Brooklyn D. Avery (Adv:  Dr. András Komáromy and Christine Harman) Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823.

Glaucoma is one of the leadings causes of irreversible blindness worldwide and can be characterized by damage to the optic nerve, causing increased intraocular pressure and loss of retinal ganglion cells, resulting in a decrease in structural integrity and visual functioning. While open-angle glaucoma is well defined, it is unclear how the degradation of structural and function parameters influence each other as the disease progresses. Primary open-angle glaucoma in dogs is a type of inherited glaucoma. A glycine to arginine substitution in the ADAMTS10 gene in beagles is an autosomal recessive mutation and has been linked to the development of primary open-angle glaucoma. In this study, members of an ADAMTS10 mutant beagle colony at Michigan State University underwent optical coherence tomography imaging to measure changes in the neuroretinal rim area as a structural parameter to track progression of glaucoma. Dogs also underwent electroretinography recording to measure the changes in 10 functional parameters of the eye as glaucoma progressed. Using R, a repeated measurement correlation technique was used to determine the correlation between changes in neuroretinal rim area and age, changes in the 10 functional parameters and age, and changes in neuroretinal rim area and changes in the 10 functional parameters. Almost all structural and functional parameters showed a significant correlation with the other measured variables. These results led us to conclude that there is a significant correlation between changes in structural parameters and functional parameters as glaucoma progresses. Due to this pattern in our results, these measurements were determined to be good parameters to indicate significant changes for early detection of primary-open angle glaucoma in dogs with an ADAMTS10 mutation.

Jake Osen and Zach Brazil (Adv: Jen Meilinger) Kalamazoo Nature Center, MI, 49009

Deer overabundance has become an issue in many urban areas across the country and in many cities across the state of Michigan. However, getting estimates of the population in urban areas is difficult as there is so much private property. Citizen science is an excellent way to get population estimates in these urban areas as you can enlist the people of the area you are in to help you with your observations. In this study, we had citizens of the Kalamazoo neighborhoods help us in obtaining data. Using images captured by citizens, we analyzed different aspects that could have affected this project, whether it was on what affects participation in a citizen science project, such as socioeconomic status, or what is affecting the deer population, such as location to a body of water.  When analyzing the data, one neighborhood had the majority of observations with over 40, and the next closest only had six observations. The neighborhood that had the most observations also has the highest socioeconomic status out of the twelve different neighborhoods that participated in the study and the closest neighborhood to one of the massive green spaces in Kalamazoo. Looking into future citizen science projects, it is crucial to ensure that participation is spread evenly between all socioeconomic groups and demographics so that the data obtained represents all areas of where the study is taking place. 

Isabelle Clark (Adv: Alison Geist) Community & Global Health Department, Kalamazoo College, MI, 49006. 

As of December 2020, Covid-19 has led to over 1.8 million deaths worldwide, increased health issues, and a decrease in general wellbeing. As it continues to devastate the world, it highlights existing health disparities. Some of the effects are directly due to the virus, while others are an indirect consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as hunger, decreased mental health, and increased unemployment. While the impact is widespread, these indirect effects take a serious toll on low-income families and those that already face inequities. Even more significant is the impact of the pandemic on the children in these low-income families. The pandemic has dramatically increased food insecurity among families with children in Michigan. With access to quality food being a vital part of a child’s health and development, there is a risk of serious indirect effects of the pandemic. Response measures such as stay-at-home mandates, social distancing, and food hoarding can reduce a child’s access to sufficient and nutritious food. While community food assistance programs and state and national governments are responding in innovative ways, public health officials continue to see an increase in child hunger in Michigan during 2020 and 2021. As the pandemic progresses, an extensive and inclusive policy response is imperative. 

Taylor Ferguson (Adv: Dr. Joseph Burkhardt, D.O.) Bronson Orthopedic Specialists, Battle Creek, MI 49015

