Life Sciences Commons^™

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 65 Number 2, Fall 2024 [Print Issue 62:2], Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

12 - INCREASING ACCESS Discerning one’s dream requires a whole set of experiences based on community, opportunity, and, yes, cash. Leslie Griffy

16 - UNPACKING UTOPIA It seems like billionaire-backed utopias are popping up all over the map. What does it take to build a perfect city? Lauren Loftus

22 - A WEALTH OF WELL-BEING In his new book, Professor Meir Statman explores a holistic approach to financial and life well-being. Leslie Griffy

26 - A WOMAN'S PLACE Despite being denied access to the priesthood, Catholic women find new ways to lead. Leslie Griffy

Cross-Species Analysis Of Rpl24 Knockout For Cftr Function Restoration, Brittany Jackson, Ryan Mancinone, John L. Hartman Iv

Expo Student Presentations

2024 Fall Expo Poster Presentation

The Green Divide: Investigating Possible Socioeconomic Inequities In Public Green Space Quality In Lisbon, Portugal, Paul Coffield

Portugal: Sustainability and Environmental Justice

Public green spaces are an essential element of urban design, providing numerous environmental, social, and health-related benefits to urban populations. This study assesses the quality of public green spaces across four neighborhoods of varying socioeconomic status in Lisbon, Portugal, asking ‘Are socioeconomic inequities in park quality present in Lisbon?’ While previous studies have assessed the spatial distribution of urban green space in Lisbon, this study focuses on the quality of Lisbon’s green spaces, as quality determines to what extent a green space benefits the community in which it is located. Four Lisbon parishes were selected based on their median gross …

Geothermal Best Practices And Economic Development: The Case Of Iceland And São Miguel Island, Walker Briggs

Portugal: Sustainability and Environmental Justice

Throughout human history, geothermal energy has been used for practical purposes, religious purposes, as a form of community engagement and as a natural heating system. Since the industrial revolution, the global community has relied on fossil fuels for energy production. Not only is the large-scale use of fossil fuels widely accepted internationally, but it is also extremely profitable for fossil fuel companies. This has had catastrophic impacts on climate change and the environment. Nations have recognized the dangers and negative impacts of the reliance on fossil fuels for energy production. Nations have been funding extensive research regarding renewable energy infrastructure …

The Impact Of The Nitrates Directive On The Portuguese Agricultural Sector, Ben Mayes

Portugal: Sustainability and Environmental Justice

The European Union’s 1991 Nitrates Directive was designed to mitigate agricultural nitrogen pollution to ground and surface waters, thereby alleviating its damaging effects to natural environments and human health. This study confirmed that its purpose and goals were justified by the positive linear relationship that exists between levels of agricultural fertilizer application and nitrogen ecosystem surplus. However, this policy has had several second-hand impacts on the Portuguese agricultural sector, such as imposing infrastructure implementation costs and forcing methodology changes. These impacts were examined in the context of the Esposende-Vila do Conde action program, which is within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of The Albufeira Convention In A Time Of Water Uncertainty: The Case Of The Guadiana Basin, Hudson Sizemore

Portugal: Sustainability and Environmental Justice

This study evaluates the Albufeira Convention’s effectiveness in managing transboundary water resources in the Guadiana River Basin under increasing water scarcity. The primary objectives are to assess the Convention's capacity to balance ecological preservation with competing agricultural and municipal water demands, and to identify areas for improvement in its implementation. The research uses a qualitative methodology, relying on a systematic review of media, policy, and academic sources, supplemented by a structured SWOT analysis to organize findings and provide actionable insights. The analysis reveals that while the Convention fosters cooperation between Portugal and Spain, it falls short in addressing evolving hydrological …

Efficient Real-Time Droplet Tracking In Crop-Spraying Systems, Troung Nhut Huynh, Travis Burgers, Kim-Doang Nguyen

