Environmental Science

UWaTERS

The University of Washington Tacoma Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies majors hosts an annual Environmental Research Symposium (UWaTERS). This event showcases the capstone research projects of our undergraduate students.

2011 UW Tacoma Environmental Research Symposium Presentations

Student and project title	Project description
Sediment Role in Wapato Lake Nutrient Budget Cierra Hancock (advised by Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma)	Wapato Lake is a shallow, hyper-eutrophic lake located in Tacoma, WA. The lake has been affected by urbanization and pollution runoff throughout its history as a park; the City of Tacoma is therefore interested in constructing a nutrient budget for the lake to identify sources of nutrient input and effective mitigation methods. Sediment contribution to the nutrient budget was determined by analyzing surface samples and core samples for phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon concentrations. Phosphorus concentrations in lake sediments averaged over 1000 mg/kg. A surface sediment concentration map was created to visualize the locations of high and low nutrient levels in order to identify possible localized sources.
Distribution of Geoduck Larvae in Quartermaster Harbor, WA Shayla Staggers and Jolene Eccles (advised by Bonnie Becker, UW Tacoma)	Size Frequency Distribution of Geoduck in Quartermaster Harbor - Shayla Staggers My project uses size frequency distribution of geoduck larvae in order to estimate the amount of larval exchange between Quartermaster Harbor (QMH) and surrounding waters. My hypothesis is that if there is little exchange, larval abundance would be higher during the early larval stages with a moderate decline as they get older due to natural mortality. If there is a higher exchange , the population would be high during the early stages then show a steep decline during intermediate larval stages followed by a moderate increase during later larval stages. Results indicate that there is a rapid exchange between QMH and surrounding waters. Effect of Water Flow on Capture of Geoduck Larvae in Passive Tube Traps - Jolene Eccles Previous sampling, sorting, and identification methods used have made it difficult to accurately and cost effectively sample and identify marine larval invertebrates in situ, despite their importance to ecology and management. This research used passive tube traps to sample geoduck larval clam abundance, although there were concerns about bias due to water flow. I used an inexpensive water flow monitoring system, "pucks,"made out of dental chalk, to give relative water velocity to verify the traps accuracy. This comparison showed that our passive tube trap system is not biased to to variable water flow.
Implementation of Federal Water Quality Requirements in Kent, WA Josh LaPorte (advised by Shawn Gilbertson and Kelly Peterson, City of Kent and Jim Gawel, Julie Masura, and Peter Selkin, UW Tacoma )	The Federal Clean Water Act requires that a control for point-source pollution be integrated at the national level; the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System is the result. The CIty of Kent holds a Municipal NPDES permit, and is rigorously working to maintain compliance with permit requirements. One requirement, and my capstone project, was to develop and implement methods to actively detect and eliminate pollutant inputs to urban streams in the city--specifically those that are ongoing, and were previously unknown to city staff. Through in-depth infrastructure analysis of the storm sewer using Geographic Information Systems, and field-work to detect illicit connections, one such connection was found and fixed, and several potential sources located. It is anticipated that the city will continue to utilize this illicit connection program to meet future NPDES permit requirements.
Forest Type Preference of an Afrotropical Thrush (East Akalat, Sheppardia gunning sokokensis) in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya Heather Minella, Co-authors are Maria Nit and Jason Hitchcock (advised by Collin Jackson, A Rocha Kenya and John Banks, UW Tacoma)	We present here the results of a study conducted in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (ASF) of coastal Kenya, in which abundance of the East Coast Akalat, Sheppardia gunning sokokensis was compared in annual transect samples in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2010 in two different habitat types. S. gunning abundance was consistently higher in Cynometra forest and thicket than in mixed forest habitat, with ANOVA revealing an overall preference for the former habitat type across all sample years. We discuss potential reasons for this preference, and note other ecological factors, including elephant disturbance, may be partly responsible for the akalat distribution patterns.
