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2007
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Charlotte Alvord
Oregon State University - Corvallis, Oregon
Senior, majoring in Zoology
Research Title: Guardians of the Forest - Sea Otter Genetics
Research Summary: Using surveys and hands-on activities, Charlotte determined the publics baseline knowledge on genetics. Using this information, she designed and produced a poster with the appropriate information to address the publics understanding of microsatellite DNA analysis and PCR research. An analysis is conducted of visitors background genetics and with the formative design of her poster.
Mentor: Bill Hanshumaker, OSU/Fisheries & Wildlife: Public Marine Education Specialist
Internship Site: Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center Internship
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Carrie Antolik
Eckerd College - St. Petersburg, Florida
Senior, majoring in Biology
Research Title: Diversity
and differentiation of mtDNA among humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae) on both the tropical feeding grounds
and the Antarctic feeding Areas of the South Pacific
Ocean
Research Summary: Throughout
the 19th century humpback whales of the south Pacific (SP)
were heavily exploited by commercial whaling. It is important
to understand the degree of connectivity between these
small south Pacific breeding populations and their associated
feeding grounds in order to better understand the dynamics
of recovery of humpback whales in this region. 800bp of
the mitochondrial control region was sequenced from previously
collected SP samples (2003 to 2005) and added to existing
sequence data for the breeding grounds (1994-2002) and
Antarctica (1994-2002). These sequences were analyzed to
examine genetic diversity and differentiation within individual
feeding and breeding ground populations. If time permits
genetic connections between feeding and breeding grounds
will also be investigated. (NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Scott Baker, Associate
Professor, Fisheries and Wildlife
REU Site: Newport
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Casey Benkwitt
Bowdoin College - Brunswick, Maine
Senior, majoring in Environmental Studies and Sociology (biology
minor)
Research Title: Gastric
Evacuation and Daily Ration of Juvenile Chinook Salmon
in Coastal Waters
Research Summary: This
research involved conducting laboratory studies on the
gastric emptying time of juvenile salmon fed known amounts
of food at 3 different temperatures. This was combined
with field measurements of stomach fullness taken throughout
the day to estimate a daily ration for these fish that
can be used to examine food limitation in the ocean during
the first few critical months at sea. (NSF/CIMRS-supported
REU Intern)
Mentor: Ric Brodeur, Professor,
Oceanography (Courtesy) NOAA/NW/NMFS)
REU Site: Newport
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Craig
Brauer
Illinois Wesleyan University - Bloomington, Illinois
Senior, majoring in Biology
Research Title: Soliciting
Sex for Bopyrid Taxonomy
Research Summary: Bopyrid
isopod crustaceans parasitize decapod crustacean hosts
and produce pelagic larvae. While the reproductive
stages of nearly all bopyrid isopod crustaceans of the
northeastern Pacific have been described (Markham 1992)
the pelagic larval dispersal stages have remained unknown. Complications
of either culturing these parasites through their entire
life cycles or associating the pelagic stages with the
adults, in situ, has largely precluded descriptions of
the larval stages anywhere in the world. We report
epicaridan and cryptoniscan stages of Ione cornuta Bate,
1864, and Orthione griffenis Markham, 2004 that
we identified by epicarids by direct association or by
sexual attraction. (NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: John Chapman,
Research Associate, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
REU Site: Newport
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Jennifer
Brookes
University of Portland - Portland, Oregon
Senior, majoring in Biochemistry and Biology
Research Title: Spectrometric
Determination of Microbial Cell Numbers in Water Samples
Research Summary: My project
included using the ZAPS MP.1 photo-spectrometer to test
for the microbial cells in water. The instrument was able
to make real time measurements of running water. The hope
is that if the instrument works with microbes there will
be industrial applications to use such an instrument to
bypass many of the current limitations for water testing.
(NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Rick Colwell,
Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Leah Carver
University of Massachusetts -Amherst - Amherst, Massachusetts
Senior, majoring in Geology and Earth Systems
Research Title: Analysis
of Northeast Pacific cores EW9504-12PC and EW9504-13PC
using 40Ar-39Ar dating, paleomagnetics, CaCO3 extraction,
and radiolaria marker methods to determine glacial/interglacial
influences in response to geographic location
Research Summary: Ocean
cores EW9504-12PC and EW9504-13PC from the Northeast Pacific
are uniquely influenced by their geographic location and
sediment provenances. A variety of methods are used
to analyze the cores. 40Ar-39Ar dating give bulk sediment
ages, paleomagnetics are used to correlate the cores to
absolute time, calcium carbonate percentages show glacial
and interglacial intervals, and radiolaria assemblages
show regional upwelling and serve as time markers as well. This
study shows regional-scale climate variability with a focus
on the variety of influences and their complexity on climate
change. (NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Nick Pisias, Professor,
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Daniel Fulton
Lawrence University - Appleton, Wisconsin
Senior, majoring in Physics and Computer Science
Research Title: Assessing
Model Surface and Subsurface Fields on the Oregon Shelf
During Spring and Summer Upwelling
Research Summary: The
goal and course of summer work is to create visualizations
of model-data and model-model comparisons. Early
work focused on comparisons of Jason SSH and GOES SST data
against model SSH and SST respectively, in the period between
the January and July 2007, to assess the accuracy of geostrophic
current and current front predictions, while current visualizations
are exploring model subsurface fields through comparisons
with mooring data in 2001. MATLAB scripts developed
for data processing and visualization will be integrated
into the automatic prediction system, with the collaboration
of COAS personnel (S. Erofeeva), to allow QC in the future
(CIOSS-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Alexander Kurapov,
Assistant Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Kirsten Heesacker
Oregon State University - Corvallis, Oregon
Junior, majoring in Fisheries & Wildlife
Research Title: Short Tailed Albatross Research
Research Summary: Short-tailed albatross are pelagic birds whose lives are threatened by long line fisheries. Kirsten prototyped an exhibit and video based on by-catch from long line fisheries and the migration patterns of the short-tailed albatross. She installed a display with streamers used to deter albatross. Kirsten also received assistance with the development of the critical path and formative evaluation of her project.
Mentor: Bill Hanshumaker, OSU/Fisheries & Wildlife: Public Marine Education Specialist
Internship Site: Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center Internship
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Marley Jarvis
Carleton College - Northfield, Minnesota
Senior, majoring in Biology
Research Title: Molt
cycle and molting behavior of krill (Euphausia pacifica)
off the Oregon Coast
Research Summary: My research
is about the molting behavior of the krill species Euphausia
pacifica. I am staging Euphausia pacifica tails
on slides in glycerin, which allows me to see what stage
in the 6-day molt cycle the Euphausiid was in when it was
sacrificed. I am using this technique to answer questions
about their molting behavior, such as whether or not Euphausia
pacifica molt synchronously, as do some other species of
krill. I am also setting up a time series to verify
my identification of the correct molt stage by sacrificing
euphausiids on 6 hour increments after molting and staging
their tails to view the molt stages at known intervals.
(NSF/CIMRS-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Bill Peterson,
Professor, Oceanography (Courtesy); NOAA – Northwest
Fisheries Science Center
REU Site: Newport
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Jessica Johnson
Oregon State University - Corvallis, Oregon
Senior, majoring in Fisheries & Wildlife
Research Title: Green Sea Turtle Project
Research Summary: Jesse prepared and cleaned a juvenile green sea turtles skeleton for reassembly. Re-articulated its skeleton and designed a vertical mount that allowed the visitor to open the plastron to reveal the skeleton. An exhibit based around the reassembled skeleton and shell, will be designed to educate the public about green sea turtle anatomy, migration patterns, biology, and their endangered/threatened status.