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Spray systems in agriculture serve essential roles in the precision application of pesticides, fertilizers, and water, contributing to effective pest control, nutrient management, and irrigation. These systems enhance efficiency, reduce labor, and promote environmentally friendly practices by minimizing chemical waste and runoff. The efficacy of a spray is largely determined by the characteristics of its droplets, including their size and velocity. These parameters are not only pivotal in assessing spray retention, i.e., how much of the spray adheres to crops versus becoming environmental runoff, but also in understanding spray drift dynamics. This study introduces a real-time deep learning-based approach for …

Saltland Rehabilitation: Rehabilitating Saltland To Offset Carbon Emissions At Katanning Research Station By 2030, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Katanning Research Station has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Saltland rehabilitation is one of the strategies to be implemented to offset the emissions from the station.

Predictable Differences In Surface Soil Organic Carbon Storage Across Landcover Types Around Ísafjörður, Iceland, Tess Mooney

Iceland: Climate Change and The Arctic

It is unclear how soil carbon varies by landcover type in areas with discontinuous and heterogenous vegetation cover in the Icelandic subarctic. Understanding which landcover types store the most C is important for understanding regional surface C inventory and for making decisions about optimal land use for C sequestration and storage. This study investigates the differences in soil C storage between different vegetation cover types in the Westfjords of northwestern Iceland. The three dominant landcover types in the Westfjords include heathlands, wetlands, and unvegetated areas. When compared across these three landcover types, surface soil C, bulk density, and soil moisture …

Assessing Geospatial Modeling In Determining Optimal Afforestation Locations For Carbon Sequestration In The Isafjord Region, Kyle Pellerin

Iceland: Climate Change and The Arctic

Iceland was once a country with large forests that covered over a third of the island's total landmass. Over the course of the past thousand years of settlement, the percentage of the country covered in forest dwindled, at some points dropping to less than one percent. Based on this deforestation history, and the potential of reforesting the land to help reduce the impact of carbon emissions, afforestation efforts in Iceland have been underway for the better half of a century. Despite the many years of effort, a lack of data and mapping exists on ideal planting locations, and the factors …

Estimating “Peak Water” Runoff And Power Production For Hydropower-Relevant Icelandic Glaciers Under Future Climate Scenarios, Anna Geldert

Iceland: Climate Change and The Arctic

Glaciers are important water resources in Iceland, in part because glacial runoff powers the country’s largest hydropower stations, which produce a large portion of the nation’s electricity. However, glaciers around Iceland are retreated at unprecedented rates due to climate change and are projected to continue to do so over the course of the 21st century. Glacial retreat plays a complex role in the water cycle, most often following a “peak water” curve marked by initial increases in total annual runoff as melt accelerates followed by eventual declines as the glacier continues to shrink. This holds important implications for the hydropower …

Complete Genomes Of Two Cluster Ak Arthrobacter Phages Isolated From Soil Samples In Newburgh, Ny, United States, Veronique A. Delesalle, Mariah King, Tabitha Rozario, Noah Wolf, Connor Stewart, Luke Demato, Kevin Trafford, Saiman Adhikari, Van Dinh

Biology Faculty Publications

Two phages belonging to Arthrobacter phage cluster AK were isolated from soil samples collected in Newburgh, NY in 2021. Both are lytic with a genome organization typical of siphoviruses except for two genes encoding minor tail proteins with pyocin-knob domains found early in the genome, before the terminase gene.