As surgical techniques advance and further develop in today’s medical world, it is important to evaluate and compare methods of operation. These evaluations can indicate which surgical techniques are more suitable for shorter surgery times, quicker recovery, and less risk of infection. A rotator cuff repair (RCR) can be performed in a few ways. Two surgical techniques that are compared in this analysis are the true mini open (MO) RCR and the all arthroscopic (AA) RCR. A true mini open RCR uses an arthroscopy to determine the injury and debride any loose cartilage; next, an incision in the shoulder is made to repair the tear. The all arthroscopic technique makes very small incisions in the shoulder to insert a camera and surgical instruments which repair the tear without opening the shoulder up. It is presumed that an all arthroscopic repair would be preferable since it is the least invasive procedure to repair a tear. However, based off data collection from many cases, surgery times for a true mini open are on average shorter than those of an all arthroscopic. The difference in means for surgery time demonstrated a statistically significant p value. This conclusion allows for the plausibility that a technique with shorter surgery times will have less risk of infection, shorter recovery time, and provides a more economical option for surgery centers/hospitals. Another finding was that the average pain score last taken from each patient was slightly lower with the true mini open RCR. Though the difference in means wasn’t statistically significant, it was very close to being considered significant. Further research with a larger sample size might bring more significant results and statistical significance.

Allison Frey (Adv: Physical Virology/Dr. David Wilson) Department, Kalamazoo College, MI, 49006

Oncolytic virology is a relatively new field in the fight against cancer and has consistently shown promising results in reducing tumor sizes while maintaining low toxicity. Viruses can be genetically engineered for oncolytic properties or physically engineered through their protein capsid in order to improve target specificity. Human Adenovirus (Ad) is particularly appealing in this field due to its rather simplistic form of targeting. Furthermore, it has long fiber protrusions (~350 Å depending on the serotype) used for cell attachment; the fiber knob and shaft can be altered and/or substituted with the desired targeting protein best suited for tumor cells. Because the fiber is essential to Ad’s oncolytic properties, it is important to study its relationship to the capsid. Previous studies point to a structural change in the capsid when the fiber is bound (30), while other research has not been conclusive to how the fiber is attached. Through the use of affine extensions (22) and previous work relating point arrays with biological implications (24), the Ad capsid was analyzed with best fit point arrays in order to find a correlation with gauge points and possible attachment points of the Ad fiber. The pT25 and T1 had best fits of  .5φ’ICO2 and IDD5, respectively. Some gauge points aligned with important structural components on the Ad penton, however, there were no overwhelming patterns of gauge points and penton protrusion relationships. While rather inconclusive, it is important to further study the physical virology of Ad fiber/base interactions in order to improve its understanding and use in oncolytic virology.

Anna M. Gambetta (Adv:  Dr. Santiago Salinas) Kalamazoo College Department of Biology, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.

Since the industrial revolution, humans have introduced a substantial amount of greenhouse gases and other pollutants to the natural environment. These stressors are especially challenging to ectotherms, which are often highly susceptible to fluctuations in temperature. Ectotherms in the wild coping with one environmental stressor may have a diminished ability to cope with additional ones. Therefore, regulatory agencies seeking to determine acceptable concentrations of potentially harmful substances may need to alter the way in which ecotoxicological studies are performed. By challenging model species with multiple stressors at once, scientists may be able to generate ecotoxicological data that better reflect organisms’ energetic trade-offs. This study seeks to determine if exposure to a ubiquitous environmental stressor (i.e. thermal fluctuations) alters an organism’s susceptibility to a chemical pollutant. We exposed Pimephales promelas embryos reared under three temperature regimes (constant 25°C, daily fluctuations between 22 and 28°C, and 19° to 31°C fluctuations) to varying concentrations of vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅), a largely unregulated industrial chemical. We quantified the interrelationship between stressors and rates of growth, survival, and incidence of scoliosis across all experimental treatments using general linear mixed modelling. During acute exposure, fluctuating temperatures and vanadium pentoxide worked individually and cooperatively to reduce survival, while only fluctuating temperatures altered growth outcomes. Further experimentation will be needed to ascertain the full scope of vanadium pentoxide’s effects.

The goal of this poster and poster presentation is ultimately to take the first steps into creating a better and more comprehensive biology composition exam and also to create a more easily understood biology major, “easily understood” being a specific term. This understanding means more knowledge in the requirements to graduate and also more knowledge in a class-to-class basis of information. For example, understanding cellular biology and evolution when starting a microbiology course. The data for this poster draws from a survey created by ourselves and our peers. As the survey works as purely the participant’s opinion, it is important to note that opinions vary from person to person. Though this is true, the trends observed are valid through a similar “opinion of the people” ideology, where the population observed is the biology majors who have gone through and are nearing the end of or are potentially in the middle of the biology major program at Kalamazoo College. We intend to incorporate possible action plans for these areas of improvement laid out by the results of this survey by looking into biology programs at other similar academically rigorous colleges/universities. Overall we just hope to encourage better understanding for all students involved in the biology major at Kalamazoo College in regard to what is required and expected from them in terms of the career they have in mind. In doing so, we also hope to better the understanding for the biology professors and staff as to how to best support students at this stage in their lives and what academic catalogue best suits the needs of a majority of our students.

