May 2, 2025
Reception & Presentations 2pm to 5pm
Cal Poly Humboldt Library
Search Presenters & Abstracts
Presenters & Abstracts: Search
Study of the Dietary Preferences of Collared-Doves Within an Expanded Range of Choices
Daniel
Francois
Wildlife
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
The Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is an invasive columbiform that has spread across the continent of North America in under thirty years since its first introduction (Smith 1987, Romagosa and McEneaney 1999). Since then, it has competed with and dominated a variety of native passerines (Romagosa and McEneaney 1999, Romagosa and Labisky 2000). Our goal was to further discover its feeding habits and dietary preferences in order to gain a better understanding of its impact on native birds such as the mourning dove (Zenaida macroura). We hypothesized that collared-doves would prefer corn over millet seeds, and millet seeds over oats and sunflower seeds.
Adapting to Autism-Friendly Care in a Rural Hospital
Kelly
Wheelock
School of Applied Health
Undergraduate Student
College of Professional Studies
This evidence-based quality improvement project reviews solutions for enhancing safety and outcomes in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within rural hospital settings. Through the application of the Revised Iowa Model and systematically reviewing peer-reviewed articles and professional guidelines, the project aims at addressing key challenges and proposing evidence-based solutions. Solutions include patient-tailored care, staff training, and hospital-level policy actions. A SMART goal aims at measurable enhancement in patient safety and satisfaction through a systematic multi-level process for autism-informed care.
Bones Grow, but Do They Shrink: A Taphonomic Study on Postmortem Bone Shrinkage
Brianna Addington
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Molly Ballard
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Ryan Martis
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Sarah Mangham
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Yomayra Mora
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Thomas Matthews
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
An important aspect in biological anthropology and forensic cases is determining an individual’s stature in life. Stature estimation involves the use of formulas that have been derived from measurements taken from an individual’s bones. Bones, in life, are encased in the body, which is a wet environment. Our research looks at the postmortem taphonomic processes which may lead to the bone shrinking after death, in the relatively dryer outside environment. Bone shrinkage could have an impact on stature estimations in forensic and other anthropological cases. Our preliminary findings indicate that environment and time affect bone shrinkage rates.
From Plants to Portola: Geovisualization of the Pre-Colonial California Coast, Derived from Paleobotanical Data and Spanish Journals
Ryan Reger
Geography
Undergraduate Student
Andrew Gibbs
Geography
Undergraduate Student
Dr. Chelsea Teale
Geography
Faculty
Nicholas Perdue
Geography
Faculty
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This Geovisualization takes a broad look at the California Coast in a precolonial context including native plants, and land management practices used by the Ohlone tribe, in part by referencing Spanish journals from the Portola expedition, and in part by referencing existing Paleobotanical data. The location of primary interest is present day Pillar Point, just north of Half Moon Bay, from which Doctor Teale has previously collected Paleo-environmental data.
Humboldt County Sanctuary Initiative
Kevin Olmar Martinez
Political Science
Undergraduate Student
Crystal Rosales
Political Science
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Centro Del Pueblo was created in response to the wave of anti immigration rhetoric and the increase of ICE raids in Humboldt County. The organization advocates for immigrant rights, organizing rallies, marches and most recently pushing its own initiative for sanctuary in Humboldt County. The initiative itself wont violate SB54 in anyway or violate the U.S. Constitution, what it will do is add extra layers of protection for the undocumented community from being persecuted by ICE, and promoting a safer community between the county and the immigrant community.
Taphonomic Bone Shrinkage: A Study on the Effects of Wet and Dry Climates on Postmortem Bone Shrinkage
Ryan Martis
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Robert Lovato
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Nelsie Ramirez
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
Thomas Mathews
Anthropology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
In forensics, stature estimation is a key component of the assessment of skeletal remains. Estimating stature involves extrapolation from the length of long bones. Previous research has indicated environment can result in postmortem shrinkage of bone, and therefore affect stature estimates. This research project examines the extent of bone shrinkage that occurs when bones are exposed to the elements, dried out in a fume hood and submerged underwater. Measurements of bone length were taken at regular intervals. Preliminary analysis indicates a relationship between precipitation and postmortem shrinkage. This study has the potential to aid in assessing the accuracy of stature calculations.
Mycoremediation and TEK Implemented into Ecological Restoration Practices
Maya Noble
Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Student
Casey Nichols
Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Mycoremediation and traditional ecological knowledge or TEK implemented within Indigenous communities and blended with accepted ecological restoration methods in order to restore the health of damaged and contaminated ecosystems.
The Indian Health Service and the Sterilization of Native American Women
Emily Suarez
Biology
Undergraduate Student
Yazmin Chamu
Biology
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
In the 1960’s, the Indian Health Service (IHS) introduced and provided native american women different methods of birth control. The US government agency personnel, including the IHS, targeted native americans due to their high birth rate. As opposed to popular belief, native women were often subsidized and used as test subjects with the goal of population control under the American Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW.) This lead to an abundance of native women becoming sterilized by their physician without their consent.
A Dream Told Me to Be Here
Mark Gavit
Film
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
"But why should one consider dreams, those flimsy, elusive, unreliable, vague, and uncertain phantasms, at all?"
- C. G. Jung
Lineage Tracing of HoxB5 Cells of the Yolk Sac and their Contribution to the Adult Hematopoietic System
Joe Olage Pasillas
Biology
Undergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Understanding the origins of hematopoietic stem cells has been a challenge due to the lack of a marker specific to this cell type. Recently, our lab has functionally proven that HoxB5 is a unique marker for long-term HSCs in adult murine models. Whether HoxB5 is also a marker for HSCs in development, has not been studied. Here, we are labeling HoxB5+ cells found in the yolk sac blood islands at E7.5 by using a genetic tool we generated. We will then analyze all marked cells at several time points during development and adulthood. This project will discover if HoxB5+ cells from the yolk sac contribute to the adult hematopoietic system and the LT-HSC pool.