The 16th Annual
NC State University
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Biological Sciences:
Ecology,
Environmental, Conservation, Botanical
Abstracts
Abstracts are listed in alphabetical order by the last name of the
corresponding author.
- Biological Sciences abstracts
Applied Sciences (Crop, Poultry, Animal, and
Horticultural Sciences)
Ecology, Environmental, Conservation, Botanical
Molecular, Biochemical, Genetics, Cell Biology
Zoology, Physiology, Behavior, Neurobiology
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Student Author(s):
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Abbott, Jessica M.
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Department(s):
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Zoology
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Research Mentor(s):
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Nick Haddad/
Zoology
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Title of
Presentation:
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Larval
Development and Host Plant Preference in Neonympha areolata
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The Georgia Satyr (Neonympha areolata) is butterfly found throughout
the southeastern US that is closely related to the endangered Saint Francis
Satyr (Neonympha mitchellii francisci). N. m.
francisci has a very limited distribution,
restricted to locations on Fort
Bragg. While there have
been previous studies of adult N. areolata and N. m. francisci,
very little is know about the larvae of either species. We conducted a study
with N. areolata
larvae to establish rearing techniques and to investigate host plant preference
and behavior of the larvae. We collected eggs from N. areolata females found at Fort Bragg
during the two N. areolata flight periods in the
summer of 2006. We then reared the larvae on six different potential host plant
species of sedge or grass. For the larvae collected during the first flight
period we found that all the potential host plant species we tested were able
to support larvae to pupation. In addition we examined larval period and found
no significant difference between plant species. Also all the larvae appeared
to emerge as adults in a time period consistent with the time adults were
emerging in the wild. For the larvae collected during the second flight period
we found that all species of possible host plants tested had larvae survive
over winter. The rearing techniques developed in this study will be used this
summer in a similar project studying N.
m. francisci larvae. The information obtained
from this study could be directly applied to conservation of the N. m. francisci
through habitat restoration and augmentation.
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Student Author(s):
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Allen, Martin J.
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Department(s):
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Botany
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Research Mentor(s):
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QY (J)
Xian/Botany
DT
Thomas/Botany
R. Peet/Botany
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Title of
Presentation:
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A Molecular Systematic
and Phylogeographic Study of Nyssa sylvatica in Eastern
North America
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Nyssa sylvatica (Cornaceae) is a common
deciduous tree species found in temperate forests ranging in the eastern United
States from Maine to Florida and as far west as Texas. Commonly referred as a
black gum, N. sylvatica occurs in Piedmont, Coastal,
and Mountain ecosystems within the Carolinas.
Several varieties have been recognized for this species. However, the
morphological characters are inadequate to distinguish among the varieties ,
and between N. sylvatica and N. biflora,
which often overlap in geographical range. This study compares sequences of
five DNA regions from both chloroplast and nuclear genomes which contain 5673 base
pairs for 34 populations of N. sylvatica, N. biflora, and 13 populations from closely related species,
N. ogeche, N. ursina, N. sinensis to help clarify the taxonomy and to determine the
genetic break-up in space in the specie complex invovling
N.sylvatica. Phylogenetic
analyses of sequences from nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions both revealed
that plants from the same varieties do not group together and samples of N. biflora are nested among samples of N. sylvatica.
These results suggest the need of revision of taxonomy to de-recognition of the
varieties and N. biflora. The phylogenetic
pattern based on chloroplast and nuclear genes are different, suggesting
distinct patterns of gene flow via seeds and pollen in the species complex. The
gene genealogies suggest that the most ancestral living populations are from NC
and populations from the northern Appalaichian and Florida are derived,
suggesting both north and southward dispersals from NC. We found no apparent
genetic break-ups corresponding to habitats or geographic barriers. The pattern
found in N. sylvatica will be compared with those
found in other woody plants in the eastern US, the American beech (Fagus grandiflolia) and red maple
(Acer rubrum).
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Student Author(s):
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Anderson, C. Jane
Campbell, Heather M.
Remington, Jeremy D.
Rominger, Andrew J.
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Department(s):
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Fisheries and
Wildlife Sciences
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Research Mentor(s):
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Chris DePerno/Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Caitlin
Burke/Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
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Title of
Presentation:
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Controversial
Discharge of Effluent by Hybrid Striped Bass Farmers in Eastern
North Carolina
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Hybrid striped bass (HSB) are a cross between the
striped bass Morone saxatilis
and the white bass M. chyrsops. HSB display a hybrid vigor
characterized by fast initial growth rates, resistance to disease, and
adaptability to formulated feeds, making them a superior candidate for
aquaculture. These positive attributes combined with a superior shelf life have
resulted in a rapidly expanding hybrid striped bass market. The growing market
for HSB has resulted in annual increases in production of HSB in both the U.S. and North
Carolina over the past twenty years. Our objective
was to interview and survey pertinent stakeholders regarding their opinions
concerning the release of effluent and its impact on aquatic environments.