Habitat And Oviposition Site Preference Of Glass Frogs (Anura: Centrolenidae) On Río Antón In El Valle De Antón, Coclé, Panamá, Sienna Williams

Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class, with global populations declining at unprecedented rates, largely due to chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Neotropical regions, particularly in Central and South America, host the highest density of amphibian species, many of which are endemic but heavily impacted by this disease. El Valle de Antón in Panama has experienced significant chytridiomycosis-related declines, yet some species, such as glass frogs (Centrolenidae), have persisted. While detailed research exists on behavior, breeding biology, habitat preference, and oviposition site selection of certain glass frog species, there is limited knowledge about Cochranella granulosa, Hyalinobatrachium …

Coral Reef Health Assessments At Four Reefs Near Isla Colón And Isla Bastimentos In Bocas Del Toro, Panama, Rose Clarke

Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

Coral reefs are crucial marine ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea, but they are in decline and facing increasing threat from local and global anthropogenic stressors. This study employed a collection of reef health indicators to develop a holistic view of the health of four reefs in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama. Photo and video transect methodology were used to survey fish assemblages, benthic cover, coral bleaching, and coral disease in two reefs exposed to the open ocean and two reefs sheltered in a semi-enclosed bay. Results revealed that the health of sheltered reefs surveyed was generally better than …

Understanding How Vegetation And Container Availability Relates To The Spatial Distribution Of Aedes Aegypti And Aedes Albopictus Mosquitoes: Implications For Disease Transmission Risk In Bethania, Panama City, Panama, Lucy Fremont-Smith

Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the two most dangerous vectors of dengue virus (DENV) worldwide, posing substantial threats to global public health. This study aimed to investigate how vegetation density and container availability influence Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus distribution and co-existence in Bethania, Panama City, Panama. Additionally, it aimed to assess the implications of this study for DENV transmission prevention and risk. Ovitrap and active surveillance (Bugzooka vacuuming, active larvae search) methods were utilized at six houses over two environmental conditions: high vegetation density and low container availability (Condition 1) and low vegetation density and high container availability …

Exploring Variations In Coral Reef Composition And Fish Community Structure Across Coral Extraction-Affected Sites In Western Guna Yala: A Multi-Method Approach, John Ready

Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

Coral extraction in the Guna Yala comarca of Panama is a practice driven by the need for land expansion in response to rising sea levels and growing population pressures. This study investigates the reef fish community structure and benthic composition of coral reef areas that were previously extracted while also exploring the Guna community's perspectives on the practice. The research involved visual censuses of reef fish and benthic substrate surveys at two undisturbed and two extracted sites, along with interviews from 10 community members. Significant differences in live and dead coral cover (p< 0.05) were found between extracted and undisturbed sites. Reef fish communities also varied, with differences in species abundances, diversity, and trophic structure across sites. However, inconsistencies in the data across sites hindered definitive conclusions about the direct impacts of coral extraction. Interviews revealed that while the community acknowledges coral extraction, opinions about its ongoing practice and impacts are mixed. These findings underscore the need for more comprehensive research, including greater site replication and better documentation of coral extraction activities, to fully understand the environmental impact of coral extraction and the Guna community’s perspective on the practice.

Health Of Quercus Spp. In A Rare Neotropical Montane Forest Determined Through A Phenotypic Health Index In Guadalupe, Chiriquí Highlands, Panama, Hannah Hagley

Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

Neotropical Quercus forests play a crucial role in fostering biodiversity, enabling water retention, and carbon sequestration; but are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climate change. This research characterizes the distribution, health, and oral history of Quercus spp. in a rare neotropical montane forest located in Guadalupe, Chiriquí Highlands, Panama. Phenotypic health assessments were utilized in conjunction with interviews with local community members to understand the oral history and health of rare neotropical forest. The results produced an average health score of 72.79 for Mamecillo individuals and 75.05 for Roblito individuals. The health data suggests that the species exhibit good …

Leks Of Hermit Hummingbirds The Importance Of Understanding The Complicated Mating System, Sophia Springer

Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Many species of the family Phaethornis, commonly known as hermit hummingbirds, engage in a lek mating system, in which males gather in groups to “perform” at a lek with the goal of attracting a female to copulate with. Their performance includes a repetitive song, and often movement of the tail feathers, while sitting on a perch low to the ground. Their success is often influenced by morphology, age, behavioral display, and location of their territory. Little research has been done on the leks of the tawny-bellied hermit, the white-whiskered hermit, and the stripe-throated hermit, three species of Phaethornis that can …

