997, Maryland’s Governor Parris Glendening implemented the Smart Growth and Neighborhood Conservation Act in order to advance the movement. With this landmark legislation, commonly referred to as ‘Smart Growth,’ Maryland became an example for other states to follow. The five initiatives of Smart Growth provided innovative and unique answers to sprawl. The Smart Growth Initiatives are the Smart Growth Areas Act, Rural Legacy Program, Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup and Revitalization Incentive Programs, Job Creation Tax Credit Act, and Live Near Your Work Program. The following paper examines two counties’ implementation of these programs. Harford County is located in the northern central portion of Maryland and is part of the Baltimore Metropolitan Region, and St. Mary’s County is located in the southern portion of Maryland, just outside the Washington, DC commutershed. Both counties have specified goals for land use management that correspond to the state’s goals for smart growth. Their goals accordingly influence how each county uses Smart Growth. With only six years past since Smart Growth passed, the counties are still examining how the initiatives can efficiently manage their growth. Finally, the paper identifies what programs the counties have used and which programs each intends to use in the future. | Hicks, Louis E. | 2003-05 |
| Chetelat, Ellie | Political Science | Growing Sustainable Cities: The Role of Public Policy in Urban Agriculture | This paper analyzes the potential for urban agriculture to solve some of the problems we face with our current food system. It suggests roles that public policy actors can play to promote the development of urban agriculture in the United States. We are witnessing rapid progress in the development of urban farming and public awareness, as environmentalists, business leaders, politicians, and ordinary citizens have realized the potential for social, economic, and environmental benefits. Policy actors at all levels—federal, state, and local— need to make changes in order to shape this trend and continue momentum. Efforts to promote agricultural activities in cities, however, often lack coordination, stalling the potential for progress. A policy framework should be developed to ensure the success of urban agriculture in city centers of all types, sizes, and locations, so that we may achieve a more equitable and sustainable food system. A case study of Baltimore demonstrates potential benefits that stem from a vibrant urban agriculture movement, as well as ways to get there—including specific policy changes. | Grogan, Susan E. | 2014-05 |
| Devlin, Molly E. | Anthropology | Urban development in the Gambia : perceptions and goals | This paper focuses on the perceptions of development in Banjul, the Gambia, a small city in one of the smallest countries in Africa. Over the course of five months, residents of the city were interviewed regarding their ideas and observations of development at work in the city. These ideas are compared with the Millennium Development Goals set out by the United Nations, which aim to reduce poverty worldwide by 2015. By looking at both, the Gambia may be able to take a better road on the path to urban development, and development as a whole in the country. | Ford, Iris C. | 2011-05 |
| Abbott, Jennifer Lynn | Interdisciplinary Studies | Quality of life of St. Mary's County residents : an evaluation of the effects of urbanization | Quality of life is a composite sense of satisfaction made up of economic, social and environmental concerns. The quality of life for residents of a given demographic area can be greatly effected by changes in the rural or urban aspects of that area. There are many theories that advocate that quality of life is an important determinant of economic success. However, without knowing the factors that increase or decrease the quality of life in a given community these theories are not helpful. Development officials should pursue locally defined amenity strategies and avoid relying on national rankings of quality of life as a measure of economic success (Blair, 1998). The majority of quality of life ranking are not particularly accurate and should not be the sole basis for economic development. Based on the history of urbanization and recent urbanization of St. Mary’s County, the current study used quantitative measures of objective archival data to measure the changes in quality of life in St. Mary’s County. There has been little, if any, previous quality of life measures for St. Mary’s County residents. The collection of archival data attempted to cover a ten-year time span between the years of 1989 and 1999. Analysis of the archival data shows that the total change in quality of life for St. Mary’s County residents in the last ten years has been a decrease by 39 percent based on the variable measures used. | Stabile, Donald R. | 1999-05 |
| Karnes, Andrew Neil | English | Keepers : seasons in the Rocky Mountains | This project is a personal account of working for The United States Park Service Trail Crew in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. For two summers, first as an intern, than as a WG-3 employee of the government, I witnessed and documented the best and worst scenarios the mountains could conjure. This piece is a heavily revised version of a journal, which I kept while working and living in Colorado. My writing deals with such issues as masculinity, scapegoats, competition, and callousness. This piece follows my transformation from a soft and naïve city boy, through to a hardened and emotionally void individual. I address my moral issues concerning the National Park Service as an agency of preservation as well as attempt to understand how the mountains were able to provoke such feelings and sentiments. I hope that my St. Mary’s Project will show an unseen side of the Park Service, as well as provide insight on the mountains effects on the human state. | O'Sullivan, Brian P. | 2007-05 |
