United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Center for Environmental Research
Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Research Program
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Table of Con
Q Clean Air 3
~ Drinking Water 13
II Ecosystem Serviced .^ 1^111:^^ ^
Aquatic Systems Ecology 24
Terrestrial Systems An imal Ecology 34
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology^ __ ฆ. H
B Emerging Environmental Approaches and Challenges 43
Information Science 46
Innovative Investigations for Oil Spill Impacts 50
Social Sciences 54
B Global Change 71
~ Human Health si
Public Health 84
Risk Assessment and Risk Management 96
B Land Protection 101
IH Nanotechnology 105
B Pesticides and Toxic Substances m
B Science and Technology for Sustainability 125
Environmental Entrepreneurship 128
Green Energy/Natural Resources Production and Use 132
Green Engineering/Building/Chemical Products and Processes/Materials Development 140
B Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/Pacific
Islander Communities m
~ Water Quality 159
Coastal and Estuarine Processes 162
Hydrogeology and Surface Water 168
H Index 177
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Letter From
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
"CSS*
OFFICE OF
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Dear Research Partners:
Welcome to the community of scientists supported by the EPA.
As 2011 STAR Fellowship awardees, you are now members of a community that will produce the next
generation of environmental leaders, thinkers and managers. Your individual research collectively will add
to environmental research findings to advance the state of Environmental Science in the United States. The
information, tools and techniques you develop will help find solutions to ever occurring environmental
challenges across the globe.
Addressing current and future environmental issues will require a coalition of scientists, engineers and
policy makers in government, industry, academia and the nonprofit sector, all bolstered by a strong under-
pinning of environmentally related research and development nationwide. With the addition of a public
made more aware of its relationship to the environment, the EPA is able to lead in building the components
of an environmentally literate society and a functional environmental workforce.
The many topic areas that your research was selected under all fit within EPAs Office of Research and Devel-
opment's main research platforms and complement much of EPAs internal science and engineering efforts.
This is where you fit as EPA STAR Graduate Fellows. You are at the nexus of becoming those transdisci-
plinary leaders who are and will be able to convert your academic and professional dreams into worthwhile
scientific results that will have broad impact for the betterment of our environment and human health.
Again, welcome to a scientific journey and partnership that we at the EPA are excited about and hope
you are as well.
Scientifically,
Christopher Zarba, Acting Director
National Center for Environmental Research
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9
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It's not just a fight for clean air; but a fight for
everyone in this country to live in a personal
environment in which he can live like a
human being.
- Marylouise Oates, 1970
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Clean Air
Bzdek, Bryan Richard
Amines in Ambient Particle Formation
and Growth
University of Delaware (DE)_
Dodson, Leah
Laboratory Studies of Tropospheric Air
Pollution: Mechanism of Isoprene Oxidation
California Institute of Technology (CA)_
Liljegren, Jennifer
Experimental Investigation of Radical Propaga-
tion Pathways in the OH Initiated Oxidation of
Isoprene Under NOx-Free Conditions
Indiana University (IN)_
Priest, Amanda S.
Source-Specific Molecular Signatures for
Light-Absorbing Carbonaceous Aerosols
Old Dom inion University (VA)_
Torres-Negron, Alexander
Development of Methods for Measuring
Carbon Particles in Precipitation and
Determination of Wet Removal Rates
University of Illinois (IL)m
Zatko, Maria Christine
Investigating the Impact of Snowpack
Photodenitrification on Polar Atmospheric
Chemistry Utilizing Results From a Snowpack
Radiative Transfer Model in GEOS-Chem
University of Washington (WA)m
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Clean Air
University of Delaware (DE)
E-mail: bbzdek@udel.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917315
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Atmospheric Chemistry
^ Ik-
Bryan Richard Bzdek
Amines in Ambient Particle Formation and Growth
Bryan Bzdek earned his undergraduate degree at
Bucknell University, where he majored in Chem-
istry and minored in French and Music. While at
Bucknell, he performed research on clay minerals
and received the Undergraduate Award in Environ-
mental Chemistry. He is currently a doctoral stu-
dent in Murray Johnston's group in the Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University
of Delaware, where he uses mass spectrometry
to elucidate the mechanisms of atmospheric new
particle formation.
Synopsis
The role of aerosols in global climate is poorly
understood. New particle formation (NPF),
whereby new particles form from gaseous species,
may constitute 50 percent of global aerosol levels,
but its mechanisms are not well characterized.
This project aims to elucidate the roles of nitrogen-
containing species in NPF. The results will improve
our mechanistic understanding of the chemistry
underlying NPF and will enable modelers to more
accurately predict aerosol levels under varying
conditions.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
A significant component of the global aerosol
budget arises from new particle formation,
whereby gaseous species condense to form new
particles and then grow into the size range where
they may affect global climate; however, the
mechanisms for this process are poorly under-
stood. This project aims to elucidate the roles
of nitrogen-containing species on new particle
formation so as to clarify mechanisms for particle
formation in the atmosphere and enable model-
ers to better predict aerosol levels under varying
conditions.
APPROACH
This project involves the application of mass spec-
trometry to study the composition and reactivity
of small atmospherically relevant clusters and
particles with amines and ammonia. One portion
of this project involves use of Fourier transform
ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry
to examine the reactivity of small ammonium
bisulfate clusters with various amines. Another
portion involves using a flow tube apparatus
coupled to a home-built aerosol mass spectro-
meter to examine the kinetics of amine exchange
for ammonia and nanoparticle growth by amines
and organic acids. The third portion of this proj ect
involves analysis of field measurements of ambi-
ent nanoaerosol composition to test predictions
resulting from the laboratory measurements.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Results from experiments on small molecular
clusters already indicate that amine-ammonia
chemistry should be important and observable
in small ambient clusters. Flow tube experiments
will explore the hypothesis that amine-organic
acid salts may be important contributors to
nanoparticle growth in the atmosphere and
explain the surprising presence of amines in
nanoparticles arising from new particle forma-
tion. Finally, the field measurements will serve to
test hypotheses arising from the laboratory mea-
surements and to adjust understanding of the
mechanisms underlying new particle formation.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
An improved understanding of the chemical
mechanisms underlying new particle formation
will have several benefits related to environmental
and human health protection. First, the quantita-
tive kinetics results will enable modelers to more
accurately predict ambient aerosol levels under
varying conditions, which will improve models
of ambient cloud cover and ambient exposure in
different environments. Second, the results of this
project will indicate species that are significant
to the formation and growth of ambient aerosol
and will enable regulators to make informed
decisions regarding regulation of relevant gas-
phase species to reduce particulate matter levels.
Keywords: aerosol kinetics, amine, new particle formation, nucleation
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Clean Air
California Institute of Technology (CA)
E-mail: lgdodson@caltech.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917325
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Chemistry ACS
Leah Dodson
Laboratory Studies of Tropospheric Air Pollution: Mechanism of Isoprene Oxidation
Leah Dodson received her undergraduate degree in
Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University in
2010. During her tenure, she worked in a chemi-
cal physics laboratory with Dr. Carlos E. Crespo-
Hernandez, studying the fate of pharmaceuticals
polluting drinking water sources. Leah is currently
pursuing a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at the
California Institute of Technology. She works with
Dr. Mitchio Okumura to understand atmospheric
chemistry and the fate of hydrocarbon emissions
in the troposphere.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research will study the atmospheric fate
of isoprene (the most prevalent non-methane
hydrocarbon in the troposphere) in the presence
of radicals such at OH, N03 and CI. Alkenes are
oxidized in the presence of both radicals and
oxygen to form aperoxy radical, which undergoes
a suite of reactions that impact air quality. This
study seeks to understand how the branching of
these reaction pathways can lead to gas phase
products that go on to form ozone and various
secondary organic aerosol products.
APPROACH
This study proposes to directly detect the per-
oxy radical intermediate in the gas phase using
the high sensitivity analytical laser method,
cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS). CRDS
is a spectroscopic method utilizing an optical
cavity, a cell with two highly reflective mirrors
(R > 99.9%) on each end, to substantially increase
the effective pathlength (> km). Sensitivities
of 10"6~10"8 fractional absorption per pass are
achieved, magnitudes higher than traditional
absorption methods (104). This project utilizes
the fast response time, high sensitivity and large
scanning range of CRDS to directly detect the
peroxy radical intermediate.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Direct spectroscopic detection of the isoprene
peroxy radical intermediate will enable the mea-
sure of the kinetics of the peroxy radical reaction
pathways. The data gained from this project will
be used in atmospheric models to provide better
predictions for air quality control and air pollut-
ant regulation.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research is critical to understanding the fate
ofvolatile organic compounds in the troposphere,
particularly of isoprene. This knowledge will help
to understand the formation of oxidized species
and their contribution to secondary organic
aerosol formation. Once a more accurate picture
of the fate of isoprene and other alkenes is had,
researchers can work with modelers to provide
lawmakers with more information on the pre-
cursors, both anthropogenic and biogenic, of
smog and aerosols that are a severe detriment to
human health.
Hydrocarbons are oxidized in the atmosphere by
free radical attack. The laboratory seeks to under-
stand the chemical reactions that occur when
radicals react with isoprene (the most prevalent
non-methane hydrocarbon emission). These reac-
tions are linked directly to the formation of ozone
and the production of smog and other pollutants.
The research conducted by the laboratory can
provide mechanistic details about the reaction
products of isoprene oxidation by NO^, OH and
CI free radicals. These results are incorporated
into models.
Keywords: isoprene, radical, nitrate, hydroxyl radical, chlorine radical, peroxy radical, oxidation, spectroscopy, air quality, atmospheric sciences, chemistry and physics, mea-
surement, emissions standards, pollution, air, alkenes, air quality data, air pollution models, hydrocarbon oxidation
5
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Clean Air
Indiana University (IN)
E-mail: jennifer.liljegren@gmail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP917301
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Chemistry ACS
Jennifer Liljegren
Experimental Investigation of Radical Propagation Pathways in the OH-lnitiated
Oxidation of Isoprene Under NO -Free Conditions
Bio
Jennifer Liljegren earned her B.S. in Environmen-
tal Studies with a minor in Chemistry from the
University of Kansas. After graduating, she taught
8th grade Math in Texas via Teach for America.
She then earned her Master's of Public Affairs
(M.P.A.)and Master's of Science in Environmental
Science (MSES) from the School of Public and
Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana Univer-
sity (IU). She is currently in the Ph.D. Program in
Environmental Science at IU, where she studies
atmospheric processes such as the chemistry of
ground-level ozone.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Hydroxyl (OH) radicals play a central role in the
chemistry of the atmosphere. In addition to con-
trolling the atmospheric lifetime of greenhouse
gases such as methane and the alternative chlo-
rofluorocarbons that are important to issues of
global climate change, the OH-initiated oxidation
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) leads to
the production of ozone and secondary organic
aerosols (SOA), the primary components of
photochemical smog. Isoprene, a VOC emitted
by vegetation, contributes about one third of the
combined natural and anthropogenic sources of
VOCs worldwide. Recent measurements of OH
radicals in forest environments show serious
discrepancies with modeled concentrations,
suggesting that the current understanding of OH
+ isoprene chemistry is incomplete. This project
will investigate the OH-initiated oxidation of
isoprene and directly test whether reaction path-
ways therein maintain, rather than diminish, the
oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere.
APPROACH
Experiments will use a turbulent flow tube reac-
tor operating at atmospheric pressure and room
temperature. Hydroxyl radicals will be generated
in the reactor by UV photolysis of hydrogen per-
oxide, and isoprene will be introduced to react
with the OH radicals. Any OH radicals produced
under the conditions of the experiment will be
measured using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF)
in a low pressure sampling cell based on the
Fluorescence Assay by Gas Expansion (FAGE)
technique.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It has been suggested based on theoretical stud-
ies that isomerization reactions in the isoprene
oxidation mechanism produce OH radicals. The
yield of OH radicals from the isoprene oxidation
mechanism will be measured directly under a
variety of experimental conditions. The measured
yields will be compared to theoretical predictions
and used to model ambient OH concentrations to
see if the experimental measurements improve
the discrepancies with current atmospheric
chemistry models.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Improving the understanding of the impact of
biogenic emissions such as isoprene on the chem-
istry of ozone and SOA production in the atmo-
sphere has important implications for regional
air quality control strategies in areas with high
isoprene emissions, such as the eastern United
States. Because isoprene emissions are so globally
abundant, it also is important to investigate how
changes in isoprene emissions as a result of global
climate change may affect ambient OH concen-
trations and thus the oxidizing capacity of the
atmosphere in the future. Therefore, in addition
to improving the scientific understanding of the
chemistry of tropospheric ozone and SOA pro-
duction, the broader environmental applications
of this work include an improved ability to predict
how changes in isoprene emissions arising from
factors such as land use changes, forest succes-
sion and climate change affect the composition
of the atmosphere and the OH radical concentra-
tions necessary for greenhouse gas removal.
The hydroxyl (OH) radical-initiated oxidation
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) leads to
the production of ozone and secondary organic
aerosols (SOA), the primary components of
photochemical smog. Isoprene, a VOC emitted
by vegetation, contributes about one-third of the
combined natural and anthropogenic sources
of VOCs worldwide. This project will investigate
whether the OH initiated oxidation of isoprene
maintains, rather than diminishes, the oxidizing
capacity of the atmosphere.
Keywords: VOCs, isoprene, NO^ OH radicals, ground-level ozone, SOA, climate change, greenhouse gases, atmospheric chemistry
6
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Clean Air
Old Dominion University (VA)
E-mail: aspriest@odu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917360
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Chemistry ACS
-*ฃ
mat*
Amanda S. Priest
Source-Specific Molecular Signatures for Light-Absorbing Carbonaceous Aerosols
Amanda Priest received her undergraduate degree
in Biochemistry from Old Dominion University
(ODU) in 2006. She entered ODU's graduate
program in Chemistry in 2007. As she completed
her M.S. in Chemistry in 2010, she was selected
as a Departmental Ciba scholar to begin her work
towards a Ph.D. in Chemistry at ODU in summer
2010. Her doctoral research will focus on the rela-
tionships between light-absorbing properties and
molecular structure for atmospheric particulate
matter from natural and anthropogenic emission
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
There is strong evidence that suggests emissions
resulting from industrialized society (industrial
and transportation-related emissions) have
played a key role in changing the chemical
composition of the atmosphere, resulting in a
net global warming. Theory suggests that the
chemical composition of organic aerosols will
determine their radiative effect; however, there is
no unambiguous chemical definition for organic
aerosol light-absorbing components, including
black carbon and brown carbon. This project will
focus on the chemical characterization of light-
absorbing components in organic aerosols from
various emission sources and will seek to identify
the sources that make the largest contribution to
atmospheric aerosols from these contaminants.
APPROACH
Ambient aerosol samples will be collected from
key natural and anthropogenic emission sources,
including an industrial region, a high traffic area,
a biomass burning event and a rural background
site. Samples from each site will be evaluated using
a combination of ultraviolet visible spectroscopy
and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance
mass spectrometry. These techniques will allow
for the determination of light-absorbing charac-
ter and molecular composition for the collected
samples, and the data will be used to establish the
relationship between degree of aromaticity and
light-absorption. Finally, multivariate statistical
analysis will be employed to determine source-
specific molecular components.
EXPECTED RESULTS
A direct correlation of light absorption is expected
to be found with several mass spectrometric
measurements, including degree of aromaticity,
the types and abundances of condensed aromatic
compounds and specific combustion-derived
chemical markers. Such important relationships
have always been considered to exist intuitively,
but have not been explicitly demonstrated.
Emission sources having large contributions
from combustion-derived material, such as fos-
sil fuel emissions, are expected to have the most
aromatic character, thus absorbing the most
light. Using the chemical information obtained
from ultrahigh resolution mass spectral analysis,
multivariate statistical analysis can reveal rela-
tionships between the various aerosol emission
sources.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Determining the specific relationship between
light-absorbing character and chemical sig-
natures will provide a more comprehensive
accounting for light-absorbing carbonaceous
aerosols and will help to pinpoint the emission
sources that have the most detrimental effect on
the Earth's radiative budget. This information will
reduce uncertainties related to current climate
modeling schemes and allow policy-makers to
implement more effective mitigation strategies
to target problem pollutants from abundant
Keywords: light-absorbing carbon, black carbon, brown carbon, organic aerosols, atmospheric particulate matter, FT-ICR MS, climate change, anthropogenic effects, atmo-
spheric chemistry
In the past 250 years, emissions due to human
activities have significantly altered air quality,
negatively impacting human health and playing
a major role in global warming. Light-absorbing
aerosols are released into the atmosphere from
natural and anthropogenic sources, contributing to
the warming effect. This project will use advanced
analytical instruments to evaluate the nature and
origin of light-absorbing carbon in aerosols, and
establish relationships specific to key emission
sources.
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Clean Air
University of Illinois (IL)
E-mail: torresnl@illinois.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917370
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
Engineering/Air quality Monitoring
pp:. j
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Alexander Torres-Negron
Development of Methods for Measuring Carbon Particles in Precipitation and
Determination of Wet Removal Rates
Alexander Torres-Negron holds a B.S. in Civil
Engineering (2003) and an M.S. in Environmental
Engineering and Water Resources (2008) from the
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. In 2008,
he obtained the GAANN Fellowship and began the
Ph.D. program in Environmental Engineering and
Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign. His research interest is the influence
of air pollution on water resources. He currently is
researching the wet deposition of carbon aerosols
to assess their atmospheric lifetime.
Synopsis
Fuel combustion and other activities produce car-
bon aerosols that are transported in the atmosphere
and have adverse effects on visibility, climate
change and human health. These effects depend
on the residence time of carbon aerosols in the
atmosphere, which is controlled by wet deposition.
This research is developing an analytical method
to measure organic and black carbon in rain. The
concentration of carbon in rain will be monitored
at field sites to determine the wet removal rates.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Current understanding of the atmospheric cycle
of carbon aerosols is poorly understood still
because their removal rate by wet deposition
has not been studied meticulously This research
project will measure the concentrations of
organic and black carbon in precipitation, and
match them with their respective atmospheric
concentrations at a specific site, yielding insight
into aerosol removal from the atmosphere. This
study also will provide a record of carbon particle
concentration in precipitation at multiple sites
that can be used to evaluate the removal predic-
tions by atmospheric models. This database will
be an important contribution to the scientific
community for the accurate determination of
the effects of carbonaceous aerosols on human
health, visibility and climate change.
APPROACH
The first stage of this research is to develop an
analytical method for measuring organic carbon
and black carbon in precipitation. The TOC Ana-
lyzer will be used to measure dissolved organic
carbon, and the OC/EC Analyzer (Thermal-
Optical Analysis) will be used to measure particu-
late organic carbon and black carbon. Laboratory
standards made from carbon aerosols generated
in the laboratory will be used to evaluate the
efficiency of the analytical method. In the second
stage of the research, the developed method will
be used to measure the concentration of carbon
particles in precipitation. Rain samples will be
collected during one year in the Bondville Envi-
ronmental and Atmospheric Research Station at
Bondville, Illinois. The concentrations of carbon
particles in rainwater will be matched with the
concentration of carbon aerosols in the atmo-
sphere, measured by the Interagency Monitoring
of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE)
monitoring program. Precipitation sampling will
be extended to some other monitoring stations
within the National Atmospheric Deposition
Program (NADP) to increase the spatial distri-
bution of the measurements. The database of
carbon aerosol concentration in rain will be used
to determine the scavenging coefficients of the
individual species of carbon aerosols. In addition,
back trajectory modeling will be used to deter-
mine the dominant sources of carbon aerosols
in the region.
EXPECTED RESULTS
At the end of this research, it is expected to
define and recommend an analytical procedure
for measuring carbon in rainwater that can be
used with confidence by other researchers. A
dataset of carbon particle concentration in rain,
matched with atmospheric concentrations, will
be created. Carbon concentration in rain also
will be correlated with major ions and elements
in rain, helping to understand the principles that
lead the removal by wet deposition. The inclusion
of multiple monitoring sites will aid to evaluate
the removal rates at different regions and times.
This area and time distribution of concentra-
tion will help to identify the major sources and
distances that carbon particles are transported
before being removed from the atmosphere by
wet deposition.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research project will yield insight into the
removal rate of carbonaceous aerosols from the
atmosphere by precipitation, and will identify
the processes that affect the wet scavenging. This
information is necessary to improve the fidelity
of models used to assess the impacts of carbo-
naceous aerosols on human health, visibility and
climate change.
Keywords: wet deposition, wet scavenging, organic carbon, black carbon, elemental carbon, air quality, climate change, air pollution, atmosphere, precipitation, rain
8
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Clean Air
University of Washington (WA)
E-mail: mzatko@uw.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917302
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Atmospheric Chemistry
Maria Christine Zatko G
Investigating the Impact of Snowpack Photodenitrification on Polar Atmospheric
Chemistry Utilizing Results From a Snowpack Radiative Transfer Model in GEOS-Chem
Maria Zatko received her undergraduate degree in
Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State Univer-
sity in 2009. Maria was an intern at the Mount
Washington Observatory in 2007 and was awarded
a NOAA Hollings Scholarship, which allowed her to
intern at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental
Laboratory in 2008, She is interested in various
aspects of atmospheric chemistry and is currently
studying the photolysis of nitrate in polar snow-
packs. Maria is actively involved in the American
Meteorological Society and the University of Wash-
ington Atmospheric Science Outreach Club.
Synopsis
The photolysis of nitrate in the snowpack alters the
preservation of nitrate in ice cores and is a source
of oxidants (N0x, OH) to the atmosphere. These
oxidants control the lifetime of trace gases (CO,
CH4) and may be linked to ozone production above
the snowpack. This project analyzes the physical
and chemical processes influencing the flux of NO^
from the snowpack. Results are incorporated into
a global chemical transport model to quantify the
nitrogen and oxidant budgets in polar regions.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The NOx produced through snowpack photode-
nitrification increases the atmospheric oxidative
capacity above the snowpack. The preservation of
photochemically active species, such as nitrate,
is altered in ice cores when NO is converted to
X
nitric acid in the atmosphere and deposited back
to the snowpack. This study will implement apro-
cess based representation of snowpack photode-
nitrification in polar regions in a global chemical
transport model utilizing a parameterization
for actinic flux in snowpack to investigate how
photodenitrification redistributes nitrate across
Antarctica and Greenland.
APPROACH
This study will use a snowpack radiative trans-
fer model (Grenfell, 1991) with updated optical
properties in the UV wavelength region (Warren
and Brandt, 2008) to develop a simple and broadly
applicable parameterization for vertical profiles
of actinic flux in snowpack. The e-folding depth
of actinic flux in snowpack is two to eight times
higher than previously calculated. Photolysis is
occurring at deeper depths in the snowpack than
previously assumed and it is therefore neces-
sary to evaluate the assumption that all photo-
produced NO will escape from the snowpack
to the atmosphere. This study will evaluate this
assumption by comparing the lifetime of \0
against escape processes, such as diffusion and
wind pumping to the chemical lifetime of NOx,
such as conversion to nitric acid, in the snow-
pack. The depth below which the photo-produced
NOx will not escape into the atmosphere is called
the ventilation depth. This study will compute a
range of NOx fluxes based on variations in ven-
tilation depths and nitrate concentrations from
snowpacks in Antarctica at South Pole, Halley
and Neumayer and in Greenland at Summit. The
next step is to incorporate the snowpack actinic
flux parameterization and the ventilation depth
methodology into a global chemical transport
model (GEOS-Chem).
EXPECTED RESULTS
The updated optical properties of ice in the UV
wavelength region lead to larger e-folding depths
of actinic flux in snowpack than previously cal-
culated in Antarctica (30 cm) and Greenland
(15 cm). The study finds that the e-folding depth
of actinic flux in the snowpack is most dependent
on soot and dust concentrations, effective snow
grain radius and solar zenith angle. Because
photodenitrification is occurring at deeper
depths in the snowpack, the study finds that it
is necessary to consider the escape processes
and chemical processes influencing the lifetime
of NO in the snowpack because not all the NO
X 1 X
produced through snowpack photodenitrifica-
tion can escape to the atmosphere. Because the
ventilation depth is strongly dependent on sas-
trugi dimensions, wind speed and halogen (BrO,
IO) concentrations, it is necessary to accurately
determine the vertical profile of halogen concen-
trations in snowpack interstitial air. All hough
there are large uncertainties in the ventilation
depth and a wide range of observed nitrate con-
centrations at South Pole, Halley, Neumayer and
Summit, the computed NOx fluxes agree well with
observations at these polar locations.
POTENTIAL. TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The release of NOx and OH from snowpacks influ-
ence the lifetimes of trace gases such as carbon
monoxide, methane and mercury in the overlying
atmosphere. Enhanced boundary layer ozone
concentrations have been observed in at least one
region of elevated photo-produced NOx (South
Pole), and it is possible that snowpack photode-
nitrification is related to the high ozone concen-
trations recently reported in Wyoming. Gaining a
better understanding of snowpack photodenitrifi-
cation and its influence on the global nitrogen and
oxidant budgets will help determine if snowpacks
are linked to the production of ozone and other
pollutants in the atmosphere.
Keywords:photodenitrification, photochemistry, snowpack, nitrate, NO^ snowpack actinicflux, GEOS-Chem, Antarctica, Greenland
9
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Water flows from high in the mountains
Water runs deep in the Earth
Miraculously,; water comes to us,
And sustains all life.
- Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk
-------
Drinking
Bowden, Katie Sue
The Osmotic Membrane Bioreactor for
the Protection of Human Health and
the Environment
University of Nevada (NV)_ 14
Brunson, Laura Renee
Sustainable Technologies for Fluoride
Removal From Drinking Water for Rural
Communities in Developing Regions
University of Oklahoma (OK)_ 15
Piaskowy, Sara A.
Contamination Risk Assessment for
Hurricane Damaged Water Distribution
Systems
The Johns Hopkins University (MD). 16
Zearley, Thomas L,
Degradation of Trace Organic Pollutants
in Drinking Water Biologically Active Filters
University of Colorado (CO). 17
13
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Drinking Water
University of Nevada (NV)
E-mail: bowdents2@grTiail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP917304
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 -:W1/2013
Project Amount: $84,000
Environmental Discipline: 'Civil/Environmental
Engineering
i . ' :
Katie Sue Bowden
The Osmotic Membrane Bioreactor for the Protection of Human Health and
the Environment
Katie Bowden received her B.S. in Civil and
Environmental Engineering from the University of
Nevada, Reno (UNR) in spring 2010. She began
her M.S. program at UNR in fall 2010 on a Nevada
NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship. At that
time, Katie began studying the osmotic membrane
bioreactor (OMBR) system for potable treatment of
wastewater in space. Her current research focuses
on terrestrial applications of the OMBR system.
Synopsis
The OMBR system represents a unique and innova-
tive combination of forward osmosis (FO) and MBR
technologies to enhance the quality of wastewater
effluent for potable reuse applications and for
discharge to the natural environment. This system
utilizes a submerged FO membrane in a bioreactor.
Through osmosis, water diffuses from the bioreac-
tor, across a semi-permeable membrane, and into
the draw solution, a high concentration solution
with high osmotic pressure. The FO membrane
acts as a barrier to solute transport and provides
high rejection of the contaminants in the waste-
water stream. The diluted draw solution is sent to
a reconcentration process (e.g., reverse osmosis or
membrane distillation), which reconcentrates the
draw solution and generates a high-quality product
water. The main objective of the proposed research
is to quantify the technical and economic feasibil-
ity of the osmotic membrane bioreactor system to
produce high-quality product water suitable for
potable reuse.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The OMBR system represents a unique and
innovative combination of forward osmosis
(FO) and MBR technologies to enhance the
quality of wastewater effluent for potable reuse
applications and for discharge to the natural
environment. This system utilizes a submerged
FO membrane in a bioreactor. Through osmosis,
water diffuses from the bioreactor, across a semi-
permeable membrane and into the draw solution,
a high concentration solution with high osmotic
pressure. The FO membrane acts as a barrier to
solute transport and provides high rejection of
the contaminants in the wastewater stream. The
diluted draw solution is sent to a reconcentration
process (e.g., reverse osmosis or membrane distil-
lation), which reconcentrates the draw solution
and generates a high-quality product water. The
main objective of the proposed research is to
quantify the technical and economic feasibility
of the osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR)
system to produce high quality product water
suitable for potable reuse.
APPROACH
The first step is to perform a bench-scale study
to evaluate the efficacy of the draw solution in
withdrawing water from the bioreactor and not
adversely affecting biological treatment. Differ-
ent inorganic and organic draw solutions will
be tested using an FO setup to determine which
solutions will be ideal for the OMBR system.
Then, design and construction of a long-term
laboratory-scale OMBR system and its subsys-
tems will be completed. All systems will be oper-
ated in alternating aerobic and anoxic modes
in a single reactor. Existing reverse osmosis and
membrane distillation subsystems will be modi-
fied to be used in conjunction with the FO and
bioreactor subsystem as a final treatment step
to reconcentrate the draw solution and achieve
potable drinking water. The biomass will be col-
lected from a conventional wastewater treatment
facility to obtain biomass already acclimated to
municipal wastewater. The final product water
will be analyzed for the traditional organics, sol-
ids and nutrients, as well as for emerging trace
organic compounds.
EXPECTED RESULTS
A laboratory-scale OMBR system (OMBR followed
by RO) designed in the Pi's laboratory has under-
gone preliminary investigation. It was found that
the dual osmotic barrier system demonstrated
high sustainable flux and removed 99 percent
of organic carbon and 98 percent of ammonia-
nitrogen from domestic wastewater influent,
respectively. The semi-permeable FO membrane
has been shown to reject 98 percent of DOC due to
its non-porous composition, enhancing removal
efficiencies that can be achieved by microporous
membranes used in MBRs. These results indicate
the potential for high-performing OMBR systems,
especially with optimization measures that will
be taken in this study with regards to draw solu-
tion and FO membrane selection. In the OMBR
system, the lack of hydraulic pressure across the
membrane reduces compression of the chemical
or particulate foulant layer on the membrane
surface, reducing fouling on the membrane and
enhancing water flux. Because the flux of the
OMBR system can likely be maintained by opti-
mizing hydrodynamic operating conditions or
using osmotic backwasliing only, it is expected
that the FO process will require no chemicals for
backwashing, making the process more environ-
mentally friendly. Optimal use of draw solutions
also will enhance FO performance, maximizing
water flux while minimizing reverse salt trans-
port into the bioreactor.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
More stringent regulations and the potential
to produce high-quality effluent make OMBRs
an attractive process for domestic wastewater
treatment. Substantially reduced costs associ-
ated with membrane fouling, membrane back-
washing and cleaning, membrane replacement,
and chemical consumption and disposal are
expected. Consideration of these reduced costs
along with the substantially improved removal of
both traditional and emerging pollutants give the
novel OMBR system great potential for human
health and environmental protection.
Keywords: osmotic membrane bioreactor, potable water reuse, forward ostnosis, membrane bioreactor, draw solution
14
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Drinking Water
University of Oklahoma (OK)
E-mail: lbrunson@ou.efdu
EPA Grant Number: FP917313
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2011-S0I/2Q14
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental & Water
Science
Laura Renee Brunson
Sustainable Technologies for Fluoride Removal From Drinking Water for Rural
Communities in Developing Regions
Laura Brunson is a Ph.D. student in the College of
Engineering at the University of Oklahoma (OU).
Laura received a business degree in 2002 and,
as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fel-
low, earned a Master's degree in Environmental
Science in 2009 from OU. Her research focuses
on technologies and implementation methods for
fluoride and arsenic removal from drinking water
in emerging regions. She is currently working on
a drinking water research project in the Rift Val-
ley of Ethiopia and serves as an adjunct lecturer,
teaching Social Entrepreneurship, in the College
of Business.
Synopsis
Fluoride and arsenic are major contributors to the
world drinking water crisis, affecting approximately
200 and 100 million people, respectively. Con-
sumption of elevated levels of these can result in
significant health and financial issues. This work
focuses on developing and testing innovative tech-
nologies (e.g., aluminum-coated bone and wood
chars) for removing fluoride and/or arsenic from
drinking water, and on best practices for imple-
mentation in rural emerging communities.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
A major global issue is that approximately 884 mil-
lion people around the world lack access to safe
drinking water supplies. Hie health issues resulting
from inadequate safe drinking water contribute to
other world concerns such as education, maternal
health and economic development. Fluoride and
arsenic are significant contributors to the world
drinking water crisis, affecting approximately
200 and 100 million people, respectively Consump-
tion of elevated levels of fluoride and arsenic can
result in serious health and financial issues. To
increase access to safe drinking water, sustainable,
inexpensive and locally available materials must
be developed, assessed and improved. This work
focuses on developing and testing innovative tech-
nologies (e.g., aluminum coated bone and wood
chars) for removing fluoride and/or arsenic from
drinking water, and on assessing best practices for
implementation in rural emerging communities.
APPROACH
The goal of this research is to develop, character-
ize and evaluate the effectiveness and sustain-
ability of novel materials for fluoride and arsenic
removal in emerging regions of the world. These
materials will be developed using principles of
colloid and surface chemistry to amend carbon-
based materials to enhance the adsorption and
sustainability of these materials using surface
modification methods. These methods will entail
coating the high surface area char materials
with an appropriate metal or metal mixture and
testing pre-treatment and surface modification
techniques. Materials will be tested under various
conditions (e.g., with competing ions, at different
pH values and varying the solid-liquid ratio) using
batch adsorption tests and continuous flow col-
umn studies. The most effective materials then
will be tested for environmental impact by con-
ducting a life cycle assessment (TCA). The best
selections from the LCA will undergo a test imple-
mentation study in a rural village in Ethiopia with
the end goal being to produce successful fluoride
removal media and water treatment implementa-
tion guidelines useful for researchers/implement -
ers in the United States and abroad.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The approach of this research is helpful because
it will produce many tangible outcomes. One
helpful product is the technical data that will
be discovered through the process of testing
different media coating and treating methods.
This data could have applications even beyond
the field of drinking water treatment. A second
helpful outcome will be the sustainable and use-
ful mediaproduced as the result of this study. This
media has the potential to be produced and used
in many countries around the world to remove
fluoride, and possibly arsenic, from water to
produce safe drinking water. This product result
also has the potential to be part of a U.S.- or
developing country-based social entrepreneurial
organization that would get safe drinking water
into communities and also contribute to local
economic development. The inclusion of the
life cycle assessment and implementation study
components of this work complements the tech-
nical aspects and allows for a larger contribution
towards increasing access to safe drinking water
by finishing the cycle from engineering technol-
ogy research to successful implementation in
communities of need.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The overarching goal of this research is to
develop and assess novel technologies that will
treat water to make it safe for human consump-
tion. Getting people around the world access
to safe drinking water would avoid numerous
health difficulties and save millions of dollars in
health expenses and lost productivity each year.
Additionally although the primary focus of this
work is on researching and assessing a success-
ful and acceptable water treatment technology
the research includes a LCA component. This
LCA will compare the environmental impacts of
several valid treatment technologies for different
regions to determine the water treatment media
with the least harmful environmental impact.
Therefore, this work is intended to contribute to
solving the global drinking water crisis in a way
that minimizes the potential for negative environ-
mental impacts.
Keywords: fluoride, drinking water, bone char, wood char, aluminum coating
15
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Drinking Water
The Johns Hopkins University (MD)
E-mail: sara.piaskowy@jhu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP91735S
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1G011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Civil/Environmental
Engineering
Sara A. Piaskowy
Contamination Risk Assessment for Hurricane Damaged Water Distribution Systems
Bio
Sara Piaskowy completed her undergraduate degree
in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princ-
eton University in 2007. Following graduation, Sara
spent a year in Burkina Faso, West Africa at 2iE
where she researched point-of-use water treatments
and established a long-term collaboration between
Princeton and 2iE. In 2010, Sara graduated from
Stanford University with a Master's degree in Envi-
ronmental Engineering with a focus on water and
developing countries. Sara is currently pursuing
a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on the
intersection of water systems, disasters and public
health.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objective of this project is to understand and
model the risk of exposure to contamination from
intrusion events caused by hurricane damages.
This risk assessment then will be applied to evalu-
ate policy intervention alternatives for reducing
exposure to contamination.
APPROACH
Achieving the goals of the research requires a
three-prong approach. The first approach is to
develop a model for predicting hurricane damages
to water distribution systems. This will be done
through analysis of historical hurricane records.
Second is to study the volume of contamination
intrusion due to pressure transient events. This will
be done with controlled laboratory experiments
and the results of which will be used to create a
field-based data collection experiment to docu-
ment intrusion in a real system. The final approach
will be to develop a simulation-based contamina-
tion risk model for a hurricane damaged water
system. This riskmodel will incorporate the results
from the experimental phase, running simulations
under various scenarios to observe differences in
contamination risk.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This work expects to find patterns of water
system damages resulting from hurricanes that
can be explained by characteristics of the water
system or characteristics of the hurricane. At
present, knowledge of water system damages
from hurricanes is locally held. This work will
likely find similarities across experiences and
seek to determine the most important forces
when considering water system performance
in hurricanes. This work also expects to find
that during a pressure transient, depending
on the duration and intensity of pressure drop,
there will be a detectable increase in turbidity
and decrease in chlorine residual. Finally, with
respect to risk assessment this study expects
to find that greater and more frequent pressure
transients will result in greater contaminant
intrusion and increased threat to public health.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This work has the potential to fill a key knowl-
edge gap. At present, there is evidence that
pressure transients occur regularly in a water
system and that during a pressure transient
intrusion of surrounding soil occurs. The miss-
ing point here is to understand to what degree
is water quality affected by a pressure transient
intrusion. If water quality is shown to degrade
significantly as a result of a transient, policies
could be put in place to reduce the occurrence
of pressure changes or notify affected house-
holds and suggest they buy bottled water or boil
water during the time when the pressure change
might occur. Understanding the contamination
effect of pressure transients could help develop
new practices that will be more protective of
water quality during the distribution phase.
This research will investigate changes in distribu-
tion system water quality caused by pipe breaks
and drops in water pressure that result from hur-
ricane damages, as well as normal system aging.
Historical data of hurricane damages will be used
to create a damage model, lab simulation and field
data collection will be used to study changes in
water quality, and a simulation-based risk model
will be developed to assess contamination potential
from damages to water systems from hurricanes.
Keywords: hurricanes, water system(s), intrusion, pressure transient, simulation, risk
16
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Drinking Water
University of Colorado (CO)
E-mail: ,zearley@colorado;eetu
EPA Grant Number: FP917300
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: &1I20U /mrkfiA
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
Engineering
Torn Zearley received his Bachelors degree in
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from the
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Afterwards,
he was an intern for the U.S. House of Repre-
sentatives-Agriculture Committee for a half year.
He then started a Ph.D. program in Environmental
Engineering with an Engineering for Developing
Communities emphasis, at the University of Colo-
rado at Boulder. He also has traveled to Nepal and
worked with a rural village on water and sanitation
projects.
Synopsis
Thomas L. Zearley
Degradation of Trace Organic Pollutants in Drinking Water Biologically Active Filters
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research will investigate and model the
effects of biological filter design and behavior on
trace micropollutant biodegradation by attached
microorganisms under drinking water condi-
tions. In addition, biofiltration can be cast into
the regulatory framework by viewing it as a "treat-
ment technique" for the control of biodegradable
micropollutants.
Biological filter design will be investigated by
determining the role of contact time with active
biomass, impacts of ozonation, and filter media
on micropollutant biodegradation. Biological
filter behavior will be characterized by deter-
mining the retained biodegradation capacity of
attached biomass after absences of exposure and
the ability of nitrifying organisms to biodegrade
different types of micropollutants. Micropol-
lutants were selected based on environmental
occurrence and represent a wide range of biodeg-
radation potential. Hie micropollutants consist
of 35 pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care
products and endocrine disrupting compounds
with concentrations ranging from 10 to 500 ng/L.
Incorporating results on filter design and behav-
ior along chemical characteristics, a "treatment
technique" will be developed.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is expected that the majority of micropollutants
will be biodegradable to varying degrees with
short acclimation periods for most micropollut-
ants. In addition, once acclimated the biological
filters retain the capacity to biodegrade micropol-
lutants if there is an absence of exposure for less
than 6 months. Nitrifying biological filters also
will be able to biodegrade different sets of micro-
pollutants than carbonaceous biological filters.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Biological filtration can reduce the exposure to
micropollutants in drinking water. Once the capa-
bilities and limitations are known, biological filtra-
tioncanbeused as a treatment technology for the
removal of micropollutants in future regulations.
Keywords: biologicalfiltration, micropollutants, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds, personal care products, pesticides, treatment technique
17
Trace concentrations of pollutants in drinking water
supplies such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides
can be removed by biological filtration. Biological
filtration can provide an environmentally friendly
alternative to more costly treatments. Removal of
35 pollutants in biological filters will be assessed,
and optimal design and operation parameters
will be determined. The final product will be a
"treatment technique" for application in future
regulations.
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Aquatic Systems Ecology
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
-------
To halt the decline of an ecosystem,
it is necessary to think like an ecosystem.
- Douglas P. Wheeler
EPA Journal, September - October 1990
-------
Ecosystem Services
Aquatic Systems Ecology
Atkinson, Carla Lee
Trophic Roles and Ecological Functions
Provided by a Multi-Species Assemblage of
Freshwater Mussels
University of Oklah oma (OKJ| 24
Cizek, Adrienne Rose
Ecosystem Services Provided by Regenerative
Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) Systems
North Carolina State University (NC), 25
Fraiola, Kauaoa
The Effects of an Invasive Tropical Grass,
Pennisetum purpureum, on Stream Nutrient
Dynamics and Nitrogen Export
University of California, Berkeley (CA),., 26
Greenfield, Ben K.
Modeling the Long-Term Fate and
Bioaccumulation of Mercury, PCBs, DDTs
and PBDEs in an Enclosed Estuary
University of California, Berkeley (CA), 27
Keeler, Bonnie Louise
Decision Support for Mitigating Water
Pollution and Enhancing Other Ecosystem
Services in Agricultural Landscapes
University of Minnesota (MN), 28
Lloyd, Rebecca Anne
Restoring Aquatic Ecosystem Services
on the Clearwater National Forest Through
Integrated Science and Management
University of Arizona (AZ), 29
Meza-Lopez, Maria Magdalena
Effects of Exotic Species and Nutrient
Pollution on Native Aquatic Communities
Rice University (IX), , ,30
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden
Effects of Nutrient Loading and Native
Invaders on Structure and Function of
Seagrass Ecosystems
Florida International University (FL), 31
Weitzell, Roy E.
Landscape Connectivity of Headwater Stream
Systems as a Measure of the Cumulative
Impacts of Stream Burial During Urbanization
University of Maryland, College Park (MB), 32
Terrestrial Systems Animal
Ecology
Grinath, Joshua Bradley
The Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on
Cascading Interspecific Interactions in a
Mutualistic/Antagonistic Food Web
Florida State University (FL), 34
E
Hanselmann, Rhea
Toxic Effects of Herbicides and Pesticides
on Immunocompetence and Zoonotic
Disease Dynamics in Wild Deer Mice
(Peromyscus maniculatus)
Oregon State University (OR), ,35
Terrestrial Systems Soil arid
Plant Ecology
Bernik, Brittany Marie
The Effect of Genotypic Variation in
Spartina alterniflora on the Ecosystem
Services Provided by Coastal Marshes
Tulane University (LA), 38
Enders, Sara Katrin
Natural Abundance Stable Isotope
Methods Reveal History and Fate of
Nitrogen Cycles at the Watershed Scale
University of California, Davis (CA),..,.......,39
Jelinski, Nicolas Adam
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Transport
and Transformations From Tile-Drained
Agricultural Systems to Surface Waters
University of Minnesota (MN), 40
21
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Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
University of Oklahoma (OK)
E-mails carlalatkinson8gmail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP917377
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2011 -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Aquatic Ecology &
Eeosystems
Jfcj
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Carla Lee Atkinson
Trophic Roles and Ecological Functions Provided by a
Freshwater Mussels
i-Species Assemblage of
Carla Atkinson received her B.S. in Biology from
Missouri State University in 2006 and an M.S. in
Ecology from the University of Georgia in 2008.
She joined the University of Oklahoma Zoology
Department in 2009 as a Ph.D. student in the
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program. For her
dissertation research, she is studying the role of
freshwater mussels, the most endangered faunal
group in North America, in food webs and nutri-
ent cycling. Her research combines knowledge on
biogeochemical processes, biological communities
and stream ecology to evaluate ecosystem services.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Complex feedback interactions within communities
can maintain processes that ensure ecosystem services,
including ecosystem processes that maintain clean
water. Without these complex multi-step pathways,
the flux of nutrients and materials can destabilize an
ecosystem leading to unsustainable and undesired
ecosystem response. Consequently, research on the
nutrient processing of the speciose assemblages of
freshwater mussels has significant implications for key
regulating ecological processes in stream systems and
will inform the conservation planning of these highly
endangered groups. This research project will investi-
gate the roles of diverse freshwater mussel assemblages
in river food webs and nutrient cycling via these critical
filter-feeding invertebrates.
APPROACH
Nutrient limitation is a key factor that structures biotic
interactions within ecosystems. In stream environ-
ments, nutrients are taken up by organisms and cycled
through the system downstream. Organisms like fresh-
water mussels may have a strong influence On nutrient
cycling and alter ecosystem dynamics. Alteration of
the nutrients in the environment influenced by large
aggregations of mussels will be studied. This research
will combine information on trophic partitioning of a
diverse assemblage of freshwater mussels and relate
the fixed internal nutrient requirements to the ratios of
nutrients these organisms release back into the stream
environment. This approach combines Physiology,
Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Ecology. During the
summer of 2010, nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS)
were used to determine the nutrients that limit pri-
mary production in areas of high mussel densities and
no mussels. This was used to determine how mussels
may influence nutrient dynamics. Controlled meso-
cosm experiments with NDS will further elucidate how
mussels change nutrient dynamics. To investigate the
diet of freshwater mussels, natural abundance stable
isotopes (13C and 15N), a very powerful approach in
determining patterns of energy flow and food web
linkages in ecosystems, will be incorporated with
stoichiometric analysis (( . %N, %P and the molar
ratios of these elements), available food resources and
their excretion products to construct a mass balance
model of nutrient flux. The combination of diet analy-
sis and the stoichiometric analysis will lead to further
understanding of the dietary requirements of multiple
species of freshwater mussels. This research will lead
to further understanding of the requirements of organ-
isms and how this influences their environment.
EXPECTED RESULTS
With an estimate of the impact freshwater mussels
have on nutrient flux, this research will allow quanti-
fication of an important ecosystem function mussels
provide. Initial results show significant differences
in the nutrients that limit primary production that
occurred in areas with mussels (co-limitation) in com-
parison to areas without mussels (N-limitation). This
suggests that mussels, through preferential uptake and
excretion, are altering nutrient dynamics. The results
also suggest mussels store large quantities of nutrients
in their tissue that would otherwise be carried to
downstream watersheds. To determine the contribu-
tion of freshwater mussels to nutrient storage and flux
a parameterized model will be developed to estimate
the contribution of mussels to nutrient flux and stor-
age using the estimates on nutrient composition and
retention. The strength of this approach is that the
model will combine information from high resolution
laboratory experiments and more realistic field experi-
ments. Additionally, mussels occur as speciose, dense
aggregations known as mussel beds. This research also
will investigateiftrophicpartitioning, through the use
of stable isotope analysis, facilitates high species diver-
sity in these high density mussel beds. In combination
with this information, 15N-enriched mussels will be
used as tracers to determine how mussel-derived nutri-
ents travel through the stream food web. Through the
combination of these approaches, information of the
influence of organisms on aquatic ecosystem function
will be gained.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will examine the roles of freshwater
mussels, the most endangered faunal group in North
America, in relation to ecosystem services (i.e., nutrient
flux, nutrient storage and support of the food web). A
stronger understanding of the linkages between biodi-
versity and ecosystem services in freshwaters is needed.
This will have immediate applicability to understanding
the value of freshwater mussels in the role of supporting
higher trophic levels and providing ecosystem services.
Freshwater mussels are the most endangered fau-
nal group in North America and provide important
ecosystem services (i.e., nutrient flux, nutrient stor-
age and support of the food web). This project will
use a combination of laboratory, mesocosm, and
field experiments and observations to construct
a model on how freshwater mussels utilize food
resources and in turn alter the available nutrients
in riverine ecosystems. With an understanding of
the nutrient demands of a high biomass assem-
blage of freshwater mussels, scientists can start to
understand their impact on the community under
varying environmental fluctuations This project
tests the hypothesis that freshwater mussels alter
the availability of nutrients in stream environments
and create biogeochemical hotspots, but the
impact of human-derived nutrients may supersede
the impact. This will have immediate applicability
to understanding the value of freshwater mussels
in the role of supporting higher trophic levels and
providing ecosystem services.
Keywords: ecosystem services, nutrient storage, nutrient flux, freshwater mussels, water quality, stoichiometry, trophic partitioning, nutrient limitation
24
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Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
North Carolina State University (NC)
E-mail: arcizek@ncsu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917319
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Bio-Environmental
Engineering
Adrienne Rose Cizek 0
Ecosystem Services Provided by Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) Systems
Bio
Adrienne Cizek received her undergraduate degree
in Civil Engineering in 2006 from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2008, she received a
Master's degree from the School of Public Health
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Upon graduation, Adrienne worked as an engineer
at Integrated Water Strategies in Apex, NC. Adri-
enne also has worked on water resource projects
internationally in Rwanda, Peru and Haiti. In
January 2011, Adrienne began research at North
Carolina State University examining ecosystem
services provided by nature-based stormwater
control measures.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
An emerging interdisciplinary approach to
stormwater management, referred to as regenera-
tive stormwater conveyance (RSC), incorporates
ephemeral stream restoration principles into
structural stormwater control measures (SCM).
Early studies on RSC systems observe that they
adequately manage stormwater flows, while
offering a suite of additional ecosystem services.
This work intends to quantify the effectiveness
of RSC at achieving typical stormwater mitiga-
tion criteria and additional ecosystem services
by measuring the nutrient reduction, peak flow
and volume reduction, carbon sequestration, bio-
diversity and habitat provision of different RSC
systems in North Carolina (NC) and Maryland
(MD). Ultimately, this research aims to estimate
the true value of RSC systems, considering both
the intended function (stormwater management)
and the additional benefits (ecosystem services).
APPROACH
Research will be conducted on three newly con-
structed RSC systems in NC, two in the coastal
plains and one in the Piedmont. These sites will
be extensively monitored to better understand
the ability of RSC and the hydrology involved
in achieving volume control and water quality
improvements. Sites will be monitored for 2 years.
Additionally, the NC sites, along with a minimum
of five existing sites in MD will be evaluated for
carbon sequestration, biodiversity and habitat
provision potential. The older MD sites will pro-
vide aperspective on ecosystem service establish-
ment over time. Several existing stream reference
sites also will be evaluated, chosen based on their
proximity to the evaluated RSC systems. This
work also will calculate the net present value of
each system based on the services measured and
the values provided by the literature to estimate
an overall true value for RSC systems.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The anticipated scientific contributions of this
research will be four-fold. First, this work will
expand the limited current research on RSC
systems by evaluating the ability of multiple
RSC sites to manage stormwater runoff and by
projecting performance over a variety of storm
sizes. Second, this work will provide quantitative
data in regards to the potential for RSC systems
to exhibit additional ecosystem services, namely
carbon sequestration, biodiversity and habitat
preservation. Third, this work further contributes
to the literature comparing ecosystem services
present in engineered and restored systems to
those present at natural reference sites. Fourth,
this research will provide a method and results for
estimating the true value of RSC systems. It is the
intention of this work that such a method will be
extended to the valuation of other SCMs, hence
providing a more accurate means to determine
the appropriate stormwater approach to a given
situation. Additionally, as North Carolina State
faculty members meet with State of North Carolina
stormwater regulators semi-annually in regards to
current stormwater regulation, it is the intention
of this research to provide a basis for which to con-
sider RSC systems as a viable and valuable option
for urban stormwater management.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The ultimate goal of this research is to provide
resources necessary for progressing sustainable
urban planning. Urban planners around the world
advocate for sustainable cities through efficient
land use, pollution reduction, restoration of natu-
ral systems and sustainable ecology. This work will
provide hard data, methods and models demon-
strating how RSC systems and other SCMs neces-
sary in every urban area can be used to achieve
these sustainable urban planning goals.
Regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) incor-
porates stream restoration principles into storm-
water control design. This project will determine
the effectiveness of RSC at achieving stormwater
mitigation criteria, while providing additional eco-
system services. An estimation of the true value for
RSC will be calculated, considering all the services
provided by the system. Ultimately, this project will
provide results to demonstrate how RSC can be
used to achieve sustainable urban planning goals.
Keywords: stormwater control measure, regenerative stormwater conveyance, ecosystem services, engineered ecosystem, carbon sequestration
25
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Kauaoa Fraiola 0
The Effects of an Invasive Tropical Grass, Pennisetum purpureum, on Stream Nutrient
Dynamics and Nitrogen Export
Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: kfraiola@berkeley.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917328
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Aquatic Egology &
Ecosystems
OBJECTIVES/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Kauaoa Fraiola first became interested in scientific
research while growing up on his family farm in
Waiahole Valley, where the intense legal battles
and scientific research surrounding the restora-
tion of flow to the valley's river took place. During
his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, he studied
the impact of invasive species and the ecology of
streams in Hawaii, Micronesia and Puerto Rico. He
is now in the Ph.D. program in the Department of
Environmental Science, Policy and Management
at the University of California, Berkeley, studying
stream nutrient dynamics in Hawaii.
Synopsis
Nutrient pollution (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorous)
has significant impacts on coastal communities
and ecosystems, with streams and rivers being one
of the major avenues along which these nutrients
travel to the sea. One of the main ecosystem ser-
vices that streams provide is the ability to remove
nutrients from its water as it flows to the sea, an
ability strongly influenced by the stream's biota.
This project seeks to measure the affect that a
widespread invasive grass, Pennisetum purpu-
reum, has on uptake and export of nitrogen, and
its contribution to stream food webs.
Stream and river ecosystems provide society with
many ecosystem services, one of which is the
uptake of nutrients from the water column, which
helps to buffer coastal ecosystems from nutrient
pollution. Given the knowledge that plants (vas-
cular and non-vascular) can significantly impact
the nutrient processes of streams, it is important
to understand the impacts of invasive plant
species on stream processes. This project will
investigate the effects of a widespread invasive
grass, Pennistiim purpureum (Elephant Grass) on
the downstream export of nitrogen and stream
food webs.
A combination of alarge-scale field manipulation
and stable isotopic measurements in a Hawaiian
stream will be used to investigate the effect that
Elephant Grass has on nutrient dynamics and
stream food webs. Measurements of nitrogen
uptake/export and benthic primary productivity
will be made using short-term nitrogen additions,
routine water samples, upstream-downstream
changes in dissolved oxygen and colonization
tiles. These measurements will be taken before
and after the manipulation, in both the control
and manipulation stream sections. The role of
Elephant Grass in stream food webs will be deter-
mined using C and N stable isotopes and a mix-
ing model. Stable isotope measurements will be
made using samples of stream biotic community
and their potential food resources (detritus and
algae) before the manipulation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The results of this research are expected to
increase knowledge of how Elephant Grass affects
nitrogen uptake and export to downstream eco-
systems, as well as its contribution as a basal food
resource to stream food webs. These results will
help resource managers better weigh the cost and
benefits of Elephant Grass, which will in turn help
them make more well-informed management
decisions. The large-scale and manipulative
nature of the study design also strengthens the
inferences that can be made and the confidence
through which results can be applied to manage-
ment decisions. Lastly, in many tropical areas
around the world, scientific understanding lags
in comparison to those in temperate zones. This
study also will help to increase understanding of
nutrient dynamics in tropical streams and pro-
vide data on which future hypotheses might be
built.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research may have the potential to further
environmental protection in that it will help the
understanding of how an invasive semi-aquatic
plant species influences nutrient loading to
coastal ecosystems. Findings from this research
may spur more research into how invasive species
impact this valuable ecosystem service, an under-
standing that is sorely lacking andlags behind the
understanding of the effects of other anthropo-
genic impacts such as deforestation, wastewater
and channelization. Understanding the broad
impacts that invasive species, like Elephant Grass,
have on the environment will help resource man-
agers make well-informed decisions in the face of
multiple stressors and multiple uses.
APPROACH
Keywords: Pennistum purpureum, Elephant Grass, invasive species, nitrogen, nutrient dynamics, nutrient pollution, water, tropical streams
26
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I
Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: bengreenfield;ฎberkeley,adu
EPA Grant Number: FP917287
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8ฎ 1/2014
Project Amount: $12S;Q0Q
Environmental Discipline; gsology
Ben K. Greenfield
Modeling the Long-Term Fate and Bioaccumulation of Mercury, PCBs, DDTs and
PBDEs in an Enclosed Estuary
Bio
Ben Greenfield researches the application of sta-
tistical and mechanistic models to determine the
fate, bioaccumulation and human health risks of
legacy and emerging pollutants. He is particularly
interested in the interpretation of monitoring and
modeling results for hazard and risk assessment,
to forecast pollutant effects in aquatic ecosystems.
For the past 10 years, he has worked as a con-
taminant scientist at the San Francisco Estuary
Institute.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This study will use pollutant fate and exposure
models to forecast the impacts of alternative
management actions across a suite of pollutants
in aquatic ecosystems. An additional objective
is to determine the role that spatial heterogene-
ity and variability among individuals will play
in influencing the health effects to the human
population exposed to these pollutants.
APPROACH
The research plan is to use open-source multi-
media contaminant fate, transport, exposure
and toxicity models to contrast the time course
of pollutant loss from aquatic ecosystems under
alternative management scenarios. Hie toxicity
evaluation will focus on forecasting changes
in human health effects (i.e., disease burden)
resulting from different management actions.
This work will focus on potential pollutants of
concern, evaluating risks at San Francisco Bay
and the Mississippi River Basin. The study plans
to compare legacy (e.g., mercury, PCBs) versus
emerging (e.g., current use pesticides, PBDEs)
pollutants to determine which is most likely to
respond to management actions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This work will build and verily new model exten-
sions to evaluate the fate and exposure pathways
of emerging pollutants, including PBDEs, cur-
rent use pesticides and next generation biofuels
compounds. Hie modeling activities will address
three areas. First, by comparing among priority
pollutants this study will aid in determining
the likely benefit of alternative management
approaches. It is predicted that compounds that
have been used and released for over a century
(e.g., Hg) or were banned decades ago (PCBs)
will be far less responsive to management inter-
ventions than recently introduced compounds
(e.g., PBDEs, current use pesticides). Second, the
study will contrast the role of aquatic sediment
versus other sources (e.g., terrestrial soils and
ambient air) for pollutant exposure to humans.