Tracing Transitions: Cartographical Assessment Of Agricultural And Industrial Change In The Ecuadorian Amazon, Sage Mailhiot

Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Industrial presence has increased in the Ecuadorian Amazon over the past several decades, in the form of lucrative monoculture cultivation and petroleum extraction. Simultaneously, large quantities of land have been deforested. Using a combination of GIS and remote sensing tools such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and supervised classification, this study assesses the changes in vegetation, land-use, and petroleum infrastructure in the surrounding area of the Kichwa community of Loma del Tigre, between the years 2011-2024. The interactions and connections between these three landscape factors are also considered. The study region encompasses growing urban areas, African palm plantations, pasture, …

Systems Of Sustainable Chocolate: A Look Into The Effects Of Monocultural Cocoa Farming On Edaphic Macroinvertebrate Diversity In The Amazonian Foothills Of Ecuador, Emma L. Klemmensen

Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Agroforestry has been a recent topic for its regard to both human and environmental health. This is due to the vast benefits, ranging from increased carbon sequestration to food provisions for populations. As we’re beginning to deal with a warming climate and attempting to obtain international food security, it’s important to societally consider our food systems. However, to commit to action regarding more beneficial food systems, it's necessary to first fully understand them on an ecological level. As a step forward, this study explores the differences in macroinvertebrate communities between monoculture and polyculture agricultural systems. To consider biodiversity amongst these …

Acceso Al Agua En Oaxaca: Análisis De Discurso Y Derecho, Catherine Dezha Peralta

Mexico: Migration, Borders, and Transnational Communities

El agua es un recurso natural esencial para la vida y no renovable. Cuando la comunidad científica busca vida en otro planeta, uno de los elementos esenciales que tratan de identificar es el agua, debido a que cualquier forma de vida depende de este recurso. Esto es un motivo suficiente para cuidarla. Por otro lado, no toda el agua es apta para el consumo humano. Gran parte del agua que existe en el planeta es salada, por lo que el consumo de agua dulce, que es la que necesitamos los seres humanos, se reduce a una mínima parte. Un problema …

Thirst For Power: Exploring The Impact Of The 2023 Israel-Gaza War On The Jordanian Water Crisis, Lucas Geromini

Jordan: Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action

This study examines the impact of the 2023 Israel-Gaza War on Jordan’s escalating water crisis, a challenge compounded by rapid population growth, climate change, and regional geopolitics. Jordan, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, relies heavily on transboundary water-sharing agreements, particularly with Israel. However, the war has intensified tensions between the two countries, disrupting existing agreements and exposing Jordan’s vulnerability to Israel’s hydro-hegemony. Through qualitative research, including interviews with Jordanian experts in water policy, environmental studies, and geopolitics, the study explores three key themes: Israel’s dominance over regional water resources, the domestic and international pressures constraining Jordan’s …

Applying Data-Limited Assessment Methods To Charter Logbook Length Data, Brett Crisafulli, Sybrand Alex Hesp, David Fairclough, Emily A. Fisher, Paul D. Lewis, Jeffrey V. Norriss, Corey B. Wakefield, Fabian Trinnie, Stephen J. Newman

Fisheries Research Reports

Marine waters along the Western Australian coastline are characterised by low ecosystem productivity and high species diversity of fishes. With over 3,000 known species comprising estuarine, nearshore, demersal and pelagic fishes in the region, many contribute to important commercial and recreational fisheries (Lenanton et al. 1991; Molony et al. 2011; Newman et al. 2018). As it is logistically and economically infeasible to conduct intensive monitoring and high-level stock assessments of all exploited fish species in Western Australia, indicator species are used to assess the sustainability of suites of species of biological and ecological similarity, for optimal use of available resources …

