California State University, Monterey Bay
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The Effects of Teacher Shortage on the Academic Performance of Elementary School Students
No full textThis senior capstone research project explores the impact of teacher shortage on the academic performance of elementary school students. With the use of literature review, survey and teacher interviews, the results show that teacher shortage plays a major role in the success of our students when it comes to their academic performance. By doing this research project, it has become apparent that it is vital to keep teachers in the classroom in order to provide our students with the best possible education. There are several ways that the school district and principals can find and improve on solutions in order to keep teachers in their classroom
Seasonality of Groundfish Community Structure and Habitat Associations on a Mesophotic Reef in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Implications for Conservation and Management
Full text linkManagement of marine ecosystems requires accurate, quantitative, and spatially explicit information on species distributions at scales that are relevant to the management process (J. Ward et al. 1999). This study investigates fish assemblages at depths between 30 and 40 meters, which are relatively understudied compared to shallower ( \u3c 30 m) waters, surveyed extensively via SCUBA, and deeper (\u3e40 m) waters, which are surveyed using submersibles. This research addresses ecological and management-based questions about seasonal and depth-related shifts in groundfish community structure, the role of oceanographic variables in predicting these shifts, and microhabitat selectivity as predictors of community assemblage. To evaluate species abundance, biomass, diversity, and microhabitat associations associations on a mesophotic reef in the Carmel submarine canyon, diver-held stereo video was used to collect species information and quantify habitat characteristics. Oceanographic variables were recorded via a SeapHOx sensor throughout the study period. My analyses revealed seasonal variation in fish communities, with the highest densities occurring in summer, fall, and winter, largely due to small schooling species such as halfbanded and squarespot rockfish (Sebastes semicinctus and S. hopkinsi). Biomass peaked in fall and winter, driven by larger species like blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) and lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus). While species diversity showed no seasonal or depth-related differences, species richness was lowest at the shallower transect, likely due to the dominance of a single species, blue rockfish. Fish densities were higher in conditions of elevated temperatures, low pH and low upwelling, which are typical of late summer through winter. Habitat selectivity was evaluated for species driving differences in community structure, with most species preferring hard or mixed hard substrate, medium to high relief, and medium to high rugosity. Species were more selective when looking at the individual transects rather than the site as a whole, indicating that habitat selectivity is highly dependent on habitat availability and suggests that factors that inform selectivity could shift with available habitat. This study provides insights into the seasonal dynamics and habitat preferences of a nearshore mesophotic reef community, contributing valuable information to support management decisions for marine resources
Supporting Student Success Through Emergency Food Assistance at CSUMB
No full textFood insecurity among college students is an urgent social justice issue that limits equal access to food and well-being. This capstone project was conducted through the Basic Needs organization at California State University Monterey Bay. The purpose of this project was to reduce food insecurity by implementing an external resource within Basic Needs that distributes emergency food packages to students experiencing high levels of need. Utilizing data from the Hub membership direct outreach tracker, a CHHS intern collaborated with an MSW intern and professional staff to assemble tailored food packages using items donated from Trader Joe\u27s and Safeway. The project increased student awareness of available Basic Needs resources and enhanced access to nutritious food. While the program continues to meet its goal of relieving short-term food insecurity, a recommended next step to improve services is replacing the cardboard distribution boxes with cost-effective insulated bags to maximize food safety and insulation
Empowering Families to Support Youth Mental Health in Santa Cruz County
No full textYouth mental health challenges have become an increasingly urgent public health concern, particularly among Hispanic and Latino adolescents in Santa Cruz County, California. United Way Santa Cruz County’s Jóvenes Sanos program is a youth-led initiative through the United4Youth Department which aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental health, promote peer-to-peer connectedness, and provide opportunities of growth and leadership skills. However, barriers connected to parent involvement and participation in collaboration of parent-program relationships has limited parental communication about mental wellness, the primary contributing factor for effective youth support, mental health, and overall well being. This capstone project was designed to strengthen parent engagement within the Jóvenes Sanos program through a bilingual parent feedback survey which led to the creation of a Parent Orientation Night. The survey gathered feedback on parents’ current levels of involvement, comfort with mental health conversations, and preferred methods of engagement. These findings suggested that parents of the program wanted access to more information on the work being done and regular opportunities to connect with program staff. The Parent Orientation Night was implemented to introduce families to program goals, provide culturally responsive mental health resources, and promote open communication and parent-program relationships. It is recommended that United Way Santa Cruz County continue hosting family nights, maintain bilingual communication, and expand parent education efforts to sustain meaningful community impact
