UMSS22 Natural Sciences
UMSS22 Presentations by Category
UMSS22 Physical and Mathematical Sciences
UMSS22 Engineering and Information Sciences
UMSS22 Interdisciplinary Sciences
UMSS22 Business, Education, and Art
Natural Sciences
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Stephanie Hurd
Jessica Leahy
Laura Kenefic
Allison Gardner
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Allison Gardner
Abstract: Timber harvesting is a property-scale forest management practice that involves the cutting and removal of trees. Our previous work has shown that forest structural characteristics that result from timber harvesting can reduce densities of nymphal blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, the vector of the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. One potential mechanism driving this relationship may depend on the small mammals (e.g., white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus; eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, etc.) that serve as hosts for the blacklegged tick and B. burgdorferi. Timber harvesting modifies wildlife habitat through changes in overstory cover and understory vegetation. This change potentially alters the abundance or behavior of these small mammals directly, or indirectly by changing predator activity and the resulting threat, or perceived threat, of predation. Altered small mammal foraging and/or abundance could affect tick-host encounter rates, thereby affecting small mammals’ tick burdens and, consequently, tick densities in the environment. No study has examined the mechanistic links among forest stand attributes that result from timber harvesting histories, small mammal behavior and population sizes, and blacklegged tick densities. This study uses a combination of techniques (i.e., live trapping, track plates, and foraging trays) that capture different aspects of small mammal population dynamics and behavior to (1) assess small mammal foraging and population sizes in forest stands with varied structural attributes; and (2) to compare the efficacy and correlation between these different sampling techniques to determine their ability to predict tick burdens.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Eleanor Glahn
Ian Bricknell
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Ian Bricknell
Abstract: It is hypothesized that current velocity influences the settlement success of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on its preferred host, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), however this has not been demonstrated experimentally. The aims of this study were to determine the settlement success of sea lice in current speeds that are frequently encountered in net-pens. Gravid females were collected from naturally infected farmed fish from commercial salmon farms in Cobscook Bay Maine, USA. Egg strings were removed from females, hatched in vitro, and raised to the copepodid stage. Forty-three Atlantic salmon, mean weight 415g. were challenged with 100 copepodids per fish in 14 replicate experiments at a current velocity of 206 mm/sec-1. Lice were counted when they had reached the chalimus stage approximately 7 days later. A settlement success rate of 0.28% (13 chalimus were found from the 4650 copepodids used), with a mean abundance of 0.30 lice/fish and mean intensity of 1.08 lice/fish. The data collected in this study will have significant implications for future research, including sea lice models of louse distribution and risk for industry, and the development of risk mitigation strategies for restoration of wild Atlantic salmon populations.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Carolyn Ziegra
Laura Kenefic
Jay Wason
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jay Wason
Abstract: Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) is among the least studied commercially important tree species in North America. Northern white-cedar experiences recruitment challenges in portions of its range. The goal of this study is to improve our understanding of the factors that influence the survival of northern white-cedar seedlings by assessing soil moisture, microtopographic position, canopy openness, and mortality throughout the growing season. 144 seedlings were planted across three sites in eastern Maine in partially harvested stands and unharvested control stands. Data was collected for each seedling during the 2021 growing season. Results of the study indicate that seedling survival is dependent upon higher levels of canopy openness and lower soil moisture. This data reinforce our understanding of the importance of mounds for cedar seedlings, as it suggests that mounds improve seedling survival by avoiding excess moisture in these seasonally flooded habitats. Management of lowland cedar stands to improve regeneration outcomes by opening the forest canopy should ensure preservation of microtopography for seedling survival.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Jordan Farnsworth
Seth Campbell
Emma Erwin
Devon Dunmire
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Seth Campbell
Abstract: Water is crucial to the survival of life. Under this assumption, the presence of water could go hand-in hand with the presence of life elsewhere in our solar system or the universe. Some of the planetary bodies that currently harbor water or ice include Earth, Mars, and Europa, making them subjects of interest. To provide a stepping-stone for a proposed NASA mission to drill through ice and collect a water sample from Europa, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is proposing a drill test be completed on Taku Glacier of the Juneau Icefield, Alaska over an existing subglacial lake. Our goal was to provide details on a potential testing site for NASA JPL to test their drilling equipment in a place that serves as an analogue to
Europa’s supra, englacial, and subglacial terrain. We completed this effort during the summer of 2021 as part of this team project. The fieldwork included a ground-penetrating radar derived ice thickness survey in North Basin on the Juneau Icefield.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Emily Holt
Mikaila Mannello
Seth Campbell
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Seth Campbell
Abstract: With over 60,000 glaciers in total, Alaska is a major contributor to the cryospheric system and global sea level rise, an effect which has become even more apparent as the region’s glaciers continue to lose ice mass (Zemp et al., 2019). This flux of glacier meltwater has a significant impact on surrounding ecosystems including the Gulf of Alaska, which represents one of the most important marine ecosystems and fisheries from an economic perspective both within the U.S. and globally (O’Neel et al., 2015). In the southeast region of Alaska, the Juneau Icefield (JIF) represents the longest studied glacier system in North America and the second longest studied system on the planet. This long-term record has revealed the advance of its largest ice mass, Taku Glacier, for the past 60 years. However, the Taku recently entered a retreat stage between 2016-2018, which includes surface lowering of 10 m between 2013-2018 (McNeil et al., 2020). Since Taku Glacier represents an index glacier used as an analog to the 60,000 other Alaska glaciers, understanding the cause of glacier surface lowering is critical for the broader understanding of other glaciated regions across Alaska. The current assumption is that surface lowering has been dominated by surface melt and associated firn thinning. As an intermediate stage from the metamorphism of snow to ice, firn represents a less dense and relatively thin but important region of most glaciers because of its ability to store or slow the rate of meltwater transfer from the surface to downstream ecosystems. The firn unit is heavily affected by factors such as surface melt, changes in accumulation and ablation rates, and warming effects. When firn thickness decreases, surface meltwater will form supraglacial streams that flow directly off the non-porous glacier ice surface, altering meltwater flux that is critical to the environment surrounding and downstream of the glacier system. However, this has not yet been confirmed by observations. We hypothesized that a major contributor to surface lowering was caused by firn thinning, which is in turn related to increased ice velocities or surface melt. Our proposal to confirm the cause of this surface lowering will be useful in developing reasonable estimates of regional firn thickness as well as thinning rates of firn over the past decade. In order to achieve this, spatial and temporal data on firn thickness across the JIF was collected and analyzed using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and compared to previous repeat datasets from 2012. The results of this project suggest a major impact on downstream ecosystems that rely on a steady meltwater flux, but are instead receiving damaging pulses of meltwater during associated melt events.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Sydney Jackson
Julia Sunnarborg
Christy Hudak
Lisa Sette
Kristina Cammen
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Kristina Cammen
Abstract: As technology and science progresses, the methodology behind observing, monitoring, and sampling marine mammals advances as well. One such technique is environmental DNA or eDNA, which entails extracting organismal DNA from water samples without ever handling or disturbing the organism. It is a cost-efficient and non-invasive method that can be utilized in the sampling of seal haulout sites as is its purpose for this research. Another method, using the DNA analysis of seal fecal samples, is a less invasive method that can also be utilized to monitor and assess marine mammals. Through collecting both fecal and water samples from gray seal haulout sites in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, these two differing, but equally progressive methods can be compared to one another. The water samples collected from the seal haulout sites will be paired for DNA analysis with the fecal samples collected from the beaches where gray seals are hauled out in Cape Cod. DNA will then be extracted from both the water samples and fecal samples, followed by sequencing a portion of the gray seal mitochondrial control region in all the samples. This will allow for the comparison of the haplotypes detected in fecal samples to those detected in water samples as a comparison of these two non-invasive approaches for assessing marine mammal genetic diversity. This comparison aims to uphold the integrity of the eDNA process, as well as investigate and confirm how efficient both processes are in terms of non-invasiveness and assessing marine mammal genetic diversity.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Sam Roberts
Rafa Tasnim
Yongjiang Zhang
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Yongjiang Zhang
Abstract:
Wild lowbush blueberries are one of the most important commercial crops in Maine. Temperatures in Maine are rising, which could reduce soil moisture due to increased evaporation, and thus reduce water availability to lowbush blueberries. To mitigate such effects of rising temperatures we tested two soil amendments: Softwood mulch, and Biochar-compost mix, in warming chambers (3-5° C higher) at two different wild blueberry fields. Our results indicated that the physiological performance and growth of wild blueberry plants improved under warmer temperatures. We also found that wild blueberry plants growing on the biochar-compost amended soil performed better compared to the plants growing on untreated soil, regardless of the environmental conditions of this experiment. Biochar-compost mix application retained more moisture in the soil, leading to better physiological performance and growth such as higher photosynthetic rates, higher number of leaves and taller stem heights. Softwood mulch treatments retained less moisture than biochar-compost treatments, but had taller stems and more leaves, and retained more leaves later into the fall than other treatments. Soil moisture retaining amendments like biochar could reduce the need for extensive irrigation, helping wild blueberry growers under warmer temperatures and frequent droughts in Maine.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Margaret Campbell
Theresa Burnham
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Theresa Burnham
Abstract: In 2021, the Maine lobster fishery recorded its highest ever value, nearly $725 million. This value may indicate a healthy biological stock and high market price, but it does not represent the increasing challenges the fishery is facing. For instance, exurban migration and coastal community development are displacing sectors such as the seafood industry. The absence of quantitative indicators to monitor these phenomena is an impediment to accounting for them in fisheries science and decision-making. We use the American lobster fishery in Maine, USA, as a case study to introduce two indicators of fishing community change and vulnerability: (1) Housing Access and (2) Exurban Development. Access data includes prices and inventory of real estate in coastal Maine; exurban development data are the addresses of property tax documents that show where owners live. These indicators were identified through 38 interviews conducted along the coast of Maine for factors of importance affecting the fishery. The housing market is an indicator of vulnerability, showing the outmigration of locals and an inward migration of out-of-staters, which is impacting working communities across the country. Our goal is to measure the impact of human population changes on the fishery using the Maine housing market. As housing prices and out-of-staters increase, there are implications for the daily costs of participating in industry, but also for how harvesters can participate in governance processes at local-levels, where decisions about working waterfront access and coastal development are made. Using this information we can protect the fishery and predict future vulnerabilities. Our research underscores the need for multi-scale indicators that focus on socioeconomic dynamics of natural resource systems that are predictive and responsive.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Emma Fitzpatrick
Olivia Choi
Motti Charter
Ran Nathan
Rauri Bowie
Pauline Kamath
