Karen (UR) Got Weed ?

Have I got your attention now?  Thought so.....  :-)

My Research Project is on Duckweed, Lemna minor, and it's ability to filter excess nutrients (Nitrate and Phosphate) from fresh water. This tiny and I mean tiny plant can do big things.
 

This is what is known: For centuries, in Asia, small scale farmers have used this plant to filter out excess nutrients from their "sludge" ponds.  A sludge pond is where waste is kept, it can be animal or plant waste, and turned into fertilizer. Duckweed also purifies the water so that it can be reclaimed for watering crops and livestock. Because Duckweed can double it's mass in 48 hours it is also used as a high protein food source for humans, animals and fish, it has become a multi purpose plant.  Yes, the plant is rinsed and dried before being used.  Recently the University of North Carolina has been conducting research on this subject.  Many other countries have been using this plant for the above purpose as well.  It has been particularly useful in  the Middle East and Africa.

What is not known:  Is Lemna minor a possible answer for the bioremediation of excess nutrients from fresh water?

My scientific question:  Is there a concentration level that is lethal to the Duckweed?

I will be using these materials:

Distilled Water,  LaMotte Nitrate/Phosphate test kit #3119, 4 1/2 inch Culture Dishes, Miracle Gro 8-7-6 Liquid Fertilizer, Biotronette Mark III Environmental Chamber

Methods:

Using the above materials, 4 culture dishes will be prepared with 150 ml of

DI water and liquid fertilizer, 1 as a control, 3 with duckweed.  

Culture dishes will be placed under plant light in the chamber with 12 hours

of daylight.

Every 48 hours the liquid will be checked for evaporation/transpiration loss

and adjusted accordingly using the fertilizer/ DI water mixture. 

The DI water/fertilizer mixture in the dishes will be tested for Nitrate levels.

References:  

Ansari, A. A., & Khan, F. A. (2008). Remediation of eutrophic water using Lemna minor in a controlled environment. African Journal Of Aquatic Science, 33(3), 275-278. doi:10.2989/AJAS.2008.33.3.11.623

Burkholder, J., Libra, B., Weyer, P., Heathcote, S., Kolpin, D., Thorne, P. S., & Wichman, M. (2007). Impacts of Waste from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations on Water Quality. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(2), 308–312. http://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8839

“Wildflower Preserve Water Quality Initiatives.” Lemon Bay Conservancy, lemonbayconservancy.org/wildflower-preserve/wildflower-preserve-water-quality-initiatives/.

 

Augustus (UR) - Arguing with Thermometers

While continuing my research on water level variation in Florida, I've stumbled across some very interesting articles. Now the common belief, by who you ask, is that the growing change in sea level is due to growing global temperatures that are increasing water temperatures and melting the polar ice caps, which in my opinion I agree with, but through my research I've learned that there is so much more. I was always so confused when Dr. Woodall wouldn't say this is a "Climate Change” project and now I see why, it's one of the reasons why I couldn't complete my midterm proposal because I wasn't quite sure what my project was looking for.

In a study produced in Geophysical Research Letters, undertaken by the university of Florida the sea levels in the south eastern United States have risen almost 6x faster than the national average through the years 2011 - 2015 and it has less to do with Climate Change than we thought. 

This Graph shows an average sea level increase of 3.2 mm/year

17 of the 18 warmest years in history have occurred since 2001

What is the cause? Well there are a few basic causes one being the melting of land-based ice and two the expansion of water. Now, in water like in most molecules as the temperature increases so does the space between the atoms as they gain more kinetic energy, thus causing an expansion in water, this according to NASA sea level division can cause an increase in sea levels from 0.4 to 0.8 mm. Those two can be attributed to Climate Change but the extreme increase in water level can also be attributed to natural occurring events exacerbated by increased Global Temperatures. These are El Niño which brings warmer air and increased rainfall over the oceans causing localized sea level increases to the south eastern United States and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) which concentrates that warmer air and water by causing a reduction in the atmospheric pressure which can greatly affect water levels. The NAO is a weather phenomenon of atmospheric pressures at sea level between Iceland and The Azores.

Water Level increases during El Nino

 With all this put together sea level rise could increase in Florida faster than anticipated. 

Valle‐Levinson, Arnoldo, et al. “Spatial and Temporal Variability of Sea Level Rise Hot Spots over the Eastern United States.” Geophysical Research Levels, vol. 44, no. 15, 16 Aug. 2017, pp. 7876–7882.

