Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) represents a culturally, ecologically, and economically important species that is threatened due to impacts from drought, fire exclusion, and beetle-disease complexes. One of the main defensive strategies of sugar pine to bark beetles and pathogens is the production of resin ducts structures, which secrete oleoresin compounds. In this study we look to analyze resin flow and growth traits, assessed as basal area increment (mm2), of older, larger (> 200 years) sugar pine to determine whether there are relationships between tree growth characteristics and oleoresin flow.

The Effectiveness of Different Teaching Methods in Physical Education. This will be the topic I’ll be addressing. I will also be printing my own poster for the day for idea feast.

This paper critically examines the exclusion of Indigenous women and early women scientists from the field of mycology. It highlights how their ecological, medicinal, and ceremonial knowledge was appropriated by men who received institutional credit, authorship, and economic gain. Case studies include María Sabina, Mary Elizabeth Banning, Mapuche women, and more, whose work has been essential yet erased. It also critiques how contemporary myco-capitalism and tourism commodify their knowledge and cultural practices without consent, often disrupting local economies and ecosystems. The paper calls for accountability in attribution, citation, representation, and benefit-sharing.

Using social media to conduct human ethological research, this study seeks to replicate previous findings that online shoplifting displays are motivated by reproductive strategies to increase mate value. It involves the analysis of 150 Tumblr posts showcasing stolen items, which together feature 1,744 identifiable items. Items with the intended use of improving attraction by enhancing physical appearance, scent, or sexual allure include: personal care items, makeup, cosmetic applicators, and jewelry were categorized as mating relevant. The results of this study replicate previous work by showing a significant difference between mating relevant and non-mating relevant items.

The Ma-le'l coastal dunes of northern California have been affected by the invasion of dense European beachgrass. In response, USFWS and BLM have removed beachgrass in an attempt to restore native ecosystem function. Mesocarnivores play vital roles in trophic webs, and previous research has suggested that they are more active in restored dunes than in areas with dense beachgrass. However, distance to nearby coastal dune forests could affect mesocarnivore activity and may have confounded previous work. We conducted an observational study using remote cameras and found the detection rate mesocarnivores declined with distance to forest.

It is ironic that scientific depictions of our hominin ancestors often overlook female representation, despite reproductive success being a major cornerstone of evolutionary theory. The story of evolution is instead told from male-centered, eurocentric perspectives, as in Rudolph Zallinger’s March of Progress (1965). My research employs a feminist critique on such popular models of human evolution in the form of an illustrated depiction of female hominid ancestors based on data from paleontological records and literature review. This research creates a balanced view of our evolutionary history, and encourages appropriate dialogue towards better understanding the evolution of humanity.

Purpose: To look at how trauma is passed down through Indigenous peoples’ generations and cross examine how they really still dealing with problems from colonization. Problem: Many indigenous people are experiencing the same oppression from settler colonialism. It is affecting the youth in their level of self esteem resulting in low grades or not making it to college. Literature review: Native American DNA by Kim TallBear is a book about how Native American DNA hold generational trauma, how it got to be there and why it is still persisting today. Another source is Dr. Evan Adams’ book “Indigenous people” issue of Visions, he talks about the ways of healing using resilience.

Community preparedness for extreme geophysical events (floods, wildfires, etc.) is essential, especially since such events are projected to increase in terms of frequency and intensity due to climate change. For my spring 2018 capstone project I have partnered with the Red Cross to engage with their local preparedness programs. Our collaboration has allowed me to apply my GIS skills and participate in mapping their supply trailers and shelter locations, which I will overlay with additional data such as flood zones, wildfire prone areas, etc. The maps I will complete throughout the semester will provide insight regarding possible emergency scenarios and contribute to their effective planning.

Heavy metal contamination of soils and waterways due to industrial processes continues to be a problem in the United States. Recent reports indicate that microbial surface layers (S-layers) can bind and sequester heavy metals, thereby removing them from the environment. Our approach is to enhance this process for lead bioremediation. Through this study, C. vibrioides strains were morphologically characterized through transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and recombinant surface layer export was genetically verified. Using a fluorescence-based assay, we show that our engineered strains were 10% more effective in bioremediating lead than the wildtype in nanomolar concentrations.

Student in REC 435 Sustainable Tourism teamed up to write a textbook about Sustainable Tourism. In their efforts, students brainstormed a list of potential topics, clustered finalized topics around main categories, agreed on an overall format for the textbook and required elements for each chapter, researched their individual topics and completed multiple chapter drafts. The completed textbook will be published through Creative Commons and used as a resources in future tourism classes offered through the Recreation Administration program.