It is hypothesized that surface sediments will be
the major source of legacy pollutants to human
exposure, via the mechanism of food web trophic
transfer, and consumption of local seafood and
wildlife. In contrast, the exposure pathways for
recently introduced compounds will be more
complex, potentially requiring management
interventions for multiple pathways. Finally, the
study will evaluate the roles of heterogeneity for
the extent and time course of human exposure to
pollutants. Both spatial heterogeneity in pollut-
ant fate processes and variability in the exposed
human population will be examined. For exam-
ple, it is hypothesized that in San Francisco Bay
margin locations, accounting for the spatial and
temporal heterogeneity in sediment processes
will delay predicted contaminant loss from the
system. Human population exposure will be
assessed in a spatially explicit fashion, with model
runs used to generate statistical distributions of
exposure and movement of multiple simulated
individuals. This will provide greater realism in
depicting population-level variation in contami-
nant exposure.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
At regional and local scales, extensive techni-
cal and economic resources often are devoted
to cleaning up legacy and emerging pollutants.
With the continued introduction and use of new
chemical compounds, many potential pollutants
are emerging in natural waters. In many cases,
exposure pathways and risks of greatest concern
for future pollutants have not been yet thoroughly
evaluated. In addition to informing local manage-
ment, this study's technical activities will contrib-
ute to science and management applications for
polluted waters nationwide. The model simula-
tions of pollutant time trends should broadly
interest scientists and managers concerned with
forecasting legacy pollutant decline. Additionally,
this work should provide useful case studies in
the treatment of variability in determining pol-
lutant risks.
Keywords: multimedia fate models, water, bioaccumulation, emerging pollutants, environmental life cycle assessment, spatial heterogeneity, San Francisco Bay,
Mississippi River Basin
Ecology
Ben Greenfield's primary aim in pursuing a Ph.D.
is to use computer simulation models to forecast
the impacts of management activities on pollu-
tion of estuaries and rivers. He also will examine
how variation among locations and people affects
individual exposure to water pollution. His research
will evaluate and contrast historic pollutants, such
as mercury, and recently introduced pollutants,
such as currently used agricultural pesticides.
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Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
University of Minnesota (MN)
E-mail: keel0041@umn.edu
EPA Grant Number: f P917343
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2011 -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: ^Environmental
Sciences/Policy and Risk Management
I
Bonnie Louise Keeler
mJU J Decision Support for Mitigating Water Pollution and Enhancing Other Ecosystem
Services in Agricultural Landscapes
\
Bio
Bonnie Keeler is a Ph.D. student studying Envi-
ronmental Science, Policy and Management in the
Natural Resources Science and Management pro-
gram at the University of Minnesota. Bonnie has a
Master's degree in Ecology, where she studied the
impacts of reactive nitrogen deposition on forests
and grasslands. In her Ph.D. work, she is applying
her background in biogeochemistry to decision-
making on land use and land management using
an ecosystem services framework. Her research
interests include the economic valuation of water-
related ecosystem services, spatial pattern and
suitability of lands for service provision, and the
economic and ecological consequences of biofuels
expansion in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Water quality is a valued ecosystem service
impacted by land use change and other human
activities. Decision-makers increasingly are
interested in the valuation of water quality as an
ecosystem service. However, biophysical moni-
toring and modeling efforts are not well inte-
grated with economic valuation tools and there
is little consensus on how to best value changes in
water quality Similarly reactive nitrogen impacts
human health and affects many other ecosystem
services but no consistent valuation framework
exists for nitrogen-related services or the damage
costs associated with increased reactive nitrogen
in the environment. This research will expand
and improve on these two critical frontiers of
ecosystem services research with particular
application to assessing the water quality and
nitrogen impacts of land use change associated
with biofuels expansion in the Upper Midwest,
United States.
APPROACH
This research assesses how land use changes
affect the biophysical production of ecosystem
services, how these biophysical changes impact
humans and how these impacts on people can be
valued using economic techniques. The proposed
research is structured around the following two
aims: (1) Refine and expand an existing spatially
explicit ecosystem services model, Integrated
Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs
(InVEST), to address water quality and nitrogen-
related ecosystem services. Activities around
this aim include biophysical model development
and linking changes in biophysical outputs to
economic valuation approaches; and (2) Apply
the ecosystem services model and framework to
the issue of biofuels expansion in the Upper Mis-
sissippi River Basin, United States. This work will
include designing alternative land use scenarios
to meet the Renewable Fuels Standard and assess-
ing the ecological and economic consequences of
different scenarios in terms of ecosystem services
and returns to landowners.
EXPECTED RESULTS
End products of this research will include
improved models for estimating the effects of land
use change and land management on water qual-
ity and nitrogen impacts on human health, recre-
ation and other ecosystem services. An important
component of this work will be exploring alterna-
tive options for the economic valuation of water
quality services and the damage costs associated
with reactive nitrogen pollution. Model develop-
ment work will contribute to the improvement of
the InVEST model and be applied to the problem
of biofuels expansion in the Upper Mississippi
River Basin. This research also will focus on link-
ing the ecosystem services model InVEST with
other more complex process-based water quality
models and vegetation models. Results of this
analysis will determine how alternative scenarios
of bioenergy production may impact ecosystem
services and identify locations on the landscape
where conservation activities can maximize
potential ecosystem service flows.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Ecosystem services are increasingly incorporated
into decision-making; therefore, improvements
in the ability to assess changes in services and
estimate the value of those changes are highly
beneficial. This research addresses two issues
of importance to human health and the envi-
ronment: water quality and reactive nitrogen
pollution. Improved modeling of these services,
assessment of the value associated with changes
in water quality and nitrogen cycling, and appli-
cation to biofuels expansion, a key driver of land
use change, will greatly improve the ability to
make informed decisions about future land use
change and conservation.
Bonnie Keeler's research uses an ecosystem ser-
vices framework to address the effects of increased
biofuel production with a particular focus on
water quality and nitrogen-related services. She
will develop models to assess the impacts of land
change on ecosystem services and use economic
valuation tools to assign a value to these changes.
Results of her work will improve decision-making
through a more comprehensive accounting of the
environmental and economic trade-offs associated
with alternative land use.
Keywords: water quality, nitrogen, ecosystem services, land use change, biofuels, renewablefuels standard, InVEST, valuation, agriculture
28
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Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
University of Arizona (AZ)
E-mail: ralloyd@ernail.arizon8.sdu
EPA Grant Number: f P913ffi80
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2011 -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Aquatic Ecology &
Ecosystems
Rebecca Anne Lloyd
Restoring Aquatic Ecosystem Services on the Clearwater National Forest Through
Integrated Science and Management
Bio
After completing her Master's in Environmental
Science and Water Resources at Indiana Univer-
sity, Rebecca Lloyd spent 10 years as a project
manager and a hydrologist working for a very pro-
gressive integrated restoration partnership between
the Nez Perce Tribe and Clearwater National Forest
in Northern Idaho. After working on the restora-
tion project, Rebecca began to develop questions
regarding how to measure ecosystem recovery fol-
lowing large-scale restoration, specifically removal
of extensive networks of failing, abandoned forest
roads. To address these questions, Rebecca began
a doctorate program in Ecohydrology at the Uni-
versity of Arizona. Rebecca's research will evaluate
ecohydrologic recovery of watersheds following
road reclamation and quantify how road restoration
affects ecosystem services, such as water quantity
and fisheries production.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research will evaluate how restoring stacked
forest road systems affect the recovery of ecologi-
cal and hydrologic processes at multiple scales.
This study will quantify recovery rates and evalu-
ate road restoration within an ecosystem services
framework.
APPROACH
This study will evaluate recovery rates of ecohy-
drologic properties with a combination of field
sampling from transects established across a
restoration age gradient and compare these to
never roaded areas, and incorporate modeling
to evaluate restoration impacts at a hillslope
and watershed scale. Data collected will include
above and below ground ecological structure,
soil physical properties and nutrient pools/
fluxes, and hydrologic characteristics. Models
will incorporate field collected data, LiDAR data
and numerical modeling of hillslope hydrology to
synthesize and predict watershed response to res-
toration. Watershed responses will be evaluated
in the context of how ecosystem service produc-
tion is changed following road restoration.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will address critical gaps in scien-
tific understanding regarding how to link ecosys-
tem structure and function to ecosystem services
by focusing on restoration through removal of
extensive road networks. Results will include
quantified ecohydrological recovery rates of
removed roads compared to never-roaded refer-
ence areas. These results will be synthesized into
a model to predict recovery at a larger scale and
link recovery to changes in production of valued
ecosystem services such as quantity of water and
fisheries.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Resource managers responsible for protecting
valuable ecosystem services produced from pub-
lic lands will benefit from research on watershed
restoration. Given the accelerated emphasis on
road removal, research on the function of restored
hillslopes and response of different reclamation
treatments becomes particularly pressing to sup-
port and improve these ongoing efforts. This will
be the first research to frame road removal and
watershed restoration within a larger context of
protecting ecosystem services on which humans
depend and how restoration may enhance aquatic
ecosystem services such as clean and abundant
water as well as fisheries production.
Keywords: restoration, road decommissioning, ecosystem services, ecohydrology
Rebecca Lloyd's research will examine how
reclaiming abandoned forest roads enhances
recovery of ecological and hydrologic processes
at the road and hillslope scale. She will research
how road removal impacts freshwater ecosystem
services, specifically the quantity of water and fish-
eries production, ultimately, quantitatively linking
restoration to ecosystem services. Her research is
integrated with the ongoing restoration work of the
Clearwater National Forest and Nez Perce Tribe in
North Central Idaho.
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Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
Rice University (TX)
E-mail: mmmezalopez@yahop.cQm
EPA Grant Number: f P9173S3
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/LGQ11 -8/31/Z014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Aquatic Ecology
Maria Magdalena Meza-Lopez
Effects of Exotic Species and Nutrient Pollution on Native Aquatic Communities
Maria Meza-Lopez received her A.S. degree in
General Science in 2006 from Santa Monica Com-
munity College. She received her B.S. in Biology
in 2009 from the University of California, Los
Angeles. She is currently a graduate student in the
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at
Rice University. Her research focuses on the biotic
interactions between native and exotic aquatic
plants and an exotic herbivore, including how the
biotic interactions between native and exotic spe-
cies and between exotic species may be altered
by abiotic factors, such as nutrient enrichment.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Exotic herbivores often are found co-occurring
at high densities with exotic plants in eutrophic
aquatic ecosystems but very little is known about
the effects of eutrophication and the interactions
between invasive species and the impact that
they have on natural freshwater ecosystems.
This study will investigate if nutrient enrichment
enhances the effects of competition between
exotic and native aquatic plants, herbivory of
the exotic snail on native plants and whether an
exotic snail increases the success of exotic plants.
APPROACH
This study will quantify the individual and
combined impact of exotic plants and exotic
herbivores on a native community by establish-
ing native communities in mesocosms and then
introducing exotic species into the communities
while varying environmental conditions (nutrient
levels). The study will collect data on the native
community before and after each exotic species
introduction. At the end, the study will collect
plant diversity and biomass and snail abundance
and biomass.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Study predictions are that exotic snail herbivory
on the native plant is going to have greater nega-
tive effects compared to competition between
native and exotic plants. Herbivory by the exotic
snail may facilitate the establishment of exotic
plants, The predictions above will be magnified by
nutrient enrichment contributing to the success
of exotic aquatic species.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Investigating the biotic interactions between
native and exotic species that determine native
community composition and the effects that
nutrient pollution may have on those biotic
interactions is critical to determine if it is ben-
eficial to manage and control exotic plants and/
or exotic herbivores, and whether regulation of
nutrient influx in aquatic ecosystems is impor-
tant to protect native biodiversity. This study will
provide information on how nutrient pollution
may synergistically lead to declines in native
species. This also will provide information on
the relative importance of focusing on managing
nutrient pollution and/or species invasions. This
would be directly applicable to the conserva-
tion of freshwater ecosystems in Texas and also
has economic and agricultural implications.
Keywords: exotic species, biotic interactions, nutrient enrichment, freshwater, community
30
Exotic herbivores often are found co-occurring
at high densities with exotic plants in eutrophic
aquatic ecosystems, but very little is known about
the effects of eutrophication and the interactions
between exotic species and the impact that they
have on natural freshwater ecosystems. We will
investigate if eutrophication enhances the interac-
tions between native and exotic plants and exotic
herbivores on native and exotic plants, and whether
exotic snails increase the success of exotic plants.
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Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
Florida International University (FL)
E-maii: estonOQ2@fiy.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP9173W
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/^311 ฎK2Q14
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Aquatic Ecology &
Ecosystems
Elizabeth Whidden Stoner
Effects of Nutrient Loading and Native Invaders on Structure and Function of
Seagrass Ecosystems
Bio
Elizabeth Stoner received her B.A. in Environmen-
tal Studies with a concentration in Biology from
Skidmore College. During her time at Skidmore,
Elizabeth conducted research in the Turks and
Caicos on point source pollution of mangrove habi-
tats, sparking her interest on the effects of human
disturbances in coastal ecosystems. Elizabeth also
conducted work on the sublethal effects of cop-
per sulfate on bluegill sunfish foraging behavior.
Elizabeth is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Florida
International University, where she studies nutrient
enrichment of seagrass ecosystems.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The effects of anthropogenic nutrient loading on
seagrass ecosystems have been well documented,
with several impacts clearly identified, including
a loss of seagrass biomass, changes in seagrass
species present and an increase in opportunistic
algae. However, little is known about the effects
of increased native invaders, or endemic organ-
isms that proliferate and expand their range as a
result of human disturbance, on seagrass ecosys-
tems. The objective of this research is to address
whether increased densities of the potential
native invader, Cassiopea spp., previously shown
to be more abundant in nutrient-enriched coastal
habitats, leads to a shift in sub-tropical seagrass
benthic community structure and ecosystem
function.
APPROACH
This research question will be broken into two
major components. The first is to use a series of
descriptive surveys to address whether a natural
gradient in Cassiopea densities correspond to
altered benthic community structure and seagrass
health. Several parameters will be evaluated in
this component, including epiphyte community
composition and biomass, seagrass blade height,
benthic invertebrate community structure and
zooxanthellar densities within Cassiopea jellyfish
tissue. The second component of this research
will be to experimentally manipulate Cassiopea
densities in seagrass ecosystems using a press
design to remove jellyfish, and add jellyfish to
two, extensive seagrass meadows. Benthic com-
munity structure and ecosystem function of the
seagrass beds will be examined a priori, as well as
at the conclusion of the study
EXPECTED RESULTS
As little is known about the role of anthropogenic
nutrient loading and benthic jellyfish as native
invaders in seagrass ecosystems, this research will
provide abetter understanding ofhow anthropo-
genic nutrients may lead to widespread shifts in
seagrass community structure and functioning. In
both the surveys and manipulative experiments,
it is expected that there will be reduced species
richness and abundance, decreased seagrass
health and altered seagrass ecosystem function-
ing as a result of increased jellyfish densities.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Cassiopea jellyfish and anthropogenic nutrient
loading are prevalent in coastal habitats in sev-
eral parts of the world. Therefore, this research
has broad-reaching implications for many coastal
ecosystems that are under the threat of nutrient
pollution, as the subsequent proliferation of
Cassiopea among other jellyfish, may result in a
decline in coastal ecosystem integrity. Humans
rely substantially on coastal ecosystems for many
commercially viable species, as well as revenue
from tourism, which can be affected by native
invaders. Ultimately, this research may elucidate
ways to mitigate effects of nutrient pollution and
native invaders on coastal ecosystems.
Nutrient pollution is one of the most pervasive
impacts to seagrass ecosystems. One threat to
seagrass habitats are native invaders, or organ-
isms that proliferate as a result of human distur-
bances. This project focuses on how the jellyfish,
Cassiopea spp., may act as a native invader in
nutrient-enriched seagrass beds by increasing
and expanding its abundance, affecting seagrass
habitats. This question will be addressed using
surveys and Cassiopea manipulation experiments
in seagrass beds.
Keywords: native invaders, nutrient pollution, benthic, Cassiopea spp., seagrass, ecosystems, communities, function, estuaries, sub-tropics, jellyfish
31
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Ecosystem Services: Aquatic Systems Ecology
University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
E-mail: rweftzell8tjmces.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917372
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2Q11 - S31/2014
Project Amount: $126iQQQ
Environmental Discipline: Aquatic Systems
Etiology
-
Roy E. Weitzell
Landscape Connectivity of Headwater Stream Systems as a Measure of the
Cumulative Impacts of Stream Burial During Urbanization
Bio
Roy Weitzell received his undergraduate degree in
Marine Biology from the University of North Caro-
lina at Wilmington in 1994, and his M.S. in Zool-
ogy from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
in 1998, where he specialized in the ecology and
systematics of freshwater fishes. After 10 years
of working in freshwater ecology and conservation
positions, he entered the Marine Estuarine and
Environmental Science Ph.D. program at the Uni-
versity of Maryland. Currently in his second year,
Roy studies the effects of stream burial on network
connectivity and biodiversity in headwater stream
ecosystems.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Landscape changes that reduce habitat area
and restrict the dispersal alii lilies of organisms
between habitat patches have a strong influence
on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. With
urbanization continuing at a rapid pace across
the Potomac River Basin (PRB), many streams
are at risk of being buried, presenting serious
implications for water quality and regional bio-
diversity Knowledge of the cumulative impacts
of reduced structure and function within buried
stream networks is crucial for informing manage-
ment of stream ecosystems in light of continued
growth in urban areas and the uncertain response
of freshwater ecosystems to the stresses of global
climate change.
APPROACH
New developments in Geographic Information
Science (GIS) and remote sensing-based method-
ologies allow for accurate measure of the former
extent of headwater streams and the severity
of burial across large areas. These data can be
coupled with existing techniques for modeling
landscape connectivity within and between
aquatic networks impacted by urbanization, and
to quantify how burial may alter the potential
flow of organisms and materials. In turn, models
of network connectivity can be considered in light
of long-term biological and environmental data-
sets to quantify the ecosystem effects of stream
burial at multiple spatial scales.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will quantify stream burial totals
for the Potomac River Basin (PRB) at four pre-
vious time steps, and assess burial patterns
relative to other measures of urban effects on
stream ecosystems (e.g., total imperviousness).
This work will establish an understanding of the
range in stream burial relative to these more tra-
ditional measures of the impact of urbanization
(i.e., where does stream burial occur less
frequently at the same level of TI). Secondly,
landscape connectivity measures will provide
valuable information on the cumulative effects
of stream burial on between-habitat dispersal in
headwater stream ecosystems, both within the
channel networks themselves, as well as across
the upland landscape. Finally, maps of headwa-
ter stream burial and connectivity will be used
to determine how urbanization has altered pat-
terns of biodiversity, including the distribution
of headwater macroinvertebrates, organisms
that play critical roles in ecosystem dynamics
affecting local and downstream waters such as
the Chesapeake Bay.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will provide three integrated spatial
products to be used in regional conservation
and management of headwater stream systems
and the ecosystem services they provide. Taken
together, analyses of fragmentation of headwa-
ter systems will provide critical information on
cumulative impacts of buried streams necessary
for monitoring and regulating development pres-
sures on aquatic resources.
Keywords: headwater streams, stream burial, cumulative impact, urbanization, connectivity, beta-diversity
Headwater streams are unique and critical compo-
nents of aquatic networks, yet have been dispro-
portionately buried by urbanization as compared
to larger systems. Knowledge of the cumulative
impacts of reduced structure and function within
buried stream networks is crucial for informing
management of stream ecosystems. This proj-
ect will combine innovative remote sensing and
connectivity modeling methods to form a novel
statistical approach to quantifying the impacts of
urbanization on ecosystem structure and function.
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Ecosystem Services; Terrestrial Systems Animal
Ecology
Florida State University (FL)
E-mail: grinath@bio.fsu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917309
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2D11 -7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Toxicology
Joshua Bradley Grinath
The Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on Cascading Interspecific Interactions in a
Mutualistic/Antagonistic Food Web
Josh Grinath received his undergraduate degree
in Natural Resource Management from Cornell
University in 2004. He then began work as a
research assistant and manager for the Bill ick/
Re i the I laboratory at the Rocky Mountain Biologi-
cal Laboratory (RMBL) in Colorado. After 3 years of
travel and work. Josh began the Ph.D. program in
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Florida State
University. His research focuses on the impacts of
atmospheric nitrogen pollution on a widespread
meadow ecosystem at RMBL.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Humans have dramatically altered earth's
nitrogen cycle by increasing the availability and
mobility of biologically useful forms of nitrogen;
specifically atmospheric nitrogen deposition
has increased due to oxides of nitrogen emitted
from fossil fuel combustion and ammonia and
ammonium emitted from agricultural operations.
In nitrogen-limited ecosystems, the food quality
hypothesis predicts that enhanced food quality
due to nitrogen pollution will cause greater mag-
nitudes of top-down trophic cascades, whereby
upper trophic levels (predators/omnivores) have
greater effects on lower trophic levels (herbivores
and plants). This study asks: (1) does nitrogen
deposition cause stronger cascading interspecific
interactions? and (2) do the interactions become
stronger as N:C stoichiometric mismatches
decrease between consumers and resources?
APPROACH
This study is being conducted in a nitrogen-poor
mountain meadow in Colorado, and focuses on
cascading effects in a food web composed of
antagonistic (negative) interactions between two
honeydew-producing herbivores and their shared
host plant, and mutualistic (positive) interactions
between an ant and these honeydew-producers.
This study will conduct a nested factorial field
experiment manipulating nitrogen availability to
mimic pollution levels elsewhere in the western
United States and the presence or biomass of
each of the four focal species within 36 single ant
nest enclosures. The magnitude of the cascading
interactions between ants and plants will be mea-
sured at both the per capita and total population
levels, and interaction strengths will be compared
between fertilized and unfertilized food webs
using structural equation modeling (SEM) and
ANOVA analyses. Also, stoichiometric N:C in the
four focal species and in honeydew resources will
be analyzed to test howN;C mismatches relate to
cascading interaction strengths and to track the
flux of nitrogen through the food web.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This experiment will test how interspecific
interaction strengths are affected by increased
nitrogen deposition, where cascading effects
are expected to become stronger due to higher
food quality and decreased stoichiometric mis-
matches between consumers and resources in
nitrogen-polluted food webs. This study also
tackles the challenge of integrating mutualistic
and antagonistic interactions into a single food
web and uses multiple ecological currencies and
metrics to compare interaction strengths to other
studies and to examine how they affect the inter-
pretation of interaction strength. It is hoped to
continue nitrogen treatments in the experimental
plots to ask how the strength of these interactions
will change due to increased nitrogen deposition
in the long term.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This study has the potential to contribute to
regulatory decisions for pollutants causing nitro-
gen deposition. Representing fluxes of energy
and nutrients among species, the interaction
strengths measured in this study have important
consequences for species productivity and domi-
nance, By using an experimental nitrogen treat-
ment mimicking high levels of nitrogen deposi-
tion occurring in the western United States, this
study will provide evidence for how atmospheric
nitrogen pollution is affecting ecosystem func-
tioning in a widespread type of system.
This research will examine how atmospheric nitro-
gen pollution causes changes in the strengths
of interactions among species in a widespread
ecosystem in the western United States. Using
an experiment that mimics high levels of nitrogen
deposition in a nitrogen-poor mountain meadow,
the research will test whether increased nitrogen
results in stronger trophic cascades, whereby ants
will have stronger effects on herbivorous bugs and
the plants they live on, which is important for the
functioning of the ecosystem.
Keywords: nitrogen pollution, atmospheric nitrogen deposition, trophic cascade, plant quality hypothesis, ecological stoichiometry, honeydew mutualism, interspecific
interaction strength, structural equation modeling food web
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Ecosystem Services: Terrestrial Systems Animal
Ecology
Oregon State University (OR)
E-maii hansel.m.r@onid.orst.edu
EPA Grant Number; FPSI7306
EPA Project Officer; Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/ie01Q-S3ia0I2
Project Amount: $74,000.00
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
Rhea Hanselmann
Toxic Effects of Herbicides and Pesticides on Immunocompetence and Zoonotic
Disease Dynamics in Wild Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)
Bio
Rhea Hanselmann received her B.Sc. degree in
Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Insti-
tute in 2001. She was accepted to Tufts University
School of Veterinary Medicine the same year and
received her doctoral degree and a certificate
in International Wildlife Conservation Medicine
in 2005. She then worked in clinical practice,
completing postdoctoral fellowships in both medi-
cine and anesthesia. In 2009, she completed a
Master's in the Preventive Veterinary Medicine
program at the University of California, Davis,
focusing on wildlife and ecosystem health. She
was a Smithsonian Institution postdoctoral fellow
at the Mpala Research Center in Kenya in 2009.
Since 2010, she has been enrolled in a Ph.D.
program at Oregon State University studying the
impacts of anthropogenic environmental changes
on disease in wildlife.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This proposed research evaluates the effects of
toxic compounds and management interventions
commonly used in intensive agricultural systems,
on health, immunity and disease risk in a zoonotic
reservoir species, the deer mouse {Peromyscus
maniculatus). Two central relationships will be
explored; (1) the effects of agricultural manage-
ment practices on the normal functioning of the
host immune system, and (2) the impacts of these
environmental interventions on prevalence of
important zoonotic diseases.
APPROACH
In a first study phase, wild deer mice will be live-
trapped in experimental field plots varying in
management intensity, located on area-typical
silviculture and grass-seed farmlands. Dur-
ing a second phase, the effects of agricultural
herbicides and pesticides on wild deer mice
health, immunity and disease dynamics will be
evaluated in large-scale experimental rodent
enclosures. Blood and fecal samples, as well as
numerous morphometric measurements will be
collected from all animals. To assess the impact of
management strategies and chemicals on health
and immunity, assays will be performed to mea-
sure physiologic function (i.e., stress, condition,
immune function). Prevalence of three endemic
zoonotic diseases (Leptospira spp., Toxoplasma
gondii, and Sin Nombre virus) will be determined
using serologic assays. Gastrointestinal parasite
prevalence and infection intensity will be deter-
mined using standard fecal analysis techniques.
Finally, various analytical methods will be used to
evaluate treatment effects.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This proposed study will elucidate the potential
impact of harsh management strategies and
chemical compounds commonly used in inten-
sive agricultural systems (i.e., herbicides and
pesticides) on an important ecosystem service;
disease abatement. Conventional agricultural
methods adversely can affect wildlife popula-
tions both directly via toxicity and/or habitat loss,
and indirectly via stress and/or loss of condition
resulting from changes in community structure.
Here, it is expected to see impaired health and
immunocompetence in animals exposed to
harsh management practices, when compared
to those in minimally managed areas. As a result,
it also is expected that disease prevalence will be
higher in animals inhabiting intensively managed
areas, and therefore, that intensive agricultural
practices intensify infectious disease risk in the
environment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Even in species that appear relatively resilient to
environmental change, anthropogenic stressors
can have negative impacts on health and immu-
nocompetence. This can make host animals more
susceptible to endemic and emerging diseases,
which in turn can lead to increased disease
prevalence and amplify pathogen transmission
in affected animal populations. Ultimately, this
exacerbates the risk of disease posed to animals
and humans entering impacted ecosystems.
Understanding the mechanism and degree to
which this occurs is fundamental to the devel-
opment of plans for environmental and human
health risk assessment and protection.
Keywords: ecosystem, health, ecosystem service, wildlife health, zoonotic disease, agricultural impact, environmental stressor, anthropogenic environmental
change, herbicides, pesticides
Toxic compounds and management interven-
tions used in intensive agricultural systems can
compromise the health and immunity of wildlife.
This is particularly important when reservoir spe-
cies for human and animal diseases are affected.
Using a major carrier of zoonotic pathogens, the
deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), Rhea will
explore the effects of intensive agriculture on
the functioning of the immune system, and the
impacts of these environmental interventions on
zoonotic disease prevalence.
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Ecosystem Services: Terrestrial Systems Soil and
Plant Ecology
Tulane University (LA)
E-mail: bbernik@tulane,edu
EPA Grant Number: FP3I7395
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2D11 - 7S1/2014
Project Amount: $12^,000
Environmental Discipline: Plants and Soils
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Brittany Marie Bernik
The Effect of Genotypic Variation in Spartina alterniflora on the Ecosystem Services
Provided by Coastal Marshes
Brittany Bernik received a Bachelor's degree in
Environmental Biology at Tulane University, and
entered the Ph.D. program in Ecology & Evolution-
ary Biology in 2008. Investigating marsh genetic
response to environmental change, she earned a
Master's in 2010. Her current work uses a "genes
to ecosystems" approach to understand marsh
processes and resilience. Focusing on the interface
of human and natural systems, she is looking at
how the genetics of restored marshes influences
ecosystem services.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project seeks to examine variation in
ecosystem services arising due to the genetic
identity of foundational marsh plants used for
restorationparticularly between cultivated and
wildtype clones. To this end, the study will meet
the following objectives: (1) quantify phenotypic
variation across genotypes; (2) quantify differ-
ences in marsh accretion across genotypes; and
(3) quantify differences in agricultural pollutant
amelioration across genotypes.
APPROACH
Greenhouse experiments will be used to assess
variation in plant functional traits between
genotypes. Traits expected to influence the pro-
visioning of ecosystem services will be measured,
including above and belowground biomass, root
and rhizome distribution, canopy height and
stem density Transplantation field experiments
will compare sediment and vegetative accretion
across cultivated and wildtype clones using radio-
metric dating and by quantifying soil organics.
Separate greenhouse trials will administer nutri-
ent loading treatments, and water nitrate levels
will be monitored across genotypes to evaluate
differences in excess nutrient removal.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Genotypes will differ significantly from one
another, with cultivars showing the strongest
differences in plant functional traits, both from
each other and from wildtype plants. Genotypes
with denser root mats and a higher proportion
of belowground biomass will survive and accrete
more organics, while genotypes exposing more
shoot surface area will have higher accretion of
mineral sediments. Nutrient uptake also will dif-
fer between genotypes, with some clones showing
greater potential for water treatment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Marsh restoration increasingly relies on cultivars
developed for ease of propagation. This project
will provide information on how using these
genotypes affects marsh accretion and nutrient
uptakeservices that provide flood protection
and storm buffering, as well as water treatment
that ameliorates the hypoxic "dead zone" in the
Gulf of Mexico.
Keywords: community genetics, ecosystem engineering ecosystem services, marsh restoration, Spartina alterniflora
38
Marsh restoration relies on a few genotypes of
Smooth Cordgrass, cultivated for easier propaga-
tion. However, this plant species is a known eco-
system engineer that influences its environment
in diverse ways. A population's genotypic identity
can strongly influence marsh properties. Using
greenhouse and field experiments, this project
investigates how ecosystem services, such as water
treatment and flood protection, will be affected by
using cultivated versus native genotypes for marsh
restoration projects.
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Ecosystem Services; Terrestrial Systems Soil and
Plant Ecology
University of California, Davis (CA)
E-mai I: ske-nderaSucdavis.ed u
EPA Grant Number: PP912327
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2(311 - W1/2G14
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
Sara Katrin Enders
Natural Abundance Stable Isotope Methods Reveal History and Fate of Nitrogen
Cycles at the Watershed Scale
Bio
Sara Enders received a B.S. in Geology and Geo-
physics from Yale University in 2006. She worked
in the White Mountains of New Hampshire for the
Appalachian Mountain Club and as a Research
Analyst for The Cadmus Group, Inc., before getting
interested in improving the integrated manage-
ment of land and water resources drew her back
to school. She completed an M.E.Sc. from the Yale
School of Forestry and Environmental Studies,
where her thesis explored participatory, science-
based, transboundary watershed management in
Honduras and Nicaragua. Now in her second year
of a Ph.D. program in Soils and Biogeochemistry at
the University of California, Davis, in the Houlton
laboratory, Sara's research uses isotope models
and field measurements to explore interactions
between nitrogen cycling and climate change.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research targets the following three ques-
tions: (1) How will climate warming of the Califor-
nia Sierra Nevada affect the amount of nitrogen
available to fuel forest C storage in the future?
(2) Can nitrogen isotope-based mass-balance
models be used as a management tool at the
watershed-scaleparticularly for estimating gas-
eous N emissions from the soil? (3) Can nitrogen
isotopes of soil compounds be used to make infer-
ences about pre-anthropocene nitrogen cycling
on modern landscapes?
APPROACH
This work will improve the understanding of
climate controls on the nitrogen cycle in modern
and past terrestrial landscapes via new nitrogen
isotope techniques. This study will first develop
an isotope-based model to partition gaseous and
hydrologic nitrogen losses at the watershed scale
across a rain-snow transition in California's Sierra
Nevada. This work will inform prediction of how
warming of the Sierra will affect nitrogen and
carbon cycles. Further, this work will develop a
novel method to investigate pre-anthropocene
terrestrial nitrogen cycling on this and other
landscapes through the use of novel paleo-
isotope techniques.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Expected res ults of this work i nclude: (1) devel-
opment of a watershed-scale model of climate
controls on the form of nitrogen losses from a
watershed; (2) prediction of gaseous and hydro-
logic fluxes of nitrogen responses to climate
change in the Sierra Nevada; and (3) develop-
ment of a soil compound-based proxy for terres-
trial nitrogen cycling on past landscapesprior
to anthropogenic impact and under past climate
conditions. Results will improve understand-
ing of natural and anthropogenic terrestrial
ecosystem nitrogen cycling and the ability to
manage nitrogenous pollution. Further, this
research will make more powerful the tool of
natural abundance nitrogen isotopes by increas-
ing the interpret ability of nitrogen isotope varia-
tions now and in the past.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This work will inform efforts to regulate pollu-
tion, to value ecosystem services and to predict
the ability of the biosphere to absorb increases in
atmospheric CO , as the climate warms.
Keywords: nitrogen, isotopes, soil, denitrification, nitrous oxide, nitrate, California, Sierra Nevada, mountain, forest, snow, climate, forests, biogeochemistry,
ecosystem services, terrestrial, paleoclimate, precipitation
Humans have doubled the amount of nitrogen (N)
available to organisms. Yet the fate of this N in
the environment remains unclear. N can act as
an essential nutrient, a toxin or a greenhouse gas,
depending on where it ends up and in what chemi-
cal form. This research focuses on understanding
terrestrial ecosystem N budgetsthe balance
between how much N enters and leaves a land-
scape, and whether lost N will leak into streams or
to the atmosphereand how climate change will
affect these budgets.
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Ecosystem Services; Terrestrial Systems Soil and
Plant Ecology
University of Minnesota (MN)
E-mail: jaii0026gSumn.edu
EPA Grant Number: : :\i :/:>*!
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Gobbs-Gteen
Project Period: .9/1/2011 - 8/3:1/2014
Project Amount: $12B,CD0
Environmental Discipline: GiviI/EfivironmentaI
Engineering
Nicolas Adam Jelinski
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Transport and Transformations From Tile-Drained
Agricultural Systems to Surface Waters
Bio
Nicolas Jelinski received his undergraduate degree in
Botany and Biology from the University of Wisconsin-
Madison in 2004. While studying towards his B.S.,
Nicolas worked in land management and ecosystem
restoration throughout southern Wl and IA with private
companies, NGOs and state agencies. He completed
an M.S. in Land Resources with an emphasis in Soil
Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in
2007, and began his Ph.D. studies in the University
of Minnesota-Twin Cities Department of Soil. Water
and Climate in 2010. He broadly is interested in the
connections between biological and weathering pro-
cesses in soils under different types of land use, and
how those factors affect downstream water quality.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S) APPROACH
Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is an impor-
tant part of the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN)
loads of waterways throughout the United States;
however, most of the impacts and monitoring
of nitrogen have centered around dissolved
inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the form of nitrate.
To better understand and predict the effect that
terrestrial systems can have on DON levels in
waterways, there is a critical need to understand
the transport and transformations of organic
nitrogen, DON and organic matter in both solid
and aqueous forms in soils. This project will
investigate the fundamental processes and driv-
ers of DON delivery to waterways through the
extensive tile-drained agricultural systems of
the Upper Midwest. The primary objectives are
to determine how different fractions of the bulk
DON pool change as they move from residue
layer leachate to surface flow in agricultural land-
scapes, and the spatial scale at which in-stream
processes become more important than upland
export of DON to surface waters.
This project will monitor chemical changes in
the DON pool in agricultural soils and associated
waterways both spatially and temporally over a
multi-year period. Additionally, investigation into
the long-term rates of production of new mineral
surfaces and the extent of mineral occlusion by
organic matterwhich affects physical adsorp-
tion and DON export in tile-drained landscapes-
will allow a better determination of transport
rates for DON. Tastly, to determine the spatial
scale at which in-stream processes become more
important than the upland export of DON sea-
sonal changes in DON and TDN in successively
larger downstream waterways will be monitored.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will contribute to a holistic under-
standing of water quality in intensively managed
landscapes as it will focus on the organic por-
tion of the TDN load, which is often overlooked
but is greatly affected by the plant-soil system.
Furthermore, it will provide a foundation for fully
integrating the connections between physical
and biological processes in upland and aquatic
environments and how those processes can either
enhance or detract from downstream surface
water quality
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This project is expected to result in a unique
perspective and anew, more fundamental under-
standing of DON export from terrestrial to aquatic
systemsparticularly those where the hydrology
and soils have been radically altered by human
activitywhich will lead to better modeling and
interpretation of data increasingly collected by
many agencies that monitor DON and TDN in
waterways. This is critical in many rural areas
that are dependent on surface waters for primary
water supply or drought contingency planning.
Many of these areas are dependent on rural water
networks, which provide waters that have a large
array of end-uses, making holistic perspectives on
water source quality a critical priority.
Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is an important
part of the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) loads of
waterways throughout the United States; however,
most of the impacts and monitoring of nitrogen have
centered on dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the
form of nitrate, which is not reflective of the entire
problem. To better understand and predict the effect
that terrestrial systems can have on DON levels in
waterways, there is a critical need to understand the
transport and transformations of organic nitrogen,
DON and organic matter in both solid and adsorbed
forms in soils. The two main factors that influence
the transport and transformation of organic nitrogen
are the biological degradation and mineralization
of nitrogen in organic matter and the association of
organic matter with mineral particle surfaces and iron
and aluminum oxyhydroxides. This project will study
this in the agriculturally important tile-drained soils
of southern Minnesota.
Keywords: dissolved organic nitrogen, organic matter, mineral weathering soil, water quality
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Approaches and Challenges
Information Science
Innovative Investigations for Oil Spill Impacts
Social Sciences
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How wonderful it is that nobody need
wait a single moment before starting to
improve the world.
A . n . . .1
- Anne Frank
-------
Emerging Environmental Approaches
E
Information Science
Huffaker, Erich
Assessing the Emissions Impacts of
Demand Response Programs Due to Diesel
Backup Generation in California
University of California, Berkeley (CA).
46
Social Sciences
Carr, Wylie Allen
Managing Sunlight: Exploring
Underrepresented Populations'
Perspectives on Geoengineering
University of Montana (MT)m
54
Laney, Christine Marie
Cyberinfrastructure to Improve the
Usability of Environmental Observations
University of Texas, El Paso
47
Chaffin, Brian Christopher
Coordinating Collaboration for Improved
Water Quality in the Klamath Basin, USA:
Toward a Model of Adaptive Governance
Oregon State University (OR)
55
Mellor, Jonathan Edward
Agent-Based Modeling as a Tool for the
Prevention of Early Childhood Diarrhea
Chow, Jeffrey
Quantifying Local Benefits of Mangrove
Plantation Shelterbelt in Coastal Bangladesh
University of Virginia (VA). 48 Yale University (CT). 56
Innovative Investigations for Oil
Spill Impacts
Bowman, Jeff Shovlowsky
Potential for the Sea Ice Microbial
Community to Bioremediate Crude Oil
University of Washington (WA).
Conrad, Abigail Elizabeth
Permaculture Gardens: Investigating
Food Security and Alternative Agriculture
Among Smallholder Farmers in Malawi
American University (DC).
57
50
Lattin, Christine Renee
Evaluating the Stress Response of Wild
Birds as a Bioindicator of Sub-Lethal
Acute and Chronic Effects of Crude
Oil Exposure
Tufts University (MA).
51
Mcllroy, John William
Objective Decision-Making Tools for
Modeling the Fate of Complex Petroleum
Products in the Environment
Michigan State University (MI).
Coyle, Lauren Nicole
Dual Sovereignties in the Golden Twilight:
Law, Land and Environmental Politics
in Ghana
University of Chicago (II.). 58
Garner, Gregory George
Statistical Post-Processing of the National
Air Quality Forecast Capability to Optimize
the Value and Layout of Ozone Monitors
in the Washington-Baltimore Region
Pennsylvania State University (PA). .59
52
Hoover, Joseph Hamilton
Investigating the Utility of Web-Based GIS
in Water Quality Environmental
Decision-Making
University of Denver (CO).
Howell, Jordan Patterson
Beyond the Technical: Innovative
Approaches to Understanding
Implementation of Waste-to-Energy
in the United States
Michigan State University (MI).
61
Knapp, Freyja Liselle
Mining for Gold to Save the Environment?
The Political Ecology of Global e-Waste
Recycling
University of California, Berkeley (CA).
m
Levy, Morgan C.
A Social-Ecological Study of
Agricultural Water Management
University of California, Berkeley (CA). .63
Miles, Wendy Beth
Revaluing Rainforests: The Political
Ecology of Neoliberal Conservation
University of Hawaii, Manoa (HI). 64
Ohayon, Jennifer Liss
Public Participation in the Environmental
Remediation of Former Military Bases
University of California, Santa Cruz (CA). 65
Ormerod, Kerri Jean
Governing Risk, Reuse and Reclamation:
Water Pollution Control and New Water
Resources in the Southwestern United States
University of Arizona (AZ). 66
Ribera, Marta M.
Interdisciplinary Spatial Modeling to Foster
Decision-Making in Marine Ecosystems
Boston University (MA). _ .67
60
43
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Information Science
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: ertehi@berkeiey;eelij
EPA Grant Number: FP917189
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
Environmental Discipline: Environmental Decision
Making
Erich Huffaker
Assessing the Emissions Impacts of Demand Response Programs Due
to Diesel Backup Generation in California
Erich Huffaker was raised in Riverside, California,
and graduated with a degree in Global Economics
from University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2005.
He spent the next 3 years promoting technology
as a means of economic development with various
nonprofit organizations in Mali as an IT consultant,
web designer and teacher. Upon returning to the
United States, he began a dual Master's degree
program at the Goldman School of Public Policy
and the Energy and Resources Group at the Uni-
versity of California, Berkeley. His research there
has focused generally on the promise, potential
and obstacles that demand-side strategies and
technologies hold for moving to a lower carbon
energy economy. He worked as a graduate student
researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory's PIER Demand Response Research
Center and spent the summer of 2010 exploring
the extent to which California demand response
program participants rely on backup diesel gen-
eration at the Energy Division of the California
Public Utilities Commission. He is an avid biker
and speaks Spanish, French and Bambara (Malian
dialect).
Synopsis
Demand response (DR) has played a growing
role in the plans to revitalize the grid. However,
increasing shares of participants in DR programs
have been relying heavily on heavy polluting diesel
backup generators (BUGs) to meet the electric-
ity reductions mandated by their programs. This
project examines the trade-off between the energy
goal of peak demand reduction that characterizes
DR and environmental concerns over the threat
that diesel emissions pose for human health and
air quality.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Many have attested to the value of Demand
Response (DR) in maintaining grid stability and
reducing peak demand. However, not much
research has looked at its environmental impacts.
Specifically what are the emissions impacts in
California of the backup diesel generators (BUGs)
that many DR participants rely on to meet their
curtailment obligations?
APPROACH
The basic approach will be to utilize recently
available data on when BUGs run within the
State of California to assess cumulative emis-
sions impacts. First, the study aims to obtain and
format the run-time logs, which detail the specific
usage patterns of BUGs in California. Then, the
study will identify which of these BUG owners
also are participants in DR programs. Hie hours
of BUG usage will be cross-referenced against
the schedule of events for various DR programs,
providing atarget number of hours that BUGs are
used for DR. Then, the study can assess the emis-
sions rates of PM, SO , NO and any other relevant
X X J
criteria pollutants for each of these generators.
The next step will be to create a simple spread-
sheet tool that policy makers may use to input
raw data on BUG usage. The output of the tool will
be emissions rates that air quality modelers can
utilize to determine specific local effects.
EXPECTED RESULTS
There is a dearth of research examining the
specific impacts of BUGs in demand response.
However, one previous study in 2005 attempted
to quantify the impacts using modeling tools,
finding that the impacts of such usage were
significant and negative overall. It is likely that
this study underestimated the cumulative effects
that the current study's results will uncover. As a
result, the study expects to find that the usage of
these generators poses a significant threat to the
environment and air quality
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Long-term exposure to PM has a well-acknowl-
edged history of correlation with lung cancer and
cardiovascular disease. PM emissions drive up the
overall risk factor of pollution in an area. Con-
centrations of BUGs are highest in urban areas,
so their emissions have a proportionally higher
impact per capita. In addition, BUG pollution
from DR occurs on event days that are typically
the hottest, smoggiest days of the year. In sum,
this study will aim to give insight in PM and other
emissions that occur in the worst possible places,
at the worst possible times.
Keywords: BUGs Demand Response, emissions impacts demand response, diesel generators demand response, demand response air quality, diesel generators,
backup generators, particulate matter (PM)
46
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Emerging Environmental Approaches
Information Science
University of Texas, El Paso (TX)
E-mail: cmlaney@miners.ijtep.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP91728S
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 971/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $128,000
Environmental Discipline: Terrestrial
Ecosystems
& Challenges:
Christine Marie Laney
Cyberinfrastructure to Improve the Usability of Environmental Observations
Christine Laney received her B.S. in Bi
the University of Puget Sound in 199
M.S. in Biology from New Mexico State
in 2005. From 2005 to 2010, she c
the EcoTrends project (http://www.e
info), making long-term ecological
50 U.S. research sites easily acces
comparison, visualization and downlc
single website. As a student in the Env
Science and Engineering Ph.D. progr
University of Texas at El Paso, her resear
on informatics and cyberinfrastructure
environmental sensor networks.
Synopsis
More data are needed to understand
plex relationships between climate cl
ecosystems on which human well-beir
Researchers are deploying networks
automated sensors to continuously g;
water and energy flux data. However,
information-rich data streams is ch
especially for small laboratories. This [
yield a flexible cyberinfrastructure that c
to facilitate data analysis and knowled^
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The overarching goal of this research is to create
a useful, modular local cyberinfrastructure (CI)
that will help small laboratories to: (1) curate
and share their data efficiently while adhering
to nationally recognized standards, (2) compare
their data with data collected by larger research
networks, and (3) scale their data from local
to regional and global scales. The overarching
research questions addressed by this study are:
(1) What are the best practices for researchers
at small laboratories who wish to organize their
work such that they meet their own research
goals while making their data discoverable and
usable for data synthesis efforts? (2) What kinds
of CI and best practices will connect researchers
at small laboratories to broader scale data cura-
tion and analysis efforts? (3) What kinds of CI will
best combine distributed data at multiple spatial
scales?
APPROACH
This study will first do a literature search and
interviews of small laboratories that collect
environmental, and specifically carbon cycling
data to determine how they currently organize
their work and information. Following an IRB-
approved protocol, interviews and focus group
sessions will be conducted at national meetings
such as the Ecological Society of America and the
American Geophysical Union. Next, the study will
work with members of the Cyber-ShARE team to
design, build, implement, validate and verify the
new CI framework Hie first phase of this project
will be to set up a prototype to curate and analyze
data collected by the Systems Ecology Laboratory
(SEL) at a research site at the Jornada Experi-
mental Range, within the northern range of the
Chihuahuan Desert. The second phase will bring
external data in for integration with local data
and will set up protocols for distributing data and
documentation to other data centers or projects.
The third and final phase of this project is to
promote use of the CI framework and modules
outside of the Jornada research group, and obtain
feedback on its usability and usefulness.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Research in the new fields of ecoinformatics
and environmental applications is essential for
answering urgent, applied earth system ques-
tions. The expected outcome of the research is
a validated, flexible CI framework that can be
used, modified and shared by small laboratories
to facilitate knowledge and data sharing, and that
can evolve over time with users' evolving needs.
Such a CI will allow for bottom-up modifications
while keeping national frameworks and goals of
data management in focus. The CI framework and
modules developed for this project, posted online
as a free and dynamic resource, may encourage
laboratories to set up their own robust CIs and
improve data sharing. Researchers in both the
environmental and computer sciences will be
encouraged to modify existing or create new
modules, keeping national initiatives in mind,
to address other lines of ecosystem or earth
system research. This could include curating and
discovering air and water quality, human health
and agricultural data, providing a platform for
synthetic studies of human-environment interac-
tions. Eventually, such data-supported activities
could inform efforts by EPA regarding the Clean
Air and Clean Water Acts. This set of bottom-up
activities meeting top-down environmental infor-
mation management efforts may help transform
ecological information management and sharing.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The testing of this CI during each phase of devel-
opment will not only tell us about the efficacy
of the new CI, but also about regional environ-
mental processes, which ultimately have implica-
tions to the burgeoning population in the desert
southwest. Being able to describe carbon cycling
at a regional level by quickly analyzing datasets
collected locally and comparing them to datasets
from different sites within the region can promote
rapid assessment of ecosystem health and pro-
ductivity. Being able to share data regionally will
promote collaborations, which will be able to
more quickly assess patterns in the data.
Keywords: ecology, informatics, cyberinfrastructure, environmental science
47
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Information Science
University of Virginia (VA)
E-mail: jem3w@virginia.eclu
EPA Grant Number: FP917286
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/33/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:; IEFlvironrrierrtaI
Bfjgj teetlng
Jonathan Edward Mellor
Agent-Based Modeling as a Tool for the Prevention of Early Childhood Diarrhea
After finishing his M.S. degree in Physics at the
University of Virginia (UVA), Jonathan Mellor
enrolled in the Master's International Program at
Michigan Technological University that combines
coursework with practical work in the Peace Corps,
for which he worked as an environmental engineer
in Uganda. His M.S. research investigated rural
water collection efforts and water usage, as well
as a comparative study about the effectiveness of
different water and sanitation interventions. He is
now at UVA working on his Ph.D. studying the com-
plex causes of diarrheal diseases in South Africa.
Synopsis
This research will develop an agent-based com-
puter model to simulate the complex relationships
of water and sanitation practices and childhood
diarrhea in South Africa. This transdiciplinary
project will use field data from a community
about water and sanitation practices, and patho-
gen sources. Varying input parameters, like water
source pathogen levels, will elucidate interventions
that may be most effective at reducing diarrhea.
The model can be a tool for researchers and policy
makers worldwide.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Early childhood diarrhea (ECD) causes nearly
1.5 million child deaths worldwide each year.
But the causes of and the prevention strategies
for ECD are numerous and complex. Therefore,
the purpose of this research is to create an agent-
based model (ABM) to simulate the transmission
of harmful pathogens that are the primary cause
of ECD in much of the developing world. That
model can then be used to predict which inter-
ventions will be most effective at stopping ECD
and to explore the complex relationships related
to this transmission.
APPROACH
The ABM, which is inherently transdisciplinary,
will be validated and calibrated using field data
collected from two adjacent communities in
Limpopo Province, South Africa. Those commu-
nities are being studied as part of along-standing
partnership between the University of Virginia
and the University of Venda in Thohoyandou,
South Africa. Data about pathogen sources as
well as sanitation and behavioral practices will be
gathered using community surveys, microbiologi-
cal testing and pathogen growth, decay and trans-
mission measurements. These data will inform
the development of the geo-spatial ABM in which
the "agents" will be the community members
who can make decisions about their adherence
to sound water and sanitation practices. Varying
input parameters such as water source pathogen
levels will elucidate which interventions may be
most effective at reducing diarrhea.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Preliminary field data have suggested that patho-
gen levels in household drinking water storage
containers may be significantly higher than
community water sources. This suggests that
point-of-use water treatment interventions such
as the introduction of household ceramic water
filters might be the most beneficial. However,
ABM modeling frequently reveals unexpected,
emergent outcomes that could not have been
predicted based on model inputs. Therefore, a
full behavior space analysis will be conducted to
search for such emergent outcomes.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The model can be an easy-to-use tool for research-
ers, government agencies and humanitarian orga-
nizations worldwide and will provide valuable
insight into the complex pathogen transmission
chain that leads to ECD. This insight will inform
the development of intervention strategies
that can be broadly applied to similar settings
throughout the developing world.
Keywords: diarrhea, agent-based modeling, ABM, coliform, water, sanitation, hygiene, Africa, health, transdisciplinary
48
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>
r
r
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Innovative Investigations for Oil Spill Impacts
University of Washington (WA)
E-mail: tawmanis@uw.0du
EPA Grant Number:
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 09/06/2011-09/05/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Civil/Environmental
iftgfcffl
Jeff Shovlowsky Bowman
Potential for the Sea Ice Microbial Community to Bioremediate Crude Oil
Bio
Jeff Bowman earned his undergraduate degree in
oceanography from the University of Washington.
While there, he became interested in microbial
persistence and growth in sea ice and other regions
of the cryosphere. He earned his Master's studying
the distribution of bacteria at the sea ice surface,
work which took him to the north coast of Alaska
and the North Pole. Currently, he is investigating
the potential role of the sea ice microbial com-
munity in the bioremediation of crude oil.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This study has three objectives: (1) establish a
baseline of microbial community structure and
composition within sea ice, including members
of the rare biosphere who may have bioremedia-
tion potential; (2) search for genes known to be
involved in the degradation of crude oil within
several different components of the sea ice
environment; and (3) determine the prevalence
of these genes within the active segment of the
microbial community.
APPROACH
DNA will be extracted from samples of first year
ice, young sea ice, marine water and surface ice
features (known to be microbial enriched) from
McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Pending additional
field opportunities, samples also maybe collected
from Barrow, Alaska or Nuuk Greenland. Purified
DNA from these samples will be amplified for the
V6 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene and
sequenced in a massively parallel fashion using
the paired-end technique on either the SOLiD
or Illumina sequencing platforms. Both of these
platforms support sufficient multiplexing to allow
replication, yet still allow for great sequencing
depth (tens of millions of reads per sample). Taxo-
nomic and phylogenetic analysis of assembled
paired-ends, and community description with
standard ecological indices will establish a valu-
able baseline of the sea ice microbial community.
Amplification of the purified DNA with primers
specific to genes marking known pathways for the
degradation of crude oil components, followed
by clone library and T-RFLP analysis will char-
acterize the bioremediation potential of the sea
ice microbial community. Amplification of these
same genes from sea ice microcosms labeled with
heavy carbon substrates (stable isotope probing,
or SIP) will determine to what extent these genes
are contained within an active segment of the
microbial community, and thus are available for
rapid bioremediation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Due to the concentrating effects of eutectic freez-
ing, sea ice brines are considered to be an organic
rich environment. Microbes adapted to life in
sea ice should be capable of living under these
conditions and degrading a wide range of organic
compounds. Because of this, the expectation is to
find that the sea ice microbial community is able
to con sume a broad range of organic compounds
found in crude oil. If this is the case, then sea ice
might serve as the seedbanlc for a community of
oil degrading organisms in the case of an oil spill
at high latitudes.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Increasing oil exploration in the Arctic, and the
potential for exploration in the Antarctic, raise
the risk of a release of crude oil in ice covered
seas. This project provides valuable informa-
tion on the potential of the sea ice microbial
community to bioremediate released crude oil.
Increasing oil exploration at high latitudes raises
the risk of an oil release in ice covered seas. This
research focuses on the potential for the sea ice
microbial community to mitigate the effects of an
oil release. For this investigation, an assessment
of microbial community structure across the sea
ice environment will be conducted and a search for
genes involved in crude oil degradation.
Keywords: sea ice bacteria, bioremediation, stable isotope probing, Arctic oil exploration
50
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Innovative Investigations for Oil Spill Impacts
Tufts University (MA)
E-mail: christine.lattin@tufts.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP91735G
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
Toxiealogy
j>. w
Christine Renee Lattin 0
Evaluating the Stress Response of Wild Birds as a Bioindicator of Sub-Lethal Acute and
Chronic Effects of Crude Oil Exposure
Bio
Christine Lattin received her B.A. in Linguistics
from Swarthmore College in 2001. Over the next
few years, she worked in science and educa-
tion at Glen Helen Raptor Center in Ohio, Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, and Eloise
Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in
Minnesota. She received her M.S. in Biology from
Eastern Kentucky University in 2008, and started
her Ph.D. at Tufts University in the fall of the same
year. Her doctoral research focuses on the stress
physiology of wild animals.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
One of the most important yet least under-
stood of oil's biological impacts is on the stress
response. Studies show petroleum can interact
in an additive fashion with other stressors to
cause increased mortality, but it is not clear
exactly whydoes petroleum change stress
hormone receptor concentrations in the brain
or peripheral tissues, does it disrupt feedback
mechanisms or stress hormone production, or
both? This study uses both laboratory and field
components to systematically quantify the effects
of Gulf of Mexico crude oil on the stress response
and stress hormone receptors of wild birds. This
will allow an evaluation of whether these physi-
ological measures can be used as bioindicators
of sub-lethal acute and chronic effects of crude
oil exposure.
APPROACH
This study proposes to clarifypetroleum-induced
changes to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal
(HPA) axis responsible for the release of gluco-
corticoid stress hormones. The study has three
goals to: (1) determine what the HPA functioning
of an oil-compromised bird looks like, including
tissue concentrations of stress hormone recep-
tors; (2) examine HPA functioning in birds both
immediately after crude oil ingestion and several
months later to look for long-term effects of oil
exposure; and (3) compare the effects on the HPA
of several different crude oils. The first stage of
this project will take place in the laboratory, using
wild-caught House Sparrows as a model species.
The second stage of the project includes fieldwork
in the Gulf of Mexico to determine if wild shore-
birds fit expected profiles of oil-exposed animals,
both in terms of HPA functioning and receptor
concentrations.
EXPECTED RESULTS
By the project's end, there will be a much deeper
understanding of how ingested petroleum
impacts the stress response of wild birds, not
just at the level of secreted hormone, but also
upstream and downstream of the adrenal glands.
The study will provide a better idea of how long to
expect oil-induced disruptions to the HPA axis to
last: will these effects persist 3 months, 6 months
or a year later? Furthermore, based on differences
in response to different crude oils, the study will
be able to start to identify which components of
petroleum do the most damage to the HPA axis.
The strength of this project's approach is that it
goes above and beyond just measuring stress hor-
mone concentrations in the blood, and examines
negative feedback mechanisms, maximal possible
response and stress hormone receptors.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
A clearer understanding of petroleum's effects
on wild birds is essential to help people better
respond to oil spills and their aftermath (for
example, better prioritization of sites to manage),
and to fully understand the conservation impacts
of these spills. This project could potentially also
allow people not only to identify exposure in wild
shorebirds from contaminated areas, but also in
other species, including humans.
