Micrographic insights of etiological agents in Pacific oysters

Victoria Cifelli, Biological Sciences Graduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

A comparison of the topography and microbial community of oyster gills with and without OsHV-1.

Microhabitat Use in the Wandering Salamander

Noah Morales, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

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.

Mindfulness: A physiological examination of mediation and alternate states of conciousness

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

From Tibetan monks to college students in the U.S., meditation is a practice that has transcended cultural barriers and has been in existence for thousands of years. In addition to waking, dreaming, and non-dreaming, Davidson (1976) describes the practice of transcendental meditation (TM) as a fourth state of consciousness (as cited in Kanellakos & Lukas, 1974). This is due to the studies with brain wave lengths and EEGs that show what areas of the mind are being activated during meditation. My study will be a literature review of: the physiological changes during meditation, brain activity during meditation, and current clinical applications.

Modeling Environments of the Ancients

Daniel Hodges, Computer Science Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Modeling environment probability map of ancient settlements using Geospatial computer software

Modeling Pregnant Elk Presence in Alberta, Canada

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The aim of this research is to better understand pregnant Cervus elaphus relationship to climatic and topographic elements.

Modification of Turbulent Pipe Flow Equations to Estimate the Vertical Velocity Profiles Under Woody Debris Jams

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Large woody debris (LWD) in rivers can increase fish and macroinvertebrate habitat, but also increases the risk of flooding and reduces channel navigability. This research aims to better understand the river hydraulics associated with LWD in order to find a balance between the beneficial and detrimental effects. By modifying equations of turbulent pipe flow, we attempt to estimate the vertical velocity profile of flow under LWD jams and compare the estimated profile to measured profiles from flume-simulated LWD jams.

Molecular and Serological detection of Rickettsia species Phylotype G022 and R. tillamookensis in Dogs

Nicholas Woronchuk, Biological Sciences Graduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Rickettsia bacteria cause several human diseases. Ixodes pacificus, a common human biting tick, vectors Rickettsia species phylotype G022 (G022) and Rickettsia tillamookensis. Both species shares an evolutionary lineage with known rickettsial pathogens and have a low prevalence in I. pacificus. Recently the incidence of rickettsial diseases has increased, along with vector borne diseases (VBD). Between 2004-2016 a total of 491,671 cases of tick-borne diseases were reported in the United States (76% of all VBD). The pathogenicity of G022 and R. tillamookensis has never been documented. Here we report that G022 and R. tillamookensis have the capacity to be horizontally transmitted to mammals.

Monitoring the Gonadal Maturation of Steelhead and Cutthroat Trout using Ultrasonic Imaging

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Ultrasonography is a versatile and noninvasive method that can be used to examine the internal anatomy, gonadal maturation, and the reproductive status of various freshwater and marine fishes. The goal of our study is to examine the feasibility of using ultrasound images to sex and determine oocyte maturation for Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Cutthroat Trout (O. clarkii) at the Humboldt State University Fish Hatchery. The objectives were to: (1) determine the most applicable control setting, (2) differentiate between a male and female, and (3) monitor oocyte maturation using ultrasound images. We were able to successfully identify the sex and determine gonadal maturation of fish.

Morphometric Differences of the Sacramento Pikeminnow (P. grandis) in Non-native vs. Native Habitat

Jessica Calderon, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Invasive species disrupt ecosystems and can lead to complex food web issues and increased probability of extinction for native species. The Sacramento pikeminnow (P. grandis) is invasive in the Eel River of Humboldt county and has contributed to the decline of species that local communities rely on, such as the Chinook salmon and the Pacific lamprey. This study explores the morphometric differences of the Sacramento pikeminnow within native and non-native ranges.

Mountaintop Removal at Hobet Coal Mine from 1976-2010

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The Hobet Coal Mine is located in West Virginia and was an active mining site for 41 years and was one of the largest surface coal mines in the United States. The impacts of this particular mine are especially pronounced because of the sheer scale of alteration to the landscape caused by mountaintop removal to retrieve the coal, and valley fill techniques to dispose of the mining debris. In order to reach the coal located in shallow seams below these Central Appalachian Mountain peaks, hundreds of vertical feet of earth were demolished. This mining has impacted nearly every aspect of the geography of the region, from the environment to the surrounding human communities.