Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that have become increasingly detected in surface waters worldwide, yet accurate interpretation of environmental monitoring data is often complicated by widespread non-detect observations. This study evaluated PFAS occurrence along the upper Trinity River in north-central Texas and examined how treatment of censored data influences contamination assessment. Ten surface water samples were analyzed using EPA Method 1633, with 31.7% of the measurements below the reporting limit. Multiple imputation was applied to estimate site-level concentrations and quantify uncertainty associated with censored observations. Spatial analysis revealed a 12.8-fold difference in PFAS concentrations between background sites (53.7 ng/L) and hotspot sites (684.9 ng/L). Three sites exhibited fluorotelomer sulfonate signatures consistent with potential influence from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Comparison with conventional RL/2 substitution methods revealed an underestimation of total PFAS concentrations by approximately 30–71 ng/L across sites, with the greatest bias occurring at background sites. All sampling sites exceeded current U.S. EPA drinking water standards for regulated PFAS compounds, suggesting potential implications for downstream drinking water systems. These findings demonstrate that statistical treatment of censored observations can substantially influence PFAS concentration estimates and the interpretation of contamination patterns.

Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce landscape connectivity and are major drivers of biodiversity decline. In South Africa, mosaic corridor restoration has been proposed to reconnect protected areas, with the Tanglewood Conservation Area (TCA) representing an early property targeted for restoration. Establishing baseline ecological conditions prior to restoration is necessary to evaluate future change. Because bats respond rapidly to habitat quality and resource availability, they serve as effective indicators of ecosystem condition. We established baseline information on bat activity, diversity, and resource use within the Leopard Ridge property of TCA by surveying two key resources: water sources and a cave roost. Behavioral observation surveys were conducted at two water sites (Lodge and Causeway) and one cave from May–July 2025 using infrared video paired with ultrasonic acoustic detectors to document activity and identify species. At water sources, we quantified bat presence, drinking events, and foraging behavior, while emergence counts at the cave estimated nightly roost use. Across 30 water surveys, bats were observed for 2,346 total seconds (mean = 76 s/night), with only 44 seconds of foraging recorded. A total of 91 drinking events representing five species were documented, with greater activity at the Causeway site. Cave emergence averaged 720 bats per night, with Cape horseshoe (Rhinolophus capensis) and Egyptian slit-faced (Nycteris thebaica) bats present. These results provide baseline data for evaluating changes in bat activity, diversity, and resource use as restoration progresses.

Due to unprecedented urbanization in North Texas, coyotes have become more frequently observed in urban settings. The proposed project will examine the spatial distribution of coyote observations in North Texas, focusing on identifying spatial patterns. It also assesses whether these patterns are indicators of long-term adaptation in response to rapid urbanization in the region.  This study will use spatial analysis techniques to determine whether coyote observations are spatially clustered, identify potential hotspots, and assess whether the clustering is associated with a certain cover type. In addition, visual comparisons of multitemporal observations of data will be conducted to evaluate whether distribution patterns change over time. By integrating hotspot analysis and land cover data, the project aims to better understand how coyotes may be adapting to urban environments in North Texas.

This project proposes using ArcGIS-based spatial analysis to identify various vegetation zones at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R) and the surrounding area, with the goal of supporting ecological management decisions. This will be accomplished through spatial overlay and other GIS analysis tools applied to relevant datasets, including topography (elevation), soil type, precipitation, and vegetation distribution derived from existing geospatial datasets. The distribution of plants based on these factors will help identify distinct zones for the various plant types such as, forbs and wildflowers, vines, shrubs, trees, grasses, and riparian-type plants found at FWNCR. By compiling the results of the GIS analysis and producing maps to support both visual and statistical analysis, the project will provide insights for end users to identify existing and potentially new zones for ecological management.