Water Quality Of Silver Creek, A Buried Urban Stream, Nick Bultje, Valerie Krause, Rebecca Nulty

Student Papers and Reports

There are many sources of pollution that can affect a watershed. These pollutants can impact the water's pH, temperature, conductivity, and dissolved solids. Escherichia coli is a specific pollutant that comes from waste products of humans and animals. High levels of E. coli cause serious health problems. This study examines Silver Creek, a tributary within the Plaster Creek watershed. Silver Creek runs mostly underground and has storm drainage systems that flow into the creek. The goal was to explore the effects of the underground section of Silver Creek on water quality and E. coli levels. The water quality and levels …

Assessing The Effects Of Human Settlement Proximity On Tree Health Using Visual Symptoms Of Tree Ill Health In Mgwashi Ward, Tanzania, Ayeesha Fadlaoui

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

This study aimed to assess the impact of human settlement proximity on tree health within the Mgwashi ward of Tanzania using visual indicators of ill tree health. The study was conducted over eight days in November of 2024. Eight transects, each 100 meters apart, were laid within the study area, extending from human settlement boundaries into forested areas. Each transect contained five 10 X 10-meter plots located at 20-meter intervals extending from human settlements into forested areas. Within each plot, the species of each tree was identified, and the health of each tree was analyzed using a set of visual …

Harvesting Connections: A Creative Documentary On Sustainable Food Practices & Community In The Byron Shire, Abigail Wadkins-Daub

Australia: Sustainability and Environmental Action

This research explores the intersection of sustainable food practices and community connection in the Byron Shire, New South Wales Australia. This study specifically focuses on how practices such as composting, organic agriculture, farmers markets, and shared meals encourage both environmental well-being and social bonds. This project is presented as a 21 minute documentary titled Harvesting Connections, which included five semi-structured interviews with community members, including local farmers, home gardeners, market managers, and community garden leaders. Interviews were conducted over a five week period in November 2024, with participants including Sharon Gibson, Dave Forrest, Sue Mangan, Allie Godfrey, and Ahbi. These …

2025 Western Australian Crop Sowing Guide, Stacey Power, Brenda Shackley, Blakely Paynter, Mark Seymour, Harmohinder Dhammu, Bronte Wackett

Bulletins 4000 -

The 2025 Western Australian Crop Sowing Guide has been compiled by officers of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. It provides information to support variety decisions for each of the major crops for the upcoming season.

Wrack Lines Volume 24, No. 2, Fall-Winter 2024-2025, Farwa Mohsin, Seth Kinter, Elena Smith, Eden Torres, Dominic Moore, Isaiah Sosa

Wrack Lines

Six recipients of the Wrack Lines Voice of Diverse Youth Scholarship share personal essays about their relationship to nature and climate change.

2024 Fall Newsletter, Plaster Creek Stewards

Newsletters

Highlights:

Project GreenER Returns in 2025

Sustainable Business of the Year

PCS Is Showing Up Around the Community

Botanical Highlight: Discovery of a New Kent County Native Grass

Fall Event Furthers New Tree Planting Initiatives

Plaster Creek: Unsalted?

Making Connections at Calvin

Street-Side Sovereignty: Informal Produce Vendors, Subsistence, And Chosen Interdependencies, Owen W. Lee

Samoa: Social and Environmental Change in Oceania

This paper summarizes findings from a 2024 survey and interview conducted with street-side produce vendors in Western Samoa. Produce vendors are understood within the informal economy in Samoa and the phenomenon is contextualized through a history of Pacific food regimes. In opposition to the contemporary corporate food regime, produce vendors operate through small-scale, informal operations which demonstrate variability and individual agency. Through the theoretical framework of food sovereignty, informal produce vendors’ survey and interview responses are analyzed to position vendors’ work within both the global and the Pacific food sovereignty movements, with special attention to land access and localized food …