SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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Cranberry Lake Biological Station Research Symposium, Session B
Get PDFEcological Monitoring and Biodiversity Assessment (EFB202) is the one of the keystone courses in the Environmental and Forest Biology curriculum. Students enrolled in this immersive course live at the Cranberry Lake Biological Station for three weeks. During the first two weeks of the course, students study a wide variety of taxonomic groups of organisms, and are introduced to a broad range of field, laboratory and analytical methods. Students then complete a group research project during the third and final week of the course. The research projects require proficiency in field sampling methods, basic experimental design and statistical analysis, and the ability to cooperatively solve problems.
The course culminates in a research symposium during which groups present their findings to their peers and a panel of judges. The top three research projects are recognized with the Shields Research Award, named after Dr. Bill Shields, a retired EFB faculty member who conducted many years of research at Cranberry Lake Biological Station
Session A, 2017 Second Place: Effect of Both Presence of White Stripe and Size of Organism on Cryptic Color Change in American Toads
Get PDFOne major defensive mechanism of American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) against predation is cryptic coloration; they undergo a color change to match their substrates. The observation of a distinct white stripe on some Adirondack toads led us to question how the stripe impacts the toad’s ability to match substrate color. We hypothesized that American Toads with a distinct white stripe will have a faster rate of color change (measured in change of MCV’s per minute) than American Toads without white stripes. Due to the difference in sizes of the toads, we also hypothesized that smaller toads would undergo a faster color change (change in MCV’s per minute) due to their smaller surface area. Thirty-one toads were collected after sunset on the trails immediately surrounding the campus. These toads served as both the experimental and sampling units. They were brought back to the lab and color change was tested from a light to dark tank over a total of 3 hours. One two sample T-test and one regression analysis were used to statistically analyze the data for hypothesis one and two, respectively. The mean findings for the presence or absence of a white stripe on rate of color change will be presented and discussed, as well as the hypothesis on color change rate based on size. The findings from this experiment could potentially explain how the diverse coloration of Adirondack toad populations persist with distinct markings
Habitat use and species assemblage of bats in a northeastern coastal plain ecosystem
Get PDFBat habitat use in the Northeast has been well studied, however, research has been focused on interior locations, leaving coastal areas relatively understudied. Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS) is a coastal plain peninsula where our understanding of bat habitat associations is limited to historical data. I acoustically sampled sites within CCNS during 2015 and 2016 to quantify local and landscape factors associated with habitat use and species assemblage. I examined interspecific effects of co-occurrence between two bat species to understand factors influencing habitat use in CCNS. I found that coastal bats use sites similar to interior populations despite differences in dominant vegetation types. Myotis septentrionalis were found in relatively high numbers and availability of suitable habitat or competition with other species were not limiting factors to recovery on CCNS. Continued acoustic monitoring on CCNS should extend beyond summer habitat use and coordinate mist netting to improve power to draw inferences
The Holistic View of Climate Change: The Displacement of Soil in Vietnam and Morocco
Get PDFSoil is often treated as a singular biological entity rather than a holistic environment that holds interconnectedness to the social interactions that arise from the treatment, privatization, and loss of the soil. This study serves to expose the holistic nature of soil through analysis of the social externalities that arise from farming techniques which narrowly focus on the biological functioning of soil. Analysis of how these interactions are impacted, approached, and permitted in Vietnam and Morocco is presented through two techniques used globally to increase soil productivity-- chemical fertilizers and drip irrigation. Both techniques serve to the displace soil not only in a biological/physical sense, but in a political sense as well. The demand for these procedures comes from agricultural development, ultimately driven by neoliberalism to expand and privatize in the name of economic growth. Fertilizers and drip irrigation as inputs for agricultural production not only continuously contribute to climate change, but ultimately lead to unfair privatization and displacement of land, dispossessing people and tearing away at the social fabrics of the farming community in the name of \u27efficiency\u27
Expression of Oxidative Stress Regulators by Plants Used as Vegetative Noise Barriers upon Exposure to Road Transport Anthropophony
