William & Mary ScholarWorks

Welcome! William & Mary ScholarWorks preserves and provides access to the research and creative output of William & Mary's faculty, staff, and students.

W&M Faculty and Researchers are encouraged to submit their content for inclusion in ScholarWorks.

Recent Submissions

Open Access
Raw peak area data from fire debris extractions of gasoline, kerosene, and diesel analyzed by GCxGC-TOFMS
(2026-07-14) O'Brien, Madison; Dereviankin, Mike; Perrault Uptmor, Katelynn A.; Arts & Sciences
This dataset contains processed comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) data from ignitable liquid residue (ILR) samples used to investigate the effects of extraction solvent selection on chromatographic profile characteristics and chemometric classification. The dataset includes feature tables derived from 100 ILR samples representing three ignitable liquid classes (gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) extracted using five solvents: hexane, pentane, dichloromethane, diethyl ether, and methanol. The data were generated to evaluate solvent-dependent differences in recovered analyte profiles and to compare the performance of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) for visualization and classification of complex GC×GC datasets. Variables include chromatographic features extracted from GC×GC analyses and sample metadata identifying ignitable liquid class and extraction solvent. These data support the findings reported in "Solvent Selection and Chemometric Visualization of Ignitable Liquid Residues: A GC×GC-UMAP Framework for Fire Debris Analysis", demonstrating that extraction solvent choice influences observed ILR chemical patterns and that UMAP provides improved visualization of class relationships compared to PCA. The dataset may be useful for researchers investigating chemometric approaches, pattern recognition, and analytical method optimization in forensic fire debris analysis. Keywords: ignitable liquid residue, fire debris analysis, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography, GC×GC, chemometrics, PCA, UMAP, extraction solvents, forensic chemistry, pattern recognition.
Embargo
Post-Sackett Virginia and Border-State Wetland Connectivity Assessment Scenarios (2026)
(2026-07-13) Nunez, M. Karinna; Havens, Kirk J.; Rudnicky, Tamia; Schatt, Daniel; Graulich, Jack; Bilkovic, Donna Marie; VIMS
This was an effort to determine total area of vegetated wetlands within Virginia and on the borders of Virginia and its neighboring states that would remain under federal jurisdiction following the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. Because the precise classification scheme defining what wetlands are classified as jurisdictional is not yet certain, it was determined that the best approach was to perform the analysis under multiple scenarios. Three different scenarios were considered: scenario 1 assumes the most conservative classification scheme and would result in the least wetland area under federal jurisdiction; Scenario 2 is more inclusive and would include all Scenario 1 wetlands plus additional wetlands under federal jurisdiction; Scenario 3 is the most inclusive and would include all wetlands under Scenarios 1 and 2 plus additional wetlands under federal jurisdiction. The analysis separately considers wetlands on the borders of Virginia and its neighboring states because there may be jurisdictional uncertainty associated with such wetlands.
Open Access
The Science Behind Virginia’s Living Shoreline Standards: Resource for Coastal Decision-Making
(2026-04-01) Bilkovic, Donna Marie; Mason, Pamela; Isdell, Robert; Fergel, Jessica; Rose, Ashely; Benson, Gabriel; Recco, Danielle; Tombleson, Christine; Nunez, M. Karinna; Havens, Kirk; VIMS
Virginia’s living shoreline standard promotes nature-based approaches that provide erosion control and water quality benefits, protect, restore or enhance natural shoreline habitat, maintain land–water connections and coastal processes, and, where possible, enhance coastal resilience. Under Code of Virginia § 28.2-104.1, a living shoreline is defined not by materials alone, but by its ability to deliver these functions. The central premise of this paper is that living shorelines should be defined by function rather than materials. To qualify, a project must use natural shoreline habitat as the basis for erosion control, provide water quality benefits, maintain land–water connectivity, and support the physical, chemical, and biological processes that sustain coastal systems over time. No single feature or material is sufficient on its own. When properly designed, living shorelines reduce erosion, improve water quality, support habitat, and enhance resilience to storms and sea-level rise, with benefits often increasing as biological communities establish and mature. In contrast, projects that add vegetation or habitat features to armored shorelines should not be classified as living shorelines if they fail to maintain connectivity and core coastal processes. This paper presents a science-based, process-oriented framework for evaluating whether a shoreline project functions as a living shoreline in practice.
Open Access
Virginia Species Profiles 2024
(2024) Pho, Nhu-Lan; VIMS
Virginia Species Profiles 2024 is a compiled reference document developed in collaboration with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The report summarizes life history, habitat requirements, breeding ecology, migration, food habits, Virginia occurrence, management considerations, and predicted coastal Virginia habitat suitability for selected wildlife and plant species of conservation, regulatory, or planning interest. Species covered include birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and plants, such as Bald Eagle, Black Skimmer, Diamondback Terrapin, Eastern Black Rail, Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle, Northern Long-Eared Bat, Piping Plover, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Seabeach Amaranth, Tiger Salamander, and Virginia Quillwort. Each profile synthesizes relevant scientific literature and available occurrence information, and many include maps of predicted potential habitat produced by the Center for Coastal Resources Management at VIMS. The document is intended to support transportation planning, environmental review, habitat assessment, and conservation decision-making in coastal Virginia.
Open Access
Altar
(2026-05-04) Wright, Suzanna; Pineda, Jon; Castleberry, Brian; McGill, Caitlin; Griffith, Aaron; Arts & Sciences
Kidnapped from her home in the mountains of Mexico, a girl enters a world determined to change her.