The latest paper from the UTPA REU program

It took 1,017 days for the journal to publish the paper (that’s over two years), but one more paper has finally been published arising from student research supported by the UTPA REU. It’s nice to have one more addition to add to the “Success stories” on REU Bio website.

The lead author, Jessica Murph, is now pursuing a master’s degree in counseling.

Murph JH, Faulkes Z. 2013. Abundance and size of sand crabs, Lepidopa benedicti (Decapoda: Albuneidae), in South Texas. The Southwestern Naturalist 58(4): 431-434. DOI: 10.1894/0038-4909-58.4.431

Abstract

Albuneid sand crabs are found in sandy beaches around the world, but little is known about the basic biology of any species in the family. We sampled sand crabs, Lepidopa benedicti, for 2 years at South Padre Island, Texas, at two locations: one developed site near the town, where recreational use is high and one undeveloped site away from the town, where recreational use is lower. We hypothesized that sand crabs would be less abundant and smaller at the developed site than at the undeveloped one. Densities were highest in summer and lowest in winter but did not differ between the two sites. There was no difference in size of individuals at the two locations. Females were significantly more common and larger than males. No ovigerous female was discovered at either location over 2 years of sampling. Individuals at South Padre Island are consistently smaller than those recorded from the northern Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, suggesting the region might have habitat that is low quality for the species.

Still producing! New UTPA REU paper

Even though the REU program at UTPA officially ended at the end of summer in 2010, there is still work coming out from students who were in that program. The newest is a paper in Journal of Parasitology, co-authored by Ashley Longoria, who was in the second cohort of the program.

Fredensborg BL, Longoria AN. 2012. Increased surfacing behavior in longnose killifish infected by brain-encysting trematode. Journal of Parasitology 98(5): 899-903. DOI: 10.1645/GE-3170.1

Abstract

Some parasites modify the behavior of intermediate hosts to increase the probability of transmission to the next host in their life cycle. In habitats where this is common, parasites play an important role in predator-prey links and food web dynamics. In this study we used laboratory observations to investigate the behavior of longnose killifish, Fundulus similis, that were naturally infected with metacercariae of the trematode, Euhaplorchis sp. A, from Laguna Madre, south Texas. In particular, we examined whether there was a relationship between the number of metacercariae lodged on the brain of the infected fish and behaviors that made the fish more conspicuous to avian final hosts. We also quantified the abundance and cercariae production of this parasite in its first intermediate snail host, Cerithidea pliculosa, and examined the seasonal variation of Euhaplorchis sp. A in F. similis. Our data demonstrated that Euhaplorchis sp. A affected the surfacing behavior of F. similis in an intensity-dependent manner. Fish with many infections spent longer time at the surface of the water than fish with few infections. Our data also show that Euhaplorchis sp. A is a common parasite in the first intermediate host and produces close to 4,000 cercariae m⁻² day⁻¹. Consequently 97% of all fish collected and necropsied were infected, with little seasonal variation in the mean abundance of the parasite. Based on our data, Euhaplorchis sp. A is likely important to predator-prey links in Gulf of Mexico estuary food webs, similar to the closely related Euhaplorchis californiensis in southern California. We expect that other closely related species elsewhere may have similar effects on other fish hosts, emphasizing the need for incorporating trophically transmitted parasites in estuarine food web studies.

Student profile: Amery Yang

What is your project about?

My project is about measuring oxidative stress in hyper-accumulators and non-accumulators through the biochemical aspect. I will be running assay tests such as SOD, TBARS, CAT, Protein Carbonylation, and Protein Analysis. I will be in charge of two plants: Streptanthus farnsworthianus and Streptanthus polygaloides.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

I have learned about many research opportunities that can expand my research experience and knowledge about careers in research. I have enjoyed my time in the lab. To me, I don't view research as job. I get to have fun and learning at the same time. I have also enjoyed talking with the speakers and getting to know how they decided to do research as a career goal.

What are you looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to the upcoming TAS meeting where I will be participating in the poster sessions. I am also looking forward to meeting future speakers and being able to talk with them.

Student profile: Ammie Ortiz

What is your project about?

