Research Intentions A brief review our experiments in further detail: Our goal is to determine the pressure and thermal tolerances of the larvae of Mytilus edulis (common mussel), Strongylocentrotus fragilis (deep-water sea urchin), and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (common tide-pool urchin). We began with a temperature gradient experiment, (Fig. 1.) which uses an aluminum block with wells drilled perfectly into a 4x10 grid, in which individual larvae will be placed within a vial. Water circulates through each end with warmer water on one side, and cold water on the other side. The contrasting water temperatures meld ever-so-gracefully into a nearly perfect temperature gradient, like a modest imitator of the ocean’s natural temperature gradient. With this, we can gauge the thresholds for early embryonic development and later larvae of deep sea and intertidal larvae! Sometime next week we’ll begin with getting the pressure vessels (Fig 2.) up and running to test the tolerances of larvae under pressure up to 200 atm (1 atm = 10 meters ). For a third project we hope to answer another big question for deep sea larvae: Can they survive by feeding on detritus? This might be the primary food source available to larvae that drift across the ocean floor. It had been hypothesized that larvae could drift across the sea floor but there was little evidence of it until our lab discovered large numbers of larvae in the bottom layers near a methane seep. This raises questions. If that is where the larvae were primarily found, then they may also be sustaining themselves on whatever is on the floor (which would be detritus), unless the larvae migrate to a different depth to feed. Detritus is made of dead animals, phytoplankton or fecal material that sinks to the sea floor from the upper water column. It would be very interesting to see if an organism could rely on such a diet and go through its entire embryonic and larval development purely off a detritus diet. Boat Trip
For this weeks group activity, the interns has our first boat trip on the magnificent Pluteus! I’m new to the open ocean. I hope I will eventually get my sea legs, because inevitably, I will wind up being on a boat one way or another with a degree in marine biology! Boathouse On Wednesday, we attended an interesting seminar in the boat house by Aaron Galloway. He spoke on his recent Antarctic mission of discovery in which his lab investigated the diversity of algae and invertebrates on the Antarctic Peninsula. It was both fascinating and entertaining with a splash of comedy. As I was sitting there at Aaron's seminar I noticed an old upright honky tonk piano... Later in the day I managed to sneak over and break out in a honky tonk blues until sunset. It was a peaceful place to be, with a lovely view. The boathouse has large old windows facing directly to the bay. A lantern hangs from the window, providing this unique white wooden coastal feel. To add to the beach life, our group has procured not one, not two, but three ukuleles, and a classical guitar. We’ve been regularly jamming in the common area and clumsily picking away at different summer tunes. A Conclusion How exciting to have the opportunity to possibly answer questions no one has answered before! Things I have to consider when doing experiments are things like, "How can I prevent non-demonic intrusions?”... "What time span is most realistic for each experiment?" and "How might the digestive systems of larvae living on the bottom differ from those that are found more in the photic zone?". As my lab partner and I progress through the scientific process, our research projects are beginning to become more focused. We are learning that science includes a lot of tinkering, and creative ingenuity.
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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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