1. CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION IN THE BLADES OF GIANT KELP (Macrocystis pyrifera). Dani Gordon, Taban Sharifi, Jinyoung Chang, and Lindsay Taylor-Gross. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
This study evaluated the concentrations of chlorophyll in giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) at two different depths. In order to perform this experiment, the blades of giant kelp were collected from two different depths, 5.18 m (a “deep” sample) and 0.61 m (a “shallow” sample). Sixteen disks were cut from the blades of each depth and put into scintillation vials, each containing 5 mL of 80% acetone, which was used to extract the chlorophyll. The vials were left in the refrigerator for 96 hours to allow the extraction of the chlorophyll to take place. After the extraction, the acetone containing the extracted chlorophyll was pipetted into cuvettes and the spectrophotometer was prepped to do a concentration reading at fixed wavelengths. The samples that were from the “shallow” blades had a mean chlorophyll concentration of 0.979±0.176 µg/mL (n=8). The “deep” samples had a mean concentration of 3.07±0.574 µg/mL (n=8). Statistically, there was a significant difference between the concentration of chlorophyll in the Macrocystis pyrifera collected from the "deep" and "shallow" depths. This appears to be significant data that supports that there are different concentrations of chlorophyll at different depths.
2. The Effects of Caffeine on the Aggressive Behavior of Female Betta splendens. Jasmine Sedaghati, Lilly Sedaghati, Stephanie Kim, and Anne Wenninger. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
Betta splendens are known for their aggressive behavior and are consistently the subject of drug reactions among research groups. Caffeine is a psychostimulant drug, which has demonstrated typical increases in negative behaviors such as increased levels of anxiety, psychosis, irritability, and restlessness. Female Betta splendens are typically less aggressive; due to this reason they were predicted to demonstrate greater aggression when exposed to levels of caffeine. The testing included a control test without caffeine added and the following prepared amounts of caffeine concentration, 0.00027M, 0.00044M, and 0.00054M added to the prepared tanks. Documented observations included not only specific displays of aggression, but also any atypical movements by the fish or additional excrement in the tanks. The mean aggressive displays were 4.3 ± 0.4 (±se) for the control group, 4.8 ±1.1 (±se) for the 0.00027M group, and 2.2 ± 0.4 (±se) for the 0.00044M group and 13.3 ± 4.6 (±se) for the 0.00054M group. While there was an increase in aggressive displays and motor movement, the 0.00054M caffeine concentration was significantly different than the control test without caffeine with p= 0.05 (one-tailed t-test.) The 0.0054M caffeine concentration had an effect on the female B. splendens.
3. THE EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS AUXIN ON WOUND RESPONSE IN Bok Choy (Brassica rapa chinensis). Nicole Black, Marissa Miramontes, Jessica Newton, and Sarah Stevens. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
Auxins are a group of plant hormones that regulate growth. When auxins, such as indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), are applied to plants in low concentrations, growth is enhanced. Auxins also affect wound response in some plants by regulating transcription factors that initiate cell growth in wounds. In this experiment we investigated enhanced wound responses in plants exposed to low concentrations of IBA. We observed the flow of dyed xylem fluid through healing vascular tissue. Twenty wounded bok choy (Brassica rapa chinensis) stalks were experimented upon. The experimental group received a 0.1% IBA lanolin paste while the control group received lanolin without IBA. A cross section was taken from each plant above the wound and the percentage of colored tissue in each slice was calculated. The control group had a mean percent of colored tissue of 70.5% ± 0.147 (±se) and the IBA group had a mean percent of 98.5% ± 0.0134 (±se). Colored tissue indicated xylem fluid flow due to intact or healed vascular tissue; therefore, a higher mean percentage indicated greater recovery. The mean percent for subjects exposed to IBA was significantly higher than subjects not exposed (p=0.00241, two-tailed, unpaired t-test).
4. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL NITROGEN CONCENTRATION TO DIONAEA MUSCIPULA FLY CONSUMPTION. Spencer Doan, Emily Takei, Sherry Vong, and Alexandra Degroy. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
The digestive needs of the Dionaea muscipula respond to fluctuations in its environment in various ways. The responses of the plant’s needs are acted upon according to the impact of changes from its environment. The environment has a direct correlation on a plant organism’s survival. The soil nutrient level to D. muscipula fly consumption relationship is investigated for three weeks. It is hypothesized that with increased soil nitrogen concentration, there is a decrease in fly capture. In this experiment, twelve D. muscipula were collected and housed at Saddleback College. Six were watered with deionized (DI) water and another six with a Miracle Gro solution. DI water plants caught an average of 1.2 0.3 ( S.E.M.) flies per plant. Miracle Gro plants caught an average of 0.2 0.09 ( S.E.M.) flies per plant. A statistically significant relationship was found using a two-tailed, unpaired t-test (P = 0.001). Generally, the nutrients of these plants are gained carnivorously from prey due to unfavorable soil conditions. The results herein suggest that in nitrogen rich conditions, the nutritional benefit from this carnivorous plant is based on root uptake of nutrients from the soil rather than from prey.
5. DETERMINING THE LIGHT PREFERENCE OF SEAHORSES (Hippocampus zoestrae). Ashley Baxter, Shahrzad Arjomandi, Azin Ghaffari. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
The ability to self-localize and to navigate to remembered goals in complex and changeable environments is crucial to the survival of many mobile species (Barry 2014). There have not been studies done on domesticated seahorses and their light preferences in reef tanks. In this study, different colors of light will be compared to white light to determine if the seahorses, specifically Hippocampus zoestrae, in the reef tank have a specific preference. The colors that will be tested are red (wavelength of 650 nm), blue (wavelength of 475 nm), and green (wavelength of 510 nm) will be compared to white light. It is expected that the seahorses will migrate towards the white light, due to the species’ capability of returning to what it remembers. After the experiment, this expectation was confirmed due to the seahorses’ tendency to drift towards the side of the tank that had white light, compared to the colored side of the tank.
6. PREY ITEM CHOICE IN ANOLIS CAROLINENSIS. Nadja DiMartino, Aline Ekizian, Shareny Parada, Laura Parish. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
The mass, nutritional value and overall energetic effect of a prey item can have an impact on the prey selection of a predator. Ten Anolis carolinensis lizards were given the option of choosing crickets or wingless fruit flies. The lizards were individually placed at the long end of the y-maze and allowed to travel either to the right side of the maze containing the fruit flies, or to the left side of the maze containing the crickets. It was predicted that, based on kilocalories per gram and average mass of the prey items, the majority of the lizards would choose the crickets over the fruit flies. It was observed that out of the ten lizards, seven chose crickets and three chose fruit flies. It could have been expected that an equal number of lizards, in this case five, would have chosen either the crickets or the fruit flies. A chi-square test showed that the difference between the expected and observed results was not significant (p<0.20, x2=1.6). The results of the observed prey selection of the lizards support the hypothesis.
7. METABOLIC COST OF WHEELCHAIR LOCOMOTION VERSUS RUNNING IN ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS. Shrey Chawla, Maurice Hyett, James Hughes, Yuriy Maksymyuk. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
In this study the difference between the energy expenditure in wheelchair locomotion was compared to that of running in able-bodied individuals. Ten male subjects were used in this experiment and asked to run 800 meters and then wheelchair 800 meters at their individual maximum speeds. The metabolic rate of these individuals was measured initially and after both sets of exercises by collection of exhaled air into a bag and measuring of the CO2 concentration with the use of a PASCO CO2 probe. The ventilation rate was also used in this calculation and was found by timing how long the subjects took to exhale 8L into a wet spirometer. The mean metabolic response (exercise metabolic rate – resting metabolic rate) for the 800 meter run was 65.22 ml CO2/kg/min ± 9.92 ml CO2/kg/min (± SE, N = 10) and 38.91 ml CO2/kg/min ± 6.90 ml CO2/kg/min (± SE, N = 10) for the 800 meter wheelchair trials. The metabolic response for the 800 meter run was significantly higher than for the 800 meter wheelchair trials since p = 7.108x10-5 (two-tailed paired t-test). The cost of wheelchair locomotion is lower than the cost of running based on the lower CO2 concentrations.
