Assessment & management of aquatic ecosystems in local watersheds
Sulfate Reducer Bacteria Population Distribution in a Nature Center Pond and the Effect of Removal of Dead Cattails along its North Shore Region
Karnadi P. Doeve
May 23, 1996

Abstract
The distribution of sulfate reducer bacteria was investigated along the north and east shores of [Mary Vagle Pond] in Fontana, California. Removal of dead cattails on one site in the north shore region was done to determine its effect on sulfate reducer bacteria concentration. Six water samples near the sediment were collected, and they were tested for the bacteria by using Kligler’s Iron Agar. The concentrations of the bacteria were significantly higher along the north than east shores. One of the samples yielded a concentration as high as 7000 sulfate reducers per mL. Following removal of cattails along the north shore, the bacterial count decreased from 7000 to 100 bacteria per mL.

Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) Ground water Contamination in Redlands, California
Don Messamer
November 27, 1991

Abstract
This project deals with dibromochloropropane (DBCP) ground water contamination in the Redlands area. A general history of the pesticide DBCP is discussed. Specific well sites, which are contaminated with DBCP, are identified. Concentrations of contamination detected in the polluted wells from 1986-1990 are shown. The general DBCP plume area is shown. Plans for cleanup are discussed. An annotated list of agencies contacted is provided. Ideas for future research are mentioned.

A Survey of Plankton in the Salton Sea
Randall Frederick Good
February 2, 1993

Abstract
Plankton samples were taken from a site near Mecca Beach at the Salton Sea, California, during a spring dinoflagellate bloom for quantative and qualitative analysis. Samples were collected with Kemmer-type container and plankton net, and were preserved in 5% formalin and transferred to lab for study. Zooplankton and phytoplankton forms were identified, and analyzed through estimation of population densities and graphic representation of depth distribution. It was shown that over the collection period the population of the copepod Cyclops dimorphus increased while dinoflagellate Glenodinium, an apparent food source. decreased.

A Review of Trophic Classification Systems and an Assessment of the Trophic Status of Mary Vagle Pond
Maimari A. Soultana
May 31, 1996

Abstract
I have reviewed the published lake classification systems, based on total phosphorous, SD, chlorophyll-a, biomass, and pH.
Measurements of chemical and biological parameters (especially, total and orthophosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen, SD, phytoplankton, BOD and temperature) were made during the spring of 1996 at Mary Vagle Pond. TP (total reactive phosphorus), transparency (SD), a calculated Tropic Status Index and common representative species of phytoplankton were used to determine the tropic status of Mary Vagle Pond. Applying my baseline data for phosphorus, nitrate, secchi disk and the most common species of phytoplankton to current systems of classification I have characterized Mary Vagle Pond as a hypereutrophic pond.
A description of the procedures for determining BOD and phytoplankton biovolume/biomass, along with some preliminary results for Vagle Pond, are included as appendixes.

Temperature-Dependent Time Lags Affecting Population Dynamics of Lake Zooplankton
Sarah Michelle Seidman
May 27, 1997
(Study performed in lab of Professor M. V. Moore at Wellesley College)

Abstract
Elevated water temperatures (> 25 C) associated with climatic warming may increase the susceptibility of certain zooplankton species or life stages to starvation under conditions of low or no food (Moore, Folt, and Stemberger, 1996). Starvation is a time lag process and it may vary among species of different body size. I tested the hypothesis that neonates of Daphnia pulex, a large-bodied species, should be more resistant to starvation than other species under a normal summer temperature (20 C) due to the former species’ ability to filter bacteria efficiently. Starvation time for neonates of D. pulex was determined in the laboratory at a normal summer temperature (20 C) and at elevated temperatures (25& 30 C). Median starvation time for Daphnia pulex neonate in bateria-reduced Lake Waban water (5.5 d) was significantly lower at 20 C than D. pulex neonates previously tested in bacteria-abundant lake water (25 d), supporting the hypothesis. Median starvation times at elevated temperatures, however, were similar for both bacterial conditions indicating that the ability to filter bacteria may not aid survival under conditions of episodic warming. The experimental starvation times will be used to generate appropriate time lags in a large simulation model predicting episodic effects of elevated temperatures on lake food webs. (Supported by the National Science Foundation REU Site grant IBM 94224179).