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Pauline Kamath
Abstract: Avian haemosporidian parasites are blood parasites that infect many wild bird species including barn owls (Tyto alba). These blood parasites can cause considerable threats to survival such as decreased reproductive success, hatching success, and overall body condition. Research has examined how parasite prevalence and abundance impacts phenotypic trait variation for individuals in a population. While many studies have linked the appearance of male barn owl’s plumage to parasite resistance, it is also important to examine these relationships in females. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between plumage and avian haemosporidian parasite infection in both male and female barn owls. The objectives of this study are to (1) determine whether the absence or presence, diversity, and intensity of haemosporidian blood parasite infections differs between males and females, while also considering the effects of age and body mass on a bird’s infection status, (2) explore whether a bird’s plumage spot pattern is correlated with the diversity and intensity of haemosporidian blood parasite infections, and (3) evaluate how parasite intensity is linked to reproductive success. Lab work is ongoing but we expect to see an association between parasite presence or absence and plumage traits with owls displaying fewer spots on their plumage to have a greater abundance of parasites. These results will provide insight into how phenotypic traits and parasite infections relate in barn owls and expand our knowledge of variation in parasite infection due to host factors.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Stephanie Willsey
David Sandilands
Aaron Weiskittel
Daniel Hayes
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Daniel Hayes
Abstract: Accurate and reliable inventories of forest resources are critical in developing and carrying out strategies for sustainable management. Where high data quality is coupled with effective calibration, remote sensing has emerged as an essential tool for measuring and monitoring forest resources. In this proposed study, we will investigate a range of forest inventory designs to determine the best ground-based calibration plot specifications for developing enhanced forest inventories (EFIs) based on airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. While development involving ALS-derived EFIs has been advanced in some parts of the world, research is required to determine “best practices” in applying these approaches to the mixed-species, structurally complex, and intensively managed forests of Maine. To do this, we will test the effects of varying calibration plot type and design on EFI model performance as applied to several areas of interest across the state. We will evaluate the different forest inventory designs based on both quantitative model performance as well as implementation efficiency to establish the optimal calibration plot design for ALS in our study areas. Once the best forest inventory calibration plot design is identified and validated, it can be applied to estimate a suite of forest inventory attributes (e.g., tree count, hardwood/softwood composition, basal area, and volume) that are required across numerous research and operations applications. We expect the optimal calibration plot design to vary spatially because Maine has several different forest ecotypes with a range of disturbance histories.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Zoe Read
Jodi A. Forrester
Ivan Fernandez
Jay Wason
Christopher W. Woodall
Shawn Fraver
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Shawn Fraver
Abstract: Global climate change has emphasized the need to better understand carbon emissions. However, major gaps still exist in our understanding of forest carbon dynamics, including the rate at which trees release stored carbon after they die. The objective of my research is to fill this knowledge gap by quantifying CO2 emissions from stumps, logs, and soils and investigating the factors that control these emissions, including time since tree death. To accomplish this, I measured CO2 emissions directly from deadwood using a greenhouse gas analyzer connected to chambers attached to logs, soil, and a chronosequence of stumps in conifer forests of central Maine. Our results indicate CO2 emissions from decaying logs did not differ significantly from those of adjacent soils (p > 0.05). Stump CO2 emissions increased to a maximum at 8 years post-harvest, then decreased through year 32. When scaled up to a per-area basis, stumps emitted about 2.2 ± 2.1 g C/m^2/yr. In contrast, carbon emissions from decaying logs contributed about 42.6 ± 23.8 g C/m^2/yr, or 3.8% of total ecosystem respiration, due to their greater surface area. Using these data, we can determine the rate at which trees release stored carbon after they die, and how much this offsets CO2 uptake by live trees. Our results point to the need for further research on deadwood carbon dynamics, as stump and log emissions appear to be overlooked and underrepresented in forest carbon models and budgets. Overall, these empirical data can inform process-based models of forest carbon dynamics.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Curtis Morris
Peter Countway
Alex Ascher
David M. Fields
Richard A. Wahle
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Richard A. Wahle
Abstract: The spawning stock biomass of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) in the Gulf of Maine is at record high levels. Paradoxically, benthic recruitment of young-of-year lobster has declined precipitously since 2012, suggesting a disconnect during the planktonic stages. Recent studies identified a climate change–related regime shift in the Gulf of Maine’s pelagic food web resulting in declines in the abundance of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus, a foundational prey species and an important link between primary production and higher trophic levels. Furthermore, correlative evidence suggests C. finmarchicus is a limiting food source for larval lobster in the Gulf of Maine. Currently however, larval diets in nature are not well studied, and conventional microscopy does not provide sufficient taxonomic resolution of stomach contents. High-throughput DNA sequencing presents a powerful molecular tool to identify specific taxa within complex marine communities. As part of a large collaboration evaluating larval lobster trophic interactions, in this study we develop a methodology to characterize the components of the larval diet. Here we optimize the application of a lobster-specific peptide nucleic acid blocker to reduce host DNA interference while identifying larval stomach contents by (1) determining the optimum concentration of blocker for use in PCR assays, and (2) determine blocker cross-reactivity, that is, whether the blocker errantly suppresses the amplification of closely related prey DNA. These experiments will help establish protocols for the application of future DNA sequencing to study larval trophic ecology, and in this case help us test the food limitation hypothesis.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Jessica Hutchinson
Stephanie Burnett
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Stephanie Burnett
Abstract: As students in Maine are subject to harsh winters and a disconnectedness due to the pandemic, the creation of an ecotherapy focused garden may benefit the community at the University of Maine. Mental health is a rising concern within the United States, where anxiety has been the most common among students at 62.7% from a survey conducted by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (Son, C., et al., 2020). Ecotherapy is the practice of holistic psychology where healing is derived from interactions with the surrounding ecosystem (Summers, J. and Vivian, D., 2018). Through literature review and gardening, this creative project provides a green space on campus with the potential to supplement psychological treatments related to mental health. Landscape design principles and horticultural practices were implemented to create an interactive space that provides a pleasant place for the community. Plants were chosen based on aesthetic value, ecosystem services, and functionality with the space. Community members were invited to participate in gardening, hanging bird seed, and strolling through while sipping tea to promote awareness and interactions with the garden. With assessments of plant health, mortality, and functionality, the space will continue to grow to be an inclusive place for all. The improved garden has therapeutic potential through the use of ecosystem services, especially in the context of the pandemic.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Evan Warburton
Pete Avis
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Pete Avis
Abstract: Mycorrhizal fungi are a group of fungi that form symbiotic relationships with trees by colonizing their root tips. In this project, the extent of this mycorrhizal connection is being explored in ancient red spruce forests on a coastal island of Maine. Since mycorrhizal fungi play a vital role in the life of trees, gaining knowledge of the mycorrhizal relationship will allow us to better understand and interact with Maine forest ecosystems. To date ,I have conducted DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis on over 400 colonized root samples and the sequencing of these samples is in progress. In my presentation, I will report on the subsequent bioinformatic analysis of these sequences that will identify mycorrhizal fungi colonizing the roots. I will also present a comparison analysis to assess the extent at which the mature spruce trees are connected to the spruce seedlings by way of these mycorrhizal fungi.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Denise Cole
Anne Lichtenwalner
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Anne Lichtenwalner
Abstract: Recent research suggests that terrestrial environments may be significant sinks for microplastics (MPs). Current graduate research from the University of Maine establishes that MPs are present in agricultural environments in Maine. It was hypothesized that Maine farmers would be unaware of and unconcerned about microplastics potential presence on their farms. An anonymous online survey was created to test this hypothesis and to understand how Maine farmers perceive MPs. The survey was shared via the UMaine Cooperative Extension lists and Facebook farming groups. The survey inquired about farmers’ management practices, perceptions of MP risks, and their future actions in response to MPs. A total of 98 individuals took the survey. Based on survey responses, the hypothesis was not supported; a majority of farmers are aware of MPs and ~30% of them believe that there is potentially an issue with them on their farm. A majority of Maine farmers are conscious of their plastic usage on the farm and have a desire for safer alternatives. Around 32% of farmers claimed that they would probably or definitely discuss this issue with their peers. A large majority of farmers also claimed that they would further research MPs, be more aware of how plastics are used on their farms, and try to limit the amount of plastic used on their farms as a result of taking this survey. A better understanding of MPs is necessary to incentivize farmers and provide them with alternative products and management practices that minimize MP contamination on their farms.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Sarah Hosler
Erin Grey
Adwoa Dankwa
Jennifer Perry
Tim Bowden
Brian Beal
Suzanne Ishaq
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Suzanne Ishaq
Abstract: Atlantic sea scallop is the second largest fishery in Maine, primarily through wild harvest. Since wild scallop harvest is periodic, farming is seen as a way to meet year-round market demands. Farmers rely on wild-caught spat, however, as larval survival in hatcheries are low for reasons not completely known. To explore the role of larval microbiomes in hatchery success, our long-term goal is to compare the microbiome of wild and farmed scallop veligers. Wild scallop presumptively have the constituents of a healthy microbiome, and by comparing this to the farmed veligers we hope to be able to inform more successful scallop spawning and rearing methods in hatcheries. Many different factors such as diet, environment, and health influence the microbiome of all organisms, these same factors could be influencing the survival of the scallop larvae. Therefore, there is most likely a connection between the function of the veliger microbes and why they do not have a high survival rate in hatchery tanks, giving us insight on how to change aquaculture practices to be more successful. Bacterial microbiome communities in veliger-stage larvae and rearing tank biofilms were obtained by prokaryote 16S rRNA gene sequencing metabarcoding, and variation in the composition and function among wild and hatchery microbiomes will be explored visually and with statistical tests in the R statistical platform. The impact of Vibrio bacterial growth in the scallop tanks is being investigated as a possible cause of low hatchery success. Initial Thiosulfate-Citrate-Bile-Sucrose (TCBS) plates with suspected Vibrio colonies from Atlantic deep-sea scallop larvae rearing tanks in an aquaculture facility were collected from the Downeast Institute (DEI) in Machias, Maine.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Hanna Brooks
Karl Kreutz
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Karl Kreutz
Abstract: The eastern White River Ash eruption is regarded as a well characterized eruption, making it a key marker when developing sedimentary and ice core chronologies. However, preliminary tephra analyses in the Denali Ice Core 2 indicate that previous research assigning two explosive eruptions from the Mt. Churchill stratovolcano to the ash layer may not be entirely accurate. Four prominent sulfate peaks with corresponding tephra matching the chemistry of White River Ash have been identified in ice ranging from 185.05 – 187.77 m deep (890 – 1091 BP). Efforts are currently underway to determine if the tephra grains preserved in the ice core record are indeed the result of two explosive eruptions, or if Mt. Churchill was erupting more consistently over a longer period of time between 800 and 1200 BP.
