Rust fungi are obligate plant parasites that exhibit multiple life stages with drastically different physical features depending on the host it infects. While studies in the classification of rust fungi are actively debated, the ultrastructure of this particular rust fungus has been vastly understudied. Using SEM and TEM, images were taken of Calyptospora columnaris to elucidate the fine features of these different stages in an attempt to give this fungus a more comprehensive visual representation.

This project is a webpage and potentially touch-screen kiosk which displays GIS datasets currently held by the school. This includes student and faculty projects concerning a variety of geographic data about Humboldt County. The Alpha version of this website is currently in development in coordination with the library and geospatial faculty at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Cellulose waste is utilized for biofuels, however cellulase enzymes are a limiting factor. We sought to evaluate a novel cellulase identified in cow rumen metagenomic analysis provided by the Joint Genome Institute. We performed DNA analysis, SDS PAGE, and a cellulase activity assay to theoretically calculate and compare to experimental molecular weight; and determine cellulase activity. The theoretical molar mass (64.9 kD) strongly correlates to the experimental molar mass (60.7 kDa). Purified cellulase has an activity, 6.27 cm2/ug, 6x higher versus commercial cellulase enzyme. These results have positive implications for the creation of biofuels from agricultural waste products.

Vertebrates use proteins expressed in the sensory cells of the nasal cavity to detect odors and chemical signals. The study aimed to characterize the olfactory receptors (ORs) in the California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus). We used standard molecular genetics techniques (PCR and cloning) to isolate 15 partial sequences of ORs from salamander olfactory tissue. We used phylogenetic reconstruction to show that the salamander ORs we isolated grouped with the gamma family of ORs found in many other vertebrates. Our preliminary results suggest that this species has a large and diverse OR family, a finding consistent with their ecological reliance on chemical communication.

An analysis of how foraging rates in Black phoebe differs in wetland environments vs urban environments

An evaluation of characteristics of tree stumps that make them conducive for the presence of the Wandering Salamander (Aneides vagrans). I looked at stump diameter, the relative abundance of cracks on the stumps, and the amount of surface and canopy cover around the stumps to determine if wandering salamander abundance is correlated with any of those variables.

This project is a behavioral study on 4 gull species of Humboldt County. Their agonistic behavior was studied, comparing the frequency of agonistic behavior toward members of other species based on relative body-size. This value was compared with the number of birds of each relative size they had access to. I found that most gulls tended to target members of their own species disproportionately, but Western gulls disproportionately targeted members of other species that were larger and smaller in size. This may have implications on gull behavior and management.

Northern harriers are generalist predators known to occupy and forage over a variety of wetland and grassland types in North America. Whether Northern harriers adapt their foraging modes over different habitat types to maximize their success and energy intake is not known with any confidence. This study addresses this knowledge gap on a small scale around Humboldt Bay at various wetland and grassland sites.

Ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) are among the many waterfowl that migrate south from their wintering locations in search for warmer climates.With Humboldt Bay located on the Pacific Flyway, Arcata Marsh is a primary stop-over site for the ducks’ journey. Time activity budgets will help to infer if females require additional nutrients for their fat storage before migration and the start of egg production. A prediction was made that females will spend more time foraging underwater in preparation for breeding and laying periods. Finding that there was no significant difference between foraging behavior of female and male ruddy ducks.

Overwintering migratory birds may face increased competition for resources than in other seasons due to large influxes of birds arriving and inhabiting shared areas for similar amounts of time. These mechanisms may affect food availability, which in turn is implied to affect body energy reserves. We conducted a study to determine the temporal effects of body conditions of hunted waterfowl carcasses in Humboldt Bay, California, and test whether energy reserves as functions of body condition indices decrease over the winter season.