Skip to Content
Report an accessibility problem

Thesis and Dissertations

Thesis (PhD)

2023

Enloe, A. 2023. Snake Removals, Residential Yards, and Resident Attitudes Towards Snakes in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, Arizona. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2022

Elser, S. R. 2022. Ecosystem Services from Urban Ecological Infrastructure: Perceptions, Performance, and Priorities for Climate Resilient Cities.. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2020

Andrade, R. 2020. Connecting people and biodiversity: Multi-scalar interactions in social-ecological systems. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Stuhlmacher, M. F. 2020. Patch to landscape and back again: Three case studies of land system architecture change and environmental consequences from the local to global scale. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2019

Handler, A. M. 2019. Watershed nitrogen transport, retention, and fate in dryland and urban ecosystems. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Hester, C. M. 2019. Diagosing a silent epidemic: The historical ecology of metal pollution in the Sonoran Desert. Phd Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Weller, N. 2019. Practicing democracy: Improving participatory technology assessment for sustainability challenges. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2017

du Bray, M. 2017. Cross-Cultural Approaches to Understanding the Emotional Geographies of Climate Change. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Ramos, J. 2017. Methane and Nitrous Oxide Fluxes from Water, Plants, and Soils of a Constructed Treatment Wetland in Phoenix, AZ. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Zhao, Q. 2017. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Tree Locations and Arrangements for Improving Urban Thermal Environment. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2016

Eagar, J. 2016. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) redistribution in extreme dust storms and processing in clouds. PhD dissertation. School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University. (link )

Fan, C. 2016. A spatial statistical framework for evaluating landscape pattern and its impacts on the urban thermal environment. PhD Dissertation. School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University. (link )

Song, J. 2016. Urban microclimate response to landscape changes via land-atmosphere interactions. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Stotts, R. 2016. Cross-cultural threats to water supplies and future approaches for water management. PhD Dissertation. School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University. (link )

Suchy, A. 2016. Denitrification in accidental urban wetlands: Exploring the roles of water flows and plant patches. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Yang, J. 2016. Urban green infrastructure: Modeling and implications to environmental sustainability. PhD Dissertation. Arizona State University.

2015

Ackley, J. W. 2015. Rich lizards: How affluence, land cover, and the urban heat island effect influence desert reptiles persisting in an urban landscape. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Bleasdale, T. H. 2015. Gardens of justice: Food-based social movements in underserved, minority communities. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Chapman, E. J. 2015. Theoretical and empirical investigations of ecosystem development in boreal wetlands. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Kane, K. 2015. A century of land-use change in metropolitan Phoenix. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Marcotte, A. 2015. Processing of trace metals in atmospheric particulate matter. PhD. Arizona State University. (link )

Ripplinger, J. 2015. Ecology and the city: A long-term social-ecological examination of the drivers and diversity of urban vegetation. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2014

Barry, M. C. 2014. Overcoming the impacts of extreme weather and dissolved organic matter on the treatability of water using ozone. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Cook, E. M. 2014. Direct and indirect ecological consequences of human activities in urban and native ecosystems. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Davies, S. 2014. Investigating the influence of food on reproductive physiology and gonad growth: Urbanization as a natural experimentt. PhD. Arizona State University. (link )

Rice, J. 2014. Modeling occurrence and assessing public perceptions of de facto wastewater reuse across the USA. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. Committee members: Paul Westerhoff (chair), Morteza Abbaszadegan, Enrique Vivoni, and Amber Wutich. (link )

Wong, C. P. 2014. Managing for urban ecosystem services: The Yongding River ecological corridor. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Wyant, K. A. 2014. Soil moisture availability and energetic controls on belowground network complexity and function in arid ecosystems. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2013

Chuang, W. 2013. Vulnerability to Heat Stress in Urban Areas: A Sustainability Perspective. PhD dissertation, School of Sustainability. Arizona State University. (link )

Declet-Barreto, J. 2013. A socio-ecological understanding of extreme heat vulnerability in Phoenix, Arizona. Ph.D. dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Deitrick, S. 2013. Implicit visualization as usable science visualizing uncertainty as decision outcomes. Arizona State University. Ph.D. dissertation, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University. (link )

Hale, R. L. 2013. Coupled hydrology and biogeochemistry in social-ecological watersheds. Arizona State University. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe. (link )

