Urbanization can affect wildlife populations in the form of road mortality, habitat degradation, and spatio-temporal behavioral shifts. Understanding how wildlife populations respond to these effects can help us manage and protect them. We studied painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) to determine how urbanization impacts their population structure, including abundance, age structure, and sex ratio. This project is in collaboration with the Ecological Research as Education Network (EREN) and guided by TurtlePop 2.0. We hypothesized that painted turtles would be more abundant in a rural setting over an urban setting due to better habitat quality. We predicted that there would be more female turtles in urban areas due to warmer temperatures driven by an urban environment and that there would be more juvenile turtles in the rural site due to less mesopredators. To evaluate urbanization, we monitored turtles along a gradient from rural at Deep Bay Pond located in Point Au Roche State Park to urban at the Barracks golf course pond complex in the City of Plattsburgh, NY. Turtles were captured using 10 baited crab hoop traps at each site over a 3-day capture session, visiting urban site 5 times and the rural site 4 times each in fall 2024. Captured turtles were measured in size, estimated in age and sex, notched with a unique three-letter code for mark recapture estimates, and released. We calculated and compared turtle abundance between sites and over time. In addition, we monitored water quality (e.g., pH, conductivity, pond and ambient temperatures), as well as pond size and basking site availability. The urban site had three more females than the rural site, as predicted and both sites had a higher proportion of males to females. Contrary to our prediction, the urban site had more juveniles than the rural site, with only one more juvenile at that site. Both sites had the same number of adults, but the urban site had more females to males with 8 females and 18 males. The rural site had 5 females and 21 males. The urban site had more females which supported our hypothesis, however, it also had one more juvenile than the rural site, refuting our hypothesis. All ponds had a slightly basic pH around 8. Temperature was slightly colder at the rural site, likely due to the larger size and connection to Lake Champlain. Conductivity was above 200 S/m in the rural site and urban ponds 5 and 6 while ponds 1, 2, and 4 were around 160 S/m. Basking sites did not seem to impact turtle abundance. The Barracks golf course may want to monitor any use of herbicides or fertilizers near the ponds while Point au Roche State Park may want to limit salting the road by the pond to reduce pollutants in the pond. Both urban and rural ponds are important habitats for painted turtles and other wildlife. Monitoring age and sex structure is important to assure that the population can successfully recruit and grow. Our study can be used to inform wetland management by highlighting the unique challenges that freshwater turtles face in both urban and rural settings.

Soundscapes are a compilation of sounds emanating from a landscape which creates an acoustic pattern across time and space. Wildlife behaviors are easily influenced by sound and can be reflected in periods of intense vocalization and silence. Urban landscapes are heavily influenced by anthrophony (human-produced sound) which can limit or enhance biophony (wildlife-produced sound). In fall 2024, the Wildlife Ecology and Management class arrayed five autonomous recording devices (AudioMoths) along an urbanization gradient (urban, urban interface, exurban golf course, rural riparia, and forested beaver pond). Audiomoths were programmed to record sound during peak hours of wildlife activity from 17:00-8:00 on two consecutive days during a warm spell. Data were downloaded and BirdNet-Analyzer was used to identify species using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms associated with eBird. Output files were appended in R Studio and soundscape patterns were analyzed across sites. Biophony richness was highest at the exurban golf course (41), followed by urban (38), beaver pond (20), rural riparia (18), and urban interface (16). The most frequent callers at the urban site were American crow, dogs, squirrels, blue jays, Canada geese, and Carolina wren. At the urban interface, Canada geese, Carolina wren, and northern cardinals were highly vocal. At the exurban golf course, spring peeper, white-throated sparrows, barred owls, American crows, hairy woodpecker, and katydids were heard as compared to the rural riparia's eastern towhees, great-horned owls, and hairy woodpeckers. In contrast, anthrophonic call frequency was high and most similar at the urban (981) and and exurban golf course (891), intermediate at the urban interface (136), followed by the beaver pond (39), and rural riparia (33) with sounds including engines, humans, and power tools. At dawn the urban, exurban golf course, and beaver pond exhibited a high biophonic call frequency, while at dusk urbanized sites experienced extremely high calling rates compared to rural sites. Urban and exurban golf course communities were the most similar (51%), while the urban interface and the beaver pond were the least (22%). Soundscape ecology is a relatively new field that is growing in popularity due to the affordability of sensors and advances in AI. Our class learned that although these technologies have numerous benefits, there is still a need to perform supplemental surveys using traditional techniques or experts should be onboarded to help better identify misidentified calls.