Megan Heft (Adv: Dr. Stephen Ferguson) University of Kentucky North Farm, KY, 40506.

Stress responses serve to enhance fitness by allowing individuals to deal with diverse stressors like predator attacks or food shortages. Stressors are not all equivalent in intensity or duration, and though the physiological responses to different events often overlap, the context in which stress is experienced can change the degree or duration of a given response. We conducted behavioral research on nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to establish average levels of parental attendance and to determine whether parental attendance (social presence) would serve as a predictor of baseline corticosterone (CORT) for nestlings. In order to determine whether parental attendance acts as a “social buffer” on nestling CORT responses, we conducted a series of parental exclusions from nest boxes before subjecting nestlings to a capture-restraint protocol. Initial CORT concentrations were elevated in our long exclusion group compared to baseline CORT in controls. Within stress-induced samples, CORT in parentally-restricted nestlings was also elevated, which suggests that the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was primed, if not activated, by the exclusions. Parental attendance thus appears to exhibit both “social presence” and social buffering effects. We found no significant correlations between parental behaviors and nestling baseline CORT. Overall, our results suggest that both social presence and social buffering act as a proximate mechanism in the regulation of circulating CORT in nestlings.

Sandra Lizarraga (Adv: Dr. William R. Morrison and Marco A. Ponce) USD-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, KS 66502. 

Microbes are one of the most dominant organisms on the planet. Interactions between microbes and insects are important for a range of taxa, with emissions by microbes used for mating, foraging, and dispersal by insects. Although some research has investigated the interactions among stored product insects and microbes, very little research has examined how specific fungal life stages affect the behavior of Sitophilus oryzae (the rice weevil). Additional knowledge about attraction to microbially-produced volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) may be used in integrated pest management tactics to manipulate insect behavior. Our goals were to 1) isolate, culture, and identify two fungal life stages, 2) characterize the volatile emissions from grain inoculated by each fungal morphotype, and 3) understand how MVOCs from each fungal morphotype affect foraging, attraction, and preference by S. oryzae. To accomplish this, we collected headspace to identify the compounds emitted from two fungal life stages and then sequenced each morphotype to make species identifications. Next, we conducted four different experimental assays in order to test different aspects of S. oryzae behavior including preference (e.g., 4-way still air olfactometer), close-range foraging decision (video-tracking coupled with Ethovision software), and long-distance attraction (release-recapture assay). We found that each morphotype corresponds to the asexual stage of Aspergillus flavus and the sexual stage of A. flavus and the MVOCs emitted by each were considered unique. Our results suggest that at close-range, MVOC emissions by A. flavus can affect foraging decisions of S. oryzae. Overall, our research proposes that MVOCs may have potential for inclusion in behaviorally based tactics.

Nikoli M. Nickson (Adv: Dr. Ann Fraser) Biology Department, Kalamazoo College, MI, 49006.

Bumble bees are experiencing population declines at regional, national, and global scales. Confronting these trends requires the employment of conservation efforts; however, conservation efforts cannot be enacted without first understanding regional populations through documentation. Citizen science is a method wherein researchers recruit volunteers to aid in the collection of data, thereby expanding the range of data collection while maintaining the same seasonal timeframe. We established a citizen science project, Southwest Michigan Bee Watch, to better understand the species diversity and abundance of bumble bees in Southwest Michigan. The scope of this research is three-fold: in this study we (1) recruited volunteers and analyzed our recruitment efforts; (2) tested the efficacy and accuracy of citizen science against traditional field surveys; and (3) examined the relationship between landscape composition and bumble bee species diversity/abundance in a set of managed properties. Using a Shannon Index to compare the efficacy of citizen science against traditional field surveys, citizen science documented a greater number of bumble bee species than its counterpart. Landscape within and surrounding a public preserve was found to play no role in determining the number of bumble bee species observed; the location of each property, however, was related to the number of species observed. Taken together, these results provide evidence that citizen science is an effective tool for monitoring bumble bee population compositions in Southwest Michigan and can be used to document these populations in future seasons.

Helen Pelak (Adv: Dr Anne Marie Butler) Women, Gender, and Sexuality, Kalamazoo College, MI, 49006.