A Preliminary Study of Puddingstone Reservoir Plankton: Biology, Relative Abundance, and Standing Crop Biomass
Alena Linda Vlna
October 7, 2002

Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to identify the types of plankton present in Puddingstone Reservoir and to describe the basic biology of the most common forms, to estimate the biomass or standing crop, and to correlate changes in the plankton population makeup with some physical and chemical parameters of the water.
Dinoflagellates were the most common forms of phytoplankton found, and the cladocerans were the most common zooplankton found during the sampling period of February 7-May 16, 2001. A sudden decline in plankton populations during April 2001 was observed. Whether this was due to the establishment of a thermocline, to chlorination of the nearby swim area, or other causes is unknown.

An Assessment of the Macroinvertebrate Community of San Antonio Creek in the Sub-Santa Ana Watershed (San Gabriel Mountains)
Brian Brew
May 22, 2002

Abstract
I collected and assessed the macroinvertabrates form three riffle-sites along San Antonio Creek (San Bernardino County, CA) following EPA protocol. I examined the proportional abundance (by order and family), species diversity (by order and family), and I assigned the families to functional feeding groups. I compared the number of families collected by kick net (nine families) and by leaf pack (seven families). The species diversity (Simpson Index) for net samples was 2.64 (Site 1), 0.819 (Site 2), 1.04 (Site 3). The most abundant invertebrates found were oligochaetes. The most common families and orders of insects were Nectopsyche and Tricoptera (Net) and Hydrospsychidae and (Leaf Pack), respectively.

 

A Study of the Cultural History, Hydrology, and Riparian Vegetation of Upper “Marshall Creek West” in La Verne, California (The Wilderness-Park Reach)
Park Southworth
May 10, 2002

Abstract
A brief cultural history of the small stream flowing through Wilderness Park in north La Verne is presented. The general riparian vegetation, hydrology, and some structural features have been characterized. All trees within 20 feet of the reach have been identified, mapped, and their circumferences noted. An extensive file of photographs has been included. The potential for erosion of the banks and loss of oak trees, the impact of urban development, and the steps the City of La Verne has taken to preserve the reach are discussed. [This information will serve as baseline data against which to measure future changes in the stream and its associated riparian community.]

Ecology of Salicornia bigelovii Torr. [in Estero Morua, Mexico]
Jason Marquez
November 19, 2001

Abstract
On January 17, 1993, a study as performed to determine intertidal zonation for Salicornia bigelovii at Estero Morua in Puerta Penasco, Sonara, Mexico. There was a high number of S. bigelovii in the area of the Low Tidal Zone. S. bigelovii was the most abundant halophyte in parts of the Low Tidal Zone. Because of favorable conditions, and S. bigelovii’s affinity for growth in this type of medium, a large population of S. bigelovii occurred. Other halophytes observed were: Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex barclayana, Atriplex canescens canescens, Atriplex canescens linearis, Batis martima, Cressa truxalensis,Distichlis palmeri, Frankenia grandefolia, Fankenia palmeri, Monanthochloe litteralis, Salicornia subterminalis, Salicornia virginica, Suaeda californica. The species diversity index was highest in the High Tidal Zone.

Ecology of the Solitary Ascidian Ciona intestinalis
Michael Anthony Buckley
May 11, 1998

Abstract
The population density of the solitary Ascidian Ciona intestinalis occurring in natural settings in lower Newport Bay, California was assessed in April 1998 by checking for the number of adult animals. In the same collection sites and comparable substrates examined by Kelly in 1973, no adult tunicates were observed. Although the average water temperature was higher in 1998 in comparison to Kelly’s 1973 study, the total rainfall was also higher which caused a reduced salinity in the bay water. For these reasons and many more instituted by man, the tunicates did not make an earlier annual appearance in 1998 than in 1973, as I had predicted they might. An overview of the ecology of Ciona is presented.

