Camila Tejo Haristoy dissertation defense Mon June 10th

Come to my dissertation defense and see the forest from a different perspective.

Above and below the canopy of bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum): canopy soils, litterfall and decomposition in an old-growth temperate rainforest

when: June 10th, 2013 10am

where: Forest Club room (And 207)

committee: Dr. Darlene Zabowski (chair), Dr. Nalini Nadkarni (co-chair), Dr. Bob Edmonds, Dr. Jerry Franklin, Dr. Marcia Ciol (gsr)

abstract: Epiphytes play critical functional roles in ecosystems by capturing rain, transforming nutrients and providing habitat for canopy dwelling organisms which are often habitat specialists. Few studies have examined the transfer of epiphytes from the canopy to the forest floor, or how decomposition differs between the canopy and forest floor environment in coastal temperate forest ecosystems.

In my study, I examined canopy soils, epiphytic litterfall and decomposition of materials associated with bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) in an old-growth temperate forest at the Queets River watershed, Olympic National Park. An enhanced understanding of the movement of epiphytes can provide ecological insights into processes and dynamics of these complex forest ecosystems, and provide conservation strategies for managers.

Michael Marchand Dissertation Defense Mon June 10

Date: June 10, 2013

Time: 1:00 pm

Location: Bloedell 292

Dissertation Title: The River of Life: Sustainable Practices of Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples

Committee members are: Kristiina Vogt (Chair); Michael Verchot; Tom Collonnese; Daniel Hart; Daniel Vogt; Pat Kramer; Richard Winchell ( EWU)

Katherine H Wyatt master’s defense Th June 13th

What better way to end the academic year and start the graduation celebrations than with one last thesis defense?

Please join me as I defend my thesis, “Riparian Vegetation Structure and Composition in the Fire-Dependent Ecosystem of Eastern Washington”, at 11am on Thursday, June 13th in Bloedel 292.

Centered in the fire-dependent ecosystem of Eastern Washington, this study explores patterns of riparian vegetation structure and composition as well as the relative role of natural and anthropogenic processes. Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project photo-interpreted resource aerial photos, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) were used to compare riparian to upland areas, summarize the range of vegetation conditions present in the second half of the 20th century, and correlate vegetation with processes on the landscape. The spatial extent of the study was the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative, offering multiple agencies the local best science needed for effective management. This field of work contributes not only to our understanding of a historically fire-dependent ecosystem, but also to the role of riparian areas within them.

Committee: Chair Ernesto Alvarado, David Peterson, Richard Harrod

Caitlin Singer master’s defense Mon June 3rd

Date: 6/3/13

Time: 8am

Place: Bloedel 292

Thesis title:Stakeholder Attitudes Toward Forest-Residual Based Biofuels in Washington State

Committee: Stanley Asah (chair), Dale Blahna, Renata Bura

Ellen Sherck Master’s Defense Th June 13th

Masters of Environmental Horticulture Presentation, Ellen Sherck
Title: Fire Histories of Turn Point and Kellett Bluff, San Juan Islands, Washington
When & Where: Thursday, June 13th 9:00 am, Isaacson Classroom, Center for Urban Horticulture, UW
Committee members: Dr. Jon Bakker, Dr. Kern Ewing, Dr. Jim Fridley

*Coffee, beverages, and snacks provided

Fire Histories of Turn Point and Kellett Bluff, San Juan Islands, Washington

This study investigates the fire history at two Bureau of Land Management administered parcels surrounding Turn Point (Stuart Island) and Kellett Bluff (Henry Island). Characteristics of historic fires are based on analyses of cross section samples taken from 39 fire scarred Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees. Both the historical and settlement/modern time periods are evaluated in order to understand the precise nature of historic fires on these sites and the dramatic change in fire regime that has occurred in the 20th century.

–
Ellen Sherck
Masters of Environmental Horticulture, Candidate
School of Environmental and Forest Science
University of Washington

Hanna Lee Master’s Defense M June 3rd

Date: 6/3/2013

Time: 10:00 am

Room: Bloedel 292

Committee: Stanley Asah (Chair), Sergey Rabotyagov, and Luke Rogers

Thesis Title: Family Forest Owners and Bioenergy: Toward a Blueprint “Buy-in” Plan for Feedstock Production

Abstract:

Like every innovation, feedstock-for-biofuels production is challenging. It entails new and different private forest management practices. In my thesis I explore family forest owner perceived motivations and constraints towards producing feedstock for biofuel. Through key informant interviews with pertinent biofuel scientists and “experts” I explored state of the art feedstock production practices and perceived opportunities and barriers to implementation by family forest owners. I also conducted focus group interviews with family forest owners to uncover the factors that explain interviewees’ perceived motivations and constraints to feedstock production. Interviews were also moderated to reveal a descriptive sense of the impact, probability and penetration of feedstock production practices. I discuss the use of interview findings in the development of a blueprint social-marketing plan and how a pilot of that can be implemented to enhance the adoption and diffusion of feedstock production by private family forest owners in Washington.

