News And Upcoming Events
GLOBES REU Projects: Summer 2008
Undergraduate students interested in cutting-edge research projects mentored by GLOBES faculty advisors and students are encouraged to look over the projects below and to contact faculty and students associated with each project to further explore these opportunities prior to submitting a formal application. Review of applications begins March 1, 2008.
Dynamics of macaque-human population interactions
GLOBES Faculty Advisors: Agustin Fuentes, Anthropology (afuentes@nd.edu); Hope Hollocher, Biological Sciences (hollocher.1@nd.edu)
Brief Research Overview:
In evaluating the island wide population dynamics of long-tailed macaques as established in the context of an anthropogenically altered landscape, this research seeks to elucidate the role of the landscape on wildlife population structure, and in turn, on the population structure of the pathogens of those macaque populations.
REU Project Description:
- In conjunction with the fine-scale analysis of macaque population structure and the assessment of interaction patterns between humans, macaques and local ecologies being carried out, a student will examine pathogen aggregation, intensity, and prevalence of gastrointestinal pathogens in the macaques of Padangtegal-Ubud, one of the main field sites in Bali. The goal will be to facilitate an understanding of the role of host population structure and pathogen aggregation in influencing pathogen population structure in these anthropogenic contexts.
- Tackle the evolutionary distinction between parasite and virus, in the context of high densities of macaques in overlapping landscapes with high densities of humans, an important factor in the implications for emerging infectious diseases. Most of the EIDs of the last 40 years, including the most highly pathogenic, have been viruses emerging onto the Asian and African landscapes in areas of high density NHPs. These include Nipah virus, HIV-SIV, Ebola virus, Chikungunya virus, Dengue viruses, SARS, and most recently, Avian influenza. In developing a clear, in-depth picture of the viral load of Padangtegal-Ubud, a centrally-located, high tourist visitation monkey forest, the student will be able to both create a differential phylogenetic structure of the pathogens of Pedangtegal-Ubud and provide vital epidemiological information about the potential risk of bi-directional viral transmission events.
Salmon and watershed timber harvest influence stream dynamics in Southeast Alaska
GLOBES Faculty Advisors: Jen Tank, Biological Sciences (tank.1@nd.edu)
GLOBES Fellow/Mentor: Peter Levi (plevi@nd.edu)
Brief Research Overview:
This research studies the functional and biogeochemical response of streams to timber harvest legacy and annual salmon migrations in Southeast Alaska. Timber harvest exerts a strong physical influence on these streams, while salmon provide a significant nutrient subsidy to the biotic communities. Multiple ecosystem metrics (e.g. whole-stream metabolism, nitrification rates, and nutrient flux) are used to understand the abiotic and biotic drivers of stream function in response to human and natural disturbance events. For more general project information, please visit the following web link: http://globes.nd.edu/people/pleviresearch.shtml
REU Project Description:
The opportunity for an undergraduate to conduct complimentary research using stream ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry is available through this REU program. Several potential projects on stream response to both timber harvest and salmon can be discussed with Peter. For instance, do metabolism rates vary across different substrate types (e.g., rocks, sediment, large wood) and how do these data compare to whole-stream rates? The research will result in data to be presented at a national conference and published in a peer reviewed journal. Dates for the REU position are early June through mid-August with tentative travel to Southeast Alaska from late June to early August.
Global climate change and distribution of species
GLOBES Faculty Advisor: Jessica Hellmann, Biological Sciences (hellmann.3@nd.edu)
GLOBES Fellow/Mentor: Derrick Parker (dparker3@nd.edu)
Brief Research Overview: This research aims to understand the role that climate change plays in limiting the distribution of species, the possibility that species could colonize regions outside their historic distribution, and the potential effectiveness of assisted migration as a management tool. The research pursues these aims in a model study system involving butterflies living in a threatened ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. For more information on this project visit the following web link: http://globes.nd.edu/people/parkerresearch.shtml
REU Project Description: An REU assistant will investigate the role of climate as a potential range constraint for two contrasting butterfly species sharing a common northern boundary in a coastal ecosystem in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Transplant experiments rearing individuals of each species within their native range and north of their current distribution limit will serve as a useful tool to determine range-limiting factors, the potential for species’ range shifts, and the efficacy of a potential assisted migration strategy under scenarios of climate change.
