Project Proposals for 2020-2021
|
Title / Brief Description |
Potential Student(s) |
Funding |
Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1) Beyond Poison Oak?: a Baseline Study of Monterey Pine Forest Understory: establish a baseline vegetation study of the amount and type of cover, density of perennial plants, and species diversity of the West Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (West Ranch) Monterey pine forest understory and compare that to models of less disturbed Monterey pine forest habitats |
1 |
Potential $6000 |
Kitty Connolly 805-927-2856 |
|
2) Water Quality Conditions in Central California Bar Built Estuaries : collect water quality samples using a YSI water quality probe for parameters such as conductivity, temperature, chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and boron. The student will analyze data to identify trends compared to critical thresholds for aquatic species of concern, as well as, identify if estuaries are functioning as eutrophic or hyper-eutrophic system |
1-2 |
Some $250; travel |
Aleksandra Wydzga |
|
3) Description and mapping of urban soils properties for the Los Angeles area: The properties of urban soils are relatively poorly documented. An initial soil survey of the LA area has recently been completed by the NRCS. However, many soil properties of interest to urban land uses, such as heavy metal concentrations, are not included in the NRCS soil survey. |
1 |
Potential |
Dr. Gordon Rees grees@calpoly.edu |
|
4) Assessing the impacts of the Central Coast Rangelands Coalition: To assess the social, ecological and economic benefits that have resulted from the Central Coast Rangelands Coalition (CCRC). To identify any barriers that have prevented the CCRC from achieving its mission. |
1 |
Yes |
Dr. Nick Babin |
|
5) Social and Ecological Dimensions of Agriculture under a Changing Climate: Determine grape, lemon and avocado grower and advisor perceptions of climate risks to agriculture and the role of conservation practices as methods to reduce vulnerabilities or increase resilience to climate change. Communicate findings to key stakeholders. |
1 |
Yes |
Dr. Nick Babin |
|
6) Polcum Springs Pond Project: find the reason for a leak/seepage from a pond on our property in Northern California, with the hope that a recommendation can be made on how to fix it. |
1 |
Limited |
Dr. Hunter Francis wfrancis@calpoly.edu |
|
7) A Socio-Environmental Policy Analysis of the Proposed Vegetable-based Plastics and Cellular-Based Aquaculture: research question is whether the two technologies of bioplastics and cellular aquaculture, if operating at scale, are as environmentally and socially promising as they seem on paper. The purpose of this project is to understand whether governments should mandate any environmental or social safeguards in relation to these two innovations. |
1 |
Potential |
Dr. Anastasia Telesetsky |
|
8) Evaluating the utility and consequences of biodegradable plastic mulching from an agroecological and social perspective:To understand farmer perceptions of barriers and benefits of adoption of biodegradable versus conventional plastic mulch. We seek to undertake a combination of surveys administered to a sample of strawberry farmers and winegrape growers throughout California's major strawberry and winegrape growing regions and complete key informant interviews with a subsample of surveyed farmers and agricultural extension agents. |
1 |
Potential |
Seeta Sistla (PI) ssistla@calpoly.edu Nick Williams nwilli37@calpoly.edu |
|
9) Evaluating viable candidates of 'ancient' cereal grains to begin locally adapted variety development on Cal Poly's Student Experimental Farm: we aim to identify viable candidates among 'ancient' cereal grains to begin local locally adapted variety development. |
1 |
Limited |
Nick Williams nwilli37@calpoly.edu
Nicholas Babin nbabin@calpoly.edu |
|
10 ) Understanding Herbicide Impacts on Seagrasses and Potential Implications for Morro Bay Eelgrass Collapse: Marine seagrasses across the globe are experiencing collapse due to environmental change. This has happened locally in Morro Bay, where eelgrass has experienced catastrophic collapse in excess of 90-95% over the last decade. Efforts to attribute this collapse to climate change and degradation of water quality have yielded very little. Hence, we explore the alternative hypothesis that herbicides may be responsible. (Thesis students preferred.) |
1 |
Potential |
Dr. Bwalya Malama |
|
11) Finite Element Modeling of the SLO-Edna Valley Aquifer: To develop a finite element model of the aquifer taking into account subsurface hydrostratigraphy and the water budget (including recharge from precipitation events and stream-aquifer interactions). |
1 |
Potential |
Dr. Bwalya Malama |
|
12) Stream-Aquifer Interactions and Evapotranspiration Measurement/Modeling: To understand flow dynamics between streams and aquifers, and the implications for groundwater abstraction for irrigation in riparian corridors. Ancillary to this is understanding groundwater usage by riparian corridor vegetation. |
1 |
Potential |
Dr. Bwalya Malama |
|
13) Evaluation of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) impacts of awarded CCI Fire Prevention grants: Evaluation of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) impacts of awarded CCI Fire Prevention grants following the method provided in the CCI Forest Health Quantification Methodology (QM). Cal Poly will perform analysis following the Forest Health QM to determine the net GHG impact of each project in terms of metric tons CO2e. In addition, based on the experience gained through these analyses, Cal Poly will provide a list of recommended changes or improvements to the QM, which will allow CAL FIRE to better evaluate the GHG impacts of CCI Fire Prevention grants. |
3-4 |
Yes |
Dr. Chris Dicus |
|
14) Development of study plan for aquatic habitat enhancement by riparian treatment: Develop a multi-year plan for study of determining aquatic habitat changes following riparian management intended to improve habitat. Collect baseline data for plan. Student will spend part or all of summer 2021 at Swanson Pacific Ranch, in the Santa Cruz mountains. |
1 |
Potential |
Dr. Chris Surfleet |
|
15) Determination of soil and stream disturbance following meadow restoration treatments: Evaluate before and after soil and stream conditions following the removal of encroached lodgepole pine. |
1 |
Partial |
Dr. Chris Surfleet |
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