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Title: Peptidomic analysis and characterization of the venom from Conus purpurascens.
Creator: Rodriguez, Alena, Mari, Frank, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Abstract/Description: The venom of cone snails is a potent cocktail of peptides, proteins, and other small molecules. Several of the peptides (conopeptides and conotoxins) target ion channels and receptors and have proven useful as biochemical probes or pharmaceutical leads. In this study, the venom of a fish-hunting cone snail, Conus purpurascens was analyzed for intraspecific variability; α-conotoxins from the venom were isolated by high performance liquid chromatography, identified by mass spectrometry and...
Show moreThe venom of cone snails is a potent cocktail of peptides, proteins, and other small molecules. Several of the peptides (conopeptides and conotoxins) target ion channels and receptors and have proven useful as biochemical probes or pharmaceutical leads. In this study, the venom of a fish-hunting cone snail, Conus purpurascens was analyzed for intraspecific variability; α-conotoxins from the venom were isolated by high performance liquid chromatography, identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, and tested in a electrophysiological assay in Drosophila melanogaster; the effects of diet change on venom composition was investigated. It has been determined that each specimen of C. purpurascens expresses a distinct venom, resulting in the expression of more than 5,000 unique conopeptides across the species. α- conotoxin PIA was shown to inhibit the Dα7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004403, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004403
Subject Headings: Conidae -- Environmental aspects, Drosophila melanogaster, Gastropoda -- Venom, Peptides -- Structure, Venom
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Ecological impact of arsenic, chromium and lead from application of recovered screened material on Florida soils.
Creator: Scarlatos, Dimitrios., Florida Atlantic University, Scarlatos, Panagiotis (Pete) D., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: Disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) debris is a major problem. During recycling operations, the debris is passed over screens, generating what is called Recovered Screened Material (RSM). Previous analyses of RSM indicated high arsenic (As) levels. Thus, RSM is disposed in landfills in spite of the fact that natural soils may contain As levels higher than the proposed concentrations for soil clean-up goals. RSM samples were collected and analyzed from seven C&D debris recycling...
Show moreDisposal of construction and demolition (C&D) debris is a major problem. During recycling operations, the debris is passed over screens, generating what is called Recovered Screened Material (RSM). Previous analyses of RSM indicated high arsenic (As) levels. Thus, RSM is disposed in landfills in spite of the fact that natural soils may contain As levels higher than the proposed concentrations for soil clean-up goals. RSM samples were collected and analyzed from seven C&D debris recycling facilities and from other sites. The average arsenic content found in RSM ranged between residential and industrial clean-up goals. Chromium and lead levels in RSM were very low. The RSM quality depends mainly on the waste stream. Recycling procedures do not have any major effect on the RSM. Arsenic levels in natural soils showed a wide variability. Almost half of the soil samples had an arsenic level comparable to that found in RSM.
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Date Issued: 1998
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15532
Subject Headings: Soil pollution--Florida, Soils--Florida--Environmental aspects
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The effects of filtered high-pressure sodium lighting on hatchling loggerhead (Caretta caretta L.) and green turtle ( Chelonia mydas L.) hatchlings.
Creator: Nelson, Kristen Ann, Florida Atlantic University, Salmon, Michael
Abstract/Description: Hatchling sea turtles use visual cues to orient to the water. Streetlights placed on coastal roadways can attract the turtles inland. Filters were designed to be used with coastal roadway lighting to eliminate the more harmful wavelengths of light. I tested the General Electric 2422 and NLW filters in a laboratory setting with hatchling loggerhead and green turtles. Both species of turtles were attracted to the amber filtered lighting in arena experiments. Loggerhead hatchlings were used in T...