Due to the volatility recently experienced in the United States Stock market, this study aims to explain the relationship between fundamental analysis and stock returns over a quarterly time frame to take advantage of the swings in the market. This study includes both micro (firm-specific) fundamental indicators and macro variables that help explain the economy's health as a whole. This study takes the thirty stocks currently in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) as of February 2024 and analyzes their returns and underlying financials. It uses accounting and financial ratios along with measures of the overall economy to try and capture opportunities to generate financial returns in the Stock Market. This paper offers evidence based on company panel data analysis on a quarterly basis from quarter one of 2014 to quarter four of 2023. The results produced from the model indicate an increase in recession risk and federal funds rate generate negative stock returns. In contrast, an increase in the Price-earnings ratio and analyst recommendations generate positive stock returns. The above variables are significant at the 5% level with an R squared of 0.126.

This research paper examines the dynamics between economic development, financial stability, and crime rates across various countries. Rooted from the economic theory of crime and institutional anomie theory, this study uses a robust panel data analysis covering numerous countries to explore how economic metrics such as GNI per capita, foreign direct investment inflows, and financial institution strength relate to crime perceptions. The empirical analysis, using GLS, fixed effects, and random effects models along with a series of robustness checks, confirms significant relationships between these economic factors and crime levels. Preliminary results indicate that while economic fitness can occasionally spur increases in crime rates, possibly due to concentration of people, stronger financial institutions and a more stable government generally contribute to reductions in crime. This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion on crime economics by improving our understanding of the economic causes of crime and showing how changes in certain factors can reduce crime through economic strategies.

Microplastics have plagued fish communities since the inception of industrialization, and regulations have not been keeping pace. In the environment, these particles have become ubiquitous and are found in air, soil, and remote lakes. Microplastics are defined as particulates that are less than 5 mm in size and are characterized by type (e.g., fragment, fiber, film, foam, bead, and pellet), color, polymer, and size. Fish uptake particulates via ingestion, gill-filament adhesion, and absorption. These microplastics have the potential to reduce reproduction, feeding, and survival. We conducted a survey of microplastics in fish harvested from ice derbies in Chazy Lake, Chateaugay Lake, and Lake Colby (spring 2024) in northern, NY. We use wet peroxide oxidation to isolate microplastics within digestive tracts and gill filaments and the separated samples by size (e.g., 1 mm, 355 µm, 125 µm). We quantified and characterized particulates under a dissecting microscope. Results show that all particulates (n=476) were fibers. Fish in Upper Chateaugay Lake had 1.81 plastics/g tissue, 4 and 2 times greater than Chazy Lake and Lake Colby respectively which can be explained by the greater surface area of the lake. Additionally, (yellow perch) Perca flavescens contained 3.2 plastics/g tissue, 11 and 7 times greater than that of (lake trout) Salvelinus namaycush and (Atlantic salmon) Salmo salar respectively. This can be explained as a function of bioaccumulation over their lifetime, as most perch were approximately 10 years of age. In addition, yellow perch are visual predators who shift their prey base and foraging microhabitat at different ontogenetic stages helping to explain higher loads. In terms of organs, microplastic loading via ingestion was 0.78 plastics/g of tissue, 23% higher than adhesion to gills (0.62 plastics/g tissue). Anglers should consider microplastic risks if fish are a major dietary component.

The religious lives of Guatemalans were dominated by the Catholic Church for centuries, and while its presence is still felt today, an increasing number in Guatemala and across much of Central America have sought refuge and spiritual nourishment in the Protestant Church. In 2023, about 42% of the Guatemalan population identified as Protestant, up from about 5% in 1970. The majority of this increase occurred in the decade between 1976 and 1985. This paper will explain how Protestant missionaries capitalized on circumstances in Guatemala during this decade to convert large numbers of people to their faith. My research is based on primary sources from the state department and missionaries themselves, as well as secondary sources such as books and articles regarding the religious landscape of Guatemala.

"There are many different species of herpetofauna in upstate New York, in part due to our abundance of wetlands. Forested areas with soil rich in organic matter, dense leaf litter, moist soils, and abundant coarse woody debris are particularly suitable. We aimed to compare herpetofaunal communities at two upstate New York sites 1) an experimental forest that underwent a suite of silvicultural practices at the Paul Smiths Visitor’s Interpretive Center (VIC), Franklin County and 2) a managed woodlot (Godwin Woods) in Morrisonville, Clinton County. In fall 2023, we implemented a cover object search of rocks, logs, and coverboards, along riparian habitat at Godwin Woods (Riley Brook) and experimentally manipulated forest patches (FERDA plots) at Jenkins Mountain on the Logger’s Loop trail (Paul Smiths). For each individual, we used ArcGIS Survey123 to georeference, catalog an image, microhabitat, soil type, and metrics such as weight and snout-to-vent length. Soil was sampled from herpetofaunal sites, as well as random points to compare percent moisture and organic carbon, as well as pH differences. Herpetofaunal communities were unique and species richness was low at both sites VIC (S=3) and Godwin Woods (S=2). VIC herpetofauna was dominated by red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), as well as American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) and spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer). Godwin Woods herpetofauna were less abundant and consisted of northern dusky (Desmognathus fuscus) and northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata). Herpetofauna were most abundant at sites least disturbed (e.g., individual tree cut and control). In addition, the percent soil moisture at herpetofaunal locations at both the VIC and Godwin Woods was greater than those of random control samples. Soil organic carbon at herpetofaunal sites was higher and lower than random sites at the VIC and Godwin Woods, respectively. All soil variables were significantly different across sites and likely influenced herpetofaunal community composition and abundance. Our findings serve as an important reminder to landowners and foresters of the need to consider the consequences of overstory management practices on sensitive understory wildlife species."

