STUDENT RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2020 PRESENTATIONS

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Egg Size Determines Fry Size in Substrate-Spawning Cichlid Fishes
Hailey Donaldson, California State University, Sacramento

Egg size plays a critical role in determining fry size for substrate-spawning cichlids. Students participating in the Cichlid Fry Project at California State University, Sacramento are trying to answer the hypothesis of 'Is fry size directly proportional to egg size in substrate-spawning cichlids?' Our predictions: Larger eggs will produce larger fry and smaller eggs will produce smaller fry. We do this by spawning many species of cichlids, and measuring samples of egg and fry size.

Long Term Effects of Curcumin Extract on C. elegans Lifespan
Veda Madem, American Heritage School Boca Delray

Curcumin which is the main ingredient in turmeric has been shown to have antioxidative, anti inflammatory and antimicrobial effects but the long term consequences of these effects are not known. In the present study, I have hypothesised that if the beneficial effects of curcumin are due to alterations in gene expression that are transmissible, the unexposed F0 progeny should also show the effects. C. elegans were fed twenty µM curcumin in P0 generation and the lifespan of both P0 and F0 progeny was monitored. Under the given experimental conditions, the average lifespan of P0 treatment group was about twenty-eight days compared to the control group that had twenty-six days, there was no difference in the F0 worms. The effects of curcumin seem to be not persistent and transmissible to the progeny.

Community Diversity of Foraminifera Over Time, Space, and Response to Temperature
Giovanna Noe-Wilson, Smith College

I looked to identify formaninfera and their community diversity in Madison, CT. I was hypothesized that living foraminifera would vary spatially (i.e. elevation) and over time (e.g. seasonally). Molecular techniques were used to identify species and GPS along with GIS was used to calculate elevation and position of collection.

Population Ecology, Size-structure, and Distribution of Strongylocentrotus Purpuratus in Kelp Forest and Sea Urchin Barrens Habitats Along the Central Coast of California
Alice Feng, Harker School

Kelp forests are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and are highly valued because of the economic and ecological services they provide. In 2014, an outbreak of herbivorous purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) decimated kelp forests along the central and northern portions of California. In this study, we explored the extent and temporal dynamics of kelp forests and sea urchin barrens around the Monterey Peninsula, California, in order to parameterize a model aimed at simulating future kelp forest-urchin barren scenarios. Data on urchin density, kelp density, and physical and biological attributes of barrens and kelp forests were collected through subtidal surveys at 70 sites in Monterey Bay. A series of regressions were used to explore relationships between kelp density, urchin density, urchin behavior, urchin size, and urchin diet. Patchiness in the distribution of urchins was investigated in both spatial extent and temporal duration, including shifts in urchin grazing modality and size structure. We also used deep learning to identify urchin gut contents through diet analyses in order to determine sea urchin grazing capacity. Results from this study indicate density thresholds for shifts between barren and forest state. Model simulations forecasted kelp and urchin density scenarios into 2020.

The Choice Process of Adaptation Through Manipulating Generational Time and Nutrient Intake of Bacterium
Eric Pengili, American Heritage School Boca Delray

Science Research Presentation Sigma Xi.

Ultrasonic Planimals! The Bioacoustics of Fusing Cyphastrea Coral
Camila Rimoldi, Sebring High School

In my research I investigated if corals have the biological intelligence to communicate with other members of its specie via ultrasonic sounds. I specifically used the coral specie Cyphastrea, and after comparing results to those of dead coral, the conclusion of this research shows that corals can communicate with ultrasonic sounds.

STUDENT RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2020 PRESENTATIONS

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

About

Programs

Chapters

Meetings & Events

Members

News

Publications