STUDENT section: Undergraduate Internships
Research Internships in Field Science (RIFS) Project Archive 2008 – 2009
PROJECT LIST FROM SUMMER 2009
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.
PROJECT LIST FROM SUMMER 2008
Invasive Species (invertebrates)
Mentor: Dr. Jenn Dijkstra and Linda Auker (UNH)
Insect Behavior and Ecology
Mentor: Dr. Thomas Seeley (Cornell University)
Mentor: Dr. Julie Ellis (SEANET Coordinator, Tufts University)
Seabird Ecology (terns)
Mentors: Dr. Hal Weeks (Cornell University) Dan Hayward, Tern Project Coordinator
Ecology and Impacts of Marine Trematode Parasites
Mentors: Dr. Jeb Byers (University of New Hampshire) and Irit Altman (UNH)
Ecology and Reproductive Success of Common Eiders
Mentor: Dr. David Bonter (Cornell University, Laboratory of Ornithology)