Aquaculture facilities discharge water from HSB ponds to improve water quality,
remove parasites, and to facilitate the harvesting of fish. The water being
discharged from HSB facilities contains effluent comprised of nitrogenous
compounds, phosphorous, suspended solids, and organic matter, capable of
altering the water quality of receiving streams. If assimilated in a timely
manner these compounds are relatively harmless to aquatic organisms. However,
if allowed to accumulate over a period of time, negative ecological impacts can
occur. Currently, any aquaculture facility that produces over 100,000 lbs of
fish per year or discharges for more than 30 days per year is required to
obtain a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Due to
a lack of monitoring, it is unclear which fish farms are in compliance with the
NPDES. Many residents of eastern North
Carolina are supportive (82%) of fish farming, while
others are opposed (18%) to the practice. Furthermore, citizens feel that many
sources of point and non point source pollution are contributing to the
degradation of state waters. Of those surveyed, 35% felt phosphate mining was
the leading cause of water pollution while others felt agriculture (32%) and
other industries (11%) were responsible for the decline in water quality. Only
11% of the respondents surveyed felt that aquaculture was the leading source of
water pollution. As research advances our understanding of the inherent risks
of discharging effluent into our nation’s waters, future policy and regulatory
statutes must be frequently reviewed and revised to protect our aquatic
resources.
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Student Author(s):
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Anlyan, James M.
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Department(s):
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Parks,
Recreation, and Tourism Management
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Research Mentor(s):
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Carol
Kline/Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
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Title of
Presentation:
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Best
Management Practices in Green Tourism: Examples from North Carolina
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Tourism in North
Carolina has grown significantly, especially in the
last five years. Many government agencies, non-profit organizations, civic
groups, economic development organizations, and educational institutions are
involved in tourism, however, there are no formal and macro-level programs that
address the environmental impacts of tourism specific to North Carolina. The research done for this
project will lay the groundwork for a larger and collaborative program to
encourage the Greening of NC Tourism. The first step was to create an inventory
of existing practices in tourism in North
Carolina. This inventory was categorized by the
various aspects of Greening Tourism: alternative energy, green construction,
transportation, carbon-offsetting, buy local programs, habitat protection and
resource management, educational and interpretation programs, certifications,
and even marketing. A survey was used to gather inventory information on green
tourism technologies and practices. This survey was then distributed to North
Carolina County Extension Directors, NCDENR representatives, conservation
organizations, NCSU College of Design faculty, and other relevant tourism
groups. The second step was to highlight four of the best management practices
in the state. This was accomplished by conducting e-mail, phone, and personal
interviews with appropriate North
Carolina State University faculty and other experts in
their fields. As a result of this research, a solid foundation of a tangible
directory of green practices in North
Carolina will be created. This will be an ongoing
process that will hopefully receive additions every year. Through this, we hope
to create awareness as to what green practices are going on in North Carolina.
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Student Author(s):
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Averett, Tyler W.
Burnett, Cody
Chadzutko, Michelle
Clark, David
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Department(s):
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Forestry
(Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences)
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Research Mentor(s):
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Chris DePerno/Forestry (Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences)
Caitlin
Burke/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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Circle versus
J Hooks: Mortality, Catch Rates, and Conservation Efforts
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Circle hooks
were designed to enhance fishing conservation in recreational and commercial fisheries,
but little is known as to why this gear type has struggled to become popular.
The circle hook is a non-offset hook with the point turned perpendicularly back
to the shank unlike your traditional “J” shaped hook. Circle hooks can lower
gut hooking and fishing mortality from hook injury without decreasing catch
rates by hooking fish in the corner of the jaw. Recreational and commercial
fishermen were surveyed in North Carolina and Virginia to discover the
perspectives of J hooks versus circle hooks. The majority of respondents knew
the difference between a circle hook and J hook and strongly supported
advocating for fisheries conservation. Most of the key people surveyed would
not support mandatory legislation to outlaw J hooks for recreational fishermen.
