Browsing Senior Theses by Title
Now showing items 83-102 of 125
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Identifying Differences in Illinois Dry Prairies by Examining Soil Factors and their Effects on Plant Species Composition
(2013-09-11)Illinois is home to a wide array of prairie remnants that have been preserved from the period of westward expansion. Of these, dry prairies are known to be among the most species rich. Within the class of dry prairies there ... -
The Impact of an Alternative Deicing Product on Urban Storm Basin Salinity
(2011-12-12)Adverse winter driving conditions have been mitigated by the implementation of deicing salt applications to road surfaces for over 70 years. The effects that deicers, specifically sodium chloride, have on the environment ... -
Impacts of Fraxinus Population Dynamics and Forest Tree Species Composition on the Distribution of Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis
(2013-09-11)The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive beetle responsible for killing millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) across North America. With a host species that spans much of the Eastern United States and no ... -
Importance of Economics, Conservation Laws, and Law Enforcement Concerning Deforestation of the Costa Rican Tropical Rainforest
(2015-05)The rainforest is a necessary natural resource. There are several plant and animal species we have not yet discovered that may live there, but we may never discover them if the rainforest continues to disappear; which ... -
Insect Pest Communities in Potential Biofuel Grasses of Upper Midwest USA
(2011-04-20)With the increasing concern about the use of fossil fuels, cellulosic biofuel crops are gaining additional attention. Two of these potential bioenergy crops are switchgrass and miscanthus, and the majority of research ... -
Invasion Factors in Northern Wisconsin Lakes
(2013-09-11)Lake ecosystems are valuable as a source of human resources by providing recreation and food. Because of the heavy use of lakes by humans, these lakes are also susceptible to invasive species. Understanding the success of ... -
Invasive Plant Species Interactions
(2020-05)Biodiversity around the world has been declining,and one of the major contributors of its decline are invasive species. Invasive species can rapidly spread, and have disproportionate effects on ... -
Is Synthetic Turf Really “Greener”? A Lifecycle Analysis of Sports Fields Across the United States
(2016-05)Replacing natural grass fields with synthetic turf is a trend sweeping the nation. Synthetic field installation is associated with reduced annual maintenance cost, elimination of watering, mowing, fertilizer, and tripling ... -
Lead Contamination in Soils Near Mines in Southeastern Missouri
(2017)Lead mining is very important in today’s society, and is used for a lot of everyday products. The most common products are batteries, cable covering, ammunition, and shielding radiation. Over the years, lead mining has ... -
Lyme Disease: Habitat Fragmentation and the Abundance of White-tailed Deer
(2017-05)Lyme disease is a prevalent vector disease that can be found in much of the United States. The tick that carries it, the blacklegged tick, is found in the Eastern part of the United States. This study will look at six ... -
Managing Grassland Biofuel Cropping Systems for Plant Diversity and Productivity
(2012-04)With the rapid depletion of fossil fuels such as oil and coal, the future of the US fuel supply may depend on alternative energies such as biofuels. However the most commonly implemented biofuel today, corn ethanol, is ... -
Method Development for Contaminant Uptake Pathways Using Triclosan and Macroinvertebrates
(2016-05)Triclosan (TCS) is an antibacterial chemical added to personal care products. Because large quantities of triclosan are produced and subsequently introduced into environmental systems, it is important to understand how ... -
Methods in Re-photography: A Research Method for Amateur Researchers
(2011-03-21)“Rephotography” or “Matched photographs” uses multiple pictures of the same subject which are made specifically to repeat an existing image (Klett 1984). Rephotography is the art and science of using a camera to re-take ... -
Mycorrhizal Abundance and Diversity: Factors Determined by Forest Succession
(2016-05)Mycorrhizae are fungus that generally form symbiotic relationships on the roots of 90% of all terrestrial plant species. There are the two main categories of mycorrhizae: Arbuscular mycorrhizae typically grow on herbaceous ... -
NORTHERN WISCONSIN IN AN ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND CULTURAL ASPECT
(2015-04)In 2014 the Gogebic Taconite, LLC proposed an open pit taconite mine in Northern Wisconsin. This mine would combat the increasing demand for steel in the United States. The Gogebic Iron Range has a geological area that ... -
Pedological Factors on the Leaching of Heavy Metals from First World War Battlefields
(2020-05)At the time that the armistice was signed in November 1918, what would become known as the First World War was the single most destructive conflict in human history. While millions were left dead on the battlefields of a ... -
Potential Responses of Caribbean Mangroves to Sea Level Rise
(2011-04-07)Mangroves are woody plants that create a transitional environment between land and sea in the tropics. These plants are adapted to frequent inundation in waterlogged soils through specialized root morphology; however, sea ... -
Prairie Grass Restoration: A Three Year Plan
(2017-05)With the rise in prairie grass restoration projects knowing the ideal growing conditions and grasses to plant in order for a successful restoration is very important. Prairie grass can have many benefits for the environment ... -
Predicting Forest Succession in Response to Emerald Ash Borer Infestation
(2014-09-26)The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive insect native to Asia that was first discovered in North America in 2002 near Detroit, Michigan. Since then this insect has decimated ash (Fraxinus spp.) tree ... -
THE PRESENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BUCKTHORN IN KENOSHA COUNTY PARKS A Study of Invasive Species within The Seed Bank
(2014-09-26)Invasive species can perpetuate themselves in an ecosystem once they are present in the seed bank. Many invasives also have the potential to alter soil chemistry and nutrient levels, which contributes to the crowding ...