Effects of the 2009 and 2010 ENSO Events on Alexandrium catenella Population in Puget Sound Quartermaster Harbor with Investigation into the Pacific Decadal Oscillation John Pelerine (advised by Julie Masura and Cheryl Greengrove, UW Tacoma)	This study examines the changes in seasonal weather and water temperatures due to the onset of the 2009 and 2010 ENSO events, and their relation to Alexandrium catenella populations inside Quartermaster Harbor. Alexandrium catenella is related to increases in paralytic shellfish toxins and shellfish bed closures whish affects local commerce. Data were collected monthly at eight stations transecting Quartermaster Harbor. Recent data compiled by Moore et al. (2010) suggests a closer tie to changes in the PDO and local weather to bed closures than shifts in ENSO. This project investigates this theory as applied to Quartermaster Harbor.
Nutrient Cycling in Post-Eruption Spirit Lake, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA Erika Klein, Danielle Dahlquist, Laura Alskog, and Katie Royer (advised by Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma)	The Role of the Water Column in the Nutrient Budget of Spirit Lake, Washington - Erika Klein The 1980 Mount Saint Helens eruption greatly impacted the health of the surrounding ecosystem, especially Spirit Lake - northeast of the mountain and in the direct path of the blast. As part of a larger effort to create a nutrient budget for Spirit Lake we collected water column samples throughout the summer of 2010. Nitrogen and phosphorus, zooplankton and phytoplankton, alkalinity, chlorophyll a, temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, pH and Secchi depth were analyzed to examine the physical, biological, and chemical processes controlling nutrient cycling in the disturbed lake. These results are essential for understanding the lake ecosystem and for lake management decisions in the future. The Role of Surface and Ground Waters in the Nutrient Budget of Spirit Lake, Washington - Danielle Dahlquist Following the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18th 1980, the ecosystem of Spirit Lake was dramatically altered. The blast created a shallower basin with a larger surface area, which has allowed for a significant amount of primary productivity in the south end of the lake. This research focuses on identifying nutrient loads from ground and surface waters entering the lake as a part of a larger nutrient model in an effort to understand the enhanced productivity of the system. Over the summer of 2010, flow rates and water samples were collected from accessible streams and well head measurements and samples were collected across the southern shoreline. Samples were analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus which will be used to create an estimated nutrient budget for the contributing ground and surface waters. The Role of Sediments and Aquatic Plants in the Nutrient Budget of Spirit Lake, WA - Laura Alskog The 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens caused the bathymetry of Spirit Lake to change drastically resulting in an increase in surface area and decrease in average depth. Subsequently, Spirit Lake is experiencing an increase in productivity. This study measures concentrations of nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus in sediments and aquatic plants in order to understand the source of the lake's increasing productivity. Over the summer of 2010, we collected surface sediment samples and a short sediment core. The results of these analyses, together with aquatic plant data to be obtained by Bellarmine High School students and Portland State University, will be used to estimate the role of sediments and aquatic plants in nutrient cycling in Spirit Lake. The Role of Insects in the Nutrient Budget of Spirit Lake, Mount Saint Helens, Washington - Katie Royer The effects of the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens on nearby Spirit Lake have created a unique opportunity to study a highly disturbed environment. One way to examine the functioning of this ecosystem over time is through the emergence and deposition of insects. Insect emergence and deposition may have a significant impact on the nutrient budget of Spirit Lake. This research builds off of previous insect emergence and deposition studies at Mount Saint Helens to help model the role of insects in the nutrient budget of Spirit Lake.
The Impact of Female Presence on Captive Male Northern Fur Seals, Callorhinus ursinus Amanda Vandel (advised by Bonnie Becker, UW Tacoma)	Because of dominance competition behavior stemming from a polygynous mating strategy, the Northern Fur Seal, Callorhinus ursinus, poses a challenge to zoological facilities with more than one adult male. I conducted a behavioral study with 2.1 captive adult Northern Fur Seals to explore the effects of the presence of a female on male aggressive display rates. I developed ethograms for 5 minute long observations with a female present, followed by removal and re-introduction. Overall aggressive displays showed no overall reduction pending female location. However, when a female was present displays were isolated to two days, as opposed to when the female was absent and displays were spread throughout the week. The results indicate having a female allows for expected timing of aggression, which can be easier to manage.