Tephrochronological analyses using electron beam instrumentation employ the novel cryptotephra sampling methodology developed at UMaine. To identify the White River Ash, four sulfate microparticle concentration increases around 1100 BP were analyzed for tephra present. The ice was melted and filtered using 0.2 µm filters. The cryptotephra grains are currently being examined using secondary and backscattered electron imaging on the scanning electron microscope, with semiquantitative analyses conducted by an EDS detector. Completed SEM/EDS analyses have provided a chemical fingerprint of cryptotephra matching the White River Ash, when compared with published major and minor element values. To further verify these findings, accurate chemistry will be determined using epoxy mounted tephra samples on the electron probe micro-analyzer.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Abigayl Novak
Jessica Hutchinson
Ling Li
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Ling Li
Abstract: Biochar as a soil amendment has been extensively studied over the past decades. It has a porous structure, a relatively large surface area, multiple functional groups (e.g.-COOH group), and abundant mineral elements, and more. These attributes make biochar an excellent soil addition, which can retain water in the soil, delay nutrients leaching from the soil, modify the pH, improve ventilation and permeability of the soil, and immobilize heavy metals. The effects of biochar additions on the improvement of water and nutrient retention capacity of sandy soil are significantly greater than other soil types, such as clay soil. However, a high pH of raw, fresh biochar (9<pH<11) would result in lower acidity of the sandy soil in wild blueberry fields, which is not favorable for the growth of the blueberry crops. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of biochar to evaluate if it can be amended into the sandy soil to improve the water retention and wild blueberry plants’ resilience to drought but does not alter the pH of the soil too much. Woody biochar produced using local forestry biomass as a byproduct of uncompleted biomass combustion was studied due to the abundance of forest resources in Maine. Properties such as, bulk density, porosity, surface area, pH, water holding capacity, and nutrient retention were measured. A neutralization/acidification pretreatment process was studied to modify the pH of raw biochar. Results revealed that the Maine based residual biochar has the ability to increase water holding capacity and nutrient retention. The pH of biochar was decreased to 7 or less after dissolving about 60% of metal salts in the biochar using a 2% concentration of acidic acid.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Audrie French
Edward Bernard
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Edward Bernard
Abstract: Black Solider Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) are being increasingly used as a sustainable high-protein feed alternative for aquaculture, poultry, and swine. They are authorized as feed in the US for salmonids and poultry. Much of the current research on BSFL is focused on the efficacy and viability of the insect as a feed source, but the larvae also have an important effect on the bacteria within their feed (substrate). Research in this vein is less extensive but has shown that certain bacteria are present in significantly lower concentrations in substrates upon which larvae are feeding (Bernard, Villazana, Alyokhin, & Rose, 2020). When using BSFL as feed for animals, especially if those animals are going to be processed into food products for people, the effects the larvae have on the bacterial populations of their substrate must be considered. One facet of BSFL suppression of bacteria that has not yet been widely studied or characterized is the role of bacteriophage (viruses that infect bacteria). I would like to isolate and characterize bacteriophage that infect pathogenic bacterial species that the larvae have been shown to suppress, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Isolating and characterizing such bacteriophage would allow further investigation of their possible role in suppression.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Andrea Knapp
Jessica Leahy
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jessica Leahy
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has motivated alterations to the way people approach and practice outdoor recreation. Access to outdoor areas has changed rapidly in response to measures like travel bans, closures, and health and safety guidelines. Recreation managers have had to act quickly to keep up with these usage fluctuations in order to protect resources from use degradation. We explored how pandemic effects have changed visitation behaviors and trends in outdoor recreation in Acadia National Park and the White Mountain National Forest. Acadia National Park is a well-known and highly trafficked outdoor recreation area with over 3 million visits annually and many entries and exits; the White Mountain National Forest, has similar diffuse entries, has diverse recreation opportunities, and sees less overall visitation than Acadia. This study includes a review of relevant literature on COVID-19 effects on outdoor recreation, an analysis of survey data from 2020 about COVID-19 impacts to Acadia visitors, and an exploration of the use of passive use cellular data for visitation estimates in management practices. This paper is unique in that it includes passive use cellular data for examining visitation shifts during the pandemic in diffuse entry outdoor recreation areas. Results indicate that in addition to an overall increase in visitation to these outdoor recreation areas, pandemic visitation saw shifts in dispersal. The passive use cellular data was useful in estimating visitation within recreation areas. It is likely there will be several areas where recreation managers could incorporate these results and data gathering techniques into their operations to improve existing outdoor recreation practices.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Katie Westbrook
Karl Kreutz
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Karl Kreutz
Abstract: As glaciers and ice sheets around the world continue to melt, the impact on sea level and coastal societies will become ever more dire. Understanding the relationship between atmospheric temperature and ice volume is therefore imperative for accurate predictions of future change. One approach to this problem is to reconstruct ice volume during times of high atmospheric temperature in the past, and therefore gain understanding of glacier sensitivity to temperature. In this project, I will combine data from glacially deposited boulders collected in the Wind River Range, Wyoming and ice cores recovered in the Mt. Hunter ice plateau in Denali National Park, Alaska. Seven glacial boulders were sampled using an established drilling technique and will be further crushed and cleaned to obtain pure quartz. The quartz will then undergo beryllium-10 analysis to reveal the dates in which they were deposited by a past retreating glacier. Data is expected to date back to the termination of the last glacial maximum (about 15,000 to 40,000 years before present), and specific dates are expected to reveal the rate of glacial retreat. From the ice core, pebbles and sediment will be extracted and processed using the same cosmogenic isotope analysis as the glacial boulders. This date will reveal how long ice has covered Mt. Hunter plateau. Temporal information collected from both sites will provide insight into past temperature conditions and global processes driving localized climate. Here I present a concept map of the proposed project methods and preliminary conclusions.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Samuel Holbrook
Alice Doughty
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Alice Doughty
Abstract: Glaciers grow and shrink with changes in climate over time, leaving behind moraines, which mark past glacial extents. In Sierra Nevada del Cocuy of Colombia (6ºN, 72ºW), many moraines have been dated to the Late Glacial period (~15,000 – 11,000 years ago), which occurred during the abrupt transition between the last ice age and modern climate. We used a numerical model based on glacial physics in MATLAB to reconstruct past extents. Model input included current elevation, climate data, and changes in temperature, lapse rate, and precipitation. We modeled over one hundred past climate combinations and compared the modeled glacial extent with the dated moraine record in ArcGIS. In addition to quantifying Late Glacial climate in this area, we are investigating how topography influences glacial length response to a change in climate. Our future projections suggest that a 3ºC warming would melt all of the glaciers in this tropical mountain range.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Allison Weymouth
Logan Christian
Hannah Lembree
Claire Nowak
Melanie Prentice
Pauline Kamath
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Pauline Kamath
Abstract: Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive bacterium that is often found in soil and causes the disease anthrax, which can result in severe illness and death in animals and humans. Plains zebras (Equus quagga) in Etosha National Park, Namibia, are disproportionately affected by this pathogen. Inherited genetic factors, landscape ecology, and seasonal factors may influence a host’s susceptibility to anthrax. Our primary objective is to understand how co-infecting pathogens, such as blood parasites, may increase the susceptibility of zebras to anthrax. We will achieve this by genomic sequencing of 10 anthrax-positive carcass tissues (cases) and 10 blood samples (controls). Genomic sequences are currently being filtered by exclusion of sequences aligning to the host genome. The remaining, unmapped sequences will then be used to identify the following blood parasite genera with BLAST: Anaplasma, Theileria, Babesia, Ehrlichia, and Plasmodium. We expect to find B. anthracis in anthrax-positive mortalities, as a validation of the method. We also expect to identify additional blood parasites in plains zebras that may play a role in host susceptibility to anthrax. This data will facilitate further research on the role of co-infection on the risk of mortality in plains zebras infected with B. anthracis. We expect our results to lead to developments in pathogen discovery, host susceptibility, and microbial community dynamics.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Jocelyn Cooper
Rhian Waller
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Rhian Waller
Abstract: Cold-water corals in the deep ocean can be keystone species, forming habitats that support other species which are vital to the health of the whole ecosystem. Cold-water corals are generally long-lived and therefore vulnerable to changes in their environment. Thermal variability in the ocean is a process by which water temperatures are in constant flux, either natural or human influenced. The coral Primnoa pacifica, Red Tree Coral (RTC), has been studied extensively in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) to understand its reproduction to predict if it will withstand changing environmental conditions. Recent research data collected from RTC communities in shallow Alaskan fjords indicates thermal variability has adversely impacted reproduction and growth but effects on deep sea populations are unknown. RTCs are both diverse and abundant in the eastern GOA fjords where they emerge to as shallow as 6 m, as well as on the continental shelf edge and on seamount ecosystems at depths greater than 150 m. For this study, a comparison was made to understand if there was a difference in deep population gamete size between samples collected before versus after a thermal variability event called the “Blob” that passed through the GOA from 2013-2015. Results from this study indicate there is no significant difference between sperm nuclear diameter before versus after the phenomenon which could suggest these corals are more resilient to thermal variability. Further research could be valuable in assessing and predicting the impact of global climate change on this species inhabiting deeper waters in the future.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Prianka Sarker
Caroline Noblet
Angela Daley
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Angela Daley
Abstract: Food insecurity adversely affects multiple dimensions of health and well-being across various stages of life. Previous studies have demonstrated that income interventions alleviate household-level food insecurity. However, little is known about how these policies affect adults and children within the households, respectively. Our objective is to estimate the relationship between income and food insecurity separately for adults and children using the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) as an exogenous income shock. Based on data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2005-2012) and employing a difference-in-differences methodology, our results indicate that the UCCB reduced the probability of being marginally, moderately, or severely food insecure at the household, adult, and child levels. For example, after the policy change, the probability of experiencing severe food insecurity decreased by 17% at both the household and adult-levels. Moreover, the likelihood of facing severe food insecurity decreased by 50% for children (from 0.20% to 0.10%). Our results expand previous findings on household-level food insecurity, showing the differential effect of income support programs on food insecurity among adults and children, respectively. Improved understanding of the impact of income transfers on the prevalence and severity of food insecurity across and within households allows for informed and potentially targeted interventions.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Alexandria Thompson
