APEX Presentations
March 1, 2007
Adaptations of Daphnia pulex populations to local salinities – a Laboratory Investigation
Name: Geoffrey Kibler
Major: Biology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Dennis Taylor
Location: Shoals Marine Lab
Aaron Freeman
Professor, University of New Hampshire
afreeman@cisunix.unh.edu
Source of Funding: National Science Foundation
We examined the response of populations of Daphnia pulex a freshwater cladoceran to a range of rising salinities that fall within measured salinities in the rock pools of the super littoral zone on Appledore Island in the Gulf of Maine. One population was taken from cultures maintained at the University of New Hampshire from Russell Pond. The other populations were taken directly from rock pools that are part of a long term monitoring study of chemical and physical factors of the Appledore Island pools. We found significantly lower counts of thoracic beats per minute in cultured samples compared to natural populations on Appledore Island. We also found significant decreases in thoracic beats with rising salinity from zero to eight ppt. We observed that some individuals died at eight ppt but no individuals died when subjected to a maximum salinity of five ppt. In all surviving individuals thoracic beats per minute increased once placed back into well water at zero ppt. These results demonstrate the possibility of local adaptation to the higher salinities encountered by the Appledore Island populations.
Assessing the Fitness & Condition of Two Riding Horses
Name: Betsy Shaw
Major: Biology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Dennis Taylor
Location: Ravenna, OH (Sweetwater Farms)
Kirsten Rall, Trainer
Kirgis Farm
8667 Weaver Road
Ravenna, OH 44266
330.422.0470
kirstenrall@adelphia.net
Much of the research investigating the changing fitness of horses during training focuses on the training of racehorses, typically worked at maximal heart rates. This study aimed to look at how the fitness and condition of regular riding horses changed over time. Regular riding horses are typically trained to perform with quality movement, agility, and obedience instead of just speed. These horses are rarely worked at maximal heart rates, so this study dealt with submaximal heart rates instead. Fitness was measured by recording instantaneous heart rates, using a Polar heart rate monitor. Condition was measured by visible changes in musculature, using digital photos taken once monthly. Two different 10 year old horses were used; a 15.0 hand grade mare and a 15.3 hand Thoroughbred gelding. Heart rates were recorded every two weeks during a standard exercise test for a period of six months. Differences in heart rate between two horses over time were compared for response to training and recovery measured by the time taken to return to resting heart rate values. This study indicates that both fitness and condition showed changes over time for both horses.
The Art of Training: Operant Conditioning Applied
Name: Starr Latosky
Major: Psychobiology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Kimberley Phillips
Location: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Jim Nemet
Senior Education Specialist
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
3900 Wildlife Way
Cleveland, OH, 44109
216.635.3336
jn@clevelandmetroparks.com
Animal training is the application of the fundamentals behind operant conditioning. It takes the theories behind learning, stimulus response, and consequences and uses them to prompt, shape, and modify new or existing behaviors. Desired behaviors are reinforced to increase the probability that they will occur while unwanted behaviors are ignored. I was given the opportunity to experience animal training first hand at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. After taking on a position with show staff, I created a rapport with the animals that allowed me to work with them and maintain their previously trained behaviors. I was also given the opportunity to aid in the training of new behaviors for a few animals. An African guinea fowl was trained to run down a ledge, across stage, and into a carrier backstage and two Yellow-streaked lorikeets were trained to station inside their enclosure. At the CMZ only positive reinforcement is used to train behaviors. This is probably the best way to reward an animal for a job well done because it creates a desire to engage in that behavior more frequently and there are no negative side effects like those associated with punishment. With operant conditioning practically any animal can be trained, humans included. The only limiting factors on the overall success of animal training are how creative and consistent the trainer is and whether or not the desired behavior is in the animal’s repertoire.
