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Item Short Supply, Growing Demand: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities within Virginia’s Native Coastal and Wetland Plant Supply Chain(2025-01-01) Klesch, Natalie M.; Donna Bilkovic; Kirk Havens; Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceAs nature-based approaches to coastal restoration and shoreline management gain momentum in Virginia, the need for native coastal and wetland plants to support these efforts has grown. Yet in-state supply has not kept pace with the rising demand for these species. To examine the underlying causes of this supply gap, semi-structured interviews were conducted with two key stakeholder groups: restoration practitioners and nursery operators. The interviews captured both demand-side challenges related to plant sourcing and supply-side constraints affecting nursery production. Practitioners reported that limited in-state supply and inconsistent availability of key species often led them to rely on out-of-state nurseries. Nursery operators noted that structural barriers—such as the high cost of land and infrastructure—limit opportunities to expand production capacity. Operators also emphasized that inconsistent and unpredictable demand, compounded by limited coordination and short lead times from practitioners, can make it difficult to align production with restoration needs. Both groups offered recommendations aimed at improving coordination and strengthening the in-state supply of native plants, including strategies to enhance collaborative planning and improve information sharing. Ultimately, stronger partnerships across the supply chain will be key to ensuring a more reliable plant supply to support Virginia’s long-term coastal restoration and resilience goals.Item Preventative Control Of The Invasive Japanese Stiltgrass In Stream Restoration(2024-01-01) Doug A. DeBerry; William & Mary - Arts & SciencesJapanese Stiltgrass (Microsgtegium vimineum) is one of the most invasive species on the East Coast and poses a constant problem to restoration ecologists. Japanese Stiltgrass is constantly invading restored wetlands and streams, and the most common solution is to use non-selective herbicides, like glyphosate, to reduce invasion. However, herbicide often comes with its own negative consequences to the ecosystem and can even lead to reinvasion after it is applied. This paper looks to study the current available alternatives to herbicide for reducing invasion and then test them in the field. According to the stress-disturbance invasion model, high levels of stress can help reduce invasion and therefore promote native species, so we looked at cultural methods that acted as stress agents to our invader. We chose to implement four treatments, canopy shade, sawdust and wood mulch soil amendments, and double seeding rates, as well as a combination of these treatments. Over our two-year field study of a restored stream, we found that sawdust was the most effective at reducing M. vimineum, and that shade heavily promoted natives to compete with our invader. This suggests that for future stream restoration projects that managers should consider implementing sawdust into the topsoil layer and encourage large shade trees around the disturbed areas.Item Holding It All Together: Listening to the Women Who Keep Fisheries Afloat - and the Need for Support in Small-Scale Fisheries(2025-01-01) Beck, Nikole; Dave Rudders; Adriane Michaelis; Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceThis white paper presents key findings and actionable recommendations based on qualitative analysis of narratives from support partners (i.e., fishermen’s wives, girlfriends, etc.) engaged in small-scale U.S. commercial fisheries. These voices, often underrepresented in formal data or policy forums, highlight the critical contributions, complex challenges and everyday adaptations that sustain local fishing economies and communities. Despite the recognition of fishing communities under National Standard 8 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA; United States, 1976), participant experiences suggest that current fisheries policies do not fully capture or integrate the contributions of support partners or the broader social needs of fishing communities. In addition, while National Standard 2 of the MSA emphasizes the use of best available scientific information, the data gathered here helps fill important social science gaps that can be missing from fisheries management decision-making. This study reveals how support partners contribute vital but largely invisible labor – bookkeeping, caregiving, financial planning, emotional support – that underpins the success and resilience of small-scale fisheries. Yet, these same households face increasing economic strain, governance exclusion, and wellbeing challenges that current systems are not designed to address.Item Drivers Of Elevation Change In A Retreating Coastal Forest(2024-01-01) Matthew L Kirwan; William & Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceWith a diminishing sediment supply and accelerating rates of sea level rise, the future of coastal marshes increasingly depends on their ability to migrate to adjacent higher elevations. Future projections of global marsh extent suggest that marshes could expand by up to 60% or contract by up to 90% depending on the success of that migration. These projections assume a static topography, where the gradual inundation of a passive terrestrial landscape results in widespread conversion of uplands to marsh. However, coastal ecosystems dynamically respond to increases in inundation through vertical accretion and enhanced belowground productivity. Similarly, coastal upland forests may gain elevation through enhanced litter deposition and belowground productivity of transitional species such as Phragmites australis and Morella cerifera or subside due to flooding induced tree root zone collapse. In this study, I expand the coastal