Show moreHatchling sea turtles use visual cues to orient to the water. Streetlights placed on coastal roadways can attract the turtles inland. Filters were designed to be used with coastal roadway lighting to eliminate the more harmful wavelengths of light. I tested the General Electric 2422 and NLW filters in a laboratory setting with hatchling loggerhead and green turtles. Both species of turtles were attracted to the amber filtered lighting in arena experiments. Loggerhead hatchlings were used in T-maze experiments where they were given a choice between amber filtered and unfiltered lighting. The turtles preferred the unfiltered lighting to the filtered lighting, even when it was 100 to 1000 times dimmer. I conclude that amber filtered lighting does afford some protection to sea turtles, although it must be used in conjunction with other light management techniques to prevent the disruption of hatchling turtle orientation.
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Date Issued: 2003
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12982
Subject Headings: Loggerhead turtle, Green turtle, Lighting--Environmental aspects
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A SEASONAL STUDY OF AN OFFSHORE BORROW AREA IN BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Creator: TURBEVILLE, DAVID BAXTER., Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description: Benthic fauna from two stations within a five-year old borrow area and two control stations off Hillsboro Beach (Broward County), Florida were sampled quarterly from June 1977 to March 1978. Generally enhanced productivities occurred within the borrow area, although there was much seasonal variation among stations. Species diversities were usually higher at the borrow stations than at the controls. The single exception was due to a striking concentration of the bivalve Ervilia nitens at one...
Show moreBenthic fauna from two stations within a five-year old borrow area and two control stations off Hillsboro Beach (Broward County), Florida were sampled quarterly from June 1977 to March 1978. Generally enhanced productivities occurred within the borrow area, although there was much seasonal variation among stations. Species diversities were usually higher at the borrow stations than at the controls. The single exception was due to a striking concentration of the bivalve Ervilia nitens at one of the control stations in June. Although the faunal similarity analysis indicated that a qualitative change in the fauna of the borrow area had occurred, this change cannot be said to be detrimental. Conspicuous patterns of heterogeneous distribution of fauna were evident in this study, particularly with the bivalve Ervilia nitens. No lasting detrimental effects, in terms of numbers of species, faunal densities, or species diversity, resulted from the dredging that occurred five years previously.
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Date Issued: 1981
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14066
Subject Headings: Dredging--Environmental aspects--Florida--Broward County, Benthos
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Plastic Debris in the Marine Environment: Fate, Fragmentation, and Niche Opportunities of the Plastisphere.
Creator: Bos, Ryan P., Mincer, Tracy J., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: The goal of this dissertation was to examine the fate and fragmentation of plastic debris in the marine environment and characterize the microbial communities colonizing naturally occurring substrates and geologically recent plastic inputs in the ocean using analytical chemistry and genomic techniques. Altogether, the data presented herein reveal the presence of heretofore undescribed plastic accumulation zones in the ocean and depict a stark contrast in microbial traits between early and...
Show moreThe goal of this dissertation was to examine the fate and fragmentation of plastic debris in the marine environment and characterize the microbial communities colonizing naturally occurring substrates and geologically recent plastic inputs in the ocean using analytical chemistry and genomic techniques. Altogether, the data presented herein reveal the presence of heretofore undescribed plastic accumulation zones in the ocean and depict a stark contrast in microbial traits between early and mature plastic biofilm stages. These data further suggest that emergent plastic biofilm properties can be forecasted across environmental gradients, with the largescale genomic characteristics of early colonizers varying little across conditions. Chapter I of this thesis is an introduction to the current body of work regarding the plastisphere. Chapter II explores the ‘cradle to grave’ fragmentation, transformation, and transport of model microplastic particles and single-use plastic items in an artificial beach setting. Chapter III presents the first metagenomic insights into early biofilm formation on virgin microplastic surfaces in the marine environment and how early colonizers self-assemble, compared to mature, taxonomically, and metabolically diverse biofilms residing on free-drifting plastic pollution. Chapter IV further investigates microbial adaptations for initial colonization of virgin control and plastic surfaces and examines biofilm assemblage dynamics by employing metagenomics on a 16-day time series in a wastewater treatment facility. Chapter V synthesizes observations from the previous core chapters and discusses what these findings mean in a broader ecological and evolutionary perspective. Appendix 1 is a reprint of the manuscript describing the distribution of microplastics beneath the inner and outer plastic accumulation zones of the South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. Appendix 2 is a submitted manuscript detailing the isolation, characterization, and selective adaptations of Vibrio bacteria colonizing eel leptocephali, free-drifting plastic pollution, Sargassum, and seawater in the North Atlantic Ocean.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014127
Subject Headings: Plastic scrap, Plastic scrap--Environmental aspects, Biofilms, Fragmentation (Chemistry)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: TROPHIC INTERACTIONS OF OCTOPUS VULGARIS AND THE IMPACTS OF PLASTIC LEACHATE OLEAMIDE.
