Many species have been driven, or nearly driven, to extinction by overexploitation. Without a proper understanding of their complexity, we will continue disrupting ecosystems with unsustainable harvesting. For example, the concept of maximum sustainable yield places priority on maximizing harvests by ignoring most of the consequences. Resource populations are reduced to stimulate productivity without fully accounting for the effects of doing so. To what extent we can sustainably reduce resource populations. Empirical patterns in the reduction of prey populations by natural predators fully account for ecosystem complexity to inform us. We analyzed data from numerous published studies in which the population size of various prey species (marine, fresh-water and terrestrial) had been monitored before and after a predator species was either introduced or removed. The population size was compared with and without predators, to determine the extent to which resource populations are reduced by nonhuman predators. The effects of natural predation is a variable that is currently being ignored as a source of guidance in regard to population reduction, and hope that this work can contribute to more holistic decision-making in this regard. The overall objective is that of maintaining sustainable populations, ecosystems, and fisheries.

Understanding larval transport is important for the conservation of species, however, the study of larval distribution can be complicated because it is difficult to obtain a comprehensive sample as larvae are found in patches in time and space. As well, it can be challenging to identify and sort larvae in a timely fashion once they are found. We have developed a novel method that allows us to better identify and sort Pacific geoduck clam larvae using a molecular probe so that their distribution can be observed with more accuracy. By using the molecular probe, we were able to preserve the larvae, which allowed us to measure their shells. Assuming shell size correlates to the age of larvae, we used size frequency distributions to make inferences about their population structure and dispersal patterns. Larvae were collected from 3 depths at 3 locations in Quartermaster Harbor (QMH) on a weekly basis for 15 weeks. They were identified and sorted using the molecular probe. Then, each larva was measured and its size recorded. We predicted that we would find a range of larvae sizes throughout the harbor because larvae would be retained in QMH since it has a slow exchange with surrounding waters. Our preliminary results indicate that small larvae are present throughout the reproductive season with a pulse of large larvae towards the end of the season, possibly coming from outside of the harbor. However, middle sized larvae appear to be prominent in the inner harbor which implies that, to some degree, larvae were retained in the slow moving water. Our results, once finalized, will be incorporated into a physical model of QMH to demonstrate how geoduck larvae are transported in the harbor waters. As well, the technique we used can be further developed for a variety of commercially important bivalve species in order to conserve their populations.

I conducted a five month field experiment, from October 17th, 2011 to February 17th 2012, with the purpose of exploring the effects of prairie plant density on survival rates. I performed the experiment at the Pierce Oakwood prairie location utilizing the Mima Mounds preserve as a reference. My hypothesis was plants in moderate density will have a better success rate than those in low and high density. The methods for this design were established by plotting three polygons of 2m x 2m each. I divided each polygon divided into three sections, each containing low, moderate, and high density and plants randomly planted. Plot spatial arrangements were random at each polygon. Each plot contained the same species with an increasing number from low to high density. Prairie plants consisted of plants commonly found throughout Washington State. Each polygon contained Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape), Achillea milefolium (White Yarrow), Holodiscus discolor (Ocean Spray), Castilleja miniata (Scarlet Paintbrush), and Aruncus dioicus (Giant Goats Beard). The following variables were measured and recorded biweekly: height, width, temperature delta, human foot traffic, and faunal foraging patterns. Mahonia aquifolium, Castilleja miniata, and Achillea milefolium had high survival rates in low, moderate, and high densities. Aruncus dioicus had high survival rates in high density, and Holodiscus discolor was most successful in low density. My results highlight the need to better understand optimal planting densities of individual species in prairie restoration planning.

The 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens caused the bathymetry of Spirit Lake to change drastically resulting in an increase in surface area and a decrease in average depth. Subsequently, Spirit Lake is experiencing an increase in productivity. This study measures concentrations of nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus in sediments and aquatic plants in order to understand the source of the lake’s increasing productivity. Over the summer of 2010, we collected surface sediment samples and a short sediment core. The results of these analyses, together with aquatic plant data obtained by Bellarmine High School students and Portland State University, will be used to estimate the role of sediments in nutrient cycling in Spirit Lake.

