ESRM Senior Capstone
All ESRM students entering since 2007 are required to complete a 10-credit senior capstone, which can be done in one of three ways: a senior project, a senior research thesis, or the restoration ecology capstone. Faculty advisers oversee the research and projects, and students present their work to the general public. Further details about requirements and registration for students needing to complete capstones can be found on the Senior Capstone Form. Another helpful document, especially for those doing a thesis or in the Wildlife Conservation Option, is from the Wildlife faculty, titled, "Solving the Mysteries of ESRM 494 and 496." For help with capstone project funding, use the Capstone Award Form. Questions? Email or stop by Student and Academic Services, Anderson 116.
Academic Year 2010-2011
Methods to Determine Fire Intensity (Pre and Post Harvest Assessment)
~ Brandon Cy Ambrose / Prof. Ernesto Alvarado
Rain Gardens and Homeowner Satisfaction
~ Laura Ann Quante / Prof. Gordon Bradley
UWREN: Ravenna Ravine
~ Mario Domenic Abata / Prof.
Connectivity Between People and The Environment in the Developing World
~ Elizabeth A. Allen / Prof. Stanley Asah
Hydrology and Soils study, Holly (Ilex) Garden, UW Arboretum
~ Traci Susan Amico / Prof. Susan Bolton
Effects of Compost on Water Quality and Nutrient Runoff
~ Shannon A Armitage / Prof. Robert Harrison
Use of Animal-Borne Cameras to Explore Foraging Behavior of Mule Deer in the North Cascades
~ Randy Michael Bacon / Prof. Aaron Wirsing
Spatial Patterns of Rare Species In YFDP as a Result of Seed Dispersal
~ Andrea Marie Blin / Prof. Jim Lutz
Endophytic Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria in Populus trichocarpa
~ Brendan Michael Boyer / Prof. Sharon Doty
Quantifying the effects of scale on ecological analyses in White fir/Sugar pine mixed conifer forests of Yosemite National Park
~ Warren Douglas Childe / Prof. Jim Lutz
The Trees of The Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot
~ Hunter William Decker / Prof. Jim Lutz
Effects of Compost on Water Quality and Nutrient Runoff
~ Amy Marie Kaeser / Prof. Robert Harrison
Use of Animal-Borne Cameras to Explore Vigilance of Mule Deer in the North Cascades
~ Ashley Christine Kees / Prof. Aaron Wirsing
Bat Emergence Factors in Ravenna Park
~ Kami Marie Koyamatsu / Prof. Steve West
Effects of Light and Temperature Regimes on the Germination of Native Prairie Species
~ Megan Mackenzie Morey / Prof. Jon Bakker
Effects of Compost on Water Quality and Nutrient Runoff
~ Jonathan Nahakuelua / Prof. Robert Harrison
Pend Oreille Sub-Basin Stream Habitat Health
~ Nicholas Lidington Snyder / Prof. Susan Bolton
Theropod dinosaur diversity up to the K-Pg Boundary in the Hell Creek Formation of northeastern Montana
~ Marlena M. Staton / Prof. Gregory Wilson and Aaron Wirsing
Analysis of Diazotrophic Endophytes Isolated from Populus and Salix Species for Agricultural Application
~ Patrick Richard Wauters / Prof. Sharon Doty
Shared Space Usage Between Douglas Squirrels and Eastern Gray Squirrels in the Pacific Northwest
~ Megan Elizabeth Wilson / Prof. Steve West
Does the Presence of Large Rocks Improve Moisture Retention for Young Conifers During Times of Drought Stress
~ Peter Daniel Anderson / Prof. Kern Ewing
Ecological Effects and Policy on the Boreal Forest: Russia
~ Hana Christene Fallisgaard / Prof. Gordon Bradley
Wolf (Canis lupis) Predation on Bison (Bison bison) in Yellowstone National Park
~ Sara Crystal Meicho / Prof. Aaron Wirsing
Effect of the U-Pass on UW Alumni Commuting Attitudes and Behaviors
~ Lauren Emily Currin / Prof. Stanley Asah
Variation in Seed Germination and Viability Among Populations and Years For Puget Sound Lowland Prairie Species
~ Jessica Ann Dabell / Prof. Jon Bakker
Gardeners’ Perceived Benefits of Community Gardens in Seattle
~ Tucker James Furniss / Prof. Stanley Asah
Public Perceptions of Smoke and Fire: Central Washington Fire Managers’ Current Communication, Outreach, and Insight of Public Opinion
~ Michelle Diane King / Prof. Stanley Asah
Factors Influencing Epiphyte Distribution in Big Leaf Maple in the Queets River Temperate Rainforest
~ Timothy Rollin Miller / Prof. Darlene Zabowski
Captive Breeding as a Conservation Tool: The Best Practices and Breeding Techniques for Endangered Species
~ Annamaria Isabella Clark / Prof. John Marzuff
Assessing Browsing Damage on Douglas-fir Plantations
~ Jared Allen Coleman / Prof. Eric Turnblom
