| I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Sarah Ebel. You saw potential in me even when I wasn’t able to see it in myself. Your influence, guidance, and support have forever changed the course of my life for the better. Words truly fall flat in capturing all you’ve done for me. Please know that I’m forever thankful for you. To my committee members, Dr. Sarah Ebel, Dr. Kate Reedy, and Dr. Morey Burnham, thank you so much for your invaluable guidance and encouragement. Your insights and feedback were crucial for the completion of this project, and I’m thankful for the time, effort, and thoughtfulness you put into helping me complete this. To the farmers and ranchers in Teton Valley, thank you for sharing your thoughts, time, and experiences with me. None of this would have been possible without your generosity. Finally, I want to thank the Center for Ecological Research and Education and the National Science Foundation Idaho EPSCoR GEM-3 for financial funding which allowed me to focus on my research more than my bank account. |