Vladislav Melnikov, “A Method for Close Observation of Hybrid Pairings Between Species in the Enchenopa binotata Complex of Treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae)” Mentors: Rafael Rodriguez and Bretta Speck, Biological Sciences Hybridization has many impacts on the process of speciation. Speciation generally…… Read More
Ronita Dua, “Behavioral Responses of Daphnia Magna to Olfactory Cues” Mentor: Rudi Stickler, Biological Sciences Ecological research is vastly impacted by the decisions organisms make in response to variegated stimuli. Chemical cues have significant effects on most aquatic animals and…… Read More
Audrey Schlais, “Can Orb Weaver Spiders Solve Novel Problems?” Mentors: Rafael Rodriguez and Clint Sergi, Biological Sciences The ability to solve problems varies greatly between animal species. Some animals are thought to use insight. Insight is the ability to solve…… Read More
Joan Kaiser, “Functional Metabolic Profiling of Microbial Communities Hosted by Carnivorous Pitcher Plants” Mentors: Erica Young and Andrew Fuchs, Biological Sciences The carnivorous pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea hosts microbial communities that break down captured insect prey to supplement nutrient requirements……. Read More
Cing Kiim, “Functions of the Diverse Antimicrobial Compounds Produced by Xenorhabdus szentirmaii” Mentor: Steven Forst, Biological Sciences Xenorhabdus szentirmaii are symbiotic bacteria that form mutualistic relationships with the insect-killing nematode Steinernema rarum. The nematode enters the intestine of an insect,…… Read More
Cheyenne Smith, “The Changing Environmental Factors Affecting Hatching Success in Tree Swallows” Mentor: Peter Dunn, Biological Sciences Birds that eat flying insects (aerial insectivores), such as swallows, are declining at the fastest rates in North America. One prominent hypothesis for…… Read More
Kira Dayton, “The Relationship Between Insect Abundance and Seasonal Temperature and Weather Trends” Mentor: Peter Dunn, Biological Sciences Global climate change is affecting seasonal temperature and weather patterns. There is concern that these changes may be leading to declines in…… Read More
Nathan Tennies, “Where Will it Grow? Bull Kelp Distribution Modeling in the Salish Sea” Mentor: Filipe Alberto, Biological Sciences The bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, is a foundational species for aquatic ecosystems in the Salish Sea on the border of Washington…… Read More