geomorphic framework into a salt impacted transitional forest using a series of Surface Elevation Tables (SETs) across a gradient of salinity and inundation stress to better understand the processes controlling coastal forest elevation. My study found that over short timescales, salt impacted forest soils are stable, exhibiting little to no total elevation change. However, this stability was a result of greater than expected, but offsetting rates of accretion and subsidence. Documented accretion rates in both high and mid forest zones exceeded nearby high marsh and were strongly correlated with the total cover of Morella shrubs. Subsidence, attributed to root zone collapse, was maximized in the high forest and minimized at lower elevations partially due to sub-root zone expansion. This study shows that conversion of forested upland to high marsh ultimately increases elevation change rate through both the minimization of subsidence and increase in surface accretion. Thus, the incorporation of a dynamic upland topography may better predict future marsh extent.Item Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Through School And Family Partnerships: An Action Research Study(2025-01-01) Shindler, Benjamin Eddy; Thomas J. Ward; Megan Tschannen-Moran; Margaret Constantino; William & Mary - School of EducationChronic absenteeism is a problem in school districts across the United States, and schools have had limited success in addressing the issue. However, due to the negative effects that excessive absences have on student achievement, it is imperative that schools find effective solutions. This dissertation describes an action research study on a new chronic absenteeism intervention based on school and family partnerships. The intervention used school-based staff members known as achievement partners who had daily check-ins with students and weekly phone conferences with parents. Other elements of the intervention included an at-school event, positive postcards, and the identification of community resources. The intervention was developed based on ideas from Epstein’s theory of overlapping spheres of influence and the concept of school connectedness. In the action research study, I examined how students’ attendance changed with the intervention, if the program evidenced improved relationships between the home and school, what aspects of the program participants found most helpful, and whether the program evidenced improved feelings of connection to the school for students. I collected quantitative attendance and questionnaire data and qualitative interview data. The results of the study showed that students’ attendance improved for the majority of the participating students, but the data regarding the home-school relationship and students’ feelings of connection was mixed. Recommendations for improving the intervention include conducting a second cycle of research to further study the components of the intervention, relying more heavily on an action research team comprised of all keys stakeholders in a second cycle, focusing more on each student’s unique reasons for absenteeism, starting the intervention earlier in the year, automatically enrolling students that were chronically absent in eighth grade, and incorporating peer support into the intervention.Item Assessing The Impact Of Positive Behavior Intervention And Supports On School Climate And Student Behavior: A Program Evaluation In A Low-Performing Middle School(2025-01-01) Evans, Alexandria LP; Steven M. Constantino; Stephen S. Baker; Christopher R. Gareis; William & Mary - School of EducationThis program evaluation addressed the implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) at Crestwood Middle School (CMS) within the Daleyville County School District (DCSD), a rural, Tier 1 district in northeastern North Carolina. The study aimed to assess SWPBIS implementation fidelity, explore staff perceptions of school climate, and analyze changes in student behavior after the reintroduction of the framework. SWPBIS is a research-based framework designed to improve student behavior and foster positive school climates through clearly defined behavioral expectations and proactive supports. The mixed-methods evaluation used quantitative and qualitative data to determine implementation fidelity, school climate, and behavioral outcome changes. Results showed CMS achieved high scores in defining behavioral expectations but faced challenges in consistently teaching expectations, rewarding positive behaviors, and using data-driven practices, with an overall fidelity score of 54.7%. District-level support for implementation was identified as a critical gap. Staff reported a positive sense of connectedness with each other but raised concerns about safety, peer and adult relationships, and parental involvement. Although there was a reduction in major disciplinary incidents and suspensions, minor behavioral incidents initially increased, it was difficult to determine if that was a result of SWPBIS or not. The findings suggest that consistent SWPBIS implementation, improved staff training, and district-level support are essential for long-term success. Early intervention and proactive management of minor behaviors are also recommended. These efforts are expected to promote positive social change by fostering a safer, more inclusive school climate, improving student outcomes, and supporting teacher retention across the district.Item Promoting Social Emotional Learning Through A Professional Development Series In A Virginia High School: An Action Research Study(2025-01-01) Bailey, Jessica; Margaret Constantino; Leslie Grant; Megan Tschannen-Moran; William & Mary - School of EducationThe implementation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) allows educational personnel to collaboratively assume responsibility for each student’s development. Unsatisfactory with increased absenteeism, tardiness, and behavioral issues, as well as the lack of surrounding knowledge and