Salamander occupancy according to log shape and condition in Humboldt County

Riley Tetzlaff, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

For my research project I studied whether or not the shape and condition of a log effected the occupancy rate of salamander, and according to my data I was half right.

Salinity influence in feeding of dabbling and diving ducks

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Tested to see if salinity levels in water had an affect on feeding in water fowl. Looking at dabbling and diving ducks, I saw which one exhibited most feeding. Species studied were Buffleheads as diving ducks(Bucephala albeola) and Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) as dabbling ducks.

Sand Crab, Emerita analoga, Burrowing Time in Relation to Relative Abundance in Humboldt County

Andrew Cha, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Finding the relation between grain size and burrowing time of sand crabs at study sites of Samoa, Mad River, Moonstone, Clam and Trinidad state beach. Relative abundance is measured at each study site to determine if there is a correlation between grain size, burrowing time and habitat selection.

Save the Bison

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

For ideafest we plan to enlighten our fellow Humboldtians on how Native tribes are helping to save the bison from extinction. Bison have played a key role in Native culture especially in the great plains . Their bison are like our salmon. The Sioux and Assiniboine tribes of Fork pecks currently have the largest restoration herd, with up to 340 bison living and thriving on their lands. We major in zoology and we decided to focus in on this subject because it is a clear bridge on how Indigenous people make connections between animals and their culture. Thereby, a connection between NAS and Zoology is born and recognized :) .

Scaling Resistance with Channel Length for Carbon Nanotube Networks

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

In order to help inform the applicability of carbon nanotube networks for use as field effect transistors or as biosensors, we have run computer simulations in order to characterize the electrical properties of these networks, and specifically, how the resistance of these networks scales with the channel length for various amounts of metallic wires present in the networks. We find a trend that as the channel length increases, the resistance of the network increases as well. In addition, as the probability of metallic wires present in the network increases, the scaling factor of the resistance, m, increases at a larger constant rate with increasing channel length.

Scanning Electron Microscope Imaging of Nitropentaamminecobalt(III) Chloride ([Co(NH3)5NO2]Cl2) Crystal Structure

David Morales, Chemistry Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Inorganic chemistry is the study of molecules that have properties and behaviors of inorganic compounds, such as metals, minerals, and organometallic compounds. Students in organic chemistry lab used knowledge of coordination compounds to synthesize nitropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride ([Co(NH3)5NO2]Cl2) crystals. Imaging of these crystals using a scanning electron microscope was performed to get a closer look at these crystals to characterize them further.

Scavenging Efficiency in Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) at Forested Sites

Ephraim Lowe, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Turkey vultures are well known for their incredible sense of smell due to their large olfactory bulbs, which are even larger than some mammals, such as rats. The study conducted compared the olfaction ability of turkey vultures to local mammals in the area by baiting sites in the Arcata Community Forest with carrion. It analyzed which species arrived to carrion sites first, and how weather, temperature, and humidity affected their ability to locate carrion efficiently.

Screening for Regulators of Quiescence in Drosophila Testis Stem Cell Niche

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Interactions between stem cells and their microenvironment, or niche, are not thoroughly understood. The Drosophila testis stem cell niche provides a simple model to observe niche-stem cell interactions. This niche contains non-dividing hub cells that signal to adjacent germline stem cells and somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs). If the testis is damaged (specifically, if CySCs are eliminated) hub cells sense their absence and respond by dividing and changing their identity (or transdifferentiating), becoming replacement CySCs. Because transdifferentiation occur in many niches and can promote tumor formation, we are using Drosophila testes niche as a model to gain more insights on this process.

Sea Star Wasting Disease and Species Biodiversity

Lily Green, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

My project studied the effects of sea star wasting disease on sea star populations at Trinidad Beach and Baker's Beach. I surveyed sea stars with the disease and without the disease in approximately half-a-meter quadrant plots. In these plots, I centered the sea stars, counted the number of diseased and or healthy sea stars, and calculated the species biodiversity through point count and percent cover. My point count data results showed a positive correlation between species biodiversity and sea star wasting disease. On the other hand, I found that my percent count data supported a negative correlation between species biodiversity and sea star wasting disease.

Sea Stars and Wave Action

Jackson Gershanoff, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Undergraduate research project for the Wildlife Department researching to see if being protected or exposed to wave action affects where sea stars are found