NASA. “Global Climate Change.” NASA, NASA, 3 June 2014, climate.nasa.gov/.

NASA. “Sea Level Change.” NASA, NASA, 3 June 2014, sealevel.nasa.gov/.

“Sea-Level Rise in Florida.” Florida Sea Grant, www.flseagrant.org/climate-change/sea-level-rise/.

"Plastic Problems: Polluting our Seas" UR- Allie Femiano

   The time of industrialization brought a new way of life for humans, many believed plastics to have positively impacted human life. In a way- plastics had freed us from the restrictions of limited resources and adversity the previous generations had faced. The availability and ease of man-made constructed materials authorizes humans to have ideal control over their daily lives. Although, the environment would argue that we are not in control of the impacts of our own influences. 
   By producing plastic in mass quantities, the world had now found a more productive and efficient way to function. However, the use and abuse of these forever materials are discarded improperly at an alarming rate into the natural world. Specifically our seas- by infecting and polluting the waters with toxicity, our marine life is suffering indisputably. By establishing and polluting such material, we endanger and kill many species. 

Photo by a water filtration company 

IRP Proposal: Microplastics in local fish species

  As most of you are aware, my independent research project is based on data from microplastics discovered in local fish remains. My goal is to collect information from locally caught/ recently dead fish's stomach contents. The accumulation of data from each catch/ collection will reveal a lot of answers to the questions I have about local fish microplastic consumption and answer my scientific question. 

What we know about Microplastic studies in local fish species 

   It's a fairly new study that people have began to pay attention to. Not much data has been documented on this, especially not locally. In the 1970's scientists began to produce records of plastics discovered in the stomachs of sea creatures. Since then, 92 species of fish have been affected and growing. This collected data proves this to be an important research project. We know the seas are filled with tiny pieces of microplastics that once consumed by marine life animals cause mutations and death. In an ecosystem all animals rely on other species for food- one consumption of plastics can spread to more and more animals. Causing the plastic to never break down and to continue polluting and infecting. Not only dangering one species but in turn dangering many more and possibly you (the consumer). 
  
What dont we know?

   Through my research, it has been determined there have not been clear differences in plastic consumption between the pelagic and benthic fishes. It's also prevalent that the plastic micro-pollution and relation to toxicity and impact on the oceanic food chain have also yet to be further studied. All information is also left unanswered on a local scale of which I plan on collecting data from.

My Scientific Question

   Are local fish species suffering from the impacts of microplastic consumption?

Dead fish captured amongst plastic pollution

My Methods 

   From numerous location, I will collect previously dead/ recently caught fish from fishermen and other local beach goers. Also- reaching out to anyone reading my independent research project proposal, contact me if you have any fish available for me to study. I just request a few environmental notes (long. lat), Fish ID, and initial fish mass.

   As I reach the scene, I will record lat/long, fish ID, mass of fish. Then I will remove the fish's stomach contents, weigh and remove the plastics discovered. After examining the remains I will then weigh the microplastics in proportion to the size of the fish (g of plastic per kg of fish) this will become a median between the data. I will record the data for each individual fish species and create an accurate representation of the data interpreted. For example, are local fish affected by microplastic consumption? Is there an underlying relation to fish species habitat and amount of plastics consumed? 

My Materials 

Gloves, Fish scale, GPS, camera, measuring tape, Fish ID guide, knife 

My Data represented 
These interpretations are still a work in process! I know that I will be including information on type of fish species and amount of plastics found in a bar graph. I also hope to create a graph tying the local data of plastics and relation to fish species habitat (pelagic, bottom dwellers).




Works Cited-

oAmaral, Kimberly. “Plastics in Our Oceans.” Plastics in Our Oceans, www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/kamaral/plasticsarticle.html.

oLonne, Torben. “How Ocean Pollution Impacts Marine Life-and All of Us.” MarineSafe, AlterNet, 3 May 2016, www.marinesafe.org/blog/2016/04/18/how-ocean-pollution-impacts-marine-life-and-all-of-us/.

Michelle (UR) - From Fake Smiles to Bloody Scars: Current and Future Uses of Alginate

I am using my IRP to investigate alginate, and its possible use as a filter for microplastics. My scientific question is can water pass through alginate, and if so, is it a viable filter material?

