A New Look at Factors Influencing Iron Limitation of Phytoplankton along the California Coastline

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

While the ocean's upwelling regions bring nitrogen-rich water to the surface, evidence shows that the micronutrient, iron, can be limiting. In areas of low iron, the biological utilization of nitrogen is inhibited, preventing phytoplankton from fulfilling their productivity potential. It is thought that iron concentration of coastally upwelled water is tied to the coast’s geology , but there are more factors involved. To investigate this, we analyzed samples of California’s upwelling coast from published data that were deemed iron replete or limited. By studying the location's sea surface temperature and altimetry, plumes of water were proven an additional factor that influences iron.

A New Ocean Wave Model Applied to Humboldt Bay Entrance

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

A new one-dimensional ocean wave model was derived and applied to the Humboldt Bay Channel. This model consists of the continuity equation and momentum equation which describe the incomprehensibility and movement of sea water. This model was digitized on a computer using the Octave programming language and simulations were ran for five different ocean swell scenarios. Wind generated this swell ranging in speed from 10 to 50 nautical miles per hour, yielding wavelengths in the range of 8.5 to 212 meters with wave speeds in the range of 2.8-14.8 meters/second. In all cases the measured speeds agreed the the theoretical shallow water wave speed.

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words: Factors Influencing Disability Accommodations

Alicia Martin, Psychology Staff

College of Professional Studies

Not all disabilities are apparent; you cannot identify a person with disabilities just by looking at them. This study aims to address whether professors’ disability-related attitudes, perceptions of accommodation reasonableness, and willingness to provide accommodations differ when a student’s disability is recognizable (student is pictured in a wheelchair), unrecognizable (student is pictured in a chair), or when no visual is present (standard documentation control) and whether the professor’s level of disability-related knowledge and perceptions of institutional support mediates this relationship.

A picture worth a thousand words: Factors influencing faculty in disability accommodations

Mari Sanchez, Psychology Faculty

College of Professional Studies

Not all disabilities are apparent; you cannot identify a person with disabilities just by looking at them. This study aims to address whether professors’ disability-related attitudes, perceptions of accommodation reasonableness, and willingness to provide accommodations differ when a student’s disability is recognizable (student is pictured in a wheelchair), unrecognizable (student is pictured in a chair), or when no visual is present (standard documentation control) and whether the professor’s level of disability-related knowledge and perceptions of institutional support mediates this relationship.

A Prediction Model of Nathan's Jacket Preferences

Nathan Boone, Psychology Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Despite the utility and ubiquity of statistical modeling in everyday life, many introductory statistics students struggle to connect their coursework to their interests. Predictive models can be applied to a broad range of topics, from the global scale to the individual. The current poster presents a model built to predict how highly the author will rate a new jacket, using ratings of 39 other jackets as reference points. Using jacket measurements, marked size, and price as predictors, the model was able to explain 77% of the variation in the author’s jacket preferences. This poster helps show students that they can apply statistical modeling to their own interests.

A Review and Possible Interventions of Hypertension Prevalence in the Filipino American Population

Jason Arcilla, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

My project reviews the literature of hypertension prevalence within the Filipino American population.

A Search for Triggered Star Formation in the Compact Group of Galaxies NGC 5851, NGC 5852 and CGCG 077-007

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Galaxy interactions provide ideal conditions for triggering star formation, and impact galaxy evolution and the structure of the universe. I present analysis of one compact group of interacting galaxies. Areas of increased star formation are classified by the identification of the most UV bright regions within the galaxies. In order to gain deeper insight into how mergers drive galaxy evolution, star formation histories are determined by fitting ultraviolet to mid-infrared photometry to Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) models.

A Separation of Women and Rights: the Reproductive Equality Fight

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Through focusing specifically on the relevance of spatial organization of territory and women’s rights concerning reproduction, a case that can exemplify the age-old struggle of the belief of the majority governing the private lives of all would be the Texas case of Roe v. Wade. The political and geographic results of this monumental court decision centered around abortion may be seen in the torrent of other similar cases that deal with women’s rights in relation to reproductive care across the U.S When more scrutiny is applied to this singularly defining case, it becomes more than a few fast facts. Through the ages, Roe v. Wade has been the political foundation upon which women’s reproduc

A Survey of Passerine Diversity on Cal Poly Humboldt Campus in Relation to Noise Pollution

Dee Naranjo, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Point count survey of passerine birds on Cal Poly Humboldt campus. Sites revisited multiple times to create a site occupancy model and examine species diversity, abundance, in relation to anthropogenic noise pollution on a landscape. As well, examine detection efficacy of other covariate factors.

A Survey of Shrew (Soricidae) and Mole (Talpidae) Mortality in Arcata, CA

Christina Giltzow, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

In the Arcata Community Forest, many moles (Talpidae) and shrews (Soricidae) have been found dead along walkways. I investigated starvation, cold temperatures, age and toxin exposure as possible causes for these mortalities. I performed necropsies on 12 specimens including Trowbridge’s shrew (Sorex trowbridgii), shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) and coast mole (Scapanus orarius). and sent tissues as well as 3 additional specimens to UC Davis for toxicological screening. Body condition, cold temperatures and age did not appear to be linked to mortalities. The toxicological screens were negative for tested organic chemical compounds. The mortalities of these insectivores is still a mystery.