Oak Woodland Restoration at Fort Steilacoom, WA Jacob Asplund, Kelsey Bartlett, Anne Frink, and Josh Sullivan (advised by John Banks, UW Tacoma)	Restoration ecology is a way for humans to correct environmental degradation they have largely influenced. Our group's capstone project was to restore an area of land back to an ecologically sustainable state. The Garry oak woodland is a west coast, United States ecosystem that is currently facing the serious threat of extinction; less than 5% of these habitats remain. Our specific site at Pierce College in Lakewood, Washington is a habitat for several endangered species, but has been greatly disturbed by non-native and invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom. Our goals for restoring this site include: planting diverse native species, removing and discouraging the regrowth of invasive species, protection against further disturbances and incorporating a maintenance plan into the curriculum at Pierce College.
Using Metallothionein to Monitor Metal Stress in Mussels in Tacoma, WA Vicky Karout and Kelly Doyle (advised by Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma)	Metallothioneins (MT) are low molecular weight metal-binding proteins that form complexes with heavy metal ions, including zinc, copper, cadmium, mercury, and silver. Effects of metals in mussels include impact on growth, filtration efficiency, enzyme activity, and behavior. Mussel sampling was performed over the course of one year (2010-2011) on two floating docks at two different beaches in Tacoma, WA: Thea Foss and Point Defiance. Mussels growing in situ were collected and analyzed for MT levels and metal concentrations in soft tissues. The results of this research was conducted in collaboration with Lincoln High School and the Science and Math Institute, and will be discussed as a means of identifying sub-lethal metal stress in Puget Sound.

2011 UW Tacoma Environmental Research Symposium Posters

Foss Waterway Seaport Internship John Aldrich (advised by Jan Adams, Foss Waterway Seaport and Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma) Currently the Foss Waterway Seaport (FWS) is working to create a local water-based education plan for younger students involving an intertidal tough tank. FWS intends to increase public knowledge surrounding pollution and habitat through the use of the tank. Under the supervision of Jan Adams, I will be creating an education plant for the tank. Outreach materials related to touch tank species with information on habitat preference and pollution tolerance tolerance levels garnered through the literature will be created. Through education of students at FWS we expect that knowledge will be spread via the students to the public at large.	Restoration of Oak Woodland Prairie Miriam Andrew, Nick Dische, Michelle Fisher, and Kyle Reneman (advised by John Banks, UW Tacoma) Oak woodland prairie, one of the rarest habitats in the world, is being lost to human land use changes and encroachment by invasive species. Students in the UW Restoration Ecology Network programs, in cooperation with Pierce College- Fort Steilacoom, are restoring sections of degraded oak woodland prairie in a long term effort to form continuous healthy oak woodland from the college campus to nearby Fort Steilacoom Park. This restoration project has included formulation of a site analysis, detailed work plans, invasive removal and installation of native plants. Project methods and outcomes will be discussed with an eye towards long term restoration success.
Potato Solids Management Plan Tyler Argo (advised by Jack Calder, OB-3 Resource Management and Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma) The purpose of this plant is to write an application for the reuse of potato solids from two potato processing facilities, Washington Potato (WP) and Lamb Weston/BSW (LW/BSW). The potato solids before this point had been unused in a pile next to the facility leaving a potential risk for leaching. It is at these facilities where raw potatoes enter a fluming process where they are cleaned of all debris. The wastewater from these processes enters a pond system where the residuals from the potatoes in the wastewater begin to settle for a period of 3 months. A permit was written so that a local farm could spread the potato solids as fertilizer on crops adding nutrients to the soil.	Nutrient Loading to Wapato Lake from Park Sheet Flow Steve Ayers (advised by Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma) Nutrients are required for lake productivity, however an excess of nutrients can lead to eutrophication and loss of recreational access for the public. Wapato Lake in Tacoma, Washington has been severely impaired by an overload of nutrients from stormwater and other sources resulting in eutrophication and lake closures. This study examines nutrient fluxes from sheet flow from surrounding Wapato Park, where pet waste, waterfowl and fertilizer use may be significant sources. Samples of sheet flow were collected from locations around the lake during storms in 2010-2011 and total phosphorus and total nitrogen were measured. This data will be used to construct a comprehensive model for the future management of Wapato Lake.
