Digital Commons @ Texas A&M University-San Antonio
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Evaluating Nutrient Uptake Efficiency of Texas Native Plants in Simulated Constructed Wetland Systems
No full textNutrient enrichment from wastewater effluent and runoff is a major driver of eutrophication in freshwater systems, increasing the need for effective and ecologically beneficial treatment strategies. Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer a nature-based solution for reducing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) while simultaneously supporting habitat and biodiversity. However, most CW research has focused on traditional species such as cattails and bulrushes, with limited quantitative data on the performance of Texas native plants. This study evaluated the nutrient uptake potential and stress tolerance of two Texas native species—buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)—in simulated, recirculating wetland systems
Demographic Factors and Environmental Values in San Antonio, Texas: Implications for Water Conservation Policy
No full textSan Antonio, Texas is the seventh most populated city in the U.S. with a projected population boom between San Antonio and New Braunfels to be estimated to jump to 4,294,232 million by 2050 (LB Potter, N Hoque, 2017). The main source of fresh water for the city, Edward’s Aquifer, is a shared resource for several townships. Climate change projections for the Southwest United States suggest that the region will undergo longer, and more extreme droughts as the climate becomes more arid. (JL Banner, CS Jackson, 2010). In this study using data from a 2023 survey, that asked participants a series of questions relating to their NEP Values, Income Levels, Education, and Gender Identification. Using this data we will attempt to describe the underlying values of the city\u27s population and possibly their willingness to adhere to water sustainability practices using the demographic factors of gender identity, income level, education level, political views, and knowledge of the water system. This paper will also highlight disparities found in the study such as higher education not necessarily relating to higher values in the New Ecological Paradigm model, which focuses on people\u27s environmental values. Keywords: New Ecological Paradigm, Environmental Values, Water Conservation, Demographics, Texas, Sustainabilit
The Effect of The #Me Too Movement on Domestic Violence in Bexar County
No full textI will analyze the impact of the #MeToo movement on domestic violence in Bexar County by comparing domestic violence statistics from Bexar County to statewide figures in Texas between 2017 and 2022. To provide context, I will explore the societal factors contributing to the prevalence of domestic violence and outline the evolution of the #MeToo movement into one of the most significant feminist movements of the 21st century. Next, I will present and support my hypothesis: Bexar County, as a predominantly Democratic county, may have experienced a more pronounced impact on domestic violence trends due to the #MeToo movement\u27s association with progressive and liberal ideologies, compared to the rest of Texas. I will examine three key statistical measures—domestic violence calls, homicides, and prosecutions—spanning the period from the movement\u27s inception to the present day. Finally, I will conclude by sharing insights from an interview with Blanca Urbie, a representative from the Women\u27s Battered Shelter. I will emphasize the collective responsibility of society to challenge and dismantle this harmful societal norm by addressing the underlying causes of domestic violence and fostering meaningful change
Recycling Education Through Texas K-12 Schools
No full textEvery year millions of tons of recycling get thrown away by Americans that could be repurposed into something new. Recycling should be introduced from a young age and practiced through K-12 and college. Currently, very few programs exist to educate students on the process or purpose of recycling. This project presents four case studies of recycling education initiatives from the elementary to the collegiate levels in the San Antonio region. By analyzing the data between the different age groups and campuses, the findings will be able to discuss the different approaches that are taken to foster environmental responsibility in students. This research highlights individual program progress by comparing total weight collected for the recycling initiatives. With the research it can be determined as to how effective programs like this can be and how it promotes environmental stewardship
Sequential Temperature Acclimation and Metabolic Rate: Order- Dependent Effects in Lizards
No full textEnvironmental temperature fluctuations strongly influence the physiology of many ectothermic species, including the brown anole (Anolis sagrei). Scientists often measure the metabolic rate of these animals at different temperatures as part of a suite of variables used to determine how they may react to environmental change or how they partition their thermal environment with other species. Current methodologies for measuring oxygen usage over time as a proxy for metabolic rate are not standardized across the discipline, but it does involve either ramping up or ramping down the temperature and measuring oxygen consumption rate at different temperatures. We hypothesize that each previous experimental temperature experienced affects the subsequent measurements and, therefore, biases the measurement depending on sequence. In this study, we measure oxygen consumption across the same set of conditions using three different sequences of acclimation temperatures prevalent in the literature and one novel methodology. Our findings will help scientists interpret their future results and make better comparisons between and within species. Understanding how measurements of this species’s metabolism is affected by the design of the experiment will have much broader implications on physiological research on all ectotherms. . Keywords: Brown Anoles, Anolis sagrei, thermoregulation, metabolic response, oxygen consumption, evolutionary ecolog