Hamilton, G. A. 2013. Soot black carbon dynamics in arid/urban ecosystems. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Ibes, D. C. 2013. Advancing sustainable urbanism through civic space planning & design. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Iwaniec, D. M. 2013. Crafting sustainability visions - integrating visioning practice, research, and education. Ph.D. dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Kaplan, S. 2013. Natural desert and human controlled landscapes: Remote sensing of LULC response to drought. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Marusenko, Y. Y. 2013. Niche differentiation of ammonia-oxidizing microbial communities in arid land soils. Arizona State University. (link )

Ouyang, Y. 2013. Relationship between single-family residential water use and its determinants: A spatio-temporal study of Phoenix, Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Strawhacker, C. A. 2013. Sustaining irrigation agriculture for the long-term: Lessons on maintaining soil quality from ancient agricultural fields in the Phoenix Basin and on the north coast of Peru. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Taylor, C. 2013. Food security and financial success in central Arizona farmers' markets: Presences, absences, lived experience, and governance. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Zhang, S. 2013. Socio-ecological drivers and consequences of land fragmentation under conditions of rapid urbanization. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2012

Hartz, D. A. 2012. Heat-related morbidity and thermal comfort: A comparison study of Phoenix and Chicago. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2011

Chow, W. T. 2011. Microscale modeling of the canopy-layer urban heat island in Phoenix, Arizona: Validation and sustainable mitgation scenarios. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Kim, W. 2011. Understanding open spaces in an arid city. Ph.D. dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Lerman, S. B. 2011. Residential landscapes and bird community structure: Understanding the patterns and processes. PhD dissertation. University of Massachusetts.

2010

Bang, C. 2010. Effects of urbanization on arthropod diversity, community structure and trophic dynamics. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Cutts, B. B. 2010. Public knowledge of water resources as a product of multiple information providers. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Fokidis, H. B. 2010. From the brain to the barrio: Energy and stress interact to facilitate the urbanization of Sonoran Desert birds. PhD. Arizona State University. (link )

Gade, K. J. 2010. Plant migration along freeways in and around an arid urban area: Phoenix, Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Hedquist, B. C. 2010. Micro-scale evaluation of the urban heat island in Phoenix, Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Larson, E. K. 2010. Water and nitrogen in designed ecosystems: Biogeochemical and economic consequences. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Sweat, K. G. 2010. Biomonitoring of elemental atmospheric deposition with the lichen Xanthoparmelia spp. In Arizona, USA. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Zhuo, X. 2010. Spatial distributions of toxic elements in urban desert soils: Sources, transport pathways, historical legacies, and environmental justice implications. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

2009

Ruddell, D. M. 2009. Scale and Scientific Inquiry: An Investigation of the Theoretical, Methodological, and Practical Applications. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2008

Buyantuyev, A. 2008. Effects of Urbanization on the Landscape Pattern and Ecosystem Function in the Phoenix Metropolitan Region: A Multi-scale Study. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Walker, J. S. 2008. Human-induced vegetation dynamics and avain responses in a rapidly expanding desert metropolis. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2007

Bigler, W. 2007. Historical biocomplexity in irrigation agriculture: The Akimel O'Odham (Pima) and the Gila River, Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Gonzales, D. A. 2007. Dry deposition of speciated ambient fine particles measured using eddy correlation mass spectrometry. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Miller, J. 2007. Local and regional climate change in the Mojave Desert, USA. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Zhang, P. 2007. Urban water supply, salt flux, and water use. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

2006

Bills, R. J. 2006. Mycorrhizal diversity and effects on brittlebush in a Sonoran Desert urban ecosystem. Arizona State University. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. Unpublished Master's thesis.

Grineski, S. E. 2006. Social vulnerability, environmental inequality and childhood asthma in Phoenix, Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Parker, J. 2006. Organizational collaborations and scientific integration: The case of ecology and the social sciences. Arizona State University. Department of Sociology, Arizona State University. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, Tempe, AZ. (link )

Parker, J. 2006. Organizational collaborations and scientific integration: The case of ecology and the social sciences. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Stiles, A. 2006. Structure and distribution of Sonoran Desert plant communities in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2005

Collins, T. W. 2005. The production of hazard vulnerability: The case of people, forests and fire in Arizona's White Mountains. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Roach, W. J. 2005. How anthropogenic modifications influence the cycling of nitrogen in Indian Bend Wash. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2004

Edmonds, J. W. 2004. Understanding linkages between dissolved organic carbon quality and microbial and ecosystem processes in Sonoran Desert riparian-stream ecosystems. Arizona State University. (link )

Jenerette, G. D. 2004. Landscape complexity and ecosystem processes of an urbanized region. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Marussich, W. A. 2004. The costs and benefits of myrmecochory between ants and datura in the Sonoran Desert. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