Mentor: Bill Hanshumaker, OSU/Fisheries & Wildlife: Public Marine Education Specialist
Internship Site: Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center Internship
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Aurelie Labbat
University of Brest - France
Research Title: Tides
Estimated Using an Inverse Model and Comparison with
Tide Gauge Data
Research Summary: The
establishment of a tides model using altimetric data from
TOPEX/POSEIDON mission has already been made. The software
is called OTIS. This study consists in using OTIS to make
a model of English Channel tides which will be compared
with validation data from tide gauges. A particular focus
is an improved modeling of non-linear tides such as M4.
(COAS-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Gary Egbert, Professor,
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Jessie Martinez
Carleton College - Northfield, Minnesota
Junior, majoring in Biology
Research Title: Life
on the Edge: Edge Effects of Fish Use of Intertidal Seagrass
Fragments
Research Summary: Examining
the use of intertidal habitats including eelgrass and ground
cultured oysters by estuarine fish. Oysters are cultured
in areas where eelgrass is present and often viewed as
essential fish habitat. This project is a first attempt
to see how fish utilize these habitats and whether this
practice creates an edge effect on a landscape scale. Also
conducting initial experiments to test the effect of this
habitat modification on juvenile English sole predation.
(NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Brett Dumbauld,
Research Ecologist, USDA-Agriculture Research Service
REU Site: Newport
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Grady Maxwell
Oregon State University - Corvallis, Oregon
Masters Student, majoring in Public Health
Research Title: Development of HMSC Marine Science Academic Programs
Mentor: Itchung Cheung, Instructor, OSU Biology Program, Academic Program Coordinator, Hatfield Marine Science Center
Internship Site: PROMISE internship - HMSC
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Emily Mortazavi
University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona
Junior, majoring in Geosciences, Geology option
Research Title: Construction
and Development of a Paleomagnetic and Environmental
Magnetic Record from NE Pacific Core EW95-12JC
Research Summary: Using
data from a u-channel cryogenic magnetometer, a magnetic
stratigraphy of the EW9504-12PC core can be determined. This
gives a dating technique for this core. In addition,
to a time scale the environmental conditions of sedimentation
can be determined using the magnetic mineralogy. (NSF-supported
REU Intern)
Mentor: Joe Stoner, Assistant
Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Trevor Nace
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill,
North Carolina
Senior, majoring in Environmental Geology
Research Title: Are
Small Mountainous Streams a Significant Source of Carbon
Burial as well as Sediment Transport During Periodic
Inundation?
Research Summary: My research
focused on determining the magnitude, depositional extent,
and characteristics of particulate organic matter, derived
from periodic inundation of small mountainous rivers, on
coastal margins. In addition, I hope to better understand
the contribution of these small mountainous rivers on the
coastal as well as global carbon cycle. (NSF-supported
REU Intern)
Mentor: Miguel Goni, Associate
Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Jamila-Dawn
Payton
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff - Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Senior, majoring in Fisheries Biology
Research Title: Use
of Wax Beads to Facilitate Bioencapsulation of Oxytetracycline
by Artemia nauplii
Research Summary: Wax
spray beads were evaluated as a means of delivering water-soluble
antibiotics and therapeutics, such as oxytetracycline,
to fish larvae. Fish larvae are unlikely to be able to
digest wax beads but Artemia, a commonly used prey for
rearing marine fish larvae, have grinding mouth parts that
may be able to mechanically break down the wax beads, liberating
the antibiotics. Artemia can then be used to deliver the
liberated antibiotics to fish larvae. (NSF-supported REU
Intern)
Mentor: Chris Langdon,
Professor, Fisheries and Wildlife
REU Site: Newport
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Elizabeth Prier
Bethany College - Lindsborg, Kansas
Junior, majoring in Biology
Research Title: Photoacclimation
in Microalgae
Research Summary: The
purpose of this project was to analyze the physiology of
photoautotrophic marine organisms in regard to growth patterns
under fluctuating light circumstances. The goal in
this project was to track the growth patterns of one algal