However, J hook fisherman would switch to a circle hook if it lowered fish
mortality and was overall safer for the environment. Fishermen using J hooks
experienced negative effects (e.g. gut hooking, bleeding from gills, and dead
fish floating on the surface). Circle hook fishermen experienced similar
effects, but in fewer instances. If educational information was provided to
recreational fishermen on how to use circle hooks and the benefits on the
recreational and commercial fishery, circle hooks have the potential to gain
support leading to increased use.
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Student Author(s):
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Burkey, Mary T.
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Department(s):
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Forestry and
Environmental Resources
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Research Mentor(s):
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Terrie Litzenberger/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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The
Industrial and Urban impacts on a Surface Water Stream
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One of the
creeks that flow into the Neuse River also runs through a large industrialized
piece of land called Garner Road Industrial Area (GRIA). This piece of land is
a designated Brownfield of the EPA. This means that it is possible to receive
grants to clean environmental contaminants in the area up, in hopes that the
land will be developed, and put to proper use. Because of this the City of Raleigh did several tests
on the area for pollution, along with this, records of several spills from
various companies, and leaks from underground storage tanks were found. Only a
few tests were performed on the creek. This creek is called Walnut Creek. My Mentors and I made it our
project to test the pollutants of Walnut
Creek, and how it has been impacted by the
industrialization. When analyzed for VOCs and Metals,
there were indications of lead, Methyltert-Butylether
(MTBE), Tetrachloroethene, Trichloroethene,
and cis-1,2-Dichloroethene present in the water. There were several other VOCs detected during the rain event too. Walnut Creek was analyzed for nutrients, and
standard field parameters such as turbidity as well. The nutrients indicated
urban runoff, but were within the guidelines set by the EPA. The standard field
parameters were also within the standards set by the EPA, as were the VOCs. However, past tests compared to our tests have shown
that there has been little decrease in the VOCs over
time, or as the water flows downstream. Some of these VOCs
may be able to be traced to polluted groundwater that may be the result of a
spill from the industry up gradient. Either way, the Creek is polluted, and the
VOCs and metals have proven to be a persistent
problem. The Creek should be monitored or cleaned up, along with the rest of
GRIA.
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Student Author(s):
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Cogdell, Benjamin E.
Hill, Chris
Lubejko, Matt
St.
Clair, Matt
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Department(s):
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College of Natural Resources
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Research Mentor(s):
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Caitlin Burke/Forestry
and Environmental Resources
Chris DePerno/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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Roadside
Litter in Wake County: An Evaluation of Programs and
Public Perceptions
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Although litter
clean-up programs exist, litter is still a problem along the state-maintained
roadways in Wake County, NC. Our objectives were to assess the litter
clean-up programs in Wake County,
NC, to evaluate the public’s
knowledge and perceptions on litter clean-up programs, and to educate the
public on litter clean-up programs. In NC, two state agencies, Department of
Transportation, and Department of Corrections, administer volunteer programs
(e.g. Adopt-A-Highway, Litter Sweep, Keep America Beautiful, and Swat-A-Litterbug)
to manage roadside litter. We used a survey to evaluate the public’s perception
of roadside litter, and their perception of the litter clean-up programs. A
total of 64% of respondents believe roadside litter is a problem, yet only 36%
correctly identified who is responsible for clean-up. The public was most aware
and had the most participation of the Adopt-A-Highway program suggesting that
advertisement and communication increases program participation. The public can
play a role in prevention by participating in Swat-A-Litterbug program that
educates with the objective of preventing future littering. A majority of
respondents (55%) believe Waste Management is involved in litter clean-up.
Interestingly, Waste Management is a private corporation and is not responsible
for litter clean-up in Wake County,
NC. The results of our study
highlight the need for education necessary to improve public participation in
litter clean-up programs.
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Student Author(s):
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Draughn, Dustin L.
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Department(s):
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Marine, Earth
& Atmospheric Sciences
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Research Mentor(s):
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William J.
Showers/ Marine, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
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Title of
Presentation:
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Water Quality
Changes Associated with the Rocky Branch Restoration Project
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In 1978 the
Division of Water Quality (DWQ) classified Rocky Branch as the state’s most
polluted urban stream. North Carolina Sea Grant and NC State University are
implementing a three-phase stream restoration and greenway plan. The NCSU
Stable Isotope Lab has sampled Rocky Branch Creek before and during this
restoration project. Sediment and nutrient fluxes in Rocky Branch are event
driven, which means that storm flows transport the bulk of pollutants and
sediments downstream to Walnut Creek.
