Melissa M Baustian - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Melissa M Baustian

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: “Relationships Between Salinity and Short-Term Soil Carbon Accumulation Rates from Marsh Types Across a Landscape in the Mississippi River Delta”

Wetlands

Salinity alterations through sea-level rise from climate change and coastal restoration strategie... more Salinity alterations through sea-level rise from climate change and coastal restoration strategies will likely change the plant and environmental characteristics in coastal marshes thereby influencing soil carbon accumulation rates. Coastal Louisiana marshes have been historically classified as fresh, intermediate, brackish, or saline based on resident plant community and position along a salinity gradient. Short-term total carbon accumulation rates were assessed by collecting 10-cm deep soil cores at 24 sites located in marshes spanning the salinity gradient. Bulk density, total carbon content, and the short-term accretion rates obtained with feldspar horizon markers were measured to determine total carbon accumulation rates. Despite some significant differences in soil properties among marsh types, the mean total carbon accumulation rates among marsh types were not significantly different (mean ± std. err. of 382±55 g TC m-2 yr-1 , n = 15). However, regression analysis indicated that mean annual surface salinity had a significant negative relationship with total carbon accumulation rates. Based on both analyses, the coastal Louisiana total marsh area (1,433,700 ha) accumulates about 5.5 to 7.3 Tg C yr-1. Changing salinities due to increasing relative sea level or resulting from restoration activities may alter carbon accumulation rates in the short term and significantly influence the global carbon cycle. The authors regret that we unknowingly used erroneous bulk density data in Figs. 4 and 6 (panels b,c,e) that affected results in Fig. 7. We carefully examined these data for accuracy following this discovery and successfully corrected the data. Any reference to our January 2017 paper about the bulk density data, carbon density data, short-term carbon accumulation rates, and pool estimates should be disregarded. The results from the analysis with the corrected bulk density data are provided below along with the revised figures (Figs. 4, 6, and 7). The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused. Correcting the bulk density data changed some of the results (mainly the absolute values) but not the overall trends that were reported in the original manuscript. Our overall conclusions, however, remain essentially unchanged. Our study indicates that soils in coastal Louisiana marshes are storing about 6-8% of the maximum global carbon estimates and are likely influencing carbon cycling. Edits to published article: Methods Site Description A total of 24 marsh sites were selected for this study in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya delta regions of Louisiana within four marsh types. We defined marsh types based on plant community composition and salinity values (sensu Visser et al., 2002

Research paper thumbnail of Engaging coastal community members about natural and nature-based solutions to assess their ecosystem function

Ecological Engineering: X

Research paper thumbnail of Elevating local knowledge through participatory modeling: active community engagement in restoration planning in coastal Louisiana

Journal of Geographical Systems

Numerical modeling efforts in support of restoration and protection activities in coastal Louisia... more Numerical modeling efforts in support of restoration and protection activities in coastal Louisiana have traditionally been conducted externally to any stakeholder engagement processes. This separation has resulted in planning- and project-level models built solely on technical observation and analysis of natural processes. Despite its scientific rigor, this process often fails to account for the knowledge, values, and experiences of local stakeholders that often contextualizes a modeled system. To bridge this gap, a team of natural and social scientists worked directly with local residents and resource users to develop a participatory modeling approach to collect and utilize local knowledge about the Breton Sound Estuary in southeast Louisiana, USA. Knowledge capture was facilitated through application of a local knowledge mapping methodology designed to catalog local understanding of current and historical conditions within the estuary and identify desired ecological and hydrologi...

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling current and future freshwater inflow needs of a subtropical estuary to manage and maintain forested wetland ecological conditions

Research paper thumbnail of Development of an Integrated Biophysical Model to represent morphological and ecological processes in a changing deltaic and coastal ecosystem

Environmental Modelling & Software

Research paper thumbnail of Dinoflagellate Cysts Track Eutrophication in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Research paper thumbnail of Direct and indirect controls on organic matter decomposition in four coastal wetland communities along a landscape salinity gradient

Research paper thumbnail of The polychaete, Paraprionospio pinnata, is a likely vector of domoic acid to the benthic food web in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Research paper thumbnail of Ed. board

