The Effect of Salinity on the Concentration of Various Trace Metals in The Little River Estuary

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Trace metals are crucial to many biological processes in marine environments. In estuaries linear relationships between salinity and concentration indicate that mixing is the main determinant of concentration, while exponential relationships indicate active removal. In this study it was expected that scandium would have an exponential relationship with salinity due to its similar ionic size to iron, however, Sc displayed a linear relationship while elements that were expected to be linear were exponential. To the author’s knowledge, this data represents the first river and estuary measurements of Sc, Ce, Zr, and La, and the reasons for these surprising relationships are not fully known.

The Effects of Artificial Substrates on Larvel Settlement and Community Structure in Humboldt Bay, California

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Different anthropogenic substrates have been shown to have a strong effect on larval recruitment and subsequent community development in estuarine fouling communities. Docks and piers have been shown to have an increased abundance of invasive species relative to natural substrates such as rock. We examined community structure in accordance to initial barnacle settlement on concrete, treated wood, untreated wood, tire rubber, and plastic settling plates. Results show that there were marked differences in initial barnacle settlement as well as final community structure (after 4 months) between treatments, revealing the importance of early settlement and substrate type on community composition.

The Effects of Climate Change on Native American Communities

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Currently climate change is altering landscapes all over the globe and Native American communities are at the forefront of this ongoing battle. Tribes near low-lying coastal areas are most at risk when talking about climate change and the I've chosen to focus on three tribes in Alaska, two tribes in Florida in the Everglades and four tribes in the bayous of Louisiana. In this poster I'll be talking about how climate change will not only affect the tribes' abilities to continue their subsistence lifestyle and culture but also their ability to collect traditional food sources and maintain their water rights held by the Winters v. United States court case.

The effects of simulated acid rain on web-spinning spiders in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Our objective of this study was to assess the effects of simulated acid rain on web-spinning spider assemblages in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, and we hypothesized that acid rain would decrease the richness and abundance of web-spinning spider taxa. Spiders are an ideal bioindicator to study the effects of anthropogenic pollutants due to their abundance, position as apex predators, various foraging behaviors and the feasibility in collecting them. In our field experiment, quadrats were sprayed with water of varying pH levels. After the treatments, all web-spinning spiders in the quadrats were collected and identified and results were statistically analyzed.

The Effects of Tribal Water Rights on Forestry Practices

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The United States, on behalf of numerous Native American tribes, brought action against the State of Washington, alleging that the State violated the fishing clause of the Stevens Treaties by building and maintaining barrier culverts that prevented salmon movement along rivers. This poster will show the effect of the 'right to fish' on tribal water rights and the lasting effects of these factors on forestry practices, especially road building.

The Effects of Water Temperature on Bluebird Hermit Crab (Pagurus samuelis) Behavior

Maddy Frost, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study investigates how water temperature influences Blueband hermit crab behavior from 4 different sites ranging from Southern to Northern California.

The Gap Between Indigenous People and the Access to Proper Health Care

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

By presenting the issue of the lack of access Indigenous people have with health care, which is ultimately none, will enlighten individuals of the pressing issue of increasing mortality rates and implement change within the government.

The Impact of Recreational Activity on Staging American Wigeon

Daniel Moore, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study was conducted to determine if human recreational activity, such as birdwatching or dog walking, has any appreciable impact on the amount of time American wigeon spend feeding in preparation to their spring migration. Due to the large energetic cost associated with migration, disruptions to this pre-migratory feeding could delay or impede their departure, potentially lowering the bird's chances of mating.

The Impacts of Copper use in Lily Bulb Cultivation on Juvenile Coho Salmon in the Smith River Plain

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Copper is used as a fungicide in the lily bulb industry and is water soluble. Previous laboratory studies have shown that acute copper toxicity in juvenile salmonids can occur at extremely low copper concentrations. These low levels of copper induce predatory avoidance behavior and the loss of olfactory sensory function, which lowers the survival rates of the juvenile salmonids. The objective of this study was to provide scientific information to determine whether the copper levels in the Smith River Plain are toxic to juvenile Coho salmon. Water quality parameters were measured to determine how lily bulb cultivation is altering the water chemistry in fish habitat.

The Impacts of the Boldt Decision

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

In 1974, Federal District George Boldt granted a 50/50 share of salmon and steelhead fisheries for tribes and commercial fishermen, as well as co-manager statues over their natural recourses. My poster is going to cover the regulations this decision established for both local fisheries and surrounding waters of the Puget Sound.