Baker Cypress Seed Viability in Relation to Cone Age

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Hesperocyparis bakeri, better known as Baker cypress, is a serotinous species which suffers from low seed viability. Previous research has shown that Baker cypress seed viability begins to decline with cone age and thus the low overall viability of Baker cypress cones is not unexpected (Milich et al., 2012). However, little is known about the cone age at which seed viability begins to decrease. We investigated seed viability in relation to cone age by sampling twenty branches from five Baker cypress trees located in Burney, Shasta County in north-eastern California. Seeds were scarified and placed in a 1% tetrazolium red solution for 18 hours, cut longitudinally to determine viability.

Balance and Wellness in First Responder Agencies

College of Professional Studies

This project fulfills the requirements for the Masters degree in Social Work. The design of the project is informed by a relational worldview, specifically the work of Terry Cross who suggests that a circular experience of the world intersects with more linear representations of reality. It is at the places of intersection that opportunities for dialogue occur and the intent of the project is to make the experiences of first responders visible to those who do not have access to this knowledge and experience. The creative work is the construction of an empathic bridge between the community and first responders through poetry in honor of the belief that we are all connected.

Balance, Mobility, and Fall Risk in Indigenous Rural-Dwelling Older Adults and Urban Dwelling Older Adults in Humboldt and Del Norte County

College of Professional Studies

By 2030, 20% of the U.S. population will be over the age of 65. Among this age group, falls are the leading cause of injuries, hospitalizations, and fatalities in the United States. Within California, rural community dwelling communities have higher rates of falls than urban. Indigenous populations fall more than the national average (34-40.3% vs. 30%), suggesting the rates of falls, and thus physiological declines, may be greatest among Indigenous rural community-dwelling populations. The purpose of this study is to examine intrinsic, extrinsic, and the incidence of falls among rural dwelling Indigenous older adults and urban dwelling older adults in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

Barn owl nest box selection on a pistachio farm in the Central Valley

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Overabundant populations of rodents in agricultural areas cost California farmers 5.3% to 8.8% in profits annually. Installing nest boxes to encourage the presence of rodent predators such as barn owls (Tyto alba) is a form of biocontrol that has the potential to limit rodent activity in agricultural settings. Previous works identified the spatial scales of nest box selection on vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties which are rather heterogenous agricultural landscapes. Determining at which spatial scale barn owls select nest boxes in the Central Valley can inform how nest boxes should be constructed and where they are best placed to encourage occupancy in homogenous agricultural landscapes.

Barriers to LGBTQ+ Transition Age Youth in Humboldt County

College of Professional Studies

My community partner is the Humboldt County Transition Age Youth Collaboration (HCTAYC). The project is a preliminary research project that looks at the barriers in systems serving the LGBTQ+ transition age youth (16-26) population in Humboldt County. The outcomes from the research are the base for policy recommendations that will be used at HCTAYC. The results from the research done will address the specific question: “How are systems serving the LGBTQ+ transition age youth community in Humboldt County?”

Basque Cultural Exploration

ADAM IBARRA, Psychology Undergraduate Student

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This project is a Cultural Exploration that I completed in 2024 as part of my Cultural Psychology class at the University of Alaska -Fairbanks. I wanted to immerse myself in Basque Culture as I am a Basque Diaspora born in the U.S. but have grown up largely disconnected from Basque Culture. I attended Palm Sunday at the Notre Dame Des Victoires in San Francisco, CA participating in the events preceding Easter. I also visited the Basque Cultural Center on Palm Sunday and interviewed Alain Camou the manager at the restaurant in the Cultural Center about Basque Culture. I hope that presenting this work at the Ideafest will help to share Basque Culture with others and help further this research.

Bat Activity within Urban and Rural Landscape in Arcata, CA

Gonzalo Ayala, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Bats are found in urban and natural habitats, although their presence and behavior may differ depending on the environment. Bats can also be affected by various anthropogenic factors such as land conversion, and displacing their establishment. I determine the activity of 3 bat species: California myotis, silver-haired bat, and Mexican free-tailed bat, within urban and natural landscapes found throughout Arcata, CA. Urban landscapes were determined by the presence of buildings in every cardinal direction. This research approach can help determine how bats use valuable habitats which can be incorporated into urban planning.

Bayside Corners

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Bayside Corners is a Nonprofit Organization which seeks to help foster community building in the community of Bayside.

Beau Pre Golf Club presents: College Night

Brenden Barry, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

The event was referred to as College Night or College Golf Night, but all the flyers said Beau Pre Golf Club presents: College Night. The goal for the event was to get students out recreating at a local recreation facility and to introduce my fellow students to the great game of golf in the cheapest way possible, FREE!

Bee abundance and composition in native vs non-native urban gardens

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

I studied the abundance of non-native European honey bees, and native bumble bees and others in gardens with mostly non-native plants and those with all native plants. The non-native European honey bee may be better suited to take advantage of urban, non-native gardens than native bee species due to anthropogenic support and domestication. Thus, I made the hypotheses that native bees will be more abundant in in native gardens, and that European honey bees will be more abundant in the non-native gardens. I also predicted that European honey bee abundance would be constant over the study period due to more urban resources from ornamental flowering plants.