Tag: Marine Biology

Stories of Decline: Narratives and Risk Framing of Glacier Retreat and Salmon in Washington, USA

Presenter: Jenna Travers – Marine Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Mark Carey

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Learning from the Environment

Climate change is threatening both glaciers and salmon in Washington with extinction, putting the state’s economy, culture, and ecosystems at risk. However, the overlapping crises are framed and understood differently throughout the state, affecting policy and climate action. This study analyzed 115 media sources from four main stakeholder categories to determine a) which narratives of glacier retreat and salmon declines are the most prevalent; b) how perceived risks change among stakeholders and cause narratives to diverge; c) how these narratives are shaped by stakeholder identity, geographic location, knowledge sources, and time; and d) how narratives of overlapping climate emergencies differ from narratives of a single crisis. Key narratives were identified by creating a qualitative codebook that was applied using Dedoose, and the presence of narratives was analyzed across the categories to evaluate trends. The study found that while a common narrative did exist, stakeholder identity, geographic location, and source of knowledge were all key factors in shaping narratives. It also found that narratives of overlapping climate emergencies were more likely to diverge than those of a single crisis. As climate change worsens and causes more overlapping crises, understanding how climate narratives are created and shaped will become increasingly important for understanding stakeholder conflicts, effective climate campaigns, and how people view themselves within these crises.

Differences in the Morphology and Reproduction of Boltenia villosa Across a Latitudinal Gradient

Presenter: Carmen Sanchez-Reddick – Marine Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Craig Young, Caitlin Plowman

Session: (Virtual) Poster Presentation

While the larval and early juvenile stages of Boltenia villosa are well documented in the literature, little is known about the adults. Early documentation of B. villosa describes a relationship between the body size and the stalk length as individuals with smaller bodies tend to have longer stalks and individuals with larger bodies tend to possess very short stalks. Anecdotal evidence suggests that larger individuals with short stalks make up the populations found in Washington, while Oregon populations consist of smaller individuals with longer stalks. The present study aimed to develop a qualitative understanding of the changes across the latitudinal gradient of Boltenia villosa. This was achieved by using a combination of morphometrics to determine any significant differences between different populations and histology to compare reproductive output. Preliminary results suggest a significant morphological difference between the two populations in body proportions and spine character despite their genetic similarities. Our understanding of the reproductive differences are continuing to be developed. These results indicate the possible existence of a subspecies of Boltenia villosa due to the distinct populations, but more research into each morphotype’s range is needed. This research also provides a broader understanding of how different marine environments can curate specific characteristics to appear in their inhabitants’ populations.

Stopping Gun Violence Starts With Analyzing the Link Between Victims and Perpetrators

Presenter: Emmi Morton – Marine Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Corbett Upton

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—The More You Know (in depth looks and prevention)

In this paper, I analyze how different childhood traumas will affect children as they grow older, and how this can affect their relationship with guns and the community around them. After secondary exposure to the trauma that gun violence can have, I became curious as to how it will affect those who did experience it firsthand. Throughout this essay, I explore how traumatic events(specifically those relating to gun violence) in childhood during the formative years of one’s psyche, affect the way that they interact with society as they age and gain independence. I decided to go even deeper, to explore how whether being a victim of violence firsthand or just exposed to it, impacted the chances for these people to become either a victim or a perpetrator when it comes to violent crimes such as gun violence. In a world with increasing gun violence and rapidly declining mental health, the risk for tragedies of this nature is higher than ever.

Research done by C.S. Widom in 1989 regarding the cycle of violence was absolutely crucial and remains a central root in the research that I’ve conducted. This cycle of violence reveals the keys to at least implementing some sort of intervention or crisis outreach programs to really make a difference. In this paper I argue that gun violence, which is usually done by mentally disturbed individuals with relations to childhood trauma, passes it on to the next generation of children which in turn creates a loop of violence that must be stopped.