Combustion and Flame, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge-Based Predictive Tools to Assess Effectiveness of Natural and Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Restoration and Protection Planning

Journal of Hydraulic Engineering

Predictive tools are widely used to study coastal and deltaic systems in support of basic researc... more Predictive tools are widely used to study coastal and deltaic systems in support of basic research, planning efforts, engineering design, and the implementation of restoration or protection strategies. They have been extensively used to evaluate the effectiveness of natural and nature-based solutions (NNBS) to support ecosystem functions and services of coastal ecosystems and human communities experiencing increased risk from sea-level rise and severe storms. The potential benefits of NNBS are being increasingly recognized, particularly in remote areas or areas that are either technically or financially infeasible to be protected with levees or other difficult engineering alternatives. Local communities, however, are often excluded from proposing, screening, or evaluating NNBS as restoration and protection strategies. Communities are also not sufficiently involved in the development or application of the predictive tools. This research effort outlines an approach to developing knowledge-based predictive tools and a community engagement process to evaluate NNBS strategies proposed predominantly by local communities. Incorporating knowledge from local communities benefits and potentially improves the performance of predictive tools and their ability to capture visible trends and observations. To illustrate this concept, the authors present landscape models for coastal Louisiana that successfully reproduced the frequency of flooding of local roads, rate of shoreline erosion, salinity pattern changes, and presence/absence of key species (e.g., brown shrimp, oysters, and so forth). While these qualitative measures are not a substitute for well-established rigorous and quantitative model performance assessment approaches, they offer an effective approach to engage local communities and incorporate their knowledge in the development of the predictive models and the proposed protection and restoration strategies to be examined.

Research paper thumbnail of Paleo-environmental evidence of ecosystem change in Lake St. Clair region of Laurentian Great Lakes basin: contrasting responses to land-use change and invasive mussels

Journal of Paleolimnology

The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogen... more The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogenic stressors, including nutrient enrichment, climate change, chemical and biological pollutants, and invasive species, yet little is known of the relative historical influence of these factors. Here we analyze diverse fossil metrics from vibracores at two sites, a bay area (Anchor Bay) and a tributary (Clinton River) in the Lake St. Clair ecosystem to determine the ecological responses from land-use practices and invasive mussel invasions. Sediment cores spanning over 100 years indicated that the expansion of non-native Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis (dreissenid mussels) into Anchor Bay site after the mid-1990s was associated with ~ 60 to 95% reduction in algal and cyanobacterial abundances and twofold increase in sedimentary organic matter (SOM) and bioavailable phosphorus. These increases in SOM and bioavailable phosphorus are relatively similar to increases inferred f...

Research paper thumbnail of Paleo-environmental evidence of ecosystem change in Lake St. Clair region of Laurentian Great Lakes basin: contrasting responses to land-use change and invasive mussels

Journal of Paleolimnology

The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogen... more The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogenic stressors, including nutrient enrichment, climate change, chemical and biological pollutants, and invasive species, yet little is known of the relative historical influence of these factors. Here we analyze diverse fossil metrics from vibracores at two sites, a bay area (Anchor Bay) and a tributary (Clinton River) in the Lake St. Clair ecosystem to determine the ecological responses from land-use practices and invasive mussel invasions. Sediment cores spanning over 100 years indicated that the expansion of non-native Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis (dreissenid mussels) into Anchor Bay site after the mid-1990s was associated with ~ 60 to 95% reduction in algal and cyanobacterial abundances and twofold increase in sedimentary organic matter (SOM) and bioavailable phosphorus. These increases in SOM and bioavailable phosphorus are relatively similar to increases inferred f...

