Assessing the Impact of Land Use Change on Water Quality in Lake Worth, Texas (2000-2024)

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Portia Asare Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Gehendra Kharel Environmental Sciences Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences

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 2024. This land use data will be integrated with the publicly available water quality data (nutrients, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity) from the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program and locations of permitted industrial discharge points from the Texas Commission on Water Quality. GIS techniques, including spatial joins, buffer analysis, and statistical modeling (regression, hotspot analysis), 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, a geodatabase of water quality and discharge points, statistical models quantifying the land use-water quality relationship, and identifying areas requiring management intervention. The study's findings will inform land use planning, water resource management, and sustainable urban development practices in the region while acknowledging limitations related to data availability, spatial resolution, causality, and model generalizability.

Development and Socioeconomic Drivers of Permitted Tree Removals in Austin, Texas

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Adam Buckmeier Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences

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.

Canopies vs. Clearings: Investigating Microclimates and Vegetation Health Throughout the Day

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Audrey Haffner Environmental Sciences Sloan Malleck Environmental Sciences Emma Taylor Environmental Sciences Julia Vasquez Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences

Do Income-Driven Differences Between Urban Neighborhoods Shape Prey Availability and Bat Foraging Activity?

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Elizabeth Hargis Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences

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.

Assessing Soil Carbon Dynamics in Amended Urban Farms in Fort Worth Using Thermal Analysis

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Md Simoon Nice Environmental Sciences Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences Brendan L. Lavy Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences Gehendra Kharel Environmental Sciences

Fort Worth is the fastest growing city in Texas. It contains several vacant land plots that could be used for the purposes of urban agriculture, which could ultimately help the city to mitigate the growing food desert concern as well. However, unsustainable agriculture practices could degrade the soil organic carbon and lead to a decrease in crop productivity as well. Food waste compost could be the potential solution towards growing quality food in a sustainable way. This research aims to assess the soil carbon dynamics of food waste compost amended urban farm in Fort Worth. An urban farm was chosen to set up a field for the experiment where a plot was prepared with food waste compost treated soil along with control (each was triplicated). Soil samples were collected monthly from January 2023 to July 2024. The samples were then analyzed by using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) to determine the recalcitrance index (R50) of each sample, which suggests the stability of carbon content. The result shows that soil with food waste compost was more stable than normal treatment. Apart from that, using this data further analysis of ecosystem services could be done as well. The total carbon sequestration potentiality of the food waste compost amended urban farm soil in Fort Worth could also be estimated.

Examining the Relationship Between Tree Canopy Cover and Walkability in Austin, Texas

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Zoey Suasnovar Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences

Cities are increasingly adopting and promoting actions in support of their sustainability goals to enhance community well being and improve environmental quality. These large, sprawling cities actions include providing more sustainable transportation choices, like bike lanes, micro-mobility options (e.g., scooters or e-bikes), and walkability. Yet, as municipalities offer these alternatives, increasing urban heat may deter residents and visitors from using them. Cities, such as Austin, Texas, have become hotter over the last decade due to increasing impervious cover and tree loss associated with urban (re)development. Urban trees provide cooling effects to the surrounding area through evapotranspiration and shade. Thus, tree shade is important to promote more walkable neighborhoods, especially in the summer months. This study looks at the relationship between canopy cover and urban walkability in Austin. Using a Geographic Information System, we examined the interactions between canopy cover, walkability, socioeconomic data (i.e., race, gender, income, and home-owner status), and sidewalks. In doing so, we found a total of 2,552.47 km of shaded sidewalks, equaling, about a third of all sidewalks in Austin. We also found that canopy cover and walkability vary by location. Some areas have high canopy cover and low walkability, whereas other areas have low canopy cover and high walkability. Preliminary results also indicate that some areas have less shaded sidewalks than others and vary based on an area’s socioeconomic characteristics. The results of this research may be used to promote sustainable cities and urban forestry along sidewalks to help mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Bring on the Heat

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Sahana Talwar Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences

Increases in city size and frequency has correspondingly led to increases in Urban Heat Island (UHI) strength and frequency. These urban heat islands have had serious implications for both childrens’ 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 softwares 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 trees in the nearby vicinity of schools can have a significant cooling effect.

Fish Community Monitoring as part of the Trinity River Authority's Clean Rivers Program

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Logan Tidwell Environmental Sciences Angela Kilpatrick Environmental Sciences Ryan Seymour Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Michele Birmingham Environmental Sciences

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.

Ecosystem Services of TCU Campus Trees

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Megan Boneck Environmental Sciences Audrey Haffner Environmental Sciences Gisela Pacheco Environmental Sciences Zoey Suasnovar Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Bredan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 12, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

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.

The Effect of Urban Development-Driven Tree Removals on Land Surface Temperature in a Growing City

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Hannah Buckhalter Environmental Sciences Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 3, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

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.

Assessing populations vulnerable to the urban heat island effect in Dallas County, Texas

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Adam Buckmeier Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 8, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

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.

PERCEPTIONS OF CONSERVATION EDUCATORS ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS: A MIXED METHODS STUDY

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Camden Butterworth Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 9, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

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.

