2008 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research 2008 Scholars (left to right): Laura Wilson, Breanna Putnam, Kelsey Tallon, Zachary Green The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History supports education and research in natural history. Museum exhibits stimulate interest, heighten awareness and convey knowledge of natural history. Extensive research collections contribute to knowledge and understanding of the natural and cultural history of the Santa Barbara Region in a global context. Saturdaze is a consortium of artists, writers and teachers that develops natural history websites and Internet courses in biology. Saturdaze is honored to be associated with the Museum whose motto is . . . 2008 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research: Zachary Green Scholarship Award: $2,000 Abstract: Sand crabs (Emerita analoga) are ubiquitous inhabitants of the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones of California beaches. These swash riders exhibit tidal migration, maintaining their position in the swash zone, to maximize time spent filter feeding while minimizing predation by shorebirds and fishes. Because the crabs are especially vulnerable when exposed, burrowing ability is essential to this lifestyle. In central California, E. analoga is routinely parasitized by Profilicollis altmani, an acanthocephalan parasite with a complex life cycle in which the crab is an intermediate host and marine birds are definitive hosts. Completion of the parasite life cycle requires that crabs be eaten by birds, and reduced burrowing ability as a function of parasite infection may increase the likelihood that infected crabs are captured by birds. We examined burrowing speed and endurance (ability to burrow repeatedly) in E. analoga from three Central California beaches (Avila, Pismo and Montaņa de Oro) known to vary in parasite prevalence and mean sand grain size. Both of these factors may influence burrowing ability and contribute to variation in crab abundance and distribution. We addressed the following questions: 1) How does parasite infection affect burrowing ability? 2) Do crabs show a difference in burrowing ability with sand grain size (sediment specialists),       or do they burrow equally effectively in all sand types (sediment generalists)? 3) Do crabs burrow better in the sand from their native beach? 4) Do these relationships vary with crab sex and/or body size? Our results have bearing on how behavior reflects the complex interplay between the physical environment and parasite infection. Using a mixed model ANCOVA we found that Pismo had significantly lower levels of parasitism than the other two beaches. We used a mixed model repeated measures ANCOVA to analyze the burrowing time results and there was a significant effect of sand type (p = .0005). We performed a post-hoc Tukey Test and found that the crabs a much harder time burrowing in the coarsest sand (mean burrowing time = 3.28 seconds), than the next coarsest grade (mean burrowing time = 2.67 seconds). This suggests that coarser sand beaches are a challenging environment for E. analoga, which is supported by our observations of low crab abundance at the coarsest Montaņa de Oro beach. There is probably a difference between the finer sand grades as well, but with our finite sample the smaller differences were not significant. Interestingly, parasite load had a significant effect on burrowing time (p = .032), with the heavily parasitized crabs burrowing slower and fatiguing faster. These behavioral changes probably make the parasite-laden crabs easier prey for the marine birds, the parasite definitive host, increasing transmission success. Zachary Green Institution: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Major: Ecology and Systematic Biology Advisor: Dr. Gita Kolluru Future Profession: Ecologist Above: Artist and sculptor, Christian Hounson, from Split Rock Studios describes to the 2008 scholars how he constructed a precision replica of a California Condor for the new Bird Hall at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. 2007 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research: Laura Wilson Scholarship Award: $500 Abstract: Historic data is a crucial resource in vertebrate zoology for determining changes in populations as well as the development of new ones. By learning how to preserve specimen in an archival manner, researchers have the ability to take hair, feather, and DNA samples from material that would have otherwise deteriorated. The biological material from these samples helps solidify species determinations and can assist in the splitting of a species into multiple subspecies. Equally as important as preserving the material is making the information about each specimen available via the Internet so scientists throughout the world can access it. Using the program Specify I input the details for each specimen in our collection so that the museum is able to have a digital version that can then be accessed online and linked to sites such as ORNIS and MaNIS, where multiple museums are scanned for the species or locality of choice. Localities are then georeferenced using E-gazetteer, Google Earth, and online encyclopedias in order to pinpoint a specific latitude and longitude for each specimen. Eventually a radius will be calculated that each individual could have potentially been found in, centered around the determined point. The process of georeferencing the locality allows the researcher to get a visual perspective of where the species occurred in a particular year, and how that locality has shifted in terms of population size or distribution. The current decline in population numbers and species diversity due to human development makes this crucial information for scientists. By doing this, along with updating taxonomy and proofing localities and specimen for inconsistencies, I am providing valuable information to scientists worldwide and allowing for a greater use of our museum's collections. Laura Wilson Institution: Santa Barbara City College / University of California, Santa Barbara Major: Zoology Advisor: Dr. Krista Fahy (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History) Future Profession: Research Biologist / Ornithologist Above: Laura Wilson describes the importance of specimens and their role in understanding population dynamics, biodiversity and species richness. Left to right: Kelsey Tallon, Dr. Emily Taylor (Professor, San Luis Obispo California Polytechnic), Zachary Green, Laura Wilson and Patricia Sadeghian (Associate Curator, Invertebrate Zoology, Santa Barbara Museium of Natural History, hiding). 