Research paper thumbnail of A one hundred year review of the socioeconomic and ecological systems of Lake St. Clair, North America

Journal of Great Lakes Research, 2014

ABSTRACT There is a growing concern about continued impairment of aquatic ecosystems resulting fr... more ABSTRACT There is a growing concern about continued impairment of aquatic ecosystems resulting from increasing population size, land use, climate change, and the feedbacks that may harm human well-being. We describe a 100 year multi-disciplinary overview of changes in Lake St. Clair, North America to identify knowledge gaps and needs to build the foundation for creating coupled human and natural system models. Our historical analysis indicates that the socioeconomic dynamics are inextricably linked to the urban dynamics of the Detroit metropolitan area. Environmental degradation and human health issues led to the adoption of relevant policies, including construction of wastewater treatment facilities by the 1960s. Climate trends during the 100-year period indicate a wetter region, which is influencing lake levels. Since the mid-1980s and 90s invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugenis) have significantly altered the ecological structure and function of the lake. Waterborne illnesses due to contaminated drinking water were once an issue but current human health risks have shifted to contaminated recreational waters and coastal pollution. Key research needs for building coupled models include geo-referencing socioeconomic and ecological data to accurately represent the processes occurring within the political and watershed boundaries; assessing ecosystem services for human well-being; and developing research hypotheses and management options regarding interactions among land use, people and the lake. Lake St. Clair has gone through extensive changes, both socioeconomically and ecologically over the last 100 years and we suggest that it serves as a useful case study for the larger Great Lakes region.

Research paper thumbnail of Coupling Socioeconomic and Lake Systems for Sustainability: A Conceptual Analysis Using Lake St. Clair Region as a Case Study

AMBIO, 2014

Applying sustainability at an operational level requires understanding the linkages between socio... more Applying sustainability at an operational level requires understanding the linkages between socioeconomic and natural systems. We identified linkages in a case study of the Lake St. Clair (LSC) region, part of the Laurentian Great Lakes system. Our research phases included:

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of the Mississippi River on Pseudo-nitzschia spp. Abundance and Toxicity in Louisiana Coastal Waters

Estuaries and Coasts, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Melitasphaeridium choanophorum– a living fossil dinoflagellate cyst in the Gulf of Mexico

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Associations of Molecular Measurements of Escherichia coli and Enterococci to Anthropogenic Activities and Climate Variables in Freshwater Sediment Cores

Environmental science & technology, Jan 5, 2016

This study investigated the long-term associations of anthropogenic (sedimentary P, C, and N conc... more This study investigated the long-term associations of anthropogenic (sedimentary P, C, and N concentrations, and human population in the watershed), and climatic variables (air temperature, and river discharge) with Escherichia coli uidA and enterococci 23S rRNA concentrations in sediment cores from Anchor Bay (AB) in Lake St. Clair, and near the mouth of the Clinton River (CR), Michigan. Calendar year was estimated from vertical abundances of (137)Cs. The AB and CR cores spanned c.1760-2012 and c.1895-2012, respectively. There were steady state concentrations of enterococci in AB during c.1760-c.1860 and c.1910-c.2003 at ∼0.1 × 10(5) and ∼2.0 × 10(5) cell equivalents (CE) per g-dry wt, respectively. Enterococci concentrations in CR increased toward present day, and ranged from ∼0.03 × 10(5) to 9.9 × 10(5) CE/g-dry wt. The E. coli concentrations in CR and AB increased toward present day, and ranged from 0.14 × 10(7) to 1.7 × 10(7) CE/g-dry wt, and 1.8 × 10(6) to 8.5 × 10(6) CE/g-dry...

Research paper thumbnail of Innovative Assessment Tools for a Short, Fast-Paced, Summer Field Course

Journal of College Science Teaching, Jul 1, 2008

ABSTRACT An experiential science program, such as a summer course at a field station, requires un... more ABSTRACT An experiential science program, such as a summer course at a field station, requires unique assessment tools. Traditional assessment via a pencil-and-paper exam cannot capture the essential skills and concepts learned at a summer field station. We developed a pre- and postcourse image-based analysis to evaluate student perspectives, created weekly pass/fail quizzes, and produced a comprehensive laboratory and field practical examination for our assessment of student learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Benthic Communities in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Area: Potential Prey for Demersal Fish

Research paper thumbnail of BB 203 263 (Millman et al.)

We incubated the bottles in a growth chamber on a 15:9 h light: dark cycle at a light intensity o... more We incubated the bottles in a growth chamber on a 15:9 h light: dark cycle at a light intensity of 280 -350 E m Ϫ2 s Ϫ1 and a temperature of 24 to 29°C. All treatments were sampled initially, and on days 1, 2, and 4.