Madelyn Woods
Alicia Cruz-Uribe
Katherine Allen
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Katherine Allen
Abstract: The Holocene is a geologic epoch spanning the past ~11,000 years, and in some regions it is punctuated by abrupt environmental changes. The Gulf of Maine, however, currently has no continuous record of ocean temperatures spanning this time. New studies have shown that this region has undergone rapid warming and cooling in recent decades, but with limited paleotemperature data the long-term natural dynamics of this region remain unclear. Foraminifera, a marine microorganism, can be used to investigate this issue as their calcium carbonate shells contain chemical signatures of the past environment and are well preserved in the sediment that accumulates on the seafloor. This project has combined trace element ratios (Mg/Ca, B/Ca), stable isotopes (δ18O), and radiocarbon (14C) data to determine whether an existing temperature calibration and carbonate-ion correction (Morley et al., 2017) for Neogloboquadrina incompta, a planktic foraminifer species, yields accurate ocean temperatures. These modern samples are from plankton nets and surface sediment in the Gulf of Maine’s Jordan Basin. This comparison will determine if paleotemperatures can be accurately predicted using the same calibration. A new methodology has been developed to analyze Mg/Ca by laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICPMS) in the MAGIC Lab at the University of Maine, and preliminary geochemical data have been collected. Radiocarbon dates on specimens from surface sediments confirm that the material is of modern age (between 0 ± 20 (1σ) and 35 ±15 calibrated years BP), and may therefore reasonably be compared with recent cruise and buoy data.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Elyeah Schweikert
Alice Doughty
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Alice Doughty
Abstract: The Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland (57°N, -3°W) do not currently have glaciers, however, there is clear geological evidence that they once did. The transition between the last ice age and the modern climate included the Younger Dryas event (~12,900 to 11,700 years BP), which was a time of abrupt climate change and likely impacted the human civilizations that existed in the area. We used MATLAB to reconstruct past glacier extents that matched geologic samples obtained by our international colleagues. Model inputs include elevation, modern climate data, and changes in temperature and precipitation. Our results depict changes in glacier area over the last 13,000 years BP due to a range of possible temperature and precipitation combinations. We are now able to compare these estimates of past temperature and precipitation change with other climate reconstructions in Scotland and the greater North Atlantic region.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Zachary Pecora
Alaina Woods
Pauline L. Kamath
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Pauline L. Kamath
Abstract: Anaplasma is a genus of bacteria that attacks the blood cells of the host and poses a threat to wild and domestic animals, as well as humans. Moose in Europe and the United States have been shown to be infected with Anaplasma. In Maine, moose populations may be declining, a current trend that has been attributed to severe winter tick infestations. Anaplasma infections can cause several health problems in wildlife and domestic livestock, including anemia and fetal abortion, and may further reduce the survival of moose stressed by severe winter tick infestations. However, little is known about the current distribution, risks and prevalence of Anaplasma in Maine moose. The objectives of this study are to determine the distribution, prevalence, and risk factors of Anaplasma infection in Maine moose. We collected whole blood samples from moose and used molecular methods to estimate Anaplasma prevalence within the moose population. Furthermore, generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to assess risk factors for Anaplasma infection in moose. The prevalence found within the population (n = 120) was 34.2%. There were 41 Anaplasma positive samples from 12 different wildlife management districts (WMD) in Maine, the majority of which (29.2%) came from WMD 5. With the information gathered from this study, Maine wildlife biologists and managers can determine what course of action should be taken to help manage disease in Maine moose, as well as better understand the effects of Anaplasma on moose health.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Jake Snow
Benjamin Herzog
Samuel Glass
Stephen Shaler
Ling Li
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Ling Li
Abstract: Emerging wood products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), and wood fiber insulation (WFI) are sustainable, renewable, and low carbon footprint building products, which have been recognized as alternatives to steel, concrete, and fossil-based insulation, e.g., extruded/expanded polystyrene foam (XPS/EPS). With the first domestic WFI manufacturing plant born in Maine, the University of Maine began a pioneer study to develop a line of wood-fiber insulated panels (WIPs) to be used in modular construction projects and retrofit applications. WIPs will open new markets for Maine timber producers and could be an efficient value-added product using residuals from existing timber processing. CLT and WFI have decent to excellent moisture buffer capacity and water vapor permeability, which can manipulate the microclimate in the CLT and WFI wall assembly and roof assembly. This project aims to quantify the mechanical and hygrothermal properties of WFI alone as well as the WIPs. Building performance data was collected from a building constructed using WFI and cross-laminated timber in Belfast and that data will be used to validate the lab-scale data collected and evaluate the long-term structural health of the building.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Marielle Pelletier
Tegwin Taylor
Sue Ishaq
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Sue Ishaq
Abstract: In Maine, the need for veterinarians is at an all-time high; the large animal (NIFA, 2022) and equine veterinary shortage (Parker, 2021) has been documented and there are mechanisms in place to help alleviate this shortage. In January 2022, LD 1885 (An Act To Increase Maine’s Veterinary Workforce) was amended to include critical and emergency veterinary service shortages (An Act To Increase Maine’s Veterinary Workforce, 2022). Maine has methods to evaluate the shortage of large animal service, but the shortage of companion animal services is not fully described. In order to evaluate Maine’s need for small animal services, a needs assessment will be conducted. With implementation of the Pets For Life Community Outreach Toolkit (Humane Society of the U.S., 2021), and by communicating with and surveying veterinary stakeholders in Maine, gaps in veterinary services will be identified. This information will help answer the question: How can the demand for companion animal veterinarians in underserved communities be meaningfully represented and how can those communities be managed appropriately? The long-term goal is to identify stakeholder priorities to address the veterinary shortage. With a better understanding and assessment of veterinary needs in the state, the issue can be organized in a way that is approachable for those outside of the veterinary community, like Maine policymakers, who, alongside the veterinary professionals, will serve a large role in solving the issue and improving veterinary services in rural communities.
Works Cited
An Act To Increase Maine’s Veterinary Workforce. L.D. 1885. 180th Maine Legislature. (2022).
https://trackbill.com/bill/maine-legislative-document-1885-an-act-to-increase-maines-vet
erinary-workforce/2177850/.
Humane Society of the U.S. (2021). “Pets for Life” Community Outreach Toolkit. Humane
Society of the U.S. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from
https://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/sites/default/files/HSUS-Pets-For-Life-T
oolkit-2016_0.pdf.
NIFA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. (2022). The Veterinary Medicine Loan
Repayment Program | National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Retrieved March 1,
2022, from https://nifa.usda.gov/program/veterinary-medicine-loan-repayment-program.
Parker, D. (2021, March 12). Horse Healthcare in Maine. ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved March 2,
2022, from https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1c2f0b1e1aa741caa28e6eb24ed33b54.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Noa Buzby
Jacquelyn Gill
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jacquelyn Gill
Abstract: During the Quaternary period (~2.5 million years ago to present), environments and ecosystems have gone through major changes, one of which was the extinction of megafauna at the end of the Pleistocene. Investigating the effects these animals had on their environment is key to understanding the impacts of their extinction on ecosystem processes. One way large animals impact ecosystems is the redistribution of nutrients through feeding and defecating. Extinct large herbivores have been hypothesized to increase the rate of nutrient cycling at high latitudes, with cascading effects on vegetation productivity and ecosystem structure. Up to now, the amount of nutrients dispersed was based on estimates due to the impossibility to directly measure the nutrient content of extinct megafaunal dung. This project addresses this gap by quantifying nutrient ratios of dung from several species of extinct megafauna, including woolly mammoths, woolly rhinos, steppe bison, and horses during the last glacial period. I analyzed the ratio of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (C:N:P) from 40 coprolites (ancient dung) preserved in permafrost from Siberia. Quantifying nutrient content of extinct Arctic herbivores aims to determine whether nutrient ratios vary by species according to traits such as body size, digestion type and dietary preferences, along with the effect on soil nutrient cycling.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Matthew Moyet
Marissa Kinney
Edward Bernard
Andrei Alyokhin
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Andrei Alyokhin
Abstract: Biological conversion of animal and plant wastes into ingredients of animal feeds using larvae of black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens, is a rapidly emerging environmentally sustainable technology. Unfortunately, contamination of harvested larvae with pathogenic microorganisms may present a serious problem for its wide-scale adoption. However, there is also mounting evidence that black soldier fly larvae have antimicrobial properties, including suppression of several common pathogens. Most existing studies focused on Gram-negative species, but there is also some evidence of negative effects on gram-positive species. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, are gram positive strains of S. aureus resistant to the antibiotic methicillin. Contamination of meat and dairy products by MRSA has resulted in foodborne infections of humans. We conducted laboratory experiments testing if black soldier fly larvae suppress MRSA on shredded potato substrate as a part of the study investigating their potential for valorizing potato wastes. Potato substrate inoculated with MRSA, potato substrate inoculated with MRSA and containing black soldier fly larvae, and uninoculated potato substrate containing black soldier fly larvae were incubated for three and seven days. Samples were plated onto both trypticase soy agar and on Staphylococcus Medium 110 agar for enumeration of total bacteria and MRSA, respectively. Both total bacterial counts and MRSA counts were reduced in the presence of black soldier fly larvae, with reduction being much more pronounced for the latter. Our findings confirm antimicrobial properties of black soldier fly larvae, which is likely to improve biosafety of its harvested biomass. Furthermore, future identification of biologically active molecules responsible for this reduction may have important practical applications of its own.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Francis Sternberg
Amanda A. Olsen
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Amanda A. Olsen
Abstract: Serpentinization – the reaction of ultramafic rock with water to produce magnetite, hydroxide, and serpentine group minerals – releases alkaline fluids that serve as habitat for extremophile microbes. Mantle-derived rocks formed at high temperatures and pressures can rise to the Earth’s surface through tectonic processes, where they undergo alteration when in contact with liquid water. This hydrothermal metamorphic process liberates inorganic hydrogen and methane that chemotrophic microorganisms can utilize for metabolic energy in the absence of sunlight; the secondary phases precipitated during serpentinization can preserve evidence of past microbial activity in the form of organic or mineral biosignatures. Because these extreme subsurface environments are known to sustain life on Earth, recent serpentine detections on Mars have garnered attention from the planetary science community, culminating in the Mars 2020 mission to seek signs of ancient extraterrestrial life.
