Several locally collected specimens of crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) were subjected to burial in clay (Edgar Minerals kaolinite) that had been wetted with tap water, pond water or seawater (salinity = 35ppt), with and without bacteria present for a period of two weeks or one week in order to study the preservational differences in marine and freshwater environments. Observation at the macroscopic scale indicated freshwater specimens were significantly more decayed than salt water specimens, and they were most well preserved when bacteria were present in the salty water. In order to study the taphonomy of these specimens in greater detail, claws and portions of the carapace were examined at the microscopic scale using scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was also used to identify the elemental composition of the specimens. Closer examination of the specimens revealed significant preservational differences between the proxy environments. The current working hypothesis to explain greater decay of freshwater specimens is that the salts and bacteria in seawater work to alter the pH and Eh of the water, improving preservation.

Gypsy moth caterpillars (Lymantria dispar dispar) produce high concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine, a lipoprotein necessary to neutralize toxic oak tree (Quercus spp.) tannins commonly found in their diet, hereby aiding their growth and survival on a common host. Nutrient ratios (protein to carbohydrates) of the caterpillar diet may affect lipoprotein composition in the hemolymph. In this study, we reared caterpillars on diets of varying nutrient ratios as well as varying concentrations of tannic acid. We hypothesized that diets containing higher protein: carbohydrate ratios would allow the caterpillars to produce higher concentrations of lipoproteins, such as lysophosphatidylcholine. Hemolymph was extracted from caterpillars, and thin layer chromatography followed by phosphate analysis were utilized to determine lipoprotein presence and abundance. This study provides insights on toxin neutralization of a generalist herbivore pest and offers possible new mechanisms for forest pest management strategies.

I am currently doing an independent study on the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. The Ronald McDonald House offers families and patients a place to call home at little or no cost while they are receiving treatment at a hospital. They also provide home-cooked meals, fully furnished rooms, play rooms and many activities for the families. A lot of families may not know about staying at the Ronald McDonald House, or even how to contribute to helping. One easy way to raise money for the Ronald McDonald house is by collecting pop tabs. Throughout the semester I have educated people about the house and the different ways that people can help donate every day. The Ronald McDonald House Charities means a lot to me because while my brother was receiving treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, the Ronald McDonald house was a place I could call home.

Coloration in a biological organism supports mating, survival, identification, and other evolutionary processes. This coloration may be due to pigmentation produced by an organism or by play of color through structuring. This is significant because organisms use play of color to produce coloration that pigmentation alone is not capable of expressing. I explored the microstructure of the tail feather in peacocks using scanning electron microscopy to determine whether feather structure relates to the colors observed by the human eye. I hypothesize that microscopic structures of the feathers contribute to the overall color variation observed in peacock tail feathers.

A significant body of water in the state of Ohio is the Ohio River. This flooding of the Ohio River is on a scale set to be roughly every 100 years and in that case, we are due for one in 2037. We should look to the past for historical cues on what to do to prevent drastic flooding like the flood of 1937. There should be a focus to the damage that could occur and limit this by harvesting hydroelectric energy. We can also work on lock control to make sure the excess water does not rip them out. These flood waters will be up to 20% more than the flood of 1937 and could bring upwards of 20" of flooding to cities like Louisville. I believe, by teaching the public and student body of Kent State through my poster presentation, we can mitigate and create a solution to the problem before it occurs.