2015 Coastal and Environmental Fellowship Opportunities

Projects related to Plant Sciences and Entomology

Project titles

• Above- and below-ground impacts of hemlock woolly adelgid on eastern hemlock

• De-Tasseling Sweet Corn to Prevent Bird Damage: An Alternative to Cannons?

• Improving Yield and Quality of RI-Grown Melons through Innovations in Control of Striped Cucumber Beetle

• Snap Peas – A Multi-purpose Crop?

• Soil loss and productivity of nursery sod and plants grown in southern New England

• The relationship between abiotic factors and nuclear genome size in plant populations

• Evaluation of organic fertilizers used for high tunnel tomatoes in Rhode Island, and effect of corrective measures for nutrient deficiencies

• Wetting agents and cryocide (novel controls) for annual bluegrass weevil pests of golf course turfgrass

• Bee diversity and pollen foraging specificity in cultivated highbush blueberry plantings in Rhode Island

• Biological Control of Swallow-worts

Above- and below-ground impacts of hemlock woolly adelgid on eastern hemlock

This project examines how the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid affects aboveground plant defense and root structure in the eastern hemlock. The project involves both field (25%) and laboratory (75%) work; typical jobs might involve sorting and classifying root samples or carrying out field surveys in forested settings.

Mentor: Dr. Evan Preisser

De-Tasseling Sweet Corn to Prevent Bird Damage: An Alternative to Cannons?

Currently the most effective practical method to keep birds from damaging sweet corn is to repeatedly fire propane cannons to scare the birds. However, the cannons also annoy people in neighborhoods near farms. This study will look at whether cutting the tops off the corn plants after flowering makes them less attractive to birds, and whether it would be a viable alternative to propane cannons. The project is field based, with research conducted both at URI’s Gardiner Crops Research farm and on the farms of cooperating growers around RI. It will require a lot of walking through corn fields. Experience with growing vegetables is preferred; ability to identify birds to species would be beneficial.

Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Brown

Improving Yield and Quality of RI-Grown Melons through Innovations in Control of Striped Cucumber Beetle

Striped cucumber beetle is a major pest of melons, killing plants early in the season and decreasing fruit quality later. This study focuses on using biorational insecticides to target the beetle larvae that feed on melon roots. Current synthetic insecticides target adults feeding on foliage, but also damage honeybees and other pollinators. This is a field-based project. Experience in growing vegetables is preferred.

Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Brown

Snap Peas – A Multi-purpose Crop?

Snap peas are a popular vegetable, for which consumers are willing to pay a premium. Many farmers grow them, but only on a very small scale as yields are relatively low, the peas must be hand harvested, and the season can be short. However, field peas (same species) are a popular cover crop, grown to add nitrogen to the soil. This project will evaluate the yield and nitrogen fixing ability of snap peas, to determine if the pea plants continue to be a good source of nitrogen even if the peas themselves are harvested. This is a field/hightunnel project that has the potential to include some plant tissue analysis work. Most of the work will be done in June, July, September, and October, so this project could be a good fit for a student who wants to be a CF but also wants to take part of the summer for travel or other opportunities.

Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Brown

Soil loss and productivity of nursery sod and plants grown in southern New England

The project will require considerable field work in that gathering plants, plant products and soil samples from the field are its primary objectives. The subsequent assessment of these samples for root biomass and soil characteristics will be a wet laboratory experience. Experience with Office Excel and GIS mapping techniques valuable.

Mentor: Dr. W. Michael Sullivan

The relationship between abiotic factors and nuclear genome size in plant populations

The Coastal Fellow would work with a graduate student studying the relationship between abiotic factors (including temperature, salinity, and carbon dioxide concentrations) and nuclear genome size in the Meyerson lab. The student would assist in both field and laboratory settings. Skills with field collection in salt marshes or laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction and PCR would be beneficial, but students can be trained on these skills during the fellowship. Students with interests in invasive species, genetics/genomics, and global environmental change are particularly encouraged to apply.

