Karina CamachoHypena opulenta is a moth species that is currently being used as a biocontrol agent for invasive swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp.) in the U.S. and Canada. Swallow-worts are competitive in pastures, disrupt native plants and compete with milkweeds for oviposition sites for Monarch butterflies. Hypena opulenta larvae feed exclusively on leaves of swallow-worts. The purpose of this study was to examine the temperature-dependent development of H. opulenta to determine optimal temperatures for colony rearing and improve field release timing. The development of H. opulenta was analyzed in growth chambers set at 19ºC, 23ºC, or 27ºC and a photoperiod of 16:8h (L:D). Data was collected daily to record growth stage from egg to adult and track development rate at each temperature, to estimate the lowest temperature at which H. opulenta can develop (known as the lower developmental threshold). There was no difference in survival among temperatures. However, there was a significant difference in development time; insects reared at 27 ºC developed faster than lower temperatures. There was also a significant difference found in percentage of male and female pupae among temperatures: at 23ºC and 27ºC it was male biased and at 19ºC it was female biased. The lower developmental threshold was estimated at 11.5ºC. Future research should examine if rearing temperature directly effects sex determination. In conclusion, this work broadens our understanding of the development of H. opulenta and can help guide future management decisions, such as where and when H. opulenta should be released or whether a certain environment may be optimal for population establishment.
Kedreack BrownSoaring skyscrapers to paved roads, urban cities and people who inhabit them have brought significant change to this natural world we are in today. Novel pressures as a consequence of increasing urbanization, may influence species persistence in these environments. Establishing in an urban habitat may change species composition, as well as introducing new predator regimes, which effect occupying organisms. In Anolis lizards, these unnatural habitats affect lizard morphology and behavior. Besides, urban areas likely play a major role in caudal autotomy (self-amputation of the tail), which is a defense mechanism used to avoid a threat or predator deterrence. A previous study comparing caudal vertebrae in urban and natural Anolis cristatellus populations suggest that, urban areas had higher frequencies of autotomy then natural. We predict lizards inhabiting natural areas have lower rates of autotomy than urban lizards and introduced lizards will have higher rates of autotomy than natives, due to novel environmental pressures. Measuring caudal vertebrae might show autotomy frequency in a lizard’s lifetime, since caudal vertebrae does not regenerate. We analyzed caudal vertebrae and autotomy in crested anole (A. cristatellus) populations, from urban and natural sites in Puerto Rico and Florida, USA. Preliminary results suggest, autotomy frequency is higher in urban areas in both native (85.5%) and introduced ranges (57.8%). Introduced urban lizards with lost tails had lower mean vertebrae count (13.86±3.17), compared to native populations (22.43±2.02). Consistent with the previous study, urbanization may lead to introduced urban lizards experiencing higher predation risk by novel predators, than native lizards.
Keegan HartLarval oysters grown in shellfish hatcheries in Rhode Island, and across the East Coast, are highly susceptible to bacterial pathogens like Vibrio coralliilyticus. Since pathogenic bacteria are naturally found in coastal waterways, it is difficult to prevent larvae from becoming infected. This study is focused on understanding how we may confer protection to larval oysters against Vibrio pathogens in hatcheries by pretreatment with probiotics, or bacteria that confer health benefits to the host. In our study, larval oysters in triplicate rearing tanks were treated daily with the probiotic Phaeobacter inhibens S4 for 6-11 days over two trials in Summer 2019. Bacterial DNA from triplicate larval samples per tank were extracted, amplified, and sequenced using 16S rRNA sequencing to determine the bacterial community in each larval treatment group. The many genomic sequences within each sample were assigned to Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) and subsequent taxonomy using the QIIME2 program. R Studio was used to graphically represent all of the data, including alpha and beta diversity and the percent abundance of each bacterial order within each sample. Probiotic treatment with Phaeobacter inhibens altered the larval microbial community in both trials, but in different ways. In Trial 1, there was a significant increase in Vibrionales abundance in three of the S4 treated tanks, likely due to environmental variability and handling. This study demonstrates that S4 alters the microbial communities of larval oysters in hatcheries, leading to significant changes in Vibrionales, providing hypotheses for future probiotic studies.
Keelyn KoteckiThe New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) are a declining native species categorized by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable and decreasing. Previous research attributes the receding population to competition with the Eastern cottontail, predation, and habitat degradation due to human expansion. Linear regression was used by a coding program to calculate probability of survival of New England cottontails equipped with tracking collars that had been released into Great Swamp Management Area in order to create a stable population. This probability took into account sex, age, and collar type as covariables. Results showed that these covariables had an effect on survival probability of the rabbits. Consequently, future experiments should explore a greater sample size with an equal quantity of individuals representing each covariable.
