United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Center for Environmental Research
Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Research Program
2010
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Table of Contents
E9 Global Change 3
Q Clean Air 35
U Drinking Water 42
El Water Quality 50
Hydrogeology and Surface Water 52
Coastal and Estuarine Processes 57
IT1 Human Health 63
Public Health Sciences 65
Risk Assessment and Decision Making 69
H Ecosystem Services ?s
Aquatic Systems Ecology 80
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology 94
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology 100
Q Pesticides and Toxic Substances 104
H Science & Technology for Sustainability 12s
Green Engineering/Bid Iding/Chejnistry/Materials 130
Energy 139
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making 151
Emerging Environmental Approaches 164
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, DC 20460
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
November 23, 2010
Dear Research Partners:
As Director of the EPA's National Center for Environmental Research (NCER), I am pleased
to welcome the 2010 class of STAR Fellowship awardees into the community of researchers
supported by the EPA.
The awardees profiled in this compilation were carefully selected for one of the most coveted,
competitive, and distinctive fellowship awards supported by a federal agency. Their pre-eminent
selection is part of the EPA's aim to bolster the environmental generation of today, to help
bridge diverse communities, and to boost excellent research and development that advances both
the protection of human health and the environment.
For this competition, our staff re-structured its competitive categories in order to highlight the
topics of applied environmental research and thus emphasize the type of innovation that is
needed in order to address the environmental challenges feeing us today and tomorrow.
This Fellowship Awardees' Portfolio is organized according to the topical areas which include
Global Change, Clean Air, Drinking Water, Water Quality, Human Health, Ecosystem Services,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Land Protection, Science & Technology for Sustainability, and
Emerging Environmental Approaches—Informatics.
Please join my staff and me as we pique your interest with this diverse Portfolio of cutting-edge
research.
Sincerely,
v-"^/
William H. Sanders, III, Dr.P.H.
Director
National Center for Environmental Research
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Global Change Fellows
Adams, Henry David
Temperature Sensitivity and Physiological Mechanism of Drought-induced
Tree Mortality: Improving Assessments of Global Change Impacts
University of Arizona (AZ). 5
Avolio, Meghan Lynn
Mechanisms Driving Climate Change-induced Diversifying Selection in
a Dominant Tallgrass Species
Yale University (CT) 6
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert
Novel Molecular Methods for Probing Ancient Climate Impacts on Plant
Communities and Ecosystem Functioning: Implications for the Future
Northwestern University (IL) , 7
DeAngelis, Anthony M.
Towards an Improved Understanding of Simulated and Observed Changes
in Extreme Precipitation
Rutgers University (NJ) 8
Deyle, Ethan Robert
Developing Nonlinear Methods for Understanding and Predicting Climate
Impacts on Fisheries
University of California, San Diego (CA), 9
Fisichelli, Nicholas A,
Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Regeneration in the
Upper Great Lakes Region
University of Minnesota (MN)... 10
Fry, Meridith McGee
The Influence of Short-Lived Ozone Precursor Emissions on Radiative
Climate Forcing and Air Quality
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (NC) 11
Griffin, Richard Daniel
Tree-Ring Reconstructions of North American Monsoon Variability
in the Southwestern U.S.
University of Arizona (AZ) 12
Hart, Julie Ann
Towards a Mechanistic Understanding of Climate Change Impacts
on a Specialized Terrestrial System
University of Wyoming (WY), 13
Hite, Jessica Leigh
Changing Rainfall Patterns in the Neotropics, Predation, and
Amphibian Declines: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Processes
Indiana University, Bloomington (IN) 14
Kaiser, Sara Ann
Adaptive Significance of Plasticity in Hormone-mediated Avian
Reproductive Behaviors in a Changing Climate
Cornell University (NY). 15
Keiser, Ashley D.
Merging Above- and Belowground Processes: Non-Random Tree
Species Change and Microbial Community Function
Yale University (CT). 16
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole
How Well Can Fungi Migrate Under a Changing Climate
University of California, Irvine (CA) 17
Langhammer, Penny Flick
Impacts of Climate Change and Emerging Infectious Disease on Amphibians
Arizona State University (AZ),. 18
Lehn, Gregory Owen
Tracking Arctic Climate Change With Calcium Isotopes
Northwestern University (IL) 19
Long, Ryan A.
Linking Climatic Variability to Behavior and Fitness in Herbivores:
A Bioenergetic Approach
Idaho State University (ID) , ,...20
Marchin, Renee Michelle
Assessing the I lydrological Costs of Carbon Sequestration in Managed
Forests and Biofuel Plantations
North Carolina State University (NC). . 21
Myhre, Sarah Butler
Constraining the Movement of the Eastern Pacific Oxygen Minimum
Zone Through Rapid Climate Transitions
University of California, Davis lC. 1). ...22
Oakley, Clinton Alexander
Carbon Fixation of the Diverse Coral Symbiont Symbiodinium in a
High-C02 Ocean
University of Georgia (GA) .23
Pratt, Jessica Dawn
Clinal Variation in Artemisia californica Traits and Implications for Herbivore
Communities, Invasion Resistance, and Plant Adaptation in a Changing Climate
Abilene Christian University (TX) .24
Prevey, Janet Sullivan
Effects of Climate Change on Vegetation and Ecosystem Services in
the Colorado Front Range
University of Colorado, Boulder (CO) .25
Putnam, Hollie M.
Resilience and Acclimatization Potential of Reef Corals Under Predicted
Global Climate Change Stressors
University of Hawaii, Manoa (HI) .26
Putnam, Rachel Cope
From Arkansas to Ontario: Understanding Climate and Climate Change
Impacts on Sugar Maple Range Limits
University of Minnesota (MN). ...... .27
Rampini, Costanza
Climate Change in the Himalayas: The Prospect of Sino-lndian Collaboration
University of California, Santa Cruz (CA) .28
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth
The Public Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke and Aeroallergens Altered
by Changing Climate: A Spatial Epidemiological Approach
University of California, Berkeley (C.-1) . .29
Salacup, Jeffrey M.
A New Approach to Assessing the Anthropogenic Impact on an Urbanized
Estuary: Sediment Record of Pre-historical and Historical Environmental
Change in Narragansett Bay, Rl, USA
Brown University (RI) 30
Schuler, Matthew Scott
Using Structural and Thermal Heterogeneity To Minimize or Reverse the
Impacts of Climate Change in Terrestrial Systems
Washington University, Saint Louis (MO) 31
Stuble, Katharine Lisa
Disruption of Ant Communities by Climatic Warming
University of Tennessee, Knoxville i"T\) ... .32
Swarthout, Robert Frank
Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Temperature on BVOC Emissions:
Implications for Hydroxyl Radical Reactivity and Ozone Chemistry
University of New Hampshire (NH) 33
Telerneco, Rory S.
Predicting the Biotic Effects of Climate Change: An Integrative Approach
Using an Ectothermic Vertebrate Model
Iowa State University (IA) ,, .34
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Henry David Adams
G
EPA Grant Number: FP917178
Institution: University of Arizona (AZ)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail:
Temperature sensitivity and physiological mechanism of drought-induced tree
mortality: improving assessments of global change impacts
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
To improve predictions of ecosystem vulnerability to global change, I
will continue my dissertation research examining the temperature sen-
sitivity and physiological mechanism of drought-induced tree mortality
in pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) using a combination of experimental ap-
proaches to simulate drought under ambient and warmer (4 °C) drought
conditions. Specifically this grant supports analyses of tree mobile
carbohydrates to test two hypotheses for the physiological mechanism of
tree drought mortality: 1) that trees die from drought when respiratory
demands deplete mobile carbohydrate resources, and 2) that trees die
from drought when failure of mobile carbohydrate translocation to sink
tissues occurs.
APPROACH
This project takes advantage of three pinyon pine drought mortality ex-
periments that explore the temperature sensitivity of drought mortality:
one already completed with transplanted trees in a glasshouse; an ongo-
ing experiment with transplanted trees under realistic field conditions;
and a planned growth chamber experiment with tree seedlings. Testing
hypotheses for the physiological mechanism of drought will be accom-
plished by analyzing a time series of tissue collected during drought
through mortality for concentration of mobile carbohydrates, includ-
ing sugars and starches. These analyses will include leaf (pine needle)
tissue collected from the glasshouse and field experiments as well as
whole-plant, leaf, root, and stem mobile carbohydrates from seedlings in
the growth chamber experiment, which will include samples from trees
grown under four temperature regimes.
EXPECTED RESULTS
I expect that leaf mobile carbohydrate concentrations from the glass-
house and field experiments will decline as the trees approach death, re-
flecting previously observed trends in respiration during the glasshouse
drought experiment and supporting hypothesis 1 as the mechanism of
drought-induced tree mortality for pinyon. I also expect that mobile car-
bohydrate concentrations from the growth chamber experiment in foliar,
stem, and root tissue will decline similarly through drought-induced
mortality, analogous to trends expected for the glasshouse and field
experiments both for carbon resources and gas exchange. However, if
mobile carbohydrates do not decline through drought mortality in some
tissues, this will provide evidence in support of carbohydrate transloca-
tion failure (hypothesis 2 above).
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Shifts in biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks remain a critical gap in our
understanding of global change impacts. One challenge is to predict
plant responses to extreme climate events, such as droughts, in a warmer
world. Estimates of future carbon budgets assume continued uptake of
atmospheric C02 by the biosphere. Therefore, quantifying the vulner-
ability of terrestrial biosphere carbon sinks is critical for current global
change science. A key to predicting the ability of forests to continue
sequestering atmospheric C02 is an understanding of how trees die,
specifically the temperature sensitivity and physiological mechanism of
drought-induced tree mortality. Tree mortality has the potential to influ-
ence regional water budgets, affecting regional water quality and avail-
ability, yet research that addresses these issues is notably lacking.
BIO:
Henry Adams received his Bachelor's degree in Biology
and Environmental Studies from Alfred University in 1999
and his Master's degree in Forestry from Northern Arizona
University in 2003. Henry then worked as a research tech
nician at the Institute of Arctic and Antarctic Research at
the University of Colorado, Boulder. Henry enrolled in the
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. program in 2007.
His research interests lie in ecological responses to global
change with a specific focus on understanding and predict
ing tree drought mortality in a warmer world.
SYNOPSIS:
With the current trends in global change, droughts will
be more frequent, which could disrupt the carbon storage
function of forest ecosystems, leading to accelerated global
warming. Therefore, understanding how trees die from
drought in a warmer world is critical for predicting whether
forests will continue to sequester a portion of carbon dioxde
released by human activities. This project calls for experi
mentally killing trees with rought to measure the tempera
ture sensitivity and physiology of tree death from drought.
Keywords: tree drought mortality, global change, mobile carbohydrates, biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks
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Meghan Lynn Avolio
G
EPA Grant Number: FP917240
Institution: Yale University (CT)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: meghan.avolio@yale.edu
Mechanisms Driving Climate Change-induced Diversifying Selection in a Dominant
Tallgrass Species
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Climate change is predicted to alter global hydrological cycles, including
changes in variability of precipitation regimes, which will affect biodi-
versity, both intra- and mter-specific. My research to date has shown that
a decade of altered precipitation patterns increased the genetic diversity
of Andopogon gerardii, a dominant C4 grass species. The goal of this re-
search is to mechanistically explain the observed pattern of selection and
determine whether these changes in genetic diversity scale up to affect
ecosystem productivity.
APPROACH
This research combines both field and greenhouse studies. The first stage
of this research was conducted in the field, utilizing an ongoing experi-
ment, the Rainfall Manipulation Plots (RaMPs) at the Konza Prairie
Biological Research Station. The RaMPs experiment creates more variable
precipitation events in intact tallgrass prairie communities. The field-
based research investigated the effect of more variable precipitation pat-
terns on the genetic diversity of a dominant species. The second stage will
be conducted in a greenhouse addressing which mechanism is driving the
observed patterns in the field, the reduction of soil moisture, an increase
in soil moisture variability or their combination. In both the field and
greenhouse phenotypic measurements were and will be made on specific
genotypes to understand whether there are differences between genotypes
in their ability to persist in more variable precipitation regimes.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Global climate change is predicted to result in rapid evolution of traits as
species respond to new climatic conditions. This research has the unique
ability to identify traits that have been selected for in a decade long
climate change experiment. The results from the on-going field studies
and greenhouse experiment will allow for a comprehensive synthesis of
differences between genotypes across a range of biological levels of or-
ganization. This research will result in a mechanistic explanation of the
patterns of selection that have been observed in the field after a decade
of experiencing altered precipitation patterns.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Results from this research can be extrapolated to predict how global
change may affect similar terrestrial ecosystems, and by focusing on the
ubiquitous and dominant species A. gerardii, this research also has the po-
tential to be useful in the field of biofuels. Insight into future trait selection
in A. gerardii will help inform decisions about potential biofuel crops.
BIO:
Meghan Avolio graduated from Barnard College in 2002
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Biology. In
2006 she received a Master's Degree from Fordham Univer
sity studying ectomycorrhizal fungal communities, during
which she spent a year in Germany on a Fulbright Grant.
She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University in the
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology studying
how global climate change affects the genetic diversity of a
dominant species in tallgrass prairies.
SYNOPSIS:
Global change is expected to result in larger rainfall events
that occur less frequently. Understanding their effects on
ecosystem biodiversity is essential for determining how cli
mate change will alter the conversion of atmospheric carbon
into biomass. Studying the most abundant tallgrass species
and focusing on genetic diversity, this research explores
how climate induced alterations of plant populations will
affect biomass production and is predictive of ecosystem
function in future climates.
Keywords: global climate change, variability, precipitation, genetic diversity, genotypes, Andropogon gerardii, dominant species, C4 grass, tallgrass prairie
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Rosemary Tolbert Bush
EPA Grant Number: FP917179
Institution Northwestern University (IL)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/21/2010 - 9/20/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail:
Novel Molecular Methods for Probing Ancient Climate Impacts on Plant
Communities and Ecosystem Functioning: Implications for the Future
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The goal of my research is to elucidate the functional dynamics of
plant communities and ecosystems in response to climate change in the
geologic past. To accomplish this, I intend to investigate how preserved
biomolecules in plant fossils and sediments can distinguish between
angiosperms, gymnosperms, and deciduous and evergreen plants. I
also intend to investigate the seasonal dynamics of leaf nitrogen use in
deciduous and evergreen plants in order to probe differences in nitrogen
allocation between the two groups.
APPROACH
Using leaves collected across a growing season from modern plants, I
will analyze the stable carbon isotope ratios of carboxyl carbons in leaf
amino acids in order to investigate potential differences in biosynthetic
discrimination and nitrogen allocation between deciduous and evergreen
species. Additionally, my research involves carbon isotope analysis of
leaf wax hydrocarbons (alkanes) in order to investigate a second biomo-
lecular distinction between deciduous and evergreen species, one which
can be preserved in ancient soils and sediments and serve as a proxy for
plant community composition changes during past climate change. First,
the molecular composition of modern plants must be characterized for
interpreting the fossil molecular record. I will then test fossils from the
Late Cretaceous and the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, both of which are
periods of Earth's history marked by warm global climates. Thus, I will
apply novel studies of modern plants to follow changes in the biomolecu-
lar signals of plant groups through past greenhouse climate conditions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
In examining amino acids, I anticipate an isotopic distinction between
deciduous and evergreen plant species that is not confounded by the
taxonomy of angiosperms and gymnosperms. The variance in carbon
isotope ratios is caused by shifting biosynthetic pathways and metabolic
carbon sources in the leaves, and is related to nitrogen use because the
vast majority of plant nitrogen is found in protein amino acids. I expect
also to confirm a molecular and isotopic distinction between simi-
lar groups (deciduous and evergreen, angiosperm and gymnosperm)
through analysis of leaf wax alkanes in modern plants. I anticipate that
by constraining the controls, whether taxonomic or functional, on car-
bon isotope fractionation in leaf wax alkanes, we can greatly clarify the
interpretation of alkanes as ancient plant and ecosystem biomarkers. In
this way, we can track changes in the composition of ancient ecosystems
during warm periods in Earth's history.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Plant biomolecules serve as both the mediators of a plant's response to its
environment and as records of past plant-environment interactions, and
once the biochemical relationships between plant physiology and modern
environment are characterized, we can use those relationships to analyze
fossilized plant biomarkers from ancient ecosystems. Using biomarker-
based knowledge of plant community dynamics under past warm climate
regimes, we can predict the responses of modern plant communities to a
future warming climate. In this way, we can use molecular tools to further
our understanding of ancient ecosystems in order to better predict ecosys-
tem changes under a no-analogue future climate state.
BIO:
Rosemary Bush received her undergraduate degree from
the University of Colorado, Boulder, with honors in 2006 in
Environmental Biology. She completed a Master's degree in
Plant Biology and Conservation, a joint program with North
western University and the Chicago Botanic Garden, She is
presently working towards her Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary
Science at Northwestern University. She studies the im
pact of ancient climate change on plant communities using
modern and fossilized plant molecules.
SYNOPSIS:
Analysis of ecosystem responses to global warming in the
geologic past will help us predict the ecological effects
of modern climate change. My research compares plant
groups (e.g. evergreen and deciduous) using 1) biomarkers
(alkanes) in modern and fossil plants to track past changes
in plant communities and 2) carbon isotopes in leaf amino
acids to study nitrogen use. The combined molecular tools
aid interpretation of the climate change impact on plants,
ecosystems, and nutrient cycles.
Keywords: climate change, terrestrial ecology, paleoecology, plantfunctional types, carbon isotope ratios, n-alkanes, amino acids, PliT\J. Cretaceous
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Anthony M. DeAngelis
EPA Grant Number: FP917182
Institution: Rutgers University (NJ)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail:
Towards an Improved Understanding of Simulated and Observed Changes in
Extreme Precipitation
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The purpose of this research is to develop a better scientific understand-
ing of changes in extreme precipitation that have been observed over the
20th century and are likely to continue in response to increased green-
house gases. The changes in extreme precipitation will be quantified and
the mechanisms for such changes will be investigated. In particular, a
major goal of the project is to elucidate the mechanisms for changes in
regional extreme precipitation, which do not appear to be constrained by
atmospheric moisture availability.
APPROACH
The changes in extreme precipitation will be investigated with output
from coupled atmosphere-ocean climate models from the Coupled
Model Intercomparison Project Phase III (CMIP3). The model simulated
daily precipitation and mechanisms for extreme precipitation will be
evaluated by comparing 20th century simulations with gridded observa-
tions over the United States. Future changes in extreme precipitation in
response to increased greenhouse gases will be assessed with the A IB
emissions scenario simulations, in which atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentrations increase to 720 parts per million by 2100. Quantifying
changes in extreme precipitation will involve the use of a variety of
statistical methods, where a large goal of the quantification will be to see
if regional and global changes in extreme precipitation are constrained
by atmospheric moisture. To understand the mechanisms responsible for
extreme precipitation events, composites of the circulation and ther-
modynamic structure of simulated and observed weather systems that
produce extreme precipitation will be developed and analyzed.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The evaluation of climate model precipitation is expected to reveal bi-
ases in simulated mean and extreme precipitation which may be a result
of coarse model resolution or inefficiencies in the precipitation generat-
ing mechanisms in models. The analysis of future extreme precipitation
under the A1B emissions scenario is expected to show robust patterns
of heavy precipitation change among the climate models. In particu-
lar, most regions are expected to show increased intensity of extreme
precipitation events, while only very dry regions are expected to show
decreases. This would result in a globally averaged increase in extreme
precipitation intensity. Such expectations are consistent with existing
studies on extreme precipitation change and preliminary results on this
project. In terms of precipitation change mechanisms, globally averaged
extreme precipitation is expected to increase according to atmospheric
moisture following the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship. Regionally, the
mechanisms for extreme precipitation change are likely to be more com-
plicated, and include process such as changes in atmospheric circulation,
atmospheric stability, El Nino, and land-atmosphere moisture fluxes.
In summary, this project will provide a great amount of information
about the way the climate system works and responds to anthropogenic
activity, as well as highlight the good and bad aspects of climate model
simulated precipitation.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Increases m intense precipitation is likely to be one of the most devas-
tating consequences of anthropogenic climate change. Quantifying the
changes in extreme precipitation events is therefore vital to the public
and policy makers as we face potentially serious consequences of global
warming in current and future generations. Additionally, enhanced un-
derstanding of the mechanisms of extreme precipitation change can help
improve our understanding of the climate system and lead to the devel-
opment of better climate models.
BIO:
Anthony DeAngelis received an undergraduate degree in
Meteorology from Rutgers University in 2008. In the follow
ing year, he began the Ph.D. program in Atmospheric Sci
ence at Rutgers University. His research interests include
regional and large scale climate variability and change. He
has been involved in a project dealing with the effects of ir
rigation on regional precipitation and is currently investigat
ing the effects of greenhouse gases on global and regional
extreme precipitation.
SYNOPSIS:
Global increases in the frequency and intensity of heavy
precipitation have been linked with warmer temperatures
and increased greenhouse gases. Such climate changes
could have devastating impacts on human life, property,
and ecosystems. This project will quantify the global and
regional responses of extreme precipitation to increased
greenhouse gases using current generation coupled climate
models. The physical mechanisms associated with extreme
precipitation changes will also be investigated.
Keywords: climate change, global, regional, greenhouse gases, global warming, extremes, precipitation, climate models, physical mechanisms
8
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Ethan Robert Deyle
EPA Grant Number: FP917244
Institution: University of California, San Diego (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: edeyle@tiesd.edu
Developing Nonlinear Methods for Understanding and Predicting Climate Impacts
on Fisheries
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Maximum sustainable yield puts species in close proximity to a tip-
ping point and thus likely exposes species to the risk of being pushed to
collapse by variations in the climate. At the same time, climate change
is predicted to increase variability across a wide range of climate vari-
ables—including frequency of storms, ocean surface temperatures, and
wind speeds—which means that as climate change intensifies, the risk
of collapse to fished species also will increase. The goal of this project
is to develop tools to predict the combined effects of fishing and climate
on population dynamics and to integrate these tools in adaptive man-
agement schemes that can better protect fishing resources in the face of
anthropogenic climate change.
APPROACH
This project will expand on the nonlinear forecasting techniques of sim-
plex forecasting and state space reconstruction, which have shown great
promise in improving forecasting in fisheries and other marine biologi-
cal systems. Together, these techniques make forecasts out of patterns
in previous observations of the variable of interest. The methods can
be adapted to include information from physical variables as well (e.g.,
sea surface temperature). The techniques will be further augmented
by tracking standard deviations, variance spectra, and auto-correlation
of time series for signs of critical behavior. The first phase will test the
power of these techniques for predicting collapse using time series kept
by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and a
range of applicable physical time series. The second phase will simulate
adaptive regulation to investigate if the climate forecasts can be utilized
to reduce collapse risk.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Bv developing the ability to make forecasts of fishery dynamics that
account for the effects of physical variables, this research will enable
scenario exploration under various climate predictions to further under-
standing of climate effects on fished populations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Anthropogenic climate change and fishing behavior affect fish popula-
tions at two different time scales- climate change on the scale of decades
and fishing patterns on the scale of years. Now, policy aims to minimize
the risk of causing collapses and extinction. Though climate change
mitigating policy is hopefully in the works, the effects of human activ-
ity up until the present have already locked m some amount of climate
change over the next few decades, and these changes will impact marine
populations. These techniques will facilitate management that can adjust
fishing behavior to compensate for climate change and effectively man-
age these resources.
BIO:
Ethan Deyle received his undergraduate degree in Phys
ics from Swarthmore College in 2008. The following year
he completed Part III of the Mathematics Tripos (a one
year graduate program in pure and applied mathematics)
at the University of Cambridge, UK. In the fall of 2009 he
began a Ph.D. at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
University of California San Diego. As an undergraduate,
he pursued research in physics and materials science with
applications to renewable energy technology. While at Cam
bridge, he pursued his interest in nonlinear systems. Now
at Scripps he is working to develop nonlinear mathematical
tools to address the impacts of climate change on fisheries
and marine ecosystems.
SYNOPSIS:
Anthropogenic climate change has the potential to put fur
ther stress on fish populations exploited for fishing. Conse
quently, effective fishing policy for the future will need to
account for the biological consequences of changing envi
ronments. The goal of this project is to develop predictive
tools that integrate climate, biological, and human behavior
variables which can be used in future fishery management.
Keywords: climate change, fisheries management, resource management, marine ecosystems, overfishing
9
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Nicholas A. Fisichelli
G
EPA Grant Number: FP917183
Institution: University of Minnesota (MN)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: fisic001@umn.edu
Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Regeneration in the Upper
Great Lakes Region
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The upper Great Lakes region contains a wide forest transition zone
where temperate and boreal tree species reach their northern and south-
ern range limits, respectively. Local factors such as resource availabil-
ity, competition, and browsing by deer affect tree regeneration trends
and may facilitate or impede tree species responses to climate change.
The objective of this research is to understand how a warming climate
in conjunction with varying levels of local factors are influencing the
performance of temperate and boreal tree species in the seedling and
sapling l ayers of transition zone forests.