Mentor: Dr. Laura Meyerson

Evaluation of organic fertilizers used for high tunnel tomatoes in Rhode Island, and effect of

corrective measures for nutrient dificiencesObjectives

• Test several organic fertilizer blends for high tunnel indeterminate tomato production• Test effectiveness of corrective fertigation on plots with documented nutrient

deficiencies• Correlate tissue test laboratory Potassium (K) and Nitrate – N with hand-held

electronic meters using petiole sap

Applicant must have a strong interest in horticultural/agricultural science, be willing to perform manual labor in very warm (but well ventilated) conditions, and be willing to carry out some laboratory procedures. Data input is required, familiarity with MS Excel preferred

Mentor: Andy Radin

Wetting agents and cryocide (novel controls) for annual bluegrass weevil pests of golf course turfgrass

We have shown in the laboratory that wetting agents can be potent insecticides. Presumably the mode-of-action is reduced surface water tension to the point where water enters the spiracles of insects and drowns them. This low toxicity strategy (along with cryocide) will be tested in the field.

Mentor: Dr. Steven Alm

Bee diversity and pollen foraging specificity in cultivated highbush blueberry plantings in Rhode

Island

Fellows will be collecting bees at various cultivated highbush blueberry plantings (growers) in Rhode Island, analyzing pollen collected, surveying other blooming plants surrounding blueberry plantings. Combination of lab and field work.

Mentor: Dr. Steven Alm

Biological Control of Swallow-worts

The coastal fellow will work with the mentor and possibly a graduate student to rear a leaf-feeding catterpillar Hypena opulenta, a new biological control agent for invasive swallow-wort plants. They will make field releases of Hypena in swallow-wort sites, and conduct field monitoring of release sites.

I would like to find a student with interest/experience working with both plants and insects. This will be part research/part outreach and include both lab and field work.

Mentor: Lisa Tewksbury

Projects related to Marine Issues

• Testing the effectiveness of methods for restoring of endangered Caribbean corals

• An examination of human uses in RI's coastal ponds

• Pawcatuck Watershed Management Plan for Flood Resiliency

• Spatial orientation of pelagic sharks in a patchy environment

• The role of adaptation of salt marsh plants in coastal resiliency

• Evaluation of erosion enhancement methods on the surrounding nearshoreBenthic Invertebrate Community in the Narrow River, Rhode Island

• Effects of ocean temperature on a marine invertebrate proteome

Testing the effectiveness of methods for restoring of endangered Caribbean corals

Restoration ecology links the academic science of ecology to the practice of conservation. It means intervening to repair an ecological system in a way that promotes its long-term stability. The proposed project will test the effectiveness of restoring 2 ecologically important coral species in the genus Acropora. in the Caribbean whose populations have been devastated throughout their range. As a result of these declines, both species were listed under the US Endangered Species Act. Although restoration of these corals is clearly desirable, there has been little research evaluating potential restoration techniques.

Fragments of these corals often break-off in rough weather, and this is a normal form of asexual reproduction. Propagating fragments in nurseries and then transplanting them is a viable method of re-seeding damaged sites, and transplanted fragments do as well as colonies that have naturally recolonized sites. One hurdle for many restoration projects is the need to lease sites used as nurseries. We will test whether existing boat moorings can be adapted to use as coral nurseries. We will track the growth and survival of corals grown on boat moorings and compare their fate to that of corals transplanted to other nursery sites.

I am looking for a coastal fellow who has the following qualifications:

1) A passport and willingness to spend 4-6 weeks of the summer at a Caribbean field site

2) The ability to obtain AAUS research diver certification by June 2014. See http://www.gso.uri.edu/diving/index.htm for diving requirements. Applicants with current AAUS research diving certification and some experience (e.g. > 50 logged dives) may be preferred.

3) A strong academic background in ecology and marine biology, and an interest in marine conservation. Willingness to read primary scientific literature and contribute to project design.

4) Familiarity with the animals and plants that occupy Caribbean coral reefs is a plus but not essential. The ability to recognize coral and fish species visually may be preferred.

5) The ability to perform physically demanding field work for long hours each day in a team setting under sometimes stressful field conditions

6) An understanding of basic statistical principles and familiarity with MS Excel is preferable

Mentor: Dr. Graham Forrester

An examination of human uses in RI's coastal ponds

The goal of this project is to quantify, value, and map recreational and commercial activity on Point Judith Pond, Ninigret Pond, and Quonochontaug Pond along the south coast of Rhode Island. Our team of PIs and student researchers will conduct (1) boat-based observational surveys of uses in the ponds, and (2) in-person surveys of users in the ponds. The Coastal Fellow must be willing to work on a collaborative team, spend time on a boat in various weather conditions, and be willing to conduct surveys of coastal pond users. Familiarity with GIS and small boat handling experience are preferred.

