Life Sciences Commons^™

Western Lives, Ilah Mittelstaedt

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

A documentation of the ecosystem of Western Washington University. The project focused on four animals: Black Tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail Rabbits, Raccoons, and Honey Bees. Documentation included photography and recorded observations during field outings on campus. In addition, interviews and surveys were conducted to gauge human perception of their roles in the campus ecosystem. Research was also done to understand the wildlife better. The final product was a gallery show and presentation on the findings of the project. This document serves as a summary of the project.

The Relative Contributions Of Contaminants To Ecological Risk In The Upper San Francisco Estuary, Wayne Landis, Eric J. Lawrence, Mikayla Bowers, Ethan Brown, Steven R. Eikenbary, Skyler Elmstrom, Colter Lemons, April J. Markiewicz, Emma E. Sharpe, Erika Whitney

Institute of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Publications

This report presents the methods we developed to calculate risk of mixtures of pesticides for the Upper San Francisco Estuary (USFE). We used curve fitting to estimate the exposure-response curves for each individual chemical and then the mixture. For the mixtures, the models were normalized for specific ECx values. In that way, the curve fitting was optimized for effects that are comparable to most threshold values. A Bayesian network was built that incorporated five different pesticides and mercury. The input distributions of the contaminants were measured amounts from each of the six risk regions. We also explored three different methods …

Using Mitochondrial Dna (Mtdna) To Investigate The Genetic Population Structure Of Harbor Seals (Phoca Vitulina) In Washington State, Maya Mijares

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most abundant marine mammal in Washington State waters and consume many species of fish that hold significant cultural, economic, and ecological importance for humans. Hence, the management of harbor seal populations is of interest to many diverse communities throughout the state. Here, we describe the genetic population structure of harbor seals using mtDNA gathered from subsamples of male and female stranded harbor seals across varying ages and geographic locations. We employ Sanger Sequencing of the mtDNA D-loop to gather maternal genetic information and have found evidence of detectable genetic diversity in the mitochondrial genome …

Feed The Earth: An Exploration Of Regenerative Agriculture Programs In Washington State, Lily Storbeck

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Regenerative agriculture centers soil health as the solution to the environmental and economic problems caused by conventional agriculture. By using regenerative practices agricultural operations become more cost-effective and supportive of the environment. The transition to regenerative techniques can be complex and expensive, but government financial and technical assistance programs have the potential to lower risk for individual farmers. Washington state supports the use of regenerative agriculture through Conservation Districts, the Sustainable Farms and Fields grant, and the Soil Roadmap report. These programs benefit from an administrative framework linking local, state, and federal resources, but capacity is generally limited by financial …

Ashes To Algae: Phytoplankton Communities In Early Successional Ponds At The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Lillie Tomlinson

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Freshwater biodiversity is declining worldwide, and ponds have been found to be incredibly biodiverse freshwater habitats that provide important ecosystem services and create critical terrestrial-aquatic linkages. Phytoplankton are fundamental components of aquatic communities and provide ecosystems with oxygen, send energy throughout the food web, and are an important food source for organisms like zooplankton. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens led to the formation of over 100 diverse ponds in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. This study aims to shed light on phytoplankton community dynamics and assemblages as well as regional differences in community dynamics in previously …

Transcriptomic Clues To Protein Homeostasis, Anna Byquist, Lina Dahlberg

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Protein misfolding is associated with many different diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cystic fibrosis. Cells prevent the accumulation of misfolded proteins through conserved pathways, including Endoplasmic Reticulum Associated Degradation (ERAD). In the absence of proper ERAD function, cellular homeostasis is disrupted, and cells can become stressed. The ERAD mechanism is not fully understood, but it is becoming clear that the intersection of gene regulation and protein degradation are tightly linked (1). We approached this intersection using a strain of C. elegans that is lacking the gene F26F4.9, which encodes a putative ortholog of the mammalian ERAD gene …

Beneath The Surface: Exploring Endospore-Forming Bacteria In Brassica Seeds, Emmy Formiga

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This study investigates the effects of endophytes, which are bacteria that reside within plants, on germination rates and growth of seeds in the Brassicaceae family. Brassicas, which are plants in the cabbage family, are widely grown in the Skagit Valley. Most of the Brassicaceae seed grown in the United States comes from the area surrounding Bellingham. Because of this, it is important to study the seed microbiome. Researchers have discovered that endophytes can defend plants against pathogenic invasions, as well as unfavorable environmental conditions. There have also been studies that found that endophytes can affect germination and growth of plants. …