Recycling at UWT: Educating Toward a Change in Behavior and Structure Brion Baker (advised by Lia Wetzstein, UW Tacoma) Research is needed to understand recycling behaviors to potentially increase the rate of recyclable materials and decrease the rate of contamination. Recycling plays an important role in the world's sustainable future. In this study, we sought to understand the barriers that keep individuals in the science building on the University of Washington Tacoma campus from recycling efficiently. Survey and monitoring strategies were used to gain information about what can be done to increase recycling, using the science building as a case study for the greater campus. From this, increased signage, bin connection, and fixed places for bins are three major pieces that were implemented. After implementation monitoring will continue, pre and post data will be compared and results will be discussed.	Determining Baseline Concentrations of Perfluorinated Compounds in English Sole (Parophrys vetulus) Livers Jessica Bryan (advised by Joyce Dinglasan-Panlilio, UW Tacoma) Perfluorinated acids, especially those of longer chain lengths, are persistent, bioaccumulative, and carcinogenic compounds. They have been shown to accumulate in the livers of fish. Three of six Parophys vetulus (English Sole fish) liver samples from the Puget Sound were spiked with 17 perfluorinated compounds. They were then homogenized and analyzed using a liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometer. After all samples have been studied, they will be used to establish baseline concentrations in these bottom feeders. A methods developed by the EPA could yield alternative results and must be considered before future analysis.
Tacoma Smelter Slag: Composition and Major Constituents, Tacoma/Ruston, Pierce County, Washington Michael Cole (advised by Peter Selkin, UW Tacoma) Waste material resulting from copper smelting operations at the ASARCO Smelter is found in various locations around Commencement Bay. This material known as tapping slag, is a manufactured product with a composition containing several synthetic minerals. Identification of these synthetic minerals, and the percentage of each synthetic mineral when compared to overall composition, has not been characterized to date. Quantifying the mineralogy of this slag will deepen understanding of smelter contaminant transport. This improved understanding will provide valuable information to officials responsible for the identification and management of contaminated sites near the Tacoma smelter.	Invasive Species Control Plan for the Conservation Area Stewardship Plan, Kitsap County, Washington Brian Compton (advised by Mindy Roberts, UW Tacoma and The Mountaineers Foundation) In 2010, the Mountaineers Foundation received a 100 acre conservation easement from its neighbor the Ueland Tree Farm. The gifted land is adjacent to their Kitsap Rhododendron Preserve, which is comprised of 460 acres. The Conservation Areas were logged in the past, which allowed for invasive species to colonize the road beds and in the wood line. It is believed that a well-researched and developed plan to remove and control the invasive species issue would result in a native Pacific Northwest environment with a higher level of diversity. It is the objective of this project to describe this plan in detail.
The Relationship Between Copper and Glomalin in Coffee Plantations in Tarrazú, Costa Rica Aaron A. Copado (advised by Erica Cline, UW Tacoma) In the Tarrazú region of Costa Rica, farmers use copper based fungicides to combat the leaf pathogen Mycena citricolor. Copper can accumulate in soil and lead to toxicity in plants. Glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with plant roots, may bind copper and decrease metal uptake. Copper and glomalin were measured in soil samples from fourteen farms in Costa Rica. We found that copper concentrations take from coffee fields in 2010 had a positive correlation with soil organic matter and a negative correlation with yield.	Total Organic Carbon and Grain Size Distribution in Carr Inlet and Effects on Water Quality Michael Diep (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Total organic carbon (TOC) is the amount of organic compound that helps in accessing water quality in an area by measuring any activity of a living organism, bacterial growth or decomposing organic matter. TOC originates from organic matter that is created naturally and unnaturally. This study will determine the total percentage of TOC with a series of drying and burning mud collected from Carr Inlet. This study will also analyze grain size distribution with a particle size analyzer (PSA). PSA will determine the energy that was required to deposit the sediments in the area by analyzing grain size distributions.
