SENR Speaker Series welcomes MS Lightning Talks

The SENR Speaker Series welcomes MS students who will present Lightning Talks starting at 4:00 p.m. in room 103 Kottman Hall or via Zoom. 

Hunter M. Slear*
Gray Area: Investigating the decline of the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in Ohio, USAV

Abstract: Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) populations are believed to be declining in much of the Midwest and Northeastern United States. Gray foxes are listed as a Species of Concern in Ohio and an assessment priority species in the Midwest. Since the 1980s, gray fox harvests have decreased, and current harvests levels remain low. Possible reasons for decline are disease, such as canine distemper virus (CDV) and parvovirus, habitat loss and fragmentation, and competition with the eastern coyote; however, exact reasons for this population decline remain unclear. To better assess the statewide gray fox population and identify factors that may be limiting their population, we captured and collared gray foxes from November 2023 to March 2026 throughout the state of Ohio and fitted them with GPS collars. I am using survival and spatial data from these collared individuals to examine specific mortality, spatial movements, and habitat preferences. I will estimate seasonal and annual survival with a staggered entry design, Kaplan – Meier survival model. Additionally, I will use a Cumulative Incidence Function to quantify specific causes of mortality. To determine home range and core area size, I am using a 95% and 50% Kernel Density Estimate (KDE), respectively. I plan to perform a compositional analysis to compare interspecific habitat use and selection within estimated home ranges and core areas. Since this is an ongoing study, preliminary results found that gray fox home range size is small, on average of 0.5 square miles. Specific causes of mortality have been anthropogenic, predation, and disease; however, more cases of mortality must be documented to better understand survival and highlight limiting factors and risks to their population. These results will provide the basis for guiding future management and policy decisions for gray foxes in Ohio. Findings will also be compared with other states in the Midwest and Northeast to develop regional management recommendations.

Hunter M. Slear*, The Ohio State University; Slear.1@osu.edu; 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210
Catherine Dennision, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife; Catherine.Dennison@dnr.ohio.gov; 2045 Morse Rd. Bldg G-3, Columbus, OH 43229
William E. Peterman, The Ohio State University; Peterman.73@osu.edu; 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210
Risa Pesapane, The Ohio State University; Pesapane.1@osu.edu; A100K Sisson Hall, 1920 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210
Stanley D. Gehrt, The Ohio State University; Gehrt.1@osu.edu; 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210

Madeline Stewart
Rain Gardens: Proximity, Perceptions, and Property Values

Abstract: Rain gardens are emerging across the United States as a part of green infrastructure (GI) to address stormwater management and flooding concerns. When installed by municipalities though, it is unclear how people's perceptions of the GI change with proximity to it or how residential property values are impacted. By studying these changes made by the rain gardens installed by Blueprint Columbus, benefits and costs of rain gardens and similar GI are better understood, and methods to generate support for GI programs become clearer. This also helps to develop better nuance of when certain types of GI are more beneficial than others, creating a better image for decision makers on what tools to invest in to build a more sustainable future.

Zion Streeter
EXPLORING SCIENCE EDUCATORS’ PERSPECTIVES ON COMMUNITY INFLUENCES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF OUTDOOR SCIENCE EDUCATION 

Abstract: This study investigates how middle and high school science educators’ perspectives on their community and landscape contexts shape their ability to implement outdoor science education in a Midwestern urban setting. Using a qualitative case study design, the research draws on semi‑structured pre‑program interviews from nine educators participating in a regional environmental education fellowship. The analysis employs abductive thematic coding to explore how teachers describe cultural, environmental, and infrastructural features of their communities, and how these factors influence their instructional decisions. Findings indicate that community conditions—such as pollution, safety concerns, limited green space, and infrastructural decline—frequently constrain opportunities for outdoor learning. At the same time, educators highlight the potential of community partnerships, local environmental issues, and student interest as meaningful supports for connecting science content to real-world contexts.

The study is grounded in three complementary theoretical frameworks: Sociocultural Perspectives, which emphasize learning through social and cultural interaction; Place-Based Education, which centers learning in local environments; and Critical Pedagogy of Place, which foregrounds justice-oriented engagement with community issues. Together, these frameworks illuminate how educators navigate the “where” “how,” and “Justice” of outdoor science learning. This research contributes to understanding how urban educators interpret community context and how these interpretations shape equitable, locally relevant outdoor science education practices.