Canadian / U.S. Exchange Rates and Nonresident Investors: Their Influence on Residential Property Values

Factors external to a home’s characteristics may influence the sales price. This analysis focuses on Bellingham, Washington, because of several influences including the Canadian economy and nonresidents. First estimated is a constant-quality Bellingham housing price index, which is used as the dependent variable in a reduced-form model of market price to estimate the impact of the exchange rate. The analysis (1984-94) suggests that a 10% rise in the exchange rate leads to a 7.7% rise in Bellingham home prices. Additionally, in 1990, non-county buyers paid 4% to 6% more than county residents and non-county sellers received 6% to 8% less.

14. The Effect of Leaf Species on Insect Oviposition Preference and Colonization

Some insects are known to be common vectors of disease, which is an important public health issue. As such, diverse studies on the ecology of vectors are needed for effective management. Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) is the 2nd most important vector of human diseases, and is a common carrier for dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis viruses. It is commonly found in most areas of the central and eastern U.S., can have oviposition sites that occur close to human settlements (e.g., buckets, tires), and is an invasive species in the U.S. Our study aims to examine the influence of vegetation in deterring insect oviposition in a neighborhood landscaping environment, which is a breeding ground for this insect when standing water is present. This experiment used 18 buckets filled with water in a suburban neighborhood in Ruston, LA as available oviposition sites. Leaf treatments of loblolly pine, post oak, and southern magnolia were added to the buckets. Twice a week in May and June, we collected immature insects, which were preserved, counted and identified. Preliminary results using Poisson regression showed no significant differences in numbers of A. albopictus or other immature insects among leaf litter treatments, though this data set included a very limited time period during the experiment. Continued analyses will be conducted to provide more robust results

Effects of spatial subsidies and canopy cover on pond communities and multiple life stages in amphibians

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 26, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: Dr. Raymond D. SemlitschIncludes bibliographical references.Vita.Ph. D. University of Missouri-Columbia 2012."July 2012"Spatial subsidies are resources that move from one ecosystem to another. In aquatic systems, canopy cover determines both light availability and subsidy input in the form of senescing leaves. This phenomenon has been well studied in streams, and general patterns of ecosystem production, community structure, and the reciprocal export of animals have been discovered. I was interested in whether these patterns also occurred in ponds. I examined these patterns using experimental pond mesocosms and supported the results using an observational study of natural ponds. For the pond mesocosm experiment, I placed mesocosms along a canopy cover gradient and manipulated spatial subsidy input. I found a shift from net heterotrophy in closed canopy mesocosms to a balance between heterotrophy and autotrophy in open canopy mesocosms. The macroinvertebrate community structure responded to both canopy cover and subsidy input in mesocosms. The biomass of collectors (detritivores) was highest in mesocosms with litter input and increased with canopy cover, a pattern also present in natural ponds. Finally, I found that litter input increased the reciprocal export of amphibian biomass compared to no input. Amphibian biomass also decreased with increases in primary productivity. This research highlights the importance of spatial subsidies that connect different ecosystem types. Conserving these ecosystem connections will help maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function.Includes bibliographical reference

Effects of Leaf Diversity on Tannin Concentration and Water Quality

The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

Effects of Leaf Tannin Concentration on Aquatic Beetle Colonization

The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

Effects of Leaf Litter on Amphibian Oviposition Site Selection

Rebekah Magee is a graduate student in the School of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University. Julia E. Earl is an Assistant Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University. The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

Effects of Freshwater Microorganisms on the Degradation of Tannins

The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

Amphibian Oviposition Site Selection Preferences in Response to Leaf Litter Chemical Characteristics

Rebekah Magee and Julia E. Earl are a part of the School of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech Universit

The Value of a Water View: Variability over 25 Years in a Coastal Housing Market

Given a relatively inelastic supply of locations with coastal water views, the price of a water view is likely to rise during housing market upturns and fall during downturns. Using 25 years of data and more than 20,000 home sales for Bellingham, Washington, this study uses the hedonic methodology to estimate water view premiums over different phases of the housing cycle. Views are differentiated both by scope and by distance from the water. Results show real dollar premiums associated with water views move with the housing cycle, rising when housing demand and overall market prices increase and falling when the overall price of housing declines. In addition, the relative value of a view fluctuates as well

The Effects of Leaf Tannin Concentration on Water Quality

Ian Lovemore, Joseph Phillips, and Julia E. Earl are a part of the School of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University