Life Sciences Commons^™

Ballasting System For An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Noura Rayes, Bahram Nassersharif, Zach Champney, Kyle Alessandro, Jason Mirandou

Senior Honors Projects

NOURA RAYES (Mechanical Engineering); Ballasting System for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Sponsor: Bahram Nassersharif (Mechanical Engineering)

Over the last year, our Mechanical Engineering Capstone team, Nautilus, has been working to design a ballasting system for various Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) sponsored by Raytheon Technologies. Common AUV systems are used for a wide range of applications from environmental monitoring, oceanic exploration, to data collection. AUVs also have many technical advantages that make underwater tasks more efficient, cost-effective, and generally safer. Raytheon Technology, specifically, is looking to improve their existing ballasting mechanism for their AUVs to use for military defense. For this …

Temporal And Spatial Comparison Of Pseudo-Nitzschia Species Composition And Domoic Acid In Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island And The Northeast U.S. Shelf, Isabella Church, Bethany D. Jenkins

Senior Honors Projects

Diatoms are unicellular algae that make up a significant portion of phytoplankton biomass at the base of marine food webs. Narragansett Bay (NB), RI is home to several species of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia (P-n), some of which are known to cause harmful algal blooms through the production of the potent neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). This toxin can lead to Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in humans through the consumption of affected shellfish. Although the presence of P-n has been well established in NB for over 50 years, DA levels have only recently become a problem, with shellfish harvest closures …

Aquaculture And Fisheries Internship Afs 399, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Correlation Between Sei Whale Distribution And Chlorophyll-A Concentration In The Western North Atlantic, Dawn Parry

Senior Honors Projects

The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is an endangered baleen whale species whose distribution and migratory movements are poorly understood. Sei whale populations were decimated by commercial whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries. Much of what is currently known about their distributions comes from historical whaling records. Visual sightings, which may be sporadic and limited by weather and access to remote locations, are the primary source of data for recent research. It is thought that sei whale distributions may be influenced by the distribution of their food, which consists of zooplankton (small crustaceans, like shrimp), small fish, and …

Philippine Aquatic Food Production Afs 450, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

You, Me And Life In The Sea Ocg 106g, Joanna Burkhardt

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Do Halogenated Natural Products Bioaccumulate In Narragansett Bay?, Christine Gardiner, Anna Robuck, Rainer Lohmann

Senior Honors Projects

In recent decades, a new family of chemical compounds has begun to garner research attention—halogenated natural products, or HNPs. These chemicals are produced by algae, bacteria, worms, and sponges, and many are structurally similar to harmful manmade compounds, such as polychlorinated diphenyls (PCBs), or brominated flame retardants (PBDEs), which are known to cause cancer, reproduction issues, endocrine disruption, and death. While HNPs are produced naturally, they are still considered pollutants because of their bioaccumulative behavior and apparent toxicity.

Currently, there is limited research on their presence and effects, with a few studies from Europe and the Pacific highlighting their importance …

Minor In Proficiency In Ocean Data Science (Pods), Joanna Burkhardt

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Oceanographic Data Integration Ii Ocg 351, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Oceanographic Data In Rhode Island Waters Ocg 150, Joanna Burkhardt

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Molecular Measurement Of Toxicity In Fish; Case Examples And Policy Implications, Jessica A. Freedman

Senior Honors Projects

Stormwater and oil are common urban contaminants that can be harmful to fish species. One way of recognizing exposed and impaired fish is by monitoring gene expression and gene induction. This study focused on the identification and validation of reference genes for measuring contaminant-induced changes in gene expression due to urban influence. In this study, reference genes (which are genes used to normalize data and remain consistent in varying exposures regardless of organism and tissue type) were established. Six genes were identified as reference genes (ef1a, wdtc1, mtm1, spop, rxrba and tuba1) from a longer list of potential …

Global Ocean Data Science Ocg 250, Joanna Burkhardt

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Retention Effects Of An Experiential Pedagogical Approach, Kelsea E. Adams

