Digital Commons Network^™

Do Upside-Down Jellyfish Influence Marine Macrofauna Assemblages?, Juleika Y. Vega Pérez, Natalia B. Lopez-Figueroa, Sebastian Digeronimo, Michael J. Schram, Milton Muñoz Hincapie, Elizabeth Stoner, Pamela Hallock

Making Waves REU

• Estuaries are essential ecosystems for many organisms as they serve as spawning areas and nurseries
• Macrofauna are crucial members of estuarine ecosystems
• Many estuary macrofauna are considered of commercial importance
• Jellyfish blooms can alter nutrient cycling and modify habitat
• Little is known about how other macrofauna respond to Cassiopea blooms
• This study documents composition and diversity of macrofauna associated with Cassiopea blooms in Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico

Assessing Carbon Stability In Mangroves Soil By Comparing Two Fractionation Methods, A. Vázquez Marrero, B. A. Aguilar Enriquez, B. E. Rosenheim

Making Waves REU

• Mangroves are vital ecosystems that help shield coastlines, provide habitat for diverse species, and act as significant carbon sinks.
• To protect and sustain their carbon storage capacity, exploring soil carbon stabilization processes are crucial.
• Soil Organic Matter (SOM) consists of Particulate Organic Matter (POM) and Mineral- Associated Organic Matter (MAOM).
• MAOM is considered one of the most stable and protected forms of carbon storage in soil, but it is difficult to quantify.

Utilizing Neogloboquadrina Pachyderma Abundance From The Pacific And Atlantic Oceans To Reconstruct Temperatures—Last Glacial Maximum (~20,000 Years Ago) To Present Day, Kevin Sosa, Alana Buffardi, Hannah Burd, Mackenzie Cole, Abel Zuniga, Calyn Crawford, Alexis Vargas, Patrick Rafter

Making Waves REU

• Quantifying the abundance of planktonic foraminifera (N.pachyderma & N. incompta) informs scientists about sea surface temperatures (SST) and chemistry.
• New work from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 15-25 KYA) finds ocean SSTs colder.

Assessing The Impact Of Visitors On Airborne Particle Deposition In The Giant Gypsum Geode Of Pulpí (Se Spain), Ana Camila Mendoza, Ángel Fernández-Cortés, Fernando Gázquez, Jesús Morilla, Milagros Carretero, Jose Maria Calaforra, David Benavente

International Journal of Speleology

The Giant Geode of Pulpí is a unique mineralogical phenomenon worldwide, remarkable for its large selenite gypsum crystals. Its recent development as a tourist site and inclusion on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List, highlight the need to assess the impact of visits on its conservation. This study investigates airborne particle dynamics inside the Geode, focusing on tourist activity and natural ventilation. We measured deposition rates and composition of airborne particles using passive traps and a continuous laser-optical particle counter. Microenvironmental variables linked to ventilation, such as temperature and radon gas concentration (²²²Rn), were simultaneously monitored. Results show a predominance of …

Long-Term Trends In Harmful Algal Blooms And Key Environmental Variables Off Southwest-Central Florida, Zayna Sampson, Digna Rueda Roa, Lilly Verrill, F. Muller-Karger

Making Waves REU

• We analyzed long-term trends in satellite Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and Algal Bloom Index (ABI). We compared them with in-situ Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) counts in Southwest-Central Florida.
• Our statistics were based on anomalies to remove the seasonal signal, making it easier to observe inter-annual changes.
• The region experienced significant long-term increases in SST, with offshore areas warming faster than nearshore (offshore: >0.06 °C/year, close to shore: <0.05 °C/year).
• Both Chl-a and ABI showed weak but significant long-term decreases offshore.
• There were no significant correlations between HAB and satellite anomalies of SST, Chl-a, or ABI (p>0.1).

Long-Term Trends Of Satellite Sea Surface Temperature And Chlorophyll-A In South Florida, L. Robinson, Digna Rueda Roa, L. Verill, F. Muller-Karger

Making Waves REU

This project examined long-term trends in satellite Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in southern Florida. The analyses utilized anomalies of these variables, effectively eliminating the seasonal cycle to prevent a skew in the results. The longterm trends in SST revealed a significant increase over time across the entire region, with spatial variations in intensity ranging from 0.03°C/year in Florida Bay to 0.06°C/year offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The long-term trends in Chl-a exhibited minimal variation over time, with an exception of the north lower Florida Keys, which experienced a notable increase of 0.02 mg m-2/year. The spatial …

Making Waves: Students Transform Research Experience Into Engaging Story, Xavier Willis, Saneru Williams, Yanori Ferguson, Stephen Song, Mark Walters, Ana Arellano

Making Waves REU

Understanding integrative science and communicating it effectively is increasingly important in our society. We stress science literacy and communication as an integral part of the Making Waves REU program and advocate for the dissemination of research projects through public channels and student-led podcasts on REU experiences.

