Search Presenters & Abstracts
View Presenters & Abstracts by College
Presenters & Abstracts: College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Effectiveness of Trailhead Signs
- Jed ParkerWildlife Conservation and ManagementUndergraduate Student
I went to three different trailheads to interview willing participants based on the information found on trailhead signs. Using this information, I was able to compile data to find the amount of visitors who looked at these signs, and which topics visitors answered most correctly.
Effects of Lethal Giant Larvae 1 on Murine Neural Progenitor Cell Differentiation
- Logan BaileyBiological SciencesUndergraduate Student
Using Immunocytochemistry to analyze the expression of differentiation markers in mouse neural progenitor cells. Comparisons are made between wild type cells and Lgl -/- cells to view differences in their differentiation potential and analyze some of the potential impacts of the Lgl1 gene or it’s absence.
Effects of Competitor Species on Black-Crowned Night Heron Activity at Different Times of Day
Korinn Trinies, Wildlife Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & SciencesBlack-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) share the same niche with various competitor species, influencing and effecting their behavior accordingly. Recent studies show that black-crowned night herons are mainly active during dusk and dawn due to the decreased presence of competitor species at these times, suggesting there nocturnal behavior is an adaption. During my study, I observed the proportion of high and low activity of black crowned night herons in relationship to presence of competitor species and the time of day. My data suggest greater numbers of black-crowned night herons with high presence of competitors, and higher activity level with less competiton.
Effects of Environmental Pressures and Physical Characteristics of Tide Pools on Marine Invertebrate Community Ecology
Jessica Hoone, Wildlife Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & SciencesIntertidal invertebrates are an integral part of tide pool ecosystems, so what is the intertidal invertebrate’s ideal habitat? Which tide pools foster the greatest abundance and species diversity? This study was conducted to determine whether five major players in the northern California invertebrate community fair better in the rocky tide pools of a sheltered bay or the sandy tide pools of a beach exposed to the full force of the waves.
Effects of Freshwater on Purple Sea Urchin and Bull Kelp Dynamicx at the Mouths of Rivers Along the Mendocino Coast
Marina Storey , Biological Sciences Graduate Student
- IzzyShirahBiological SciencesUndergraduate Student
Urchins are voracious herbivores that mow down kelp forests turning them into urchin barrens. This regime shift from kelp forests to urchin barrens has led to the closer of the red abalone fishery which had an estimated value of $44 million dollars. In Mendocino CA, bull kelp has been observed persisting at the river mouths in making an interest to local and scientific communities. Urchins are known to not do well with lower salinities possibly leading to this phenomenon.
Effects of Habitat on Mesocarnivore Activity in the Coastal Dunes of Northern California
- Elizabeth MeismanWildlifeUndergraduate Student
The Ma-le'l coastal dunes of northern California have been affected by the invasion of dense European beachgrass. In response, USFWS and BLM have removed beachgrass in an attempt to restore native ecosystem function. Mesocarnivores play vital roles in trophic webs, and previous research has suggested that they are more active in restored dunes than in areas with dense beachgrass. However, distance to nearby coastal dune forests could affect mesocarnivore activity and may have confounded previous work. We conducted an observational study using remote cameras and found the detection rate mesocarnivores declined with distance to forest.
Effects of Human Activity on Urban Birds
- Aracely ArreguinWildlife DepartmentUndergraduate Student
The rapid expansion of urban areas has reduced and eliminated habitats for birds. For the purpose of this study, the goal was to evaluate how bird abundance and species richness varied from sunrise to sunset along a gradient of human activity, and how it influenced the presence of species richness and abundance of birds throughout the day.
Effects of moonlight illumination on animal-vehicle collisions
Sidney Wells, Wildlife Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & SciencesEffects of moonlight illumination on animal-vehicle collisions
Effects of Ramorum Leaf Blight on Tanoak and California Bay Foliage
- Jessica SuojaForestryUndergraduate Student
- Will WeinbergForestryUndergraduate Student
- Ryan MaberryUndergraduate Student
Redwood National Park, CA has recently been infected with Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen that causes sudden oak death and ramorum leaf blight. Two common understory hardwoods, tanoak and California bay, are commonly infected by ramorum leaf blight. Foliage samples were collected from Tall Trees Grove and, photosynthetic capacity, stomatal conductance, and water potential readings were taken. Ramorum leaf blight decreased the photosynthetic capacity in both of the study species without affecting water use efficiency. The decline in photosynthesis leaves plants vulnerable, increasing the chances of further infection from separate pathogens.
Effects of Substrate Rugosity on Abundance and Gonad Condition of Purple Urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) in the Intertidal Zone
Victoria Johnson, Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student
- JuliaNavaseroBiological SciencesUndergraduate Student
In northern California, purple urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) populations have exploded, leading to an invasion of the intertidal zone with potential consequences for those communities. We aimed to determine if there was a relationship between surface rugosity and urchin abundance and condition in this recently invaded habitat. We found that urchins took advantage of any intertidal habitat, as abundance was independent of surface rugosity. However, surface rugosity was related to urchin condition, with urchins on rougher surfaces in better condition than those on other surfaces. Rocky intertidal surfaces may therefore provide refugia for overabundant subtidal urchin populations.