Examining the potential interference of Scandium on Iron Uptake Mechanisms in Phytoplankton, through the lens of Nutrient Consumption

Isabel Perez-Zoghbi, Chemistry Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Iron is an essential micronutrient for phytoplankton growth, however oceanic concentrations of iron are very low and little is understood about it's chemical cycling. In this study, we examine how scandium (which is similar to iron in size but has simpler redox chemistry) effects the uptake of macronutrients in hopes to further understand the uptake and usage of iron by marine microorganisms, and eventually better understand iron cycling in the ocean.

Expression of Olfactory G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in Axolotls During Development

Josafath Aparicio, Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

G-protein-coupled receptors are responsible for binding to odorants and initiating responses in vertebrate olfactory neurons. These receptors are coupled to specific G proteins, whose expression can be used as markers for olfactory neuron maturation during embryonic development. My project focused on developing a quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR assay to investigate the expression of the G-protein Golf in an aquatic caudate amphibian (the Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum). The developmental expression of other caudates has been thoroughly investigated, but not in Axolotls. I designed an absolute quantification assay and tested it on late stage embryos and larvae.

Expression of Olfactory G-Proteins in Axolotls During Development

Josafath Aparicio, Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

G-protein-coupled receptors are responsible for binding to odorants and initiating responses in vertebrate olfactory neurons. These receptors are coupled to specific G proteins, whose expression can be used as markers for olfactory neuron maturation during embryonic development. My project focused on developing a quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR assay to investigate the expression of the G-protein Golf in an aquatic caudate amphibian (the Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum). The developmental expression of other caudates has been thoroughly investigated, but not in Axolotls. I designed an absolute quantification assay and tested it on late stage embryos and larvae.

Expression of Olfactory G-Proteins in Axolotls During Development

Josafath Aparicio, Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

G-protein-coupled receptors are responsible for binding to chemosensory cues and initiating responses in vertebrate olfactory neurons. This poster investigated the expression of one particular set of G-protein-coupled receptors in the aquatic caudate amphibian (Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum). The developmental expression of other caudates has been thoroughly investigated, but not in Axolotls. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we analyzed the expression of G-olf, a G-protein usually expressed in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) of vertebrates, through the developmental cycle of Axolotls.

Female Athletes using therapy to manage PMS

Vanessa Saltos, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

I am doing a literature review on the Effects PMS has on mental health within female collegiate athletes and how to help manage these symptoms. I'm researching the best resources in order to help combat these symptoms.

FISH 480: Challenges that Women Scientists Encounter Conducting Fieldwork-Based Research

Cynthia Le Doux-Bloom, Fisheries Biology Faculty

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Despite closing the gender gap for women scientists in some STEM careers, field-based research remains heavily dominated by men. We investigated if women scientists encounter challenges while conducting fieldwork that our male colleagues do not. Results indicated challenges exist around parity, recruitment, retention, and workplace dynamics.

Food preference of backyard birds in Siskiyou County, CA

Cheyanne Nelson, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project examined the food preferences of backyard birds in Siskiyou County, California in Spring 2024. We used Nature’s Way CWF3 Cedar Platform Tray Bird Feeders at eight different locations. For each trial, feeders presented two food types: nut n' berry mix and sunflower seeds. Feeders were left out for 72 hours. We recorded the weather conditions (i.e. cloudy, windy, rainy, sunny), as well as the minimum and maximum temperature, and feeder height. A combination of direct observation and game cameras was used to determine bird species present. We predicted that birds, on average, will prefer the nut and berry mix due to the higher fat content relative to sunflower seeds.

Fort Humboldt: The Development of Redwood Logging in Humboldt, 1878-1950

Qasim Naqvi, Anthropology Undergraduate Student

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

In this poster, I describe the process by which we inventoried items and analyze how technology evolved in concert with broader shifts in the Redwood timber industry. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how archival research and data collection processes are conducted within the realm of historical archaeology and also reflects Humboldt County's independence. The material analysis presented in this project will showcase logging technology’s environmental, cultural and economic impacts on the landscape and lifestyles of the region’s inhabitants.

GIS Data Archive

Thomas Rocha, Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management Undergraduate Student

Library

Discover, Access, and Preserve GIS Data, Maps, and Aerial Photographs is easy thanks to Cal Poly Humboldt’s CanvasMap GSP dataset repository. Explore historic maps and aerial photos of Humboldt County, superimposed with student GSP projects. The GIS Data Archive was created from the need to preserve GIS projects, as well as, to make them discoverable and accessible. Our main objective is to have an organized space for easy access to GIS works of all types for research, student projects, and general use, and to provide a persistent location to the data and scholarship.

Habitat Preferences and Distribution Patterns of Salamanders In the Arcata Community Forest

Tristan Ray, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study investigates the spatial distribution and habitat preferences of plethodontid salamanders within the Arcata Community Forest in Humboldt County, California. By examining salamander abundance in relation to surface water proximity and soil moisture content during the winter-spring period, I aim to identify key environmental factors influencing their distribution. This research highlights the importance of understanding seasonal variations and the complex interrelationships between salamanders and their habitat within diverse forest ecosystems.