Matt Flora-Tostado master’s defense Fri May 31st

When/where: Isaacson Classroom at CUH 1:30pm this Friday the 31st.

Title: Evaluating volunteer data quality for Citizen Science projects in phenology: estimating peak bloom in Kwanzan cherry trees on UW campus.

Abstract: Citizen Science is a growing trend in ecological research, which harnesses volunteerism and public interest to develop large datasets for research and management of natural resources. Projects that study phenology (the timing of plant growth events) require volunteers to interpret the phase of development that a plant is exhibiting, which can sometimes be challenging. I studied how well children ages 6-12 estimated the percentage of ripe fruit among two native plants and how they adapted to using smart phones as a platform for data entry. I also created and tested a methodology to simplify and standardize the process of estimating the percentage of fully open blossoms for ornamental cherry trees. I found promising results that show volunteers, with minimal training, can identify a vital phenophase in Kwanzan cherry trees.

My committee includes: Soo-Hyung Kim (chair), Monika Moskal, Kern Ewing, and Matt Dunbar.

-Matt Flora-Tostado

Evan Henrich master’s defense W June 12th

I’d like to announce my master’s defense

Name: Evan Henrich

Thesis Title: A Review of Endophyte-Host Relations and Implications for the Development of Agricultural Biotechnology

Committee: Sharon Doty, Kern Ewing, Sally Brown, Jim Fridley

When: Wednesday June 12, 2013 at 11am

Where: Isaacson Classroom at the Center for Urban Horticulture

Thanks,
Evan

Michael Hannam Dissertation Defense Fri June 14th 9am

Please join me as I defend my dissertation, entitled: The Influence of Multiple Scales of Environmental Context on the Distribution and Interaction of an Introduced Seagrass and its Native Congener.

When: 9:00 AM on June 14th, 2013

Where: Anderson Hall, Room 22

Committee: Kern Ewing (chair), L. Monika Moskal, Peter Dowty, Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria, Jennifer Ruesink

Predicting invasive species impacts is a primary goal of invasion biology, but it is complicated by the fact that invasion impacts can vary greatly depending on the biotic and abiotic context in which they are examined. My research addresses the role of multiple scales of abiotic context in the distribution of introduced dwarf eelgrass (Zostera japonica), as well as how fine-scale topographic context influences the interaction of Z. japonica with its native congener, Zostera marina.

Lindsey Hamiliton MEH Defense Tue May 28th 10:30am

Tuesday, May 28th 10:30 am, Isaacson Classroom, Center For Urban Horticulture

Skokomish Savanna Fire Restoration and the Effects on Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinium) and Salal (Gaultheria shallon), Olympic National Forest, WA.

All along western Washington, fire has been used for thousands of years by Native American tribes in order to maintain open landscapes that in effect promote particular plant communities and grazing habitat. This study takes place in the southeast Olympic Peninsula, on land that was traditionally burned, likely every 2 to 10 years by the Skokomish Tribe. In this moist Mediterranean climate a fire regime not imposed by humans would have occurred only every 90 – 300 years. With fire suppression beginning in the late 1800’s, a Douglas fir – salal (Pseudotsuga menziesii – Gaultheria shallon) forest established in a once prairie/savanna/ woodland matrix. In 2002, the Olympic National Forest began to restore a 32-acre portion with the intent to enhance landscape and biological diversity and to restore a culturally significant ecosystem.

Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinium) and salal plants were once managed for by the use of fire by the Skokomish Tribe in this matrix ecosystem, because of their important food value. Studies suggest that they can co-dominate a fire-managed system in the Pacific Northwest. The objective is to understand how restoration efforts using controlled fires have affected the distribution of bracken fern and salal with respect to environmental factors in order to better understand how to manage for a savanna with a co-dominant understory of both.

Committee: Kern Ewing (chair), James Fridley, David Peter

Joshua Simpson Thesis Defense Th May 30th 2:30pm

May 30th, 2013 2:30p.m. in Anderson 22 , I will present my thesis “An Econometric Analysis of Sewer Backup Claims In Seattle”.

