Ph.D., Antioch University, 2020, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

The demand for ecosystem services (ES) by communities around the world especially from developing countries is increasing, and creates conflict between protected ecosystem management and community socioeconomic wellbeing needs, particularly around protected areas. Taking into consideration globalization, capitalism, weak policies, and population growth as some of the majors driving factors to land change, increased demand for ES comes in part from societies' changing economic demands and opportunities, such as food and commercial crop production, timber extraction, urbanization, and infrastructural development. Many biodiversity conservation approaches and initiatives have been used to protect and maintain healthy ecosystems. While the fence and fine approach has been an instrumental tool in biodiversity conservation, it has decreased access to protected area (PA) resources and has contributed to conflicts between biodiversity conservation and the need to meet socioeconomic wellbeing of people living around PAs. This highlights the importance of local community participation in PA management to achieve effectiveness. The participatory approach has been instrumental in designing environmental markets such as Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) approaches. However, there is a need to better understand how environmental markets such as PES can be used for effective management of ecosystems while ensuring that those relying on ES for their livelihood have their needs met. This research was undertaken to contribute to understanding of PES approaches in the context of poor communities and protected areas. A mixed method research design with surveys, interviews, and focus groups was employed for data collection in communities around Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda, gazette in 2015. Results revealed that those with land adjacent to the park have negative perceptions about the new PA mainly due to the lack of communication between local members and those involved in P (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2019, Environmental Sciences

Cohabitation between humans and carnivores is vital to the continued existence and integrity of ecosystems. Management policies that concern these carnivores and their environment can best be informed by understanding human environmental and relational values, as well as attitudes towards their cohabitants. Using both established survey metrics and interviews, we aim to understand the values and attitudes towards large carnivores for residents of the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada. We found that respondents generally had pro-ecological attitudes, strong relational values to the rainforest and wildlife, and positive attitudes towards carnivores. Factors found to influence these attitudes were found to include level of education, age, distance to the forest edge, and knowledge of habitation within the Great Bear Rainforest. Unexpectedly, we found that residents exhibited a strong sense of place. This included frequent mention of spiritual and cultural significance of carnivores for First Nations (by non-first nation respondents), recognizing the land as that of the carnivores, and environmental stewardship as a reflection of oneself. Ultimately, these results can help inform future carnivore and environmental management policies by taking into consideration the environmental and relational values of the populations that may be affected, as well as their attitudes towards carnivores and associated influences.

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2016, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences

Tropical and temperate plant species in forests around the world are threatened by human-induced land-use changes which produce various outcomes such as increased spread of invasive species, habitat fragmentation, and alterations of community structure among others. These factors can lower population sizes and genetic diversity levels of native plant species, making the risk of extinction imminent. Methodologies to mitigate such effects can involve introducing endangered plant species back to their native habitats either via in situ management of exploited species, or ex situ conservation. To study such species conservation, highly-replicated predictive computer modeling can be an inexpensive tool to suggest those scenarios that can better maintain viable population sizes and genetic diversity levels over the long term, since field studies are less feasible given the limited time and resources available. I used a species-specific, spatially-explicit, individual-based computer program (NEWGARDEN) capable of modeling and monitoring plant population growth and genetic diversity patterns in simulated stands over time to comparatively model various restoration methodologies for different threatened tree species. Specifically, I examined: 1) effective reintroduction geometries of the American chestnut; 2) sustainable spatial deforestation patterns for long-lived canopy tree species in tropical lowland rain forests (TLRFs); and 3) seed collection strategies capable of maximizing the harvest of genetic variation from rare TLRF tree species for use in developing ex situ rescue populations. These species conservation methodologies were tested under differing offspring and pollen dispersal distances, as this life-history trait can affect the spatial distribution of allelic diversity in populations. Results indicate that for reintroductions of the American chestnut, planting and stewarding a limited number of individuals at least 100m in from the preserve border (for (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Agricultural, Environmental and Developmental Economics