Mentor: Dr. Robert Thompson

Pawcatuck Watershed Management Plan for Flood Resiliency

The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association needs 2 Coastal Fellows to do field work surveying and assessing streams, dams, culverts and bridges in the Pawcatuck Watershed. They will be working with consultant engineers to collect information and assess various natural and manmade structures for contribution to excess flooding during large storm events.

Students will need to be able to follow written protocols to do assessments. Most of the work will be outside, but some background research may be required. Preference will be given to students interested in hydrology, wetlands, and/or watershed management.

Mentor: Denise Poyer, Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association

Spatial orientation of pelagic sharks in a patchy environment

Animals that occupy heterogeneous environments disproportionately use parts of their habitat. The environmental conditions used as cues for activity concentrated in particular areas in the open ocean are poorly understood for pelagic fishes, although these animals clearly detect and orient to specific regions of the ocean. The coastal fellow will investigate relationships between areas of concentrated activity used by pelagic sharks and environmental conditions (sea surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, upwelling, ocean fronts) of the specific areas used. The correlation between various environmental conditions and areas of heavy shark activity will be tested. The student will use the statistical program R and a suite of spatial analysis methods to complete this investigation. The work will largely be computer based, but will most likely also i ncludefield work tagging mako sharks from a sport fishing charter boat later in the summer. Desired qualities are familiarity with Excel, computer programming, attention to detail, very good ability to work independently and means of transportation.

Mentor: Dr. Brad Wetherbee

The role of adaptation of salt marsh plants in coastal resiliency

Sara Wigginton, a graduate student in the Meyerson lab, is seeking an undergraduate student to assist in a study focused on the role of adaptation of salt marsh plants in coastal resiliency. This project will examine whether pre-adaptation in salt marsh plants to changing environmental conditions enhances coastal resiliency. The student will assist graduate students in both field and laboratory analysis and data management and analysis. The student will join larger multidisciplinary team that is establishing a baseline characterization of the southern coast of Rhode Island and a coastal observation and monitoring network intended to enhance coastal resiliency in Rhode Island.

The selected student should have interests in ecology, wetland science, plant genetics or a related field. Candidates with experience in or willingness to learn DNA extraction, PCR and data analysis will be more highly ranked.

The Coastal Fellow will need to be willing and comfortable working outside as well as in a lab setting. The candidate will be expected to assist in field work in salt marsh systems in southern Rhode Island that may require physical effort and may be accessible only by small boat.The ability to work in a group setting is essential as this researcher will work collaboratively with the PIs, graduate students and other research assistants on this project.

Mentor: Dr. Laura Meyerson

Evaluation of erosion enhancement methods on the surrounding nearshore Benthic Invertebrate

Community in the Narrow River, Rhode Island

The coastal shoreline provides habitat to a high diversity of organisms, but is sensitive to disturbances in habitat structure. This project assesses the impacts of erosion control methods on the nearshore benthic invertebrate community through sediment core collections along various types of shoreline in the Narrow River, Rhode Island. The information collected from this project will provide insight into the biological impacts of erosion control materials to help determine the best solution for mitigating the effects of coastal erosion along Rhode Island’s coasts.

The Coastal Fellow will assist in field sample collections on a monthly basis within the Narrow River along with sample processing in the laboratory. They will learn to identify Marine Invertebrates found in the Narrow River and perform data entry and basic statistics. It is preferred that the Coastal Fellow applicant has a background in field sampling and/or is comfortable with working in a salt marsh environment.

Mentor: Dr. Laura Meyerson

Effects of ocean temperature on a marine invertebrate proteome

How is protein expression of marine invertebrates affected by projected ocean temperature and pH changes?

Significance:Protein expression profiles are readouts of the physiological state of an organism. New technology enables global assessment of protein expression in detail at low cost. The aim is a pilot project to determine if protein expression changes can be detected when the ascidian Ciona intestinalis is reared at temperature and pH levels consistent with projected ocean warming.

