Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Temperature On The Invasive Asian Needle Ant, Kaylee Mulligan '25

Biology Student Scholarship

The Asian Needle Ant (Brachyponera chinensis) is an invasive species currently spreading on the Eastern Coast of the United States. They were first reported around the 1930s in Florida and have since migrated to Massachusetts. As an invasive species, this pest originating from Asia has a negative impact on environment ecosystems and other species of ants. Asian Needle Ants displace resident ant colonies, taking over nesting sites by consuming food sources and decreasing the amount of space other ant colonies can use. They are also known to have a sting that contains venom more likely to result in …

Sea Surface Temperature Influence On Tropical Storms And Hurricanes, Elise Leroux '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Hurricanes are both dangerous and difficult to predict because of the various factors that influence the size and intensity of storms, where sea surface temperature (SST) is one of the most relevant variables. As temperatures are increasingly rising due to climate change, the effect on storm size, intensity, and frequency is going to be greater. There have been many studies how individual storms are affected, but less so on the overall frequency of hurricanes. This study assesses the number of hurricanes each year in comparison to the SST and the average wind speed of each hurricane. I predict that years …

Gdp Effects On Bottlenose Dolphins Within The Gulf Of Mexico, Kathleen Kelly '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are highly sensitive to environmental changes and anthropogenic stressors. Making them important indicators of marine ecosystem health. The Gulf of Mexico sustains diverse marine ecosystems and coastal communities. However, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and coastal development have altered marine habitats and increased anthropogenic pressures on marine wildlife. While various factors contribute to these strandings, the potential influence of socio-economic factors, particularly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) disparities among Gulf Coast counties, remains underexplored. This number (GDP) is influenced by human activities such as fisheries, shipping, and tourism, all of which directly or indirectly could affect marine …

Michigan Water Supply: Analysis Of Health Violations, Gabriela Guzman Reyes '24

Biology Student Scholarship

The presence of toxins in water sources poses a significant public health challenge. In Michigan, this issue has garnered widespread attention due to its adverse effects on human health and well-being. The contaminants found in water, including but not limited to lead, industrial pollutants, and agricultural runoff, stem from a variety of sources such as aging infrastructure, industrial activities, and agricultural practices. News articles and Government officials have reported the adverse affects and impact toxin exposure has on Michigan residents. However, there is little research examining the relationship between water quality violations and socioeconomic factors like poverty levels. I predict …

The Effect Sea Temperature Has On Coral Reef Health In The Great Barrier Reef, Elizabeth Glasspool '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Coral reef bleaching can happen for many different reasons including storms, disease, sediment and salinity changes, and of change in climate. Mass bleaching is typically a cause of increasing sea temperature in a certain area. Mass bleaching typically kills off many different species of coral. This is detrimental to a large portion of biodiversity, especially in a marine atmosphere. In 2016, records show that it is a record high ocean temperature which led to widespread coral bleaching on Australian reefs. This was part of the third global bleaching event declared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At the …

The Effect Of Integrated Pest Management On Nutrition Of Bee Collected Pollen, Kaitlyn Bresnahan '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Honey bees are the world’s most commercially valuable pollinators, and they face many threats. The greatest challenge facing honey bees is Varroa mites, parasitic mites that feed on bees’ fat bodies, killing bees and spreading diseases. While chemical treatments are available to stop the spread of mites, these treatments are insecticides, which are not ideal to put in a hive of insects. A popular organic method of mite management is using drone comb. Drone brood is preferentially chosen by mites for ovipositing and development because of its larger size and longer development time, so removing drone brood can drastically reduce …

The Effect Of Population Density On Harmful Algal Blooms In Southwest Florida, Emma Barry '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Karenia brevis is a species of algae native to the Gulf of Mexico. Times when its growth becomes uncontrollable are called harmful algal blooms (formerly called “red tide events”), and they are often caused by increased nutrients in the water. These excessive nutrients come from watersheds and runoff that contain anthropogenic materials like fertilizer, and the phosphate and nitrogen in fertilizers catalyze the growth of algae. As population density in Florida increases, fertilizer runoff increases as well. Harmful algal bloom events are dangerous to both humans and the environment. Thick layers of algal growth on the water’s surface create “dead …

