Digitizing Stratigraphic Maps

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This project is aimed at digitizing hand-drawn stratigraphic maps of excavations from the Dos Hombres to Gran Cacao (DH2GC) archaeological project in northwestern Belize. Archaeological illustration is a form of technical illustration that graphically records material derived from an archaeological context. Illustration is a powerful medium for disseminating knowledge, as it demonstrates the excavation process and captures history as it is unearthed. We use Adobe Illustrator CS3 software for the digitization process. Finished maps are used in the annual report for the Institute of Archaeology (IoA) in Belize.

Digitizing the Lumberjack Newspaper at Humboldt State University

Library

The Lumberjack is the award-winning, student-run newspaper of Humboldt State University and has published continuously since 1929. In spring 2019, the HSU Library hired students to digitize editions of the newspaper and make the papers available online. These students scanned microfilm reels, applied Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to the scans, and uploaded the papers to the library’s Digital Commons website. This project will provide greater access to the history of HSU to researchers across the globe, creating opportunities for new and exploratory research.

Dissolved Trace Metal Depletion Anomalies and Hydrothermal Interaction in South Pacific Deep Water

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The array of metals obtained from the GEOTRACES cruise in 2013 provides evidence for anomalous metal behavior. Trace metals in the ocean can act as indicators of hydrothermal vents, providing evidence for iron and magnesium sources to the ocean. However, anomalies of other dissolved trace metals (DTM) have been observed at theoretical hydrothermal vent sites, specifically depletions of cerium, lanthanum, nickel, and yttrium. Initially, these depletions were thought to be the result of redox reactions, but this only partially explained the DTM deficiencies. Particulate scavenging through the formation of metal oxides from DTM is also a possible cause for anomalous depletion.

Distribution of Microplastics at the Surface and Within the Water Column in Humboldt Bay, Northern California

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study focused on microplastic concentrations in and around Humboldt Bay, CA. Microplastics do not have a universal size class, but for the purpose of this study, microplastics were categorized as any plastic piece from 0.335 mm to 4.75 mm. Samples were taken on Humboldt State's research vessel "Coral Sea", and by foot on surrounding mudflats. Both water and sediment samples were collected and analyzed to find the amount of microplastic particles per mass sampled. Visual microscopy was utilized to create counts for each station.

Distribution of Western Thatching Ant Mounds and Their Effects on Soil Conditions in a Coastal Dune Ecosystem

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Western thatching ant (Formica obscuripes) mounds are a conspicuous feature in the coastal beach pine forests of the local Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes. We explored the mounds’ size and spatial distributions, and tested whether their mound-forming behaviors could impact soil nutrient conditions. In a 3-km segment, we found 346 mounds generally situated along the sand–forest interface. Furthermore, from soil samples of seven of the mounds, we found that the ants significantly concentrated the soils with nutrients necessary for plant growth. These findings suggest that the ants could have important implications for supporting plant populations in this nutrient-poor environment.

Diversity Among University Students in the U.S.: An Analysis of Student Ethnic Group Preferences and its Impact on Campus Diversity

Joseph Pang, Psychology Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

The current study explores students' ethnic identity, ethnocentrism, and friendship diversity and how they these variables relate to with whom students interact. The study uses research from intergroup relations, friendship diversity, and ethnic identification. Specifically, the study will examine how ethnic identification, ethnocentrism, and student cultural group involvement relate to intergroup anxiety which, in turn, relates to intergroup bias. Through this work, we seek to understand how intergroup relations stands amongst People of Color (POC) in the United States.

Do bears know when trash pickup day is?

Amber Elving, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project aimed to answer whether or not bears frequented homes more often on trash pickup day. I placed 20 trail cameras around Humboldt County and was able to capture thousands of photos. Through the collaborative efforts with homeowners and myself, I was able to capture seventy photos of bears, of which 42 were independent events and 48% of the bears were actively foraging on trash.

Do bumblebees pollinate when they are scared? The Effect of Simulated Danger on Bumblebee Foraging Habits

Audrey Fowler , Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

A study looking at how bees perceive danger, and if it affects their foraging behaviors. This was determined by the use of simulated dangers, in this case artificial black capped chickadees. These dangers were placed in bushes and the number of bumblebees that visited each bush (either with or without dangers) was counted. The research finds that the presence of danger is significant to bees when choosing which flowers or bushes to forage.

Do Dabbling Ducks Forage More in the Morning or at Night?

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

My research project looked at if dabbling ducks forage more in the morning or afternoon. My hypothesis was that they would forage more in the morning than afternoon.

Do Shorebirds Exhibit Mixed-Species Flocking Preferences?

Mason Levy, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study analyzed flocking behavior of shorebirds present at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, examining if any two (or more) species significantly selected to flock with each other over other species, and what may have led to such a flocking preference (similarities in size, foraging behavior, etc.).