APPROACH
Because trees are long-lived, initial evidence of forest response to
climate change should be found in the younger understory regeneration
layers. I will compare the performance of temperate and boreal regen-
eration through field studies of relative abundance patterns, growth
rates, and survival. The common tree species in this study are balsam fir
(.Abies balsamed), white spruce (Picea glanca), sugar maple (Acer sac-
chantm), red maple (Acer ruburm), red oak (Quereus rubra), and Ameri-
can basswood (Tilia americana). Field sites span a 2.5 °C temperature
gradient across northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I will
examine how species abundances change with size class from the low
seedlings up to the overstory tree layer. Using radial and height growth
rates, I will assess how the competitive abilities of each species changes
with temperature, browse pressure, and other factors. Finally, I will fol-
low the survival of marked seedlings over several growing seasons to
compare survival rates.
EXPECTED RESULTS
I expect to find individualistic species level responses to interacting
ecosystem drivers. In general, temperate species should show a greater
positive response to temperature through enhanced growth rates, higher
survival, and greater understory abundance levels than boreal species,
supporting predictions of temperate species northern expansion. How-
ever, because temperate broadleaf saplings are also preferred browse
species, areas with heavy browse pressure may favor unpalatable boreal
spruce and fir. Overstories dominated by boreal conifers create low
light and nutrient poor conditions that will also limit temperate species
response to temperature. These findings will indicate whether species
specific responses to climate are inhibited or promoted by other factors
such as browse pressure and resource availability.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Understanding forest responses to climate warming is necessary to en-
sure the economic and ecological health of the region and this research
will create empirical knowledge needed to inform land management and
policy decisions aimed at mitigating climate change impacts.
BIO:
Nicholas Fisichelli earned his undergraduate degree in
Resource Ecology and Management from the University of
Michigan in 1997. He has worked in various natural re
source positions, most notably for the National Park Service
in vegetation management and wildland fire. In 2007 he
began work towards a Ph.D. n Natural Resources Science
and Management at the University of Minnesota. His re
search interests include forest dynamics, tree regeneration,
competition, succession, and tree range limits.
SYNOPSIS:
Climate change is forecast to cause major shifts in tree spe
cies distributions. In the Great Lakes region, forests domi
nated by boreal spruce and fir may transition to temperate
maple and oak. My research examines initial signs of forest
change in the seedling and sapling layers and quantifies
the effects of climate on the performance and competitive
interactions of temperate and boreal species. These find
ings will enable land managers to prepare for the rate and
direction of forest change.
Keywords: forest dynamics, ecotone, climate change, interspecific competition, tree regeneration, herbivory, range shift
10
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Meridith McGee Fry
EPA Grant Number: FP917184
Institution: University of North Carolina, Chapel
Hill (NC)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: fryni@email.unc.edu
The Influence of Short-lived Ozone Precursor Emissions on Radiative Climate
Forcing and Air Quality
BIO:
Meridith Fry received her B.S. in Civil & Environmental
Engineering and B.S. in Engineering & Public Policy from
Carnegie Mellon University in 2006. She then earned her
M.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Stanford
University in 2007. Meridith worked for 2 years as an envi
ronmental engineer for Geosyntec Consultants in Maryland.
In 2009, Meridith returned to school to pursue her Ph.D. in
Environmental Sciences & Engineering at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is researching the effects
of ozone precursor emissions on climate forcing and air
quality.
SYNOPSIS:
Ozone, a tropospheric air pollutant and greenhouse gas, im
pacts both air quality and global climate. Although ozone is
not emitted directly, short-lived ozone precursors influence
ozone concentrations in the atmosphere. Regional reduc
tions in ozone precursors can benefit climate and air quality
in many world regions. This study assesses the effects of
ozone precursor emissions on the radiative forcing of cli
mate and air quality as a function of emission location from
various source regions.
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Regional reductions in ozone precursor emissions influence both global
climate and air quality through changes in tropospheric ozone and
methane concentrations. This research will assess the effects of changes
in ozone precursor emissions on the net radiative forcing of climate and
air quality as a function of emission location from various world regions.
This research also aims to inform coordinated planning to improve air
quality and reduce climate forcing.
APPROACH
The initial phase will evaluate how reductions in emissions of short-
lived ozone precursors, NOx, CO, and NMVOCs from four world
regions (North America, Europe, East Asia, and South Asia), influence
the net radiative forcing of climate. This study will utilize the Hemi-
spheric Transport of Air Pollution (HTAP) multimodel intercomparison
study results and the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory radiative
transfer model to estimate the net radiative forcing as a function of the
location of changes in ozone precursor emissions. Follow-on studies will
be conducted using a global chemical transport model, MOZART-4, to
evaluate potential climate mitigation strategies. By simulating ozone
precursor emission reductions from many world regions, this study will
determine the consequences on climate forcing, ozone and methane con-
centrations in the upper troposphere, long-range transport of ozone and
its precursors, and human mortality.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will quantify the consequences of short-lived ozone pre-
cursor emission reductions on global climate, air quality, and human
health. The radiative forcing study of the HTAP simulations will show
the relative contribution of each world region to the net radiative forc-
ing due to regional changes in ozone precursor emissions. The results
from the follow-on studies will indicate how climate and air quality
can be improved through reductions in specific ozone precursors. This
work will support the advancement of future policies that address air
pollution and climate change concurrently. In addition, this research
may motivate the inclusion of ozone precursors in future international
climate change agreements.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Findings from this study have the potential to contribute to the develop-
ment of future national and international air quality and climate policies
that limit global change and protect human health and the environment.
Before short-lived ozone precursors are included in future climate mitiga-
tion strategies, the relative influence of their emissions on climate forcing,
air quality, and human health as a function of emission location needs to
be better understood. This study aims to identify the opportunities and
obstacles to include ozone precursor emission reductions in future agree-
ments to slow global climate change and improve air quality concurrently.
Keywords: ozone, radiative forcing, climate change, air quality, long-range transport, climate mitigation, methane, carbon monoxide, atmospheric chemistry
11
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Richard Daniel Griffin
EPA Grant Number: FP917185
Institution: University of Arizona (AZ)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/15/2010 - 8/14/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: dgriffin@email.arizona.edu
Tree-Ring Reconstructions of North American Monsoon Variability in the
Southwestern U.S.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objectives of my research are to develop the first systematic network
of monsoon-sensitive tree-rmg records for Arizona and New Mexico
and to reconstruct monsoon variability across the region for the last 500
years. My research questions include: (1) How exactly do trees respond
physiologically to monsoon rainfall, and how can tree-rmg chronolo-
gies be best tailored to maximize monsoon-moisture sensitivity? (2)
Over the past 500 years, how has the monsoon varied across space in the
southwestern U.S., and what is the long-term relationship between the
monsoon, winter climate variability, and large-scale ocean-atmosphere
dynamics? (3) How can monsoon-sensitive tree-ring data be applied
within the stakeholder-oriented context of resource management?
APPROACH
The tree-growth response to summer rainfall will be observed and
documented with a cambial phenology monitoring campaign, imple-
mented at the weekly timescale for three growing seasons. The network
of monsoon-sensitive latewood chronologies will be developed using the
standard methods of dendrochronology. Twenty-five existing tree-ring
collections will be updated through the current growing season, and for
the first time, early wood- and latewood-width, which respectively corre-
spond to winter and summer hydroclimatic variability, will be measured
independently on the archived collections. Summer and winter precipita-
tion reconstructions will be developed for the study area using the new
network of chronologies and gndded climate data. The long term history
of monsoon variability and its relationship to ocean-atmosphere circula-
tion will be characterized with spatiotemporal analyses. To determine
how these data can be best tailored to the water resources management
framework, collaborative relationships will be cultivated with stakehold-
ers from the region.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The forthcoming results will contribute to the broader body of knowl-
edge in several fields, including modern climatology, paleoclimatology,
dendrochronology, and water resource management. The study will pro-
vide 400 to 500 years of perspective on the natural spatiotemporal range
of summer monsoon drought variability over the U.S. border region and
will describe the time-evolving phase relationship between drought and
wetness during the winter and summer seasons. The high-resolution
reconstructions will provide a benchmark for other paleochmate studies
in the region and will also be used for assessing regional climate mod-
els' ability to reproduce the full range of natural monsoon variability.
The methods established for extracting monsoon-rainfall signal from
the tree-ring data should also be useful in other regions with seasonally
independent precipitation regimes. Finally, iterative collaborations will
be developed with regional water managers to apply the monsoon recon-
structions within their planning frameworks.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The arid environment of the U.S. Southwest has long supported ecosys-
tems adapted to a bimodal precipitation regime characterized by a high
degree of natural variability. Humans have also thrived in this region for
thousands of years, but in recent decades we have placed unreasonable
demands on the natural environment, particularly with respect to water
resource development. Increasing popul ation growth and new agriculture
and energy demands on water are resulting in a greater vulnerability to
droughts, which are anticipated to increase in frequency and magnitude
in the future. The results of this study will provide improved information
about the range of monsoon drought variability possible under natural
forcing conditions, variability that will most likely be superimposed over
projected changes in future climate. Water management, now critical to
sustaining both human and environmental health, urgently requires the
adoption of sustainable use practices. Tailored to the needs of water man-
agement stakeholders from the region, the data produced by this research
will aid in efforts that are currently underway to robustly plan for the
range of plausible future climate change scenarios.
BIO:
Dan Griffin holds a B.S. in Earth Science and a M.A. in
Geography, both from the University of Arkansas, where he
worked for 7 years at the Tree-Ring Lab on projects in the
U.S. and Mexico. He now works at the University of Arizona
in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and is a Ph.D. can
didate in Geography. A student of drought, climate change,
and water resource issues, his graduate research has fo
cused around reconstructing hydroclimatic variability from
tree rings in California and the Southwest.
SYNOPSIS:
Summer monsoon climate variability, which impacts soci
ety and the environment in the Southwest, is inadequately
defined by instrumental data. With the first network of
monsoon-sensitive tree-ring records for AZ and NM, this
project reconstructs spatiotemporal variability of summer
drought for the past 500 years and explores its long-term
relationship to winter climate and ocean-atmosphere circu
lation. Tuned to stakeholder needs, the study aims to inform
climate modeling and resource management.
Keywords: climate variability, climate change, paleoclimate, water resources, drought, monsoon, tree rings, southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, border region
12
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Julie Ann Hart
EPA Grant Number: FP917236
Institution: University of Wyoming (WY)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: jhart9(S?uwyo.edu
Towards a Mechanistic Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on a
Specialized Terrestrial System
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project focuses on the South Hills Crossbill, restricted to two small
mountain ranges in southern Idaho (100 km2), where it is an obligate
seed predator of Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta lalifo-
lia). Both species are predicted to go extinct by the end of the century.
Recent evidence shows a large decline in crossbill annual survival and
population size that appears related to warmer temperatures. The most
plausible hypothesis for the observed declines is that warmer tempera-
tures have increased cone opening and seed shedding, which reduces
seed availability for crossbills (they rely on seeds in closed cones that
have accumulated and weathered over many years) and thereby decreas-
es the carrying capacity for crossbills.
APPROACH
This project will determine the effect of increasing temperature on seed
availability in closed cones of lodgepole pine, correlate seed availabil-
ity with crossbill abundance, and then use a spatially explicit model to
predict landscape-scale changes in crossbill abundance under different
climate change scenarios. In addition, it will determine variability in
heat-tolerance of cones and combine this with knowledge of localized
temperatures across the landscape to provide guidance for a lodgepole
reforestation plan.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research aims to provide a mechanistic understanding of phenologi-
cal disruption in two vulnerable species, the South Hills Crossbill and
a morphologically distinct population of lodgepole pine. This under-
standing will be used to predict future seed and crossbill abundance in
a warming climate. These predictions will indicate vulnerability of the
crossbill population and, combined with the results of this project, can
be used to develop a conservation plan for the South Hills Crossbill.
Without a clear conservation strategy for these species, both are likely
to go extinct by the end of the century. One management tool result-
ing from this study will be the creation of a suitability map for planting
lodgepole pine that, for example, recommends cooler sites with lower
rates of cone opening for reforestation. The U.S. Forest Service is the
sole landowner of the two mountain ranges in the South Hills and has
the authority and experience to implement a landscape-scale reforesta-
tion effort, making habitat restoration and species conservation realistic
outcomes of this project.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
In addition to species-specific management implications for the South
Hills Crossbill, the mechanistic understanding gained in this study
will influence mitigation strategies for a host of other species. Other
seed-eating species (birds and small mammals) will benefit from an
understanding of how climate change is disrupting the phenology of a
widespread pine. This project aims to synthesize a mechanistic under-
standing of a three-way (climate-lodgepole-crossbill) relationship to
project climate change impacts at a landscape scale, thereby developing
a modeling approach that can be applied to other sensitive species, espe-
cially other taxa of Red Crossbills that appear to be declining.
BIO:
Julie Hart graduated from the University of Vermont in
2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
Since that time she has worked on field projects, worked as
a conservation intern at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithol
ogy and National Audubon Society, and spent 3 years as a
conservation biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostud
ies, where she coordinated a long-term bird monitoring
program in the Northeast. She is currently a Ph.D. student
at the University of Wyoming, conducting research focused
on conservation of the endemic South Hills Crossbill in
southern Idaho.
SYNOPSIS:
Recent declines of South Hills Crossbill (Loxia sinesciurus)
appear to be associated with recent and unprecedented
high temperatures during summer, which apparently cause
lodgepole pine cones to open and prematurely shed their
seeds. Crossbills rely upon seeds in old, weathering closed
cones, so premature cone opening reduces the crossbill
food supply. This project will predict future seed and cross
bill abundance in a warming climate and inform a conserva
tion plan for this species.
Keywords: climate change, habitat use, lodgepole pine, Loxia sinesciurus, population ecology, resource abundance, South Hills Crossbill
13
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Jessica Leigh Hite
EPA Grant Number: FP917187
Institution: Indiana University 4 Bloomington (IN)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: jessicahitef|g:rnail.com
SYNOPSIS:
Changing Rainfall Patterns in the Neotropics, Predation, and Amphibian Declines:
Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Processes
BIO:
Jessica Hite received her undergraduate degree in Botany
from the University of Tennessee in 2007. in August of
2007, she began her Master's research with Dr. James R.
Vonesh at Virginia Commonwealth University. After complet
ing her Master's, she was a F u I bright Scholar working with
Amphibian Conservation in Panama. She will begin her
Ph.D. in the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior Department
with Dr. Spencer Hall at Indiana University in August 2010.
Her research will focus on how the interaction between cli
mate change, predators, and emerging amphibian diseases
will affect amphibian biodiversity and aquatic ecosystem
health and function.
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research will examine how climate change alters species interac-
tions and aquatic ecosystem health and function via changes in rainfall
periodicity and intensity.
APPROACH
The first part of my fieldwork will be conducted in ponds located along
a precipitation gradient throughout Panama. I will focus on treefrog
species with arboreal eggs and aquatic larvae. Species that lay their
eggs out of water may be particularly vulnerable to variation in rainfall
patterns associated with global climate change. To better understand the
mechanisms that determine survival and phenotype of treefrog eggs in
the presence of different predators and under various climatic condi-
tions, I will develop a simulation model using data collected from my
fieldwork that incorporates differences in clutch hydrology and predation
rates. This model will aid in conservation efforts by graphically demon-
strating how climate change may affect ecosystem function via effects
on individual species interactions. The combination of observational,
experimental, and theoretical studies will strengthen our ability to more
rigorously investigate the direct and indirect effects of global climate
change on species interactions and how these changes may influence
aquatic ecosystem processes.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The overall goal is to synthesize the individual parts to gain insight on the
impact climate change, terrestrial predators and abiotic conditions have
on tadpoles and how these factors influence the aquatic food web. This
project will allow more rigorous statistical analysis of the links between
climate change, population declines, and natural population fluctuations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
These results will provide valuable information on the effects of climate
change on species loss and related ecosystems and contributes to our
understanding of research on the consequences of ecological diversity
This research will examine how climate change alters spe
cies Interactions and aquatic ecosystem health and function
via changes in rainfall periodicity and intensity. I will use a
combination of observational, experimental, and modeling
approaches. The overall goal is to synthesize the individual
parts to gain insight on the impact climate change, terres
trial predators, and abiotic conditions have on tadpoles and
how these factors influence the aquatic food web.
Keywords: climate change, ecosystem function, aquatic food webs, amphibians, biodiversity, direct and indirect effects, neotropics, conservation
14
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Sara Ann Kaiser
EPA Grant Number: FP917232
Institution: Cornell University (NY)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: sak275(S)cornell.edu
Adaptive Significance of Plasticity in Hormone-mediated Avian Reproductive
Behaviors in a Changing Climate
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Climate change in north temperate latitudes is causing temporal shifts
in the environmental cues organisms use to time breeding events with
environmental conditions (e.g., food resources), and this likely will have
drastic consequences for the population demographics of migratory
birds. Currently, there is little known about whether and how species
will be able to respond to these changes. We know that seasonal changes
in circulating hormone levels can modulate avian reproductive behav-
iors that directly influence fitness, but surprisingly little is known about
the environmental cues that signal these underlying endocrine mecha-
nisms. To assess the potential for species response to climate change, it
is necessary to know the mechanism by which environmental cues such
as food and temperature affect endocrine systems and also the extent to
which plasticity in the regulated reproductive behaviors is adaptive.
APPROACH
I propose to examine the linkage between testosterone and corticoste-
rone and individual adjustments in mating and parental effort by males
in response to experimentally manipulated food availability along an
environmental gradient. I will simultaneously measure several factors
during supplemental feeding that contribute to territory quality and may
influence mating and parental effort to isolate the effects of food. I will
thus be able to assess the degree of plasticity in male hormonal and be-
havioral responses to resource conditions and their fitness consequences.
The study I propose will integrate genetic and hormone analyses, popu-
lation demographics of a migratory songbird that has been monitored for
40 years at a site where anthropogenic climate change has had detectable
effects, and experimental manipulation of food on individual territories.
EXPECTED RESULTS
My large-scale experiment is a novel approach that will lead to
important insights about the effects of food on mating and parental
effort and the adaptive significance of reproductive trade-offs in a
changing environment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
As human populations and their demand for resources grow, there is an
increasing need to monitor the response of indicator species in natural
ecosystems to changes in the environment that are causing resource
depletion and reducing the ecosystem services provided by species.
Understanding the relationship between species and ecosystem stability
is essential to the management of natural resources.
BIO:
Sara Kaiser earned her Bachelor's degree in Zoology from
Iowa State University in 2001 and an interdisciplinary Mas
ter's degree in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior
at Michigan State University in 2004. After 4 years of work
ing as an avian ecologist for a nonprofit wildlife organization
on the California Channel Islands, in 2008 she began her
Ph.D. program. For her doctoral work at Cornell University,
Sara is researching the impact of anthropogenic climate
change on avian life-history decisions and the hormonal
mechanisms that influence variation in avian reproductive
and survival strategies. She studies a breeding popula
tion of Black-throated Blue Warblers at the Hubbard Brook
Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hamp
shire in collaboration with researchers at the Smithsonian
Migratory Bird Center.
SYNOPSIS:
Global climate change may negatively impact populations
of migratory birds. As temperatures shift, migrating birds
experience adjustments in the timing of leaf-out and peak
food resources. These cues may be used to time breeding
events with environmental conditions. To assess the po
tential for species response to climate change, this project
examines how temperature and food signal the hormones
modulating the breeding behaviors of birds that influence
their survival and reproductive success.
Keywords: climate change, birds, hormones, reproductive behaviors, environmental gradient
15
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Ashley D. Keiser
G
EPA Grant Number: FP917190
Institution: Yale University (CT)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: ashley.keiser@yale.edu
Merging Above- and Belowground Processes: Non-Random Tree Species Change
and Microbial Community Function
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Under predictive climate change models, species' ranges are expected to
move poleward in latitude and upward in elevation with warming. There
remains significant uncertainty surrounding the response of below-
ground carbon and nitrogen cycling and storage to climate changes and
related species shifts. The IPCC recognizes the importance of linking
biogeochemical cycles to changes in climate, yet belowground carbon
cycling has largely been treated as a black-box. My research exam-
ines how soil microbial community function, examined as carbon and
nitrogen fluxes from decomposing leaf litters, will respond as dominant,
overstory tree species shift their ranges due to changing climate condi-
tions. The results will yield an improved understanding of the impacts
of non-random tree species change on soil microbial communities and,
consequently, the biogeochemistry of forested landscapes.
APPROACH
I plan to investigate litter decomposition patterns and carbon and nitro-
gen dynamics on four tree species across an elevation gradient: Liri-
odendron tuJipifera (tulip poplar), Acer rubrum (red maple), Betula
alleghaniensis (yellow birch), and I'icea rubens (red spruce). The four
species have been chosen to represent a range in litter chemistry, their
dominance at each study site, and their susceptibility to migrate under
predicted climate change models. Leaf litter will be collected beneath
mature trees during fall senescence. A reciprocal-transplant field experi-
ment with single- and mixed-species litter bags, combined with a com-
plementary, common garden, laboratory microcosm study, will be used
to address this question. At each field collection event, soils and litter
will undergo multiple analyses ranging from estimates of soil microbial
biomass carbon and nitrogen to litter nutrient analysis. These analyses
will permit estimation of net carbon and nitrogen dynamics over time.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will advance our understanding of how microbial com-
munity function, exhibited through carbon and nitrogen dynamics, will
change as dominant, overstory tree species shift due to changing climate
conditions. As a species moves up an elevational gradient, previously
dominant species may remain dominant or lose abundance. Resulting
leaf litter inputs may impact litter decomposition rates, and ecosystem-
level biogeochemical cycles. Understanding the implications of non-
random species change for biogeochemical cycles will be necessary to
accurately predict global change impacts on forested ecosystems. This is
critical in creating realistic carbon and nitrogen budgets at local, region-
al, and global scales.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Changes in aboveground biodiversity are likely to impact essential eco-
system processes, such as nutrient cycling, in such a way that future ter-
restrial and aquatic community structure and function are altered. The
southern Appalachian region, my study site, is considered the "water
tower" of the Southeast. Changes to nutrient loads upstream could have
a sizeable impact on human populations in the region through dimin-
ished drinking water quality. This research proposal is an important step
in informing land managers of the potential biogeochemical impacts
related to non-random tree species change.
BIO:
Ashley Keiser graduated summa cum laude from the Uni
versity of New Hampshire in 2004 earning a B.S. in En
vironmental Science. After graduating, she completed an
internship at the Smithsonian Environmental Research
Center in Edgewater, MD. For the next two and a half years,
Ashley worked as an ecologist for the environmental con
suiting firm, Blasland, Bouck & Lee (ARCADIS). She is cur
rently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the Yale School of
Forestry and Environmental Studies. Her research examines
the impacts of climate change on above- and belowground
processes in temperate forests.
SYNOPSIS:
Under predictive climate change models, species' ranges
are expected to move poleward in latitude and upward in
elevation. Understanding the implications of this move
ment for biogeochemical cycles is necessary to accurately
predict global change impacts on forested ecosystems. This
research examines how soil microbial community function,
examined as carbon and nitrogen fluxes from decomposing
leaf litters, will respond as dominant, overstory tree species
shift due to changing climate conditions.
Keywords: carbon, nitrogen, non-random species change, decomposition, temperate forest, global climate change
16
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Stephanie Nicole Kivlin
EPA Grant Number: FP917191
Institution: University of California, Irvine (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: skivlin@iiaci.edu
How Well Can Fung Migrate Under a Changing Climate
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
It is well known that species ranges are shifting under a changing
climate. While the capability of macroorganisms to shift their ranges
has been well characterized, the dispersal ability of microorganisms is
largely unknown. Characterizing microbial persistence, via range shifts
in altered climates, is crucial as these organisms affect primary produc-
tivity and decomposition, and cause numerous human and plant diseas-
es. This research project will investigate how soil fungi disperse among
and within ecosystems. The results will be the first step in developing a
mechanistic model to determine the effects of global change on patho-
gen spread and environmental microbial distributions.
APPROACH
Fungal community composition in the soil will be characterized from
over 50 locations in Southern California at eight time points. In addition,
fungi in the air will collected from five towers bi-monthly. The wind
patterns of Southern California are well known, which will allow us to
correlate soil and air fungal composition. This data then will be used to
create a model of fungal dispersal capabilities in the region.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Fungal composition of air samples is expected to vary by season and
location. Changes in soil fungal community composition are expected to
be the largest contributor to alterations in air fungal community com-
position Furthermore, we expect that some fungal species will be able
to disperse very long ranges, while other species will exhibit restricted
distributions. These variations in dispersal capabilities will be utilized to
create a model of how fungal species, including human and plant patho-
gens, will shift their ranges under global change.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
We currently do not understand how pathogens and environmental
microbes will respond to global climate change. This research is the first
step to determine how microbial distributions will shift in future cli-
mates. The results from this study will inform public health officials of
potential alterations in pathogen loads. Additionally, ecologists will be
informed of possible changes in environmental microbial distributions
that will impact ecosystem-level nutrient cycling.