Whale Harvest Through Time: Unveiling The Hemispheric Contrasts In Whaling, Laura Mooney '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Whales have been long known for their oils and rich blubber which has been a dish in many countries in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Some species were being hunted to near extinction. The earliest whaling began in 3000BC by Native American but commercial whaling began by the Basques in the 17th century with a huge increase in the 18th,19th and 20th centuries. This study examines how whale harvest has changed over time in years between 1900 and 1999 in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. I analyzed the data collected by Jr. Robert(2015) and looked to see if …

How To Spark Bio Curiosity: An Innovative High School Biology Curriculum, Audrie Charles

Graduate Research Showcase

This project is a researched creative endeavor focused around the creation of an exemplary high school biology course. This presentation will showcase an original high school biology curriculum designed to ignite students’ innate curiosity and empower meaningful learning of core concepts like cell structure, genetics, evolution and ecology. Students revisit key ideas through a spiral curriculum that builds complexity, tackling open-ended problems and collaborating on hands-on inquiries like formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, collecting data and drawing evidence-based conclusions. Tangible projects allow students to demonstrate content knowledge in addition to critical thinking abilities like synthesizing concepts, evaluating claims and applying learning …

How To Identify Various Sparrow Species, Aidan Castricone '24, Alexis Larsen '24, Emma Barry '25

Biology Student Scholarship

A helpful infographic on how to differentiate between four little brown birds: the house sparrow, the song sparrow, the white-throated sparrow, and the swamp sparrow. Animal behavior (BIO 350/350L) final project

Mallards And Their Interesting Facts, Caitlin Mchugh '24, Jessica Slaton '24

Biology Student Scholarship

A guide on how to differentiate between male and female mallards, where to find these ducks, and their common behaviors. Animal behavior (BIO 350/350L) final project

Blue Jays, Meriam Salo '25, Gabriela Guzman Reyes '24

Biology Student Scholarship

A guide to identifying blue jays, and understanding their common behaviors. Animal behavior (BIO 350/350L) final project

Seven Behaviors Exhibited In The Blue Jay, Gillian Chapleau '24, Jide Owoeye '23

Biology Student Scholarship

A quick guide to understanding common behaviors exhibited by blue jays. Animal behavior (BIO 350/350L) final project

Identifying The American Goldfinch, Margaret Low '24, Laura Mooney '24

Biology Student Scholarship

An infographic with tips on how to identify a common backyard visitor, the American goldfinch. Animal behavior (BIO 350/350L) final project

Synopsis Of The Genus Cerabilia, André Larochelle, Marie-Claude Larivière

Insecta Mundi

The genus Cerabilia Laporte de Castelnau (Carabidae: Abacetini) is revised for New Zealand. Thirteen species are recognized.

Seven species are described as new: Cerabilia (Cerabilia) cordata Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) kaihoka Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) laevis Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) motunau Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) rugosa Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) takaka Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) willi Larochelle and Larivière new species. …

Making The Connection: How Membrane Contact Sites Have Changed Our View Of Organelle Biology, G. Voeltz, E. Sawyer, G. Hajnóczky, W. Prinz

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The view of organelles and how they operate together has changed dramatically over the last two decades. The textbook view of organelles was that they operated largely independently and were connected by vesicular trafficking and the diffusion of signals through the cytoplasm. We now know that all organelles make functional close contacts with one another, often called membrane contact sites. The study of these sites has moved to center stage in cell biology as it has become clear that they play critical roles in healthy and developing cells and during cell stress and disease states. Contact sites have important roles …

Bridging Biological Systems With Social Behavior, Conservation, Decision Making, And Well-Being Through Hybrid Mathematical Modeling, Maggie Renee Sullens

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Mathematics

This dissertation defense presentation highlights the power of hybrid mathematical modeling and addresses crucial issues such as:

1️. The Impact of Industry Collapse on Community Mental Health: A Complex Contagion ODE Model.

