Understanding the link between urbanization and antibiotic resistance is important, because as the human population continues to grow, increased pollutants, including antibiotics, will unmistakably make their way into our natural ecosystems. Due to the high levels of anthropogenic activity and urbanization in the lower region of the Rouge River, we hypothesize that the sampling sites in this region will contain higher proportions of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARG) than the sampling sites in upstream, non-urban locations of the river, and that fecal pollution and its sources impact ARB and ARG abundances. The REU student will determine the link between antibiotic resistance and urbanization by assessing the distribution and abundance of ARGs along the pollution gradient in the Rouge River, as well as measure the phenotypic antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolated strains at the site. The student will also collect and analyze water quality and geospatial datasets. Data derived from this project will be modeled and tested using Bayesian network analysis to identify systematic associations within complex resistance patterns, comprising 83 different antibiotic resistant genes from each sampling site, and the Monte-Carlo based risk assessment approach to evaluate the probable risks posed by antibiotics in the Rouge River. Data will be also correlated with in-situ water samples and ARB/ARG data to better understand the spatial patterns of water quality issues and create predictive models for monitoring ARB and ARG at the Rouge River.

Contaminants of emerging concern and endocrine disruption in the Rouge River. Deng (Chemist, PM) and Abramyan (Developmental Biologist, SM). Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are increasingly being detected at low levels in surface water. Many CECs act as endocrine disruptors (EDCs) which can alter hormone levels leading to reproductive effects in aquatic organisms. A particular group of compounds that the group will focus on are parabens, which are ubiquitously present in aquatic environments (Oishi 2002; Haman et al. 2015; Hu et al. 2017). Dr. Deng and the REU student will use fundamentals of HPLC and GC-MS to study chemical kinetics and to discover degradation pathways for effective eco-friendly methods for removal of parabens from aqueous environment. The project will provide students an opportunity to integrate laboratory work to the field sampling. It will also help the student to gain a better understanding of environmental behavior of parabens in the Rouge River. Concurrently, Dr. Abramyan and an REU student will expose embryonic vertebrate models (e.g., chicken, Xenopus) to parabens in order to better understand how the developing endocrine system is affected, with a specific focus on molecular and morphological alteration of the fetal gonads and brain. Students working on this project will gain an understanding of how environmental contaminants can influence the development of an embryo in addition to obtaining relevant experience working in a wet laboratory with model organisms. 

A rapidly changing environment, including urbanization and climate change, is impacting flood intensity, frequency, and therefore, risk for properties, communities, and businesses. The Rouge River Watershed is a heavily urbanized watershed, with an extensive history of development and stream channel modification. The product is a watershed that not only experiences frequent and costly flooding, but also impacts residents unequally, as low-income communities tend to be more vulnerable to flood risk and have a lower rate of flood insurance than wealthier communities. Students in this project will develop expertise in GIS and remote sensing and learn about flood intensity, frequency, and risk in urban watersheds through a collaboration with faculty (Napieralski and Draus) and community partners in the Rouge River watershed, including Friends of the Rouge and the City of Dearborn. Students will map flood risk data acquired from the First Street Foundation (Flood Factor) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the parcel level. Flood risk can then be spatially correlated against the socioeconomics of neighborhoods, the location and type of stormwater systems and green infrastructure, and the location of buried or eliminated stream channels or wetlands. Students will then compare flood risk to tree equity to determine the role of green space in reducing the impact of flooding. Students working on this project will conduct field observations, network with community members and organizations, enrich their understanding of geospatial tools and applications, and practice communicating scientific findings to a broad audience. Results from this work will contribute to the need for more equitable, sustainable management plans for urban watersheds that require an interdisciplinary approach, viewed through a geospatial lens. 