Get PDFRecently, noise pollution has been recognized as a profound global issue with serious consequences for ecological, human, and animal health. Only one study has documented a health impact of noise on plants, noting expression of oxidative stress regulators to combat reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in plant cells. Anthropophony (human-generated sounds) is the major cause of noise pollution, particularly road transport anthropophony (RTA) from vehicles and traffic congestion. Two plant species, Buxus microphylla (Wintergreen boxwood) and Juniperus squamata (Flaky juniper), were selected based on their use as vegetative barriers to control RTA. A field recording of RTA and corresponding sound pressure level measurements were taken alongside the U.S. 101 freeway in Woodland Hills, CA. This recording was looped to exposed plants (n=5) through a studio monitor at 73.5 dBA (±1 %) for 24 hours in a soundproof room. Control plants (n=5) were left in silence in the soundproof room for 24 hours. Leaf tissue was harvested and analyzed via colorimetric UV/Vis spectrophotometry for total polyphenols, an oxidative stress regulator. It was hypothesized that RTA-exposed plants would express increased total polyphenols levels compared to non-exposed plants. The mean net total polyphenols content was not significantly different between exposed and control boxwoods (p = 0.998) or exposed and control junipers (p = 0.20 I). This indicates that RT A-exposed plants did not express increased total polyphenols levels. However, this study was the first to investigate potential adverse impacts of environmentally-relevant sound levels on plant species that may have a high daily noise pollution burden
Identification and Characterization of a Potential Crematorium Mercury Emission Source
Get PDFMercury is a global pollutant with serious harmful impacts on human and ecosystem health. It is emitted into the atmosphere from many sources such as fossil fuel combustion, incineration, and landfill. Some sources/processes are either poorly documented or unknown. Cremation processes are one of these that have not been studied and are currently unaccounted for in the United States Environmental Protection Agency\u27s National Emissions Inventory. The objective of this study was to characterize the temporal variation of total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations and identify an unknown, seemingly highly localized source of gaseous mercury causing very high episodic concentrations. TGM measurements were conducted from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) campus in downtown Syracuse, New York during the time period of summer 2013 - fall 2015. A complete annual cycle was observed, with lowest concentrations (1.36 ng m-3 ) in · September, and highest (1.57 ng m-3 ) in January, with an annual average amplitude of 0.21 ng m-3 . Concentrations appeared to be decreasing continuously throughout the study period, with decreases of 0.12 ng m-3 and 0.18 ng m-3 for summer 2013-2014 and 2014- 2015, respectively; 0.14 ng m-3 and 0.05 ng m-3 for fall 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, respectively; and 0.08 ng m-3 for winter 20 14-2015 . Diurnal cycles were observed with daily maximums at 13:00-16:00 UTC (1.55 ng m-3 - 1.65 ng m-3 ) in winter-spring, 1:00 UTC (1.4 ng m-3 -1.7 ng m-3 ) and 12:00-16:00 UTC (1.3 ng m-3 -1.52 ng m-3 ) in summer-fall. The concentrations above the seasonal 99th percentile values under calm (\u3c 2 m s-1 ) and southeasterly wind conditions were associated with probable Hg emissions from a nearby crematorium, located approximately 890 meters to the southeast of the monitoring station. The total emission of mercury from this source was estimated to be 0.51 lbs, 1.64 lbs, and 0.49 lbs for 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. These were compared to nearby sources documented in the EPA\u27s National Emissions Inventory 2011, including the Syracuse Steam Station (0.3 lbs), Onondaga County Resource Recovery Facility (7.7 lbs) and Bristol-Myer Squibb Company (9.52E-02 lbs). Further study is warranted to determine the extent of mercury emissions from crematoriums across the United States
A PILOT NURSERY STUDY OF THE MISSOURI GRAVEL BED SYSTEM ON PHYTOREMEDIATION TREE SPECIES, POPULUS DELTOIDES X POPULUS NIGRA DN34 AND PINUS NIGRA, FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH ENHANCEMENT OVER SOIL GROWN TREES
Get PDFThe nursery industry has three standard root forms, bareroot (BR), balled and burlapped (B&B), and containerized, each with advantages and disadvantages. This thesis looks to discuss these advantages and disvantages in comparison to a new plant propagation method, Missouri Gravel Bed System (MGBS). Due to the regrowth of the fine roots lost during harvest, BR MBGS trees can be harvested while in full leaf giving the trees the same planting versatility as B&B and containerized trees but at much lighter weight. The larger root mass of the BR MGBS trees may improve survival and establishment and may also have a positive impact in phytoremediation. The pilot experiment, conducted as a part of this thesis, compared growth and success of BR MGBS trees to B&B trees. The results showed that the MGBS can increase root and stem growth over silt loam soil for the phyto species, Populus deltoides x Populus nigra
