Factors Influencing Extended Periods of Inactivity in Barred Owls

Emily Mora, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study aimed to understand the factors influencing extended periods of inactivity in barred owls. We analyzed environmental factors, such as temperature and seasonal variations, along with individual characteristics like sex, to better understand their activity patterns. The findings could aid in developing more effective management strategies for barred owls through targeted removal programs, ultimately improving conservation efforts for the threatened northern spotted owl.

Factors Influencing River Otter Diel Activity in Areas of Varying Human Activity

Marley Vulker, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This research investigates the factors influencing river otter (Lontra canadensis) diel activity along two contrasting study sites. Using camera traps from summer to fall 2023, I compare otter activity in two locations: the Eel River Estuary Reserve, an area of low human activity, and the Arcata Marsh, an area of high human activity. I explore whether otters exhibit different activity patterns depending on tidal phase and lunar phase. By comparing otter behavior in these contrasting environments, this study aims to understand how human activity and environmental conditions shape otter behavior, overall contributing to more effective conservation and habitat management strategies.

Fantastic Fiber Production at Brunner Family Farm

Malcolm Ridings, College Corp Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project showcases Brunner Family Farm and the fantastic fiber production we do there. Discover the process of yarn production with our friendly Angora goats. We are able to shear, spin, and dye our yarn all within 200 miles.

Fast Fashion

Laquita Agwiak, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Our creative project from our Wildlife 309 class: Case Studies in Environmental Ethics, focuses on the ethics of the fashion industry. With our outfits made from trash or found objects along with our posters, we are bringing waste to the forefront to expose the fashion industries façade. Even though the fashion industry is highly valuable and earns high revenues, it comes at a devastating cost to the environment as this industry is one of the top 7 polluters globally.

Feasibility of Pressure Retarded Osmosis

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) is a renewable energy technology which captures energy from the osmotic pressure of salinity gradients across membranes. This poster presents a feasibility study of PRO at the Samoa Pulp Mill site by employing a pseudo-2-dimensional model to approximate the pressure drops and the salt and water fluxes across a spiral-wound membrane module. The net energy of the system accounts for parasitic loads including pretreatment, conveyance turbine and generator efficiency, and friction losses in the pipe networks. Technical and economic feasibility are evaluated in the project. The conclusions are that PRO is barely technically feasible and not economically feasible.

Features of the Coastal Atmospheric Marine Boundary Layer

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The marine boundary layer is a semi-annual atmospheric feature occuring along the Humboldt coastline. Fourteen years worth of weather balloon data provided by the NOAA atmospheric observatory in Trinidad, CA have been used to characterize seasonal and spatial patterns of the boundary layer. Preliminary results show that the boundary layer is highly dynamic and occurs in high frequency. It is most common in summertime as a result of warm inland temperatures and strong coastal upwelling. Seasonally, the boundary layer changes height, rising to 1500m in winter and lowering to 900m in summer. A five year time series provides evidence that the California drought may reduce the layer's frequency.

Finding Nemo: Where Are The Fish Going?

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Rising ocean temperatures will have a huge impact on life in the ocean, and on the communities that have an economic dependence on the fishing industry. It is important to understand the ocean’s changing environment and the serious repercussions these changes will bring to humanity, in order to prepare for the future. To help plan for this future, we have created a mathematical model that predicts where herring and mackerel, two types of fish located around Scotland, will relocate to over the next 50 years, and the impact these relocations will have on small Scottish fishing companies.

FISH 480: Challenges that Women Scientists Encounter Conducting Fieldwork-Based Research

Cynthia Le Doux-Bloom, Fisheries Biology Faculty

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Despite closing the gender gap for women scientists in some STEM careers, field-based research remains heavily dominated by men. We investigated if women scientists encounter challenges while conducting fieldwork that our male colleagues do not. Results indicated challenges exist around parity, recruitment, retention, and workplace dynamics.

Fish Stock Assessment and it's Affects Due to Global Warming

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Built a mathematical model to perform prediction analysis of the fish stock assessment located in Scotland and the affects of rising temperature in Atlantic Ocean.

Fluidity of Fragility: Modeling the Effect of Climate Change on State Fragility

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Summary of a mathematical modeling contest submission investigating the impact that climate change bears upon state fragility index, as defined by the Fund for Peace. Parameters used in this model include total annual precipitation and percentage of water made available to rural populations over a span of 24 years. From our model, we find that states that are fragile and vulnerable will be affected by climate change.