The University of Toledo

List of Theses an PhD Dissertations

List of MS Theses & PhD Dissertations Completed in the Environmental Sciences Department from 2000 to present

BENEDICT, MICHAEL (MS Ecology, 2000)
Thesis: “Successional development of cambará (Vochysia divergens)-dominated forest stands in the Northern Pantanal of Brazil.” [adviser: J.F. Gottgens]

BURNETT, LAURA (MS Ecology, 2000)
Thesis: "Dynamics of the deep chlorophyll maximum in lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica" [adviser: D.L. Moorhead]  

HATFIELD, NANCY (PhD Ecology, 2000)
Dissertation: "Tracking diverse sources of recreational beach contamination by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis and monitoring beaches for public safety" [adviser: R.L. Sinsabaugh] 

HOMSHER, MICHAEL (PhD Ecology, 2000)
Dissertation: "Time-integrated contaminant monitoring in an aquatic ecosystem using semi-permeable membrane devices and dreissena polymorpha" [co-advisers: J.F. Gottgens and A.L. Spongberg]  

MCKENNA , KERRY (MS Ecology, 2000)
Thesis: "Behavior interactions betwen the introduced Red-eared Slider (Trachemys Scripta Elegans) and the Native Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)" [adviser: E.J. Tramer]

MINAROVIC, RAY (MS Geology, 2000)
Thesis: "The characterization of the hydrogeological functionality of an engineered wetland within the Maumee River watershed of northwest Ohio" [adviser: J.M. Martin-Hayden]  

ELLIOT, JEFFREY (MS Geology, 2001)
Thesis: "Filtering and analysis of the gravity signature of the Kentland dome structure, Indiana" [adviser: Dr. D.J. Stierman]

IANEV, ROMAN (MS Geology, 2001)
Thesis: "Origin of Opal Cement in the Pennsylvania minnelusa sandstone, northern Blackhills, South Dakota" [co-advisers: J.A. Harrell and V.M. Brown)

LAUBER, CHRISTIAN (MS Ecology, 2001)
Thesis: "Characterization of diffuse sources of fecal pollution and pathogenic constituents of Escherichia coli populations in Maumee Bay State Park" [adviser: R.L. Sinsabaugh]  

BUHOVECKEY, GREG (MS Geology, 2001)
Thesis:  “A wellhead protection plan for the Village of Montpelier, OH” [adviser:  J.M. Martin-Hayden]  

SAIYA-CORK, KELLYANNE (MS Ecology, 2001)
Thesis: "The effects of long term nitrogen deposition on soil microbial communities in a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) forest in northern Michigan" [adviser: R.L. Sinsabaugh]

SCHMELING, JAMIE (MS Ecology, 2001)
Thesis:  "Sensitivity of carbon dynamics to changing light availability of benthic microbial mats in Lake Hoare, Antarctica" [adviser: D.L. Moorhead]

TAYLOR GREGORY (MS Geology, 2001) 
Thesis: "Environmental impacts on soils within two northwest Ohio Cemeteries" [adviser: Dr. A.L. Spongberg] 

GALLO, MARCY (MS Ecology, 2002)
Thesis: "Short-term effects of N amendment on oxidative enzyme activity and microbial community compositon in three northern hardwood forest," [adviser: R.L. Sinsabaugh]

CONRAD, FRANK (MS Geology, 2002) 
Thesis: "Crinoid deformation and regional structural geology in northeastern West Virginia, northwestern Virginia, western Maryland, and south central Rennsylvania" [adviser: S. L. Dean]

FERGUSON, MARK (MS Geology, 2002)
Thesis:  “A paleo-stratigraphic correlation of the Greenland Gap Group (Upper Devonian) in Town Hill Syncline, Whip Cove Syncline, and Whip Cove Anticline, Hampshire and Hardy counties, northeastern West Virginia” [co-advisers:  M.J. Camp and S.L. Dean]

OROS, DAN (MS Geology, 2002)
Thesis: "The occurrence and impact of fractures within glacial deposits near a hazardous waste landfill, Oregon, Ohio" [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

VELUCI, ROBERTA (MS Ecology, 2002)
Thesis: "Microbiotic crusts: ecological roles in an Oak Savanna of northwest Ohio" [adviser: D.A. Neher]