Creator: Hair, Madelyn A., McCoy , Michael, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Marine Science and Oceanography, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Octopus predation and species selection contribute to community structure in benthic habitats, where plastic pollution accumulates. This study investigated how the bioactive plastic additive oleamide alters trophic interactions and behaviors of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and its prey. We quantified activity budgets and trophic interactions for octopuses and multiple prey types (hermit crabs, free-living crabs, bivalves, and gastropods) before and after exposure to oleamide. Our...
Show moreOctopus predation and species selection contribute to community structure in benthic habitats, where plastic pollution accumulates. This study investigated how the bioactive plastic additive oleamide alters trophic interactions and behaviors of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and its prey. We quantified activity budgets and trophic interactions for octopuses and multiple prey types (hermit crabs, free-living crabs, bivalves, and gastropods) before and after exposure to oleamide. Our analysis suggested that some taxa (octopuses and hermit crabs) exhibit more active behaviors during oleamide exposure. Free living crabs responded primarily to the threat of octopus predation, while other taxa did not show clear behavioral responses. Exposure to oleamide increased trophic interactions and the probability of mobile prey taxa being observed on the same side of the aquarium as the octopus, thus increasing the opportunity for predation. Our results support previous research showing that plastic leachates can impair decision-making, making prey more susceptible to predation.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014278
Subject Headings: Common octopus, Predation (Biology), Plastics--Environmental aspects
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF HEAVY TRUCK FLOW OUTSIDE INTERMODAL FACILITIES WHILE CONSIDERING TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: A PROOF OF CONCEPT.
Creator: Jaya, Jayisha Das, Kaisar, Evangelos I., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Intermodal facilities, including port operations, play a significant role in the economic framework of the United States by making substantial contributions to the country's GDP, but face challenges managing increased freight volumes. However, increased transportation time within port facilities leads to higher costs, emissions, and impacts on efficiency and sustainability. This thesis aims to develop a concept of operations (ConOps) for improving the efficiency of heavy truck movement...
Show moreIntermodal facilities, including port operations, play a significant role in the economic framework of the United States by making substantial contributions to the country's GDP, but face challenges managing increased freight volumes. However, increased transportation time within port facilities leads to higher costs, emissions, and impacts on efficiency and sustainability. This thesis aims to develop a concept of operations (ConOps) for improving the efficiency of heavy truck movement outside ports, with goals of reducing congestion, considering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and addressing issues faced by the truck drivers. The study proposes integrating technological solutions to streamline heavy truck traffic at intermodal port facilities, including scheduled truck arrivals and departures, truck stop and rest areas near ports, real-time traffic information, implementation of dedicated truck lanes, and autonomous truck platooning. The focus is improving communication, efficiency, and safety for trucking companies, operations managers, and truck drivers. Using microsimulation modeling in PTV VISSIM (2023), a traffic impact study is also conducted, focusing on a case study near the Port of Miami. A base scenario is developed to represent current traffic conditions, and additional scenarios are implemented to evaluate different strategies, such as dedicated and exclusive truck lanes, freeway lane restrictions, and autonomous truck platooning. Simulation findings emphasize the positive impact of these strategies on travel times and delays, and forecast scenarios account for increased truck volumes. Dedicated truck lanes and truck platooning demonstrate promising results in reducing congestion and improving overall traffic flow. This research supports decision-making for government officials and logistics service providers in sustainable and efficient intermodal freight planning. The study also suggests opportunities for future extensions, including emerging technologies and tailored solutions for different port locations and contexts.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014253
Subject Headings: Intermodal transportation, Containerization, Freight and freightage--Environmental aspects
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: MONITORING AND ANALYZING THE SEASONAL WETLAND INUNDATION DYNAMICS IN THE EVERGLADES FROM 2002 TO 2021 USING GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE.
