Unraveling the effects of climate change and textiles from different production stages on vital zooplankton prey

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My research looks at the effects of both natural and synthetic microfibers on zooplankton, mysid shrimp. I am analyzing growth, behavior, and differential gene expression following exposure to microfibers and an ocean acidification trial in both laboratory-based and field-collected mysids. This work will begin to unravel how these vital prey organisms may be impacted, with implications for marine and estuarine food webs as well as textile manufacturing. 

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RATIONALE

Chasing my ultimate goal of understanding how microplastics impact marine organisms, I joined the Brander Lab at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center. Working in the Brander Lab has given me a formal experience in toxicology and toxicity testing, while collaborations with the GEMM lab have allowed me to consider the broader ecological implications of my research. One major goal I had for my dissertation was to begin to understand the effects of environmentally relevant microplastics.

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on a Pelagic Marine Mammal, the Northern Elephant Seal

NOAA Fisheries Permit #19108

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Using the molecular and microplastics skills I gained from my undergraduate research experiences, I researched the presence of microplastics and their effects on Northern Elephant Seals. This work provided me with the opportunity to work with marine mammals in a research capacity. Working with my fellow labmates and collaborators, I was able to conduct fieldwork, collecting biopsies, blood samples, and fecal samples from elephant seal pups to adult males at Año Nuevo State Park and Point Reyes National Seashore. In the lab, I developed methods to isolate microplastics from fecal samples and used tissue collected in the field to conduct primary cell culture and nanoplastics toxicity tests. I also conducted RNA extractions and bioinformatics on tissue previously exposed to epinephrine, cortisol, and/or BPA/BPS. 

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RATIONALE

I took this opportunity to use the skills I'd learn in an applied context in marine mammals. This research gets me closer to the question: how do our everyday actions impact charasmatic megafauna, such as marine mammals? What implications do these results have for the impacts of plastics on humans?  

Microplastics and microfibers in surface waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary​

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I had life-changing experiences conducting cetacean fieldwork in the Monterey Bay, but most importantly, conducting microplastics research in the Goldbogen laboratory at HMS cemented my passion for conservation and education. In collaboration with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), I collected samples from the field and developed methods to extract and quantify concentrations of microplastic particles to determine whether particles came from terrestrial or marine sources (Kashiwabara et al. in 2021). To further understand the world and current state of microplastics, I attended Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutes international conference on microplastics. 

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RATIONALE

I knew this experience was in a lab that was heavily interested in cetacean biomechanics (not necessarily physiology), but I was excited because I heard this opportunity would involve researching microplastics (an anthropogenic effect on the environment) in a cetacean laboratory.

Short-term effects of extreme upwelling on ventilation rates in juvenile gopher rockfish (Sebastes carnatus)

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Using rockfish from NOAA NMFS, I studied the effects of climate change-induced upwelling conditions on the physiology of juvenile gopher rockfish in the Logan lab at CSUMB. Rockfish are widely studied due to their economic and ecological importance at their varied life stages. However, all rockfish species are managed the same way, so species-specific research is necessary to determine if some rockfish species will be more susceptible to climate change compared to others. To study physiological effects, I analyzed differential gene expression using transcriptomics in my capstone course, compared ventilation rates, and I am completing enzyme assays to identify differences in aerobic and anaerobic activity. I shared my results that juvenile gopher rockfish are affected but may be able to recover from acute exposures in a poster presentation at the CSUMB Summer Symposium, and I was invited to compete in the CSUMB Fall Showcase where I won second place for my oral presentation on this research. This led me to further present my research at the California State University Student Research Competition.

RATIONALE

This research allows me to see directly how climate change stressors will affect marine vertebrates. Were the rockfish going to have a harder time metabolizing? Were they going to be impaired in some way? How can we predict the future of these species?

At the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA NMFS) center in Santa Cruz, I learned basic aquaculture skills and began to be more independent. Commuting 40mi a day and working in a new laboratory was a real step outside of my comfort zone. Using a HACH probe, I checked the pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature levels and fed the rockfish housed at NOAA NMFS. I also trained a graduate student in this process. My role as a laboratory assistant included liquid nitrogen training and counting tens of thousands of rockfish larvae for later molecular analysis.

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RATIONALE

I learned the skills necessary to understand different climate change-related ocean conditions and how to care for marine vertebrates. One step closer to marine mammals!

Differences in Pterygophora californica stype ring morphology: Annual ring analysis indications of environmental conditions presentation and short-term upwelling presentation

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Focusing on anthropogenic effects on kelp, I became enthralled with the research process, being an expert on my particular project, and sharing my research. In the Phycology Laboratory at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), I completed my first research project and focused on studying the effects of sea surface temperatures on the stipe ring widths of Pterygophora californica, stalked kelp. Though a common species, Pterygophora had not been researched concerning the effects of climate change. Due to its long-lived perennial stipe and biannual rings, identifying a relationship between sea surface temperature and ring width provided the ability to estimate relative sea surface temperatures between years and seasons. Working in a graduate lab taught me the daily comradery and collaboration essential to complete any research. Once complete, I featured this research in poster presentations at the CSUMB Summer Symposium, the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) conference, and the CSUMB Spring Showcase.

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RATIONALE

I was excited to finally be studying the ocean, and even better, sea surface temperature (climate change-related) on an ocean organism (pterygophora)