Project description:Ciona intestinalis adults will be reared at control conditions and at conditions simulating ocean warming and acidification. Gonads will be dissected and protein extracted and sent to the Brown Epscor Proteomics Center to be analyzed using liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy. The data will be analyzed to determine which proteins are up or down-regulated in the different conditions. Relative fecundity of animals at different conditions will also be tested. Protein expression and fecundity changes, if detected, will be compared to infer possible physiological stresses on the reproductive system of the animals.

Techniques that will be learned/used by undergradautes on this project:Aquarium setup and animal care at the EPSCoR Marine Life Sciences Center at URI Bay Campus.Dissection and protein extraction in the lab.Analysis of proteomic datasets.

Mentor: Dr. Steve Irvine

Projects related to Water Quality

• URI Watershed Watch special water quality monitoring projects

• Lower Narrow River Water Quality Monitoring Program

URI Watershed Watch special water quality monitoring projects

The URI Watershed Watch is a scientist-led volunteer water quality monitoring program housed within the Cooperative Extension’s Water Quality program. Coastal Fellow’s are fully integrated into all aspects of the program, from training new volunteers, field monitoring, lab analyses and glassware washing to helping out with public outreach. Fellows may work directly with coastal or river watershed organizations on a project of the organization’s choosing, or they may be involved in a project monitoring and tracking cyanobacteria blooms in fresh water, or on a project monitoring and working on lakes in Roger Williams Park.

Qualifications: Good computer skills, Excel in particular, are extremely helpful, as are having a valid drivers license and being able to swim. Attention to details, willingness to read and follow directions and an interest in working with a diverse clientele (our volunteers) and staff are preferred. Interest in water quality, salt or fresh. Interest & courses in the sciences, biological or physical.

Mentor: Linda Green and Elizabeth Herron

Lower Narrow River Water Quality Monitoring Program

This project is primarily a field sampling project with data recording and analysis using Excel spreadsheets and graphs. The Coastal Fellow will produce a written project report at the end of the sampling season.

Background:For more than two decades Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) has had a River Watch program that monitors the water quality at fourteen locations spanning the entire length of the Narrow River. Several sites have high bacteria levels. In 2014, the NRPA initiated a two-year water quality program funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The focus of this program is to conduct supplemental water quality monitoring in the waters and streams of the 317 acre John H. Chaffee National Wildlife Refuge that resides within the towns of South Kingstown and Narragansett, Rhode Island. This monitoring will support saltmarsh and estuarine resiliency and restoration actions planned by TNC and USFWS and may possibly identify sources of high bacteria levels. The second year of monitoring will begin in May 2015 and this would be carried out by the URI Coastal Fellow.

Skills Needed:• Capable of independently carrying out field sampling of riverine waters from the shore for nutrients and bacteria.• Use of YSI 85 sensor and probe.• Capable of filtering water for chlorophyll with a field kit.• Familiarity with Excel spreadsheet and graphing program. Familiarity with statistics a plus.• Good data analysis skills.• Good writing skills.• Must provide own transportation to field sites and URI lab.Field locations:Thirteen sites will be monitored. All sites can be monitored from the shore and have public and safe access. Most of the sites are located on or near Pettaquamscutt Cove or Middlebridge Bridge.

Field Work and Sampling Plan:• The monitoring season begins in mid-May and runs through mid-October.• Sampling must be coordinated with the URI WW Seasonal Sampling Program.• Sampling follows procedures as described in the URI Watershed Watch Volunteer Monitoring Manual.• Water samples will be collected approximately every two weeks during the monitoring season for bacteria. At every other sampling date (i.e. once a month) samples will also be taken for nutrients and chlorophyll.• On each sampling date, the collected samples will be placed in a cooler and then transported by car to URI’s Watershed Watch Office in Kingston by 3 pm.• These samples will be analyzed by URI’s Watershed Watch (WW) Office staff for bacteria and nutrient levels.• Chlorophyll samples are filtered by the Coastal Fellow and the resulting filters are analyzed by WW staff.• In addition to water collections, additional parameters were measured bi-weekly using an YSI 85 probe. These parameters are: Dissolved Oxygen, Salinity, and Temperature.• Weather, wind, and tide observations will be recorded from each sampling date.

