Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2017, Environmental Sciences

The overall mission of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Division of Surface Water is to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act by restoring and maintaining the ecological integrity of Ohio's rivers, streams, and wetlands through biological monitoring, permitting, enforcing laws, and enhancing scientific methodology. Within the Division of Surface Water, the Wetland Ecology Group conducts wetland research and develops biocriteria and water quality standards for Ohio wetlands. This report provides a brief description of my duties as a Wetland Assessment Intern with the Wetland Ecology Group during the 2015 and 2016 field seasons. It also provides a more in depth summary of one project that involved visiting 10 natural riparian forests, collecting vegetation and soil data, and conducting a preliminary analysis of this data to help develop performance standards for stream mitigation projects. The standards may be incorporated into the Ohio EPA's Section 401 stream mitigation requirements in the future.

Committee: Suzanne Zazycki (Advisor); Sarah Dumyahn (Committee Member); Hays Cummins (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Science in Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, 2015, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry

The objective of this study was to determine white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing preferences for tree and shrub species in riparian zones of Northeastern Ohio. A total of five sites were selected along the Grand River and Pymatuning Creek in Trumbull County, and along the Cuyahoga River in Geauga County. In autumn of 2012, three to five 12 x 20 m quadrats were established in a stratified random fashion at each site, and the canopy species composition was surveyed for each quadrat. For individual tree species that had foliage accessible to white-tailed, deer the following data were recorded quantitatively and/or categorically: total available browse, type of available browse, and severity of browsing. The shrub and sapling layer was also surveyed within two randomly placed 4x4 m nested plots per 12x20 m overstory quadrat. The Jacob's Electivity Index was used to assess browsing preferences for tree and shrub species. As determined by the Jacob's Electivity Index various tree and shrub species: 1) were consistently avoided at all quadrats when present (bitternut and shagbark hickories, swamp and black ashes, black cherry, American basswood, and American elm), 2) were consistently selected in all quadrats where present (American hornbeam and black willow), or 3) varied widely in their selection by deer (silver and sugar maples). Quadrats containing sugar and, especially, silver maple with epicormic sprouts had greatest total browsing impact. Results suggest that white-tailed deer herbivory may actually reflect a Marginal Value Theorem model dictated by patches abundant in such sprouts. Further research is needed to determine potential effects of white-tailed deer in hindering the regeneration of such flood and/or beaver damaged vegetation in Northeastern Ohio riparian zones.

Committee: Thomas Diggins PhD (Advisor); Ian Renne PhD (Committee Member); Richard Ciotola PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology