ABSTRACTS
2019 National McNair Scholars Conference at UCLA
Researcher: Ileana Calderón-Martell
Presentation Title: Have habitat improvement efforts on Fourmile Creek (Erie County, PA) caused a positive change in stream health?
Research Focus: Aquatic Ecology
School: Gannon University
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Fourmile Creek (Erie County, PA) is one of 22 tributary streams located along the Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie. Prior to stream remediation efforts that began in 2007,which included the removal of a low-head dam, stormwater management projects, and the installation of a fish ladder near its mouth, the health of Fourmile Creek was assessed using fish and macroinvertebrate communities as well as physical stream parameters.. The objective of the current project is to reassess stream quality in Fourmile Creek several years after the completion of the stream improvement projects. The baseline assessment from the 2007 study will help determine the subsequent impact of stream improvement projects. We expected that the dam removal restored free flow to the stream, leading to improved habitat and a corresponding improvement in fish and macroinvertebrate communities. The installation of a fish ladder near the mouth of the stream should have increased fish diversity by permitting passage of migratory species from Lake Erie . Using standard methodology applied in the 2007 assessment and based on the EPA’s Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBP) for fish, macroinvertebrates, and habitat quality, we evaluated Fourmile Creek to determine if stream conditions improved after remediation projects were completed Initial evaluation of 2019 data at seven sites in common between the 2007 and current studies suggest that remediation efforts had little effect on fish community structure. Pre- and post-improvement-project data on macroinvertebrates and physical stream parameters will also be presented.
Researcher: Cytalia Crosby
Presentation Title: Do fish and macroinvertebrate diversity change as you move downstream in tributaries of Lake Erie?
Research Focus: Aquatic Ecology
School: Gannon University
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Headwater streams are relatively small tributaries in a watershed that convey water from the upper regions down to major confluences. Headwater streams are key to the dispersal and control of sediment, nutrients, and water flow to downstream sites. Within our region, there is little understanding of how species diversity of fish and macroinvertebrates varies between upstream and downstream sites. We used 10 streams in the Lake Erie watershed of Pennsylvania and included multiple sites (i.e. headwater and downstream) to assess if species diversity changed. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected using a kick net and identified to family level in the laboratory. Fish were sampled using a Smith Root LR-24 electrofishing unit, identified to species level in the field, and released. Collection data was then used to calculate Shannon and Simpson diversity indices for both fish and macroinvertebrates. This information will allow us to determine if there were changes between upstream and downstream sites.
Researcher: Sabrina Kosnik
Presentation Title: High Strength Fabrication and Characterization of Chemical and Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Biomaterials
Research Focus: Biomedical Engineering
School: Gannon University
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
The aim of this project is to analyze the fabrication process of structural biocompatible materials. This includes creating a composite material that mimics the behavior of organic tissues using additive manufacturing techniques, and evaluating the effectiveness of various structural designs of the lattice. The bio compatible material can be a mix of different polymers or composed of a calcium based mineral based powder and a polymeric binder. The lattice can be a topologically optimized porous structure or a mix of short fibers or granular aggregates mixed into a polymeric binder.
This research analyzes cast based and additive manufacturing techniques, and in particular the thermal properties that the silicon based molds require for the appropriate solidification of the binder. The design process of both the topologically optimized and composite lattice involve using Creo® Parametric 3D modeling programming, and a 3D printer to create the lattice. The printed parts can be used to create silicon molds, which are then used to create solidified specimens of the binder materials for testing. Strength of material testing experiments will be conducted to assess how the thermal properties of the mold utilized for the fabrication process affects the properties of the material.
Researcher: Christian Peterson
Title: Assessing stream health in Pennsylvania Tributaries of Lake Erie: 2003-2019
Research Focus: Ecology
University: Gannon University
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
There are 22 named tributaries that drain into the Pennsylvania portion of Lake Erie. The health of these streams is important to biological life (i.e. fish and macroinvertebrates) and to residents who get their drinking water from Lake Erie. Homeowners living near these streams may deal with habitat degradation and/or stream bank erosion. Stream health in the area surrounding Erie, PA has not been assessed on a large scale since 2003. In this study, we selected 33 sites on 13 streams to determine how the health of these streams has changed since 2003. During the summer of 2019, we collected fish, macroinvertebrate, and water quality data at each site. Fish were collected using a backpack electrofishing unit. Macroinvertebrates were collected via kicknet using a Surber sampler. Water quality (i.e. temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH) were collected using a YSI ProDSS sonde. In addition, we assessed each site using the EPA Habitat Assessment form for low gradient streams. We plan to highlight how stream conditions have changed in the Erie area by comparing our data to that collected in 2003.