Senior Honors Projects

The quality and nature of delivery of education, especially at the K12 level is a major focus of the education reform movement. As an aspiring teacher, I am interested in developing a personal understanding of the efficacy of different modes of delivery. A large body of studies has examined the differences between experiential learning versus traditional classroom learning as well as effects on student retention. Traditional classroom learning involves literary texts, PowerPoint presentations and teacher-centered learning. In contrast, experiential learning is a hands-on, real world experience that provides students with an environment to expand their critical thinking skills and apply …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Coral Restoration Nurseries, Grace Hanson

Senior Honors Projects

Numerous ecosystems throughout the world are declining and facing conservation challenges. A variety of techniques have been developed in response with active restoration being one of them. Active restoration usually involves planting vegetation in order to restore the area to its previous state. It has been used in multiple ecosystems including seagrasses, forests, and salt marshes. Coral reefs have experienced severe declines worldwide and active restoration has been utilized to help combat their decline. It is generally done by collecting healthy fragments of coral and either transplanting them directly to a declining reef or placing them on a nursery allowing …

Elucidation Of The Microbial Consortium Of The Ubiquitous Shore Sponge, Tedania Ignis, Clarisse Sullivan

Senior Honors Projects

Sponges are filter-feeding organisms that contain a dense and diverse microbial community. These bacteria and archaea can comprise about 40% of the sponges’ total biomass often exceeding the microbial biomass of seawater by two to three orders of magnitude. The presence of bacteria during the reproductive stages of the sponge is an indicator of symbiosis. This study used culture-independent techniques to investigate the microbial community of Tedania ignis; an abundant marine sponge in the inshore coral reef environments around Bermuda. Sponge and water samples were collected from Ferry Reach, Helena’s Bay and Bailey’s Bay in Bermuda. Epifluorescent microscopy was …

Herbivore Impacts On The Invasive Marine Alga Grateloupia Turuturu, Emily Bishop, Carol Thornber

Senior Honors Projects

Invasive species have the ability to outcompete natives, and can create a monoculture if not mitigated by herbivores or some other mechanism. Limited information exists on the ecology of the invasive macroalga Grateloupia turuturu and how it is impacted by herbivores. Using laboratory mesocosm experiments, we investigated the ability of two invasive herbivore species common in Rhode Island, the snail Littorina littorea and Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus, to control Grateloupia populations. In the first trial, Grateloupia was provided to a single herbivore (either Littorina or Hemigrapsus) or both herbivores together. Grateloupia controls were in the same mesocosms …

Chemical Warfare In Narragansett Bay: Determining The Allelopathic Effects Of Ulva, Fiona P. Mackechnie, Lindsay A. Green, Carol S. Thornber

Senior Honors Projects

Several species of Ulva are commonly found in the waters of Narragansett Bay, especially in eutrophic waters, where they can form fast growing blooms that can have ecological and economic consequences. The formation and release of allelopathic chemicals has been previously documented in some species of Ulva, including Ulva lactuca. Three species of blade-forming Ulva are commonly found in Narragansett Bay and coastal Rhode Island, namely, U. compressa, U. lactuca, and U. rigida. We aimed to determine if these three species of Ulva had allelopathic effects by testing their impacts on the growth of other macroalgae. Cystoclonium purpureum …

The Utility Of Planning And Other Spatial Concepts In The Marine Spatial Management Of Marine Protected Areas (Mpas), Marine Reserves, Marine Zoning, Marine Sanctuaries And Parks, Marine Spatial Planning (Msp), Large Marine Ecosystems (Lmes) And Seascape / Marine Design., Samuel Martin, Brandyn Lucca, Dr. William R. Gordon Jr.