By leveraging a two-dimensional derivative thermogravimetric (2D-DTG) mixing ratio framework, my research measures distinct lignocellulosic carbon fractions and assesses their dynamics under different soil management over 19-month period (Jan 2023-Jul 2024). The 2D-DTG mixing ratio technique offers a quick, extraction-free method for delineating lignocellulosic fractions and management-induced alterations in soil organic carbon quality. The result shows that cellulose thermal peaks occurred at 330 ± 10 °C, while lignin peaks were detected at 490 ± 10 °C in NT, CC, and COMP soils but shifted to ~401 °C in CC+C soils. Thermal separation between cellulose and lignin domains decreased from ~180 °C (18 min) in NT to ~70 °C (7 min) in CC+C, indicating stronger coupling of lignocellulosic degradation. Cellulose peak intensity increased from 0.2 × 10⁻⁵ (NT) to 1.1 × 10⁻⁵ (COMP and CC+C), while lignin intensity increased from 0.3 × 10⁻⁶ (NT) to 5.4 × 10⁻⁶ (CC+C). Mixing-ratio analysis showed cellulose contributions of 51–58% and lignin contributions of 42–49% across treatments. Mean SOC increased from 1.95% (NT) to 2.17% (CC+C), with cellulose-derived carbon increasing from 1.01% to 1.27%, indicating enhanced lignocellulosic carbon integration under combined cover crop and compost management. Temporal analysis further showed that Lignin-derived carbon increased in later months, rising from ~38–40% to ~45–49%, indicating progressive labilization of recalcitrant lignin and greater incorporation into SOC pools. These results suggest organic amendments enhance lignin retention and long-term soil carbon storage with benefits for nutrient cycling and soil stability.

This study analyzes the spatial relationship between energy infrastructure and population growth in Texas using GIS. Energy datasets, including power plants and pipelines, are combined with population data to evaluate whether infrastructure aligns with areas of increasing demand. Areas that do not have the infrastructure to handle the demands will result in blackouts and possibly more permanent issues to the power grid. Results are expected to show high energy concentration in low-population regions like West Texas, while rapidly growing urban areas such as Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston may face increasing demand pressures. These findings will inform energy planning and infrastructure development for these various energy companies and ONCOR.

Students find it difficult to work in uncomfortable temperatures. The temperature of the Paschal High School auditorium has been a complaint of students and staff for years. A recent survey found that 75% of students and teachers find the auditorium either uncomfortably cold or uncomfortably hot. This research explores the temperature fluctuations in the auditorium in the context of events taking place in the auditorium. Six sensors were placed around the Paschal High School auditorium and recorded the temperature and humidity every couple of seconds from December 19 to March 1st. From this data, I was able to calculate “feel’s like” temperature, and graph this against time, taking note of any significant events that may have affected temperature.

As climate-related health effects become increasingly more visible, the public perceptions of planetary health education may change. This study explored public expectations for the role of health professionals in planetary health advocacy, education, and clinical practice. A link to an online Qualtrics survey was sent to potential participants through community service events, coalition meetings, and websites. Responses were validated for a final analytical sample of 88 adults aged 18 and older. Results indicate that a large majority of participants have a positive view on environmental conservation, reflected by a mean score of 54.7 (SD 7.8) out of a possible 75 on the New Ecological Paradigm Scale. A majority of respondents indicated they were already observing health impacts of climate change in their daily lives, most commonly as increased allergy-related symptoms (70.2%), injuries due to severe weather events such as storms or floods (64.3%), and heat-related illnesses (57.1%). Respondents indicated that health professionals and professional organizations should play an active role in educating the public and advocating for policy responses to the health effects of climate change. The most frequent responses were found for health professionals bringing climate-health effects to public attention (88.1%), professional organizations engaging in significant advocacy (86.9%), and clinicians leading sustainability efforts in hospitals and clinics (85.7%). Significantly, 78.6% of participants expressed that health professionals have a responsibility to discuss these health effects directly with their patients. Overall, this sample of adults perceives that human health is already negatively affected by environmental changes and strongly supports health professionals to take advocacy and educational roles to address planetary health problems.

