We inventoried the epiphyte community in one 87 m tall Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) tree in the Redwood Experimental Forest north of Klamath, CA. For our inventory, we sampled approximately 5% of trunk, segment, branch, and branchlet area and found over 50 species of epiphytes. Functional groups of these epiphytes include microlichens, macrolichens, leafy liverworts, mosses, and ferns. For all epiphyte samples we estimated percent cover for spatial analyses of within-crown epiphyte distribution relative to crown height and distance from the bole. In this project we showcase some of the impressive biological diversity and introduce viewers to a variety of lesser-known botanical species.

In this study, we investigated the influence of thinning and prescribed fire on tree growth responses to multi-year drought conditions in the dry forests of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in northern California. Specific questions include: 1) Do fuel reduction treatments influence forest resistance to drought stress? 2) What individual tree-level and site-level factors (i.e. size, crown height, competition, pre-disturbance tree growth) influence tree growth responses? 3) Do tree growth responses change over years of successive drought stress?

This study examines the land-use changes along the south-east coast of Sri Lanka before and after the 2004 Tsunami to spot vulnerable areas for future monitoring efforts. A time-series vegetation change: (i) immediately after Tsunami between 2004-2005, (ii) pre-Tsunami & long-term between 2004 -2016 and (iii) post-Tsunami & long-term between 2005-2016 were mapped using Landsat TM images. The resulting series of multiple change detection models became a series of maps displaying a considerable disturbance of vegetation patterns and agricultural activity at the coastal and inland areas.

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.

In June 2016, the water column abundance and vertical flux profile of microfibers was examined using Niskin bottle collection and a vertical array of surface-tethered sediment traps at the continental shelf break south of Rhode Island. Fibers were extracted and analyzed on a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer to determine the type of materials present. Sinking rates of the fibers were estimated through three independent approaches: theoretical, field-based, and lab-based. In general, the field-based approach indicated roughly 8x slower sinking speeds than those observed in the lab or predicted by theory.

Quasars are supermassive black holes that, through accretion, emit large amounts of radiation and eject large amounts of matter. Spectral emissions from quasars have proven to be highly variable, that is, quasar spectra change dramatically over time. The physical mechanism behind this variability in the accretion disk is not yet completely understood. High velocity outflows of matter have been observed in many quasars and could serve as a mechanism for changing the radiating matter in the accretion disk around the black hole, thus changing the quasar's spectra. Our team has analyzed quasar spectra to search for possible trends between radio properties and outflows.

Interactions between stem cells and their microenvironment, or niche, are not thoroughly understood. The Drosophila testis stem cell niche provides a simple model to observe niche-stem cell interactions. This niche contains non-dividing hub cells that signal to adjacent germline stem cells and somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs). If the testis is damaged (specifically, if CySCs are eliminated) hub cells sense their absence and respond by dividing and changing their identity (or transdifferentiating), becoming replacement CySCs. Because transdifferentiation occur in many niches and can promote tumor formation, we are using Drosophila testes niche as a model to gain more insights on this process.

Through the collaboration between Humboldt State and the university HEP in Switzerland, we developed lesson study practices for English Language Learners at l'Élysée, a Swiss high school. Specifically, our main areas of interest involved assessing student engagement and learning. Our lesson was taught four times, and after each lesson, it was adapted to better match the needs of our students.

To design a hydronic floor heating system that maximizes the amount of heat transfer from the shower wastewater to the bathroom floor.

Many trace metals are essential micronutrients for phytoplankton, and despite their low concentrations in seawater, trace metals can have large impacts on biological processes. Also due to their low concentrations, the measurement of trace metal concentrations requires precise analytical techniques. One common method utilizes expensive instrumentation that we do not have at HSU. In this research project, we adapted published methods to use the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, an instrument in the HSU Chemistry Department. Results show successful adaptation of the method for zinc and manganese. Current work streamlines the method to allow for 8-fold faster sample preparation.