It's the end of week three, I am eager to interpret the results of our latest data. Updates: My lab partner and I have finally decided how to split up our research project! The both of us will be comparing Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (common tidepool urchin) with Strongylocentrotus fragilis (Deep sea urchin). Matt focusing on detritus diets, and me studying pressure and temperature tolerances on their early embryonic and larval stages. The interesting thing about studying these tolerances is how it can relate to the possible zonation of this deep water species. Scientists want to know how certain species initially distributed into their current habitats by finding their upper limits of vertical distribution, and so, this research may yield potential data towards such hypotheses. A great paper on the hypothesis of environmental contributions that may affect zonation is one by Connell on “The consequences of variation in initial settlement vs/ post-settlement mortality in rocky intertidal communities”. Temperature Experiment #1 What a process! Imagine this, you ran your experiment, ready to have your data documented, and at last minute you realize what it takes to record all the information in front of you. 800 larvae babies, nearly microscopic to the eye and we are to determine slide by slide a count of which larvae are dead or alive. I decided to look at the larvae initially at 4X magnification to get a general count, and then to zoom in at 10X to watch each larvae until I saw it start to swim, its cilia moving, or even just wait for its stomach to pulse. This was a difficult task, but a healthy process for the mind. It gave me a taste of learning to be very precise with my data, and a means of real scientific observation. It reminds me of the many hours studying mathematics; how simple life is when you are doing repetitive tasks, with little room to worry about anything else. U.O. Campus Tour
The REU group toured a neurology lab in Eugene on Saturday. It’s great to see into other labs other than marine biology so you can attain new perspectives on other research studies. 4th of July We all went camping in Cape Arago, a wonderful adventure! The SPUR interns from the UO campus came down to camp with us as well. We played an intense game of Ultimate Frisbee near the beach, it was tied almost the entire game up to 13 points!
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AuthorMy name is Kaylee Wilkinson, I am both a student, and am currently employed by Lane Community College in their wet lab for marine biology research. I serve as a coral husbandry assistant and tank-scape artist. I enjoy sciences where you can dive into the "unknown", being in Craig Young's lab is perfect for such interests. I am thankful for Dr. Young and his graduate students to have taken me in as an REU intern this summer, they have been very enjoyable to work with! Archives
August 2019
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