In this dissertation, I model household behavior with respect to incentives and natural resources, with the goal of understanding the effects that individual's decisions have on their environment, and how the benefits of natural resources accrue to households. In my first chapter, I develop a spatial model of cattle ranchers responses to wolves and model their response to exogenous payments. Effective payments for conservation are an important tool to provide transfers between those who derive utility from wildlife and those who bear the economic costs in order to reduce poaching and promote coexistence. I build upon previous models to consider how these payments should be applied over space when farmers face heterogeneous depredation risk and thus heterogeneous incentives to poach wildlife. I find that while ex-post payments induce higher stocking rates as suggested by the previous literature, the effect is small compared to the ex-ante payment level needed to push farmers into the corner solution of zero poaching via ex-ante payments. I compare commonly used uniform ex-post compensation to spatially targeted compensation, finding that poaching can be reduced further by targeted payments given a limited government agency budget, and that, if ex-ante payments can be targeted, both types of payments can reduce poaching with similar costs. This work contributes to the literature on impact evaluation for payments for ecosystem services to promote conservation by considering spatial heterogeneity, and is the first to combine spatial risk mapping with farmer response to conservation payments. This work has important implications for the design and implementation of payments for conservation. In my second chapter, I quantify the effect of forest cover in mitigating acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in rural children in India. Acute respiratory infections, dependent on both indoor and outdoor air quality, have serious effects on the long-term well being of children. (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2023, Entomology

Bumble bees (Bombus) are essential pollinators for wildflowers and crops worldwide, but many species are currently in decline. Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading factors in these declines. Urbanization is a source of habitat loss and fragmentation; however, robust and abundant bumble bee populations are often found in metropolitan areas. Though prior research has broadly examined bumble bee abundance and diversity in urban areas, little work has focused on individual abundances of different species, which may differ in their relationships with urban land. Furthermore, the potential impacts of urban land on gene flow and other genetic health factors in bumble bees remain largely unknown. The first goal of this research was to evaluate and compare the abundances of three target species—Bombus impatiens Cresson, 1863, B. griseocollis De Geer, 1773, and B. bimaculatus Cresson, 1863—along an agricultural-to-urban gradient in Madison, WI, USA. Bumble bees were collected from 16 sites during the summer of 2019 and 19 sites during the summer of 2020. The second goal was to evaluate genetic differentiation, heterozygosity, allelic richness and colony numbers among populations of these species along the same gradient. Percentage of impervious surface cover was used as a metric for urbanization, and this percentage was measured within both 500 m and 1500 m buffers around each study site to account for both local-scale and landscape-scale effects. Impervious surface cover showed no relationship with abundances of B. impatiens or B. griseocollis, but showed a positive relationship with abundance of B. bimaculatus. Impervious surface cover also showed no relationship with genetic differentiation, allelic richness or colony number for all three species in both years, and no relationship with heterozygosity for any species in 2019. In 2020, heterozygosity was negatively correlated with impervious surface cover for B. impatiens at the 500 m buffer but not the 1500 m buffer. (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2023, Biological Sciences

Environmental degradation has led to a number of environmental issues including, but not limited to, habitat loss, plastic pollution, harmful algal blooms, and climate change. While many of those environmental issues are driven by human actions, there are also numerous environmentally positive, or pro-environmental, behaviors that individuals can adopt to help mitigate negative impacts on the environment. Several theories have aimed to uncover what encourages individuals to change their environmental behavior, such as connection to nature and Theory of Planned Behavior, however, the exact influence and interaction of these theoretical factors, as they encourage pro-environmental behavior adoption specifically, is still unclear. Yet, understanding the factors that influence pro-environmental behavior adoption is critical for environmental educators communicating environmental issues and solutions with the intention of raising awareness and changing behaviors. In this research, I explore the factors that influence pro-environmental behavior adoption in the Lake Erie region through examining the environmental identity of the author through autoethnography, the pro-environmental behaviors of individuals that attend environmental education events, and the influence of social circles on environmental mindedness. Using a mixed method approach, I have uncovered how individuals may be influenced by experiences, education, family, and friends. This information can be used to improve environmentally based communication and encourage more individuals to adopt pro-environmental behaviors.

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 1949, History

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Environment and Natural Resources

The killing of nonhuman animals is a routine and widespread practice in many contemporary human societies. In the context of wildlife specifically, this practice can occur under legal circumstances, such as through the authorized application of lethal control or illegally through the killing of wildlife in violation of state, federal, or international law (i.e., poaching). Regardless of legal status, the decision to support or engage in any action that results in the intentional death of a wild animal is influenced by a range of cognitive, social, and cultural factors. Thus, this dissertation draws upon theoretical frameworks established within the fields of sociology and psychology to advance, and refine, the application of social science concepts to better understand factors that influence individual judgments and decisions about the appropriateness of killing wild animals. Specifically, Chapter 2 assesses unexplained support for the lethal (and legal) management (i.e., punishment) of both human and nonhuman (wild) animals accused of violating social expectations or rules, via the application of capital punishment and lethal control respectively. Demonstrating that certain individuals report greater support for punishment irrespective of species or circumstance (i.e., experimental condition), results suggest that heuristic processing in the absence of detailed information upon which one could deliberate leads to significant consequences for the punishment of others. Exploring the ways in which perceptions of the illegal killing of wildlife are shaped by one's social landscape, Chapter 3 engages social norms theory to examine normative beliefs regarding the frequency, acceptability, and accountability one may expect if choosing to engage in wildlife-related noncompliance. Revealing the perceived power of informal sanctioning via one's community, results indicate that while increasingly punitive “tough on crime” anti-poaching policies may be widespread, learning and (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2022, Integrated Bioscience