Restoration of ecosystem function in agricultural streams
GLOBES Faculty Advisor: Jen Tank, Biological Sciences (tank.1@nd.edu)
GLOBES Fellow/Mentor: Sarah Roley (sroley@nd.edu)
Brief Research Overview: In the agricultural Midwest, channelized headwater streams export excess nutrients and sediments, resulting in downstream eutrophication. Two-stage ditch construction is a novel restoration technique in which formerly incised channels are excavated to create floodplains on either side of the channel. During storms, restored floodplains are inundated and are predicted to increase sedimentation and biological processing of nutrients. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, we are testing the efficacy of this restoration technique by measuring denitrification rates in the stream channel and on the constructed floodplains. We are also measuring continuous whole-stream metabolism, to quantify stream bioreactivity and estimate assimilatory uptake of nitrogen. For more information on this project visit the following web link: http://globes.nd.edu/people/roleyresearch.shtml
REU Project Description: The undergraduate researcher will have the opportunity to carry out an independent project in partnership with ongoing research. The project topic will depend upon the student’s interests, and could include any relevant examination of agricultural stream restoration and biogeochemistry. In addition, the student will learn denitrification assays, programming field equipment, data management, and running metabolism models.
The influence of spawning salmon on diatom diversity in Alaskan streams
GLOBES Faculty Advisor: Gary Lamberti (lamberti.1@nd.edu)
GLOBES Fellow/Mentor: Patrick Shirey (pshirey@nd.edu) For more info go to: http://globes.nd.edu/people/shireyresearch.shtml
Brief Research Overview: Most Pacific salmon are anadromous, semelparous fish, which means that they are born in freshwater, live in the ocean and return to freshwater to spawn and die. Spawning salmon provide nutrients to streams but may also disturb stream sediments during spawning. The Stream Ecology Lab has an ongoing project examining the influence that Pacific salmon have on stream food webs. This part of the project will examine the influence that spawning salmon have on the diversity of diatom communities that grow on stream sediments. Diatoms are single-celled algae with a unique cell wall composed of glass (silica oxide). Diatom communities are excellent indicators of environmental conditions, because diatoms are an extremely diverse group of organisms and each species has specific habitat tolerances.
REU Project Description: This research will be accomplished by preparing and analyzing diatom communities from the gut contents of invertebrates collected from Alaskan streams. While the majority of this research experience will be laboratory-based, the undergraduate will also have the opportunity to participate in sampling trips for two related projects exploring trout and salmon streams in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (see http://www.nd.edu/%7Estrmeco/).
Get the Lead Out
GLOBES Faculty Advisors: John G. Borkowski, (jborkowski@nd.edu), Jody Nicholson, Psychology (jnichol4@nd.edu);
Brief Research Overview:
Even low levels of lead have been linked to developmental delays, lowered IQ’s, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems in children. Get the Lead Out is a community-based research project out of the Notre Dame Center for Children and Families testing different intervention tactics which aim to decrease children’s blood lead levels. Intervention methods include a cleaning kit with HEPA vacuum, a home risk assessment, and informational brochures. Child lead levels are measured before and after a six-month intervention period. Mothers are interviewed 8 times over the course of the project with home-based interviews and short phone call interviews. It is believed that the results of this study will help to develop effective, and cost-efficient, methods for reducing lead exposure in children nation-wide.
REU Project Description:
The undergraduate researcher will have the opportunity to complete an independent project related to the “Get the Lead Out” study. During this project, they will work directly with our community partners, Head Start and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and with families participating in the study. Students will be trained to write a research proposal, conduct home-based and phone interviews for the project, enter and analyze data, and recruit new participants.
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