Keywords: stress, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, avian physiology, shorebirds, bioindicators, petroleum, toxicity, oil spills
To successfully cope with challenges in their envi-
ronment, wild animals must be able to mount a
physiological stress response. Ingested petroleum
can severely compromise this response in ways
that are poorly understood. This project will exam-
ine both short- and long-term effects of petroleum
on the stress response of wild birds, allowing us
to evaluate whether the stress response could be
used as a bioindicator of crude oil exposure in
migratory and resident birds in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Innovative Investigations for Oil Spill Impacts
Michigan State University (Ml)
E-mail: mcilroyj@msu;eelu
EPA Grant Number: FP91729S
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $128,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
Chen istry
John William Mcllroy E
Objective Decision-Making Tools for Modeling the Fate of Complex Petroleum Products
in the Environment
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has highlighted
the environmental hazards of petroleum dis-
charges and the knowledge gaps that hinder
accurate risk assessment and remediation. Part of
the challenge in assessing petroleum discharges
is the complexity of the sample and the changes
in the physical and chemical properties that
occur due to weathering processes. Improve-
ments in the fundamental understanding of these
transport processes promise to improve impact
assessments of discharges and to test remedia-
tion effectiveness. The proposed research aims
to develop empirical rate constants for relevant
physical and chemical weathering processes
to serve as the foundation for models of fate of
petroleum and biofuel constituents.
APPROACH
Diesel fuels will serve as an example of a complex
pollutant mixture. The fuel samples will undergo
four different simulated weathering processes:
evaporation, photooxidation, hydrolysis and
microbial degradation. These weathering pro-
cesses were chosen to closely simulate a spill
on water, but the methodology and results can
be expanded to other environments as well. The
chemical changes will be monitored over time,
using both gas and liquid chromatography with
mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical
techniques will be applied to identify the com-
ponents that are changing during each of the
weathering processes. These components will
then be modeled to predict rates of degradation
or formation. The model will be developed for
constituents with well-defined physical param-
eters, and then extended to other constituents
with similar chemical properties. This will provide
the kinetic information for the determination of
the rate constants and reaction orders. The final
model will consist of an array of rate constants
and reaction orders for individual compounds as
well as classes of chemical compounds, such as
alkanes, alkyl benzenes and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs).
EXPECTED RESULTS
The proposed research will provide a compre-
hensive model that can predict the loss and
formation of compounds as a result of weath-
ering of petroleum products. This will build on
past models by modeling not only individual
compounds, but also by modeling classes of
compounds. As a result, a more comprehensive
model that takes into account the properties of
the bulk mixture will be developed. In addition,
multivariate statistical procedures will be applied
to help identify the relevant sources of variation
between samples. Evaporative loss is expected
to be the dominant weathering process, and
potentially mask changes from the other weath-
ering processes. By modeling each weathering
process individually, it will be possible to correct
and minimize the masking that may occur. The
model can be used to guide decision-making, as
it will predict the loss or formation of compounds.
Toxic compounds, such as PAHs, are of particular
interest, due to their toxicity and potential reac-
tions that may occur during photooxidation. The
model also can be used to evaluate the effec-
tiveness of remediation procedures. Successful
remediation procedures will remove constituents
faster than the model predicts. Finally, the model
can be used to derive the original composition
of the petroleum product, based on predicted
weathering processes. This would then allow for
the comparison of fuels to determine responsibil-
ity or origin of the pollution.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will provide a more comprehensive
understanding of the compounds that are present
at a petroleum spill site. In addition, it will allow
for the prediction of newly formed compounds.
A more complete understanding of the weather-
ing processes will help to direct cleanup efforts
and provide a better estimation of the long-term
effects of a petroleum spill. Prediction of the deg-
radation processes that are occurring also may
lead to targeted remediation, lessen the economic
impact and better assist relief organizations in
strategic planning.
Bio
John Mcllroy is currently a graduate student at
Michigan State University, working on his Ph.D.
degree in Analytical Chemistry and an M.S. degree
in Forensic Chemistry. His doctoral research focus
is on modeling the environmental weathering of
petroleum products, using multivariate statistics.
He earned his undergraduate degrees in Biochem-
istry, Forensic Science and Application of Science
and Law from Mercyhurst College, in Erie, Pennsyl-
vania in 2005. He is originally from Huntingdon,
Pennsylvania.
Synopsis
Recent events have highlighted the environmental
hazards of petroleum discharges and the knowledge
gaps that hinder risk assessment and remediation.
Part of the challenge in assessing discharges is the
complexity of the sample and the changes in the
physical and chemical properties that occur due
to weathering processes. This project will develop
models to describe the weathering processes that
will aid in decision-making and the prediction of
the environmental fate of the petroleum products.
Keywords: environmental fate, weathering, petroleum fuel, biofuel, environmental modeling
52
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I
Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges;
Social Sciences
University of Montana (MT)
E-mail: wylieicarrSumeiTtana.ed'u
EPA Grant Number: ;FP9173ie
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/25011 -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Social Sciences
Bio
Wylie Carr received his undergraduate degree in
Religious Studies from the University of Virginia
in 2006. After moving to Missoula, Montana the
following year, he discovered a passion for envi-
ronmental issues, with a particular interest in the
social aspects of climate change, and enrolled in
the College of Forestry at the University of Mon-
tana. Wylie conducted research on the relationship
between theologically conservative Christians' reli-
gious beliefs and their views on climate change for
his Master's thesis, which he completed in May
2010. He began a Ph.D. program in the same
department at the University of Montana in August
2010, but spent half of the past year in the United
Kingdom as a visiting student at Lancaster Univer-
sity's Sociology Department. His current research
is focused on the social and ethical questions
raised by geoengineering.
Synopsis
This research will examine opportunities for
expanding public dialog about geoengineering to
include broader cultural perspectives. It will utilize
qualitative social science data to investigate how
publics that may be disproportionately impacted
feel about various geoengineering proposals. With
an understanding of more diverse perspectives,
this research will be able to point towards more
inclusive, transparent and democratic modes
of public engagement on geoengineering in the
future.
Wylie Allen Carr
Managing Sunlight: Exploring Underrepresented Populations' Perspectives
on Geoengineering
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research will examine opportunities for
expanding public dialog about geoengineering
to include broader cultural perspectives. The two
primary research questions are: (1) How do popu-
lations that are currently underrepresented in
discussions about geoengineering, but who may
be significantly impacted by various geoengineer-
ing research or deployment proposals, feel about
geoengineering? (2) How could such populations
be more effectively included in future discussions
about geoengineering research and governance?
APPROACH
This research will utilize qualitative social science
data to answer the primary research questions.
Data collection will include indepth interviews
and participant observation. Research partici-
pants will be selected from regions both within
and outside of the United States that current
climate models indicate may be significantly
impacted by various geoengineering proposals.
Data analysis will be informed by sociological
theory more specifically a science and technol-
ogy studies perspective.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Theresults ofthis research will point towards more
inclusive, transparent and democratic modes of
public engagement on geoengineering. By incor-
porating geographically and culturally diverse
perspectives, this research will indicate concerns
related to geoengineering that have not yet been
raised or recognized. This research also will indi-
cate how certain populations that will possibly
be significantly impacted by geoengineering can
be more effectively included in future discussions
about geoengineering research and governance.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Geoengineering proposals are predominately
global in scale, meaning that they have poten-
tially wide ranging impacts on both environmen-
tal and human health. Various geoengineering
proposals may help to lessen potentially severe
impacts from climate change; however, many of
the potential impacts to the environment and
human health from geoengineering currently are
unknown. Additionally, current discussions about
geoengineering are primarily limited to scientists
and politicians in wealthy, developed nations.
This research project is designed to help broaden
the discussion about the potential impacts of geo-
engineering on both human and environmental
health to include more diverse perspectives. By
diversifying the discussion, this research has the
potential to make geoengineering efforts aimed
at protecting environmental and human health
more transparent and democratic.
Keywords: geoengineering, qualitative social science, public engagement
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
Oregon State University (OR)
E-mail: G:ftaTfinbฎl0e.ar^ionstate.9du
EPA Grant Number: FP9I7277
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/20:11 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: SiaclSfl Sciences
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Brian Christopher Chaffin
Coordinating Collaboration for Improved Water Quality in the Klamath Basin, USA:
Toward a Model of Adaptive Governance
Brian Chaffin holds a B.S. from the Department
of Conservation Social Sciences and an M.S. from
the Department of Environmental Science at the
University of Idaho. His previous graduate research
investigated the institutional organization of state-
based watershed groups in the Pacific Northwest.
Brian enjoys work and research in rural watersheds
and has worked many seasons as a commercial wil-
derness river guide. His Ph.D. research at Oregon
State University focuses on the recently proposed
Klamath River Basin Restoration Agreement and
implications for improved basin water quality.
Synopsis
A growing number of bottom-up approaches to
water quality governance have emerged from col-
laborations of community leaders sensing the need
for alternatives to top-down water quality regula-
tion. This project analyzes institutional arrange-
ments for managing water quality in the Klamath
River Basin of Oregon and California. Recent col-
laborative agreements forged by Klamath Basin
stakeholder groups may offer innovative solutions
for coordinating water quality improvements at the
basin scale.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
In recent years, a growing number of bottom-up
approaches to water quality governance have
emerged from groups of local actors, social net-
works and various collaborations of community
leaders sensing the need for alternatives to top-
down government through new approaches to
environmental decision making. These efforts
have been largely successful, specifically in the
context of ecological restoration for improved
water quality The question arises: Can multiple,
locally based, collaborative efforts to improve
water quality be coordinated across alarge-scale
ecosystem such as a large river basin?
APPROACH
The institutional arrangements in the Klamath
River Basin of south-central Oregon and north-
ern California present an optimal case study area
to test the coordination of collaborative efforts
to improve basin water quality. Through the
theoretical framework of adaptive governance,
this study will test the hypothesis that collabora-
tive agreements forged between Klamath River
Basin stakeholder groups provide the framework
necessary to coordinate multiple collaborative
water quality improvement efforts. At the core
of the proposed project is an indepth elucidation
and analysis of the key features of the Klamath
Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and its
companion Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement
Agreement (KHSA), which together, comprise
one of the most comprehensive ecosystem resto-
ration projects ever envisioned. Further research
techniques will include an institutional mapping
exercise to identify and characterize existing
approaches to water quality management in the
Klamath Basin, as well as semi-structured inter-
views with representatives from federal, state and
tribal agencies associated with Klamath water
quality governance.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The datafrom interviews and document analyses
may suggest that the KBRA contains a number of
innovative solutions to the problem of identifying
a governance mechanism to unite individual col-
laborative efforts to improve basin water quality
Research on the Klamath agreements will be used
to contribute a framework of adaptive gover-
nance to the theoretical and applied literature,
including an analysis of lessons learned, practi-
cal limitations and guidelines for implementing
adaptive governance to unify collaboration. The
Klamath case study will satisfy abroader need for
on-the-ground examples of adaptive and collab-
orative governance with the potential to improve
water quality in a variety of geographic scales and
contexts.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research explores a case study of coordinat-
ing collaboration as a framework for improving
water quality and achieving the goals of the Clean
Water Act. This research will contribute to exist-
ing knowledge and scholarship on the potential
promise of emerging forms of devolved environ-
mental governance aimed at ecological restora-
tion for the improvement and protection of water
quality. Innovative agreements represent future
solutions for improving water quality through the
coordination of individual collaborative initia-
tives, while at the same time serving the needs
of resource dependent stakeholders, complying
with regulatory requirements, and reducing con-
flict over rural water.
Keywords: adaptive governance, collaborative management, water quality, Klamath River, Clean Water Act
55
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
Yale University (CT)
E-mai I: jefl,f^.chow@yale.edlu
EPA Grant Number: FP917318
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: WllllMIIBil
Jeffrey Chow I
Quantifying Local Benefits of Mangrove Plantation Shelterbelt in Coastal Bangladesh
Bio
Jeffrey Chow is a doctoral candidate studying
natural resource and environmental economics
at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental
Studies. His research focuses on the economics
of land use at the interface of agriculture and
forests within tropical, developing regions. Previ-
ously, Jeff worked at Resources for the Future, an
environmental economics and policy think tank in
Washington, D.C. Fie holds Master of Environmen-
tal Management and Master of Forestry degrees
from the Duke University Nicholas School of the
Environment, and a B.S. in Biology from Arizona
State University.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
(1) What direct uses do mangrove plantations
provide to rural coastal communities? (2) How
do benefits from mangrove plantations contrast
to those from natural mangroves? (3) Based on
socioeconomic and geophysical data, is there
evidence that mangroves mitigate economic
damages associated with storm surge?
APPROACH
To answer the first question, this study conducts
structured interviews with coastal villagers to
determine the extent of direct local use. Secondly,
this study reviews and updates a forest valuation
exercise undertaken for the Sundarbans Reserve
Forest, a natural mangrove forest in Bangladesh,
by the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO). Addressing the third
question, this study employs amodified Ricardian
analysis to investigate whether mangrove planta-
tions impart protective benefits that materialize
as gains in farm net revenues. This study focuses
on the economic impacts of a mangrove planta-
tion rather than mortality effects because the
development of shelters and early warning sys-
tems continually will reduce the loss of life due
to tropical storms in the long run. Agricultural
and aquacultural production would remain
vulnerable, however, and would require protec-
tion via man-made defenses. Finally, quantifica-
tion of economic benefits allows calculation of
benefit-cost ratios using data on plantation
management costs.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The initial surveys undertaken suggest that village
use of the mangrove plantations maybe meager.
Local uses include I'll el wood harvest, animal fod-
der collection, fruit collection and recreation.
Because the plantations are largely monocultures
that also lack the extensive networks of streams
characteristic of the Sundarbans, a natural man-
grove ecosystem, it is expected that direct use
of plantations is largely confined to fuelwood
collection. Consequently, the diversity and value
of direct uses associated with natural mangroves
would exceed those of the plantations. This study
models mangrove coverage in three ways: pres-
ence or absence of mangrove vegetation between
the farm and the coast; the width of mangrove
vegetation between the farm and the coast; and
the total impedance generated by mangrove
vegetation. The parameters associated with each
specification can be interpreted respectively as
the marginal effects of mangrove presence, man-
grove width and total mangrove resistance on
net revenues. These three variables are expected
to have a positive relationship with net farm
revenues because all three variables represent
greater impedance to storm surges traveling
inland, and because net revenues are expected to
be inversely related to storm surge vulnerability
The econometric analysis is more likely to discern
significant effects from the 2000 dataset than the
2005 dataset due to greater storm activity in 2000.
Other specifications will be explored as this proj-
ect progresses.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Socioeconomic, geographical and climatic char-
acteristics make Bangladesh one of the coun-
tries most sensitive to the damaging impacts of
climate change. The country's low topography,
underdevelopment and heavy reliance on agri-
culture make it especially vulnerable. Rises in sea-
level and sea surface temperatures will lead to
greater intensity of tropical storms, threatening
poor households, coastal infrastructure and agri-
cultural productivity. The Reduction of Climate
Change Hazards through Coastal Afforestation
with Community Participation is Bangladesh's
top priority climate adaptation project. Its pri-
mary objective is to create a thick coastal forest
belt to stabilize shorelines, reduce storm surges
and prevent soil salination. However, if mangrove
plantations are less effective at protection than
expected, they may create a false sense of security
and put more lives and property at risk. By shed-
ding light on the current socioeconomic impact
of previous efforts in Bangladesh, this research
will inform this and other mangrove plantation
initiatives, such as those in Indonesia, Thailand
and Vietnam, which are now underway as a
response to expected climate change.
Keywords: valuation, agriculture, mangroves, ecosystem goods and services, Bangladesh
Mangroves can provide a wide range of goods and
services, such as protection for inland areas during
tropical storms. Bangladesh has established over
160,000 hectares of coastal mangrove plantations
due to its vulnerability to cyclones. Utilizing sur-
veys of coastal villagers, this project investigates
the local economic value of these plantations
derived from direct uses. This study also uses GIS-
aided econometric analyses to look for evidence
that mangrove plantations reduce damages from
storm surges.
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
American University (DC)
E-mail: abigail.e0nrad#gmail.eom
EPA Grant Number; FP9173Z3
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Anthropology
Abigail Elizabeth Conrad G
Permaculture Gardens: Investigating Food Security and Alternative Agriculture Among
Smallholder Farmers in Malawi
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Bio
Abigail Conrad completed a B.A. in Anthropol-
ogy at the University of Rochester in 2008. She
is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Anthropology
at American University in Washington, D.C. Her
research focuses on livelihoods, agriculture and
food security in Malawi, where she completed
preliminary research in 2008 and 2010. She will
conduct her dissertation research in Malawi on the
relationship between the alternative agricultural
practice of permaculture, and food and nutrition
security.
Synopsis
The central research question for this study asks:
Given the cultural and structural constraints to
the implementation and adoption of permacul-
ture agricultural practices, can smallholder farm-
ers use permaculture to improve their household
food security? Further, this study will explore
how individuals' perceptions of agricultural
production, food consumption, food security
and nutrition both shape, and are changed by,
permaculture implementation.
APPROACH
This study will research three permaculture
programs in Malawi and evaluate their impact
on the food security of participating smallholder
farmers. The study will use ethnographic research
methods, and food and nutrition security mea-
sures to determine the impact that involvement
in permaculture programs has on households.
Research will be conducted with both farmers
involved in permaculture, and with farmers not
involved in permaculture, to compare their food
security and food production practices. Nongov-
ernmental organization (NGO) programs that use
different permaculture outreach and teaching
techniques, implementation methods and NGO
types will be examined to determine how these
different approaches to permaculture impact its
adoption and participants' food security. Further,
this study will explore how individuals' percep-
tions of agricultural production, food consump-
tion, food security and nutrition both shape, and
are changed by, permaculture implementation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Empirically, this project will contribute to exist-
ing literature through needed ethnographic
documentation of the implementation of per-
maculture, and its impact on food security, the
environment and nutrition, and food consump-
tion practices. Using ethnographic methods
and food and nutrition security measures, this
study will research and analyze the benefits and
limitations of using permaculture as a sustainable
agric ultural and diet-based or food-systems inter-
vention to improve nutrition and environmental
health. In addition, this study will contribute to
the knowledge of how the relationships between
alternative agriculture practices and structural
constraints, and food consumption preferences
and practices, impact food security and nutrition.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will contribute relevant and impor-
tant information to the debate about the impact
of agricultural production techniques on food
security and nutrition. This research also will
directly address the negative interactions between
the problems of food insecurity and health. If this
study finds that farmers can overcome the struc-
tural barriers to changing agricultural production
and adopt permaculture, and that permaculture
improves food security, then the results would
be significant for national policies and develop-
ment projects far beyond the programs studied.
Permaculture programs, with their flexible design
system, might then be scaled-up to neighboring
countries in the regions that face similar problems.
This study explores food security and permaculture
among smallholder farmers in Malawi. Small-scale
farming to meet food and livelihood needs is a
central activity for households in rural Malawi.
Permaculture is a low-input ecological design and
alternative agricultural system. Given the sociocul-
tural, economic and environmental constraints to
permaculture adoption, this study will investigate
if smallholder farmers can use permaculture to
improve household food security.
Keywords: food security, permaculture, alternative agriculture, livelihoods
57
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Lauren Nicole Coyle
Dual Sovereignties in the Golden Twilight: Law, Land and Environmental
Politics in Ghana
Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
University of Chicago (IL)
E-mail: iboylbฎudhicago.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917324
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/20:11 - 0/31/2015
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Anthropology
Bio
Lauren Coyle is a doctoral student in Anthropology at
the University of Chicago, where she works broadly
at the intersections of law, kinship, environmental
politics, postcolonial sovereignty, critical development
theory and historical ethnography, particularly in
Ghana. She received a J.D. from Harvard Law School
in 2008, having begun work on environmental justice
issues in Ghana with the local Friends of the Earth
chapter, under a Harvard Human Rights Summer Fel-
lowship in 2007. Her ongoing legal and anthropologi-
cal research has been supported by several sources,
including the American Philosophical Society, Some
Institutes for Advanced Study (SIAS), Social Sci-
ence Research Council, Wenner-Gren Foundation for
Anthropological Research, West African Research
Association, Land Deal Politics Initiative and Lincoln
Institute of Land Policy.
Synopsis
How does the colonial legacy of two parallel legal
systems interact with various shadow sovereigns to
frame postcolonial nationhood in Ghana? This study
hypothesizes that the recent flourishing of "rule of
law" governance programs has rendered this dual legal
legacy a critical register of tensions and aspirations
in postcolonial citizenship, sovereign government
and kin-based belonging. Gold mining is perhaps the
most significant site of contests fought under the dual
legal legacy of colonialism, as multiple entities seek
to benefit from its yield. Those contests, therefore,
serve as the focus of the project. This study involves
conducting ethnographic research centered in the
mining town of Obuasi, and also extends to villages
near Tarkwa and Kenyasi, as these are the areas most
affected by surface mining. Archival research also is
being conducted in the United Kingdom and Ghana.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
How does the colonial legacy of two parallel
legal systemsone "customary" the other under
the jurisdiction of the stateframe postcolonial
nationhood in Ghana? How, in particular, does
it frame the often violent conflicts over property
regimes that govern the ownership and extrac-
tion of resources in its neoliberal economy?
How has this legacy assumed new meaning
and heightened significance for environmental
politics in the wake of structural adjustment
reforms in Ghana? This study hypothesizes that
the recent flourishing of "rule of law" gover-
nance programs has rendered this legal legacy
a critical register of tensions and aspirations in
postcolonial citizenship, sovereign government
and kin-based belonging, and in counterintuitive
ways that resonate across contemporary Africa
that remain largely underexamined in most of the
relevant literature.
APPROACH
Gold mining, Ghana's most lucrative extractive
industry, is perhaps the most significant site of
contests over land and environmental justice
fought under the dual legal legacy of colonialism,
as indigenous peoples, traditional authorities,
corporations and the state seek to benefit from its
yield. Those contests, therefore, will be the focus
of the project. Ethnographic research will be
conducted through interviews, focus groups and
observation of various ritual, political and legal
proceedings in "customary" and "state" domains.
Research will be centered in villages in Tarkwa
(Western Region), Kenyasi (Brong-Ahafo Region)
and Obuasi (Asante Region), the three areas most
affected by surface-mining and all home to groups
that fall within the canopy ethnic group of the
Akan. In addition, interviews will be conducted
and proceedings observed in civil society groups
concerned with mining, land and labor (especially
those housed in a consortium of prominent NGOs,
the National Coalition on Mining [NCOM]), along
with relevant state and customary governmental
bodiesprincipally, commissions and courts.
Lastly, archival research will be conducted in the
United Kingdom (colonial and mining company
archives) and Ghana (colonial, national and cus-
tomary kingdom archives).
EXPECTED RESULTS
Through this ethnographic and archival research,
the development of mining and related disputes
over labor, resources, environment and land will
be traced. This ethnographic research will allow
for nuanced analysis of how "environmental
justice" functions as a key domain for political
contests under Ghana's neoliberal "rule of law"
programs, which privilege the legal domains of
contracts, constitutions and courts over, for
example, state legislation and administrative
functioning. This historical research will allow
for analysis of the development of the present-
day dual legal system under the British project
of "native administration," including colonial
systematization and even invention of custom-
ary law, as it spread throughout the coastal Gold
Coast Colony and Asante Kingdom territory to
the North. In addition, archival work will allow
a fuller understanding of transformations in
extraction and the dual legal system throughout
the early years of independence and the ensuing
decades under modernizing, developmentalist
regimes, and then into the structural adjustment
reforms of the 1980s.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Overall, this research will illuminate ways in
which various phases of modernist governance
formationscolonial, state-developmental and
neoliberalhave articulated with, on the one
hand, global phases of international law and raw
resource extraction and, on the other, "custom-
ary," kin-based systems of politics, labor and land
tenure in colonial and postcolonial settings. This
will enhance analysis of the perils and prospects
of environmental justice and public health ini-
tiatives in current neoliberal development pro-
grams, particularly as they operate in resource-
rich postcolonial settings where both customary
and state authorities serve as key components of
the constitutional order.
Keywords: environmental politics, mining and labor, kinship, customary v. state law, land conflicts, postcolonial sovereignty, neoliberal
governance, Ghana
58
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
Pennsylvania State University (PA)
E-mail: gggl21@|3su.sdu
EPA Grant Number: FP917299
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Probability/Statistics
Gregory George Garner
An alumnus of the Boston Latin School, Gregory
Garner graduated cum laude from Plymouth State
University in 2006 with a B.S. in Meteorology
and an M.S. in Applied Meteorology in 2007.
He taught "Introduction to Weather," a science
general-education course, as an adjunct faculty
member at Plymouth State University in the
spring semester of 2008. He joined an air quality
research group at Pennsylvania State University in
the fall of 2008, where he is currently working on
his Ph.D. in Meteorology. He is also a member of
the American Meteorological Society (2003) and
Mensa (2006).
Synopsis
Statistical Post-Processing of the National Air Quality Forecast Capability to Optimize
the Value and Layout of Ozone Monitors in the Washington-Baltimore Region
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Air shed managers rely on accurate air qual-
ity forecasts when making decisions regarding
actions and policy on pollution emissions and
exposure in their region. The National Air Qual-
ity Forecast Capability (NAQFC) produces these
forecasts; however, there are known problems
with this model. This project will apply statisti-
cal post-processing algorithms known as Model
Output Statistics (MOS) to the NAQFC, similar
to what is done with meteorological models, to
improve the forecast skill and economic value.
These algorithms then will be used to optimize
pollutant monitor layout in the Washington-
Baltimore area.
APPROACH
Observed and forecasted 8-hour surface ozone
mixing ratios, along with various meteorological
and chronological variables, will be assembled
from the Washington-Baltimore region during the
ozone seasons (April-October) of 2005 through
2010. These data will be used to train Classifica-
tion and Regression Tree (CART) models for
each monitor in the region. The CART models
are trained by recursively splitting the observed
ozone into homogeneous groups depending on
the state of the included variables. A multivariate
regression model will be fit to each group. This
process will be repeated numerous times using a
bootstrap process. This process produces a distri-
bution of possible outcomes with the mode of the
distribution yielding the forecast conditioned on
known local statistical relationships. The result-
ing CART and regression models are the MOS for
the given monitor. Cross-validation will be used to
assess the error of the MOS forecasts. These MOS
can then be applied to methods in determining
optimal monitor layout using spatial correlation
and value metrics.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The product resulting from this research will be
a robust tool for forecasting ozone events in the
Washington-Baltimore region. The increased skill
of these forecasts will provide sound information
to decision makers regarding actions and policy
that reduce emission of and exposure to pollut-
ants. The additional value produced by these
forecasts will provide quantifiable evidence of
how these decisions affect the local economy. By
applying these MOS to methods of optimizing
pollutant monitor layout, maximum data quality
can be attained with minimum cost,
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
By increasing forecast skill, decision makers can
have higher confidence in their choices to miti-
gate emissions and exposure. This will minimize
human health problems and environmental
impacts related to exposure to poor air quality
events while maximizing resource efficiency.
Air shed managers often rely on the national air
quality computer model to make informed deci-
sions regarding pollution actions and policy in
their region. This project will apply statistical
post-processing to this model, similar to what is
done with weather models, to improve the skill and
economic value of the forecasts. These improved
forecasts also will be used to optimize pollutant
monitor layout in the Baltimore-D.C. region.
Keywords: air quality, forecasting, modeling, decisions, decisions under uncertainty, model output statistics, MOS, regression tree, CART,
bootstrap, cross-validation, value
59
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
University of Denver (CO)
E-mail: jbseph.hesvertMu.eetu
EPA Grant Number: FP9I7339
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Geography
' ''
' v
Joseph Hamilton Hoover
Investigating the Utility of Web-Based GIS in Water Quality Environmental
Decision-Making
Joseph Hoover earned an undergraduate de;
Environmental Sciences, specializing in Ei
mental Chemistry, from Northwestern Uni
in 2007, and a Master's degree in Geoฃ
specializing in Water Resources, from the I
sity of Arizona in 2009. He is currently a di
student in Geography at the University of [
His research is situated at the intersecl
environmental water resources decision-n
and the role of web-based geographic infori
science applications.
Synopsis
Effective water resources decision-making rซ
stakeholder participation, which can be ch.
ing because of technical language in sci
reports. The research objectives are to inve
the utility of web-based GIS applications t
researchers and environmental NGOs c
scientific information about groundwater -
to stakeholder groups, analyze participant g
tions of a web-based application and clar
role of web-based technology in environr
decision-making.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The purpose of this study is to examine the effec-
tiveness of a web-based Geographic Information
System (GIS) in facilitating communication
between stakeholders and non-governmental
organizations and institutions of higher educa-
tion researchers. It will evaluate the potential
of webGIS as a tool to increase stakeholder par-
ticipation in environmental decision-making for
water resource issues.
APPROACH
This study will employ a mixed methods research
design to: (1) gather, evaluate and analyze user
perceptions toward the effectiveness of the web
tool to convey scientific information and policy
scenarios; (2) evaluate perceptions toward the
scope and depth of human health impacts from
drinking water contamination; (3) assess the
applicability of the web-based geovisualization
tool in environmental decision-making; and
(4) determine user attitudes regarding the web-
based geovisualization tool. Data collection,
summarization and analysis procedures include
descriptive statistics, survey coding, ANOVA, Q
method and factor analysis.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The expected project results will provide
researchers and practitioners a contemporary
technological model for providing enhanced
interactive web-based presentations leading
to more effective stakeholder participation in
the environmental decision-making process for
water quality and water resource issues. To this
end, the general public can become more involved
in the environmental decision-making process
leading to more effective environmental policies.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Project results will enable policy makers and
researchers to more effectively communicate
scientific information regarding groundwater
contamination to stakeholders. As a result,
greater stakeholder participation will lead to
better human and environmental protection
because environmental decision-making will be
more effective.
Keywords: water resources, webGIS, environmental decision making, groundwater quality
60
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
Michigan State University (Ml)
E-mail: hDwell2S@msu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917379
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: OS/31/2011 - 08/30/2014
Project Amount: $ 126,000
Environmental Discipline: Chemical Engineering
Jordan Patterson Howell
Beyond the Technical: Innovative Approaches to Understanding Implementation of
Waste-to-Energy in the United States
Jordan Howell earned his undergraduate degree
in Anthropology from the College of William and
Mary in 2008. He started his graduate training in
Geography at Michigan State University that same
year, completing his Master's degree in 2010 and
shortly thereafter beginning the Ph.D. program.
His research focuses on historical and cultural
dimensions of the human-environment relation-
ship, and pays special attention to energy issues
and the changing role of technology in society.
Synopsis
Landfilling and electricity generation have harsh
side effects like air pollution, groundwater contam-
ination and landscape destruction. Modern solid
waste incinerators circumvent these concerns, but
the use of this technology remains minimal in the
United States. This project considers the social
and cultural reasons for this limitation, critically
examining the attitudes, motives, tactics and
networks mobilized to both deploy and resist the
deployment of modern solid waste incinerators.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Americans are landfilling more garbage than ever
before while simultaneously consuming increas-
ing amounts of electricity generated byfossil fuels;
both activities have negative environmental and
human health side effects. Modern solid waste
incinerators (waste-to-energy or WtE, incinera-
tors) can preclude many of these harmful effects,
but the deployment of this technology remains
very limited in the United States. This research
project examines the social and cultural founda-
tions for such reluctance, contributing directly
to the understanding of the ways in which tech-
nologies with significant environmental impacts
succeed or fail.
APPROACH
This study will examine the published and
unpublished statements, papers, project studies,
policy briefs and archival materials generated by
and about the development of WtE facilities in
the United States, focusing on both specific case
studies and WtE technology in general. The study
also will analyze legal documents, laws and news
media representations of WtE along with the
records of environmental and industry interest
groups. In addition to these written sources, other
"texts" related to WtE will be studied, including
films, websites, signage and logos, advertising
campaigns, facility architecture, artwork, music
and sounds, along with more abstract "texts"
like conferences, trade shows and academic and
industry research programs. From these raw
materials, this study will build on the insights
of actor-network theory and discourse analysis
to map (both literally and figuratively) the argu-
ments involved in both promoting and resisting
the deployment of WtE facilities in the United
States.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Preliminary research suggests that limits to the
deployment of WtE technology hinge on con-
tinuing public fear over incinerator emissions
and by-products, incineration's "low-tech" image
and economic disincentives for project develop-
ment. These challenges have less to do with WtE
technology itself than with public perceptions
of it, perceptions that exist because competing
entities (pro-/anti-WtE) have mobilized various
resources (scientific papers, agencies, images,
fear, "the environment," solid waste) in the con-
struction and extension of their own positions
(for or against WtE plants) and thereby projected
power over both physical and ideological space
(whether WtE plants are built; what people think
of them). Describing and mapping (both literally
and figuratively) these constructions represents
the crux of this research, and as such the project
will produce not only an empirical study of WtE
technology in the United States, but also a frame-
work for analyzing other problems lying at the
intersection of the environment, human health
and technology.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This project aids in the understanding of the
factors that influence the deployment and pub-
lic acceptance of technologies with significant
environmental impacts. Although this research
deals directly with WtE, it functions also as a
more general framework for moving beyond
"technical" and "hard science" research in the
environmental protection arena, and contributes
to a model of greater diversify in community and
environmental planning.
Keywords: incineration, waste-to-energy, technology, geography, science and technology studies, social science, energy
61
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: freyjaStjerkeiley.ed'u
EPA Grant Number: FP9172S46
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014-
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Geology (Hydrology)
Freyja Liselle Knapp
Mining for Gold to Save the Environment? The Political Ecology of
Global e-Waste Recycling
Bio
Freyja Knapp is currently a doctoral student in the
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and
Management at the University of California (UC),
Berkeley. Her first career was as an ironworker, during
which she advocated for women pursuing careers in
the trades. She left blue-collar work and first earned
a B.A. in Public Health with High Distinction, fol-
lowed by an M.L.A. in Environmental Planning
from UC Berkeley. She currently is researching the
politics and use of science in international efforts
to govern electronic wastes. Her research interests
lie at the multiple intersections of political ecol-
ogy, environmental health sciences, science and
technology studies, globalization, environmental
governance and international development.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Discarded electronic consumer goods, e-waste,
has become a significant concern within the
international environmental community due
to its extreme toxicity and uneven geographies
of environmental burden. Contemporary
approaches to governing e-waste in develop-
ing countries use a public-private partnership
model. This project will critically examine how
complex agendas and goals from corporate, envi-
ron menial, government and public stakeholders
intersect and exert influence within the context
of global environmental problem-solving efforts.
This study offers a unique and informative case
study that bridges environmental health sciences,
environmental social sciences, international rela-
tions, global governance and policy studies, thus
contributing key lessons for multi-stakeholder
partnerships addressing complex socio-environ-
mental problems.
APPROACH
E-waste, containing both toxic chemicals and pre-
cious metals, is a complex hybrid of hazard and
commodity. This presents significant institutional
challenges for the global and on-the-ground
governance of e-waste and requires a social sci-
ence approach. This project applies a political
ecology framework that will explicitly address the
physical, political and socio-economic dynamics
of e-waste science, e-waste trade and "commodity
production" to examine the relationship between
the hazard-commodity nature of e-waste and
the challenges of international environmental
governance. Hie study will take a critical ethno-
graphic approach in examining the processes at
work and discourses leveraged in international
environmental decision-making.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The problems of e-waste are made complex by the
overlapping issues of environmental health, tech-
nology, labor, poverty, international trade and
globalization. The strength of a political ecology
frameworkis that all ofthese intersecting aspects
of e-waste are explicitly addressed through
analyses of the production and use of science,
the physical and social origins of the e-waste
problem and the multifaceted impacts of global
e-waste flows. This research project will provide
a nuanced investigation into the distribution of
benefits and costs of e-waste "mining" across
multiple and interrelated scales. It will address
a critical research gap, both in e-waste studies,
and in the international environmental gover-
nance literature, by focusing on the emergence
and effectiveness of public-private partnerships
at addressing complex environmental problems
while balancing public goods and private profits.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
As the public-private partnership model of envi-
ronmental problem-solving continues to grow in
popularity, studies examining the performance
of such an approach are critical for producing
sustainable solutions to pressing environmental
concerns. If multi-stakeholder processes do not
adequately address the constellation of needs
and interests among the diverse players, results
may be modest at best. This study will illumi-
nate how solutions are constructed in this type
of partnership, providing key lessons for future
public-private collaborations.
Discarded electronic consumer goods, e-waste, has
become a significant concern within the interna-
tional environmental community due to its extreme
toxicity and uneven geographies of environmental
burden.
Contemporary approaches to governing e-waste in
developing countries use a public-private partner-
ship model. This project will critically examine
how complex agendas and goals from corporate,
environmental, government and public stakehold-
ers intersect and exert influence within the context
of global environmental problem-solving efforts.
This study offers a unique and informative case
study that bridges environmental health sciences,
environmental social sciences, international rela-
tions, global governance and policy studies, thus
contributing key lessons for multi-stakeholder part-
nerships addressing complex socio-environmental
problems.
Keywords: environmental health, public-private partnership, e-waste, hazardous waste, mining, precious metals, international development, science studies
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: mtilevy#terkefey..edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917380
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $128,000
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental and Water
Science
un
Morgan C. Levy
A Social-Ecological Study of Agricultural Water Management
Morgan Levy is a Master's/Ph.D. student at the
University of California, Berkeley in the Energy
and Resources Group. She received her B.A. from
Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Prior to enter-
ing graduate school, she was a Fulbright Scholar in
The Netherlands, comparing Dutch and California
agricultural water management, and worked in the
Water Program of the Natural Resources Defense
Council. She is currently an intern with the Pacific
Institute's Water and Sustainability Program. Her
research focuses on agricultural water use and
climate change impacts to freshwater resources.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Eighty percent of California's freshwater supply
is used for agriculture. However, unlike metered
urban water, agricultural water use quantities are
historically unrecorded, and irrigation practices
are not well understood by those outside the
agriculture community Hydrologic processes
such as evapo-transpiration and return flows
complicate irrigation accounting. Yet, detailed
information about irrigation is critical to better
safeguarding freshwater supplies. To what degree
on-farm decisions impact the reliability of infor-
mation about water supply and quality is largely
unknown. Researching this problem requires a
human-environmental systems approach.
APPROACH
To address the gap in understanding of agricul-
tural water use, this study will integrate social
and environmental hydrodynamic factors with
a regional case study of California's agricultural
Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta 1 11 rough
original, interdisciplinary research. California is
a model water-scarce region, where water issues
center on the Delta, which supplies water for
nearly half of the state's farms, and supplements
a majority of state drinking water. The study
will collect available quantitative water use
information, and supplement that with original
qualitative social systems research. The study will
determine which qualitative factors significantly
influence quantitative accuracy, and to what
degree and larger impact.
EXPECTED RESULTS
An indepth review of quantitative plus qualitative
information on water use will uncover significant
unknowns about agricultural water use practices,
showing that qualitative factors problematize the
accuracy of reported water use measurement.
This study will contribute unique water resources
focused research to emerging scholarship on
coupled human-environmental systems, creating
the framework for a new social-environmental
process model for water resources research.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The research will aid in the assessment of Delta
ecosystem health as a whole, inform ecosystem-
linked water supply decisions elsewhere, and
serve as a model for proactive collaborations
between diverse stakeholders on matters of water
management that sustain and protect food sup-
plies, drinking water, jobs and the environment.
Water resources challenges require new modeling
schemes that incorporate social-environmental
interactions, while remaining accessible to poli-
cymakers and the public alike. This research will
provide an alternative to simplistic bullet-point
recommendations that do not adequately address
complex systems.
Keywords: fresh water resources, water management, agriculture, irrigation, California
63
To address a gap in understanding of agricultural
water use in California, this research will integrate
social and environmental hydrodynamic factors
with a regional case study of the agricultural
Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Synthesis
of quantitative plus qualitative information on
irrigation will demonstrate how qualitative factors
problematize the accuracy of water use measure-
ment, and will contribute to the creation of a
social-environmental process model for water
resources research.
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
University of Hawaii, Manoa (HI)
E-mail: woatteandrain^Sgmai'Lcom
EPA Grant Number: FP91735S
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Ssagraphy
Wendy Beth Miles
Revaluing Rainforests: The Political Ecology of Neoliberal Conservation
Wendy Miles holds a B.S. in Environmental Stud-
ies from Evergreen State College and an M.S. in
Biodiversity Conservation and Management from
Oxford University. Prior to beginning her doctoral
studies at the University of Hawaii, Wendy was the
Associate Director of the North Coast Land Con-
servancy. She has been the recipient of the Ann
Dunham Soetoro Award, Fulbright-IIE and East-
West Center Fellowships. Her research focuses on
the political ecology of environmental conservation
and climate change mitigation.
Synopsis
A key design element of the proposed international
carbon market is the commodification of C02
sequestered by forests. What will be the social
ramifications of assigning economic value to for-
est ecosystem services? The proposed research
addresses this through a case study of REDD+ that
investigates: (1) the varying values designated
to forests and how these are influenced by com-
modification and (2) the socio-economic impacts
of commoditizing C02 on forest-dependent com-
munities in Indonesia.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objective of this research is to understand bet-
ter the social ramifications of assigning economic
value to forest ecosystem services. Through a case
study of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation
and Forest Degradation (REDD) in Indonesia, this
study questions how peoples forest perspectives
are influenced by the commodification of carbon,
to what extent forest-dependent communities
are represented in REDD deliberations, and the
potential socio-economic impacts of monetizing
carbon on local people.
APPROACH
This study will conduct a multi-level analysis of
a single REDD pilot project in Indonesia using
both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Data will be gathered to understand better the
perspectives of forest-dependent communities,
government agencies, nonprofit organizations,
private-sector businesses and international
institutions that are involved in or impacted by
the selected REDD project.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The results of this research will help to under-
stand how local, forest-dependent communi-
ties are impacted by REDD and if and how
REDD and other "payments for environmental
services" may be better designed to be more
inclusive and locally beneficial while also
being more effective at reducing deforestation.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The ultimate aim of this project is for the per-
spectives of people personally involved in and
impacted by REDD to be added to global discus-
sions on how market-based conservation and
climate change mitigation strategies can be
improved in the future.
Keywords: Indonesia, forest-dependent communities, carbon sequestration, rainforest conservation, REDD
64
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)
E-mail: iotjayoTjSs'ltopait.ucsc.edu;
EPA Grant Number: FP917378
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental
Jennifer Liss Ohayon
Public Participation in the Environmental Remediation of Former Military Bases
Jennie Ohayon received a B.S. in Botany and
Political Science from the University of Toronto.
Prior to entering the Environmental Studies doc-
toral program at the University of California, Santa
Cruz, she worked as a researcher in conservation
biology laboratories. In 2010 to 2011, she was a
fellow in a National Science Foundation-funded
program, where she designed and implemented an
inquiry-based environmental sciences curriculum
in an underserved high school. She researches how
community participation shapes decisions made
about the environmental remediation of contami-
nated former military lands.
Synopsis
Military sites are ranked among the Nation's worst
hazardous waste sites, posing threats to public
and ecological health. Agencies, such as EPA,
have incorporated public participation into envi-
ronmental remediation decisions in the form of
citizen advisory committees, workshops and fund-
ing for communities to hire independent technical
experts. This research addresses how participa-
tory structures influence knowledge production,
attention to environmental justice and restoration
objectives.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Many closed military installations are listed
among the Nations worst hazardous waste sites
and incorporating meaningful public participa-
tion into decisions on environmental remediation
is a key goal for several government agencies.
This research project analyzes the relationship
between different approaches to public partici-
pation programs and the production of scientific
information and restoration outcomes in former
military sites. As the implementation of participa-
tion programs has had mixed results, the project
also examines factors that can contribute to gaps
between policy promise and policy performance.
APPROACH
This research employs several ease studies of
former military sites in California on the federal
National Priority List (NPL), which includes the
Nation's most polluted sites. The project uses a
range of qualitative methods, including close tex-
tual and contextual analysis of archival research,
indepth interviews and participant observation,
to assess different approaches to public engage-
ment in environmental remediation decisions.
Public participation strategies include citizen
advisory committees, public hearings and work-
shops, and funding for communities to hire
independent experts for scientific consultation.
Interviewees encompass key scientific and tech-
nical professionals, community-based actors and
representatives from government agencies over-
seeing or responsible for cleanup and restoration.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Findings from this research will identify barriers
to public engagement in science policy on envi-
ronmental remediation. This research will indi-
cate how different participation programs influ-
ence the accessibility of scientific information for
communities, with respect to both the availability
of comprehensive and timely information and
citizens' ability to interpret scientific and techni-
cal documents. Research findings will provide
valuable insights for facilitating communication
between communities and government agencies,
addressing conflicts over the nature and type of
scientific information and practice, and assessing
how participation programs can be structured to
increase opportunities for citizen knowledge and
preferences to be incorporated in environmental
decision-making.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
EPA estimates that there are approximately half
a million contaminated sites nationwide and
has broadly implemented public participation
programs. From studying a diverse group of stake-
holders and participatory approaches, this proj-
ect will develop recommendations for increasing
the capacity for community-level input into
decision-making, including for cases where con-
flicts over remedial activities and environmental
justice issues are prominent. The project focuses
on an area where communities have traditionally
been most excluded, on issues traditionally seen
as primarily scientific-technical concerns, with
the aim of furthering applied policy practices and
enriching the research in participatory science
policy
Keywords: environmental decision making, public participation, environmental justice, risk assessment, restoration, environmental remediation
65
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
University of Arizona (AZ)
E-mail: ฉrmerodฎฎmaiLattona.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917S57
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 971/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Geography
:ฆป
V
it
i
Kerri Jean Ormerod
Governing Risk, Reuse and Reclamation: Water Pollution Control and New Water
Resources in the Southwestern United States
Bio
Kerri Ormerod received her undergraduate degree
from the University of California, Berkeley, in Inter-
disciplinary Field Studies with emphases in City
Planning, Public Health and Geography. She began
her Ph.D. program at the University of Arizona
School of Geography and Development in 2010.
Her interests focus on the American West, urban
growth demands and the politics of recycling the
by-products of municipal wastewater treatment.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Highly treated municipal wastewater, known as
reclaimed water, is an increasingly sought after
water resource. This research project examines
three critical uncertainties that will govern the
future use of reclaimed water: (1) public values
and social pressure; (2) the political, legal and
institutional contexts; and (3) the role of science
and technology in defining ideas, facts, themes
and solutions.
APPROACH
Lawor governanceis the primary arena where
social contestations regarding risk are mediated .
This research project examines the formal, insti-
tutional and organized forms of risk management
regarding water pollution control by paying
particular attention to the legal dimensions
of reclaimed water planning (including policy,
laws, court decisions, regulations and citizen-led
ballot initiatives), and the material and physical
consequences of their logic (such as investment
in wastewater treatments facilities, separate
reclaimed water systems, and effluent-dependent
ecosystems). This dissertation research also will
address differences between the conventional
logic of experts and the general public, as well
as the role of law in balancing risks, advancing
conservation goals, promoting equity and main-
taining public trust.
EXPECTED RESULTS
By characterizing public attitudes toward
reclaimed water, expected results of this research
will help water planners and municipal utilities
carefully address public concerns before setting
reclaimed water policy and will allow for tem-
poral, operational and strategic incorporation
of behavioral considerations in the planning and
implementation process.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Given the context of future water scarcity effec-
tively integrating reclaimed water supplies will
be crucial to sustaining both human and environ-
mental health. Recognition of the social and legal
assumptions and vulnerabilities identified in this
research will be imperative for preventing con-
flicts over reclaimed water resources. In addition,
this research will provide critical information
about public perceptions of reclaimed water sup-
plies that will increase understanding of public
values and behaviors. The legal and institutional
analyses included as part of this study also will
highlight problems of definition that may become
problems of the market, trade and regulation.
Importantly, this research also acknowledges
the environmental tradeoffs of greater reclaimed
water utilization, especially for riparian habitats
in the arid Southwest.
Keywords: reclaimed water, risk perception, water quality, water supply, water pollution control
Highly treated municipal wastewater, known as
reclaimed water, is an increasingly sought-after
water resource. This research project examines
three critical uncertainties that will govern the
future use of reclaimed water: (1) public values
and social pressure; (2) the political, legal and
institutional contexts; and (3) the role of science
and technology in defining ideas, facts, themes
and solutions.
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Emerging Environmental Approaches & Challenges:
Social Sciences
Boston University (MA)
E-mail: ma rtamriberallgmai'l.com
EPA Grant Number: FP917381
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/20:11 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Geography
Marta M. Ribera
Interdisciplinary Spatial Modeling to Foster Decision-Making in Marine Ecosystems
Marta Ribera was born in Gainesville, Florida, grew
up in Barcelona, Spain, and earned her B.A. in
Biology from the Universidad Autonoma de Bar-
celona. She worked for 5 years as a GIS analyst
in the NOAA Fisheries laboratory in Panama City,
Florida. In 2008, she moved to Boston, Massachu-
setts, to pursue a Ph.D. at the Boston University
Department of Geography. Her research focuses on
applying spatial modeling tools to inform fisheries
managers of the optimal distribution of ocean uses
in the Gulf of Maine.
Synopsis
The Gulf of Maine is a biologically diverse area
and a significant driver of economic activity in
New England. Managers are increasingly turning
to ecosystem-based approaches to maximize the
sustainability of fishing activities, which requires
identifying areas vulnerable to overfishing. This
project proposes to locate areas with both a high
concentration of human activities and high ecologi-
cal productivity, and then create a dynamic spatial
model to determine the optimal use for each area.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Ocean ecosystems are complex, dynamic and
spatially heterogeneous systems, and policies
managing its resources should reflect these
characteristics. The objective of this project is to
create a spatially explicit model to help managers
determine the optimal location for various fish-
ing activities and conservation areas in the Gulf
of Maine, with the end goal of ensuring a healthy
and resilient ecosystem while still providing
socio-economic benefits for its users.
APPROACH
This project will have two clearly defined stages.
The first stage will use advanced spatial analysis
techniques, such as Neural Networks, to deter-
mine the distribution of socio-ecological hotspots
(areas characterized by an overlap of high biologi-
cal productivity and human activities and where
conflicts between conservation and commercial
activities are most likely) across the Gulf of Maine.
Secondly, once the locations of socio-ecological
hotspots have been identified, a model will locate
the optimal spatial distribution of different fish-
ing activities and conservation areas. At the end
of the project, this information will be integrated
with a pre-existing Decision Support Tool named
Marine Integrated Decision Analysis System
(MIDAS) to ensure the modeling results can be
visualized and used by fisheries managers.
EXPECTED RESULTS
In recent years, fisheries managers in the Gulf of
Maine have started to move from single-species to
ecosystem-based management (EBM). Due to the
spatially heterogeneous nature of many marine
resources, one of the tools that can be used for
EBM is Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), which
provides a systematic, integrative and participa-
tory process for managing the target ecosystem.
Spatial analyses of available data from the Gulf of
Maine will identify areas with both exceptionally
high productivity and high intensity of human
activities. The proposed spatial model then will
recommend the optimal distribution of fishing
and conservation activities, which can potentially
ease the MSP process and help resolve current
conflicts.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of this research should enhance man-
agers' understanding of, and therefore ability to
manage sustainably, the complex and dynamic
ecosystem of the Gulf of Maine. As a result, the
ecological integrity of the system, as well as the
many ecosystem services it provides, should be
preserved for future generations. Moreover, with
further refinement, this process could be poten-
tially applied to other systems.
Keywords: Gulf of Maine, ecosystem-based management, marine spatial planning, spatial modeling, hotspot mapping, decision-making
67
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When one tugs at a single thing in nature,
he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
- JohnMuir
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Global C
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolfheim
An Integrated Approach to Gauge the
Effects of Global Climate Change on
Headwater Stream Ecosystems
Oregon State University (OR)
Reinmann, Andrew Brett
Impact of Winter Climate Change on
Soil, Canopy and Ecosystem Carbon
Exchange in a Northern Deciduous Forest
Boston University (MA)
Santoni, Gregory W.
Constraints on California and Arctic
Methane Emissions Using a Regional
Lagrangian Model and Aircraft-Based
Measurements During the CalNex and
HIPPO Campaigns
Harvard University (MA)%
Silverman, Nicholas L.
Water Resource Management Strategies
for Mountainous Forest Catchments
Under Climate Change Scenarios: An
Ecohydrologic Approach
University of Montana (MT)_
Sutter, Lori A.
Intra- and Interspecific Response of
Tidal Wetland Plants to Increases in
Salinity and Inundation as Predicted by
Changes in Sea Level
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VA).
Whiteman, John Patrick
How Do Polar Bears Cope With Summer
Conditions Altered by Climate Change?
Uni versity of Wyom ing (WY)_
G
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Global Change
Oregon State University (OR)
E-mail: buryg@onid.orst.edu
EPA Grant Number; FP917314
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2:011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Zoology
Gwendolynn Wolfheim Bury *
An Integrated Approach to Gauge the Effects of Global Climate Change on Headwater
Stream Ecosystems
Bio
Gwendolynn Bury received her undergraduate
degree in Biology from Southern Oregon Univer-
sity in 2002, and Master's degree in Biology from
Western Washington University in 2006. She is
currently in the second year of a Ph.D. program
in the Zoology Department at Oregon State Uni-
versity, Her research focuses on using sensitive
stream amphibians as an indicator of ecological
dysfunction in headwater streams of the Pacific
Northwest. Currently, she is investigating the
physiological responses of a native salamander to
global warming.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This work will study the effects of global climate
change on headwater streams, using Rhyacotri-
ton variegatus as an indicator of ecosystem dys-
function. Specifically it will use a combination
of physiological ecology survey and modeling
methods to look for the limiting factors in the
health and survival of R. variegatus. Aim f: Are
R. variegatus disappearing from warming streams
at the edge of their thermally defined range?
Aim 2: What are the thermal tolerances of
R. variegatus eggs? Aim 3: Are stress hormone lev-
els of Pi, variegatus elevated in thermally degraded
streams? Aim 4: How will global climate change
affect the distribution of R. variegatus?
APPROACH
Aim Jj To address this aim, two methods will
be used First, streams will be surveyed where
Pi. variegatus were found historically, that are
on the southern end of their thermally defined
range. Second, electronic temperature loggers
will be placed in a gradient of streamsstreams
on the edge of the range of R. variegatus, streams
in the center of the range and streams just outside
the range, to look for a temperature cut-off for
Pi. variegatus presence. Aim 2: Female R. variega-
tus will be induced to lay eggs. Eggs will be kept
in the laboratory at a range of environmentally
relevant temperatures. Aim 3: In streams at the
edge of R. variegatus' range, blood samples will
be taken. Adult R. variegatus also will be held in
the laboratory at a range of environmentally rel-
evant temperatures and then blood samples will
be taken. Samples will be analyzed for the levels
of corticosteroid. Aim 4: Computer modeling and
a GIS will be used to integrate the physiological
limits found during the other Aims into future
predictions of habitat loss for R. variegatus.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This study will provide a set of models that
integrate climate and physiology of an indicator
species. These models will allow for predictions
of headwater stream dysfunction in the Pacific
Northwest under a variety of possible climate
scenarios. Results of this study also will provide
causal data on a sensitive indicator, which is
needed to accurately gauge disturbance, and is
rare. Most indicator species are used in a cor-
relation waywhen they are not present, the
ecosystem is not functioning. This study provides
physiological causes for these correlations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will provide models to estimate the
locations of streams that will be most impacted
by global climate change. This will encourage
targeted conservation and mitigation efforts
in these and connected ecosystems. The causal
physiological data on R. variegatus will encour-
age their use as an indicator of headwater stream
health and provide specific reasons for declines if
they are discovered.
Global climate change will impact many natural
systems, including headwater streams. Headwa-
ters provide important nutrients to the surrounding
forest and to downstream, fish-bearing waters. This
study focuses on a salamander that is very sensi-
tive to disturbance, and is used as an indicator of
the health of the stream. This research is looking
for the specific causes of impact: temperatures
at which the salamanders cannot live. This proj-
ect integrates physical impacts with modeling to
understand future effects on streams.
Keywords: amphibians, indicator species, headwater, streams, climate change, forests, Pacific Northwest, temperature tolerance, life stages
72
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Global Change
Boston University (MA)
E-mail: re:inmann@bu,edu
EPA Grant Number: FP9173B2
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/lfiOll -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Terrestrial Systems
Ecology - plants and soils
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Andrew Brett Reinmann
Impact of Winter Climate Change on Soil, Canopy and Ecosystem Carbon Exchange
Northern Deciduous Forest
Andrew Reinmann received a B.S. in Environ-
mental Studies from Binghamton University in
2001. In 2006, he received an M.S. in Forestry
from the University of Maine, where he studied
the effects of tree harvesting on nutrient cycling
in spruce-fir forests. For the following 211- years,
he worked as a biodiversity conservation biologist
for a nonprofit organization in New York. In 2008,
Andrew enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Biology
at Boston University. He is currently studying the
impacts of changes in winter climate on above- and
belowground carbon fluxes in temperate deciduous
forests.
Synopsis
Changes in climate may affect the ability of forests
to mitigate climate change by altering the extent to
which they can sequester carbon dioxide. Northern
forests typically have a continuous winter snow
pack that is important in regulating soil tempera-
ture and possibly carbon sequestration. The objec-
tives of this research are to quantify the impacts of
predicted changes in winter climate (i.e., reduced
duration of snow pack) on the ability of northern
deciduous forests to sequester carbon.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Northern forests typically have a continuous
snowpack for much of the winter; however,
winters with an inconsistent snowpack can have
colder soils and a greater frequency and severity
of soil frost. Climate models predict a reduction
in snowpack depth and duration by the end of the
21st century in the northeastern United States,
which may have important implications for eco-
system carbon fluxes. This research project will
quantify the effects of a late-developing snow
pack and increased soil frost on ecosystem car-
bon fluxes in a northern deciduous forest.
APPROACH
This snow pack manipulation experiment is
being conducted in a mixed-deciduous forest at
Harvard Forest located in central Massachusetts.
During two treatment years, snow will be manu-
ally removed from three of six 13m x 13m plots
for the first 5 weeks of winter to simulate late
snow pack development and induce soil frost.
Growing season canopy carbon exchange and sap
flow will be measured in red oak (Quercus rubra)
and red maple (Acer riibrum) trees in each plot.