2️. Budget Allocation and Illegal Fishing: A Game Theoretic Model.

3️. Reactive Scope Model with an Energy Budget and Multiple Mediators: An ODE Model

The overarching theme of Hybrid Mathematical Modeling beautifully captures the essence of this work, demonstrating its potential to unravel ecological issues while addressing the intricate interactions between humans and the environment.

Wildar Northeast Florida, Kailan Sindelar

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

Learn about some of the unique aspects of life in the wetlands and rivers of Northeast Florida and how we study them. In this app players see the memories of a student at the University of North Florida play out in front of them in AR. This app was created with funding the Digital Humanities Institute at the University of North Florida and informed by subject matter experts at the university.

Effects Of Doxorubicin On Extracellular Matrix Regulation In Primary Cardiac Fibroblasts From Mice, Cameron Skaggs, Steve Nick, Conner Patricelli, Laura Bond, Kali Woods, Luke Woodbury, Julia Thom Oxford, Xinzhu Pu

Biomolecular Research Center Publications and Presentations

Objective Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic used to treat many adult and pediatric cancers. However, its use is limited due to a dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which can lead to lethal cardiomyopathy. In contrast to the extensive research efforts on toxic effects of DOX in cardiomyocytes, its effects and mechanisms on cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis and remodeling are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the potential effects of DOX on cardiac ECM to further our mechanistic understanding of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Results DOX-induced significant down-regulation of several ECM related genes in primary cardiac fibroblasts, including Adamts1, Adamts5, Col4a1, Col4a2, …

Pollinators Of Gonzaga University, Sophie O'Shei, Gary Chang

Biology Student Scholarship

This data is from a public science project conducted by Sophie O'Shei (Gonzaga '24) investigating pollinator diversity in and around Gonzaga's campus. Photos of plants and pollinators were submitted using iNaturalist, an online platform and app that allows users to upload photos of animals, plants, insects, etc. and identifies their species using AI. It also tracks where photos were taken. Users were then able to go through uploaded images and suggest what species they identify in the photo, which can confirm or correct the AI's identification.

The project started during Earth Week 2023, giving students, staff, and other members …

Social And Biological Perspectives To Investigate And Address Illegal Shooting Of Raptors, Eve Thomason, Kenneth Wallen, Todd Katzner

Raptor Research Center Publications and Presentations

Humans have shot raptors for centuries. However, in many countries these actions have been illegal since the mid-twentieth century. Despite this history, there is not a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of this activity, its frequency, and why it occurs. We used literature review and principles drawn from ecology, sociology, and criminology to understand this problem. First, we review literature on raptor shooting globally to explore documented motivations for shooting and we describe the history of raptor shooting in the United States of America (USA). Then, to illustrate the contemporary frequency and geographic breadth of the shooting of raptors, we …

The Effect Of Integrated Pest Management On Honey Bee Behavior And Colony Level Health, Kaitlyn Bresnahan

Biology Student Scholarship

Honey bees are the world’s most commercially valuable pollinators, and they face many threats. The greatest challenge facing honey bees is Varroa mites, which are parasitic mites that feed on bees’ fat bodies, killing bees and spreading diseases. While chemical treatments are available to stop the spread of mites, these treatments are insecticides, which are not ideal to put in a hive of insects. A popular organic method of mite management is using drone comb. Drone brood is preferentially chosen by mites for ovipositing and development because of its larger size and longer development time, so removing drone brood can …

Suitability And Nutritional Analysis Of Spotted Lanternfly Habitats, Kathryn Hickey

Biology Student Scholarship

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive bug that has recently started taking over the Northeastern US, and has even made it to Rhode Island. Although this species is intriguing with its bright red back and spots, it is hurting native plant species and the agriculture industry by feeding on crops, like grapes and cherries. It uses a tongue-like mouthpart to pierce through the plant and feed directly on the sap inside. This punctures plant stems and causes them to drip sap, wither, and even mold. The lanternfly’s most preferred host plant is the invasive tree-of-heaven, which grows and spreads quickly …

