STRATA
STRATA, the STudent Research, Academic, and Talent Archive, is a collection of selected Fort Lewis College student work, including undergraduate research, senior seminar papers, published works, conference presentations, and other creative and artistic projects. Search by name, subject, title, or academic department.
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- The Effects of Sudden Aspen Decline on Avian Biodiversity in Southwestern Colorado
- Aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands in southwestern Colorado have recently experienced sudden aspen decline (SAD), which is a unique form of large-scale aspen mortality that is associated with the rapid loss of entire aspen stands. Aspen forests are biologically diverse, and studies on bird populations indicate a comparatively high diversity and abundance associated with aspen habitat. Yet, no studies are currently known that evaluate avian community changes associated with SAD-affected aspen forests. Therefore, from early June to early July 2009, we conducted avian surveys and evaluated stand structure and forest understory in aspen stands located in the Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. We classified different levels of SAD that included: 1) Low SAD (0-29%), 2) moderate SAD (30-70%), and 3) high SAD (71-100%). We used ordination analysis to compare avian species composition and abundance amongst different levels of SAD, measured species richness and diversity, and performed an indicator species analysis to determine species that were particular indicators for different SAD levels. Patterns in the avian community produced better discrimination in ordination analysis between low and high SAD stands. Avian species richness was greater in stands with high SAD than in stands with low SAD, and diversity was greater in stands with both moderate and high SAD than in low SAD stands. There was a greater number (4 of 5) of indicator species identified for the high SAD category. Our data suggests that the changes in avian community structure associated with SAD are distinct between aspen forest with low and high SAD, and that stands experiencing high SAD initially favor avian biodiversity.
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- The Effects of Tamarix on Species Diversity in Formicidae Along the Dolores River, Big Gypsum Valley, Colorado
- Invasive plant species do great harm in desert riparian ecosystems. In the southwest, Tamarix has been responsible for much of this damage. Although its effects have been studied, little is known about the changes it causes in arthropod communities in general, and ant communities in specific. In order to investigate these effects, Formicidae were collected in three riparian desert plant communities—invasive Tamarix, native desert shrub, and native willow and grass—to establish the effects of Tamarix on the species diversity of ant communities. Specimens were identified to genus and the sites were analyzed and compared using two-variable Chi-Square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Shannon-Wiener index. The plant community type was shown to be 88% responsible for the difference in ant species present, but there was no significant relation between plant type and total ant abundance. The species diversity was affected by plant type and changed over time.
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- The Effects of Various Sudden Aspen Decline Intensities on Understory Microclimate and Plant Biomass in Southwest Colorado
- Rapid mortality of aspen (Populus tremuloides) featuring high crown loss, concurrent branch dieback, and poor suckering was first observed extensively in southwestern-Colorado in 2004. This unusual abrupt fatal phenomenon, often referred to as Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD), is the result of predisposing factors, inciting factors, and contributing factors. Microclimate, one potential inciting factor, encompasses a significant importance in maintaining a stable aspen forest and substantial understory vegetation. Forest openings, present in SAD stands due to high crown loss and synchronous branch dieback at amplified levels, may be strongly influential in the regeneration of forests. Powell and Bork (2007) illustrated in a study that quantified forest openings and understory microenvironment, that forest gaps within closed canopy forests have a direct effect on temperature extremes and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). With an increase of PAR being accessed by understory vegetation from the lack of high canopy interception, an increase of vegetation at the soil surface develops. The Dolores District of southwest Colorado possessed the highest percentage of SAD in Colorado as of 2008, making the Mancos-Dolores Ranger District and ideal location for our study area. The effect of forest variability, both in treated stands to promote aspen regeneration and non-treated stands, on microclimate conditions is important in understanding plant biomass and aspen regeneration responses. The main objectives are to quantify the effects of various SAD intensities on: 1) soil surface and subsurface temperatures and soil moisture; and 2) understory vegetative standing biomass from different plant functional groups.
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- The Effects of Various Sudden Aspen Decline Intensities on Understory Microclimate and Plant Biomass in Southwest Colorado.
- Rapid mortality of aspen (Populus tremuloides) featuring high crown loss, concurrent branch dieback, and poor suckering was first observed extensively in southwestern-Colorado in 2004. This unusual abrupt fatal phenomenon, often referred to as Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD), is the result of predisposing factors, inciting factors, and contributing factors. Microclimate, one potential inciting factor, encompasses a significant importance in maintaining a stable aspen forest and substantial understory vegetation. Forest openings, present in SAD stands due to high crown loss and synchronous branch dieback at amplified levels, may be strongly influential in the regeneration of forests. Powell and Bork (2007) illustrated in a study that quantified forest openings and understory microenvironment, that forest gaps within closed canopy forests have a direct effect on temperature extremes and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). With an increase of PAR being accessed by understory vegetation from the lack of high canopy interception, an increase of vegetation at the soil surface develops. The Dolores District of Southwest Colorado possessed the highest percentage of SAD in Colorado as of 2008, making the Mancos-Dolores Ranger District and ideal location for our study area. The effect of forest variability, both in treated stands to promote aspen regeneration and non-treated stands, on microclimate conditions is important in understanding plant biomass and aspen regeneration responses. The main objectives are to quantify the effects of various SAD intensities on: 1) soil surface and subsurface temperatures and soil moisture; and 2) understory vegetative standing biomass from different plant functional groups.