Environmental education institutions focus on inspiring people to engage in pro-environmental lifestyles and work toward environmental advocacy. This dissertation aims to provide educators with information, tools, and strategies to achieve this. For example, the work presented in this dissertation illustrates a lack of racial/ethnic diversity in one long-term environmental program at a zoo, and therefore identifies an underserved audience. To increase inclusivity in recruitment, professionals should consider extending personal invitations to target audiences and offering programs which align with perspectives of the local community. Once individuals are recruited into programs, institutions should consider retention methods within long-term programs to help participants grow in their environmental advocacy journey. Ways to increase retention include strengthening social connections in and between groups, assessing and developing messaging to align with participants' Stages of Environmental Behavior Change using a novel tool provided in this dissertation, and offering novel programs in which align with the needs and interests of participants. These approaches are developed in three chapters of the dissertation which present novel, Next Generation Science Standards aligned programs that aim to connect a broader audience with nature than traditional environmental education foci tend to reach. “Urban Ecologists” uses the familiar venue of the school to provide inner-city students with a safe, supportive environment to connect with nature. “Bee-a-Coder” invites youth to learn about communication by observing live honeybees and then developing computer models to simulate their behavior. “Biomimicry Outside the Classroom” combines opportunities for students to observe and learn more about the wonder of nature through art and design. Environmental educators interested in increasing inclusivity in programs and inspiring more people to engage in pro-environmental life (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2021, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

The modern extinction crisis, following its current trajectory, is irreparably damaging the planet's biodiversity and has severe cascading effects on the environment and ecosystem processes. This is particularly true for plant species extinction, considering the vital role of plants as foundational species within many ecosystems. Despite this, conservation efforts are often focused upon charismatic megafauna; anthropomorphized animal species of cultural or social importance. Plant species, which are central to life on this planet, receive disproportionately less legal protection, conservation focus, and funding. It is therefore critical that formal extinction assessments be applied, and threats identified and mitigated, to avert mass plant extinction. This thesis presents two methods of plant conservation assessment along with administrative assessment and policy recommendations. Chapter 1 presents a machine-learning approach to assess extinction risk for plant species in Utah. Utilizing random forest classification, a supervised ensemble learning technique, two classifiers were built using geographic, climatic, anthropogenic, and administrative data. The second classifier, which incorporated both anthropogenic and ecological variables achieved 93.65% accuracy in comparison to the first classifier, which considered only anthropogenic variables and achieved a 62.79% accuracy. The second classifier was employed to assess the vulnerability status of 4,338 species based upon government classification. Seventy-eight species were identified to be at least 90% likely to be classified as a species of concern. Further, geographic patterns of vulnerability revealed the Colorado Plateau ecoregion to be particularly vulnerable. Across all predictor variables, endemism was identified as the most critical, with climatic variables measuring trends in temperature and precipitation subsequently important. A stakeholder analysis was then conducted to untangle the administrative (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2021, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

Young people can play a vital role in contributing to protecting natural resources. However, their participation in efforts to support existence of the endangered mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is relatively new and not well understood. Mountain gorillas are critically endangered and continue to face threats from the local farmers, although several mountain gorilla conservation strategies are under way. This study evaluates the potential of involving young people in the conservation of mountain gorillas by assessing their knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intentional behaviors. Attitudinal factors contribute to guiding behavior. Self-efficacy and outcome expectations are beliefs that influence young people's capability to participate in future conservation activities and, intention is the most immediate and important predictor of behavior. I undertook this study with youth who attended schools near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda. A survey instrument used multiple choice, categorical, scaled, and open-ended questions. I surveyed 342 students between ages of 15 – 18 from October – December 2013. Of these, 209 were females and 133 males from the five secondary schools near the national park. Results show that young people were aware of the gorillas but do not know much about mountain gorilla conservation. Results indicated limited knowledge about effects of human activities on mountain gorilla conservation, gorilla diseases, suitable habitats for gorillas, total number of mountain gorillas in the world and, the fact that capturing baby gorillas involves massive killing of entire family members. Several facts are only memorized because the students lack the ability to explain or interpret these facts to reflect current or past mountain gorilla conservation issues, trends and practice. They also showed support for conservation of mountain gorillas via their attitudes, self-efficacy and intentions but this support is marred by several situation (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2020, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