Makeup mold

Dental mold

What is Known:
Alginate is a seaweed-derived substance that is used in biomedical applications, dental molds, and even as a food thickener. There are both paste and powder versions of alginate, and it can be mixed with different substances based on the desired consistency and properties. Makeup artists use alginate molds for special effects, while dentists use them for prosthetic teeth. In biomedical applications, it is used for a range of applications, from wound dressing to drug delivery.
Microplastics are tiny plastic fibers that are less than 5mm, or 1/5 of an inch. These are too small to be removed at wastewater treatment plants, and end up in the environment. Microplastics are a result of larger pieces of plastic that have degraded, or fibers that are manufactured that small. Manufactured microplastics include the fibers of synthetic clothing, which release over a thousand microfibers per wash.

Carolina Biological's Alginate Powder

Materials and Methods:
The materials that I will be using are alginate powder from Carolina Biological, distilled water to mix with the powder, lab dishes and beakers, and screens.

Example of filter backing

The first step will be to test the alginate for different consistencies and thicknesses. Each thickness will be tested for water permeability. This will be done by testing how much water passes through the filter in a predetermined length of time. The three thicknesses that allow the most water through in the fastest amount of time will be chosen for use as filters. These filters will be made using two screens each. The screens will be utilized to limit the amount of large particles from potentially contacting the alginate, as well as to help lower the amount of water pressure on the alginate. The screen will be backed in a crisscross shape, similar to an air filter. This shape will be used for additional strength and stability. Each filter will be tested for the amount of fibers that are collected, as well as the sizes of the particles. I intended to represent the results using two graphs.

This graph does not represent real data; only an example of anticipated results

This graph does not represent real data; only an example of anticipated results

The scatterplot will represent any possible correlation between the thickness of the alginate and the amount of water filtered. The water will be measured in mL per minute. The column graph will represent the amount of each size particle the filters collect.

What if it fails?
If water cannot pass through alginate, that would still be a good result. Instead of making a filter, I would concentrate on attempting to make environmentally friendly, truly disposable cups, plates, and utensils.


References:
Browne, M.A., Galloway, T.S., & Thompson, R.C. (2010). Spatial Patterns of Plastic Debris along Estuarine Shorelines. Environmental Science & Technology, 44, 3404-3409. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es903784e
Carolina Biological (n.d.) Sodium Alginate. https://www.carolina.com/catalog/detail.jsp?prodId=888171&s_cid=ppc_gl_products&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&scid=scplp888171&sc_intid=888171&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2Y_UBRCGARIsALglqQ2Bu4Bw1zd8nrqxnT5xou9IrHOx9ih5FaQZzmbajqxVMToyvWVA31EaAosqEALw_wcB
EnvironMolds, LLC. (n.d) The Many Uses of Alginates. https://www.artmolds.com/alginate-uses
Instructables. Alginate mold photo. https://cdn.instructables.com/FLA/03U5/H0OIZSUN/FLA03U5H0OIZSUN.LARGE.jpg
Lee, K.Y., & Mooney, D.J. (2012). Alginate: properties and biomedical applications. Progress in Polymer Science, 37(1), 106-126. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2011.06.003
Nandini, V.V., Venkatesh, K.V., & Nair, K.C. (2008). Alginate impressions: A practical perspective. Journal of Conservative Dentistry: JCD, 11(1), 37-41. http://doi.org/10.4103/0972-0707.43416
Stan Winston School. Alginate dental mold photo. https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/ckeditor_assets/pictures/1103/content_mark-viniello-cynthia-garza-molding-casting-prosthetic-fake-teeth-tutorial-mini-lesson-009.jpg?1357935904
Yang, Y., Rodriguez-Jorquera, I.A., McGuire, M., & Toor, G.S. (2015). Contaminants in the Urban Environment: Microplastics. EDIS Publications. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss649

Jenna Westfall(UR)- Plastics Vs. Birds

Hi everyone! I know it’s been confusing because I’ve been back and forth with different topics but finally, Renee and I have decided to do a project together. We will be researching the different kinds of birds around the area and see what type of species usually hangs out around the beach more. We will research what they eat and how often they are there also how long they stay near the beach or if they stay there all year long. We still have to figure out who will be researching what exactly. We will be splitting it in half so she will research some and i will research some but I’m super excited. We will be researching micro plastics in the birds. Can’t wait!