Cesarean surgery (c-surgery) is the most common operating room procedure in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests an ideal national c-surgery rate between 10 and 15% (WHO, 2015). In 2018, the United States experienced a c-surgery rate of 31.9%. Of the women who delivered via c-surgery, 21.7% were primary c-surgeries, or the percentage of c-surgeries conducted on pregnant women for the first time (CDC, 2019). Such findings indicate the overuse of c-surgery in the United States. C-surgery is a major abdominal operation that incurs serious risks for both mother and child. Three of the six leading causes of maternal mortality are associated with cesareans: hemorrhage, complications of anesthesia and infection. Furthermore, c-surgery may influence the well-being of subsequent pregnancies. Keag et al. (2018) found that women who had a c-surgery were 17% more likely to have a miscarriage and 27% more likely to experience a stillbirth in subsequent pregnancies. Thus, the overuse of c-surgery motivates analysis from feminist and medical communities as to the factors that contribute to a medically unnecessary c-surgery. The purpose of this paper is to assess the United States rate of c-surgery through the frameworks of Reproductive Justice and Intersectionality. This paper argues that the overuse of c-surgery is influenced in part by principles of Evidence-Based Medicine and defensive medicine. In the evaluation of Evidence-Based Medicine and defensive medicine as factors that contribute to the overuse of c-surgery, the medicalized model of childbirth is understood through Foucault’s notion of a discourse.

Hannah M. Shiner (Adv: Dr. Sara Tanis) Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.

This study proposes the addition of 25 trees to the Kalamazoo College campus in Kalamazoo, MI, USA. Kalamazoo College is located in an urban space and currently has 1315 trees. The goal of adding trees to Kalamazoo College was to increase tree biodiversity. Increased biodiversity can improve overall ecosystem services and reduce the potential risk of pest or disease attack. Kalamazoo College was surveyed, and locations were selected based on their proximity and orientation to buildings (North, South, West, East) as well as potential space for growth. Space was favored if there was ample space for more than one tree. Proposed tree species were selected for a location based on the characteristics of the ecosystem. Trees were placed in order to attempt to maximize ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, temperature mediation and stormwater runoff mediation. iDesign® was used to calculate the potential ecosystem services for the proposed trees. Coordinates for each proposed tree were entered into iDesign® to calculate the ecosystem services. iTree® Eco was used to calculate current campus ecosystem services with data from a previous study (Singh 2019). Current campus data was used to show the pest potential on campus and current species richness. The economic and environmental benefits of the proposed trees is outlined with the hopes of planting these trees on campus.

Grace Stier (Adv:) Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.

The role and view of midwives has been molded and altered through the thousands of years of known history of this career. This work will begin by focusing on European and especially German history, looking at the regulation of midwifery and the unique opportunity it afforded women in a time when they did not have many rights. Moving into the Industrial Revolution, the effects of medical advances and expansion of hospitals on the midwife’s ability to practice their career will be discussed. At this point Germany and the United States underwent similar periods of industrialization, accompanied by leaps in the medical field, however they contrasted greatly with the handling of midwives in their respective hospitals. Jumping forward, we will discuss the role of the midwife in the National Socialist Period and the lingering effects of legislature passed during this period. The final section of this paper will focus on midwifery in Germany and the United States today. Weaving in interviews that I conducted during my Praktikum in Germany and with a midwife in the United States, the modern birth system in both countries will be critically examined, looking at the effectiveness of practices and downfalls of the system, with the goal of looking at possible solutions to ensure that the health and safety of the mother and child can be maintained.

Brianna Taylor (Adv: Falon Markow) Screening Laboratory, Forensic Fluid Laboratories, Michigan, 49007.

Determining methodology for a procedure that can not only accomplish scientific correctness, but that can also meet industry specific demands, is key to accomplishing effective commercial science. Depending on the demands of individual laboratories in the drug testing industry, efficiency can be a major factor in choice of methodology. This study investigates if current methodology utilized at Forensic Fluid Laboratories (FFL), a commercial laboratory mainly specializing in oral fluid drug testing, can be applied to a different vendor’s enzyme linked immunosorbent assay plate than currently is in use, while still producing accurate results. This study is a validation of an OraSure ELISA phencyclidine (PCP) assay which detects PCP, an illegal hallucinogenic drug, in oral fluid. This motivation for this study is that the OraSure ELISA would be more cost effective than the current vendor. The goal was to determine if the new vendor could reach the laboratory standards for the two characteristics of validation being measured, precision and limit of detection. Precision was measured through a five day validation process to assess variation. Limit of detection was measured by testing previously confirmed positives. It was determined that the manufacturers prescribed method is precise enough to pass this laboratories standards; however, the current standard methodology could not be applied to the OraSure ELISA effectively. Due to the fact that the standard methodology used by FFL could not be applied to the OraSure PCP ELISA, the cost efficiency was determined to be insignificant when considering the additional time and possible errors that could occur if this assay were to be used in production. Therefore, the OraSure PCP ELISA was not implemented at Forensic Fluid Laboratories.