Hydrophobicity Of Factor Viii On Membrane Binding, Mady Jacobs

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Factor VIII (FVIII) plays a crucial role in our body’s ability to prevent blood loss. This function comes from its ability to bind membranes and enhance catalytic function of other proteins. Membrane binding of FVIII relies on hydrophobic residues located at the lower C2 domain in a region named the PS head group. This study looks at how the enhancement of the hydrophobicity of this site can impact the protein binding ability to membranes. Specifically mutating the residues leucine at residue 2251 in the PS head group to phenylalanine, the study uses BLI instrumentation to determine whether this mutation can …

Weeding Out The Truth: Can We Reduce Neuroinflammation In Huntington’S Disease?, Milica Jakovljevic

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by unwanted choreatic movements, cognitive decline, and behavioral and psychiatric difficulties. The mutant protein that causes HD results from an abnormal expansion of the CAG repeat segment on the HTT gene. This protein becomes prone to aggregation, resulting in neuron dysfunction and degeneration. The striatum is crucial for regulating voluntary movement and is the primary region affected. While neurons are found in abundance, glial cells–namely microglia and astrocytes–are the most abundant cell type in the striatum. When in a resting state, these cells work to clear debris and modulate neuronal signaling. …

Bloom Or Bust: An Interdisciplinary Exploration Of Flowering Plants And How Climate Change Impacts Them, Carolyn Schmode

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Plants are vital to both natural ecosystems and human society. As climate change progresses, more frequent extreme weather events threaten the biodiversity of the Pacific Northwest. Plant responses to flooding, drought, temperature, and light involve signal transduction pathways that alter flowering times. As flowering times shift, plant/pollinator interactions decrease, limiting the plants' ability to survive and reproduce. My capstone is a literature review synthesizing how plants respond to changes in their environment related to climate change. I also explore plants as art, highlighting the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the way we interact with plants.

Synthesis Of Ddt-Related Pollutants Tris(4-Chlorophenyl) Methane (Tcpm) And Tris(4-Chlorophenyl)-Methanol (Tcpm-Oh) For Investigations Into Environmental Persistence, Chloe Anderson, Gregory O'Neil

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This study focuses on the synthesis of radiolabeled tris(4-chlorophenyl) methane (TCPM) and tris(4-chlorophenyl)-methanol (TCPM-OH), compounds identified as environmental contaminants linked to DDT production. Given their persistence and bioaccumulation in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, understanding their environmental fate is critical. This research aims to provide a detailed methodology for the synthesis of carbon-14 labeled TCPM and TCPM-OH to facilitate further studies on their degradation and impact. TCPM-OH was synthesized via two distinct routes. The first method involved esterification of 4-chlorobenzoic acid followed by a double Grignard addition. The second method started with chlorobenzene, which was brominated using gold-catalyzed N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), followed …

Msg And The Maillard Reaction: Exploring Food Additives And Browning Through Organic Chemistry, Jasper Kerns

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Food additives despite relevant applications in food have received unprecedented backlash over recent decades, this project aims to discourage some of this stigma using organic chemistry. As consumer knowledge begins to grow though with the accessibility of the internet, so does consumer misinformation; central to this is the molecule MSG (monosodium glutamate). This food additive, most common in Eastern Asian cuisine, has been a hot topic for decades receiving stigma that it is generally not deserving of. While much information about this molecule is murky at best, it has a potential application in chemistry that many cooks are keenly aware …

Herbalism As Community Care: Course Syllabus And Schedule, Kate Conway

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

"Herbalism As Community Care" was first taught spring quarter of 2024 at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. It was designed as an experimental, 200-level, three credit course taught through Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Included in this document is the course syllabus, course schedule, and details for the assignments and workshops. The course was designed and taught in its entirety by undergraduate student Kate Conway with advisement by Dr. John Tuxill. The course covered basic plant identification and herbal preparations with a focus on relationship building, experiential learning, and knowledge sharing. The implementation of the syllabus was successful with …

Against The Tragedy: The Role Of Meaning Making In Sustainable Commons, Liam Kenwood

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The concept of “the tragedy of the commons” is a pervasive idea throughout the disciplines of environmental science, economics, law, and political science. It is a metaphor to describe how human use of a common pool of goods leads to depletion of the commons. Typically, the enclosure of the commons under state or private control is the prescribed solution to this environmental dilemma. This article refutes the tragedy of the commons by reviewing the contemporary field of commons studies, referencing the consequences of enclosure, and offering new criticisms of the concept. Studying the commons reveals how the urge to seek …

Life Cycle Progression Of Chlainomonas Sp.: A Field Study, Honu Pata, Robin Kodner, Ag Camara, Clare Hanneman, Maya Matsumoto, Dan Van Hees

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Every year, there are blooms of algae in snowy alpine environments during the summer snow melts. One environment in particular, the snow-on-lake habitat on Bagley Lake in Mt Baker, has been the subject of study by the Kodner lab for many years. In this habitat, we find the genus Chlainomonas which has bloomed in late spring and early summer annually. Our lab has proposed a life cycle for the genus (Matsumoto et al 2024), and there are many morphologically distinct cell stages found in field collected samples. This study has expanded our understanding the life cycle dynamics by examining the …