Keyline MorenoThe blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is a species of shark that has a circumglobal distribution with subpopulations at a variety of locations, including the US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, South Africa and the North and East coasts of Australia. These sharks are considered energetic predators, due to their high levels of activity. Since life history characteristics (size at birth, size at maturity, age at maturity, maximum size, number of offspring) vary geographically and the blacktip shark has a wide distribution, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in life history traits at different geographic locations for this species. Life history characteristics reported in scientific journal articles were used to investigate variation in life history traits based on geographic location. It was hypothesized that life history traits of blacktip sharks would vary among geographic locations. Variation in life history characteristics were then examined in reference to variable environmental conditions of each geographic location (water temperature, upwelling, phytoplankton productivity, latitude) to test the hypothesis that the best predictor of life history characteristics was primary productivity, a proxy for energy density and ultimately energy available for blacktip sharks. We found that primary productivity was correlated with some life history characteristics, but not others, indicating that although much of the variation in life history characteristics among subpopulations was correlated with energy density, factors other than energy available for channeling towards growth and reproduction influenced life history traits of blacktip sharks.
Kiana CabanaHaemophilus parainfluenzae is a Gram-negative bacterium located in the oral microbiome and is abundant in human supragingival plaque. Microbiome sequence data indicates a positive correlation between the presence of H. parainfluenzae and Streptococcus spp., specifically hydrogen peroxide-producing S. mitis. Coculture experiments carried out in our lab show that when S. mitis is in high abundance it is able to kill H. parainfluenzae via hydrogen peroxide production. Most aerobic bacteria break down hydrogen peroxide using the enzyme catalase. However, experiments in the lab have shown that whilst H. parainfluenzae encodes and expresses catalase, its contribution to peroxide resistance is minimal. This project involves screening and testing of a Shotgun expression library to identify genes that contribute to hydrogen peroxide resistance in H. parainfluenzae. Using this approach, we have identified a gene that encodes an enzyme called Peroxiredoxin and created a strain of H. parainfluenzae that lacks this enzyme in order to assess its role in hydrogen peroxide detoxification.
Kyle KirbyFloating Wetland Islands (FWI) have been known to remove nitrogen and phosphorous in varying water bodies. These wetlands can be purchased online but cost about $500 each. In an attempt to cut cost, we developed prototype floating wetlands out of locally available trash materials. Medical Styrofoam boxes, expandable packing foam or polyurethane foam, and foundation insulation foam were tested as wetland bases. These were 8 ½ x 7 ½ foam blocks encompassed by oyster bags. The bags were zip tied to themselves and held plants in the islands. These wetlands were then planted with various types of indigenous Rhode Island plants. The species consisted of Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum, New York Aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, and Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis. Chlorophyll remediation served as the main measure for success. After analyzing chlorophyll levels in each tank, the lowest levels were found in the Boneset tanks, which removed 70% of the chlorophyll. They were followed by the cardinal flower which removed 34.5%, and then the New York Asters which actually removed -9% of the chlorophyll.
Laurel SpearsEthnic and racial minority fishermen are rarely the subject of research done in Rhode Island, although they make up the majority of their demographic. This summer, we traveled to several Rhode Island coastal sites to observe, survey, and analyze the fishing practices and behaviors among a diverse population of fishers. We created a survey to target specific questions about their different fishing practices and behaviors, such as fish processing and consumption, as well as the accessibility to the sites at which they fish. With the data we collect, we are hoping to assist different communities in gaining access to information concerning health risks and benefits of fish, and try to bridge the gap between them by facilitating workshops based on common interests.
This research will investigate the uses of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island by different racial and
ethnic minority groups, particularly in relation to fishing and shellfishing activities. The objectives of this investigation are the following:
1, Learn where fishers from racial and ethnic minority groups learned how to fish and the reasons they engage in fishing activities in Rhode Island.
2, Identify what fishers from racial and ethnic minority groups do with the fish they catch/harvest
3, Identify the fishing techniques and equipment utilized by fishers from racial and ethnic
minority groups.
4, Conduct an inventory of the types (and species) of fish that fishers from racial and ethnic minority groups are catching within the Bay.
5, Identify areas fishers from racial and ethnic minority groups frequent along the Bay and learn why they prefer some areas over others.
6, Assess the proximity of fishing sites frequented by fishers from racial and ethnic minority groups to water with high levels of contaminants, or zones where health advisories are in place.
Through this research, we hope marginalized communities of coastal fishermen in Rhode Island can have better exposure and representation. This study seeks to understand the social, cultural, and economic value of the states fisheries for these communities.
Lincoln DarkOnsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are used to treat domestic wastewater production in nearly 25% of homes in the United States. However, OWTS can also be a significant contributor to nitrogen (N) pollution to ground and coastal waters. Too much N in bodies of water can lead to algal blooms and fish kills. To combat this, microbial soil communities are utilized to reduce the amount of nitrate entering the water, and increasing the amount of nitrogen gas released back into the atmosphere. In this experiment we aimed to identify where these processes were taking place in the wastewater collection tank and the pump basin. To do so we painted PVC rods with birnessite (manganese oxide) paint and inserted them vertically into the collection chamber and the pump basin. After seven days we removed the PVC rods from the system. Then, we determined amount of manganese oxide that was removed from the rods. Due to the fact that manganese oxide is reduced under similar conditions as nitrate, the birnessite paint is a viable indicator of the location of denitrification in the soil. If the process is successful in determining denitrification in the system, then it will be an inexpensive and easily accessible tool for professionals to analyze nitrogen removal.
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