The Texas kangaroo rat (Dipodomys elator) is a candidate endangered rodent species whose range has declined substantially across north-central Texas and southwestern Oklahoma. In this study, we conducted behavioral observation surveys focused on identifying signs of mating readiness among the individuals currently housed in the Fort Worth Zoo. Specifically, we compared the behaviors and frequency of behaviors exhibited by isolated individual Texas kangaroo rats with those of paired individuals and among different combinations of paired individuals, including same sex and mixed sex. We identified 18 unique behaviors over the course of our study. Results showed that while a wide range of behaviors were consistently exhibited across trials, clear behavioral indicators of mating readiness were not identified. The behavioral baseline established in this study provides guidance for future studies and contributes to the development of husbandry protocols for the Texas kangaroo rat. Ultimately, this work supports ongoing conservation efforts aimed at maintaining a viable captive population and facilitating future reintroduction initiatives.

When Roundup is used on plants and soils, Glyphosate has different effects on the solubility (LogKow) and degradation pathways of molecules based on soil factors. These soil factors have to do with the organic composition of the soil. Organic matter in soils comes from 1,2,4-Trihydroxybenzene, Ferulic Acid, and Vanillic Acid. Pesticides degrade these molecules and make daughter molecules. This can show the assessment on how glyphosate alters degradation by comparing parent–daughter product distributions and LogKow.

Rapid urbanization in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is increasing pressure on water resources, including Lake Worth. This project will investigate the relationship between land use, land cover change, and water quality degradation in Lake Worth, a reservoir facing increasing development pressure near Fort Worth. The project will use historical land data to quantify land use/land cover change (LULC) within the watershed between 2000 and 2023. This land use data will be integrated with the publicly available water quality data from the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program and locations of permitted industrial discharge points from the Texas Commission on Water Quality. GIS techniques will be used to analyze the correlation between LULC and water quality parameters and identify pollution hotspots. The expected outcomes include detailed land use maps, analysis quantifying the land use-water quality relationship, and identifying areas requiring management intervention.

In urban environments, trees provide a range of services including pollution removal, temperature regulation, and increased property values. In an effort to accrue these services, municipalities enact tree preservation ordinances that seek to protect public and private trees. Despite the protections of these ordinances, many trees are removed legally each year due to urban (re)development, risks associated with tree growth, and tree death. This research examines the spatiotemporal trends of permitted tree removals in the City of Austin, Texas, from 2013 to 2023. Specifically, we created a geographic information system to explore the differences between development-related and non-development-related removals, as well as between healthy and unhealthy removals. We also explored the extent to which sociodemographic characteristics explained differences in tree removals. Preliminary findings reveal that most trees removed are healthy and for development-related reasons, a reflection of Austin’s accelerating urban growth. We identified areas with high to moderate development pressure, high health impacts, and low activity. Our analysis also revealed significant patterns in tree removals associated with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Areas with higher proportions of non-White populations experience fewer tree removals. This, however, correlates with lower overall canopy cover, suggesting these areas have fewer trees to begin with. Conversely, neighborhoods with higher household incomes show more tree removals but also higher canopy cover, indicating more active tree management in wealthier areas with greater tree resources. Our research highlights location-specific tree removal patterns to inform strategies that account for both environmental and socioeconomic factors.

Microclimates, which refer to the localized atmospheric conditions within small-scale environments, can be influenced by a variety of factors such as vegetation, topography, and human activity. One of the key elements that affect microclimates is the type of canopy cover present in an area. Open areas, where there is little vegetation and more exposure to the elements, often experience different conditions compared to areas with dense canopy cover, where the vegetation provides more shelter and shade. Understanding the differences in microclimatic conditions between these two types of environments helps us understand how these environmental conditions affect people, plants, and animals. The purpose of this study is to explore how microclimates vary between open areas and areas with closed canopy cover, focusing on factors such as temperature, humidity, and NDVI to better understand how canopy cover influences environmental conditions.

Urbanization alters habitat structure and resource availability, influencing wildlife distribution and behavior. In particular, invertebrates are affected by the differences in urban landscape that are caused by distinct socio-economic differences throughout urban areas. These changes in invertebrate abundance and diversity may affect bat populations that rely on these invertebrates as a food source. This study investigates how neighborhood income influences invertebrate diversity and bat foraging activity in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. We hypothesize that variations in landscape management and the income-driven use of pesticides can alter invertebrate diversity and subsequently bat activity. We conducted invertebrate sampling and acoustic bat monitoring across ten urban greenspaces; five high-income and five low-income neighborhoods in Tarrant County, TX, USA. We then quantified invertebrate and bat abundance and diversity using Shannon’s and Simpson’s diversity indices and examined correlations between invertebrate diversity, bat activity, and household income. This study will help to understand the ecological consequences of socio-economic disparities in urban habitats, which can inform conservation strategies to enhance urban biodiversity and bat conservation efforts.