Equipment to be used:• YSI Probe Model 85 with 20 m cable and with an oxygen permeable membrane.• Pole (for extension), bucket, and bottle samplers.Data Analysis:• The WW Office personnel compile the bacteria and nutrient data and provide the data in Excel format. The Coastal Fellow will graph the data.• The WW Office personnel compile chlorophyll data and provide the data in Excel format. The Coastal Fellow will graph the data.• The YSI data will be compiled and entered into an Excel spreadsheet and graphed by the Coastal Fellow.

Mentors: NRPA Board Members, Dr. Veronica Berounsky and Ms. Annette DeSilva

Projects related to Fisheries Issues

• Predator Prey Survey for Whelk in Narragansett Bay

• Understanding public perceptions of aquaculture

• Management of Diseases of Marine Organisms

Predator Prey Survey for Whelk in Narragansett Bay

Objectives: To determine the level of predation on the hard clam Mercenaria mercenariaby channeled whelk Busycotypus canaliculatus and knobbed whelk Busyconcarica in Narragansett Bay Rhode Island using experimental cages

The project is primarily field work and will take place on a small research boat and underwater. The Coastal Fellow would need to have diving skills.

Mentors: Barbara Somers and Dr. Kathleen Castro

Understanding public perceptions of aquaculture

In this study, we are conducting a mail survey of Rhode Islanders to (1) examine how attitudinal factors, personal characteristics, and external conditions influence an individual's decision to support or oppose aquaculture, and (2) develop estimates of social carrying capacity for aquaculture in RI. We are seeking a detail-oriented student to assist with data collection and analysis. Familiarity with excel and/or statistical software would be helpful. Most of the project activities will take place at URI. There will be visits to aquaculture farms and other coastal sites throughout the summer, so the Coastal Fellow must be willing to spend some time outdoors around RI's coastal waters.

Mentor: Dr. Tracey Dalton

Management of Diseases of Marine Organisms

The goal of this project is to develop tools to manage diseases affecting wild and cultured populations of marine organisms of key ecological and economical importance in Narragansett Bay. We will be gathering and compiling existing information on disease prevalence in key species (lobsters, oysters, sea stars) and try to relate disease prevalence with mortality events. We will also test the effect of some management strategies, such as deployment of disease resistant strains or the use of probiotics. Skills developed in this project include: microbiological techniques, disease diagnosis, and data analysis (particularly in the area of ecological statistics).

Mentor: Dr. Marta Gomez-Chiarri

Projects related to Animal Sciences

• Localization of Sperm Transcripts

• Translation of alternatively polyadenylated mRNA in spermatogenesis

Localization of Sperm Transcripts

Spermatozoal RNA is important for embryonic development and potentially a marker for male fertility. We have previous conducted high throughput sequencing of the sperm mRNA profile and have identified transcripts that are potentially involved in the sperm maturation process called capacitation. For this project, the Coastal Fellow will learn to use a fluorescent in situ hybridization protocol to localize the transcripts in sperm using molecular cloning and fluorescent microscopy techniques. The results of this research will provide evidence of function of sperm transcripts depending on the localization of these transcription.

Mentor: Dr. Becky Sartini

Translation of alternatively polyadenylatedmRNA in spermatogenesis

Fertile sperm production relies on coordinated gene expression that involved post transcriptional processes including alternative polyadenylation. Different length transcripts, generated by alternative polyadenylation, can impact subsequent protein levels and therefore fertility. In cancer cells, shorter transcripts generate high protein levels that can contribute to highly proliferative cells. We hypothesize that sperm cells have a similar mechanism of high protein production in short transcripts that will be tested in a cell culture model for this project. The Coastal Fellow will also gain significant molecular biology experience with cloning and PCR with this project.

Mentor: Dr. Becky Sartini

Projects related to Ornithology

• Tern habitat management

• RI Breeding Bird Atlas

• Monitoring grassland birds for Dartmouth Land Trust

• Radio-tracking Piping Plovers

• Behavioral observations of Roseate Terns

Tern habitat management

The field-based study will investigate an assessment of current habitat management strategies used on offshore islands to protect Roseate and Common Terns. The Coastal Fellow will work closely with a graduate student conducting surveys throughout New England. The coastal fellow will assist with plant identification, collecting vegetation data and taking photographs on nesting islands. Therefore, we would prefer students with plant identification skills, willingness to work in noisy tern colonies, comfortable in small boats, use of a GPS, GIS skills would be helpful.