In recent years, evidence for a significant decline in arthropods has been noted across the globe. Habitat destruction, pesticide use, and climate change are all predicated to play a role in the decline of arthropods. Long term monitoring of field sites is essential to understanding the impacts of climate change. In SE Michigan, the timing and amount of precipitation has already changed, in part due to global climate change. Danielson-Francois has been monitoring the same field site since 2016 so REU students participating in the research on arthropod biodiversity will be able to compare their summer’s data with past data on arthropod biodiversity and precipitation. Hypotheses to be tested include whether biomass and abundance of different orders have changed over time and if it is correlated with changes in precipitation. REU students will learn how to perform ecologically relevant sampling in the field using Malaise traps and be trained in basic entomology and arachnology to sort samples by order. Measuring biodiversity is difficult, with the paucity of specialists in natural history. DNA barcoding and mitochondrial markers are a method for non-specialists to identify insects. However, few of the millions of insects have such data. We propose that some of the less studied orders and species of insects will be chosen to have their mitochondrial markers extracted, described, and submitted to GenBank which will aid in biodiversity analysis worldwide. The Heinicke lab specializes in phylogenetic data generation and analysis. Select insects collected during trapping efforts will be DNA barcoded using mitochondrial markers and data will be combined with comparative data obtained from GenBank. REU students will learn the basics of computational genetic analysis and molecular techniques. Additionally, students will be trained to communicate results to advance scientific knowledge. 

Exposure to even low concentrations of heavy metals can be toxic to organisms in and around a watershed, particularly during embryonic development.  This project explores how environmental compounds influence cancer cell behavior and cellular chirality. Students will use digital holographic microscopy (DHM) in Dr. Xhabija’s lab to quantify real-time changes in proliferation, motility, and morphology when cells are exposed to heavy metals and other toxicants. In parallel, under Dr. Fan’s guidance, students will investigate how such exposures affect cell chirality, a fundamental property linked to left-right asymmetry in tissue and organ development. By combining DHM-based toxicology analysis with chirality studies, the project gives students a unique perspective on how environmental stress can shape cellular physiology. Students will gain training in mammalian cell culture, cytotoxicity testing, quantitative imaging, and chirality assays, preparing them with both technical skills and conceptual understanding of how cellular responses to environmental stressors can contribute to disease. It will also allow the student to learn basic science skills such as mammalian cell culture, RNA extraction and sequencing, stem cell differentiation/dedifferentiation, micropatterning, and bio-imaging.

Stormwaters that enter natural streams can discharge significant amounts of pollutants originating from the surrounding urbanscape. The Fort Street Bridge Park and Marathon Gardens projects are significant interventions in the social-ecological landscape of the industrialized Lower Rouge River corridor, which promise to reduce stormwater runoff and enhance species diversity and water quality (Draus et al. 2018). However, the cultural and biological ecosystem services of the park, landscape and waterfront projects need to be carefully monitored to establish baseline social and ecological measures for tracking the impact of these landscape interventions in the future. For this project, REU students will work closely with the faculty mentors Draus and Napieralski as well as nonprofit community partners (Friends of the Rouge, Wildlife Habitat Council) to: 1) map and evaluate the impact of existing and proposed tree plantings and rain gardens on stormwater absorption and runoff to the Rouge River using tools such as iTree and ESII ; 2) test potential measures of social and community benefits produced by the landscape interventions, including tracking utilization by neighborhood residents, visitors and businesses using social media; onsite observation and intercept interviews; and established measures of mental wellbeing and nature connectedness.  

The basic science focus of this project centers on elucidating how metal-resistant bacteria from an urban watershed can efficiently remove heavy metals. Microorganisms possess inherent abilities for metal ion capture through bioaccumulation and biosorption processes, yet the specific mechanisms governing these processes and strategies for enhancing efficiency remain unclear. The student will (1) identify microbial strains with high metal uptake capacity isolated from the Rouge River and Lake Saint Clair River (2) investigate biosorption characteristics of the strains and (3) perform kinetic studies to optimize operational conditions, and (4) understand the mechanism of metal sorption using FTIR and bioimaging techniques. The student will have the opportunity to use many analytical instruments for metal characterization (e.g., AAS) (Li’s lab) and to understand the mechanisms of metal biosorption of the bacterial strains by FT-IR (Li’s lab), SEM-EDX, and TEM-EDX (Tiquia-Arashiro’s lab). Additionally, students will be trained in data analysis to interpret results and derive meaningful conclusions about metal biosorption mechanisms. 