Kelson Perez, Alejandro Aguirre (Adv: Dr. Binney Girdler, PhD) Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI, 49006.

A brownfield located in the Eastside of Kalamazoo known as the Riverview Eastside Site (RES) is the former site of a coal ash dumping site and the current home for dozens of unhoused people. The property has been selected for the future site of the Riverview Wellness Park by a local community organization but needs to know what is there now and what remedial action must be undertaken to restore it. To help address the current state of the property, we performed a vegetation survey of the flora currently growing on the property. Over 151 sampling sites, the percent coverage of forbs, woody, woody vine, and grass species as well as percent coverage of litter and bare ground was mapped across the RES. We also performed a tree survey along the riverbank along the western border of the RES. The location of plants that are would cause irritation to humans if touched were recorded. Of the 49 different plant species we identified across the entirety of the property, at least two are potential phytoremediators, though only of these is a native species. The data collected from the sample sites categorize the sampled area as a field due to the lack of canopy coverage and strong presence of grasses and forbs.

Tyler Allyn-White (Adv:  Dr. Sharon Gill) Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, MI, 49008.

Birds are critical to the infrastructure of many ecosystems. They comprise large components of food webs, actively disperse seeds, pollinate, modulate insect populations, and contribute countless other benefits to ecosystems. Furthermore, they serve as excellent indicator species for the health of ecosystems and effects of climate change. Despite conservation and management efforts, populations are decreasing at an alarming rate. North American avifauna has experienced a net loss of almost one third of its 1970 abundance (about three billion birds lost). Declining species are not simply limited to specialists. Many common habitat generalists and introduced species are also declining, indicating a serious threat to all birds. This review serves to direct attention to our role in bird conservation and identify opportunities to contribute. Organizing and participating in citizen science programs and volunteer activities can help various aspects of conservation. We should start to view our own private land and gardens as opportunities to protect and restore biodiversity. Educating and supporting farmers could help curtail losses due to agriculture, one of the biggest threats contributing to the present decline. Countless species, not only birds will benefit from our efforts which are becoming more and more necessary before it becomes too late.

Nicole I. Bailey (Adv: Dr. Ann Fraser) Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI, 49006.

Bumble bee populations are declining around the globe, and one of the largest threats to their existence is habitat loss. Agricultural intensification and urbanization limit nesting sites and reduce the abundance of high-quality forage plants available. Potential ways to improve bumble bee populations include protecting semi-natural habitats and creating urban areas of high floral abundance. This study explored the floral diversity and abundance of 11 managed wildlife conservation properties in Southwest Michigan and found 157 unique flower species, useful as a baseline of foraging resources available to bumble bees. Flower-bumble bee interaction surveys were conducted in nine of the properties, and they displayed differences in bumble bee flower interactions depending on the flower species, family, origin of flower species and flower shape. The three bumble bee-plant survey methods revealed that bumble bees preferred irregularly shaped native flowers in the Fabaceae and Lamiaceae families. Analysis of citizen science submissions found that backyard gardens and ornamental plants also provided productive floral resources for bumble bees in urban environments. Predicting which flowers will attract bumble bees is an important tool for conservation, and these results are useful for the future land management practices of nature preserves and urban environments alike.

Sela Damer-Daigle (Adv:  Dr.Cynthia Damer) Biology Department, Central Michigan University, MI, 48858