My committee chair is Dr. Sergey Rabotyagov and the other members are Dr. John Perez-Garcia, Dr. Robert Halvorsen and Terry Martin.

Laura Cooper Thesis Defense Fri June 7th 10am

Laura Cooper

Thesis Defense: Master of Science

Title: Planning for small forest landscapes: facilitating the connection between people and nature

Date: Friday, June 7

Time: 10:00am

Place: Anderson 22

Committee: Gordon Bradley (Chair), Stanley Asah, Thaisa Way

Chang Dou Thesis Defense Fri June 7th 12:30pm

Thesis Title: Post steam explosion refining for improvement of enzymatic hydrolysis

Committee: Dr. Renata Bura (Chair), Dr. Rick Gustafson, and Dr. William Mckean

When: Friday, June 7 at 12:30pm

Where: Anderson 22 conference room

Thanks,
Chang

Megan McPhaden’s MS Thesis Defense Wed May 29th at 10am

Please join me as I share my Master of Science research this coming Wednesday.

Title: Effects of Agricultural Drainage Ditch Maintenance on Water Temperature in the Snoqualmie River Valley, Washington.

When: Wednesday, May 29th at 10am

Where: Anderson 22 Seminar Room, University of Washington main campus

Committee: Dr. Susan Bolton, Dr. Darlene Zabowski, Dr. Clare Ryan, Dr. Ann Bostrom

This research is in partnership with the King Conservation District, and contributes to the question of how agricultural waterways can be managed to support the needs of both local farmers and endangered salmon. There will be refreshments and treats from farms in the Snoqualmie River valley.

I hope to see you next week!

Thank you,
Megan

Hillary Burgess Thesis Defense Fri June 14th 10am

All are welcome to the defense of my M.S. thesis entitled: Local and Landscape-Level Influences of Bee Abundance and Diversity in Residential Gardens

Committee: Sarah Reichard (chair), Josh Lawler, Martha Groom

When: Friday, June 14th at 10:00am

Where: The Isaacson Classroom at the Center for Urban Horticulture (see Map)

Maria Sandercock Thesis defense Th May 30th 1pm

I’d like to announce my thesis defense

Name: Maria Sandercock

Degree: Master of Science in Forest Resources and Master of Urban Planning

Thesis Title: The Role of Patterns of Urban Development on Stream Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Scores

Committee: Daniel Vogt, Marina Alberti, and Susan Bolton

When: Thursday, May 30 at 1pm

Where: Anderson 107 conference room

Thanks,
Maria

Caitlin Singer Thesis Defense Mon June 3rd 8am

Date: 6/3/13

Time: 8am

Place: Bloedel 292

Thesis title:Stakeholder Attitudes Toward Forest-Residual Based Biofuels in Washington State

Committee: Stanley Asah (chair), Dale Blahna, Renata Bura

Rosemary Baker MEH Presentation 6/11

Greetings everyone,

To continue the MEH spring train ride I wanted let everyone know my presentation has also been scheduled. Details below:

What

Elwha Revegetation Project: Lake Aldwell Seeding Trials

When

Tuesday June 11th at 9:30 AM

Where

Center for Urban Horticulture – Douglas Classroom

If you’re available that morning please come hear about my work over the past two years and its context within the restoration of the Elwha River. All are welcome!

Rosemary Baker

Masters of Environmental Horticulture Candidate

University of Washington

OLALLIE LANDSCAPES

Reconnecting urban living to the natural landscape

www.olallielandscapes.com

Mahsa Khorasani Thesis Defense Fri May 24 11:30am

This Friday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m. in Anderson 22, Masha Khorasani will be defending her Master’s Thesis: “Cylindrocarpon species in Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir Nurseries: Phylogeny and Effects of Temperature and Fungicides on Mycelial Growth.” Her committee chair is Professor Emeritus Bob Edmonds, and other committee members include Professor Sharon Doty, along with Joseph Ammirati, Willis Littke and Rusty Rodriguez.

Kristen Richardson M.S. Thesis Defense

I would like to invite you to join me for the public defense of my Master’s thesis during the last wildlife seminar of the quarter.

Date: June 3rd, 2013

Time: 3:30 pm

Place: Kane 130

Committee: Dr. Aaron Wirsing, Dr. Bill Gaines, Dr. Josh Lawler

Title: Using non-invasive techniques to examine patterns of black bear (Ursus americanus) abundance in the North Cascades Ecosystem

Hope to see you there!

Kristen Richardson