Water availability for winged residents: geospatial analysis of drinking water for bats in the Lower West Fort Trinity watershed of Fort Worth

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Katherine Davis Biology
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Environmental Sciences Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 7, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

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.

An Evaluation of Water and Sediment Quality in a Mine-impacted Watershed: Case Study of Elm Creek, Picher, Oklahoma

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Colin Dixon Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Michael Slattery Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 6, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

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.

Using Socio-economic Status and Greenspace to Locate Potential Survey Sites for Bat Foraging

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Elizabeth Hargis Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 5, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

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.

Investigating Bat Drinking Activity in Response to Variability in Water Surface Area

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Peyton Harper Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 3, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

With species facing extinction due to human-induced disturbances, conservation efforts aim to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Urban areas, despite their modifications, can provide essential ecosystem services and support biodiversity. However, ensuring wildlife presence requires understanding resource availability and accessibility. Accessibility, defined by an individual's ability to locate and utilize resources, is influenced by landscape features such as permeability and connectivity, which can impede movement. Species-specific traits, including ecology and mode of locomotion, also play significant roles in resource access. For instance, volant species like birds and bats rely on flight to forage and drink, with their ability to maneuver affecting whether they can access a water source or not. Moreover, access may not only be dependent on the size of a water source but also by clutter (i.e., vegetation, exposed rocks and litter), which can reduce the amount of surface area that is actually available. Additionally, seasonal variations in precipitation and evapotranspiration rates can alter water levels, affecting both the size of the water source and the amount of clutter (i.e., exposing more rocks and enabling more aquatic vegetation to grow). Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of water surface area is crucial for effective resource management aimed at making urban environments more suitable for wildlife. Thus, we investigated the influence of variation in water surface area on bat drinking activity in an urban environment. Our study focused on six water sources in Tarrant County, Texas, using drone surveillance, thermal technology, and acoustic monitoring from March to September 2023. We hypothesized that as surface area decreased during summer, bat drinking activity would decline. By addressing one potential aspect of water resource availability and accessibility, our study contributes to to more accurate assessments of urban water resource availability and the development of sustainable conservation practices for wildlife.

Assessing Urban Wildlife Water Availability: Investigating Runoff and Evaporation Dynamics in Fort Worth Ponds

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Peyton Harper Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 3, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

Water is an essential resource for urban wildlife, but this water needs to be available and accessible. Fort Worth is an urban area that gets hot and dry during the summer months which can cause many water sources to dry up, making them unavailable for wildlife. However, some water sources in Fort Worth may be more susceptible to drying up than others. This may be affected by runoff which in turn can be a function of different variables such as soil type, impervious surface cover, vegetation cover, elevation, and more. Additionally, differences in location-specific weather may affect evaporation rates of bodies of water. This study aims: (1) to determine the variations in six different pond sites across Fort Worth, (2) to identify the factors that potentially affect runoff and evaporation, and correlate the variables with the rate of changes of the ponds to determine their significance, and (3) use this established relationship to evaluate the susceptibility of other ponds in the area to drying up during summers.

COASTAL EROSION: INTEGRATING GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY TO AID IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EROSION DUE TO RISING SEA LEVELS ALONG US COASTLINES

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Tristan Knowlton Environmental Sciences Miki Nisbet Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 4, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

Along the coastlines of America, specifically along the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, rising sea levels are causing great levels of coastal erosion, leading to the loss of coastal homes and ecologically valuable land. Climate change affects the rate at which sea levels rise, which in turn determines how quickly coastlines are eroded. The objective is to analyze coastal maps of California and the Gulf of Mexico to determine which coastal factors facilitate or hinder the degradation of coastlines.

Sustainability Progress of Global Companies Using GRI Standards

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Maria Pertz Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 5, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

In a recent survey by IBM, 51% of respondents from 10 major global economies stated that sustainability is more important to them today than it was 12 months ago (Emeritus, 2022). Historically, influential corporations have disregarded the triple bottom line and have ignored the effects their supply chains have on the environment, people, and the economy, and in turn, made negative contributions to sustainable development. To reduce and eventually eliminate the harm, many companies are now creating sustainability plans to monitor their progress. Sustainability planning and reporting have gained traction in the last decade given the push for standardization, the need for transparency from consumers, and improved environmental social governance metrics within their business operations. Today, there are over 600 different sustainability reporting standards, industry initiatives, frameworks, and guidelines that have improved the transparency, consistency, and interoperability of sustainable practices (Brightest, 2024). One of the most widely adopted frameworks is the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). GRI created the first global sustainability and social impact measurement standards in 1997, and they help businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing them with a global common language to communicate those impacts (Global Reporting Organization, n.d.).

The purpose of this research is to examine the contents of 10 sustainability reports across five industries and document their actions towards sustainable development. I will focus on how companies are not only reducing their environmental impacts but also protecting workers and contributing to society. Understanding the degree to which companies are addressing these challenges is crucial to measuring their progress and determining if they are advancing toward sustainability.