Urban creeks typically have compressed hydrographs and flashy discharge and
flooding patterns. Rocky Branch had been channelized
and suffered from erosion which caused bank failures. During the restoration
project meanders and bends were created in the stream along with riffle and
pool structures. Comparison of rainfall event flows from 2004 and 2007 show
that the C/N ratios of sediments in the stream have dropped, as well as the
nitrate and chloride concentrations. The amount of atmospheric runoff as
measured by 17O-NO3 also shows declines after restoration took place. The
sediment load has not decreased substantially, but the lower C/N ratio of
particles indicates that there are better food sources available to benthic
invertebrates and fish that live in the stream. Overflow pools in the flood
plain retain storm water, which is released during falling discharge, and show
a much different hydrograph than before the stream channel was connected to the
floodplain.
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Student Author(s):
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Fairey, Donta' J.
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Department(s):
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Center for Earth
Observation Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Research Mentor(s):
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Stacy A. C.
Nelson/Forestry and Environmental Resources
Justin M. Shedd/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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Implementation
of a GIS Technique for Predicting Unidentified Wetlands along the Blue Ridge Parkway
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The Blue Ridge
Parkway (BRP) is a part of the US National Park Service system which contains
many natural resources that are important to ecological and environmental
productivity. The preservation of natural resources is one of the essential
goals of the National Park Service and having accurate spatial data is
imperative in order to meet this goal. The parkway extends 469 miles through Virginia and North
Carolina and contains a wide variety of natural
resources, one of which is wetlands. Furthermore, accurate spatial data lays
the groundwork for future studies, allowing land managers to monitor changes
that occur over time. The monitoring and assessment of wetland systems within park
boundaries present logistical challenges to the National Park Service due to
their widely distributed locations within local watersheds, and the budgetary
expense, labor and time required surveying these systems over large areas.
These wetlands are home to several threatened, endangered, and rare species,
some species of which are only found along the BRP. The objective of this
project is to develop an effective means of predicting previously unidentified
wetland sites across the Blue Ridge parkway
based on current wetland characteristics. Eighty-Three wetlands within the Blue Ridge Parkway
in North Carolina and Virginia were delineated using the ESRI Arc
Hydro extension tool, using LiDAR elevation date
coupled with pre-identified wetland shape files. All wetlands share the
following in common: water, soil, and plant-life. Modeling variables were
developed from watershed and hydrologic characteristics. Model results are
aimed at facilitating the National Park Service’s inventorying and monitoring
initiatives within the BRP.
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Student Author(s):
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Reeb, Carter W.
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Department(s):
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Environmental
Technology
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Research Mentor(s):
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Elizabeth G.
Nichols/Forestry/Environmental Technology
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Title of
Presentation:
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Use of
Sediment Polarity to Predict Release of Petroleum Contaminants in Vegetated
or Non-vegetated Sediment
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Polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are released to the
environment from anthropogenic sources such as biomass combustion or improper
disposal of petroleum products. PAHs are toxic,
mutagenic, and carcinogenic; they are also non-polar, which explains why they
strongly bind to soils and sediment. Plants are the major source of organic
matter to soil and sediment and can alter the overall composition of sediment
and, thus, affect PAH binding to sediment (sorption) or PAH release from
sediment (desorption). Ideally, the presence of
plants would alter SOM and enhance the release of PAHs
for microbial degradation. Prior research has shown that more PAHs are released from petroleum-contaminated sediment
vegetated with Phragmites australis
than non-vegetated PAH-contaminated sediment. I determined if any link exists
between enhanced PAH release from Phragmites sediment
and sediment composition by determining the “polarity” of the sediment using
elemental analyses. A “polarity index” measure changes to the ratio of oxygen
(O), nitrogen (N), and carbon (C), (PI) = [(O+N)/C]. Other studies have shown
that the polarity index can predict the uptake or release of PAHs from sediments; sediments with increased PI indices
exhibit reduced PAH sorption to SOM and enhanced PAH dissolution into water. I
hypothesized that if Phragmites sediment desorbs more
PAHs than non-vegetated sediments, then Phragmites sediments are more polar and have greater
polarity indices (PI) than non-vegetated sediments.
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Student Author(s):
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Scarborough, Latisha
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Department(s):
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Parks
Recreation Tourism Management
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Research Mentor(s):
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Myron
Floyd/Parks Recreation Toursim Management
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Title of
Presentation:
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Generation X:
What Are We Purchasing that Is Environmentally Friendly or Harmful?