skill for SEL implementation, warranted the implementation of this pilot professional development program. The intervention used resources from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s online SEL modules and CASEL’s 3 Signature Practices Playbook. Mixed methods were used to identify participants' perceptions of SEL, changes in students’ attitudes and behaviors post-intervention, factors contributing to or inhibiting effective implementation, and the modality of the intervention as an effective form of professional development. Data analysis, which included descriptive statistics and manual coding, revealed participants were more knowledgeable and confident when implementing SEL strategies, observed increased student engagement and participation in both the strategies and during lesson activities and noted an increase in positive relationships and a decrease in behavioral issues. Participants also reported that the resources' availability and age-appropriateness contributed to implementation. Participants noted that allotting class time and perceptions of their colleagues were inhibiting factors to implementation. Based on the findings, recommendations include a district-wide approach for best practices, including sustained duration of professional development for all employees, use of the professional development bichronous modality, also known as hybrid virtual learning, and core components of effective professional development.Item Reef-Lections: Oyster Growth And Ecology Across Millennia, And The Modern Management Implications(2025-01-01) Marquardt, Alexandria; Roger L Mann; Andrew M Scheld; Mary C Fabrizio; Ryan B Carnegie; Eric N Powell; William & Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceCoastal ecosystems are degraded worldwide and oyster reefs are among the most threatened coastal habitats. Oysters are a critical ecosystem engineers in temperate, boreal, and subtropical estuaries worldwide; however, oyster reefs are degraded globally. In the Chesapeake Bay, oyster populations are a fraction of their historic abundance, due to the combined pressures of disease epizootics, overfishing, and other anthropogenic impacts. Degradation and loss of oysters negatively impacts ecosystem functioning and coastal livelihoods. Restoration efforts for oysters are accelerating and focus on supplementing the shell base to provide habitat for reef formation. Broadly, the goal of this dissertation is to provide quantitative information on key oyster life history stages and oyster reef dynamics to inform and identify management strategies for eastern oysters in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Each chapter is a separate research question and is interdisciplinary, drawing upon larval biology, ecology, economics, paleobiology, and applied fisheries science approaches. Chapter 1 examines how oyster reproductive bet hedging impacts the early-post settlement period in wild oyster populations and if restoration timing could be optimized. Specifically, this chapter quantifies the impact of settlement date, temperature, and growing days on the mean size of oyster cohorts across a spawning season. Regardless of settlement date, oysters reach comparable sizes prior to the fall months, which suggests that current shell supplementation practices are adequate. Chapter 2 describes oyster allometric relationships across an estuarine gradient. This chapter describes the proportional carbonate contributions from each valve, examines length-weight relationships for both tissue and shell weight, and considers environmental drivers. Oysters have highly variable growth patterns, which enables them to rapidly produce shell even under physiologically stressful conditions. Chapter 3 uses preserved oyster shells to estimate the mean annual carbonate production and gross annual reef accretion rates for oyster populations during the early Holocene. Coastal environments during the early Holocene experienced rapid rates of relative sea level rise, which were nearly twice the rates of modern day sea level rise in the Chesapeake Bay. Early Holocene populations were more resilient when natural mortality was low and recruitment was high. Modern oysters are age truncated and in lower abundance, which limits their ability to create self-sustaining reefs. Chapter 4 integrates long term datasets to examine the impact of management strategies (rotational harvest areas, oyster sanctuaries, and shell replenishment practices) on public fishing grounds. Specifically, we evaluate how the reef structure, juvenile recruitment, market sized oyster abundance, and fisheries efficiency respond to management interventions. Our results demonstrate that harvest area rotation and sanctuaries, when coupled with shell replenishment, support oyster reef dynamics and enhance fisheries outcomes. Collectively, the findings from this dissertation fills knowledge gaps, provides recommendations, and supports sustainable oyster management in the Chesapeake Bay.Item Concept Mapping In A Community Of Practice For University-Based Engagement With Rural Scholastic Journalism Programs(2025-01-01) Hill, Monica; Thomas J. Ward; Margaret E. Constantino; Robert C. Knoeppel; William & Mary - School of EducationScholastic journalism has been a part of university-based outreach and engagement for more than a century, with higher education institutions hosting scholastic press association workshops and contests for high school journalists who produce yearbooks, newspapers, magazines, and broadcasts. Research indicates academic advantages and civic self-efficacy associated with high school journalism and the disproportionate number of suburban high school students with access to those advantages. This mixed-methods action research study employed a community of practice (CoP) frame to investigate university-based engagement with rural high school journalism programs. The CoP was comprised of rural high school journalism teachers, high school journalism mentors, and