We propose to use the Rio Cupeyes NEON field site in Puerto Rico to study the mineralogy and chemistry of altered serpentinite. This tropical, biotic through-flow setting is a suitable terrestrial analog for past Martian environments (~ 3 gya), when wetter and warmer conditions would have led to serpentinization and subsequent chemical weathering. This project will distinguish chemical weathering textures from mineral products precipitated during serpentinization. Soils and rock clasts sampled from a 1.1-meter-deep road cut are analyzed to determine the distribution of trace and major elements as a function of depth and host mineral phase. We hope this study will yield information regarding the timing of the weathering process and provide other observations needed for comparison to samples observed by the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Natalie Nicols
Eva Quirion
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Eva Quirion
Abstract: Pregnancy options counseling (POC) presents all options to pregnant people in a non-directive, unbiased manner. Options include parenting, abortion, and adoption. This capstone evaluates the use of POC across the U.S. among providers including family nurse practitioners (FNPs) working with childbearing aged individuals, racial disparities surrounding POC, policy impacts, and POC training. Providers may refrain from regularly presenting POC and abortion referrals. POC and referral training isn’t routinely required among providers. Political changes, such as with Title X, create barriers to delivering POC within publicly funded family planning facilities throughout the U.S. A literature review was conducted using 11 studies and one article. Results revealed providing POC is crucial for pregnant people and desired by most and demonstrated support for the effectiveness of POC and referral training in helping providers deliver POC and appropriate referrals. Although numerous studies suggest POC for unintended pregnancies, two studies established it’s best practice to deliver POC to all pregnant people. One study found Black patients were less likely to be counseled on all options, particularly abortion, leading to unfulfilled health needs. FNPs in primary care can play a pivotal role in ensuring pregnant people receive non-directive POC and appropriate referrals so these individuals can make informed decisions that meet their needs and more broadly eliminate disparities. Restrictive laws and recent alterations in Title X necessitate the involvement of FNPs in policy to promote changes at the organizational, state, and federal level regarding the need for POC and referral training among providers across the U.S.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Sam Roberts
Rafa Tasnim
Yongjiang Zhang
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Yongjiang Zhang
Abstract Wild Blueberry barrens have been facing the threat of climate change during their growing season (summer). While summer climate variations are affecting this important commercial crop system directly, drastic climate variations in other seasons could potentially hurt this crop growing at different locations in Maine. Therefore, we analyzed seasonal temperature and precipitation trends of the wild blueberry barrens at different counties (Piscataquis, Washington, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Kennebec, York) of Maine from 1980 to 2020. We found that across all blueberry production counties, historical temperatures have been increasing significantly in the fall and winter followed by summer, but not in spring. However, precipitation historically has been slightly increasing in the winter and fall, whereas no changes were found in the spring and summer. Further, we found that historical temperatures have been lower in the Piscataquis and Washington county whereas barrens in other counties farther south (from Hancock to York) have been experiencing relatively warmer climates. These results will inform the wild blueberry growers at those different locations about the climate extremes their crops have been facing due to climate change in order for them to prepare and manage their lands during different seasons accordingly.
- Prevalence of Heat Stable Staphylococcal Enterotoxins in Mastitis Isolates in Maine – Presentation withdrawn from judging
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Autumn Hunter
Anne Lichtenwalner
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Anne Lichtenwalner
Abstract: Pasteurization has been the gold standard for food safety for over 100 years following its invention. High temperature short time (HTST) pasteurization is commonplace in the United States, and involves heating raw milk to 72 degrees Celsius for approximately 15 seconds. The purpose of this procedure is to kill any pathogenic bacteria present in milk, however, many strains of Staphylococcus aureus produce enterotoxins that are heat resistant; some survive up to 28 minutes in temperatures up to 121 degrees Celsius. Although pasteurization can kill S. aureus, enterotoxins produced by the bacteria may still be present and active.
While infrequently diagnosed, enterotoxins produced by strains of Staphylococcus aureus are a common cause of food poisoning across the world. With a growing concern about zoonotic spillover of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA), S. aureus infections in livestock may become even more difficult to treat. Likewise, some clonal complexes of LA-MRSA, such as CC398, may cause asymptomatic infection in cattle, leading to asymptomatic transmission to farmers and contamination of milk. If some strains of S. aureus can cause mammary infection (mastitis) in cattle, how many of them produce heat-stable enterotoxins, or possess antimicrobial resistance genes, and what risk does that pose to food safety in Maine?
Materials and methods for this study are to be determined, but will utilize established methods (Reverse Passive Latex Agglutination, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays, or PCR). Samples will be derived from existing S. aureus mastitis isolates, and from Maine milk samples (bulk tank and clinical single cow samples).
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Joseph Beale
Sue Ishaq
Danielle Levesque
Pauline Kamath
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Pauline Kamath
Abstract: Ixodes genus ticks often serve as vectors, playing a key role in the transmission of pathogens to wildlife and human hosts. Due to climate and land use change in parts of the United States, this genus of ticks is increasing its range, introducing pathogens into new areas, and remaining viable in the environment for an increased amount of time throughout the year. In this study, we review and synthesize the scientific literature on the factors influencing range expansion of ticks and the emergence of tick-borne pathogens. We also reviewed what is known about how ticks transmit infections to wildlife and human hosts as well as how ticks, mammalian hosts and pathogens have coevolved. Furthermore, we conducted a pilot study in the Spring and Summer of 2021 to examine tick-borne pathogen prevalence in rodents in agricultural and forested environments across a temperature gradient in Maine. In this study, small mammals (n=33), were trapped, and tissue and fecal samples were collected. Whole genomic DNA was extracted from tissue and a multiplex quantitative real time PCR assay was conducted to screen for the presence of Babesia, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agents of babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Lyme disease, respectively. We found that of the 17 tissue samples collected, 11 were from Peromyscus maniculatus and only one sample was positive. This sample was positive for both Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Cara McKinnon
Brendan Moline
Michael Croft
Leah Mastrianno
Samuel W. Caito
Jennifer L. Newell-Caito
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer L. Newell-Caito
Abstract: Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term diets rich in polyphenols – plant secondary metabolites – might act as antioxidants due to their ability to offer protection against the development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. The holly plant genus Ilex contains 15 species native to North America, including Ilex verticillata, or winterberry. Native American tribes in the Northeast United States have historically used winterberry leaves as a medicinal tea, leading to the hypothesis that these leaves may contain beneficial antioxidant properties. A polyphenolic extract was created by drying and distilling freshly harvested winterberry leaves. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined to be 524.45 ± 1.82 μg gallic/mL of extract. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model, an LD50 was determined and used to pre-treated worms with 0.1%, 1%, or 5% extract followed by treatment with known oxidants manganese(II) chloride (MnCl2) and juglone. The antioxidant effect of the extract was examined by measuring total reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the presence of the extract, there was a two-fold dose-dependent decrease in the total ROS generated by 50 μM MnCl2 and a significant reduction in total ROS generated by 100 μM juglone treatments. A lifespan assay was performed to evaluate the impact of the extract on C. elegans survival over time. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggests a protective one-day mean survival time of the extract in response to MnCl2. These results suggest that the polyphenolic compounds in winterberry leaves act as antioxidants in vivo.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Talia Moore
Josh Stoll
Sahir Advani
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Josh Stoll, Sahir Advani
Abstract: Approximately 158 million metric tons of seafood is landed worldwide every year (Future of Fish, 2015) and 36% is then traded across international borders. With the increase of global trade there is a growing acknowledgement that local, regional, and domestic distribution is important to sustaining the booming fisheries and the communities that depend on them. The question presented for research is what do the supply chains look like for seafood businesses that are involved in local and direct seafood distribution in the United States? Within the study there were fifteen interviews that were conducted with seafood businesses. After conducting the interviews, we then developed a “typology” of the different pathways for the local and direct sales. We found that the first and most prominent supply chain revolved around finfish caught from an individual’s personal fishing boat and ends with the finfish product being sold via online orders, to restaurants and to farmers markets. The second largest was shellfish via personal fishing boats and ends with them being sold to farmer’s markets, restaurants, online orders, and wholesalers. The third least prominent was seaweed which was harvested from personal aquaculture farms and distributed to wholesalers, online orders, and supermarkets. Taking into consideration the results, we concluded that finfish were the most common product sold, which was then followed by shellfish and then seaweed. Based on preliminary research we found that 80% of all domestic seafood that is moved in the US is finfish and the rest is shellfish. Our data showed these same results with 61.5% of products being moved domestically being finfish and 28.2% being shellfish. With the numbers being close enough to the national averages we can accept that our numbers are equivalent to what is going on in the nation’s domestic seafood industry. After looking at these results, the further step would be to ask the question of how direct seafood marketers label the marketing channels they engage with? I am currently working on this part of the project now and will be looking through direct marketers’ websites to see what sales options/marketing channels they list and see how this coincides with my previous research by still using the same methods but at a potentially greater sample size.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Rachel White
Denise Cole
Anne Lichtenwalner
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner
Abstract: Gastropods can act as intermediate hosts and vectors of important parasites of livestock (e.g. meningeal worm [Parelaphostrongylus tenuis; P.tenuis]). Where white-tailed deer (WTD; the definitive host for P. tenuis) habitat overlaps with livestock grazing areas, risk for P.tenuis transmission increases. P. tenuis can replicate in WTD without causing harm; in contrast, it is often fatal in livestock (accidental hosts). In this study, alternative methods were evaluated to reduce P. tenuis risk to pastured livestock. Pastured poultry were examined for reduction of gastropods in a before-after-control-impact (BACI) treatment. 200 Rhode Island Red laying hens were rotated every 4 days in a 25,000 sq. ft. pasture. Gastropods were surveyed on transects before and after bird rotations. Additionally, a mowing treatment was used to examine effects on gastropods in a snail-abundant area. Gastropods on mowed (treatment) or unmowed (control) pastures were assessed in a random complete block design (RCBD) with three treatments (1-year mow, 2-year mow, and control). Poultry significantly reduced gastropods on pasture (paired t-test P<0.01). Mowing significantly reduced gastropods (P=0.015 and P<0.01; repeated measures ANOVA; pairwise comparison with p-adjusted Bonferroni correction) in two of three trials. The third, and latest in the calendar year, survey found insufficient gastropods in both treated and untreated sites, resulting in no significance. These treatments may provide practical and organic integrated pest management methods for the mitigation of terrestrial gastropod vectors in pastured settings.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Avery Lamb