Research paper thumbnail of Correction to: “Relationships Between Salinity and Short-Term Soil Carbon Accumulation Rates from Marsh Types Across a Landscape in the Mississippi River Delta”

Wetlands

Salinity alterations through sea-level rise from climate change and coastal restoration strategie... more Salinity alterations through sea-level rise from climate change and coastal restoration strategies will likely change the plant and environmental characteristics in coastal marshes thereby influencing soil carbon accumulation rates. Coastal Louisiana marshes have been historically classified as fresh, intermediate, brackish, or saline based on resident plant community and position along a salinity gradient. Short-term total carbon accumulation rates were assessed by collecting 10-cm deep soil cores at 24 sites located in marshes spanning the salinity gradient. Bulk density, total carbon content, and the short-term accretion rates obtained with feldspar horizon markers were measured to determine total carbon accumulation rates. Despite some significant differences in soil properties among marsh types, the mean total carbon accumulation rates among marsh types were not significantly different (mean ± std. err. of 382±55 g TC m-2 yr-1 , n = 15). However, regression analysis indicated that mean annual surface salinity had a significant negative relationship with total carbon accumulation rates. Based on both analyses, the coastal Louisiana total marsh area (1,433,700 ha) accumulates about 5.5 to 7.3 Tg C yr-1. Changing salinities due to increasing relative sea level or resulting from restoration activities may alter carbon accumulation rates in the short term and significantly influence the global carbon cycle. The authors regret that we unknowingly used erroneous bulk density data in Figs. 4 and 6 (panels b,c,e) that affected results in Fig. 7. We carefully examined these data for accuracy following this discovery and successfully corrected the data. Any reference to our January 2017 paper about the bulk density data, carbon density data, short-term carbon accumulation rates, and pool estimates should be disregarded. The results from the analysis with the corrected bulk density data are provided below along with the revised figures (Figs. 4, 6, and 7). The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused. Correcting the bulk density data changed some of the results (mainly the absolute values) but not the overall trends that were reported in the original manuscript. Our overall conclusions, however, remain essentially unchanged. Our study indicates that soils in coastal Louisiana marshes are storing about 6-8% of the maximum global carbon estimates and are likely influencing carbon cycling. Edits to published article: Methods Site Description A total of 24 marsh sites were selected for this study in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya delta regions of Louisiana within four marsh types. We defined marsh types based on plant community composition and salinity values (sensu Visser et al., 2002

Research paper thumbnail of Engaging coastal community members about natural and nature-based solutions to assess their ecosystem function

Ecological Engineering: X

Research paper thumbnail of Elevating local knowledge through participatory modeling: active community engagement in restoration planning in coastal Louisiana

Journal of Geographical Systems

Numerical modeling efforts in support of restoration and protection activities in coastal Louisia... more Numerical modeling efforts in support of restoration and protection activities in coastal Louisiana have traditionally been conducted externally to any stakeholder engagement processes. This separation has resulted in planning- and project-level models built solely on technical observation and analysis of natural processes. Despite its scientific rigor, this process often fails to account for the knowledge, values, and experiences of local stakeholders that often contextualizes a modeled system. To bridge this gap, a team of natural and social scientists worked directly with local residents and resource users to develop a participatory modeling approach to collect and utilize local knowledge about the Breton Sound Estuary in southeast Louisiana, USA. Knowledge capture was facilitated through application of a local knowledge mapping methodology designed to catalog local understanding of current and historical conditions within the estuary and identify desired ecological and hydrologi...

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling current and future freshwater inflow needs of a subtropical estuary to manage and maintain forested wetland ecological conditions

Research paper thumbnail of Development of an Integrated Biophysical Model to represent morphological and ecological processes in a changing deltaic and coastal ecosystem

Environmental Modelling & Software

Research paper thumbnail of Dinoflagellate Cysts Track Eutrophication in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Research paper thumbnail of Direct and indirect controls on organic matter decomposition in four coastal wetland communities along a landscape salinity gradient

Research paper thumbnail of The polychaete, Paraprionospio pinnata, is a likely vector of domoic acid to the benthic food web in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Research paper thumbnail of Ed. board