Mentor: Dr. Peter Paton

RI Breeding Bird Atlas

We are looking for students who have excellent bird identification skills to conduct point counts throughout RI as part of the RI Breeding Bird Atlas. Fieldwork will take place throughout the state, in somewhat remote areas. This requires identifying birds by call and song, as well as visual cues. Fellows will be using a GPS to find point count stations,. Fieldwork will take place in the early morning hours during June and July and include looking for evidence of nesting.

Mentor: Dr. Peter Paton

Monitoring grassland birds for Dartmouth Land Trust

This project focuses on efforts to restore and manage early successional habitat for grassland birds at the Dartmouth Land Trust in SE Massachusetts. The job involves conducting point count surveys to monitor avian species use of the restoration site. Work also involves searching for nests and monitoring changes in vegetation composition and structure. Field work will primarily take place in from late May through mid-July, with point counts conducted in the early morning hours. Finally, research findings will be analyzed and summarized to develop a management plan for early successional habitat on Land Trust properties.

Mentor: Dr. Peter Paton

Radio-tracking Piping Plovers

This research will be working with US Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and a PhD student from UMASS to monitor daily and seasonal movements of Piping Plovers on beaches in southern Rhode Island. Work will involve assisting with tracking plovers using hand-held units, conducting behavioral observations of tagged and non-tagged plovers to assess potential impacts of radio-tags, resighting color-banded plovers, helping to trap and band plovers, and assisting with construction of towers used to track plovers. The work will involve walking long stretches of beaches with a spotting scope and hand-held receiver.

Mentor: Dr. Peter Paton

Behavioral observations of Roseate Terns

This field project will assess the impact of radio-tags on nesting Roseate Tern (federally-listed as endangered) on Great Gull Island (E end of Long Island Sound). The research involves conducting behavioral observations from a blind for extended periods of time. The biologist will monitor the behavior of terns with and without radio-tags. This will include assessing feeding rates of chicks (including determining species of fish), preening rates, and nest attendance rates among other parameters. Great Gull Island is a remote field site, with boats coming out once weekly. There are up to 20 other biologists on the island, but living conditions are somewhat primitive but comfortable.

Mentor: Dr. Peter Paton

Projects related to Herpetology• Inventory of amphibians and reptiles at Colonial National Historical

Park, Virginia

• Effects of Forest Loss on Aquatic Turtles Populations in Rhode Island

• Phenotypic and performance effects of urban microclimates on hatchling lizards

Inventory of amphibians and reptiles at Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia

One Coastal Fellow will work with my Research Associate and me on an inventory of amphibians and reptiles in a national park in Southeastern Virginia. Fellows will assist with conducting call surveys for amphibians, identifying amphibian egg masses in wetlands, dipnetting wetlands for amphibian larvae, trapping wetlands for turtles and aquatic snakes, performing visual encounter surveys for reptiles and amphibians, and checking under plywood coverboards for reptiles. All animals captured will be measured, and turtle shells will be notched for unique identification. Species studied will include 68 species of salamanders, frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles that are expected to occur in the national park. Surveys will be conducted in permanent and temporary wetlands, lowland forests, grass fields and tidal marshes. Most of the work will be in the field (80%), but other tasks will include cleaning and maintenance of field equipment. Students will live in a shared apartment with other researchers and graduate students in Virginia for the duration of the program.

Student selected for this project will: gain extensive field experience and confidence learning to identify, capture and handle amphibians and reptiles of eastern United States, and learn about study design and data collection.

Requirements for this position

To be considered for this position you must be:

• Flexible in your time schedule

• Willing and not fearful of working at night in the forest (we will work in pairs)

• Confident in the field

• Physically fit

• Able to lift at least 25 pounds

• Capable of wading in wetlands and moving through dense forest brush

• Safety-minded

• Able to work in conditions with ticks, chiggers and mosquitoes

• Aware of the risks of deer ticks and Lyme disease

The Coastal Fellow working on this project will be trained in safety procedures specific to this position and will be expected to adhere to them at all times. We are looking for an easy-going, friendly student who is excited about field research and interested in conservation.