BIO:
Stephanie Kivlin received her undergraduate degree in
Microbiology and Ecology from the University of Texas in
2007. At the University of Texas, she studied the effects of
plant diversity on belowground microbial communities in
the lab of Dr. Christine Hawkes. After two years as a labo
ratory technician in the Hawkes lab, she began her Ph.D.
program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with Dr. Kath
leen Treseder at the University of California, Irvine. She is
currently researching how dispersal limitation affects soil
fungal communities.
SYNOPSIS:
As global change begins to affect many ecosystems, organ
isms may need to shift their ranges to maintain ecosystem
functioning. Range shifts in plants and animals are com
mon. However, little is known of how microbes can disperse
to new areas. This fellow's research focuses on determining
the capability of soil fungi to disperse via the atmosphere.
Knowledge from this project will also inform us of how hu
man and plant pathogen transmission will occur in future
climates.
Keywords: climate change, fungi, microbes, atmosphere, dispersal, range shifts, pathogens, nutrient cycling
17
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Penny Hick Langhammer
iL
t\
EPA Grant Number: FP917192
Institution: Arizona State University (AZ)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/19/2010 - 8/18/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: penny.langhammer@asu.edu
mpacts of Climate Change and Emerging Infectious Disease on Amphibians
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Climate change and infectious disease are two causes implicated in the
global loss of biodiversity. Amphibians may be particularly sensitive to
both threats, individually and in concert. Chytridiomycosis, an emerg-
ing infectious disease of amphibians, has led to the recent decline or
extinction of over 100 amphibian species globally. Climate change is
also expected to harm many species, through habitat loss and/or physi-
ological stress that affects reproduction. Furthermore, there is evidence
from Puerto Rico that these factors may interact to negatively influ-
ence species persistence. This research project aims to evaluate how
vulnerable frogs are to climate change across the Caribbean, how key
disease parameters differ under normal and drought conditions, and
whether frog populations currently persisting with endemic chytridio-
mycosis may face disease-induced extinction if the climate changes.
The Caribbean is expected to face increasing periods of drought over
the next 50 years.
APPROACH
This research project involves a synthesis of existing data on Caribbean
frog species, namely a set of biological and exposure risk factors, to
determine species' vulnerability to climate change. Subsequently, three
lab experiments will be conducted in Puerto Rico to (a) better under-
stand why frogs are more likely to die from chytirdiomycosis under
drought conditions, (b) quantify the rates of disease transmission and
disease-induced mortality in drought and normal conditions, and (c) as-
sess whether frogs can become infected indirectly through contaminated
soil or vegetation. These lab data, along with historical field data, will be
used to parameterize a mathematical model of chytridiomycosis that can
be used to better understand disease dynamics and evaluate the likeli-
hood of species extinction from disease.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will combine laboratory research, field studies, and math-
ematical modeling to better understand the impacts of global climate
change and emerging infectious disease on amphibian biodiversity.
Specifically, the lab experiments will clarify why frogs are more likely
to die from chytridiomycosis under drought conditions, which has been
observed previously. In addition, the experiments will quantify the rate
of disease transmission under normal and drought conditions, a key
parameter driving disease dynamics, and will possibly show that indi-
rect transmission of the disease occurs. This work is novel for terrestrial
frogs that develop directly from eggs to juvenile frogs, bypassing an
aquatic larval stage, which occur throughout Latin America and the
Caribbean. The mathematical modeling will help clarify the conditions
that can lead to population extinction from, or persistence with, chytrid-
iomycosis. Overall, this research will inform the development of specific
strategies that facilitate adaptation by Caribbean frogs to global climate
change and disease emergence.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Amphibians play significant roles in ecosystems as both predators and
prey, and they provide many direct benefits to human societies as food,
pets, research animals, cultural symbols, and producers of medicinal
compounds. Although habitat loss remains the most significant threat to
amphibians (and biodiversity) worldwide, many species have declined,
some to extinction, from the emerging infectious disease chytridiomyco-
sis. Climate change is likely to interact with this disease to increase the
risk of extinction for some species. Understanding this interaction is the
first step towards developing policies that adequately respond to threats
above and beyond habitat loss.
BIO:
Penny Langhammer is interested in the drivers of species
extinction and the application of science to biodiversity
conservation. Upon receiving a Master's of Environmental
Management degree from Duke University, she worked at
Conservation International for 9 years. There, she directed
conservation planning and priority-setting initiatives, mainly
in Asia and the Pacific. Her Ph.D. research addresses the
impacts of infectious disease and climate change on spe
cies persistence at global and local scales.
SYNOPSIS:
Chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease of am
phibians, has caused the decline or extinction of 100+
amphibian species. Studies in Puerto Rico indicate climate
change may elevate the risk of disease-induced extinction
for some species. This project assesses the climate change
vulnerability of Caribbean frogs and investigates disease
transmission and mortality under normal and drought condi
tions. Data collected on Puerto Rican frogs will be used to
model population-level disease impacts.
Keywords: climate change, infectious disease, chytridiomycosis, amphibian, Caribbean, Puerto Rico, mathematical modeling
18
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Gregory Owen Lehn
EPA Grant Number: FP917193
Institution Northwestern University (IL)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/25/2010 - 8/24/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: GregoryTehn2014@jUiorthwestern.edu
Tracking Arctic Climate Change With Calcium Isotopes
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Permafrost contains vast quantities of frozen organic carbon that will
likely transform to greenhouse gasses (e.g., CO, and CH4) upon thawing,
which will contribute to global climate change over the next 100 years.
Rivers and permafrost appear to have distinct calcium (Ca) isotope
compositions due to seasonal differences in chemical weathering and
hydrologic processes. This research will employ calcium isotope com-
position (d44Ca) of Arctic Alaskan river changes as a function of per-
mafrost thaw depth due to seasonal differences in chemical weathering
and hydrologic processes, which can be used to understand, monitor, and
predict the rate and extent of permafrost thawing.
APPROACH
I will concentrate on six rivers draining the North Slope of Alaska near
the Toolik Lake Long-Term Ecological Research Station. By compar-
ing data between rivers draining bedrock versus those that drain both
bedrock and permafrost, I will isolate soil zone processes. I will collect
water samples from early spring through late fall following established
protocols and collect soil cores from each watershed. In the laboratory, I
will measure cation and anion concentrations, Ca isotope concentrations,
and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Data synthesis will
include major ion mass-balances, carbonate equilibria calculations, iso-
tope mixing equations, hydrograph separations, and reactive transport
modeling to determine permafrost thaw mechanisms.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Rivers and permafrost appear to have distinct Ca isotope compositions
due to seasonal differences in chemical weathering and hydrologic
processes. When permafrost melts during the summer, the isotope
composition of rivers approaches that of permafrost. In the late fall (mid-
September in the Alaskan Arctic), the melt depth reaches its maximum
extent before the freezing front moves downward from the surface at
the onset of winter. In a warmer world, the extent and duration of melt-
ing will likely increase, which implies that the "isotopic fingerprint" of
permafrost in rivers will be more evident for a longer period of time.
Combined with concentration of DOC, the Ca isotope composition of
rivers can track the quantity of carbon reintroduced into the carbon cycle
as the active layer deepens.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
With the dependence of humanity on the environment, climate change
threatens human health and economies through alteration of water and
food sources, ecosystems, agriculture, and weather patterns. Since the
permafrost could contribute a significant amount of carbon to the global
cycle, a better understanding is necessary to predict its effects on global
climate change. This information is crucial to current and future policy
makers in their attempt to mitigate the effects of climate change.
BIO:
Gregory Lehn received a Bachelor's of Science in Biochem
istry from Saint Louis University in 2009. The following
year, he started a Ph.D. program in Earth and Planetary
Sciences at Northwestern University. His research interests
include aqueous geochemistry and the sources/sinks of the
global carbon cycle. His current research is tracking the
rates of permafrost thaw and carbon cycling using isotope
geochemistry of Arctic streams.
SYNOPSIS:
Permafrost contains vast quantities of frozen organic carbon
that will likely transform into greenhouse gases upon
thawing. Current and future Arctic warming could create a
positive feedback to global warming, as a warmer climate
will release more carbon, which in turn will favor more
warming. This research proposes to use calcium isotopes
to understand, monitor, and predict the rate and extent of
permafrost thawing and associated organic carbon release.
Keywords: Arctic, climate change, calcium isotopes, permafrost, thaMt, Alaska, river geochemistry, tundra
19
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Ryan A. Lon
G
EPA Grant Number: FP917233
Institution: Idaho State University (ID)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: longryan@isu.edii
Linking Climatic Variability to Behavior and Fitness in Herbivores:
A Bioenergetic Approach
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Effects of climate change on ecosystem structure and function are driv-
en largely by environmental temperature, and because they often act as
keystone species, large herbivores are likely to play an important role in
responses of ecosystems to climate change. Nevertheless, little is known
about how large herbivores respond behaviorally to spatiotemporal vari-
ability in the thermal environment, and how those responses influence
individual fitness. The primary objectives of this research project are to:
1) evaluate direct and indirect influences of the thermal environment on
behavior of North American elk occupying forested versus sagebrush
steppe ecosystems; and 2) determine how differences in foraging and
movement strategies relate to variability in fitness among elk.
APPROACH
This research will utilize a biophysical model that combines detailed
data on microclimate, topography, habitat, physiology, and morphology
to produce spatiotemporally explicit estimates of metabolic expenditures
by individual herbivores as they navigate a landscape. Model predictions
will be combined with high-frequency location data from GPS collars
and data on important fitness correlates such as birth mass of young and
body condition at the onset of winter to evaluate relationships among
the thermal environment, behavior, energy balance, and fitness of large
herbivores. In addition, by evaluating these relationships for elk occupy-
ing a montane forest ecosystem versus an arid sagebrush-steppe ecosys-
tem where temperatures and radiant heat loads are substantially higher,
this analysis will provide important clues about how predicted increases
in global temperatures are likely to influence large herbivores and the
ecosystems they inhabit.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Quantifying both direct and indirect effects of climate and associated
weather patterns on animal behavior and physiology is necessary for
understanding ecosystem responses to climate change and projecting
future ecological trends. This research will provide a strong mechanis-
tic foundation for understanding herbivore-mediated effects of climate
change on ecosystems. For example, understanding the role of the ther-
mal environment relative to other environmental factors (i.e., forage, risk
of predation, topography, and human development) in influencing pat-
terns of movement, behavior, and fitness of elk in an arid desert ecosys-
tem will facilitate predictions of how increased temperatures resulting
from climate change are likely to affect elk-ecosystem interactions in
more classically occupied montane forests throughout the intermountain
west. In addition, data collected for individual herbivores during this
study will aid in explaining previously observed responses of herbivores
to climate at the population level, which is of broad scientific value as a
result of the important functional roles played by large herbivores in the
ecosystems they occupy.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Large herbivores such as elk are extremely vagile, and are capable of
transporting both nutrients and environmental contaminants great dis-
tances across landscapes. In addition, these animals often act as key-
stone species in the ecosystems they inhabit. This project will shed light
on how individual herbivores respond to climatic variability, which will
be critical for minimizing future negative effects of climate change on
ecosystems occupied by large herbivores.
BIO:
Ryan Long received his undergraduate degree in Wildlife Bi
ology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2004, and
his Master's degree in Wildlife Resources from the Universi
ty of Idaho in 2007. He began work on a Ph.D. in Biological
Sciences with a minor in Biology Education at Idaho State
University in 2007. Ryan's research focuses on behavioral
and physiological interactions between large mammals and
their environment, and he is currently studying potential ef
fects of climate change on elk.
SYNOPSIS:
Large herbivores play important roles in the ecosystems
they inhabit, and are capable of transporting both nutri
ents and contaminants great distances across landscapes.
Consequently, understanding how these animals respond to
climatic variability can provide insights into the potential
effects of climate change on whole ecosystems. This proj
ect evaluates the causes and consequences of behavioral
responses to climatic variability observed in North American
elk occupying two different ecosystems.
Keywords: behavior, biophysical model, climate change, ecosystem, elk, energy balance, large herbivores, movement, thermal environment
20
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Renee Michelle Marchin
EPA Grant Number: FP917194
Institution: North Carolina State University (NC)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/16/2010 - 8/15/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: renee_marchin@ncsu.edu
Assessing the Hydrological Costs of Carbon Sequestration in Managed Forests and
Biofuel Plantations
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Afforestation and tree plantations have been promoted as greenhouse
gas mitigation options in the Kyoto Protocol. Growth of trees, however,
is inseparably connected to water loss by stomatal control of gas ex-
change, and thus productivity is dependent upon water availability. It is
important that carbon sequestration strategies consider all environmental
consequences, especially in regions where water resources are expected
to be stressed by population growth and climate change. This research
project will quantify tree species differences in carbon uptake and water
loss in forests and biofuel plantations of the southeastern United States
in order to better match land management decisions with the ecohydrol-
ogy of local sites.
APPROACH
This project will compare the stomatal regulation of tree species with
different growth strategies (e.g., yellow poplar, sycamore, red maple,
hickory, white oak) under experimentally manipulated levels of tempera-
ture, soil moisture, and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit. To explore
differences among land uses, trees will be measured in three different
sites: natural forest ecosystems, managed forests, and biofuel tree plan-
tations. Water use efficiency (WUE) is the ratio of carbon dioxide uptake
to water consumption in an individual tree and will provide a direct
measure for species comparisons of the tradeoff between carbon and
water. Other physiological measurements, including seasonal changes
in transpiration and photosynthesis, will be used to assess the impact of
climate variability on plant growth and survival.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Forest tree species responses to climate change are complex and cur-
rently unpredictable. Climate changes that physiologically stress trees
will decrease overall forest growth and increase susceptibility to pests
and disease. This research will address the effects of changing climatic
conditions on tree growth and survival. The results of this project can
be used to inform selection of tree species for forests and biofuel planta-
tions, allowing maximization of carbon sequestration for a given water
budget and minimizing climate change-induced death of trees.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will provide information on how land management prac-
tices will affect local ecosystems. By comparing quantitative estimates
of water use among tree species to predicted water availability in the
Southeast, it will be possible to determine which species to plant in
forests and biofuel plantations. For example, while species such as oaks
and hickories have a reputation for high drought tolerance, it has been
shown that severe drought can cause more dieback in these species than
in co-occurring species. Through intensive measurement of trees under
varying climatic conditions, such as experimentally increased tempera-
ture and imposed drought, these results can be used to model how future
climate variability will affect growth and carbon sequestration in forests.
BIO:
Renee Marchin received her undergraduate degree in Envi
ronmental Science from Texas Christian University in 2003
and her Master's degree in Botany from the University of
Kansas in 2006 for research on the variation in physiologi
cal traits among populations of white ash trees. The fol
lowing summer, she worked on aspen restoration projects
for the Bureau of Land Management in California. After
working as a research technician for 3 years, she began the
Ph.D. program in Plant Biology at North Carolina State Uni
versity. She is currently researching the effects of climate
change on the growth and survival of temperate forest tree
species.
SYNOPSIS:
Afforestation and tree plantations have been promoted as
greenhouse gas mitigation options in the Kyoto Protocol.
Forests store more carbon, but also require more water, and
it is important that carbon sequestration strategies consider
all environmental consequences, especially in regions where
water resources are limited. This project analyzes the trade-
off between carbon uptake and water loss in trees, empha
sizing species differences in water use efficiency under
variable climates.
Keywords: climate change, carbon sequestration, tree physiology, land management, water use efficiency, species traits
21
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Sarah Butler Myhre
v
EPA Grant Number: FP917196
Institution: Sarah Lawrence College (NY)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: sarahmyhre@gmail.com
Constraining the Movement of the Eastern Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone Through
Rapid Climate Transitions
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
In the context of modern climate change, the expansion of low oxygen
waters along the continental margin of North America is an immediate
conservation and management concern. This research will examine the
history of the Eastern Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone. The goal of the
research is to fluidly couple climate science with deep-sea ecology and
natural history in order to reconstruct how global-scale climate change
determines ecosystem-scale structure and function
APPROACH
This project will focus on the Eastern Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone
(OMZ) through the most recent and significant climate transition in
the modern climate system: the shift from the cold glacial period into
today's modern, warm climate, which occurred from -12 to 15,000 years
ago (ka). Three recently acquired sediment cores from Santa Barbara
Basin will be used to describe oceanographic and ecological changes in
the Oxygen Minimum Zone in the past 20,000 years. This investigation
will be established upon a suite of data, including radiocarbon dat-
ing, geochemical temperature proxies, and faunal record constructions
(including protistan and invertebrate communities). This work will allow
for core-to-core comparisons with a unified chronology and provide a
foundation upon which to map ecological changes through rapid warm-
ing events. It will also provide the first reconstruction of benthic com-
munity responses to shifting oxygen concentrations that are driven by
global-scale warming.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The goal of this research is to understand the movement and ecology of
the eastern Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) during time periods
of rapid global warming. Fundamental gaps exist in our current knowl-
edge of how OMZs persist through time, what drives their contraction
and expansion in the water column, how they are related to surface pro-
ductivity regimes, and what role they play in shaping coastal biological
communities Because of this research vacuum, there are broad scientific
implications for the research that I propose to conduct. Constraining the
rate and magnitude of vertical expansion of the Eastern Pacific OMZ
during the last 20,000 years will both describe the processes by which
the modern eastern Pacific OMZ developed and provide an analyti-
cal basis on which to predict how the Eastern Pacific OMZ expansion
will occur in the immediate future. Through this, I hope to broaden the
existing scientific basis of the linkages between rapid global warming,
changing oxygen concentrations, and benthic ecology.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research is highly applicable to informing how conservation and
management policy are established, because the future of both maritime
economies and marine ecosystems in a changing ocean is dependent on
the integration of climate and environmental science. Understanding the
movement of Oxygen Minimum Zones is relevant to both marine man-
agement and coastal fishing economies. Because oxygen concentrations
strongly organize marine communities, spatially explicit commercial
fisheries policy and industrial development must incorporate low-oxygen
zones as natural barriers to marine life. This investigation will provide
policy makers and conservationists with the tools to make policy and
management decisions, specifically in regards to activities within the
Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the Pacific coast.
BIO:
Sarah Myhre received her undergraduate degree in marine biology from
Western Washington University (WWU). While a student at WWU, Sarah
attended classes and conducted research on the tropical reef ecology of
the Caribbean Sea. Upon graduating, she spent 2 years working for NO
AA's Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) in Honolulu, HI as a coral
reef ecologist and scientific diver. While working for CRED, she studied
and dove in some of the most remote and pristine reef ecosystems in
the world. Sarah is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Cali
fornia, Davis, where she studies climate change, marine ecosystems,
and oceanography. At the beginning of her graduate work, Sarah was a
fellow with the National Science Foundation's Integrative Graduate Edu
cation and Research Traineeship program, where she focused on how
social, economic, and political institutions interface with the problems
of a rapidly changing climate. Sarah is broadly interested in how marine
ecosystems respond to climate forcing and what the implications are for
conservation and policy.
SYNOPSIS:
The distribution of dissolved oxygen in the ocean fundamentally de
fines the composition and ecology of benthic and pelagic ecosystems.
In the context of modern climate change, the expansion of low oxygen
waters along the continental margin of North American is an immediate
conservation and management concern. In order to understand modern
ecological change we must delve into historical analogues where ocean
systems underwent changes in parallel to what is currently happening.
This project will focus on the Eastern Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone
(OMZ) through the most recent and significant climate transition in
the modern climate system: the shift from the cold glacial period into
today's modern, warm climate, which occurred from -12-15,000 years
ago (ka). The proposed research will utilize geochemical, ecological and
sedimentary records to reconstruct the movement of low oxygen waters
through rapid warming events. These data will broaden the existing
scientific basis for interpreting both past and present ecological and
oceanographic change along the Eastern Pacific OMZ, and provide a
baseline from which to predict future OMZ conditions.
Keywords: climate change, oxygen, rapid warming events, benthic ecology, California Margin Oxygen Minimum Zone
22
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Clinton Alexander Oakley
EPA Grant Number: FP917197
Institution: University of Georgia (GA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/16/2010 - 8/15/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: coakley@plantbio.uga.edu
Carbon Fixation of the Diverse Coral Symbiont Symbiodinium in a High-C02 Ocean
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The focus of these studies is the reaction of the carbon fixation mecha-
nisms of the coral/algal symbiosis to predicted future climate scenarios,
particularly to what degree the Calvin cycle of Symbiodinium, the algal
symbiont of corals, is impaired by elevated temperatures. How the large
genetic diversity of Symbiodinium relates to variation in their physiologi-
cal function will also be investigated, including Form II Rubisco CO J
0„ specificity and carbon compensation points The amount of carbon
supplied, or possibly limited, by the coral host under thermally stressful
scenarios is also of interest.
APPROACH
A series of studies utilizing novel methodologies will identify key dif-
ferential responses of photosynthesis of many types of Symbiodinium
to environmental conditions consistent with predicted future climate
scenarios. Measuring the absolute respiration and photosynthetic rates of
O and CO.. production/fixation of Symbiodinium types in real time, both
in culture and in coral fragments, across a range of temperatures will
elucidate the contributions of the alga and the animal to carbon fixation.
The COyO, specificity of Form II Rubisco, unique among eukaryotes
to Symbiodinium, will be determined in vivo under normal and ther-
mally stressful conditions in multiple genetic types, as these parameters
greatly influence the productivity of corals.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Genetic diversity of Symbiodinium is likely to be reflected in differential
physiological responses to environmental factors relevant to predicted
future climate scenarios, but broad cladal identity is unlikely to deter-
mine physiological specialization. These physiological differences are
expected to correlate with geographic location and habitat (depth, light
regime, average summer maximum temperature) of the host(s). The Cal-
vin cycle of Symbiodinium is expected to be susceptible to thermal im-
pairment at temperatures that correlate to bleaching thresholds reported
from the source organisms at the geographic point of collection, which
can be used as a point of comparison. Form II Rubisco C02 specificity
will likely have a negative relationship with temperature. Carbon limita-
tion of photosynthesis due to high temperatures may promote a positive
feedback loop by increasing photodamage.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The proposed research will significantly contribute to our basic un-
derstanding of coral reef biology and bleaching susceptibility, provide
greater knowledge of the Symbiodinium host and ecosystem specializa-
tion; and identify coral species most at risk of climate-driven decline to
aid potential reef management strategies.
BIO:
Clinton Oakley earned his undergraduate degree in Biology
from Washington and Lee University in 2006. After work
ing as a technician at Duke University and a research as
sistant at Brown University, he began his doctoral studies
at the University of Georgia in 2007. His research is based
on applying physiological processes to ecological questions.
His current research investigates the unique photosynthesis
and carbon fixation of corals and their response to climate
change.
SYNOPSIS:
Coral reefs are under threat from many stressors, includ
ing climate change and thermally induced coral bleaching.
The algal symbionts of corals are genetically very diverse,
but how this diversity relates to tolerance to future climate
conditions of higher temperatures is unknown. This project
will determine the thermal tolerances of diverse symbiont
types and provide insight into their unique means of pho
tosynthesis to better inform coral management and predict
reef response to climate change.
Keywords: coral reefs, coral, global climate change, algae, algal physiology, photosynthesis, CO„ Calvin cycle, ocean acidification, Rubisco, Symbiodinium
23
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Jessica Dawn Pratt
G
EPA Grant Number: FP9172411
Institution: Abilene Christian University (TX)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: jessicadpratt@ginail.com
Clinal Variation in Artemisia californica Traits and Implications for Herbivore
Communities, Invasion Resistance, and Plant Adaptation in a Changing Climate
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The way in which a keystone plant species responds to environmental
change has important implications for its associated biotic community.
If there is geographic variation in plant responses to environmental
change, then conservation and management decisions to mitigate climate
impacts will need to occur on a local or population-level scale. I aim to
understand how higher trophic levels respond to variation in plant traits
of Artemisia californica along a four-fold precipitation gradient across
700 km of the species range.
APPROACH
I will use a series of common garden experiments and manipulative
field studies to examine geographic variation in plant traits and plant-
herbivore interactions of Artemisia californica, a keystone plant species
in California's endangered coastal sage scrub habitat. Cuttings of A.
californica collected from populations across the range of the species are
being grown in a common garden experiment where I have manipulated
precipitation. I will measure morphological, physiological, and chemi-
cal traits of plants from across the species range in order to understand
how these plants respond not only to changes in precipitation, but also
nitrogen deposition and herbivore pressure. In addition, I will monitor
arthropod communities on plants in the common garden environment to
examine community-level consequences of plant response to environ-
mental change.
EXPECTED RESULTS
In a common garden setting, I have documented clinal variation in plant
growth rate and resistance to herbivores. Plants can allocate available
resources to growth, defense, and reproduction. Ecological theory pre-
dicts that tradeoffs occur between investment in growth and defense and
that these tradeoffs are more evident in a resource poor environment. I
predict that geographic variation in the strength of these tradeoffs will
affect plant-herbivore interactions and result in different emergent com-
munities that associate with A. californica across its range. In addition,
management approaches, such as assisted migration of A. californica,
may be necessary to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal
sage scrub communities if A. californica populations are locally adapted
to current climate conditions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Understanding geographic variation in plant traits and plant-herbivore
interactions will allow us to better understand how a plant species as
a whole will respond to environmental change, and how the response
of the plant will affect higher trophic levels. If adaptation to climate is
detected across the species range, then my results will inform adaptive
management programs, such as assisted migration. Data from this study
will provide land managers with important information about how adap-
tive genetic variation can ensure the long-term success of restoration
projects as well as an indication of what is required to maintain evolu-
tionary potential in natural and restored populations.