Hannah Vu-Bennett (UR) - Urgent! I need your water!

Hello OCE!

I'm happy to say my IRP is finally coming together! As you know I'm conducting water sample testing through Volusia County to find evidence of potential contaminates. For my project, I plan to test the salinity, pH, nitrate levels, and phosphate in water from different sites around Volusia county. By comparing the required levels of salinity, pH, nitrate, and phosphate in public water systems to the data I collect, I could potentially find indications of contaminated water. For example, elevated levels of salinity could indicate evidence of salt water intrusion caused by coastal development or over pumping of aquifer. An off pH level could potentially indicate an imbalance of chemicals in an area. High levels of nitrate could be caused by leaching and runoff from areas near landfills or agriculture that uses strong pesticides and other chemicals. Some scientific tools I plan on using to collect my data is a refractometer to test the salinity, the Hach HQ11d to test pH,  and the DR/890 Each Colormeter to test for levels of nitrate and phosphate. After I collect my data, I would be able to find a conclusion to my IRP. 

The DR/890 Hach
Colormeter is used to test the
nitrate and phosphate levels.

This is the refractometer. I will be using this to test the salinity of my water samples.

This tool will be used to test the pH levels.

In order to collect my water samples, I would need the help of my fellow classmates! In the very near future, classmate who have well water will be given a water sampling bottle. I would greatly appreciate it if each person would take a water sample from their homes. You are to fill the bottle with water just like you did with the TSS v.s Turbidity lab. By taking your samples throughout Volusia County, it provides more variety to my data. I hope each of you can help me gather my sample! Thank you in the meantime!

Jenna Westfll(UR)- Finally, at last!

So after getting stuck without a topic and trying to narrow down a to of choices, I have finally decided to do "How Rising Sea Levels Effects Sea Turtle Nesting". Now I just have to do a ton of research. If anyone has any tips they would like to share on how to get this project started, please let me know. I am a little weak when it comes to starting an idea but once I got it, I'm on a roll. Have an awesome spring break!

Cynthia UR Living under the magnifying glass

The information began to accumulate, proving a challenging task to identify numerous and diverse individuals and communities we never really see under normal circumstances.  Because of this, it is stepping into another realm. However, cultivating my understanding of these tiny creatures’ will allow an image of the conditions within the sample to reveal itself.   

I wonder if I will discover evidence the differences between developed areas (urbanized) and undeveloped impact the species of plankton found in the region. I can’t imagine these samples will not.

I reached out to The Marine Science Center to begin the process of identification and classification from Mr. Chad Macfie I received some illustrations along with what I believe are genus of a number of  plankton I will find local in this area.

I also reached out to the Florida Oceanographic Society, and

Mrs. Pamela Hopkins, PhD who has directed me to an on-line site by

The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), this Cooperative Oxford Laboratory is in an agreement between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the National Ocean Service that cooperate in research. Partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is a vast resource of information for anyone looking at oceanic research.

To begin I believe knowing a bit about each individual plankton I could find, would help me build an understanding of hierarchy and perhaps a clue to any differences between the sites may indicate.

  

 Pamela Hopkins, PhD                           Mr. Chad Macfie

 Florida Oceanographic Society              The Marine Science Center

 890 N.E. Ocean Blvd Stuart, FL.           100 Lighthouse Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL 

.

Jenna Westfall (UR)- Jellyfish Vs. ghost crabs

Hey guys! So I’ve done lots and lots of research on jellyfish. I found out that Moon jellyfish migrate in huge communities. I could maybe research why they travel in such large groups. I also could search why there is so many washed up on the beach at one point in the year and then the rest of the year you don’t really see any. Or what is it inside of a jellyfish that stings you? Maybe research on all of the types of jellyfish and the locations of them. I’m not sure if any of these are good ideas or not but it’s an idea. I also did some research on ghost crabs. I found out that the males burrow closer to the water than females. If anyone has any advice feel free to help! :)

Michelle (UR) - April Fool's!

April Fool's in March is more unexpected. Similarly, my research project has taken an unexpected twist. After talking to Dr. Woodall, we've decided it is best for me to go back to my original idea (refresh your memory here, here, and here) of creating a filter for microplastics. I have decided to try using alginate for the filter.

Carolina Biological's Alginate Powder

Carolina Biological has the alginate in powder form, and this is what I will be using for my filter. I can't wait to get started.

Karen (UR) They're here !!!

