Natural Resources Management Masters Theses

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Adaptive Management as a Tool in the Restoration of Grassland, Wetland, and Riparian Ecosystems within the Northern Great Plains
(North Dakota State University, 2022) Polgar, Monica
Four individual restoration projects were conducted across grassland, wetland, and riparian ecosystems in the Northern Great Plains, with common themes of adaptive management and enhancing native plant species presence. The first project, a grassland restoration, assessed interseeding treatment combinations to evaluated influences on plant community composition. The second grassland restoration focused on revegetation efforts utilizing multiple seed mixes on a highly modified site and looked to understand influences on species establishment and invasive species control. A wetland restoration project was conducted employing varying levels of treatment intensities with goals of establishing native vegetation in an invasive dominated site. The last project evaluated the potential to use riparian grazing as a means of stream restoration with goals of increasing floodplain accessibility and stream stability. Given the essential ecosystem services each system provides, it is important to conduct restoration studies to understand mechanisms supporting the continued rehabilitation of degraded systems.
Analysis of Current Conditions and Future Needs of the Public Water Supply System in Dili, East Timor
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Sarmento Lopes Da Cruz, Nizia Maria
This research focuses on the public water supply system in East Timor’s capital, Dili. Through this research the performance of the current public water supply system is evaluated, shortages in system capacity and operation are identified, and the future need is analyzed. Only 41.77% of Dili’s urban population currently has access to the public water supply system. A better documentation and record keeping of the water treatment plants’ operations is needed. As the population grows and city develops, more water will be needed in the future. The current public water supply system will not be adequate to supply water in the future because the water demand outweighs the design capacity of the current system. Therefore, a proper water supply system and management is highly needed, especially if the government of East Timor wants to achieve their target to supply continuous water in East Timor’s urban areas by 2030.
Assessment of Ecotourism on Community Development: Case of Ecotourism and the Ely Community
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Oumarou, Boubacar Hassane
This study evaluated ecotourism in Ely, Minnesota, gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the International Wolf Center. The study used Flora and Flora's (2008) community capitals framework to assess ecotourism effects on the community's capitals namely, natural, cultural, financial, built, human, social, and political capitals. For each of these capitals; postal and email correspondences, phone calls, and internet searches were used to collect government surveys, statistics, and documentary and photographic data. These data were presented in tables and analyzed using a descriptive method. The analyses revealed a positive effect of ecotourism on all the capitals and suggested that the community capital framework is a suitable model for ecotourism assessment and that ecotourism is contributing to the development of the community of Ely. Suggestions for further research were also offered.
Assessment of Prairie Pothole Conditions and Plant Community Composition on FWS Fee-Title Lands
(North Dakota State University, 2021) Jones, Seth
Conditions of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region have been severely degraded due to anthropogenic disturbances, such as cultivation and climate change. To maintain or restore the diversity and integrity of these ecosystems we must first understand what condition they are in and what current factors are driving wetland conditions on a region-wide scale. This study aimed to assess wetland conditions and determine what the major plant community drivers were on FWS fee-title lands. Assessments showed wetlands in native grassland are in better condition than those in reseeded grasslands and seasonal wetlands are in better condition than temporary wetlands. It was clear plant communities are being largely driven by the cover of invasive species within each given wetland zone. Differences in wetland conditions and invasive versus native species cover are likely the result of past and present disturbance on FWS fee-title lands.
Assessment of Wetland Water Quality and Plant Species Composition across the Rural, Peri-Urban, and Urban Gradient
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Steinman, Alexis
The Prairie Pothole Region, specifically eastern North Dakota, has experienced intense disturbance from agricultural demands and urban sprawl. This study assessed wetlands across the rural, peri-urban, and urban gradient to determine the impacts of urbanization on water quality and vegetation composition. Thirty wetlands were randomly selected and compared based on land use type and the impervious to pervious surface ratio within one mile of each wetland. Water quality samples were taken in 2015 and 2016, and a vegetation assessment was completed at all wetlands. Results indicate disturbance from urbanization impacts wetland water quality and vegetation composition. Rural wetland water quality and vegetation significantly differ from both peri-urban and urban wetlands, whereas peri-urban and urban wetland water quality and vegetation do not differ. Information from this study is useful to wetland professionals across the globe as urban development and sprawl continue to impact wetlands.