Product testing the next generation Song Meter Mini Bat acoustic detector for Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Kaitlyn Roussel Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Tory Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: First Floor, Table 1, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Analyzing the calls a bat emits is one of the main ways to identify a species. We use bat acoustic detectors to filter these ultrasonic sounds produced. As technology advances, so do these detectors. Wildlife Acoustics Inc. produces bat acoustic detectors constantly. These detectors are then tested with older models to see if they produce the same results. We, therefore, conducted a study to test the next generation of bat acoustic detectors to the older models by Wildlife Acoustics Inc. We tested all three detectors at the same site, over the same period, and analyzed the results to see if the newest model was. This study took place in the flight room on Texas Christian University's campus between the dates of 03/01 - 03/08/2024, in Fort Worth Texas.

An Assessment of the Connectivity of Parks as Pollinator Habitats in Tarrant County, Texas at Multiple Spatial Scales

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Maddie Rzucidlo Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 10, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Pollinators are essential to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Approximately 87.5% of flowering plants rely on animal pollination for reproduction (Ollerton, 2017) Due to this, pollinators are vital to the production of human consumed crops and the health of ecosystems. Urbanization drives decreases in pollinator biodiversity, species richness and abundance due to loss of habitat and fragmentation (Turo et al., 2021). Urban characteristics such as densification and impervious surfaces can cause pollinator declines and loss of pollinator services (Wenzel et al., 2020).

Tarrant County has a population of 2,110,640 and encompasses 865.2 square miles in of land north central Texas (United States Census Bureau, 2020). It is also the 15th-most populated county in the United States (United States Census Bureau, 2024). Tarrant County is also located in a major pollinator migratory pathway (National Park Service, 2019). Studies show that both population density and city size impact pollinator populations (Norton et al., 2016; Sivakoff et al., 2018). Such rapid population growth has the potential to impact pollinators and their habitats. Urban green spaces such as parks can be beneficial pollinator refuges (Serret et al., 2022). Connectivity of pollinator habitats is important for species richness and abundance (Graffigna et al., 2023). Due to the rapid population growth, land use change, and densification occurring within Tarrant County and the existence of major pollinator habitats within the area, Tarrant County parks are a compelling place to conduct landscape connectivity research on pollinators. The objective of this project is to assess the connectivity of pollinator habitats in the highly urbanized Tarrant County area. This project strives to understand how urban parks as pollinator habitats connect to one another at a range of distances for pollinator travel.

Austin's Walkability: Tree Canopy Cover of Downtown Austin's Sidewalks

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Zoey Suasnovar Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 2, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

As the Capital of Texas, Austin has been a great exemplar in the protection and preservation of trees within their city limits. Austin has had a commitment to these trees for decades, but what do the trees do for the city of Austin? This poster focuses on the sidewalks of downtown Austin, and what percentage of them are covered by the canopy of these trees. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) we calculate the percentage of the canopy cover overlaying the sidewalks. Understanding the canopy cover allows us to also find the walkability score of downtown Austin. A tree's canopy provides shade, and when placed over a sidewalk, it provides an escape from the omnipresent heat in Austin in the Texas summers. People in areas of lower-socioeconomic status tend to have reduced trees (and greenspace in general) compared to those of a higher-socioeconomic status. By determining an area's walkability score, we can also find areas of desire where greenspaces and trees can benefit the people living there.

Can Passive Acoustic Monitoring Effectively Be Used To Inform The Species Diversity And Activity Patterns Of Bats In Big Bend National Park

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Justyn Wallace Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 8, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

Use of an artificial roost site by multiple bat species in Texas

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Abi Welch Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Victoria Bennett Environmental Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 8, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

The use of roost sites by multiple bat species is well-documented, especially in large structures where different species are partitioned by distinct microclimates within these structures; however, there is limited research on smaller roost sites, especially artificial ones, such as wooden bat houses. With such houses recommended to improve urban areas for bats or mitigation to replace natural roosts lost during construction projects, understanding species-specific roost use is imperative to ensure these conservation strategies are effective. To address this need, we compared the temporal and spatial use of an artificial roost site by bats in a residential neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas. Since 2017, we have monitored species presence, including the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) known to roost in natural roost sites such as the tree hollows, broken branches, peeling bark, and under thick-stemmed ivy, and the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), which tends to roost in caves. In addition, we monitored this roost site almost weekly for a year from 2023-2024 to determine how seasonal use in the abundance of these species varied. More specifically, we addressed whether these species displayed year-round communal roosting or species-specific roost partitioning, as well as species-specific seasonal roost use. Along with providing insights into artificial roost use by bats, this study represents the first to demonstrate multispecies use of a roost site, natural or artificial, by evening and Mexican free-tailed bats. The findings have implications for understanding interspecies competition and artificial roost use and therefore contribute to bat conservation.

Flood Risk Analysis of Anchorage Alaska

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Matthew Froehlich Environmental Sciences Andrew Campola Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 3, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Alaska is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region notorious for tectonic activity, including earthquakes and tsunamis. This, along with significant tidal fluctuations, and an increasing sea level pose a unique threat along Alaska's coastlines. Our objective is to create a map displaying potential risks and levels of risks in the city of Anchorage. In addition, we plan to analysis the potential economic costs of differing levels of flooding.