By Cassidy GordonCassidy Gordon is graduating with her Associates Degree in Natural Sciences from Santa Rosa Junior College in December and transferring to Sonoma State University to study Marine Biology for the Spring 2023 semester. She assisted PhD student Claire Murphy with her research on the predation of amphipods and isopods in Bodega and Tomales Bays this summer. Before this internship I knew I wanted to study Marine Biology… but I had no idea what that looked like in real life and I certainly didn’t see a clear path to my goal. Studying in school is one thing, but how do we take the things we learn there and apply them to actual research? How do we get into research in the first place? These questions and so many more plagued me constantly before being accepted into the Bodega Marine Lab Internship program through Santa Rosa Junior College. Now that my summer experience is wrapping up I feel optimistic, driven, and able to see the steps I need to take to reach my destination. From the first introduction email my mentor Claire was welcoming and enthusiastic. Hearing her explain her research on amphipods and isopods and witnessing her excitement and passion for what she studies was immediately inspiring. During my first week at the lab I got to participate in lab and field work, preparing the little crustaceans to be placed in the bays before tagging along for the actual deployment. Claire tethers four different species that are commonly found in the seagrass in Tomales and Bodega Bays and places them at 6 different sites at low tide. After 24 hours, she returns to collect the tethers and documents how many of each species has been eaten. As a mini-project to support Claire’s research, I focused on one specific species, Ampithoe lacertosa, determining if the size of the amphipod had any impact on predation rates. To do this, I would measure each amphipod before they were deployed and then measure the remaining amphipods once they were retrieved. We did this for two separate deployments - two weeks apart - and compared the data with the rough hypothesis that if size did matter, the larger amphipods would potentially be eaten more during the second week due to the growth of the local fish over the course of the period. Claire showed me how to use RStudio to analyze the data we had collected by running a t-test and creating graphs to represent our findings. Ultimately, the t-test and the graphs both indicated that size was likely not a factor impacting predation, however the graphs (like figure 1 below) did open the door for further study due to a potential for a “size refuge” as shown by the small blue hump representing the larger retrieved amphipods. A size refuge is an ecological term meaning once an organism reaches a certain size they have an advantage - in this case they are less likely to be eaten. While I have a feeling no path in academia is straightforward, this internship has provided information, connections, and experience that have laid a foundation for me to move forward confidently. More than ever, I am certain that this is what I want to do and the type of people I want to surround myself with. I highly recommend this internship to anyone who is interested in scientific research, especially those with a passion for the ocean.
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Rising Temperature and its Effect on Intertidal Invertebrates. AKA Hanging Out with a Bunch of Crabs8/24/2022 By Valeria SilvaValeria Silva was a general Biology major at SRJC. Who will now be transferring to CSU Monterey Bay and majoring in Marine Sciences this upcoming Fall 2022. This summer, I spent my time with my mentor Lily Mcintire helping her out with her research. We would visit four different sites she had set up on the BML reserve and around Bodega Bay. She is studying the thermal ecology of intertidal organisms with the intent to understand how increasing temperatures from climate change are affecting or will affect how these organisms choose homes and learn to cope. It’s important to understand how ocean animals are handling climate change since they are on the front line. Especially to study intertidal species who are already living in such high variability and harsh environments. To do this analysis Lily and I would go out into the field and do crab and snail surveys. We would measure body, air, substrate temp, and other abiotic factors that all affect the invertebrates' temperatures. The reason I chose to do the BML internship was that I had heard a lot of good things from both professors and peers alike. For three years, I studied at the SRJC to pursue a career as a Veterinarian, but at the last minute, I figured it wasn’t for me. It was disheartening, but I quickly found something new. The main reason I got into marine science is thanks to Professor Shawn Brumbaugh. While taking his class, I began to research different topics and I concluded that I was very interested in coral reefs and the adverse effects of climate change on the ocean. He noticed my interest and informed me about the BML internship. Since then, I have done a complete 180, and I am excited to dive into marine biology. I had a lot of fun and got to experience the beauty of nature every day. My favorite parts were honestly the hardest ones. Although it was very difficult to drive a long distance so early in the morning, it was fun being the first to the lab. I also got great advice from Lily that has better informed some of my future career choices and decisions. Overall she was a great academic fountain of knowledge who was willing to honestly talk about her experiences. She also showed me how much work and dedication it takes to do worthwhile research. This has been an incredible experience, and I gained so many skills that I will continue to build on. By Kevin SanchezKevin Sanchez is a SRJC biology student interested