Fort Worth, the fastest-growing city in Texas, contains many vacant land plots suitable for urban agriculture—an opportunity to address local food deserts. However, unsustainable farming can degrade soil organic carbon and reduce productivity. This study assessed soil carbon dynamics in a food waste compost–amended urban farm in Fort Worth. Experimental plots, including compost-amended and control treatments (triplicated), were established and monitored monthly from January 2023 to July 2024. Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to calculate the recalcitrance index (R50), indicating carbon stability. Results showed compost-treated soils had more stable carbon and structured lignin degradation. In contrast, untreated soils exhibited unstructured decomposition and faster carbon loss. Compost enhances soil health and carbon cycling, and future research should explore combining compost with cover crops to maximize carbon sequestration and microbial activity in urban farming systems.

Increases in city size and frequency have correspondingly led to increases in Urban Heat Island (UHI) strength and frequency. These urban heat islands have had serious implications for both children’s health and education. One widely accepted UHI mitigation strategy is green spaces. However, these have mainly been studied in the context of parks. This study aims to fill in a necessary gap of knowledge by studying the effect of green spaces at elementary schools. This was done by looking at the percentage of tree coverage at 273 public elementary schools in Tarrant County and comparing them to the Land Surface Temperatures (LSTs) of those schools. Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS Pro, and Google Spreadsheets were the three main software systems used to accomplish this. This study found that the percentage canopy cover and LST were inversely proportional at elementary schools in Tarrant County. It also found that other factors apart from trees effect LST.

With only four species of fish collected in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex as recently as the 1970’s, it is no surprise that the Trinity River was once referred to as the “mythological river of death”. Since then, coordinated improvements in water quality have led to the recovery of fish assemblages within the Trinity, becoming a well-documented environmental success story. To monitor that recovery, the Trinity River Authority has conducted Aquatic Life Monitoring surveys on one or more Trinity Basin waterbodies biannually since 2013. These surveys have targeted waterbodies with documented concerns or impairments for one or more water quality parameters, capturing conditions in both the Index (March 15-Oct 15) and Critical (July 1-Sept 30) periods. At each site, whole community fish data was collected via backpack electroshocking and seine netting, alongside benthic macroinvertebrate and habitat data. As of 2025, 30 surveys have been conducted on 13 waterbodies throughout the Upper Trinity basin. Although these surveys have targeted streams with water quality concerns, 90% of sites have scored as either High or Exceptional on the State of Texas Regionalized Nekton Index of Biotic Integrity. Here we will characterize the collected fish communities with over 12,500 individuals from 41 unique species collected during these surveys, while also describing the vision of the program over the next decade.

Tri-colored bats are on track to be listed as an endangered species, however insufficient information is available on their roost sites. The aim of this project is to determine which culverts in Texas, more specifically Tarrant County, are likely to be used as winter roosts for the Tri-colored bat species. The project will utilize available culvert data from TxDOT and data on the potential ranges of Tri-colored bats. Analysis will begin by categorizing the culverts into individual layers by features such as height, length, and material.

Urban trees provide a variety of ecosystem services to an area that allows both humans and animals to thrive in their vicinity. The ecosystem services provided are able to be determined through specific aspects of a tree and their location in relation to buildings and ground cover. These ecosystem services include carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, avoided runoff, and energy effects. Texas Christian University (TCU) was designated a tree campus by the Arbor Day Foundation meaning they commit to making sure that they are planting and preserving the trees that are in their care. This study’s purpose was to determine the ecosystem services provided by the trees in TCU’s care, including the costs of each tree and the services that they provide. By surveying the diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, crown base height, species, crown health and exposure, canopy size, ground cover, and health we are able to determine what services are being provided by the TCU trees. Determining the services is possible through the service iTree Eco where the data was inputted allowing its use in the estimation of the services that the trees provide.