Populus tremuloides, quaking aspen, is the most widespread tree species in North America and one of the most important. Because of its valuable ecological role, aspen is considered to be a keystone species, crucial to maintaining the structure of an ecosystem. Aspen populations have been steadily declining throughout the country, particularly in California. In response, Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California has implemented a mapping and assessment program to evaluate the health of aspen stands within the park. Forty-eight stands of aspen were mapped and assessed for risk during 2004-2007, 2009, and 2011. I hypothesize that a majority of the stands are at high risk of disappearing and that the decline can be tied to the influence of one or more features of the stand’s environment. I assigned a risk rating to each stand based on a rating system developed by the Aspen Delineation Project and used by the US Forest Service and National Park Service. Using a geographic information system, I looked for associations between the relative risk rating and environmental features such as proximity to roads, proximity to streams, fire history, and elevation. The results of this study will assist in the development of a strategy to prevent aspen loss in Lassen Volcanic National Park. In addition, the results of this study may help inform the management of aspen in other similar environments in the United States and will lead to a better understanding of the drivers of aspen decline.

Vervet (Chloebus pygerythms) and Sykes (Cercopithecus albogulans) monkeys are both primarily arboreal monkeys living in overlapping habitats in Eastern Africa and exhibiting different patterns of social organization.  Vervet troops are comprised of multiple males and multiple females, while sykes troops have strictly one male amongst multiple females.  Species, such as sykes, which show no male cooperation and are in competition with surrounding troops benefit from having close members. Affiliative behavior increases cooperation and binds individuals to the group.  This more cohesive unit serves as a barrier against opposing troops. Monkey species, such as vervets, that have some degree of male cooperation and are less threatened by surrounding troops are able to separate in the warm climate.  We hypothesize that higher rates of affiliative behavior will be exhibited in Sykes, who show no male-male cooperation, than in vervets. While studying abroad in Kenya, we compared the affiliative behavior of Sykes and vervet females by conducting longitudinal focal animal sampling.  Females were studied because males have different roles in each species and the sex of juveniles was difficult to identify. Affiliative behavior was defined as instances of contact, embrace, groom, hold, huddle, muzzle or touch and the number of instances per hour per female was recorded.  Preliminary data indicates Sykes females display significantly higher rates of affiliative behavior per hour than vervets (two-tailed, unpaired t-test, p=.0034).  Our results support the hypothesis that affiliative behavior is more frequent in uni-male Sykes troops than multi-male vervets.  We suggest that social organization lies at the root of these behavioral differences, but more research is needed to verify these findings.

Flora and fauna in the Puget Sound region have changed dramatically over the last hundred years due to logging, industrialization, and development. Pollen analysis is a valuable tool to learn about the historic landscape and can provide insight into paleoclimates of the region. This study, the first of its kind in this area, looks at the historic pollen distribution in the sediments of Sequim Bay, Washington. We examine the variation of historic pollen diversity with documented anthropogenic changes over time and compare current watershed conditions with surface sediment pollen diversity and distribution. In the summer of 2009, surface sediment samples were collected with a Van Veen and a two-meter core was obtained using an open barrel Kasten gravity corer. Surface samples and core samples (taken every ten centimeters) were processed to concentrate the pollen. One hundred individual pollen grains were identified in each sample to determine the concentration and variability of pollen in the bay over space and time. Pb210 analysis is being used to date the core. Surface sediment samples showed a 64% distribution of pollen from pioneer species across bay. Analyses of the core show high numbers of early successional species, such as alder and grasses, near the surface. Deeper in the core, we found pollen concentrations transition to higher numbers of pioneer species, such as hemlock and pine. Our findings illustrate changes in the flora over 150 years of non-native settlement and logging in the basin area. By understanding of the effects of these changes, conservation and restoration efforts can be measured in future analyses.

 Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems has proven to cause damage to wildlife as well as have negative impacts on the economy and human health. Current research has been unable to accurately identify concentrations of microplastics, a subset of marine pollution, within the ocean environment. By collecting and calculating these concentrations, we can identify a correlation between microplastic marine debris and environmental conditions. Microplastics are any synthetic polymers that are less than 5mm in diameter. This study describes a 2010 comprehensive survey of microplastics within Puget Sound. Our field methods include a 15 minute surface trawl of the upper 2 to 4 centimeters of the water column. Plastics within the field samples are concentrated in the lab using wet peroxide concentration and gravimetric analysis. Every sample collected during 2010 contained plastic. Of the samples collected, concentrations in Puget Sound are as high as 422 mg plastic / g solids and as low as 2.3x 10-3 mg plastics / g solids with an average of 46 mg plastics / g solids. The concentrations vary spatially and temporally throughout the Puget Sound, and are not dependent on basin-type or location. Further studies will link these concentrations to other outside parameters including tides, weather, and watershed. Continued work will determine if the presence of plastics in the environment is increasing, decreasing, or remains the same.