university-based scholastic press association directors. A rural scholastic journalism needs analysis revealed the pivotal role of the journalism teacher and a unique regard and disregard for journalism in the rural community. The CoP engaged in concept mapping, using interactive brainstorming software to illustrate the study’s findings in the form of concept maps, visual displays of data showing consensus around securing funding to launch, support, and sustain rural high school journalism programs and working with leaders in rural school districts to communicate its value. Recommendations suggest seeking a communication plan, asset maps, and engagement capacity to inform and determine next steps in the action research cycle, acknowledging divergent views between current scholastic press directors and current and former educators in this study’s CoP.Item Exploring Natural And Human Influences On Sediment Dispersal And Seabed Geochemistry In The Offshore Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar(2025-01-01) Flynn, Evan; Steven A. Kuehl; Courtney K. Harris; Christopher J. Hein; Marjorie A.M. Friedrichs; Manuel Colombo; William & Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceWorldwide, large river deltas have been extensively modified to support thedevelopment of growing coastal populations. While this is especially true of Asian river deltas (e.g., the Changjiang, Huang He, and Ganges-Brahmaputra), the Ayeyarwady Delta in Myanmar has remained remarkably underdeveloped. However, over the last 50 years changes in land use and increased mining efforts in the Ayeyarwady and Thanlwin River catchments have resulted in the deforestation of coastal and terrestrial forests and begun to alter fluvial sediment fluxes. While no large dams are currently installed on either river mainstem, future construction in Myanmar is imminent. Together the Ayeyarwady and Thanlwin Rivers transport ~485 Mt/y of sediment and as much as 7.7 Mt/y of particulate organic carbon to the offshore delta on the Northern Andaman shelf where material is extensively mixed by tides in the Gulf of Martaban before accumulating in a mid-shelf clinoform. Despite intense seabed mixing, substantial exchange of marine and fresh waters, and the potential for organic carbon priming, the isotopic composition of terrestrial organic carbon is largely consistent from the Gulf of Martaban to the clinoform depocenter suggesting that terrestrial material accumulating on the shelf is largely refractory in nature. This can be explained by the nearshore remineralization of labile terrestrial components prior to across-shelf transport and entrainment in frequent resuspension and deposition cycles. In addition to the spatially consistent terrestrial organic carbon signatures, 210Pb profiles further indicate that sediment is transported from the inner shelf to the clinoform depocenter on seasonal and / or tidal timescales, promoting short shelf transport times and the effective sequestration of terrestrial material in the clinoform. As a result, terrestrial organic carbon content is high in offshore sediment deposits, making the offshore Ayeyarwady delta a greater sink for terrestrial material on the continental margin than previously expected. While temporal changes to sequestration may be anticipated due to the increased development of the river catchments, no observable change in terrestrial organic carbon character or content is identified in the marine sediment record over the last 100 years. This is likely attributed to the extensive mixing on the shelf, wherein geochemical signatures associated with human development are filtered through frequent seabed resuspension. Nonetheless, future damming will drastically reduce fluxes from the Ayeyarwady and Thanlwin Rivers, leading to delta shoreline erosion and coastal inundation as well as changes to offshore terrestrial organic carbon accumulation. Flux reductions may also induce the erosion of the subaqueous clinoform deposit which would re-introduce organic carbon and other sediment-bound particles, such as organic pollutants and trace metals, to the water column. The re-exposure of previously sequestered material will likely alter sediment and terrestrial organic carbon distribution trends and negatively impact aquatic ecosystem health. While development in Myanmar is currently minimal, we suggest that given baseline conditions, damming and continued development will substantially alter delta sustainability, shelf sediment dynamics, as well as regional and global biogeochemical budgets.Item Quantifying The Drivers Of Hypoxia Onset Variability In The Chesapeake Bay(2024-01-01) Marjorie A.M. Friedrichs; William & Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceHypoxia, defined as low dissolved oxygen levels, is a widespread environmental issue affecting many coastal ecosystems, including the Chesapeake Bay. Exacerbated by global climate change and local anthropogenic stressors, hypoxia presents concern as it reduces suitable habitats for fish and shellfish, alters food webs and species distributions, and degrades the overall quality of the ecosystem. In the Chesapeake Bay, hypoxia has occurred annually for the past several decades, with the lowest oxygen concentrations occurring during the warm summer months. Despite its consistent yearly occurrence, long-term data analyses revealed substantial year-to-year variations in hypoxia onset timing, with hypoxia onset varying by over a month between years. Multiple environmental factors can contribute to this interannual variability, including wind patterns, air temperatures, and watershed inputs. While the general mechanisms of hypoxia development are understood, the complex and interconnected processes make it a challenge to discern the relative importance of individual factors and their underlying mechanisms as they drive annual hypoxia onset, especially as climate change continues to alter hypoxia timing. In addition, the semi-monthly resolution of the available