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I surveyed a
sample group from, Garner
Magnet High
School, asking them about which organic and
non-organic products they would buy, and why? I chose this topic because it
seems that we are slowly, but surely, depleting the earth’s natural resources.
When you buy organic food products, you are reducing your risk of exposure to
pesticides and additives. The reason for doing this research is to get people
around my age to stop hurting the earth, and to stop abusing their bodies. We
are buying products, that are not only causing a world epidemic, such as
obesity, but we are putting pesticides, herbicides, chemical toxins and other
harmful bacterias in our body, which our immune
system cannot fight off. I chose tenth-graders through twelfth-graders to do
the survey. I picked two underclassmen classes and two upperclassmen classes,
each having a mix of races, genders, and ages, to do my survey. A majority of
the participants were either thinking about the taste or the price of the
products, but some participants were choosing by the way the products looked.
Another research group did a similar survey and found that women bought more
organic products than men, and that women look at everything, and men, sort of
keep it simple. However, in some cases, I found that men cared more about the
environment when buying products, when compared to women. If this survey was a
“test” survey to help me find out what is more important to survey, I would
probably change some of the products, that I chose to put on the list, and I
would have probably condensed the survey. I would have chosen more organic
produce products, and I would have even put some meat products on my survey.
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Student Author(s):
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Shepherd, Amy
Carver, Ross
Church, Jarid
Turner, Melissa
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Department(s):
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Forestry
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Research Mentor(s):
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Caitlin
Burke/Forestry and Environmental Resources
Chris DePerno/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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Trashed: The
Mounting Problem of Municipal Waste
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Waste
generation is increasing in North
Carolina and across the nation. Production of
waste-generating products is associated with pollution from mining and high
quantities of energy needed to manufacture new commodities. Recycling is one
possible solution to this problem. Nationally, recycling diverts 32.1% of
waste, resulting in less energy required to make new products and reduced leaching
and emissions from landfills. Our objectives were to evaluate problems
associated with waste and the public’s attitude about recycling. In 1991, North Carolina set a
goal of cutting municipal solid waste by 40% because of difficulty in selecting
sites for landfills and municipalities facing legal challenges from
Not-In-My-Back-Yard groups. However, per capita waste generation has increased
21% since 1991. In most communities, recycling costs more than landfilling, but the costs are decreasing. Incentive
programs such as deposit-refund systems can resolve some of the economic
challenges of recycling. We evaluated recycling participation in neighborhoods
with low, medium and high average home values across Raleigh. Also, we conducted a house-to-house
survey of attitudes in Southwest Raleigh.
Recycling rates were highest where home values were highest and lowest where
home values were lowest. The primary motivation for recycling was its perceived
environmental benefits followed by reducing waste in landfills. Recycling uses
energy and resources, but it has been shown to reduce pollution from landfills
and use less energy overall than making items from raw materials. Consumers can
encourage development of recycled materials markets by purchasing recycled goods,
which will contribute to development of better technology and efficiency in
recycling technology.
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Student Author(s):
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Shupp, Su Ann
Hughes, Preston
Stephenson, Adam
Summerlin, Christopher
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Department(s):
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Fisheries and
Wildlife Sciences
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Research Mentor(s):
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Caitlin
Burke/Forestry and Environmental Resources
Chris DePerno/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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Feral
Hogs/Wild Boars in North Carolina
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Exotic species can
negatively impact the native flora and fauna of an area. This study will
examine the history, background, and impact of feral hogs/ wild boar (Sus scrofa) in North Carolina. Expansion of range,
population growth, and hunting are three important matters that currently exist
regarding feral hogs/wild boar. Potential impacts of feral hog and wild boar
expansion include: car accidents, destroying agriculture, landscape, wetland
areas, habitat, resource competition, potential diseases, and a threat to humans
such as physical harm. We administered a six question survey evaluating public
knowledge about feral hogs/wild boar in North
Carolina. Of the 100 people surveyed, 40% knew feral
hogs/wild boar occurred in North
Carolina. To educate the public, it is vital to
involve state agencies and private organizations. There must be a cooperative
effort between public and private landowners, farmers, hunters, and managers to
tackle the problems associated with hog populations.
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Student Author(s):
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Sivamani, Durga
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Department(s):
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Forestry and
Environmental Resources
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Research Mentor(s):
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Christopher
S. DePerno/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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A Comparison
of Bird Species Richness between Garner, NC, and Chennai, India
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Bird species
richness is commonly used as an indicator of the environmental health of an
area. If species diversity is high, then it is likely the habitat is diverse.