group as a function of light fluctuation at different frequencies
over a set period of time. Because photoautotrophic
marine organisms are an integral part of the global environment's
stability, it is important to understand their physiology
and how they adapt to be successful under various light
situations. (CIOSS-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Ricardo Letelier/Pete
Strutton, Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Sciences/Assistant Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Jennifer Rolling
University of Maryland - Baltimore, Maryland
Junior, majoring in Physics
Research Title: Correlation
of Sea Surface Temperature in the Gulf Stream Extension
with the Northern Hemisphere Annular Mode
Research Summary: The
Northern Hemisphere annual mode (NAM, also known as the
Arctic Oscillation) has been identified as the dominant
mode of extratropical atmospheric variability in the Northern
Hemisphere. Contrary to conventional wisdom suggesting
a one-way forcing of midlatitude sea surface temperature
(SST) anomalies by atmospheric variability, an empirical
correlation has been found to suggest that small changes
in SST in the Gulf Stream Extension region of the north
Atlantic may precede the NAM on intraseasonal timescales.
An investigation of this finding using the same SST dataset
as well as a new higher-resolution SST dataset yields similar
results but at significantly reduced amplitudes and correlation
values. (CIOSS-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Dudley Chelton/Eric
Maloney, Distinguised Professor, College of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Sciences/Assistant Professor, College of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Zahirah
Salahuddin
University of Maine - Orono, Maine
Senior, majoring in Marine Science and Anthropology
Research Title: Phototaxis
and habitat preference of juvenile flatfish
Research Summary: English
sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) are a commercially
important species in the North Pacific. As juveniles, they
are found in estuaries and coastal embayments. They use
these areas for protection from large predators. Also,
the abundance of food that is available in these areas
enables them to grow much faster. In several laboratory
experiments, we are going to simulate different light levels
that could be found in the natural environment. Then, we
are going to see which light preference they prefer. These
applications will enable further studies of Rock sole and
Pacific Halibut, two species that co-habitat with the English
sole in Alaskan waters. (NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Cliff
Ryer, Assistant Professor, Fisheries and Wildlife (Courtesy);
NOAA – Alaska
Fisheries Science Center
REU Site: Newport
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Erin Seale
California State University Fullerton - Fullerton,
California
Senior
Research Title: Vertical
Distribution of Pacific Cod Larvae with Varying Light
Intensity
Research Summary: I examined
how light level influences the distribution of Pacific
cod larvae in vertical columns. Fish behaviors were
examined at 4°C and 8°C and compared over time
to test for thermal effects and ontogenetic shifts. Pacific
cod is a commercially important fishery species that spawns
throughout the Gulf of Alaska and relies on ocean currents
to deliver progeny to suitable nursery grounds. With existing
oceanographic models of ocean currents in the Bering Sea
and Gulf of Alaska, incorporating data on behavior of Pacific
cod larvae can improve predictions of how dispersal and
recruitment events in a changing environment might take
place to preserve this fishery for years to come. (NOAA
Alaska Fisheries Science Center-supported Intern)
Mentor: Tom Hurst, Research
Fishery Biologist, NOAA - Alaska Fisheries Science Center
REU Site: Newport
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Andrew Sherman
California State University Channel Islands - Camarillo,
California
Senior, majoring in Chemistry
Research Title: Development
of an Autonomous In-Situ Chemical Analyzer for Zinc in
Seawater
Research Summary: This
study will focused on an in-situ analyzer for total dissolved
zinc concentrations. A commercially available nitrate analyzer
will be modified for this work. Most of the lab time was
used to find the optimal conditions in which the instrument
can accurately measure zinc concentrations. Variables including
pH, temperature, flow rate, sample and reagent volumes,
and reagent concentrations will be studied. Because of
its minuscule concentration in the ocean, any instrumentation
must be extremely sensitive to zinc, and able to function
with little to no chemical interference or background noise.