2007 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research: Kelsey Tallon Scholarship Award: $500 Abstract: Reptiles have consistently shown a surprising ability to prevent illness and infection. The immune system of male and female Sceloporus occidentalis is being studied by testing the lizards' to kill Escherichia coli. This is done using the "whole blood kill assay", which exposes E. coli to lizard's blood at the lizard's preferred body temperature before incubating the bacteria and comparing colony growth of bacteria exposed to blood and the controls which are not. Comparisons are being made between males and females, as well as between females during and post gravidity. The immune system is expected to be depressed in females during gravidity because gravid females have higher energetic demands that may decrease immune function. Thus, gravid females are expected to have a lesser ability to kill bacteria than both non-gravid females and males. Also, at other times of the year, males may have depressed immune function because it is possible that testosterone depresses immune function. Kelsey Tallon Institution: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Major: Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Emily Taylor Future Profession: Nurse Midwife 2007 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research: Breanna Putnam Scholarship Award: $500 Abstract: I am studying the homerange sizes of male and female Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Cortalus oreganus). Males have shown to travel farther than females and therefore have larger homeranges. This could be due to various factors. For one, males are larger than females so they are physically able to travel farther. They can maintain body temperature better with a larger body size and are able to expend more energy. Secondly, males travel the most during mating season presumably because they are looking for mates. Females will usually sit in one area during mating season and wait for the males to find them. Therefore, males could have larger homerange sizes because they travel long distances searching for mates during the mating season. Currently, I am collecting data in the Carrizo Planes in San Luis Obispo County. I track 19 research snakes using radio telemetry. The tracking plus GIS coordinates will aid me in identifying the homerange sizes of the snakes throughout the year. I will compare males and females, but also compare seasonal variation of the distances traveled. Breanna Putnam Institution: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Major: Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Emily Taylor Future Profession: Conservation Biologist 2007 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research: Alison Sparks Scholarship Award: $500 Abstract: Little research has been conducted on the diet of the Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus), a reptile with a geographical range from British Columbia to here in central California. Preserved rattlesnake museum specimens are being dissected in order to examine any gut contents. Determining and identifying what the snakes last ate is done using my previous mammalogy background, in which I examine the gut contents for the presence of bones or teeth that could aid in identifying the prey item. In addition, I make hair mounts of mammal prey items and examine these under a microscope in comparison to reference mounts to aid in identification. The data from central California so far show that the snakes appear to have consumed small mammals for the most part, but also some birds and lizards. Specifically, I have found several California ground squirrels as well as smaller rodents including kangaroo rats and other species. The analysis process is time consuming. Every gut specimen is thoroughly analyzed; measurements include drained body mass of the snake, greatest diameter, length, the direction of ingestion of the prey, and whether the specimen was found in the stomach or the intestine. The identification of prey can be determined down to genus or species. Finally, discovering possible geographic differences in the diet of this species is thrilling and encourages further study. Alison Sparks Institution: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Major: Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Emily Taylor Future Profession: Biologist: Wilderness Technician Above: Dr. Paul Valentich-Scott describes the dry-stacks invertebrate collection, highlighting the morphological diversity displayed in one species of Cuban Land Snail. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural history houses over 3 million lots of invertebrate specimens. 2007 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research: Stephanie Lind Scholarship Award: $500 I am currently developing a Cape Ivy experiment at More Mesa, a private nursery near UCSB. Four native riparian and coastal plant species have been grown on this site. There are eighteen black sages (Salvia mellifera), toyons (Heteromeles californica), arroyo willows (Salix laevigata), and roses (Rosa californica), randomly planted in groups of three. Cape Ivy has been planted near two of each grouping, and I am measuring the increase in Cape Ivy percent coverage on the natives over time. Once the Cape Ivy coverage on the natives is significant, I will conduct one of the two following experiments: 1. I will observe the success of two biocontrol agents on Cape Ivy: a stem boring moth (Digitivalva delaireae) and a gall fly (Parafreutreta regalis). They will be placed in fine-mesh screen cages over the Cape Ivy, where I will measure the herbivores effects on the Cape Ivy. Legal experimentation with these two biocontrol agents is still pending approval from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. 2. Recently, a land manager, Daniel Glusenkamp, observed a fungus that seemed to be detrimental to Cape Ivy. If the two biocontrol agents are not approved for use soon, I will observe the effects of this fungus on Cape Ivy to determine if it is host specific and can be used to manage the invasive. In addition to conducting one of these two experiments, I plan to continue researching Cape Ivy in the future. I am currently assisting Casey Peters with his experiment at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's Toro Canyon site, where we are comparing arthropod diversity on sites where Cape Ivy has been removed versus sites with considerable Cape Ivy coverage. I am also extremely interested in centering my Senior Thesis next year around Cape Ivy's effects on bird biodiversity. Stephanie Lind Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara Major: Environmental Studies Advisor: Tom Dudley Future Profession: Professor Above: Slowly from post-its on cardboard, the new Bird Hall gains form. Below: Dr. Krista Fahy (left) describes the organization of the specimens in the new Bird Hall and Laura Wilson (right) adds labels to the display. 2007 Nature Journal Scholarship for Natural History Research: Molly Robertson Scholarship Award: $500 Abstract: The overall research objective of the project was to test the hypothesis that tropical hardwoods can be cultivated in secondary growth rain forest using a line planting technique while maintaining species diversity. Main Areas of Research: 1) Examining the effectiveness of line planting techniques in current plantations for Mahogany and Mahoe (Hibiscus elatus). 2) Looking at the effect of line planting techniques on overall biodiversity of the forest. 3) Researching suitability of various native tree species for line planting techniques. 4) Studying populations of two local frog varieties (Eleutherodactylus coqui and E. wightmanae) and the possible effects of line planting on these frog populations. 5) Assessing native timber trees which were both left in the line planting rows, and in the in-between areas of the study plots. This will coincide with our previous studies on the rates of growth and economic potential of a managed and enriched secondary rain forest. Molly Robertson Institution: Santa Barbara City College / University of California, Santa Barbara Major: Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Mark Nelson Future Profession: Plant Biologist/Rainforest Ecologist