BIO:
Jessica Pratt received a B.S. in Biology from Grand Valley
State University in 2003. She then completed an M.S. in
Zoology at North Carolina State University, where she stud
ied the conservation value of shaded-coffee plantations for
native avifauna. After working as a lecturer for 3 years at
the University of California, Irvine (UCI), she returned to
graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution
ary Biology at UCI. Her research focuses on integrating the
study of community ecology and species interactions into
restoration and land management planning in light of cli
mate change.
SYNOPSIS:
The way in which a plant species responds to environmental
change has implications for the community of organisms
that interact with that species. This project aims to assess
geographic variation in plant traits and plant-herbivore in
teractions in Artemisia californica. Understanding how plant
trait variation affects higher trophic levels will inform land
management decisions in light of climate change and help
predict community-wide impacts of conservation strategies,
such as assisted migration.
Keywords: climate adaptation, community genetics, plant-herbivore interactions, assisted migration, assisted colonization, restoration, coastal sage scrub, Artemisia californica
24
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Janet Sullivan Prevey
G
EPA Grant Number: FP917198
Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder (CO)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: janet.prevey@oolorado.edu
Effects of Climate Change on Vegetation and Ecosystem Services in the Colorado
Pront Range
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Global climate change will cause shifts in the distributions of plant
species. Current native vegetation communities provide important
ecosystem services such as erosion control, soil conservation, car-
bon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and maintenance of water quality.
Climate-induced shifts in the species compositions of these communities
may alter their ecosystem services. A very relevant, and largely unad-
dressed, research question is: how will climate change interact with
biotic change (non-native species) to alter ecosystem structure, function,
and services? If shifts in vegetation simply involve replacement of spe-
cies with similar functional roles, impacts on ecosystem services will
be modest. However, if climate change creates new temporal niches and
novel climates, then it will be the outcome of climate-vegetation interac-
tions that determines shifts in ecological services.
APPROACH
I will establish a manipulative study in the foothills region of the Colo-
rado Front Range, USA, to examine how changes in growing season
length and precipitation patterns are affecting the abundance of histori-
cally dominant and non-native plant species. Additionally, I will look
at how the composition of these plant communities affects available
resources to detect resource-mediated interactions between native and
non-native species. This approach will allow for a more informed look at
both species-specific and ecosystem-level changes that may occur under
different climate scenarios.
EXPECTED RESULTS
If climate change leads to an extended growing season and somewhat
wetter winters in the Front Range of Colorado, then a new time period of
resource availability will be created. Non-native vegetation whose native
lands possessed climates similar to the "new conditions" may be better
able to utilize these resources than native species. One possibility is that
the species occupying the new temporal niche will not compete with tra-
ditionally dominant species growing later in spring. Alternatively, early
spring growth and resource use by non-native winter annuals will sup-
press historically dominant late-spring and summer species. Regardless,
aboveground net primary productivity may increase as the expanded
growing season allows for more effective use of precipitation by plants.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Research addressing the effects of climate change on plant community
composition and associated changes in ecosystem function will contrib-
ute vital information for ecosystem managers in the future. It will be
important to predict how plant communities will change under different
climatic scenarios to inform decisions concerning the intensity and tim-
ing of livestock grazing, and the potential negative impacts of non-native
species on native ecosystems. Additionally, knowledge of which native
and desirable plant species will thrive in future climate scenarios will be
necessary for successful restoration projects.
BIO:
Janet Prevey received her undergraduate degree in Biol
ogy at The Colorado College in 2004. For the next three
summers, she worked as a seasonal biological technician
conducting rare plant surveys on the San Isabel National
Forest, CO. She went on to obtain her M.S. in Botany from
Idaho State University in 2008. In the summer of 2009,
she worked as a vascular botanist in Denali National Park,
AK. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology and Evo
lutionary Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
SYNOPSIS:
Global climate change will cause shifts in the distribution
of plant species. Climate-induced shifts in the composition
of plant communities may alter vital ecosystem services.
I will conduct a manipulative experiment to examine how
changes in growing season length and precipitation patterns
will affect the abundance of historically dominant (native)
and recently arrived (non-native) plant species, and how the
resulting plant community will influence ecosystem func
tion and services.
Keywords: climate change, precipitation, ecosystem services, plant community, non-native species
25
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Hollie M. Putnam
EPA Grant Number: FP917199
Institution: University of Hawaii, Manoa (HI)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: hputnam@hawaii.edu
Resilience and Acclimatization Potential of Reef Corals Under Predicted Global
Climate Change Stressors
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Anthropogenic impacts on coral reefs have already resulted in a de-
cline in coral health and abundance across coastal oceans, and coral
reefs are predicted to undergo severe ecosystem loss and potentially
even extinction under the impacts of future global climate change
(GCC) stressors. My research seeks to understand potential mecha-
nisms, outcomes, and consequences of coral acclimatization potential
in the face of GCC stressors, both across coral generations and with
respect to reproductive mode.
APPROACH
Reproductively viable reef building corals (Pocillipora damicornis and
Montipora capitata) will be experimentally exposed to the GCC stress-
ors of temperature and ocean acidification and the biological impacts
of the exposures evaluated. Specifically, corals will be exposed to three
different temperatures and CO, levels simulating current and future en-
vironmental parameters, and will subsequently be assessed for reproduc-
tive output, calcification, protein turnover, and changes in gene expres-
sion. Additionally, the offspring of the exposed corals will be challenged
again with these stressors to determine the potential for acclimatization
across generations.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The expected outcomes of this research include 1) a greater knowledge
of key processes in coral biology such as metabolism, reproduction, and
biomineralization; 2) a molecular and physiological toolkit for reef man-
agers to detect the early warning signs and phenotypic manifestations of
decline in fitness parameters; and 3) data on the effects of coral response
and acclimatization potential to GCC for use in predictive models of
coral reef population viability in the future. Overall, this research will
contribute to our understanding of the sensitivity and resilience of coral
reefs to anthropogenic impacts occurring at the global scale.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
My research will assist our understanding of the resilience of coral
populations in the future, thereby identifying reef areas or coral types
that should be targeted for protection. In addition, this research will aid
in our quantification of detrimental levels of GCC stressors, informing
policy makers on global anthropogenic-induced stress tolerance limits in
reef-building corals (e.g., detrimental levels of seawater temperature and
CO. concentrations).
BIO:
Hollie Putnam received her undergraduate degree with dual
majors in Aquatic Biology and Broad Field Science from the
University of Wisconsin, Superior in 2004. After a year as a
contract researcher at the U.S. EPA, Hollie went on to com
plete a M.S. in Biology at California State University North
ridge, where she examined the effects of thermal variability
on coral physiology. In 2008, Hollie began a Ph.D. program
in Zoology at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Her current
research is focused on the resilience and acclimatization
potential of reef-building corals to global change stressors.
SYNOPSIS:
Changing global climate is predicted to have dire conse
quences for coral reef ecosystems. Specifically, increases
in temperature and ocean acidification are damaging coral
health through bleaching and decreased growth of the coral
skeleton. In an effort to protect valuable reef ecosystems,
this research will examine the response of corals to global
change stressors, thereby providing essential data with
which to more fully understand and predict the persistence
of coral reefs snto the future.
Keywords: coral, climate change, ocean acidification, acclimatization, resilience, temperature, bleaching, CO,, Pocillopom damicornis, Montipora capitata
26
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Rachel Cope Putnam
EPA Grant Number: FP917234
Institution: University of Minnesota (MN)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: putn0048@unxn.edu
From Arkansas to Ontario: Understanding Climate and Climate Change Impacts
on Sugar Maple Range Limits
BIO:
Rachel Putnam earned her undergraduate degree from
Carleton College in 2001. After 5 years of teaching science
to elementary and middle school students, she began the
Ph.D. program in Ecology at the University of Minnesota.
From 2007 to 2009, she combined her graduate studies
and teaching experience as a National Science Foundation
GK-12 Fellow. Her research focuses on species distribution
and climate change; her current project examines the direct
and indirect effects of climate on tree range limits.
SYNOPSIS:
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Forest ecosystems will be affected by global climate change in mul-
tiple ways, from changes in community composition to shifts in species
distribution. The long-term goal for this research is to determine the
relative importance of climate and biotic interactions on plant ranges to
better understand how climate change will affect range limits of temper-
ate tree species and forest community dynamics. The current objective
for this project is to determine how climate interacts with competitive
and facilitative dynamics to define the range limits of sugar maple.
APPROACH
Sugar maple seeds and seedlings were planted in the forest understory at
ten locations along a latitude and climate gradient extending across and
beyond this species' range. To identify population-specific responses to
climate and neighbors, seeds and seedlings from populations in Min-
nesota, Iowa, and Missouri were planted at each site. To determine how
biotic interactions affect growth and survival across the climate gradi-
ent, competition was reduced in half of the plots by clipping nearby
vegetation, whereas vegetation in remaining plots was left intact. Neigh-
bor removal treatments will be repeated during each growing season of
the study. Where present, sugar maple seedlings naturally growing at
each site will receive identical treatments as a control for the effects of
transplanting. Annual seedling growth, survival, and population-specific
phenology will be recorded at all sites.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Climate is an important factor limiting plant ranges, especially at
northern range margins. Therefore, sugar maple growth and survival
are expected to be poor beyond the northern edge of its range. At the
northern range margin, the presence of neighbors is expected to mitigate
the limiting effects of climate through facilitation. At the southern range
margin, neighbors are expected to exacerbate the effects of climate
through competitive interactions, and sugar maple experiencing reduced
competition is expected to have high growth and survival. It is hypothe-
sized that sugar maple is less competitive relative to other woody species
in the southern part of its range due to a significantly lower growth rate
than southern competitors and an optimum temperature for photosyn-
thesis that matches the climate less well than competitors'. At any given
site, it is expected that the sugar maple population closest to its native
region will be best adapted to local climate and competition and there-
fore have the highest growth and survival.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Plant ranges are already shifting in response to climate change, which
in turn alters plant communities and interactions between species.
Determining which factors are foremost in constraining plant ranges is
therefore critical to maintaining the diversity and overall health of forest
ecosystems. Forest ecosystems are important for carbon storage and
nutrient cycling, as well as local and regional economies; understanding
how climate and competition interact to affect tree growth is crucial to
predicting how forests may respond to novel climate conditions.
Rapid changes in global climate are likely to have multiple
effects on forest ecosystems. Plant ranges are already shift
ing, which in turn alters plant communities and competitive
interactions between species. This study will examine how
climate and biotic factors shape the current range limit of
sugar maple, identify population differences in response to
climate and competition, and clarify our understanding of
how novel climate conditions may affect biotic interactions
and forest ecosystems.
Keywords: climate change, range limits, sugar maple, competition, facilitation, biotic interactions
27
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Costanza Rampini
EPA Grant Number: FP917242
Institution: University of California, Santa
Cruz (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: crampini@.uesc.edu
Climate Change in the Himalayas: The Prospect of Sino-lndian Collaboration
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report has concluded that the Himalayan
glaciers are receding faster than in any other part of the world as a result
of anthropogenic climate change. The accelerated melting of the Hima-
layan glaciers will have ripple effects on the entire Asian continent as
Himalayan glacial runoff is at the center of Asia's water supply, includ-
ing that of India and China. Given the long-term implications of climate
change in the region, it will be important to understand how the coun-
tries that depend on the Himalayan glaciers, and especially China and
India, will align authority, responsibility, and expertise to collaborate in
the resolving of this high-stakes crisis.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Through an evaluation of the prospect of Sino-lndian collaboration
over the impacts of climate change in the Himalayas, this research will
provide important insight into the limits and benefits of cross-border
collaborations between dissimilar actors in dealing with transnational
environmental crises. An analysis of Sino-lndian scientific and political
collaborations in the region and an understanding of the implications of
such collaboration for knowledge production and political decision-mak-
ing will help predict the climate change adaptation strategies of other
neighboring countries in the Greater Himalayan region and the overall
future of the uniquely diverse region and its people.
APPROACH
This project mobilizes the disciplines of Science and Technology Stud-
ies (STS) and interdisciplinary research on Vulnerability and Resilience
to understand and document the opportunities, successes, and failures
of Sino-lndian scientific and political collaboration in the Himalayan
region. The first stage of research will use semi-structured interviews
and participant observation to identify the key players and institutions
involved in climate change research in the region, and examine how
China and India are monitoring, detecting, and analyzing the impacts of
climate change in the Himalayas. By examining the points of contention
and consensus between Chinese and Indian key players and institutions,
this analysis will contribute to an understanding of the potential for
Sino-lndian collaborations over climate change impacts in the region.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Understanding whether Sino-lndian scientific and political collabora-
tions, as they are taking place in the Himalayas, display the prerequisite
qualities to play a crucial role in resolving a water crisis in the region
is imperative considering the relative importance of the Himalayan
glaciers for the global community. A social study of the prospect for
Sino-lndian collaboration with respect to climate change in the Himala-
yas will contribute to assessing the capacity for response of the region.
In particular, by identifying barriers and limitations to cross-border
collaboration, this research will emphasize the potential for bridging
knowledge gaps, building institutions, increasing research capacity, and
facilitating the transboundary flow of information and cooperation.
BIO:
Costanza Rampini received her undergraduate degree in En
vironmental Studies from the University of California, Santa
Barbara in 2007. Soon after, she moved to New Orleans
and began working as a case manager for the New Orleans
Women's Shelter. She was concurrently employed as a grant
writer at the Backbeat Foundation. After 2 years of working
in New Orleans, she began her Ph.D. program in Environ
mental Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Her research focuses on the intersection of transnational
collaboration and environmental issues. She is currently
examining the prospect of Sino-lndian collaboration in ad
dressing the impacts of climate change in the Himalayas.
SYNOPSIS:
This research examines the prospect of scientific and politi
cal collaboration between China and India as the two coun
tries face the challenges of climate change impacts in the
boundary region of the Himalayas, it uses interviews and par
ticipant observation to examine the capacity of the region's
institutions and the role of Sino Indian collaborations in ad
dressing the crisis. This research will provide insight into the
dynamics of transnational environmental governance.
Keywords: climate change, water, Himalayas, glaciers, transnational governance, collaboration, science policy, risk, uncertainty, scientific expertise, vulnerability, resilience, science
and technology
28
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Colleen Elizabeth Reid
EPA Grant Number: FP917200
Institution: University of California, Berkeley (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: creid@berkeley.edu
The Public Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke and Aeroallergens Altered by
Changing Climate: A Spatial Epidemiological Approach
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
My research focuses on two related topics within the field of climate
change and health that have not been well studied: the health effects of
exposure to wildfire smoke and to aeroallergens. Human alterations to
the climate and to the landscape contribute to the frequency and severity
of both exposures, and there are documented respiratory health effects
of both, with significant burdens for the growing asthmatic popul ation.
Better understanding of the health effects of natural pollutants and their
interactions with urban air pollution can influence policies that can have
significant benefits for human health.
APPROACH
The overall goal of my research is to use spatial epidemiological meth-
ods to produce better estimates of the health effects of wildfire smoke
and aeroallergen exposures. Ground-level measurements of air pollu-
tion and meteorology, along with remotely sensed satellite data, will be
combined to assess exposure to the 2008 northern California wildfires
on fine spatial and temporal scales, which will then be analyzed to
estimate the impacts of these extensive fires on respiratory outcomes.
For the aeroallergens project, I will pilot a methodology to spatially and
temporally model aeroallergen exposure in order to assess the interac-
tions between aeroallergens and urban air pollutants on asthma among
children in an ongoing cohort study in Fresno, CA, an area with high air
pollution and pesticide exposures.
EXPECTED RESULTS
These analyses will yield more refined estimates of dose-response
relationships of health outcomes from these two natural air pollutants
as well as identification of vulnerable populations. Both of these studies
use more spatially refined exposure assessment compared to previous
studies, as most studies of wildfires have used coarsely defined spatial
exposure assessment and no studies to my knowledge have spatially
modeled aeroallergen exposure. Improved spatial exposure will lead to
more accurate dose-response estimates, which are essential for use in
cost-benefit analyses that are used to make decisions on climate change
mitigation. Better understanding of the health impacts of wildfire smoke
and aeroallergens can also enable decisions to be made for public health
adaptation to climate change.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The findings from my research will have two principal purposes: to in-
form current debates and regulatory decisions regarding mitigation and
public health protection and to provide a scientific basis for understand-
ing how climate change will generate new or exacerbate current health
impacts. Additionally, my research will help further understand which
populations are most vulnerable to wildfire smoke and aeroallergens.
With better understanding of where the most vulnerable populations are,
local public health agencies can target limited funds toward efforts to
lessen the adverse health impacts on these populations.
BIO:
Colleen Reid is a Ph.D. student in Environmental Health
Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley's School
of Public Health. Prior to her doctoral studies, Colleen was
an Environmental Health Fellow at the U.S. EPA, where
she did research on the health impacts of climate change.
Colleen holds an M.P.H. degree from the University of
California, Berkeley and an Sc.B. degree in Environmental
Studies from Brown University. Between her undergraduate
and graduate studies, Colleen was a secondary math and
science teacher.
SYNOPSIS:
Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and
severity of wildfires in many parts of the world and to in
crease the concentration of aeroallergens. My research will
employ spatial epidemiological methods to produce better
estimates of the health effects of these "natural" air pol
lutants, focusing on case studies in California. The findings
from my research can be used to inform regulatory deci
sions regarding mitigation of and public health adaptation
to climate change.
Keywords: climate change, aeroallergens, wildfires, air pollution, environmental epidemiology, remote sensing, geographic information systems, exposure assessment, public health
29
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Jeffrey M. Salacup
EPA Grant Number: FP917201
Institution: Brown University (Ri)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: Jeffrey_Salacup@brown.edu
A New Approach to Assessing the Anthropogenic Impact on an Urbanized Estuary:
Sediment Record of Pre-historica! and Historical Environmental Change in
Narragansett Bay, RI, USA
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Anthropogenic climate change and cultural eutrophication can lead to
changes in primary and secondary productivity in impacted coastal and
estuarine ecosystems such as Narragansett Bay, RI. Specifically, inter-
actions between increasing sea-surface temperatures and nutrient loads
may conspire to increase the likelihood of summer hypoxia with delete-
rious effects for local ecosystems and economies. Given projections for
continued global warming and changes in local wastewater treatment, a
better understanding of spatial and temporal responses of this system to
past disturbances is critical to future management decisions. This study
aims to investigate such modern ecosystem change within the context of
the past using sediment archives recovered from Narragansett Bay, RL
APPROACH
This research will employ sediment cores in the reconstruction of ap-
proximately five well-dated multi-proxy records. Environmental and
ecological conditions will be reconstructed employing a suite of pale-
oceanographic proxies to include organic carbon, nitrogen, alkenones
concentration and unsaturation ratios, hopanoid and steroid biomarker
abundances, and dl5N and dl3C in organic matter. In well-dated cores,
this suite of measurements will provide insight into the complex and dy-
namic behavior of Narragansett Bay productivity, eutrophication, water
quality, and habitability in response to environmental perturbation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This proposal directly addresses issues critical to the science of global
change, particularly climate variability and change in the United States
and its impacts on the quality of water, ecosystems, human health, and
socio-economic systems. The productivity and environmental records
produced in this study will shed light on how different parts of the Bay re-
spond to environmental and anthropogenic forcings beyond that available
from the relatively short instrumental record. The results of this study will
allow the integration of our relatively limited understanding of Narragan-
sett Bay into the past millennium, providing policy and management of-
ficials with a strong foundation on which to base future resource decisions.
The health of Narragansett Bay directly and intimately impacts the health
of the neighboring human, and non-human, communities.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
A spatially and temporally expanded understanding of the behavior of
Narragansett Bay in the face of past environmental change will allow for
the scientifically informed management of Bay resources in the future.
The dependence of the local human and non-human communities on the
Bay's existence as a productive fishery, haven for biological diversity,
and source of recreation hmges directly on the environmental health of
the Bay and will benefit directly from this work.
BIO:
Jeff Salacup received his B.S. in Earth Systems and M.S.
in Geology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
in 2006 and 2008, respectively. During this time, he was
awarded a Summer Student Fellowship at the Research Cen
ter for Ocean Margins at the University of Bremen, Germany.
In 2008, he began his PhD in Geology at Brown University
in Providence, RI. His current research focuses on the high
resolution reconstruction of environmental and ecological
change in coastal settings using bulk sediment, organic geo
chemical, and environmental isotopic approaches.
SYNOPSIS:
Anthropogenic climate change and cultural eutrophication
can lead to changes in primary and secondary productivity
in impacted coastal and estuarine ecosystems. Specifically,
interactions between increasing sea-surface temperatures
and nutrient loads may conspire to increase the likelihood
of summer hypoxia with deleterious effects for local ecosys
tems. This study aims to investigate such modern ecosys
tem change within the context of the past using sediments
recovered from Narragansett Bay, RI.
Keywords: climate change, eutrophication, estuaries, biomarkers
30
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Matthew Scott Schuler
EPA Grant Number: FP917237
Institution: Washington University, Saint Louis (WA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: matt.s.schuler@gmail.com
Using Structural and I hermal Heterogeneity To Minimize or Reverse the Impacts
of Climate Change in Terrestrial Systems
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Current forest management techniques have reduced structural heteroge-
neity at broad ecological scales, likely having a major impact on species
diversity and ecosystem function. I will use stage-structured Species
Area Distributions and Species Biomass Distributions to quantify dif-
ferences in structural heterogeneity in forest plots across a latitudinal
gradient. Two types of forest stands will be compared: mixed-stage
structure (heterogeneous), and single-stage structure (homogenous). By
quantifying differences at each site, I hope to show that structural het-
erogeneity buffers extreme variation in climate, allowing for the mainte-
nance of rare plant and arthropod populations.
EXPECTED RESULTS
When assessing the effects of stochastic climate variation, I expect to
find that highly structured plots maintain biodiversity of plants and ar-
thropods better than homogenous forest plots. The thermal heterogene-
ity in structured plots will allow ectothermic species to thermoregulate
effectively, and maximize performance and reproduction. A high diver-
sity of ectothermic animals will positively influence plant populations
through plant-pollinator interactions, and potentially increase seed dis-
persal. Recent models also predict that predators are more able to control
herbivorous insect populations in habitats with high thermal heterogene-
ity; reduced herbivory will increase plant fitness.
APPROACH
Using methods described by O'Dwyer et al. (2009), I will measure de-
mographics, Species Area Distributions, and Species Biomass Distribu-
tions in 1-hectare forest plots, allowing me to quantify structural hetero-
geneity across a latitudinal gradient. Within each plot, I will quantify
plant and arthropod diversity prior to any treatments. The distribution
of temperatures in the environment has been shown to be important for
thermoregulation by ectothermic species; therefore, I will use iButton
data-loggers to record differences in thermal heterogeneity within each
plot. Following these measurements, I will modify the timing and quan-
tity of ram events to mimic potential effects of climate change. Control
plots will receive no treatment, but natural rainfall amounts will be
measured within each plot to compare to treatment plots. The treatments
will last for at least 3 years. During and immediately following the treat-
ments, I will measure changes in plant and arthropod diversity, as well
as any changes in structural heterogeneity. These experiments will test
the importance of vertical structure in forest plots, and how structure
and climate interact to change species abundances and distributions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Forests have been heavily harvested worldwide. Broad scale clear-cuts
have diminished natural structure once found in forest habitats, likely
diminishing any beneficial buffering against climatic stochasticity.
Habitat management plans need to be implemented that make it logical
for land owners to re-establish natural heterogeneity once found in forest
ecosystems. By re-establishing forest structure, using the management
tools I propose, scientists and land managers can take an interactive and
cooperative role in minimizing the effects of climate change. This pro-
posal combines multiple disciplinary backgrounds, and therefore applies
to those studying ecology, wildlife, physiology, and habitat management.
Beyond the scope of science, promoting habitats that maintain biodiver-
sity, even in the light of increased climatic stochasticity, offers interest-
ing implications for farmers, conservationists, and the general public.
BIO:
Matt Schuler graduated with a degree in Wildlife Manage
ment from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in
2007. Following graduation, he began his Master's research
at Indiana State University, testing models of thermoregula
tion in ectotherms. In 2009, Matt started at Washington Uni
versity in the Department of Biology. His research ntegrates
management, theory, physiology, and community ecology. He
hopes to use recent models to describe optimally structured
habitats that maintain diversity of rare plants and arthropods,
while buffering negative effects of climate change.
SYNOPSIS:
My research will focus on management and restoration
efforts that change structural and thermal heterogeneity in
forest ecosystems. By combining theory and management,
I hope to quantify levels of structural and thermal het
erogeneity that minimize the effects of climate change in
forest ecosystems. Highly structured forests are expected
to better maintain rare plant and arthropod diversity, com
pared to single stage structured forests, even after extreme
climatic events.