Anthropogenic activity has been documented to have negative impacts on wildlife that include altered behaviors, lower body mass, and decreased reproductive success. Although wildlife viewing provides support for conservation efforts, it is also one of many human recreational activities that pose a threat to wildlife. The painted dog (Lycaon pictus) is a popular species for viewing by tourists, and one of Africa's most endangered carnivores. Anthropogenic-based actions such as persecution, snaring, diseases transmitted via domestic dogs, and habitat fragmentation contribute to their decline, and human disturbance at den sites, primarily via tourism, is an emergent threat for this species. I explored the potential effects of direct and indirect human activity on painted dogs during their denning season using a mixed method approach for free-ranging and captive populations. This included: (a) identifying areas where humans visited painted dog dens using social media posts and content analysis, (b) developing and testing a noninvasive measurement tool (belly score) to assess the body condition of painted dogs via images, (c) comparing carnivore and herbivore activity on human-modified game trails and unmodified game trails using camera traps, and (d) comparing feeding regimens and morphometric measurements between two captive painted dog litters. Results from this study showed that (a) painted dog dens have been visited by humans in at least seven of the 14 countries where painted dogs are known to exist, with the majority of visits reported in South Africa, (b) belly score means differed significantly between two populations of painted dogs (Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe) while seasonal variations were similar for both populations; demonstrating how this tool may be used to assess body condition, foraging success, and fitness between and among individuals and populations, (c) carnivores were observed on human-modified trails more frequentl (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2020, Geography

A recent study shows a net loss of approximately 3 billion birds in North America in the last 50 years (Rosenberg et al., 2019). Maintaining bird populations is crucial as they provide many ecosystem services (Whelan et al., 2015). Conservation efforts typically focus on breeding and wintering grounds, however, 90% of total time spent migrating is allocated to resting and refueling at stopover locations (Lindstrom, 2003). Hueston Woods State Park, a patch of forest surrounded by agriculture, should be an ideal location for stopping. Banding data collected over the last 16 years shows capture rates for all test species negatively trending. Species were grouped based on several factors to identify any patterns in declines. Of the 17 groups analyzed, one yielded significant results (p-value < 0.05) for fall seasons, and eight for spring seasons. Most notable are declines in neotropical frugivores in fall and insectivores in spring, leading to an assumption that this park is not a suitable location for migratory stopovers. While this analysis alone cannot be used to identify a cause for declines, it can be the first step to make parks like Hueston Woods more bird-friendly by creating better stopover habitat to support migratory bird populations.

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2019, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology

Some of the most fundamental questions about conservation in communities examine how individuals connect to local places, which local areas people value and why, and how associations with nature impact conservation. This research centered on effective conservation initiatives in Belize, India, Ecuador, and the United States focusing first on understanding which specific natural areas are highly regarded by individual community members. Several conditions were assessed via in-person interviews: 1) level of place attachment, or personal connection to a place, 2) emotive and utilitarian values associated with that place, and 3) place knowledge. Results indicate that community members value sites they personally use over community and regional natural areas. The personal values associated with important natural areas are pluralistic with multiple emotive and utilitarian values felt for each place. Strong emotive values (i.e., happiness, spiritual connections, inspiration, peace) were present most consistently. Community members in Community Baboon Sanctuary, Belize, reported a variety of highly regarded plant species found within important places. Plant species with direct utilitarian benefits including food, medicine, construction were noted as well as species that benefit black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), the Sanctuary's conservation focal primate species. Plant sampling at important sites showed valued plants are present in both important individual and community sites. In addition, analyses revealed that higher levels of plant knowledge serve as a statistical indicator of stronger place connections. Most respondents reported a personal responsibility for place protection. Results indicated that values and knowledge associated with locally important natural places can influence conservation decision making at the local level and that individual sites can serve as relevant conservation areas as these are places community members already know, value, and depend o (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2019, Environmental Studies (Voinovich)

Global estimates indicate an average of thirteen million hectares of forest loss each year. In response to the ever-increasing threats to terrestrial biodiversity, protected areas such as national parks have become the main tool for nature conservation across the globe. However, a closer look at protected areas shows that compliance with regulations is a significant challenge, compromising the ability of conservation efforts to fulfill their goals and protect the ecosystems as intended. If protected areas are to remain a central conservation tool, more empirical research is needed to identify and understand drivers of noncompliance. This thesis takes an in-depth look at Bjeshket e Nemuna National Park in Kosovo. Home to over 255 endemic species, the park was established in 2012 to protect the country's most biodiverse region. I use qualitative methodology to understand why noncompliant logging remains a prevalent issue in the park. I have found that citizens' perceptions of the government as corrupt and ineffective strongly influence their willingness to abide by the laws. These perceptions are a result, in part, of the transition process from communism to capitalism and from war to peace.