Creator: Hasan, Ikramul, Liu, Weibo, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Previously published in Geographies 2023, 3(1), 161-177 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies3010010) Inundation dynamics coupled with seasonal information is critical to study the wetland environment. Analyses based on remotely sensed data are the most effective means to monitor and investigate wetland inundation dynamics. For the first time, this study deployed an automated thresholding method to quantify and compare the annual inundation characteristics in dry and wet seasons in the...
Show morePreviously published in Geographies 2023, 3(1), 161-177 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies3010010) Inundation dynamics coupled with seasonal information is critical to study the wetland environment. Analyses based on remotely sensed data are the most effective means to monitor and investigate wetland inundation dynamics. For the first time, this study deployed an automated thresholding method to quantify and compare the annual inundation characteristics in dry and wet seasons in the Everglades, using Landsat imagery in Google Earth Engine (GEE). This research presents the long-term time series maps from 2002 to 2021, with a comprehensive spatiotemporal depiction of inundation. In this paper, we bridged the research gap of space-time analysis for multi-season inundation dynamics, which is urgently needed for the Everglades wetland. Within a GIS-based framework, we integrated statistical models, such as Mann–Kendall and Sen’s Slope tests, to track the evolutionary trend of seasonal inundation dynamics. The spatiotemporal analyses highlight the significant differences in wet and dry seasons through time and space. The stationary or permanent inundation is more likely to be distributed along the coastal regions (Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay) of the Everglades, presenting a warning regarding their vulnerability to sea level rise.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014244
Subject Headings: Everglades (Fla.)--Environmental conditions--Remote sensing, Google Earth
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: SHALLOW-WATER ENCRUSTERS AND THE TAPHONOMY OF THE HOLOCENE STORM RIDGE OFF POMPANO BEACH, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA.
Creator: Ciesinski, Carson Park, Oleinik, Anton, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Encrusters have a proven history as indicators of environmental conditions in nearshore habitats and are useful in both ecological and paleoenvironmental research within benthic ecosystems. Off the coast of Pompano Beach, Florida, a Holocene storm deposit contains large accumulations of subfossil Acropora palmata fragments with these same encrusting organisms attached to their surfaces. The objective of this research was to create an inventory of encrusters found within the storm deposit and...
Show moreEncrusters have a proven history as indicators of environmental conditions in nearshore habitats and are useful in both ecological and paleoenvironmental research within benthic ecosystems. Off the coast of Pompano Beach, Florida, a Holocene storm deposit contains large accumulations of subfossil Acropora palmata fragments with these same encrusting organisms attached to their surfaces. The objective of this research was to create an inventory of encrusters found within the storm deposit and document their successional outgrowth to determine the post-depositional history of sampled coral fragments. Foraminifera and coralline algae were the most common species found, and various sequences of successional outgrowth were observed that indicated fragments were either deposited gradually, immediately buried, or reworked after initial burial. This information is vital for understanding modern biodiversity on the Pompano coast, and the development of nearshore benthic marine ecosystems during the mid-late Holocene.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014344
Subject Headings: Taphonomy, Corals, Acropora palmata, Pompano Beach (Fla.), Environmental sciences
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: MICROPLASTICS IN MANGROVE AND BEACH SEDIMENTS ON SOUTHEAST FLORIDA BARRIER ISLANDS.