| Iannone, Timothy Mark | Biology | Effects of chitosan | Chitosan (poly-B-1, 4-glucosamine) is the result of the deacetylation of chitin (Sanford 1989) and is a novel dietary supplement found in stores. It has been recently revealed as a multifaceted compound with many potential uses (Sandford 1989). Many of these uses are found in products used by people, from improving a person’s health (Koide 1998) to improving the efficiency of cosmetic products (Lang and Clausen 1989). One use of chitosan that is of special interest is its anti-microbial and preservative abilities, which has been tested on a variety of organisms within a number of media types (Sandford 1989). Some recent studies (Rhoades and Roller 2000; Tsai and Su 1999) have shown specifically that chitosan possesses some anti-microbial against E. coli. Specifically, these studies tested chitosan’s effects as a function of pH and found that a lower pH increases chitosan’s anti-bacterial effectiveness. The experiments performed in the study were done primarily to determine chitosan’s effects on E. coli O157:H7 within apple juice, which has a pH of about 3.45. What was found was that chitosan in apple cider reduces cell counts to undetectable measures at both 1% and 2% while the control continued to grow. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between either chitosan solutions in terms of cell count reduction. Two different chitosan brands, that had only chitosan as a common ingredient, were tested on E. coli O157:H7 in NB (pH 5.5). The brands used were GNC and Natrol. The results showed that there was no significant difference between either chitosan source, indicating that chitosan is the active ingredient. The data suggests that chitosan may hold value in preserving unpasteurized apple cider. | Byrd, Jeffrey J. | 2002-05 |
| Skarzynski, Martin Wlodzimierz | Biology | Photodynamic treatment as a method of sterilization and bacterial photoinactivation in the presence of Lumbriculus variegatus | Photodynamic treatment, the combination of light energy and chemical photosensitizers, has a proven bactericidal effect. I studied the effect of three types of photosensitizers, Eosin Y, Erythrosine B, and Rose Bengal, on two types of bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, in the presence of the freshwater oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegates. The goal of the study was to evaluate the viability of using photodynamic treatment to sterilize Lumbriculus variegates in its culture medium, Holtfreter’s solution. The results of my study indicate that any of the three photosensitizers can inhibit Staphylococcus epidermidis at concentrations that pose no risk to Lumbriculus variegates. However, Escherichia coli bacteria are much more resistant to photodynamic treatment than Staphylococcus epidermidis. Due to this greater resistance, the photoinactivation of E. coli requires photosensitizer concentrations that are too high to support Lumbriculus variegates. For this reason, it is not practical to use Eosin Y, Erythrosine B, or Rose Bengal to inhibit Escherichia coli growth in the culture medium of Lumbriculus variegates. | Williams, William E. | 2007-05 |
| Csernak, Brian James | Biology | Vegetation analysis of Chancellor’s Point, Historic St. Mary’s City | The process of succession within in a community is a progression of composition over a long period of time. Two scientists, F. Clements and H. Gleason, were the original men to identify succession, but it is still argued that if after many years, does succession find an end? Secondary succession is the growth of many species within an area that was formerly occupied. Secondary succession occurs in areas that burned by fire or like Chancellor’s Point, Historic St. Mary’s City, were clear cut. Sampling was taken from two different stands, young and old, that were located close together but differed from the amount of time the stands had been growing. The Relative Importance Values were calculated for each stand and compared together. The old stand contained a variety of different species but two species stood out over the rest, Sweetgum and Loblolly Pine. Loblolly Pine showed a greater importance within the overstory of the old stand, but Sweetgum had the greatest importance within the understory and midstory. The young stand was predominantly Sweetgum and had the largest importance in all three stories. I concluded that there was a difference between both stands shown by the importance values found, but in the next few decades the young stand will catch up to the old stand in composition. Though it seems that succession does not have a conclusive end; both the old and young stand will continue to change while becoming closer in appearance to one another. | Williams, William E. | 2009-05 |