2003

Perry, D. L. 2003. Analysis of atmospheric particles on filters and mesquite leaves in El Paso and Phoenix. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Sicotte, D. 2003. Race, class, and chemicals: The political ecology of environmental injustice in Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Stabler, L. B. 2003. Ecosystem function of urban plants in response to landscape management. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2002

Anderson, S. 2002. Design and implementation of a spatio-temporal interpolation model. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

Honker, A. M. 2002. A river sometimes runs through it: A history of Salt River flooding and Phoenix. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Robinson, S. E. 2002. Cosmogenic nuclides, remote sensing, and field studies applied to desert piedmonts. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Xu, Y. 2002. Assessment and prediction of groundwater nitrate contamination trends in the Salt River Project area, Arizona. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

2001

Applegarth, M. T. 2001. Interpretation of pediment form using geographic information technology and field data. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

2000

Stefanov, W. L. 2000. Investigation of hillslope processes and land cover change using remote sensing and laboratory spectroscopy. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University. (link )

1999

Roberge, M. 1999. Physical interactions between Phoenix and the Salt River. PhD dissertation. Arizona State University.

Thesis (Masters)

2023

Cisco, J. 2023. The Fate of Microplastics in Tres Rios, a Constructed Treatment Wetland. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

2019

Boehme, C. 2019. Longitudinal Trends of Bird Community Richness and Abundance over Fifteen Yearsin the Northern Reaches of the Sonoran Desert. Master's thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

Horvath, V. N. 2019. Sustainability principles and the future of Phoenix, Arizona: Framing the Salt River's urban waterway redevelopment. Master of Science. Arizona State University. (link )

Sanchez, C. A. 2019. Designing and Implementing Ecological Monitoring of Aridland Urban Ecological Infrastructure (UEI): ACase-Study of Design Process and Outcomes. Master's thesis. School of Sustainability, Arizona State University. (link )

2018

Kemmitt, K. L. 2018. Sources and decomposition of dissolved organic matter in desert streams. Master of Science. Arizona State University. (link )

2016

Hobbins, R. J. 2016. Scenario planning for sustainable dark skies: Altering mental models and environmental attitudes through scenario planning. MS thesis. School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University. (link )

MacNeille, B. 2016. The phyllosphere of Phoenix's urban forest: Insights from a publicly-funded microbial environment. MS Thesis. School of Sustainability, Arizona State University.

2015

Heavenrich, H. R. 2015. Soil biogeochemical consequences of the replacement of residential grasslands with water-efficient landscapes. MS Thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

2014

Gburek, T. M. 2014. Plasticity of the red hourglass in female Western black widow spiders (Latrodectus hersperus): Urban ecological variations, condition-dependence, and adaptive function. MS Thesis. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. (link )

Rose, C. J. 2014. Chloroform formation from swimming pool disinfection: A significant source of atmospheric chloroform in Phoenix?. MS. Arizona State University. (link )

2013

Volo, T. J. 2013. Modeling soil moisture dynamics of landscape irrigation in desert cities. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

2011

Banville, M. J. 2011. Herpetofauna and riparian microhabitat of urban and wildland reaches along the Salt River, Arizona. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

Crouch, C. 2011. Community food resource assessment in central city south, Phoenix: A study of community capacity building. MA thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

Metson, S. G. 2011. Phosphorus cycling in metropolitan Phoenix. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

Trujillo, J. 2011. Seasonality and ecosystem reponse in prehistoric agricultural regions of central Arizona. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

2010

Busse, K. 2010. The effect of surface cover and vegetation on microclimates in Phoenix residential neighborhoods. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

Lund, T. 2010. Major and trace element cycling in an arid-land stream. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Marusenko, Y. Y. 2010. Magnitude and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils of urban transportation corridors in an arid ecosystem. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

2009

Choi, C. 2009. Comprehensive Water, Salt, and Energy Flux Modeling for Urban Systems. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Literral, J. 2009. Effects of urbanization on avian species diversity in the Phoenix, Arizona, USA metropolitan region: Patterns in vegetation remnants. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Ontiveros Valencia, A. V. 2009. Arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi in urban desert preserves and surrounding Sonoran Desert. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

2008

Davies, R. C. 2008. Human Influence on Nutrient Cycling in Phoenix, AZ. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Neil, K. 2008. Effects of urbanization on flowering phenology in Phoenix, USA. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

2007

McLean, B. 2007. Geochemical consequences of management on water resources in central Arizona, USA. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

2006

Block, J. 2006. 3-D visulation for water resources planning and for Salt River paleo-geomorphology in central Arizona. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Singer, C. K. 2006. Effects of landscape surface mulches on desert landscape microclimates and responses of three Southwest desert plants to landscape surface mulches and drip irrigation. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

White, J. 2006. Resilience of the plant community and seedbank in an urbanizerd riparian corridor. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

2004

Hartz, D. A. 2004. A case study of suburban development and microclimate variability in a desert urbanized environment. MA thesis. Arizona State University.