Creator: O’Brien, Kayla Shae, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Plastic pollution in the marine environment is a global occurrence. Microplastics have been documented in numerous marine systems and organisms. Coastal estuaries and beach systems are at high risk for microplastic pollution. The distribution, abundance, and hazards microplastics present in these marine environments is not fully understood but are widely recognized as needed to support efforts aiming to protect and enhance these extremely valuable marine systems. This project aimed to...
Show morePlastic pollution in the marine environment is a global occurrence. Microplastics have been documented in numerous marine systems and organisms. Coastal estuaries and beach systems are at high risk for microplastic pollution. The distribution, abundance, and hazards microplastics present in these marine environments is not fully understood but are widely recognized as needed to support efforts aiming to protect and enhance these extremely valuable marine systems. This project aimed to quantify the abundance and variation of microplastics in estuarine mangrove and open coast beach sediments on Southeast Florida barrier islands, which are vulnerable and important coastal ecosystems. Barrier islands serve as a buffer between Florida’s wetland environments, reefs, and other marine habitats and may serve as a conduit or temporary sink for microplastics entering the ocean. The microplastic pollution present in estuarine mangrove and open coast beach systems may also elucidate patterns of microplastic pollution in the surrounding or similar coastal environments. There have been no extensive studies or monitoring efforts evaluating microplastics in Southeast Florida barrier islands sediments, nor comparing geomorphic properties of an area on microplastic accumulation. Study sites included back barrier estuarine mangroves and open coast beaches at three regionally similar but geomorphically distinct study sites throughout Palm Beach County, Florida. The sites were sampled seasonally in 2022 (i.e., summer and winter) to quantify the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014354
Subject Headings: Microplastics, Microplastics--Environmental aspects, Mangrove, Coastal sediments
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Tradable permits as a policy mechanism for greenhouse gas abatement.
Creator: Van Treese, Jeff., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description: This paper examines permit trading as an instrument for greenhouse gas emission abatement and suggests that a cap and trade scheme is the lowest-cost option for achieving this goal. The paper examines relevant examples of emission trading within the United States, including the Acid Rain Program contained within the 1990 Clean Air Act, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the Chicago Climate Exchange. I address the circumstances, constraints, and degree of success of such programs in...
Show moreThis paper examines permit trading as an instrument for greenhouse gas emission abatement and suggests that a cap and trade scheme is the lowest-cost option for achieving this goal. The paper examines relevant examples of emission trading within the United States, including the Acid Rain Program contained within the 1990 Clean Air Act, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the Chicago Climate Exchange. I address the circumstances, constraints, and degree of success of such programs in relation to the Kyoto Protocol as well as other possible permit schemes at the national level within the United States. I contrast tradable permits with other forms of environmental abatement policy including command and control regulation and taxation. Finally, I analyze the effect of several variables including population and GDP on emissions growth and draws conclusions on what extent those variables play on shaping a domestic greenhouse gas trading program.
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Date Issued: 2007
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/40973
Subject Headings: Emissions trading, Greenhouse gases, Environmental aspects, Climatic changes, Government policy, Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric, Environmental policy
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Toward climate neutrality: greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Florida Atlantic University, 2005-2007.
Creator: Fannin, Sarah., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description: Colleges and universities across the U.S. are working to reduce their environmental impact. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has joined this nationwide collegiate effort through President Frank Brogan's recent signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). For my thesis, I estimate greenhouse gas emissions at FAU from 2005-2007 through collecting and analyzing data from different university departments and inputting this information into the Clean Air-...
Show moreColleges and universities across the U.S. are working to reduce their environmental impact. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has joined this nationwide collegiate effort through President Frank Brogan's recent signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). For my thesis, I estimate greenhouse gas emissions at FAU from 2005-2007 through collecting and analyzing data from different university departments and inputting this information into the Clean Air- Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator for further computations. This greenhouse gas emission inventory for FAU meets the ACUPCC requirements. Using this greenhouse gas emission baseline, a comprehensive plan can be produced to monitor progress toward creating a sustainable and climate neutral FAU.