Jasmine Saros
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jasmine Saros
Abstract: Concern over increases in cyanobacterial blooms, the toxins (cyanotoxins) they can produce, and climate change’s effects on these increases are becoming more prevalent in the Northeast U.S. Gloeotrichia, a toxin-producing, bloom-forming taxon, has already been identified in many Maine lakes, including in drinking water sources and recreational areas. Maine has a unique climate setting, with lakes situated across three climate zones, and the state is experiencing some of the most significant winter warming in the country. Paleolimnological study of lakes through established proxies such as photosynthetic pigments and newer proxies, such as sedimentary DNA (sedDNA), can produce data over longer temporal scales, offering a more accurate picture of long-term cyanobacterial abundance. This research uses pigment and sedDNA records at a decadal resolution across lakes in Maine that vary in trophic state and climate zone to assess drivers of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) over the past 150 years. Specifically, the objectives of this research are to 1) Describe how the interactive effects of trophic state and climate change have altered cyanobacteria abundance in Maine lakes, and 2) Investigate how decades of warmer winters have specifically affected Gloeotrichia populations in Maine lakes over the past 150 years. The sediment cores collected will produce the longest time series of Gloeotrichia occurrence in a collection of lakes. A deeper understanding of the changing climate’s effects on cyanobacterial abundance and potential cyanotoxin occurrence on expanded temporal scales in Maine is necessary for management of valuable recreational and drinking water sources in the future.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Emily Fitting
Teresa R. Johnson
Yong Chen
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Teresa R. Johnson
Abstract: The American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery is one of the most valuable single-species fisheries in the US, with the majority of lobster landings coming from Maine. Bottom temperature and salinity affect important lobster life history processes, including migration patterns, growth rate, and reproduction. Because of this, the lobster fishery exhibits strong seasonal patterns—historically, most inshore lobster fishing is done from July through November. However, changing environmental factors, including climate change, are causing a shift in lobster phenology, which in turn is causing a shift in the seasonal dynamics of the fishery. Previous research raises concerns about the social resilience of the lobster fishery in the face of these changes. The goals of this research are to examine social and ecological drivers of changes in seasonal dynamics and to explore the social resilience of lobster harvesters. First, researchers will conduct a statistical analysis of seasonality of lobster landings to develop empirical models that can be used to predict future changes in the fishery. Second, the social and economic dimensions of seasonality will be explored through an analysis of a 2018 mail survey and oral history interviews. Preliminary results show a change in the timing of peak lobster landings compared to historical trends, with the qualities of these changes differing across coastal counties. Given the Gulf of Maine is changing rapidly, it is critical to understand how these changes will affect the lobster resource, harvesters, and their communities in order to adequately prepare for and adapt to expected changes.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Kyle Smelter
Stephanie Shea
Pauline Kamath
Kelsey Sullivan
Erik Blomberg
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Erik Blomberg
Abstract: An estimated one million vertebrate animals per day are killed along roads in the United States. Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) are a large upland game bird that often selects roadside habitats. Despite an annual increase in vertebrate vehicle mortality, turkey populations are increasing in Maine. State and federal agencies face the challenge of managing a sought-after species while balancing risk to human property and well-being. Perhaps the best tool that state agencies can use for the management of a species which persists at the human-wildlife interface is rigorous scientific research. Preliminary results show a clear correlation between wild turkey habitat selection and roads. Furthermore, 13371 GPS points occurred within 800 meters of the nearest road, 1097 occurred between 801-1600 meters from the nearest road, and 1070 occurred between 1601 and 2400 meters from the nearest road (n=15538). These findings represent a small sample size but could suggest a broader risk of increase in turkey vehicle collisions, as well as other human dimensions conflicts that arise with the management of an increasing wildlife population.
- Social-ecological Effects on Mosquito Populations Across Land Use in Bangor, Maine – Presentation withdrawn from judging
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Megan Schierer
Allison Gardner
Sandra De Urioste-Stone
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Allison Gardner
Abstract: Land use, land cover and human behavior (e.g., management of water containers) drive mosquito abundance and species distribution, affecting risk of human exposure to mosquito-borne disease (MBD). Interactions between ecological and social risk factors in the Northeast US remain understudied, even as cases of MBD rise. This research assessed environmental and human dimensions of mosquito distribution and resident mosquito exposure risk at 40 sites across land use zones in Bangor, Maine, an emerging area of MBD transmission. Thirty participants were recruited from urban residential, low-density residential and rural residential property zoning categories. Additional field sites were selected from wooded city forests commonly visited by residents. To describe mosquito distribution across land use categories, we trapped adult mosquitoes and identified juvenile mosquito habitat at participant properties and city forests from June – August 2021. To understand human knowledge driving behaviors surrounding mosquitoes, participants completed a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices survey in September 2021. Mosquito abundance peaked the weeks of June 28 and July 19. The highest number of mosquitoes were collected in recreational city forests followed by properties in rural residential zones. The lowest number of mosquitoes were collected on properties in low-density and urban residential zones. We expect to find a relationship between survey results on property-owner knowledge and behaviors and the amount of juvenile mosquito habitat identified on properties. By integrating ecological and human dimensions of mosquito exposure risk, we will define disease risk across land use and inform public health education efforts in Bangor.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Rakibul Hossain
Mehdi Tajvidi
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Mehdi Tajvidi
Abstract: Recyclable cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril (LCNF) coated wood flour composites were fabricated using a vacuum-filtration process for food serving applications. The coated cellulose nanofibril composites had excellent mechanical, oil, and grease barrier properties compared to a commercial container. However, the composites with both LCNF and CNF coating layers had poor performance in wet conditions compared to the commercial container. The addition of 1 wt.% aluminum sulfate (alum) to the CNF and LCNF coating layer significantly improved the water resistance of the composites. CNF +1% alum-coated composites had inferior water resistance and lower mechanical strength in wet conditions compared to the commercial container. However, the LCNF +1% alum coated composites had comparable water resistance and higher wet mechanical properties than the commercial container. The recyclability of the composites was assessed through the disintegration of the samples in water and subsequent reformation, and it was found that the composites were fully recyclable. The composites could fully retain their mechanical and excellent oil and grease barrier properties after each recycling level. Overall, the fully bio-based nanofiber coated wood flour composites with recyclable properties can be an eco-friendly replacement for commercial oil, grease, and water-resistant food containers that normally use long-lasting unsustainable chemicals to enhance such properties.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Ian Birchler De Allende
Erin Grey
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Erin Grey
Abstract: Sea slugs, formally known as nudibranchs, are important because their populations can inform scientists about how healthy their environment is due to their sensitivity to environmental disturbances. Nudibranchs are difficult to identify without a high level of expertise, allowing for mistakes to be made when monitoring their populations. These mistakes can be avoided through the use of reference genomes that an individual nudibranch’s DNA can be compared to, in order to accurately identify its species. However, most nudibranchs have yet to have their genetic information fully sequenced, making it difficult for scientists to obtain accurate monitoring data. This project focused on developing sequencing methods for mitochondrial DNA for common nudibranch species in the Gulf of Maine in order to provide reference genomes that can be used for future nudibranch environmental monitoring and genetics studies.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Richa Arya
Jennifer Perry
Denise Skonberg
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Perry
Abstract: Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) is a brown macroalga widely harvested in Northeastern US. Drying can improve the microbial quality and shelf life of sugar kelp by reducing water activity and moisture content. However, the effect of this process on bacterial pathogens of significance is not well characterized. In this study, the effect of controlled drying conditions on the survival of pathogen surrogates Listeria innocua, Bacillus cereus and E. coli inoculated on sugar kelp was investigated. Fresh sugar kelp was washed and cut into blades of uniform size (15 cm). Each blade was inoculated with 107 log CFU/g inoculum level of L. innocua, B. cereus and E. coli (separately) and dried in a convective dryer at various parameters: two temperatures (40°C, and 50°C) and relative humidity levels (25% and 50%) to one of two target final water activities (0.3 and 0.5). Survival of L. innocua, B. cereus and E. coli on inoculated dried samples was assessed using cultural techniques. One-way ANOVA (p<0.05) was used to evaluate the effects of treatment temperature, relative humidity, and water activity on the reduction of inoculated pathogens. Drying treatments at different drying conditions significantly reduced the population of L. innocua, E. coli and B. cereus on the inoculated sugar kelp. Drying at 50 °C, 50%, 0.3 resulted in the maximum reduction of E. coli (4.24 ± 0.15 log CFU/g), L. innocua (3.36 ± 0.94 log CFU/g). However, 40 °C, 25%, 0.5 parameters resulted in the maximum reduction of 4.64 ± 0.05 log CFU/g in B. cereus.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Md Ikramul Hasan
Jinwu Wang
Mehdi Tajvidi
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Mehdi Tajvidi
Abstract: Cellulose nanomaterials are considered as one of the promising alternatives to current petroleum-based packaging materials attributed to their ability to form dense self-assembled structures imparting high gas barrier properties, i.e. low oxygen permeability. However, the high cost of the raw materials and production is considered as one of the major challenges for the commercialization of nanocellulose in packaging applications. In this work, we prepared self-standing films of lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril (LCNF) derived from recycled old corrugated cardboard (OCC), which costs one-tenth of softwood Kraft pulp and requires only half the energy for refining to obtain a similar fine content as CNF made from bleached Kraft pulp. The low surface charge of OCC-derived LCNF (-3.83 mV) resulted in aggregation of the fibrils in aqueous suspension, leading to considerable unpredictability in oxygen permeability values (coefficient of variation 36%). The addition of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at 3 wt% minimized the coefficient of variation to 16% with an average oxygen permeability of 1478 (cc.µm/m2.atm.day) at 80% relative humidity. Because the oxygen permeability was higher than that of the CNF film made from bleached Kraft pulp, we demonstrated that ionic crosslinking with Al3+ or covalent crosslinking with polyamide epichlorohydrin could greatly decrease oxygen permeability while also increasing mechanical strength. Like other LCNF films, OCC-derived LCNF film is expected to have UV-protectiveness due to the presence of lignin. Our research demonstrates the use of OCC-derived LCNF as a low-cost, low-energy alternative to virgin wood pulp-derived CNF with equivalent oxygen barrier properties.