Combustion and Flame, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Knowledge-Based Predictive Tools to Assess Effectiveness of Natural and Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Restoration and Protection Planning

Journal of Hydraulic Engineering

Predictive tools are widely used to study coastal and deltaic systems in support of basic researc... more Predictive tools are widely used to study coastal and deltaic systems in support of basic research, planning efforts, engineering design, and the implementation of restoration or protection strategies. They have been extensively used to evaluate the effectiveness of natural and nature-based solutions (NNBS) to support ecosystem functions and services of coastal ecosystems and human communities experiencing increased risk from sea-level rise and severe storms. The potential benefits of NNBS are being increasingly recognized, particularly in remote areas or areas that are either technically or financially infeasible to be protected with levees or other difficult engineering alternatives. Local communities, however, are often excluded from proposing, screening, or evaluating NNBS as restoration and protection strategies. Communities are also not sufficiently involved in the development or application of the predictive tools. This research effort outlines an approach to developing knowledge-based predictive tools and a community engagement process to evaluate NNBS strategies proposed predominantly by local communities. Incorporating knowledge from local communities benefits and potentially improves the performance of predictive tools and their ability to capture visible trends and observations. To illustrate this concept, the authors present landscape models for coastal Louisiana that successfully reproduced the frequency of flooding of local roads, rate of shoreline erosion, salinity pattern changes, and presence/absence of key species (e.g., brown shrimp, oysters, and so forth). While these qualitative measures are not a substitute for well-established rigorous and quantitative model performance assessment approaches, they offer an effective approach to engage local communities and incorporate their knowledge in the development of the predictive models and the proposed protection and restoration strategies to be examined.

Research paper thumbnail of Paleo-environmental evidence of ecosystem change in Lake St. Clair region of Laurentian Great Lakes basin: contrasting responses to land-use change and invasive mussels

Journal of Paleolimnology

The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogen... more The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogenic stressors, including nutrient enrichment, climate change, chemical and biological pollutants, and invasive species, yet little is known of the relative historical influence of these factors. Here we analyze diverse fossil metrics from vibracores at two sites, a bay area (Anchor Bay) and a tributary (Clinton River) in the Lake St. Clair ecosystem to determine the ecological responses from land-use practices and invasive mussel invasions. Sediment cores spanning over 100 years indicated that the expansion of non-native Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis (dreissenid mussels) into Anchor Bay site after the mid-1990s was associated with ~ 60 to 95% reduction in algal and cyanobacterial abundances and twofold increase in sedimentary organic matter (SOM) and bioavailable phosphorus. These increases in SOM and bioavailable phosphorus are relatively similar to increases inferred f...

Research paper thumbnail of Paleo-environmental evidence of ecosystem change in Lake St. Clair region of Laurentian Great Lakes basin: contrasting responses to land-use change and invasive mussels

Journal of Paleolimnology

The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogen... more The Laurentian Great Lakes have been subject to substantial modification from diverse anthropogenic stressors, including nutrient enrichment, climate change, chemical and biological pollutants, and invasive species, yet little is known of the relative historical influence of these factors. Here we analyze diverse fossil metrics from vibracores at two sites, a bay area (Anchor Bay) and a tributary (Clinton River) in the Lake St. Clair ecosystem to determine the ecological responses from land-use practices and invasive mussel invasions. Sediment cores spanning over 100 years indicated that the expansion of non-native Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis (dreissenid mussels) into Anchor Bay site after the mid-1990s was associated with ~ 60 to 95% reduction in algal and cyanobacterial abundances and twofold increase in sedimentary organic matter (SOM) and bioavailable phosphorus. These increases in SOM and bioavailable phosphorus are relatively similar to increases inferred f...