in all things involving science. .Greetings reader, my name is Kevin Sanchez and I am a SRJC biology student interested in all things involving science. I have always had a great love of science and this summer I was able to work on the Bodega Marine Reserve with my amazing mentor Luis Morales, a PhD student studying ecology. This summer exceeded my expectations and was without a doubt a memorable experience for the many opportunities available. Arriving on the first day I was nervous while simultaneously filled with a rush of excitement to learn more. I met Luis shortly after who I found would speak passionately about what he does on the reserve as a steward. A large portion of what Luis does is managing invasive species found on the reserve. This short introduction was followed by a very methodical plan to begin removing a perennial invasive species Holcus Lanatus (H. Lanatus). A plan was established based on several factors minimizing disturbance of other native species, careful consideration to the plants life cycle and a method that was most efficient. Once out in the field I saw velvet panicles shimmering under the sunlight that is best described as a sea of H. Lanatus. While manually pulling out the invasive species we got the chance to record data as well as map our findings to track its growth. Due to being classified as a perennial species this plant can resprout from the basal shoots further only temporarily solving the issue. This is a drawback, but it is a consideration that needs to be factored into every approach made to manage an invasive species. This is just one of the several invasive species that we had to manage which made me curious about what other methods we could approach given the potential negative and positive outcomes. Furthermore, after gaining more experience I was able to individually work on removing a different invasive species Briza Maxima (B. Maxima). Unlike H. Lanatus, B. Maxima is an annual plant that dies in one season, but its removal is still important to be done before seed drop. Thus, B. Maxima is just as important because it is well known to disturb native species by competing for nutrients.The best method to manage this species is mechanical and chemical such as use of herbicides yielding a recorded efficacy to be >95%. Though this is effective there are still other methods which I would enjoy to explore including biological control and different use of herbicides. There is very little research that has been made in biological control because it can disturb other desired species, however B. Maxima is not just an issue that affects our reserve; it has been recorded in New Zealand, Japan, Honduras, Guatemala, Hawaii, Chile and Colombia. Perhaps investing more time in biological control can prove to be an effective method for the different landscapes found in these other areas. Regardless of that it will take some of the mystery out of what could have occurred if we do not test its capacity. As a final note, it is clear to me that what may appear like a small change is in reality a mountainous impact when it comes to the ecosystem. Bodega Marine reserve was no walk in the park, but through these challenges it gave me a deep appreciation for the work it takes to maintain our native species. I am looking forward to working on similar projects or any science projects where people are passionate in what they do as I continue my educational journey. Special thanks to the BMR and BML team for guiding us and exposing us to new opportunities, including Keira Monuki, Isabelle Neylan, Luis Morales and Collin Gross my deepest gratitude. By Sahil PrasadSahil Prasad is in his final year at Santa Rosa Junior College majoring in Biology and intending to pursue a career in medicine. This summer I had the opportunity of working with my mentor Angela Korabik on a variety of different projects. The first project I worked on was oyster surveying at Point Pinole in Richmond. The purpose of this project was to examine if living shoreline restoration is possible by using oyster structures made of 80% sand and ground oyster shells mixed with cement to reduce marsh edge erosion, enhance populations of native species, and reduce wave energy. We took sample sizes using quadrats and recorded the number of each type of organism (including oysters, kelps, algae, Eel grass and Sea sponges) as well as the sizes of the oysters found. The next project I helped work on was the surveying of the invasive European Green Crab at Seadrift Lagoon, a joint effort with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the Greater Farallones association. European Green Crabs are invasive, so since 2009 the Greater Farallones Association has been attempting to remove them. However in removing the adults, which are known to be cannibalistic, they saw a large population boom. They knew removal would be next to impossible but management might work better. So they continue seeking to keep European Green Crabs at low levels to potentially create room in the ecosystem for native crabs to return. We collected data on gender, diameter, and any missing appendages, then we clipped the crabs’ spines (this is harmless to them) so at a future survey we would know if we had seen the same organisms from the year prior. I am very grateful for this opportunity provided to me by the Santa Rosa Junior College and the UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab. I would like to extend a special thank you to my mentor, Angela Korabik, for working hard to connect me with the many field work opportunities available this summer which was exactly what I had asked for, “a summer of exploration and adventure”. This has been the single greatest learning opportunity in science that I have ever had and I will remember this experience for the rest of my life. |
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