STUDENT section: Undergraduate Internships
Research Internships in Field Science (RIFS)
- Dates: TBD
PREREQUISITE: Must have successfully completed a credit course at SML!
Internship Coordinator: Robin Hadlock Seeley, Assistant Director for Academic Advising, and Senior Research Associate, Cornell University.
2009 PROJECTS:
Impacts of Invasive Crab Predators
Mentor: Dr. Aaren Freeman, University of New Hampshire
As invasive marine species spread through New England many have disrupted the ecological integrity of marine ecosystems. In some cases, these invasions have lead to lasting, rapid-evolutionary changes in native prey. In this project we will compare how populations of the whelk (Nucella lapillus) recognize waterborne, chemical cues from the invasive crabs Carcinus maenas and Hemigrapsus sanguineus. We will collect whelks and egg masses from several locations in the Gulf of Maine and determine if and how chemical cues from the invasive crabs alter the whelk’s foraging behaviors.
Survival and reproduction of gulls, ducks, and swallows in the Isles of Shoals
Mentors: Dr. David Bonter, Cornell University; Dr. Julie Ellis, Tufts University
The Isles of Shoals provide an intriguing venue for studying the ecology of birds and gaining expertise with various methods in ornithological research. The intern will work with Dr. David Bonter and Dr. Julie Ellis studying four common species: Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Common Eiders, and Barn Swallows. The gull research will consist of standard surveys of the island to re-sight and document banded individuals for survival analyses (more than 1,000 gulls banded since 2004), mapping the nests of banded gulls (using GPS), and monitoring the reproductive success of marked birds. The intern will assist with banding juvenile gulls at the end of the internship. Hundreds of Common Eiders nest in the isles, but broods suffer from heavy predation by gulls. Previous research suggests that the eiders may be secondary beneficiaries of gull control efforts on White Island—the intern will conduct bi-weekly crèche surveys to quantify brood movements. Finally, Appledore Island hosts dozens of breeding pairs of Barn Swallows, a long-distance migrant with delayed nesting phenology on the island when compared with mainland swallows. The intern will capture and band the island’s swallows, monitor reproductive timing and success, and assist in analyses of swallow survival.
Microbial Ecology and Nutrient Cycling in the brown seaweed,
Ascophyllum nodosum
Mentor: Dr. Eugene Madsen, Cornell University
Co-mentor: Dr. Robin Hadlock Seeley, Cornell University
The dominant intertidal seaweed of northern hemisphere shores, Ascophyllum nodosum, serves as an important primary producer in Atlantic waters. Like all photosynthetic organisms, Ascophyllum grows and dies, and its biomass is recycled via grazing and/or decomposition. Decomposition is catalyzed by microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that produce extracellular enzymes that break down the key polymeric substances that constitute the seaweed's biomass (e.g., cellulose). While alive, Ascophyllum produces defensive (protective) compounds that result in a lack of invertebrate grazers. Rafts of Ascophylllum routinely wash onto intertidal shores and decompose, but the conditions that allow the seaweed's biomass to begin decomposition are not known. In particular, we would like to explore the transitions between life and death and decomposition for this important seaweed. The surface of the seaweed thallus always harbors microorganisms, but the identities of associated bacteria and fungi that reside there are unknown. Furthermore, the cues and succession that allow normal surface inhabitants (commensals) to transform into decomposers are also unknown. Our studies are directed at exploring these questions.
Impacts of invasive epibionts on intertidal seaweeds
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Dijkstra, University of New Hampshire
Invasive species are a global phenomenon, displacing native species and impacting critical ecosystem functions. In recent years, a number of subtidal invasive species, particularly colonial ascidians, have expanded to the intertidal as epibionts (using other species as substrate) on intertidal seaweeds. The ecological effects of invasive ascidians introduced to seagrass and macroalgal beds, and the ecosystems that depend on continued productivity of these taxa, remain unassessed. The heavier weight of ascidians coupled with their rapid asexual growth suggests they may inhibit growth or increase the risk of being ripped from the substrate. This study will survey the extent of cover on intertidal algae by epibionts in the low, mid, and high intertidal. The Isles of Shoals also provide a unique opportunity to examine the effects of epibionts on seaweeds in protected and exposed sites. We will set-up experiments in the intertidal zone to assess the risk of damage by epibionts.
STIPEND: Each intern will receive room and board on Appledore for 7 weeks and two round trips between Portsmouth and Appledore. Interns are responsible for their own travel arrangements and transportation costs to and from Portsmouth, NH.
SELECTION: Must have successfully completed one credit course at the Shoals Marine Laboratory.
Students from Cornell and UNH will be given preference in the selection
process, but students from any institution who did well on a prior SML
course are also encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will have a
demonstrated ability to work independently and a strong interest in
field science.
DESCRIPTION: The RIFS internships replaces the former Shoals REU internship program. Students chosen for 2009 RIFS internships will spend 7 weeks working on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member who will be resident part-time on Appledore Island. The intern will collect and analyze data and prepare a final project report and a public presentation at the Shoals Marine Laboratory. RIFS interns will have journal club discussions, evening meetings with guest speakers, and a final symposium to present their research results to the entire island community.
2008 PROJECTS:
Invasive Species (invertebrates). CLICK ON TITLE for details
Mentor: Dr. Jenn Dijkstra and Linda Auker (UNH)
Insect Behavior and Ecology. CLICK ON TITLE for details
Mentor: Dr. Thomas Seeley (Cornell University)
Mentor: Dr. Julie Ellis (SEANET Coordinator, Tufts University)
Seabird Ecology (terns). CLICK ON TITLE for details
Mentors: Dr. Hal Weeks (Cornell University) Dan Hayward, Tern Project Coordinator
Ecology and Impacts of Marine Trematode Parasites. CLICK ON TITLE for details
Mentors: Dr. Jeb Byers (University of New Hampshire) and Irit Altman (UNH)
Ecology and Reproductive Success of Common Eiders. CLICK ON TITLE for details
Mentor: Dr. David Bonter (Cornell University, Laboratory of Ornithology)