Research paper thumbnail of A one hundred year review of the socioeconomic and ecological systems of Lake St. Clair, North America

Journal of Great Lakes Research, 2014

ABSTRACT There is a growing concern about continued impairment of aquatic ecosystems resulting fr... more ABSTRACT There is a growing concern about continued impairment of aquatic ecosystems resulting from increasing population size, land use, climate change, and the feedbacks that may harm human well-being. We describe a 100 year multi-disciplinary overview of changes in Lake St. Clair, North America to identify knowledge gaps and needs to build the foundation for creating coupled human and natural system models. Our historical analysis indicates that the socioeconomic dynamics are inextricably linked to the urban dynamics of the Detroit metropolitan area. Environmental degradation and human health issues led to the adoption of relevant policies, including construction of wastewater treatment facilities by the 1960s. Climate trends during the 100-year period indicate a wetter region, which is influencing lake levels. Since the mid-1980s and 90s invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugenis) have significantly altered the ecological structure and function of the lake. Waterborne illnesses due to contaminated drinking water were once an issue but current human health risks have shifted to contaminated recreational waters and coastal pollution. Key research needs for building coupled models include geo-referencing socioeconomic and ecological data to accurately represent the processes occurring within the political and watershed boundaries; assessing ecosystem services for human well-being; and developing research hypotheses and management options regarding interactions among land use, people and the lake. Lake St. Clair has gone through extensive changes, both socioeconomically and ecologically over the last 100 years and we suggest that it serves as a useful case study for the larger Great Lakes region.

Research paper thumbnail of Coupling Socioeconomic and Lake Systems for Sustainability: A Conceptual Analysis Using Lake St. Clair Region as a Case Study

AMBIO, 2014

Applying sustainability at an operational level requires understanding the linkages between socio... more Applying sustainability at an operational level requires understanding the linkages between socioeconomic and natural systems. We identified linkages in a case study of the Lake St. Clair (LSC) region, part of the Laurentian Great Lakes system. Our research phases included:

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of the Mississippi River on Pseudo-nitzschia spp. Abundance and Toxicity in Louisiana Coastal Waters

Estuaries and Coasts, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Melitasphaeridium choanophorum– a living fossil dinoflagellate cyst in the Gulf of Mexico

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Associations of Molecular Measurements of Escherichia coli and Enterococci to Anthropogenic Activities and Climate Variables in Freshwater Sediment Cores

Environmental science & technology, Jan 5, 2016

This study investigated the long-term associations of anthropogenic (sedimentary P, C, and N conc... more This study investigated the long-term associations of anthropogenic (sedimentary P, C, and N concentrations, and human population in the watershed), and climatic variables (air temperature, and river discharge) with Escherichia coli uidA and enterococci 23S rRNA concentrations in sediment cores from Anchor Bay (AB) in Lake St. Clair, and near the mouth of the Clinton River (CR), Michigan. Calendar year was estimated from vertical abundances of (137)Cs. The AB and CR cores spanned c.1760-2012 and c.1895-2012, respectively. There were steady state concentrations of enterococci in AB during c.1760-c.1860 and c.1910-c.2003 at ∼0.1 × 10(5) and ∼2.0 × 10(5) cell equivalents (CE) per g-dry wt, respectively. Enterococci concentrations in CR increased toward present day, and ranged from ∼0.03 × 10(5) to 9.9 × 10(5) CE/g-dry wt. The E. coli concentrations in CR and AB increased toward present day, and ranged from 0.14 × 10(7) to 1.7 × 10(7) CE/g-dry wt, and 1.8 × 10(6) to 8.5 × 10(6) CE/g-dry...

Research paper thumbnail of Innovative Assessment Tools for a Short, Fast-Paced, Summer Field Course

Journal of College Science Teaching, Jul 1, 2008

ABSTRACT An experiential science program, such as a summer course at a field station, requires un... more ABSTRACT An experiential science program, such as a summer course at a field station, requires unique assessment tools. Traditional assessment via a pencil-and-paper exam cannot capture the essential skills and concepts learned at a summer field station. We developed a pre- and postcourse image-based analysis to evaluate student perspectives, created weekly pass/fail quizzes, and produced a comprehensive laboratory and field practical examination for our assessment of student learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Benthic Communities in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Area: Potential Prey for Demersal Fish

Research paper thumbnail of BB 203 263 (Millman et al.)

We incubated the bottles in a growth chamber on a 15:9 h light: dark cycle at a light intensity o... more We incubated the bottles in a growth chamber on a 15:9 h light: dark cycle at a light intensity of 280 -350 E m Ϫ2 s Ϫ1 and a temperature of 24 to 29°C. All treatments were sampled initially, and on days 1, 2, and 4.