Case Study: Management of the Salton Sea
Rhonda M. Laugeson
February 20, 1996

Abstract
This study on the Salton Sea is intended to gives a perspective on how some of our everyday activities influence our environment and to present management alternatives designed to mitigate those impacts. Agriculture is one of the most important industries we have today, but in the case of the Salton Sea it has become a source of environmental pollutants that are affecting aquatic life, wildlife, water quality, and esthetic values of the Sea.
This paper draws on reports, studies, and a symposium on the current condition of the Salton Sea.
Proposals by Dangermond & Associates Inc., which focus on prevention of future pollution in conjunction with remediation techniques to improve water quality and living conditions of wildlife, have been incorporated into the final recommendations in this paper.
 

Sustainable development
 

Third World Focus
A Case Study in Community-based Development: Mesa del Campanero
Sonora, Mexico
Michelle L. Ashurst
July 15, 1991
(Under joint supervision of Merritt and Labinger for Biology and Spanish Major)

Forward
In January of 1987, I registered for a University of La Verne class entitled “Social Ecology of [a Mexican Village]” with Dr. Dan Merritt. The class participated in a 10-day work camp in a remote village nestled in the Sierra Madre Range of Northern Mexico. The village, Mesa del Campanero, was involved in a [five-year] development project guided by two non-government organizations, La Asociacion Sonorense de los Amigos and El Centro de Paz. While on the mesa, we helped with small projects, such as digging privies, working with home gardens, installing solar panels, and digging the foundation area for a water tank.
We worked side-by-side with the people of Campanero, sharing our different cultures and ideas and forming friendships that would not be forgotten. By living with local families during our stay, we were able to spend quality time talking with one another. We learned from each other as we sat by the evening fires after a day’s work.
During my short visit to the mesa I became quite interested in the nature the five-year project. It seemed to me that the role of the local residents as the source of change and the role of the outside agency as a catalyst for change was appropriate to the needs of the community. In researching this paper, I was able to record a detailed account of a successful community-based development project.
A successful project is one, which meets or exceeds its immediate goals and one that continues to develop after the outside agency or support group withdraws. Nonetheless, as stated by Stiles, “for a project to get off the ground, people must be able to perceive a tangible, fairly immediate and direct benefit from their participation: (Stiles, 1987). The Campanero project demonstrates how success can be attained.
Before I describe the village project, I should mention some important names that I will cite as sources of information. These people have been instrumental in helping me to gather the facts necessary to write this comprehensive paper.
The first, Norman Krekler, has been the director of La Asociacioun Sonorense de los Amigos in Hermosillo for many years. He led work camps in the mountain villages, and he became close friends with the local people. By profession he is a horticulturist. I met Norman when I visited the mesa in 1987, and I have received newsletters from Los Amigos since then. In June of 1991 I spoke with him on the phone about the latest developments in Campanero.
Frank Shutts was a leader of El Centro de Paz during the five-year project. With its base in the U.S., this group promotes cross-cultural relations through community-based development projects. Shutts is an ecologist and a retired university professor. He was in Hermosillo in 1987 with our social ecology class.
My project advisor, Dr. Dan Merritt of the University of La Verne, took social ecology classes to Campanero in 1985, and 1987. In addition, he attended seminars and organizational meetings for the project. Dr. Merritt has been a valuable source of information as well as a strong base for organizational support.
Finally, I cited information from four of Dr. Merritt’s students. Sonja Lopez and Tim Calkins participated in the 1987 class, and Randy Edwards took the class both in 1985 and 1987. As a class requirement, these students wrote papers describing the mesa and the project at the time of their visit. The papers served as informative sources, with recorded facts and figures coming from the local people.
 