CSUMB Music Club Handbook
No full textIn this handbook, Ryan Cobar will discuss the points of planning and execution of an event on CSUMB campus as well as how to run the CSUMB Music Club
Spatial Patterns in Fish Assemblages Across Benthic Habitats Along the California Coast as Interpreted from Video Lander Surveys
No full textGeographic differences in ecological communities often arise due to environmental gradients that influence physiological tolerances, species-specific habitat affinities, and various biological interactions. Fish assemblages in temperate upwelling systems, such as the California Current System (CCS), provide an ideal model system to examine these drivers of community structure. Within the CCS, demersal fish communities are often associated with certain benthic habitats, known as fish-habitat associations. To further explore where species are found in relation to certain habitats and location, I used data collected from analysis of stereo-video landers deployed from 2012-2021 to quantify fish-habitat associations across the California coast from Cordell Bank (38.03 N) to San Clemente Island (32.80 N). The data collected included observations of substrate from 1,117 locations and counts of 29,975 fishes, from 115 species. Using the video lander survey information, I evaluated how habitat type (substrate), seafloor complexity, depth, and latitude shaped species richness, density, diversity, community composition, and size structure of fish populations. Hard and mixed-hard substrates consistently supported higher species richness, density, and diversity than soft and mixed-soft habitats. Species richness increased with depth; however, density and diversity decreased with depth. Fish densities were generally higher south of Point Conception (34.45 N), where water temperatures are warmer. Fish community structure was driven foremost by locations along the coast, with significant effects of habitat in certain locations. Ordinations highlighted multiple rockfish (Sebastes) species as key contributors to differences in fish assemblage structure, and indicator-species analysis identified taxa characteristic of specific locations and habitats. Cooler, more temperate rockfishes were found at northern sites and more tropical species were found at southern sites. Habitats with larger rockfishes were observed over higher relief rocky reefs, whereas flatfishes and smaller schooling species were observed over soft sediment, low relief habitats. Fish body size was associated with habitat, relief, and rugosity, such that relatively large individuals within a species were more likely to occur on hard or soft, high relief, high rugosity reefs. Results corroborate previous research to support the need to identify structurally complex hard-bottom habitats as priority areas for monitoring, marine spatial planning, and sustaining productive fisheries. Ecosystem-based spatial planning supported by MPA networks can target biodiversity and fishery management objectives by prioritizing hotspots identified with video surveys, remote sensing, and adaptive monitoring
Community Voices, Climate Action Choices: Working towards a Resilient Monterey County
Full text linkVulnerable communities in Monterey County face disproportionate environmental and health impacts due to climate change, yet many residents remain unaware of the tools and resources available to support local action. This capstone project was implemented in partnership with Ecology Action (EA) and the Resilient Central Coast (RCC) campaign to increase awareness and engagement with the RCC platform. Serving diverse communities across Monterey County, the project included bilingual outreach efforts, community tabling, educational presentations, and a climate action survey. Over 650 residents were engaged directly, resulting in 99 new household sign-ups on the RCC website, a major milestone for the agency. The survey, which received 74 responses, provided key insights into residents\u27 climate priorities and offered strategies to improve awareness and engagement with RCC. Survey findings identified water conservation, waste reduction, and climate education as top concerns, and highlighted strong interest in workshops, personalized advising, and interactive, community-based programming. The project successfully met its goals by increasing visibility, building trust with local residents, and gathering actionable data to inform future outreach. To build on this momentum, recommended next steps include continuing in-person outreach, improving RCC’s user experience, offering locally-tailored education programs, and expanding partnerships with trusted community-based organizations. These efforts are essential for creating inclusive, locally-informed climate action across Monterey County