Keywords: biodiversity, structure, heterogeneity, forest, rainfall, temperature, climate change, latitudinal gradient
31
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Katharine Lisa Stuble
G
EPA Grant Number: FP917235
Institution: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (TN)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: kstuble@jitk.edu
Disruption of Ant Communities by Climatic Warm in:
BIO:
Katie Stuble received her undergraduate degree in Biology
from St, Mary's College of Maryland in 2004, In 2008, she
completed a Masters degree in Ecology at the University of
Georgia, where she conducted research on the ecological im
pacts of the red Imported fire ant on the threatened longleaf
pine ecosystem. She is now a Ph.D. student at the University
of Tennessee, researching the ecological impacts of climatic
warming. She is specifically interested in the mechanisms
by which ant communities may be restructured with warming
and how these changes may alter ecosystem function.
SYNOPSIS:
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Climatic warming has the potential to dramatically alter species dis-
tributions and ecosystem function across the globe. This research will
examine the impact of climatic warming on ant community composition
and the ecosystem functions they mediate. It will also examine shifts in
foraging behavior and competitive interactions as potential drivers of
changes in community composition.
APPROACH
This study will use open-top chambers that will manipulate temperature
at Duke Forest in North Carolina and Harvard Forest in Massachusetts. I
will monitor ant species abundances and community composition within
these chambers. Competitive interactions between ant species under the
different temperature treatments will be examined using food baits. On
these baits I will note the species that first discovers the bait, interactions
between individuals of different species, and the species that ultimately
dominates the bait. Additionally, 24-hour baiting experiments will be
used to examine the hours per day spent foraging by each species. To
examine the influence of warming on seed dispersal, I will conduct a
series of seed dispersal trials whereby caches of seeds are made avail-
able to ants within the warmed chambers to determine any potential
influence of climatic warming on seed dispersal rates.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will examine the impact of experimental warming on
animal communities and will yield information on shifts in species-
specific abundances and community composition as a result of climatic
warming. Specifically, examination of shifts in foraging behavior and
competitive abilities will enhance our understanding of factors influenc-
ing changes in community composition. This is especially noteworthy as
these potentially important behavioral factors are almost always ignored
in models of projected shifts in species ranges resulting from climate
change. Thus, in addition to enhancing our understanding of the effects
of climate change on species composition, the data generated through
this research will inform future predictive models by enhancing our
understanding of the importance of interspecies interactions and altered
behavior. Additionally, this study will examine the potential for climatic
warming to have indirect effects on community composition. Specifi-
cally, it will examine the potential for climatic warming to restructure
the plant community, as mediated through changes in the ant-plant seed
dispersal mutualism.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Ultimately, results generated through this research will help to improve
predictions of the ecological impacts of climatic warming as well as in-
crease our knowledge of the potential indirect effects of climatic warm-
ing. This will enhance our knowledge of the various impacts climatic
change is likely to have on the composition and function of terrestrial
ecosystems. Such knowledge is crucial in order to inform both the public
and policy makers as to the impacts of global climate change and to
assist with the development and prioritization of policies dealing with
climate change.
Global warming has the potential to alter species distribu
tions. However, the importance of biotic interactions in driv
ing these changes is unclear, as are the consequences of
these shifts for ecosystem processes. I will experimentally
increase air temperature to examine the impact of warming
on ant community composition and the ecosystem functions
ants mediate. I will also examine shifts in foraging behavior
and competitive interactions as potential drivers of change
in community composition.
Keywords: climate change, ¦warming, ants, interspecies interactions, seed dispersal
32
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Robert Frank Swarthout
EPA Grant Number: FP917204
Institution: University of New Hampshire (NH)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: rfswarthout@gmail.com
Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Temperature on BVOC Emissions:
implications for Hydroxy! Radical Reactivity and Ozone Chemistry
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Climate change has been demonstrated to alter emissions of biogenic
volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from plants. BVOCs, in turn, have
an impact on climate through three primary feedback mechanisms: 1)
reaction with hydroxyl radical, the primary atmospheric oxidant respon-
sible for the removal of many pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs);
2) affecting rates of tropospheric ozone production and destruction; and
3) contributing to the formation of aerosols. This study will quantify the
effects of plant BVOC emissions on atmospheric hydroxyl radical avail-
ability and ozone production under current and future climate conditions
using a combination of measurements and modeling.
APPROACH
This study will employ a combination of laboratory and field measure-
ments as well as modeling to address two fundamental scientific ques-
tions: 1) how will individual BVOC emissions and the total hydroxyl
radical reactivity of BVOC emissions change as a result of climate
change; and 2) how will changes in BVOC emissions affect future ozone
production? In the laboratory, plant species will be exposed to a matrix
of climate conditions. Exposing plants to current and predicted future
levels of carbon dioxide and temperature in the presence or absence of
light and ozone will elucidate the effects of each variable separately and
any synergistic effects on BVOC emissions. Emissions of BVOCs from
these plants will be monitored by several gas chromatographic tech-
niques, proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, and an integrative
method of measuring total hydroxyl radical reactivity that will account
for difficult-to-measure BVOCs. These laboratory measurements, in
combination with field measurements of individual BVOCs and total hy-
droxyl radical reactivity made at Thompson Farm, a forested site in New
Hampshire, will be used to develop quantitative relationships between
climate variables and BVOC emissions. These data will ultimately be
used to model future ozone chemistry and lifetimes of important GHGs
in order to predict the effect that future BVOC emissions will have on
radiative forcing.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Using an integrative approach of measurements and modeling, this study
will determine the sensitivity of individual BVOCs to changes in cli-
mate and will di rectly measure the hydroxyl radi cal reactivity of BVOC
emissions from plants exposed to elevated carbon dioxide and tempera-
ture. These measurements will quantify two of the climate feedback
cycles associated with BVOC emissions (the effect on hydroxyl radical
availability and the effect on ozone chemistry), and will provide a more
solid empirical foundation for future climate modeling studies. Greater
quantitative knowledge of future BVOC emissions will also facilitate
modeling studies of secondary organic aerosol formation and the associ-
ated effects on radiative forcing. Most importantly, data generated by
this work will lead to more informed climate policy decisions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Data generated by this study will lead to more accurate predictions of
the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere and GHG lifetimes in a chang-
ing climate. These data will also aid in predicting the contribution that
BVOCs will make to future ozone levels, which could have important
human health implications.
BIO:
Robert Swarthout obtained his undergraduate degree in
Chemistry and Biology from the State University of New
York, Cortland in 2003. He then earned a Master's degree
in Environmental Studies at the College of Charleston in
2006, where he conducted research in analytical environ
mental chemistry. His Master's thesis focused on develop
ing methods for analyzing organic pollutants in blood and
the threat posed by these pollutants to Kemp's rid ley sea
turtles. In 2008 he began a Ph.D. program at the University
of New Hampshire, where his research focuses on under
standing climate-atmosphere feedback mechanisms.
SYNOPSIS:
Climate change has been shown to affect plant emissions
of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). BVOCs, in
turn, influence climate by affecting hydroxyl radical avail
ability and greenhouse gas (GHG) lifetimes, and by alter
ing tropospheric ozone chemistry. Using measurements of
BVOC emissions from plants exposed to predicted future
climate conditions, this study will quantify and model the
impact of future BVOC production on the oxidative capacity
of the atmosphere and ozone chemistry.
Keywords: climate change, biogenic volatile organic compounds, plant emissions, ozone, greenhouse gases, air pollution, atmospheric chemistry
33
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Rory S. Telemeco
EPA Grant Number: FP9172311
Institution: Iowa State University (IA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Global Change
E-mail: telemeco@iastate.edu
Predicting the Biotic Effects of Climate Change: An Integrative Approach Using an
Ectothermic Vertebrate Model
OBJECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Because numerous aspects of reptilian biology, from embryonic devel-
opment to behavior, are strongly impacted by the thermal environment,
reptiles are thought to be at high risk of climate change-induced decline.
Even so, virtually nothing is known about the effects of thermal varia-
tion, much less climate change, on the natural history and development
of many reptile species. This research project will help bridge these
knowledge gaps using alligator lizards (genus Elgaria, family Anguidae)
as a model system.
APPROACH
To determine the probable effects of climate change on alligator liz-
ards and their relatives, this research will combine field and laboratory
experimental techniques with cutting-edge molecular phylogeographic
techniques and bioclimatic modeling. The first stage of research will
involve experimental incubation studies designed to describe the effects
of thermal variation during embryonic development on offspring pheno-
type and fitness. Next, field and laboratory experiments will be utilized
to examine whether or not female lizards can effectively buffer their
progeny from cli matic variation by altering the microclimate of their
nests (nest depth, shade cover, moisture, etc). This information will then
be used to build bioclimatic envelope models capable of predicting the
likely effects of climate change on alligator lizards and their relatives.
For this model to be effectively applied, it will be important to identify
taxonomic groups of conservation concern, particularly cryptic species
that may not be immediately obvious. Therefore, molecular phylogeo-
graphic techniques will be utilized to identify any cryptic species within
the southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) species group.
Finally, the bioclimatic envelope model will be applied to threatened al-
ligator lizard species and any identified cryptic species such that man-
agement recommendations may be made.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Results from the experimental portions of this study will detail the ef-
fects of varied thermal conditions on the reproductive life-histories of
alligator lizards and the capacity of alligator lizards to adaptively and/
or plastically adjust their phenotypes in response to climate change. For
example, this research will determine whether or not increasing tem-
peratures in the nest will skew the sex ratios of offspring, what tempera-
tures are too high for successful embryogenesis, the effects of climatic
variation on natural nests in the field, and the ability of females to adjust
their behavior or physiology to counter these deleterious effects. The
molecular portion of the study will result in the reconstruction of a phy-
logeny for Elgaria multicarinata that will resolve the validity of each E.
multicarinata subspecies. There are three possible fates for the currently
recognized subspecies: 1) they might be supported; 2) they might not
be supported, in which case it will be recommended that the subspe-
cies designation be removed; or 3) they might be strongly supported as
individual clades, in which case it will be recommended that they be
elevated to species status and considered as discrete taxonomic units for
conservation purposes. Finally, the modeling portion of the study will
incorporate the experimental and molecular data from the previous por-
tions, and current climate change predictions, into a model that predicts
the effects of future climate change on high-risk groups of alligator liz-
ards. With this model, it will be possible to make informed management
recommendations for these and other lizards.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This study will provide information vital to the effective management
of alligator lizards and their relatives as global climates change. Fur-
thermore, with minor modification the bioclimatic envelope model that
results from this study should be applicable to other, diverse reptile
species (particularly squamates, snakes, and lizards), thereby allowing
predictions to be made about how these populations will likely respond
to impending climate change.
BIO:
Rory Telemeco received his B.S. degree in Biology from the
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in 2006. The follow
ing year, he was a Fulbright scholar and studied the impacts
of thermal variation on the reproductive life history of an
Australian lizard. Upon his return to the United States, Rory
used these data to complete his M.S. degree in Biology
(UCO, 2009). He then immediately began a Ph.D. program
in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Iowa State University.
His Ph.D. research focuses on predicting the likely effects of
impending climate change on reptile populations.
SYNOPSIS:
Numerous aspects of reptile biology are impacted by tem
perature. Because of this, reptiles are at high risk of climate
change-induced decline. However, little is known about
the specific effects of thermal variation, much less climate
change, on many reptile species. This project will help
bridge these knowledge gaps by combining field and labo
ratory experimental techniques with molecular techniques
and bioclimatic modeling using alligator lizards (genus
Elgaria) as a model system.
Keywords: alligator lizard, Elgaria, Anguidae, sqiiamate, climate change, global -warming, life history, temperature-dependent sex determination, bioclimatic envelope
34
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Clean Air
-------
Clean Air Fellows
Carter, Ellison Milne
Removal of Aldehydes from Indoor Air: Elucidating Adsorption Mechanisms,
Modeling Competitive Adsorption, and Predicting Removal in Gas-phase
Air Cleaners
University of Texas, Austin (TX),_ 37
Charrier, Jessica Grace
Elucidating the Role of Transition Metals, Organic Species, and
Atmospheric Processing in Oxidant Production from Laboratory and
Ambient Particulate Matter
University of California, Davis (CAJ, ,38
Hildebrandt, Lea
Anthropogenic Secondary Organic Particulate Matter: From Measurements
to Models to Mitigation
Carnegie Mellon University (PAJ... 39
Isaacman, Gabriel A.
Characterization of Highly Oxygenated Organic Compounds and
Organosulfates in Atmospheric Particulate Matter
University of California, Berkeley (CAJ. 40
St. Vincent, Allison Paige
Developing Time-Resolved Models for Predicting Atmospheric
Concentrations of Highway-Generated Nanoparticles in Urban Neighborhoods
Tufts University t\l. b .... 41
36
-------
Ellison Milne Carter
C
EPA Grant Number: FP917180
Institution: University of Texas, Austin (TX)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Clean Air
E-mail: ellison.carter@mail.utexas.edu
Removal of Aldehydes from Indoor Air: Elucidating Adsorption Mechanisms,
Modeling Competitive Adsorption, and Predicting Removal in Gas-phase Air Cleaners
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Poor indoor air quality in the workplace, public buildings, and resi-
dential dwellings has the potential to adversely impact human health.
Polar, volatile organic compounds are common contributors to indoor
air pollution, and formaldehyde and other aldehydes are among the
most studied indoor environmental pollutants as a consequence of their
ubiquity indoors and established human health significance. Adsorp-
tion-based treatment strategies offer an attractive alternative to both
energy-intensive ventilation and impractical source removal. The focus
of this research is to develop, through experimentally-based research, a
mechanistic understanding of the sorption interactions between polar,
gas-phase organic pollutants and the surfaces of adsorbent media used in
air treatment systems. This work will strengthen efforts to protect public
health in indoor environments by reducing environmental exposure to
harmful indoor air pollutants.
APPROACH
This research project consists of three main tasks: 1) physical and
chemical characterization of both commercial and synthesized activated
carbon adsorbents using a variety of surface analytical techniques, 2)
adsorption equilibrium and desorption studies in differential batch reac-
tors and columns, and 3) mathematical modeling of the sorption pro-
cesses observed.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research project will identify specific chemical and physical char-
acteristics of activated carbon surfaces that promote the removal of
gas-phase, polar organic pollutants. It is expected that basic and acidic
functional groups will influence aldehyde adsorption through distinct
sorption mechanisms, depending on indoor environmental conditions,
such as relative humidity and temperature. By precisely describing
molecular-level sorption interactions over a range of environmental con-
ditions, the outcome of this work will be the development of a predictive
tool for assessing the performance of adsorption-based media for gas-
phase treatment of mdoor air.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This work should serve as a model approach for evaluation and/or design
of indoor surfaces and their potential for pollutant removal. Gas-phase
sorption processes greatly influence the mobility and distribution of
many indoor contaminants, but these processes are not yet well charac-
terized for indoor environments. In response to the need for sustainable,
healthy building materials, these studies will underscore the value of
concurrent physical/chemical surface characterization and adsorption/
desorption studies by contributing to knowledge of gas-solid sorption
mechanisms. On a larger scale, this work should further the develop-
ment of materials that live up to the principles of green engineering and
ultimately minimize human exposure to indoor pollutants.
BIO:
Ellison Carter graduated from Indiana University in 2004
with degrees in Biology and Spanish. The following year,
she was a resident naturalist in the rain forest of Costa
Rica, conducting ecological research and leading environ
mental education programs. After a brief working stint back
in the US, she returned to school and recently finished an
M.S.E. in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas (UT)
at Austin. She is working toward a Ph.D. in Environmental
Engineering, pursuing research in environmental chemistry
and pollution control. Her current work is focused on the
surface properties of air filter media that promote gas-phase
removal of recalcitrant, polar contaminants common to
indoor environments.
SYNOPSIS:
This work addresses a need to provide people with clean,
indoor air by reducing their exposure to harmful aldehydes.
The project consists of three main tasks: 1) physical and
chemical characterization of activated carbon adsorbents,
2) adsorption equilibrium and desorption studies, and 3)
mathematical modeling of the sorption processes observed.
The outcome of this work will be a predictive tool for as
sessing the performance of adsorption-based media for gas-
phase treatment of indoor air.
Keywords: fomialdehyde, aldehydes, polar organic compounds, adsorption, desorption, sorptive interactions, environmental organic chemistry, surface chemistry, indoor air, activated
carbon, treatment strategies
37
-------
Jessica Grace Charrier
EPA Grant Number: FP917181
Institution: University of California, Davis (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Clean Air
E-mail: jgcharrierfpncdavis.edu
Elucidating the Role of Transition Metals, Organic Species, and Atmospheric
Processing in Oxidant Production from Laboratory and Ambient Particulate Matter
BIO:
Jessie Charrier received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
from the University of California, San Diego in 2006. Ms.
Charrier was introduced to the field of Atmospheric Chem
istry while performing two years of undergraduate research
with Dr. Kim Prather. After graduation, Ms. Charrier worked
at Sonoma Technology, Inc., in Petaluma, CA as an Air
Quality Data Analyst. In 2008, she began her Ph.D. in
Environmental Chemistry with an emphasis on Atmospheric
Chemistry at the University of California, Davis. Her current
research examines adverse oxidant production from particu
late matter.
SYNOPSIS:
Inhalation of particulate matter can cause adverse health
effects and mortality in humans. One mechanism of toxic
ity is production of oxidants in the lungs, which can lead to
inflammation and disease. My project will investigate the
detailed chemistry of oxidant production from particulate
matter and its components. The results of this research
will provide insight in the chemical components, sources,
and atmospheric processes that cause particles to be most
harmful to human health.
OBJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Inhalation of ambient particulate pollution is known to cause morbidity
and mortality in humans. One likely mechanism of toxicity is the produc-
tion of oxidants in the lungs by the particles, which has been shown to
cause inflammation and disease. The objective of my research is to eluci-
date the chemical species, sources, and atmospheric processes that affect
oxidant production in the lungs from ambient particulate matter (PM).
APPROACH
My research will quantify production of two oxidants, hydroxyl radical
and hydrogen peroxide, from laboratory and ambient particulate matter
PM in cell-free surrogate lung fluid. The research will consist of four
stages: 1) quantifying oxidant production from laboratory particles
containing individual and mixed transition metals, 2) evaluating oxidant
production from PM collected directly from various sources (e.g., diesel
from dynamometer studies), 3) understanding the effect of atmospheric
aging and secondary organic aerosol on oxidant production from both
particle types in 1 and 2 by artificially aging the particle in the labora-
tory, and 4) applying this knowledge to ambient PM, collected at sites
with different source impacts.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Previous work in my lab shows strong evidence that oxidant production
is related to the transition metal content of ambient PM, especially iron
and copper, and is dependent on the presence of ascorbate (or some other
electron donor). I expected oxidant production from particles to primari-
ly depend on the availability of soluble transition metals. Artificial aging
of particles with ozone and light has been show to oxidize the surface of
the particles, which may affect metal solubility and oxidant production.
The addition of organics may affect oxidant production through mul-
tiple mechanisms: organics act as metal ligands, which can increase or
decrease the reactivity of the metals; organics may act as electron donors
increasing oxidant production from metals, or organics may be redox
active and produce oxidants themselves. The organic content of the par-
ticles may strongly affect oxidant production in some cases
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of my research will provide insight in the chemical com-
ponents, sources, and atmospheric processes that cause PM to produce
high concentrations of oxidants, providing the necessary information
to enact effective policy for protection of human health. Along with an
understanding of the detailed chemistry, the method I will use allows
for quantitative determination of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen per-
oxide, which provides dose estimates necessary to better understand
health effects.
Keywords: oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, health, particulate matter, air pollution
38
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Lea Hildebrandt
EPA Grant Number: FP917186
Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Clean Air
E-mail: lhildebr@andrew.cmu.edu
Anthropogenic Secondary Organic Particulate Matter: From Measurements to
Models to Mitigation
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Submicron atmospheric particles are of interest because they adversely
affect human health and regional visibility, and they have a highly uncer-
tain effect on climate. Organic aerosol (OA) globally comprises 20-90%
of the submicron particle mass, but a full understanding of its formation,
evolution, and characteristics remains elusive. The goal of this research
project is to better understand the processes governing the properties and
concentrations of OA, facilitating the articulation of policy actions that
lead to a reduction in atmospheric OA and its adverse effects.
APPROACH
The main part of this project focuses on investigating OA through a
series of laboratory experiments and ambient measurements. In par-
ticular, we measure the potential of individual gaseous precursors to
form OA in laboratory experiments. We also explore the changes in OA
("aging") in laboratory experiments by further oxidizing the OA after its
initial formation. We observe the effects of OA aging in the atmosphere
by measuring ambient OA at a remote location that is not influenced by
fresh pollution. Finally, we investigate the interactions of different types
of OA in the laboratory by forming them during the same experiment.
We use isotopic labeling and a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrom-
eter to distinguish between the different OA types.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The experiments and ambient measurements wall provide insights into
the formation, transformation, and interactions of organic aerosol (OA).
Based on these new insights, we will develop improved model param-
eterizations and include them in the three-dimensional chemical trans-
port model PMCAMx. We will then test the model against observations
from ambient measurements. Finally, we will use the improved model to
evaluate different emission control options for reducing OA concentra-
tions and then make recommendations for regulatory efforts aimed at
mitigating OA concentrations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will enable the development of more effective policy actions
aimed at reducing organic aerosol and total fine particle concentrations
in the atmosphere. This will lead to decreased adverse effects from fine
particles on human health and the environment.
BIO:
Lea Hildebrandt received her Bachelor of Science in Chemi
cal Engineering (Environmental) from the California Insti
tute of Technology in 2006. She then began the Ph.D. pro
gram at Carnegie Mellon University in Chemical Engineering
(Fall 2006) and in Engineering and Public Policy (Spring
2007). Her research in air quality focuses on an improved
understanding of atmospheric organic aerosol (AO), which
can lead to improved atmospheric models and better in
formed policy decisions.
SYNOPSIS:
Fine atmospheric particles adversely affect human health,
and they have a highly uncertain effect on climate. OA glob
ally comprises 20 90% of the fine particle mass, but a full
understanding of its formation, evolution and characteristics
remains elusive. The goal of this project is to improve air
quality by better understanding OA, facilitating the articula
tion of policy actions that lead to a reduction in OA and its
adverse effects on human health and the environment.
Keywords: air quality, organic aerosol, aerosol mass spectrometer, laboratory experiments, ambient measurements, chemical transport model, policy
39
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Gabriel A. Isaacman
EPA Grant Number: FP917189
Institution: University of California, Berkeley (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Clean Air
E-mail: gabriel.isaacman@berkeley.edu
Characterization of Highly Oxygenated Organic Compounds and Organosulfates in
Atmospheric Particulate Matter
BIO:
Gabriel Isaacman was raised by wild scientists in Bowie,
MD, before going to Wesleyan University, where he received
a B.A. in Chemistry and Earth and Environmental Science
in 2007. He moved to the Bay Area to pursue his dream of
having many part-time jobs. Following a year at a science
museum and teaching gardening to children, he decided to
use his science background in a field that affects everyone.
His research focuses on air pollution sources. Hopefully his
work will assist mitigation efforts.
SYNOPSIS:
Specific compounds in atmospheric particulate matter
("smog") can be used to understand its sources and forma
tion. This project will study the variability over the course
of the day of such "marker compounds" using a custom
instrument that has a better time resolution than typical
techniques. The applicant proposes to expand current capa
billies of this instrument to include the detection of com
pounds found in more aged air, which make up a significant
fraction of all particulate matter.
OBJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project aims to expand the ability to characterize both highly
oxygenated and sulfur-containing atmospheric oxidation products of
prevalent volatile organic compounds. It also will attempt to quantify
the extent to which interaction between anthropogenic and biogenic
emissions to the atmosphere leads to formation of secondary aerosol in
regions like the southeastern United States, where emissions from both
sources are high
APPROACH
The composition of organic atmospheric aerosol has been character-
ized to date primarily through the use of filter collection and analysis.
However, this approach does not provide an understanding of diurnal
variability of individual compounds, which can be used to understand
sources and formation processes. Therefore, this project will seek to
improve a recently designed custom instrument, the Thermal Desorption
Aerosol Gas Chromatograph (TAG). The range of compounds detect-
able by TAG will be expanded to include markers of oxidized and aged
air through the use of "derivatization," where a chemical reaction will
be employed to change the structure of analyzed air in such a way to
allow detection. The exact reaction is not yet known and will require
significant experimentation. Following development of these methods,
the instrument will be deployed to the field to understand the sources of
particulate matter in polluted and/or non-polluted areas.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Highly oxygenated compounds are known to be a significant fraction of
atmospheric aerosol but cannot be easily characterized with high time
resolution using current methods. This work will address this issue,
providing better knowledge about the diurnal variability of these com-
pounds. Such knowledge can and will be used for source apportionment
as well as studies into the products of known precursor gas-phase com-
pounds. This work will better constrain the causes of some air pollution,
specifically small particulate matter (PM, S), one of EPA's six "criteria
pollutants."
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Atmospheric aerosol affects human health and climate, and these ef-
fects vary based on the composition of the aerosol. This research seeks
to understand the composition of aerosol, thus understanding its effects.
Furthermore, by having high time resolution in these measurements, the
sources and formation processes can be better understood, assisting in
future mitigation efforts.
