Creativity and Wellness at Winship Middle School

MelissaMack Barker, College Corp Undergraduate Student

Other

My creative project at Winship was collaborating with the Wellness Center staff to create groups for students. One group is meditative in nature, playing some soothing live instruments for students while they relax and take notes on how the instruments affect them. I also teach them about the instruments and about sound in general. In the other group, students create characters and shape a world in which they go on a quest together. This allows them freedom of expression while building community.

Culvert and Bridge Features Influencing Mammal Crossing Frequency on California U.S. Route 101

Patricia Garrett, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

An analysis of the biotic and abiotic factors that influence mammal crossing rates through culverts and bridges on a Northern segment of California U.S. Route 101. This study analyzes mammal crossing rates in relation to structure openness, and proximate vegetation density across forty-six remote camera sites.

Curating an Art Gallery “For The Sake of Leisure”

Mila Turner-Morgan, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

I was interested in exploring the connection between art and leisure. To explore this topic, I showcased the work of many students from a variety of majors in an art exhibition in the Student Access Gallery. I designed the space with the artwork, and the Student Access Gallery coordinators installed the artwork. The gallery was open to the public for 2 weeks.

Diversity in Geoscience: Impact of Project-based Curriculum

Vermilion Walls, Geology Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

An analysis of survey data collected from students in introductory college geoscience courses with heavily project-based curriculum. Pre and post surveys were taken to determine changes in student outlook on altruistic and environmentalist attitudes towards geology content and careers and how this change is different among demographics, which potentially can be used to promote higher racial and gender diversity in the field of geoscience.

Do Shorebirds Exhibit Mixed-Species Flocking Preferences?

Mason Levy, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study analyzed flocking behavior of shorebirds present at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, examining if any two (or more) species significantly selected to flock with each other over other species, and what may have led to such a flocking preference (similarities in size, foraging behavior, etc.).

Does Having Siblings Affect The Recognition of Children's Emotional Displays?

Jasper Toledo, Psychology Undergraduate Student

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This research study looks into whether participants with siblings are able to understand the emotional display in images of children more so than participants without siblings. We hypothesized that participants with younger siblings will have a greater likelihood to notice emotional responses in children due to alloparental caregiving behavior. Sixty images of children expressing six emotional displays were shown to participants. Overall, there was no difference in emotional recognition accuracy between participant groups. Specific emotional displays were recognized more than others for all groups, with the most recognized emotional display being happiness.

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.

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.

Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Waterfowl at the Arcata Marsh

Joseph Meihak, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

A study was undertaken at the Arcata Marsh to determine how various anthropogenic disturbances affected waterfowl within ponds that have publicly accessible trails surrounding them. The disturbance types observed included walkers, walkers with dogs, bikers, and runners. A bird would be considered disturbed if it stopped its previous behavior to move away from a disturbance or become vigilant and observe the disturbance. The distance between the disturbance and the bird was then recorded to determine if a certain type of disturbance caused a disruption of behavior at further or closer distances. The type of waterfowl was recorded to determine if there was any difference in species or niche.

Effects of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation on Pulmonary Function and Quality of Life in Individuals with Chronic Asthma

Daisy Matias-Gutierrez, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

exploring several studies that have looked at the pulmonary function and quality of life effects of a variety of exercises for individuals with chronic asthma.