 AMONETTE, RACHEL (MS Ecology, 2002)
"Diversity, redundancy, and efficiency in microbial decompostion of Typha litter" [adviser: R.L. Sinsabaugh]

VAGEN, JENNIFER (MS Geology, 2003)
Thesis: "The influences of groundwater on bluff erosion at Bill Stanton Community Park, Lake County, OH" [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

COMES, MANDY (MS Ecology, 2003)
Thesis: "Changing avian diversity in the Maumee Watershed" [adviser: D.L. Moorhead]

MA, SIYAN (PhD Ecology, 2003)
Dissertation: "Interactions between microclimate, soil respiration, and disturbances in a forest ecosystem:  Lessons from the Teakettle Experimental Forest" [adviser: J. Chen]

WALTERS, TIMOTHY (PhD Ecology, 2004)
Dissertation: "The effects of controlled burning and mowing on vegetation in an Oak Openings sand prairie" [adviser: E. Tramer]

 BRESEE, MARY (MS Ecology, 2004)
Thesis: "Photosynthesis characteristics of two climatically different landscapes" [adviser: J. Chen]

RADEMACHER, JOHN (MS Ecology, 2004)
Thesis: " Forest structure and carbon allocation within and between two northern-mixed hardwood edges" [co-advisers: J. Chen and K. Brosofske]

DARBY, BRIAN (MS Ecology, 2004)
Thesis: "Effects of biological soil crusts on nematode and protozoan communities in Colorado Plateau and Chihuahuan Desert soils" [adviser: D. Neher]

MYSOREKAR, KAUSHIK (MS Ecology, 2004)
Thesis: "Lidar remote sensing as a tool for ecosystem management of the Oak Opening region, Ohio" [adviser: J. Gottgens]

MULLER, BARRY (PhD Ecology, 2004)
Dissertation: "The effect of long-term nonpoint-source agricultural runoff on assimilative capacity of freshwater marshes – a paleoecological approach" [adviser: J. Gottgens]

HARTLEY, LINDY (MS Geology, 2004)
Thesis: “Characterization of a heavy metal contaminated soil in Ohio for a phytoremediation project” [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

LEMOINE, JAMES (MS Ecology, 2004)
Thesis: “Soil respiration of three chronosequences in Chequamegon National Forest” [adviser: J. Chen]

MCLAUGHLIN, MELANIE (MS Ecology, 2004)
Thesis: “Effects of the Toledo Ohio Metroparks on stream quality and fish community structure” [adviser: E.J. Tramer]

SPERA, SHELLEY (MS Geology, 2004)
Thesis: “Metal and pesticide preservation in the Winous Point Marshes, Sandusky, Ohio” [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

TRAN, SUSAN (MS Ecology, 2004)
Thesis: “Habitat selection by two native turtle species in a Lake Erie wetland” [adviser: D.L. Moorhead]

ARCEO, AMANDA (MS Ecology, 2005)
Thesis: “The impact of a small dam on fish community composition and structure in the Ottawa River, Ohio” [adviser: J.F. Gottgens]

BARNSWELL, KRIS (MS Ecology, 2005)
Thesis: “Survey of naturally developing vegetation on an inactive landfill in northwest Ohio” [adviser: D.F. Dwyer]

CONCILIO, AMY (MS Ecology, 2005)
Thesis: “Interannual variability in soil respiration and response to experimental burning and thinning in an old growth mixed-conifer forest” [adviser: J. Chen]

HERMAN, JOHN (MS Ecology, 2005)
Thesis: “Herpetofaunal communities in agro-ecosystems: the effect of farm management style” [adviser: E.J. Tramer]

LAHNERS, AMBER (MS Geology 2005)
Thesis: “Constraining the Nipissing transgression in the Central Lake Michigan Basin” [adviser: T.G. Fisher]

MITCHELL, BRIAN (MS Geology, 2005)
Thesis: “Identification and mapping of Greenland Gap (Upper Devonian) units on the eastern limb of Sideling Hill syncline, Hampshire, Hardy and Morgan Counties, West Virginia” [co-advisers: S.L. Dean and M.J. Camp]

ROFKAR, JORDAN (MS Ecology, 2005)
Thesis: “Arsenic accumulation by plant species selected for growth in northwest Ohio” [adviser: D.F. Dwyer]