Heterotrophic, rhizospheric and total soil respira-
tion and tree stem carbon dioxide efflux will be
quantified in each plot throughout the year. By
simultaneously measuring above- and below-
ground carbon dioxide fluxes, this study will be
able to quantify the effects of a late-developing
winter snow pack and increased soil frost on eco-
system carbon exchange. Phenology of leaf-out
and root biomass production also will be mea-
sured to determine the importance of soil frost
in the timing of these processes and to quantify
their relationships with ecosystem carbon fluxes.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is expected that snow removal will increase
depth and duration of soil frost in winter and
spring. This may result in reduced heterotrophic
and rhizospheric soil respiration and canopy
carbon dioxide uptake with a net effect of reduc-
ing ecosystem carbon exchange and the ability
of mixed-deciduous forests to sequester carbon.
It is possible that the expected decline in canopy
carbon dioxide uptake will be smaller than the
expected decline in heterotrophic soil respira-
tion, which could result in either no change or an
increase in forest carbon sequestration.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Because forest ecosystems provide an important
sink for anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions,
it is important to understand how changes in
climate may affect the strength of this sink. By
filling in the gaps in the understanding of the
response of ecosystem carbon fluxes to changes
in snow pack duration, the results from this
study will improve the ability to predict how
carbon sequestration will respond to future
changes in winter climate. This will facilitate
the development of meaningful carbon dioxide
emissions goals and policies that are more effec-
tive at mitigating anthropogenic climate change.
Keywords: climate change, soil frost, carbon dioxide, soil respiration, canopy carbon exchange, forest ecosystems
73
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Global Change
Harvard University (MA)
E-mail: gsantoniฎgmail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP91736&
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2-011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Atmospheric Chemistry
Gregory W. Santoni
Constraints on California and Arctic Methane Emissions Using a Regional! Lagrangian
Model and Aircraft-Based Measurements During the CalNex and HIPPO Campaigns
Gregory Santoni received his undergraduate
degree in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard
University in 2004, Before starting his graduate
work, he taught Chemistry, Physics and AP Phys-
ics in Atlanta Public Schools through Teach for
America. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at
Harvard where his research focuses on measure-
ments and modeling of long-lived greenhouse
gases (GHGs). To that effect, he has worked on the
development of instrumentation to measure GHGs
such as carbon dioxide (C02), methane (CH4), and
nitrous oxide (N20), and combined aircraft-based
measurements of these compounds with transport
models to relate source locations to observed
concentrations, thereby improving estimates of
regional GHG emission rates.
Synopsis
Accurate emission inventories of methane are
essential in regulating greenhouse gas emissions
through California's Global Warming Solutions
Act (AB32, 2006). Combined with an air-parcel-
following model driven by high-resolution meteoro-
logical products, measurements taken aboard the
NOAA VVP-3 aircraft during CalNex 2010: The
Nexus of Climate and Air Quality campaign will
provide reliable constraints on methane emission
rates both by sector (e.g., agriculture) and spatially
over California.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The California Global Warming Solutions Act
(AB32, 2006) requires the state to cap its green-
house gas emissions at 1990 levels by2020, roughly
15 percent below current levels. Uncertainties
in emission inventories, however, present a sig-
nificant hurdle for the California Air Resources
Board (CARB) in both setting and tracking
progress toward greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Current emissions inventories for methane
(CH4), for instance, have never been validated at
the regional scale and few data sources exist to
characterize the effects of intensive agriculture
in the Central Valley Until CalNexthe Research
at the Nexus of Climate Change and Air Quality
campaignno regional-scale observations were
available to assess emissions inventories quanti-
tatively This study will address these limitations.
Additionally, measurements taken during HIPPO
(HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations) provide
detailed distributions of CH, over the arctic, use-
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ful in constraining the controls on CH4 fluxes in
that region at seasonal timescales.
APPROACH
This study proposes generating reliable CH4 emis-
sions over California, disaggregated spatially and
by sector (agriculture, other land use, industry,
transportation, etc.), by using the extensive set
of airborne CH4 measurements acquired with the
NOAA WP-3 aircraft during the CalNex campaign
in conjunction with a regional-scale lagrangian
particle dispersion model (LPDM). The Stochas-
tic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport (STILT)
model is an LPDM that can be used to estimate
trace gas concentrations that correspond with
individual measurements from an aircraft cam-
paign or tower. STILT is particularly well-suited
for estimating emissions because measured trace
gas signals can be directly correlated back to
specific upwind source locations. This study will
use STILT along with high-resolution assimilated
meteorological fields from the Weather Research
and Forecasting (WRF) model and source a priori
information to produce a "footprint"a transfer
function giving spatially and temporally resolved
increments of CH4 mixing ratio in response to
emission fluxes along the space/time trajectories.
This will allow for the optimization of the a priori
information to generate reliable CH4 emission
inventories for California.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This study will provide a robust constraint on
baseline California CH4 emissions, allowing for
further regulation, accountability of emissions
and accurate tracking of progress towards achiev-
ing the goals put forth in AB32. This work also will
improve understanding of the seasonality of arc-
tic CH4 emissions and examine the effects global
climate change will have on future emission rates.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
CalNex provides an opportunity to produce reli-
able CIT, emissions constraints that will inform
future state climate policy decisions. NOAA
and CARB cite the improvement of emissions
inventories as one of the key research objectives
underlying the CalNex mission, and the study
presented here will help achieve this goal. Given
that methane has a relatively long residence time
in the atmosphere, regional emissions have global
consequences to the climate system and therefore
understanding the controls on CH4 production
and loss are essential in predicting future climate
change.
Keywords: climate change, atmospheric chemistry, methane, Largrangian modeling emission inventory, Arctic, California, Global Warming Solutions Act, AB32
74
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Global Change
University of Montana (MT)
E-mail: nicholas.silverman@umontana.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917276
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2-011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Hydrology
Nicholas L. Silverman
Water Resource Management Strategies for Mountainous Forest Catchments Under
Climate Change Scenarios: An Ecohydrologic Approach
Nicholas Silverman received his undergraduate
degree in Physics and Engineering from Washington
and Lee University in 2001 and a Master's degree
in Mechanical Engineering from The University of
Washington in 2004. After graduate school, he
worked in Seattle, Washington, as a River Resto-
ration Engineer, and in 2007 he received a Pro-
fessional Engineering license in Water Resources
Engineering. Currently, he is working towards his
Ph.D. in the Watershed Hydrology laboratory at the
University of Montana studying regional climate
change effects on water resources.
Synopsis
Climate change impacts on water resources are
still poorly understood, and while global climate
models have predicted a warming trend over the
next century, regional climate change impacts
may vary considerably. This project explores the
relationships between plants, water, topography
and weather to better understand the effects of
climate change at the watershed scale. An eco-
hydrologic model will be developed to analyze
mitigation opportunities through forest manage-
ment practices.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Climate change impacts to water resources still
are poorly understood, and although global cli-
mate models have predicted an overall warming
trend over the next century, regional climate
change impacts may vary considerably This proj-
ect will explore the dynamic coupling between
plants and water within mountainous forest
catchments to better understand how changes
in climate will affect watershed hydrology differ-
ently based on the topographic and vegetation
characteristics of a basin. The results will help
identify potential climate change mitigation
opportunities through the optimization of forest
management practices.
APPROACH
Global climate change predictions will be dynam-
ically downscaled to the Western Montana region
using the Weather and Research Forecasting
(WRF) model produced by the National Center
for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). These results
will be compared to a similar study previously
completed in California to identify regional
differences in precipitation patterns and snow
accumulation. Then the climate data will be used
to run a newly developed ecohydrologic model
to explore how topography and vegetation will
affect stream discharge and soil moisture pat-
terns within a watershed. Finally various forest
management strategies will be tested within the
model to investigate methods to maintain healthy
watershed hydrology under future climate change
scenarios.
EXPECTED RESULTS
All hough changes in snow melt and accumulation
due to rising temperatures have been consistently
identified at gaging stations around the United
States, similar signals have been less consistent
in stream discharge measurements. It is hypoth-
esized that this may be a result of both a bias in
the location of the snow gaging stations (most
are at lower elevations) as well as a dampening
effect from specific topographic and vegetative
characteristics unique to individual watersheds.
By studying the effects of topography, vegetation
and mesoscale climate on watersheds, this study
can explore the non-linear response expected in
the stream discharge. It is then anticipated that
forest management strategies such as thinning
the forest through prescribed burns, planting
more trees, planting different specie mixes and
altering spatial vegetative patterns can be estab-
lished to minimize climate change effects on
water resources within distinct watersheds.
POTENTIAL. TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will further environmental protec-
tion in two ways. First, it will provide high reso-
lution climate predictions that are the first of its
kind for Western Montana. These predictions
can be used by policy makers, researchers, com-
munity members and nonprofit organizations in
the area to help better prepare for future climate
scenarios. Second, the project will produce rec-
ommendations on forest management strategies
for optimizing future water resources as well as
produce atool that can be used to explore climate
change effects in other regions of the United
States and the globe.
Keywords; climate change, ecohydrology, modeling mesoscale climate, forest management, water resources, watershed hydrology, topography, vegetation,
ecology, meteorology, atmospheric science, snow
75
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Global Change
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VA)
E-mail: lsutter@vims,edu
EPA Grant Number; FP917369
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: geology
Lori A. Sutter I
Intra- and Interspecific Response of Tidal Wetland Plants to Increases in Salinity and
Inundation as Predicted by Changes in Sea Level
Lori Sutter had a successful career in coastal
resource management and protection devel-
oping non-regulatory approaches to wetlands
conservation. Combining a passion for ecology
and the emerging geo-spatial technology of
the time, she also designed decision support
tools for conservation and restoration efforts
across the country. After a brief hiatus, Lori
realized her interest in teaching and returned
to school to pursue a doctorate in Marine
Science, emphasizing tidal freshwater marsh
ecology.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Authorities are confident that the sea level is
rising as a result of global climate change. Those
marshes currently upstream of the salt front
but still under tidal influence, tidal freshwater
marshes (TFM), may experience the greatest
shifts in ecosystem structure and function as a
result of sea level rise. The overall objective of this
work is to identify community level responses of
tidal freshwater marsh plant communities to sub-
lethal levels of salinity.
APPROACH
This project is taking a multi-pronged approach
to investigate macrophyte response to both top
down and bottom-up controls. This study will use
observational field data along a salinity gradient
to determine the spatial and temporal dynamics
of vegetation communities (biomass, nutrient
accumulation and net photosynthesis) as well
as the community's relationship to soil nutrients
and porewater chemistry. Using mesocosms,
this study will measure the vegetative stress
response to sub-lethal levels of salinity and what
role inter-specific competition plays in observed
community changes. Finally 1 11 rough a manipula-
tive field experiment, this study will determine
the role of invertebrate herbivores in plant com-
munity structure and resource allocation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Plants are anticipated to assimilate nutrients
proportionally to what is bio-available in their
respective environment. Generally, plants grown
under higher salinity are expected to have
lower biomass, net photosynthesis and tissue
nutrient ratios (C:N and C:P) relative to those
grown in lower salinity. For those that do not
demonstrate a decline in net photosynthesis,
biomass is expected to diminish under higher
salt conditions, suggesting that individual plants
are stressed to the point that they cannot make
productive use of the carbon they are fixing.
Perennial plants are expected to fix more carbon
than annuals and store a meaningful amount
below ground. Inter-specific competition also is
expected to decline in the presence of higher salt.
With an increase in salinity, C:N is expected to be
driven down, thereby increasing the palatability
of the vegetation and potentially exacerbating
herbivory stress.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Since 1987, formal efforts to reduce nutrient and
sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay have
been underway through the establishment of
total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) of nitrogen,
phosphorus (P) and sediment. With increasing
salinity, P is released from TFM sediment and
made biologically available in the open waters of
the estuary. As the salt front moves upriver in the
face of sea level rise resulting from global climate
change, P will be released from TFM where it was
previously retained. Preliminary results of this
work indicate that a salt tolerant species retains
less P than the native TFM species. If P is released
with increased salinity and the vegetation utilizes
less, the additional nutrient inputs into the estu-
ary may lead to unexpected issues with excess P
that are not being considered in the current Bay
P "diet."
International authorities have high confidence
that sea level has increased as a result of
global climate change. As sea level rises,
marshes are expected to experience increased
salt intrusion, tidal inundation and sedimen-
tation. Interestingly, it is the freshwater tidal
marshes that may experience the greatest
shifts in ecosystem structure and function as
a result of sea level rise. This work will evalu-
ate the responses of tidal freshwater marsh
plant communities to salinity intrusion.
Keywords: tidal freshwater marsh, TFM, sea level rise, marsh community ecology, Chesapeake Bay diet
76
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Global Change
University of Wyoming (WY)
E-mail: jwhitema@uwyo.edu
EPA Grant Number; FP917a73
EPA Project Officer:, Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 -7/31/2014-
Project Amount: $128,000
Environmental Discipline: geology
John Patrick Whiteman
How Do Polar Bears Cope With Summer Conditions Altered by Climate Change?
John Whiteman received an honors degree in Biol-
ogy from the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
in 2003, where he worked on a plant physiology
research team. He moved into wildlife ecology and
worked for several research institutions and gov-
ernment agencies, before earning an M.S. in Zool-
ogy and Physiology at the University of Wyoming
in 2008. For his Ph.D. in Ecology at Wyoming,
his research focuses on how animals adjust their
physiology in response to environmental change.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Approximately 40 percent of polar bears globally
exist in areas where the seaiee retreats from shore
during summer, and individuals may choose to
move to shore or follow the ice north. Climate
change is reducing the extent of Arctic sea ice
and lengthening the summer melt period and as
a result, bears that follow the ice north in summer
are located over areas of deeper water, and bears
that move to shore must remain there for longer
time periods; both locations may contain few
seals for prey This research seeks to understand
the physiological and behavioral capabilities of
polar bears to withstand food deprivation on ice
over deep water and on shore, and the results will
inform models of future population trends.
APPROACH
Polar bears are captured in early summer and
sampled and fitted with GPS collars. They are then
recaptured in late summer on sea ice over deep
water and on shore. Sampling is repeated and
the collar is retrieved. Changes over the summer
are quantified for body condition and nutritional
state, use of stored energy, protein conservation
and reductions in activity and metabolic rate.
These changes reflect whether bears are forced
to fast and how they cope with fasting, given their
location on ice or on shore.
EXPECTED RESULTS
In this project, it is hypothesized that polar bears
on shore during summer employ two strategies:
they may fast and reduce activity and metabolic
rate, allowing them to minimize loss of body
condition; or, they may consume alternative
food items available only on shore and maintain
normal activity and metabolism. In addition, it
is hypothesized that bears on sea ice attempt to
continue hunting and maintain high activity rates
because prior to recent ice declines, this was a
successful summer strategy; however, due to low
seal density in deep water they are forced to enter
a fast and reduce their metabolic rate to save
energy. The results of this project can be used to
generate parameters for population models that
will forecast probabilities of population increase
or decrease in the future, given changes in sea ice
conditions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Testing the hypotheses in this project will yield an
understanding of how polar bears respond to sea
ice loss during summer months. Understanding
the behavioral and physiological consequences
of this decision under altered summer conditions
caused by climate change will provide insights
on the long-term persistence of polar bears and
assist in making informed management decisions
for this symbol of the Arctic.
Climate change is reducing the extent of Arctic sea
ice and lengthening the summer melt period. Dur-
ing summer, these changes are forcing some polar
bears (Ursus marltimus) to either follow melting
sea ice into areas of deep water, or move to shore;
both locations may contain few seals for prey. This
research investigates the abilities of polar bears to
fast and reduce energetic needs, to understand
how they may cope with food deprivation.
Keywords: Alaska, Arctic, climate change, polar bear, sea ice, Ursus maritimus
77
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-------
Human
Public Health
Dishaw, Laura Victoria
Neurodevelopmental Toxicity and
Metabolism of the Flame Retardant,
Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyi) Phosphate
Duke University (NC),
Gaetz, Kim Ann
Free to Breathe, Free to Teach: Indoor
Air Quality in Schools and Respiratory
Health of Teachers
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (NC)_
Hodas, Natasha
Refined Ambient PM2g Exposure
Surrogates That Account for Outdoor-to-
Indoor Transport and Their Application
in Epidemiology Studies
Rutgers University (NJ),
Hondula, David Michael
Environmental Determinants of
Heat-Related Risk
Uni versity of Virginia (T51)......,
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna
Effect of Exposure Measurement Error
in Air Pollution Studies: Two Case Studies
Russel, Kory Christ
Quantification and Modeling of Health
Benefits and Reduced Caloric Expenditure
as a Function of Improved Water Supply
in Low-Income Countries
Stanford Uni versi ty(CA),,_
Sebastian, Kelly Jo
Epigenetic Markers of Exposure to
Traffic and Pediatric Asthma
University of Cincinnati (OH),
Zurlinden, Todd James
Development of Environmental Public
Health Indicators for Organophosphorus
Insecticide Mixture Exposure
Colorado State University (CO),
Risk Assessment and Risk
Management
Kersten, Ellen E.
Ensuring Community Co-Benefits of
Climate Change Mitigation Policies in
California
University of California, Berkeley (CA),
Rice, LaShanta J.
Assessment of the Relationship
Between Environmental Quality and
Perceived and Actual Cancer Risk in
Environmental Justice Communities in
Metropolitan Charleston, South Carolina
University of South Carolina, Columbia (SC),,,
84
85
86
87
Harvard University (MA), 88
Lane, Kevin James
Modeling Personal Exposures to Ultrafine
Particles and Effects on Cardiovascular
Health
Boston University (MA), 89
Nadimpaili, Maya Lakshmi
Carriage of Livestock-Associated MRSA
on North Carolina Swine Farms and
Occurrence and Persistence in the
Surrounding Environment
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (NC), 90
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Human Health: Public Health
Duke University (NC)
E-mail: lvc|2ฎduke.edu
EPA Grant Numbers FP91728B
EPA Project Officer:, Gladys Cobbs-Qrgen
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/3L0Q14
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Toxicology
Bio
In 2007, Laura Dishaw received her undergraduate
degree from lie Moyne College where she majored
in Biology and Psychology. After working for a year
as a technician in an orthopedic research labora-
tory at the State University of New York Upstate
Medical University, she started her Ph.D. work
in the Integrated Toxicology and Environmental
Health program at Duke University. Her project
focuses on the adverse effects of flame-retardant
chemicals on the developing nervous system.
Synopsis
Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are
applied to a variety of consumer products, includ-
ing furniture and baby products. Over time, they
leach out of treated materials, often accumulating
in dust. Infants and young children are predicted
to have the highest levels of OPFR exposure via
ingestion or inhalation of contaminated dust.
Due to their structural similarity to known neuro-
toxicants, this project will evaluate the potential
adverse effects of OPFRs on the developing ner-
vous system.
Laura Victoria Dishaw
Neurodevelopmenta! Toxicity and Metabolism of the Flame Retardant,
Tris (l,3-dichloro-2-propyl) Phosphate
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Since the 2004 phase out of polybrominated
diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate flame
retardants (OPFRs), particularlytris(l,3-dichloro-
2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), have been used
increasingly to meet state and federal flamma-
bility standards. Like PBDEs, OPFRs are known
to leach out of treated materials and TDCPP has
been detected at levels equivalent to PBDEs in
household dust. OPFRs are structurally similar
to organophosphate pesticides, a class of known
neurotoxicants, and children are predicted to
have the highest exposure to flame retardants
(FRs). The aim of this project is to assess whether
exposure to TDCPP and other OPFRs may elicit
adverse effects on the developing nervous system.
APPROACH
A combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches
will be used. PC12 cells, a neuronotypic rat cell
line that has been used extensively to evaluate
the developmental neurotoxicity of organophos-
phate pesticides, were used to screen TDCPP and
three similar OPFRs (tris 2,3-dibromo-2-propyl
phosphate, TDBPP; tris 2-chloroethyl phosphate,
TCEP; tris l-chloro-2-propyl phosphate, TCPP)
for effects on cellular replication, cell number, cell
viability and phenotypic differentiation. A zebra-
fish model will be used to assess morphological,
behavioral and histological changes following
developmental and chronic dietary exposure to
these same compounds. The effects of OPFRs
will be compared to chlorpyrifos (CPF), a well-
studied organophosphate pesticide and known
developmental neurotoxicant. Because the rates
and pathways of metabolism are often integral
to toxicity of a chemical, S9 liver fractions and
primary hepatocytes also will be used to learn
more about TDCPP metabolism in humans.
EXPECTED RESULTS
In the PC12 cell studies, it was found that expo-
sure to an equimolar concentration of TDCPP
resulted in deficits equivalent to or greater than
that of CPF on measures of cellular replication
and cell number, without affecting cell viability.
TDCPP also altered the pattern of phenotypic
differentiation, resulting in elevated expression
of both the cholinergic and dopaminergic phe-
notypes. Subsequent comparisons of equimolar
concentrations of TDBPP, TCEP and TCPP found
equivalent effects on cell number. Like TDCPP,
TDBPP elicited an increase in expression of both
the cholinergic and dopaminergic phenotypes
while TCEP and TCPP exposure resulted in an
increase in cholinergic expression without affect-
ing the dopaminergic phenotype. These data sug-
gest that the extent of halogenation rather than
the type of halogen substituent is a critical deter-
minant of the effects on phenotypic differentia-
tion. It is expected that developmental exposure
of zebrafish to high concentrations of OPFRs will
result in increased rates of mortality and malfor-
mations while lower concentrations will induce
histological and behavioral abnormalities that
are indicative of more subtle, neurotoxic effects.
Chronic dietary exposure to TDCPP is predicted
to result in accumulation of the parent compound
and metabolites in the tissues of zebrafish and
induce histological changes in the brain. The
S9 liver fraction and hepatocyte studies will be
used to identify important metabolites and meta-
bolic pathways of TDCPP in humans.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Due to the potential for neurotoxicity and models
suggesting that infants and young children have
the highest exposure to FR chemicals, there is an
urgent need to assess the potential for TDCPP
and other OPFRs to elicit adverse effects on
the developing nervous system. Furthermore,
identification of the pathways and products of
TDCPP metabolism can be used to estimate the
rate at which this compound is eliminated from
the body and determine biomarkers of exposure
in the human population. The results of this pro-
posal can provide regulatory agencies with data
needed to make accurate risk assessments and
guide decisions regarding the continued use of
TDCPP and similar FR chemicals.
Keywords: flame retardant, organophosphate, develop mental neurotoxicity
84
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I
Human Health: Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (NC)
E-mail: kangetocsff em a i I. un c .ed u
EPA Grant Number; FP917329
EPA Project Officer:, Gladys Cobbs-Gregn
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Epidemiology
Bio
Kim Gaetz received her Bachelor's degree in Biol-
ogy from The University of North Carolina (UNC) at
Asheville in 2001. From 2002 to 2004, she served
in the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan. After working
as a pharmacy technician and an environmental
assistant, she began the MS P. 11./ Ph.D. program
in Epidemiology at UNC at Chapel Hill, focusing
on social factors that affect exposure. In 2007,
she interned at the National Cancer Institute. She
currently conducts research on indoor air quality
and respiratory health.
Synopsis
Asthma exacerbations and allergies due to poor
indoor air quality (IAQ) can reduce the produc-
tivity, concentration and attendance of teachers
and students. School buildings often exhibit IAQ
problems due to high occupancy and scarce funds.
Dampness increases exposure to asthma triggers
such as mold, dust mites, roaches and rodents.
This study measures the impact of humidity and
other school IAQ factors on asthma and allergy
symptoms among North Carolina teachers, and
tests IAQ best practices.
Kim Ann Gaetz
Free to Breathe, Free to Teach: Indoor Air Quality in Schools and Respiratory
Health of Teachers
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Excessive dampness in schools may affect respi-
ratory health by increasing exposure to sources
of allergens such as mold, dust mites, roaches
and rodents. The "Free to Breathe, Free to Teach"
research project will investigate how classroom
average relative humidity affects the incidence of
asthma exacerbations and allergies among public
school teachers in North Carolina. To provide
relevant prevention strategies to minimize damp-
ness, it also will be important to examine asso-
ciations between humidity control and indoor
air quality factors such as building age, previous
water damage, type of ventilation system and
maintenance practices.
APPROACH
Indoor air quality factors were evaluated during
school inspections in which school and class-
room specific characteristics were recorded,
including water damage, adequacy of ventilation
and maintenance issues. Fixed and time-varying
characteristics will be modeled as predictors of
humidity control. To measure incidence of asthma
exacerbations and allergies, weekly surveys on
respiratory health outcomes and classroom
conditions were administered to school teach-
ers for up to 12 weeks of follow-up. To quantify
dampness in each classroom over time, relative
humidity (RH) and temperature were regularly
monitored during this time period, using data
logging hygrometers. The analysis will compare
incidence of respiratory symptoms in teachers
working in classrooms with high (> 50%) and low.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Previous studies have demonstrated associa-
tions between excessive dampness in the indoor
environment and respiratory illness. This study
will estimate the levels of classroom relative
humidity associated with increases in asthma
exacerbations and allergy symptoms in school
teachers. These findings also will be important
in suggesting which school and classroom
characteristics assist in humidity control. The
strengths of this approach include primary col-
lection of longitudinal health and environmental
data, designed to address the proposed research
questions. Results from this study may reduce use
of ineffective methods of humidity control and
may increase preventive maintenance strategies
linked to positive health outcomes.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The results may support practical methods to
reduce asthma triggers in schools through pre-
ventative maintenance and humidity control. By
examining the impact of poor indoor air quality
(IAQ) on the general health, concentration and
attendance of school teachers, the research may
increase attention among school officials to pro-
viding good IAQ as an essential ingredient to creat-
ing a healthy learning and working environment.
Keywords: indoor air quality (IAQ), asthma, environmental epidemiology, humidity, respiratory health, school environment, teachers
85
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Human Health: Public Health
Rutgers University (NJ)
E-mail: nhod.as@envsGi.rutg.ers:e.du
EPA Grant Number: FP91733$
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Grean
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental
Ingirieerihg
Natasha Hodas
Refined Ambient PMz. Exposure Surrogates That Account for Outdoor-to-lndoor
Transport and Their Application in Epidemiology Studies
Natasha Hodas received her B.S. in Atmospheric
Science from Cornell University in 2007. She is
currently in the Ph.D. program in Atmospheric
Science at Rutgers University where she conducts
research in a multidisciplinary team of atmospheric
scientists, epidemiologists and biostatisticians.
Her research focuses on improving estimates of
human exposure to fine particulate matter. She
currently is working to develop a model that pre-
dicts indoor concentrations of outdoor-generated
particles.
Synopsis
Because people spend most of their time indoors,
exposure to particulate air pollution mainly occurs
in the indoor environment. Exposure estimates that
take into account the modification of the chemical
and physical properties of particulate matter with
indoor transport are important for understanding
and mitigating health effects associated with
particulate matter exposure. This research aims to
improve models of indoor transport of particulate
matter to reduce error in health studies.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Because people spend most of their time indoors,
exposure to ambient fine particulate matter
(PM2 r) mostly occurs in the indoor environment.
Exposure estimates that take into account the
modification of the chemical and physical proper-
ties of PM25 with indoor transport are important
for understanding and mitigating health effects
associated with PM,g exposure. This research
aims to improve models of outdoor-to-indoor
transport of PM,ff to reduce exposure error in air
pollution epidemiology studies.
APPROACH
The Aerosol Penetration and Persistence (APP)
Model describes the indoor concentrations of
the major chemical components of ambient PM, g
as functions of their outdoor concentrations,
residential air exchange rates, particle losses
indoors due to deposition, and in the case of
nitrate, indoor losses resulting from evaporation.
Particle composition is taken into account in the
APP model through the use of chemical-species-
specific deposition rates and by accounting for
the semivolatile nature of particulate nitrate.
Deposition rates are functions of particle size and
can be predicted from chemically resolved I'VI
size distribution data. In this work, geographic -
regionspecific deposition rates will be deter-
mined from chemically resolved size distribution
data from geographically diverse locations across
the United States. Hie treatment of particulate
organic carbon (OC) in the APP model also will be
addressed in this research. Currently, particulate
organic carbon (OC) is treated as nonvolatile.
However, there is evidence that phase changes
of organics following indoor transport have a
large impact on the fraction of ambient OC that
penetrates and persists indoors. A substantial
database exists characterizing the volatility
distribution of ambient organic particulate
matter. This, in combination with gas-particle
partitioning theory, will be used to simulate the
gas-particle partitioning behavior of particulate
OC in indoor air.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The research tool developed in this project can
be used to identify geographic locations, sea-
sons and temporal and spatial scales for which
out door-to-indoor transport of ambient P.VI ,, r is
(or is not) a substantial source of exposure error
in air pollution epidemiology. It also will provide
a method to predict the indoor concentrations
and characteristics of ambient I'M, , in indoor
2.5
air from readily available data. The development
of modeling tools to accomplish this will enable
such refined exposure surrogates to be used in
large epidemiological studies.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Hiis research advances existing models of PM2S
exposure, develops and evaluates a new method
for estimating organic P\] . _ exposure, and seeks
to address disparities in exposure error for
vulnerable populations. Because the fraction
of outdoor-generated PM,. that penetrates and
persists indoors differs for homes above and
below the poverty line, as well as with source
proximity, this work especially is important
for reducing exposure error for populations in
urban areas and with low socio-economic status.
The refined exposure surrogates developed in
this work have the potential to improve under-
standing of the health effects associated with
PM25 exposure and will aid in the development
of successful exposure mitigation strategies.
Keywords: indoor air quality, particulate matter, exposure
86
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Human Health: Public Health
University of Virginia (VA)
E-mail: d m h 4j@v i rg i n i a .ed u
EPA Grant Number: FP91Z337
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Grean
Project Period: 09/01/2011- 08/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Geography
David Michael Hondula
Environmental Determinants of Heat-Related Risk
David Hondula is a Ph.D. student in Environmental
Sciences at the University of Virginia currently
examining the impact of extreme heat on human
mortality in the United States. He also completed
Master's and undergraduate degrees at the Uni-
versity of Virginia, where his research focused on
synoptic-scale climate change, environmental
influences on respiratory health and coastal storm
impacts. David is a member of the International
Society of Biometeorology and Association of
American Geographers, and was a 2008 National
Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
recipient.
Synopsis
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-
related death and illness in the United States.
Current warning systems succeed in forecast-
ing hot periods but do not yet identify elevated
risk zones at the sub-city scale. Mitigation and
intervention strategies would greatly benefit from
knowing specifically where heat-related deaths are
most likely. This research examines the geographic
variability of factors that contribute to local heat
risk to improve heat event planning and response.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Summertime heat waves are the leading cause of
weather-related deaths and illness in the United
States. Many of these deaths and related illnesses
are believed to be preventable via appropriate
intervention measures such as providing cooling
centers for the isolated and elderly. Current warn-
ing systems succeed in forecasting hot periods
but do not yet identify elevated risk zones at the
sub-city scale. This proposed research will exam-
ine the geographic variability of environmental
factors that contribute to local heat risk.
APPROACH
This research aims to identify smaller scale zones
within cities where heat-related risk is highest
and build empirical models that relate risk to a
suite of explanatory variables, including envi-
ronmental conditions and the underlying spatial
demographic and social characteristics of the
metropolitan populace. Daily mortality records
for the previous 25 years have been obtained for
seven major metropolitan areas in the United
States. The aggregated zip-code mortality
response on and following extreme heat events
will be compared to the background rate using
re-samplingtechniques. Bootstrapped regression
models will be employed to relate high-resolution
meteorological, air pollution, demographic and
land cover data to the spatial variability in heat-
related excess mortality These models and related
maps can be adapted by local agencies to improve
heat management planning and response.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The research hypotheses center around the idea
that significant variability in heat-related mor-
tality exists within metropolitan areas. Models
that explain a portion of this variability will
likely include the environmental variables of air
temperature, humidity and air quality, as well
as demographic factors related to age, income
and isolation. Furthermore, the local mortality
response may be inconsistent from one heat
event to another. It may be the case that heat
events of greater duration particularly enhance
death rates in the warmest places in cities. Local-
scale differences in the seasonality of mortality
also may be present, attributable to a lack of
preparation/awareness among these sensitive
groups, of whom a larger percentage suffer in the
first or second major heatwave each year.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
By identifying populations and localities that
are most sensitive to mortality risk during high
heat events, this research is directly targeted
at protecting human health. Further, it may
contribute to safeguarding the environment by
providing additional insight into the efficient
application of air-conditioning resources in par-
ticular geographies and the benefit of clean air.
A closer examination of how the environment
and demographics interact to shape patterns of
heat-related deaths can lead to a healthier living
environment for many Americans.
Keywords: heatwave, extreme heat, biometeorology, heat-health risk, human mortality, urban climate, air quality, remote sensing, demographic risk,
warning systems
87
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Human Health: Public Health
Harvard University (MA)
E-mail: mkioumou@hsph.harvard.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917345
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Qiegn
Project Period: mam -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126j00G
Environmental Discipline: Social Sciences
1
Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou
Effect of Exposure Measurement Error in Air Pollution Studies: Two Case Studies
Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou received her
undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineer-
ing from the Democritus University of Thrace,
Greece, in 2005. The following year, she started
her studies towards an M.S. in Public Health at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Upon graduation in 2007, she worked as an
Air Resources Engineer with the California Air
Resources Board in the Mobile Source Operations
Division. In 2008, she began her studies toward
a doctoral degree at the Harvard School of Pub-
lic Health, in the Department of Environmental
Health.
Synopsis
This work will focus on examining the effects of
air pollution sources and pollutant properties on
cardiovascular- and respiratory-related emergency
hospital admissions. Furthermore, this work will
examine whether statistical methods that integrate
across pollution and health measures are able to
reduce the impact of measurement error and de-
attenuate risk estimates. Finally, this work will
investigate the effect of exposure measurement
error on chronic PM health effects.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Exposure measurement error has long been iden-
tified as an important issue in epidemiological
studies of particulate matter. The proposed study
will quantify measurement error in chronic PM
health studies, introduced by measurements of
PM3 _ and its components at centrally located sta-
tionary ambient sites. Additionally this study will
examine whether statistical methods that inte-
grate across pollution and health measures, such
as structural equation and hierarchical models,
are able to reduce the impact of measurement
error and de-attenuate risk estimates,
APPROACH
To assess the impact of measurement error on the
association between PM exposures and chronic
health outcomes, personal PM25 exposure and
ambient concentration data from 10 valida-
tion datasets will be used. The estimated de-
attenuation factors will then be used to develop
regression calibration models to adjust for bias
in studies of chronic PM health effects. Further,
structural equation models will be used to exam-
ine the association between specific PM3 sources
and cardiovascular (CVD)- and respiratory-
related emergency hospital admissions. To assess
pollution sources, both source apportionment
and supervised approaches will be considered.
Finally, a hierarchical regression model will be
employed to examine the association between
pollutant properties and CVD- and respiratory-
related emergency hospital admissions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Although many studies have linked fine particles
to adverse health outcomes, the specific particu-
late sources or chemical components responsible
for the observed effects are not known. This study
aims to provide insight in the PM constituents
causing the health outcomes, while using meth-
ods that reduce the impact of measurement error
and de-attenuate the risk estimates. Additionally,
the estimated de-attenuation factors from the
developed measurement error model can be used
to adjust the estimates of previous cohort studies
on the chronic effects of air pollution.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Results of this study will further the understand-
ing of health effects from PM improving the
ability to interpret health risks from previous
studies and to design future studies. Furthermore,
this study will provide critical insights on the tox-
icity of PM components and sources, helping to
assess whether pollutants produced from differ-
ent sources are more toxic than others. The find-
ings will have significant implications for future
epidemiologic studies, source-specific policy
decisions and improved air quality monitoring.
Keywords: air pollution, exposure measurement error, fine particles, source apportionment, structural equation models
88
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Human Health: Public Health
Boston University (MA)
E-mail: KLang@bu.edu
EPA Grant Number: Fffffifl
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Gregn
Project Period: 35/2011 -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:: Epidemiology
Kevin James Lane
Modeling Personal Exposures to Ultrafine Particles and Effects
on Cardiovascular Health
Kevin Lane received his B.S. from Saint Michael's
College in 2002. After graduation, he began work-
ing with the Harvard School of Public Health on the
Trucking Industry Particle Study. He attended Tufts
University for his M.A. in Urban and Environmental
Policy and Planning. He is in the Ph.D. program
in the Department of Environmental Health at the
Boston University School of Public Health, and
is researching the association between ultrafine
particulate matter and cardiovascular health in
populations residing in close proximity to highways
in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area.
Synopsis
Highways are a major source of air pollution both
near highways and regionally. Ultrafine particles
(UFP) are created from fresh vehicle combustion.
UFPs can be found at high levels close to highways
and major roads, but there are no studies measur-
ing near-highway UFP and health measures at the
same time. This project seeks to develop methods
to assign exposure to UFP for people living near
highways and use that to analyze their association
with markers of cardiovascular disease risk.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
There exists a dearth of research on particulate
matter (PM) nanoparticles, or ultrafine particles
(1-100 nm in aerodynamic diameter, UFP), and
associated health outcomes. UFPs constitute a
developing area of exposure and epidemiological
research that requires novel modeling approaches
to deal with bias stemming from the high spatial
and temporal variability of this pollutant. This
research proposal seeks to aid in filling this PM
research gap through an examination of the asso-
ciation between UFP and cardiovascular health
in populations residing in close proximity to an
interstate highway in the greater Boston, Massa-
chusetts area. Due to the high spatial-temporal
variability of UFP, specific times of day, such as
during rush hour traffic, create significantly
elevated exposure windows. Actual exposures
during these windows of time depend on where
people are physically located and will require
a more refined exposure assessment model to
minimize misclassification so that the exposure-
disease relationships can be observed.
APPROACH
This research study will design and evaluate an
exposure assessment model that incorporates
time-activity data as a way to deal with error
from exposure misclassification before imple-
menting the personal UFP exposure model in an
epidemiological analysis. First, an analysis of the
use of questionnaire derived time-activity data
in designing a personal exposure assessment
model will be conducted through a validation
study using GPS units. The questionnaire data
will be used to develop an exposure assessment
model that includes time-activity data, and
compare this with a model that does not adjust
for time-activity to examine the errors and direc-
tion of bias in a health outcomes study After the
model has been developed and tested, it will be
used in the health outcomes study to examine
the association between exposure to UFP and
cardiovascular health, measured as biomarkers
of systemic inflammation with high sensitivity
C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, plasma
interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-a
receptor (TNFa), adjusting for other exposure
and personal variables.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Current research into time-activity and move-
ment patterns of populations indicate that people
are highly mobile but relatively predictable in their
daily routines and can result in misclassification
of exposure in studies that focus on pollutants
with high spatial and temporal variability using
a residential location as the basis for the exposure
model. The relative predictability of movement
patterns would suggest that only limited data are
needed on a persons daily activities to determine
where they routinely may be found at a specific
time of day This indicates that time-activity data
collected through questionnaires could be used
to develop a more accurate exposure assessment
model. Incorporation of time activity data into an
exposure assessment model of UFP will allow for
a comparison of associated cardiovascular health
outcome risk between the unadjusted (residential
only exposure) and time activity adjusted models.
If the unadjusted model is biasing results towards
the null, then it is expected that the time-activity
adjusted model will yield a stronger association
and smaller standard error for the 15-estimates.
Exposure parameters such as occupational and
ambient UFP intrusion into the indoor environ-
ment will be analyzed at this time and included in
the final exposure assessment model that will be
used in the full epidemiology analysis. Integration
of time-activity data into the exposure assessment
model should reduce exposure misclassification
that can occur in a study of a pollutant like UFP
with such high spatial and temporal variability,
allowing for a more representative health effects
association to be observed.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Vehicle emissions are the primary source by
which people are exposed to UFP, and approxi-
mately ff percent of U.S. households reside
within 100 m of highways. There is a limited
amount of epidemiological data available on
the health effects of UFP, no national network
to monitor UFPs and no standards to regulate
emissions of UFP. This research will contribute
to a new and growing body of analyses that can
inform future policy discussions about whether
to regulate UFP exposure and, if so, at what level.
New policy solutions and monitoring strategies
may need to be developed if UFP concentrations
are found to be associated with adverse health
effects in epidemiology studies.
Keywords: particulate matter, ultrafine particles, n an op articles, time activity, exposure assessment, cardiovascular health, air pollution
89
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Human Health: Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (NC)
E-mail: maya.nadimpalli@gmail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP91728S
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2011-7/31/2014-
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
Maya Lakshmi Nadimpalli
Carriage of Livestock-Associated MRSA on North Carolina Swine Farms and Occurrence
and Persistence in the Surrounding Environment
Bio
Maya Nadimpalli received a Bachelor's degree
in Environment from McGill University in 2009.
During her undergraduate career, she completed
internships with the Massachusetts Environmental
Health Association and a Massachusetts-based
wastewater technology firm. She also conducted
research on arsenic biomonitoring methods at Vir-
ginia Tech. Maya began her graduate work at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in fall
2011. Her research is focused on the origins and
dissemination of methicillin resistance in humans
and the environment.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
It has been hypothesized that the emergence
of livestock-associated MRSA in swine work-
ers in the United States may be related to the
subtherapeutic use of antibiotics in industrial
animal production. To characterize the impact
of this practice on MRSA carriage, this study will
compare MRSA prevalence among industrial hog
farm workers to MRSA prevalence among organic
antibiotic-free swine farmers in North Carolina.
Furthermore, this study intends to investigate
the potential for livestock-associated MRSA to be
transmitted through the environment. The study
will genotype and confirm the presence of MRSA
in surface waters proximate to concentrated ani-
mal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Duplin County,
North Carolina, and will assess the environmental
persistence of MRSA spread throu gh swine waste.
APPROACH
MRSA prevalence will be assessed in 50 con-
senting antibiotic-free swine farm workers,
50 industrial hog farm workers, and up to two
members of each worker s household via a short
questionnaire and nasal swabs. Although the
questionnaire will establish occupational, envi-
ronmental and healthcare exposures to MRSA,
swabbing will determine actual carriage of MRSA.
Whole-genome sequence typing at TGen, Inc. will
confirm whether colonies from MRSA-positive
swabs belong to a livestock-associated strain.
To investigate the presence of MRSA in surface
waters near CAFOs, the study will use molecular
methods to confirm more than 600 "presumptive
MRSA" isolates already collected during a field
campaign in Duplin County from 2010 through
2011. & aureus isolates positive for the methicillin-
resistance gene also will be submitted for whole
genome sequence typing at TGen Inc., allowing
for genetic comparisons among MRSA strains
isolated from the environment and from humans.
Tastly, the persistence of MRSA spread through
swine waste will be assessed using bench-scale
microcosm studies. Microcosms will replicate
the natural conditions of Duplin County surface
waters, and other waters or sediments of interest.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Studies in Europe have found a significantly
lower prevalence of livestock-associated MRSA in
organic, antibiotic-free swine farmers compared
to industrial hog farmers. European studies have
also documented the transmission of livestock-
associated MRSA from farmers to members
of their households. Although no comparable
studies have been published yet in the United
States, this study expects to find similar results.
The study also expects to confirm the presence
of MRSA in the environment surrounding swine
farm manure spray fields, as the "presumptive
MRSA" isolates collected from Duplin County
surface waters exhibited the anticipated pheno-
type on MRSA-specific agar plates. Research on
MRSA persistence in the environment, both in
situ and in the laboratory, is limited. However, a
Swedish study examining MRSA persistence in
treated wastewater suggests that this pathogen
may indeed be able to survive for a significant
period of time, even under stress. This study
expects to reach similar conclusions using bench-
scale microcosm studies.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
MRSA is carried by up to 53 million people world-
wide and is responsible for more fatalities in the
United States than HIV/AIDS. Certain practices
distinctive to CAFOs may be directly related to
the increasing prevalence of livestock-associated
MRSA, and may be responsible for its introduc-
tion into the environment. Research focused
specifically on the links between MRSA carriage
and industrial animal production will be critical
in advancing the discussion as to whether some
of these practices should be read dressed through
legislation. In addition, research that is able to
confirm the presence of livestock-associated
MRSA in the waters surrounding CAFOs will
provide important evidence of both surface water
pollution and a potential human health impact.
Keywords: MRSA, swine production, CAFO, antibiotic resistance, North Carolina
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is
responsible for more fatalities in the United States
than HIV/AIDS. Although hospital and community-
acquired MRSA has existed for decades, a strain of
MRSA associated with intensive swine production
recently has been discovered. North Carolina is a
leading producer of intensively-raised swine. This
research seeks to assess the carriage of livestock-
associated MRSA on North Carolina swine farms
and to determine its occurrence and fate in the
surrounding environment.
90
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Human Health: Public Health
Stanford University (CA)
E-mail: kcrusse|@starrfฐrd.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP91Z363
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-G'rean
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126(000
Environmental Discipline: Health
Kory Christ Russel
Quantification and Modeling of Health Benefits and Reduced Caloric Expenditure as a
Function of Improved Water Supply in Low-Income Countries
Kory Russel received both a B.S. in Environmen-
tal Biology (2003) and an M.S. in Environmental
Science (2005) from Taylor University. Kory spent
3 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozam-
bique teaching biology and HIV prevention. In
autumn 2009, he enrolled in graduate studies at
Stanford University, where he is currently working
towards a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engi-
neering. Kory's research focuses on the caloric
cost of fetching water in rural Africa, as well as
on peri-urban sanitation solutions in low-income
communities. His fieldwork is carried out in
Mozambique and Haiti.
Synopsis
The effects of water supply improvements on the
health of more than 1 billion women and girls
worldwide that fetch water often are difficult to
quantify. Improved community water points have
the potential to generate health gains by reducing
the physical burden of water fetching. This study
aims to assess and quantify the health impacts of
water improvement interventions in rural Mozam-
bican communities, in terms of time and energy
expenditures of household water supply.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
What is the impact of different levels of water
supply service on the caloric cost of water fetch-
ing within rural communities in sub-Saharan
Africa? What is the metabolic equivalent of task
(MET) value of water fetching within a rural
population in Mozambique? What share of total
daily energy expenditure is accounted for by
water fetching in rural Mozambique? What are
the impacts on energy expenditure of water sup-
ply improvements in rural Mozambique? What
factors determine the magnitude and distribu-
tion of those impacts?
APPROACH
The study comprises three parts: (1) The study
will complete about 1,600 household surveys
in 60 communities with the help of trained
Mozambican enumerators, who will administer
questionnaires using personal digital assistants
(PDAs). Each household will be visited before and
after a water supply intervention. Questions will
be asked regarding water supply services, fetch-
ing practices and water quantities consumed.
(2) Three communities will be selected for
indepth investigation, including a sample of
10 adult females in each community Study
participants will be asked to perform water
fetching and other daily activities while wearing
a Zephyr Bioharness monitor. The monitor will
measure the exertion of water fetching in a field
setting, and will allow the estimation of fetching
as a share of a total daily caloric budget. (3) In a
laboratory based experiment, 30 female subjects
will be asked to perform typical daily tasks while
wearing an Oxycon mobile metabolic monitor, so
as to obtain highly accurate metabolic data.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The study will yield the first known comparison
between laboratory- and field-based estimates of
the caloric costs of water fetching in rural Africa,
as well as a rigorous estimate of the share of the
daily caloric budget attributable to water supply.
Findings also will include an assessment of the
impacts ofwater supply improvements on caloric
expenditures. Such insights ideally will shed light
on which types of water supply interventions
deliver cost-effective gains to rural households.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Water fetching represents a substantial health
burden for more than 1 billion women world-
wide. This research will help quantify that
burden, and will inform future interventions
that can reduce the time and energy costs, as
well as the physical burden, of fetching water.
Keywords: energy expenditure, water supply, water fetching, borewell. handpump, health indicators, developing countries, Africa
91
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Human Health: Public Health
University of Cincinnati (OH)
E-mail: sebastkj@maiI. ue.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917367
EPA Project Officer:, Gladys Gobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/JMJ - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $12g;,00.Q
Environmental Discipline: Epidemiology
Kelly Jo Sebastian
Epigenetic Markers of Exposure to Traffic and Pediatric Asthma
Kelly Sebastian received her undergraduate degree
in Biology from Thomas More College in 2007.
The following year, she was accepted into the
Biomedical Science Flex program at the Univer-
sity of Cincinnati. After 1 year of rotations, she
elected into the Ph.D. program in Epidemiology
and joined the Molecular Epidemiology in Chil-
dren's Environmental Health training program.
Her research focuses on environmental exposures
and respiratory/allergic outcomes. Currently, she is
researching epigenetic biomarkers of traffic-related
exposure and their link to pediatric asthma.
Synopsis
Studies have demonstrated a consistent link
between exposure to traffic-related air pollution
and childhood respiratory health. This study will
potentially identify children at greater risk for the
development of asthma by not only providing new
measures for disease and exposure surveillance,
prevention and management, but also new insights
into critical periods of early-life exposure to traffic
exhaust.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Although epigenetics has become an intriguing
area of research concerning the development of
childhood asthma, significant questions remain
regarding epigenetic biomarkers of traffic-related
air pollution and the critical timing of early-life
exposure. This research project will investigate
the relationship between diesel exhaust par-
ticle exposure and the methylation status of key
asthma-related genes and surrogate markers of
global methylation. In addition, this project will
determine whether these epigenetic changes
are associated with the development of allergic
disease and asthma over time.
APPROACH
The first phase of this proj ect is to identify and test
the utility of salivary epigenetic markers as bio-
markers of DEP exposure in the Cincinnati Child-
hood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS)
cohort. The methylation status of the promoter
region of IFN-y and global methylation status of
LINE1 and AluYbS, examined via pyrosequenc-
ing will be explored among children exposed to
varying levels of DEP. This study will be the first to
utilize saliva as a DNA source to experimentally
determine methylation profiles with respect to
DEP exposure and pediatric asthma. If proven
to be successful, this methodology would be
critically important for advancing epidemiologic
studies in large cohorts, especially those studying
environmental exposures and childhood asthma.
The second phase is to determine if allergic
sensitization and/or asthma during childhood
is associated with methylation of the Il'Wy pro-
moter and/or LINE1 /AluYb8. The CCAAPS cohort
has been clinically examined annually at ages 1
through 4 and at age 7 for the development of
allergic disease phenotypes and asthma.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Expression of IFN-y has been shown to be regu-
lated by DNA methylation. Thus, it is hypothesized
that the DNA methylation status of the IFN-y gene
promoter region will be hypermethylated among
children exposed to high levels of DEP compared
to children exposed to lowlevels ofDEP.Demeth-
ylation ofLINEl and Alu elements increases their
activity as retrotransposable sequences, which
may induce genomic alterations and ultimately
deregulate gene transcription. Therefore, this
study believes LINEl and/or AluYb8 will be
hypomethylated among children with high DEP
levels compared to children with low DEP levels.
Further, it is theorized that the methylation sta-
tus will be significantly associated with allergic
disease and asthma development.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
There have been minimal well-designed epide-
miologic studies of ambient air pollution and
the epigenome addressing the numerous aller-
gic outcomes seen in pediatric asthma. Studies
within well-established longitudinal cohorts like
CCAAPS, which have tracked lifetime childhood
exposure to traffic-related air pollution and the
development of allergic health phenotypes and
asthma, are needed. This study will potentially
identify biomarkers of diesel exhaust exposure
and susceptible populations by means of epigeno-
typing and will not only provide new measures
for exposure and disease surveillance, preven-
tion and management but also new insights into
critical periods of airway development, asthma
etiology and asthma severity
Keywords: diesel exhaust particles, pediatric asthma, epigenetics, DNA methylation, global methylation, gene-specific methylation
92
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Human Health: Public Health
Colorado State University (CO)
E-mail: tjzurIin@engr.colostate.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP91?303
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Gfsan
Project Period: 8/1/2-011 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $84,000
Environmental Discipline:, Environmental Toxicology
Todd James Zurlinden
Development of Environmental Public Health Indicators for Organophosphorus
Insecticide Mixture Exposure
Todd Zurlinden received his undergraduate degree
in Chemical and Biological Engineering from
Colorado State University in 2010. Currently,
he is pursuing his M.S. degree in Chemical and
Biological Engineering at Colorado State Univer-
sity. His research is concerned with developing
environmental public health indicators as they
relate to organophosphorus insecticides. Aside
from research, Todd is active in education and
learning, and in 2011, was awarded "Outstanding
Graduate Teaching Assistant" by the Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering,
Synopsis
Organophosphorus chemicals (OPs) are the most
widely used group of insecticides in the world.
Because of their common use in household and
agricultural settings, humans are frequently
exposed to these chemicals. Chronic exposure to
OPs is linked to serious health problems. The goal
of this project is to understand the linkage between
toxicants and human exposures, and develop
quantitative metrics (I Pills) that will be used to
inform the creation of policies and programs to
protect human health.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Nearly all people living in the United States are
exposed to organophosphorus (OP) insecticides/
pesticides, through household or agricultural
applications or ingestion of residues on food.
Building linkages between OP insecticide mix-
tures, human exposures and public health out-
comes is critical in creating rational regulations
and stewardship programs to protect human
health. Such linkages can be formed through the
development of suitable environmental public
health indicators (EPHIs), important metrics that
can be used for long-term tracking and surveil-
lance of environmental public health, as well as
assessing the actual impacts of environmental
risk-management decisions. Unfortunately,
existing EPHIs for OP insecticide exposure lack
a rigorous health-based underpinning and do
not consider cumulative exposure, and thus are
limited in their applicability and usefulness. To
address this critical deficiency, the principal
objective of this project is to develop quantita-
tive, health-effect-based EPHIs for OP insecticide
mixture exposure.
APPROACH
The proposed approach begins with a surro-
gate measure of adverse health effects of OP
insecticides, and uses quantitative and statistical
models, coupled with data from environmental
and biomonitoring studies to reconstruct the
information necessary to compute appropriate
EPHIs. The essential components of this meth-
odology are: (1) biologically based models of the
absorption, distribution, metabolism and excre-
tion (ADME) of OP insecticides; (2) pharmacody-
namic models linking OP insecticide metabolites
and B-esterase inhibition; and (3) statistical
models and supporting data for individual and
population variability with respect to OP insec-
ticide exposure.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The study anticipates that the methodology, mod-
els and tools developed in this project will help
elucidate specific environmental public health
indicators that can be measured and tracked over
time to effectively link changes in OP insecticide
levels to impacts on public health. These indica-
tors will be derived from a synthesis of biologi-
cally based computational and statistical models,
information about population variability as it
relates to OP insecticide exposure and risk, data
from environmental and biomonitoring studies,
and knowledge about the mechanisms underly-
ing the adverse health effects of OP insecticide
exposure. Therefore, the study expects to produce
EPHIs that are more accurate, relevant and useful
than the statistically based measures currently in
use, and consequently the overall benefit will be
an improvement of EPA's ability to protect public
health.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Building linkages between OP insecticide mix-
tures, human exposures and public health out-
comes is critical in creating rational regulations
and stewardship programs to protect human
health. Such linkages can be formed 1 11 rough the
development of suitable environmental public
health indicators (EPHIs), important metrics that
can be used for long-term tracking and surveil-
lance of environmental public health, as well as
assessing the actual impacts of environmental
risk-management decisions.
Keywords: environmental public health indicators (EPHIs), bayesian statistics, PBPK/PD Modeling, organophosphorus pesticides
93
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Human Health: Risk Assessment and Risk
Management
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: ekersten@berkeley.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917344
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Atmospheric Sciences
Synopsis
Ellen Kersten received her B.A. from the Univer-
sity of California (UC), Los Angeles, in 2006 in
Geography and Political Science. She then moved
to the San Francisco Bay Area where she worked
as a Health and Housing Research Associate for
the Greenlining Institute, and then as a Geospatial
Technician for the Department of Environmental
Science, Policy and Management (ESPM) at UC
Berkeley, where she is currently a Ph.D. student.
Her research focuses on environmental justice,
health impacts of climate change and geospatial
technology.
Many public agencies are implementing trans-
formative land use and transportation policies to
mitigate and adapt to the progression of climate
change, Ellen Kersten's research uses geographic
information systems (GIS) to create and evaluate
measures of neighborhood vulnerability to climate
change and mitigation policies. The results will
illuminate how to improve measures of cumulative
health impacts and ensure communities achieve
environmental justice objectives.
Ellen E. Kersten
Ensuring Community Co-Benefits of Climate Change Mitigation Policies in California
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project examines the effects of smart growth
and climate change mitigation policies and pro-
grams as they relate to environmental health and
social equity priorities. It will evaluate and expan d
upon existing models and methods for vulner-
ability mapping and decision-making by creating
a suite of metrics and evidence that account for
cumulative environmental health impacts. It is
guided by three complementary research ques-
tions: (1) How will land use and transportation
policies and programs that intend to mitigate
the effects of climate change affect communities
differently? (2) What are the incentives and disin-
centives for communities to engage in local and
regional land use and transportation planning?
(3) How can climate change mitigation policies
more effectively support environmental justice
goals?
APPROACH
With a focus on California and a regional case-
study of the nine county San Francisco Bay Area,
this research will be completed in four stages.
First, the study will use geospatial data and meth-
ods to characterize neighborhood vulnerabilities
and resilience to climate change. Second, the
study will assess the relationship between neigh-
borhood characterizations and areas targeted by
smart growth, environmental justice and climate
change mitigation programs. The third step will
entail an indepth evaluation of the historical
and current physical and social environmental
context in six selected neighborhoods to ground-
truth the assessments and relationships from
stages two and three. Lastly, the study will revise
the metrics as needed and disseminate the result-
ing neighborhood needs assessment measures
to local and regional planning agencies and
community-based organizations.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will create scientifically valid,
transparent metrics and methods for local and
regional needs assessment to inform climate
change mitigation policy priorities that address
health disparities and environmental injustices.
Given that there are limited resources to direct
toward transportation and land use improve-
ments, it is crucial for policy makers and com-
munity advocates to have the ability to ensure
that resources are targeted to communities that
could and should benefit most from focused
interventions. The data, metrics, findings and
policy recommendations from the four stages will
be compiled and shared with state, regional and
local agencies as well as community advocacy
groups. They also will inform memos that will be
submitted to agencies during periods of public
comment on their planning and development
processes.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The neighborhood measures created and shared
during this project will enable researchers, plan-
ners, policy makers and community advocates
to better identify and understand the double
burden of historically inequitable distribution
of resources and current vulnerability to climate
change impacts. They will help identify the
neighborhoods that have the most to gain, and
lose, from climate change mitigation strategies.
It also will provide a much needed perspective
and approach to public agencies and community
advocates that are working to incorporate public
health risk assessment and environmental jus-
tice into climate change mitigation policies and
projections.