My Lemna minor arrived this week.  They're really tiny, I was surprised how small they actually are.
This is so exciting !! I feel like things are finally starting to move forward.

 

10 plants on a petri dish to show size

  

Right now I have them in culture dishes in the environmental chamber here in the lab at the south campus.  I haven't started anything related to my IRP, just trying to keep the plants alive until we come back from spring break.  This means that I will put them in 2 very large containers with plenty of water and a liquid fertilizer.  There should be enough water in the dishes to cover any evaporation issues as well.  These plants double in mass every 48 hours, so it will be interesting to see how many there are when we come back !  Hopefully, they will be OK until we get back. 
 

Even though you can't see it, doesnt mean it isn't there. UR- Allie

   My scientific question is are local fish species suffering from the impacts of microplastic consumption? And is there any evidence that shows this to be true?

Plastic pollution and marine debris, South Sentinel Island, Bay of Bengal. 

I have been trying to research this topic in hopes to collect previous data involved with fish species in the area and plastic ingestion on a local scale (Daytona Beach). However this study is seemingly hard to come across, as I search and come up with little results for Daytona Beach in particular. In anyway, I still learn a whole lot. In time, I plan on coming up with my own local data to attempt to answer my scientific question. Through my independent research project and my method of studying local fish guts, I am certain to come across some answers.

Crew of hundreds cleaning up Daytona Beach.
Persimmon Hollow Brewing and Outsiders USA will host 10 cleanup events during 2018, pursuing beaches, inland waterways and springs. For more information about getting involved in the volunteer efforts, please visit www.persimmonhollowbrewing.com or www.outsidersusa.com  

   I continue to study the outcome of plastic on the marine environment as a whole, which almost always promises a result of death and mutations. In the 1970's people began to notice the issues of plastic in the seas and make records of plastic ingestion in fish. Since the first era of observations and records, at least 92 species of fish have paid the price.

   Fish are naturally curious creatures and consume most of the detrimental wrath from man made materials that do not naturally breakdown. Among species their eating habits, environment preference, way of life and many other aspects vary.

   In the water, all marine animals depend on each other in their ecosystem- in one way or another. Species are typically very different in terms of survival from their neighbors, but they share the same home and the effects of plastic pollution. Plastic ingestion happens in our seas often by species mistaking trash for food, and/or eating other animals that have also ingested harmful substances.

           Prevalence of ingested plastic particles in fish

Chart from data of % of microplastics from Species of fish in different areas of water. 

Predatory fish recorded for plastic consumption- the bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the central North Atlantic.

For example, predatory fish can aim for a tasty protein packed meal and end up with a mouth full of plastic. They mistake garbage for means of food.

Filter-feeders recorded herring (Clupea harengus) (left) horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) (right) in the North Sea and English Channel.Another example is bottom feeders/ filter feeders whom feed along the bottom of the sea floors. It could be easy for them to accidentally eat tiny particles of improperly disposed plastics as they feed. Small plastic pellets referred to as "Mermaids tears" have spread rapidly across the world's waters. I'm talking some of these pellets had fragmented to tiny little particles thinner than the diameter of one human hair. These super small plastics are introduced at large and since they are not naturally biodegradable, they never truly leave.   

Through my research it has been determined there have not been clear differences in plastic consumption between the pelagic and benthic fishes. Which was something I wondered about in an earlier blog. It's also prevalent that the plastic micro-pollution and relation to toxicity and impact on the oceanic food chain have also yet to be further studied. Clearly, these very important topics need to be looked into and studied. Questions are important, they lead to the answers of the future. One day the right question may later solve the plastic pollution takeover.  

Cited Sources

Plastic ingestion by fish. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://www.blastic.eu/knowledge-bank/impacts/plastic-ingestion/fish/

G.BEA EXPORT FISH | Sale of pelagic species – HORSE MACKEREL / Trachurus trachurus. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from http://www.gbea.es/products-gbea-export-fish/horse-mackerel-trachurus-trachurus/

What Do Fish Eat? The Answer Will Leave You Stupefied. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from https://animalsake.com/what-do-fish-eat

Cleaned up the Daytona Beach You Hippies! (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from http://www.persimmonhollowbrewing.com/blog/2018/1/17/clean-up-the-daytona-beach-you-hippies

When The Mermaids Cry: The Great Plastic Tide. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2018, from http://plastic-pollution.org/