Expression of FGF Signaling Genes during Threespine Stickleback Development

Presenter(s): Vithika Goyal — Marine Biology

Co-Presenter(s): Micah Woods

Faculty Mentor(s): Hope Healey, William Cresko

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

The fibroblast growth factor (fgf) signaling pathway is essential to vertebrate craniofacial development. Alterations in fgf receptors and ligands can lead to craniofacial disorders. While deleterious effects are observed in response to pathway mutations in many vertebrates, syngnathid fishes (pipefishes, seahorses, seadragons) have lost several of these genes (fgf3, fgf4, and others). Syngnathids have also evolved unique craniofacial features, such as an elongated snout, important to suction feeding, and absence of teeth. Since fgf3 and fgf4 are involved in craniofacial development, it is possible that their loss in syngnathids is related to the family’s unique faces. Our lab is investigating the developmental impact of the loss of fgf3 and 4 in syngnathids. To establish the ancestral expression patterns of fgf genes, we studied stickleback fishes due to their recent divergence from syngnathids. Using in situ hybridization, we assessed the spatial localization of fgf expression in stickleback embryos through development. Embryos were imaged and fgf/fgfrs staining patterns were compared to zebrafish. We observed expression of fgfr1a and fgf3 in the pharyngeal arches of stickleback embryos, paralleling zebrafish. Understanding the ancestral expression patterns of genes in the fgf signaling pathway reveals the deep conservation of the fgf signaling pathway in stickleback and provides opportunities for better interpreting the impact of the losses of these genes in syngnathids.

Exploring Grasshopper Feeding Preferences Due on C:N Ratios Across Varying Soil Nutrient Treatments

Presenter(s): Sofi Forsman — Environmental Studies, Marine Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Lauren Hallett, Gabriella Altmire

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

Montane grassland systems are a rare yet highly important ecotype in the Cascade Range. Anthropogenic disturbances are destabilizing the relationship between plant species and insect herbivores. The purpose of this study is to understand some of the factors that affect grasshopper feeding preferences. This study took place at Bunchgrass Meadow, part of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. Three blocks containing 8 blocks each with different soil nutrient treatments were present. Leaf damage measurements were collected for grass species Bromus Carinatus and legume species Lupine Oreganus. Leaf damage via grasshopper chewing was observed from each plot and compared to soil treatments, carbon to nitrogen ratios within plant tissues, and plant species. I found that grasshopper feeding preferences were significantly impacted by all three independent variables. The variables tested explained roughly 70% of the variation in the experiment. The results of this study imply that changes in soil nutrient treatment can influence the trophic levels in montane ecosystems, highlighting the importance of management strategies that mitigate anthropogenic impacts.

Biomechanics of Jellyfish in Turbulence

Presenter : Susan Brush

Mentor : Kelly Sutherland

Major : Marine Biology

Poster 25

Hydromedusan jellyfish are planktonic organisms and, as such, are exposed to ocean water motion that directly impacts how they eat, disperse and eventually spawn. To understand the effect that realistic levels of water motion has on individual organisms, our research examines the role that turbulence plays in the swimming behavior of hydromedusae. Using a laboratory turbulence tank, we observed the behavior of two species of hydromedusae with distinct body shapes at two levels of turbulence. We were able to establish that these two species occupy different depths within the water. While statistical comparison resulted in no significant dif- ference in swimming speed and acceleration between turbulence treatments, qualitative comparisons between swimming patterns of the two species suggests that turbulence does influence the swimming trajectories of prolate individuals (bullet-shaped) com- pared oblate individuals (plate-shape). Swimming behavior is closely tied with feeding behavior in hydromedusae. Therefore these findings indicate that turbulent conditions, which are ubiquitous in the ocean, may disproportionately influence feeding in certain species and could impact the overall success of these organisms.

Abundance & Composition of Sponges, Algae, and Oysters on Mangrove Prop Roots: Effects of Location in Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Presenter(s): Ellie Jones − Marine Biology

Co Presenter(s): Emily Bork

Faculty Mentor(s): Richard Emlet

Poster 78

Research Area: Marine Biology

Funding: Global Education Oregon Mills Scholarship

Mangrove forests create an important community at the interface of land and sea. Since 1980, 20-35% of global mangrove area has been lost due to deforestation, aquaculture, and pollution. Degradation or loss also impacts the marine communities living on the prop roots. In this research, we studied mangrove communities near the Bocas Research Station of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (BRS-STRI) in Panama to determine if the abundance and composition of prop root epibionts vary with proximity to human development. We hypothesized that sponge, algal, and oyster abundance will increase with proximity to human development due to higher nutrient content, but sponge species richness will decrease due to conditions that can only be tolerated by one or a few dominant species. We took water quality and biological measurements from a village site, adjacent to a human-occupied shoreline, and a reserve site, in the vicinity of BRS-STRI. Water quality measurements included temperature, salinity, pH, water clarity, and organic matter. Biological measurements included sponge, algae, and oyster abundance, as well as sponge color and morphotype. There were a greater number of sponge species at the reserve than the village site. Temperature was higher at the reserve site, but no other abiotic factors differed. Turf algae was more abundant at the village site, but no other epibionts differed. Our work is significant because mangrove communities are particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors. It is important to identify potential bioindicators of environmental stress in these ecosystems to be able to adequately monitor further change.