Keywords: environmentaljustice, GIS, cumulative impacts, climate change
96
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Human Health: Risk Assessment and Risk
Management
University of South Carolina, Columbia (SC)
E-mail: riceljSemail.sG;edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917278
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Gfeen
Project Period: 8/1/2011 -7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Health Risk Assessment
Bio
LaShanta Rice received her undergraduate degree
in Biology from Talladega College in 2004. Prior
to graduating, she was a National Science Founda-
tion Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Undergraduate Program intern working with the
West Anniston Environmental Justice Task Force. A
year later, she completed a 1-year postbaccalaure-
ate program in Cancer Biology at Meharry Medical
College. The following year she entered a Master's
in Public Health program at the University of South
Florida. While pursuing her degree, she worked in
diverse capacities at the Moffitt Cancer Center
(MCC). For the past year, she has served as proj-
ect coordinator for two federally funded research
projects while simultaneously pursuing a Ph.D. in
Health Promotion, Education and Behavior at the
University of South Carolina (USC). Her research
interests include environmental exposures, cancer
and health disparities. She currently is involved
in action-oriented community-based participatory
research at USC in the Institute for Families in
Society. She plans to explore the interplay between
environmental conditions, social perceptions and
cancer health disparities for her dissertation work.
Synopsis
LaShanta J. Rice E
Assessment of the Relationship Between Environmental Quality and Perceived and
Actual Cancer Risk in Environmental Justice Communities in Metropolitan Charleston,
South Carolina
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
African Americans have higher mortality rates
and lower rates of survival for most cancers com-
pared to all other racial and ethnic groups in the
United States. Environmental justice researchers
have demonstrated that African Americans live
in communities that experience disproportion-
ately higher health risks from the burden of and
exposure to environmental hazards, including
noxious land uses and high levels of EPA criteria
air pollutants. Exposure to criteria air pollutants
can lead to cancer or exacerbate other health
conditions. To reduce burgeoning cancer risks
among African Americans, this research will elu-
cidate the role environmental exposures play in
social perceptions and actual cancer risk across
disproportionately exposed populations.
APPROACH
Using an existing community-based participa-
tory research (CBPR) partnership between the
Low Country Alliance for Model Communities
(LAMC) and University of South Carolina (USC),
quantitative and qualitative analyses, this project
will explore the correlation between environmen-
tal quality and actual cancer risk and community
perceptions of cancer risks. To accomplish this
goal, an environmental community health survey
will be distributed in census tracts in Metropoli-
tan Charleston and used to informfocus groups in
LAMC neighborhoods. Socio-demographic infor-
mation will be collected from the 2000 and 2010
U.S. Census Bureau at the census tract level. Data
from the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry
(SCCCR) will be used to determine cancer risk
scores. Geographic information systems will be
used to depict the correlation between the spatial
distribution of environmental hazards and cancer
risk at the census tract level. Statistical analyses
will determine if there is a significant difference
in risk scores between percent black and percent
white and assess levels of perceived risk by race/
ethnicity, gender and group.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Gauging underlying causes of cancer health
disparities in underserved communities is not
an easy task; however, assessing the relationship
between social underpinnings and environmental
conditions could prove to be valuable for popu-
lations disproportionately burdened by cancer
and other diseases. Assessing the non-biological
factors that constitute a greater influence on can-
cer risk among African Americans may improve
uptake ofprevention services and improve gaps in
health between and within populations. Popula-
tions in predominately African American or low-
income census tracts will have lower perceived
risk of cancer than their white or more affluent
counterparts. Hi ere will be a positive correlation
between the spatial distribution of environmental
hazards and cancer risk scores at the census
tract level. There will be an inverse correlation
between environmental quality and cancer risk
and cancer morbidity in predominately African
American census tracts and low socioeconomic
status (SES) tracts.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
There is limited knowledge about the level of
impact that perceived cancer risk has on intent
to be screened or that environmental quality
has on cancer risk in low-income communities
and communities of color. Information gained
from this research may significantly increase
understanding of the spatial and temporal varia-
tion of human exposure to actual environmental
hazards and provide an understanding of the
correlation between perceived risk and actual
risk of cancer based on exposure burden. The
proposed project will fill this gap and is one of
a few studies to examine community exposure,
perceived environmental quality, and perceived
cancer risk. Ultimately, this research will elu-
cidate the relationship between the spatial
distribution of facilities that emit pollutants
and risk of disease among African Americans
residing in environmental justice communities.
Keywords: environmental exposures, cancer, environmental justice, community-based participatory research, pollutants, risk perceptions
97
This research will explore the relationship between
environmental exposures, cancer risk and social
perceptions or cancer risk among African Ameri-
cans in environmental justice communities. Mixed
methodologies will be used to gauge perceptions
and inform community-based research to meet the
needs of residents in these communities. Findings
from this research will be valuable to communities
of color that disproportionately host environmental
hazards and are differentially burdened by cancer.
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I think the environment should be put in the
category of our national security. Defense of our
resources is just as important as defense abroad.
Otherwise what is there to defend?
- Robert Redford,
Yosemite National Park dedication, 1985
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Land Prote
Watson, Oneida Ana
Landfill Disposal Reduction and
Electricity Generation From the Use
of Municipal Solid Waste in
Waste-to-Energy Technologies
Rice University (TX)_ 102
101
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Land Protection
Rice University (TX)
E-mail: ow3Sirice.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917297
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31S0M
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental Science &
ENgiriegfini
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Landfill Disposal Reduction and Electricity Generation From the Use of Municipal Solid
Waste in Waste-to-Energy Technologies
Oneida Watson received her B.S.E. degree in
Chemical Engineering and M.S.E in Environmen-
tal Engineering from the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor and has held several internships
in the energy sector. She currently is pursuing
her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at Rice
University, where her research focuses on convert-
ing municipal solid waste into electricity via the
use of waste-to-energy technologies (incineration,
co-combustion with fossil fuels, gasification and
pyrolysis).
Synopsis
Municipal solid waste is nonhazardous residential
and commercial trash. It is primarily landfilled in
the United States, raising environmental contami-
nation concerns via leaching of pollutants into the
soil and groundwater. This discarded waste may
be used for electricity generation (EG) via waste-
to-energy (WtE) technologies. This project evalu-
ates several WtE technologies for EG efficiency,
environmental impacts and economic viability to
determine optimal regional placement for each.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Increases in electricity demand and the environ-
mental contamination concerns associated with
landfills have made the use of municipal solid
waste (MSW) atarget alternative fuel for electric-
ity generation. This research will address which
waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies are best
suited to convert MSW to electricity by advancing
the understanding of the thermodynamic proper-
ties of each WtE technology and discerning how
to optimize the deployment of these technologies
by considering economic and environmental
conditions, local MSW composition and other
constraints.
APPROACH
This research will be conducted in two phases.
The first stage will involve both static and
dynamic simulations for each WtE technology
using AspenTech" software. This model will com-
pare WtE technologies: gasification, pyrolysis,
co-combustion and incineration for electricity
generation (EG) efficiencies, pollutants and ther-
modynamic stability of pertinent reactions when
varying MSW composition and local environmen-
tal conditions. The second stage will utilize the
results from stage one in an energy system analy-
sis (ESA), in addition to environmental and eco-
nomic information gathered for local conditions.
The ESA will incorporate a combined dynamic
economic and environmental model that allows
variations in policy scenarios.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is hypothesized that these simulations will pro-
vide more accurate EG efficiencies by accounting
for variations in the MSW composition and pro-
cess operating conditions, as well as predict the
benefits of reusing WtE technology by-products
as secondary heating sources. This information
can be used to further predict which WtE tech-
nologies should be deployed in a region based
on EG efficiencies and local variations in envi-
ronmental regulatory constraints and economic
competition caused by energy market conditions.
Investigating these WtE technologies compared
to incineration may show mitigation of air and
water quality degradation when used with cur-
rent environmental pollution controls by lower-
ing pollutants such as NOx and SOx, while utilizing
the MSW more efficiently than incineration.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Reducing landfill disposal will increase the
amount of land available for other uses, and
reduces the possibility of landfill leaching of
contaminants into the soil and groundwater.
Utilizing MSW as a fuel will partially displace
traditional fossil fuels, such as coal and natural
gas, reducing environmental impacts associated
with fossil fuel extraction and combustion. The
WtE technologies of pyrolysis, gasification and
co-combustion have thermodynamic advantages
over full oxidation (incineration) and can have
lower air and water pollutant emissions.
Keywords: waste-to-energy, municipal solid waste fuel, landfill disposal reduction, thermodynamic modeling, energy system analysis, AspenTech
102
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We are all united by our desire to improve the world
we live in - and not only the world we live in, but the
world our children and grandchildren will live in as
well. That is what brings us together
- EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
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Nanotechnology
Shepard, Michele Noble
Risk Assessment and Life Cycle
Analysis of Nanoscale Metal Oxides
Used in Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication
State University of New York, College at
Albany (NY)m 106
Tiwari, Andrea J.
Characterization of Incidental
Carbonaceous Nanoparticles in
Ambient Air and Combustion Exhaust
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University (VA)m
107
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105
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Nanotechnology
State University of New York
College at Albany (NY)
E-mail: mshepard@uam0il.alb3ny.edu
EPA Grant Number: 'FP917307
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Public Health Sciences
iMichele Noble Shepard
Risk Assessment and Life Cycle Analysis of Nanoscale Metal Oxides Used in
Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication
Bio
Michele Shepard received a B.S. in Industrial
Hygiene/Environmental Toxicology from Clarkson
University and an M.S. in Environmental Studies
from the University of Oregon. She has worked as
an environmental health and safety consultant
at Arthur D. Little, in the biotechnology industry,
and as a vice president in the Woodard & Curran
Environmental Management Consulting Group.
She currently is in a Ph.D. program at the Uni-
versity at Albany College of Nanoscale Science
and Engineering, with research focused on the
environmental and occupational health aspects of
nanotechnology.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
To maximize the benefits of nanotechnology
and avoid unwanted consequences, additional
data are needed to better understand poten-
tial environmental health risks and necessary
control measures across the life cycle stages for
specific nanotechnology applications. The goal
of this project is to provide data on the material
characteristics, potential pathways of exposure
and release, and risk management practices for
engineered nanomaterials associated with the
chemical-mechanical planarization process in
semiconductor wafer fabrication. Additional
application of the combined risk assessment
and life cycle analysis framework also will help
further refine the assessment approach for
nanomaterials.
APPROACH
To investigate the environmental and occupa-
tional health risks of engineered nanomaterials
used in the chemical-mechanical planarization
process for semiconductor wafer fabrication,
this project will use risk assessment and life cycle
analysis methods. Initial study phases include
constructing a profile of the life cycle stages,
reviewing relevant toxicological data, assessing
workplace handling practices and control mea-
sures and determining potential pathways of
exposure or release. Sampling and analysis will be
conducted to identify and characterize any engi-
neered nanomaterials in air and process waste
streams. The approach also will include a review
of current and best practice recommendations
to prevent or minimize exposures and releases,
including design considerations, engineering
controls, workforce training, administrative
procedures, personal protective equipment and
waste management practices.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will result in a case study on the envi-
ronmental health risks and recommendations
for nanoscale metal oxides used in chemical-
mechanical planarization for semiconductor
wafer fabrication. The results will include an
evaluation of material characteristics and expo-
sure pathways across the life cycle stages, rec-
ommendations for risk management practices
to prevent or minimize exposures and releases,
and an assessment of the applicability of the
current environmental regulatory framework for
these specific materials. The results also will help
clarify unknowns and uncertainties and prioritize
further research needs related to the nanoscale
metal oxides of interest, as well as to provide les-
sons learned and other refinements in applying
combined risk assessment and life cycle analysis
methods for engineered nanomaterials.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The project results will include recommendations
to control worker exposures to these engineered
nanomaterials and help prevent potential human
health impacts, as well as to evaluate pathways
for environmental release and potential down-
stream public health impact.
Nanotechnology presents great promise for
revolutionizing numerous fields and applications.
The rapid growth and proliferation of engineered
nanomaterials has led to an increasing need to
better understand potential public health and envi-
ronmental risks. This project assesses the material
characteristics, potential sources of exposure and
release and risk management practices for engi-
neered nanomaterials that are used in chemical-
mechanical planarization for semiconductor wafer
fabrication.
Keywords: engineered nanomaterials, nanotechnology, nanoparticle exposure, environmental health, risk assessment, life cycle analysis, semiconductor
waferfabrication, chemical-mechanical planarization
106
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Nanotechnology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University (VA)
E-mail: ajtiwariฎvt.edซ
EPA Grant Number: FP917308
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - .8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Mgrlvlronrrierrtali
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Bio
Andrea Tiwari is a Ph.D. student in the Civil and
Environmental Engineering Department at Virginia
Tech. After receiving her B.A. in Physics from
Luther College in 2003, she worked at the U.S.
Geological Survey and as a high school physics
teacher. She then enrolled at Virginia Tech and
received her M.S. in Environmental Science and
Engineering in 2009. Her Ph.D. research focuses
on the intersection of man-made nanoparticlesand
the Earth's atmosphere.
Synopsis
This research will examine aerosol samples from
common combustion exhausts, such as diesel and
coal, to investigate whether those exhausts contain
specialized carbon nanoparticles called fullerenes.
This work also will examine aerosol sampled in
ambient urban and rural environments. The poten-
tial presence of carbon-based nanoparticles in the
atmosphere may alter the way policy makers and
researchers think about the environmental impacts
of nanotechnology.
Andrea J. Tiwari
Characterization of Incidental Carbonaceous Nanoparticles in Ambient Air and
Combustion Exhaust
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research will investigate whether C60 fuller-
enes are present in ambient air or in exhausts of
common combustion sources. These results have
implications for research and policy pertaining
to carbonaceous nanoparticles as environmental
pollutants.
APPROACH
For this research, aerosol samples will be col-
lected on filters and on electron microscopy grids.
Samples will originate from six sources: coal-fired
power plant, diesel truck depot/industrial loca-
tion, forest fire, ambient urban, ambient rural and
laboratory control. All filters will be extracted to
allow for quantification of any C60 content by liq-
uid chromatography and infrared spectroscopy.
Additionally, microscope grids will be analyzed
using a transmission electron microscope to
examine particle morphology. Comparing these
results with previously published work alleging
the presence of C based on particle morphology
alone, this research will make definitive progress
towards understanding the potential presence of
C6[| in the ambient atmosphere.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The most important result of this research is
one of the most complete datasets to date on
the presence of C in the aerosol phase in the
natural environment. This study expects that
CL fullerenes will not be found at detectable levels
DU
in combustion exhaust, ambient carbonaceous
aerosol or forest fire smoke, as the combustion
conditions are far from optimal for CL produc-
tion. The results of this study should weigh rather
heavily on the debate as to the state of nanocar-
bons in the natural environment. This will help
the research community, as well as policymakers,
understand the relative importance of nanocar-
bons when considering nanotechnology's poten-
tial impacts on the environment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Knowing whether or not C60 is present in combus-
tion exhausts and ambient air, and if so at what
levels, will be very important when formulating
environmental policy relating to nanoparticles
as emerging pollutants. Because nanotech-
nology is a growing phenomenon in both the
United States and global economies, effective
nano-environmental policy is critical to protect
the environment from the potentially negative
impacts that manufactured nanoparticles may
have on the environment.
Keywords: C6(f fullerenes, nanoparticles, nanotechnology combustion, aerosol, incidental
107
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Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
-------
The EPA has a long history of understanding how
toxic certain chemicals are. There's this realization now
we can actually design chemicals and design manu-
facturing so they are less toxic and less polluting.
- PaulAnastas,
Director, Yale University Center for Green
Chemistry and Green Engineering
-------
Pesticides and To
Anderson, Erica Karin
Developing the Mosquitofish as a
Robust Bioindicator Organism for
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds by
Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms
That Regulate Responses to Androgens
University of Florida (FL), 112
Conley, Justin Matthew
Conductivity and SeleniumLaboratory
Approaches to Understanding the Impacts
of Chemical Stressors Released From
Mountaintop Mining/Valley Fill on
Aquatic Insects
North Carolina State University (\(), 113
Gavery, Mackenzie R.
An Epigenomic and Transcriptomic
Framework for Identifying Novel Modes
of Action and Physiological Effects of
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds
in Shellfish
University of Washington (WA). 114
Gross, Aaron Donald
Targeting an Octopamine Receptor From
the Southern Cattle Tick (Rhlpicephalus
microplus) for Targets of Biopesticides
Iowa State University (IA), 115
Hicks, Tyler Leon
Non-Target Impacts of Herbicides
on Endangered Butterflies
Washington State University at Vancouver (WA). ,.,116
Hillis, Jeffrey Jackson
Are Male Bluegilis (Lepomis
macrochirus) Experiencing Altered
Reproductive Output Due to Exposure
to Chlorinated Hydrocarbons?
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (IL). ,117
Lundin, Jessica I.
Persistent Organic Pollutants in the
Puget Sound Ecosystem: Temporal
Patterns in Excretion of POPs and
Associated Endocrine Disruption in
Free-Ranging Killer Whales
University of Washington (WA). 118
Moore, Caroline Elizabeth
Caenorhabditis elegans: A Novel
Chronic Exposure Model to Evaluate
Microcystes' Interference With
Neurodevelopment
University of California, Davis (CA), 119
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn
Biodegradation of Perfluorinated
Compounds
University of California, Los Angeles (CA), 120
Wu,Judy Yu
Effects of Neonicotinyl Insecticides on
Honey Bee and Bumblebee Fecundity
and Survival
University of Minnesota (MN). ,121
111
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
University of Florida (FL)
E-mail: exica ka r i n 13ฎ g m a i I. eo m
EPA Grant Number:; rP91?281
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: '9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,00.0
Environmental Discipline: Toxicology
Erica Karin Anderson
Developing the Mosquitofish as a Robust Bioindicator Organism for Endocrine
Disrupting Compounds by Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms That Regulate
Responses to Androgens
Bio
Erica Anderson completed her undergraduate
studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in
2009, Erica was active in undergraduate research
and also served as a university ambassador. After
graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Stud-
ies with minors in Chemistry and Spanish, Erica
enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Toxicology Ph.D.
program at the University of Florida. Her research
focuses on the impacts of endocrine-disrupting
chemicals on aquatic species that inhabit paper
mill-impacted habitats.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Endocrine disrupting chemicals interfere with
hormonal balance and can impact reproduction
and development. Several species of aquatic
animals that live downstream of paper mills
have abnormal characteristics that indicate
exposure to endocrine disruptors. In the State
of Florida, one species of freshwater fishthe
mosquitofishhas been observed with abnormal
secondary sexual characteristics at three paper
mill-impacted sites. This research project will
delve into the mechanisms of how the female
mosquitofish that live downstream of paper mills
exhibit male-specific physical characteristics.
Results will enable the mosquitofish to be further
developed into an organism that can be sampled
from polluted environments to determine the
environmental impacts of paper mill effluents
and other endocrine disruptors.
APPROACH
A combination of laboratory experiments and
field work will be used to determine the role of
gene expression in the development of the male-
specific secondary sexual characteristic: the anal
fin. In the laboratory, female mosquitofish will be
exposed to endocrine disruptors (androgens) that
are known to cause anal fin growth. Changes in
the expression of genes known to regulate anal
fin growth in other species will be monitored to
determine the role of these pathways in mosquito-
fish anal fin growth. Further analysis of how these
genes regulate one another will be determined
in experiments with mosquitofish fry exposed to
androgens and chemicals that can inhibit these
genes. Hepatic gene expression analysis will be
conducted on the androgen-exposed female mos-
quitofish using a microarray, a powerful technol-
ogy that enables the quantification of thousands
of genes at once. This microarray data will be
compared to microarray data from the masculin-
ized female mosquitofish that live downstream of
the paper mill to determine if these fish are being
exposed to a chemical that acts like an androgen.
A biomarker of reproductive health also will be
measured in field samples to determine if the
abnormal female mosquitofish also may be
impaired in their ability to reproduce.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Understanding the mechanisms that are respon-
sible for abnormal anal fin growth in mosquitofish
will allow for more accurate interpretation during
field studies of endocrine disrupting chemicals
using this species. This research also will provide
information of the mechanisms by which paper
mill effluents in the State of Florida are acting
as endocrine disruptors and if this exposure
is linked to potential reproductive effects. The
long-term goal of this project is to develop the
mosquitofish into a bioindicator: an organism
that can be sampled from polluted environ-
ments to determine the environmental impacts
and potential risks of chemical exposure for both
wildlife and human populations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Masculinized female mosquitofish still are
found in Florida's freshwater systems that are
impacted by paper mill effluents, and the risks
of paper mill effluent exposure for other aquatic
animals are greatly unknown. Determining the
biological mechanisms that cause abnormalities
in mosquitofish can help in understanding these
effects and what risks may be conferred by other
species in the area. This project can set the foun-
dation for future studies using the mosquitofish
as a bioindicator to evaluate the health status of
paper-mill impacted sites and other ecosystems
that are impacted by endocrine disruptors.
Endocrine disruptors interfere with hormone bal-
ance and can impact reproduction. Animals that
live downstream of paper mills have abnormal
characteristics that indicate exposure to endocrine
disruptors. This project seeks to understand how
female mosquitofish downstream of a Florida
paper mill have male-specific physical character-
istics. Field and laboratory work will be used to
evaluate changes in gene expression and how this
leads to the formation of abnormal characteristics
in female mosquitofish.
Keywords: endocrine disruption, paper mill effluent, aquatic toxicology, bioindicator
112
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
North Carolina State University (NC)
E-mail: jmconley<9ncsu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917322
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:: Environmental Toxicology
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Justin Matthew Conley
Conductivity and Selenium-Laboratory Approaches to Understanding the Impacts of
Chemical Stressors Released From Mountaintop Mining/Valley Fill on Aquatic Insects
Justin Conley received his undergraduate degree
in Environmental Science and Biology from Warren
Wilson College in 2004. He went on to receive his
M.S. in Environmental Science at the University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he conducted
research on the presence of pharmaceutical resi-
dues in the Tennessee River. He began the Ph.D.
program in Environmental Toxicology at North
Carolina State University in 2008. His research
focuses on the toxicity of chemicals released from
mountaintop removal/valley fill coal mining to
aquatic insects, specifically the effects of selenium
and total dissolved solids on mayflies.
Synopsis
Degraded ecological conditions downstream of
mountaintop removal/valley fill coal mining opera-
tions have been linked to water chemistry changes.
Specifically, elevated selenium (Se) and total
dissolved solids (TDS) are highly correlated with
impaired aquatic life, including loss of aquatic
insect abundance and diversity. This research
program will seek to characterize the toxicity of
Se and TDS to aquatic insects using a laboratory-
based periphyton-mayfly test system.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Mountaintop removal-valley fill coal mining prac-
tices bury headwater streams and significantly
change water chemistry in downstream reaches.
It is unclear which contaminants are most respon-
sible for observed ecological damage (dramatic
reductions in aquatic insect abundance and
diversity); however, elevated concentrations of
selenium and total dissolved solids (as measured
by specific conductance) are strongly correlated
with ecological effects in the field, Little is known
about how these contaminants affect aquatic
insects, as laboratory data presently are limited.
This research program will assess the potential
toxicity of elevated selenium and specific conduc-
tance (individually and jointly) to aquatic insects
by using a laboratory-based periphyton-mayfly
test system.
APPROACH
To assess the toxicity of elevated selenium and
total dissolved solids, a representative mayfly
(Centroptilum triangulifer) will be used in con-
trolled laboratory exposures conducted at envi-
ronmentally relevant exposure levels and through
ecologically relevant exposure pathways. C. tri-
angulifer will be exposed in full life-cycle assays
to a range of selenium contaminated periphyton
diets and to waters with a range of conductivi-
ties that mimic the ionic composition of valley fill
impacted streams. A combined experiment will
determine if exposure to both dietary selenium
and high total dissolved solids produces an
increased toxic response, or if one of these
stressors is the primary driver of toxic effects.
This research further will seek to characterize the
uptake kinetics of different inorganic selenium
species into periphyton as well as identify the
individual ions in high TDS waters that are most
toxic to mayflies.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The expected outcome of this research program
will be a much more environmentally relevant
understanding of the toxic effects exerted by
selenium and high total dissolved solids on
aquatic insects, which currently are unknown.
Characterization of selenium toxicity will be
leveraged with experiments designed to describe
the bioavailability of selenite versus selenate to
primary producers, which dictate the bioaccu-
mulation of selenium in food webs. Further, it is
unknown whether any particular anion or cation
in valley fill impacted streams is particularly toxic
or whether the full assortment of ions present is
necessary to produce effects. This research pro-
gram will seek to clarify these uncertainties.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The focus of this research program is on aquatic
macroinvertebrates, which are sentinels of water
quality and aquatic ecosystem health. Recent
research has shown a direct link between the
health of these systems and cancer rates in
residents of the Central Appalachians. This is a
socio-economically depressed region and many
consider mountaintop removal to be an envi-
ronmental justice issue. By providing additional
support to EPA administrators to set scientifically
defensible water quality standards for specific
conductance and Se, environmental improve-
ments in water quality may potentially lead to
improvements in human health in the area.
Nationally, the EPA has for years been attempt-
ing to implement an updated Se standard. This
research will fill significant data gaps in the sci-
ence of understanding how Se moves through
aquatic food webs towards upper trophic level
organisms such as fish. Further, the issue of sali-
nization of freshwater is a global issue with the
encroachment of marine waters due to sea level
rise, the extraction of natural gas from Marcellus
shale brines, and evaporation of inland waters
from climate change. Understanding the toxic-
ity of specific ions to a representative sensitive
aquatic insect will bolster the greater scientific
understanding of how conductivity perturbs
natural systems and aids in improving water
quality globally.
Keywords: mountaintop removal, valley fill, coal mining, selenium, total dissolved solids, conductivity, mayfly, insect, toxicity
113
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
University of Washington (WA)
E-mail: mgavery@u.washington,6du
EPA Grant Number:; TW173I1
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Qobbs-Green:
Project Period: ,09/21/2011 -09/20/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Civil/Environmental
Engineering
Mackenzie R, Gavery 0
An Epigenomic and Transcriptomic Framework for Identifying Novel Modes of Action and
Physiological Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Shellfish
Bio
Mackenzie Gavery earned her B.S. in Biology from
Seattle University where she focused in Marine
Biology and spent summers studying Marine
Ecology in Washington's San Juan Islands. After
graduation, Mackenzie entered Seattle's biotech
industry, applying molecular techniques to evalu-
ate biologic drug candidates. In 2008, she entered
the M.S. program in the University of Washing-
ton's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. Her
research aims to improve understanding of the
physiological responses of marine invertebrates to
natural and human-driven environmental change.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Concern over human and wildlife health has
brought increased attention to a group of emerg-
ing environmental contaminants referred to
as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs).
Although progress has been made in describing
the effects of these compounds, there still are
gaps in the understanding of alternative modes
of action and physiological effects outside of the
reproductive axis, particularly in invertebrates.
This research aims to characterize alternative
modes of action of EDCs by utilizing molecular
tools to examine epigenetic and physiological
changes in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)
exposed to EDCs in the laboratory
APPROACH
This research will consist of laboratory-controlled
exposures of Pacific oysters to known EDCs
(17a-ethinyl estradiol [EE2] and cadmium).
High-resolution genome-wide DNA methylation
profiling will be used to test the hypothesis that
invertebrate DNA methylation patterns will be
altered upon exposure to EDCs. An integration of
traditional morphological as well as gene expres-
sion analysis will be used to assess physiological
effects of EE2 and cadmium in this important
bioindicator species.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The successful completion of this research will be
able to provide: (1) a deeper and broader under-
standing of the modes of action of endocrine
disrupting compounds; (2) the first integrative
study using epigenetics, transcriptomics and
phenotypic analyses to evaluate the effects of
EDCs in an aquatic invertebrate; and (3) a proof
of concept framework, which can be applied to
advance the study of the biological effects of EDCs
in other aquatic species.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will increase understanding of both
the modes of action and physiological effects
of endocrine disrupting compounds to best
evaluate risks and impacts to organismal health,
population resilience and ecosystem structure.
In addition, it is anticipated EDC exposure will
produce unique epigenetic and gene expres-
sion "signatures" that are indicative of exposure
and therefore can be utilized as early detection
biomarkers.
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are
environmental contaminants that threaten
water quality and health of humans and wild-
life worldwide. Although physiological effects
of EDCs have been described, it is evident that
understanding of the mechanisms and biological
pathways affected are incomplete. This project
investigates novel mechanisms of endocrine
disruption by characterizing epigenetic changes
and physiological responses to EDC exposure
in a key aquatic bioindicator, the Pacific oyster.
Keywords: endocrine disrupting compounds, epigenetics, transcriptomics, toxicology, aquatic invertebrates, oysters, mode of action, biomarker,
gene expression, bioindicator, cadmium, 17a-ethinyl. estradiol
114
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Aaron Donald Gross
Targeting an Octopamine Receptor From the Southern Cattle Tick
(Rhipicephalus microplus) for Targets of Biopesticides
Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Iowa State University (IA)
E-mail: adgrossฎiastate.edu
EPA Grant Number:;
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cebbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2011 -7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Terrestrial Systems
Ecology - includes animals
Bio
Aaron Gross received his B.S. degrees in Biochem-
istry and Biomedical Science at St. Cloud State
University, St. Cloud, MN, in 2007. He received
his M.S. in Toxicology from Iowa State University of
Science and Technology, Ames, I A, in 2010, and
was a runner-up for the Midwestern Association
of Graduate Schools 2011 Distinguished Thesis
Award. His M.S. thesis investigated the activity of
terpenoids against an American cockroach octopa-
mine receptor. Aaron is continuing his education at
Iowa State University to obtain a Ph.D. in Toxicol-
ogy with minors in Entomology and Neuroscience.
His research will focus on the use of natural and
biorational products as agents for control of the
southern cattle tick, a devastating pest that is
rapidly re-emerging in the United States.
Synopsis
This research will address the growing concern of
the re-introduction of the economically devastat-
ing southern cattle tick into the southern United
States. This tick poses a significant threat to the
cattle industry by transmitting diseases that can
result in significant losses. This research will
evaluate the potential of naturally occurring plant
compounds for their toxicity to ticks by interacting
with a specific neurological receptor (octopamine),
which is not found to a significant degree.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The southern cattle tick, which transmits the
causative agents leading to Texas Cattle Fever,
can result in significant economic losses to the
cattle industry. The southern cattle tick resur-
gence has recently intensified, resulting in the
need to identify safe and biorational control
measures to aid in the integrated approach to
controlling this tick This research project will
identify and investigate an octopamine receptor
from the southern cattle tick for the development
of botanical terpenoids as acaricides.
APPROACH
Preliminary results have identified a putative
octopamine receptor from the southern cattle
tick, which has been validated to be a relevant
acaricide target, and will serve as the basis for the
first phase of the research performed. Functional
response of the putative octopamine receptor
will be accomplished by using a yeast histidine-
auxotrophic assay to confirm that this receptor
responds to the putative ligand, octopamine. The
yeast assay will create a high-throughput plat-
form to screen libraries of potential compounds
that interact with this receptor. Octopamine and
lead compounds identified from the yeast assay
will undergo a more rigorous investigation into
the pharmacology of the putative octopamine
receptor. This will generate new data on receptor
pharmacology specifically activation of down-
stream cellular processes (second messengers),
that cannot be attained with the yeast histidine-
auxotrophic assay and will provide a higher level
of scrutiny to receptor classification. The most
important compounds identified with the cell
expression assays will be tested against strains of
ticks that are susceptible or resistant to synthetic
acaricides.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Use of biorational botanical compounds against
insects and acarines has increased in the past
several years. It has been proposed that natural
compounds may provide several mechanisms of
action, including interacting with octopamine
receptors. Although the results that are expected
to be obtained by performing this research will
not solve the continued threat of the southern
cattle tick, it is expected to augment the multiple
approaches that are needed in an arsenal to
combat resurgence of this economically impor-
tant pest. This research is expected to identify
an octopamine receptor from the southern
cattle tick and describe the activation of second
messenger systems. It also is expected that this
research will identify a variety of terpenoids that
interact with this putative octopamine receptor
to some degree. Identified octopaminergic can-
didate compounds will be tested against ticks
to investigate adverse physiological response(s)
and/or death. Compounds that display octopa-
mine receptor activity and lethality can be used
to generate quantitative structure-activity rela-
tionships (QSARs) that can be utilized to identify
additional effective compounds based on unique
physicochemical properties. Generation of new
information about the pharmacology of the
ticks octopaminergic system will be a significant
advance in the understanding of acarine neurobi-
ology. This research also may assist in controlling
the spread of these ticks not only in the United
States but also in Mexico, Central America and
South America where this tick has significant
impact.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Currently and previously used conventional
insecticides can have significant adverse impacts
on human health and the environment, includ-
ing non-target wildlife. The movement towards
biorational compounds may decrease the nega-
tive impacts on the environment and decrease
public concern over the safety of currently used
products.
Keywords: octopamine, octopamine receptor, GPCR, southern cattle tick, Texas cattle fever, terpenoids, essential oils, biorational, biopesticides
115
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Washington State University at Vancouver (WA)
E-mail: tyler_hicks@wsu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917334
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $12S,QQ0;
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
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Tyler Leon Hicks
Non-Target Impacts of Herbicides on Endangered Butterflies
w 1
Tyler Hicks graduated from Western State College
of Colorado with a B.A. in Biology. He is currently
a Ph.D. student at Washington State University-
Vancouver, where he is studying the non-target
impacts of herbicide use on at-risk Pacific North-
west prairie butterflies. In addition, he serves as a
science adviser to Birds Korea, a group dedicated
to conserving avian biodiversity in the Yellow Sea
ecoregion of East Asia. Broadly, he is interested
in the use of decision analysis, using science and
an integral multi-perspective approach, to resolve
complex wildlife management issues.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
In cooperation with federal and state land manag-
ers, this project intends to identify ways to mini-
mize harmful impacts of herbicide use on at-risk
prairie butterfly species in the Pacific Northwest
while maximizing control of invasive weeds.
APPROACH
Initially, this project will employ captive green-
house studies with a non-native forb feeding and
a native grass feeding butterfly species. Butter-
flies will be exposed to various combinations of
surfactants and herbicides at different life stages.
Impacts will be monitored by measuring sur-
vival rates, morphology, development time and
fecundity After identification of an herbicide/
surfactant combination with a minimal impact,
greenhouse studies will be scaled up to manage-
ment landscape scales in the field in prairies
occupied by the endangered Fender's Blue But-
terfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi). Finally, the
study will monitor the response of the Fender's
Blue to herbicide exposure and resulting changes
in their habitat by measuring responses in sur-
vivorship, behavior, reproductive success and
dispersal. By comparing multiple species in both
controlled greenhouse and field conditions, deci-
sions can be better informed on what, when and
how to apply herbicides in the presence of at-risk
butterfly species.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Management and recovery of threatened and
endangered species is a priority for a number
of federal, state and local land managers. In the
Pacific Northwest and in other regions of the
world, grassland butterflies are declining dra-
matically Invasive weeds represent a major threat
to remaining prairie obligate species. Herbicides
are an important tool for land managers to use in
managing invasive weeds. However, the potential
non-target impact of herbicides on butterflies has
not been explored thoroughly. Current herbicide
usage may be causing harm to at-risk butterfly
species. On the other hand, land managers
unwilling to risk herbicide use may be missing
out on a valuable management tool. This project
intends to fill gaps in ecotoxicological knowledge
by applying rigorous science to inform prairie
management practices. This research project
will expand the knowledge of herbicides impacts
on prairie butterflies by using multiple species,
including the at-risk Fender's Blue butterfly in
both captive greenhouse settings and at practical
landscape management scales in the field. With
this data, it is hoped to develop recommenda-
tions for herbicide use in the presence of at-risk
prairies butterfly species in the Pacific Northwest
and in grassland systems across the temperate
regions of the planet.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
By identifying herbicide use practices that mini-
mize non-target impacts on native species and
maximize control of invasive weeds, ecosystems
can be maintained with greater native biodiver-
sity and meet federal and state mandates for
recovery of endangered and threatened species.
Invasive weeds are an increasing threat to native
biodiversity. Due to their degree of selectivity,
herbicides represent a valuable tool for land
managers and conservation biologists to use in
managing invasives and maintaining native flora
and fauna. However, the impacts of herbicides
on non-target species are not well understood.
This project intends to identify ways to minimize
harmful impacts of herbicide use on at-risk prai-
rie butterfly species while maximizing control of
invasive weeds.
Keywords: conservation, butterfly, herbicides, ecotoxicology, prairie management, non-target impacts
116
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (IL)
E-mail: jjh732@siu.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917335
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cabbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $84,000
Environmental Discipline: Atmospheric Sciences
%
Jeffrey Jackson Hillis
Are Male Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) Experiencing Altered Reproductive Output
Due to Exposure to Chlorinated Hydrocarbons?
Jeffrey Hillis graduated cum laude from the
University of Missouri-Columbia in 2007. Dur-
ing this time, he worked as a field technician
for the University and as a scientific aide for the
U.S. Geological Survey. After graduation, Jeffrey
accepted a position with Analytical Biochemistry
Laboratories as an assistant toxicologist. After
2 years of employment, Jeffrey went back into
academia to pursue his M.S. in Aquatic Toxicology,
with a research interest in endocrine disruption.
Synopsis
The chemical disruption of the endocrine system
by man-made chemicals is a public health con-
cern. Evidence indicates that endocrine disrupt-
ing chemicals (EDCs) in animals could disrupt
reproduction processes. Chlorinated hydrocarbons
(CDs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls and
organochlorine pesticides act as EDCs and are
present in aquatic systems. The objective of this
study was to investigate whether increased inci-
dence of gonad abnormalities is correlated with
elevated CHs in bluegills.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The overall objective of this study is to quantify
the concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons
(CHs) in male bluegill (BLG) in Illinois and relate
these concentrations to the incidence of gonad
abnormalities and the gonadosomatic index
observed in field collected fish. This research
will evaluate whether environmentally relevant
levels of CHs affect the reproductive success of
male BLG.
APPROACH
The objective of this study will be answered by
collecting 50 bluegill (both male and female)
from lakes with fish consumption advisories for
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). All fish will be
dissected, and male gonads will be weighed and
preserved for histology. Histology slides will be
stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The slides
will be evaluated at 400X magnification, and pic-
tures of testicular oocytes or other abnormalities
will be obtained. The carcass, minus gonads, will
be homogenized with a high-speed blender and
frozen for contaminant analysis. The whole body
fish tissue sample will be analyzed for 28 PCB
congeners and nine organochlorine pesticides.
Two surrogates will be used to verify extraction
efficiency Male gonad abnormalities will be
compared to chlorinated hydrocarbon concen-
trations to examine if there is a positive relation-
ship. In addition, a reproductive trial in outdoor
ponds will be conducted using male bluegill from
the highest contaminant concentration group
observed from the field collection. These male
bluegill will be paired with females from a refer-
ence lake (less than background concentrations)
to examine male reproductive success. These fish
will be compared to a control group with both
male and female bluegill collected from the same
reference lake.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The results of the field collection will show that
the gonadosomatic index from male BLG taken
from the CH lakes will be statistically significantly
lower than males in the reference lake (Fisher's
exact test [a = 0.05]). Concentrations of CHs
in body residues of adults will be elevated in
lakes with sediment concentrations >1.7 mg/kg
(extreme effect concentration). The reproduc-
tive trial hypothesis is that male BLG from CH
contaminated lakes will have significantly lower
(a = 0.05) reproductive output (amount of young
produced) than that of males from the reference
lake. Whether this condition is due to altered
mating behavior or impaired reproduction will
not be evaluated. Research into how CHs reduce
reproductive output should be pursued further if
this is observed. Application of this research may
reveal that it is important for fisheries managers
to assess the incidence of intersex and sex ratio
of BLG in lakes that have a history of CH con-
tamination. Maternal transfer of CHs depends
on the contaminant concentrations of the female
parent. Therefore, it is hypothesized that this will
minimize the concentration of CHs observed in
the juvenile BLG during the reproduction trial.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Male behavior and fertility is an important repro-
ductive component in animal populations. Legacy
contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls
and organochlorine pesticides are long lived and
their effects still are being understood. Using the
BLG species as a surrogate, this research will
evaluate how CH concentrations may affect the
reproductive ability of male animals including
humans. Insight into reduced fertility found in
bluegill may provide information about how
legacy contaminants are reducing male fertil-
ity by either affecting behavior or via physical
impairment.
Keywords: endocrine disruption, bioaccumulation, reproduction, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides
117
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
University of Washington (WA)
E-mail: jlundin2@uw.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917352
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Qreen
Project Period: '9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:: Environmental Toxicology
Jessica I. Lundin
Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Puget Sound Ecosystem: Temporal Patterns in
Excretion of POPs and Associated Endocrine Disruption in Free-Ranging Killer Whales
Jessica Lundin has a B.S. in Biomedical Science,
and earned a Master's degree in Epidemiology from
the University of Minnesota in 2006. In the years
following, Jessica has worked as a Research Sci-
entist evaluating the association of environmental
and occupational exposures, such as PFOA, metals
and pesticides, and adverse health outcomes like
disease and cancer. Jessica is currently pursuing a
Ph.D. at the University of Washington with a focus
in Environmental Toxicology. Her research interests
are to evaluate environmental contamination using
biologic measures of wildlife populations.
Synopsis
The Puget Sound ecosystem has been riddled with
human impacts. Exposure to persistent organic
pollutants (POPs) is a primary risk factor for the
endangered killer whale (Orcinus orca) popula-
tion that subsists in these waters. POPs are toxic
chemicals associated with adverse health effects
including endocrine disruption. This project uses
non-invasive biologic measurements to character-
ize the contamination level in this population, and
to assess associated disruption of the endocrine
system.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The Puget Sound ecosystem of Washington State
has been riddled with human impacts. Exposure
to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been
listed as a primary risk factor for the endan-
gered Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus
orca) population that subsists in these waters.
POPs are a group of toxic chemicals associated
with adverse health effects including endocrine
disruption, neurotoxicity and immune system
toxicity; the POPs being evaluated in this study
include PBDEs, PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, HCHs
and HCB. The objectives of this research project
are to use non-invasive methods to evaluate tem-
poral patterns of toxicant excretion in top-level
piscivores, and to assess associated disruption of
the endocrine system through biologic measure-
ments and an evaluation of reproductive success.
APPROACH
This study uses unique sampling methods to non-
invasively measure endocrine indices and con-
taminant levels in a free-ranging killer whale pop-
ulation. Scat (fecal) samples are collected from
killer whales through the employment of specially
trained scat detection dogs. The Conservation
Canines are able to locate samples floating on the
water from as far away as a nautical mile from the
whales, increasing sample size while decreasing
sampling bias. Laboratory analyses ofthe samples
include toxicant level quantification using GC/
MS and enzyme immunoassays, hormone radio-
immunoassays and DNA confirmation of species,
individual and sex. The toxicant data will be used
to assess the level of contamination in this endan-
gered population. Predictive factors for variation
in contaminant levels, such as gender, season and
prey availability also will be evaluated. This study
will contribute to the understanding of endocrine
disruption associated with toxicant exposure by
evaluating the relationship between toxicant and
thyroid hormone levels measured from the same
sample. Population-based and individual-based
models will be used to evaluate the association
of environmental contaminant levels and other
biologic measures with population success.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The pollutants of interest are lipophilic; as such,
these toxicants are generally stored in adipose
tissue and released into circulation during times
of nutritional shortage. The POP contaminate
levels detected in the feces are expected to dem-
onstrate an inverse relationship with the seasonal
availability of salmon, as evaluated using salmon
population estimates and concentration of fecal
thyroid and glucocorticoid hormones (markers of
nutritional stress). However, the expected inverse
relationship between POP and thyroid hormone
levels is expected to be non-linear. An acceler-
ated decrease in the level of thyroid hormone is
expected as the POP contaminant level increases
due to endocrine disruption activity of the halo-
genated compounds. Lastly, population growth
models adapted for this endangered population
are expected to demonstrate an inverse cor-
relation between reproductive success and POP
contaminant level.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This study has the potential to have an impor-
tant environmental and economic influence
for the region by helping to inform the U.S. and
Canadian governments, other scientists and non-
government agencies. The measured outcome
data from this study may be used to improve the
effectiveness of remediation efforts and manage-
ment approaches that would support priority
Puget Sound ecosystem protection and restora-
tion goals. Understanding POP contamination
in Puget Sound is important for all who depend
on the health of this ecosystem, including:
subsistence-oriented consumer groups such as First
Nations communities, sport-fishing families, and
the public who rely on commercial fish markets, as
well as killer wh ales, and other marine species.
Keywords: persistent organic pollutants, PCB, PBDE, DDT, toxic chemicals, Salish Sea, Puget Sound, Southern Resident killer whales,
endangered species, thyroid hormones, steroid hormones, detection dogs
118
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Caroline Elizabeth Moore ~
Caenorhabditis elegans.- A Novel Chronic Exposure Model to Evaluate Microcystes'
Interference With Neurodevelopment
in chronically exposed C. elegans. As a result of
defects in the regulation of serotonin-mediated
reproduction pathways, the exposed strains will
have a small body size and brood size, and a
higher generation time and rate of egg laying in
liquid compared to N2s. Exposed nematodes will
be uncoordinated and have difficulties sensing
changes in food availability or environment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The protein phosphatases found as targets in
C. elegans can be compared to homologous pro-
tein phosphatases ofhumans, leadingto advances
in MC neurotoxicity mechanisms. Exposing an
in vivo model through its entire lifetime will
represent a realistic exposure model of under-
represented populations continuously exposed
from lakes and rivers with toxic blooms. If chronic
exposure to MCs alters neurodevelopment in
vivo, the accepted level of MCs in drinking water
should be re-evaluated.
Keywords: microcystin, blue-green algae, Caenorhabditis elegans, neurodevelopment
119
Pesticides and Toxic Substances
University of California, Davis (CA)
E-mail: eemoore@Ltcclavis.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP91735S
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cpbbs-Green
Project Period: 9/172011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126(000
Environmental Discipline: Toxicology
Bio
Caroline Moore received her B.S. in Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology from the University of Cali-
fornia (UC), Santa Cruz in 2009. She continued
working at a small animal veterinary clinic and for
the Department of Fish and Game, Marine Wildlife
Veterinary Care and Research Center after gradua-
tion, She was accepted to the UC Davis School of
Veterinary Medicine in 2010, and accepted into
the dual degree program (D.V.M./Ph.D.) in 2010.
She began as a graduate student in the Pharmacol-
ogy and Toxicology Graduate Group in April 2010.
Synopsis
Microcystes are acute liver toxins produced by
blue-green algae in rivers, lakes and fish world-
wide, and adversely affect human health. There is
insufficient information about the chronic effects
of microcystins on any organ other than the liver.
Because recent studies demonstrated microcys-
tins' ability to enter the central nervous system, it is
important to study microcystins' potential to cause
neurotoxicity or interfere with neurodevelopment.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Chronic exposure to the potentially life threaten-
ing ubiquitous microcystins (MCs) may interfere
with neurodevelopment. Because MCs are acutely
hepatotoxic and inhibit protein phosphatases in
vitro and in vivo, MCs have a high potential to
interfere with the regulation of normal neuronal
function. The proposed research study will uti-
lize a novel model system using Caenorhabditis
elegans (C. elegans) to evaluate in vivo effects of
chronic MC exposure on neurodevelopment.
APPROACH
To test the hypothesis that chronic exposure to
MCs produces behavioral changes indicative of
neurotoxicity in C. elegans by covalently binding
protein phosphatases, the study will first deter-
mine if protein phosphatase (PP) activity is inhib-
ited after chronic exposure of C. elegans to MCs
and if levels of PP1, PP2A and PP2B are altered.
PPt and PP2A are known targets for MCs, while
TAX-6, the sole calcineurin A subunit in C. elegans,
shares high homology with human PP2B and is a
potential indirect target if MCs alter intracellular
calcium levels. Secondly, the study will determi ne
if chronic exposure to MCs decreases chemotaxis
similar to acute exposure, and evaluate several
other behavioral endpoints. Thirdly, the study will
screen protein phosphatase mutants for altered
behavior and determine if chronic MC exposure
exacerbates or ameliorates these protein phos-
phatase mutant strains' phenotypes to begin
determining which protein phosphatases are
targeted in C. elegans.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Exposure to MCs from egg to adult will cause
neurological defects in C. elegans by targeting
protein phosphatases, resulting in decreased lev-
els of overall protein phosphatase activity but not
altered expression of PP1, PP2A or PP2B. This will
lead to a more pronounced decrease in chemo-
taxis behavior than noted in acute MC exposure
due to prolonged alterations in sensory neuron
signaling pathways. Along with the additional
decrease in olfaction, hypersensitivity to osmotic
changes and aloss of adaptation also are expected
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
E-mail: ntserig@ucla.edu
EPA Grant Number:; FPfflflgl
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: '9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,00.0
Environmental Discipline: Civil/Environmental
Engineering
Nancy Shiao-lynn Tsenj
Biodegradation of Perfluorinated Compounds
Nancy Tseng received her undergraduate degree
in Environmental Science with a minor in Environ-
mental Health at the University of California, Los
Angeles (UCLA) in 2010. Her previous research
experience consists of: (1) analyzing diacetyl and
acetoin and (2) determining the toxicity of titanium
dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles to marine
phytoplankton. She will earn her Master's degree
in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) from
UCLA in 2011 and will continue to work towards
a Ph.D. Her current research project will examine
the biodegradation of perfluorinated compounds.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a group of
man-made, emerging contaminants that contain
multiple carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds, making
PFCs highly stable and useful in commercial
products such as aqueous fire-fighting foams
(AFFFs), non-stick coatings, stain-resistant tex-
tiles, insulation, sealants and surfactants. These
compounds have been found globally and are
known carcinogens, reproductive and develop-
mental toxins, and endocrine disrupters. This
research project will investigate the biodegra-
dation of PFCs, particularly perfluorooctanoic
acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate
(PFOS), to non-toxic forms by: (1) identifying the
degradation capabilities of bacteria and fungi,
(2) clelerminingkcy enzymes involvedin the biodeg-
radation pathway, and (3) examining the effects of
co-contaminants and environmental conditions.
APPROACH
This study will test the hypothesis that micro-
organisms capable of degrading halogenated
compounds also can degrade PFCs. The first
objective of this project will be to test the abil-
ity of (1) pure cultures of bacteria and fungi
and (2) environmental microorganisms from
PFC-contaminated sites to breakdown PFCs
and fluoroaliphatic compounds. Environmental
microorganisms may have acclimated to PFCs
and can subsequently degrade PFOA and PFOS.
The concentrations of PFCs and fluoroaliphatic
compounds will be measured by liquid chroma-
tography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/
MS), and a fluoride ion selective electrode will be
used to measure the concentration of fluoride. In
addition, biomass changes will be evaluated to
determine whether any microorganism can use
PFCs as an electron donor or electron acceptor.
For those cultures that successfully degrade PFCs,
the expression of biodegradative enzymes will be
assayed and quantified using reverse-transcrip-
tase quantitative PCR. The degradation products,
determined by LC/MS/MS, will be used to pro-
pose a biodegradation pathway Subsequently, the
effects of environmental conditions and potential
co-contaminants will be explored through the
use of batch and flow-through column tests and
through the use of experiments utilizing a range
of co-contaminant concentrations.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The biodegradation of PFOA and PFOS is viable
because (a) reductive defluorination is ther-
modynamically favorable and (b) peroxidase
mechanisms have been shown to degrade other
difficult compounds (e.g., lignin, pesticides,
explosives and dyes). This study wants to prove
that the biodegradation of PFCs can be medi-
ated by microbes that are either known for
degrading halogenated compounds or have
been exposed to PFCs for long periods. Once the
degradation of PFCs is confirmed, the enzymes
utilized by those microorganism(s), the biodeg-
radation rates and the metabolic pathways will
be determined. This study also will character-
ize the effects of environmental conditions
and co-contaminants on the biodegradation of
PFCs because these influence the mobility and
bioavailability of PFCs in addition to the compo-
sition and function of microbial communities.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The overarching goal of this research is to protect
the environment and human health. Physical or
chemical degradation technologies may be suc-
cessful in the laboratory or in off-site reactors,
but they can produce PFC-contaminated wastes,
are expensive and require long-term pump-and-
treat operations. In contrast, bioremediation
techniques are easily utilized in situ, and can dras-
tically reduce PFCs in the environment without
contaminated waste. This approach will prevent
future risks from PFCs to humans, fisheries, wild-
life and plants.
Keywords: biodegradation, bioremediation, natural attenuation, perfluorinated compounds, PFOA, PFOS, PFC, bacteria, fungi, environment, pollution
120
Perfluorinated compounds (PECs) are man-made
chemicals that are reproductive toxins, endocrine
disrupters and carcinogens. PFCs are used in
nonstick cookware, stain-repellants, aqueous fire-
fighting foams and so forth. Due to their stability in
the environment, PFCs are found globally as water
pollutants. This project will investigate whether
naturally occurring microbes can break down PFCs
to nontoxic forms and will optimize environmental
conditions to achieve the shortest cleanup times.
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances
University of Minnesota (MN)
E-mail: judyyuwu@yahoo.com
EPA Grant Number: FP917374
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Qobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
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Judy Yu Wu
Effects of Neonicotinyl Insecticides on Honey Bee and Bumblebee Fecundity
and Survival
Judy Wu received her undergraduate degree in
Zoology from Humboldt State University (Areata,
California) in 2005, The following year, she was a
Student Conservation Association intern working
directly with USDA-ARS (Fort Lauderdale, Flor-
ida) assessing potential biological control agents
for invasive weeds management. In 2007, she
continued her interests in Entomology at Wash-
ington State University (Pullman, Washington)
and began studying sub-lethal effects of pesticide
residues in brood comb on honey bee health and
development. She received her Master's degree
from Washington State University in 2010. She
currently is in a Ph.D. program at the University
of Minnesota (St. Paul, Minnesota) investigating
effects of neonicotinyl insecticides on honey bee
and bumblebee health.
Synopsis
Bees provide crucial pollination services for natural
and managed agriculture systems. In recent years,
both natural and managed bee populations have
declined. Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides
that can be expressed in all parts of a treated plant,
including nectar and pollen. Bees become exposed
to neonicotinyls while foraging and may return to
their hive with contaminated resources. This proj-
ect analyzes neonicotinyl exposure to honey bees
and bumblebees focusing on reproductive effects,
such as overwintering and egg-laying success, as
well as physiological mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The main objective of this project is to determine
if and how neonicotinyl insecticide exposure
contributes to honeybee and bumblebee colony
decline. To do this, three research questions or
focuses will be addressed. The first investigates
how results obtained from laboratory bio-
assays, used to determine potential non-target
risk, compare to responses from relevant field
exposures. The second question will evaluate the
over-wintering and reproductive success of honey
bee and bumblebee queens exposed at known
field-relevant concentrations of neonicotinoids.
The third question will investigate possible physi-
ological mechanisms responsible for observed
behavioral effects of neonicotinyl insecticide
exposure on bees reported in previous studies.
The results of this project will be an important
contribution and will improve the understand-
ing of the effects of neonicotinyl insecticides on
honey bee and bumblebee health, reproduction
and survival.
APPROACH
The first stage is to complete several standard
laboratory bioassays in which bees are individu-
ally fed a standard amount, 10 microliters, oftest
solution for each dose. A second set of bioassays
will be completed in exactly the same manner
except each bee will be fed 50 microliters of a
test solution. IToney bees can collect 30 to 80
microliters of nectar while foraging, therefore
comparing the responses inbees exposed at labo-
ratory versus field relevant doses will improve the
understanding of how accurate laboratory bioas-
says are in determining exposure risk to bees in
the field. The second stage of this project is to
determine field relevant exposure rates to use in
experiments. This will be completed by treating
plots of canolaplants at various rates and analyz-
ing the residue levels found in pollen and nectar
of the treated plants. The experiments examining
overwintering and reproductive success of honey
bee and bumblebee queens will use the relevant
field doses determined by chemical analysis from
pollen and nectar collected from treated plants.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Comparisons between bioassays using laboratory
standard and field relevant doses will improve
the understanding of the effects of varying doses
and concentrations of neonicotinoid exposure
and may help elucidate discrepancies among
reported results in various studies examining
effects of neonicotinyl insecticides on bees.
Using field relevant concentrations, determined
by chemical analysis of nectar and pollen from
treated plants, doses will provide more realistic
responses to experiments and will strengthen the
findings.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
These results will determine possible sub-lethal
effects of neonicotinyl insecticides on honey
bee and bumblebee reproduction and diapause
previously not studied. These results also will
be important in assessing the degree to which
neonicotinyl insecticide exposure affects queen
bee health, colony survival and whether current
methods of risk assessment are sufficient in pro-
tecting pollinators.
Keywords: honeybee, bumblebee, neonicotinyl, insecticide, reproduction
121
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Science and Technology
for Sustainability
Environmental Entrepreneurship
Green Energy/Natural Resources Production and Use
Green Engineering/Building/Chemical Products
and Processes/Materials Development
-------
We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil
to fuel our cars and run our factories....All this
we can do. And all this we will do.
- President Barack Obama
-------
Science & Technology for Sust
S
Environmental Entrepreneurship
Clewlow, Regina Ruby Lee
Examining High-Speed Rail and Aviation
Systems Under Environmental Constraints
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA), 128
Fuller, Micah David
Towards an Infinite-Range Vehicle:
Roadway-Powered Electric Vehicles
University of California, Davis (CA), ,129
Hoffman, Catherine Michelle
Enzymatic Wastewater Treatment: An
Innovative Technology for Removing
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care
Products
Uni versity of Texas, Austin (TX) 130
Green Energy/Natural Resources
Production & Use
Hoover, Laura Anne
High Performance Membranes for
Sustainable Production of Energy
and Water
Yale University (CT)- 132
Huelsman, Chad Michael
Elucidating Reaction Chemistry for the
Treatment of Phenolic Compounds in
Supercritical Water
University of Michigan (MI\ 133
Izard, Catherine Finlay
Integrated Infrastructure Flow
Assessment of the United States'
Electricity Sector Under Climate
Constraints
Carnegie Mellon University (PA), 134
Perrone, Debra
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of
Water, Energy and Climate Relationships
in a Decision-Making Context
Van derbilt University (TN)m 135
Prior, Maxine Lynn
Photo!rophic. Biofuel Production From
Agricultural Waste
University of Idaho (ID), 136
Tilmans, Sebastien H.
Harvesting Energy From Wastewater
Across Scales and Varying Economic
Contexts
Stanford University (CA), 137
Green Engineering/Building/
Chemical Products and Processes/
Materials Development
Collinge, William 0.
Evaluating the Impact of High-Performance
Buildings Using Advanced Life Cycle
Methods
University of Pittsburgh (PA), 140
Emery, Isaac R.