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- The Effects of Yoga on Novice Students
- A gap in knowledge exists on how yoga affects novice participants and the preconceived notion that yoga helps everyone. This study examined the perceptions and stress levels of participants that have never taken yoga before. Initially sixteen student subjects participated; nine completed all aspects of the study. Three different surveys were used to test the hypotheses. A demographics survey was handed out once on the first day of class, a stress survey was handed out before and after each class, and a perceptions survey was handed out after each class. Classes were an hour and a half and took place three times in one week every other day. Stress reduction was significant (p=0.000) all three days post-yoga class. Perceptions of yoga relating to demographics was not significant (p=0.549). Results from this study support the literature, and therefore, yoga could be utilized as a relaxation technique for individuals dealing with stress.
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- The Effects of a Glycemic Index Diet on Performance in Competitive Cyclists
- The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a specific glycemic index (GI) diet on performance in competitive cyclists. Several studies have shown that different meals of varying glycemic indexes can affect performance, but no there are no studies that examine performance using long-term GI regulated diet. Twelve subjects (9 males, 3 females) were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. Subjects were tested using a 20-minute sub-max threshold test on a computrainer measuring average power. The control group had no changes in their diets, however the experimental group followed a specific GI diet regulating the timing, quality, and glycemic index of all foods consumed. Experimental subjects kept a detailed nutrition log of everything consumed for six to eight weeks, upon which they were re-tested. Nine subjects (7 males, 2 females) completed the study with results showing no statistically significant (p-value <.05) difference in power between the experimental and control groups. However, improvements in study design and testing techniques could potentially produce a significant difference in performance.
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- The Effects of a Positive or Negative News Story on Mood
- In response to the negativity of environmental mass media news stories, our experiment tested the effects of either a written positive or negative environmental news story had on mood of college students. As we hypothesized, participants who read the positive news story reported a more positive and less negative mood as evaluated by the PANAS scale. As we are being increasingly inundated by mass media, our findings have important implications on how environmental events affect the mood of the general population. Our study also suggests the importance of the news media to implement more positivity through their news stories.
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- The Environmental Effects of Road Salts: A Focus on Magnesium Chloride and Durango, CO
- Roads all over the United States require a considerable amount of maintenance depending on the location and time of year. In particular, during the 1941 winter months the United States began to apply a total of 5,000 tons of road salts all over the country. The effectiveness of road salts was and still is to this day significant in dealing with winter driving conditions and has made roads safer for drivers all over the country. In addition to their use as a deicing agent, they have also been used for dust suppression on non-paved roads as a means of decreasing dust levels in the air. The main salts applied include Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) and Sodium Chloride (NaCl), all of which have been documented in exhibiting adverse affects towards the environment. Many of them have led to high levels of Chloride, Magnesium, Calcium and Sodium within watersheds, aquatic ecosystems and roadside vegetation. Salinity has increased as well within fresh water systems and may even pose a threat to drinking water resources in certain areas depending on location and geological settings. Although the tribulations exist, the amount of research is minimal and the current research suggests that the level of positive impacts from applying the salts outweigh the negatives. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have regulations for road salts, although they encourage proper management of the application of them. In addition, the environmental affects must be strongly considered when using them in large quantities. This paper looks specifically at MgCl2 as a road salt both in the literature research provided and personal sampling. Chosen samples were taken of the water and soil around the snow pile where Durango, Colorado, dumps their annual winter snow. Some levels were noted higher than others particularly magnesium at 5200 ppm in the water sample compared to the water control at 3110 ppm. Due a lack of baseline data regarding natural levels of magnesium and chloride within watersheds, these results could not be compared to or concluded as "toxic" or "alarming". Further research is required to better understand the possible effects road salts may have on the environment and specifically magnesium chloride.
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- The Feasibility of Design Ethics
- In the modern atmosphere of Western capitalism, most designers are accustomed to working for paying clients who require first-world solutions to first-world problems. This includes creating corporate logos and identities, making graphical user interfaces for retail sites, and even engineering intuitive office spaces and buildings for large corporations. Outside the frame of first-world design, however, exists a network of "responsible" or "ethical" design solutions aimed at sustainability and humanitarianism. The juxtaposition of these two sides of design brings forth the important question of ethics. Do designers have an obligation to apply their skills to solving the environmental, humanitarian, economic, and educational issues that persist throughout the globe? Or is the status quo of commercial focus acceptable? The majority of literature in this field that I have reviewed points towards the former.
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- The Female Nazi vs Aufseherinnen: Fetishizing the Women Camp Guards of Concentration Camps
- An examination of the portrayal of female guards in German concentration camps of the Second World War.
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- The Foundation
- Photograph from Fall 2010 - Winter 2011 edition of Images.
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- The Functional Landscape of Rafting in Durango
- Rafting in Durango serves a different function for people in the community, depending on how much they participate in the activity. The functionalism of rafting in Durango describes the value that the activity has to different people. There are two main groups that are involved in rafting: raft guides (ones who use the river daily) and community members whose involvement with the river is less than that of raft guides. Due to the distinction between the two groups, raft guides fall into a category of being their own cultural institution with a set of beliefs and practices that define them as so. In the landscape of Durango, rafting is then a valuable part in maintaining not only the personal identities of individuals in the community but also how rafting in general is a cohesive part of Durango society. In this paper I will discuss how rafting is a function of cultural expression and identity within the Durango community. This is important because there has not been very much research done regarding rafting and its social implications. I hope to understand further how rafting is a functional part of creating and maintaining social structure within a community, specifically Durango, because it is important to understand how individuals of Durango "pursue their own ends within the constraints of their culture"(M&W:161).