Sampling Juvenile Salmon Minter Creek Salmon Hatchery Josh Dove (advised by Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma) Hatchery fish rearing programs help restore salmon populations back to a sustainable level. Many industries and recreational activities depend directly on annual salmon runs. To manage hatchery fish growth, samples of juvenile salmon from each pond at the hatchery are collected weekly. The sample data is then given in fish per pound (fpp). The purpose of this internship was to assist with weekly sampling, adjust feed schedule, weigh feed, and monitor growth of samples. Results were measured by successful release of juvenile salmon at the correct fpp into Minter Creek.	Community Gardens Serve as an Educational Offering for Service Learning Opportunities Jennifer Guenther (advised by Erica Cline, UW Tacoma) Many people living in urban areas have little connection with the origin of their food. A garden space provides an opportunity for students and community members to connect with the earth and learn about sustainability practices while giving back to those in need through food donation. College students, and younger students alike, have a place to conduct experiments with plant growth and composting. Community members can learn how to build a home garden to feed their families. Gardens are learning spaces for individuals from many backgrounds, which help us to develop an understanding and appreciation for what it takes to feed a community.
Analyzing Species Distribution of Foraminifera in Bellingham Bay as a Supplement to Pollution Research Heidi Horowitz (advised by Elizabeth Nesbitt and Ruth Martin, Burke Museum and Sian Davies-Vollum, UW Tacoma) Foraminiferal faunal assemblages can be instrumental in determining habitat conditions. This study, located in Bellingham Bay, is part of a larger study to establish the effect of pollution on foraminifera of the Puget Sound, WA. Significant distribution changes of foraminifera have occurred through the 13 year study; represented by a decrease of species abundance and a decrease in species diversity. A substantial decline in calcareous foraminifera was observed. Eggerella advena, an opportunistic agglutinate species with the ability to survive in less tolerable conditions than numerous forams, was highly abundant.	Climate Change and Water Resources: An Educational Outreach Tool Thomas Huff (advised by John Inch, City of Tacoma and Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma) Impacts of climate change will include less winter snow and water storage, more winter flooding, early spring snowmelt, and lower summer stream flows resulting in longer drought periods. Younger students are often more open-minded about new sets of ideals and thinking (Procter 2008) and may be more likely to be proactive in dealing with the issue of climate change, especially as it relates to water resources. Therefore I have developed a new education module that includes basic steps and knowledge on climate change in the Pacific Northwest in order to involve elementary students in climate change solutions. Hands on games and lessons developed will increase students' interest in addressing climate change.
Updating Habitat Work Schedule Kelsey Jensen (advised by Tom Kantz, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities and Bonnie Becker, UW Tacoma) The purpose of my internship with Pierce County Public Works was to update Habitat Work Schedule (HWS), a database that was created by Washington State's Recreation and Conservation Office. HWS is used to track salmon recovery being done in Washington State. Pierce County Public Works is the lead entity responsible for WRIA 10 and 12 salmon recovery. HWS was updated by taking information from two other databases, PRISM and the 3-Year Work Program. HWS is now user friendly and ready to be used to its full potential by leady entity coordinators, sponsors, and citizens.	Concentrations of Marine Microplastics in Puget Sound and Chesapeake Bay Christopher LaRocque (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Sources and fate of microplastic debris, defined as particles composed of synthetic polymers between 0.3 and 5 mm, in the ocean are unclear. Possible ingestion, transfer of pollutants from plastics to organisms and the slow biodegradation of plastics are the main issues causing concern. The objective of this study is to develop and characterize the variation of microplastics in the Puget Sound and Chesapeake Bay. Samples were obtained with a Manta Net. Samples were then processed and picked for microplastics. Microplastic concentrations ranged from near 0 to 0.3 ug-plastic/L. The highest maximum concentrations were found at areas classified as industrial and urban.