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Date Issued: 2008
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77664
Subject Headings: Greenhouse gases, Environmental aspects, Climate changes, Environmental aspects, Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric, Greenhouse gas mitigation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Determining the Effects of Fire on Ridge Shape Complexity In the Central Everglades.
Creator: Dombrowski, Jacob, Benscoter, Brian, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Self-organized spatial patterning of microtopographic features is a trademark characteristic of the Everglades landscape. Anthropogenic modifications to Everglades’ hydrology have reduced and degraded pattern, where ridges occur at higher elevations and spread into open water sloughs under dryer conditions. Wildfire is an important ecological force in the central Everglades and may maintain ridge-slough patterning through reducing ridge size and complexity, and thus preserve habitat...
Show moreSelf-organized spatial patterning of microtopographic features is a trademark characteristic of the Everglades landscape. Anthropogenic modifications to Everglades’ hydrology have reduced and degraded pattern, where ridges occur at higher elevations and spread into open water sloughs under dryer conditions. Wildfire is an important ecological force in the central Everglades and may maintain ridge-slough patterning through reducing ridge size and complexity, and thus preserve habitat heterogeneity. To investigate fire as a patterning mechanism in the central Everglades I examined the shape complexity and area distribution of ridges along a chronosequence of time since fire. Shape complexity did not change following fire, but small and large ridges became more prominent and eventually spread as time since fire increased, suggesting fire may maintain ridge area distribution. Documentation of fires’ effect on ridge size will inform ecosystem and conceptual models detailing the complex interactions that maintain the Everglades ridge-slough patterning.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004683, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004683
Subject Headings: Burning of land -- Environmental aspects, Everglades National Park (Fla.) -- Environmental conditions, Fire ecology -- Florida -- Everglades National Park, Landscape ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Influences of climate variability and change on precipitation characteristics and extremes.
Creator: Goly, Aneesh, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description: This study focuses on two main broad areas of active research on climate: climate variability and climate change and their implications on regional precipitation characteristics. All the analysis is carried out for a climate change-sensitive region, the state of Florida, USA. The focus of the climate variability analysis is to evaluate the influence of individual and coupled phases (cool and warm) of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and El Niäno southern oscillation (ENSO) on regional...
Show moreThis study focuses on two main broad areas of active research on climate: climate variability and climate change and their implications on regional precipitation characteristics. All the analysis is carried out for a climate change-sensitive region, the state of Florida, USA. The focus of the climate variability analysis is to evaluate the influence of individual and coupled phases (cool and warm) of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and El Niäno southern oscillation (ENSO) on regional precipitation characteristics. The two oscillations in cool and warm phases modulate each other which have implications on flood control and water supply in the region. Extreme precipitation indices, temporal distribution of rainfall within extreme storm events, dry and wet spell transitions and antecedent conditions preceding extremes are evaluated. Kernel density estimates using Gaussian kernel for distribution-free comparative analysis and bootstrap sampling-based confidence intervals are used to compare warm and cool phases of different lengths. Depth-duration-frequency (DDF) curves are also developed using generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions characterizing the extremes. ... This study also introduces new approaches to optimally select the predictor variables which help in modeling regional precipitation and further provides a mechanism to select an optimum spatial resolution to downscale the precipitation projections. New methods for correcting the biases in monthly downscaled precipitation projections are proposed, developed and evaluated in this study. The methods include bias corrections in an optimization framework using various objective functions, hybrid methods based on universal function approximation and new variants.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362383
Subject Headings: Climatic changes, Environmental aspects, Global temperature changes, Environmental aspects, Precipitation (Meteorology), Measurement, Bootstrap (Statistics)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Treatment of landfill leachate via advanced oxidation.
Creator: McBarnette, Andrâe., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description: A landfill is in a reserved space on land used for the disposal of refuse by utilizing the principles of engineering to confine the refuse to the smallest practical area to prevent the creation of nuisances to public health or safety (Andersen et al. 1967). However, because landfills are open to the atmosphere, rainfall can saturate them, resulting in a liquid called leachate. Leachate generated within the landfill contains suspended solids, soluble components of the waste and by-products...
