Cardiovascular disease and diabetes have been and are currently associated with obesity. Understanding the connections between obesity, lipid droplets and these diseases is crucial to ameliorating their recurrence and the six hundred thousand people that are affected yearly. The roundworm C. elegans serve as a model for genetic and physiological regulation of lipid metabolism. A previous study by our lab identified numerous proteins that localized to C. elegans lipid droplets. One of these, ldp-1 (F22F7.1) shows similarity to a mammalian lipid droplet protein called CGI-49. Because the analysis of lipid droplet quantity and localization is crucial to understanding the physiological mechanisms of fat storage, we intended to determine if knocking down the gene encoding ldp-1 had any effect on fat accumulation. To determine the phenotypic effects of knockdown of ldp-1, the study used both Nile Red and Bodipy staining, and the process of RNAi. Analysis of the staining found that neither the intensity, nor the quantity of lipid droplets was affected by the knockdown of the gene ldp-1 when compared to wild type C. elegant. Thus, ldp-1 is not required for proper fat accumulation in well-fed young adult staged C. elegans.

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.
 

Possession Sound, located in the northeast arm of the Whidbey Basin, is in close proximity to urbanized and industrialized areas where rainfall produces surface runoff throughout the year. Urban runoff carries a variety of pollutants and heavy metals into Possession Sound, increasing the levels in the aquatic environment. Students at the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) have been conducting research of biological, physical, and chemical parameters at five rotating sites since 2010, including collection of benthic sediments for heavy metal analysis. We compiled data records from this time period, as well as ongoing sampling, to observe trends between location and heavy metal concentration. The Everett Environmental Laboratory completes the analysis of six heavy metals; for this study, we selected lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) due to their potential to cause adverse effects in the marine environment. We hypothesized that sampling sites closer to shore would contain higher concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn compared to a sampling site farther away from cities and industrial areas. Using archived data from 2012-2015, and ongoing research in 2016, we compared three locations of varying distance from shore. The results showed higher levels of Pb near Mukilteo (closest to shore), with an average of 7.4 mg/kg. Contradicting the hypothesis, the location furthest from shore had the highest average values of Cu and Zn (6.7 mg/kg and 30.9 mg/kg, respectively). Considering these data, further monitoring of Possession Sound for anthropogenic influence will be conducted of sediment near storm drains adjacent to marine ecosystems in areas such as eelgrass beds, which act as a nursery for many invertebrate species in Possession Sound and have the ability to bioaccumulate heavy metals, removing them from the sediment.