Mentor: Dr. Nancy Karraker

Effects of Forest Loss on Aquatic Turtles Populations in Rhode Island

Two Coastal Fellows will work with my PhD student and me on a study of the effects of forest loss on aquatic turtles in Rhode Island. Fellows will assist with trapping wetlands for turtles, removing turtles from traps, and weighing, measuring , and marking turtles before releasing them back into the wetlands. Species trapped will include painted, snapping, musk, wood, and spotted turtles, and wetlands trapped will range from vernal pools to 1 acre permanent wetlands. Most of the work will be in the field (75%), but other tasks will include cleaning and maintenance of field equipment and data entry.

Students selected for this project will: gain extensive field experience and confidence handling wildlife, learn about study design and data collection, be introduced to methods for marking wildlife and tracking their movements, and gain knowledge about forest management and its effects on wildlife.

Requirements for this position

To be considered for this position you must be:

• Have a fairly flexible time schedule

• Willing to learn safe techniques for handling snapping turtles (we will work in pairs)

• Confident in the field

• Physically fit

• Able to lift at least 30 pounds

• Capable of wading in wetlands and moving through dense forest brush

• Safety-minded

• Aware of the risks of deer ticks and Lyme disease and take care to avoid tick bites

Coastal Fellows working on this project will be trained in safety procedures specific to this position and will be expected to adhere to them at all times. We are looking for easy-going, friendly students who are excited about field research and interested in conservation.

Mentor: Dr. Nancy Karraker

Phenotypic and performance effects of urban microclimates on hatchling lizards

This is a laboratory project to test whether hatchling lizards incubated under urban (i.e., higher, more variable temperatures) versus natural (i.e., cooler, less variable temperatures) conditions differ in body size, locomotor performance, and thermal tolerances. The Coastal Fellow will be in charge of daily lizard care, which includes feeding, misting, and cleaning. The research requires collecting eggs from lizards, incubating them under the two treatments (urban and natural), and measuring phenotypes and testing performance of hatchlings.

Mentor: Dr. Jason Kolbe

Projects related to Education and Outreach

• Public Education & Outreach for URI Cooperative Extension’s Water Quality Program

• Public Attitudes towards the Block Island Wind Farm

• Economic Impact Assesment

Public Education & Outreach for URI Cooperative Extension’s Water Quality Program

The URI Home*A*Syst Program is an award winning voluntary residential pollution prevention program. We provide workshops, publications, and other educational resources and tools to communities and organizations to promote informed decision-making. We work in partnership with others to train residents to take actions to protect their health and the environment.

This position is a great opportunity for undergraduates with a passion for public education and outreach and who want to gain experience and skills. The successful applicants will provide support for URI’s Water Quality Program, specifically helping with community outreach and education. During the summer, Fellows will attend 3 - 4 community and organizational events with informational materials on how residents can protect their private drinking water well.

Skills Gained:

Gain knowledge about Cooperative Extension and effective education and community outreach techniques.

Learn about: groundwater hydrology; water quality; protection methods; and, drinking water testing. Learn how to use educational tools to communicate important principles to the audience.

Learn and implement methods to measure the effectiveness of public education campaigns.

Improve public speaking skills, office and organizational skills.

Network with partnering agencies, including the RI Department of Health, and other community organizations.

Primary Duties and Essential Job Functions:

Schedule and attend 2 – 3 community events each week (farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals) in targeted areas. Set up informational displays, hand out information, and educate the public on drinking water pollution prevention.

Assist in delivering information and coordinating programs as they develop.

Preferred Skills:

Reliable, able to work independently and productively

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Comfortable with public speaking and interacting with the public

Science background with the ability to learn handouts, materials and educational tools

Valid driver license and reliable vehicle for transportation to and from events

Mentor: Alyson McCann

Public Attitudes towards the Block Island Wind Farm

A private company, Deep Water Wind, has proposed a five-turbine wind farm three miles off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island. The project has received all required federal and state permits, and plans to start construction in fall 2015. This summer will be a critical time to capture public attitudes towards the project, in order to track the change of attitudes during construction and operation. Therefore, I plan to collect survey data from residents and visitors to Block Island. The primary role of a Coastal Fellow would be interacting directly with members of the public to collect data, as well as data management and preliminary analysis.