To develop more specific and effective cancer therapeutics, scientists are studying copines. Copines are a novel class of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins called copines. Copines have been implicated in several different types of human cancers, including leukemia, lung cancer, and breast cancer. The Damer lab at Central Michigan University is using the ameboid protozoan Dictyostelium discoideum to study copines. Dictyostelium has six different copine genes, cpnA to cpnF, and is a good model organism for studying fundamental cellular processes. The Damer lab is focused on determining the function of all six copines; most of the research has been focused on CpnA. My research focused on CpnD. My research aimed to 1) verify our mutant and control cpnD cell lines and 2) characterize the mutant phenotype. We were able to verify our cell lines with PCR and begin the characterization of the phenotype of the cpnD mutants using different growth and development assays and observing the Dictyostelium. Our results indicate that CpnD plays a role in cytokinesis, cell adhesion, and development of Dictyostelium. When compared to cpnA- cells, the cpnD mutant cells had opposite phenotypes. cpnD mutant cells have decreased adhesion and precocious development, while cpnA- cells have increased adhesion and delays in development. After characterizing the mutant phenotype for all six copine genes, we will have a better understanding of the roles copines play in cellular functions. This will improve theories about how copines interact with cancer.

Alexa Dulmage (Adv: Dr. Ann Fraser) Department of Biology, Kalamazoo College, Michigan, 49006.

As one of the most important pollinators in the world, wild bees are critical for maintaining ecosystems. However, wild bee populations have been declining due to threats such as habitat fragmentation, chemical pollution, decreased floral resource availability, disease, and climate change. In order to better understand the conservation needs of wild bees, long-term trends in diversity must be monitored. The techniques utilized in wild bee monitoring are still being studied, as there are biases and limitations associated with all sampling methods. Dr. Ann Fraser’s lab at Kalamazoo College has been monitoring wild bee populations in southwestern Michigan over the past twelve years. This study analyzed data collected during years in which regular sampling took place to understand changes in regional wild bee diversity in regard to time, location, and sampling method. Sampling took place at a range of locations within the region, including Kalamazoo College campus, Lillian Anderson Arboretum, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Sand Creek Preserve, Augusta Floodplain Forest, and Chipman Preserve. Multiple sampling methods were employed throughout the duration of the project, including bee bowls, blue vane traps, and netting. We found that genus composition and count varied annually, and that genera count decreased in August of every year. We also found biases for certain taxa in both bee bowls and blue vane traps, emphasizing the need for the utilization of multiple sampling methods in future long-term monitoring projects to accurately assess wild bee diversity and abundance. Variations in genus composition and count were observed between sites in 2018, suggesting that it may be beneficial to use a variety of sampling sites that consist of habitats that are representative of the southwestern Michigan environment.

Stanton Greenstone (Dr. Michael Wang, M.D., Ph.D) Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, MI, 48103.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common form of dementia globally. While the causes of VaD are often heterogeneous, cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is among the most prevalent. A large portion of SVD cases arise due to cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), an inherited disorder that leads to chronic ischemic episodes which invariably occur in subcortical white matter. Although the underlying mechanisms of CADASIL pathology have been well documented, very little has been studied regarding the protein expression profile in the white matter of CADASIL patients. In our study, a team of researchers screened a large protein database to identify a novel cohort of white matter-specific proteins. From this, we selected three proteins (MAG, CACNA1A, RNF6) and, through an immunohistochemical analysis, evaluated their presence in CADASIL brains compared to controls. Though we did not see a quantitative difference in protein presence within the white matter in CADASIL versus control brains, we did observe significant protein presence in the cerebral cortex (gray matter) of CADASIL patients, with little to none in controls. Although it is difficult to determine the cause of this, the accumulation of proteins in the cortex being a hallmark of a number of neurodegenerative disorders led us to hypothesize that this was likely a deposition of white matter proteins. Ultimately, this may point to a more general malfunction of important homeostatic functions in the brain and the growing overlap between the pathological processes of neurotoxic-mediated neurodegeneration and those of vascular origin.

Emily Hamel (Dr. Connie Crancer) Biology Department, Kalamazoo College, Michigan, 49006. 

We are living through the 6th mass extinction, as species everywhere battle habitat loss and climate change. As the world has become urbanized, natural areas have been reduced to fragments of their original sizes. Culturally, nature is imagined to be thriving outside of cities, when in fact most rural areas have been converted to vast swathes of farmland. Within cities, most native species have been replaced by exotic ornamental species from Europe and Asia with only consideration for the aesthetic appeal. Many garden plants have escaped from the confines of lawns to become invasive species which are outcompeting native species in the natural areas that remain. Plants are the backbone of the food web, and a decrease in native plants also means a decrease in food for the local wildlife. An effective strategy for helping local wildlife is replacing exotic landscaping plants with native plants. To increase diversity of pollinators on Kalamazoo College’s campus, I am proposing planting a pollinator garden near the hoop house. The garden will provide food for pollinators at different life stages, habitat, water, and protection from pesticides. It will act as part of an educational hub for students interested in sustainability on campus.