Understanding plant population dynamics, including the germination and establishment potential of plant invaders, is critical for their management. Riparian zones and floodplains are disturbed habitats susceptible to plant species invasions due to fluctuating water levels and nutrient availability, as well as their spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Rivers also help to facilitate water dispersal of propagules. The impact of invasive plants on the type, amount, and structure of native plant communities in watersheds can dramatically impact the latter’s ability to capture, store and move water. Purple loosestrife, a prolific seed producer, is recognized as a highly invasive plant. The seeds are easily dispersed by wind, water, and animals. Once established, its woody roots form thick mats that outcompete and displace native vegetation. REU students will collect soil samples from several riparian and upland purple loosestrife populations in the Rouge River watershed for chemical and physical analyses (Deng’s lab). For soil from each site, students will assess native plant species richness and abundance and conduct greenhouse experiments (Susko’s lab) to evaluate germination, establishment, and size of purple loosestrife seedlings arising from the soil seed banks under flooded vs. non-flooded conditions, and competitive vs. non-competitive conditions. This REU project integrates ecological and chemical approaches to study the seed bank dynamics and ecological impacts of invasive purple loosestrife in the Rouge River watershed. Through field and laboratory investigations, students will contribute to fundamental research on plant invasion ecology while gaining valuable skills and experience in environmental science and conservation biology.

This research project focuses on comprehensively mapping, monitoring, and assessing the impact of large woody debris (LWD) jams on water quality in urban river systems. LWD jams are complex features in heavily urbanized river environments, yet their ecological significance and management strategies remain poorly understood.  Students in this project will design and collaborate on a rigorous assessment of LWD in the Rouge River watershed with their mentors and staff of Friends of the Rouge. Near river sites, students will use drones for high-resolution imagery and geospatial data of LWD jams. They will also employ Van Dorn samplers, gravity corers, and dredge-type samplers to collect sediment samples affected by LWD. Stream health assessments will use biological indicators to evaluate river ecological health. The project aims to advance scientific knowledge of LWD's role in urban streams, exploring its effects on water dynamics, sediment transport, habitat creation, and water quality parameters. By generating comprehensive data, the research seeks to refine management frameworks for urban stream ecosystems, recommending sustainable practices that enhance biodiversity, mitigate flood risks, and improve overall ecosystem health. Students will gain practical experience in geospatial technologies and data analysis, providing insights into LWD distribution patterns and their impacts on urban river systems, ultimately informing evidence-based management practices amidst increasing urbanization pressures. Students will gain practical experience using geospatial technologies and data analysis tools to map and analyze LWD distributions and impacts. This interdisciplinary approach will provide insights into spatial patterns of LWD accumulation and their effects on urban river systems. Students will advance scientific knowledge on the role of LWD in urban streams and improve framework for urban stream management practices in urbanized watersheds.  

As urbanization intensifies, pollutants such as antibiotics and antifungal drugs increasingly enter aquatic ecosystems, potentially fostering resistant microbial populations. This project focuses on the microbiological and molecular aspects of resistance in the Rouge River.

The REU student will:

• Assess the distribution and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) along a pollution gradient in the river.

• Conduct molecular analyses (qPCR, 26S rRNA sequencing) to characterize both bacterial and yeast populations.

• Investigate the prevalence and diversity of antifungal-resistant yeasts, correlating results with fecal pollution indicators and water quality data.

By integrating bacteria and fungi as microbial indicators, this project broadens the scope of water quality monitoring, highlighting resistance risks from both bacterial and yeast pathogens in urban waterways.

The Rouge River, one of Southeast Michigan’s most ecologically significant waterways, plays a vital role in the biogeochemical cycling of both major and trace elements. Although sustained efforts over the past thirty years have sought to improve its water quality, comprehensive data on the seasonal fluctuations of elements such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride remain sparse. These major ions may experience increased concentrations due to anthropogenic activities, especially the application of de-icing road salts during winter. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the most used de-icer, with magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) also employed to a lesser degree. Seasonal alterations in the river’s chemical composition can have significant ecological consequences.

This study examines the seasonal variability of these key elements by comparing concentrations in water samples collected monthly from the Rouge River near the Henry Ford Estate and from Fairlane Lake. Fairlane Lake, located within UM-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center’s natural study area, is perched above the floodplain and ultimately drains into the Rouge River, imparting a distinct chemical profile to its waters. Monthly lake and river samples were analyzed for these major elements using flame atomic absorption spectrometric and electrometric techniques. The results of this research provide valuable insights into the influence of seasonal road salt application on elemental fluxes and water quality, and underscore the broader ecological impacts of human activities on the Rouge River system.