29 Mar 2019

Urbanicity as a New Buzzword: How Urbanization Affects Honey Bees

Katrina Diaz '19

Apis mellifera, the European honey bee, has been on the decline since 2006. Humans depend on honey bees as they are vital to the production for many of the foods we eat. Various factors have been studied to determine what is causing the increased losses of honey bees over the years, but a single driving factor for the decline in honey bee health has not been identified. Instead, research indicates that multiple factors may be interacting to cause the decline in honey bee health. As the U.S. population grows, the land is becoming increasingly urbanized. Urbanization has many effects on the environment. Specifically, urbanization has a negative effect on available habitats with the expansion of buildings, roads, etc. Urbanization also means more people which, in turn, means more human disturbances to honey bee habitat. With fewer suitable habitats for honey bees, they may have to travel further for adequate forage. This study will assess honey bee foraging distances along an urban-rural gradient of study sites to determine if urbanization increases honey bee foraging distances, and if foraging distance affects honey bee health and hive productivity. I expect increased urbanization to increase foraging distance and to have a negative effect on honey bee health and hive productivity.

Modeling nervous system pathways: an active learning project for anatomy and physiology

Jacob Perez '19

Undergraduate anatomy and physiology courses involve the education of various structures and function of human tissue and organ systems. The human nervous system is complex and students often cite its difficulty when learning concepts and detailed information, as a result coursework that involves hands-on and visual learning can further the understanding of key learning outcomes. It was hypothesized that a nervous system assignment emphasizing constructionism/visualization will improve student knowledge and performance. A three module nervous system packet was created with diagrams and preparatory questions prior to a large diagram of a human body where students would draw out and explain their selected pathways. Students are given autonomy for which nervous system pathway they would like research and transfer onto their poster board; pathways that are specific to the somatic and autonomic nervous system and special senses. After students complete their modules, with faculty and teaching-assistant supervision, questions from their final exam will be scored and compared with a Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test to determine any improvements from previous years, students will also take a qualitative survey for feedback. There was little difference in student exam questions with a p-value of 0.6872. The qualitative feedback survey showed a largely positive reception and further improvements for the next implementation. This was a pilot study and the small sample size little will result in an insignificant p-value, however the qualitative feedback is significant as students personally find the nervous system modeling makes understanding the concepts easier.

The Effects of Recreational Trampling on the Cliff Top Tree Community of Shovel Point

Connor Knutson '19

Shovel point is a popular tourist destination and part of the Tettegouche State Park on the northern shore of Minnesota. As the number of annual visitors has increased, Shovel Point has seen increased rates of erosion due to recreational trampling. This erosion is most evident within 10 meters of the cliff edge. In the early 2000s, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources implemented a management plan in an attempt to allow the region to recover. A 2003 survey of Shovel Point done by Dr. Farris and Vanessa Mclellan censused the three main tree species found there and made preliminary predictions based on the data they collected. They predicted that: 1. White pine populations are declining and will continue to do so until there are none left. 2. As white pine and white spruce populations declining, the tree line is receding away from the cliff edge. 3. Balsam fir populations are increasing and will continue to do so. The survey was repeated in 2018 and showed results that both supported the first prediction, but not the second or third. Due to the 200 year lifespan of white pine, it is likely that any adults present on the cliff top will remain there for many years to come. The lack of white pine seedlings however, suggests that the population will not be able to sustain itself in the future and it will most likely result in their disappearance from the cliff top ecosystem. White spruce populations within 10 meters of the cliff edge showed a significant increase in the number of trees in all size classifications. A significant increase in the number of white spruce seedlings can be seen in the protected area established by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This is evidence that the white spruce population near the cliff is sustainable and showing improvement. Balsam fir populations showed significant decreases in areas 10-30 meters away from the cliff edge but showed and increase in the population of seedlings within the established protected area. These results suggest that the management plan is helping to recover the ecosystem near the cliff edge but more work may need to be done to preserve areas greater than 10 meters away from the cliff face.