RYU, SOUNG-RYOUL (PhD Ecology, 2005)
Dissertation: “Effect of disturbances on fuel loading, fire-mosaic, and interactions in managed forest lanscape” [adviser: J. Chen]

SOKOLOSKI, PETER (MS Geology, 2005)
Thesis: “Sedimentology and ichnology of Late Cambrian to Early Ordovician Skolithos Sandstone in the Deadwood Formation, northern Black Hills, South Dakota, and southeastern Bear Lodge Mountains, Wyoming” [co-advisers: J.A. Harrell and V.M. Brown]

WEYER, KELLY (MS Geology, 2005)
Thesis: “Eolian sand in lacustrine sediment: a proxy for water levels in the Lake Michigan Basin” [adviser: T.G. Fisher]

ARGO, DAVID (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: “Habitat use by two native turtle species in the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge” [adviser: D.L. Moorhead]

CHEN, MEI (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "Protein profile changes of Arabidopsis leaves in response to boron stress" [adviser: S.A. Heckathorn]

ELKINGTON, BRIAN (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: “The effects of turbidity quality and quantity on zooplankton consumption by young of year yellow perch (Perca flavescens)” [adviser: C.M. Mayer]

LACROIX, JACOB (PhD Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "Interactions between fire and landscape structure: applications of the FARSITE model" [Adviser: J. Chen]

LAWHORN, NICOLE (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: “Impact of Coleoptran-active Bt corn on extracellular enzyme activities and decomposition processes of non-target microbial communities in soil and litter” [adviser: D. Neher]

LI, QINGLIN (PhD Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "Carbon storage and fluxes in a managed oak forest landscape" [Adviser: J. Chen]

LOOPE, HENRY (MS Geology, 2006)
Thesis: “Deglacial chronology and glacial stratigraphy of the western Thunder Bay lowland, northwest Ontario, Canada” [adviser: T.G. Fisher]

MCKENNA, KERRY (PhD Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "Comparing carbon dynamics of pelagic food webs in two Antarctic lakes: a practical application of ecological network analysis to an ecological network" [adviser: D.L. Moorhead]

MEINHART, JAMES (MS Geology, 2006)
Thesis: “Building stones of Toledo, Ohio: a survey of dimension stone use in significant structures including history and walking tours of the downtown area and the Old West End” [adviser: M.J. Camp]

MIERZWIAK, SARA (MS Geology, 2006)
Thesis: “Enhanced in situ bioremediation of a trichloroethylene groundwater plume using a dilute vegetable oil emulsion” [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

MURBI, HARRISON (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: “Use of geospatial technology to map Great Lakes invasive species” [adviser: D.F. Dwyer]

SCARBRO, JONA (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: “Microbial transport through the vadose zone of a biosolid amended cropland: implications for land application of Class B biosolids and surface water quality” [adviser: D.F. Dwyer]

DEVANNA, KRISTEN (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "Role of Dreissena as ecosystem engineers -- effects to native bioturbators and benthic community structure and function" [adviser: C.M. Mayer]

JOSHI, PUNEET (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "Investigations into Interactive Effects of Global-Climate-Change Factors on Plant Function" [adviser: S.A. Heckathorn]

KOLINSKI, CAINE (MSE Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "Integrating wetlands ecology in secondary science education" [adviser: J.F. Gottgens]

STEARNS, ANNE (MS Ecology, 2006)
Thesis: "The management status of southwestern coastal Lake Erie marshes: challenges and opportunities to maximize natural wetland functions" [adviser: J.F. Gottgens]

BENEDICT, MICHAEL (PhD Ecology, 2006)
Dissertation: "Riparian forests in NW Ohio watersheds -- relations among landscape structure, land use/land cover, and water quality in streams" [adviser: J.F. Gottgens]

AUSTIN (FUSSELL), BRITTANY (MS Geology, 2007)
Thesis: "Holocene paleoecology and climate change in Silver and Stony Lakes, Oceana County, MI, USA" [adviser: T.G. Fisher]

BODAMER, BETSY (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: "Wetlands as barriers -- effects of vegetated waterways on downstream dispersal of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)" [adviser: J.M. Bossenbroek]

