Undergraduate Abstract

Tanju Kiriscioglu
May 2006

The Fate and Transport of Nitrogen (N) and the Effect of Emergent Plants on Natural Treatment of N-species at Las Vegas Wash, Nevada

A Thesis submitted in partial satisfaction
of the requirement for the degree of

Bachelor of Science

In

Department of Environmental Studies
University of Nevada Las Vegas

By

Tanju Kiriscioglu

May 2006

Content Advisor:
Krystyna A. Stave, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Environmental Studies
Krystyna.Stave@unlv.edu

Class Advisor:
Timothy J. Farnham, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, UNLV
Timothy.Farnham@UNLV.edu

ENV 499 A & B

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of emergent plant communities at Las Vegas Wash (the System) using a system dynamics modeling approach. Understanding the dynamics of nitrogen (N—major polluting nutrient in the Wash) that enters the System is important because it occasionally causes algal blooms, choking Lake Mead through excessive eutrophication. Emergent plant communities are an integral part of wetland ecosystems and they play a crucial role in natural treatment of nutrients. This study is intended to test this hypothesis.



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