Noah Merritt (Adv: Professor Tom Rice) Studio Art Department, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI, 49006

I am a biology student with a particular interest in ecology and conservation. Because of this, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the state of the world; the state of its species. We are in the midst of a mass extinction. I think that it is easy to think about that and become completely devoid of hope. The world is in a troubling state, and it is going to be hard to do anything about it. It will take mass, worldwide change, and a lot of sacrifice. But before that can happen, people need to care. We need to care outside of the scope of utilitarianism. We should care about other species because we share this space with them, and they do not deserve to lose it because of us. The most important connection between us is that we are here together. How amazing it is that we get to be here together? That is where I am coming from with these pieces. I wanted to represent our togetherness and our connection in a weird, super literal way, by creating these chimeras of humans and other species. I created these 8 digital illustrations using an Apple iPad and the program Procreate over the course of 10 weeks in the winter of 2020.

Kelly Nickelson (Adv: Mr. Steve Van Timmeren, M.S.) Entomology Department, Michigan State University, Michigan, 49408. 

Drosophila suzukii, commonly known as the spotted-wing drosophila is an invasive species that has cost American fruit growers millions in harvest damage since it arrived in 2008. Female D. suzukii have a serrated ovipositor that enables them to lay their eggs underneath the skin of ripening thin-skinned fruits, like blueberries. The eggs will then hatch into larvae that mature within the host fruit, leading to its destruction of the berry and significant financial loss for the grower. The objective of this study was to identify what cultivars of blueberries are most susceptible to D. suzukii oviposition and the stages of ripeness that are most vulnerable to D. suzukii oviposition. Utilizing firmness and no-choice testing, this study found that cultivar susceptibility was a condition of both the berry’s current ripeness stage and its cultivar. D. suzukii oviposition occurred at relatively consistent rates once the blueberries gained any form of coloration. However, the developmental rate of D. suzukii eggs into larvae and adult flies was higher in riper berries, indicating that riper berries were more suitable for development. Further studies are needed to provide greater insight into D. suzukii oviposition in highbush blueberry cultivars.  

Jordan E. Reichenbach (Adv: Holly Hooper) Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.

For the past two decades, monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have been declining in population. Conservation efforts need to be made to improve their habitat availability so that their populations can grow again. In order to do this, habitats that the monarchs can live and breed in need to be established. In this study, I looked to find out where the monarchs are located by collecting monarch data at five established prairie habitats and five roadside corridor habitats. I also collected data on habitat quality, milkweed abundance, and pest/predator abundance in order to compare the two different habitats. The resulting data confirmed that monarch abundance was greater in prairies than in roadsides. Conversely, there was no statistically significant correlation between the monarch abundance and either milkweed abundance or pest/predator abundance. Based on the results and conclusions made, it was determined that although roadsides contained less monarchs, if they are managed well in the future, they can still provide a habitat that monarchs can thrive in.

Margaret Roethler (Adv: Jen Meilinger and Binney Girdler) Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.

The abundance and diversity of arthropods in a habitat can be an indicator of ecosystem health. Additionally, the complexity of plant populations in an area is often a large determinate of how much and what kind of arthropods can be supported there. Arthropods in turn can also be important sources of food for other organisms in an ecosystem. In this study, I looked at the population of arthropods as well as their avian predators using data downloaded from the Caterpillars Count! and eBird citizen science projects. I also established my own survey site to get additional information on arthropod populations in the Kalamazoo area. Using a one-way ANOVA, I analyzed if the average observational counts for each order of arthropods, as well as bird species, saw any change from 2018 to 2020. I found that only two out of six categories of arthropods saw a decline. Additionally, most species of birds saw no change. Overall, while there may be evidence that some arthropod species are declining, there is no evidence that bird species in the area are being affected by this change. 

Danielle A. Roof (Adv: Dr. David Wilson) Physics, Kalamazoo College, MI 49006.

