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Vitoria-Gasteiz\u27s Green Infrastructure for a Sustainable Development
Get PDFInfrastructure is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society. In addition, it is in charge of sustaining the wellbeing of the members of society. Infrastructure is more than tunnels that reduce commuting time, or bridges that open trade between two regions; it is a tool to give society more time to enjoy their preferred activities, and a way to connect with other people. The strong tie infrastructure has with society \u27s wellbeing, is the reason why a well-designed infrastructure is key to develop sustainably. This paper illustrates the efforts ofVitoria-Gasteiz, Spain to develop sustainably through the adoption of a comprehensive green infrastructure. The importance of green infrastructure is that it reminds society of its bio-centric past, and of the vast number of wheels that need no reinvention. In addition of the aesthetic and environmental services green infrastructure provides when properly planned, society also gains a broad range of economic and social benefits. This document will explore such benefits using Vitoria-Gasteiz\u27s Green Infrastructure (VG-GI) as an example and contrasting it to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This project is limited to the targets and goals in which VG-GI has had a direct impact. It was determined that VG-GI has had a direct impact on UN SDGs 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15. The study aims to demonstrate the potential green infrastructure has as a tool to meet the UN SDGs. It is worth noting that many of the targets examined in this study are not met solely by the physical aspect of VG-GI, but by a combination of projects, and outstanding individuals that rely on the green infrastructure as a source of inspiration, a space for experimentation, and a vital piece of the community. VG-GI should serve as an example of how infrastructure can once again become a tool for wellbeing, community, and sustainability
Dating the Terrestrial Invasion of the Cyclophoroidea (Mollusca:Gastropoda) Using the Fossilized Birth-Death Model
Get PDFDespite their vast diversity, few metazoan lineages have made the transition from marine to terrestrial habitats. These transitions must have been accompanied by dramatic shifts in the physiology and ecology of the lineages, marking major evolutionary events that have shaped the diversity we see today. Among the Metazoa, gastropod molluscs have been among the most successful at making the transition, comprising at least 12 separate transitions. This unusual history makes them particularly suitable for studying the evolutionary context of these major events. The development of new relaxed molecular clock methods for seamlessly integrating molecular and fossil data provides new possibilities for determining the timing of evolutionary events. Here we use the Fossilized Birth-Birth Death process implemented in BEAST v 2.4 to estimate the divergence time of the uniformly terrestrial Cyclophoroidea (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda) from the rest of the Caenogastropoda. Our analysis shows that the terrestrialization of the Cyclophoroidea occurred around the end of the Paleozoic, and may have been associated with the End Permian mass extinction. This places the Cyclophoroidea as the first caenogastropod clade to make the transition to terrestriality
VISIBLE LIGHT CURING OF FIBER-REINFORCED IMPACT-RESISTANT COMPOSITES
Get PDFVisible light curing technology was used to fabricate fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This project started with designing and constructing a visible light curing unit – a multi-LED array and investigating its optical characteristics. Visible light curable formulations were developed and studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to optimize curing efficiency as well as to validate the feasibility of curing through a thick laminate. A third study was conducted to develop test methods and evaluate the impact resistance of visible light cured fiber-reinforced 1/2-inch-thick ballistic panels and 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch-thick storm panels. The results showed a great success in using visible light to cure thick laminated composites. In addition, the visible light cured composites have demonstrated comparable impact strength with commercial ballistic panels
Effects of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on Ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) in Central New York
Get PDFInvasive insects pose serious threats to native host tree species as well as the habitat they invade. Intense and sometimes irreversible ecological situations are created with establishment of invasive insect species. Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges trugae Annand) is an invasive insect that has caused widespread mortality of eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, (L.) Carr. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi form mutualistic relationships with eastern hemlock and symbiotic species are threatened by HWA. The purpose of this study was to investigate impacts from hemlock woolly adelgid on EM fungi by counting ectomycorrhizal root tips as well as using molecular techniques for fungal identification. Soil samples were gathered at four different sites, two infested sites and two healthy (control) sites. Results obtained indicate a slightly statistically significant reduction in the abundance of ectomycorrhizal root tips produced in infested sites. Molecular techniques identified a diverse array of fungal species from all sites with five ectomycorrhizal species and one non-mycorrhizal species identified. The genus Russula was present in both treatments, but most likely were different species. Reduction of ectomycorrhizal root tips is evident; however, some species still persist with intense infestation of HWA
Caterpillar Growth and Consumption Rates as a Measure of Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) and American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Leaf Quality following an Icing Event
Get PDFIce storms are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity with climate change. The impact this will have on northeastern forests is largely unknown. Increased ice storm frequency and intensity will likely change the structure and function of forested ecosystems. The consequences of this change have never before been studied in a controlled, experimental setting. The Ice Storm Experiment (ISE) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in Woodstock, New Hampshire, imitated ice storms at three levels of severity: low, moderate, and high. Leaves were collected from sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia) located within the plots. Relative leaf quality was assessed with gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar dispar) bioassays. Larvae were allowed to feed on sugar maple of American beech leaves for approximately 72 hours in an incubation chamber. Caterpillar growth rate and caterpillar consumption rate were calculated to assess relative leaf quality. Growth rate was highest in the plots receiving the highest treatment of ice for both sugar maple and American beech. Consumption rate was lowest in the high treatment plots for both sugar maple and American beech. These findings suggest that leaf quality of these species is highest following a severe ice event. In the future, leaf chemical analyses will be conducted to determine the physical makeup of the leaves
