Week Four

This week, lots happened! 

Aside from continuing to identify lipids for Dr. Monica Brandhuber, I wrote a science news article pitch for my Sharing Science With Diverse Audiences class (ENGL A278 & A278L) using her dissertation as my inspiration. Understanding reproductive endocrinology-- the hormones that matter to fetal creation, viability, a successful pregnancy, and more-- are SO critical to ensuring we can support polar bear conservation programs. And, it helps us better identify where they could be at risk! 

Last semester, for Ecotoxicology (CHEM/BIOL A474) I learned about the dual toxicity of tire microplastics (specifically, styrene-butadiene rubber tire microplastics) and antibiotic pollution. Using 'Toxicological mechanisms and molecular impacts of tire particles and antibiotics on zebrafish' by Jingya Wen et al. (Environmental Pollution Vol. 362, 2024) as a primary source, I was able to learn a lot about how pollutants can bind to enzymes in the body and create damage which isn't limited to the direct source harm. For example, the microplastics in this study would bind to P450 enzymes. These enzymes help initiate and facilitate the metabolic breakdown of toxins within the liver. So, when the zebrafish P450 enzymes in the simulation were exposed to antibiotics, the researchers found that a zebrafish was less able to rid its body of the antibiotics, which can cause interference with cell wall synthesis, inhibition of protein synthesis, interference with nucleic acid (the building blocs of DNA) formation, and more. 

This project kicked off more personal interest in wastewater management. Sewage treatment in America does not guarantee significant antibiotic removal, nor the removal of other compounds which might be harmful. I'm invested in collecting data on wrack in Kachemak Bay, and that wrack data can help us get an accurate picture of what impacts water quality, wastewater effluent, climate change, and other stressors can have on the bay. The hours of wrack analysis and studying I put in-- both in my internship surveys and from home-- will help me grasp the magnitude of anthropogenic influence over ecosystems, and eventually lead to a better perspective to lead natural resource management. 

This week, we were also able to explore more sites (such as the Demonstration Forest) where we can conduct research for our Exploration Ecology course. I'll be focusing on avian use* of the Doyon hotel site, and comparing it with avian use of the end of the spit (where a similar hotel and condo structure is already in use). 

Wrack surveys happen about once a week, and Prairie and I are comfortable running bird surveys and wrack surveys on our own. We're still relying on the first edition of "Field Guide to Seaweeds of Alaska" which now has a second edition by the same authors. I have yet to purchase the second edition (below) but it is quite a helpful resource and I'm excited for the day I'll identify most Alaskan macroalgaes without needing to look it up in the book first. 

Until next week, keep on learning! 

*note: this project was later changed to focus on microplastic analysis of the Doyon marsh