In the United States, instances of heat-related illnesses are increasing in urban areas. Trees help mitigate urban heat and reduce heat-related illnesses by providing cooling effects through evapotranspiration and shade. Research has found that trees cool areas by as much as 2°C. Urban development is a primary driver of urban forest loss. To preserve the urban forest, municipalities often enact tree ordinances. The city of Austin, Texas, adopted a tree preservation ordinance in 1984 to protect trees on private and public property. To remove a protected tree, property owners must apply for a tree removal permit. Austin city staff conduct a site visit and approve or deny the request. The amount of approved tree removals, however, has increased as Austin remains one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of tree removals on urban heat from 2013 to 2023. We created a geographic information system to analyze the impact of over 58,000 tree removals on land surface temperature (LST) across Austin’s city limits. Our results indicate that development-related removals significantly impact the cities changing LST. The impact of these removals on LST also varies by scale with neighborhood areas experiencing the greatest heat increases due to tree loss from development. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on urban forests and microclimates, providing information to support the conservation of urban trees and healthy environments for urban residents.

Urbanization disrupts local climates by replacing natural land cover with impervious surfaces. These surfaces such as concrete and asphalt retain more heat than vegetated cover, therefore, putting these areas at risk for the urban heat island effect. This is when urban areas become significantly hotter than outlying areas and exhibit high temperature anomalies, therefore, putting its residents at risk. Another contributing factor is anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases from industries and automobiles. The purpose of this research is to assess areas vulnerable to the urban heat island effect in Dallas County, Texas by looking at the heat severity index (The Trust for Public Lands) and land cover data (NLCD 2021). This study aims to provide insights for planning and policies that enhance resilience to urban heat island risks in Dallas County.

Environmental education is gaining popularity and recognition as a critical strategy to reduce environmental harm, biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation. Education has been identified as a top factor contributing to people’s willingness to engage in environmentally positive conservation behaviors. Non-formal learning institutions such as zoos and aquariums have the unique ability to create and engage learned in species specific education programming. Species-specific education programs can generate high public appeal and contribute to overall environmental conservation outcomes. Research on nonformal environmental education is limited, but most often reports that short-term or single experiences may not be successful in increasing knowledge or contributing to behavior changes. The purpose of this research is to assess the perceptions of educators at non-formal institutions about the success of their conservation education programs. To do this, we conducted a mixed-methods study with educators at marine conservation centers to report on their perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of education programming as well as on how they define and measure their program success. Our results revealed that educators believe their short-term education programs can be impactful and report on the factors that must be considered to maximize successful program outcomes.

Although bats are extremely important ecosystem service providers, they face challenges accessing suitable drinking resources in urban environments. The objective is to conduct a comprehensive geospatial analysis to assess water sources within Tarrant County. Factors such as tree cover, surface area, and proximity to roads will be evaluated and mapped to determine the suitability of these water sources for bats. The resulting data will contribute valuable insights into the spatial distribution of drinking resources for local bat populations, aiding in conservation efforts and habitat management in the region.

Across the U.S. there are 1335 Superfund sites that range from abandoned mines to old military bases that pose serious risk to the public if not remediated properly. The Tar Creek Superfund site, located in Picher, OK, is one example which could contaminate downstream water supplies via contaminated water and sediment due to the heavy metals, such as Cd and Pb, left behind from the mining activities. This study seeks to determine if the ongoing remediation is effective at Tar Creek which is located within the Tar Creek Superfund site, and whether contaminated sediment is migrating downstream through the watershed.

Urbanization refers to the process of converting natural habitats into human-friendly areas, consisting of concrete structures like buildings and roads that are not typically conducive to wildlife. Despite this, many animals, including bats, are able to adapt to urban landscapes and even provide crucial ecosystem services. Bats, in particular, play a vital role in controlling pests in both agricultural and urban areas. Thus, it is imperative to understand the factors that affect their foraging activity. The aim of this project is to identify potential survey sites that can provide insight into the factors that influence prey availability and abundance.