Storm water pollution is a growing problem for the people of the Puget Sound. When contaminants are released into our environment they collect in storm drains and, for the most part, flow untreated into our precious streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Contaminants like copper from brake dust, nutrients from fertilizers, and detergents from washing cars, can cause adverse problems to the aquatic life in these water bodies. “Low Impact Development” designs like rain gardens and bio-retention systems are a viable option to reduce harmful effects, by filtering out many of the pollutants before they enter our aquatic systems. In order to improve the performance of rain gardens we propose adding various waste products from other treatment processes which have the potential to remove common storm water contaminants. In this research, we compared various soil mixes commonly used in systems with various amendments such as “Lodge Pole Pine and Water Treatment Residual (WTR)” to determine their ability to capture heavy metals and nutrients. To test the amended soil mixes we designed a series of columns packed with these mixes, saturated the columns with synthetic storm water, and monitored the concentrations of pollutants in the influent and effluent to determine contaminant removal capabilities. The constituents tested in this experiment include hydrologic conductivity, forms of Nitrogen and Phosphorus along with metals such as Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc. Our preliminary results have been very promising, with our WTR amendments showing an improvement of up to approximately 20% reduction in both total and dissolved forms of phosphorus and up to a 10% reduction in metals over standard soil mixes.

The Sarmiento formation in the Gran Barranca region of Argentina is comprised of eolian, fluvial and volcanic sediment formed between twenty and forty million years ago. Climate change, sea level variation and tectonics driving subsidence were all important factors in the deposition of the Sarmiento Formation and research on the paleoenvironments of the region includes study of eolian and fluvial processes, paleoclimate and the evolution of grasslands. The sediment of the 33.581 million year old Vera section of the Sarmiento Formation is the focus of this study. To better understand the environments of deposition of this section, grain size and magnetic susceptibility were analyzed for over fifty sediment samples. A particle size analyzer was used to provide grain size distributions for each sample, which were then used to look for loess signatures in the sediment. Loess (wind blown sediment) is predominantly composed of fine sand and silt sized particles, and its detection can be evidence of arid, windy climates. Ongoing sedimentary analysis has revealed a predominance of silt sized particles, indicating a loess signature. Magnetic susceptibility analysis is a process that identifies iron-bearing minerals in sediment. The amount of iron present in the Vera sediment can be an indication of chemical weathering in Gran Barranca during the Eocene. Extent of weathering can also indicate past climate conditions. The results of the grain size and magnetic susceptibility analysis for each individual sample will be related to stratigraphic height and age so that a history of climate and environmental change for the Sarmiento Formation can be created.

Connections based on composition, location, and origination will improve our ability to assess the future impacts of microplastics in the oceans. Microplastics are synthetic polymers classified by their size, must be ≤5mm, and vary in composition. This study will categorize each microplastic particle by shape, size, as well as composition through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR creates a molecular fingerprint by transmitting infrared radiation at the microplastic particle, producing an output infrared spectrum. These spectrums can be cross-referenced to other known plastics’ fingerprints for identification. An entire sample may then be analyzed using this method to compare proportions of different types of plastic found at each sample site. Of the 218 samples analyzed 64% were polyethylene, 15% polypropylene, 10% polyvinyl chloride, 3% mixed polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene, 2% high-density polyethylene, and 6% unknown polymers. Additionally the particles scanned have been found to contain an unidentified chemical signature attached to its fingerprint. This FTIR research has yielded important and promising data, for future risk assessment, by allowing analysis of microplastics at spectroscopic level.

The Rock Detective Program is a non-profit organization that creates geo-science teaching kits for K-12 teaching professionals.  Students and teachers are able to explore geoscience using a hands-on approach to learning with real geological samples that are fun and educational.  As an intern with the Rock Detective Program, I am creating two geo-mysteries based on Fossil Turtles, specifically Emydid turtles.  Each mystery focuses on a specific age group - primary school and middle school aged children. Mysteries are then used as teaching tools to facilitate teachers and engage children in learning fundamental skills about geo-science not normally learned in a classroom.  Visual analyses, figuring out the approximate age of the specimens, and a final identification and confirmation from experts in the fields of vertebrate paleontology helped to give the mysteries a foundation.  To develop the geomysteries, I researched library and online literature and spoke further with experts.  The resultant mysteries will include information about the physical attributes of the fossil turtle as well as how turtles can provide information about past environment and climate.  I plan to test the mysteries at a local school and use my experience to fine tune the mysteries.  The final versions of the geomysteries will permanently be added to the Rock Detective Program's library.