Revealing Epigenetic Processes In Populus By Looking At Chromatin Accessibility With Atac-Seq, Elizabeth Wirsching

WWU Graduate School Collection

Stress induces changes in gene expression by altering chromatin accessibility. The assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) is a widely used method to survey genomic patterns of chromatin accessibility. Previous ATAC-seq research in Populus has focused on leaf tissue and single time points. However, changes in chromatin accessibility of Populus wood tissue under gravitropism stress have not been investigated. This investigation aims to (1) identify accessible regions of chromatin in developing xylem in different wood types of Populus alba x Populus tremula INRA 717 IB4 trees, (2) Identify temporal changes in chromatin accessibility between wood types using a time-series …

The Acute Effects Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation On Sport Performance, Jesse Yun

WWU Graduate School Collection

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that is thought to improve performance, but its effects remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tDCS on the performance of vertical jump height, time to exhaustion, and maximal strength output using the Halo Sport tDCS device. It was hypothesized that anodal tDCS of the leg area of the motor cortex would significantly increase vertical jump height, maximal strength output, time to exhaustion (TTE), and electromyographic (EMG) activity. Countermovement jump (CMJ) height, peak torque of the knee extensor, TTE, and electromyographic (EMG) activity …

Modeling The Impact Of Agricultural Management Practices On Riverine N Export In The Transboundary Nooksack River Watershed, Washington, Astoria Tershy

WWU Graduate School Collection

The eutrophication of fresh and coastal waters is a growing global concern. Agricultural best management practices (BMPs) mitigate nutrient pollution, but their effectiveness at the watershed scale is often untested, creating uncertainty around which practices should be prioritized. In the Salish Sea, on the Pacific coast of Washington State and British Columbia, seasonal hypoxia threatens food webs, already-impacted salmon populations, and tribal fishing rights. To what extent can different BMPs alleviate N export in watersheds with heavy agricultural influence? We used the InVEST^® Nutrient Delivery Ratio (NDR) model to estimate reductions in N export under BMP scenarios in the …

The Fish Bites Back: A Developmental Analysis Of Feeding Biomechanics In Danionin Minnows, Collin Shinkle

WWU Graduate School Collection

Ecological roles are often closely related to the food organisms consume, and investigating the developmental control of feeding apparatus morphology and biomechanics contributes to a broader understanding of how ecological roles evolve. Changes in thyroid hormone signaling are thought to be involved in the evolutionary diversification of feeding mechanics in many fish lineages, including danionin minnows such as zebrafish (Danio rerio), a common model organism. Recent work suggests that changes in thyroid hormone signaling may have influenced the trophic divergence of fishes in the genus Danio and those in the genus Devario, including the giant danio ( …

Effects Of Wearing Face Masks During Continuous Exercise In Runners, Amanda E. Short-Mataya

WWU Graduate School Collection

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of face masks worn during continuous exercise in distance runners. The physiological and perceived impact of wearing a face mask, especially a cloth mask, during exercise of moderate-vigorous intensities is not well studied in the current literature. Twenty competitive female runners (age 23.1 ± 4.7 years) participated in the study. Three randomized exercise trials were completed wearing a cotton cloth mask, N95 respirator, or no mask while running for 10 minutes at 85% of their maximum heart rate (HR_max). Heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and …

Investigating The Role Of Er-Associated Degradation In An Olfactory Neuron In The Nematode, Caenorhabditis Elegans, Heino Hulsey-Vincent

WWU Graduate School Collection

The breakdown of misfolded proteins is key for cellular health. For proteins at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), this breakdown is performed through endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD). ERAD uses a cascade of E1, E2, and E3 class enzymes to ubiquitylate un- or mis-folded proteins, signaling their destruction. We use the microscopic roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism for studying ERAD. This project investigated the regulation of a neuronal receptor, ODR-10. Our findings suggest that the E2, UBC-6, and the E3, HRDL-1, are required for normal ODR-10 abundance. We worked to uncover whether this regulation is …

Tissue Stiffness And Upper Body Force Production In Trained Downhill And Enduro Mountain-Bikers Versus Road Cyclists, Brian Ingles

WWU Graduate School Collection

Background Considering the current research on the human fascial network as well as several studies showing a relationship between force development and myofascial stiffness, passive force enhancement from passive structures such as the extra-cellular matrix, the giant spring protein titin, and the muscle-tendon junction seems to be indicated during the presence of loaded eccentric actions prior to explosive concentric contractions. These effects have also been reported to be trainable. The present study investigates this relationship during upper body force production in mountain-bikers and road cyclists. Methods Fourteen (n = 14) male recreationally trained downhill and enduro mountain-bikers (MTB) 24.6yo (± …