Senior Honors Projects

In the last fifty years, man has demonstrated an increased interest in gaining access to and apportioning the near and offshore marine environment. Governments, coastal and marine managers, economic-based users, stakeholders, and academics have gained an interest and involvement in the demarcation of marine boundaries. Many land-based spatial applications, utilized from disciplines such as planning, geography, landscape architecture and regional science have been applied to the spatial acquisition and management of ocean resources. In the last four decades new marine applications have emerged, they include: 1) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), 2) Marine Reserves, 3) Marine Zoning, 4) Marine Sanctuaries, and …

The Effects Of Refuge On Escape Responses Of Two Caribbean Goby Species, Russell P. Dauksis

Senior Honors Projects

The Effects of Refuge Abundance on Escape Responses of the Bridled Goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum)

Russell P. Dauksis

Major

Marine Biology

Advisor

Dr. Graham Forrester

Advisor Department

Natural Resources Science

Date

5-2012

Keywords

Escapology, marine ecology, functional morphology, animal behavior, predator-prey interactions, Bridled Goby, Coryphopterus glaucofraenum

Abstract

Interactions between predators and prey species are arguably the most pervasive and important events in ecology. Predators have strong effects on the distribution and abundance of prey in virtually all environments. In the long-term, it is therefore hardly surprising that selective mortality imposed by predators has shaped a wide array of prey behaviors …

Aerobic Degradation Of Α-, Β-, Γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane By Narragansett Bay Bacterioplankton, Ian M. Rambo

Senior Honors Projects

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are a family of chlorinated organic compounds that were previously used as agricultural insecticides. HCHs are recognized as persistent organic pollutants due to their toxicity, recalcitrant properties, and tendency to bioaccumulate in food webs. Although HCH was first synthesized in 1825, its use was not widespread until the discovery of the insecticidal activity of the γ-HCH isomer in 1942. γ-HCH and its toxic waste isomers α-HCH and β-HCH were banned from production and use by the United Nations in 2009, yet these chemicals still present environmental problems due to their persistence in soils and surface waters. HCHs continue …

Big Blue And You: An Interdisciplinary Look At Science And The Ocean, A Students Teaching Students Course, Megan M. Nepshinsky, Alexa Kretsch, Benjamin Negrete

Senior Honors Projects

This class is the second project under the new Honors Program initiative, Students Teaching Students (STS). STS was brought to URI and implemented by Bridget Griffith as part of her Senior Honors Project in 2011. Students apply in their Junior year to design, research, and teach an honors course on a topic about which they are passionate. The STS program allows motivated honors students to have a unique opportunity to lead a class as student professors. This allows students a freedom of creativity on the topic, assignments, and teaching style. Drawing on our own experiences, we were able to create …

Big Blue And You: An Interdisciplinary Look At Science And The Ocean, A Students Teaching Students Course, Benjamin Negrete Jr., Megan Nepshinsky, Alexa Kretsch

Senior Honors Projects

This class is the second project under the new Honors Program initiative, Students Teaching Students (STS). STS was brought to URI and implemented by Bridget Griffith as part of her Senior Honors Project in 2011. Students apply in their Junior year to design, research, and teach an honors course on a topic about which they are passionate. The STS program allows motivated honors students to have a unique opportunity to lead a class as student professors. This allows students a freedom of creativity on the topic, assignments, and teaching style. Drawing on our own experiences, we were able to create …

Potential Impact Of Herbivorous Fish On Ulva Bloom Biomass, Tanja Schollmeier

Senior Honors Projects

Potential Impact of Herbivorous Fish on Ulva Bloom Biomass

Tanja Schollmeier

Sponsor: Carol Thornber, Biological Sciences

The addition of anthropogenically produced nitrogen and phosphorous to coastal habitats is a major problem that frequently results in the rapid growth, or bloom, of macroalgae. Within Narragansett Bay, RI, blooms are commonly formed by two species: Ulva compressa and U. rigida. These blooms co-occur with a number of invertebrates that have been previously studied for their impacts on bloom biomass. However, few studies have examined the abundance or potential grazing impacts of herbivorous fish. To address this information gap, we conducted surveys …

The Sedimentary Environment Below Earth’S Polar Ice Cap As A Microbial Habitat, David C. Smith, Stephanie Forschner-Dancause, David C. Rowley, Steven D'Hondt

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

University of Rhode Island faculty participated in drilling of the polar ice cap to study microbial diversity and adaptation to subsurface life under conditions that may mimic extraterrestrial subsurface conditions.