Perfluorinated Compounds in Creek Waters from Pierce County, Washington Brian Lilly (advised by Joyce Dinglasan-Panlilio, UW Tacoma) Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) are synthetic compounds used in the manufacturing processes of many products. These compounds are very stable and have been found in soil, wildlife and water samples as well as human blood. Recently PFAs have been detected in surface waters from rivers and lakes in the Puget Sound region. In this study, PFAs were measured in local creeks and streams in Pierce County Washington to assess potential sources of these contaminants to the Puget Sound. Samples were prepared by solid phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed using liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometry (LCMSMS). Results will be compared to data previously collected from larger bodies of surface water in the region.	Foraminifera Distributions in Sequim Bay, WA: Biological Indicators of Hypoxia Brian Losk (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Distributions of microfaunal foraminifera preserved in sediment help to provide biological indicators of climate change and hypoxia from both natural and anthropogenic causes, as foraminiferal species can persist in anoxic environments for varying durations. A methods analysis was conducted on surface and core samples from Sequim Bay in order to determine the most efficient way to extract foraminifera from sediment and obtain a census of assemblages. This research helps contribute to an ongoing assessment of biological indicators which are useful in creating a current and historical health report for Sequim Bay and the greater Puget Sound.
GIS Analysis of Nutrient Loading to Wapato Lake from Sheet Flow Jacob Moore (advised by Jim Gawel, Mindy Roberts, and Matt Kelly, UW Tacoma) Urban lakes are valuable recreation sources and play a key stormwater management role. Unfortunately, these two needs conflict as nutrient loading often limits recreational use. The goal of this project was to use GIS software to estimate an annual nutrient load from sheet flow to the south basin of Wapato Lake. We created a land use distribution for the contributing watershed area, assigned runoff coefficients, obtained precipitation data, and used student-collected nutrient data from sheet flow samples. Using this method a mass flux was calculated to add to a comprehensive nutrient model to be used for recommending management actions for Wapato Lake.	Utilizing Social Media to Connect Science and People Danielle Morvan (advised by Dr. Steven Gilbert, Institute of Neurotoxicity and Neurological Disorders and Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma) The Institute of Neurotoxicity and Neurological Disorders is composed of three major programs, Healthy World Press, Toxipedia, and IPMopedia (Integrate Pest Management). The goal of these programs is to utilize up to date research on environmental toxins to help people make more conscientious decisions about toxic exposures. As the research and outreach intern my job is to utilize multiple communicative platforms, such as using Facebook to connect to similar organizations and create a following of interested individuals. I also created a blog to provide a user friendly news feed on up to date information concerning environmental toxins, and digitizing hard copy toxin related literature, uploading it on an easy to use website and making the information more interactive. By creating multiple options for people to access toxin related research, which will be monitored by the numbers of people who follow our Facebook page, Twitter account, Toxipedia blog, newsletter and visit the main website.
Links Across Tacoma Max Mousseau (advised by Matt Kelley, UW Tacoma) The Link light rail car in Tacoma currently serves a small portion of the actual city. This study aims to find the best possible routes for rail expansion across the city using a GIS to conduct a cost path analysis. Factors taken into consideration included commercial hotspots, medical service facilities density, and night entertainment establishments. Demographic data including population density, poverty density, and senior density were also taken into account. A conclusion of the best possible routes for the link expansion will be reached after more analysis.	Total Organic Compound and Carbon Dating of Sequim Bay, WA Brian Neal (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Total organic carbon (TOC) is a measurement of carbon in a given organic compound. This amount is a direct indicator of water quality where the compound was taken, or what water quality was in the past at a site. In this particular study TOC is being examined across core from Sequim Bay, by drying the mud, burning, and cooling, and taking the difference in weight between them. Along with this, carbon dating of the sediments will be assessed, which is a radiometric dating method that uses radioisotope carbon 14 to estimate the age of carbon holding materials. Both methods will look at water quality of the present and past, as well as give light to the time line of the data.
