Investigating the

Environment:
Research for Environmental Management

 

 

 

John Latto, Matt Orr,

Justin Remais and Reuben Deumling

Editors

 Senior Research Seminar

Environmental Sciences Group Major
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, California  94720-2922

 May 2001

Table of Contents

Statement About the Authors

 

 

Part I:  Wildlife ecology

Interactions Between Dogs and Wildlife in Parks on the Berkeley Marina

Kera Abraham ............................................................................................................................... [18 pp.]

Endangered Species Act of 1973:Explicit and Implicit Trends in the Designation of Critical Habitat and the Effects of Critical Habitat on Chances for Recovery

Jessie Mae Arguijo ...................................................................................................................... [11 pp.]

Evapotranspiration Methods compared on a Sierra Nevada Forest Ecosystem

Joshua Fisher ................................................................................................................................ [17 pp.]

The Potential of Ambrosia Beetles (Monarthrum scutellare and Monarthrum dentiger) to Vector the Phytophthora that causes Sudden Oak Death

Tamara Rich .................................................................................................................................. [10 pp.]

Ecological Impact of Introduced Crayfish on Benthic Fish in Strawberry Creek

Frank Yoon ................................................................................................................................... [17 pp.]

Part II:  Aquatic Restoration

Restoration Recommendations for Fish Species Re-population of Strawberry Creek based on High Flow and Stream Habitat Assessment

Cheryl Lee .................................................................................................................................... [26 pp.]

Implications for Restoration by Seed Bank at Fort Funston, California

Kimberly Miller ........................................................................................................................... [17 pp.]

Bioaccumulation Study of the Algal-Bacterial Selenium Removal System

Diana Stuart .................................................................................................................................. [16 pp.]

Part III:  Agroecology

Trap Crops’ Influence on Biodiversity in Agroecosystems

Nathaniel Allen ............................................................................................................................. [15 pp.]

Transmission of Xylella fastidiosa by Carneocephala fulgida, and its survival in Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)

Robin Choi .................................................................................................................................... [11 pp.]

The Effects of Egg Production on Longevity in the Parasitoid Mastrus ridibundus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Jay A. Francisco............................................................................................................................ [15 pp.]

The relative effect of three mulches on rainbow silver beet chard yields

Jakub Gawronski........................................................................................................................... [11 pp.]

Nitrogen Removal as a Function of Slope, Width, and Percent Plant Cover of Riparian Buffer Zones

Dryw Jones.................................................................................................................................... [10 pp.]

Weed Suppression Through Three Mulches (Subterranean Clover, Coffee Grounds, Newspaper/straw mix) on a Swiss Beet Chard Crop

Harshawn Singh Malhi.................................................................................................................. [13 pp.]

Part IV:  Environmental Policy and Performance

Mechanisms for Local Government and Public Participation in the Binational Management of Hazardous Waste in the San Diego-Tijuana Border Region

Alexandra Marinov ....................................................................................................................... [24 pp.]

On-site Composting of Restaurant Organic Waste: Economic, Ecological, and Social Costs and Benefits

Marisa Mitchell ............................................................................................................................ [20 pp.]

Case Study of Working Conditions in Tijuana, Mexico: The Sanyo Maquiladora

Matthew Price .............................................................................................................................. [11 pp.]

Part V:  Water Quality

A Comparison of the Multiple-Tube Fermentation Method and the Colitag Method for the Detection of Waterborne Coliform Bacteria

J. Julie Hsieh ................................................................................................................................ [10 pp.]

Monitoring the water quality of Lake Merritt, Oakland, Ca.: A study on species abundance in compliance with the water quality index

Giang N. Pham .............................................................................................................................. [11 pp.]

Restoration of a San Francisco Bay Salt Marsh: Evaluating Corixid and Mosquito Populations

Audrey E. Liu ................................................................................................................................ [21 pp.]

The Effects of Natural Oil Seepage on Intertidal Communities  in Santa Barbara, CA.

Paul Owens ................................................................................................................................... [10 pp.]

Part VI: Bioremediation

Analysis of Nitrogen Removal Efficiency of Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond Systems (AIWPS)

Atsushi Hatano ............................................................................................................................. [13 pp.]

Improvement of Algae Settleability in High Rate Ponds Using Rotifers at Richmond Field Station, U.C. Berkeley

Tien Dung Ho ............................................................................................................................... [12 pp.]

Cost Comparison of Storm Water Filters & Remediation Techniques

Sarah Hoehn .................................................................................................................................. [12 pp.]

Evaluating MTBE Biodegradation with Hydrocarbon Metabolizing Cultures

Kou-San Ju .................................................................................................................................... [10 pp.]

Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater in Microalgal-Bacterial Treatment Ponds

Otoyo Kurosu ............................................................................................................................... [13 pp.]

Part VII: Environmental Health and Toxicity

Study of the Degree to which Three Land Trusts’ Conservation Easements Protect Biodiversity

Kathlene Miyauchi ....................................................................................................................... [17 pp.]

Pilot Study of Residential Air Sampling Methods for Endotoxin

Lisa Pheatt .................................................................................................................................... [22 pp.]

Determining the Levels and Sources of Mercury in Strawberry Creek

Jeffrey Gregory Tudd .................................................................................................................. [15 pp.]

IPM Use in California School Districts

Whitney Webber .......................................................................................................................... [15 pp.]

Part VIII: Electronic Waste and Renewable Energy

Analysis of Computer Recycling Awareness of Residents Near Education and Computer Recycling Center of Santa Clara

Philip J. Chen ....................................................................................................................................... [14 pp.]

Computer Disposition at the University of California - Berkeley:  What Happens when Computers Outlive their Usefulness?

Tamara Shri N. Cosio .......................................................................................................................... [17 pp.]

Pre-purchase barriers to photovoltaics within Marin County

Gwendolyn Johnson ............................................................................................................................ [22 pp.]

Energy Savings and Cost Effectiveness of Energy Efficient Housing

Steven M. Lehigh ................................................................................................................................. [11 pp.]

Barriers to Implementation of Electronic End of Life Product Programs in the U.S.

Leon Wong ........................................................................................................................................... [14 pp.]

 

Statement about the authors

These studies were undertaken by seniors in the Environmental Sciences Group Major, an Interdisciplinary Studies program jointly administered by the College of Letters and Sciences and the College of Natural Resources at the University of California at Berkeley.  The Environmental Sciences major allows students to concentrate in one of three fields of specialization: biological science, physical science, and social science.  In their senior year, students in the major participate in a two-semester Senior Research Seminar, investigating an environmental topic of current concern.  This project gives the students experience in field work, general research techniques, and oral and written presentation of research results.  This volume is the compilation of research reports from the fall 2000/spring 2001 Senior Research Seminars.