Geologic Nitrogen and Mammalian Bioturbation Soil Research
Projects
This page highlights selected projects from my research, courses, and academic programs.
Click on a project to learn more.
Research Projects
Course Projects
Lompoc Edible Trail Proposal
ENV S 155 · UC Santa Barbara
Comparing Assistance Needs and Service Light Functionality
ENV S 193DS · UC Santa Barbara
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
EARTH 20 · UC Santa Barbara
Rough-Skinned Newt vs. Garter Snake
BIOL 155 · Allan Hancock College
Other Projects
Species and Functional Richness Comparison
UCSB–Smithsonian Scholars Program · Panama
Geologic Nitrogen Inputs to Semi-Arid Soils
Abstract
Geologic Nitrogen Inputs to Semi-Arid Soils with and without Mammalian Bioturbation
Authors: Rebecca Martinez, Riley Howard, Heath Goertzen, Nina Bingham, and Iris Holzer
Nitrogen is a critical nutrient for plant productivity and ecosystem health, but not all sources of nitrogen are well understood. One such poorly understood source is nitrogen trapped in rocks, which can be released into soils and then used by plants and other organisms. This study examines nitrogen in rocks and its movement into soils in a climate from which we have limited data: semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems.
Some of these ecosystems include mammals that mix the soil, such as gophers, which may help move nitrogen from rocks higher into the soil. We measured nitrogen in rocks at two Central California sites, with and without these mammals, and found a wide range of nitrogen concentrations across different rock types. Additional soil data will allow for a more detailed assessment of how nitrogen moves from rocks into soils across the two sites.
Lompoc Edible Trail Proposal
University of California, Santa Barbara
ENV S 155 – Built Environment
An artistic proof-of-concept proposal for transforming underused green spaces in Lompoc into edible walking trails that promote community connection, health, and sustainability. This fictional concept was created as a final project and is not an actual or funded plan.
Project Highlights
- Community-centered design incorporating native and edible plants
- Safe walking paths with shade, seating, and public art
- Hands-on workshops and volunteer planting days
- Interactive timeline and map for project phases and locations
Tools Used
Quarto, HTML, CSS, Leaflet.js, and community engagement frameworks
View Project
Note: This is a fictional concept created for academic purposes only.
Service Lights
University of California, Santa Barbara
ENV S 193DS – Data Science for Environmental Studies
A class project exploring the relationship between lighting conditions and service-call outcomes using a self-collected dataset (n = 108). The project included a bar chart, summary table, and blinking lightboard animation.
Tools Used
RStudio, Quarto, tidyverse, here, flextable, janitor, ggtext, ggfx, gganimate, and showtext
Visuals
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
University of California, Santa Barbara
EARTH 20
A short video project examining the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the geologic processes behind the event.
More details coming soon.
Watch the Video
Rough-Skinned Newt vs. Garter Snake
Allan Hancock College
BIOL 155 – Zoology
A collaborative video project with Darlene Vera, with assistance from friends in the Department of Fine Arts.
The co-evolution of toxin production in rough-skinned newts and toxin resistance in garter snakes served as the focus of this short and silly film designed to make complex science accessible. The project combined storytelling, visual art, and evolutionary biology to communicate this dynamic relationship.
Tools Used
Scriptwriting, storyboarding, filmmaking, and Adobe Premiere
Watch the Video
Species and Functional Richness Comparison
UCSB–Smithsonian Scholars Program
Advanced Field Research Training at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama · Summer 2023
This final program project compared the species richness and functional richness of bird communities between Barro Colorado Island and Pipeline Road in mainland Panama. We used autonomous recorders and avian trait databases to examine diversity patterns in two distinct habitats. The results reflect program learning outcomes rather than a comprehensive biodiversity assessment.
Project Team
The Orependulas
Brandon Leon, Rebecca Martinez, Daniel Romero, Mathew Silva, and Zachary Wilson
Tools Used
- AudioMoths
- RStudio
- tidyverse
- mFD
- phytools
- BirdNET-Analyzer
- AVONET bird trait dataset
- Birds of Panama
Process
- Deployed 12 AudioMoths to record the dawn chorus
- Conducted point counts for visual confirmation
- Analyzed 24 audio files using BirdNET-Analyzer
- Combined detections with trait data from AVONET and Birds of Panama
- Created visualizations in RStudio
Poster
Presented at the 2023 Cal Poly Summer Internship Research Symposium and the 2023 UCSB Fall Undergraduate Research Showcase.
