Matching Items (7)
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- All Subjects: conservation
- Creators: Chew, Matthew
- Member of: Theses and Dissertations
Description
Conservation is a complicated entity consisting of a multitude of professional fields including social issues, cultural issues, and physical science. This thesis evaluates the positive and negative aspects of two broad types of conservation: top down fortress conservation and bottom up community-based conservation. Fortress conservation has many negative aspects, such as displacing human communities and preventing utilization of resources. However, it also has positive aspects, such as preventing the destruction of delicate ecosystems and slowing down extinctions. Community-based conservation is more inclusive and focuses on including the indigenous populations located within the proposed conservation site in the decision-making process. Its negatives include having an anthropocentric goal instead of valuing nature's intrinsic values. Understanding the differences inherent in these two methods is necessary in order to implement a conservation network with the highest chance for success.
ContributorsFink, Laurel Berylline (Author) / Smith, Andrew (Thesis director) / Collins, James (Committee member) / Minteer, Ben (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
Consumption of seafood poses a substantial threat to global biodiversity. Chemical contamination found in both wild-caught and farmed seafood also presents significant health risks to consumers. Flame retardants, used in upholstery, plastics, clothing, and other products to reduce fire danger, are of particular concern as they are commonly found in the marine environment and permeate the tissues of fish that are sold for consumption via multiple pathways. By summarizing various metrics of sustainability and the mercury content in consumed species of fish and shellfish, researchers have found that high levels of chemical contamination was linked with lesser fishery sustainability. I conducted a literature review of flame retardant content in seafood to further compare contamination and sustainability in addition to the initial analysis with mercury. My review suggests that the widespread issue of fishery collapse could be alleviated by demonstrating to stakeholders that many unsustainable fish stocks are mutually disadvantageous for both human consumers and the environment. Future research should address the need for the collection of data that better represent actual global contaminant concentrations in seafood.
ContributorsNoziglia, Andrea Joyce (Author) / Gerber, Leah (Thesis director) / Smith, Andrew (Committee member) / Pratt, Stephen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
Current conservation practices are substantially biased towards large, charismatic animals and are influenced by public perceptions of different animals. Therefore, it is important to understand how these perceptions are formed and what factors influence them in order to promote equitable conservation for all species. This study examines the effect of attending a park education program on public values, knowledge of, and attitudes towards a noncharismatic species. Data was collected from May through October 2016 at the Usery Mountain Regional Park "All About Scorpions" program. A four page, onsite, self-administered pre- and post-program survey was given to program attendees. An identical survey was given to hiking park visitors who had never attended the program as the control sample. Survey statements addressed participant's demographics, value of bugs, knowledge about scorpions, and attitudes toward scorpions. Data analysis was completed using paired t-tests to analyze any statistically significant changes in values, knowledge, and attitudes between pre- and post-participants. Independent sample t-tests were used to analyze the same between the control and pre-participants. The results showed no difference in the value of bugs for any of the survey participants. However, the program attendees had more positive attitudes and greater knowledge of scorpions than general park visitors, and attending the program further increased positive attitudes and knowledge. Contributions of the study are twofold: First, the results provide Usery with information regarding the influence of their public programs, along with how these programs can be improved to make a greater impact. Second, findings serve to extend the literature on what alters public perceptions and how educational programs can be used to change the current conservation mindset.
ContributorsKallman, Nicole Marie (Author) / Minteer, Ben (Thesis director) / Budruk, Megha (Committee member) / Pratt, Stephen (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
This research dives into the media’s influence, population tracking, new conservation methods, and previous studies to support the thesis that creating a positive public perception of the animals will help reduce shark finning and overfishing. Provisions and solutions provide inspiration for what we can do to reduce the overfishing and finning of sharks.
ContributorsMinhinnick, Tess (Author) / Chew, Matthew (Thesis director) / Lyon, Cassandra (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
The objective of this project is to allow viewers to follow along a visual representation of my journey through the Galápagos Islands as well as around the city of Phoenix. Through a curated collection of artwork and personal photographs, this exhibition highlights the beauty, uniqueness, and conservation challenges of Arizona and the Galápagos Islands. By presenting a range of artistic interpretations, my project fosters appreciation for the intricate ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity found in these regions. In addition to appreciation, my exhibition serves as a means to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation. To begin my research, I traveled to the Galápagos Islands to study and observe the wildlife found in these island ecosystems. This trip consisted of volunteer and field work at several locations, such as tortoise breeding centers and the Sierra Negra Volcano. Further research was conducted around the city of Phoenix. This research was completed in a field research course through Arizona State University and required travel to several ecological sites around the city. The field work involved comparing the different abiotic and biotic factors of each site and observing how local taxa was affected by non-native species. This exhibition takes place in the School of Art building on the Arizona State University Tempe campus. My exhibition utilizes the 3D art display case, which allows my project to have a three-dimensional element that provides a more interactive experience to viewers. My exhibition will consist of approximately thirty personal photographs as well as fifteen traditional paintings and drawings. My work depicts several easily recognizable species, such as the Galápagos giant tortoise, blue-footed booby, prickly pear cactus, and velvet mesquite. These species are an array of species from the Galápagos as well as native species that viewers can find in their Arizona backyards. The images used are direct references collected during my excursions to the Galápagos Islands and around Arizona. To enhance engagement and learning, visitors will be able to interact with my personal field journals as well as mementos from my trip to the Galápagos Islands.
ContributorsSilva, Sarah (Author) / Chew, Matthew (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2024-05
ContributorsSilva, Sarah (Author) / Chew, Matthew (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2024-05
ContributorsSilva, Sarah (Author) / Chew, Matthew (Thesis director) / Meissinger, Ellen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2024-05