Further, many bird species are sensitive to patch size and habitat
fragmentation. Our field project sought to investigate the species richness in
3 different habitat types (park, urban, and rural) between 2 areas (Garner,
North Carolina, and Chennai, India) during 2
diurnal time periods (morning - 7:00 am to 8:00 am; evening - 5:00 pm to 6:00
pm). We identified unique bird species through surveys conducted by standing in
one location and observing birds using cameras and binoculars. Each habitat
type and time period was replicated twice. For each habitat type, the number of
unique species was averaged together to estimate species richness. For the
morning hour in Chennai, we detected 6.5 (range = 6-7) unique species in the
park area, 6.5 (range = 6-7) in the urban area and 11.5 (range =10-13) in the
rural area. For the evening hour in Chennai, we detected 5.5 (range = 5-6)
unique species in the park area, 5.5 (range = 5-6) in the urban area and 6.5
(range = 6-7) in the rural area. For the morning hour in Garner, we detected 5
unique species in the park area, 4 in the urban area and 4.5 (range = 4-5) for
the rural area. For the evening hour in Garner, we detected 5.5 (range = 5-6)
unique species in the park area, 4.5 (range 4-5) in the urban area and 5.5
(range 5-6) in the rural area. In Chennai and in Garner, during both time
periods, species richness was comparable between the park and urban areas but
was higher in the rural area. Overall, species richness was comparable between
Garner, NC and Chennai, India.
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Student Author(s):
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Sivamani, Swarnatara
Turner,
Melissa M.
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Department(s):
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Biological
Sciences
Fisheries and
Wildlife Sciences
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Research Mentor(s):
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Christopher
S. DePerno/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
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Various
Viewpoints on Panthera tigris tigris Conservation in Ranthambhore National
Park and Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India
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Ranthambhore National Park
and Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan,
India, is home
to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). The forests
of Ranthambhore were prime tiger hunting grounds until
1970 when it was discovered that less than 2,000 tigers remained of the 19th
century population of 50,000. In 1973, Project Tiger was implemented to
increase tiger populations and preserve habitats in India. However, increasing
sociological, economic and political pressures have made it difficult for tiger
populations to recover. The objective of this research was to better understand
tiger conservation issues by interviewing forest officials and others working
around the park. Upon arrival in India, I conducted one-on-one
interviews (44 questions) regarding tiger conservation with 10 individuals: 8
forest officials, 1 nature guide, and 1 hotel manager. A total of 70% of
participants believe the outlook for tigers is positive in Ranthambhore
and 60% of participants agree poaching is a major threat to these tigers. A
total of 90% of participants believe funding is inadequate to ensure protection
of the tiger and its habitat. When asked if they believe if local
residents/villagers are responsible for the loss of the tiger and habitat, 60%
of participants believe they are not responsible and 30% are unsure. Tiger
conservation is a very complex issue in India. While interviewees believe
the future outlook for tigers in Ranthambhore is
positive, they emphasize limitations in park infrastructure and inadequacy of
funds to protect the tiger. Interviewees also assert poaching is a major
problem due to limited equipment and staff in the field as well as difficulties
in monitoring and settling traditional hunting tribes in the area. Many
interviewees maintain that villagers living around the area are valuable
participants in conservation and that they cannot be directly blamed for the
loss of the tiger and its habitat.
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Student Author(s):
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Stanton, Jaime M.
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Department(s):
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Forestry and
Environmental Resources
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Research Mentor(s):
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Michelle
Moorman/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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Title of
Presentation:
|
How Do the
Harmful Effects of Mercury in Fish Affect Humans’ Eating Habits?
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There is
growing concern about the harmful effects of consuming fish high in mercury on
human health. For my research, I conducted a survey to assess the public
awareness of the harmful effects of mercury in fish and how their awareness
affects their eating habits. I obtained my data by distributing a nine question
survey, containing two demographical questions, three questions that test
general knowledge about the harmful effects of consuming fish high in mercury,
and four questions that test the precautions people take to avoid eating too
much fish high in mercury. I found that awareness is linked to eating
precautions. People who were aware of the harmful effects of consuming fish
high in mercury took more precautions than those who were unaware. Aware women
took more precautions then aware men, but there was no difference in the
precautions taken between men and women who are unaware of the dangerous
effects of mercury on human health. This research exemplifies the important of
public awareness campaigns in helping to alter human behavior in order to
protect human health.