| Nichols, Charles Joseph | Computer Science | Virtual tour of Historic St. Mary's City | My project was to model the town of Historic St. Mary's City during the time period of 1685. The goal was to create a virtual tour of the town using many different technologies. Working with the representatives from Historic and past team members I plan to create the city in its entirety. Modeling in Alias Wavefront Maya is no easy task to say the least. It is and always will be a pain to make walls/windows/door/frames line up exactly. This is most present in the early builds of the "generic" building for our historic database. To start modeling in Maya is not as easy as it might sound. The learning curve associated with this software is and always will be an uphill battle. To start out with making simple structures in Maya it is often a good idea to model something that actually exists. This is how the first couple of weeks of the project went, bringing in everyday items and developing to basic set of skills required to tackle a city wide project. After the initial shock, modeling in Maya went relatively smoothly. I believe that I actually modeled up to 5 buildings with the program. [from introduction] | Sterling, Ivan | 2004-05 |
| Davis, Joshua M. | Economics | Virtual tour of St. Mary’s College of Maryland | After two years of debating whether I would major in Computer Science or Economics, I decided to combine both of these disciplines and create my own major called Web Entrepreneurship. I felt this would focus my studies on the business tools used and exploited from the web. I wanted to learn about the new business models created from the instantaneous access to information. Another strong focus area I studied was the promotional and marketing possibilities created from the Internet. My next step was to develop an idea for a St. Mary’s Project. I wanted to develop a project that would use new and exciting technologies to promote the beauty, diversity and overall presence of St. Mary’s College. I noticed on the web that real estate companies and some museums started using a technology called QTVR to give walk through tours of houses and exhibits. It looked like an excellent way to market certain types of products. After viewing those and then looking at St. Mary’s College Website I decided a QTVR or virtual tour of the college campus is exactly what I wanted to do. So I consulted some professionals about what exactly I would need to do and proceeded to collect the necessary media to start the project. As I was in the process of developing it I noticed that other colleges, mainly Ivy League schools started presenting virtual tours on their websites. Much of them looked very crude but they were all linked to admission’s web pages. In the end my goal for my St. Mary’s Project was to create a tool the college could use to market and draw attention to the campus through via the web and through CDs that the college could send out to prospective students. | Stabile, Donald R. | 2000-12 |
| Middleton, Kelly McLain | Political Science | Analysis of the impacts of the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998 on farmers in the Wicomico River watershed : a survey | In the closing hours of the last day of the 1998 Legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly (state senators and delegates) from all over Maryland debated whether the Water Quality Improvement Act would hurt or help farmers. In the Senate, the measure was finally passed after much debate on the floor by a vote of thirty-nine in favor to eight opposed. A microorganism called Pfiesteria piscicida found throughout Maryland waters in the summer of 1997, prompted Governor Glendening to pursue the legislation. It was found that Pfiesteria, which kills fish by releasing a toxin, might have arisen from the nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the waters. After soil and water tests were completed, scientists believed the majority of the high concentration of nutrients resulted from farm runoff …. My survey was for farmers in the Charles County portion of the Wicomico River Watershed …. My survey results provide additional information for nutrient consultants helping farmers to meet these new requirements. | Smith, Nancy P. | 1999-05 |
| Thompson, Stephanie Ann | Biology | Water quality and foraging behavior in wintering common loons (Gavia immer) | Foraging behavior in piscivorous water birds might be affected by a variety of factors, including water depth, prey density, tidal stage, and water clarity. Several studies have investigated foraging behavior in the common loon (Gavia immer) during its summer breeding season, which suggest that loons take water quality into account in their foraging decisions. No previous research, however, has examined the effects of water quality on loon behavior during the winter, which it spends in estuarine and marine environments. In this study, the effects of water quality and tidal stage on loon foraging behavior at seven sites along the St. Mary’s and Potomac Rivers were investigated. At each site, total number of loons observed and dive durations of individuals were measured from mid-November 2004 through February 2005, and were related to tidal stage, Secchi depth, and turbidity measurements collected by the St. Mary’s River Project from November 1999 through February 2005. Longer dive durations correlated strongly with increased Secchi depth and correlated weakly with decreased turbidity, both of which indicate high water clarity. Dive durations were also significantly longer during low tide. This direct relationship between diving behavior and water clarity may reflect the ability of loons to spot and pursue prey deeper and from a greater distance in the water column. Because water quality can be greatly affected by anthropogenic activity, this study may suggest effects of human activity on common loon winter foraging behavior. | Price, J. Jordan | 2005-05 |