Session D, 2017 Third Place: The Effects of Sunscreen on Photosynthetic Filamentous Algae
Get PDFAlgae are photosynthetic, often single celled aquatic organisms which serve as one of the most basic prey organisms in a given ecosystem. They are susceptible to changes in the aquatic ecosystem, and when chemicals found in sunscreen are introduced, they may be affected. Based upon a previous study we hypothesize that filamentous algae will have a greater rate of photosynthesis in water where sunscreen is present as compared to water where sunscreen is not present due to the lack of UV light penetration. For this experiment, we collected algae from South Bay, and placed 4 mL samples into 118mL jars, with one control group and three experimental groups of varying sunscreen concentrate. The change in dissolved oxygen was recorded. We ran this test in outside conditions, and once under a UV and sun lamp. We then repeated the set of tests with less sunscreen to account for a potential error in light penetration, as well as a trial without UV to make sure it was in fact UV that impacted photosynthesis. Using ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests our results showed that our hypothesis was not supported, but there were other trends that were noticeable. This shows that sunscreen has a negative effect on algae photosynthesis
CONTROLLING INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN LABORATORY ZEBRAFISH (DANIO RERIO)
Get PDFMycobacteriosis is a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium spp. that is common in captive, wild and research fish species. The overall goal of this thesis was to investigate mycobacteriosis in laboratory zebrafish in order to increase our understanding of this disease with the intention of influencing control and management practices. First, disease prevention through embryo disinfection was investigated. The effectiveness of several disinfectants were evaluated and povidone-iodine was identified as an effective disinfectant in vitro, it was then evaluated in vivo and showed minimal effects embryo health. Second, the potential of antibiotic treatment against mycobacteriosis in zebrafish was evaluated in vitro where tigecycline and clarithromycin were identified as key drug candidates. The tolerance and efficacy of both antibiotics were tested in vivo in adult zebrafish; where treatments were well tolerated and resulted in a decreased severity in establish mycobacterial infections. Last, natural modes of transmission were examined. Transmission between tank biofilms and zebrafish was demonstrated and the role mycobacterial biofilms play as both a reservoir for and source of Mycobacterium spp. in zebrafish tanks was identified. Finally, the role that live feeds play as a vector of mycobacterial transmission to zebrafish was tested and common zebrafish feeds are able to transmit Mycobacterium spp. to zebrafish. Altogether, these studies contribute to our current knowledge of mycobacterial infections in laboratory zebrafish and inform management. These results are also of use to other fish species as well
Development of a Parsimonious Urban Landscape Nutrient Model using Representations of Terrestrial Denitrification Controls
Get PDFNonpoint source pollution of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) creates pervasive water quality and eutrophication problems around the world, adversely affecting rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Urban land use generates excess N and P pollutants and land use conversion removes natural N and P filtration services provided by undeveloped ecosystems. Management of these problems might first be approached using scoping level nonpoint source runoff models that are defined as balancing process complexity and algorithm simplicity, as well as balancing data availability and predictive accuracy. The contributing area / dispersal area (CADA) concept brings land cover and elevation data along with runoff and filtering likelihood algorithms into the Export Coefficient (EC) model to map likely variations in nutrient loading across the landscape. In this research, we enhance scoping level models by 1) adding spatial variation through the mapping of runoff and buffering likelihoods, 2) introducing the temporal driver of rainfall intensity to enhance nutrient export, and 3) determining the environmental variables most highly correlated with denitrification. In this study, we enhance the EC model to account for spatial and temporal variations, allowing for better estimates of nutrient loading across space and time. This research also determines key predictors of denitrification potential in mixed-use watersheds, through which denitrification hotspots can be identified. The creation of spatially- and temporally-distributed scoping models for nutrient loading through the landscape will assist managers in identifying areas of high loading potential, which generate high concentrations of nutrients and have little opportunity for downslope filtration. The identification of high denitrification potential zones also allows for facilitation of nitrate removal by routing nitrate-rich water to these zones. The low-level data needs and process-based features of the scoping model allow for its implementation into the i-Tree Hydro toolkit, a peer-reviewed software suite that is used to assess the effects of management and land use change on water quality and quantity