Relative Reward Preference in Honey Bees
No full textHoney bees are a unique model organism because individual bees make foraging decisions, but they must also work together to optimally support the needs of the colony as a “superorganism.” Research from other labs has shown that individual forager bees reject a smaller reward if they expected to find a large reward at the target. An unexplored question is how changing rewards at one location influences feeding at other foraging patches. For example, it would be interesting if shifting a feeder from 2.0 M sucrose to 1.0 M sucrose increased the foragers visiting a nearby feeder that always provided 1.0 M sucrose, since it suggests a preference not based on the absolute value of the reward but rather based on the relative reward history at all nearby foraging locations. Pilot data from our lab suggest that this is the case, however, there were discrepancies depending on whether the bees were trained on subsequent days or whether days were skipped. For this study we systematically controlled for number of days between training sessions
Memory for Black and White Faces Paired with Weapons and Other Objects
No full textWe used White and Black male face photographs from the Chicago Face Database, selecting those rated highest and lowest in prototypicality by race, and paired these with photographs depicting either handheld weapons, kitchenware, or random objects belonging to no coherent category. Participants viewed sequences of face/object pairs for 4s each, then took recognition memory tests for faces, objects, and which faces were paired with which objects. Participants then took the Race Faces implicit association test (IAT). We hypothesized that those exhibiting anti-Black bias on the IAT would be biased toward indicating they had previously seen Black/Weapon combinations during memory tests for pairs. Data collections are ongoing with 58 participants so far collected. Preliminary results show the more negative implicit bias for Black faces, the more accurate at remembering prototypical Black faces as well as the least prototypical White faces that were paired with weapons. The more positive implicit bias for Black faces, the more false memories for non-prototypical Black faces and prototypical White faces that were paired with weapons. Results present basic research with implications for eyewitness memory and other socially relevant domains
Artificial Intelligence and Jury Decision Making
No full textTechnological advancements, like most new things, can be viewed with scrutiny upon first interaction, especially until it becomes more common. This study explores how facial recognition technology (FRT) evidence affects jurors\u27 perceptions of guilt. With the increasing use of FRT in criminal investigations, it is essential to gauge how it compares to other types of evidence used in a courtroom. Our participants will be recruited from Texas A&M University – San Antonio and will be asked to read a criminal trial transcript where the primary evidence involves either a human eyewitness, FRT, or non-facial physical evidence. They will then decide on a guilty or not guilty verdict and complete surveys on trust in technology and demographic variables. The study aims to assess the influence of FRT evidence on legal decision-making and how one\u27s ability to trust technology may influence their verdict
Many FACETS, One Emotion: Reporting the Valence and Labeling of Emotional Faces
No full textCommon facial expressions correspond with universal emotions across cultures. Therefore, researchers need normative data from existing facial databases to study distinct processes that involve facial emotion recognition and facial identity recognition. FACETS (Faces Across Camera, Environment, Time, and Settings) is the most comprehensive option, including diversity, variability, and emotionality for 265 different facial image sets. Approximately N =300 participants will view several emotional facial images from the FACETS database and provide an emotional label (happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, distinctiveness, or neutral), rate emotional valence (i.e., strength of emotion), and rate emotional genuineness (i.e., the degree to which the expression is a natural emotional response and not posed). We will calculate and report descriptive statistics for all 1590 FACETS images. By adding emotion ratings to the FACETS database, we aim to provide stimuli that support researchers’ future studies on topics such as emotional intelligence, mood disorders, and emotional development
Biodiversity assessment of the metazoan communities of undisturbed and disturbed cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula
No full textKarst aquifers are vital groundwater resources and host endemic cave adapted fauna. In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico they can be accessed through cenotes, natural sinkholes that enable the study of these subterranean ecosystems. Biodiversity assessments of cenotes have mostly relied on morphological methods, with most recorded species underrepresented in molecular databases. The goal of this study is to assess biodiversity through the direct collection of species, and through metagenomic analyses of environmental samples. This study was conducted in Cenote Dzonot Miis (urban area) and Cenote Tres Rayos (undeveloped jungle habitat), Sotuta, Yucatan. Metazoan specimens were morphologically identified and sequenced (COI & 16S) to build a molecular reference library. Environmental samples were subject to DNA extraction and low-pass whole genome sequencing to characterize eukaryotic diversity, focusing on Metazoa. These data will serve as a baseline for evaluating groundwater health near underdeveloped and human impacted areas