(COAS-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Zanna Chase, Assistant
Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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Matt
Stuckey
University of California Berkeley - Berkeley, California
Senior, majoring in Conservation & Resource Studies/Environmental
Economics & Policy
Research Title: Networks
of Geoduck Chronologies: The Potential for Sea Surface
Temperature Reconstruction
Research Summary: Growth
increment chronologies developed from the long-lived Pacific
geoduck closely track ocean variability. Geoduck
chronologies capture between 50 and 60% of the variance
in sea surface temperature (SST) records and can be used
to reconstruct SST over the past 100 to 150 years. However,
at some sites in northern BC and AK the relationship between
SST and geoduck growth has sharply diminished over the
past 20 years. A similar phenomenon has occurred
in tree-ring chronologies at similar latitudes in a phenomenon
known as the “divergence effect,” which may
be a consequence of climate change. The geoduck chronologies
that show this divergence also have a history of harvesting
which coincides with the dissociation of climate-growth
relationships. We developed additional geoduck chronologies
at unharvested sites to determine whether the divergence
effect is a consequence of human disturbance from harvesting
or larger ecosystem shifts due to changing climate in the
north Pacific. (NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Bryan Black, Assistant
Professor, OSU/Hatfield Marine Science Center
REU Site: Newport
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Jennifer Wolschllager
Eckerd College - St. Petersburg, Florida
Senior, majoring in Marine Science (Biology Track)
Research Title: Evidence
of Selection in a Vomeronasal Type 1 Pheromone Receptor
Gene in Fishes of the Family Embiotocidae
Research Summary: Numerous
fish species have been shown to use pheromonal communication
to mediate mating interactions. In mice, and other mammals,
pheromones are received/processed by a large family of
vomeronasal type 1 (V1r) pheromone receptor genes. Although
fishes do not have a vomeronasal organ, they have recently
been shown to possess one or two V1r-like genes, which
are thought to have a similar function in fishes as in
mammals. I sequenced V1r pheromone receptor genes in 15
of the 23 species in the Family Embiotocidae in order to
characterize sequence differences and look for evidence
of selection in the genes. (NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Michael Banks,
Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife
REU Site: Newport
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Diane Wu
Cornell University - Ithaca, New York
Junior, majoring in Chemistry and History
Research Title: Increasing
Power Generation in Benthic Microbial Fuel Cells through
Supplementation with Lactate
Research Summary: An important
factor that affects power output from a microbial fuel
cell is the electron transfer process at the anode. In
the lab, I built fuel cells and conducted time course experiments
to investigate if the electron transfer process is sensitive
to the addition of an exogenous electron donor. In addition,
I collected and analyzed chemical samples to determine
the efficiency of carbon oxidation and how the supplemented
fuel cells performed over time. (NSF-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Clare Reimers,
Professor, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
REU Site: Newport
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Regina Yopack
Simmons College - Boston, Massachusetts
Senior, majoring in Physics and Environmental Science
Research Title: Comparing
Glider Observed Velocities and Geostrophic Currents
Research Summary: The
use of autonomous underwater gliders is a new, cost effective
approach to studying oceanic processes. Coastal gliders
are being used to profile the Oregon coast's unique upwelling
season as well as profile for such variables as hypoxia
and water velocities. The water velocities measured
by the glider are used to help characterize the surface
layer of water and it's seasonal variations. The
comparison of observed water velocities by the glider using
dead reckoning and modeled geostrophic currents helps to
reveal geostrophic influence on the upper Ekman layers
whose velocities are mostly effected by atmospheric conditions.
(CIOSS-supported REU Intern)
Mentor: Kipp
Shearman, Assistant Professor, College of Oceanic & Atmospheric
Sciences
REU Site: Corvallis
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