8. THE EFFECT OF MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ON THE GROWTH OF TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum) PLANTS. Shannon Moya, Kareem Soliman, Paniz Namirion, and Benjamin Schiffman Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
The inoculation of soil with mycorrhizae results in an increase in the growth rate of plants. The symbiotic relationship between the fungus and the root system causes the fungus to attach itself to the roots of a plant, which is beneficial for nutrient absorption. The average wet mass of the plants in the inoculated soil is 19.08 ± 0.77 g (±SEM). The average wet mass of the plant in the non-inoculated soil is 18.46 ± 1.43 g (±SEM). There is no significant difference between the average wet mass of the samples (p = 0.354, one-tailed t-test). The average dry mass of the plants in the inoculated soil is 2.53 ± 0.075 g (±SEM). The average dry mass of the plant in the non-inoculated is 2.37 ± 0.014 g (±SEM). Again, there is no significant difference between the average dry mass of the samples (p = 0.166, one-tailed t-test). The average wet and dry mass of the plant samples, in inoculated soil, were larger than the values for the plant samples in non-inoculated soil. The differences in the values were, however, insignificant. Ultimately, the analyzed data for the research is inconsistent with our hypothesis.
9. UPTAKE OF MICROBEADS FROM AMBIENT SEAWATER BY CALIFORNIA MUSSELS, Mytilus californianus. Ellura Jiroudek, Cassandra Burns, John Rey, Abby Villacarlos, Sarah Zedmehr. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
An increase in the use of cosmetic cleansers that contains microbeads has created an accumulation of plastic pollution in bodies of water. Due to their small size and buoyancy, the microbeads are not able to be filtered out of used water from homes and businesses by water treatment facilities. Therefore the water that is deposited into a nearby body of water has a high level of microplastic. It was hypothesized that microbeads could be found within the bodies of filter-feeders due to its high plastic concentration environment. Microbeads, which have an average size of 0.1625 millimeters, are about the size of the organisms that filter-feeders consume. Microbeads were found within the gills of all of the Mytilus californianus that had been placed for 72 hours in seawater containing a high concentration of microbeads. Mytilus californianus that were not placed into high microbead concentration water did not show any microbead contamination.
10. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREEZE TOLERANCE AND BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS IN (Sceloporus occidentalis). Adam Rey, Aryana Razmara, Mariam Zand, Nehal Idris. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
Western Fence Lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis, are able to survive cold climates and are found throughout California at varying elevations. Studies show that blood glucose levels increase when these species are subjected to cold conditions. It is predicted that high altitude lizards, which are exposed to colder climates, would have a greater increase in glucose levels at low temperatures than low altitude lizards. Eight lizards were caught at low altitudes between 120.398-632.601 meters and eight were caught at a high altitude of 2083.50 meters. Sixteen lizards were put in an environment of 4°C, blood glucose levels were taken with a glucometer before and after cooling. Mean blood glucose levels for low altitude lizards before cooling were 218 mg/dL (± 25.3) and 255 mg/dL (± 55.8) after cooling. Mean blood glucose levels for high altitude lizards before cooling were 177 mg/dL (± 18.0) and 218 mg/dL (± 26.4) after cooling. Overall increase in mean blood glucose levels for the low altitude group was 36.9 mg/dL and 41.1 mg/dL for the high altitude group. Although a trend may be seen for these results, there was no significant difference in the data collected.
11. CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION IN MATURE AND IMMATURE BLADES OF GIANT KELP (Macrocystis pyrifera) COLLECTED IN SHALLOW AND DEEP WATER. Caitlin Sutton, Megan Sixt, Miguel Panduro. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
The large multicellular protist, Macrocystis pyrifera, or more commonly Giant Kelp, is can be found along the Pacific coast of the Western Americas from Chile up to the coast to Alaska, as well as many other locations in the world. M. pyrifera is a multicellular protist that can grow up to 0.5 meters a day and up to as tall as 60 meters. This indicates that light must travel down the stocks of the protist in order for the lowest regions of the giant stipe to remain alive and attached to the hold-fast at the sea floor. It is known that the blades on each stipe of these algae contain a large amount of chlorophyll. Studies have been conducted on chlorophyll concentrations of different plants. That evolved the study of chlorophyll density in mature and immature blades of Macrocystis pyrifera. Four discs of mature and immature blades were placed into vials with 5 ml of 80% acetone. Sixty sample vials were created with thirty from each depth and put into the refrigerator at 4 0C for 48 hours. On day two the chlorophyll-acetone solutions were placed in cuvettes and tested for absorption using the Beckman DU 730 spectrophotometry machine. Hypothesis made was that chlorophyll concentrations in mature deep blades are greater than that of immature surface blades due to the depth and availability of light. Average chlorophyll density in immature blades was 4.04 µg/mL Average chlorophyll density in immature blades was 1.76 µg/mL Thus proving the hypothesis that mature blades of Macrocystis pyrifera have a higher chlorophyll concentration.
12. ASSESSMENT OF THE RADIOACTIVITY IN KELP ON THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA. Aja Blanco, Bob Hulse, Jisoo Lee, and Aftin Pomeroy. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
In March 2011, there was an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). After this accident, high levels of radioactive Iodine-131 with a half-life of about 8 days, Cesium-137 with a half-life of about 30 years, and Cesium-134 with a half-life of about 2 years were measured in seawater near the Fukushima Dai-ichi site. Considering the impact on human health, kelps were collected from two sites in western North Pacific Ocean including Doheny Beach, CA and Everett Waterfront Beach, WA to monitor dispersion of the radioisotope from Japan to the U.S. The presence of radioactivity was measured to see the impact of Fukushima releases. The dehydrated and ashed kelp samples from two different sites were tested for elevated levels of radiation with SPECTECH ST360 COUNTER in physics department laboratory at Saddleback College. The average counts in kelp from California was measured to be 43.58±0.62 (±SEM) counts/min., compared to the control to be 27.88±0.26(±SEM) counts/min., and the kelp from Washington contained radioactivity in the average counting of 39.24±0.68 (±SEM) counts/min., while the blank presented 27.57±0.12 (±SEM) counts/min.
13. THE EFFECT OF ALTITUDE ON CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION AND ABSORBANCE IN Rhus integrifolia. Collin Joyce, Kevin Salgado, Natasha Mitchell, Saba Rassouli. Department of Biological Sciences, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 92692.
Chlorophyll is a molecule present in plant cells that allow the plant to absorb light energy during photosynthesis. It was predicted that at higher altitudes, plants would have a lower chlorophyll concentration than at lower altitudes due to increased light intensity and colder ambient temperatures at high altitude. Leaves were collected from the top and bottom of Modjeska Peak. Chlorophyll was extracted in 80% acetone, and chlorophyll concentration was determined by using a Beckman DU 700 spectrophotometer. The average chlorophyll concentration of high altitude leaves at 1,675m in this study was 7.33µg/mL ± 0.4945µg/mL (±se, N= 20). The average chlorophyll concentration of low altitude leaves at 583m in this study was 8.30µg/mL ± 1.004µg/mL (±se, N= 20). A one-tailed t-test revealed that the mean chlorophyll concentration of high altitude leaves was significantly higher than the mean chlorophyll concentration of the low altitude leaves (p=0.0413).