Effect Of Decreased Snowfall During An Atypical Winter On A Rare Butterfly’S Host Plant, Breelyn Gilbert

Biology Student Scholarship

In the Northeastern US, one result of climate change is decreased snowfall and earlier snowmelt. Such changes can alter the relationship between climate and the timing of cyclical biological phenomena— the phenology of organisms. This is especially concerning for species that interact with one another such as butterflies and their host plants. For this study, I focused on the host plant of the rare frosted elfin butterfly. The frosted elfin is a species of concern in RI, MA, and CT, among 8 other states, and they are a host plant specialist only laying eggs on yellow wild indigo (Baptisia …

Diversity Of Bees In Trees And Their Foraging Preferences On An Urban College Campus, Aidan Castricone

Biology Student Scholarship

Pollinators collect nutrients from blooming flowers; pollen provides proteins and fats, nectar provides carbohydrates. The few plants that bloom during early Spring are trees such as crabapple (Malus sp). Current research however, mainly focuses on pollinators that forage on the ground and overlooks pollinators foraging in the canopy of trees. Past research showed increased generalization of pollen foraging in bees as seasons move from spring to summer. Here I identified which bee species forage in the canopy on Providence College campus and will analyze the pollen collected using microscopy. This data can inform more specific research on diet breadth, …

Does Artificial Lighting Cause Sea Turtle Hatchling Disorientations?, Kate Hickey

Biology Student Scholarship

Sea turtle hatchlings run into obstacles from the minute they emerge from their shell. They have a 1 in 1,000 survival rate and new obstacles are on the horizon. Coastal development is increasing and is not planning on slowing down. It supports and funds tourism, but has some negative implications on the wildlife that uses this area, like sea turtles. A particular problem with development is the artificial lighting it emits which is effecting sea turtles nesting. When the hatchlings emerge from the nest, they use the horizon and moon to guide them in the direction of the sea. The …

Precipitation Effects On Butterfly Species Richness, Maggie Ritchie

Biology Student Scholarship

Butterflies are important pollinators that have been impacted due to climate change(1). Studies have looked at how the increasing temperatures and precipitation due to climate change may be playing a role in decreasing populations among some species in Mediterranean climates(2). However, the effects of precipitation have not been considered when looking at changing butterfly populations around the United States. Therefore, increasing precipitation amounts due to climate change may contribute to the decreasing populations of butterflies in Massachusetts.BIO 340 final project

Land And Energy, Devan Viani

Biology Student Scholarship

Land use has and will continue to be a complicated topic. We need land to succeed as a country and a species, but it is equally as important to keep the land as pristine as possible to not affect natural ecosystems. As population continues to increase, urbanization and economic growth has inevitably had an impact on climate change.¹ Parallel to an increase in land development is an increase in power generation. As cities grow, technology evolves, and energy use goes up. With this increase in technology, new sources of power generation are emerging. While fossil fuels have always been the …

Does More Pollen Mean More Sneezing?, Diraliz Cruz

Biology Student Scholarship

Every year millions of people suffer from seasonal allergies, according to the CDC about 25% of adults have to deal with these allergies. Pollen comes from all different things like trees, grasses, and weeds and as climate change increases annually the amount of pollen released into the air also increases. Research has shown that climate change has specifically impacted the amount of birch and oak pollen released annually. Although there is data to show that there has been an increase in pollen release there is little to no information on if the prevalence of allergies has increased or decreased along …

Effect Of Natural Disasters On Coastal Human Populations Of The Southeastern U.S., Caitlin Mchugh

Biology Student Scholarship

Due to climate change, extreme weather events and natural disasters are becoming more prevalent, and the severity of these events is increasing (Sheldon & Zhan, 2022). Over the last 40 years, the number of billion-dollar natural disasters has gone up. The U.S, averaged 3 billion-dollar disasters per year in the 1980s compared to the average 13 per year in the 2010s (USAFacts, 2023). With natural disasters comes loss of life, infrastructure, and resources that can leave a physical and economic toll on communities for many years if not generations. While some global studies have found that natural disasters increase households’ …