Augmenting Tree Species in North Dakota: Evaluating a 'Natural Experiment'
(North Dakota State University, 2020) Alexander, Mackenzie Kathryn
A limited number of woody species are approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for conservation plantings. Unapproved tree and shrub species are sometimes planted if privately funded. This study located such plantings and inventoried them. Thirty-one (31) unapproved species were inventoried on 185 sites in 27 North Dakota counties. Landowner care seemed to play a large role in success (high survival) of such plantings. Sites that were routinely maintained tended to have a higher survival than those without. Study results were shared with local Soil Conservation District personnel. Two surveys were sent out to final presentation audience members. These surveys were used to determine to evaluate how the results from this study affect planting planning strategies. Only 8 out of 27 participants the completed survey one fully completed the second survey. Five of those eight participants (63%) said that they have changed the way they plan conservation plantings.
Avian Use of Rice Baited Trays Attached to Cages with Live Decoy Blackbirds in Central North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Winter, Jamison Brian
The viability of a management program using DRC-1339 (3-chloro-4-methylanaline hydrochloride) rice bait and live decoy blackbirds to reduce avian depredation on sunflower was assessed. In fall 2007 and 2008, observations were conducted at bait trays attached to decoy traps in central North Dakota. Study participants randomly visited the bait sites for 1-h intervals throughout daylight hours to record numbers, species, and ages (when possible) of blackbirds (targets) and nonblackbirds (non-targets) on the bait trays and nearby baited gravel roadsides. Researchers observed the bait trays for 1011 hand recorded 3,888 birds, representing 25 species, 12 families, and 3 unidentified birds. The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) (n=3,006) was the most common target species, whereas clay-colored sparrows (Spizel/a pa/Iida) (n=12) and savannah sparrows (Passercu/us sandwichensis) (n=12) were the most numerous non-target species observed on trays. The sparrow family (Emberizidae) was the most prevalent of non-target observations, with 50 individuals representing 8 species and 21 unidentified individual sparrows. Overall risk to non-target species appears minimal, and use by blackbird species was minimal in comparison to the local population. Baited roadsides were used infrequently by blackbirds. Based on this research, use of DRC-1339 rice-baited trays with accompanying live decoys and rice-baited roadsides are not cost-effective methods of reducing blackbird damage to sunflower.
Biological Capability of Selected Ecological Sites in the Western Dakotas
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Klempel, Lauren Nicole
Sharp-tailed grouse habitat on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands are assessed by habitat structure with the use of the Robel pole to measure visual obstruction readings (VOR). The purpose of this study was to determine 1) if all selected ecological sites (loamy, thin loamy, and claypan) are biologically capable of producing high structure (VOR > 3.5 in) with 3 years of protection from livestock grazing and 2) if strong and consistent correlations exist between standing crop and visual obstruction among ecological sites and across years. Results showed that 1) all selected ecological sites were biologically capable of producing high structure, 2) strong correlations between standing crop and visual obstruction were not consistent among ecological sites and across years, 3) year effects were evident in plant community composition, and 4) 2,534 kg∙ha-1 (se ± 205.3) of standing crop provides the mean threshold to determine if the selected ecological sites are biologically capable.