My research is on the stresses of the seagrass, Thalassia testudinum. There are different types of stresses but our focus is mostly on the stresses caused by salinity. Some problems that seagrasses face in the bay (Laguna Madre) are reduced salinity levels. Reduced salinity levels are induced by an influx of fresh water from rain showers and at times hurricanes. Large amount of freshwater can drastically reduce salinity levels from normal 35 part per thousand to low levels of 14 part per thousand, nearly wiping out the seagrass beds. Unfortunately, this event recently occurred when Hurricane Dolly hit our coastline and reduced salinity levels to as low as 1 part per thousand (freshwater) in the Laguna Madre. We recreated the event by taking T. testudinum from their natural environment to a controlled tank area and currently monitoring their response to both reduced and increased salinity levels.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

Time management and patience would definitely be something I’ve taken from this entire experience so far. Also, the “hands-on” experience in both field work and lab has given me more knowledge and a better appreciation to scientific research. The mentors/professors, too, have made this a great experience for me. They help out in every way possible and encourage us to do more for ourselves.

What are you looking forward to?

I look forward to gaining more insight of the research world as I continue to work on my REU project and meet other successful scientist. Keeping close communications with my mentors/professors is definitely something I’m looking forward to as well, since they are the experts in this field so who better to ask advice. Lastly, with everything I’ve learned and continue to learn, I hope to get accepted to grad school considering that I have more experience in the research field all thanks to this program.

Student profile: Ashley Longoria

What is your project about?

My project is based on behavior modification of four related killifish after being exposed to Euhaplorchis californiensis. I am investigating the if this parasite specializes in one of species, then another.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

I have learned that biology is a growing field, and there is so much to still to discover! What I have enjoyed the most from working in the lab is getting the feeling of being the first to examine this unexplored area.

What are you looking forward to?

I am currently working on my project, and in hopes will get excellent results on my research.

Student profile: Stephanie Castellanos

What is your project about?

Soil ecology, looking at different types of soil organisms and the uptake of them in various soil and plant environments.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

I enjoy gaining experience in a lab setting as well as going out into the field and collecting samples. It is also nice to have mentor professor who is helpful and encourages a future in research. I enjoy meeting other folks in REU program who share similar goals.

What are you looking forward to?

For the year to end! Just kidding. I look forward for graduate school where I can apply my knowledge and experience from taking part in the REU program.

Student profile: Jess Valdez

What is your project about?

My project is observing how temperature variation affects the sprint speed of Sceloporus olivaceus. My test subject is a local species of lizard commonly known as Texas Spiny Lizard. It can be found in trees and other types of terrain.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

In participating in the REU program I have learned that there are many opportunities in expanding my career as a research biologist. I have enjoyed the many speakers and mentors that have visited our campus and I have also enjoyed working on a project that I am very passionate and enthusiastic about.

What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to presenting my research to the public and publishing a paper. I am also looking forward to obtaining my Master's and continuing my career.

Student profile: Stephanie Jimenez

What is your project about?

I am currently working with a new crayfish (Marmorkrebs) that is completely parthogenetic. Because this animal was only recently discovered (mid 1990s), there is much to learned. This means that my projects are varied and include some genetic experiments and several different types of behavioral experiments. In the future we hope to begin work on some ecology and neural anatomy experiments.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

So far the best part of REU for me has been the kind of one on one relationships I am building. Not only am I working more closely with the faculty but I have been able to build friendships with the other students in the program. I have also had the opportunity to meet other scientists (outside the valley) that I would have never met. All of this has helped me exercise my people skills which I know will be vital as I continue my career.

What are you looking forward to?

In the short term, I am most looking forward to giving a talk at the Texas Academy of Science conference. Although I have done a poster presentation at Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Boston (with REU) I think that this talk will give me some much needed practice with public speaking.

In the long term, I think I am most looking forward to entering graduate school. This next step for me is going to be a journey and challenge that I have spent a lot of time and effort preparing for.

HESTEC science symposium 2008

The HESTEC science symposium yesterday was held yesterday, and the REU program was proud to welcome visiting mentor Dr. François Therrien.

Despite being the first talk of the morning, Dr. Therrien addressed a large audience in the Engineering auditorium, and delighted listeners with a lively and engaging story about dinosaur diversity and climate change, and how lessons learned in paleontology can inform our understanding of the current climate change crisis.


On Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, Dr. Therrien, joined by fellow paleontologist Darla Zelenitski, visited the student posters and met with the REU students and their mentors individually. They also took a few minutes with REU students in the Sue exhibit to talk a little about the skeleton. As it happened, one part of the exhibit contained a panel proclaiming that T. rex was a "super sniffer," and that the part of the T. rex brain involved with smell was almost the same size as the rest of its brain. Drs. Therrien and Zelenitski had published a paper disputing that claim earlier this year. They argued that the olfactory part of the brain was not as large as had been thought (grapefruit size) -- although it was still large relative to other meat-eating dinosaurs (strawberry sized, maybe).