monitoring data makes it difficult to discern onset variability from observations alone. Therefore, to address this knowledge gap, a 3-D fully coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical numerical modeling system was used to systematically modify key environmental factors to quantify their relative importance and to identify the critical time periods of greatest influence on hypoxia initiation. Sensitivity experiments involved modifying wind patterns (wind speed, direction, and waves), air temperatures, and terrestrial inputs (watershed loadings and freshwater discharge) individually to simulate realistic, short-term (i.e., monthly) events based on historical data. The magnitude of change for each factor was based on ±1 standard deviation calculated from a 25-year time series. The results reveal that hypoxia onset is most sensitive to month-long changes in May wind speeds, leading to a ~3-week range in onset timing. May air temperatures follow as the second most important factor, resulting in an onset range of ~1 week. While wind direction and waves also contribute to hypoxia development, their impact is relatively minor. Monthly changes in watershed runoff showed negligible effect on hypoxia onset, but displayed a substantial impact on the severity of total annually integrated hypoxic volume. High freshwater discharge, when isolated from changes in loadings, reduces the hypoxic volume due to enhanced estuarine circulation, despite the opposing effect of increased stratification. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the multiple factors that drive interannual variability in the temporal patterns of hypoxia. Understanding these dynamics is valuable for predicting and managing hypoxia, allowing for more targeted management and forecasting approaches.Item Until The Well Runs Dry, Revisited(2024-01-01) Watson, Monet Sheree; William & Mary - Arts & SciencesIn April 1994, during the construction of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical Sciences Building, workers unearthed a well containing human skeletal remains of adults and children of African descent. This discovery prompted a re-evaluation of the university's historical practices, especially regarding its employment of cadaver hunters. Dr. Shawn Utsey's 2011 documentary further illuminated the university's controversial past and initiated discussions about the broader exploitation of vulnerable populations by medical institutions. In response, Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao established the East Marshall Street Well Project, forming a collaborative effort with researchers from Williams & Mary and the descendant community. This paper examines the project's implementation of a biocultural anthropological approach, emphasizing the significance of descendant community leadership in research involving human remains and complex historical narratives of exploitation. The findings underscore the potential for such collaborative approaches to address historical injustices and contribute to the healing of affected communities.Item College Professors’ Perceptions Of Differentiated Instruction In A Foreign Language Classroom Setting(2024-01-01) Antar Benothmane, Najoua; Tracy L. Cross; Jennifer R. Cross; Mihyeon Kim; William & Mary - School of EducationIn the United States, traditional lecture-based teaching methods have not effectively met the needs of diverse learners in higher education (HE). This is particularly problematic as diversity is increasing amongst learners, including those with diverse racial, ethnic, gender, academic, and emotional backgrounds. The predominance of the two-tiered system and overreliance on the lecture-based model in foreign language (FL) classrooms has resulted in higher attrition rates and lower academic achievement and retention rates. The root of the problem is the need for more differentiated instruction (DI) and the predominance of a One-Size-Fits-All approach in FL college classrooms. This research focuses on FL professors' perceptions, experiences, and willingness to attend professional development on differentiated instruction. Two theoretical frameworks guide this research: Tomlinson's (1999) theory, which emphasizes the need for differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners, and Krashen's (1982) theory on how foreign languages are acquired. Data was collected through one-to-one telephone interviews with eight professors from three universities in the United States and then analyzed using thematic coding and analysis (Saldaña, 2021). Professors were asked about their experiences and perceptions of implementing differentiated instruction. Findings revealed that professors' perceptions and implementation of differentiated instruction varied, diversity was present in all classrooms, and professional development on differentiated instruction was sought. However, they also mentioned that they lacked sufficient knowledge of differentiated strategies and required more time and incentives to implement them effectively. This qualitative study demonstrates that professors implementing differentiated instruction can help students succeed in FL HE classrooms, leading to positive change.Item Navigating Through The Changes In Higher Education And Balancing Faculty Workload: An Action Research Study(2025-01-01) Ahl, Peter Thomas; Megan Tschannen-Moran; Margaret Constantino; Pamela Eddy; William & Mary - School of EducationThe ongoing changes in higher education, especially over the past 5 years from 2019 to 2024, have increased tasks to the already high-demand workloads of full-time faculty. The workload demands that full-time faculty are experiencing are challenging to sustain, disengage them from their work-related roles, and increase their risk for high burnout levels. This action research study examined how resources identified from the Job Demands and Resources Theory (JD-R) could buffer the effects of full-time faculty workload while navigating the changes in higher