Prasad, L. 2004. Urban materials and temperature: Relating ground and air variables to land use, socioeconomics and vegetation in Phoenix. MA thesis. Arizona State University.

2003

Boreson, J. 2003. Correlating bioaerosol load with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Celestian, S. B. 2003. Characterization of parking lot events and the effect of parking lot environments on the growth and physiology of six Southwest landscape trees. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Riley, S. 2003. Decay of convective turbulence bounded by an inversion layer. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Schaafsma, H. 2003. Legacies of prehistoric agriculture in the Sonoran Desert. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Tavassoli, F. 2003. The history of the watercourse master planning process in Maricopa County. MEP thesis. Arizona State University.

2002

Berling-Wolff, S. 2002. Simulating the dynamics of the Phoenix landscape: An urban growth model. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Clark, K. B. 2002. When abundance fails to predict persistence: Species extinctions in an urban system. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

David, J. 2002. The hierarchical patch dynamics modeling platform: Development and ecological applications. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Hedquist, B. C. 2002. Spatio-temporal variation in the Phoenix East Valley urban heat island. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

Paine, S. 2002. Establishing conservation priorities in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. MA thesis. Arzona State University.

Rango, J. 2002. Influences of priority effects, nutrients, and urbanization on creosote bush arthropod communities. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Whitcomb, S. A. 2002. Belowground spatial patterns and dispersal of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in an arid urban environment. MS thesis. Arizona State University. (link )

2001

Cousins, J. R. 2001. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species diversity in Phoenix, Arizona, an urban ecosystem. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Damrel, D. 2001. A documented vascular plant flora of the Arizona State University Arboretum. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Fergason, K. C. 2001. Investigation of changes in water table elevation associated with Tempe Town Lake. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Goettl, A. C. 2001. Nutrient limitations in Indian Bend Wash: An urban stream in the Sonoran Desert. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Luck, M. A. 2001. A landscape analysis of the spatial patterns of human-ecological interactions. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Mueller, E. C. 2001. The effect of urban ground cover on microclimate and landscape plant performance. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Oleksyszyn, M. M. 2001. Vegetation and soil changes in secondary succession of abandoned fields along the San Pedro River. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Saffell, E. M. 2001. Urban-rural humidity variations in Phoenix, Arizona. MA thesis. Arizona State University.

Smith, C. S. 2001. Modeling opportunity: Employment accessibility and the economic performance of metropolitan Phoenix neighborhoods. MEP. Arizona State University.

Walters, G. M. 2001. Sonoran Desert seedbanks: Spatio-temporal variation of ephermal plants and urban recreational impacts. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

2000

Compton, M. A. 2000. A comparative study of desert urban lakes receiving well, canal, and effluent source waters. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

1999

Holloway, S. 1999. Proterozoic through Quaternary geology of the Union Hills, North Phoenix, Arizona. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

McPherson, N. 1999. Fate of 50 years of fertilizer N applications in the Phoenix ecosystem. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Zschau, T. 1999. Efects of a copper smelter on desert vegetation: A retrospective after 26 years. MS thesis. Arizona State University.

Thesis (Undergraduate)

2023

Storey, G. 2023. Ultra-Trace Quantification of Plasticizers at the Tres Rios Constructed Wetland. Thesis. Barretts Honor College, Arizona State University. (link )

2015

Jia, J. 2015. Quantifying the trade-off between landscape vegetation height, surface temperature, and water consumption in single-family residential houses for a desert city. Barrett Honors Thesis. Arizona State Univeristy. Committee members: Kelli Larson (co-chair) and Elizabeth Wentz (co-chair).

2013

Weller, N. A. 2013. Community composition and nitrogen retention in an aridland wastewater treatment wetland. Honors thesis, Barrett, the Honors College, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.

2012

Brumand, J. 2012. The effects of formal and informal institutions on residential land management in the Phoenix metropolitan. Honors Thesis (undergraduate), Barrett Honors College, Arizona State University.

2003

MacLeod, A. 2003. Artificial hydrologic controls and the geomorphology of the Greater Phoenix area. Senior thesis. Arizona State University.