Inventory of Alexandrium catenella Cysts in the Sediments of Quartermaster Harbor Chris Neel (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Alexandrium catenella is responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning in Puget Sound. Ingestion of shellfish containing the toxin can cause nausea to even death. Harmful algal blooms lead to closure of shellfish harvesting, impacting local economies. A 2008 survey mapped the concentrations of A. catenella cysts throughout Quartermaster Harbor. This study samples the same sites in 2010 to determine if cysts migrate over the years. Subsamples were processed and analyzed using epifluorescent microscopy. Comparing the abundance and distribution of cysts over time can create a better understanding of the mechanisms driving Alexandrium, leading to prediction and management of HABs.	Study of Benthic Invertebrates in Commencement Bay Archie Patterson (advised by Bonnie Becker, UW Tacoma) Commencement Bay was listed as a Superfund Site, it has been an ongoing restoration project of many government, local, and nonprofit groups. This study was a class project intended to determine whether or not restoration attempts had improved the health of Commencement Bay since the Department of Ecology Assessment (Urban Waters Initiative) in 2008. This study evaluated the health of the benthic communities in the Bay to determine if any improvements could be detected. A final report of findings was created to describe the results.
Aquaculture and the Environment: Impact Perspectives and Suggestions for Remediation Cody Patterson (advised by Jim Gawel and John Banks, UW Tacoma) Dating back 200 years, aquaculture is a method of food production that has grown rapidly over the last century. Worldwide, aquaculture poses some problems to global environmental sustainability. During an internship in India, I discovered how important fishery resources are to people that rely on them for everyday resources. The fundamental problems that exist in aquaculture methods are that it is profit driven and methods are not environmentally sustainable. Unsustainable impacts are largely from biological risks, habitat loss and waste. In this paper, I discuss environmental problems associated with aquaculture and make recommendations for greater socio-economic and environmental sustainability.	Grain-size and Total Organic Carbon Analysis of Quartermaster Harbor Tyler Pederson (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Total organic carbon (TOC) indicates how much life is in an area by measuring any metabolic activities of a living organism, bacterial growth, or the decaying of an organic material. TOC derives from natural organic matter or synthetic sources that humans use on an everyday basis. This study will find the total percentage of TOC through a process of drying and burning mud from Quartermaster Harbor. This study will also look at the grain-size distribution using particle size analysis (PSA). PSA will give information on the energy it took to deposit the sediment; explaining how the grain sizes were distributed.
Measuring Dioctyl Phthalate Concentration in Sediment Samples from First Creek, Tacoma, WA Chris Pyke (advised by Joyce Dinglasan-Panlilio, UW Tacoma) Many plastics such as water bottles and PVC pipes have phthalates added as softeners. Phthalates cause many health concerns since they are hormone disruptors and neurotoxins. A method for measuring phthalate concentrations in sediments at First Creek in Tacoma, WA was developed. Soxhlet extraction was used to remove the phthalates from the sediment samples, and analyzed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The measured concentrations exceeded the calibration curve, and the blanks showed a much higher concentration than the samples. A new methods is being devised to measure phthalate concentrations using accelerated solvent extraction.	Quartermaster Harbor Monitored Water Properties for 2010 Julianne Ruffner (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Shellfish bed closures in Puget Sound have increased due to a potent neurotoxin produced by the dinoflagellete Alexandrium catenella. A previous study showed Quartermaster Harbor has the highest documented cyst concentrations of A. catenella in the Sound. Since A. catenella favors stable water column conditions, water properties (temperature, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, and pressure) were monitored monthly in 2010. Cross-sections, plankton counts, and meteorological data were compared to further understand meteorological influence on plankton ecology. The results of this study will be used to create a circulation model to predict outbreaks of this organism.
Total Organic Carbon Found in the Puget Sound and How it Affects Air Quality Basilio Ruiz (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Total Organic Carbon (TOC) measures the carbon by drying and then subsequently burning a mud sample at high temperatures. TOC measures the amount of organic material in a body of water. The microorganisms cause low oxygen contents in water and causes a harsh environment for larger organisms. Particle Size Analysis (PSA) is used to examine the particle sizes in the environment. Large particle sizes show a low energy environment where there is not much activity. While not fully completed, I expect to see a high energy environment with high oxygen content. This is an indicator of a healthy bay.	Recycling Program for UWT 2010 Collin Snider (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) The University of Washington Tacoma does not have a successful recycling program. As of 2009, UWT has had 3111 students and 203 people in staff/faculty and portion of them recycled regularly. There is a large proportion of waste being thrown into recycling bins and recyclables being thrown into trash bins instead of being placed in the correct receptacles. A recent study has shown that recycling around campus is unsuccessful because of bin movement, bin location, and lack of awareness. In this study, I discuss environmental issues with improper recycling and make recommendations for alternatives to having a successful recycling program.