Expanded Life Cycle Assessment of
Biofuels: Mass Flows and Greenhouse
Gas Emissions During Bioethanol
Production From Switchgrass and
Sweet Sorghum
Purdue University (IN), ,141
Gall, Elliott Tyler
Porous Materials in Indoor Environments:
Investigating Transport and Reaction
Mechanisms of Pollutant Removal to
Porous Indoor Surfaces
University of Texas, Austin (TX),,, ,142
Gosse, Conrad Alexander
Environmentally Preferable Pavement
Management Systems
University of Virginia (VA), ,143
Kaminsky, Jessica
Sanitation Networks in Developing
Communities
University of Colorado, Boulder (CO), _ ,144
Ryen, Erinn G.
Expanding Industrial Ecology by
Applying Community Ecology Principles
and Developing Diversity Metrics for
Sustainable Product Systems
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY), ,145
Thuy-Boun, Peter San
Catalytic Arene Functionalization for
Applications in Industrial Waste
Reduction and Pollution Sequestration
Scripps Research Institute (CA), 146
Warzoha, Ronald Joseph
Nanoenhanced Phase Change
Materials for Advanced Energy
Storage
Villanova University (PA), 147
125
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Science & Technology for Sustainability:
Environmental Entrepreneurship
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
E-mail: rdewlow@mitedu
EPA Grant Number: PP917S20
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 -8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Engineering
Regina Ruby Lee Clewlow
Examining High-Speed Rail and Aviation Systems Under Environmental Constraints
Bio
Regina Clewlow is a Ph.D. candidate in the Engi-
neering Systems Division (ESD) at the Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology (MIT). She received
her B.S. in Computer Science and M.Eng. in Civil
and Environmental Engineering from Cornell Uni-
versity. Prior to her doctoral studies, she served
as Executive Director for Engineers for a Sustain-
able World. At MIT. she has worked as a Research
Assistant in the Partnership for AiR Transportation
Noise and Emissions Reduction (PARTNER). Her
current research focuses on examining demand for
high-speed rail and air transportation systems, and
their performance under climate policies.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The continuous growth of global air transporta-
tion has significant implications for strategies to
reduce CO.. emissions of the transportation sec-
tor. High-speed rail (HSR) is often promoted as a
lower carbon alternative to air transportation, and
is being considered in some nations as one com-
ponent of a broader climate policy agenda. This
research will examine the interaction of demand
for high-speed rail and air transportation, and the
long-range impacts of climate policies on these
transportation systems. In doing so, the goal of
this study is to develop an increased understand-
ing of high-speed transportation options to aid
transitions to a low-carbon economy
APPROACH
This research will be carried out in three phases.
First, an empirical analysis of intercity and
airport-level demand for high-speed and air
transportation in Europe, China and the United
States will be conducted, utilizing general data
analysis and econometric methods. Second, case
studies of high-speed rail connections at airports
in Europe and other regions will be conducted to
examine the factors that enable cooperation, as
well as to examine how transportation demand
has been affected. Finally, climate policy analy-
sis will be conducted to examine how different
combinations of transportation investment and
climate policies may impact future demand
and CO., emissions of high-speed rail and air
transportation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will contribute to two key areas
of inquiry: intercity passenger transportation
demand analysis, and climate policy analysis in
the transportation sector. This study will result in
an improved understanding of intercitypassenger
transportation demand for high-speed transpor-
tation. By conducting abroad, international anal-
ysis of diverse markets on an origin-destination
level, this research will contribute to bottom-up,
origin-destination passenger demand analysis,
in the context of air transportation and high-
speed rail. Secondly, this research will result in
an improved understanding of how climate poli-
cies might impact the transportation sector by
developing an integrated approach to examine
transportation investment and climate policies.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Understanding the interaction of air transporta-
tion and high-speed rail demand is critical for
developing policies to reduce emissions in the
transportation sector. This study will highlight
complex factors that have impacted intercity
demand in Europe and China, as well as examine
how CO., emissions from aviation and high-speed
rail have evolved over the past two decades. The
results of this study will inform transportation
and climate policies that will lead to more sus-
tainable intercity transportation systems.
The continuous growth of global air transporta-
tion has significant implications for strategies to
reduce C02 emissions from the transport sector.
High-speed rail often is promoted as a lower-
carbon alternative to air transportation; however,
there is limited analysis of the complex interac-
tions between HSR and aviation demand. This
research examines the interaction of demand for
high-speed rail and air transportation, and the
long-range impacts of climate policies on these
transportation systems.
Keywords: high-speed rail, aviation, transportation, climate policy, demand modeling
128
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Science & Technology for Sustainability:
Environmental Entrepreneurship
University of California, Davis (CA)
E-mail: mdfuller@ucdavis.:edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917292
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,00.0
Environmental Discipline:?, Environmental Science
and Engineering
Micah Fuller received a B.S. in Applied Math
arid a B.A. in Spanish from Southern Methodist
University in 2001, He was the recipient of a full
scholarship in 2001, receiving his M.S. in Applied
Math in 2003. From 2003, he worked as an envi-
ronmental consultant, project manager and air
quality specialist for state and local government,
and as an Adjunct Professor of Math in California.
He returned to academia full -time in 2008 when
he began the Ph.D. program in Transportation
Technology and Policy in the Institute of Trans-
portation Studies at the University of California,
Davis. His research focuses on dynamic inductive
power transfer for infinite-range, roadway-powered
electric vehicles.
Synopsis
This research investigates the potential for an
inductive power transfer system embedded in the
roadway to support and foster rapid and widespread
adoption of electric vehicles in advancement of
sustainable transportation goals. Traffic demand
modeling is employed under a GIS framework to
map and analyze an optimized system in California.
A time versus power demand profile is generated
and used to simulate the system's impact on the
electricity grid.
Micah David duller
Towards an Infinite-Range Vehicle: Roadway-Powered Electric Vehicles
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Exportation of American autopian society has
helped create a world where fossil fuel-based
motor vehicles threaten people around the globe
and pose a significant challenge to global air qual-
ity and climate change goals. Electric vehicles
have the potential to drastically reduce emissions;
however, their adoption is limited by range and
recharge issues. This research analyzes a compre-
hensive approach to solving range and recharge
issues through roadway-powered electric vehicles
(RPEVs) that can inductively be charged while
moving along a roadway
APPROACH
Traffic demand modeling and dynamic program-
ming is employed under a GIS framework to map
and analyze an optimized system in California. A
time versus power demand profile is generated
and used to simulate the system's impact on the
electricity grid. Numerical modeling techniques
are employed to investigate the impact of the
RPEV system on pavement performance and
service life and the impact of dynamic stresses
on the embedded RPEV system. Key details of
each system outlay will be determined based on
financial, energy, societal and technical issues. A
comprehensive solution based on feasibility cri-
teria will be formulated and discussed in terms
of its ability to provide comprehensive support
to widespread EV adoption.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will demonstrate the potential
for an inductive power transfer system embed-
ded in the roadway to support and foster rapid
and widespread adoption of electric vehicles in
advancement of sustainable transportation goals.
Anticipated results are expected to elucidate: how
an infinite-range electric vehicle can become a
reality by employing a comprehensive approach
that alleviates range and recharge issues; how
recent advances in wireless power transfer theory
and power electronics technology can provide for
a safe, economic and technically feasible system;
how an inductive power transfer system can be
just as efficient as plugging in and could replace
the need for plugs (residential and public charg-
ing stations would all be inductive, utilizing the
conductor beneath the vehicle for both moving
and stationary charging); and that the electricity
grid has the capacity to accommodate a full sys-
tem deployment of infinite-range electric vehicles
in California.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Widespread adoption of zero emissions vehicles
is crucial to climate and air quality goals. Exacer-
bated by an affinity for fossil-fuel based vehicular
travel and electricity generation, humans live in
a world where particulate matter is estimated to
cause 3.5 million cardiopulmonary mortalities
per year and where overwhelming reductions
in CO., emissions must be attained if the effects
of climate change are to be limited. Roadway-
powered electric vehicles have the potential to
save millions of lives worldwide by significantly
reducing tailpipe emissions, to meet climate
goals by drastically curtailing CO, emissions and
to usher in a new era of sustainable transporta-
tion fueled by renewable energy.
Keywords: climate change, electric vehicle, inductive charging, range, recharge, infinite range, sustainable transportation, zero emissions,
wireless power transfer, roadway powered electric vehicles
129
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Science & Technology for Sustainability:
Environmental Entrepreneurship
University of Texas, Austin (TX)
E-mail: catmhotfฎgmaiLcom
EPA Grant Number: FP917284
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Risk Assessment
Catherine Michelle Hoffman
Enzymatic Wastewater Treatment: An Innovative Technology for Removing
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objective of the proposed research is to
develop a sustainable and cost-effective enzy-
matic treatment technology that removes phar-
maceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)
from municipal wastewater. This research also
aims to address important questions about the
proposed technology by tracking the fate and
transformations of parent PPCP compounds, as
well as their oxidation byproducts, throughout
the treatment process.
APPROACH
The proposed research will be performed in
four major phases. Phase 1 will evaluate two
enzymatic treatment configurations for remov-
ing PPCPs from municipal wastewater primary
effluent. Phase 2 will investigate the efficacy of
inexpensive and sustainable mediator sources
from food-processing wastes. Phase 3 will
evaluate the removal of a mixture of PPCPs, as
well as enzyme oxidation byproducts, in a bench-
scale simulation of enzymatic treatment followed
by conventional activated sludge and secondary
clarification. Phase 4 will determine the fate of
enzyme oxidation byproducts in conventional
activated sludge followed by secondary clarifica-
tion, considering biodegradation and adsorption
as potential removal mechanisms.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Phase 1 is expected to determine an enzymatic
treatment configuration that is practical for appli-
cation in a wastewater treatment plant. Phase 2 is
expected to identify an inexpensive and sustain-
able source of mediators. It is hypothesized that
in addition to the removal of parent PPCP com-
pounds from primary effluent, enzyme-catalyzed
oxidation byproducts generated will be removed
in subsequent biological treatment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Successful development and implementation of
enzymatic treatment of municipal wastewater
could significantly reduce the release of PPCPs
into the environment, and consequently reduce
their presence in drinking water sources. Ill us,
not only would the health of aquatic ecosystems
be improved, but human exposure to these
chemicals through drinking water also would be
reduced.
Bio
Catherine Hoffman received her B.S. in Envi-
ronmental Engineering (with a minor in French)
in 2009 from North Carolina State University in
Raleigh, North Carolina, where she was born and
raised. She then completed an M.S. degree in Engi-
neering in 2011 in the Environmental and Water
Resources Engineering program at The University
of Texas at Austin. She currently is pursuing her
Ph.D. in this same program. Catherine's research
focuses on the development of an enzymatic
treatment process to oxidize pharmaceuticals and
personal care products in wastewater.
Synopsis
Chemicals from pharmaceuticals and personal
care products (PPCPs) are not removed during
municipal wastewater treatment. As a result, they
are now routinely detected in natural waters and
drinking water sources. Their presence in the
environment is of concern because many PPCPs
negatively impact aquatic life and ecosystems, and
there also are concerns about potential human
health effects. This research aims to develop an
enzymatic treatment process for removing PPCPs
from municipal wastewater.
Keywords: PPCPs, wastewater, enzymatic treatment, enzyme-catalyzed oxidation, laccase
130
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Production and Use
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Energy/Natural Resources Production & Use
Yale University (CT)
E-mail: laura.hoover@yale.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917338
EPA Project Officer; Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31-/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
Engineering
Laura Anne hoover
High Performance Membranes for Sustainable Production of Energy and Water
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Bio
Laura Hoover received a B.S.E, degree from the
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
at Duke University in 2008. In 2009, she started
Ph.D. work under Dr. Menachem Elimelech at the
Yale University Department of Chemical & Environ-
mental Engineering. In addition to her current proj-
ect, she has studied transport in forward osmosis
systems and the human and technical aspects of
biosand filter use in rural Honduras. Her research
pursues sustainable water and energy solutions for
all people.
Synopsis
This research aims to increase the efficiency of
energy and water production in pressure retarded
osmosis and forward osmosis, respectively by re-
engineering the structure of the membranes used
in these processes to diminish their generation of
internal concentration polarization. Increasing
the efficiency of these sustainable "engineered
osmosis" technologies will make them more
economically attractive and incentivize their
commercial implementation.
APPROACH
Internal concentration polarization (ICP) is aper-
formance limiting phenomenon that reduces the
osmotic pressure difference, the driving force of
pressure retarded osmosis and forward osmosis,
across the semi-permeable membrane. Literature
has established that the severity of ICP can be
reduced by enhancing mixing, by increasing the
porosity of the support layer of an engineered
osmosis (EO) membrane, and by decreasing the
tortuosity and thickness of the support layer of
an EO membrane. A novel fabrication technique
called electrospinning can produce networks of
nanofibers that have extremely high porosity,
customizable thickness and the strength and
flexibility that are required to make robust mem-
branes. Electrospun fiber alignment also can be
tailored to enhance mixing. This project aims
to investigate the use of electrospun fiber mats
and other novel materials in the fabrication of
ICP-minimizing, high performance membranes
for pressure retarded osmosis and forward
osmosis. Furthermore, models will be developed
to determine the dependence of EO efficiency on
customizable membrane properties to identify
optimal conditions for fabrication of membranes
for specific applications.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Successful completion of this research will pro-
duce high flux (water per area) membranes for for-
ward osmosis and high power density (energy per
area) membranes for pressure retarded osmosis.
In addition, a more advanced model will be devel-
oped to guide optimization of membranes for
specific applications with specific input streams,
and previously underutilized streams, especially
waste streams, will be identified that can become
useful sources of energy and water through the
application of engineered osmosis.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Pressure retarded osmosis can provide clean
energy from renewable resources and waste,
replacing conventional methods of energy pro-
duction that harm human and environmental
health and use non-renewable resources. Forward
osmosis can provide a low-energy desalination
alternative to conventional seawater desalina-
tion technologies, and it can lower the energy
requirements and rate of waste production for
select industries, including food processing and
wastewater treatment.
Forward osmosis (FO) and pressure retarded
osmosis (PRO) hold great potential for sustain-
able production of drinking water and energy,
respectively, from waste and renewable resources.
Both are powered by osmosis and require semi-
permeable membranes to separate solutions of
different salinities. The lack of a suitable mem-
brane has prevented widespread implementation
of these technologies. This project advances FO
and PRO by using novel materials and techniques
to fabricate superior membranes.
Keywords: renewable energy, drinking water, energy efficiency, pressure retarded osmosis, forward osmosis, engineered osmosis, salinity power,
desalination, membrane, waste utilization, sustainability
132
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Energy/Natural Resources Production & Use
University of Michigan (Ml)
E-mail: huelsman@umiGh.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP91734Q
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,00.0
Environmental Discipline:?, Environmental Policy
Chad Michael Huelsman
Elucidating Reaction Chemistry for the Treatment of Phenolic Compounds
Supercritical Water
Chad Huelsman received his undergraduate degree
in Chemical Engineering from the University of
Dayton in 2008, In the same year, he began his
graduate studies at the University of Michigan
in pursuit of a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.
He completed his Master's degree in 2010. He
has worked at the University of Dayton Research
Institute, and he was a 2007 National Science
Foundation, Research Experiences for Undergrad-
uates Fellow at the University of South Carolina.
He currently is researching reaction kinetics and
pathways for the gasification of biomass model
compounds in supercritical water.
Synopsis
Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of bio-
mass is an emerging green energy technology that
mimics the conversion of ancient plant material
into the natural gas reservoirs we rely upon today.
Unfortunately, little is known about the chemistry
leading to gas and undesirable, potentially harmful
byproducts. This project investigates the products
and reaction pathways associated with SCWG
of biomass model compounds, providing vital
information for an eventual environmental impact
assessment.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project investigates the supercritical water
treatment of phenol and its derivatives under
various processing conditions to explain the
underlying chemistry of supercritical water
gasification (SCWG) of biomass. The goal is to
construct a reaction network from identified
pathways and develop an accompanying chemi-
cal kinetic model that accounts for the reaction
and formation of all experimentally observed spe-
cies. Such amodel will be essentialfor optimizing
and assessing the environmental impact of this
emerging green energy technology
APPROACH
Phenol and phenol derivatives will be reacted
under various processing conditionstempera-
ture, water density, concentration and reaction
timeand in quartz batch reactors to avoid
any unintended catalysis by metallic reactor
walls. Qualitative and quantitative analyses will
be conducted post-reaction to determine the
identities and yields of gas species and major
byproducts. The effect of process variables on
yields will be explained by kinetic and thermo-
dynamic principles, which will be used to inform
the reaction modeling Reactant disappearance
kinetics, temporal concentration profiles, and
the Delplot methodology will be employed to
discern the rank of intermediate species and
to construct a reaction network comprising
reactants, intermediates, and products and the
chemical transformations linking them. A kinetic
model based on the reaction network will be fit to
experimental data to obtain information about
the rates of all reactions occurring in the system.
Dominant reactions will be identified, and a sen-
sitivity analysis will reveal which reactions are
most influential in the formation of a particular
species.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Current results indicate that there are two main
outcomes for phenol reacting in SCWG: decom-
position to small, gaseous molecules and polym-
erization to larger, char precursor molecules
that eventually lead to char buildup. One of the
benefits of understanding the precise chemi-
cal pathways and kinetics responsible for these
transformations is identifying ways to artificially
promote gas formation and inhibit char forma-
tion. Expected results from this project include
a reaction network and kinetic model, and these
will be key for optimizing the process so that it is
both economically and environmentally viable.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Using biomass as a green energy feedstock instead
of non-renewable fossil fuels with net-positive
carbon emissions offers immense environmental
benefits, as does using supercritical water as a
benign reaction medium for the processing of bio-
mass instead of environmentally harmful organic
solvents. Biomass SCWG is not without poten-
tial negative environmental impacts, however.
Many byproducts with known human health and
environmental effectsparticularly polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbonshave been identified,
and the information provided by this work will
allow one to assess the environmental impact of
these potentially harmful compounds as well as
engineer ways to minimize their production.
Keywords: biomass, green energy, supercritical water, gasification, hydrogen, reaction kinetics, pathways
133
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Energy/Natural Resources Production and Use
Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
E-mail: eiza rd'@a ndrew. cm u
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Energy/Natural Resources Production & Use
Vanderbiit University (TN)
E-mail: deb:ra.pe:rrore@vanderbilt,edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917358
EPA Project Officer; Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 -7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental Science
and Engineering
Debra Perrone
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Water, Energy and Climate Relationships in a
Decision-Making Context
Bio
Debra Perrone received her undergraduate degree
in Civil and Environmental Engineering from
Lafayette College in 2008. An active member of
Lafayette's Engineers Without Borders chapter,
she worked on water projects in rural Honduras.
After graduation, she began the Ph.D. program in
Environmental Engineering at Vanderbiit Univer-
sity, and has been a fellow of Vanderbiit Institute
for Energy and Environment for the past 2 years.
Her research focuses broadly on the water-energy
nexus. She currently is working on exploring the
spatio-temporal dimensions of U.S. water and
energy resources.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The main objectives of this project include:
(1) identifying drivers of the water-energy
nexus; (2) extracting information on histori-
cal and projected water-energy relationships;
(3) highl ighting potential climate change impacts
on those relationships; (4) identifying patterns of
demand-side competition for water; (5) creat-
ing a competitive water demand index to show
demand-side stress on water; and (6) creating a
decision-making and tradeoff-ranking tool for
managers to assess competitive water demands,
promote more effective management, increase
efficiency and decrease consumption.
APPROACH
The basic premise for this dissertation is that
spatial and temporal patterns that address a
set of important questions about joint water-
energy use can be established using multivariate
analyses. The study will take advantage of data
on climate (e.g., temperature, precipitation and
humidity), water use, electricity use and produc-
tion, population, economic activity and land use.
The proposed research is to mine existing data
to as great a degree as possible and perform
exploratory data analyses to reveal spatio-
temporal interrelationships and trends. The study
also intends to explore potential changes in the
future based on scenarios of climate change
and management options. This information will
be used to create a competitive water index for
demand-side management of U.S. water resources
and a decision-making framework to assist water
managers in ranking the utility of their tradeoffs.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Anticipated results of this work include: (1) prin-
cipal components that reveal how energy, water,
climate and growth vary together; (2) clusters
of variables and objects that reveal new spatio-
temporal patterns important to the management
of water and energy resources; (3) an understand-
ing of how proposed climate change will impact
or alter these interrelationships and patterns;
(4) historic and forecasted competitive water
demands; (5) a tool that incorporates multiple
attributes to assist water managers in decision
making and identifying tradeoffs; and (6) a sen-
sitivity analysis to test the statistical precision of
the results.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of this dissertation work will support
the national information needs for stakehold-
ers to co-manage water and energy resources.
The purpose of this research is to reduce the
information bottleneck associated with envi-
ronmental management to provide stakeholders
with relevant and contextualized information
about the interrelationships between water and
energy. The risk analyses will allow stakeholders
to prioritize their needs and consider tradeoffs
in management.
Keywords: water- energy nexus, climate change, water resources, energy resources, exploratory data analysis, competitive water demands, resource management
135
Increased population and patterns of popula-
tion density, economic growth and development
all increase energy and water demands, and the
impacts of a changing climate will exacerbate
problems, especially given the strong interrela-
tionships among water and energy use. Although
demand for individual resources has been studied,
a systematic evaluation of readily available data
has not been undertaken to evaluate water-energy
linkages. This project focuses on developing a
comprehensive understanding of the complex
tradeoffs and risks involved in water and energy
management.
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Energy/Natural Resources Production & Use
University of Idaho (ID)
E-mail: maxinepriorฎhotrnail.cem
EPA Grant Number: FP917361
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2013
Project Amount: $84,00.0
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
ฆ - i/r.
| Maxine Lynn Prior
Phototrophic Biofuel Production From Agricultural Waste
T-'
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S) APPROACH
Maxine Prior attended Michigan State University for
her undergraduate education where she received
a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering in
1994. After graduation, she accepted a position
at Micron Technology in Boise, Idaho, where she
expanded her knowledge to include semiconduc-
tor research and manufacturing. Her positions at
Micron included Photolithography Engineer and
Lead Photolithography R&D Engineer. She started
a small business in 2009 to begin pursuing
alternative energy research and began working on
an INI sponsored algal biofuel project in 2010
at Boise State University (BSU). She entered a
Master's program at the University of Idaho in the
spring of 2011 and is currently performing her
thesis research at BSU,
Synopsis
Photosynthetic biofuels can be produced through
utilization of nutrients found in agricultural waste
streams. The resulting product is cost effective
and has a net positive environmental impact. This
project focuses on investigating high lipid produc-
ing algae species for biofuel applications, with
emphasis on modeling predicted algal response
(nutrient uptake, cell viability and lipid production)
in agricultural wastewater.
Agricultural waste streams are rich in carbon,
nitrogen, phosphorus and other unutilized micro-
nutrients that often require significant costs for
disposal. However, these nutrients can be readily
taken up by algae through photosynthetic activity,
producing a lipid product that can be converted
into advanced biofuel (i.e., biodiesel or jet fuel). By
combining the cultivation of high lipid producing
algae with agricultural wastewater remediation,
algal-based biofuel can be produced with a net
positive environmental impact, reducing anthro-
pogenic effects on surrounding waterways and
ecosystems. The purpose of this research is to
provide a model for expected algal species per-
formance in specific agricultural waste streams
for use in real life applications. The primary
hypothesis is that an encapsulated algal system
can provide a more densely populated biomass
environment for maximum nutrient uptake and
allow for biomass retention and easy lipid extrac-
tion without the need for costly downstream
processing equipment.
Although algae can utilize a variety of waste
streams for growth, this research will focus on
dairy anaerobic digester (AD) centrate. The first
phase of this work will investigate several promis-
ing algal species to determine their growth rates,
lipid production and nutrient removal potential
for the purpose of determining a model for algal
species performance. Different algal species
produce a variety of cellular lipids, including tri-
terpenes and triglycerides; therefore, lipid yield
will be assessed in the context of the applicabil-
ity for biofuel production. The ability of single or
multispecies mixtures to sequester nutrients in
this application will be evaluated alongside lipid
production rates to determine which algae spe-
cies or consortium of species will be selected for
further research. The second phase of research
involves maximizing algal biomass retention and
lipid extraction through encapsulation and simul-
taneous in siui lipid extraction. In this phase, the
study will explore different encapsulation matri-
ces, such as calcium alginate and/or silica-based
substrates as a means of retaining a biomass
while allowing diffusion of essential nutrients to
the cell surface.
EXPECTED RESULTS
A quantitative model for algal growth, lipid pro-
duction and nutrient uptake is expected to vary
with each algal species based on characteristics
displayed in the dairy waste stream; these are
expected to be affected by turbidity, ammonia
concentration and many other variables. The
results will provide a quantitative model that may
be used for future applications with predicted
results. These parameters also will be used as
inputs to a life cycle analysis model to evaluate
the economic and greenhouse gas mitigation
benefits of a secondary algae-based treatment
system for agricultural waste from dairy farms.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Disposal of dairy waste is an environmental
and financial strain for most dairy farms. This
research is expected to showcase a feasible and
environmentally positive biofuel and waste
treatment model with expected beneficial
economic implications for dairy farm opera-
tors. Reduction of dairy waste discharge can
result in significant reduction of adjacent and
downstream waterway eutrophication, result-
ing in an improved environmental impact.
Keywords: biofuel, algae, dairy waste
136
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Energy/Natural Resources Production & Use
Stanford University (CA)
E-mail: stilmans@stanford.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917274
EPA Project Officer; Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 701/2014
Project Amount: $126,00.0
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
Engineering
Sebastien H. Tilmans
Harvesting Energy From Wastewater Across Scales and Varying Economic Contexts
Sebastien Tilmans earned his Bachelor's degree
in Civil Engineering at Cooper Union in New York
City. Since then, he has spent 3 years building and
monitoring energy-producing sanitation systems
in rural communities in Panama. He currently is
a graduate student of Civil and Environmental
Engineering at Stanford University. He received
a Fulbright Scholarship to work in Panama, and a
National Defense Science and Engineering Gradu-
ate Fellowship to attend Stanford. His overarching
passion is to transform society's waste streams
from liabilities into assets for social, environmen-
tal and economic good. His research focuses on
energy recovery from wastes in the United States
and abroad.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Wastewater contains water, energy and nutrients,
all of which are resources that society currently
procures at high economic and ecologic cost.
With increasing water scarcity, rising energy
prices and mounting concerns over climate
change, resource recovery from wastewater is
an attractive alternative to the current treat-
and-discharge management system. Also, many
treatment plants around the United States are
reaching their design life and entering strategic
planning processes, while more than one-third
of the global population remains without access
to sanitation services. This research will quantify
the resources available to recover in wastes, and
assess the conditions under which it is feasible
and beneficial to do so. The results will help sani-
tation and water resource planners at home and
abroad to develop the best waste management
systems to advance societal, economic and envi-
ronmental health.
APPROACH
One aspect of the project will use modeling soft-
ware and case study data to analyze the energy
balance of waste flows within communities
and across different scales of decentralization
(building-level, neighborhood-level or city/catch-
ment scale). The other aspect is to use surveys,
interviews and focus groups with community
residents, regulators, utility personnel and other
stakeholders to identify non-technical opportu-
nities and constraints to resource recovery from
wastes. The research will use case studies from
the United States and sites in developing coun-
tries to calibrate the model and derive guiding
principles for planners and designers.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will help spur a shift among
wastewater infrastructure planners from focus-
ing on waste management to concentrating on
resource recovery. It will highlight methods to
produce value from wastewater, and identify
effective strategies for doing so. Specifically, the
research will underscore the potential to gener-
ate energy from wastewater, a subject that is
typically eclipsed by discussions of water reuse.
As strategies are implemented for water reuse,
the technical and economic parameters around
energy recovery from wastewater will change
dramatically. The analysis tools developed in this
research will serve to pre-test plans and technolo-
gies within large integrated systems, informing
policy and planning decisions for optimal envi-
ronmental and economic benefits.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
In the United States, resource recovery from
wastewater can help preserve the public health
benefits of aging infrastructure by providing
new revenues and lowering the cost of waste
management. It can restore ecosystem services
by reducing withdrawals from streams and aqui-
fers, and by creating sources of sustainable energy
and materials. In developing countries, resource
recovery can help finance the installation and
operation of new systems, delivering health and
dignity to billions of people who are currently
without service. This research will provide deci-
sion makers with some of the tools they will need
to realize these opportunities.
Wastewater contains water, energy and nutrients,
which are resources that this society currently pro-
cures at high economic and ecologic cost. Treat-
ment plants around the United States are reaching
their design life, while more than one-third of the
global population has no access to sanitation ser-
vices. This project uses case studies to quantify
the potential to recover resources from wastes in
various contexts, and the conditions under which
resource recovery can support more sustainable
infrastructure.
Keywords: resource recovery, wastewater, infrastructure, water, sanitation, developing countries, water reuse, energy, water-energy nexus, decentralized treatment
137
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
University of Pittsburgh (PA)
E-mail: woe6ฎpitt.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917321
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: W1J2Q11 - BKU
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:: Civil/Environmental
Engineering
William 0. Collinge
Evaluating the Impact of High-Performance Buildings Using Advanced
Life Cycle Methods
Bill Collinge received his Bachelor's degree in Civil
and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the Uni-
versity of Pittsburgh in 1997. The following year,
he was an AmeriCorps volunteer, helping to reduce
childhood lead poisoning in low-income areas of
Pittsburgh. Bill worked for 10 years as a practic-
ing civil engineer from 1999 to 2009, obtaining
his Professional Engineer's license in 2004. He is
currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Sustainability
and Green Design group in the CEE Department at
the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on dynamic
temporal and spatial environmental impacts of
commercial and institutional buildings, including
indoor environmental quality effects. Prior to his
current project, Bill completed a separate research
project involving the implementation of biodiesel
fuel in a public transportation maintenance fleet.
Synopsis
The goal of this research is to improve life cycle
assessment (L.CA) methods for commercial and
institutional buildings, by including indoor envi-
ronmental quality and dynamic changes that may
occur during the building's lifetime. A core model
of energy and materials use and indoor environ-
mental quality will be coupled with background
data, related to changing spatial and temporal
patterns of life cycle impacts. The model will be
tested under different future scenarios to evaluate
design decisions.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The goal of this research is to demonstrate an
improved life cycle assessment (LCA) method
that adequately portrays whole-building impacts
to the natural and built environments, such that
it is of value to practitioners in the architecture,
engineering, construction and management com-
munity The explicit hypothesis for this work is
that incorporating both indoor environmental
quality and dynamic temporal and spatial life
cycle data into environmental assessments of
buildings will have a significant effect on envi-
ronmental performance scores. Testing this
hypothesis entails constructing an LCA model
that incorporates both of these aspects, and using
case studies to compare results obtained using
this model to results from current models.
APPROACH
This research will be split into two main tasks. The
first task will develop a mathematical model and
computational framework to enable dynamic life
cycle assessment. Time series of life cycle inven-
tory (LCI) emissions and resource consumption
factors will be developed from available his-
torical data sources and projections (e.g., EPA
emissions inventory trends, BEA industry data,
DOE-EIA energy consumption data and projec-
tions). Additional time series of life cycle impact
assessment (LCIA) characterization factors will
be obtained from the literature or developed
from available models. This information will be
coupled with information from available build-
ing models and plans to generate time series for a
variety of building use scenarios against evolving
environmental (e.g., regulations, ambient concen-
trations) and industrial (e.g., technology mixes,
fuel sources) backgrounds. The second task will
develop a building-specific indoor environmen-
tal quality (IEQ) component to be embedded
into the dynamic LCA model. The model will be
constructed using the results of previously pub-
lished studies and will take into account build-
ing parameters affecting indoor air quality (IAQ)
and other IEQ elements (e.g., thermal comfort,
ventilation and lighting), and will be validated
by taking sensor measurements within the ini-
tial case study building, the Mascaro Center for
Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) building at the
University of Pittsburgh. IEQ effects on human
health will be integrated within the existing
LCA methods for human health impact assess-
ment, while effects on the economic bottom line
(e.g., productivity) will be integrated within a life
cycle cost framework.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Results of the integrated modeling effort will pro-
vide several levels of improvement to the current
state of LCA practice for buildings. The inclusion
of dynamic temporal and spatial life cycle data
will provide a more accurate framework for
assessing the impacts of different building design
and operation decisions over future building
lifetimes, thus enabling more effective decision-
making. The IEQ results will help to identify the
tradeoffs or synergies between environmental
impacts to building occupants and the impacts to
the general population that result from building
operations and energy demands.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Having a flexible, state-of-the-art model to
simulate building lifetime environmental impacts
will inform building designers and operators of
the full environmental implications of building
designs, enabling them to better evaluate mul-
tiple bottom line scenarios. In addition, the direct
comparison of indoor and outdoor effects related
to buildings has the potential to be scaled up to
the entire building sector, where it may enable
better regulatory decision-making by prioritizing
the areas of highest impacts.
Keywords: life cycle assessment, dynamic life cycle assessment, indoor environmental quality, indoor air quality
140
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
Purdue University (IN)
E-mail: isaaaemery@gmail.com
EPA Grant Number! FP91/326
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - S31/2014
Project Amount: $126*000
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
Isaac R. Emery
Expanded Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels: Mass Flows and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions During Bioethanol Production From Switchgrass and Sweet Sorghum
Isaac Emery graduated from Whitman College in
2005 with a degree in Biochemistry, Biophysics
and Molecular Biology. He worked as a Research
Scientist in Cardiology at the University of Wash-
ington Medical Center, before beginning a Ph.D.
in Ecological Sciences and Engineering at Purdue
University in 2008. At Purdue, Isaac mentors
incoming graduate students and conducts research
on the environmental impacts of bioenergy tech-
nologies, developing a model to inform biofuel
feedstock supply and land management decisions.
In addition to his graduate work, he volunteers with
a small team, creating an online game that will
reward participants who "go green" in real life.
Synopsis
Renewable energy is expected to have little envi-
ronmental impact, but replacing fossil fuels with
agricultural energy systems, like ethanol, can have
unintended consequences. Life cycle assessment
of energy technologies can help avoid negative
impacts. By measuring carbon and nitrogen flows
during biofuel production, focusing on crop pro-
duction and storage, this project will assess green-
house gasses and water quality. This data will be
integrated with existing research and policy tools.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Ethanol and other biofuels are currently the most
promising candidates to replace a large fraction
of U.S. gasoline consumption, but producing feed-
stocks on a large scale raises issues of land use,
greenhouse gas emissions and water quality. This
project addresses these concerns by developing
a methodology for mapping carbon and nitrogen
flows during biofuel feedstock production, and
assessing the effects of crop storage on the life
cycle impacts of biofuels.
APPROACH
Switchgrass and biomass sorghum grown at Pur-
due University will be stored as bales and silage to
generate the data necessary for alife cycle assess-
ment. Controlled laboratory storage experiments
will be used to determine direct emission rates of
the greenhouse gasses CO.,, CI 11 and N.p, as well
as the effects of temperature and moisture on
biomass loss during dry and wet storage. Larger
scale, 12-month field storage trials of bales and
silage will be conducted to validate laboratory
data under realistic storage conditions. Results
of these studies will inform a life cycle assess-
ment of ethanol production from switchgrass and
biomass sorghum, conducted by modifying the
GREET model to accommodate biomass storage.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Dry matter loss during storage is expected to
range from 3 percent to 10 percent at low moisture
to 10 percent to 35 percent at high moisture, and
5 percent to 15 percent in silage. Modeling storage
at a bioethanol facility will increase substantially
the greenhouse gas and water quality impacts
of the fuel through a combination of increased
production requirements, direct greenhouse gas
emissions and changes in feedstock composition
during storage. Ensiling of sorghum bagasse is
expected to have a greater impact than dry bale
storage of switchgrass, but the net impact may
be reduced by the high yield and sugar fraction of
sweet sorghum. The methodology developed will
provide a framework for future research, enabling
the assessment of many more scenarios and feed-
stocks by guiding data collection of storage stud-
ies to fit into the life cycle assessment framework.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Identifying nutrient flows between the field and
the fuel production plant is necessary to reduce
sources of greenhouse gasses and other pollut-
ants in the biofuel logistics chain, ensure that
essential nutrients are recycled to the soil, and to
better understand the relationships between crop
fertilization, biomass storage and greenhouse gas
emissions. Biofuel production cannot be consid-
ered sustainable if it contributes substantially to
eutrophication or generates greenhouse gas emis-
sions similar to fossil fuels. By identifying areas
where losses of nutrients and dry matter are most
significant, this research may reveal where "best
practices" could greatly reduce the environmental
impact of biofuels from agricultural feedstocks.
Keywords: biofuels, biomass storage, greenhouse gases, nitrogen, life cycle assessment, biomass logistics
141
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
University of Texas, Austin (TX)
E-mail: e 11 iott. ga I l@gm a i I. qd m
EPA Grant Number: Fpgi73:0O
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1S011 - #31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental
Engineering
Elliott Tyler Gall
Porous Materials in Indoor Environments: Investigating Transport and Reaction
Mechanisms of Pollutant Removal to Porous Indoor Surfaces
r
Elliott Gall received his B.S. in Environmental
Engineering from the University of Florida in
2006. For the following year and a half, he was
employed as a consulting engineer with CDM, Inc.
In 2009, he received his Master's degree from the
University of Texas (UT) at Austin. In 2010, he
began the Ph.D. program in Civil Engineering at
UT. H is research concerns reactions of gaseous
pollutants with surfaces in the indoor environ-
ment. Currently, he is researching the interaction
of porous materials and indoor pollutants, and
modeling their impact on household energy use
and indoor pollutant levels.
Synopsis
Exposure to air pollution is dominated by what
humans breathe indoors. Ozone is an important
outdoor air pollutant; however, recent research
indicates that indoor exposure to ozone and its
reaction byproducts may contribute to health
effects previously correlated with outdoor ozone.
Some indoor materials can react with ozone, while
producing benign byproducts and requiring no
energy input. This project investigates promising
materials to reduce human exposure to ozone and
harmful byproducts.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Human exposure to air pollutants is dominated
by what is breathed indoors, and indoor materials
can act as important sources and sinks of pol-
lutants. This research investigates the potential
for utilizing the large surface area of materials
to remove indoor air pollution through reactive
uptake processes. This research project will build
on this idea by focusing investigations on porous
materials, which can increase the surface area of
the indoor environment by orders of magnitude,
and may act as significant long-term sinks of
indoor air pollution.
APPROACH
This work will investigate and characterize
heterogeneous ozone chemistry with indoor
surfaces, specificallypertainingto the determina-
tion of opportunities for increasing indoor ozone
removal to surfaces. This will be accomplished
by characterizing fundamental physical and
chemical parameters, which will allow for more
accurate modeling of ozone removal to porous
building materials. The effect of physical proper-
ties like porosity, material thickness and material
contamination on overall ozone removal will be
determined using an experimental apparatus
constructed for the project. With this informa-
tion, a fundamental transport and reaction model
will be developed and validated with chamber
ozone concentrations measured. A sensitivity
analysis will be performed to determine which
material parameters have an outsized effect on
overall ozone removal. The relative importance
of fluid mechanic conditions and material
properties will be assessed for whole-house
modeling of ozone concentrations under a
variety of airflow and indoor material scenarios.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The information determined in this investigation
will result in a more detailed understanding of
the mass transfer and transformation processes
occurring during reactive removal of ozone with
indoor surfaces. The determination of effective
surface areas and porous diffusion time scales
through indoor materials may help resolve dis-
agreement between established mass-transfer
models and experimental data, as well as compar-
isons across studies. This also will allow predictive
modeling which can more accurately assess the
benefit of changing physical parameters of indoor
materials, such as an increase in material thick-
ness or porosity. Furthermore, the determination
of the dependency of ozone removal on specific
material parameters will aid in the theoretical
design and/or fabrication of dedicated indoor
pollutant removing materials.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Reducing indoor ozone concentrations is
important because 120,000,000 Americans live
in ozone non-attainment areas, and with people
spending 90 percent of their time indoors, a large
portion of exposure to ozone occurs indoors.
Targeting remediation of indoor environments
with pollutant removing materials also will
allow specific sub-populations to utilize passive
removal in particularly efficient ways. Sensi-
tive populations, to whom EPA's outdoor ozone
standards are intended to protect, may utilize
specific materials to reduce trigger pollutants
like ozone. Furthermore, pollutant removing
materials investigated in this research can
purify air with no direct energy inputs, improv-
ing indoor air quality without increasing the
already substantial energy burden of buildings.
Keywords: indoor air quality, indoor ozone, porous materials, low energy air cleaning
142
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
University of Virginia (VA)
E-mail: alec#thegqsses.com
EPA Grant Number: PP917275
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 -7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126-,000
Environmental Discipline: Public Health Sciences
Conrad Alexander Gosse
Environmentally Preferable Pavement Management Systems
Bio
Conrad Gosse received his undergraduate degree in
Ocean Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Insti-
tute in 2003. He worked building environmental
design support tools at the nonprofit GreenBlue,
and also completed a Master's degree in Urban and
Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia.
To further consider transportation and the built
environment, he completed a Master's degree in Civil
and Environmental Engineering at the University of
Virginia, and is now pursuing doctoral research there
on the environmental optimization of pavement
maintenance planning. Conrad's career goal is to help
realize a more concrete connection between land use
and transportation planning as the real key to a more
sustainable and livable future.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Many departments of transportation (DOTs) rely
on pavement management systems (PMS) to plan
maintenance operations by identifying schedules
that maximize overall network condition subject
to cost constraints. PMS do not typically incorpo-
rate environmental considerations, despite ide-
ally being situated in the decision making process
to balance performance and environmental goals.
This work seeks to develop a practical and com-
putationally tractable algorithm that will allow
DOTs to add a third (environmental) dimension
to the two implicit in current practice: cost and
performance.
APPROACH
The large, multi-objective and discrete design
space of pavement maintenance planning is well
suited to genetic optimization. Hie first phase of
the work applied a genetic algorithm and basic
model of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from
paving operations to the interstate highway pave-
ments in a western district of Virginia as a proof
of concept. This framework will be extended to
incorporate a more comprehensive and geo-
graphically aware life-cycle estimation of roadway
maintenance GHG emissions by employing the
numerical power of computer graphics hardware
to allow a fully stochastic treatment of uncer-
tainty, allowing the selection of robustly optimal
maintenance plans by DOTs.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Preliminary results showed a strong correspon-
dence between economic expenditure and GHG
emissions, making reducing environmental bur-
den compatible with budget concerns. Optimized
maintenance plans were found thatboth exceeded
the performance of current DOT practice in the
study area despite lower costs and reduced GHG
emissions. Incorporating more specific sources of
GHG emissions into the model, such as those of
vehicles delayed by work zones, should allow the
optimized results to further improve on current
practice by exploiting site-specific information
that would be impractical to consider without a
framework such as that proposed here. Asphalt
pavements also are highly recyclable, but only
within the closed loops of individual construc-
tion firms. Stochastic simulation of this market
will provide valuable insight into DOT contract
bidding policies to encourage environmentally
preferable outcomes.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Maintenance of existing paved infrastructure
impacts human and environmental health in
numerous ways, including GHG emissions, air-
borne particulates, noise, emissions of volatile
organic compounds and impacts to aquatic envi-
ronments from both silt and potential surfactant
leaching from emulsified asphalt coatings, to
name a few. Tliis research seeks to use compu-
tational optimization to minimize the amount of
maintenance work performed in the first place,
and to incorporate an explicitly environmental
objective in maintenance planning to capture
and minimize impacts that would otherwise be
externalized in a traditional cost-based asset
management program.
Keywords: pavement management systems, green roads, sustainable design, greenhouse gas control
Infrastructure, and consequently policies that cre-
ate and sustain it, shapes peoples' daily lives. In
the context of climate change, one third of total
emissions are the direct result of transportation in
this country, and so Conrad chose to apply himself
in that area. Engineering certainly has a role to play
in reducing transportation impacts through things
like more efficient vehicles and roadway networks;
however, these efforts may ultimately run counter
to environmental goals by incentivizing greater per
capita consumption of passenger miles. This project
will build tools that integrate environmental consid-
erations along with conventional objectives, such as
cost and performance, to create a tool to optimize
pavement maintenance planning, minimizing both
cost and environmental impact, while preserving the
vast public investment in roadways. Conrad hopes
to combine his engineering and planning training in
a policy position focused on the broad adoption of
integrated infrastructure planning and preservation.
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
University of Colorado, Boulder (CO)
E-mail: Jessica.Kaminsky&colorado.edu
EPA Grant Number: PSfffgl
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: ฆ9/1/2011-8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Aquatic: Ecology and
Ecosystems
Jessica Kaminsky
Sanitation Networks in Developing Communities
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S) EXPECTED RESULTS
Jessica Kaminsky received her undergraduate
degree in Civil Engineering at Rice University in
2004. After graduation, she worked for CEI2M
HILL and was heavily involved in volunteer activi-
ties for the nonprofits Engineers Without Borders
and Water for People. In 2010, she began the
Ph.D. program in the Mortenson Center in Engi-
neering for Developing Communities at the Univer-
sity of Colorado at Boulder. Her research focuses
on improving water and sanitation technology in
developing communities worldwide.
Synopsis
Household sanitation systems, like septic tanks,
are one of the most common sources of groundwa-
ter contamination in the United States. Although
some of these failures are due to poor design,
many are instead caused by inadequate mainte-
nance and operation. To address this issue, this
project quantifies the social networks that impact
sanitation systems. This new understanding of how
human factors impact sanitation technologies will
enable an improvement in sanitation infrastructure
sustainability.
This research targets the problem of the impacts
of inadequate operations and maintenance for
onsite wastewater treatment systems. By seeking
to quantitatively understand how social networks
impact wastewater infrastructure, this research
will make a transformative contribution to envi-
ronmental and public health protection. By tar-
geting often-ignored developing (non-sewered)
communities, this research directly will address
pollutant emissions from the more than 26 mil-
lion U.S. onsite systems.
APPROACH
This research uses social network analysis and
case study methods to quantify mathemati-
cally, gendered social network characteristics
and develop targeted training programs to
improve onsite wastewater treatment system
sustainability.
The premise of this research is that an under-
standing of the social networks that impact
wastewater infrastructure can be used to assess
how human/social factors affect onsite system
performance, thereby enabling improvement in
sanitation infrastructure sustainability. There-
fore, this research will describe how human fac-
tors impact household sanitation systems, and
will leverage this new understanding to develop
targeted training programs for technology users.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Improved sanitation sustainability will reduce
infrastructure cost through increased lifespan of
equipment, reduce the global disease burden by
reducing vectors for waterborne illness, enable
recovery of valuable resources such as nutrients
and water, and improve environmental protec-
tion by reducing untreated waste discharge. An
understanding of social networks will have posi-
tive impacts on each of these important issues.
Keywords: sanitation, onsite wastewater treatment, developing communities, social network analysis
144
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
E-mail: ehr8906@rit.edu
EPA Grant Number: PPS173S4
EPA Project Officer: Jose 2am bran a
Project Period: BO0QU, - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline; Environmental
Engineering
Erinn G. Ryen
Expanding Industrial Ecology by Applying Community Ecology Principles and Developing
Diversity Metrics for Sustainable Product Systems
Erinn Ryen received her undergraduate degree in
Applied Economics and Business Management
from Cornell University in 1991. Shortly thereafter,
she completed a Master's in Public Administration
from Syracuse University (1993) and a Master's
in Science from the State University of New York
College of Environmental Science and Forestry
(1995). Erinn has more than 15 years of work
and volunteer experience, starting as an intern at
the White House Office on Environmental Policy
and continuing as an environmental consultant,
environmental specialist and longstanding mem-
ber of her town's Conservation Board. Currently,
Erinn is a member of the Sustainability Oversight
Committee for Brighton, New York. After spending
several years at home with her two children, Erinn
started the Ph.D. program in Sustainability at the
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Golisano
Institute for Sustainability. Her research currently
focuses on applying biological ecology concepts to
industrial product and material systems.
Synopsis
This research project will pioneer new metaphors
and models for industrial ecology based on funda-
mental principles of community ecology borrowed
from biological systems. Specifically, this project
investigates how materials and products of environ-
mental importance are structured at the community
scale and managed with respect to environmental
goals. Test cases initially focus on opportunities
for environmental improvement of information and
communication technology products.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Industrial ecology provides a holistic framework
that can provide insight on complex relationships
between industrial and ecological systems. How-
ever, practical implementation and application
of in dustrial ecology has been constrained by the
same complexity that gives the field its desired
breadth and comprehensive nature. Therefore,
an opportunity exists to uncover new concepts
in biological ecology with relevance to industrial
systems and potentially more practical feasibil-
ity. This research project will: (1) formulate a
conceptual framework based on principles of
community ecology; (2) develop community
scale metaphors and models to better understand
the structure of industrial product systems; and
(3) test and refine community models related
with cases studies in information communication
and technology (ICT) product systems.
APPROACH
Research will be conducted in three integrated
phases. Phase One constructs a conceptual
research frameworkbased on community ecology
principles identified by literature review. Phase
Two identifies and describes relevant metaphors
and models from biological systems, focusing on
community structure. Relevant terminology from
biological systems is translated to industrial ecol-
ogy, emphasizing how concepts relate to the test
case. In Phase Three, models are developed and
refined with test cases in ICT. A Diversity Flow
Model investigates the association between the
evolving structures of ICT systems and economic
factors that drive end of life reuse and recycling.
This model combines product/material flow
analysis, biological ecology diversity indices and
multi-criteria optimization. A Geospatial Diver-
sity Model extends the first model's methodol-
ogy using geographic information system (GIS)
software. Maps of material diversity and recov-
ery value densities visualize end of life material
stream changes over time, as well as sensitivity to
market prices and larger impacts such as technol-
ogy shifts and legislation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Achieving the research objectives will demon-
strate that the community ecology perspective
can provide valuable insight to understand-
ing stability and sustainability of ICT product
systems. Manufacturers and recyclers can use
the tools to design products and recycling tech-
nologies that optimize material recovery and
minimize resource consumption, pollution and
waste generation. Resulting data also can be used
to inform policies, such as electronic waste regu-
lation, and prioritize which material or product
system to evaluate for life cycle impacts.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Understanding how product systems are struc-
tured can help preserve sustainable systems,
protect against undesirable disturbances, or
destabilize existing unsustainable structures to
transition towards a sustainable path. Achieving
the research objectives will further environmen-
tal protection by maximizing recovery of valuable
and scarce materials, minimizing environmental
impacts oftoxic substances, and reducing embod-
ied energy losses from ICT and other products. In
addition, this research mayhelp decision-makers
modify existing recycling and emission control
technologies to accommodate new material
streams.
Keywords: diversity, sustainability, industrial ecology, community structure, ICT products
145
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
Scripps Research Institute (CA)
E-mail: petertb@gmail.com
EPA Grant Number: "FP91729S
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 ,7/31/2014
Project Amount: $12&,QQ0
Environmental Discipline: CTiemistry
Peter San Thuy-Boun
Catalytic Arene Functionalization for Applications in Industrial Waste Reduction and
Pollution Sequestration
Bio
Peter Thuy-Boun received a B.S. in Chemistry
with a minor in Mathematics in 2010 from the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
As an undergraduate, he spent 3 years working
on the organometallic chemistry of lanthanides
and actinides in Professor Paula Diaconescu's
laboratory and 1 year working on bioinorganic
iron-nitrosyl chemistry in Professor Lijuan Li's
laboratory. Currently, he is a graduate student
at The Scripps Research Institute developing
catalytic chemical reactions in Professor Jin-
Quan Yu's laboratory.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Substituted aromatic molecules are important
building blocks especially common in medicine,
plastics and new functional materials. Important
as these compounds are, the methods employed
for their construction are still indirect and often
involve multiple purification steps, which can
lead to the generation of large quantities of
chemical waste. This research aims to streamline
the synthesis of substituted aromatics through
the development of catalytic direct functionaliza-
tion processes.
APPROACH
Initially, this research will focus on elucidating
Ni's competency for catalytic C-H functional-
ization chemistry. Once a catalytic manifold is
established, a set of ligands will be designed and
screened to probe Nis propensity for meta/para
C-H coordination and activation. Subsequently,
ligands able to promote meta/para coordination
will be applied under C-H functionalization
conditions to achieve the selective substitution
of aromatic molecules.
EXPECTED RESULTS
As Ni catalyzed C-H functionalization chemistry
is relatively unexplored, it is expected that a bulk
of the initial effort will be geared toward identi-
fying compatible substrates and coupling moi-
eties. It is likely that the substitution of aromatic
compounds first will be developed using directed
ortho-metalation. After a thorough understand-
ing of this process is achieved, the research will
focus on achieving meta/para activation with
the application of ligands. Enhanced reactivity
is anticipated with the rational modification of
such ligands. A study of the structure and elec-
tronics of these ligands will provide insight for
further studies potentially opening new avenues
of investigation.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Substituted aromatic building blocks are com-
monly utilized on an industrial scale. As such,
the development of new greener methods for
their construction has the potential to reduce
the need for environmentally harmful, waste-
intensive purification procedures. More efficient
aromatic substitution processes also will lower
the cost and broaden the diversity of building
blocks used to construct medicines, biomedi-
cal materials, consumer plastics, organic light
emitting diodes (OLED), organic solar cells and
metal-organic frameworks (MOF) among other
things. Because new functional materials such as
gas sequestering MOFs rely on the availability of
diverse aromatic building blocks, green technol-
ogy also will benefit from more efficient aromatic
functionalization methods.
This project aims to contribute to the area of
chemical waste reduction by means of efficient
chemical reaction development. Using emerging
direct C-H functionalization techniques, this
project will address the selective construction of
widely important aromatic molecules. Rational
catalyst design and mechanistic investigations will
guide the development of such reactions to reduce
associated chemical waste, especially for ton-scale
industrial processes.
Keywords: chemistry, catalysis, green chemistry, green processes, aromaticfunctionalization, C-Hfunctionalization, C-H activation
146
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Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green
Engineering/Building/Chemical Products &
Processes/Materials Development
Villanova University (PA)
E-mail: Ronald.Warz0ha@Villanova.edu
EPA Grant Numbers PP917371
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 -7/31/2014
Project Amount: $12SsOOQ
Environmental Discipline: Materials,Engineering
If
Ronald Joseph Warzoha
Nanoenhanced Phase Change Materials for Advanced Energy Storage
Ronald Warzoha received his undergraduate degree
in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova Univer-
sity in 2008. The following year, he graduated with
his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering
from Villanova University with a concentration in
Thermal-Fluid Systems. He also was selected as
the college's graduate student Medallion recipi-
ent and co-founded an interdisciplinary social
and environmental entrepreneurship program on
campus. In January 2010, he began the interdis-
ciplinary Engineering Ph.D. program at Villanova
University. His research involves investigating
nanoenhanced phase change materials for thermal
energy storage in renewable energy systems appli-
cations, as well as determining the fundamental
transport mechanisms for thermal energy storage
in nanoenhanced phase change materials. He
currently is investigating the impact of different
types, sizes and amounts of nanostructures on the
thermal properties and behavior of phase change
materials with respect to bulk thermal energy
storage.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The low efficiency of most power systems presents a
formidable problem for increased energy distribution,
and subsequent consumption, in the future. A substan-
tial portion of this low efficiency can be attributed to
waste heat. In these systems, heat often is used as a
means for power generation. In this case, a greater tem-
perature or an extended generation time corresponds
with a more efficient system. A good example might be
a solar thermal power system, where longer exposure
to heat (or heat retention) might lead to an increase in
a system's capacity to deliver power and an increase in
its efficiency. Other systems require a reduction in a
steady operating temperature (computers, cell phones,
etc.), which often is accomplished by using thermal
management systems that must consume power to
operate effectively (i.e., fans, pumps, jets, etc.). In either
case, the thermal management solutions have continu-
ously required more power consumption as a result of
the increased heat transfer constraints. This research
project examines the role that phase change materi-
als play in reducing the amount of power required
to operate renewable energy power delivery systems
and thermal management solutions. Phase change
materials have the ability to store thermal energy over
extended periods of time without requiring additional
power (depending on the mass, volume, heat load
and latent heat of fusion values), but suffer from a low
thermal conductivity and thus not all of the PCM's stor-
age capacity can be used when in its raw form. Recent
technologies used to increase the thermal conductivity
of phase change materials have been fins and foams,
which in crease total thermal storage capacity. Although
some have been successful, many of these designs do
not comply with the constraints placed on modern
power delivery systems and electronics. Preliminary
studies suggest that the addition of several types of
nanofibers greatly enhance the thermal energy storage
time of PCMs while also complying with the aforemen-
tioned constraints. This research now will look into the
effect of several different parameters of nanostruc-
tures on the thermal energy storage time and delay
to steady conditions, including length, diameter, type
and weight fraction. Once this has been determined,
the nanofibers will be separated using two techniques
(surfactants and adding an acidic charge) to determine
the most effective way to keep nanofibers separated in
the liquid phase. This will complete an effort to cre-
ate a phase change material that is capable of storing
an adequate amount of thermal energy for a variety
of power profiles and thus, result in a thermal storage
material that is economically feasible to implement in
applications to reduce overall power consumptions,
including, building walls (increase HVAC efficiency),
solar thermal systems and modern electronics.
APPROACH
The first Stage of the research will use standard experi-
mental techniques to characterize the thermal conduc-
tivity, specific heat and latent heat of PCMs embedded
with a variety of different types, sizes and amounts of
nanostructures. The thermal conductivity will be mea-
sured using a transient hot-wire apparatus, while the
specific heat andlatent heat of each composite material
will be measured using a differential scanning calorim-
eter. These properties will be vitally important in deter-
mining both the reason for enhanced thermal storage
Capacity in nanoComposite PCMs and for optimization
in later stages of the research. The Second stage of this
research is to determine the effect of each of these same
parameters (nanostructure type, size and amount) on
the thermal energy storage capacity in adiabatic thermal
containment units, which are most like those that would
be implemented ill renewable power deliver systems or
modern electronics packaging. Finally, this research will
investigate the potential for stabilizing the nanofibers
and prevent them from aggregating and separating from
the PCM after several thermal Cycles by examining the
effect of a common surfactant vs. an acidic soak, which
forms a positive charge on each nanostructure and
fosters coulomb repulsion. After this research is com-
pleted, it is expected that an economically feasible and
sustainable design will be accomplished such that the
PCM becomes a driving force for a reduction in power
consumption or increase in power capacity for these
systems.