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Morgan Belvin
Anne Lichtenwalner
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Anne Lichtenwalner
Abstract: This project investigates the factors surrounding the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) mastitis in Maine dairy cattle. This type of mastitis is driven by an antibiotic resistant pathogen that is very contagious among cattle. Farmers are unaware of how common this type of mastitis is, and are unaware that it could be present in their herds. My hypothesis is that specific farm factors, like milkers performing other tasks during milking, as well as the act of pre-dipping vs not pre dipping, will explain the increase in SA mastitis. A thirty-nine question IRB-approved survey was distributed to farmers in the University of Maine Extension contact list and farmer Facebook groups. With a total of 11 responses, SA mastitis was seen in farms that do and do not pre-dip, in those whose milkers do not palpate the cows’ udder before unit removal, and those where the cow is allowed to lie down shortly after being milked. In addition, seven of the survey respondents had a history of SA mastitis and only two of them were able to eradicate it from their herds. Overall, the results showed that SA mastitis occurs on both small and large scale farms, and there are areas of management that could be changed to decrease the presence of SA mastitis; like the frequent changing of gloves and the palpation of the udders before the unit is removed. This project showed that SA mastitis is common in Maine, and farmers are still unaware whether this pathogen is infecting their herds.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Pratima Pahadi
Yongjiang Zhang
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Yongjiang Zhang
Abstract: Although the frequency and severity of drought is increasing across North-eastern (NE) US, we lack a mechanistic understanding of the thresholds for irreversible declines in physiological function and plant dieback of blueberries native to this region. Here, we explore how different plant physiological processes (turgor loss, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, photochemistry, plant hydraulics) respond to declining stem water potential (Ψstem; a measure of water status and xylem tension within the plant) and soil moisture conditions when two lowbush population (Ang 1 and Ang 2) and two highbush varieties (Bluecrop and Patriot) of blueberries are exposed to extreme drought. Blueberries showed a coordinated response of all the physiological processes under declining Ψstem and soil moisture conditions; all the population- varieties reduced their stomatal conductance to the minimum levels before the turgor loss point of nearly -2.0MPa and after turgor loss point there was a progressive decline of photochemistry (Fv/Fm) until plants experienced extreme drought at Ψstem of nearly -4.5MPa and soil moisture of less than 5%. Although Ang 1 and Patriot showed 100% loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) while Patriot and Bluecrop showed the highest mortality rate. However, lowbush populations had high regrowth of new stems from rhizomes compared to highbush varieties, indicating the resilience of lowbush populations. These findings highlight the need to consider -2MPa Ψstem and 5% soil moisture as the threshold of irreversible declines in physiological function and plant dieback for the management of wild blueberries in fields since blueberries may not recover after passing this threshold.
- Identifying Umbrella Species to Inform the Conservation of Intertidal Areas in Acadia National Park.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Abigail Muscat
Bik Wheeler
Elliot Johnston
Brian Olsen
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Brian Olsen
Abstract: The nearshore ecosystem in Maine supports several resident and migratory bird species who rely on intertidal and subtidal zones for roosting and foraging, including fall migratory shorebirds. Additionally, during the Maine winter the coastal areas of Acadia National Park include some of the continental United States’ highest densities of both Purple Sandpipers (Calidris maritima) and Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus), and all these species may be negatively affected by increasing rates of rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) harvest in the state. This undergraduate honors thesis investigated nearshore bird communities during winter and fall migration and identified patterns of intertidal usage within and across species. Bird abundance surveys were conducted across Acadia National Park (ANP) at 31 randomly selected sites, determined using a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) sampling scheme, during the winter and late summer 2021 to account for differences in seasonal-use patterns. This project also served as a pilot test of a long-term monitoring protocol for nearshore bird species in ANP to track the health of their avian resources. Preliminary analysis revealed that the detection of gamebirds is influenced by wave intensity, observer, temperature, and season, and there is a possible connection between migratory shorebird occupancy and Purple Sandpiper and/or Harlequin Duck presence and absence. These findings could be used to determine if closing some areas of the park to rockweed harvesting are more likely to benefit multiple species, informed by the identification of an umbrella species, a species that has similar habitat requirements to other species but a wider spatial need.
- The Effect of Education on HPV Vaccination Status in Females – Presentation withdrawn from judging
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Madeline Manfredonia
Shannon Brunken
Lindsay Bland
Gabrielle Gamache
Brianna Rambo
Valerie Herbert
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Valerie Herbert
Abstract: In female patients ages 9-26, do public health campaigns by school nurses regarding the HPV vaccine increase rates of vaccination compared to no public health campaigns? The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was approved for females over a decade ago, but the rates of vaccination are lower than other routine vaccinations. In 2019, 54.6% of females aged 13-15 years had received 2 or 3 doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as recommended compared to 90.8% of children receiving the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine (1+ doses). Like other immunizations, the low rates of vaccination are related to lack of knowledge and fear. The HPV vaccine has been controversial in the past based on the belief that vaccinations would promote promiscuity among those who received it. Vaccination against HPV matters as HPV is estimated to cause nearly 36,000 cases of cancer every year in the United States. The HPV vaccination can prevent 33,000 of these cancers by preventing the infections that cause them. This paper explores the idea that adequate education is vital in increasing HPV vaccination rates in females ages 9-26. A literature search was conducted using the CINAHL database and Medscape to find peer-reviewed journal articles. The keywords used in our search were HPV vaccination and HPV education. Written and verbal education tools have been found to be successful. Widespread community education using resources that are supported by community members may increase the rates of vaccination compared to women who received no education.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Grace Harman
Matthew Moyet
Bernard Edward
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Bernard Edward
Abstract: Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are organisms capable of decomposing organic wastes that may be contaminated with pathogenic organisms. Vibrio Parahaemolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophilia are gram-negative bacteria that thrive in salty, warm environments. These bacteria can be present in ground water, water treatments plants, within aquatic animals, and concentrated in fish digestive tracts. Based on previous work, these bacteria may be detrimental to the survival of BSFL, resulting in significant weight lost and mobility. BSFL will be fed a potato substrate either alone, or added along with Vibrio Parahaemolyticus or Aeromonas hydrophilia. Bacterial counts, substrate volume, larval weight gain and larval mortality will be analyzed throughout the experiment. Furthermore, substrate and larvae will be isolated and subjected to genomic investigation using RNA sequencing to asses the activity of BSFL immune larval genes. By assessing BSFL under stress conditions, a potential immune pathway or gene can be identified that help us better understand how BSFL are capable of decomposing contaminated organic wastes.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Aldous Hofmann
Yongjiang Zhang
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Yongjiang Zhang
Abstract: Four genotypes of Vaccinium Angustifolium (one species of Maine Wild Blueberry) from three soil types via Wyman’s Blueberries in Deblois, Maine were treated with a 250 mL mixture of crystallized nanocellulose (CNC) materials via aerosolized spray and subjected to 18 days of induced drought conditions in a controlled greenhouse environment. Soil water content (SWC) and crop physiology were measured during the drought treatment. Drought induced plants showed significant declines in both pre-dawn water potential (ΨP) and mid-day water potential (ΨM) around the two week (14 day) mark wherein SWC was observed to be under 5% in drought, compared to approximately 20-25% under control (no drought treatment). ΨP was found to be more highly variable than ΨM in the difference between non-CNC treatment and CNC treated plants. CNC treated and non-CNC treated controls showed little to no difference. No significant difference was found in soil temperatures, fluorescence (Fv/Fm), or chlorophyll concentrations (via SPAD) between any replicants. A longer treatment period wherein significant declines in physiological performance observed in the non CNC-treated plants drought is needed to confirm a positive effect of CNC treatment on overall plant health during induced drought. However, these findings suggest that a low-cost CNC based treatment can be used to improve the water availability in drought conditions lasting for a period of two weeks or longer. Further testing is also required to determine which CNC material, or a mixture of CNC material was effective.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Kianna Dean
Anne Lichtenwalner
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Anne Lichtenwalner
Abstract: Many individuals become pig owners without knowing how to properly care for them, resulting in health- related setbacks due to poor diet, unmanaged environment(s), or other less than optimal health conditions due to negligence. This can negatively affect human health, since pigs host the highest number of zoonotic diseases of any livestock animal (CDC, 2017). In Maine, parasites such as coccidia, Toxoplasma gondii, hookworm, and ascarids affect both production and pet pigs; some are of zoonotic importance.
Since 2000, over 60 pig cases have been diagnosed by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UMVDL) via necropsy, fecal evaluation or PCR, to prevent further sightings of poor health in Maine pigs. In approximately 48% of cases, gastrointestinal parasites were found. We hypothesized that porcine management methods are predictive of parasite burdens in Maine pigs. In the first part of this project, a survey was created for Maine production and household pig owners about how they raise their animals.
In the second part of this project, diagnostic cases were evaluated to further characterize mistakes in management (ongoing).
Fifty-three responses to the survey were utilized, coming from 14 of Maine’s 16 counties. A third of pigs were kept on pasture. Of 48 respondents, 21% kept pigs as pets and 75% for production pigs. Five of 6 respondents whose pigs had gastrointestinal parasites raised solely production pigs. If the adjustment of certain management practices proves to reduce internal parasites, both pigs and humans can benefit from improved health.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Sungjun Hwang
Collen Walker
Yousoo Han
Douglas Gardner
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Douglas Gardner
Abstract: Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) derived from wood or plant fibers can be classified as eco-friendly materials and considerable research activity on the utilization of CNFs as a reinforcing filler in polymer matrices has been reported. BKP, UKP, and OCC are good feedstock sources for manufacturing cellulose nanofibrils via mechanical treatment. To properly apply CNFs in various applications, a proper CNF drying method should be developed. Spray drying is fast, simple, cost-effective and scalable so it is used in various industries including the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical manufacturing. Among the different techniques of spray-drying, the pilot scale-rotary disk atomizer has many advantages such as large capacities and also drying efficiency at lower pressures and less feed blockage. In this study, Bleached kraft pulp (BKP), Unbleached kraft pulp (UKP), and Old corrugated cardboard pulp (OCC) were spray-dried through a rotary disc atomizer. Then the produced Spray-dried cellulose nanofibers (SDCNFs) were applied to a polypropylene (PP) matrix as a reinforcing material, and the MAPP was used as a coupling agent. A master batch was used for the optimal dispersion and distribution of SDCNF and MAPP in the PP matrix. It was confirmed that the tensile, flexural, and impact strength properties increased with SDCNF was added to the PP matrix.