education over the past 5 years. The participants for this study were full-time tenure-eligible/tenured faculty members. The action research intervention included three phases: participants taking the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) survey, attending a Resources Team (RT) meeting and incorporating new job resources for 6 weeks, and participating in a virtual semi-structured interview. Data collection included new job resources RT members found to buffer workload, how they perceived that their work-related roles changed over the 5 years, and their recommendations for navigating the changes in higher education. The OLBI survey data was analyzed using an independent t–test. The qualitative data sources were transcribed and coded using multiple coding processes. The study found that faculty’s high workload and pressure represent job demands that support the high level of burnout found in the OLBI results. During the 6 weeks, RT members used job resources autonomy to focus on one work role, created opportunities for more collaborative work, and provided social support, providing motivation and productivity during stressful times.Item Quantifying Spatiotemporal Patterns In Consumption And Habitat Of Spiny Dogfish In The Northwest Atlantic(2024-01-01) Robert J Latour; William & Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceThe spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, is a small, mesopredatory shark that preys upon and likely competes with a number of managed species in the Northwest Atlantic. These dogfish have a near-continuous two-year cycle of gestation, with low fecundity and late maturity, and support a targeted fishery on the Northeast US shelf that is managed jointly by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. This thesis focused on two aspects of spiny dogfish ecology in this region: drivers of key prey consumption by spiny dogfish for each sex and maturity stage, and the role of gestation on spatiotemporal distribution and habitat utilization of mature female spiny dogfish. In Chapter 1, seasonal consumption of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), and longfin inshore squid (Doryteuthis pealeii), by spiny dogfish was quantified via multivariate vector auto-regressive spatiotemporal (VAST) models that combined survey catch and stomach contents data. Annualized indices for broad-scale environmental phenomena (North Atlantic Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and Gulf Stream Index) and prey availability (prey harvest, seasonal prey abundance, seasonal prey-predator overlap) were assessed as potential drivers for seasonal consumption of key prey using Kendall-Tau tests and repeated-median (Siegel) regression. AMO and species-specific prey availability metrics were most frequently correlated with prey consumption, though there was also evidence of prey switching between Atlantic menhaden and Atlantic herring and a complex relationship between spiny dogfish, Atlantic herring, and longfin inshore squid. In Chapter 2, mature female spiny dogfish were separated into early term, late term, and nongravid reproductive groups based on embryo development. Species distribution models and ecological niche models were constructed to predict spatiotemporal distribution and habitat suitability for each life stage. These predictions were then used to calculate spatiotemporal and niche overlap, which was formally assessed for spatiotemporal and niche equivalency. Equivalency was rejected in a number of cases, indicating the existence of habitat partitioning within mature female spiny dogfish based on gestation. In particular, niche equivalency was rejected between late term females and both other groups in fall. While the abundance of the former declines linearly with depth, nongravid females exhibited a bimodal relationship while early term females showed no relationship indicating that spiny dogfish may utilize shallow waters for parturition and offshore locations for mating. Future research should further explore prey switching in the Northwest Atlantic and the role of reproduction on the distribution and habitat utilization of mature female fish.Item Selected Teachers' Perspectives On Classroom Management Post-Emergency Remote Teaching: A Grounded Theory(2025-01-01) Lorio-Barsten, Daria; Judith B Harris; Steven R Staples; Deborah A Grosser; April D Lawrence; William & Mary - School of EducationThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many aspects of education, including classroom management practices. Following the 2020-2021 school year, as students returned to in-classroom learning, their misbehavior increased (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2022b), presenting novel challenges for teachers to address through their classroom management practices (Prothero, 2023). This study examined how selected elementary education teachers engaged in classroom management practices after emergency remote teaching (ERT) and how, if at all, they saw their students’ experiences during ERT affecting the teachers’ post-ERT classroom management practices. Using a Straussian grounded theory approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1998), I examined the perspectives of 11 elementary general education teachers from five school districts. Data were generated through individual interviews, document analysis, and focus group discussions. Results indicated that participants chose classwide and individual classroom management practices based on their students’ intensified self-regulation and social skills challenges. Each participant selected similar pre- and post-ERT classroom management practices but used them with increased focus and additional direct instruction for proportionately more students post-ERT. As the selected teachers spent more time managing students’ behavioral and emotional needs post-ERT, they experienced overwhelming levels of job-related stress. Implications of these results provide recommendations for