Environmental Science Senior Practicum Presentations - May 30th & June 6th
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
4:30 PM - 6:15 PM
La Kretz Hall 110
The Environmental Science Practicum is a yearlong sequence of courses designed to introduce undergraduate students to the common tools and methodologies of environmental science—building on other classes in the major. Students form teams to focus on an environmental case study representing a real-life multi-disciplinary forward looking issue, usually in the Los Angeles area, and are required to produce original data and analysis. The case study is defined and conducted with the collaboration of a local agency, organization or non-profit institution. The final element of the Practicum is to prepare written materials and deliver a presentation.
The presentations will take place over two days: Wednesday, May 30th and Wednesday, June 6th.
May 30, 4:30 - 6:15 p.m., La Kretz Hall 110
Independent Project
Erin Berlin
Seagrass mesograzers exhibit herbivory rates comparable to reef herbviory and strong selectivity that may modify producer community structure
E. Berlin, K.T. Nguyen, J.M.L.K. Yee and P. Fong
Advisor: Peggy Fong, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Isolating the sound of arousal: a test of the nonlinearity hypothesis
Emily I. Slaughter, Erin R. Berlin, Jonathan T. Bower, and Daniel T. Blumstein
Advisor: Daniel T. Blumstein, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Honors Theses
Justin Penn
Spatio-temporal coupling of nitrous oxide production and consumption in oxygen-minimum zones
Advisor: Curtis Deutsch, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Maanya Condamoor
Effect of the 101 Freeway on Gray Fox Population of Santa Monica Mountains
Advisor: Robert Wayne, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Michelle Honda
Phytoplankton assemblages in the Santa Monica Bay and their relation to large-scale climatic cycles
Advisor: Rebecca Shipe, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Shy Sayadi
Dioxane biodegradation under various aeration conditions
Advisor: Shaily Mahendra, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Practicum Projects
Large Mammal Movement in the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains
Gabriel Albano, Tanya Bitcon, Maanya Condamoor, Sirena Lao, Greg Lopez, Ryan Sokolovsky, and Allen Vicencio
Client: Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Advisor: Travis Longcore, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Ecological perspectives on the Wheeler North kelp reef restoration
Nauman Charania, Brittany Chow, Jason Miller, Carrie Smith, and Eric Wong
Client: Southern California Edison
Advisor: Jordan Rosencranz, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Effect of the Wheeler North Reef on Commercial Fish Landings
Christian Johnson, Calvin Kieu, Michael Glass, and Shy Shayadi
Client: Southern California Edison
Advisor: Jordan Rosencranz, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Life Cycle Analysis Comparison of a Battery Electric Vehicle and a Conventional Gasoline Vehicle
Kimberly Aguirre, Luke Eisenhardt, Christian Lim, Brittany Nelson, Alex Norring, Peter Slowik, and Nancy Tu
Client: California Air Resources Board
Advisor: Deepak Rajagopol, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
June 6, 4:30 - 6:15 p.m., La Kretz Hall 110
Come see what the Environmental Science majors have done for their senior research practicums and stay for a reception and refreshments on the rooftop of the new “Bombshelter” Court of Sciences Student Center afterward starting at 6:30 p.m.
Welcome and Student Awards
Practicum Projects
Eco-Certification Programs: Determining Consumer Preferences for Green Hotels
Anuraag Jhawar, Guneet Kohli, Jie Li, Neilufar Modiri, Veronica Mota, Ryan Nagy, Heiley Poon, and Clifford Shum
Client: Walt Disney Company
Advisor: Magali Delmas, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Potential for Vineyard Development in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Casey Goepel, Katherine Hoeberling, Fabrice Keto, Jacob Palmquist, Rogelio Pardo. Melissa Traverso, and Ashton Yoon
Client: California State Parks
Advisor: G. Andrew Fricker, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Best Management Practices for Viticulture in the Santa Monica Mountains
Kyle Cerniglia, Molly Cornfield, Nicole Grucky, Kristofer Holz, Michelle Honda, Amanda Martin, Harriet Torosyan, and Taylor Zisfain
Client: Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
Advisor: G. Andrew Fricker, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Vegetation Change in Rancho Sierra Vista, Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area
Jaryd Block, Dennis Mabasa, Devyn Bullock, Brittney Laver, and Yessenia Chaiu
Client: National Park Service
Advisor: R. Travis Brooks, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Terrestrial Vertebrates in the Mediterranean Network of National Parks
Brett Bova, Misa Downey, Natalie Marte, Justin Penn, Kirstie Ruppert, Karen Vu, and Shotaro Yamada
Client: National Park Service
Advisor: Travis Longcore, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Effects of Tree Shelters and Wire Cages on Native Oak Species in the Santa Monica Mountains
Jessica Chen, Melissa Chin, Margaret Mackey, Tessa Reeder, and Tor Zipkin
Client: TreePeople
Advisor: R. Travis Brooks, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Catch Basin Content and Socioeconomic Factors in Los Angeles
Ying Ying Cai, Ching Yan Chan, Andrew Duncan, Josue Gonzalez, Tina Hoang, Brianna Lawrence and Sheryl Parsons
Client: Heal The Bay
Advisor: Rebecca Shipe, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Fecal Indicator Bacteria Concentrations after Rainfall Events: Reevaluating the 72-Hour Advisory Period
Danny Ong, Michael Bordeaux, Natasha Patel, Raul Gaina, Ariel Flores, Rocio Flores, and Catherine Wong
Client: Heal The Bay
Advisor: Rebecca Shipe, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