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2018, Environmental Sciences

The Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium at Miami University (MU) is the largest collection of preserved botanical material in the state of Ohio. This report describes the projects I conducted at the MU Herbarium during my herbarium collections management internship. The internship and subsequent report were conducted to fulfill requirements for graduation from the Master of Environmental Science (MEn) program at MU's Institute for the Environment and Sustainability (IES). I completed three main projects during the course of my internship. The first project involved updating the MU Herbarium Assistant's Manual, which was last updated in 1980. The second project was the digitization of the fungal collection of the University of Cincinnati. The final project was the organization and intercalation of Peruvian specimens collected between 2004-2005 by MU Botany PhD graduate Xanic Rondon. Herbarium curator and advisor Michael Vincent selected these projects for my internship to provide specific learning opportunities that have prepared me for professional natural history collections management.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1984, Graduate School

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2016, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

Capacity building has become the centerpiece of recent attempts to strengthen regional biodiversity conservation. Many conservation organizations aim to increase this capacity by training local conservation professionals. While many practitioners will agree that these trainings presumably have a psychological effect on their participants that may benefit long-term local action toward conservation goals, there also seems to be a resignation that these effects are difficult if not impossible to measure and target, especially within diverse cultures. The common result is a perfunctory evaluation of observable behaviors or basic knowledge, which may be easy to count but undoubtedly fails to represent the nuance of complex psychological variables associated with long-term capacity to conserve biodiversity. My dissertation is fundamentally aimed at investigating capacity for biodiversity conservation at this psychological level. Specifically, I explored the current understanding of capacity for biodiversity conservation and how this understanding can be supplemented by psychological theory to strengthen the development, evaluation, and prediction of this capacity over time. I did this within the context of case studies that focus on three separate populations of conservation professionals who participated in capacity building trainings in Africa and North America between 1994 and 2014. I administered surveys to these conservation professionals to create and validate an instrument that measures the construct I call psychological capacity for biodiversity conservation (PCBC). PCBC includes psychological dimensions such as meaningful ownership, effective autonomy, being needed, group effectiveness, and understanding. I administered the PCBC survey instrument to training alumni and conducted interviews with their trainers to the evaluate the effectiveness of the capacity building methods at increasing PCBC directly after and two to ten years after a training. I found that mea (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, Case Western Reserve University, 2016, History

The drainage of wetlands for agriculture has had a profound effect on the landscape of the United States. Increased federal involvement in the practice during the New Deal era forced conservationists within the government to engage with drainage policy in new ways. This paper explores these ideas by examining the conservation philosophies and goals of five different conservationists—Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hugh Hammond Bennett, Henry A. Wallace, Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, and Aldo Leopold—who worked within the federal government during the period and took distinct approaches to drainage. This illuminates the differences in their conservation perspectives that are not always apparent and illustrates how what different figures actually sought to conserve was fundamentally different.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2009, Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology

Ecologists tend to be wary of the effects of increasing wealth on the environment, arguing that economic growth and conservation are incompatible goals. Many economists, on the other hand, expect economic growth to be a cure for global environmental challenges; they contend that wealthier countries have the luxury of investing more heavily in efforts to conserve and protect ecosystems. The economic perspective is formalized in the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis (EKC), which suggests a u-shaped relationship between income and environmental quality. In order to test this EKC hypothesis, I use estimates of per capita income and deforestation rates (index of biodiversity threat) for 35 tropical countries. A prior analysis (Dietz and Adger 2003) using conventional regression techniques failed to provide any support for the parabolic relationship predicted by the EKC hypothesis. Here, I introduce the use of quantile regression and spatial filtering to reanalyze this data, addressing issues of heteroskedasticity and spatial autocorrelation. I note that preliminary analysis using these methods provides some initial evidence for an EKC; rich countries appear to protect a greater proportion of their forests than do poorer countries. However, a series of panel analyses with country-specific dummy variables eliminated or even reversed much of this support. A closer examination of conservation practices and environmental indicators within the countries, particularly those countries that drove the initial support, suggest that wealth is not a reliable indicator of improved conservation practice. Thus, the findings of my first study indicate that an EKC for biodiversity is overly simplistic and further exploration is required to fully understand the mechanisms by which income affects biodiversity. I hypothesize that illusory support for the EKC is driven by patterns of trade and consumption. I examine the relationship between per capita GDP and forest conservation for the (open full item for complete abstract)