The Carbon Negative System: An Innovative System for Sustainable Community Development
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Monroe, Jade Marilyn
It is understood civilization may be entering the Anthropocene Epoch, characterized by human influences on Earth’s geology and environment. A growing body of literature highlights the ecological concerns affiliated with anthropocentric influences on the environment. This study indicates climate change and global CO2 emissions as an area of concern, and proposes the Carbon Negative System as a potential solution of many. The Carbon Negative System is comprised of three steps: land use and prairie vegetation, biochar process, and the system benefits. To illustrate these steps and to test the system’s viability, a case-study analysis was applied to the community of Fargo, North Dakota. The system is described and its benefits were indicated. A carbon budget and economic analysis were determined, and the system was applied to a resilience framework to synthesize the findings. Keywords: community development, biochar, prairie vegetation, ecosystem services, resilience, Anthropocene, climate change, carbon emissions
Change in Reference Condition Wetlands and Road Dust Impacts on Spider Mites
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Fritz, Savannah Joy
Increased disturbance from agriculture and the changing climate in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota may cause shifts in vegetation on wetland systems as well as increases in spider mite populations on soybeans. Part of this study focuses on wetlands functioning at the highest ecological state, or reference condition. Wetland plants serve as a good indicator for assessing wetland condition. The past and present Floristic Quality Index scores at each wetland site were significantly different (p < 0.05), indicating that vegetation at reference wetlands have declined in condition. Increased agriculture also leads to an increase in road dust on soybean fields, which increases the population of spider mites. Three separate experiments were completed on contained plaster arenas. These experiments produced mixed results. Spider mites produced more eggs on dusted arenas (p < 0.05) in experiment one while experiment two and three yielded the opposite result.
Climate Change throughout the Dakotas
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Uecker, Benjamin Robert
How is the climate changing on a county level throughout North Dakota (ND) and South Dakota (SD)? To determine this answer, 13 different climate variables were analyzed: temperature minimums and maximums, precipitation, growing degree days (GDD), season length, first and last frost dates, standardized precipitation index (SPI), Palmer drought severity index (PDSI), evapotranspiration (ET), solar radiation, dew point and wind speed. Annual and monthly climatic trends, per decade, were developed and analyzed by county. These climatic variables show various changes throughout North Dakota and South Dakota by either increasing, decreasing or staying the same.
A Comparison of Rangeland Monitoring Techniques for Relative Species Abundance in Northern Mixed Grass Prairie
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Field, Aaron
Clipping by species is one of the most accurate methods available for determining species composition. However, cost and time constraints often make clipping by species impractical on any large scale. Our objective was to determine whether either of two less labor intensive methods (line point intercept, quadrat frequency frame) could provide suitable alternatives to clipping. Data was collected as part of a rangeland monitoring project on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Each method was used to inventory grassland plant species within the same plots, which allowed us to analyze the results for each method side by side. Our findings indicate that for relative rankings of species abundance, both line point intercept and quadrat frequency frames produce a similar result as clipping and could be used interchangeably. We suggest using either line point intercept or quadrat frequency frames to produce such a list because of the reduced time inputs involved.
Corn Stover Removal Effects on Irrigated Sandy Outwash Soils in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Sanders, Dwayne Paul
Recent interest in utilizing corn (Zea Mays L.) stover for cellulosic ethanol and supplements for distillers' grain in livestock rations has increased corn stover demand. A study was established to evaluate corn stover removal on selected soil properties in irrigated sandy outwash soils under no-tillage management including continuous corn and corn-soybean (glycine max) rotations. For continuous corn, increasing stover removal rates (0 to 100%) increased the wind erodible soil fraction (25.4 to 36.6%), decreased the field-moist water stable soil aggregates (58.78 to 48.3%) and water infiltration rates (22.4 to 8.6 cm/hr). Water infiltration rates decreased in the corn phase of the corn-soybean rotation (16.8 to 10.8 cm/hr) and air-dry water stable aggregates decreased in the soybean phase of the corn soybean rotation (88.1% to 77.7%) for 100% removal when compared to 0% removal. Longer-term evaluation of stover removal is needed to fully evaluate stover removal effects on soil properties.