| Kirchner, Theodore Robb | Economics | Is Salt Water the Way of the Future?: An Examination Of Dual Pipe Water Systems | Water, while being biologically essential, is also vital to the operation of the modern industrial world. As population continues to grow around the World, increasing strain is being placed on many nations’ potable water supplies and infrastructure. To ensure a potable water supply for the future, the per-capita quantity of water demanded needs to be reduced. Many agree that an economic approach to water pricing can have an effect on reducing the amount of water consumed. But to-date meaningful price increases for residential water have been politically non-viable. Alternatively, we could dramatically reduce the quantity of potable water required by eliminating the wasteful use of potable water for toilet flushing. Using numerous technological innovations, we can use salt water, a nearly endless resource, to flush our toilets. By employing a dual supply water system, such as this, potable water consumption would fall. This study develops an analytical framework to identify the most suitable candidate cities to employ a dual water supply system. The methodology employed draws heavily on GIS analysis. A new index, the Kirchner Index, was developed to rank cities based on suitability. Variables in the Kirchner Index include a city’s proximity to the coastline, population density, and water scarcity. A cost estimate is provided for the most probable cities. This study is the first step in bringing a dual pipe water system to the United States with the aim of preserving our precious water resources. | Henderson, Amy B. | 2013-05 |
| Decker, Douglas E. | Biology | Relationship between water quality and waterbird community integrity on the St. Mary’s River | The types of species inhabiting a specific community can often be used to discern the stability of environmental conditions affecting those species. This is certainly true in estuarine environments, where agriculture and urbanization create conditions which affect the habitation patterns of local bird populations. I set out to determine whether temporal and spatial differences in water quality conditions within the St. Mary’s River sub-estuary in Maryland affect the communities of water bird species there. I calculated an Index of Waterbird Community Integrity (IWCI), which takes a guild- based approach that grades bird species on a generalist to specialist scale, at each of 9 different locations on the St. Mary’s River based on waterbird surveys taken over a 10 week period. These scores were then compared to water quality data obtained during each survey and from the St. Mary’s River Project (SMRP), an ongoing project which has been characterizing the conditions of the St. Mary’s River for the past 9 years. IWCI was effective in reflecting the composition of waterbird communities, though differences in IWCI among study sites did not correlate to variation in water quality. A variation of the IWCI, taking only diving waterbirds into account, showed correlation to water clarity and increased community integrity of diving species. | Price, J. Jordan | 2008-05 |
| Schmidt, Kate | Biology | Critical evaluation of two artificially established estuarine wetlands : are they comparable to natural sites? | Wetland construction is a common mitigation procedure used to balance wetland losses in the United States. Wetland construction is also a relatively new science and constructed sites may not be comparable to lost natural wetlands. In September through October of 1997, I conducted ecological analyses on two Spartina dominated constructed wetlands that had been established for four and ten years respectively. I compared the above-ground, belowground and infauna productivity of the two sites to each other and to literature values of natural wetlands. I found that there was little difference between the two experimental sites indicating that by four years of age productivity of a constructed wetland could stabilize. When I compared the two experimental sites to a range of natural wetland above- and below-ground productivity values and infauna diversity values I found my sites fell below the lower end of all estimated values. There is also a significant change in the geologic and hydrologic structure of the younger wetland compared to the original designed structure. This altered the configuration of the vegetation zones which may account for the lower productivity. The experimental sites demonstrate the difficulties involved in labeling a mitigation site as “successful”. Compared to natural wetlands both sites fail in terms of biological productivity. But the designed mitigation goal is to prevent shoreline erosion so federal guidelines would label them successful. The conflicting assessments of “successful” constructed wetlands are a result of federal regulations as well as societal and economic influences, components further explored in the Addendum. | Williams, William E. | 1998-05 |
