Our project focuses on the importance of ethnobotany with an emphasis on restoration and medicinal plant properties. Ethnobotanical studies fixated on traditional ecological knowledge have long been disregarded by western science; however, this information is crucial for the restoration of the environment, advancement of medicines, and cultural revival of the Native people. Due to colonization and westernization, the continuation of knowledge throughout generations along with the vast ecosystems that once thrived has depleted. Conversely, through the expansion and shared education on plants and restoration processes long known by Natives, the gap between western science and TEK will degrade.

The Early Cretaceous Budden Canyon Formation of North America contains a few anatomically preserved plant fossils ca. 125 Ma old (Barremian-early Aptian). Recent investigations of the Budden Canyon Formation have revealed a preserved seed cone assignable to the Cupressaceae. Based on serial sections and a 3-D reconstruction, the fossil cone was compared with living Cupressaceae and revealed significant differences from most genera and closest similarity, but not identity, with Sequoia. The age and morphology of the cone also suggests that it may represent an extinct member of the sequoioid, a lineage which gave rise to modern redwoods (Sequoia) and giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron).

The study of exoplanets has produced large amounts of data since the first exoplanet was discovered over two decades ago. Much of these data are archival and available online to be reused to search for new results. More specifically, spectral data that has been taken from planet-star systems to detect planets by the radial velocity (RV) method can be reused to perform transit spectroscopy if the RV curves include spectra taken at the primary and secondary eclipses and the observations have sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. Our goal is to prepare a compilation of current results on the atmospheric composition of hot Jupiter type planets and extend it by reusing archival data.

Clouds are a critical component of the atmosphere, which predominantly cools the planet by scattering solar radiation back to space. Particulate matter (PM) are small solids suspended in the air that can initiate the seeding process for cloud formation, where environmental metal oxides (EMO) are one of the dominate types of PM. This process is directly related to the relative humidity (RH) above the PM surface and how much water it absorbs. PM collects sparingly small molecular layers of water before undergoing bulk scale water uptake. Details of water uptake at this level are still lacking in the literature, and we desire to quantify water uptake on atmospheric PM to enhance climate models.

Research was conducted in an effort to date the glacial moraines of this area using the degree of etching caused by weathering over time. It was determined that etching of hornblende grains can be used to quantify the age of glacial moraines. Samples were collected from five different glacial moraines from Frazier Falls in the Mohawk Valley of the northeastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Fine sand samples were cleaned, sorted and analyzed; using soil science techniques. Thirty hornblende grains from each location were individually chosen and mounted for analysis. Backscatter electrons and secondary electrons in the scanning electron microscope were used to analyze the etching of the hornbl

Siphonophores (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) inhabit pelagic waters where representative species occupy depths ranging from the surface to the abyss. Locomotion by siphonophores is achieved by nectophore muscular contractions, which generate vortex ring wakes similar to jet-propelled medusa and squid. Using high-speed video analysis, we compare the kinematics and characterize wake structures of two different species of siphonophores during straight and turning swimming. By extracting the kinematics of individual nectophores, we quantify the formation time (T*) to characterize the jet wake. We show the T* generated by swimming physonect siphonophores are larger than other jet-propelled swimmers.

With support from the NCAA and U.S. Department of Defense, the North Coast Concussion Program (NCCP) has embarked on a groundbreaking two year study of the history and impact of concussions among NCAA athletes. This multi-institution study is aimed at understanding the neurobiological and psychosocial nature of concussive injury and recovery for the purpose of enhancing the safety and health of collegiate student-athletes, service members, youth sports athletes and the broader public. At Humboldt State, faculty and students of the NCCP work together to conduct baseline and post injury monitoring of neurocognitive, motor control, and behavioral data in about 450 athletes from all sports.

For this project, we looked at the plastics that were found in the Guts of Leach's Strom Petrels in Humboldt County, CA. In 2020, 57 of these storm petrels were found dead of natural causes and stored at Cal Poly Humboldt. In my project, I analyze if these storm petrels had plastics in their stomachs at the time of their death, and if so, how much plastic. This is the first of such studies done on Leach's Storm Petrels on the Pacific Coast. The results help to contribute to the ever-growing knowledge of how plastics in our oceans are affecting wildlife.

Invasive species disrupt ecosystems and can lead to complex food web issues and increased probability of extinction for native species. The Sacramento pikeminnow (P. grandis) is invasive in the Eel River of Humboldt county and has contributed to the decline of species that local communities rely on, such as the Chinook salmon and the Pacific lamprey. This study explores the morphometric differences of the Sacramento pikeminnow within native and non-native ranges.

Providing balanced and enriching enclosures is a key part of maintaining the animal welfare standards of zoos and sanctuaries. This study was designed to assess the enclosure usage patterns related to foraging opportunity of both the Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) and Crested screamer (Chauna torquata), housed within the same exhibit, at the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California. These results have the potential to be extrapolated towards the betterment of exhibit designs and husbandry practices for mixed-species exhibits in zoos.