Crop Price and Land Use Change: Forecasting Response of Major Crops Acreage to Price and Economic Variables in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Soares, Abilio Barros
The objective of this study is to examine land use change for cropping systems in North Dakota. Using Seemingly Unrelated Regression with full information maximum likelihood estimation method, acreage forecasting models for barley, corn, oats, soybean, and wheat were developed to examine the extent to which farmers’ expectations of prices and costs affect their crop choices. The results of the study show that farmers’ decision for acreage allocation is varied across the crops depending on how responsive they are to price, cost and yield of its own and competing crops. Substitutability and complementarity relationship of crops in the production have positive effect on crops selection when facing price, cost, and yield changes. In addition, the results revealed that expected prices have little effect on acreage response compared to expected costs and yield variables in most of the crop models.
Developing Machine Learning and Deep Learning Soil Moisture Models for Precision Agricultural Applications
(North Dakota State University, 2023) Zhang, Xiaomo
Monitoring soil moisture is increasingly becoming a research focus in the fields of agriculture, hydrology, meteorology, and ecology. While soil moisture measurements at points (<1 m²) and their estimation at larger scales (100-25,000 km²) have improved considerably, soil moisture modeling at the intermediate scales (10 to 100 m²) needs more attention. In this study, machine learning and deep learning models including multi-linear regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM), Gaussian process regression (GPR), and convolutional neural networks (CNN) were built and compared for soil moisture predictions at different depths at the weather stations in the Red River Valley using locations, meteorological data, and soil physical properties. The results showed that the GPR (R²=0.80-0.90) outperformed other models including MLR (R²=68-0.82), SVM (R²=0.44-0.60), and CNN (R²=0.66-0.84) for soil moisture prediction. The prediction performance in the topsoil was better than in the subsoils. The GPR outperformed SVM when both models used the same kernel functions and kernel parameters.
Effect of Aminopyralid on Crop Rotations and Native Forbs
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Mikkelson, Jonathan Randall
Aminopyralid often is used for invasive weed control in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. As CRP land is returned to crop production, aminopyralid persistence in soil could limit future planting options. Field experiments were established near Casselton and Fargo, ND to evaluate the effect of aminopyralid soil residue on alfalfa, com, soybean, and sunflower planted one or two growing seasons after treatment. Aminopyralid caused no injury or yield reduction to alfalfa, com, and sunflower when seeded 20 or 23 mo after treatment (MAT) in Fargo. However, soybean yield was reduced when aminopyralid at 120 or 240 g ae/ha was fall- or spring-applied 20 or 23 months prior to seeding. In Casselton, aminopyralid applied in September caused much greater crop injury than when applied in June the year prior to planting. For example, aminopyralid at 120 g/ha applied in September caused 95, 94, and 100% injury to alfalfa, sunflower, and soybean, respectively, compared to 10, 8, and 44% injury when applied in June. Com yield was not affected by any aminopyralid treatment when planted 8 or 11 MAT. Com appeared to be the best cropping option for land that was recently treated with aminopyralid. The effect of temperature and moisture content on aminopyralid dissipation in four North Dakota soils was evaluated in growth chamber and greenhouse studies. Aminopyralid dissipated 2 to 8 times faster at 24 C than at 8 C and aminopyralid 50% dissipation rates (DT 50) ranged from 9 d in a Svea-Barnes loam at 24 C to 256 d in a Lamoure loamy sand at 8 C. Aminopyralid dissipation rates were similar in soils with moisture contents of 22.5 to 90% field capacity (FC) when incubated at 16 C and the average aminopyralid DT 50 ranged from 66 to 200 d. Soil conditions favorable to microbiological growth such as warm temperatures, moderate moisture contents, and high organic matter contents appeared to favor aminopyralid dissipation. In greenhouse trials, prairie forb susceptibility to aminopyralid varied by species. Azure aster, blanket flower, closed bottle gentian, purple coneflower, and showy goldenrod exhibited good tolerance to aminopyralid while great blue lobelia, harebell, prairie coneflower, and white prairie clover were sensitive.