school administrators, district leaders, and policymakers interested in supporting teachers navigating the tremendous challenges of classroom management post-ERT, and suggestions for future research to expand our understanding of teacher classroom management practices during a largely unexplored time in recent history.Item Earthwork Landscapes Of Protection And Regulation: Chronology, Construction, And Meaning At Sungbo’s Eredo, Africa’s Largest Known Structure(2024-01-01) Evans, Tomos Llywelyn; Neil Norman; Grey Gundaker; Akinwumi Ogundiran; William & Mary - Arts & SciencesThis dissertation investigates questions of when, how, and why the 2nd millennium AD earthwork structure of Sungbo’s Eredo, southwestern Nigeria, was constructed and utilized by past Ijebu-Yoruba communities. To address these questions, the research combines archaeological excavations of the Eredo, as well as settlement sites adjacent to it, surveys of associated local shrines, and investigation of colonial and later archives relating to the earthwork landscape. Excavations and surveys primarily occurred at the sites of Augustine University and Eredo Village, Lagos State, Nigeria, while archival work largely drew upon both colonial British archives as well as the papers of 20th century scholars who worked in the Ijebu region. The research has contributed several new insights into the dates, construction, functionality and meaning of Sungbo’s Eredo. Novel chronological evidence suggests that it was constructed around the 15th century AD and continued to be relevant to local communities throughout the 15th to 21st centuries in multiple evolving ways. New stratigraphic evidence from the earthwork, cross-referenced with similar evidence from other sites along it, and a range of Modern and Early Modern accounts, is interpreted as suggesting a segmented process of construction by which local groups – coordinated by centralised authorities and specialised institutions – mobilised labour to construct their own portions of the earthwork according to their own knowledge and practices. Novel artefactual, survey, and archival evidence suggests that the earthwork performed a variety of evolving functions. Broadly, these pertained to physical and spiritual protection of communities within, regulation of persons, things, and entities seeking to enter and exit the enclosed territory, demarcation and consolidation of emergent hierarchies and subordinate populations, and maintenance of secrecy and isolation. The earthwork has also held an evolving mnemonic importance to communities over the centuries, with developing narratives pertaining to its legendary builder – Sungbo – and a host of other entities memorialised and sacralised by it, shaping community existence and reality as the world changed around them. The dissertation thus concludes, and further underlines, that linear earthwork structures in West Africa were multifunctional structures with many uses and meanings coexisting and changing over time, highly complex architectural constructs involving diverse knowledge and decision-making (and not simple accumulations of earth), and forms of monumental architecture central to local concepts of being in the world.Item Evaluating Proactive Cultural Methods And Herbicide For Control Of Invasive Vegetation In Freshwater Wetland Mitigation(2025-01-01) Douglas DeBerry; William & Mary - Arts & SciencesWetlands are disproportionally susceptible to invasions by non-native plant species which degrade ecosystem functions. Frequent disturbances associated with wetland creation and restoration facilitate the spread of invasive propagules, thus challenging invasive species’ performance standards and the efficacy of compensatory wetland mitigation. Traditional invasive management methods, such as the use of non-selective herbicides, are often ineffective yet widely exercised to control invasive vegetation, like Arthraxon hispidus (joint-head grass) and Phalaris arundinacea (reed-canary grass). Given the regulatory mandates under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act pertaining to invasive species in mitigation wetlands, there is significant demand for effective control strategies of invasive plants while promoting native vegetation communities.We conducted a field experiment at a wetland mitigation site in Catlett, Virginia, over two growing seasons (GS-1 and GS-2) to evaluate the efficacy of various cultural management strategies (defined as ecologically informed approaches that modify environmental conditions or manipulate ecosystem processes to control invasive species) alongside traditional herbicide treatments in controlling Arthraxon and Phalaris. Our experimental design replicated management- related disturbances within 1.5m2 plots by utilizing mowing and tilling, followed by broadcast seeding of a standard volume native herbaceous wetland seed mix. Stress-inducing treatments included high carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio soil amendments using wood chips to induce a nitrogen limitation, soil amendments with aluminum sulfate (Al₂(SO₄)₃) to reduce phosphorus availability, plot shading via overhead canopy structures to reduce photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and induce light limitation, high-density native herbaceous seed mix to promote interspecific competition with native congeners, and herbicide, both individually and in partial combinations. Treatment performance was assessed over two growing seasons through measurement of vegetation abundance (relative cover plus relative density) of focal invasives coupled with environmental variables. Our findings demonstrate the impact of environmental variables on the dynamics of invasive-dominant communities in a wetland mitigation system following disturbance. The abundance of Arthraxon was positively correlated with cation macronutrients (e.g., K, Mg) and negatively correlated with shade, indicating a preference for high-nutrient, high-light environments. Conversely, Phalaris