Viruses are complex nucleic acid-filled capsids that are completely dependent on their host cells’ machinery to reproduce and survive. Their self-assembling outer structural shells are called capsids, which enclose the genetic material. Spherical viruses follow icosahedral symmetry, and their capsids have geometric constraints with protruding features on the great circles. Triangulation Number is used to classify spherical viruses’ capsids while the 7 Baltimore Classification classes describe the internal genetic material. Using Triangulation Number, Baltimore Classification, best-fit Point Array(s), corresponding Gauge Point(s), and the host of each type of spherical virus, this study aimed to reveal a relationship and possible dependency among viruses’ characteristics. All data were extracted from the VIPER database (VIPERdb). MATLAB, Terminal, and VMD were used to determine Point Arrays, Gauge Points, and visual representations of the asymmetric unit. This comprehensive analysis confirmed there is no relationship between T- Number and Baltimore Classification alone. Many spherical viruses with Gauge Point 1 are either T3/pT3, Baltimore Classification I/IV/V. It also exposed that many viruses do not have Gauge Points on their 3’ or 2’ axes, suggesting this axis to be the most restrictive. None of the 144 known spherical virus structures used in this analysis had Gauge Point 6 as their best fit. Gauge Points 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are only used by RNA viruses. Gauge Point 1 is almost always used by viruses with larger T- Numbers, suggesting that Gauge Point 1 has the least constraints and is the most easily accessible for large viruses. For further research, some interesting data analysis with Gauge Points would be host type, antibody location, and changes throughout maturation. 

Caitlin Tremewan (Adv: Dr. Santiago Salinas) Department of Biology, Kalamazoo College, MI, 49006.

Scientific literature is often difficult for people to understand, however the concepts researched and discussed are important to build scientific understanding among the public. Youth academic journals, such as Frontiers for Young Minds, have created an opportunity to share scientific research with children in terminology they understand. For this project, an article by Kindsvater et al. (2012) was adapted and submitted to the journal Frontiers for Young Minds to teach children how maternal age and size affects offspring size in Xiphophorus birchmanni. The study found that older and larger X. birchmanni produce larger offspring demonstrating a role for life history traits in determining the size of offspring in this species. To rewrite the article by Kindsvater et al. (2012) in language that children understand, it was important to identify the main findings of the original paper and explain them clearly in the new version. Additionally, through the adaptation process, some parts of the original study were left out so a simpler narrative could be written while maintaining the overall integrity of the study’s findings. The resulting adapted article was approved by Dr. Kindsvater prior to journal submission to ensure presentation of the original material was satisfactory. This project is valuable because it allows for recent scientific research to be presented to children in a way that is understandable. This not only teaches interesting scientific concepts but also fosters an environment for young people to feel engaged with the scientific community. 

Cassandra Vogel (Adv: Sara Stockwood & Dr E. Binney Girdler) Kalamazoo College Department of Biology, Environmental Studies Program, Lillian Anderson Arboretum, Michigan, 49007.

COVID-19 has been a huge struggle the past year, however during this time of recommended self-isolation, families and communities have found refuge in going to parks and exploring nature as a form of escape. The Lillian Anderson Arboretum has been incredibly full during this quarantine. With an increase of visitors, people were going off the trails or picking plants to take home. This project was conducted to help those who are new to the Arboretum identify new plants and help inform people on which plants shouldn’t be touched around Batts pond. The ultimate goal is to give the Arboretum a hand drawn booklet to display as a QR code near the Batts Pond and Wood Frog trails that visitors may use while they walk around.

Madalyn R. Winarski (Adv: Dr. James Paxton) Wayne State University Research Department, MI, 48202.

The American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) algorithms provide guidelines for the urgent treatment of cardiovascular emergencies. According to these algorithms, cardiac arrest patients should receive ACLS medications intravascularly to ensure prompt and predictable drug delivery. Vascular access can be obtained using a variety of different devices, including a central venous catheter (CVC), peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter, or intraosseous (IO) catheter. Central or peripheral intravenous access may require several lengthy attempts or be unobtainable due to extreme collapse of the venous system during cardiac arrest. However, an IO catheter is inserted directly into the bone marrow, providing an uncollapsible point of entry into the vasculature. Previous studies have found that first-attempt success rates for IO catheter placement during cardiac arrest are higher than those for PIV catheter placement, although the effect of this improved placement success rate on the time to first medication delivery is unknown. The present study was conducted to determine whether attempted placement of an IO vascular device before a PIV vascular device was associated with reduced time to first ACLS medication administration. To explore the proposed topic, time of emergency department (ED) arrival and time of first ACLS medication administration were collected for 62 subjects presenting to the ED after experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to compare the mean time taken to administer the first ACLS medication in relation to the use of an IO or PIV catheter. We found that the mean time to ACLS medication administration was not significantly different when an IO catheter was attempted before a PIV catheter (p = 0.29, > 0.05).