Keywords: air pollution, aerosol, particulate matter, PMcriteria pollutants, derivatization, volatile organic compounds
40
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Allison Paige St. Vincent
EPA Grant Number: FP917203
Institution: Tufts University (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 9/7/2010 - 9/6/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Clean Air
E-mail: allison.stvincent@tufts.edu
Developing Time-Resolved Models for Predicting Atmospheric Concentrations of
Highway-Generated Nanoparticles in Urban Neighborhoods
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The concentration of nanoparticles (1-100 nm. also referred to as ultra-
fine particles or UFP) can be elevated 25-fold or more near highways
compared to urban background sites. This smallest range of particles
may disproportionately increase health risk by their ability to penetrate
into the lungs, yet accurately estimating human exposures to nanoparti-
cles has proved to be difficult due to lack of temporally (hourly) and spa-
tially (< 1 kmA2) resolved estimates of nanoparticle concentrations. The
objective of this research is to develop a method to accurately predict the
concentrations and distribution of highway-generated nanoparticles in
near-highway urban neighborhoods.
APPROACH
A mobile laboratory housing a suite of rapid-response instruments will
monitor particle number concentration (7-225 nm), CO, and other pol-
lutants in three Boston-area neighborhoods. Monitoring will be done
at different times (i.e., morning, evening) and on both weekdays and
weekends in all four seasons so as to capture temporal as well as spatial
variations in pollutant levels. Models (e.g., CALINE4, QUIC) will be
developed and calibrated against measurements to predict the concen-
trations for times and places that are not directly measured. The model
will involve the effects of traffic conditions and meteorology (e.g., wind
speed, wind direction, temperature) on the dispersion of nanoparticles.
Calibration will include an analysis of the sensitivity of vehicular emis-
sion rates of nanoparticles to environmental conditions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research is one of many steps towards new nanoparticle regulations
that will be protective of human health. Intensive spatial and temporal
monitoring of highway-generated air pollution will provide valuable
insight into the potential exposures of people who live near highways in
urban neighborhoods. A modeling approach for the near-highway envi-
ronment will be developed to include wind speed and direction, bound-
ary layer height, time of day, weekdays and weekends, and seasonal
changes as well as the chemistry and physics of the near-highway zone.
In addition, it will explore methods of generalizing vehicular nanopar-
ticle source strength. Modeling on the same time scale as changes in
particle concentrations (-1 hr) will increase applicability of this study
to other near-highway urban residential neighborhoods, especially those
where monitoring is impractical. The model will facilitate accurate pre-
dictions of long-term human exposure to traffic-generated nanoparticles.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This work could serve to inform policy makers who may be considering
the merits of new regulations for nanoparticles as well as citizen advo-
cates who are working to protect public health. Collaborators in Boston
(Tufts Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health) will use the
model to quantify exposure to traffic pollutants at individual homes, al-
lowing for the correlation of health endpoints with exposure. The model
could also be used by other research groups who are actively investigat-
ing health effects of near-highway air pollution exposure in other loca-
tions (e.g., Los Angeles, North Carolina, Toronto, Helsinki, Stockholm,
the Netherlands).
BIO:
Allison St. Vincent was born and raised in Bristol, Rhode
Island. She graduated from Mt. Hope High School in 2005
and then went on to the Massachusetts Institute of Technol
ogy, where she earned an undergraduate degree in Environ
mental Engineering in 2009. The following fall, she began
the Ph.D. program in Environmental and Water Resources
Engineering at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Her research focuses on measuring and modeling highway-
generated air pollution.
SYNOPSIS:
Living near highways is associated with elevated risk of
adverse health effects due to exposure to traffic-related
air pollution. Concentrations of ultrafine particles (1-100
nm; UFP), which penetrate the lungs more effectively than
larger particles, may be as much as 25 times higher near
highways than in other urban areas. This project couples
mobile air pollution monitoring with local-scale modeling
to understand the concentrations and dispersion of UFP in
near-highway urban neighborhoods.
Keywords: highway-generated air pollution, nanoparticles, ultrafine particles, urban-scale meteorology, ('. II. J XI\4, QUIC
41
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Drinking Water Fellows
Beck, Sara Elizabeth
Pilot Scale Water Reuse System
University of Colorado, Boulder (CO).,, 44
Craig, Laura
Developing a Systems arid Community-Based Approach for Controlling
Excess Fluoride in Drinking Water in Northern Ghana
University of Nevada, Reno (NV). 45
Fagnant, Christine Susan
Optimization of Natural Photochemistry for Cost-Effective, Energy-Efficient
Human Pathogen Inactivation in Compromised Water Sources
University of Washington (WA).„,, 46
Follansbee, David M.
Optimal Design, Development, and Characterization of Photocatalytic
Composite Particles and Technology for Advanced Oxidation
Process Applications
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) ...... 47
Oulton, Rebekah
Application of Carbon Nanotubes in Catalytic Ozonation for Sustainable
Water Reuse
University of California, Riverside (CA).. .48
Stuckey, Jason Wayne
Discovering the Nexus Between, and Quantifying the Rates of, the Physical
and Biogeochemical Mechanisms Governing Arsenic Release From Soil and
Sediment to Pore-Water Under Anaerobic Conditions
Stanford University (CA). .49
43
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Sara Elizabeth
Beck
EPA Grant Number: FP917090
Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder (CO)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2010 -7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Drinking Water
E-mail: sara.becls@colorado.edu
Pilot Scale Water Reuse System
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Rapid population growth will continue to stress already scarce water
resources and contaminate surface water and groundwater supplies. As a
result, engineers are evaluating water supply and treatment methods that
can augment traditional supplies, including water reuse. Since the major-
ity of the population growth will take place in areas that lack adequate
water supply and sanitation systems, this research project will develop
and evaluate water supply and treatment technologies that are appropri-
ate for developing communities.
APPROACH
Although water reuse is frequently practiced in developing communities,
it is not well evaluated. The research will evaluate pilot scale systems
that use low-cost, high technology solutions (such as UV light and ul-
trafiltration) for reusing grey water and treating traditional surface water
and runoff sources with the end goal of generating agricultural and po-
table water. The project will characterize the source water quality neces-
sary for effective reuse treatment processes, determining maximum lev-
els of turbidity, organic loading, pathogens, and microbial contaminants
in the source water. After verifying treated source water quality m the
laboratory, the systems will be tested in the field and evaluated for their
sustainability in developing communities.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The efficiency of the treatment technologies is expected to vary with the
source water quality. By testing the technologies with various source
waters, the research will quantify the limits of the technology: test-
ing the flow rate variations with influent water quality, evaluating the
tendencies of the technologies to foul, characterizing the foulants, and
exploring appropriate cleaning methods. Understanding the fundamen-
tals of the fouling tendencies will lead to ways to minimize fouling and
optimize the treatment processes. Quantifying the technological effi-
ciency of these systems in the laboratory first and then examining their
sustainability in the field will lead to their potential use by development
and emergency relief organizations as well as facilities in industrialized
countries. Implementing appropriate, low-cost, low-energy technologies
in developing communities can potentially shift paradigms for sustain-
able technology implementation in the developed world as well.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
By 2025, an estimated 1.7 billion people will not have access to enough
water to satisfy their basic human needs. This research project seeks
to evaluate potential appropriate technology solutions that can address
water scarcity and contamination problems worldwide.
Keywords: water reuse, source water quality, water quality parameters, developing communities, appropriate technology, sustainable technology
Bio:
Sara Beck received her undergraduate degrees in aerospace
engineering and studio art from the University of Colorado
at Boulder. For six years, she worked as a flight controller on
the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs
at Mission Control Centers in Houston, TX, Moscow, Russia,
and Tsukuba, Japan. During that time, she pursued her pas
sion for engineering in developing communities by serving
as founding president of the Central Houston Professional
Partners chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA and
working on projects for El Salvador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and
Uganda. After receiving a M.S. in Environmental Engineering
from Georgia Tech, Sara left NASA in order to work on water
treatment technologies for developing communities. She is
working on her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at the
University of Colorado, Boulder, studying appropriate water
treatment technologies. Her research focuses on water reuse,
ultrafiltration membranes, and UV disinfection.
Synopsis:
The research will evaluate small-scale, low-cost, high tech
nology systems for treating greywater and contaminated
surface water for agricultural and potable water uses. The
project will characterize the source water quality necessary
for these treatment processes to be effective. Determining
the efficiency of these systems in the lab and examining
their sustainability in the field could lead to their use by
development or emergency relief organizations and facilities
in industrialized countries.
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Laura Crai;
* i*
EPA Grant Number: FP917230
Institution: University of Nevada, Reno (NV)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Drinking Water
E-mail: laura.craig@dri.edu
Developing a Systems and Community-Based Approach for Controlling Excess
Fluoride in Drinking Water in Northern Ghana
Bio:
Laura Craig received a B.S. in Hydrology from the Univer
sity of California, Davis in 2002, and subsequently worked
at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In 2004 she
enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and earned
M.S. degrees in Geology and Water Resources Management.
Laura then spent a year as a Fulbright Fellow-Mexico study
ing water quality. In 2009, she began a Ph.D. program in
Hydrogeology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her cur
rent focus is safe drinking water in rural Ghana.
Synopsis:
Excess fluoride in drinking water is a serious health prob
lem. Poor and rural areas, such as the study sites in north
ern Ghana, are particularly vulnerable as they often lack
access to treated water. Developing successful locally-
managed drinking water systems under these conditions
is needed, but also require direct community involvement.
Thus, the focus of this study is to work extensively with the
affected communities to develop a simple de-fluoridation
system and management plan.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Excess fluoride in drinking water is a serious global health problem,
causing dental fluorisis in children and skeletal fluorosis that affects all
ages. Poor and rural areas are particularly vulnerable as they often lack
access to necessary water treatment methods. The focus of this re-
search is to develop and implement a simple de-fluoridation system and
management plan in close collaboration with affected communities in
northern Ghana.
APPROACH
This research includes both laboratory and field components. The labo-
ratory component is dedicated to treatment methods, and will initially
focus on batch and column experiments to determine fluoride adsorption
behavior of materials indigenous to northern Ghana and to experiment
with filter column designs. The field component is dedicated to collect-
ing well data, developing appropriate field designs, and surveying the
community regarding health risks and proposed de-fluoridation systems.
The well data include measuring fluoride concentrations and seasonal
changes. The development of field designs involves testing and subse-
quent modification of filters depending upon fluoride removal capac-
ity in the field, ease of use and maintenance of selected filter systems,
and community responses to the designs. Community surveys will be
conducted to (1) determine how much water is consumed daily (includ-
ing setting up physical measurements in some households), (2) gauge the
level of awareness regarding dangers of consuming excess fluoride, (3)
estimate what percentage of the population suffers from fluorosis, and
(4) determine which filter systems (i.e., in home or at hand-pump) will
be most appropriate.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This interdisciplinary research project will provide experience includ-
ing engineering design, hydrogeologic and geochemical analysis, socio-
economic evaluation of a small-scale drinking water system, and infor-
mation for development of a long-term health management plan at the
community level. The project scope includes collection of key data on
seasonal variation in groundwater levels and correlated changes in fluo-
ride concentrations, daily water consumption, estimates of milligrams
of fluoride consumed per day, dietary information, prevalence of fluoro-
sis, and the most feasible filter designs and filter material. Through this
project, we will develop a holistic approach for providing safe drinking
water at the small-scale to low-income communities with a high risk of
exposure to excess fluoride. A variation of this method may be replicable
in other communities with similar drinking water issues.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The described project will contribute toward raising awareness of the
dangers of excess fluoride intake and creation of a program for develop-
ment and maintenance of de-fluoridation filters. Success with this effort
in Ghana may extend to other regions facing safe drinking water and
health management issues.
Keywords: drinking water quality, fluorosis, fluoride, water resource management, health management
45
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Christine Susan Fagnant
EPA Grant Number: FP917094
Institution: University of Washington (WA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Drinking Water
E-mail:
Optimization of Natural Photochemistry for Cost-Effective, Energy-Efficient Human
Pathogen Inactivation in Compromised Water Sources
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research project will aim to optimize natural processes to develop
simple, sustainable, and inexpensive water disinfection processes that
could be used in both the developed and developing worlds.
APPROACH
Bench-scale experiments will examine the ability of redox systems
catalyzed by transition metals (such as iron or aluminum) and/or organic
photosensitizers to produce water disinfectants such as hydrogen perox-
ide or chlorine with minimal or no electrical input. Both sunlight-medi-
ated and dark reactions will be investigated. Furthermore, this research
will examine the effects of coupling such chemical disinfectants with
solar disinfection of water for enhanced pathogen inactivation. After
bench-scale models are developed, scaling of these processes for point-
of-use water treatment will be investigated. Materials utilized in these
experiments will be selected on the basis of their ready availability and
affordability in diverse geographical regions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research is expected to yield inexpensive, simple, and sustainable
means of generating chemical disinfectants. These processes will be op-
timized to produce disinfectants at concentrations appropriate for water
treatment applications. The processes developed during this work will
be simple to operate and appropriate for use in developing communities.
The findings obtained from this work will also provide important fun-
damental insights into chemical and photochemical processes relevant
to various other applications in environmental chemistry and engineer-
ing (e.g., iron and aluminum corrosion, transition metal photochemistry,
photosensitized chlorine production in marine waters).
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will facilitate the development of simple, point-of-use
water disinfection systems, thus contributing to improvement of the
health and safety of people in developing communities through reduc-
tion of gastrointestinal and other waterborne diseases. These benefits
could be amplified through use of disinfectants for improved sanitation.
Furthermore, this research will contribute to the development of more
sustainable methods for chemical disinfectant generation in general
water treatment practice, potentially resulting in significant reductions of
harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Bio:
Christine Fagnant received her undergraduate degree in
Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University in 2008. The
following year, she worked as a case manager in a women's
homeless shelter through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She
began the Ph.D. program at the University of Washington in
2009. Her research focuses on photochemical and chemi
cal redox processes, with a specific focus on applications
for drinking water and sanitation for developing communi
ties. When not working in the lab, she loves to backpack,
garden, and play guitar.
Synopsis:
This project will examine the use of natural chemical reac
tions to develop simple, inexpensive, and low-energy water
disinfection systems. The research will focus on the uti
lization of metals (e.g., iron or aluminum) and/or various
organic photocatalysts to produce chemical disinfectants in
the dark and under the influence of direct solar irradiation.
These processes are ultimately intended for application in
point-of-use drinking water treatment and/or sanitation in
developing communities.
Keywords: water treatment, disinfection, sanitation, iron, aluminum, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, photochemistry, SODIS, compromised -waters, appropriate technology,
developing communities
46
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David M. Follansbee
EPA Grant Number: FP917095
Institution: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Drinking Water
E-mail: follad@rpi.edu
Optimal Design, Development, and Characterization of Photocatalytic Composite
Particles and Technology for Advanced Oxidation Process Applications
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Increasing demands for potable drinking water, increasingly stringent water quality
standards, and the seemingly perpetual discovery of new biological and chemical contami-
nants all provide an impetus to develop novel, high-throughput material processing (e.g.,
purification and disinfection) technologies. Several studies have shown that when excited,
photoactive materials (such as titanium dioxide) generate oxidizing chemical species that
can destroy organic compounds (mineralization) and pathogens in aqueous media. The use
of this technology has received considerable attention as a viable treatment strategy for wa-
ter contaminated with organic compounds, specifically pharmaceuticals. This technology is
very attractive due to its low-cost operation and ability to oxidize a wide variety of organic
compounds; however much effort is needed to fundamentally understand the optimal par-
ticle properties and how to optimally design a system that will be able to efficiently treat a
high-throughput of contaminated water. To this end, the focus of this research will include
three specific aims: (1) to improve quantum efficiencies of photocatalytic technologies by
fundamentally understanding the kinetics of photo-active materials; (21 to maximize ad-
sorptive mass transfer rates of species to the catalyst surface under various flow conditions
and develop associated Langmuir isotherms; and (3) to identify key design characteristics
that facilitate the transport of composite particles within a continuous system.
APPROACH
The approach of this research entails three aspects that directly correspond to the specific
aims (i) determine reaction rate and reactivation rate, (ii) determine mass transfer rates
and isotherms for composite particles, and (iii) test mechanical durability of recirculating
particles. Each one of these deals with some characteristic or aspect of design of the com-
posite particle; however, each property can be studied independently from the others. The
reactivation rate can be determined on a bench scale by activating a light source for a given
length of time and then removing the light source and introducing a dye. This experiment
gives insight into the rate at which the photons are absorbed by the photocatalyst and the
possible mechanism associated with this process. The desire is to understand if the absorp-
tion of the photons is rate limiting and needs to be accounted for m the reaction rate. The
reaction rate can be determined through similar experiments by measuring the conversion
rate of a chemical process (e.g., oxidation of nitrite to nitrate) through the photon cham-
ber while using the reactivation unit to reactivate the catalyst and comparing this to the
amount of energy spent on reactivation. The mass transfer of contaminant to the surface
of the cataly st can be determined by sampling the rich phase as a function of annular
bed height and testing its concentration. This will be done for various influent flow rates
and concentrations to provide information for the mass transfer rate and saturation of the
adsorbent respectively. This equilibrium data will be used to formulate isotherms in order
to characterize the particles. The mechanical durability of the particles can be tested by
running the system in fluidization, hydraulic transport, and re-circulating modes. This will
provide information for the force at which these particles are coming into contact with the
walls and neighboring particles. The frictional and inertial effects will also be studied by
the pressure drop exerted by particles of various sizes and densities within the riser section
compared to the energy spent to transport them.
EXPECTED RESULTS
These results will provide insight into the surface reaction kinetics and mechanism of a
photocatalytic process based on light intensity, residence time, and loading of adsorbent. It
will allow for the understanding of how the effective surface area of a particle can increase
its adsorptive potential without hindering its photo-oxidative potential and what the pore
size constraints (i.e., mesoporous or nanoporous) allow for effective adsorption and regen-
eration. They also will provide an understanding of the ease of transportation and operating
costs associated with this system. This information will be used to construct a model-based
framework that when accurate will be able to determine optimal particle properties by
identifying the loading of a given adsorbent for a particular photocatalyst, the appropriate
substrate to use that facilitates transportation and mechanical durability, and the optimal
operating conditions for this catalyst testing system.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The impact that the proposed research will have on human society is the fundamental ad-
vancement of a low-cost technology that has the ability to completely oxidize chemical and
biological contaminants in aqueous media. Photocatalytic technology takes advantage of
the energy emitted from light and produces no disinfection byproducts such as those identi-
fied in drinking water (trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, bromate, and chlorite). To date,
all advanced oxidation processes (including photocatalysis) have only been performed on
primarily bench scale applications. This is partially due to the bottlenecks associated with
the fundamental understanding of this technology. The advancement lies with the ability
to independently study the mass transfer limitations of contaminant to the surface of the
particle and the efficient use of photons (quantum efficiency) that is posed by photocataly-
sis. With the proposed research, the intent is to move past these bottlenecks and provide a
means to allow photocatalytic technologies to progress beyond the bench scale to industrial
applications. This proposed research also will provide an apparatus that can be utilized to
test the effectiveness of composite photocatalytic particles as well as be applied to the treat-
ment of contaminated water prior to discharge or within drinking water plants. Although
this research focuses on remediating pollution after it has been introduced, it is important
to try to stop pollution at its source. This is done by developing an outreach program called
"Pollution Prevention Day" at local elementary schools and addressing these issues to
children. The purpose of this event would be to actively teach children of various age levels
about the importance of clean drinking water, the water cycle, water sources, pollution pre-
vention, and traditional treatment techniques. Many of these lesson plans and activities are
outlined on the EPA Web Site. This outreach program will help children to take an active
role for reducing pollution at its source in their own lives and make them aware that this is
a growing concern.
Bio:
David Follansbee received his Bachelor's of Science degree in
Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(RPI) in 2006. The following year he worked on a joint project
with RPI and the New York State Department of Health to con
struct and characterize a small scale circulating fluidized bed
system. During this time, he was enrolled in the Masters program
at RPI, but became so interested and involved in the design of
this water system that he decided to enter the Ph.D. program and
use this project as the starting point for his dissertation. David's
research currently focuses on understanding the use of photo
catalytic technologies as they apply to the treatment of organi
cally contaminated water and overcoming the limitations that
previous photocatalytic systems have encountered. He also uses
optimization-based methods to develop water treatment networks
that can be adapted and applied to drinking and recreational
water systems.
Synopsis:
Increasing demands for potable drinking water, along with in
creasingly stringent water quality standards, provide an impetus
to develop novel, high-throughput material processing. One such
technology is the use of photoactive material to decompose or
ganic material. This project will focus on improving the efficiency
of photocatalytic technologies, analyze the desired optimal
particle properties, and identify key design characteristics for a
continuous photocatalytic water treatment system.
Keywords: photocatalysis, fluidization, adsorption, water treatment
47
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Rebekah Oulton
EPA Grant Number: FP917103
Institution: University of California, Riverside (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Drinking Water
E-mail: roult00i@iicr.edu
Application of Carbon Nanotubes in Catalytic Ozonation for Sustainable Water Reuse
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project explores the efficacy of using CNTs as catalysts for ad-
vanced oxidation processes (AOPs), targeting the removal of pharmaceu-
ticals and pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) during waste-
water treatment. Catalytic ozonation research using activated carbon
(AC) to enhance hydroxyl radical production via ozone decomposition
suggests that AC high in surface area and exhibiting basic surface func-
tionalities is most effective. Due to the higher surface area and unique
material and surface properties of CNTs relative to AC, it is expected
that CNT-catalyzed ozonation will show improved removal of PhACs
across a broad range of structurally diverse organic micropollutants and
will achieve a higher degree of mineralization, compared with tradi-
tional AOPs.
APPROACH
This study includes two phases: synthesis and characterization of
functionalized CNTs; and, reactivity and performance assessment of
synthesized materials. Phase One involves development and charac-
terization of a collection of CNTs with distinct surface chemistries.
Specific tasks include both covalent and non-covalent surface func-
tionalization of CNTs. All tasks will use commercially available
single-walled (SW), double-walled (DW), and/or multi-walled (MW)
CNTs. Phase Two will use materials synthesized in Phase One to
determine their efficacy in hydroxyl radical generation during ozona-
tion. These data, coupled with the characterization data compiled in
Phase One, will yield a greater understanding of the CNT-surface
properties affecting catalytic ozonation. A second goal of Phase Two
is to determine how variations in water chemistry and composition
influence the operational performance of these catalysts during treat-
ment applications This phase looks first at CNT performance in model
water systems; the most promising catalysts will then undergo further
performance testing in variable water quality systems.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Preliminary results suggest that CNTs enhance ozone decomposition
and that the rate of this reaction is tunable through CNT functionaliza-
tion. Using chemical probe compounds, enhanced hydroxyl radical pro-
duction has been observed at CNTs loading as low as 5 mg/L, compared
with 500 mg/L of AC required to achieve a noticeable increase in ozone
decomposition. Further, preliminary results show that greater hydroxyl
radical production in the CNT-catalyzed system results in greater PhAC
removal than with either ozone or CNTs alone. These results support the
hypothesis that CNT-catalyzed ozonation offers promise for use in ad-
vanced water and wastewater treatment for increased removal of emerg-
ing organic micropollutants, including PhACs.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
A key outcome of this research is development of new technologies to
promote sustainable water reuse. As more and more communities search
for ways to make better use of their resources to meet drinking water
needs, effective treatment of wastewater will become increasingly im-
portant. CNTs can be a valuable tool in reducing PhACs from wastewa-
ter effluent; it is foreseeable that CNT-catalyzed ozonation technologies
may simultaneously disinfect the wastewater, break down PhACs and
other micropollutants, and minimize or sequester ozonation byproducts,
thereby offering promise for improved protection of human health and
the environment.
Bio:
Rebekah Oulton is a student at the University of California,
Riverside, Department of Chemical and Environmental En
gineering. She holds a Master's degree in Engineering and
is licensed in California in both Mechanical and Civil En
gineering. Her professional experience includes water and
wastewater treatment plant process improvements, utility
system analyses, oil field remediation, stormwater pollution
control, and environmental permitting and compliance. Her
current research focuses on wastewater treatment process
improvements targeting removal of emerging contaminants.
Synopsis:
Pharmaceuticals and related compounds (PhACs) have been
found in surface and drinking water systems throughout the
United States. The main entry route for PhACs into these wa
ter systems is wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent.
Current research suggests that the impact of WWTP discharg
es on human and ecosystem health may be far greater than
is now understood. This project explores the use of carbon
nanotubes (CNTs) as catalysts for advanced oxidation to im
prove removal of PhACs during wastewater treatment.
Keywords: catalytic ozonation, advanced oxidation, carbon nanotubes, wastewater treatment, water treatment, water reuse, pharmaceuticals, phamiaceutically active compounds
48
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Jason Wayne Stuckey
EPA Grant Number: FP917111
Institution: Stanford University (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Drinking Water
E-mail: stuckey@stanford.edu
Discovering the Nexus Between, and Quantifying the Rates of, the Physical and
Biogeochemical Mechanisms Governing Arsenic Release From Soil and Sediment
to Pore-Water Under Anaerobic Conditions
OBJECT!VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Millions of people around the world drink arsenic-contaminated
groundwater. The protection of groundwater as a drinking water source
requires that we develop the ability to identify areas of active arsenic
release to pore-water, to identify areas without the capacity to release
appreciable arsenic, and to predict how this spatial distribution will
change temporally. This research project wall quantify the biogeochemi-
cal and physical controls of arsenic transport rate in soils and sediments,
supporting the accurate projection of site-specific groundwater arsenic
concentrations in space and time.
