Tag: Environmental Science

Impacts of Rising Heat and Precipitation on Plant Phenology in Pacific Northwest Prairies

Presenter(s): Benjamin Avis – Environmental Studies

Co presenter(s): Miles Steele, Sean Petitt, Emma Rasmussen, Hunter Mackin

Faculty Mentor(s): Peg Boulay, Scott Bridgham

Oral Session 4CS

Research Area: Environmental Science

This study seeks to understand the anticipated impacts of predicted climate change on the phenology of 12 different prairie grasses and forbs. Three sites have been selected ranging from Southern Oregon to Southern Washington. Our site, Willow Creek, is located in the Southern Willamette Valley and was selected due to its high-quality restored prairie habitat. To address the possible effects of climate change on plant survival rate and vigor, our experimental design approach is to manipulate temperature and precipitation with four treatments (including control) and measure reproductive variables of the planted focal species. Experimental parameters will be consistent with average predictions for temperature and precipitation increase, and the site will be composed of 20 plots with 5 replicants of each treatment. Our team will be responsible for data collection, quality assurance, and analysis of the results. These simulations will predict the likelihood of extinction for focal species within their current range, as well as the effects on phenology and geographic distribution.

Examining the Effect of Collection Method on the Microbial Communities Detected by Shotgun Metagenomics in Elephant Dung

Presenter(s): Joshaniel Tan—Environmental Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Claire Goodfellow

Session 6: The Earth, Sky & Everything In Between

The development of new ways to non-invasively monitor and manage endangered, cryptic or otherwise inaccessible wildlife populations is of critical importance to conservation initiatives . New fecal
DNA (fDNA) approaches offer considerable potential to inform these efforts, as the DNA which is present in an animal’s feces contains a wealth of information about that individual’s diet, health, metabolism, and resistance to disease . Specifically, shotgun metagenomic sequencing of DNA from feces represents an exciting new development in molecular analytics, enabling high resolution characterization of microbial communities in samples . In spite of this, no studies have been done to standardize the collection methods of samples from wild animals for shotgun metagenomics or to evaluate whether different collection methods can lead to differences in the microbial communities which are detected in a sample . In this study, I conducted shotgun metagenomic analyses on fecal samples collected from a captive elephant at the Oregon Zoo and developed an efficient bioinformatic pipeline to analyze the microbial communities detected . Each fecal sample was collected from the same elephant using five different, commonly-used collection methods . DNA was then extracted from each of these samples, sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq, and analyzed using the pipeline which I developed . Based on preliminary results, bacteria and archaea were identified to the genus level, and detected community composition varied by collection method . This work emphasizes both the potential and feasibility of shotgun metagenomics for informing conservation efforts and the need to standardize collection methods in shotgun metagenomic studies of wild populations .

Hogs and Hazelnuts: resolving conflict between oak conservation and organic agriculture

Presenter(s): Calvin Penkauskas—Environmental Science and Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Alejandro Brambila, Lauren Hallett

Session 2: Oregon Trails

The Oregon hazelnut industry makes up over 99% of domestic production and 4% worldwide . The key economic pest of hazelnuts in the Pacific Northwest is filbertworm and population sinks are located in nearby oak habitat . This is of concern because there is only 5% of oak habitat left in the Willamette Valley, which is mostly on private agricultural land, and oaks are an important keystone species . Here, I present a case study of a novel strategy to reconcile this conflict by using domesticated pigs (hogs) to reduce pest pressure in surrounding native oak habitat . I investigated the use of hogs to glean filbertworm infested acorns from an oak woodland floor, the effects on the mating population, and the subsequent proportion of infested acorns . My results demonstrate that grazing in oak patches can be an effective method to reduce filbertworm pest populations . While hog silvopasture has potential to be an effective biological pest control method, this practice will only be implemented widely if hazelnut farmers are receptive to the benefits it can provide . Furthermore, in addition to supporting diverse and sustainable farm operations, silvopasturing hogs in oak patches can benefit oak conservation goals by converting them from a landowner’s liability into an asset . Since this novel pest management approach seeks to regionally benefit both environmental concerns and farmers, this example provides a model for similar challenges and conflicts where agricultural and wildlands interact in the same landscape .