abundance showed a marginally significant positive correlation with shade, likely reflecting its tolerance to higher moisture and cooler conditions. Hydrology was identified as a significant indirect factor affecting vegetation community assemblage in both focal species’ experimental populations. Our results reinforce the necessity for replicable long-term studies to evaluate the effectiveness of resource-limiting strategies in various wetland mitigation contexts and among problematic invasive species with contrasting life history strategies.Item Characterization Of Juvenile Fish Habitats Within Estuarine And Coastal Seascapes In Virginia(2024-01-01) Smith, Shannon Cassandra Frary; Mary C. Fabrizio; Robert J. Latour; Christopher J. Patrick; Jonathan J. Spurgeon; Ryan J. Woodland; William & Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceIdentification and protection of high-quality juvenile fish habitats, or nursery habitats, is an integral component of fisheries management. The mid-Atlantic region is experiencing disproportionately greater rates of warming and sea level rise relative to other coastal regions in the United States. These changes may alter or degrade nursery habitats for many recreationally and commercially sought-after fish species in the mid-Atlantic region. Habitat protection and conservation is necessary to safeguard nursery function and sustain recruitment of juvenile fishes to adult populations. To identify habitats for protection, quantification of fish responses to habitat features is needed at multiple spatial, temporal, and ecological scales. The primary goal of this dissertation was to quantify habitat characteristics in Virginia estuarine and coastal ecosystems and relate these characteristics to patterns in species assemblage composition, use and quality of nursery habitats, and habitat associations of juvenile fishes. Each chapter presents and discusses a research question related to juvenile fish habitats, and all chapters explore fish-habitat relationships that have implications for regional habitat conservation and fisheries management. Chapter 1 quantifies estuarine and coastal seascape characteristics at multiple spatial scales and assesses the effects of these characteristics on species assemblages and juvenile fish abundance. The results of this research highlight the importance of considering the broader environmental context of physical habitat structures when assessing the functionality and conservation potential of nearshore areas. Consideration of the entire, heterogenous seascape mosaic as opposed to a single habitat type is warranted when planning aquatic habitat conservation and restoration. Chapter 2 evaluates habitat quality and nursery area function of Virginia estuarine and coastal ecosystems for two economically valuable species, Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus and Spot Leiostomus xanthurus, based on juvenile fish abundance, body condition, and growth. Findings from this chapter suggest that tidal marshes are essential juvenile habitat for these species, implying that marsh loss may negatively impact juvenile fish production. Finally, Chapter 3 presents novel information on spatial-temporal habitat use of an ecologically important and imperiled species, Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis, in Chesapeake Bay subestuaries. Juvenile Blueback Herring use subestuaries for a prolonged period of time during their outmigration from freshwater nurseries to the coastal ocean, and are therefore vulnerable to human disturbances and habitat alterations in subestuaries during this time. This work provides a scientific basis for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to specify time-of-year restrictions to protect juveniles from mortality induced by in-water construction activities during outmigration. Furthermore, the fish-habitat associations described by this chapter will guide conservation and recovery strategies for this species. Collectively, the research within this dissertation demonstrates that the complexities surrounding fish-habitat relationships demand consideration of habitat and fish responses to habitat at multiple spatial and temporal scales.Item An Evaluation Of The Factors Influencing The Implementation Of An In-School Tutoring Program In A Small Independent School(2024-01-01) Agyekum, Yaa; Christopher R. Gareis; Margaret M. Constantino; Robert C. Knoeppel; William & Mary - School of EducationIndividual tutoring is noted to be one of the most effective ways to overcome academic achievement gaps and improve student achievement. The Supplemental Learning Support Program provides academic support to students during the school day. The purpose of this study was to conduct a formative evaluation of the program. A mixed-methods study design involving focus groups, an online survey, and analysis of student assessment data was used, and study participants included program tutors and deans. The study sought to examine the extent to which the program is being implemented as designed and explore the factors that support and hinder the program from obtaining its intended outcomes. Despite being in operation for over 20 years, the program had not been formally evaluated to determine its effectiveness. Findings revealed that the consideration given to the tutoring relationship, quality of tutors, communication within the program, intentional schedule design, and access to curriculum materials has improved student outcomes. The absence of a referral, assessment, and progress monitoring process has limited the effectiveness of tutoring due to an unclear process through which students access the program, lack of curricular alignment with tutoring goals and classroom instruction, inconsistent communication between teachers and tutors, and uncertain student availability. Policy and practice implications and recommendations for implementing the program are provided. Areas identified for future research are outlined as well.