Show moreA landfill is in a reserved space on land used for the disposal of refuse by utilizing the principles of engineering to confine the refuse to the smallest practical area to prevent the creation of nuisances to public health or safety (Andersen et al. 1967). However, because landfills are open to the atmosphere, rainfall can saturate them, resulting in a liquid called leachate. Leachate generated within the landfill contains suspended solids, soluble components of the waste and by-products from the degradation of the waste by various micro-organisms. Treatment of leachate is an emerging area of need. In this manuscript the main purpose is to investigate a laboratory scale batch reactor that is able to detoxify and treat leachate by using an advanced oxidation process (i.e. TiO2). Based on the results obtained from this ground breaking research, it appears that the process investigate has the potential to radically change the way landfill leachate is treated. Scale up may provide direction that can be used to improve the efficiency of the different stages of toxicity of leachate during the entire life of a landfill.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3318665
Subject Headings: Sanitary landfills, Leaching, Environmental aspects, Refuse and refuse disposal, Environmental aspects, Integrated solid waste management, Water, Purification, Oxidation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Optimization of TiO2 photocatalyst in an advanced oxidation process for the treatment of landfill leachate.
Creator: Youngman, Frank., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description: Since the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) began requiring landfills to implement a leachate collection system in 1991, the proper disposal of leachate has become a growing concern. The potential toxicity of landfill leachate will contaminate groundwater and soil if not managed properly. Research has been made in efforts to manage leachate in a cost-effective, single treatment process. Photocatalytic oxidation is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) which has shown ability...
Show moreSince the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) began requiring landfills to implement a leachate collection system in 1991, the proper disposal of leachate has become a growing concern. The potential toxicity of landfill leachate will contaminate groundwater and soil if not managed properly. Research has been made in efforts to manage leachate in a cost-effective, single treatment process. Photocatalytic oxidation is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) which has shown ability to reduce toxicity of an array of leachate constituents including organics, inorganics and heavy metals. The purpose of this manuscript is to scale up the batch scale study of TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of leachate utilizing a pilot scale falling film reactor. In this research project, the use of UV/TiO2 for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia, alkalinity and color will be studied in order to optimize catalyst dosage, determine pH effects and reaction kinetics and develop preliminary cost estimates.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3361260
Subject Headings: Sanitary landfills, Leaching, Environmental aspects, Refuse and refuse disposal, Environmental aspects, Integrated solid waste management, Leachate, Purification, Hazardous wastes, Biodegradation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Water and Soil Salinity Mapping for Southern Everglades using Remote Sensing Techniques and In Situ Observations.
Creator: Khadim, Fahad Khan, Su, Hongbo, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description: Everglades National Park is a hydro-ecologically significant wetland experiencing salinity ingress over the years. This motivated our study to map water salinity using a spatially weighted optimization model (SWOM); and soil salinity using land cover classes and EC thresholds. SWOM was calibrated and validated at 3-km grids with actual salinity for 1998–2001, and yielded acceptable R2 (0.89-0.92) and RMSE (1.73-1.92 ppt). Afterwards, seasonal water salinity mapping for 1996–97, 2004–05, and...