The Distribution Of Cadmium And Its Isotopes In The Subarctic Pacific, J. M. Malloy, H. R. Hunt, M. Sieber, S. Takano, H. Obata, T. M. Conway

Making Waves REU

• Cadmium (Cd) is a bioactive trace element that can act as a micronutrient, driving large scale chemical processes like photosynthesis and cellular respiration [1,2].
• The uptake of major nutrients is limited by dissolved iron (Fe) availability in high nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) surface regions like the subarctic Pacific [2,4].
• Upwelling of Cd-rich deepwater is a Cd source, in addition to riverine, atmospheric, and anthropogenic inputs [1].
• Dissolved cadmium isotopic compositions (δ114Cd) provide insight into the biogeochemical processes controlling Cd distributions throughout the water column, including biological uptake in surface waters, regeneration, and water mass mixing at depth.
• Here we present …

Making Waves Podcast: Exploring Stem Through Undergraduate Voices, E. Langer, K. Sosa, N. Barber, A. Vázquez Marrero, A. Zuniga, J. Malloy, J. Gutierrez-Paiz, A. Ingraham, C. Campbell, M. Walters, A. R. Arellano

Making Waves REU

• Engage, train, and educate students in the discipline of oceanographic research and science communication.
• Provide an immersive ocean science Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).
• Effectively communicate interdisciplinary marine science subjects.

Considering What Counts: Are Urban Homicide Rates Rising Or Falling?, Joel Best, Keith R. Johnson

Numeracy

Recent commentary has featured a debate over whether urban homicide rates are rising or falling. This debate illustrates the complexities of trying to convey the significance of statistical data.

Teaching Numeracy For Social Justice: Educational Equity, Esther Isabelle Wilder, Crystal C. Rodriguez, Caterina Shost, Eduardo Vianna, Frank Wang

Numeracy

The special collection, “Teaching Numeracy for Social Justice: Educational Equity,” focuses on how quantitative reasoning (QR) can function as a vehicle for equity, empowerment, and democratic participation. Building on a longstanding tradition that treats numeracy as inseparable from social justice, these contributions highlight how progressive pedagogies (e.g., active learning, authentic research, and equity-oriented assessment) have the potential to broaden access for students historically excluded from quantitative fields. The studies span a variety of conceptual frameworks, introductory and advanced quantitative instruction, and interdisciplinary applications, showcasing how inclusive QR practices can build confidence, agency, and real-world understanding. These articles demonstrate that when …

A Study Of The Impacts Of Infusing Data Analysis And Research In An Interdisciplinary Environmental Economics Course, Sean P. Macdonald

Numeracy

This paper explores the impacts of introducing quantitative literacy skills in an interdisciplinary Environmental Economics course typically taught as an issues and policy course without a quantitative component. The study examines the effects of infusing an engaging, student-selected data collection and analysis assignment on students' quantitative reasoning skills, as well as their interest in and attitudes about data analysis and quantitative information. Using data gathered from a set of pre- and post-assessment questions designed to measure changes in quantitative reasoning skills and attitudes, the findings point to significant attitudinal impacts, gains, but smaller, insignificant gains in quantitative reasoning skills.

Quantitative Reasoning In Calculus Iii: Advancing Student Engagement, Confidence, And Aspirations At An Hsi, Tanvir Prince

Numeracy

This study examines the impact of integrating Quantitative Reasoning (QR) into a Calculus III course at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) on student engagement, confidence, and aspirations. The course is offered at Hostos Community College in the South Bronx. It incorporated QR-focused projects on economic inequality, environmental pollution, and access to healthcare. These projects allowed students to apply advanced calculus concepts to real-world social issues. A pre- and post-survey design was employed to assess changes in students’ mathematical confidence, perceptions of relevance, and career and educational goals. Results showed statistically significant gains in confidence and in the belief that advanced math …

A Comparison Of First- And Continuing-Generation Students Completing A Project-Based Introductory Statistics Course, Susan A. Dumais, Naomi J. Spence, Lisa Dierker

