Trustworthiness is an invariant characteristic that is independent of changes in emotional expressions. However, the perception of trustworthiness is highly varied and is not often accurately portrayed. As an attempt to understand what causes variations in perceived facial trustworthiness, participants were asked to rate trustworthiness of facial expressions (sad, happy, neutral) presented individually and as a single unit. Results found participants viewed happy expressions as more trustworthy, but when presented with all emotional expressions, neutral expressions were more likely to be used as an indication of trustworthiness. Overall, this study suggests neutrality is a better indicator of personality traits.

At the Snohomish River estuary, seafloor sediment composition correlates with river discharge. With an increase in river discharge mixing of sediments occurs and the heavy metal particles become suspended in the water column. With a decrease in river discharge sediment concentrations deposit on the sea floor. Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) students, including ourselves, collected the data used in this investigation on monthly research cruises throughout 2015. We hypothesized that in 2015, higher levels of Snohomish River discharge would lead to lower concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment. River discharge data from the Snohomish River was collected three days prior to the date of sediment collection. Arsenic, copper, and lead concentrations were sampled from three sites in Possession Sound: Mount Baker Terminal (MBT), a buoy southwest of the jetty, and the delta. The results showed that heavy metal concentration decreased with increasing river discharge, with the exception of one site. At MBT, south of the Snohomish River, all of the heavy metal concentrations declined with the increase of river discharge. A rise in river discharge of 1,980 to 25,400ft^3/sec caused a decrease in arsenic from 4.84 to 2.49mg/kg, copper from 15.2 to 8.53, and lead from 7.17 to 2.81mg/kg. The site at the river delta followed the same trend, with a range in river discharge of 1,980 to 10,400ft^3/sec correlating with a decrease in arsenic from 9.34 to 6.06mg/kg, copper from 20.5 to 13.4mg/kg, and lead from 5.94 to 3.04mg/kg. The exception was Buoy, located to the southwest of the jetty. With an increase in river discharge from 3,910 to 29,300ft^3/sec, arsenic rose from 5.74 to 7.14mg/kg, copper from 15.4 to 21.5mg/kg, and lead from 4.31 to 5.78mg/kg. Heavy metal concentrations have been found to be harmful to marine organisms in high concentrations. Thus for further research we will be collecting data on heavy metal concentrations found in local plankton populations, in order to find a correlation between the two.

Water chemistry and heavy metal data were collected from 2009 to summer 2015 by Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) students and we continued sampling in Possession Sound in fall of 2015 to 2016. In June of 2015, the relocation of the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal began with the removal of the abandoned Tank Farm pier, at the Mukilteo location, eliminating creosote soaked pilings. It was hypothesized that the heavy metal concentrations in the sediments, as well as dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH levels, would differ both temporally, from before the removal of the pier in June of 2015 to January 2016, and spatially, between the Mukilteo site and Mount Baker Terminal (MBT) to the north. Benthic sediments were sampled offshore with a Ponar grab and analyzed by the Everett Environmental Laboratory for heavy metal concentration. DO and pH were sampled with a YSI-650. Copper, lead and zinc showed positive correlations, with an increase in the amount of heavy metals at Mukilteo from January 2009 to June 2015. Copper concentration increased by 503.31%, zinc concentration increased 573.33%, and lead concentration increased 437.20%. Additionally, amounts of heavy metals present in the sediment, regardless of temporal correlation, were consistently higher in samples from Mukilteo than samples from MBT, possibly due to proximity to the construction project. There was on average 154.27% more arsenic, 282.69% more mercury, 210.86% more cadmium, 157.95% more copper, 105.60% more lead, and 130.15% more zinc at Mukilteo. There appeared to be no changes to water chemistry in terms of DO and pH. Additionally, three other heavy metals, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, showed no temporal correlation. Further research on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals by marine organisms nearby would offer an intriguing look at the biological effects.