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 ~80% 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 sum of detects only revealed an underestimation of total PFAS concentrations by approximately 32-38 ng/L across sites, with the greatest bias occurring at background sites. Comparison with EPA maximum contaminant levels revealed widespread exceedances for regulated compounds: PFOS exceeded the 4 ng/L MCL at seven sites (range: 2.7-180 ng/L), PFOA exceeded the 4 ng/L MCL at three sites (range: 1.5-38 ng/L), and PFHxS exceeded the 10 ng/L MCL at four sites. 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.