APPROACH
The three key aspects dictating microbial-driven release of arsenic from
soil/sediment solids to pore-water under anaerobic conditions are the (i)
reactivity and (ii) quantity of organic carbon and arsenic-bearing iron
oxides, and (iii) the diffusion of arsenic and dissolved organic carbon
between mobile and less mobile flow regimes. The first stage of research
will be the development of batch assays for determining site-specific
organic matter and arsenic reactivity representative of in situ conditions.
Column studies using undisturbed sediment cores will discern whether
physical (diffusion) or biogeochemical processes control arsenic trans-
port. Quantifying the controls of arsenic transport rate will provide the
necessary input parameters for modeling dissolved arsenic concentra-
tions along a flow path.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will reveal what controls the rate of arsenic transport in
soils and sediments. In a system with high water flow (both advection
and diffusion) velocities, the availability of reactive catabolic substrate
(either organic carbon or iron oxide) will govern the rate of arsenic
release into advecting pore-water. Alternatively, a slow diffusion rate
will limit the transfer of arsenic from micro-aggregates to pore-water,
even in instances where microorganisms have plenty of reactive organic
carbon and arsenic-bearing iron oxides at their disposal. The assays
developed here to quantify the reactivity of arsenic and susceptibility
of organic matter to oxidation coupled to arsenic(V)/iron(III) reduction
will provide accurate parameters for identifying areas of active (and
inactive) arsenic transfer from sediment to pore-water. Combined with
hydraulic and physical transport data, the parameterization will form
the experimental basis for a reactive transport modeling of arsenic in
soils and sediments. Field calibration will facilitate transfer of this model
parameterization method to aquifer systems worldwide.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Hundreds of millions of people rely on groundwater for drinking that is
or has the potential to be contaminated with arsenic. The experimental
approach developed here will allow scientists to accurately predict arsenic
transport rates and residence times, and provide policy makers with an
improved framework for making sound land and water management deci-
sions, especially regarding drinking water well construction in rural areas.
Bio:
Jason Stuckey received his Bachelor's degree in Soil Sci
ence with a minor in Philosophy from California Polytechnic
State University, San Luis Obispo, in 2005. He went on to
earn a Master's degree in Soil Chemistry at Pennsylvania
State University, where he tested a strategy for remediat
ing copper-contaminated soils in Chile. He began the Ph.D.
program in Environmental Earth System Science at Stan
ford University in 2008. His research interests include the
processes governing the fate and movement of trace ele
ments in soils and sediments. Currently, he is researching
the biogeochemical and physical controls of arsenic cycling
in deltaic systems.
Synopsis:
Through a combination of field and laboratory techniques,
this research seeks to quantify the factors controlling the
release of arsenic from sediment to groundwater, namely
the reactivity of organic carbon and iron oxides, as weli
as physical processes. The resulting parameterization will
serve as the experimental basis for modeling dissolved
arsenic concentrations in space and time, thereby informing
drinking water well construction in areas of arsenic risk.
Keywords: arsenic, groundwater, water quality, soil, sediment
49
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Water Quality
Hydrogeology and Surface Water
Coastal and Kstuarine Processes
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Water Quality Fellows
HYDROGEOLOGY AND SURFACE WATER
Arnold, Gwendolyn B.
Saving Wetlands from the Ground Up: Understanding the Needs of State
Decision-makers To Improve Rapid Wetland Assessment
Indiana University, Bloomington (IN) 53
Shapiro, Joseph S.
Assessing and Managing Surface Water Pollution. This Research
Investigates Effects of the Clean Water Act and Potential of Water
Quality Trading to Decrease Surface Water Pollution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA) 54
Turner, Caroline Breen
Ecology and Evolution of Bacterial Remediation of Water Pollution:
Changing Microbes in a Changing World
Michigan State University (MI) 55
Wong, Corinne I.
Investigating Surface Water Quality Impacts on Groundwater Quality
Under Varying Flow Conditions in the Barton Springs Segment of the
Edwards Aquifer, Central Texas
University of Texas, Austin (FX),,.. 56
COASTAL AND ESTUARINE PROCESSES
Aruda, Amalia Marie
The Impacts of Endocrine Disrupting Pollutants on Copepod-Vibrio
Interactions in Estuarine Environments
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Mi), 58
Carey, Joanna
Evaluating Anthropogenic Impacts Along the Land-Ocean Continuum
Using Silica
Boston University (MA),.,., 59
Hill, Troy Derek
Salt Marsh Drowning in Long Island Sound: Causes and
Biogeochemical Consequences
Yale University (CT) 60
Obenour, Daniel Redd
A Geostatistical Model of Hypoxia Formation in the Northern Gulf
of Mexico
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (MI) 61
Schutte, Charles A.
Mechanisms Driving Variability in Groundwater-derived Materials
Flux to Coastal Waters
University of Georgia (GA), 62
51
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Hydrogeology and Surface Water
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Gwendolyn B. Arnold
Jipiyfe*^ 2
rrs -*18
EPA Grant Number: FP917088
Institution: Indiana University, Bloomington (IN)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Hydrogeology
and Surface Water
E-mail: gbarnold@indiana.edu
BIO:
Gwendoyln (Gwen) Arnold graduated from the University of
Michigan in 2003 with highest honors in political science
and a minor in global environmental change. She spent
three years working at the nonprofit Environmental Law
Institute in Washington, D.C., editing a national wetlands
policy journal and a book on post-Hurricane Katrina wet
land restoration, as well as co-authoring a report on wetland
compensatory mitigation. In 2006, she began pursuing a
Ph.D. in Public Policy at Indiana University, studying po
litical theory and methods and environmental policy. She
spent the summers of 2008, 2009, and 2010 as a National
Network for Environmental Management Studies fellow at
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 3 office,
working on wetland functional assessment. Her research
interests include U.S. wetland policy and integrating sound
science into policymaking.
SYNOPSIS:
The fellow investigates why many tools for assessing wet
land functions and values exist, yet state wetland manag
ers use such tools infrequently. Only roughly four percent
of wetlands nationwide are assessed, leaving policymakers
without enough data to improve wetland quality. They will
survey and interview wetland managers in five states in the
Mid-Atlantic region to identify systematically factors that
encourage or prevent states from adopting and implement
ing scientifically sound wetland assessment tools.
Hydrogeology and Surface Water
Saving Wetlands from the Ground Up: Understanding the Needs of State
Decision-makers To Improve Rapid Wetland Assessment
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
What factors lead state environmental bureaucrats charged with wetland
regulation to adopt and successfully implement over time rapid wetland
assessment tools?
APPROACH
I will survey current and former state wetland regulators in Pennsylva-
nia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia concerning their
experiences with and perceptions concerning rapid wetland assessment
tools used in those states since 1980. Following this broad survey, I will
do in-depth interviews with a subset of respondents, as well as with state,
regional, and national wetland policy experts and scientists. I also will per-
form content analysis of the rapid wetland assessment tools to understand
how the structure and content of such tools affect their usefulness.
EXPECTED RESULTS
My findings and analysis will help scientists and policymakers learn
how to modify rapid wetland assessment tools so that state wetland
managers find them more tractable. My research will help states modify
their approaches to wetland monitoring and assessment so that they are
able to pursue long-term wetland evaluation. States then will be able to
gather over-time data that will help policymakers—who sorely lack data
on wetland condition—better protect and improve wetland water quality.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Only about 4 percent of the nation's wetlands are assessed, leaving
policymakers without the data necessary to quantify pollution in these
resources or protect them adequately. My research seeks to discover the
factors that encourage states to adopt and implement the rapid wetland
assessment tools critical to gathering such data. When policymakers un-
derstand these facilitative factors, they can foster them. Fostering these
factors should then lead to increased use of wetland assessment tools by
states, increased wetland data availability, and ultimately more scientifi-
cally grounded and comprehensive protection of U.S. wetlands.
Keywords: wetland assessment, environmental monitoring, environmental assessment, wetland policy, bureaucrats, state environmental policy, policy learning
53
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Joseph S. Shapiro
Hydrogeology and Surface Water
EPA Grant Number: FP917109
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Hydrogeology
and Surface Water
E-mail: shapiroj@rnit.edu
BIO:
Joseph Shapiro received a B.A. from Stanford University,
with distinction in Economics and interdisciplinary honors
in the Ethics in Society program. He has worked as a Ju
nior Professional Associate for the World Bank and received
Master's degrees from Oxford and the London School of
Economics as a Marshall Scholar. A Ph.D. student in the
Economics Department at MIT, his research focuses on
environmental and energy economics.
SYNOPSIS:
This research investigates several questions about water
pollution. First, what are long-term trends in U.S. water
quality? Second, what share of the trends is due to the
Clean Water Act? Third, to what extent do Americans value
clean surface waters? Finally, what is the potential of new
regulatory mechanisms to decrease both ambient water pol
lution and abatement costs?
Assessing and Managing Surface Water Pollution. This Research Investigates
Effects of the Clean Water Act and Potential of Water Quality Trading to Decrease
Surface Water Pollution
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research investigates several questions about water pollution. First,
what are the long-term trends in U.S. water quality? Second, what share
of the trends is due to the Clean Water Act? Third, to what extent do
Americans value clean surface waters? Finally, what is the potential of
new regulatory mechanisms to decrease both ambient water pollution
and abatement costs?
APPROACH
This analysis is compiling data on water quality, regulatory enforce-
ment, and federal funding instituted under the Clean Water Act. It intro-
duces new methods in environmental statistics to analyze how the Clean
Water Act affects water quality. The analysis exploits idiosyncrasies in
the location and timing of federal activities. The analysis also constructs
a simulation to measure how redesigning water pollution regulations
would affect water quality, abatement costs, and social welfare.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This analysis will provide evidence on how the Clean Water Act affected
surface water quality. It will also investigate how Americans value
clean surface waters and thereby clarify the benefits of the Clean Water
Act. Finally, it will investigate the potential benefits of new regulatory
mechanisms for water pollution emissions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Although the United States has invested tremendous levels of resources
to improve surface water quality, roughly 40 percent of surface waters
still violate standards for designated uses. This research will provide
new evidence on the extent to which the Clean Water Act has improved
water quality, on the potential benefits from improving water quality,
and on potential improvements in water quality that could result from
using new regulatory mechanisms.
Keywords: Clean Water Act, water quality, pollution regulations
54
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Caroline Breen Turner
Hydrogeology and Surface Water
EPA Grant Number: FP917112
Institution: Michigan State University (MI)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Hydrogeology
and Surface Water
E-mail:
Ecology and Evolution of Bacterial Remediation of Water Pollution: Changing
Microbes in a Changing World
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The goal of my research is to study how evolutionary and ecological
interactions affect the ability of bacteria to degrade novel compounds.
What selection pressures shape the rates at which bacteria are able to
consume new substances? How do ecological interactions such as com-
petition and predation affect the ability of bacteria to effectively remove
novel compounds from the environment?
APPROACH
This research will use as a model system a strain of Escherichia coli
bacteria that evolved the ability to consume citrate, a compound that E.
coli normally cannot metabolize aerobically. This trait evolved as part
of a long-term evolution experiment in the laboratory and is an ideal
system in which to study the evolution of a new metabolism because the
availability of frozen populations throughout the experiment will allow
measurement of changes in citrate metabolism over more than 10,000
generations of evolution. The second portion of the project will focus
on further evolution experiments with citrate consumers in the presence
and absence of competitors and phage (bacterial viruses) to determine
how these factors can shape the evolution of resource use.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Later generations of citrate-consummg E. coli are expected to evolve
increased rates of citrate consumption and to draw citrate concentrations
down to lower levels as compared to earlier generations of citrate con-
sumers It is also predicted that in the presence of competitors for other
carbon sources, the citrate consumers will evolve a greater degree of
specialization on citrate than in the absence of such competitors. Evolu-
tion in the presence of phage may decrease rates of citrate consumption
due to decreased population sizes and/or trade-offs between viral resis-
tance and citrate consumption rates.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Bioremediation by microbes is an important mechanism for the removal
of harmful and toxic compounds from surface and groundwater. How-
ever, we understand little about the basic evolutionary and ecological
factors that drive this process. A better understanding of these phenom-
ena will allow scientists to improve prediction of degradation rates of
pollutants and to better utilize the evolutionary potential of microbes for
bioremediation of novel contaminants.
BIO:
Caroline Turner graduated from Oberlin College in 2004
with a degree in Biology. After spending a year as a tutor
with AmeriCorps, she joined the Department of Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University, where she
conducted her Master's thesis research on the effects of
invasive zebra mussels on nitrogen and phosphorus cycling.
Caroline worked as a laboratory manager at the University of
Notre Dame for a year before starting a Ph.D. at Michigan
State University in 2009. She is currently studying how
ecology and evolution interact in shaping the use of novel
resources by bacteria.
SYNOPSIS:
Humans produce many pollutants that are rare or absent in
nature. Remarkably, bacteria have evolved that can degrade
many of these contaminants. However, we lack understand
ing of the evolutionary and ecological factors that drive this
process. This research will study bacteria that have evolved
to consume a new compound. By measuring rates of con
sumption as the bacteria evolve under various conditions,
this research will allow improved utilization of microbes for
bioremediation of pollutants.
Keywords: water pollution, bioremediation, experimental evolution, ecology, E. coli
55
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Corinne !. Wong
W
Hydrogeology and Surface Water
EPA Grant Number: FP917114
Institution: University of Texas, Austin (TX)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/25/2010 - 8/24/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Hydrogeology
and Surface Water
E-mail: corinnewong@mail.utexas.edu
Investigating Surface Water Quality Impacts on Groundwater Quality Under Varying
Flow Conditions in the Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer, Central Texas
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
It is critical to understand the processes that control groundwater quality,
especially in arid regions with a high dependence on groundwater that
are managing increasing rates of urban development and aridity associ-
ated with climate change. Karst terrains add complexity as solutional
features (i.e., caves and sink holes) allow rapid infiltration and subsur-
face transport of water through the system. This research investigates
the hydrological and geochemical dynamics affecting groundwater qual-
ity in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer (a karst aqui-
fer) in central Texas by investigating the question of how surface water
quality impacts groundwater quality under varying rainfall conditions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The expected results from this research include: 1) the quantification
of the proportion of surface water comprising spring discharge under
varying flow conditions; ii) the characterization of surface watersheds
under varying antecedent moisture conditions, and evaluation of how
these characterizations reflect the degree of watershed urbanization; iii)
identifying the controls on groundwater quality under varying anteced-
ent moisture conditions. Groundwater quality is likely more vulnerable
to surface water quality during dry antecedent moisture conditions when
aquifer levels are insufficient to effectively buffer (i.e., dilute) surface
water compositions.
APPROACH
Surface and groundwater quality will be monitored during base flow and
storm conditions for 18 months. Surface water quality will be charac-
terized and correlated to groundwater quality under varying rainfall
conditions to quantify: i) the proportion of surface water consisting
of groundwater discharge, and ii) impacts of surface water quality on
groundwater. Geochemical modeling will be conducted to identify the
controls on groundwater quality and understand how these controls vary
temporally and in response to climatic variation.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Demonstrating the impact of surface water quality on groundwater qual-
ity will be useful to water resource managers and law and policy makers
as they make decisions regarding the protection of surface water quality
in the contributing and recharge zones of the Barton Springs segment
of the Edwards aquifer. More specifically, this research will lend insight
about the consequences of discharging treated wastewater into surface
streams that recharge the Edwards aquifer.
BIO:
Corinne Wong received her undergraduate degree in Geo
logical Sciences and Environmental Studies from the Uni
versity of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. She then served as
a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa,
in the agro-forestry division. She received a Masters degree
from The University of Texas at Austin (UT), for which she
investigated the effectiveness of brush clearing at increas
ing recharge in central Texas. She has continued at UT,
working toward a Ph.D. Her research is focused on surface
water impacts on groundwater quality.
SYNOPSIS-
In karst systems, groundwater is especially vulnerable to
contamination via surface water. The nature of surface and
groundwater interaction is dependent on antecedent mois
ture conditions, and I work to understand the dynamics
of surface and groundwater mixing under varying rainfall
conditions in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards
aquifer in central Texas.
Keywords: groundwater, water quality, nutrients, water management, karst, aquifer, Texas, Edwards aquifer, surface water, Barton Springs
56
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Coastal and Estuarin
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Amalia Marie Aruda
Coastal and Estuarine Processes
EPA Grant Number: FP917089
Institution: Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Coastal and
Estuarine Processes
E-mail:
The Impacts of Endocrine Disrupting Pollutants on Copepod-Vibrio Interactions in
Estuarine Environments
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Estuaries are highly dynamic and productive ecosystems that often are
exposed to high levels of endocrine disrupting pollutants and other con-
taminants. Copepods are a major food source in estuarine ecosystems
and are beneficial hosts for the abundant bacteria Vibrionaceae, which
include human and animal pathogens. This project will investigate how
microbial associations affect copepod physiology, whether copepods
regulate these microbial associations, and subsequently how exposure to
endocrine disruptors may affect copepod- Vibrio interactions.
APPROACH
The first set of laboratory experiments will examine how an estuarine
copepod, ApocycJops spartinus, responds to colonization by different
classes of Vibrio sp. (e.g. facultatively symbiotic, commensal) by com-
paring copepod physiology and gene expression between treatments.
These copepod responses to Vibrio attachment will then be explored
in the context of stressors such as endocrine disrupting compounds
(EDCs). Copepods and Vibrio strains will be separately exposed to two
ecologically relevant EDCs (methoprene, Bisphenol A [BPA]) and their
growth and development will be monitored to determine the effects of
EDCs when the species are isolated from one another. Copepods colo-
nized by the different classes of Vibrio then will be exposed to EDCs
and copepod gene expression and physiology will be compared to those
treatments without exposure to EDCs. These treatments will assess how
EDCs may alter the copepod-Vibrio association.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Differential gene expression, potentially in immune response (e.g.,
production of antimicrobial peptides) and/or the endocrine system (e.g.,
shedding of associated microbes by molting) in copepods exposed to dif-
ferent "types" of Vibrio strains would suggest that A. spartinus can dis-
tinguish between beneficial and commensal associations with Vibrio and
is perhaps regulating its microbial associations. Copepod host responses
to microbial associations could be an important influence on Vibrio
ecology that has, to our knowledge, not yet been explored. Exposure to
endocrine disrupting pollutants (as are often present in contaminated
estuaries) may disturb copepod -Vibrio interactions. Our approach will
reveal if changes in host-microbe interactions are driven primarily by
EDC effects on individual members of the association and if the impacts
of EDCs are further compounded (either antagonistically or synergis-
tically) when the organisms interact. Differences in gene expression
patterns in copepods colonized by Vibrio sp. under normal conditions
versus EDC exposed conditions could further indicate that copepod
regulation of colonization by various Vibrio "types" may be context de-
pendent. Alteration of interactions between copepods and microbes due
to stresses may impact both Vibrio ecology and copepod populations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of this study will influence the understanding of how envi-
ronmental stressors such as widespread endocrine disrupting pollutants
(methoprene, BPA) can affect the copepod host response to Vibrio sp.
and alter the nature of copepod-F/A/vo interactions. The broader impacts
of this study will help model how degraded water quality in estuaries
due to endocrine disrupting pollutants can modulate copepod- Vibrio
interactions to affect the life history of copepods and the survival of
Vibrionaceae, which include human and animal pathogens. Through po-
tentially changing the dynamic of the copepod-F/A/vo interaction, EDCs
may expose copepods to novel stress through making copepod hosts less
able to regulate their normal balance with microbial flora.
BIO:
Amalia Aruda's research experience began on an oyster farm
and transitioned to the lab bench as she became active in
molecular biology at her alma mater Georgetown Univer
sity and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Amalia
received her B.S. in Biology and a minor in Environmental
Science from Georgetown in 2009. In the summer of 2009,
Amalia began the Ph.D. Joint Program in Biological Ocean
ography at MIT/WHOI. Her current research focuses on
whether estuarine copepods regulate their microbial com
munities and how stressors such as endocrine disrupting
pollutants may affect these copepod-microbial interactions.
SYNOPSIS:
Estuaries can be major sinks for terrestrial and waterborne
contaminants thereby exposing organisms such as copepods
to high levels of pollutants. Copepods are abundant crus
taceans that enhance survival of the bacteria Vibrionaceae,
which include human and animal pathogens. This project
examines how Vibrio attachment affects copepods, whether
copepods can control what microbes attach to them, and
how exposure to endocrine disrupting pollutants may alter
the copepod response to Vibrio attachment.
Keywords: Vibrio, Apocyclops spartinus, host response, gene expression, endocrine disruptors, bisphenol A, methoprene, microbial interactions, estuary
58
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Joanna Carey
Coastal and Estuarine Processes
EPA Grant Number: FP917238
Institution: Boston University (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Coastal and
Estuarine Processes
E-mail: joanna.carey@gmail.com
Evaluating Anthropogenic Impacts Along the Land-Ocean Continuum Using Silica
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Anthropogenic activities have greatly altered the global fluxes of nitro-
gen (N) and phosphorus (P) to coastal receiving waters. While N and P
have appropriately received much research attention, another important
nutrient, silica (Si), has largely gone unexamined and thus, Si cycling at
the land-sea interface remains poorly understood. The purpose of this
research is to examine how land use change alters the export of Si to
New England estuaries.
APPROACH
This funding will quantify and characterize the type (dissolved vs. par-
ticulate) of Si, as well as N and P, exported via rivers from several New
England watersheds with contrasting land use characteristics. In order
to directly link watershed characteristics and downstream ecosystem
response, concurrent phytoplankton composition and abundance mea-
surements will be made in the receiving estuary (Plum Island Sound,
MA). In addition, river sediment cores and historical land use data will
help establish how the relationship between land use and watershed Si
flux has changed in the recent past.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will determine how land use change alters the export of Si
via rivers, with attention to behavior of Si in relation to N and P and the
impacts of such nutrient ratios on phytoplankton species composition in
the receiving estuary The resulting relationships between land use, river
nutrient stoichiometry and phytoplankton species will provide new and
critical insights into silica cycling at the terrestrial-aquatic interface.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Excess Nitrogen and Phosphorus can lead to Si-starvation in coastal wa-
ters, causing a shift in phytoplankton species composition from diatom
to non-diatom species. The non-diatom species can be harmful algae
blooms, such as red tides, which can alter higher trophic levels and, in
some cases, are dangerous to human health. This research will provide
important information for the management of coastal ecosystems.
BIO:
Joanna Carey received her B.S. in Environmental Policy
and Planning from Viriginia Tech in 2005 and her M.S.
in Environmental Science from Yale University in 2007.
At Yale, she focused on salt marsh processes, specifically
decomposition rates in Long Island Sound marshes. After
finishing her Master's degree she worked for the Massachu
setts Department of Fish and Game performing river resto
ration monitoring and streamflow analysis. During the fall of
2009, Joanna started a Ph.D. program at Boston University
where she will study silica along the land-ocean continuum,
with a focus on river and wetland processes. Joanna hopes
her research will aid in improved applied restoration and
management techniques.
SYNOPSIS-
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in relation to silica can
lead to a silica starved system, stimulating a shift in phy
toplankton species composition from diatom to non-diatom
species and altering tropic interactions. This research will
quantify the impact of historic and current land use change
on silica export from the terrestrial to the aquatic ecosystem
and determine the relationship between current watershed
land use and estuarine phytoplankton species composition
and abundance.
Keywords: silica, entrophication, land use, non-point source pollution, phytoplankton, diatoms, watershed. New England, Plum Island Sound, nutrient ratios, nitrogen, phosphorus
59
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Troy Derek Hill
Coastal and Estuarine Processes
EPA Grant Number: FP917098
Institution: Yale University (CT)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Coastal and
Jistuarine Processes
E-mail: Troy.Hill@yale.edu
Salt Marsh Drowning in Long Island Sound: Causes and Biogeochemical Consequences
BIO:
Troy Hill graduated from Clark University in 2006 with a
B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy. He subsequently
studied salt marsh carbon dynamics at Yale University,
where he received a Master of Environmental Science
degree. After a year as a research assistant with the Ma
rine Biological Laboratory, Troy returned to Yale's Forestry
School to begin his doctoral work. His current research
blends restoration ecology, salt marsh biogeochemistry, and
ecosystem ecology.
SYNOPSIS:
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Healthy marshes accumulate pollutants in their sediments, including
heavy metals brought in with the tides or deposited atmospherically. In
Long Island Sound, some marshes are gradually converting to unveg-
etated mud flats, a poorly understood process that may compromise their
role as sediment and pollutant sinks. If drowning marshes erode and
begin exporting the metals stored in their sediment profiles, they could
be unrecognized and potentially important non-point sources of pollu-
tion, a circumstance with serious implications for environmental and
human health.