It's fun to have an expert on hand...


Front row: Amery Yang. Middle row (L to R): Jess Valdez, Stephanie Jimenez, Darla Zelenitski, François Therrien, Ashley Longoria, Ammie Ortiz, Stephanie Castellanos. Back row: Sue.

REU and Earth Day

REU student Claudia Tamez is featured in an article in student newspaper, The Pan American, on her involvement in Earth Day 2008.

REU students: not just researchers, but leaders, too.

The envelope, please...

Our 2008 cohort of students is...

Ammie Ortiz
Stephanie Jimenez
Jessena Valdez
Stephanie Castellanos
Amery Yang
Ashley Longoria

More about these students soon!

Student profile: Claudia Tamez

What is your project about?

My project consists of several studies centered around the rare native water lily of South Texas, Nymphaea elegans. In normal instances, pollen is washed off pollinators. The fluid bath secreted by N. elegans routinely causes pollinators to drown. From one of my studies, I hope to conclude that larger flowers have a higher capacity for fluid thus increasing the rate at which pollinators are sacrificed by the flowers for pollination. Also, Dr. McDonald and I are currently preparing to construct a temporary study site on campus to observe pollinator preference for flower color and pollinator visitation rates.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

I have enjoyed very much my actual physical field work. I am very grateful to be working with a flower so exquisite. I absolutely love when I am surrounded by thousands of beautiful N. elegans flowers in the middle of nowhere; it's absolutely tranquil.

What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to another awesome flowering season and great results to enable me to publish substantial information for future studies on Nymphaea elegans.

Supervisors: Anita Davelos Baines and Andrew McDonald

Student profile: Cassie Rivas

What is your project about?

I am working on propagating plants using tissue culture methods. My focus is to find better protocols for the following plants: Nymphaea ( a water lily), Jatropha, and citrus.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

So far I have learned that every detail is extremely important as well as what tissue culture is and why it is used. What I really enjoy about research is that you really don't know what results your going to get and for me, that's exciting.

What are you looking forward to?

As time goes by I really hope that I get the results I am hoping for and I also look forward to attending the science events we are going to in order to learn more about what other type of science is being tested out there.

Supervisor: Andrew McDonald

Student profile: Natali Meijia

What is your project about?

Seagrass stress. Taking seagrass from its natural environment to a controlled tank and dropping the salinity to see if the seagrass endured any stress.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

I have learned that field and lab work are not as hard as suspected. I have become better acclimated with lab equipment and have become more educated in biology. I have also learned that the professors/mentors are very helpful in any way possible and help set a comfortable, stress free environment. I also learned that I enjoy doing both field and lab work.

What are you looking forward to?

As I go through the program I am looking forward to learning much more through hands on experience and completing a research project. I would also like to continue meeting many people who could help me succeed in the future.

Supervisors: Hudson DeYoe and Mike Persans

Student profile: Maria Calagui

What is your project about?

We are cloning genes from the DNA of metal tolerant plants and expressing the genes in yeast.

What have you learned or enjoyed so far?

I’ve come to respect and acknowledge the amount of effort brought into research. I’ve enjoyed meeting other students who are also in research thus establishing long lasting friendships and networking.

What are you looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to finishing my research project, presenting my results for my honors thesis and discovering where my interests lay.

Supervisor: Mike Persans

Student profile: Mike Torres

What is your project about?

Well, I am going to be using in-situ hybridization to note the expression of Hox, Distal-less and Engrailed genes specifically at the abdominal region where these spring appendages in Collembola are located.

What have you learned or enjoyed about research so far?

Learning is a constant occurrence for me in the lab, whether it's learning a completely new protocol or learning how to do something more efficiently as well as becoming familiar with the snags that we hit along the way. I pretty much enjoy all of it, especially when my reactions work well!

What are you looking forward to most as you go through the program?

I'm looking forward to seeing the in-situs when they're done and also the RNAi which is later on in the project.

Supervisor: Matt Terry

Student profile: Tracy Muniz

What is your project about?

I am going to determine if Couch's Spadefoot Toad has a subterranean thermal and soil moisture preference.

What have you learned or enjoyed about research so far?

By being a part of the REU program I have enjoyed constructing my own research project.

What are you looking forward to most as you go through the program?

I look forward to seeing the end result of my project.

Supervisor: Dr. Fred Zaidan III

Drumroll...

Our first cohort of students is:

Cassandra Rivas
Tracy Muniz
Natali Mejia
Maria Calagui
Derek Martinez
Michael Torres

More about these students soon!