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Student Author(s):
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Thompson, Paige
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Department(s):
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Parks
Recreation Toursim Management
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Research Mentor(s):
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W. Gregory
Cope/Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
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Title of
Presentation:
|
An
Examination of Children’s and Adults’ Use of Outdoor Neighborhood Parks
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By examining
peoples use of outdoor neighborhood parks, we can understand why people go to a
particular park in their area. I compared children and young adults, both male
and female, in a survey. The survey was prepared to show what park they were
most likely to visit, what attracted them to the park, and what environmental
factors the park established. This survey that was conducted (shown on graphs
and charts) explains what interest people in that park. Also, it can help
decide what environments parks should be created around and how children and
young adults can participate in with nature. With the resluts
in mind, we can help created parks that are more attractive which would
possibly lower childhood obesity, pollution in more urban areas, and make being
healthier more fun.
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Student Author(s):
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Tracy, Erin C.
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Department(s):
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Environmental
and Molecular Toxicology
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Research Mentor(s):
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W. Gregory
Cope/Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
|
|
Title of
Presentation:
|
Development
and Validation of Methods to Quantify Steroid Hormones in Native Freshwater
Mussels
|
In response to the declines in diversity and
abundance of native freshwater mussels (Families Unionidae
and Margaritiferidae), a number of studies have been
conducted to evaluate the effects of various environmental stressors, including
pollutants, on mussels. Little is known about the reproductive physiology of
mussels or how contaminants, such as pesticides (which are known to have some
hormonal activity) might alter that physiology thereby disrupting reproductive
function. These endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
are among the most potent threats to mussel populations. We developed a
methodology using tissue dissection, chemical extraction, hydrolysis, and
radioimmunoassay techniques to quantitatively measure concentrations of steroid
hormones (estradiol and testosterone) in mantle
tissue of Eastern elliptio (Elliptio
complanata) mussels. A rigorous quality assurance
protocol was concomitantly developed and implemented to assess the precision,
bias, and validity of the assay procedures. After development and validation of
the assay, steroid hormone concentrations in mussels were analyzed after a
21-day exposure to range of concentrations (0 to 30 mg/L) of atrazine, a commonly used herbicide for control of
broadleaf weeds in agricultural settings. Atrazine
has been implicated as causing endocrine disruption in some vertebrates. The
end points of the experiment included survival and concentrations of steroid
hormones. The results of this study have yielded a highly sensitive and
repeatable method to detect steroid hormone concentrations in mantle tissue of
native freshwater mussels. The analysis of hormone concentrations in atrazine exposed mussels did not yield a
concentration-related response; a result that was complicated by the fact that
Eastern elliptio mussels are not sexually dimorphic.
Future research on the effects of pesticides like atrazine
on steroid hormones in freshwater mussels should include experiments with
sexually dimorphic species and should include an evaluation of more sensitive
methodology for the detection of hormones with non-lethal tissue sampling
techniques.
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Student Author(s):
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Turner,
Melissa M.
Sivamani, Swarnatara
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Department(s):
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Fisheries and
Wildlife Sciences
Biological
Sciences
|
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Research Mentor(s):
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Christopher
S. DePerno/Forestry and Environmental Resources
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|
Title of
Presentation:
|
Global
Perspectives on Royal Bengal Tiger Conservation in India
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India is home to the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), the most abundant subspecies of tiger. The
Royal Bengal tiger is a cultural icon in India, yet tiger numbers (3,642 in
2002) and habitat are declining, and poaching continues to be a problem. In
1973, India
instituted a conservation program called Project Tiger, which moved villages out
of key tiger habitat and set land aside for reserves. Today, Project Tiger is
responsible for 27 reserves encompassing 37,761 square kilometers. In 2005,
researchers confirmed there were no tigers in India’s Sariska
Tiger Reserve, despite stable population estimates. This highlighted problems
with infrastructure and population monitoring, and some researchers believe
tiger numbers are significantly lower than reported by Project Tiger. The
objective of our research was to evaluate the challenges of tiger conservation
in India.
We surveyed members of the global conservation community about Project Tiger
and the future of tigers in India.
Surveys were conducted by phone or e-mail. A total of 41 individuals were
contacted, and 7 (17%) adequately completed the survey. All respondents (100%)
said Project Tiger benefited tigers by creating infrastructure and setting
aside habitat, but 50% identified problems with its implementation. Also, all
participants (100%) believe laws in India are adequate to protect the tiger,
but 83% believe enforcement of laws is inadequate to protect tigers. Overall,
43% of participants believe the outlook for the tiger in India is bleak,
29% believe the outlook is good, and 29% were unsure of the future of tigers.