Numeracy

Traditional introductory statistics courses that focus on techniques are not engaging for many college students; this may be especially true for first-generation college students, who generally have more difficulty engaging in the college environment than continuing-generation students. We study first-generation college students’ experiences in a course-based undergraduate research experience called Passion-Driven Statistics. Passion-Driven Statistics is a multidisciplinary, project-based introductory statistics course where students develop their own research topics, analyze publicly available quantitative data, and focus on conceptual understanding of statistics rather than hand calculations. Using pre-course and post-course surveys from students taking Passion-Driven Statistics in colleges throughout the United States, …

Toward Fairer And More Equitable Numeracy Measurement: Improvements To The Quantitative Reasoning For College Science Assessment, Vonna L. Hemmler, Isaac Rosenthal, Kate Follette, Catherine Sarosi, Erin Galyen, Sanlyn Buxner, Jackson Carter, Samantha Maynard, Sarah Bunnell

Numeracy

Numeracy has become an increasingly important 21st-century skill that, due to the relationship between math and science, is often formally developed at the college level in general education science courses. These courses serve a diverse group of students, many of whom have historically experienced science teaching, curriculum, and assessment on the margins. The well-documented biases of assessments in particular against Individuals of Color (IoC) have inspired us to approach numeracy for social justice in our work from this angle, and in this paper, we detail our efforts to revise our validated numeracy assessment to ensure it more fairly and equitably …

The Roles Of Mathematics In Teaching For Social Justice: A Framework For The College Classroom, Vivian Lim, Daniel Libertz

Numeracy

In this paper, we present a framework for understanding the multiple roles that mathematics can serve in the classroom towards social justice goals, developed through an analysis of 36 social justice mathematics curricular modules in college settings. The framework is grounded in Patricia Hill Collins's matrix of domination and consists of seven themes that represent the different roles mathematics can play: measuring inequality, illuminating conditions resulting in inequality, understanding the mechanisms of phenomena, challenging stereotypes and misconceptions, generating and evaluating solutions, communication and action, and criticizing quantification. Our framework supports the perspective that mathematics can serve important and distinct roles …

Review: Mountains Of Blame: Climate And Culpability In The Philippine Uplands., David Gowey

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

No abstract provided.

Biogeochemical Cycling Of Dissolved Zinc And Zinc Isotopes In The Arctic Ocean, Elise Langer, Dylan J. Halbeisen, Ruifeng Zhang, Seth G. John, Tim M. Conway

Making Waves REU

• Dissolved Zinc (dZn) is an essential micronutrient that supports primary productivity in the ocean (Morel & Price, 2003).
• Dissolved zinc isotope ratios (δ⁶⁶Zn) help us understand the sources, sinks, and internal cycling of dZn (Bermin et al. 2006; Conway and John, 2014, Horner et al. 2021).
• The background deep ocean has a largely homogenous δ⁶⁶Zn composition of +0.45‰ (Conway and John, 2014), thus deviations away from +0.45±0.05‰ suggest dZn input, loss, or alteration (Fig. 1).
• We hypothesize that margin sediments and freshwater input deliver isotopically light dZn to the coastal Arctic (Jensen et al. 2019).
• Near the North Pole, We …

Antimicrobial Resistance Of Cultivable Bacteria Isolated From Sorcerer’S Cave In Texas, Jennifer R. Huddleston, David E. Sanderson, Braden J. Smith, Joshua M. Brokaw, Evan M. Babb, Jeffrey T. Wooliscroft

International Journal of Speleology

Studying caves with minimal human contact offers insights into antimicrobial resistance before human influence. In this study, we isolated 315 bacterial strains from Sorcerer’s Cave in Texas and evaluated their resistance to seven common antimicrobials. Under half (41.4%) of the Gram-positive isolates and 68.4% of the Gram-negative isolates were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. The two most common genera identified were Pseudomonas and Bacillus. Compared to bacteria isolated in previous cave studies, Sorcerer’s Cave bacteria exhibited more extensive antimicrobial resistance. This study underscores the importance of minimally disturbed cave environments in advancing our knowledge of antimicrobial resistance present …

Ai In Ocean Traffic Monitoring, Tyler Hawkins, Steven D. Meyers, Aishlin Ingraham, Mark E. Luther

Making Waves REU

The Maritime Automatic Identification System (AIS) produces over 100 terabytes of data annually. offering vital insights into globaJ vessel traffic, identity, and navigation patterns. However, the massive volume and inconsislent quality of AIS data introduce challenges for researchers seeking to extract reliable and applicable information. This study investigates the, effectiveness of Julius Al, an off-the-shelf data science platform, for streamlining the analysis of a ilarge AIS dataset, spanning 2015 to 2019 and covering over 42 million messages from Florida's five busiest ports. The results were compared to a previous human analysis. By leveraging only natural language prompts, we explore how …