Dams in the McKenzie Watershed

Presenter(s): Nicole Long—Environmental Science and General Music

Faculty Mentor(s): Kathryn Lynch, Sasha White

Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation

The McKenzie River is a river at work, and the primary tools for harnessing its power have been dams . The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) owns two of the dam systems on the McKenzie, including the Cougar Dam, the tallest dam in Oregon . The Eugene Water and Electricity Board (EWEB) owns the other two dam systems . I conducted my research through observational site visits to all four dam systems as well as other areas, including a salmon spawning channel maintained by EWEB . I also conducted two semi-structured interviews with a McKenzie River Guide and a staff member of the McKenzie Watershed Council . I supplemented my observations and interviews with literature research . I found that the dams on the McKenzie have cut salmonids off from over 20 miles of their ancestral spawning habitat . In addition to being fish passage barriers, the dams have reduced the McKenzie’s riparian zones due to the cessation of nutrient and debris flows . The large size of Cougar Dam’s reservoir decreases the river’s temperature, which disrupts salmon migration and spawning . Native plant and animal species such as cottonwood, alder, caddis fly, and roughskin newts are affected by the simplification of the river and its floodplain due to the dams . Human communities in the McKenzie Watershed are protected from floods by the dams, and they are a necessary reality . However, there is an ethical way to use the dams, such as renovating their infrastructure, and ways to mitigate their effects, such as restoring habitat downstream .

The effect of seasonal changes on reproductive status of Clytia gregaria along the Pacific Northwest

Presenter(s): Ya Li—Environmental Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Marco Corrales-Ugalde, Kelly Sutherland

Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation

Cnidarian jellyfish are ubiquitous predators of pelagic communities, however, very little is known about their phenology and how food availability affects their reproductive cycles . However, research shows that starved jellyfish tend to decrease somatic growth and allocate more resources to gonad development . Thus, a ratio of body size to gonad size might work as a proxy to the nutritional state of jellyfish . We hypothesize that when food is scarce, C . gregaria will have larger gonads relative to their body size . The jellyfish observed were collected both in a period of low primary productivity where food was scarce (winter) and a period of high primary productivity (summer) along two longitudinal transects in the North California Current System . ImageJ was used to analyze photos taken of the preserved specimens to obtain bell diameter and gonad area to then create a gonadal index (gonad area/bell area) . The data shows a slightly higher gonad area to bell area ratio in the winter C . gregaria than those from summer indicating an increased effort towards reproduction when resources are depleted . Due to the preservation method causing a loss in biomass of the collected specimens, it makes it difficult to relate morphological measurements on preserved specimens to the morphology of live organisms . In the future, we will make a correction factor to convert between the measurements of live and preserved organisms . Understanding the links between oceanographic conditions and population dynamics of gelatinous predators will allow us to better predict their effects on zooplankton community dynamics .

Redefining Menstruation: Awareness through an event that creates a tangible reusable menstrual pad while facilitating conversation around stigma, menstruation, and the life cycle of period products.

Presenter(s): Abigail Gravatt—Environmental Science

Co-Presenter(s): Olivia Holah, Payton Lagomarsino, Abigail Daffner

Faculty Mentor(s): Taylor McHolm

Session 1: Environmental Leaders ARC

This project explores and redefines what it means to be a person who menstruates in a society believing that only women menstruate; aligned with a focus on non-reusable menstrual products advertised to women . Through a virtual workshop we will demonstrate that to break down stigma revolving around those who menstruate and single use products there needs to be education and active engagement with the creation of reusable products . Those who menstruate cannot ignore their periods making a zero waste lifestyle challenging . How do we shift from a dependence on single use products to recognizing reusable products? First, education is necessary to deconstruct both the stigma around menstruation, and the cleanliness of reusable products . Second is a tangible reusable menstrual product that will serve as a tool to get people closer to our goal of destigmatizing the uncleanliness associated with menstruation . To achieve these goals, we will create a virtual workshop . We will advertise this through our website and Instagram; increasing our target audience . Putting our video online for the public to view will allow us to reach hundreds of individuals . Out of this digital event we will record information and data on participation, feedback via comments and outreach from viewers, and tangible products created . Ultimately, our virtual workshop will serve as a platform for discussion and inclusivity around reusable menstrual products .

Protocols for Pollinator Management and “Pollinator Friendly” Certification on an Organic Blueberry Farm.

Presenter(s): Lauren Frantz—Environmental Science

Co-Presenter(s): Dan Liu, Gianni La Carrubba, Danielle Maves, Will Northington, Rachel Rosé, Joshaniel Tan

Faculty Mentor(s): Holly Moulton, Peg Boulay

Session 4: Environmental Leaders Program

Pollinators play a vital role in natural systems, but are also a fundamental necessity in agriculture across the world . Native pollinators, specifically, are important for maintaining a balanced ecosystem and sustaining genetic diversity in plants . Whitewater Ranch, an organic blueberry farm located in Leaburg, Oregon, depends on pollinators to increase production and health of the blueberry plants . We aim to develop a pollinator revitalization plan that bolsters native pollinators through the planting of native shrubs and forbs and the establishment of forage and habitat; additionally, we will recommend a pollinator certification that benefits flora and fauna as well as the ranch’s status as “pollinator friendly .” Through all of this, we must be mindful not to provide habitat to the invasive spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) . We will adapt previous monitoring plans from past Riparian Restoration teams to focus on native pollinator conservation by analyzing nectar and pollen habitat and collecting data on native plant species, spotted-wing drosophila populations, and ground coverage of Whitewater Ranch using Google Earth . We will explore potential pollinator rehabilitation procedures through intensive literature review and revision of past Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) team’s monitoring regimes . Through a balanced approach of pest management and native plantings, we hope to see a stronger pollinator community . Establishing a protocol for native pollinator management at Whitewater Ranch will not only increase their blueberry yields, but will be widely applicable to other organic farms in the Pacific Northwest .