CRAIL, TODD (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: "Testing the impact of plant colonization on fish communities in agricultural ditches of the Ottawa River, northwest Ohio" [adviser: J.F. Gottgens]

HENDERSON, RACHEL (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: "Partitioning soil respiration through vertical profiles of experimental forests in MOFEP" [adviser: J. Chen]

HUANG, XIXI (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: "Identification of putative geographic sources of bacterial pollution in Lake Erie by molecular fingerprinting" [adviser: W.V. Sigler]

MAINALI, KUMAR (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: "Impact of heat waves on plant-soil links in tall-grass prairie" [adviser: S.A. Heckathorn]

TENNEY, GWENDOLYN (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: "Quantifying the impact of prescribed burning on Ohio oak woodland" [adviser: J. Chen]

ABU-ALAIWA, WISSAM (PhD Ecology, 2007)
Dissertation: "Advances in biotechnology for the enhancement of medicinal plants pharmacology" [adviser: S.L. Goldman]

AL-ABED, DIAA (PhD Ecology, 2007)
Dissertation: "Genetic engineering of maize (Zea mays L.) using a novel explant 'split-seed'" [adviser: S.L. Goldman]

BRANDEBERRY, JESSICA (MS Geology, 2007)
Thesis: “A passive seismic investigation of the crustal structure under Ohio” [adviser: D.J. Stierman]

BODAMER, BETSY (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: "The effects of wetland streams on the secondary dispersal of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in connected lake-stream systems" [adviser: T.B. Bridgeman]

HAPONSKI, AMANDA (MS Ecology, 2007)
Thesis: “Molecular, morphological, and biogeographic resolution of cryptic taxa in the greenside darter etheostoma blennioides comples” [adviser: C.A. Stepien]

WITTER, JASON D. (MS Geology, 2008)
Thesis: “Diurnal soil temperature effects within the Globe Program dataset and pharmaceutical compounds in the wastewater process stream in northwest Ohio” [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

GALLANT, PATRICIA (MS Geology, 2008)
Thesis: “Geophysical signatures of Quaternary sediments in Lucas County, Ohio” [co-advisers: D.J. Stierman & D.E. Krantz]

WELLINGTON, COLLEEN (MS Ecology, 2008)
Thesis: “ Effects of turbidity and prey density on the foraging success of age-0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens)” [co-advisers: C.M. Mayer & J.M. Bossenbroek]

TRIPATHEE, RAJAN (MS Ecology, 2008)
Thesis: “Effect of CO₂ on the response of C and N relations to a heat wave in sunflower and corn” [adviser: S.A. Heckathorn]

OYEWUMI, OLUYINKA (MS Geology, 2008)
Thesis: “Sorption characteristics of soils for heavy metals uptake within some landfill sites of northwest Ohio" [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

NORTON, ABBY (MS Geology, 2008)
Thesis: "Post-glacial stratigraphy in the Western Basin of Lake Erie" [co-advisers: A.L. Spongberg and D. Krantz]

WANG, DAN (PhD Ecology, 2008)
Dissertation: "Effects of CO2 and N on plant responses to heat stress" [adviser: S. A. Heckathorn]

NELSON, Donald (MS Geology, 2009)
Thesis: “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of Marinas, Western Basin Lake Erie, USA” [adviser: A.L. Spongberg]

FRIEDHOFF, Michael (MS Geology, 2009)
Thesis: “Geophysical mapping of karst features at Sheriden Cave, Wyandot County, Ohio” [adviser: D.J. Stierman]

CAMPBELL, Melinda (MS Geology, 2009)
Thesis: “The evolution of the Lake Warren coastline in the Oak Openings region in northwest Ohio, USA” [adviser: T.G. Fisher]

DUNCAN, ALEXANDER (MS Ecology 2009)
Thesis: "Evaluation of Azolla caroliniana to phytofiltrate arsenic from contaminated water" [adviser: J.F. Gottgens]

HAMMER, Erin (MS Ecology, 2009)
Thesis: “Effects of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) on soil nutrient dynamics and microbial community function and structure” [co-advisors: D.L. Moorhead and M.N. Weintraub]

KASSEM, Issmat (PhD Ecology, 2009)
Dissertation: “Typing and characterization of environmental Staphylococcus aureus communities” [adviser: W.V. Sigler]