Environmental Factors Associated With Heatwaves Affecting The Growth Of Harmful Algal Bloom Species Pyrodinium Bahamense, Ketzia Garcia, Camiyah Blanchard, Lydia Ruggles, Lauren D' Amore, Margaret Mars Brisbin

Making Waves REU

• Pyrodiniumbahamenseis a harmful algal bloomdinoflagellate that forms blooms in subtropical and tropical estuarine waters, includingalong Florida's coasts
• The species formsintense harmful algal blooms in theOld Tampa Bayand Indian River Lagoon regions, producing toxins that cause paralytic shellfishpoisoning (PSP)
• Marine heatwaves (MHW), periods of time where ocean temperatures rise 1–3°C or more above the normal, have intensified over the years
• Marine heatwaves may influence microbial interactions and harmful algal blooms (HABS)

Tampa Bay Mycobiome, Alyssa L. Fischer, Yanori M. Ferguson, Ojas Natarajan, Larry J. Dishaw

Making Waves REU

The marine mycobiome is a largely unexplored area of research despite its importance to the environment as a carbon sink, nutrient manager, and as a symbiont of various marine life. With rising temperatures, there is a need to identify the fungi present in these environments to monitor changes in biodiversity and their effect on climate change. Along Tampa Bay, six sites were chosen to collect samples from surface water using a CTD rosette system. The collected water was filtered, and DNA was extracted in order to classify and catalog species of both bacteria and fungi through 16S and ITS sequencing, …

Exploring In Vitro Interactions Of Core Microbes From The Ciona Robusta Gut, Yanori M. Ferguson, Alyssa L. Fischer, Ojas Natarajan, Larry J. Dishaw

Making Waves REU

The disruption of homeostasis in the gut microbiome is linked to various host immune and metabolic imbalances. Therefore, there is a need to elucidate the roles of microbes in maintaining homeostasis in the gut microbiome.

Fungi are often overlooked components of gut flora. Here, we investigate in vitro interactions between core microbiota genera from the C. robusta gut: Candida (a yeast), Pseudoalteromonas (bacteria) and Vibrio (bacteria).

Sediment Grain Size Distribution And Composition From Coastal Enviroments At Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico, Xiomara Cruz-De León, Angelique Rosa Marín, Natalia B. López-Figueroa, Pamela Hallock

Making Waves REU

• Grain size analysis is an essential technique in sedimentology, providing vital information on sedimentary processes and depositional environments in coastal and marine systems.
• This study focuses on the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Reserve (JBNERR) in Guayama, Puerto Rico, an estuary significantly influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors.
• The objective of this research is to compare the composition and textures of sediments collected from 16 sites across various habitats at Jobos Bay in December 2023.
• This study aims to support ongoing research initiatives and contribute to the effective management of the estuary.

Making Waves Through Expedition, Jenna Malloy, Natalia López-Figueroa, Ana Arellano

Making Waves REU

No abstract provided.

Achieve Hearing Intervention Toolkit For Self-Management, Michelle L. Arnold, Victoria Sanchez, Courtney Matthews, Theresa Chisolm, Ann Eddins

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Aging And Cognitive Health Evaluation In Elders – Hearing Intervention (Achieve-Hi): Manual Of Operations, Victoria A. Sanchez, Michelle L. Arnold, Nicholas S. Reed, Ann C. Eddins, Theresa H. Chisolm, Haley N. Calloway

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated: South Atlantic Region: Rooted In Significance, Marjorie Harris Young

Alpha Kappa Alpha - South Atlantic Region

The history of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated: South Atlantic Region is highlighted in this publication, "Rooted in Significance." The South Atlantic region includes Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Common Coastal Wildlife Of Bayboro Harbor, Oliver Laczko, Usf St. Petersburg Student Green Energy Fund (Sgef)

Bayboro Harbor Restoration

Educational sign located on the north side of the living shoreline on the USF St. Petersburg campus that is a comprehensive wildlife identification guide of common coastal wildlife found within Bayboro Harbor.

The Usf St. Petersburg Living Shoreline, 'Coastal Ecology At Work!', Oliver Laczko, Usf St. Petersburg Student Green Energy Fund (Sgef)

Bayboro Harbor Restoration

An image of graphic signage located on the shoreline of Bayboro Harbor on the USF St. Petersburg campus that provides information on the USF St. Peterburg Living Shoreline. This sign focuses on educating the public about Bayboro Harbor's coastal ecology, restoration, local history, and coastal resilience.