Toxicology

Using Earthworms in Toxicology: An Assessment of Lethality Using Zinc
Eric Rivera
May 15, 1994

Abstract
Recent research suggests that the common earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, can be used as an effective substitute for rodents in toxicology. In the present study the toxicity of zinc after 48 hours was tested on earthworms. The procedure that was used was similar to the one reported by Nguyen and Furst, (1998), with changes to improve its consistency and validity. Based on the results obtained, the LD 50(48) was estimated at 37ug Zn/g body weight. These results were different that those obtained by Furst, (22ug Zn/g worms), but similar to those that have been obtained from mice in other studies.

Toxicity of Selenite in Earthworms
Lani S. Margolin
May 19, 1995

Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the common earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris, can be used as an effective replacement for mice and rats in the laboratory (Rivera, 1994). This experiment was designed after a selenium experiment by Arthur Furst and colleagues at the University of San Francisco. Furst’s study focuses on finding the LD 50 for selenate and selenite. The levels of selenite used in [the current] experiment began at 20 ug selenite/g worm and increased by doses of 10 ug /g consecutively to 70 ug/g, a range above and below the LD50 finding of 31 ug/g by Furst (Serda and Furst, 1987). This re-examination found the LD50 at 24 hours to be 29 ug/g. The [small] discrepancy shows that worms respond very closely in two different labs with slightly different methods.
 

Parasitology

Whirling Disease in Salmonids
Mark Laurence Shiu
December 15, 1997

Abstract
Myxobolus cerebralis is the protozoan parasite that causes whirling disease in fish, especially trout. The goal of this study was to review the life cycle of this parasite and to isolate and confirm M. cerebralis spores in naturally infected hatchery fish. Whirling disease symptoms and signs include: Whirling behavior in swimming patterns, discoloration in pigment or “black-tail”, skeletal deformities and M. cerebralis spores embedded in the cartilage of the cranial region (the primary site of infection). The life cycle of M. cerebralis is unique and complex involving two phases and hosts. Depending on the stage of development M. cerebralis can exist as a spore or as a waterborne infective agent called Triactinomyxon gyrosalmo. The two hosts include a tubificid worm and a susceptible fish. Young Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout) samples, obtained from California Department of Fish and Game, were analyzed for spores using a cartilage digestion method and histological confirmation. Initial trials of eighteen samples yielded no spores. Following minor additions and alterations to the procedures, further trials revealed the presence of M. cerebralis spores in five pools of fish heads. No spores were seen in the histological sections.
 

Animal behavior

Olfactory Avoidance Conditioning in Drosophila
Jonathan M. Brown
May 9, 1994

Abstract
In this experiment populations of Drosophila melanogaster were trained to avoid an odor that had previously been paired with an electric shock. An apparatus originally designed for the phototactic response was constructed and modified to enhance learning and control for variables. The avoidance conditioning was obtained by alternately exposing the flies to two odorants, one paired with a shock. Upon testing, the trained files selectively avoided the shock-associated odor. Independent variables such as pseudoconditioning, habituation, and odor bias were minimized. The selective avoidance could be extinguished by retraining and the memory persisted for 24 hours. The experiment permits for future isolation of mutants with different learning abilities. Once isolated, the mutants could be studied employing genetic techniques to investigate these differences.

 

Extensive Methylation of p15 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients
Jerome Garcia
May 15, 1998

Abstract
The p15 gene has recently been identified as playing a tumor suppressor role by encoding a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. This gene is commonly inactivated in acute myeloid leukemia patients via methylation of the promoter region. This study deals with finding and deciphering any significant increase in methylation and or patterns in these patients’ genes. It was found that the majority of the leukemia patients showed a notable increase in methylation. The p15 gene in the control group had 3% of its CpG sites methylated, while the leukemia patients had 35% (P<0.001). No specific methylation patterns were discovered, but certain CpG sites displayed a susceptibility to methylation (hot spots). The data strongly suggest that methylation plays a major role in down regulating the p15 gene to cause acute myeloid leukemia and that certain CpG sites may act as the specific control of the expression of the gene.