Visitor Use and Experience in Jennings Park
~ Michael Vincent Hodges / Prof. Gordon Bradley
Forest Stand Reconstruction (Research Assistance)
~ Jonathan David Klacik / Prof. Jerry Franklin
Perception of Human Behavior by American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
~ David Ryan Mackovjak / Prof. Clucas and John Marzluff
Academic Year 2009-2010
Regeneration Patterns of Pinus lambertiana and Abies concolor in the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot
~ Alana Lautensleger / Dr. Jim Lutz
Endophyte Assisted Phytoremediation of Trichloroethylene with Ipomoea Batatas - Sweet Potatoes
~ Tess Paganelli / Prof. Sharon Doty
Carbon Allocation Across Different Forest Ecosystems and Management Practices
~ Christine Sprunger / Prof. Darlene Zabowski
Endophyte Assisted Pytoremediation of PAH and TCE Contaminated Materials
~ Jason Sharp / Prof. Sharon Doty
Comparing Paired Scores from the Overall Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity of Twenty Stream
Sites Located in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed
~ Douglas Marconi / Prof. Susan Bolton
Vigilance in Wild Horses
~ Lindsey Kirschman / Prof. Aaron Wirsing
Environmental Correlates of Tree Species Distribution in Old‐Growth Pines lambertiana-Abies concolor Forests
~ Molly Barth / Dr. Jim Lutz
Habitat analysis of Kill Sites by Cougars in Western WA
~ Sean Williams / Prof. Steve West
Discovery Park Amphibian Survey Group
~ Kristin Bergstrom, John Ethier, Kevin Hagglund, Brittany Middleton, Kirsten Randolph,
Dan Rikard/ Prof. Steve West
Composition of Cheek Pouch Contents and Body Condition of Perognathus parvus in the
Northern Columbia Basin of Eastern Washington
~ Kristen Richardson/ Prof. Steve West
A Case Study on the DEMO Project 10 Years After Harvest
~ Bruce Benson/ Prof. Charlie Halpern
Analysis Of The Relationship Between Age And Diameter At Breast Height Of Garry Oak,
Quercus garryana, In Washington State
~ Scott Batiuk / Prof. Jon Bakker
English Holly and the Forest
~ Andrea Watts / Prof. Eric Turnblom
Changes in Habitat Use and Occupancy of Pileated Woodpeckers, Dryocopus pileatus, in
Urbanized Seattle, Washington
~ Frank Stevick / Prof. John Marzluff
The City Surrounding: How We Access Greenspace in the Urban Environment
~ David Armes/ Prof. Gordon Bradley
Across the Urban to Rural Gradient: Effects of Location and Income On
Environmental Participation
~ Diana Rayo / Prof. John Marzluff
Direct Water Use Conservation in Residential Houses of Seattle
~ Alex Win/Prof. Gordon Bradley
Brockman Tree Tour
~ Carly Thornburg / Prof. Al Wagar
Seattle, Washington, United States of America and Berlin, Germany: Historical, Cultural, and Social Comparisons and their Effect on Human Opinion about Urban Bird Species
A. Thomas ~ Faculty Advisor: John Marzluff
Fuels Reduction in Sierra Nevada White Fir-Sugar Pine Forests
J. Syvertsen ~ Faculty Advisor: Jim Lutz
The Flight Activity of Lasiurus Cinereus Semotus in Response to Weather Phenomena on Hawai'i Island
J. LaHaela ~ Faculty Advisor: Aaron Wirsing
Environmental Resources Management: Sustainable Living Solutions
K. Stoner ~ Faculty Advisor: Dan Vogt
Urban Greenways: An Analysis of the Feasibility of a Right-of-Way Reassignment on the Burke-Gilman Trail
S. Rastelli ~ Faculty Advisor: Gordon Bradley
Beetle Activity Post-Fire in the Tripod Fire Complex
A. Sengsirirak ~ Faculty Advisor: Ernesto Alvarado
Tamarisk: An Invasive Species
C. Gaylord ~ Faculty Advisor: Ken Ewing
Investigating the Influence of Native and Non-Native Vegetation on the Presence of Amphibians in Seasonally Flooded Wetlands
E. Scanson ~ Faculty Advisor: Josh Lawler
Effects of Carbon Dioxide on Stomatal Density and Index of Arabidopsis Thaliana
C. Maib ~ Faculty Advisor: Soo-Hyung Kim
Phytoremediation: A Plant Database suitable for use at Lower Duwamish Superfund Site & Enhancing Phytoremediation Using Endophytes
T. McDonald ~ Faculty Advisor: Sharon Doty
Academic Year 2008-2009
Restoration Design Project for People for Puget Sound and the Port of Seattle.
R. Miller, G. Beaudin, B. Horwitz, et. al. ~ Faculty Advisor: Kern Ewing
Collaborative Research Poster: Resource Consumption, Resource Conservation, and Environmental Externalities: A 12 Country Analysis of the Forest Products, Chemicals, and Energy Industries
R. Schmitt et al. ~ Faculty Advisor: Dorothy Paun
Energy Crisis and Catastrophic Wildfires: Can Management of Montana’s Forests Solve these Problems?