Responses highlight the complexity of tiger conservation in India.
Participants identified problems such as insufficient funding, lack of
political support and flawed population monitoring. Respondents suggested that
non-governmental organizations could play an important role in education and
funding, but political will to save Royal Bengal tigers must come from within India.
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Student Author(s):
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Valdez, Siliza
M.
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Department(s):
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Natural
Resources
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Research Mentor(s):
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Glenn Catts/Natural Resources
|
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Title of
Presentation:
|
Sampling for
Radon Gas at Garner
Magnet High
School
|
Radon is an
invisible, odorless, radioactive gas produced by the decay of a naturally
occurring element in soil called radium. Radium deposits vary spatially and are
often associated with the geology of parent material. In Wake county for
example, the granite batholith underlying the Rolesville area contains radium inclusions resulting in
higher levels of radon gas measured in nearby schools. Chronic exposure to high
levels of radon gas poses a serious public health risk. The levels of radon gas
have not been previously measured in Garner
Magnet High
School. With signed permission from the
principal, radon gas exposure was sampled using test kits provided by Ms. Talytha Moore, a radon specialist with the NC Department of
Environment & Natural Resources, Radiation Protection Section. Two test
kits were placed at each of 20 or 30 locations. After one week of continuous
exposure, samplers are mailed to a local laboratory to quantify the radon
levels observed by the sampler. Results examine the distribution and variance
of measured radon levels in Garner
Magnet High
School and discuss the health implications for
the student body. Although this project concentrates on sampling a public
school, individual homeowners could also unknowingly face potential health
risks in the security of their own homes if the levels of radon gas are high.
Unlike higher-profile, media-rich, environmental issues like global warming,
people may not be as aware of the potential health hazard chronic radon gas
exposure poses to their well-being.
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Student Author(s):
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Williams, Shaketia
L.
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Department(s):
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Forestry and
Environmental Resources
|
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Research Mentor(s):
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Elizabeth G. Nichols/Forestry
and Environmental Resources
|
|
Title of
Presentation:
|
Does the
amount of 5N Change in Trees When Exposed to Human Wastewater?
|
Wastewater from
humans and animals contains nutrients such as nitrogen. Excessive amounts of nitrogen
can be harmful to the environment and can over-fertilize aquatic systems that
may result in harmful algal blooms and even fish kills. Management practices to
prevent too much nitrogen release to water ways exist but monitoring how well
they work can be difficult. My project was designed to find out if plants can
be used to monitor wastewater nitrogen in soil and groundwater. Trees take up
groundwater for transpiration. Nitrogen in the groundwater is taken up as well
and incorporated into tree tissue. Nitrogen from human and animal wastewater
has a unique signature that can be detected using stable nitrogen isotopes
(15N). The objective of my study was to
see if trees exposed to wastewater also had a unique 15N signature. I collected tree cores and leaves/needles
from trees at the Garner wastewater treatment facility and trees outside of the
of Garner wastewater treatment facility. The tree cores, leaves, and needles
were analyzed for 15N. I hypothesized that
trees exposed to wastewater will have a higher 15N
value than trees not exposed to wastewater. My results showed that trees in the
Garner wastewater facility did have much higher 15N
signatures than trees not exposed to the wastewater. Both tree cores and leaves/needles
could be used to monitor for wastewater nitrogen. This method was found useful,
and maybe helpful to monitor if nitrogen is improperly released from septic
tanks, livestock operations, and human wastewater treatment facilities.
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Student Author(s):
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Wilson, Taylor R.
|
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Department(s):
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Garner Magnet High School
|
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Research Mentor(s):
|
Sarah
Warren/Forestry and Environmental Resources
|
|
Title of
Presentation:
|
Gas Mileage
and Emissions Knowledge Among High School Students
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What do high school students know about the gas
mileage and emissions of today's automobiles? Do they know anything? This is
the hypothesis of my environmental research project. After extensive research
on the internet and in the library, I designed an experiment to help me learn
about how much today's students know or don't know about these issues. This
survey was given to a total of 67 students, some at Broughton
High School, and the others at Garner Magnet
High School. I then
analyzed the data from the respondents using tables, bar graphs, and pie
charts. Overall, the majority of the students at least new something about the
issues presented to them on the survey. I believe that high school students
should be educated on these issues because they are the future of our country.
If they don't know the harm they are doing to the environment, then how will it
be protected?
[ 2007 Undergraduate Research Symposium
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Last modified Februrary 2007 by Sharon E. Hunt, WordHunting