Identification of Bivalve Species of Commencement Bay Keegan Stromberg (advised by Bonnie Becker, UW Tacoma) The Urban Waters Initiative is a part od the Washington State Department of Ecology plan to assess the sediment quality of Commencement Bay. There were 30 sites placed in Commencement Bay to track the quality of sediment and marine life. Students from the Conservation Biology in Practice course sampled and identified species at 5 sites. Since many bivalves were classified as unknown, my research project was to re-identify the bivalve species found at these sites to verify the data. There were few mistakes found which would not significantly affect the students' results or the Urban Waters Initiative.	Tacoma Smelter Plume: An Opportunity to Determine Environmental Risk Using Earthworms as Bioindicators Josh Sullivan (advised by Janice Sloan, WA Department of Ecology and Jim Gawel, UW Tacoma) Soil biota are commonly used as indicators as they are important to ecological processes. One biological effect of metal stressors on soil biota in an ecosystem is an increase in proteins known as metallothioneins (MT). The object of this study was to compare MT concentrations in worms collected in-situ within the Tacoma smelter fume footprint or exposed in soil incubation experiments in the lab MT versus with soil metal concentrations that currently inform policy decisions. Metal concentrations in the worms were significantly correlated with metal concentrations in the soils; however MT did not have a statistically significant correlation to soil metal concentrations (R^2=0.014 to 0.022).
Pollen Record Analysis of Surface Sediment in Sequim bay, WA Anna Rose Wallace (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Flora and fauna in the Puget Sound region have changed dramatically over the last hundred years due to logging, industrialization, and development. Pollen analysis is a valuable way to learn about the paleoclimates of this region and can give valuable insight into the historic landscape. This study is the first one done in the Sequim Bay area, and looks at the pollen distribution of the surface sediment in Sequim Bay. Findings of alder, an early successional species, indicate the clearing of land in the area. This is a direct result of development in this region. Future work will include palynological historic analysis of core samples.	Particle Grain Size Analysis of Surface Sediments in Sequim Bay Tasha Williams-Davis (advised by Julie Masura, UW Tacoma) Sequim Bay, Washington is located along the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the entrance to Puget Sound. In September 2009 surface sediments were collected because of the discovery of the bay's high concentration of Alexandrium catenella during a survey in 2005. This study explored the subsamples from the surface analyzed for particle size using a Beckman Coulter LS Particle-Size Analyzer. The distribution of grain size in the surface sediments was 0.4um-2000um, with a majority of the grain size in the range of medium silt (15um). The even distribution of silt indicates low energy flow for the bay.
Looking for Metal Stress in Mussels in Puget Sound Using Metallothionein Lincoln Center, Lincoln High School - Deyana Willis, Alejandra Ramirez-Rubio, Ivyanne Barnett, Essence Cavalier-Byrd, Ruben Martinez, Rafael Zamora , Zachary Dela-Cruz, Tyisha Brown El, Angela Finley, Juan Aguilar, Christopher Canche, Sheila Escobar, Jose Espinosa, London Hughes, Darien Reed, Quantaya Rhodes, Eric Smith, Jennifer Thompson (advised by Lee Ann Love, Kelly Doyle, Vicky Karout, Christopher Claeys and Jim Gawel)	Metallothionein as a Bioindicator of Metal Stress in Mussels Science and Math Institute - Christian Ziruk, Phoebe Winnett, Scout Dahms-May, Tatyanna Wrinkle, Vincent Ly, Brandon Gutierrez, Alexis Adams, Katie Best, Sarah Becker, Mari Thiersch, Alex Kidder, Allison Hakanson, Emma Parkins, Kelly Nguyen (advised by Ralph Harrison, Kelly Doyle, Vicky Karout, and Jim Gawel)