"A bioblitz is a rapid survey of the living species in a given area; therefore, the main purpose of a bioblitz study is to grasp the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Bioblitzes have become a reliable and effective tool used by government agencies, citizen science projects, and other private groups to collect biodiversity inventories in a short period of time. Even schools, colleges,and other institutions conduct these events as a means of stewardship and engagement. During fall 2023, we conducted a bioblitz of Godwin Woods, a privately owned property, in Morrisonville, New York which is bisected by Riley Brook. We predicted the forested microhabitat would have the highest species richness on the property because of the presence of the riparian area. In order to maximize diversity, we surveyed two different microhabitats, specifically a forest and meadow ecotone. At both sites, a variety of capture methods were used, specifically Sherman live traps for small mammals, minnow traps for fish, and two non-invasive survey methods Merlin smartphone app acoustic detection for birds songs and a game camera for large mammals among other taxa. The species richness was 22 species for the forest and 12 species for the meadow ecotone, indicating 47% similarity between communities. Species shared were white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mice (Peromyscus sp.), gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), raccoon (Procyon lotor), coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), brown creeper (Certhia americana), and American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). Certain species that were unique to the meadow ecotone were the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) in the forest. Largely differences in the community resulted from a rich diversity of birds within the forested microhabitat. Our findings will help inform the landowner of unique species found on his property and better inform his forest management plan to promote a healthier wildlife population and reduce the risk of nuisance species that might increase disease risk (e.g., Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses)."

"Microplastics have plagued fish communities since the inception of industrialization and regulations have not been keeping pace. Microplastics are defined as particulates less than 5mm in size and are characterized by type (e.g., fragment, fiber, film, foam, bead, and nurdle/pellet), color, polymer, and size. Fish uptake particulates via ingestion, gill adhesion, and absorption. These microplastics have the potential to adsorb additional chemicals and toxins, further reducing reproduction, feeding, and survival. We conducted a survey of microplastics in fish of the Saranac River, New York using the traditional hook and line method to simulate common recreational angling practices. Fish were sampled above and below impoundments (e.g., Imperial Dam, Plattsburgh and Cadyville Dam, Cadyville, NY) and only fish that met New York state fishing regulations for capture were kept for microplastic analysis. Wet peroxide oxidation was used to isolate microplastics within digestive tracts and samples were then size separated (e.g., 1mm, 355um, 125um). Particulate was quantified and characterized under a dissecting microscope. Fish generally had higher microplastic burdens below impoundments, specifically 5.22 and 2.58 particles per gram in their stomachs and intestines, respectively. Fish captured above impoundments had 2.56 and 1.74 particles per gram in their stomach and intestines, respectively. The most prevalent particulate size was 125 microns, the smallest of size classes. Fibers were 97 and 99% prevalent above and below impoundments, respectively and were largely blue in color. With the traditional hook and line method becoming ever more popular in recent years, it is imperative that anglers understand the microplastic pollution risks associated with their catches and offers an opportunity for community efforts to reduce our dependencies on plastic. "

New York state is home to 9 bat species which all play a major role in ecosystems, such as with pollination and seed dispersal. They are often categorized into two categories based on their roosting behaviors within caves or trees. Other habitat attributes such as canopy cover and access to waterbodies also determine their regional abundance. Human encroachment of natural habitat has led to bat populations establishing colonies in artificial structures. The exact diversity of bat populations that exist within human settlements, particularly between rural and urban developments, is not well understood. To better understand these diversity differences, we evaluated the presence of bat species in northeastern New York along a developed urban and rural route. We hypothesized that the rural habitat would have a higher bat species richness, diversity, and frequency of detections. Using the Echo Meter Touch 2, a ultrasonic frequency detector, we identified bat calls along two separate routes, specifically an urban and rural site. We then spatially analyzed bat locations in ArcGIS and extracted canopy cover and habitat types within 200m of each location. We detected a total of 24 bats, with 11 and 13 along the urban and rural routes respectively. Bat communities were 80% similar with 4 shared species and two unique urban species. The most frequently detected bat was the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), with a total of 11 detections. These results suggest that many of the bat species in northeastern NY have been successfully adapting to anthropogenic development. As research continues, it will be important to survey long-term and during seasons when they are most active. Given the threats of disease white nose fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) and climate change, it is essential that monitoring efforts such as this be supported among state agencies and citizen scientists.