T. Lane ~ Faculty Advisors: Dan Vogt and Kristiina Vogt
Mathematical Modeling to Terrestrial LiDAR for Canopy Structure.
P. Johnsey ~ Faculty Advisor: L. Monika Moskal
Crops: Emissions Trading and Carbon Permanence.
E. Tran ~ Faculty Advisor: Sergey Rabotyagov
Disease Transmission in Terrestrial Mammals: A Case Study of Feline Leukemia Virus in Pacific Northwest Cougars.
V. Madison ~ Faculty Advisor: John Marzluff
NEPA for the 21st Century.
D. Brody ~ Faculty Advisor: Clare Ryan
LiDAR as a Tool to Determine Biomass and Ecosystem Services of a Heterogenous Urban Landscape at the Washington Park Arboretum.
B. Neuhaus ~ Faculty Advisor: Soo-Hyung Kim
Thermoregulatory Behaviors of Black Abalone Ecology.
K. Kerr ~ Faculty Advisor: Glenn VanBlaricom
Rain Gardens: Storm Water Treatment from the Ground Up.
B. Scott ~ Faculty Advisor: Gordon Bradley
Amphibian Survey in Discovery Park.
M. Davis, T. Truong, T. Angevine, H. Schulz ~ Faculty Advisor: Steve West
Effects of Wildlife Populations on Seedling Mortality.
J. McCarty ~ Faculty Advisor: Ken Radaeke
Effects of Fire and Stand Management on Early Winter Mule Deer Habitat.
M. Weintraub ~ Faculty Advisor: Aaron Wirsing
Past Senior Project Topics
Ontogeny of scolding in crow fledglings..
S. Pecoraro ~ Faculty Advisor: John Marzluff
Forest fires in the Himalayan Forest and conversation effect from a wet Oak forest to a dry Pine forest.
P. Button ~ Faculty Advisor: Ernesto Alvarado
SPOTLIGHT: Field Guide for Seattle Vivarium. I. Kazcynski
With the grand opening of Olympic Sculpture Park in January 2007, Mark Dion's spectacular Seattle Vivarium was made available for public viewing and interpretation. As Field Guide Project Associate for this piece, I developed all content for a small 40-page field guide to the Seattle Vivarium, including short descriptions of 34 different species associated with nurse logs in the Pacific Northwest and biographies of 19 naturalists who made significant contributions to the science and art of ecology. The field guide can be purchased in the Olympic Sculpture Park gift shop.
Faculty Advisors: Steve West and Bob Edmonds
The role of bioremediation in post-war Kuwait.
M. Welch ~ Faculty Advisor: Sally Brown
Links of Sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations to essential habitat.
L. Mallon ~ Faculty Advisor: Dave Manuwal
Sustainable viticulture practices relevant to the Walla Walla AVA.
N. Sherrod ~ Faculty Advisor: Sarah Reichard
The Significance of Nest Site Characteristics on Nest Success of Northern Spotted Owls in Mt. Rainier National Park.
E. Slayton ~ Faculty Advisor: Dave Manuwal
SPOTLIGHT: Behavior and distribution of nutria (Myocastor coypus) within Union Bay. P. Van and F. Tkaczyk We characterized behavior and distribution for nutria (Myocastor coypus) within Union Bay in Seattle's University District. Field observations of morphology, physiology, and behavior were conducted on land and in Union Bay. Sightings from a response network were mapped using Google Maps aerial photograph display on a publicly-accessible website. Predicted geographical distributions were constructed using ESRI ArcGIS against sightings, habitat from the National Wetlands Inventory, and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Age-structure and abundance were projected with field survey estimates using Leslie Matrix Model. Our results indicated that the population was healthy with breeding individuals; that M. coypus is highly social and tolerated by other species in the study area; and that distribution was strongly associated with the most vegetated areas with minimal distances to manmade structures. This project was awarded the 2006 Annual Research Grant from the Washington Chapter of The Wildlife Society.
Faculty Advisor: Steve West
Effects of the quantity and quality of nature around a school in relation to standardized test scores.
S. Spiker ~ Advisor: Kathy Wolf
New-shoot regeneration of invasive Japanese Knotweed, between treated and untreated riparian sites.
B. Boehm ~ Faculty Advisor: Bob Edmonds
Potential climatic and ecological correlates for West Nile Virus occurrence in the Puget Sound Region.
H. Pecoraro ~ Faculty Advisor: John Marzluff
SPOTLIGHT: Plant selection in public gardens project in Sichuan, China. Riz Reyes I am doing two projects as part of the UW/Sichuan Program. My first project is research in urban horticulture trying to determine the importance of plant selections in public gardens in Sichuan. Second is a collection of ornamental Sichuan Flora that I plan to bring back to the UW Botanic Gardens' Center for Urban Horticulture. I've been traveling to various regions around the province collecting plant material for herbarium specimens, and in some cases the live plants/seeds themselves to be grown back in the states.
Faculty Advisor: Sarah Reichard