Browse the Environmental Science and Design Research Initiative Collections
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Beyond the Ground: Effects of Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Substrate Type in Liatris Apera
Green roofs are an innovative method of revitalizing urbanized areas and capturing stormwater. However, the conditions of a green roof ecosystem pose unique difficulties that can limit the success of plant growth. To help maximize the benefits of green roofs, we performed research examining the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on the vitality of green roofs. The eventual goal is to use this information to create an optimum green roof, reflecting natural ecosystems by utilizing symbiotic organisms. This study aims to determine the most important factors that impact mycorrhizal colonization. We examined the effect of a commercial mycorrhizal fungal inoculum, and three substrate types, on mycorrhizal colonization of the plant species Liatris apera over the span of a year. The controlled experiment was set up using 36 plots at the Cleveland Industrial Innovation Center (CIIC). The substrate types included “Movable Meadow” (MM) with sandy loam soil, “Conventional Green Roof” (CGR) of engineered clay and shale media, and “Quasi-Traditional Green Roof” (QTR) which utilized worm castings. Half of the plots were inoculated with mycorrhizae and the other half uninoculated. Root samples of Liatris apera were collected, stained, and examined under the microscope to quantify mycorrhizal colonization. Preliminary results indicate that mycorrhizal colonization on average was lower in the inoculated treatment. However, it appears that this difference leveled out over time. These results suggest that mycorrhizal inoculation may not be necessary to promote colonization on green roofs. Additional research is being conducted to examine the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on other plant species.
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Criminals To Good Neighbors - Case Study of Halden Prison
The early 1980’s the Norwegian incarceration experience included a hostile climate, rampant drugs, and high recidivism rates very similar to the incarceration experience in the United States (Hoidal, 2018). Witnessing that the established method of punishment was ineffective at reducing crime, both of the countries in the early 1980’s introduced two completely different criminal justice reform models. Halden Prison, in Norway set forth an example by introducing a human centered approach to its policies and interior environment resulting in a non-hostile climate and the lowest recidivism rates in the world. Whereas, the United States opted for a “tough on crime” approach which resulted in a mass incarceration and the highest recidivism rate in the world, as per the data retrieved from the U.S. Department of Justice Office. Research indicates that design of interior environments can affect a person’s emotional and mental state and can play an important role in the healing process. By altering the physical environment of its incarceration facility, Halden prison was able to influence a positive behavioral outcome among their occupants. Through site observations and interviews, of Halden Prison, “the world’s most humane prison,” this research examines the contribution of the interior environment to the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals. Through analysis of information gathered, this study derives the physical attributes of the space which impacted this positive outcome and proposes a design guideline which the United States prison system may adopt to reduce recidivism.
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Measuring the Effects of Sedimentation on a Constructed Wetland Using Sensor-collected Turbidity Data as a Proxy for Total Suspended Solids: Preliminary ResultsWith roughly three fourths of the planet’s wetlands disturbed by humans, constructed urban wetlands are becoming increasingly prevalent. These wetlands help manage urban wastewater and provide many ecosystem services, including water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, and flood control. Suspended sediments are a common pollutant in urban wastewater that can degrade a wetland’s natural filtering capabilities and can potentially bury the wetland if not managed correctly. Luckily, advances in sensor-monitoring technology may give scientists and engineers the tools they need to create wetlands that allow sediments to flow through the wetland without compromising the filtering processes. The Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center, located in northeast Ohio, wished to assess the flow of sediment through a series of on-site constructed wetlands in response to a nearby landfill. To measure how effectively sediment was passing through the wetlands, two popular sampling methods were employed: manually collected total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity data collected via sensors. Using the sensor data and volunteer-collected TSS data, we assessed the relationship between the two sampling methods to develop a sensor-collected proxy for suspended sediments measurements. We found an average turbidity reading of 1,012 NTU (standard deviation, N=27,971), while TSS averaged 85+/- 104 mg/L (standard deviation, N=10). Combining high-temporal resolution sensor-detected proxy measurements with more labor intensive, but more coarsely resolved direct measurements is an effective strategy for monitoring the water quality function of constructed wetlands. This will be critical to ensuring usable freshwater for future generations as the human species continues to spread across the earth. |