EXPECTED RESULTS
These engineered materials will allow thermal engi-
neers to design for precise energy storage performance
based on PCM type, nanoadditive type, amount, length
and diameter, heat source orientation, nanoadditive
suspension and geometric configuration. Although the
NovaTherm Taboratory has identified the preliminary
potential for nanoadditives in PCMs, the work pre-
sented here will investigate and quantify this potential
with a substantially broader scope. Upon completion of
this work, the design of energy storage modules finally
will be possible and recognized as economically fea-
sible with the implantation of nanostructures.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will examine the effect of nanostructure
type, amount and size on the thermal energy storage
capacity of phase change materials for a reduction in
energy consumption in Some applications (electronic
packaging, building walls for HVAC efficiency enhance-
ment, etc.) and for an increase in energy retention in
others (solar thermal power systems, etc.). When PCMs
become viable candidates for adequate thermal energy
storage in these applications, a large portion of fossil
fuel consumption, and overall power consumption, can
be substantially reduced as the PCM requires no power
to store the thermal energy.
Keywords: thermal energy storage, phase change materials, nanostructures, renewable energy systems
147
The thermal management of renewable energy
systems and portable, handheld electronics is fast
becoming one of several critical issues threatening
to impede the progress of obtaining higher effi-
ciencies in renewable energy systems and reducing
power consumption from fossil fuels. The objective
of this research is to investigate the potential of,
and subsequently optimize, phase change materi-
als with embedded nanostructures for advanced
thermal energy storage in the aforementioned
applications.
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-------
Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it Whatever we
do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things
are bound together. All things connect.
- Chief Seattle, 1855
-------
Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/
Pacific Islander Communities
Baldes, Jason Eric
Application of a Holistic Process to
Improve Community and Ecological Health
by Reintroduction of Plains Bison to the
Wind River Indian Reservation
Montana State University (MT)_ 152
King, Michael Zane
Evaluating Sources of Chemical
Pathways of Aerosol Production on the
Southern Ute Indian Reservation and
Navajo Nation Using Isotopic and
Geochemical Analysis
Purdue University (IN) 153
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth
A Cultural Ecology of Riparian Systems
on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation:
Understanding Stream Incision, Riparian
Function and Indigenous Knowledge to
Increase Best Management Plan Adoption
Kansas State University (KS)_ 154
Necefer, Len Edward
Navajo Nation's Electrical Grid
Modernization With Renewable
Energy Sources
Arizona State University (AZ)_ 155
Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel Reid
Revitalizing Watershed Management
Through Karuk Indigenous Ecological
Knowledge
University of California, Berkeley (CA)m 156
-------
Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/
Pacific Islander Communities
Montana State University (MT)
E-mail: jason.baldes@gmail,com
EPA Grant Number: FP917294
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 701/2O13'
Project Amount: $84,000
Environmental Discipline: Life Sciences
Jason Eric Baldes
Application of a Holistic Process to Improve Community and Ecological Health by
Reintroduction of Plains Bison to the Wind River Indian Reservation
Jason Baldes received his undergraduate degree in
Land Resource Sciences from Montana State Uni-
versity in 2010 and is pursuing a graduate degree
in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.
On the Wind River Indian Reservation, Jason is
utilizing a community-based participatory process
and the Native Science Field Center to promote
youth involvement in a buffalo restoration effort,
by promoting tribal resource management, native
food traditions, ecological integrity and cultural
revitalization.
Synopsis
Health disparities on the Wind River Indian Res-
ervation have increased with removal of traditional
food sources used for millennia. The buffalo
provided a vital source of sustenance, and were a
cornerstone to the existence of many other species.
Ecological integrity diminished with the decima-
tion of the buffalo, as did cultural values, language
and spirituality. This project utilizes a community-
based approach to improve environmental and
health conditions for residents on the reservation.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
In Indian country, there are predominantly higher
rates of diabetes, heart disease and other health-
related problems from removal of native food
traditions. Additionally, assimilation policies
have led to loss of cultural values, language and
ecological knowledge that was once passed down
through successive generations. By reintroduc-
ing buffalo to the Wind River Indian Reservation,
members of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern
Arapaho tribes will once again have access to
additional food sources that improve lives, health,
spirituality and ecological integrity of the Reserva-
tion. This project will utilize a community-based
approach to restoration by incorporating existing
programs and youth education to raise awareness
and provide ownership within the community for
the effort.
APPROACH
The first component of research will be an inven-
tory of edible and medicinal plants utilized by
Shoshone and Arapaho people in the areas identi-
fied for buffalo reintroduction to compare vegeta-
tion biodiversity after reintroduction takes place.
Traditional ecological knowledge provided from
tribal elders will be bridged with youth involved
with the Wind River Native Science Field Center,
Five Buffalo Days, and Diabetes programs to
foster support and understanding for cultural,
nutritional and ecological importance of buffalo
restoration. Additional steps in the project will
consist of identifying potential source herds that
are genetically reputable and disease free. The
introduced herd of buffalo will be managed as
wildlife under the Wind River Tribal Game Code,
and be consistent with current species conserva-
tion strategies to maintain genetic diversity.
EXPECTED RESULTS
With establishment and access to buffalo, overall
health of Indian people will be improved, plant
biodiversity will increase, and ecological and his-
torical conditions will be restored. Linking elders
with youth in an effort to restore a cultural icon
improves the ability of children to make choices
without disregard to traditional belief ways and
customs. By establishing genetically reputable
and disease free buffalo, preservation of the buf-
falo genome is acknowledged and potentially will
provide source animals to other tribes or entities
who wish to establish conservation herds. The
animal will provide a valuable source of nutri-
tion to elders, youth and community members
during feasts and ceremonies. Health disparities,
spirituality, cultural and traditional values, and
strength of Shoshone and Arapaho people will
improve with the presence of the buffalo.
POTENTIAL. TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will set a precedent for what man-
agement of buffalo can be on tribal lands. The
animal is central to the culture of the Shoshone
and Arapaho people and is integral to many other
tribes struggling to hold on to cultural belief
ways, ceremonies, language and customs. With
the highest rates of diabetes, heart disease and
nutrition-related problems of any ethnic group in
America, Native Americans are at a crossroads in
the effort to improve lives of future generations.
Ecologically, there is no animal that can replace
what the buffalo was to the landscape, and in
Indian county, human health protection and
buffalo preservation are not mutually exclusive,
they are intertwined.
Keywords: Plains Bison, buffalo, reintroduction, restoration, health disparities, diabetes, heart disease, native food traditions,
traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), ecological integrity
152
-------
Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/
Pacific Islander Communities
Purdue University (IN)
E-mail: ki'ngl03@purdue.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917291
EPA Project Officer: JoseZambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - *31/2013'
Project Amount: $84,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
Michael Zane King H
Evaluating Sources of Chemical Pathways of Aerosol Production on the Southern Ute
Indian Reservation and Navajo Nation Using Isotopic and Geochemical Analysis
Bio
Michael King received his undergraduate degree
in Environmental Science from Haskell Indian
Nations University in 2005. The following year,
he was employed with the Southern Ute Indian
Tribe (SUIT) as an Air Quality Analyst and then
became the Tribe's Air Quality Specialist. He pro-
vided technical air monitoring management and
assisted with the development of program com-
ponents for the SUIT (Clean Air Act) Title V Part
70 Operating Permits Program to capture major
sources of air pollution. After working 4 years in
the field of tribal air quality control, he began the
M.S. program in the Department of Earth and
Atmospheric Sciences at Purdue University. His
research focuses on evaluating chemical pathways
of aerosol production on the Southern Ute Indian
Reservation and Navajo Nation using isotopic and
geochemical analysis.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Increased emissions ofnitrogen oxides (NOx) as aresutt
of the development of oil, gas and coal resources in the
Four Corners region of the United States have caused
concern for area American Indian tribes that levels of
ozone, acid rain and aerosols or particulate matter
(PM) may increase on reservation lands. NOx in the
atmosphere plays an important role in the formation
of these pollutants and high levels are indicators of
poor air quality, and exposure to them has been linked
to a host of human health effects and environmental
problems facing today's society. Nitrogen oxides are
eventually oxidized in the atmosphere to form par-
ticulate nitrate and nitric acid, which falls to earth's
surface by way of dry or wet deposition. In the end, it
is the removal ofNOx from the atmosphere by chemi-
cal conversion to nitrate that halts this production of
oxidants, acid and aerosols. Despite the importance
of understanding atmospheric nitrate production,
there remains major deficiencies in estimating the
significant key reactions that transform atmospheric
MO,. This project will examine the stable isotope com-
position of particulate nitrate (PM5-PM10) collected
on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and Navajo
Nation to provide insight into the sources of NOx and
the oxidation pathways that convert NOx into nitrate
on these reservation lands.
APPROACH
The first part of the research will be to request archival
PM, 5 and PM1(J filters for the years 2007 and 2009 to be
released from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe (SUIT) and
Navajo Nation to the Department of Earth and Atmo-
spheric Sciences at Purdue University. Both the SUIT and
Navajo Nation operate PM monitoring networks as part
of the US. EPAPM national monitoring network. Nitrate
(NO ) from the filters will be extracted, purified and con-
centrated using preparative ion chromatography (IC). In
addition, trace metals such as lead, Copper, nickel and
zinc and major cations such as calcium, magnesium and
sodium willbe measured by Inductively CoupledPlasma
Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES).Hie total iso-
topic composition of the nitrate willbe carried out using
the denitrifier technique, in which the nitrate is added to
a solution containing a unique strain of denitrifying bac-
teria that convert N03 into gaseous nitrous oxide (N,0).
The N,0 is collected using a headspace extraction device
and gas chromatograph before being passed over a gold
reaction tube where the N,0 is quantitatively converted
into nitrogen (N,) and oxygen (OJ, Isotopic analysis on
the product N2 and 02 will be done using a continu-
ous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) to
determine the 515N, 8180, and cap S170 values. Tastly, the
Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism (RACM)
photochemicalbox model will be used to predict nitrate
cap 8170 values, which would then be compared to the
observed data obtained from the PM filters. The RACM
model will be initialized using air quality data obtained
from the SUIT and Navajo Nation air quality programs.
All isotopic measurements of nitrate extracted from
tribal PM filters will be carried out at the Purdue Stable
Isotopes Laboratory under the direction of Professor
Greg Michalski. All data collected from tribal PM filters
will be shared with tribal air quality programs, and bi-
annual research updates will be presented to tribal air
quality staff and Tribal Council members.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments authorized
the EPA to allow Indian tribes to implement CAA pro-
grams in Indian Country under the Tribal Authority
Rule (TAR). However, most tribes lack the resources
needed to develop comprehensive air programs. Of
the four tribes in the Four Corners region, the Navajo
Nation and SUIT have established air quality programs
under the TAR and have "Treatment as State" status,
which allows tribes to monitor ambient air as well as
develop federally enforceable air quality regulations
to reduce air pollution on reservation lands. Tile data
and results from this project will provide tribes with
additional insight into the atmospheric processes that
control air quality over tribal lands. This project will
provide the SUIT and Navajo Nation insight into the
sources of NOx and chemical pathways that convert
NQx into nitrate over tribal lands. Isotopic analysis
of nitrate will provide a baseline assessment to assist
tribal air quality programs with their continual devel-
opment of policies and regional planning efforts to
improve air quality and protect the health and welfare
of tribal members and residents.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The delegation of authority from the EPA to the Navajo
Nation and forthcoming SUIT to implement operat-
ing permitting programs and regulations to reduce air
pollution on reservation lands are the first of its kind
in Indian Country. With ambient air quality measure-
ments in the Four Corners region indicating ozone
levels approaching "non-attainment" with existing
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS),
it is extremely important that tribal air quality pro-
grams continue to actively participate with air quality
regulatory agencies to cooperatively reduce regional
air pollution. Both the Navajo Nation and Southern
Ute Indian Reservation are home to numerous minor
sources and several major sources of air pollution
in the Four Corners region. This project may help in
assessing how expected NOx emissions from power
plants and increases in oil and gas exploration on these
reservation lands might impact local tribal air quality,
specifically ozone and particulate concentrations. The
results can then supplement tribal air quality permit-
ting programs and assist tribes with their continual
development of policies and regional planning efforts
to improve air quality and protect human health and
the health of future generations to come.
Keywords: particulate matter (PM), PM,^PMm nitrogen oxides, ozone, Tribal Authority Rule, NAAQS, nitrate, stable isotopes, Clean Air Act
153
This project will examine the stable isotope
composition of atmospheric aerosols collected on
the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and Navajo
Nation to provide insight into the sources of nitro-
gen oxides (N0x) and the oxidation pathways that
convert N0x into nitrate. Results from this project
will be used to assist Tribal air quality programs
in the Four Corners region to develop policies and
regional planning that will improve air quality and
protect human health.
-------
Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/
Pacific Islander Communities
Kansas State University (KS)
E-mail: heidim28@-k-stateedu
EPA Grant Number: FP917311
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Geology {Hydrology)
Heidi Mehl completed a Bachelor's degree in Biol-
ogy, and a Master's degree in Global Indigenous
Nations Studies at the University of Kansas.
Heidi's Master's thesis, "Water Quality Issues
Facing Indigenous People in North America and
Siberia," examined ways to situate scientific
information within indigenous worldviews to help
communities become informed decision makers
about the quality of their water resources. She has
monitored water quality and hydrologic function-
ing on the Potawatomi Reservation in Kansas, and
conducted several grant-funded projects in the
Altai Republic in Siberia. Through her work as
a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, she
participated in numerous studies and co-authored
three reports and one fact sheet. Heidi currently
is studying Fluvial Geomorphology in the Depart-
ment of Geography at Kansas State University. Her
dissertation research focuses on stream incision
and riparian function, and integrating traditional
ecological knowledge into scientific evaluations to
increase best management plan adoption.
Synopsis
Agricultural runoff is a major water quality impair-
ment that is difficult to manage. Cost-effective
solutions for tribes, like the Prairie Band Potawa-
tomi Nation, require an increased understanding
of the function of streambank vegetation in filter-
ing nutrients and bacteria in stable and unstable
stream channels. The results of this research will
be used to create a land management outreach
program in collaboration with the tribe that
integrates scientific knowledge with indigenous
knowledge.
Heidi Elizabeth Mehl
A Cultural Ecology of Riparian Systems on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation:
Understanding Stream Incision, Riparian Function and Indigenous Knowledge to
Increase Best Management Plan Adoption
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Widespread adoption of best management prac-
tices (BMP) is often difficult to achieve, especially
in the face of poorly understood traditions and
cultural attachments. This study will investigate
stream incision and riparian function on the
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN), and
assess indigenous knowledge of riparian and
stream ecosystem services with respect to water
supply and quality The fundamental goal of this
research is to combine advanced understandings
of riparian hydrology and water quality function
in the Great Plains with a sound understanding
of indigenous nature-society value systems to
design a successful water quality BMP outreach
program.
APPROACH
This research will use stream gages, shallow
groundwater wells and piezometers to inves-
tigate the effect of stream incision on riparian
water tables, and the effectiveness of Great Plains
riparian forests to remove sediment, nutrients
and bacteria from overland and subsurface flow.
Channel incision is a well-documented problem
on the streams flowing through the PBPN. The
lowered elevation of incised stream channels is
likely producing a net lowering of the riparian
water table, potentially reducing baseflows and
limiting riparian forest growth and/or restora-
tion. There also is evidence that lowered water
tables impair the ability of riparian areas to filter
nutrients. These data will be complemented by
interviews and surveys conducted with tribal
officials, elders and community members of the
PBPN, designed to understand traditional river
and riparian knowledge and cultural beliefs and
practices related to management of streams
and riparian areas. Combined, this information
will lay the framework for a water quality BMP
outreach program that integrates scientific data
with specific local knowledge and traditions to
increase the chances of program adoption.
EXPECTED RESULTS
An increased understanding of riparian hydrol-
ogy and water quality dynamics will contribute to
the literature on riparian buffers and their ability
to mitigate pollution, as well as inform the PBPN
of water and water quality dynamics on their
lands. The enhanced cultural understanding of
human-riparian interactions and perceptions
will enhance greatly the ability of state and fed-
eral regulators to work with the PBPN and other
indigenous nations to improve water quality.
The potential positive impacts could extend well
beyond the PBPN reservation boundaries to other
tribes and communities in the Midwest facing
similar issues, and even to similar international
efforts. At a minimum, this research will inform
land management practices and BMP adoption
from a cultural standpoint and help bridge the
gap between science and adoption of BMPs,
resulting in an overall improvement of water
quality on the PBPN.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The ability of riparian areas to filter pollutants
like nutrients and sediment is well-documented;
however, understanding of the effect of channel
incision on this function is lacking. There also are
very few studies documenting the ability of ripar-
ian areas to filter bacteria and pathogens from
overland runoff. The information gained from this
study will inform land managers and engineers
to the effectiveness of riparian areas to improve
in-stream water quality. Using this information to
design a successful BMP outreach program will
result in improved water quality on the PBPN
and downstream, which will greatly benefit
ecological communities and the health of the
PBPN who hunt, fish and swim in local streams.
Keywords: riparian, channel incision, water table, nutrients, sediment, bacteria, pathogens, indigenous, Prairie Band Potawatomi, best management
practices, BMP, water pollution, traditional knowledge, community-participatory methods
154
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Len Edward Necefer
Navajo Nation's Electrical Grid Modernization With Renewable Energy Sources
Tubes and American Indian/Alaska Native/
Pacific Islander Communities
Arizona State University (AZ)
E-mail: lennegefer@gmail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP9K293
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: sflRpjA -7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Mechanical Engineering
Bio
Len Necefer is a member of the Navajo Nation,
representing the Tachiinii and Nakai Dine Clans.
Len is a graduate of the United World College of
the American West where he was a Davis Scholar.
He received his undergraduate degree in Mechani-
cal Engineering from the University of Kansas in
May 2011. In the fall of 2011, Len will pursue
Ph.D. study at Arizona State University, focusing
in Mechanical Engineering and Public Policy. His
research focuses are Energy Infrastructure, Electric
Vehicles and Renewable Energy and Engineering
Policy in Indigenous Communities. Currently, he
is researching the impact of electrified vehicles on
the power transmission capabilities of the Navajo
Nation. This research will provide a basis for future
development of energy infrastructure on Native
American reservations.
Synopsis
Renewable energy and electrified vehicles will
require a "smart" power distribution network on
the Navajo Nation. Coal power currently is provided
to high population centers, including southern Cal-
ifornia. Increased demand and renewable energy
will require an update of the energy grid. Tribal
Sovereignty and Energy Resource Agreements
govern grid development. The current state and
direction of the high-voltage power transmission
will be assessed towards reducing air pollution
through renewables.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objective of the research is to analyze the
impact Smart Grid technology and renewable
energy sources will have on air quality of the
Navajo Nation. The research will aim to struc-
ture an approach coinciding with Tribal Energy
Resource Agreements (TERAs) and unique cul-
tural considerations for implementing smart grid
technology while meeting future demand from
electrified vehicles.
APPROACH
The relationship between tribal, state and federal
governments on issues relating to infrastructure
and renewable energy projects needs to be
further investigated. The relationships between
tribes and states can change regionally. The
Navajo Nation alone covers three states, meaning
that unique relationships exist between each. An
exhaustive literature review will be conducted on
energy policies on Native American reservations.
In addition, state and federal government energy
policies have a significant influence on the reser-
vation policy and will be included in the review.
Unique cultural considerations exist aside from
policy; for most Navajos culture is formed around
the connection with the land. Future projects and
policies must consider this reality in their forma-
tion, in addition to unique tribal government
relationships. Benchmarking the results ofrenew-
able energy infrastructure projects in low-income
and American Indian communities is a necessary
step in this project. In addition, benchmarking
existing renewable energy projects with respect
to how electrical transmission is addressed is
needed. The benchmark projects will not be
solely on reservation land, instead throughout
the United States. Modeling and analysis of
the Navajo Nation's grid and power generation
capacity with renewable sources and electrified
vehicles will be conducted to understand its
capabilities. This will require analyzing the loca-
tion of current and proposed projects and what
transmission capacity would have to be added to
accommodate them.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The results from this research will provide more
insight into the formation and factors that should
be considered when American Indian tribes form
energy policies. Tribal Energy Agreements have
to consider the dynamic tribal-federal relation-
ships that will provide a framework for future
projects. The cultural realities that exist on the
Navajo Nation would provide a common context
that other federally recognized tribes could assess
future energy policies. The results will provide
state, federal and Tribal EPA agencies with a
better understanding of how environmental
protections can be implemented with increased
renewable energy infrastructure projects. Analy-
sis on the current state of the Navajo Nation's
infrastructure will demonstrate its limitations
and capabilities. The analysis collected may
show that the current state of infrastructure is
sufficient for future renewable energy projects.
This outcome still would allow for a better under-
standing of how the development policy led to
the current state. Another possibility exists that
certain areas of the reservation are more able
to support renewable energy projects than oth-
ers. This result could point towards developing
regional solutions and policies. Future energy
legislation and academic studies could use these
results as a basis for how Tribal Energy projects
have developed. Information regarding policy
shortfalls in past legislation will dissuade certain
approaches. Yet more importantly, policy suc-
cesses that have contributed to the betterment
of Indian Reservations can be used as a template
for future projects. This research also will serve
as guidance for theNavajo Nation government as
it pursues renewable energy in the next century.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The research will specifically aid in the implemen-
tation of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water
Act protections of the Navajo Nation through
reduced emissions from Coal power generation.
Smart Grid and renewable energy resources will
allow for future power generation on the Navajo
Nation in place of expanded coal power.
Keywords: Smart Grid, renewable energy, Tribal Energy Resource Agreements, Clean Air Act, Navajo Nation, climate change, air pollution effects
155
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Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/
Pacific Islander Communities
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: danielsarna@gmail.com
EPA Grant Numbers FP91738g
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - BiM
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Social Scology
Daniel Reid Sarna-Wojcicki
Revitalizing Watershed Management Through Karuk Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Bio
Daniel Sarna-Wojcicki received his undergradu-
ate degree in Ecology from Columbia University
in 2005. After working for 3 years as an Edito-
rial Assistant for the global health journal PLoS
Neglected Tropical Diseases, he began a Ph.D.
program in Environmental Science, Policy and
Management at the University of California, Berke-
ley. His research focuses on institutional design
for resolving conflicts over water and land use at
the watershed scale. He currently is researching
collaborative watershed management institutions
in the Klamath River Basin of Northern California.
Synopsis
This project examines institutional mechanisms for
translating the Karuk Tribe of Northern California's
indigenous ecological knowledge and resource
management practices into official watershed
management policy. Through document analysis,
participant observation and interviews with com-
munity members and federal, state and Tribal rep-
resentatives, this research evaluates institutions'
ability to effectively represent Karuk values and
knowledge in watershed management policy and
practice.
This project examines the effectiveness of
institutional arrangements for translating the
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and
indigenous management practices of the Karuk
Tribe into formal watershed management policy
in the Karuk's aboriginal territory of Northern
California. Through a detailed investigation of the
processes through which Karuk representatives
and community members participate in official
knowledge production and decision making, this
research aims to illuminate barriers to knowledge
integration, conflict resolution, community par-
ticipation and government-to-government col-
laboration in watershed management. Watershed
management policy that accurately embodies the
Karuk Tribes values and knowledge in a culturally
appropriate institutional framework is vital to the
restoration of ecosystem processes and water
quality conditions in the region as well as to the
culture, health and self-governance of the Tribe.
The first stage of research aims to map out the
various legal, political and administrative mecha-
nisms that underwrite the translation of Karuk
TEK and indigenous management practices into
official watershed management policy This com-
plex institutional landscape includes Basin-wide
deliberative forums and task forces, Sub-basin
planning committees, water quality control
plans, local watershed councils, court decisions,
endangered species habitat protection plans and
memoranda of understanding between the Karuk
Tribe and various federal and state resource man-
agement agencies. 'Illrough document analysis,
participant observation in public consultation
and comment sessions, and interviews with
community members and federal, state and
Tribal representatives, this research will evaluate
institutions' ability to effectively represent Karuk
values and knowledge in watershed management
policy and practice.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Through observing the process of translation
in a number of forums, this research aims to
elucidate a set of "due-process principles" to
inform the uptake of Karuk TEK and guide Karuk
participation in resource management. By illu-
minating barriers to effective tribal participation
and meaningful translation of Karuk values and
knowledge, this project works towards develop-
ing an institutional framework that will allow
the Tribe to restore the ecological foundations
of their cultural heritage and community health.
Such a framework will contribute to federal, state
and local resource management agency efforts
to resolve longstanding resource conflicts in the
Klamath Basin and fulfill Tribal participation
mandates. In addition, developing culturally
appropriate forums that can mobilize this rich
source of local environmental knowledge sup-
ports efforts to restore ecological function in a
region with seven maj or rivers listed as water qual-
ity impaired and several terrestrial and aquatic
species listed as endangered or threatened.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Encompassing terrestrial and aquatic ecological
processes, the watershed provides an integrated
unit of resource management. Hie Karuk Tribe's
vision of eco-cultural restoration pushes inte-
grated resource management even further by
focusing on the intricate connections between
fire disturbance regimes, vegetation dynamics,
erosion, run-off, in-stream conditions and fish
habitat and in highlighting the importance of
such ecological processes to cultural integrity
and community health. In investigating how
institutions can overcome conflicting knowledge,
value and right claims to manage resources col-
laboratively, sustainably and effectively, this
research aims to contribute to academic and
policy debates regarding the design of resilient
and democratic institutions capable of facing
2fst Century resource management challenges.
Keywords: traditional ecological knowledge, cultural resource management, indigenous rights, social-ecological resilience, institutional analysis
156
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Coastal and Estuarine Processes
I lydrogeology and Surface Water
-------
For many of us, water simply flows from a faucet and
we think little about it beyond this point of contact.
We have lost a sense of respect for the wild river; for
the complex workings of a wetlandfor the intricate
web of life that water supports.
- Sandra Postel
Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity, 2003
-------
Water Quality
W
Coastal and Estuarine Processes
Amato, Daniel William
Effects of Submarine Groundwater
Discharge as a Vector for Sewage
Effluent on Hawaiian Coral Reefs
University of Hawaii (HI)4 162
Symonds, Erin Michelle
Development of Pepper Mild Mottle
Virus as a Bioindicator of Fecal Pollution
in Commercial Shellfish Beds
University of South Florida (FL) 163
Villa-Romero, Juan Fernando
Microbial Phylogenetic Diversity and
Rates of Selenium Oxidation/Reduction
in Response to Increasing Salinities in
Littoral Sediments of the Salton Sea,
California
University of California, Berkeley (CA)_ 164
Yuen, Yvonne Jia Jia
Development of Rapid Somatic and
F+ Coliphages Detection Methods and
Comparisons With Existing EPA Methods
for Microbial Water Quality Monitoring
and Contamination Source Tracking
North Carolina State University (NC)_ _ _ 165
Hydrogeology and Surface Water
Becker, Matthew Douglas
A Comprehensive Modeling Approach for
Predicting Nanoparticle Fate and Transport
in Porous Media Under Varying Geochemical
Conditions
Tufts University (MA)_ 168
Chislock, Michael F,
Ecological Consequences of Herbivore
Adaptation to Toxic Cyanobacteria: Implications
for the Control of Freshwater
Harmful Algal Blooms
Auburn University (AL)m 169
Drummond, Jennifer Debra
Reducing Human Health Risks From
Waterborne Diseases
Northwestern University (IL). 170
Heeren, Derek Michael
Phosphorus Leaching in Riparian
Floodplains: Preferential Flow and
Scale Effects
Oklahoma State University (OK) 171
Knierim, Katherine J.
Using Stable Isotopes to Quantify
Sources of Water and Characterize
Nutrient Fluxes in an Ozark Cave
Stream, Arkansas
University of Arkansas (AR)_ 172
Koski, Katrina Martta
Hyporheic Zone Exchange in Phreatic
Karst Conduits With Contaminant Implications
New Mexico Institute of Mining
and Technology (NM)m 173
Mikkelson, Kristin M.
Impacts of the Mountain Pine Beetle
on Water Quantity and Quality in the
Rocky Mountain West
Colorado School of Mines (CO)_ 174
Robinson, Jesse D.
Components of Riverbed Filtration
Enhancement in Urban Stream
Restoration Sites
State University of New York College of
En viron men talScien ce an d Forestry (NY)m 175
159
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Coastal and Estuarine Processes
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Water Quality: Coastal and Estuarine Processes
University of Hawaii (HI)
E-mail: dwamato@hawaii.Bdu
EPA Grant Number: FP9172Z3
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/I/2Q11 - 7/31/2Q14
Project Amount: $12ฎ;0'00
Environmental Discipline: Marine/Environmental
Setenee
Daniel William Amato
Effects of Submarine Groundwater Discharge as a Vector for Sewage Effluent on
Hawaiian Coral Reefs
Daniel Amato received his undergraduate degree in
Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the Univer-
sity of Vermont in 2004. In 2005, Daniel accepted
a position as a research assistant/graduate student
at the University of Hawaii (UH) working with
endemic marine algae. Upon receiving his M.S. in
Marine Botany from UH in 2009, he was admitted
to the Ph.D. program, and currently is a doctoral
candidate. His current research focuses on the
interaction between sewage pollution, groundwater
and coral reef ecosystems.
Synopsis
The continued decline of coral reefs and coastal
water quality is a global phenomenon. The effects
of sewage discharge in coastal areas are well known
and can lead to drastic changes in the health and
ecology of marine environments. The purpose of
this study is to investigate the extent and impact of
sewage pollution on Hawaii's coastal reefs. Using
an interdisciplinary approach, the connection
between terrestrial sewage injection, groundwater
and coral reef health will be examined.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The primary purpose of this investigation is to
determine the extent and impact of sewage pol-
lution on Hawai'i's coral reefs. Two hypotheses
will be tested: (1) Sewage effluent isotope tracer
levels (815N) will be greater in areas proximal to
wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) utilizing
injection wells compared to areas of low anthro-
pogenic impact; (2) Sewage effluent isotope tracer
levels (8f5N) will have a positive relationship with
measures of submarine groundwater discharge
and algal photosynthetic performance.
APPROACH
This study will focus on coastal areas adjacent to
state operated WWTPs utilizing injection wells to
determine if submarine groundwater discharge
(SGD) is a vector for sewage effluent discharge to
the coastline. An interdisciplinary multi-tracer
approach employing bioassays, biological surveys
and chemical water analysis will be used to test
these hypotheses. The productivity and chemical
composition of marine algae will be analyzed to
determine the impact of sewage-derived pollu-
tion on coastal reefs. Water samples collected
from coastal aquifers and the near-shore water
column will be analyzed for stable isotopes (C, N,
O), radio isotopes (Rn, Ra) and elemental content
to calculate hydrogeochemical processes such as
SGD flux, coastal mixing rates and nutrient load-
ing at specific sites in Hawaii. With the help of
the Polynesian Voyaging Society local educators,
students and community groups, a statewide
survey will be performed in Hawaii to identify
areas of sewage discharge to the near-shore envi-
ronment. Crew members of the voyaging canoe,
I lokule' a, will assist volunteers with the collec-
tion of water quality and reef health data using
GPS, waterproof cameras and benthic quadrats,
digital water quality meters and algal collection
protocols during a statewide sail.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The results of this study will identify locations in
the Hawaiian Islands where sewage effluent is
discharged on coastal reefs. It is expected that low
S15N values will be found in macroalgal tissues
in areas of low development and anthropogenic
impact, and high 515N values will be found in
areas of high development and anthropogenic
impact. The highest 815N values are likely to be
measured in areas proximal to WWTPs utilizing
injection wells or developments using cesspools.
Algal tissue 815N levels, growth rates and pho-
tosynthetic performance are expected to be
elevated at impacted sites due to sewage-derived
nutrient loading. It is expected that algal growth
rates and photosynthetic performance will have
apositive relationship with estimates of SGD flux
and a negative relationship with salinity. SGD
flux estimates and water analysis will be used
to calculate nutrient loading at specific sites.
One important conclusion that may arise from
this investigation is a direct connection between
terrestrial injection of sewage and biological pro-
cesses in the coastal ocean. By utilizing an inter-
disciplinary approach including hydrological
and algal physiological methodology, this study
will be able to conclude that SGD is a vector or
underlying process, facilitating this transmission
of sewage pollution from injection wells to the
marine environment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This study has great potential to highlight the
extent and impact of sewage pollution on Hawai-
ian coral reefs while elucidating the interconnec-
tion between coastal aquifers and marine ecosys-
tems. These results have important implications
for the permitting, management and treatment of
wastewater and sewage disposal in coastal areas.
Most importantly, this study has the potential to
educate and actively involve thousands of under-
represented community members in scientific
research and ocean conservation in Hawaii.
Keywords: sewage, pollution, injection, effluent, marine, algae, groundwater, SGD, invasive, water, wastewater, aquifer, Hokule'a, discharge
162
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Water Quality: Coastal and Estuarine Processes
University of South Florida (FL)
E-mail: Erin,Sy mo.ndsClgmail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP917376
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jonas
Project Period: g/I/2011 - Sl/2014
Project Amount: $12ฎ,000
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental
MicroBiology
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Erin Michelle Symonds
Development of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus as a Bioindicator of Fecal Pollution in
Commercial Shellfish Beds
Bio
Erin Symonds received a B.A. in Biology and Envi-
ronmental Science from the University of Virginia
in 2005. After working as a research assistant for
the Florida State University Coastal and Marine
Laboratory, she began her M.S. in Biological
Oceanography at the University of South Florida,
where her research focused on the development of
a viral marker of fecal pollution in coastal waters.
Upon earning her M.S. in 2008, Erin served as
a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala. Erin
returned to the University of South Florida as a
Ph.D. student in the fall of 2011 to continue
investigating viral markers of fecal pollution.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Despite the widespread use of bacterial bioindi-
cators of fecal pollution to monitor the sanitary
condition of commercial molluscan shellfish,
it has been well documented that they fail to
correlate and predict the presence of enteric
pathogens and risk of disease. Recent studies
have demonstrated the potential of Pepper Mild
Mottle Virus (PMMoV), an ornamental pepper
virus present in feces, as a bioindicator of fecal
pollution in coastal waters; however, no studies
have investigated its use in commercial shellfish
beds. As a result, the principal objective of this
study is to further investigate the potential of
PMMoV as a bioindicator of fecal contamination
in commercial shellfish beds.
APPROACH
The first stage of this investigation will ana-
lyze the rate of bioaccumulation and reten-
tion of PMMoV in three species of molluscan
shellfish (Crassosstrea gigas, Ostrea edulis and
Mytilus edulis) through a series of mesocosm
experiments. Additionally, the co-occurrence of
PMMoV, norovirus and Escherichia coli will be
analyzed in conjunction with the Netherlands
Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority's
Shellfish Surveillance Program throughout 2010,
2011 and 2012. Furthermore, the incorporation
of PMMoV will be investigated in U.S. monitoring
programs. Hie results of these studies will provide
the information necessary to evaluate the use of
PMMoV as a reliable bioindicator of fecal pollu-
tion in commercial shellfish beds.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The results of this study will indicate the use-
fulness of PMMoV as a bioindicator of fecal
pollution in commercial shellfish beds. If the
bioaccumulation and retention rates of PMMoV
in shellfish correlate with that of known human
enteric pathogens, then the utility of PMMoV as
a bioindicator will be promising. Furthermore, if
the presence of PMMoV correlates and co-occurs
with the presence of human enteric pathogens
in commercial shellfish beds in Europe and the
United States, then this will further support the
use of PMMoV as a reliable bioindicator of fecal
pollution. The results of this work will help to
assure the safety of human shellfish consumption
worldwide.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Fecal pollution in aquatic systems is a growing
problem worldwide and has devastating impacts
on human and environmental health. Although
many government agencies mandate the use of
bacterial indictors to identify fecal pollution, it is
well known that these indicators poorly correlate
with risk of disease and contamination events.
This research directly will address the need for an
improved bioindicator. It also will have broader
applications as a tool in the development of more
efficient wastewater treatment methods.
Wastewater pollution, containing excess nutrients
and pathogens associated with human feces, nega-
tively impacts economies and environmental and
human health worldwide. Current bioindicators
used to identify fecal pollution and public health
risks fail to correlate and predict the presence
of enteric pathogens. To improve the detection
of fecal pollution in coastal environments, this
research focuses on the development of the Pepper
Mild Mottle Virus as a new bioindicator of fecal
pollution.
Keywords: fecal pollution, wastewater, Pepper Mild Mottle Virus, bioindicator, shellfish
163
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Water Quality: Coastal and Estuarine Processes
University of California, Berkeley (CA)
E-mail: villarome ro@berkeley.edu
EPA Grant Number; FP917272
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Environmental
MicroBiology
Juan Fernando Villa-Romero
Microbial Phylogenetic Diversity and Rates of Selenium Oxidation/Reduction in
Response to Increasing Salinities in Littoral Sediments of the Salton Sea, California
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Hie Salton Sea is the largest inland body of water in
California and is affected by elevated selenium con-
centrations in the sediments. Microbes control the geo-
chemical cycle of selenium, which results in chemical
species with different transport properties; salinity, on
the other hand, is one of the factors controlling micro-
bial diversity in the environment. In the next 15 years,
the size of the Salton Sea is expected to shrink while
water salinity increases. Consequently, submerged
sediments would become gradually exposed to increas-
ing salt concentrations and to atmospheric oxygen as
the waterline of the lake recedes. The effect of these
changes on microbial diversity has not been investi-
gated for the Salton Sea, and neither their effect on the
rates at which selenium is processed by indigenous
microbial communities. This project focuses on littoral
sediments of the Salton Sea and seeks to describe the
effect of environmental change on biodiversity and on
the functioning of ecosystem processes relevant to
the geochemical cycle of selenium. More specifically,
this study will investigate the phylogenetic diversity
of microbial communities and the rates for selenium
oxidation and reduction under a range of salinities that
represent current and future scenarios for the Salton
Sea. This study's specific research objectives are to:
(1) evaluate the correlation between detected changes
in microbial diversity and in selenium transformation
rates to determine the contribution of biodiversity to
selenium cycling in the Salton Sea; and (2) character-
ize across a vertical depth gradient relevant physical,
biological and geochemical properties in undisturbed
sediment samples collected from Salton Sea littoral
sites with recorded low, medium and high selenium
concentrations to determine the contribution of these
properties to selenium cycling in the lake.
APPROACH
Sediment slurries and flow-through reactors contain-
ing undisturbed sediment samples will be used to
measure rates for selenium oxidation and reduction.
The use of undisturbed sediments provides much
more relevant data because sediment characteristics
are maintained; these characteristics are abolished in
slurry incubations. Phylogenetic diversity will be mea-
sured by evaluating 16s rRNA clone libraries and DNA
microarray data obtained from DNA isolated onsite
and at the end of geochemical experiments.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Given the low concentrations of Soluble selenium in
Salton Sea water, neither specialized pathways, nor
selenium-specific microbes are expected to dominate
selenium processing in littoral sediments of the Salton
Sea. Instead, it is hypothesized that denitrifiers drive
the dissimilatory reduction of selenium oxyanions
in the lake. For the salinities tested, an increase in
denitrification rates is expected as salinity increases
due to the availability of electron donors and to the
energetic requirements associated with life at elevated
salt concentrations. An increase in reduction rates for
selenium also is expected as salinity increases given the
hypotheSizedrelationship between denitrifiers and the
reduction of selenium oxyanions. Following an expo-
sure to atmospheric oxygen, selenium oxidation rates
are not expected to change as salinity increases. In
terms of microbial diversity, initially abundant groups
are expected to dominate as salinities increase while
less abundant ones become more rare or undetect-
able. Microbial groups associated with denitrification
are expected in anaerobic samples under all tested
salinities. Members of the Haloanaerobiales order
of Archaea are expected to dominate communities
exposed to anoxia and the highest salinity level. Aero-
bic or anaerobic conditions are expected to result in
significantly different microbial communities; how-
ever, under both conditions halophilic Bacteria and
Archaea are expected to predominate.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Results from this investigation will provide restora-
tion efforts targeting the recovery of the Salton Sea
aquatic environment with information regarding the
biogeochemical behavior of selenium under conditions
expected to affect the lake in the near future. Today,
elevated selenium concentrations in sediments of the
Salton Sea represent a real threat to bird populations
that include threatened and endangered species. In the
1980s, selenium was linked to mortality and develop-
mental abnormalities in waterfowl in the Kesterson
National Wildlife Refuge of the San Joaquin Valley in
California. Furthermore, evaluating microbial diversity
and specific geochemical reactions along a salinity
gradient will contribute to the understanding of biodi-
versity, ecosystem functioning and their response to a
changing environment.
Bio
Juan Fernando Villa-Romero studied Biology at
the Universidad Catolica del Ecuador from 1999
through 2004. He then moved to the United
States and received his undergraduate degree
in Environmental Sciences from the University
of Idaho, Moscow, in 2005 working on selenium
contamination in southeast Idaho under the
supervision of Dr. Susan Childers. Between that
time and the beginning of his Ph.D. program
in Microbiology, Juan Fernando worked with
Dr. Matt Morra researching Brassica-based pesti-
cides, and with Dr. John Coates studying microbial
fuel cells. He also developed an after-school sci-
ence program for underrepresented groups in Oak-
land, California, and travelled to the Ecuadorian
Amazon as a consultant for Escuela Politecnica
Nacional to evaluate the effects of oil develop-
ment in the region. Currently, he studies the effect
of environmental change on biodiversity and eco-
system functioning, focusing on salinity, microbial
phylogeny and selenium biogeochemistry in the
Salton Sea, under the supervision of Dr. Celine
Pa Hud at the University of California, Berkeley.
Synopsis
This project focuses on littoral sediments of the
Salton Sea and describes the effect of environ-
mental change on microbial diversity and on the
functioning of ecosystem processes relevant to
the geochemical cycle of selenium. Flow-through
reactors containing undisturbed sediment exposed
to salinities that represent current and future sce-
narios for the lake will be used and evaluated using
DNA microarrays. Results can describe future
selenium behavior in the Salton Sea.
Keywords: Salton Sea, selenium, littoral sediments, salinity, microbial diversity, DNA microarrays, selenium geochemistry,
oxidation/reduction rates, sediment slurries, flow-through reactors, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (B-EF)
164
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Water Quality: Coastal and Estuarine Processes
North Carolina State University (NC)
E-mail: yyuen@email.unc.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917278
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7B1/2014:
Project Amount: $12^000
Environmental Discipline: Microbiology
Yvonne Jia Jia Yuen 0
Development of Rapid Somatic and F+ Coliphages Detection Methods and Comparisons
With Existing EPA Methods for Microbial Water Quality Monitoring and Contamination
Source Tracking
Yvonne Yuen received her B.S. in Environmental
Health from UW in 2005. She continued studying
the health impacts of environmental risks at Emory
University and received her M.P.H. in 2007. Fol-
lowing her M.P.H., she received a Public Health
Fellowship from the Office of Water at EPA where
she collaborated with other federal agencies and
conducted a pilot epidemiological study examining
the effects of water contamination on Native Amer-
ican communities. She began the Ph.D. program
in Environmental Sciences and Engineering at
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2009
and is conducting research in water microbiology.
Synopsis
Microbial water quality monitoring is critical for
public health protection because studies have
shown an increased risk of diarrheal diseases from
swimming in contaminated water. However, most
monitoring methods take 16 to 32 hours to obtain
results, which is too slow for timely responses or
public health warnings if water is contaminated.
This project aims to develop new rapid methods
that can detect possible water contamination
as early as possible to ensure the safety of the
consumers.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objectives of this research are to develop
rapid coliphage detection methods and improve
current methods for water quality monitoring
and contaminate source tracking. Rapid coli-
phage detection methods can assist recreational
site operators in identifying possible fecal con-
tamination early enough for timely responses of
corrective actions or public health warnings. The
validity of the developed rapid detection methods
will be compared to the current standard EPA
coliphage detection methods.
APPROACH
Two different approaches will be used to develop
new and improved rapid coliphage detection
methods: (1) the use of a liquid enrichment cul-
ture coupled with coliphage latex-agglutination
test (CLAT) or real-time polymerase chain reac-
tion (RT-PCR) assays, and (2) the direct plaque
detection approach by improving the single
agar layer (SAL) and direct membrane filtration
methods to detect color changing or fluorescent
signals from the developing plaques. Hie liquid
enrichment and detection procedure involves the
amplification of low concentrations of coliphages
(as low as one PFU/L) during enrichment with
JE co//hosts lo levels thai canbe effectively detected
by confirmation steps such as CLAT or RT-PCR.
The improvement of the current SAL and direct
membrane filter methods involve using fluoro-
genic or chromogenic additives in non agar-based
media and identifying the combinations of opti-
mal water sample volume, incubation conditions,
M, coli host strain and membrane filter.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research is expected to develop rapid, reli-
able, cost-effective and simple coliphage detec-
tion methods for water quality monitoring or con-
taminate source tracking. Hie new rapid methods
should have a detection limit that would recog-
nize possible viral contamination early enough
for action without compromising the safety of
the consumers. These methods should provide
simple and direct ways to monitor water quality
and are cost effective enough to be used routinely
by recreational site operators. The validity of the
developed methods will be compared with the
current EPA 1601 and 1602 methods using both
laboratory spiked samples and field samples.
The results from this research also will produce a
toolbox of analytical methods that enable users to
choose the combinations of procedures that best
match their purposes, training and resources by
evaluating the critical components of coliphage
detection methods.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Consuming fecally contaminated water can cause
diarrheal diseases, which is the fifth leading cause
of death in the world. The development of a reli-
able, simple and cost-effective rapid coliphage
detection method can enable communities in
low-income countries to test and monitor their
drinking, irrigation and recreational water quality
before use. Hie products from this research can
also be used by many households in low-income
communities or rural areas of the United States
that are served by private ground water wells
that are not regulated by the states and are not
monitored for contamination.
Keywords: water quality, coliphage, fecal contamination
165
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Hydrogeology and Surface Water
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Water Quality: l-lydrogeology and Surface Water
Tufts University (MA)
E-mail: matthew.beckerฎtufts.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917312
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2011 -8S1/2014:
Project Amount: $12ฎ,ODD
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental
Engineering
Matthew Douglas Becker I
A Comprehensive Modeling Approach for Predicting Nanoparticle Fate and Transport
Porous Media Under Varying Geochemical Conditions
Matthew Becker received his B.S. degree from the
University of Missouri (MU) in May 2009. While
at MU, he helped in completing a research project
regarding the adaptation of landfill gas control
strategies for landfills in Brazil. Since joining Tufts
in 2009, he has focused his research on the fate
and transport of contaminants in the subsurface
environment. He particularly is interested in how
geochemical conditions affect contaminant fate
and transport in groundwater systems.
Synopsis
Despite possessing unique properties that
make them beneficial for many applications,
research has shown that engineered nanomateri-
als may be toxic. This project seeks to develop
a modeling framework that relates the transport of
nanoparticles in groundwater systems to transient
geochemical conditions (e.g., salinity and pH),
a determining factor in their mobility. This predic-
tive capability will be important in assessing the
risks that environmental releases have on ground-
water resources.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Available laboratory data suggest that back-
ground solution chemistry conditions including,
but not limited to, ionic strength and composi-
tion, solution pH, and presence of natural organic
matter will strongly influence the deposition and
re-entrainment behavior of nanoparticles in
homogeneous and heterogeneous porous media.
The goal of this project is to develop a tool that
can effectively predict transport of common
manufactured nanoparticles in the subsurface
using inputs pertaining to characteristic features
of the particles, porous media and background
solution chemistry.
APPROACH
Using clean-bed colloid filtration theory as a
basis, functional relationships will be developed
that describe how nanoparticle attachment and
detachment parameters change with variations
in solution ionic strength, pll and presence of
other aqueous constituents. The model will be
calibrated using published data from transport
experiments under various conditions and exper-
imental data currently being produced in the
Pennell laboratory at Tufts University. Through
analysis of model sensitivity to changes in input
parameters, governing parameters and mecha-
nisms of transport and deposition can be further
understood. Later, this model will be scaled up
to more field-relevant scales and implemented
in multiple dimensions to understand transport
behavior and the potential pathway of exposure
in more realistic scenarios.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will create a useful tool in assessing
the contamination potential of groundwater
resources due to releases of manufactured
nanoparticles. Using the developed model's
results as a guide for what may occur under ideal
conditions, experimental results can be further
explored to understand the influence that com-
plex background solution chemistry character-
istics have on particle deposition. The inherent
value of coupling model development and calibra-
tion with experimental datais the ability to relate
laboratory results to the prediction of potential
contamination scenarios for nanoparticle release
at the field scale. This research also will provide
another tool upon which scientists and policy
makers can consult in decisions regarding regula-
tion of nanoparticles and other similar emerging
contaminants.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Currently, regulations controlling nanoparticle
release into the environment virtually are nonex-
istent. To implement such policies, understanding
of the fundamental mechanisms of nanoparticle
behavior in environmentally relevant solution
chemistries must be built upon. Through more
informed modeling of nanoparticle fate and
transport, the scientific community will be better
able to relate existing and future toxicity studies'
results to the potential environmental and public
health threats that these materials might pose.
Keywords: nanoparticles, mathematical modeling, solution chemistry, groundwater quality, aquifer, geochemistry
168
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Water Quality: Hydrogeology and Surface Water
Auburn University (AL)
E-mail: mfc0002@auburn.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP917317
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones:
Project Period: 9/1/2011 - 8/31/2014
Project Amount: $121^000
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
I.
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Michael F. Chislock 0
Ecological Consequences of Herbivore Adaptation to Toxic Cyanobacteria: Implications
for the Control of Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms
Michael Chislock received a B.S. in Ecology from
Clarion University in 2008 and will receive his M.S.
in Fisheries from Auburn University in the summer
of 2011. Michael will begin a Ph.D. in Fisheries
at Auburn in the fall of 2011. His undergraduate
research in Dr. Andy Turner's laboratory examined
the negative effects of eutrophication on percep-
tion of predators by freshwater snails. His current
research in Dr. Alan Wilson's laboratory focuses on
cyanobacterial toxins as chemical defenses against
Daphnia herbivores in freshwater lakes.
Synopsis
Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria threaten aquatic
communities and global water supplies. Cyanobac-
terial toxins have been implicated in the poisoning
of drinking water supplies, food webs, pets and
humans. Cyanobacteria also are responsible for
several off-flavor compounds found in drinking
water and aquaculture-raised fish. This project
will examine the role of adaptation by a general-
ist herbivore to cyanobacteria, for mitigating and
restoring freshwater ecosystems affected by nutri-
ent enrichment.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Toxin-producing cyanobacteria have frequently
been hypothesized to limit the ability of herbivo-
rous zooplankton (such as Daphnia) to control
phytoplankton biomass by inhibiting Daphnia
feeding, population growth, and in extreme
cases, causing Daphnia mortality However,
recent research has shown that populations of the
generalist herbivore, Daphnia, can evolve to tol-
erate cyanobacteria and their associated toxins
following prolonged exposure to cyanobacterial
blooms. The objectives of the proposed research
are to understand the ecological consequences
of Daphnia adaptation to toxic cyanobacteria
and to determine the implications of herbivore
evolution for the control of harmful algal blooms
in nature.
APPROACH
This research will use Daphnia as a model organ-
ism for studying the role of herbivore adapta-
tion in food webs. Daphnia and cyanobacteria
provide an ideal system to examine the conse-
quences of herbivore adaptation as Daphnia are
keystone herbivores in the pelagic zone of lakes
and cyanobacteria can have negative effects on
community structure and function. As Daphnia
can evolve to tolerate toxic cyanobacteria, the
response of eutrophic ecosystems to abatement
efforts may depend on the role of Daphnia adap-
tation to cyanobacteria. This study will test this
hypothesis using a combination of laboratory
feeding assays, limnocorral experiments and
whole pond experiments.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The presence of Daphnia seems to be critically
important to the success of biomanipulation
efforts and understanding the causes and conse-
quences of intraspecific variation within Daphnia,
for traits conferring tolerance to toxic cyanobac-
teria may aid in the future management of eutro-
phic lakes. It is anticipated that the results of this
research will add to a growing body of literature
emphasizing the importance of variation within
species for community dynamics and ecosystem
function. Furthermore, management of Daphnia
populations tolerant of toxic cyanobacteria may
provide a sustainable alternative for the control
of freshwater harmful algal blooms. The results of
this work will be directly applicable to the control
of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in aquaculture
ponds and in municipal drinking water systems.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will have significant impacts on
science and society by: (1) advancing knowledge
of the role of keystone herbivore adaptations in
controlling harmful algal blooms, (2) improving
management of harmful algal blooms through
biomanipulation, (3) teaching outreach courses
to diverse audiences, and (4) mentoring high
school and undergraduate students. Cyanobacte-
rial toxins have been implicated in the poisoning
of drinking water supplies, food webs, pets and
humans. Despite dramatic improvements in
water quality since the enactments of the Clean
Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts in the 1970s,
eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms are
still prevalent in surface waters across the United
States. This research aimed at the improved
management of toxic cyanobacterial blooms
has potential benefits to society with respect to
water quality, livestock production, aquaculture
and human health.
Keywords: intraspecific variation, eutrophication, biomanipulation, harmful algal blooms, toxins, toxic cyanobacteria, herbivore, adaptation,
Daphnia, aquaculture
169
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Water Quality: l-lydrogeology and Surface Water
Northwestern University (IL)
EPA Grant Number: FP917290
EPA Project Officer: Bteneion Jones
Project Period: 911/2011 - 8/3I/2;014
Project Amount: $133,000
Environmental Discipline: Hydrology
Jennifer Debra Drummond
Reducing Human Health Risks From Waterborne Diseases
Bio
Jennifer Drummond received her undergraduate
degree in Chemical Engineering from the Univer-
sity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004. After
4 years of working as a technical transfer scientist
for Johnson and Johnson, she entered the Ph.D.
program in Chemical Engineering at Northwestern
University. Her research focuses on modeling water
contamination and waterborne disease transmis-
sion in rivers. She currently is investigating the
effects of flow variations on pathogen transport in
rivers.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The overall objective of this research project is to
improve understanding of the transport of patho-
genic organisms in rivers, principally focusing on
the deposition and resuspension mechanisms
that control pathogen residence times. Knowl-
edge gained will be codified in a model to predict
the fate of pathogens in streams. This model will
improve management strategies for reducing the
human health risks from waterborne diseases.
APPROACH
The research plan consists of laboratory, field and
computational work on pathogen transport. An
integrated modeling framework will be devel-
oped for pathogen dynamics in rivers. The model
will account for a range of residence times within
or near the streambed, including deposition and
resuspension events. Laboratory experiments
will be conducted to evaluate processes that are
hypothesized to control pathogen deposition
and resuspension, and field experiments will be
conducted to evaluate and assess the applicabil-
ity of the modeling framework in predicting the
migration of pathogens in small rivers.
EXPECTED RESULTS
An advanced model that can predict how patho-
genic organisms will impact downstream environ-
ments will improve management of waterborne
disease transmission. By combining laboratory
and field experiments with modeling, observed
pathogen transport can be directly incorpo-
rated into the model. The model will provide an
improved tool for evaluating risks of waterborne
disease transmission under natural flow varia-
tions and modified flow regimes associated with
either climate change or stream regulation/
restoration. This tool then can be used to design
improved management practices for reducing
downstream transport of pathogens particularly
with stream flow variations and flood events.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Pathogens enter small streams in a variety of
ways, notably including shallow groundwater
discharge, overland flow and direct inputs from
animals. This project will improve assessment
of the transport of pathogenic organisms in riv-
ers, thereby facilitating evaluation of the risks
of waterborne disease transmission. It will help
to reduce human health risks by supporting the
development of improved management practices
for reducing waterborne disease transmission.
Waterborne diseases are a significant concern and
a prevalent health issue. It is difficult to predict the
migration of pathogens, as rivers provide a means
of rapid and long-distance transmission of these
organisms. This project analyzes the transport
paths of pathogens in rivers to predict pathogen
migration downstream. It will help reduce human
health risks by predicting the fate of pathogens
upon entering a stream and supporting develop-
ment of improved management practices.
Keywords: waterborne diseases, pathogen, pathogenic organisms, contaminant transport, modeling, rivers
170
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Water Quality: l-lydrogeology and Surface Water
Oklahoma State University (OK)
E-mail: derek.heeren@okstate-,adu
EPA Grant Number: FP917333
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/I/2Q11 - 7/31/2Q14
Project Amount: $12ฎ,ODD
Environmental Discipline:; Environmental Toxicology
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Derek Michael Heeren
Phosphorus Leaching in Riparian Floodplains: Preferential Flow and Scale Effects
Derek Heeren received an undergraduate degree in
2004 and an M.S. degree in 2008 in Agricultural
and Biosystems Engineering from South Dakota
State University in Brookings, South Dakota.
Between these two degrees, he spent 2 years work-
ing as a laboratory supervisor in a geotechnical soil
testing laboratory at SCI Engineering, Inc., in St.
Charles, Missouri. He currently is a Research Engi-
neer in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
at Oklahoma State University, where he assists in
research projects on streambank stability, alluvial
depletion and subsurface nutrient transport.
Synopsis
It often is assumed that phosphorus is transported
primarily through surface runoff, but subsurface
phosphorus transport also may be significant in
gravelly floodplains. Phosphorus leaching from the
soil surface to the alluvial aquifer will be measured
at the point scale in the laboratory and three plot
scales with field infiltration experiments in the
Ozark Ecoregion. It is expected that results will
have wide-reaching implications for how gravelly
floodplains throughout the world are managed.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Information is needed on the potential sig-
nificance of connectivity between phosphorus
in surface runoff and groundwater and phospho-
rus movement from the soil to groundwater in
watersheds with cherty and gravelly soils. The
potential for phosphorus leaching commonly is
estimated based on point-measurements of soil
test phosphorus (STP) or measurements of the
sorption capability of disturbed soil samples rep-
resenting the soil matrix. However, in these areas,
gravel outcrops and macropores (visibly observed
in previous research activities) occur on the
floodplains and lead to extremely high infiltra-
tion rates. This research project will investigate
how macropores and gravel outcrops in alluvial
floodplains create a scale-dependent impact on
contaminant leaching through soils through
innovative field studies by: (1) quantifying the
spatially variable phosphorus transport capacity
of heterogeneous, gravel soils, and (2) evaluating
the influence of experimental scale on observed
phosphorus leaching.
APPROACH
The subsurface heterogeneity in the alluvial
deposits at three riparian floodplain sites in
Oklahoma and Arkansas first will be investigated
using electrical resistivity imaging techniques
by producing a three-dimensional map of the
alluvial floodplain subsurface at each proposed
field site. This three-dimensional image will allow
the determination of areas of localized gravel
outcrops that may lead to increased leaching
potential. Phosphorus leaching will be measured
at the point scale in the laboratory using flow cell
experiments of disturbed soil samples and at plot
scales (approximately 1,10 and 100 square meters)
with replicated infiltration experiments at the
three riparian floodplain sites. The injection tests
in the field will be imaged using innovative elec-
trical resistivity techniques. Through numerical
modeling, the research will be extended beyond
the three specific floodplain sites by estimating
the phosph orus concentration and load entering
gravel subsoils for various topsoil depths, storm
sizes and initial phosphorus concentrations for
the Ozark Ecoregion.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is expected that measured leaching will gener-
ally increase as the scale increases from point
to plot scales. Leaching potential should not
be quantified based on disturbed, small-scale
samples of floodplain sediment. This research
has wide-reaching implications for how riparian
floodplains throughout the world are managed.