- Abstract Moved to Biomedical Sciences – Presentation withdrawn from judging
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Elyse Daub
Peter Avis
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Peter Avis
Abstract: The decomposition of wood is driven by a combination of abiotic and biotic factors, the most influential of them all are fungi. These decomposer fungi use the wood for food, digesting woody material to absorb nutrients and release carbon dioxide. Fungi are the primary drivers of decomposition in most terrestrial ecosystems; thus, the rate and degree of decomposition are greatly dependent on the community of fungi found on woody debris. However, little is known about which fungi decompose woody debris most efficiently. This study aims to investigate the decomposer fungi in the Bear Brook Watershed via molecular techniques and quantify their rates of decomposition to understand which fungi are the most effective decomposers. Early data suggests the distance of proxy decay stakes may impact the rate of decomposition and the addition of nitrogen may have little to no impact on the rate of decomposition. Results regarding fungal species identifications and distributions are currently pending as of the writing of this abstract.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Adwoa Dankwa
Jennifer Perry
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Perry
Abstract:
Introduction:
Kombucha has gained popularity due to perceived health benefits including probiotics to antimicrobial properties. Production requires a starter culture (SCOBY) comprising complex bacteria and yeast populations. The SCOBY self-propagates for use in sequential brewing cycles. Commercially available SCOBYs used in kombucha production have a short shelf-life as there are currently no known long-term preservation techniques. This precludes producers reliably sourcing a consistent microbial consortium for fermentation. There is, therefore, the need to evaluate and identify preservation techniques that would ensure longer storage of cultures for distribution and maintenance of the quality and integrity of the cultures. This study evaluates preservation techniques and their effects on microbial stability, recovery, and survival after storage.
Method:
Three SCOBYs were obtained from commercial suppliers (n=2) or homebrewers (n=1). Each culture system was propagated by brewing following a simplified standard recipe. Newly propagated SCOBY samples were collected at pH 3 and underwent size modification by various degrees of blending (fine paste and small particulate). Unmodified samples received no size modification. 4 SCOBY sample sets, each consisting of unmodified, fine paste, and small particulate samples were subjected to 1 of each treatment group: no preservation(control), vacuum drying (40 oC), freezing (-20oC) or freeze-drying (-20 oC, 30 min/0.6mbar, 48 hr). Samples were enumerated for acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and yeast on selective media using the thin-layer method. Data were subjected to ANOVA and bar plots for visualization.
Results:
Unpreserved cultures were not significantly affected by SCOBY size modification in either yeast (3.07-3.61 LogCFU/g) or AAB (3.08-3.18 LogCFU/g) populations. Microbial populations were significantly affected by preservation techniques and interaction of preservation techniques with size modification. Yeast and AAB populations were undetectable after drying in all sample types. Yeast populations ranged from 1.33-1.90 LogCFU/g in only blended modified frozen and freeze-dried samples with no counts in unmodified samples.
Significance:
These data suggest that particle size reduction increases survival of yeast cells and should be integrated into SCOBY preservation strategies. Drying, freezing, and freeze-drying of SCOBY adversely affect the stability and viability of microbial culture. This suggests the need to incorporate protectants prior to preservation to maintain the integrity of preserved samples.
- Post-Harvest Treatment Effects on Physicochemical Properties and Composition of North Atlantic Squid
Submission Type: Virtual Presentation
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Caitlin Hillery
Denise Skonberg
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Denise Skonberg
Abstract: The primary objective of this research is to characterize the compositional differences between two North Atlantic squid species, Illex illecebrosus and Doryteuthis pealeii, based on post-harvest processing procedures such as freezing methods and brining methods ubiquitous in the calamari industry. Other objectives include determining compositional differences between edible portions (mantles and tentacles); determining compositional and quality differences between unfinished product (whole squid) and processed product sold to consumers (cleaned, brined, and refrozen mantles and tentacles); and comparing the compositional and quality impacts of two different freezing methods (plate freezing at sea vs. blast freezing on land) on the squid. Contents of moisture, crude protein, soluble protein, and ash were determined through standard methods following dissection and homogenization of squid subsamples. Instrumental color was evaluated using a Hunterlab colorimeter to determine L*a*b* values, and instrumental texture was measured using a TA-X2i texture analyzer. This research also focuses on measures of protein quality: water-holding capacity was determined by a standard centrifugation procedure, and in-vitro protein digestibility will be performed on freeze-dried mantle and tentacle samples. The effects of all independent variables have been, and will be, analyzed statistically with ANOVA, with p < 0.05. Analyses are ongoing; however, moisture analysis has indicated that processed squid samples exhibit higher moisture contents than whole animals, and nitrogen analysis has suggested significant effects of all independent variables on crude protein content. These squid are the only two species in the world that have been certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, and this research will allow fisheries to insure product quality, optimize their procedures for handling, storage, and processing, and potentially directly or indirectly reduce food waste in the industry.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Sophie Craig
Tayo Adekeye
Cecilia Moens
Jared Talbot
Graduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Jared Talbot
Abstract: During embryonic muscle development, some cells migrate away from somites to give rise to the limb musculature and to muscle in other positions like the neck and tongue. Muscle precursor migration requires function of the homeodomain genes Six1 and Six4. However, Six1 and Six4 expression is found broadly, in all muscle precursors, and it remains unclear why only some muscle precursors migrate while most do not. In zebrafish, muscle precursors only migrate from a region of the anterior trunk called “occipital somites.” Since Hox genes are known to govern anterior-posterior patterning, we hypothesized that specific Hox genes may activate the migration of these occipital cells. Published expression patterns suggest that hoxb5a and hoxb5b may be specifically expressed in the migratory muscle precursor cells. During a GSBSE rotation, I did preliminary analysis on muscle precursors in hoxb5a mutants, hoxb5b mutants and in the hoxb5a;hoxb5b double mutant. In the two single mutants, these occipital cells were mildly reduced and in the hoxb5a;hoxb5b double mutant they are around three-quarters the wild-type size. These findings suggest that both hoxb5 genes promote muscle precursor migration. Although other Hox genes likely also activate occipital muscle precursor migration, our work with these Hoxb5 genes may be a first step towards understanding how these muscle precursors become particularly responsive to pro-migratory signals.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Courtney Hawkins
Bryan Peterson
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Bryan Peterson, Renae Moran
Abstract: Peaches are one of the most in-demand summer fruits in Maine. Growing peach trees is a risky endeavor due to their flower’s susceptibility to be ruined by frost despite the recent warmer winters. Therefore, the development of more cold hardy varieties that can consistently perform in Maine’s climate will support orchard growers in Maine and support the state’s economy. Using peach breeding by hybridization of peach genotypes, producing a plant with superior traits is possible. This all starts with rescuing immature seeds from early ripening fruits by using tissue culture. The peach genotype ‘Bailey’, was selected for hybrid breeding due to its tolerance to spring frosts. Different disinfestation methods were tested to ensure the best results, and 70% Ethanol proved to be the most reliable. Test tubes were prepared full of growing medium to provide the seed with plenty of nutrients to grow despite its access to water and sunlight. When the seeds began to root, they were moved from their tubes to fresh soil and placed in the Roger Clapp greenhouse. By improving breeding in seeds wherein both parents are late-ripening peach varieties, it can result in greater percentages of hybrids that are alike, or even later-so flowering than their parents. To date, these plants are being monitored for growth and will be the beginning of a rewarding project that expands the growing range of this fruit into regions that are prone to frost.
- Abstract Moved to Biomedical Sciences – Presentation withdrawn from judging
- The Rapid Enumeration of Mixed Culture using a Novel Image-Based Cytometry Method-Presentation Withdrawn From Judging
- Non-Narcotic Pain Interventions and the Effectiveness of Decreasing Pain – Presentation withdrawn from judging
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Engineering and Information Sciences
Author(s):
Sarah Brindisi
PhilAnn Dixon
Bridget Gessner
Lauren Dergoatis
Kelley Strout
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Kelley Strout
Abstract: PICO Question:
In adult patients experiencing pain (P), would non-narcotic pain interventions (I) as compared to an opioid medication regimen (C) be effective in decreasing pain (O)?
Topic and Purpose:
Throughout the United States of America, opioids are a first line treatment for chronic pain management especially postoperatively. Around 30% of patients with pain who are prescribed opioids will misuse them and 12% develop an opioid use disorder (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2021). Opioids are prescribed daily to combat moderate to severe pain, which can ultimately lead to addiction and overdose.
Methods:
CINHAL database was used to search words including non-narcotic pain interventions, the effects of opioid medication, national opioid crisis rates, relaxation therapy, addiction and overdose, and chronic pain severity. The main consideration when choosing the eleven articles that were retrieved was eliminating any risk of bias in order to draw conclusions on the efficacy of non-narcotic pain interventions. This is an accurate approach to provide information based on the amount of literature surrounding the topic before narrowing in and addressing more specific questions related to pain interventions.
Outcomes:
Multiple non-narcotic interventions have shown promising effects in decreasing pain in adult patients. Music and massage therapy are most frequently used interventions along with grouping multiple therapies to benefit the patient. By combining or bundling interventions together such as heat and physical therapy promotes comfort and prevents complications that are often associated with chronic pain. Providers often prescribe opioids to manage chronic pain despite the risk for developing long term dependence. Opioids are a tertiary level of prevention and a downstream measure for chronic pain. It is found that using an upstream approach to treat pain results in more positive outcomes for patients’ pain status with efforts to lower the rate of opioid dependence. Music and massage therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture, relaxation interventions, guided imagery, cold and heat therapy along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common pain management interventions that should be used as an upstream measure.
Recommendations for Nursing Practice:
Nurses and health care providers should advocate for non-narcotic pain interventions because it is an effective upstream pain management approach for adult patients. By suggesting and implementing these strategies, the prevalence of opioid prescriptions may decrease, further lowering the severity of addiction and overdose.
Submission Type: Poster
Submission Category: Natural Sciences
Author(s):
Katie Westbrook
Caeli Connolly
Amanda Fay
Karl Kreutz
Undergraduate Student Presentation
Faculty Mentor: Karl Kreutz
Abstract: Rates of glacier mass loss in Southeast Alaska are among the highest on Earth, and have a range of local, regional, and global impacts. For example, ongoing changes in glacier volume and extent are likely to affect stream flows and chemistry of coastal rivers, which in turn will have impacts on nearshore marine environments in the Gulf of Alaska and water resources. Changes in ice flow can affect erosion rates and tectonic activity in the region, and Alaskan ice loss is making a significant contribution to global sea level rise. In addition, the history of and ongoing changes in ice extent in the region provide important clues to climate processes that shaped Earth’s evolution on long timescales (hundreds to tens of thousands of years), as well as important context for recent global warming. To investigate these and other related issues, the ERS410: Sea-to-Sky Experience travel study course will visit Southeast Alaska in May 2022. We are framing our work with the following question: How has ice changed in Southeast Alaska? The goal of this project is to quantify glacier extent and thickness specifically around Juneau. We will employ a range of state-of-the-art data collection techniques including geomorphic mapping, glacial chronology construction using cosmogenic isotope dating, ground- and ice-penetrating radar, and ice coring. Here we present a concept map that details our plans for data collection and comparison with past records and modern models, and explores how the glacial change relates to regional and global processes.