Show moreEverglades National Park is a hydro-ecologically significant wetland experiencing salinity ingress over the years. This motivated our study to map water salinity using a spatially weighted optimization model (SWOM); and soil salinity using land cover classes and EC thresholds. SWOM was calibrated and validated at 3-km grids with actual salinity for 1998–2001, and yielded acceptable R2 (0.89-0.92) and RMSE (1.73-1.92 ppt). Afterwards, seasonal water salinity mapping for 1996–97, 2004–05, and 2016 was carried out. For soil salinity mapping, supervised land cover classification was firstly carried out for 1996, 2000, 2006, 2010 and 2015; with the first four providing average accuracies of 82%-94% against existing NLCD classifications. The land cover classes and EC thresholds helped mapping four soil salinity classes namely, the non saline (EC = 0~2 dS/m), low saline (EC = 2~4 dS/m), moderate saline (EC = 4~8 dS/m) and high saline (EC >8 dS/m) areas.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004860, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004860
Subject Headings: Everglades National Park (Fla.)--Environmental conditions., Florida Bay (Fla.)--Environmental conditions., Remote sensing., Multispectral imaging., Environmental monitoring--Remote sensing., Geographic information systems., Soils--Remote sensing., Soil moisture--Measurement., Soil mapping.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The effects of on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems on the relief canals of Indian River County, the St. Sebastian River, and the central Indian River lagoon.
Creator: Tarnowski, Marie E., Lapointe, Brian E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
Abstract/Description: Effluent from on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) is generally known to impact groundwaters and surface waters with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and other contaminants. Little research has quantified this problem along the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), especially in Indian River County (IRC) where there are 26,660 active systems. This study assessed the effects of OSTDS on contamination of surface and groundwaters along three urbanized canals and the St. Sebastian River in...
Show moreEffluent from on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) is generally known to impact groundwaters and surface waters with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and other contaminants. Little research has quantified this problem along the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), especially in Indian River County (IRC) where there are 26,660 active systems. This study assessed the effects of OSTDS on contamination of surface and groundwaters along three urbanized canals and the St. Sebastian River in IRC, all of which flow into the Central IRL. Multiple lines of evidence were used to define the source of the nutrient loadings including the novel approach of using the artificial sweetener, sucralose, as an indicator of human sewage impact. Results indicate that areas with high densities of OSTDS are contributing N to surface waters and elevating N:P ratios through submarine groundwater discharge and promoting eutrophication in the Central IRL.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004335, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004335
Subject Headings: Groundwater -- Pollution, Indian River (Lagoon) -- Environmental aspects, Indian River County (Fla.) -- Environmental aspects, Nutrient pollution of water, Saint Sebastian River (Fla.) -- Environmental aspects, Sewage disposal, Sewerage, Water -- Pollution -- Point source identification, Water quality -- Management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: " Pay-to-pave": gopher tortoise management, endangered species protection, and incidental take permits in Florida before and after 2007.
Creator: Florscher, Melinda., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description: This study assesses the philosophical underpinnings of endangered species protections focused on gopher tortoises in Florida. From 1993-2007, gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) were listed in Florida as a species of special concern. Land developers wanting to build on their habitats could apply for an incidental take permit, paying a fee that allowed tortoises to be 'entombed' in their burrows to die a slow death. In 2007, when gopher tortoise status was up-losted to 'threatened', a new...
Show moreThis study assesses the philosophical underpinnings of endangered species protections focused on gopher tortoises in Florida. From 1993-2007, gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) were listed in Florida as a species of special concern. Land developers wanting to build on their habitats could apply for an incidental take permit, paying a fee that allowed tortoises to be 'entombed' in their burrows to die a slow death. In 2007, when gopher tortoise status was up-losted to 'threatened', a new policy ended the incidental take permit program. This study compares policy guidelines of the 1991 and 2007 gopher tortoise management plans and explores cases that deal with incidental take controversies. I will apply perspectives from environmental philosophy to my analysis to understand how policies attempt to balance economic goals with a mandate to protect species in peril.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359300
Subject Headings: Gopher tortoise, Conservation, Endangered species, Conservation, Economic aspects, Endangered species, Law and legislation, Economic aspects, Environmental protection, Environmental policy
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Brownfields, hometown democracy and development: an uneasy sustainability alliance.
Creator: Kleeger, Jeff, Comparative Studies Program, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Date Issued: 2008-10-24
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FADT165268p
Subject Headings: Brownfields -- Law and legislation -- United States, Hazardous waste site remediation -- Law and legislation -- United States, Industrial real estate -- Environmental aspects, Urban renewal -- Environmental aspects
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