Ontogenetic Shifts in Resource Use And Behavior in the Striped Parrotfish, Scarus Iseri, on a Patch Reef in Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Presenter(s): Haley Faringer − Environmental Science

Co Presenter(s): Rulon Hardy, Christina Ellison

Faculty Mentor(s): Richard Emlet, Jan Hodder

Poster 60

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science, Marine Biology, Ecology

Scarus iseri, the striped parrotfish, is among the most abundant parrotfish on Caribbean coral reefs. As grazing herbivores, they shape community structure by transmitting primary production up the food chain, regulating algal biomass, and facilitating benthic settlers in the process of removing patches of algae. S. iseri are protogynous hermaphrodites with 3 life stages (juvenile, initial and terminal) identifiable in the field. Our study investigates differences in range size, habitat utilization, and behavior between the juvenile and terminal phases. Through this research, we hoped to gain a better understanding of how these fish utilize their habitat as they grow, and how resources are partitioned among members of a population.

Our research was conducted at House Reef, near the Smithsonian’s Tropical Research Institute in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We followed 6 focal individuals of each life stage for a 15-minute period to establish their range. These parameters were chosen due to time constraints of the study period. We only had 4 days to complete the research, including data analysis, and wanted to maximize both the amount of time we followed each fish, and the number of replicates for each life stage. The numbers we chose reflect a compromise between these two variables. Using survey flags and transect-tape, we calculated the area of each range and drew a map of its shape.

Before conducting surveys in the field, we constructed an ethogram, or a table of observed behaviors for the fish. Then for 5 minutes of the 15-minute period we observed and recorded behaviors of the fish according to our ethogram. This allowed us to gain insight about feeding frequency, substrate used for feeding (e.g. sediment, sponge, sand, etc.), the proportion of each type of substrate used, and social behavior within a population.

Our results suggest that range size increases with more advanced life stage. Time allocations for feeding and non-feeding behaviors are similar between the two stages and both life stages utilize the same substrate types for feeding, in similar proportions. Juveniles frequently form groups, while terminal phase individuals are often found alone.

Because Scarus iseri is so prominent in the Caribbean Ocean, it has an increased ability to transfer nutrients through trophic levels. Not only is it important to understand how resource utilization within this species is affected by life stage, but how this resource utilization affects nutrient levels and habitat availability for other species on reefs of the Caribbean Ocean. With the recognition of variable social behaviors and range sizes between juveniles and terminal adults, we hope to better understand the nature of these fish’s relationship with each other and other stakeholders on the reef. The data collected is important because it can be used to inform the management of marine protected areas aimed at preserving this important group of fish.

Health Sciences ARC College Health Infographic Challenge

Presenter(s): Adriana Diaz—Marine Biology

Co-Presenter(s): Brian Le, Kelly Marzolf, Mia Niccol

Faculty Mentor(s): Hannah Bishop

Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation

The Health Sciences Academic Residence Community (HS ARC) is composed of students who are interested in exploring careers related to health and biomedical sciences . As part of the HS ARC seminar students learn about the current issues facing healthcare professionals through interviews and presentations from healthcare workers, UO researchers and public health officials . In Winter 2020, the UO Executive Prevention Team, composed of public health advocates from the UO Student Health Center, the Counseling Center, the PE and Rec Center as well as the Student Sustainability Center, shared with the students several real challenges they are currently facing concerning UO student health . To address these challenges, the HS ARC students researched each topic and created infographics with the goal of educating the university community and raising awareness about these issues . Presented here are three of these projects that had the following goals: (1) to increase student skills, awareness, and comfort in talking about mental health issues with peers, (2) to increase student awareness and use of “Protection Connection” safer sex supplies offered through the Student Health Center, and (3) to increase the number of first-year students enrolled in a PE class in Fall term 2020 by 20% .