Population Dynamics in Endemic Serpentine Grassland Plant Communities Amid Anthropogenic Environmental Change

Presenter(s): Michaela Fishback—Environmental Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Eliza Hernández, Lauren Hallett

Session 6: The Earth, Sky & Everything In Between

Rising rates of nitrogen deposition are threatening the stability of the serpentine grassland ecosystem around the California Bay Area by changing the soil to be a more accessible habitat for invasive nonnative species . The recent increase in nitrogen is largely attributed to air pollution from automotive traffic throughout the region . This area hosts 10% of California’s endemic species in only 1% of the state’s land, making it a critical area for ecological conservation efforts . The plant species native to this area have persisted by inhabiting the characteristically low-resource soil of the serpentine grasslands, giving them competitive advantage over invasive species that require higher resource levels . To study the variation in reproductive success of these plants under different environmental constraints typical of polluted serpentine grasslands, I worked on a greenhouse experiment using a nitrogen-water resource gradient in serpentine-amended soil . Plantago erecta, a native, resource-conservative herb, was sown in competition with Bromus hordeaceus, a nonnative, resource-acquisitive grass . My preliminary findings show that Plantago produces the most seeds when there is no competition from Bromus, low availability of water, and high levels of nitrogen . With low Bromus competition, water availability had less impact on Plantago, while increased nitrogen continued to increase Plantago seed production, suggesting that Plantago may not inhabit a low- nitrogen niche, but potentially a low-water niche . However, with high Bromus competition, Plantago seed production was consistently low regardless of nitrogen and water treatments, suggesting that Bromus competition was too great for the availability of resources to support the population of Plantago .

A Study of Parathyroid Hormone Secretion Patterns on Bone Density in Hibernating Black Bears (Ursus americanus)

Presenter(s): Ali Eggling—Biology and Environmental Science

Co-Presenter(s): Sera Kaplow

Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation

Black Bears (Ursus americanus) have the unique ability to preserve bone structure and strength over the course of hibernation . In other hibernating mammals, decreased load on the skeleton causes a loss of bone density . Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a regulatory hormone secreted by the parathyroid gland . PTH has been identified as an important regulator in bone metabolism, controlling the coupling of osteoblast and osteoclast production while also regulating blood calcium levels . Abnormal secretion of this hormone is linked to osteoporosis and Paget’s disease, both of which cause a weakening in bone density . Theoretical modeling of PTH secretion cycling suggests that this hormone allows bears to maintain bone strength during hibernation . Our objective is to identify PTH secretion cycles and analyze their correlation with predicted optimal interval release . We predict that Ursus americanus optimize PTH release cycles by closely adhering to a theorized six hour secretion cycle during hibernation . Additionally, we believe that their PTH secretion cycle during hibernation differs from non-hibernating months of the year . We intend to test this by collecting blood samples from hibernating and non-hibernating populations of American black bears and measuring their serum PTH levels over both a daily period and throughout hibernation . This research is closely linked to medical research surrounding disuse osteoporosis, as well as environmental research concerned with identifying a baseline for the biological function of these bears moving into climate driven environmental pressures .

Fostering the Next Generation of Climate Leaders: Environmental Education in the Virtual World

Presenter(s): Lenora Davis—Environmental Science

Co-Presenter(s): Lenora Davis, Daisy Jones, Drew Macko, Tenley Ong, Connor Paschke, Madison Rush, Marychris Sitton, Kaylynn Wohl,

Faculty Mentor(s): Kathryn Lynch, Michael Madden

Session 4: Environmental Leaders Program

Through the University of Oregon Environmental Leadership Program, eight undergraduate students— the Majestic Trees team—designed and implemented a virtual environmental education program for local middle school students during the COVID-19 school closures . Students interacted in online lessons and completed activities, explored and learned about local ecology, and analyzed the impacts of climate change on their local environment . Students engaged with these themes through the art of inquiry and interpretation, integrating the sciences, arts, and humanities into a cohesive unit . Utilizing multi-dimensional experiential education, the students communicated, collaborated, observed, and thought critically about key environmental systems and issues . These skills are integral to enabling young people to become engaged global citizens . The goal of Majestic Trees is to instill empathy and awareness in local students, inspiring them to take action to create a better world.