Session A, 2017 Third Place: A case study on the differences in fecal parasites between ground foraging and canopy foraging birds at Cranberry Lake Biological Station Adirondacks, New York
Get PDFDetermining if one type of bird is more victim to parasites than another will give us insight into the health of birds at Cranberry Lake. Infected birds have the capacity to spread parasites to other humans and animals through their droppings. We hypothesize that ground bird species will have a higher number of parasites in their droppings per milligram of fecal matter than canopy bird species. Samples were collected from the droppings around six bird feeders set on campus and the surrounding trails. Samples were also collected on the leaf litter and grass trails on and around campus. We sampled feces from 27 birds. The 27 birds represent the experimental units and the 27 fecal samples represent the sampling units. A portion of each sample was analyzed with a fecal smear and fecal float, and the number and type of parasite per milligram of sample was determined. A T-test was used to compare the mean number of parasites in each gram of the canopy and ground bird groups. An ordination analysis was completed to compare all of the fecal samples. Results will be presented and discussed. The anticipated findings are of importance, because the ground birds that were used in our study are common in areas of high human activity, enabling an increased chance of parasite transfer
Session D, 2017 Second Place: The Influence of Abiotic Factors on the Growth Pattern of Monotropa uniflora
Get PDFMonotropa uniflora is a parasitic plant found in the Adirondacksthat can be found growing individually or in clusters. We could not find many scientific studies that examined relationships between abiotic factors and growth patterns of M. uniflora, so we decided to test it ourselves. Our hypothesis states that as canopy cover increases, soil moisture increases, and pH decreases M. uniflora will grow in larger clusters. Other abiotic factors (soil temperature and leaf litter thickness) that could affect M. uniflora growth patterns were also sampled. Ten different M. uniflora populations (experimental units) were chosen. In each population, we sampled ten different individuals (sample units). We selected certain individuals of the population that would result in a broad diversity of stem numbers. Regression analyses will be conducted on every variable tested within each population. Relationships between all measured variables and growth patterns of M. uniflora in our ten populations will be discussed. The data will be pooled in order to analyze overall trends. We hope to find other factors that influence M. uniflora growth other than the type of mycorrhizae it is parasitizing
SYNTHESIS OF UNUSUAL STEROLS FROM MARINE SOURCES
Get PDFThe syntheses of some unusual marine sterols are reported. 24-Epiconicasterol, an epimer of the bioactive marine sponge sterol conicasterol, an epimer of the bioactive marine sponge sterol conicasterol was synthesized in 10 steps and a 13% overall yield from ergosterol. Similarly, the 24-epimer of the bioactive sponge sterol theonellasterol, 24-epitheonellasterol, was synthesized from stigmasterol. Pfiesterol, an unusual sterol isolated from the toxic dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida and potential biomarker for the species, was synthesized from 16-dehydropregnolone acetate. 4-Methylcholestane-3β,4β-diol, a synthetic pavlovol, was synthesized from cholestenone in a seven-step sequence and a 38% overall yield. The simple analogs of petrosterol, a bioactive sponge sterol and potential inhibitor of invertebrate sterol metabolism, were synthesized as a mixture from the i-methyl 22-iodide in a six-step sequence and a 43% overall yield. The structures of two novel highly alkylated cyclopropyl sterols from a tropical jewel orchid were elucidated by synthesis. Methods for sterol synthesis were developed. The use of a sealed reaction vessel shortened the reaction time for the Kirk-Petrow reaction by at least a day. 1-Dodecanethiol was successfully used instead of thiophenol to obtain an odorless product in good yield and with equivalent reactivity. A new method for the oxidation of allylic alcohols via thiyl radicals was developed. Phenyl disulfide and visible light were used to generate the thiyl radicals. This is the first account of the direct involvement of thiyl radicals in the oxidation of allylic alcohols. This work provided synthetic methods for the aforementioned unusual marine sterols and analogs, which can be used as reference compounds and samples for biological studies. The consumption of unusual marine sterols may affect the growth and development ecologically important marine grazers like copepods
Session A, 2017 First Place: Changes in activity levels of Rock Bass, Golden Shiner, and Brown Bullhead species in response to alarm pheromones released by Banded Killifish and Eastern Blacknose Dace
Get PDFAlarm pheromones are vital to the survival of many fish, and are detected by both conspecifics and heterospecifics. We aim to show how different species of fish respond to the pheromones of minnows they live with, versus pheromones from minnows of unfamiliar origin. We hypothesize fish activity will be greater in the presence of pheromone released by prey found in their habitat than in the presence of pheromone released by prey from another habitat. Individual fish collected from Cranberry Lake were placed in separate tanks and baseline activity levels were recorded. After 30 minutes, water with alarm pheromones from killifish or dace was dumped into each tank and activity levels were observed. Thirteen rock bass, nine brown bullhead, and nine golden shiner were tested. ANOVA and Tukey tests were used to compare the percent change in activity of fish when presented with pheromone. Results will be discussed during our presentation. Our anticipated findings are significant in that they will show how some species increase activity when presented with alarm pheromones, while others decrease their activity in order to avoid potential predators
Student Spotlight on Research Proceedings
Get PDFESF\u27s annual Spotlight on Student Research is a dynamic forum where graduate and undergraduate students share the results of their research and community service projects. The Spotlight is a student poster session highlighting scholarly efforts