Duff accumulation around legacy sugar pines in the Russian Wilderness in northwest California

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Fire suppression over the 20th century has created dangerous conditions in many western forests. Removing fire as a natural disturbance has brought about increased fuel loading and extreme fire behavior in many areas. This study researched the accumulation of duff mounds (decomposed plant material) around legacy sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) in the Russian Wilderness Area of the Klamath National Forest. Large amounts of fuel beneath trees poses the potential risk of tree mortality, even in a low intensity fire By assessing the dimensions, volume, distribution and physical properties of duff mounds, we can better the variability of how and where duff mounds accumulate.

Dunsmuir

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Dunsmuir is a small town. A film project.

Dymaxion Projection

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

An exploration of various spatial phenomena using the Dymaxion Projection (aka Fuller Projection).

Early Cretaceous Cupressaceae in the Budden Canyon Formation of northern California

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The Early Cretaceous Budden Canyon Formation of North America contains a few anatomically preserved plant fossils ca. 125 Ma old (Barremian-early Aptian). Recent investigations of the Budden Canyon Formation have revealed a preserved seed cone assignable to the Cupressaceae. Based on serial sections and a 3-D reconstruction, the fossil cone was compared with living Cupressaceae and revealed significant differences from most genera and closest similarity, but not identity, with Sequoia. The age and morphology of the cone also suggests that it may represent an extinct member of the sequoioid, a lineage which gave rise to modern redwoods (Sequoia) and giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron).

Early Intervention for Young Children in Improving Future Outcomes

College of Professional Studies

The project is based on a review study being done to understand different types of early interventions (0-8 years) that are available to help young children and their families in improving the future outcomes of the children. In this paper, I define early intervention, present different areas and formats, list various programs available in the Humboldt County, and make recommendations for parents and professionals who work with them.

Eat to Live: An analysis on Human Adaptation to Our Own Actions

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Food is a fundamental life struggle, and just like any other species, humans have developed ways to meet our nutritional needs. Using scholarly peer reviewed texts, I investigated if there was any change to our nutritional needs as we have genetically modified the corn plant. Trends in the data analysed suggest that while the nutritional needs of humans hasn’t changed, the amounts in which we consume certain foods has profound effects on the human body. In the case of corn, too much sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup gives us an stored energy with out any extra nutrients. If we then do not burn off this stored energy it will accumulate and cause health problems.

Ecocentrism vs. Individualism

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Congress okays reducing sea lion populations to help out Chinook Salmon. Salmon are a cultural importance to Indigenous populations and play a key role in the ecosystems it lives in. The idea of killing a natural predator to save another that is used in many ways. The declining salmon populations are being affected by many different pressures and many others are being affected by it such as killer whales.

Ecological Interactions in Indigenous-Managed Landscapes: Avian and Arthropod Predation on Artificial Caterpillars

Jaime Lara, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Indigenous knowledge systems have long supported biodiversity and ecosystem health. As environmental challenges grow, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is recognized in restorative land management. Colonial expansion has altered habitats, pushing wildlife into agroecosystems. Indigenous-managed spaces, such as cultural gardens and restoration areas, offer critical habitat and influence ecological interactions like predation. This study explores avian and arthropod predation in these areas at United Indian Health Services Potawot Village and Blue Lake Rancheria, California, using simulated prey to assess predator-prey dynamics and ecological functions.

EcoNews

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

The presentation of my research will document the process by which EcoNews, the bimonthly environmental publication produced by the Northcoast Environmental Center in Arcata, California, comes to fruition. I have gained experience in this topic through my internship with the Northcoast Environmental Center, where I help to produce EcoNews. Additionally, I will present on the history behind EcoNews, as it has been in operation since 1971 and is one of the longest-running bioregional publications in the nation.

Edge Effects on Salamander Morphology in the Arcata Community Forest

Blake Knapp, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project examines how edge effects influence the weight and snout-to-vent length (SVL) salamanders (Order Caudata) in the Arcata Community Forest. Effects, caused by habitat fragmentation, can alter environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and soil composition, potentially affecting salamander physiology and well-being. The study aims to investigate whether salamanders living near forest edges exhibit different morphological characteristics compared to those in interior habitats. If salamanders in the Arcata Community Forest are impacted by edge effects, then there will be a significant correlation between snout to vent lengths (SVL) and weight and distance from the edge.