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.

Moonlights Effect on Mesopredators Use of Trails in the Arcata Community Forest

Miranda Jones, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

A camera trap study of mesopredator trail use in relation to moonlight in the Arcata Community Forest.

Morning Fuel: How Breakfast Timing and Composition Influence Cognitive Performance and Critical Thinking in College Students

Tyler Ruys, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project explores how the timing and nutritional content of breakfast impacts cognitive performance in college students, with a focus on critical thinking and memory. Findings suggest that eating a balanced, protein-rich breakfast within 1–2 hours of waking significantly enhances mental clarity and task performance.

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.

Moving North

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Mathematically modeled herring and mackerel fish migrations in the North and Norwegian Seas, related it to global temperature rise and and how it will affect the small Scottish fishing industry. This project was for a mathematical modeling competition for HSU.

Multifaceted: SEM analysis of Entolomatoid basidiospores

Casey Ledford , Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The Entomlomataceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) are a relatively speciose and highly variant family of fungi. They are identified by their salmon-pink pigmented basidiospores that are multifaceted/multiangular in polar or in all views. Known complexities in erecting species concepts and deciphering taxonomic groups exist, including extensive phenotypic plasticity. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images portraying basidiospore morphological nuances may serve as a powerful tool in solving the taxonomy of the group.

Mycoremediation and TEK Implemented into Ecological Restoration Practices

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Mycoremediation and traditional ecological knowledge or TEK implemented within Indigenous communities and blended with accepted ecological restoration methods in order to restore the health of damaged and contaminated ecosystems.

Nanodisc assisted terbinafine transport into Saccharomyces cerevisiae

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

We wish to answer whether or not nanodiscs make an effective means of transporting medication, specifically in the treatment of fungal infections, seeing as research is currently examining its effectiveness in the transport of chemotherapy drugs to prevent collateral cell death. We tested nanodisc transport of the antifungal terbinafine, which is often used as a topical ointment for direct application, to determine if naondiscs improve its effectiveness as a fungal killer. We treated cultured samples of Brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with DMPC lipid nanodiscs wrapped in Apo-A1 protein and loaded with terbinafine and observed fungal cell death, as compared to direct application.