Building a Virtual Fungarium: A Mycological Survey of the James H. Barrow Field Station
Name: Rene’ Chelune
Major: Biology
Academic Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hils
APEX Advisor: Dr. Dennis Taylor
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station and Hiram College
Dr. Dennis Taylor
Professor of Biology, Hiram College
Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234
330.569.5267
TaylorDJ@hiram.edu
Site information is available for fungi of the Northeast United States and Ohio, but not for fungal populations at the James H. Barrow Field Station at Hiram College. This project was designed to lay down a foundation for a searchable online database cataloguing the local macrofungi. Specimens were collected biweekly during the months of September and October of 2006, photographed, and keyed to species using dichotomous keys from mycological field guides. The identified fungi were researched and encyclopedic entries constructed presenting information on defining field characteristics, physiological traits throughout development, phenology, habitat, and how to distinguish between species of similar appearance. These entries were published to the internet using the Open Source Web page maker Lenya, and currently reside at the Department of Education site for Hiram College. Entries are organized by phyla, and supplied with a glossary of technical terms. The entries compiled from this preliminary mycological survey are currently restricted to editors, but will be made available to the public at a later date when the database is more complete.
Identification of the Microbial Inhabitants of the Trout Lily Phyllosphere
Name: Keith Young
Major: Biology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Brad Goodner
Location: Hiram College
Dr. Brad Goodner
Associate Professor
Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234
330.569.5260
goodnerbw@hiram.edu
Source of Funding: HHMI Grant – summer research stipend
A phyllosphere is a habitat for microorganisms on the surface of the leaf of a plant. Last spring’s microbiology class cultured numerous Trout Lily leaves, and attempted to isolate and identify the bacteria within this plant’s phyllosphere. This process utilized chemical test results as the primary means of classification, although a limited amount of genetic determination was also employed. My research involved subjecting the permanents that were frozen at the end of the class, along with some new cultures, to genetic classification based on 16s rDNA sequence homology. This genetic sequence is highly conserved throughout the bacterial domain but a difference of several base pairs is enough to accurately determine the genus of the isolate from which it was extracted. The goal of the research was to better characterize the phyllosphere of the Trout Lily through the exclusive use of genetic determination. The results, in terms of the diversity of genera found, will be discussed, along with the process involved in this method of bacterial identification.
Conservation through Education/Interpretation
Name: Matt English
Major: Biology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hils
Location: Olympic National Park, Forks, WA
Jon Preston
Interpretive Ranger
Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center
18195 Upper Hoh Road
Forks WA 98331
360.374.6925
Jon_Preston@nps.gov
The United States National Park Service provides the world with various opportunities to interact with nature, and also has many approaches to support this objective. One method by which the National Park Service achieves this goal of conservation is through educating its visitors. An entire sector of the National Park Service is devoted to Interpretation and is dedicated to increasing the visitors’ understanding of the parks. The rationale is that enhanced knowledge by the public will result in conservation-minded behaviors, which would have beneficial outcomes in the future for conservation of natural areas. Interpretive Rangers inform park visitors about all aspects of the park including natural features, cultural and historical value, and regulations of use. Interactions at visitor centers, guided walks, campfire programs, and junior ranger programs are some of the ways Interpretive Rangers can share knowledge and connect with the visitors. In this internship, the techniques used by the National Park Service to educate visitors and promote conservation were used and examined. The use of education as a strategy to support conservation was analyzed through daily interactions with the public and interpretation of their responses to the programs offered
Primary Headwater Habitat Stream Biomonitoring Multimedia Training
Name: Garrett Rauckhorst
Major: Biology
Academic Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hils
APEX Advisor: Dr. Dennis Taylor
Hiram College
Dr. Dennis Taylor
Professor
Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234
330.569.5267
taylordj@hiram.edu
Source of Funding: Ohio Environmental Education Fund
We report on the development of a multimedia training module for the general public environmental consultants and regulated groups to use the Primary Headwater Habitat assessment protocol developed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to assess all Ohio streams with watersheds under one square mile in drainage. Due to its online availability our training module will reach people across Ohio at anytime that is convenient for them at no cost. I report here the first use of the open source courseware Sakai for use with an Ohio state agency not associated with education but that nonetheless has significant educational mandates for training the public to submit data that is believable. Our training modules will provide background for preparation for certification through OPEA field tests. Primary headwater streams are the smallest tributaries that ultimately fuel all of Ohio’s larger waterways. I report here development of a prototype using resources, quizzes and tests with immediate feedback eventually available online. Once the prototype is established individual modules will be developed throughout the spring.