Future management recommendations for grav-
elly riparian floodplains maybe altered as aresult
of these research findings.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Billions of dollars are spent annually through
governmental programs in North America and
Europe to mitigate surface runoff, sediment,
pesticide and nutrient loads through conserva-
tion and restoration of riparian buffers. Although
these management plans can be effective, this
research hypothesizes that leaching and sub-
surface phosphorus transport also could be a
contributing factor in certain conditions with this
transport occurring along focused as opposed to
diffuse pathways. Broad-reaching implications
extend beyond phosphorus; this research will
affect the use of riparian buffers for mitigating
other contaminants such as nitrogen, pathogens
and pesticides to stream systems.
Keywords: alluvialfloodplains, geophysical mapping, leaching, phosphorus, preferential flow, scale
171
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Water Quality: Hydrogeology and Surface Water
University of Arkansas (AR)
E-mail: kkniefim@uark.edu
EPA Grant Number; FP917347
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones.
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014
Project Amount: $1255,000
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering
Katherine J. Knierim E
Using Stable Isotopes to Quantify Sources of Water and Characterize Nutrient Fluxes in
an Ozark Cave Stream, Arkansas
Bio
Katherine Knierim received her B.S. in Geology at
Bowling Green State University in 2007 and her
M.S. in Geology at the University of Arkansas in
2009. Katherine is currently a Ph.D. candidate
in the Environmental Dynamics Program at the
University of Arkansas and is using stable iso-
topes to research the geochemistry of caves. She
wants to better understand how contaminants are
transported and attenuated in karst systems so
water quality in caves and springs can be better
protected.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research aims to quantify water sources in
a cave stream during base flow and storm events
using stable isotopes to better assess how con-
taminants - including nutrients, bacteria and
sediment - impact cave and spring water qual-
ity. Much research has focused on water quality
at springs, but sampling within a cave conduit
provides access to groundwater in equilibrium
with gaseous voids and the ability to directly
sample bedrock matrix waters. Quantifying the
correlation between water sources and water
quality in caves will identify the source areas and
mechanisms of contaminant transport through
heterogeneous karst systems, which is important
for developing management strategies to protect
karst aquifers from contamination.
APPROACH
Isotopic hydrograph separation techniques will
be used to quantify source water contributions
in a cave stream and relate these water sources
to water quality. A three-component hydrograph
separation will be completed using stable isotope
ratios of water (8D and 8180) and the concentra-
tion and isotopic composition of dissolved inor-
ganic carbon (8;3C) to quantify proportions of
precipitation, soil and bedrock matrix water in
a cave stream during storm events. The detailed
hydrologic budget for recharge developed by
quantifying water sources in the cave stream
allows contaminant flux to be related to the
proportions of diffuse (soil and bedrock matrix
water) versus quick flow (precipitation). Addi-
tionally, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen
species will be analyzed for isotopic composition
to better assess carbon and nitrogen sources and
biogeochemical cycling along groundwater flow
paths. Seasonal influences will be addressed by
monitoring storms following wet and dry ante-
cedent conditions during the spring and fall,
respectively.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Developing a hydrologic budget using isotopic
hydrograph separation techniques will quantify
groundwater versus surface water sources to
karst springs and highlight variability within
and between storm events. Hydrograph separa-
tion techniques in karst settings have focused
on storm-flow hydrographs from springs, but
the geochemistry of spring waters that have
encountered air-filled voids may be different
than those moving through saturated conduits
and fractures. Therefore, this research will explore
the interaction of the cave stream with the cave
atmospherea potentially important control
on water geochemistry because of seasonal
variations in carbon dioxide concentration in
the cave atmosphere. Source water contribution
(diffuse versus quick flow) and the partitioning of
contaminants between dissolved and particulate
phases are expected to control the flux of con-
taminants during storm events.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
In many cave and spring systems, an inability
to identify sources of contaminants continues
to hinder the development of best manage-
ment practices for reducing non-point source
pollution. Water quality impacts in north-
western Arkansas due to suburban and urban
development and agriculture will be addressed
to characterize contaminant transport along
sensitive cave flow paths. These research find-
ings will have broad application to karst sys-
tems around the world, which is of particular
importance because karst aquifers are a global
water resource and are experiencing increasing
stress due to population growth in karst regions.
Karst landscapes are characterized by rapid trans-
port of surface water into the subsurface because
of fractures, dissolution-enlarged conduits, sink-
holes and sinking streams, for example. To better
understand how contaminants enter the subsur-
face in karst systems, this project will explore
sources of water in a cave stream and relate those
water sources to the movement of contaminants -
including nutrients, bacteria and sediment-which
can negatively impact cave and spring water
quality.
Keywords: caves, karst, water quality, stable isotopes, hydrographs
172
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Water Quality: l-lydrogeology and Surface Water
New Mexico institute of Mining and Technology (NM)
E-mail: katrina@kaski.net
EPA Grant Number: FP917348
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7B1/2014:
Project Amount: $12^000
Environmental Discipline: Agricultural Engineering:
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Katrina Martta Koski I
Hyporheic Zone Exchange in Phreatic Karst Conduits With Contaminant Implications
Katrina Koski earned a B.S. in Physics from Lake
Forest College. She received an M.S. in Physics
from New Mexico Tech for work involving galactic
dynamics. After 5 years working for a government
contractor, she returned to school in the Earth Sci-
ences. Katrina currently is enrolled in a Hydrology
Ph.D. program at New Mexico Tech where her
research is on karst hydrology.
Synopsis
An important interaction at the margin of streams
is hyporheic flow, where water leaves the stream,
travels in the porous media at the bottom of the
stream, and returns to the stream. Unique to karst
aquifers are conduits, water-filled caves analogous
to streams. This project seeks to test the hypoth-
esis that hyporheic flow occurs in the sediments
and porous limestone rock at the margin of karst
conduits. The exchange may have an important
role in contaminant storage and transformation in
karst.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research seeks to confirm the presence of
karst conduit hyporheic flow and to understand
its role in the migration, sequestration and trans-
formation of natural and anthropogenic chemical
constituents in water.
APPROACH
This project will use modeling and field obser-
vations to verify the existence of karst conduit
hyporheic flow and their role in the transporting
and processing of contaminants. Initial modeling
will consist of simple analytical and numerical
models at the beginning of the project to inform
the design of the observational program. A field
project using traditional methods from surface
water hyporheic studies, and karst studies, such
as dye traces, will verify hyporheic flow at the
field site: Wakulla Leon Sinks Cave in Florida. The
project will end with modeling as a descriptive
tool, with computational fluid dynamics models
run on multicore desktops and super computers.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The models and field experiment will verify the
existence of karst conduit hyporheic flow and
lead to characterization of its properties, forcing
and spatial and temporal scales. Finally, the proj-
ect will examine how well karst hyporheic flow
facilitates sequestration and transformation of
contaminants.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The ultimate result of the project will be to
produce a set of results, conceptual models and
tools that can help scientists and policy makers
anticipate the impacts of floods, droughts and
contamination events on water quality, and the
consequences for water supply management and
water quality monitoring decisions.
Keywords: karst hydrology, karst aquifer, hyporheic, water quality, groundwater
173
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Water Quality: Hydrogeology and Surface Water
Colorado School of Mines (CO)
E-mail: kmikkelsฎmines.edu
EPA Grant Number: FP9173S4
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2011 - 7/31/2014:
Project Amount: $126,000
Environmental Discipline: Hydrology
Kristin M. Mikkelson
Impacts of the Mountain Pine Beetle on Water Quantity and Quality in the Rocky
Mountain West
Kristin Mikkelson received her undergraduate degree
in Environmental Engineering from Cornell University
in 2008. The following summer she worked for Out-
ward Bound, an organization dedicated to leadership
and self-discovery through wilderness expeditions.
After working for Outward Bound, she began her
doctoral studies at the Colorado School of Mines in
Hydrological Engineering. Her research focuses on the
impacts the mountain pine beetle epidemic may have
on water quality and quantity in the Rocky Mountain
West.
Synopsis
The mountain pine beetle (MPB) epidemic in west-
ern North America has generated growing concern
in recent years. Increasing numbers of outbreaks
have affected an estimated 2 million acres of for-
est in Colorado and Wyoming alone, during 2008. It
has been hypothesized that the effects of the MPB
outbreak will be similar to those observed after forest
harvesting. High tree mortality rates of recent MPB
infestations have the potential to induce significant
changes in the forest canopy. Parflow, a variably
saturated groundwater flow model, was coupled with
the Common Land Model (CLM) to incorporate physi-
cal processes related to energy at the land surface
and used to investigate the changing hydrologic and
energy regime associated with MPB infestations. Our
results demonstrate that MPB-infested watersheds
will experience a decrease in evapotranspiration and
an increase in snow accumulation accompanied by
earlier and faster snowmelt. impacts are similar to
those projected under climate change, yet with a
systematically higher snowpack. These results have
implications for water resource management due
to higher tendencies for flooding in the spring and
drought in the summer.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The mountain pine beetle (MPB) epidemic has
recently reached epidemic proportions and could
have a drastic impact on water quality and quan-
tity Forest canopy changes have the potential to
alter multiple components of the local water and
energy cycles along with forest biogeochemistry.
The objective of this research is to study the
changing hydrologic regime due to the MPB,
along with investigating the altered transport of
metals and organic carbon within the impacted
watershed.
APPROACH
To investigate the changing hydrologic and
energy regimes associated with the MPB epi-
demic, a suite of methods will be used such as
field studies, laboratory experiments and numeri-
cal modeling. Field studies will be used to gather
data on the altered metal and dissolved organic
carbon flux, along with evapotranspiration and
snow depth measurements. Laboratory studies
will investigate the possible metal release asso-
ciated with soils in MPB affected catchments.
Numerical modeling will be used to research the
changing hydrology, biogeochemistry and energy
fluxes associated with the MPB epidemic and will
be compared to field studies.
EXPECTED RESULTS
As climate change has the potential to drasti-
cally impact water quantity, this research aims
to determine the magnitude of impact the
MPB infestations may have on water quantity,
specifically the timing of runoff and base flows
under different climate scenarios. Field studies
and modeling will give water managers in the
Rocky Mountain West a better understanding
of how their water supplies might be altered.
This research also will determine whether or
not water treatment facilities have to be con-
cerned with an increased flux of metals and
dissolved organic carbon, or if there are underly-
ing mechanisms in MPB impacted watersheds
mitigating the release of potential contaminants.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
Anthropogenic climate change has magnified
the current MPB infestation in the Rockies; spe-
cifically, consecutive mild winters have not suf-
ficiently suppressed MPB populations and beetles
now thrive at higher elevations. This research is
imperative due to the Rocky Mountains being a
source-water region for much of the American
West along with the region's sensitive alpine ecol-
ogy. In the end, the MPB epidemic could lead to
drinking water, fishery and economic concerns
through perturbations to both water quality and
quantity
Keywords: mountain pine beetle, hydrology, biogeochemistry, metal flux, dissolved organic carbon, water quantity, water quality
174
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Water Quality: l-lydrogeology and Surface Water
State University of New York
College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
E-mail: jedrobin@gmail.com
EPA Grant Number: FP917375
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2011 -8/31/2013
Project Amount: $84,000
Environmental Discipline:! Environmental and Water
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Jesse D. Robinson
Components of Riverbed Filtration Enhancement in Urban Stream Restoration Sites
Bio
Jesse Robinson received his undergraduate degree
in Environmental Science from Indiana University
with high distinction. His research was supported
by the Hutton Honors College. Following gradu-
ation, he worked for the Kentucky Department
of Environmental Protection reviewing physical
impacts to streams and wetlands, including resto-
ration. His graduate research focuses on assessing
the functional improvement resulting from stream
restoration. He is active in environmental educa-
tion and outreach.
Synopsis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Due to the extensive and serious nature of impair-
ment in many urban streams, successful aquatic
restoration projects remain a chalf enge. However,
physical alterations to streams resulting from res-
toration activities may be capable of enhancing
hydraulic drivers of riverbed filtration, potentially
improving important stream functions. This study
will explore relationships between transient stor-
age modeling and stream channel characteristics
to identify trends in hyporheic exchange, a driver
of riverbed filtration, through examining urban
and non-urban degraded, reference condition
and restored sites.
APPROACH
Demonstration of improved stream function is
important for determining successful aquatic res-
toration. Direct measurement of these functions,
such as nutrient processing, often is complicated
by data intensive methods, site heterogeneity and
temporal variations in environmental factors.
Transient storage modeling (TSM) may repre-
sent one method for achieving rapid assessment
of indicators of improved stream function. TSM
utilizes a mass balance approach to following
a conservative tracer into sub-surface storage
zones within streams, and can provide informa-
tion about exchange rates and the residence time
of water moving through these zones. TSM mea-
surements provide information about the physi-
cal drivers of exchange and the characteristics of
the streambed, which are known to relate to other
important stream functions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Transient storage modeling has been used in a
variety of landscapes, and is under exploration
in a network of degraded, reference condition
and restored sites. Post-processing analysis of
the conservative tracer signal provides informa-
tion about sub-surface storage zones, but other
processes, such as surface detention areas, must
be carefully isolated. Appropriate characteriza-
tion of stream parameters at each site is crucial to
developing scaling relationships between model
output and drivers of exchange. Despite com-
plexities, physical enhancement through use of
structures in restoration sites has been proven to
alter hydraulic drivers of riverbed filtration. Due
to these enhancements, differentiation between
the transient storage signal in degraded, refer-
ence condition and restored sites is anticipated.
The degree of differentiation in this signal, and
predictive power of direct measurements of
stream characteristics, will provide evidence for
the success of both the methods proposed and
urban stream restoration in general.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/
HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION
The impairment seen in urban streams reduces
the ability of these ecosystems to provide impor-
tant functions, from support of aquatic life at the
base of the food chain, to the removal of pollut-
ants from surface waters. This state of impair-
ment also has the effect of reducing recreational
and quality of life benefits in areas where people
are most likely to live. For citizens in these areas,
developing strategies to repair these ecosystems
requires that they begin with a complete under-
standing of the state of efforts in urban environ-
ments to date.
Urban streams are likely to receive polluted run-
off from our built environment and may suffer
from serious historic pollution and modification.
Despite this, stream restoration projects often are
not located in these areas because of difficulty in
assuring improvement to aquatic resources. This
research will examine urban restoration sites to
determine if there is evidence of an important nat-
ural function: the mixing of surface and groundwa-
ter, which can influence nutrient processing.
Keywords: water quality, stream restoration, urban, riverbedfiltration, Clean Water Act
175
-------
-------
Index: A
17A-ETHINYL ESTRADIOL
Gavery, Mackenzie R.
114
A
AB32
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
ABM
Mellor,Jonathan Edward 48
ADAPTATION
Ghisloek, Michael F. 169
ADAPTIVE GOVERNANCE
Chaffin, Brian Christopher 55
AEROSOL
Tiwari, Andrea J. 107
AEROSOL KINETICS
Bzdek, Bryan Richard, ,.1
AFRICA
Mellor,Jonathan Edward 48
Russel, Kory Christ. 91
AGENT-BASED MODELING
Mellor,Jonathan Edward 48
AGRICULTURAL IMPACT
Hanselmann, Rhea. 35
AGRICULTURE
Chow, Jeffrey . 56
Keeler, Bonnie Louise, .28
Levy, Morgan C. ,,,. ,63
AIR
Dodson, Leah .5
AIR POLLUTION
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna, 88
Lane, Kevin James, ,89
Torres-N egron, Alexander, 8
AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS
Necefer, Len Edward 155
AIR POLLUTION MODELS
Dodson, Leah, . 5
AIR QUALITY
Dodson, Leah .5
Garner, Gregory George, 59
Hondula, David Michael 87
Torre s-Negron, Alexander, 8
AIR QUALITY DATA
Dodson, Leah, 5
ALASKA
Whiteman,John Patrick 77
ALGAE
Amato, Daniel William, 162
Prior, Maxme Lynn, 136
ALKENES
Dodson, Leah, 5
ALLUVIAL FL00DPLAINS
Heeren, Derek Michael, 171
ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE
Conrad, Abigail Elizabeth, 57
ALUMINUM COATING
Briulson, Laura Reni:e, 15
AMINE
Bzdek, Bryan Richard .4
AMPHIBIANS
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolfheini ,,, ,72
ANTARCTICA
Zatko, Maria Christine 9
ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS
Priest, Amanda S. 7
ANTHROPOGENIC ENVIRONMENTAL
CHANGE
Hanselmann, Rhea, 35
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Nadimpalli, Maya Lakshmi 90
AQUACULTURE
Chislock, Michael F. 169
AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
Anderson, Erica Karin. 112
AQUIFER
Amato, Daniel William, 162
Becker, Matthew Douglas 168
ARCTIC
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
Whiteman,John Patrick, 77
ARCTIC OIL EXPLORATION
Bowman, Jeff Shovlowsky, 50
AROMATIC FUNCTIONALIZATION
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
ASPENTECH
Watson, Oileida Ana 102
ASTHMA
Gaetz, Kim Ann, ง5
ATMOSPHERE
Torres-Negron, Alexander, 8
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
Liljegren, Jennifer 6
Priest,Amanda S. ,,,. 7
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN DEPOSITION
Grinath, Joshua Bradley, 34
ATMOSPHERIC PARTICULATE MATTER
Priest, Amanda S. ..*/
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
Dodson, Leah, .......^
AVIAN PHYSIOLOGY
Lattin, Christine Renee. , 51
AVIATION
Clewlow, Regina Ruby Lee, , 128
B
BACKUP GEN
Huffaker, Erich. .46
BACTERIA
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-Iynn 120
BANGLADESH
Chow, J effrey^ 56
BAYESIAN STATISTICS
Zurlinden, Todd James. .93
B-EF (BIODIVERSITY-ECOSYSTEM
FUNCTIONING)
Villa-Romero, Juan Fernando 164
BENTHIC
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden, 31
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
177
-------
Index: A
BETA-DIVERSITY
Weitzell, Roy E. . . 32
BIOACCUMULATION
Greenfield, Ben K. .27
J lilli.s. Jeffrey Jackson 117
BIODEGRADATION
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn 120
BIOFUEL
Mcllroyjohn William 52
Prior, Maxine Lynn ..136
BIOFUELS
Emery, Isaac R. 141
Keeler, Bonnie Louise. .28
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
Enders, Sara Katrin. . 33
Mikkelson, Kristin M. 174
BIOINDICATOR
Anderson, Erica Karin. 112
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
Symonds, Erin Michelle. 163
BIOI NDICATORS
Lattin, Christine Renee. 51
BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION
Zearley, Thomas L. 17
BIOMANIPULATION
Chislock, Michael F. 169
BIOMARKER
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
BIOMASS
1 Itielsman. Chad Michael 133
BIOMASS LOGISTICS
Emery, Isaac R. 141
BIOMASS STORAGE
Emery, Isaac R.
BI0METE0R0L0GY
[ londiila, David Michael
BIOPESTICIDES
Gross, Aaroil Donald.
BI0RATI0NAL
Gross, Aaron Donald.
BIOREMEDIATION
Bowman, Jeff ShovloWsky
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn
BIOTIC INTERACTIONS
Meza-Lopez, Maria Magdalena
BLACK CARBON
Priest, Amanda S.
Torre s-Negron, Alexander
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
Moore, Caroline Elizabeth
BMP
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth
BONE CHAR
Brunson, Laura Ivenec..
BOOTSTRAP
Garner, Gregory George
BOREWELL
Russel, Kory Christ....
BROWN CARBON
Priest, Amanda S.
BUFFALO
Baldes, Jason Eric.
BUGS DEMAND RESPONSE
Huffaker, Erich.
BUMBLEBEE
Wu,Judy Yu .121
BUTTERFLY
Hicks, Tyler Leon 116
C60
Tiwari, Andrea J. 107
CADMIUM
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS
Moore, Caroline Elizabeth 119
CAFO
Nadimpalli, Maya Lakshmi. 90
CALIFORNIA
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
Levy, Morgan C. 63
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
CANCER
Rice, LaShanta J. 97
CANOPY CARBON EXCHANGE
Reinmann, Andrew Brett. 73
CARBON DIOXIDE
Reinmann, Andrew Brett. 73
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
Cizek, Adrienne Rose. ...... .25
Miles, Wendy Beth 64
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Lane, Kevin James 89
CART
Garner, Gregory George 59
CASSIOPEA SPP.
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden .31
CATALYSIS
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
CAVES
Knierim, Katherine J. 172
C-H ACTIVATION
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
C-H FUNCTIONALIZATION
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
CHANNEL INCISION
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
CHEMICAL-MECHANICAL PLANARIZATION
Shepard, Michele Noble. 106
CHEMISTRY
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
Dodson, Leah. ..... .5
CHESAPEAKE BAY DIET
Sutter, Lori A. 76
CHLORINE RADICAL
Dodson, Leah. 5
CLEAN AIR ACT
King, Michael Zane 153
Necefer, Leh Edward. 155
CLEAN WATER ACT
Chaffin, Brian Christopher . 55
Robinson,Jesse D. 175
CLIMATE
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
178
-------
Index: A
CLIMATE CHANGE
Bury. Gwendolynn Wolfheim. 72
Fuller, Micah David 129
Izard, Catherine Finlay. 134
Kersten, Ellen E. . 96
Liljegren, Jennifer 6
Nscefer, Len Edward 155
Perrone, Debra 135
Priest, Amanda S.
Reinniann, Andrew Brett. 73
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
Torres-Negron, Alexander 8
Whiteman,John Patrick 77
CLIMATE POLICY
Clewlow, Regina Ruby Lee. 128
COAL MINING
Gonley, Justin Matthew. 113
COLIFORM
Mellor,Jonathan Edward 48
COLIPHAGE
Yuen, Yvonne |ia | ia 165
COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT
Chaffin, Brian Christopher 55
COMMUNITIES
Storler, Elizabeth Whidden ... 31
COMMUNITY
Meza-Lopez, Maria Magdalena. .30
COMMUNITY GENETICS
Bernik, Brittany Marie 38
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
Ryen, Erinn G. 145
COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY
RESEARCH
Rice, LaShanta J. 97
COMMUNITY-PARTICIPATORY METHODS
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
COMPETITIVE WATER DEMANDS
Perrone, Debra .13^
CONDUCTIVITY
Conley,Justin Matthew. 113
CONNECTIVITY
Weitzell, Roy E.... ... . .... .32
CONSERVATION
Hicks, Tyler Leon 116
CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT
Drummond, Jennifer Debra. 170
CROSS-VALIDATION
Garner, Gregory George . .59
CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel Reid 156
CUMULATIVE IMPACT
Weitzell, RoyE.. . ... 32
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
Kersten, Ellen E.. .................. . .............96
CUSTOMARY V. STATE LAW
Coyle, Lauren Nicole. 58
CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE
Laney, Christine Marie. .47
D
DAIRY WASTE
Prior, Maxine Lynn..
136
DAPHNIA DIABETES
Chislock,Michael F. 169 Baldes,Jason Eric.....
DDT DIARRHEA
Lundin,Jessica I. 118 Mellor,Jonathan Edward ...
DECENTRALIZED TREATMENT DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLES
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 137 Sebastian. Kellyjo
DECISION-MAKING DIESEL GENERATORS
Ribera, MartaM.... ...^ 67 Huffaker, Erich
DECISIONS DIESEL GENERATORS DEMAND RESPONSE
Garner, Gregory George 59 Huffaker, Erich.
DECISIONS UNDER UNCERTAINTY DISCHARGE
Garner, Gregory George 59 Amato, Daniel William. .1 (>2
DEMAND MODELING DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON
Clewlow, Regina Ruby Lee. .128 Mikkelsoh, Kristin M. 174
DEMAND RESPONSE AIR QUALITY DISSOLVED ORGANIC NITROGEN
Huffaker, Erich , ..46 Jelinski, Nicolas Adam.
DEMOGRAPHIC RISK DIVERSITY
Hondula, David Michael. .....87 Ryen, Erinn G. 145
DENITRIFICATION DNA METHYLATION
Enders, Sara Katrin 39 0 , v 7
oebastian, rLellyJo
DESALINATION DNA MICROARRAYS
Hoover, Laura Anne 132 Un n i r< ^
Villa-Komero,Juan Fernando
DETECTION DOGS DRAW SOLUTION
Lundin, Jessica I. 118 , 0
ฐ Bowden, Katie oue
DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES DRINKING WATER
Kaminsky,Jessica. 144 Brunson,Laura Renee
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Hoover, Laura Anne
,, , DYNAMIC LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Kussel, Koiy Christ y 1
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 137 Collinge, William O.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICITY
Dishaw, Laura Victoria 84
-------
Index: A
ECOHYDROLOGY
Lloyd, Rebecca Anne,, .,,.,.29
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
Baldes, J ason Eric , .152
ECOLOGICAL STOICHIOMETRY
Grinath, Joshua Bradley, 34
ECOLOGY
Laney, Christine Marie, 47
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERRING
Bernik, Brittany Marie ,, 38
ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES
Chow, Jeffrey,,. 56
ECOSYSTEM HEALTH
Hanselmann, Rhea, 35
ECOSYSTEM SERVICE
Hanselmann, Rhea, 35
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Atkinson, Carla Lee, ,24
Bernik, Brittany Marie, 38
Cizek, Adrienne Rose,.,,.,,.,,.,.25
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
Keeler, Bonnie Louise, . , ,28
Lloyd, Rebecca Anne,, .... ,29
ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT
Ribera, Marta M., ,,, 67
ECOSYSTEMS
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden, .31
EC0T0XIC0L0GY
Hicks, Tyler Leon 116
EFFLUENT
Amato, Daniel William, 16
ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Fuller, Micah David 12
ELECTRICITY
Izard, Catherine Finlay, ,13
ELEMENTAL CARBON
Torres^Negron, Alexander ,,, ............
ELEPHANT GRASS
Fraiola, Kauaoa 2
EMERGING POLLUTANTS
Greenfield, Ben K. ,2
EMISSION INVENTORY
Santoni, Gregory W. 7
EMISSIONS IMPACTS DEMAND RESPONSE
Huffaker, Erich,.,,, ,4
EMISSIONS STANDARDS
Dodson, Leah,.,.
ENDANGERED SPECIES
Lundin,Jessica I. 11
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING COMPOUNDS
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 11
Zearley, Thomas L. 1
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION
Anderson, Erica Karin. 11
Hillis, Jeffrey Jackson, 11
ENERGY
Howell, Jordan Patterson 6
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 13
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Hoover, Laura Anne, 13
ENERGY EXPENDITURE
Russel, Kory Christ, 9
ENERGY RESOURCES
Perrone, Debra 135
ENERGY SYSTEM ANALYSIS
Watson, Oneida Ana 102
ENGINEERED ECOSYSTEM
Cizek, Adrienne Rose, .25
ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS
Shepard, Michele Noble 106
ENGINEERED OSMOSIS
Hoover, Laura Anne, 132
ENVIRONMENT
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn 120
ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING
Hoover, Joseph Hamilton, ,60
Ohayon, Jennifer Liss, 65
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Gaetz, Kim Ann. 85
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES
Rice, LaShantaJ. .97
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Mcllroy,John William 52
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Knapp, Freyja Liselle 62
Shepard, Michele Noble, 106
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Kersten, Ellen E., ,. 96
Ohayon, Jennifer Liss, 65
Rice, LaShantaJ. 97
ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Greenfield, Ben K. ,27
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING
Mcllroy,John William 52
ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
Coyle, Lauren Nicole 58
ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
INDICATORS (EPHI'S)
Zurlinden, Todd James 93
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
Ohayon, Jennifer Liss. 65
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Laney, Christine Marie. ,.47
ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSOR
Hanselmann, Rhea, 35
ENZYMATIC TREATMENT
Hoffman, Catherine Michelle,.,,, 130
ENZYME-CATALYZED OXIDATION
Hoffman, Catherine Michelle, 130
EPIGENETICS
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
Sebastian, Kellyjo, 92
ESSENTIAL OILS
Gross, Aaron Donald 115
ESTUARIES
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden, ,31
EUTR0PHICATI0N
Chislock, Michael F. 169
E-WASTE
Knapp, Freyja Liselle ,,62
EXOTIC SPECIES
Meza-Lopez, Maria Magdalena ,30
EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS
Perrone, Debra 135
EXPOSURE
Hodas, Natasha, 86
180
-------
Index: A
EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
Lane, Kevin James. . ..89
EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT ERROR
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna 88
EXTREME HEAT
Hondula, David Michael. . . 87
F
FECAL CONTAMINATION
Yuen, Yvonne Jia Jia 165
FECAL POLLUTION
Symonds, Erin Michelle. 163
FINE PARTICLES
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna _ 88
FLAME RETARDANT
Dishaw, Laura Victoria 84
FLOW-THROUGH REACTORS
Villa-Romero, juan Fernando., 164
FLUORIDE
Brunson, Laura Renee. 15
FOOD SECURITY
Conrad, Abigail Elizabeth ...57
FOOD WEB
Grinath, Joshua Bradley; 34
FORECASTING
Garner, Gregory George 59
FOREST
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Reinmann, Andrew Brett. 73
FOREST MANAGEMENT
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
FOREST-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES
Miles, Wendy Beth .64
FORESTS
Bury, Gwendolyn!! Wolfheim. 72
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
FORWARD OSMOSIS
Hoover, Laura Anne. 132
Bowden, Katie Sue 14
FRESH WATER RESOURCES
Levy, Morgan C. ..... . 63
FRESHWATER
Meza-Lopez, Maria Magdalena .30
FRESHWATER MUSSELS
Atkinson, Carla Lee .24
FT-ICR MS
Priest,Amanda S. ...7
FULLERENES
Tiwari, Andrea J. 107
FUNCTION
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden ? 1
FUNGI
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn 120
G
GASIFICATION
Huelsman, Chad Michael
133
GENE EXPRESSION
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
GENE-SPECIFIC METHYLATION
Sebastian, Kelly Jo... .92
GEOCHEMISTRY
Becker, Matthew Douglas 168
GEOENGINEERING
Carr, Wylie Allen. 54
GEOGRAPHY
Howell, Jordan Patterson. 61
GEOPHYSICAL MAPPING
Heeren, D erek Michael. 171
GEOS-CHEM
Zatko, Maria Christine 9
GHANA
Coyle, Lauren Nicole. 58
GIS
Kersten, Ellen E. 96
GLOBAL METHYLATION
Sebastian, Kelly Jo.. >03
GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
GPCR
Gross^ Aaron Donald 115
GREEN CHEMISTRY
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
GREEN ENERGY
Huelsman, Chad Michael 133
GREEN PROCESSES
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
GREEN ROADS
Gosse, Conrad Alexander. 143
GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL
Gosse, Conrad Alexander. 143
GREENHOUSE GASES
Emery, Isaac R. 141
Liljegren, Jennifer. 6
GREENLAND
Zatko, Maria Christine 9
GROUND-LEVEL OZONE
Liljegren,Jennifer. 6
GROUNDWATER
Amato, Daniel William. 162
Koski, Katrina Martta. 173
GROUNDWATER QUALITY
Becker^ Matthew Douglas 168
Hoover,Joseph Hamihon 60
GULF OF MAINE
Ribera, Marta M. 67
H
HANDPUMP
Russel, Kory Christ. 91
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS
Chislock, Michael F. 169
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Knapp, Freyja Liselle .62
HEADWATER
Bury, Gwendolyn!! Wolfheim. 72
181
-------
Index: A
HEADWATER STREAMS
Weitzell, Roy E. 32
HEALTH
Mellor, J onathan Edward .. .48
HEALTH DISPARITIES
Baldes, J asoii Eric. 152
HEALTH INDICATORS
Russel, Kory Christ .... 91
HEART DISEASE
Baldes,Jason Erie IKS
HEAT WAVE
Hondula, David Michael 87
HEAT-HEALTH RISK
Hondula, David Michael, . 87
HERBICIDES
Hanselmanii, Rhea. , 35
Hicks, Tyler Leon 116
HERBIVORE
Chislock, Michael F. 169
HIGH-SPEED RAIL
Clewlow, Regina Ruby Lee ..128
HGKULEA
Amato, Daniel William, 162
HONEY BEE
Wu, Judy Yu. ....121
HONEYDEW MUTUALISM
Grinath, Joshua Bradley 34
HOTSPOT MAPPING
Ribera, Marta M.,.,, . 67
HUMAN MORTALITY
Hondula, David Michael 87
HUMIDITY
Gaetz, Kim Ann 85
HURRICANES
Piaskowy, Sara A. 16
HYDROCARBON OXIDATION
D o dson, Leah ,. .5
HYDROGEN
Huelsman, Chad Michael 133
HYDROGRAPHS
Knierim, Katherine J. 172
HYDROLOGY
Mikkelsoh, Kristin M. 174
HYDROXYL RADICAL
Dodson, Leah _____ 5
HYGIENE
Mellor,Jonathan Edward 48
HYPORHEIC
Koski, Katrina Martta_ 173
HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY-ADRENAL
AXIS
Lattin, Christine Renee 51
145
ICT PRODUCTS
Ryen, Erinn Gv
INCIDENTAL
Tiwari, Andrea J. 107
INCINERATION
Howell, Jordan Patterson ./) I
INDICATOR SPECIES
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolfheim. 72
INDIGENOUS
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS
Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel Reid 156
INDONESIA
Miles, Wendy Beth 64
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Collinge, William O. 140
Gaetz, Kim Ann. 85
Gall, Elliott Tyler _. .142
Hodas, Natasha. .. _86
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Collinge, William O. 140
INDOOR OZONE
Gall, Elliott Tyler 142
INDUCTIVE CHARGING
Fuller, Micah David_ 129
INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
Ryerij Erinn G._ 145
INFINITE RANGE
Fuller, Micah David . 129
INFORMATICS
Laney, Christine Marie. 47
INFRASTRUCTURE
Izard, Catherine Finlay. 134
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 137
INJECTION
Amato, Daniel William. 162
INSECT
Conley, Justin Matthew, 113
INSECTICIDE
Wu, Judy Yu 121
INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS
Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel Reid 156
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Knapp, Freyja Liselle ,62
INTERSPECIFIC INTERACTION STRENGTH
Grinath,Joshua Bradley. _.34
INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION
Chislock, Michael F. 169
INTRUSION
Piaskowy, Sara A. 16
INVASIVE
Amato, Daniel Williain 162
INVASIVE SPECIES
F raiola, Kauaoa .26
INVEST
Keeler, Bonnie Louise . .28
IRRIGATION
Levy, Morgan C. 63
ISOPRENE
Dodson, Leah. 5
Liljegren, Jennifer. 6
ISOTOPES
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
182
-------
Index: A
J
JELLYFISH
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden t
31
K
KARST
Knierim, Katherine J. 172
KARST AQUIFER
Koski, Katrina Martta. # 173
KARST HYDROLOGY
Koski, Katrina Martta. 4 173
KINSHIP
Coyle, Lauren Nicole 58
KLAMATH RIVER
Chaffin, Brian Christopher 55
L
LARGRANGIAN MODELING
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
LEACHING
Heeren, D erek Michael. 171
LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS
Shepard, Michele Noble 106
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Collinge, William O. 140
Emery, Isaac R. 141
LIFE STAGES
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolllieini. 72
LIGHT-ABSORBING CARBON
Priest,Amanda S._... . ... .. .7
LITTORAL SEDIMENTS
Villa-Romero,Juan Fernando 164
LIVELIHOODS
Conrad, Abigail Elizabeth 57
LOW ENERGY AIR CLEANING
Gall, Elliott Tyler 142
M
LACCASE
Hoffman, Catherine Michelle 130
LAND CONFLICTS
Coyle, Lauren Nicole 58
LAND USE CHANGE
Keeler, Bonnie Louise. ... ... ,.28
LANDFILL DISPOSAL REDUCTION
Watson, Oneida Ana 102
MANGROVES
Chow, J effrey^ . 56
MARINE
Amato, Daniel William, 162
MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING
Ribera, Marta M.. 67
MARSH COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Sutter, Lori A. 76
MARSH RESTORATION
Bernik, Brittany Marie 38
MATERIAL FLOW ANALYSIS
Izard, Catherine Finlay 134
MATHEMATICAL MODELING
Becker, Matthew Douglas 168
MAYFLY
Conley, Justin Matthew. 113
MEASUREMENT
Dodson, Leah , 5
MEMBRANE
Hoover, Laura Anne,,^ 132
MEMBRANE BI0REACT0R
Bowden, Katie Sue 14
MESOSCALE CLIMATE
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
METAL FLUX
Mikkelson, Kristin M. 174
METEOROLOGY
Silverman,Nicholas L. t ii 75
METHANE
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
MICROBIAL DIVERSITY
Villa-Romero,Juan Fernando. 164
MICROCYSTIN
Moore, Caroline Elizabeth 119
MICROPOLLUTANTS
Zearley, Thomas L. 17
MINERAL WEATHERING
Jelinski, Nicolas Adam 40
MINING
Knapp, Freyja Liselle .62
MINING AND LABOR
Coyle, Lauren Nicole 58
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN
Greenfield, Ben K. .27
MODE OF ACTION
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
MODEL OUTPUT STATISTICS (M0S)
Garner, Gregory George 59
MODELING
Drummond, Jennifer Debra. 170
Garner, Gregory George 59
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
MOUNTAIN
Enders, Sara Katrin .39
MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE
Mikkelson, Kristin M. 174
M0UNTAINT0P REMOVAL
Conley,Justin Matthew. 113
MRSA
Nadimpalli, Maya Lakshmi. 90
MULTIMEDIA FATE MODELS
Greenfield, Ben K. .27
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FUEL
Watson, Oneida Ana 102
N
NAAQS
King, Michael Zane#
...153
183
-------
Index: A
NANOPARTICLE EXPOSURE
Shepard, Michele Noble 106
NANOPARTICLES
Becker, Matthew Douglas 168
NANO-PARTICLES
Lane, Kevin James . .....89
NANOSTRUCTURES
Warzoha, Ronald Joseph 147
NAN0TECHN0L0GY
Shepard, Michele Noble 106
NAN0TECHN0L0GY COMBUSTION
Tiwari, Andrea J. 107
NATIVE FOOD TRADITIONS
Baldes, J ason Eric 152
NATIVE INVADERS
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden 31
NATURAL ATTENUATION
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn 120
NAVAJO NATION
Necefer^ Len Edward 155
NEOLIBERAL GOVERNANCE
Coyle, Lauren Nicole.,, 58
NE0NIC0TINYL
Wu, Judy Yu, 121
NEURODEVELOPMENT
Moore, Caroline Elizabeth, 119
NEW PARTICLE FORMATION
Bzdek, Bryan Richard 4
NITRATE
Dodson, Leah. 5
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
King, Michael Zane.
Zatko, Maria Christine
NITROGEN
Emery, Isaac R.
Enders, Sara Katrin
Fraiola, Kauaoa,
Keeler, Bonnie Louise.
NITROGEN OXIDES
King, Michael Zane
NITROGEN POLLUTION
Grinath,Joshua Bradley
NITROUS OXIDE
Enders, Sara Katrin.
NON-TARGET IMPACTS
Hicks, Tyler Leon....
NORTH CAROLINA
Nadimpalli, Maya Lakshmi
N0X
Liljegren, Jennifer
Zatko, Maria Christine
NUCLEATION
Bzdek, Bryan Richard
NUTRIENT DYNAMICS
Fraiola, Kauaoa
NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT
Meza-Lopez, Maria Magdalena
NUTRIENT FLUX
Atkinson, Carla Lee
NUTRIENT LIMITATION
Atkinson, Carla Lee
NUTRIENT POLLUTION
Fraiola, Kauaoa
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden
NUTRIENT STORAGE
Atkinson, Carla Lee 24
NUTRIENTS
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
0
0CT0PAMINE
Gross, Aaron Donald4 115
0CT0PAMINE RECEPTOR
Gross, Aaron Donald 115
OH RADICALS
Liljegren, Jennifer 6
OIL SPILLS
Lattin, Christine Renee 51
ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Kaminsky, J essica 144
ORGANIC AEROSOLS
Priest, Amanda S. 7
ORGANIC CARBON
Torre s-Negron, Alexander 8
ORGANIC MATTER
Jelinski, Nicolas Adam 40
0RGAN0CHL0RINE PESTICIDES
Hillis, Jeffrey Jackson 11 ?
0RGAN0PH0SPHATE
Dishaw, Laura Victoria 84
0RGAN0PH0SPH0RUS PESTICIDES
Zurlinden, Todd James 93
OSMOTIC MEMBRANE BI0REACT0R
Bowden, Katie Sue 14
OXIDATION
Dodson, Leah 5
OXIDATION/REDUCTION RATES
Villa-Romero, Juan Fernando 164
OYSTERS
Gavery, Mackenzie R. # 114
OZONE
King, Michael Zane 153
P
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolfheiin 72
PALE0CLIMATE
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
PAPER MILL EFFLUENT
Anderson, Erica Karin# 112
PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)
Ho das, Natasha^ 86
Huffaker, Erich 46
King, Michael Zane 153
Lane, Kevin James 89
PATHOGEN
Drummond, Jennifer Debra^ 170
PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS
Drummond, Jennifer Debra^ 4 170
PATHOGENS
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
184
-------
Index: A
PATHWAYS
Huelsman, Chad Michael 133
PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Gosse, Conrad Alexander, 143
PBDE
Lundin, Jessica I. 118
PBPK/PD MODELING
Zurlinden, Todd James ....93
PCB
Lundin, Jessica DL 118
PEDIATRIC ASTHMA
Sebastian, Kellyjo. 92
PENNISTUM PURPUREUM
Fraiola, Kauaoa,.,,,,, ,26
PEPPER MILD MOTTLE VIRUS
Symonds, Erin Michelle, 163
PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn. 120
PERMACULTURE
Conrad, Abigail Elizabeth 57
PEROXY RADICAL
Dodson, Leah ,5
PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
Lundin, Jessica I. 118
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
Zearley, Thomas L. _ ป 17
PESTICIDES
Hanselmann, Rhea, ,35
Zearley, Thomas L. 17
PETROLEUM
Lattin, Christine Renee 51
PETROLEUM FUEL
McllroyJ ohn William 52
PFC
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn 120
PFOA
Tseng, Naljcy Shiao-lynn, 120
PFOS
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn, 120
PHARMACEUTICALS
Zearley, Thomas L. 17
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
Warzoha, Ronald Joseph 147
PHOSPHORUS
Heeren, Derek Michael, 171
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
Zatko, Maria Christine 9
PH0T0DENITRIFICATI0N
Zatko, Maria Christine, ,: 9
PLAINS BISON
Baldes,Jason Eric, 152
PLANT QUALITY HYPOTHESIS
Grinath, Joshua Bradley. .,34
PM10
King, Michael Zane # 153
pm2,
King, Michael Zane 153
POLAR BEAR
Whitemanjohn Patrick 77
POLLUTANTS
Rice, LaShanta J. 97
POLLUTION
Amato, Daniel William, ,162
Dodson, Leah, .5
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn .120
P0LYCHL0RINATED BIPHENYLS
Hillis, J effrey Jackson 117
POROUS MATERIALS
Gall, Elliott Tyler 142
P0STC0L0NIAL SOVEREIGNTY
Goyle, Lauren Nicole 58
POTABLE WATER REUSE
Bowden, Katie Sue, 14
PPCPS
Hoffman, Catherine Michelle 130
PRAIRIE BAND P0TAWAT0MI
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT
Hicks, Tyler Leon 116
PRECIOUS METALS
Knapp, Freyja Liselle, 62
PRECIPITATION
Enders, Sara Katrin, 39
Torres-Negron, Alexander, 8
PREFERENTIAL FLOW
Heeren, Derek Michael, 171
PRESSURE RETARDED OSMOSIS
Hoover, Laura Anne, 132
PRESSURE TRANSIENT
Piaskowy, Sara A. 16
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Carr, Wylie Allen. ,.. 54
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Ohayon, Jennifer Liss ,65
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
Knapp, Freyja Liselle .62
PUGET SOUND
Lundin,Jessica I. 118
Q
QUALITATIVE SOCIAL SCIENCE
Carr, Wylie Allen
54
R
RADICAL
Dodson, Leah. 5
RAIN
Torres-N egron, Alexander 8
RAINFOREST CONSERVATION
Miles, Wendy Beth 64
RANGE
Fuller, Micah David 129
REACTION KINETICS
Huelsman, Chad Michael. 133
RECHARGE
Fuller, Micah David 129
RECLAIMED WATER
Ormerod, Kerrijean. 66
185
-------
Index: A
REDD
Miles, Wendy Beth ,64
REGENERATIVE STORMWATER
CONVEYANCE
Cizek, Adrienne Rose .. . .25
REGRESSION TREE
Garner, Gregory George. , 59
REINTRODUCTION
Baides, Jason Eric 152
REMOTE SENSING
Hondula, David Michael.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Hoover, Laura Anne. .. 132
N ecefer, Len Edward. 155
RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Warzoha, Ronald Joseph. 147
RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARD
Keeler, Bonnie Louise. .....28
REPRODUCTION
Hillis,JeffreyJackson. 117
Wu, Judy Yu. 121
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Izard, Catherine Finlay. 134
Perrone, Debra. 135
RESOURCE RECOVERY
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 137
RESPIRATORY HEALTH
Gaetz, Kim Ann 85
RESTORATION
Baides, Jason Erie. 152
Lloyd, Rebecca Anne, .29
Ohayon,Jennifer Lbs.,,, .. 65
RIPARIAN
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
RISK
Piaskowy, Sara A.,,,,. 16
RISK ASSESSMENT
Ohayon, Jennifer Liss. ,65
Shepard, Michele Noble. 106
RISK PERCEPTION
Ormerod, Kerrijean 66
RISK PERCEPTIONS
Rice, LaShanta J. .97
RIVERBED FILTRATION
Robinson, Jesse D. 175
RIVERS
Drummond, Jennifer Debra. 170
ROAD DECOMMISSIONING
Lloyd, Rebecca Anne. ,29
ROADWAY POWERED ELECTRIC
VEHICLES
Fuller, Micah David 129
s
SALINITY
Villa-Romero,Juan Fernando 164
SALINITY POWER
Hoover, Laura Anne v. 132
SALISH SEA
Lundin,Jessica I. 118
SALTON SEA
Villa-Romero,Juan Fernando,, 164
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Greenfield, Ben K. 27
SANITATION
Kaminsky, J essica 144
Mellor, J onathan Edward ,48
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 137
SCALE
Heeren, Derek Michael, 171
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
Gaetz, Kim Ann. Si
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STUDIES
Howell, Jordan Patterson, 61
SCIENCE STUDIES
Knapp, Freyja Liselle 62
SEA ICE
Whiteman,John Patrick, 77
SEA ICE BACTERIA
Bowman, Jeff Shovlowsky. 50
SEA LEVEL RISE
Sutter, Lori A. 76
SEAGRASS
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden 31
SEDIMENT
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
SEDIMENT SLURRIES
Villa-Romero, Juan Fernando, 164
SELENIUM
Conley,Justin Matthew, 113
Villa-Romero,Juan Fernando... 164
SELENIUM GEOCHEMISTRY
Villa-Romero,Juan Fernando, 164
SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER FABRICATION
Shepard, Michele Noble. 106
SEWAGE
Amato, Daniel William. 162
SGD
Amato, Daniel William. 162
SHELLFISH
Symonds, Erin Michelle, 163
SHOREBIRDS
Lattin, Christine Renee. 51
SIERRA NEVADA
Enders, Sara Katrin., 39
SIMULATION
Piaskowy, Sara A. 16
SMART GRID
Necefer, Len Edward 155
SNOW
Enders, Sara Katrin. 39
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
SNOWPACK
Zatko, Maria Christine... 9
SNOWPACK ACTINIC FLUX
Zatko, Maria Christine 9
SOA
Liljegren, Jennifer 6
SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS
Kaminsky, J essica. 144
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Howell, Jordan Patterson .61
SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE
Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel Reid 156
186
-------
Index: A
SOIL
Enders, Sara Katrin . .39
Jelinski, Nicolas Adam. 40
SOIL FROST
Reinmann, Andrew Brett 73
SOIL RESPIRATION
Reinmann, Andrew Brett 73
SOLUTION CHEMISTRY
Becker, Matthew Douglas. 168
SOURCE APPORTIONMENT
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna 88
SOUTHERN CATTLE TICK
Gross,Aaron Donald. 115
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Lundin, Jessica L 118
SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA
Bernik, Brittany Marie 38
SPATIAL HETEROGENEITY
Greenfield, Ben K. ..27
SPATIAL MODELING
Ribera, Marta M... .... .67
SPECTROSCOPY
Dodson, Leah 5
STABLE ISOTOPE PROBING
Bowman, Jeff Shovlowsky. 50
STABLE ISOTOPES
King, Michael Zane. 153
Knierim, KatherineJ. 172
STEROID HORMONES
Lundin, Jessica L 118
STOICHIOMETRY
Atkinson, Carla Lee 24
STORMWATER CONTROL MEASURE
Gizek, Adrienne Rose. .25
STREAM BURIAL
Weitzell, Roy E.. .32
STREAM RESTORATION
Robinson, Jesse D. 175
STREAMS
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolfheim. 72
STRESS
Lattin, Christine Renee 51
STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING
Grinath,Joshua Bradley. .34
STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELS
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna .88
SUB-TROPICS
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden. ? 1
SUPERCRITICAL WATER
Huelsman, Chad Michael. 133
SUSTAINABILITY
Hoover, Laura Anne. 132
Ryen, Erinn G.. 145
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Gosse, Conrad Alexander 143
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
Fuller, Micah David 129
SWINE PRODUCTION
Nadimpalli, Maya Lakshmi. 90
T
TEACHERS
Gaetz, Kim Ann. 85
TECHNOLOGY
Howell, Jordan Patterson. 61
TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolfheim. 72
TERPENOIDS
Gross, Aaron Donald 115
TERRESTRIAL
Enders, Sara Katrin. 39
TEXAS CATTLE FEVER
Gross, Aaron Donald 115
TFM
Sutter, Lori A. ( 76
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE
Warzoha, Ronald Joseph 147
THERMODYNAMIC MODELING
Watson, Oneida Alia 102
THYROID HORMONES
Lundin,Jessica I..... 118
TIDAL FRESHWATER MARSH
Sutter, Lori A. 76
TIME ACTIVITY
Lane, Kevin James. 89
TOPOGRAPHY
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS
Conley,Justin Matthew. 113
TOXIC CHEMICALS
Lundin,Jessica I. 118
TOXIC CYANOBACTERIA
Chislock, Michael E. 169
TOXICITY
Conley, Justin Matthew. 113
Lattin, Christine Renee... 51
TOXICOLOGY
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
TOXINS
Chislock, Michael F. 169
TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
(TEK)
Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel Reid 156
Baldes,Jason Eric.. 152
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
TRANSCRIPTOMICS
Gavery, Mackenzie R. 114
TRANSDISCIPLINARY
Mellor, Jonathan Edward 48
TRANSPORTATION
Clewlow, Regina Ruby Lee. 128
TREATMENT TECHNIQUE
Zearley, Thomas L. 17
TRIBAL AUTHORITY RULE
King, Michael Zane. 153
TRIBAL ENERGY RESOURCE
AGREEMENTS
N ecefer, Len E dward 155
187
-------
Index: A
TROPHIC CASCADE
Grinath,Joshua Bradley. 34
TROPHIC PARTITIONING
Atkinson, Carla Lee 24
TROPICAL STREAMS
Fraiola, Kauaoa. 26
U
ULTRAFINE PARTICLES
Lane, Kevin James.. ... 89
URBAN
Robinson,Jesse D. 175
URBAN CLIMATE
Hondula, David Michael 87
URBANIZATION
Weitzell, Roy E. 32
URSUS MARITIMUS
Whiteman, John Patrick 77
V
VALLEY FILL
Conley, Justin Matthew. 113
VALUATION
Chow, Jeffrey. 56
Keeler, Bonnie Louise............ ...28
VALUE
Garner, Gregory George. 59
VEGETATION
Silverman, Nicholas L.
vocs
Lilj egren, J ennifer
w
WARNING SYSTEMS
Hondula, David Michael
WASTE UTILIZATION
Hoover, Laura Anne
WASTE-TO-ENERGY
Howell, Jordan Patterson
Watson, Oneida Ana
WASTEWATER
Amato, Daniel William
Hoffman, Catherine Michelle
Symonds, Erin Michelle
Tilmans, Sebastien H.
WATER
Amato, Daniel William
Fraiola, Kauaoa
Greenfield, Ben K.
Mellor,Jonathan Edward
Tilmans, Sebastien H.
WATER FETCHING
Russel, Kory Christ
WATER MANAGEMENT
Levy, Morgan C.
WATER POLLUTION
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
Ormerod, Kerrijean 66
WATER QUALITY
Atkinson, Carla Lee 24
Chaffin, Brian Christopher 55
Jelinski, Nicolas Adam . 40
Keeler, Bonnie Louise, 28
Knierim, Katherine J. 172
Koski, Katrina Martta, tl 73
Mikkelson, Kristin M. 174
Ormerod, Kerrijean 66
Robinson, Jesse D. . . , .175
Yuen, Yvonne JiaJia 165
WATER QUANTITY
Mikkelson, Kristin M. 174
WATER RESOURCES
Hoover, Joseph Hamilton 60
Perrone, Debra 135
Silverman, Nicholas L. . 75
WATER REUSE
Tilmans, Sebastien H. a 137
WATER SUPPLY
Ormerod, Kerrijean 66
Russel, Kory Christ 91
WATER SYSTEM(S)
Piaskowy, Sara A. 16
WATER TABLE
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
WATERBORNE DISEASES
Drummond, Jennifer Debra. 170
WATER-ENERGY NEXUS
Perrone, Debra 135
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 137
WATERSHED HYDROLOGY
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
WEATHERING
McIlroy,John William 52
WEBGIS
Hoover, Joseph Hamilton. # 60
WET DEPOSITION
Torres-Negron, Alexander 8
WET SCAVENGING
Torres-Negron, Alexander 8
WILDLIFE HEALTH
Hanselmann, Rhea. 35
WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER
Fuller, Micah David 129
WOOD CHAR
Brunson, Laura Renee 15
Z
ZERO EMISSIONS
Fuller, Micah David.
ZOONOTIC DISEASE
Hanselmann, Rhea.
129
35
188
-------
Index:
Amato, Daniel William. 162
Anderson, Erica Karin . . .112
Atkinson, Carla Lee 24
Baldes, Jason Eric 152
Becker, Matthew Douglas 168
Bernik, Brittany Marie 38
Bowden, Katie Sue 14
Bowman, Jeff Shovlowsky. 50
Brunson, Laura Renee 15
Bury, Gwendolynn Wolfheim. 72
Bzdek, Bryan Richard 4
Carr, Wylie Allen 54
Chaffin, Brian Christopher 55
Chislock, Michael F. 169
Chow, J effrey. 56
Cizek, Adrienne Rose. 25
Clewlow, Regina Ruby Lee. 128
Collinge, William O. 140
Conley, Justin Matthew. . ,113
Conrad, Abigail Elizabeth 57
Coyle, Lauren Nicole 58
Dishaw, Laura Victoria 84
Dodson, Leah 5
Drummond, Jennifer Debra. # 170
Emery, Isaac R. . 141
Enders, Sara Katrin 39
Fraiola, Kauaoa 26
Fuller, Micah David . 129
Gaetz, Kim Ann 85
Gall, Elliott Tyler .. .1 42
Garner, Gregory George 59
Gavery, Mackenzie R. . . 114
Gosse, Conrad Alexander 143
Greenfield, Ben K. 27
Grinath, Joshua Bradley, 34
Gross, Aaron Donald 115
Hanselmann, Rhea. 35
Heeren, Derek Michael. 171
Hicks, Tyler Leon .116
Hillis, Jeffrey Jackson. 117
Ho das, Natasha. 86
Hoffman, Catherine Michelle 130
Hondula, David Michael 87
Hoover, Joseph Hamilton. 60
Hoover, Laura Anne 132
Howell, Jordan Patterson. 61
Huelsman, Chad Michael .133
Huffaker, Erich. 46
Izard, Catherine Finlay. 134
Jelinski, Nicolas Adam 40
Kaminsky, J essica 144
Keeler, Bonnie Louise. 28
Kersten, Ellen E. 96
King, Michael Zane 153
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna 88
Knapp, Freyja Liselle 62
Knierim, Katherine J. 172
Koski, Katrina Martta. 173
Lane, Kevin James 89
Laney, Christine Marie. 47
Lattin, Christine Renee 51
Levy, Morgan C. 63
Liljegren, Jennifer. 6
Lloyd, Rebecca Anne. 29
Lundin, J essica I. 118
McIlroy,John William 52
Mehl, Heidi Elizabeth 154
Mellor,Jonathan Edward 48
Meza-Lopez, Maria Magdalena 30
Mikkelson, Kristin M. 174
Miles, Wendy Beth 64
Moore, Caroline Elizabeth. 119
Nadimpalli, Maya Lakshmi. 90
Necefer, Len Edward 155
Ohayon, Jennifer Liss 65
Ormerod, Kerrijean. 66
Perrone, Debra 135
Piaskowy, Sara A. 16
Priest, Amanda S. 7
Prior, Maxine Lynn. 136
Reinmann, Andrew Brett. 73
Ribera, Marta M. 67
Rice, LaShanta J. 97
Robinson, Jesse D. 175
Russel, Kory Christ. 91
Ryen, Erinn G. 145
Santoni, Gregory W. 74
Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel Reid 156
Sebastian, Kelly Jo 92
Shepard, Michele Noble .106
Silverman, Nicholas L. 75
Stoner, Elizabeth Whidden. 31
Sutter, Lori A. 76
Symonds, Erin Michelle. 163
Thuy-Boun, Peter San. 146
Tilmans, Sebastien H. 137
Tiwari, Andrea J. .107
Torre s-Negron, Alexander. 8
Tseng, Nancy Shiao-lynn 120
Villa-Romero, Juan Fernando 164
Warzoha, Ronald Joseph 147
Watson, Oneida Ana 102
Weitzell, Roy E. 32
Whiteman,John Patrick. 77
Wu, Judy Yu. 121
Yuen, Yvonne Jia Jia .165
Zatko, Maria Christine .9
Zearley, Thomas L. 17
Zurlinden, Todd James .93
189
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