Effectiveness and Simulated Impacts of Produced Water as a Dust Abatement in Western North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Graber, Kayla Marie
A road dust abatement alternative that has been considered in the Bakken and Three Forks formations is oil-well produced waters. Three previously untreated gravel roads were selected and passive dust collectors were utilized. The objectives of this study were to: 1) simulate produced water’s potential impacts to gravel road materials; 2) compare dust loading at abated and control sites to determine effectiveness; and 3) identify the elemental differences in the dust at abated and control sites. Electrical conductivity has the greatest influence on dispersion probability and clay mineralogy of the road influences the probability of dispersion. Produced water failed to reduce dust on two of the three roads that were tested. Elements that were found to be significantly different included Mo, Mn, Fe, As, Au, and Hg. Results of this study are important to road managers who are contemplating the usage of produced waters to reduce dusts from gravel roads.
Effects of Sediment Removal on Vegetation Communities in Prairie Pothole Wetlands in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Smith, Caitlin Langworthy
The goal of this study was to assess effects of sediment removal on vegetation communities in Prairie Pothole wetlands in North Dakota to determine if this management technique is providing desired results to create conditions for ideal vegetation communities in wetlands that will benefit wildlife. This project consists of vegetation surveys from seasonal wetlands located in Benson, Eddy. Towner. and Wells counties in North Dakota. Three types of wetlands were surveyed: natural (reference), excavated (treatment), and converted cropland. Vegetation surveys were completed in the shallow marsh and wet meadow zones of seasonal wetlands. Sites were sampled using a modified Daubenmire method. Aerial photos were assessed to determine the occurrence of drawdown cycles in wetland sites. Plant communities were analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling and multi-response permutation procedure was used to make comparisons between sites. The wet meadow zones and shallow marsh zones of the three types of wetlands were all significantly different (p<0.016) from one another. In general, restored wetlands show vegetation trends that liken natural wetlands while those that have been allowed to recover without restoration tend to be cattail choked. When examining hybrid cattail specifically visual obstruction scores were approximately four times greater in converted cropland sites versus treatment or reference sites. Vegetation composition indicates hydrologic conditions (fresh to brackish conditions) of specific sites and regional distribution are likely influential factors in wetland plant establishment.
Environmental Socialization: A Case Study on Formative Influences
(North Dakota State University, 2018) Herbst, Joseph
Twenty-first century social-ecologic systems are in the midst of a complex adaptive cycle. There is growing evidence to suggest the existence of a psycho-social developmental process whereby a person becomes situated in an environmental worldview. This process of environmental socialization has received attention in peer-reviewed journals. A case study was developed to see if qualitative methods could yield deeper insight. Depth interviewing and grounded theory analysis were used to explore student’s thoughts on formative influences deemed significant in the development of their own environmental perspective. The qualitative method used in the study was useful in probing the nuance, complexity, and significance of the student’s environmental socialization. Natural resource managers, educators, philanthropists, moral leaders, and concerned citizens can benefit when social constructs of environmental sustainability are better understood.
Estimating the Impact to Wetlands in Western North Dakota From Dust and Road Use Increases Due to Energy Development
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Creuzer, Jessica Christine
Travel on gravel roads in western North Dakota has increased in recent years due mainly to energy development and little information exists on the impacts. This project’s objective was to compare high dust impact sites and low dust impact sites to determine the effects of road dust on wetlands. Four aspects were evaluated: 1) dust loading; 2) wetland condition and function; 3) water quality; and 4) trace element changes in the soil. Dust loading was measured utilizing dust collectors. Wetlands were assessed for condition using the Index of Plant Community Integrity and North Dakota Rapid Assessment Method and function using the Hydrogeomorphic model. Monthly water quality measurements were taken and yearly soil samples. Results show greater dust loading in the high impact sites than low impact sites and spatially closer to the road. Information from this study can be used by future land managers of wetlands affected by dust.

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