My research project investigates the relationship between the invasive European beachgrass, Ammophila arenaria, and mammal presence in the foredunes of Gold Bluffs beach within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

The research will focus on the experiences of Liberian Americans while fleeing the civil war. This displacement is shaped by the policies made by the Liberian Government and the United States government. The relevance of this study is the placement of value on the experiences of those who experienced displacement. More often than not, the focus of migration in the global south is the economic factors and how those factors affect the Western world. This research is a way to project the stories of those who are often not heard, the Liberian people.

Our study aimed to discover the impacts of the edge effect on bird species distributions within the secondary redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Arcata Community Forest (ACF). We used the Merlin Bird ID app to record the number of species present at three edge and three interior sampling sites to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the number of species present. We found that edge sites averaged 7.3 species while interior sites averaged 5.5 species. Our results indicate that the edge effect is being represented in bird habitat selection.

The Arcata Marsh is responsible for treating the wastewater of the City of Arcata so it is clean enough to release into the ocean. After undergoing preliminary processing, treatment ponds are used to remove organic matter and pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, using the symbiotic work of plants like the native broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), and the nitrogen-fixing and nitrifying bacteria that grow on their roots, to absorb these chemicals from the water. For this experiment, we observed cattail roots and root microbiota at the inlets and outlets of the pond using scanning electron microscopy, looking at the samples with up to 5000x magnification.

An undergraduate Wildlife senior research project about understanding the relationship between white-crowned sparrow songs and anthropogenic noise.

G-protein-coupled receptors are responsible for binding to chemosensory cues and initiating responses in vertebrate olfactory neurons. This poster investigated the expression of one particular set of G-protein-coupled receptors in the aquatic caudate amphibian (Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum). The developmental expression of other caudates has been thoroughly investigated, but not in Axolotls. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we analyzed the expression of G-olf, a G-protein usually expressed in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) of vertebrates, through the developmental cycle of Axolotls.

Biomaterials derived from plants can provide stocks for biofuels and additives for sustainable bioplastic composites. Here, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to image cellulase enzyme-exposed samples vs. controlled samples, which indicated cellulose degradation. SEM examination of PLA-quinoa composites indicated successful incorporation of quinoa chaff into these biodegradable plastics. This study of cellulase contributes to understanding its role in enhancing biofuel feedstock production. Moreover, our PLA-quinoa composites show promise as biodegradable and biorenewable materials. Future studies will analyze cellulase-treated PLA-quinoa composites.

The Humboldt coastline has a long history of industrial development and heavy disturbance. In 1999, the California State Water Resources Board surveyed Humboldt Bay, classifying it as a toxic hot spot. Clean-up efforts have been ongoing since the release of this report. Utilizing California mussels as bioindicators, we can quantify the levels of toxins found in the waters on our coasts with the help of Flame AA and correlate with the visual health of gill tissues. Using this new data, we can better understand the pollution problem and aid in the clean-up efforts.

My study investigated the nectar preference of Anna’s hummingbirds and whether foraging increased as the temperature increased from winter to spring. The results of this study will aid in determining the best plants to maintain and restore in natural areas in order to maintain a healthy environment. By providing the best nectar solution, we can contribute to maintaining robust hummingbird populations.

The effects of habitat restoration on invertebrate communities is poorly studied. This project compared the diversity, evenness, and differences in terrestrial invertebrate species composition between 5 local coastal dunes.