Dr. David Bidwell

Economic Impact Assesment

We are looking for a student to assist in this project, including data collection, literature review, etc. This project will assess the stakeholder perceptions of intangible damages to the Port of Providence and economy of RI if a major storm were to strike RI. Intangible damages include but are not limited to supply chain disruption, loss of jobs, relocation of business, and environmental damages.

Sea level rise, along with higher storm surges resulting from increasing storm intensity and frequency, threaten the sustainability of maritime transportation infrastructure in coastal areas. In Rhode Island, major storms impacting the maritime infrastructure of the state result in economic costs, damages to the environment, and negative consequences on resident’s quality of life. In the coming decades, tough decisions will need to be made about resilience investment measures around the state.

The maritime transportation sector in Rhode Island includes import/export terminals, ferries and passenger terminals, commercial fishing infrastructure, and ship repair facilities. The ocean related activities and industries represent about $2 billion of Rhode Island’s economy, and support the quality of life that many Rhode Islanders enjoy. In 2010, the Port of Providence alone handled 3.1 million tons of cargo. ProvPortgenerated more than $200 million in economic benefits for the region and over 2,400 jobs were attributed to port activities. Hurricanes pose a significant threat to these areas, along with the commercial and industrial uses, their various economic multipliers, and the citizens of the State who depend upon the activities taking place on the State’s working waterfront.

Mentors: Eric Kretsch, working under Dr. Austin Becker

Projects related to Soil Sciences

• Hydrology, carbon flux, and soil spatial variability within vernal pool wetlands

• Effects of nutrient inputs on soil properties and benthic infauna in Shallow Subtidal Wetlands

• Soil Based Onsite Wastewater Systems Under Climatic Stress

Hydrology, carbon flux, and soil spatial variability within vernal pool wetlands

This project will focus on the study of the soils and hydrology of vernal pool wetlands. The coastal fellow will assist in monitoring wetland hydrology and carbon fluxes within the wetlands. In addition, the fellow will assist in sampling and describing the soils and characterizing the various soil properties. There will be both field and laboratory work. Someone with an interest in soil and/or wetland science is preferred.

Mentor Bianca Peixoto and Dr. Mark Stolt

Effects of nutrient inputs on soil properties and benthic infauna in Shallow Subtidal Wetlands

This project will focus on assessing the effects of oyster aquaculture on estuarine wetlands using soil properties and benthic infaunacommunities as indicators of environmental impact. There will be both field and laboratory work. Student should be comfortable working in a small boat, performing physical labor in the water, and know how to swim. There will be both field and laboratory work. Someone who is interested in soil science, biogeochemistry, or marine biology is preferred.

Mentors: Chelsea Duball and Dr. Mark Stolt

Soil Based Onsite Wastewater Systems Under Climatic Stress

The coastal fellow will be involved chemical and microbiological analysis of three different soil based onsite wastewater technologies under a stressed climate change scenario in a laboratory setting. These data will be evaluated in comparison to previously collected data under a normal (not stressed) climate scenario as indications of changes in renovation ability of the soil.

Knowledge of microbiology, chemistry and soil science is preferred. The fellow will become familiar with the following analyses:

*Membrane filtration for fecal coliform enumeration*Microplate colorimetric analysis for total nitrogen, total phosphorous and ammonia*Gas Chromatograph y for CO2, N2O and CH4 gases*Pipetting and precise analytical chemistry techniques

Mentor: Jennifer Cooper

Projects related to Remote Sensing

• Remote sensing of salt marsh change in the Jamaica Bay, New York

Remote sensing of salt marsh change in the Jamaica Bay, New York

Salt marsh communities are sensitive to disturbance and perturbations from natural causes such as storms and geomorphic processes, as well as human induced impacts associated with nutrient loading, watershed development, tidal restrictions, and ditching. In this project the coastal fellow will work on satellite remote sensing data to conduct a change analysis for the salt marsh habitats in the Jamaica Bay, New York. Multiple sources of geospatial data, maps and information will be referenced to develop an informative presentation about the changing environment of the study area. Remote sensing and GIS skills are required.

This position will be lab work based, primarily using digital image processing and GIS software systems such as ERDAS Imagine and ArcGIS.

Mentor: Dr. Y.Q. Wang