A continuation from her 8:30 a.m. presentation.

The purpose of this study is to use a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to study the structural architecture and chemistry of various types of sponges (Porifera). We sputtercoated Porifera with 7 nm of Platinum and studied them at different magnifications (50, 100, 1000X) and used functions on the SEM, such as EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy) and 3D imaging. We found that the structural configuration of the Porifera differed, including the presence and absence of spicules, which were determined to consist primarily of silicon using the EDS. We found the SEM to be a multifunctional tool that can be used to address testable hypotheses about structure and function relationships and the elemental composition of samples.

The poster will display how pollen is distributed along the length of a butterfly proboscis by regions. It will detail specific methodology used and imaging techniques used as well. Data and results will be presented utilizing tables from ANOVA and T-tests.