Dataset For The Incorporation Of Climate Change Into A Multiple Stressor Risk Assessment For The Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Population In The Yakima River, Washington Usa, Wayne Landis, Chelsea J. Mitchell, John D. Hader, Rory Nathan, Emma E. Sharpe

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Data files available below

This data set is in support of Landis et al (in press 2024). A key question in understanding the implications of climate change is how to integrate ecological risk assessments that focus on contaminants with the environmental alterations from climate projections. This article summarizes the results of integrating selected direct and indirect effects of climate change into an existing Bayesian network previously used for ecological risk assessment. The existing Bayesian network Relative Risk Model (BN-RRM) integrated the effects of organophosphate pesticides concentrations, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen levels on the Chinook salmon population in the Yakima …

Blood Coagulation Factor Ix: Purification, Activation, Crystallization, Juliet Mcgill

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This paper presents readers with an optimized procedure for the purification, activation, and crystallization of selected blood coagulation Factor IX double mutant (FIX_2). Through the completion of this work, we aim to enhance future biochemical and structural studies by providing an easier means for the FIX_2 production, in order to increase understanding of the protein’s function within the blood coagulation cascade. The initiation of the blood coagulation cascade is brought on by activation of inactive Factor VIII (FVIII) protein though contact with tissue factor, the FVIII protein then binds to an activated platelet surface where it must wait for its …

The Foreign Earth: An Exercise In Speculative Biology, Aidyn Ruf

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Speculative Biology is the practice of examining hypothetical scenarios about the potential evolution of life. This project explores one such perspective timeline, utilizing scientific illustration, scientific information, and creative writing to estimate what the organisms of Earth might look like 250 million years into the future. Basic parameters were established, examining our current knowledge about geology and the environment to determine how the Earth itself might look. This included examining factors such as tectonic movement, adjusted ocean currents, and planetary heat cycles. Then, I studied mass extinctions and the animals which survived them, creating a baseline of ancestors the future …

Creating A Mass-Balanced Food Web Model For A Generalized Restored Estuary In Puget Sound, Penelope Johnson

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Historical anthropogenic modifications have been documented to have negative effects on the estuarine environments of Puget Sound. Over the last three decades there has been an increase in efforts to restore these estuarine environments through both passive and active means. This increase in restoration has been predicted to have positive effects on survival of juvenile Chinook salmon, which is an ecologically and culturally important species in the Salish Sea. The goal of this project was to use Ecopath with Ecosim to create a mass-balanced food web model of a generalized restored estuary to help further understanding of the potential effects …

Keystone Species Explorer Website, Claire Hutchings

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This project is an educational resource (in the form of a website) for elementary and middle school students to explore the ecological concept of keystone species. This site has been designed to provide young students with an accessible, engaging introduction to ecology. The website was created with the design platform Wix. This site is going to be a project in continued development, with entries covering content on several keystone species. The first species covered on the site is the North American beaver. Traditionally-rendered illustrations accompany various pages of content. These pages review the biology and behavior of this animal, its …

Examining Harbor Seal Predation Impacts On Bellingham Technical College's Salmon Smolt Release, Madison Gard, Alejandro Acevedo-Gutierrez

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Each year, federal, state, and tribal agencies dedicate time, money and resources to the rearing of hatchery-raised Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations in the Salish Sea. Yet, many of these populations continue to decline, with several causes being proposed for preventing their recovery. Among the hypothesized causes, the presence of predators, particularly harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), and the timing of release of hatchery salmon, which may attract various types of predators, appear to be important for the survival of Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha). At Whatcom Creek, in downtown Bellingham, WA, the Bellingham Technical College manages a salmon hatchery from which …

Dine And Dash: Changing Harbor Seal Numbers And Habitat Use At The Developing Bellingham Waterfront, Holland Conwell

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The lack of recovery of some Pacific salmon stocks (Oncorhynchus spp.) in the Pacific Northwest has been blamed in part on predation by pinnipeds, particularly the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). A proposed non-lethal method aimed at managing seal predation on salmon is the removal of artificial haul-out sites. However, the effectiveness of this non-lethal management method has not been examined. To address this knowledge gap, I analyzed harbor seal numbers and habitat use at the developing downtown Waterfront in Bellingham, WA, USA. I examined harbor seal numbers from 2007-2023 throughout multiple log boom removal events at two known harbor seal …

How Much Noise Is Too Much For Southern Resident Killer Whales In The Salish Sea? The Case For A Carrying Capacity Study., Rob Williams, Cindy R. Elliser, Ginny Broadhurst

Institute Publications

Background and rationale for the need of a carrying capacity study that will provide the necessary data to understand what amount of vessel noise is acceptable, while at the same time allowing marine life to maintain healthy populations.