| Shatto, Scott Napier | Biology | Effect of Microbial Growth on the Nutrient levels in the St. Mary's River Using a Floating Treatment Wetland Technique | In order to address a growing problem of water pollution around the globe, many eco-friendly solutions are being presented. One of these is the artificial floating treatment wetland, which is growing in popularity as a specific alternative for polishing wastewater. Floating treatment wetlands (FTW), similar to constructed wetlands, employ a plant-based ecosystem, coupled with microbial activity to reduce heavy concentrations of nutrients in a water body. FTWs have been studied and proven effective in such settings as coastal marshes, lagoons, lakes, storm water, and wastewater treatment ponds. However, their potential application in estuaries has not been investigated. This study identifies the effectiveness of only microbial activity to reduce nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate concentrations when grown on an artificial floating treatment wetland. This study also analyzes the effectiveness of this microbial activity in an estuary system, the St. Mary’s River. To that end, microbial growth was accumulated on FTW matrix materials and then placed in containers holding St. Mary’s River water with high concentrations of nitrate, ammonia, or phosphate. Nutrient concentrations were measured every two days for a14-day study. Results indicate the microbial growth is effective at removing excess nutrients from an estuary system, recording 87% percent removal of nitrate, 86% removal of ammonia, and 12% removal of phosphate over a two-week period. This study suggests that floating treatment wetlands have potential for sewage treatment and basic nutrient upkeep in estuary systems and confirms the effectiveness of FTWs application to polish wastewater after it is discharged from sewage treatment plants. | Paul, Robert W. | 2013-05 |
| Gleason, Emily L. | Biology | Investigation of longtail (Phaethon lepturus catesbyi) nesting and breeding success at Ferry Reach and Trunk Island, Bermuda | In Bermuda, the white-tail tropic bird (Phaethon lepturus catesbyi), or the longtail, has long been seen as the harbinger of spring. A pelagic seabird that arrives in mid-March, lays an egg in April, and produces a chick that fledges in late July to mid-August, the longtail was believed to be a populous species. Now however, the longtail appears to be declining in numbers. One indicator of this is believed to be the decline in breeding success rate …. Studies investigating the impact of nest-site competition between species have found that nest-site competition can lead to the loss of habitat and nests for a species, causing severe harm by lowering breeding success which can lead to a loss in population (Garnett et al, 1999; Honza et al., 1999). In this study I hypothesized that Trunk Island, a longtail nesting area with a large pigeon population, would have a lowered breeding success rate than Ferry Reach, a nesting area without a pigeon population …. At the end of the study, the breeding success rates, defined as the number of successfully fledged chicks divided by the number of nest sites studied, were determined for Ferry Reach and Trunk Island …. As the only real difference between the sites in relation to contributors of breeding failure is the presence of pigeons, this suggests that the hypothesis that pigeons do have a negative affect on the breeding success rate of longtails in Bermuda. | Hatch, Walter I. | 2002-05 |
| Cole, Alexander B. | Economics | Factors Leading to the Decline of Foreign Market Share in China’s Wind Energy Sector | China’s wind energy industry has undergone a drastic market share reversal. The supply of wind turbines installed in China from foreign companies has plummeted from over 90% in 2001 to approximately 10% in 2011. This transition has been caused by two main factors: energy policy reform and increased technological capacity of domestic wind turbine manufacturers. | Ye, Michael M. | 2013-05 |
| Panks, David R. | Physics | Windy city : a look at small scale wind power | Small scale wind turbines are used to either directly power rural, off-grid homes, or to charge battery systems. The factors determining a wind turbine's power output are the overall efficiency, the cross sectional area swept out by the blades, the density of the air, and the incoming wind speed. The maximum efficiency of any wind turbine has been proven to be 16/27 or 59\%. In order to determine the efficiency of a wind turbine, the power measured from the voltage and current produced in conjunction with the wind speed will suffice. How worthwhile the installation of a wind turbine is depends on location. If the average wind speed is too low or if there are too many obstructions nearby then installing a turbine would be inefficient. | Adler, Charles L. | 2010-12 |
| Roman, Diana Marie | Biology | Effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics on auditory sensory epithelia in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) | Recently, in vivo assays involving the lateral line of the zebrafish have been successfully developed for drug ototoxicity testing. To-date however, the effects of human ototoxins on the auditory system of this species have not been elucidated. In this study, adult zebrafish were injected with aminoglycoside antibiotics and auditory hair cell densities were quantified using conventional fluorescence microscopy after phalloidin application. Three days after gentamicin (120 mg kg-1) injection, significant reductions in ciliary bundle densities were observed in one site along the rostro-caudal axis of saccular epithelia. The site that had a significant reduction in ciliary hair cell bundles was site A, which was the first site on the rostral end of the saccular epithelia. For lagenar epithelia, the ventral population of striolar cells was not significantly ablated after neomycin (120 mg kg-1) treatment. Also for lagenar epithelia, the population of extrastriolar cells was not significantly ablated after neomycin (120 mg kg-1) treatment. Mainly, this data supports the use of the zebrafish auditory system alongside the lateral line system for assessing ototoxicity in newly-developed and approved pharmaceutical agents. | Ramcharitar, John U. | 2012-05 |
| Manrodt, Peter Matthew | Philosophy | Zen of farming | [no abstract] | Park, Bradley D. | 2010-05 |