APPROACH
One explanatory mechanism for marsh drowning is sediment depriva-
tion; marshes may not be receiving adequate sediment loads. This study-
will investigate the sediment deprivation hypothesis by constructing
long- and short-term sediment budgets for drowning and healthy marsh-
es using a combination of dated sediment cores, sediment traps, and sed-
iment supply measurements. In addition to understanding causes, this
research evaluates the consequences of marsh loss by coupling volumet-
ric changes in marsh sediments with pollutant depth profiles to estimate
historic trends in metal storage over the last 35 years. Metal concentra-
tions in sediments and in tidal waters also will be measured to discern
the current direction and magnitude of metal flux between marshes and
the estuary By studying long- and short-term trends in metal fluxes and
accumulation, my research will detail the role of healthy marshes in pol-
lutant sequestration.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The project will focus on marshes in western Long Island Sound, an
area exposed to intensive anthropogenic stress and elevated ambient
metal levels. The accumulation of metals in salt marsh sediments in the
western basin has been understudied, despite the high local population
densities and the prevalence of marsh drowning in western Long Island
Sound. This research provides information about the causes and conse-
quences of marsh decline, information that is critical for salt marsh con-
servation efforts. This work also will use a novel approach to conduct
detailed metal inventories for marshes in Long Island Sound and ad-
vance our understanding of the capacity of healthy marshes to sequester
metals—a valuable contribution to the community of researchers inter-
ested in monitoring material fluxes and budgets in intertidal ecosystems.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will contribute important information to the manage-
ment and policy communities by establishing inventories of pollutants
stored in marsh sediments and by studying the potential for deteriorat-
ing marshes to become non-point sources of metal pollution. The public
health, conservation, and scientific communities all will benefit from a
finely-detailed assessment of the role healthy marshes play in retaining
metals, and the functional losses associated with marsh drowning. Un-
derstanding the fate of sediment-derived pollutants helps guide monitor-
ing and mitigation programs aimed at reducing public exposure to metal
pollution.
Salt marshes serve as long-term repositories of toxic trace
metals, a critical function in urbanized estuaries such as
Long Island Sound. Salt marsh drowning, and the potential
for drowning marshes to erode and export pollutants, merits
serious concern. In hopes of understanding marsh loss and
its implications for trace metal storage, this project com
bines sediment profile analyses with aerial photography and
high-resolution monitoring of pollutant fluxes in marshes
along the Connecticut coast.
Keywords: salt marsh, mass balance, trace metal, sediment budget. Long Island Sound
60
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Daniel Redd Obenour
W
Coastal and Estuarine Processes
EPA Grant Number: FP917105
Institution: University of Michigan. Ann Arbor (MI)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/10 - 8/31/13
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Coastal and
Jistuarine Processes
E-mail: obenour@umich.edu
A Geostatistical Model of Hypoxia Formation in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Hypoxia is an environmental problem common to many coastal wa-
ters, and that is particularly severe in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The
purpose of this project is to enhance our understanding of Gulf hypoxia
formation through the development of a geostatistical model capable of
integrating data from a variety of relevant sources. The model will be
used to estimate the extent and severity of hypoxia through time, and to
evaluate factors related to its formation.
APPROACH
This research will focus on development of a geostatistical model that
will incorporate dissolved oxygen measurements along with a wide ar-
ray of auxiliary information, such as bathymetry, remote sensing, hydro-
dynamics, wind stress, and river loading data. In general, the geostatisti-
cal model will take the form of an advanced system of kriging equations
that accounts for spatial correlations and relationships among the auxil-
iary information and dissolved oxygen. Another component of this work
will be development of a simple biophysical model, focused primarily
on the temporal dynamics of hypoxia, and which will be linked with the
geostatistical model to enhance its predictive capabilities.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will improve our understanding of hypoxia formation in
several ways. First, the geostatistical model will allow for estimation of
the hypoxic extent (with confidence intervals) at regular time intervals
throughout the year. Second, this research will determine which fac-
tors (and associated auxiliary data sources) are highly correlated with
hypoxia formation and which are not. The time scales on which these
factors influence hypoxia will also be evaluated, and the potential for the
model to predict future hypoxia will be explored. The model will also be
used to evaluate hypothetical scenarios, such as changes in the nutrient
load from the Mississippi River. Finally, although this project will focus
on hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the tools and methodologies
developed by this research should be applicable to the study of other
environmental phenomena as well.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of this research project will be useful in the management and
protection of the Gulf coast ecosystem and its associated fisheries. First,
the project will improve our knowledge of how the extent and intensity
of hypoxia vary throughout the year, so that aquatic scientists can make
better assessments of how hypoxia is limiting available habitat. Second,
the project will enhance our knowledge of the primary factors causing
hypoxia, potentially allowing for more effective pollution mitigation
strategies.
BIO:
Daniel Obenour received an undergraduate degree in Civil
Engineering from the University of Akron (2002), and a
Master's degree in Environmental and Water Resources
Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin (2004).
After completing his Master's degree, Dan worked as an en
vironmental consultant, specializing in the field of surface
water quality modeling. He is now enrolled at the University
of Michigan, where he is pursuing a Ph.D. studying hypoxia
formation in the Gulf of Mexico.
SYNOPSIS:
Many coastal ecosystems are subject to an environmental
condition known as hypoxia, which is defined by oxygen
levels too low for the support of aquatic life. A particularly
severe example of this problem is the hypoxic zone in the
northern Gulf of Mexico. This project will focus on the de
velopment of an innovative geostatistical model for assess
ing Gulf hypoxia. The model will be used to better under
stand the causes of hypoxia, and to estimate the size of the
hypoxic zone throughout time.
Keywords: water quality' modeling, hypoxia, geostafistics, kriging, eutrophi cation, Gulf of Mexico
61
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Charles A. Schutte
Coastal and Estuarine Processes
EPA Grant Number: FP917108
Institution: University of Georgia (GA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/16/2010 - 8/15/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Water Quality: Coastal and
Jistuarine Processes
E-mail: Gschutte@uga.edu
Mechanisms Driving Variability in Groundwater-derived Materials Flux to
Coastal Waters
BIO:
Charles Schutte graduated from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with B.S. degrees in En
vironmental Science and Biology. He spent the following
year studying riverine sediment transport processes in the
Department of Marine Sciences at UNC-CH. Charles began
the marine sciences Ph.D. program at the University of
Georgia in 2008. His research focuses on quantifying rates
and pathways of nitrogen cycling in shallow, coastal aqui
fers in order to better understand the role of groundwater in
coastal nitrogen budgets.
SYNOPSIS:
Groundwater may act as a critical source of nitrogen to
coastal environments where it can lead to decreased water
quality through eutrophication and hypoxia. Microorgan
isms living within coastal aquifers can efficiently alter the
amount and type of nitrogen-containing chemicals found
in groundwater. This project aims to better understand the
role of groundwater in coastal nitrogen budgets by quantify
ing how microorganisms respond to changes in their envi
ronment caused by tides and how this interaction affects
rates of nitrogen processing within aquifers.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Nitrogen loading is an important cause of water quality degradation
in coastal estuaries and bays, but the amount of nitrogen coming from
many sources is not well known. The goal of this project is to better
understand the role of groundwater discharge in the nitrogen budget of
coastal water bodies and the influence of within-aquifer processes on the
nitrogen content of that discharge. The overarching hypothesis for this
project is that the response of aquifer microbial nitrogen cycling to tidal
forcing acts as an important mechanism driving temporal variability in
groundwater-derived nitrogen flux to coastal waters.
APPROACH
This project consists of experiments carried out at multiple sites in coast-
al Georgia during spring and neap tides in order to determine the influ-
ence of tidal forcing on aquifer nitrogen cycling. Nitrogen transformation
rates will be calculated in situ by adding nitrogen to groundwater within
the aquifer and measuring how the concentration of nitrogen changes
through time. At the same time, sediment samples will be collected in
order to extract microbial mRNA and determine the abundance of active
nitrogen cycling genes as a proxy of aquifer microbial activity. Finally,
groundwater-derived nitrogen fluxes will be quantified at each time point
using radium as a conservative tracer of groundwater movement.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The data generated through this project will allow exploration of the
relationship between tidal forcing, aquifer microbial activity, nitro-
gen transformation rates, and groundwater-derived nitrogen flux. This
project will document the role of groundwater as a dynamic and im-
portant source of nitrogen to coastal water bodies. It will also generate
fundamentally new information about how hydrological (e.g., tides) and
biological (e.g., microbial nitrogen cycling) processes alter groundwater
composition and drive variability in groundwater-derived nitrogen fluxes
to coastal waters, and thus influence coastal water quality.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will provide a refined understanding of aquifer processes
and groundwater flux that will assist policy makers and resource man-
agers in assessing and managing coastal water quality and resources. It
will serve to better inform regulations regarding septic tanks and buffer
zones and design and implementation of water quality standards such as
total maximum daily loads. The mechanistic understanding of a criti-
cal pollutant source generated by this research will aid in the creation of
such policies by providing a framework for the prediction of the source
response to perturbations such as increased coastal development, sea
level rise, and climate change.
Keywords: nitrogen, coast, water quality, aquifer, groundwater, microbial processes, biogeochemistry
62
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Human Health
- Public Health Sciences
- Risk Assessment and Decision Making
-------
Human Health Fellows
PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES
I lawley, Brie Michelle
Investigating the Inflammatory Effects of Traditional Petrodiesel and Alternative
Biodiesel Exhaust Using an Improved In Vitro Exposure System
Colorado State University (CO) 66
Just, Allan Carpenter
Exposure to Phthalate Mixtures and Inner-City Pediatric Asthma
Columbia University (NT) .. 67
Semmens, Erin O'Brien
Effects of Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Cognitive Function, Dementia Risk,
and MR I Brain Findings in the Cardiovascular Health Study
University of Washington (WA).. 68
RISK ASSESSMENT AND DECISION MAKING
Bibby, Kyle James
Risk Assessment of Viral Pathogens in Land Applied Biosolids Using
454 Pyrosequencing
Yale University (CT). 70
Carnpanale, Joseph Paul
Windows of Vulnerability in Embryo Development: Loss of Multidrug Efflux
in Sea Urchin Pluripotent Cells
University of California, San Diego (CA)„,.,.„. 71
Chan, Mary Caroline
Building a Dynamic Model Linking Mercury Emission Regulations to
Risk to Susceptible Populations
University of Louisville (KY) 72
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen
Distribution of Airborne Industrial Toxic Pollution in the United States:
Dynamic Spatial Analysis of Environmental Inequality
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (KM).. .., ... . .73
Cordner, Alissa Annie
The Social Implications of Flame Retardant Chemicals: A Case Study in
Risk and Flazard Perception
Brown University, (RI) 74
McKinney, Jonathan
Quantifying Historical Human Exposure to Indoor Air Pollutants Through
Building Material Forensics Combined with Inverse Diffusion Modeling
Missouri University of Science and Technology (MO) 75
Murphy, Shannon Renee
Serotonin Expression in the Airway Epithelium of Postnatal Rhesus Monkeys:
Effect of Ozone or House Dust Mite Antigen (HDMA) Exposure
University of California, Davis (CA) 76
Saili, Katerine Schletz
Developmental Neurobehavioral Toxicity of Bisphenol A: Defining the
Role of ERRgamma
Oregon State University (OR) 77
64
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Public Health Sciences
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Brie Michelle Hawley
Public Health Sciences
EPA Grant Number: FP917247
Institution: Colorado State University (CO)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 8/24/2010 - 8/23/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Public Health
Sciences
E-mail: Brie.Hawley(S?gmail.com
Investigating the Inflammatory Effects of Traditional Petrodiesel and Alternative
Biodiesel Exhaust Using an Improved In Vitro Exposure System
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Humans have been rapidly altering the air around us ever since the discovery
of fire. Today, there is widespread combustion of fossil fuels to meet our trans-
portation, energy, and industrial needs. In a country that relies heavily upon the
combustion of diesel fuel for construction, agricultural, and transportation needs,
exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) is widespread. DE is a large contributor to soot
and fine particles in the air and inhalational exposures have been implicated in
increasing one's risk for chronic lung inflammation and fibrosis, allergic immune
responses in the lungs, asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular events. However,
much of this understanding stems from population, animal, or limited in vitro
studies. There exists a need for an improved understanding of what occurs at
the cellular level following diesel exposure. Further, the nature of diesel exhaust
is changing as environmental and public health concerns dictate stricter EPA
regulation of emissions from diesel engines. Environmental and energy concerns
have called for the use of alternative fuels like biodiesel, which also changes the
physical and chemical nature of diesel exhaust. Given the changing dynamics of
the particulate matter (PM) found in DE, there exists a need to more fully under-
stand the human health implications of switching to more efficient and "cleaner"
(Tier 4) diesel engines, and engines that run on alternative fuels like soy-based or
algae-based diesel. This project seeks to utilize an improved lung cell culture and
exposure system to (1) compare the health effects of diesel exhaust from a Tier 4
engine vs. a Tier 2 engine and (2) compare the health effects of DE from engines
run on traditional petrodiesel vs. alternative biodiesel fuels.
APPROACH
An improved aerosol in vitro exposure system will be used to compare the inflam-
matory effects of exhaust from an off road diesel engine meeting Tier 2 emissions
guidelines and a diesel engine meeting Tier 4 emissions guidelines. The inflam-
matory effects will be assessed by measuring the mRNA transcript profiles for
interleukin-8, heme oxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, heat-shock protein 70, and the
release of lactate dehydrogenase from cultured normal human bronchial epithelial
cells at 1 and 24 hours post-exposure.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will investigate if emissions from engines meeting the EPA Tier 4
guidelines are truly less damaging to the human lung cell than their predeces-
sors (a Tier 2 engine) by investigating changes in the expression of selected genes
associated with inflammation, and oxidative stress. Cell death by necrosis and
apoptosis will also be assessed. The same cellular endpoints will be utilized to
assess differences in the health impacts from exposures to traditional petrodiesel
exhaust vs. exhaust from soy-based and algae-based diesel fuel. Three hypoth-
eses regarding the inflammatory potential of diesel exhaust will be tested: (1) An
increase in diesel exhaust particle number (and not necessarily mass) increases
cellular inflammation, oxidative stress, and necrosis; (2) The redox potential of the
diesel particulate matter produced is associated with cellular stress and inflam-
matory response; and (3) Biodiesel emissions contain less sulfur, NOx, and PAHS
than petrodiesel emissions, and therefore there is less of a marked response in cells
exposed to biodiesel emissions than in cells exposed to petrodiesel emissions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
As emissions standards become stricter, attempts to understand the health im-
pacts of DE are complicated by the changing nature of DE. The EPA has sought
to improve air quality and public welfare by reducing the allowable mass of PM
produced by diesel engines. However, the question remains as to whether reducing
the mass output from diesel engines will lessen the burden upon human health.
It is not clearly understood if mass is a good determinant in the dose-response to
diesel exhaust exposure, as it may not be the mass of diesel particles, but rather the
number concentration, or surface area, or composition of the particles that pro-
duces toxicological effects. Previous studies have shown that particle surface area
is a better dose metric than particle mass or number. By reducing the allowable
mass of PM output from diesel engines, the particle mode may be shifted to the
ultrafine and nano range (dp < 0.1 |im) of particle sizes. This shift would greatly
increase the particle surface area to mass ratio. Further, the small size of nanopar-
ticles has also been speculated to increase their uptake into cells. This investiga-
tion seeks to identify the physical characteristics of the PM in DE that make DE
most inflammatory to human lung cells. The results from this investigation may
be used to rethink DE PM standards (perhaps shifting from a standard based on
PM mass to one based on PM size and surface area) such that the PM standards
more fully protect human health. The same research methodology will be used
to investigate the human health implications of using bio-based diesel fuel versus
traditional petrodiesel fuel. The global dependence upon the combustion of fossil
fuels to meet energy demands has created a need to look to alternative fuels as the
petroleum supply remains fixed while global energy demands increase. From an
environmental and public health perspective, bio-based diesel fuel has an appeal as
it is naturally lower in sulfur, NOx, and PAHs emissions.
r i
m
BIO:
Brie Hawley received her B.S. in Animal Science with minors in Bio
chemistry and English from the University of Delaware in 2007. She
entered the graduate program in Environmental and Radiological Health
Sciences at Colorado State University (CSU) the same year. At Colo
rado State University, she pursued studies in occupational and envi
ronmental health. She is particularly interested in lung toxicology. The
perpetual moment-to-moment need to breathe means that the lungs
are perpetually exposed to environmental gases and particulate matter,
making them particularly vulnerable to environmental pollution. Her
research pursuits revolve around elucidating the mechanisms by which
air pollutants from combustion sources cause disease in the lungs.
An interest in lung toxicology and global health was honed during her
Master's project, in which she investigated the inflammatory effects of
emissions from a traditional cook stove and two improved cook stoves
in global distribution. The project was part of a larger clean cook stove
research and development program with CSU's Engines and Energy
Laboratory and the non-profit group, Envirofit International. She plans
to continue collaborations with CSU's Engines and Energy Conversion
Laboratory during her doctoral research, in which she will investigate
the inflammatory effects of diesel exhaust (DE). This research is fueled
by the hope that a greater understanding of the means by which air
pollutants cause disease will help to identify what it is in the mixture
of the air around us that is most toxic, allowing for targeted and more
informed regulation and control.
SYNOPSIS:
In a country that relies heavily on diesel fuel combustion, exposure to
DE is widespread. DE is a large contributor to soot and fine particles in
the air and inhalational exposure is associated with cardiopulmonary
compromise. Tighter emissions regulations and increased biodiesel use
are changing the physicochemical nature of DE. This project will com
pare the health effects of DE from an engine run with Tier 4 vs. Tier 2
control technologies and petro vs. biodiesel fuels.
Keywords: air pollution effects, air, in vitro toxicology, diesel exhaust, petrodiesel, biodiesel, particulate matter, inflammatory biomarkers
66
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Allan Carpenter Just
Public Health Sciences
f
EPA Grant Number: FP917120
Institution: Columbia University (NY)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Public Health
Sciences
E-mail:
Exposure to Phthalate Mixtures and Inner-City Pediatric Asthma
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Phthalates are used as additives in plastic with widespread exposure and
potential associations with allergy and asthma in children. Although
the general population is continually exposed to a complex mixture of
toxicants, epidemiologic studies quantifying the risks posed by these
chemicals are often focused on one chemical at a time. This research
project seeks to identify whether mixtures of phthalates contribute to the
development of asthma or allergy or effect lung function and inflamma-
tion in school aged children.
APPROACH
The research will focus on an analysis of data from 400 inner-city chil-
dren collected as part of an ongoing prospective birth cohort. Exposure
measures will utilize repeated measures of phthalate urinary metabolites
starting in the prenatal period and at an early school age as well as an
indoor air sample collection coordinated at the same early school age.
Measures of allergy and asthma will include a physician's evaluation,
concentration of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in blood samples, and
measures of pediatric lung function and inflammation. Epidemiologic
modeling approaches will be expanded to consider multiple correlated
phthalate exposures by utilizing hierarchical Bayesian regression to
stabilize variance estimates.
EXPECTED RESULTS
With prospectively collected data on exposure to phthalates, we believe
this research will be able to more carefully examine the potential of
early life exposure to phthalates to contribute to the already high burden
of allergy and asthma in an inner city cohort than has been previously
possible. Because of the strength of the outcome measures, this research
also may be able to point to components of pediatric asthma and allergy
affected by these common exposures for additional study. The applica-
tion of hierarchical modeling may lead to better methods for character-
izing effects of multiple exposures in epidemiologic studies that improve
upon previous conventions of considering each exposure separately
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research may help elucidate how common exposures to a set of
environmental pollutants, the phthalates, contribute to rising burdens
of pediatric allergy and asthma. In addition, methodologies explored in
these analyses may be broadly applicable to other epidemiologic models
where exposures to many correlated environmental pollutants exist.
BIO:
Allan Just received his undergraduate degree in Environ
mental Science from Brown University in 2005. For the
following two years, he worked in exposure science as a
research assistant at the Silent Spring Institute. In 2007,
he entered Columbia University's Ph.D. program in Environ
mental Health Science working with the Columbia Center
for Children's Environmental Health. His current research
examines the links between exposure to endocrine-disrupt
ing compounds and inner-city asthma in children.
SYNOPSIS:
Phthalates are common additives in plastics with nearly
ubiquitous exposure to many different phthalates among
the general population, including pregnant women and chil
dren. This epidemiologic research will apply novel statisti
cal methods to measure the association between simultane
ous exposure to mixtures of phthalates in early life with the
development of asthma and allergy in a cohort of inner-city
school aged children followed since pregnancy.
Keywords: asthma, children's environmental health, phthalates, DEHP, endocrine disrupting compounds, Bayesian analysis, hierarchical model
67
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Erin O'Brien Semmens
Public Health Sciences
EPA Grant Number: FP917124
Institution: University of Washington (WA)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Public Health
Sciences
E-mail: eob2@U.washington.edu
Effects of Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Cognitive Function, Dementia Risk, and
MRI Brain Findings in the Cardiovascular Health Study
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Long-term exposure to air pollution, particularly traffic-related air pollu-
tion, is associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality; how-
ever, less is known about the impact of these exposures on neurodegenera-
tive disorders. Evidence indicates that systemic inflammation, a response
to which the brain is particularly vulnerable, may mediate CV effects,
suggesting that neurodegenerative disorders may also be subject to this
environmental injury. The proposed research wall investigate associations
between air pollution exposure and cognitive decline, risk of dementia,
and MR I-detected brain abnormalities in the Cardiovascular Health Study
(CHS), a large, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-funded longitu-
dinal study of coronary heart disease and stroke in older adults.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will characterize more broadly the health effects of air
pollution exposure. Although consistent links between air pollution and
cardiovascular disease have been observed, the potential contribution of
air pollution exposure to neurodegeneration is a novel research direction.
This research is one of the first large studies with extensive information
on potentially confounding factors, such as socioeconomic status, to
investigate the effects of air pollution on cognitive performance, risk of
dementia, and subclinical brain abnormalities, which carry elevated risk
of cognitive decline and stroke. This project has the opportunity to bring
together new collaborations of data sources and expertise for a complex
and resource-efficient study.
APPROACH
This study will include men and women aged 65 years and older, living
in four communities in the United States, who were recruited into the
CHS between 1989 and 1993 and who participated in annual clinical
exams through 1999. Air pollution exposure will be estimated by cal-
culating proximity of residences to major roadways using a geographic
information system. In addition, the study will utilize already-collected
monthly individual estimates of exposure to NO,, CO, O., SO ,, and
PM10. Outcomes will include cognitive performance, prevalent and
incident dementia (both AD and vascular dementia), presence of MRI-
detected brain abnormalities including brain infarcts and white matter
disease, and changes in these measures over time. This project takes ad-
vantage of the unique population-based phenotypic resource of repeated
brain MRIs and cognitive assessments in CHS to examine the effects of
air pollution on the brain.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This project will provide novel and important information on the relation-
ship between air pollution and the brain. Findings will provide a broader
understanding of the health risks associated with air pollution exposure to
guide policy decisions and future efforts to improve public health.
BIO:
Erin Semmeris received an A.B. in Biology and Political Sci
ence from Duke University in 2002. After a year of service
in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, she worked as a research
specialist in the Center for Structural and Functional Neu
roscience at the University of Montana. Erin entered the
Environmental Health program at the University of Washing
ton in 2005 and earned her M.P.H. in 2007. Her doctoral
research focuses on traffic-related air pollution exposure
impacts on the brain in older adults.
SYNOPSIS:
Links between air pollution and cardiovascular disease
(CVD) have been the focus of intense research. Although
CVD and Alzheimer's disease (AD) share similar risk fac
tors, and environmental exposures likely play a role in AD,
potential links between air pollution and AD remain largely
unexplored. This project evaluates the relationship between
traffic-related air pollution exposure and cognitive decline,
dementia, and MRI-detected brain abnormalities in a large
population of older adults.
Keywords: air pollution, traffic, neurodegeneration, cognition, Cardiovascular Hecdth Study
68
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Risk Assessment and Decision Making
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Kyle James Bibby
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917115
Institution: Yale University (CT)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: kyle.bibby@yale.edu
Risk Assessment of Viral Pathogens in Land Applied Biosolids Using 454
Pyrosequencing
BIO:
Kyle Bibby received his undergraduate degree in Civil
Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2008
and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Engi
neering from Yale University. Motivated to study pertinent
environmental issues by his great love of the outdoors,
in college he investigated nutrient removal in wastewater
treatment. His current research focuses on using DNA
sequencing technology to study viral pathogens in stabi
lized sewage sludge.
SYNOPSIS:
Biosolids are stabilized sewage sludges that are applied
to agricultural lands to take advantage of their high nutri
ent content. Due to their source, biosolids have the po
tential to contain pathogens, and the risks posed to the
public by their land application are poorly understood.
This research will sequence the viral DNA in a biosolids
sample, for the first time identifying the full diversity of
viruses present in biosolids, and apply this measure to
existing risk assessments.
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
To gain a better understanding of the viral content and diversity in
biosolids, I propose the following three objectives: Objective 1. Perform
massively parallel next-generation sequencing on viral DNA and cDNA
from the influent and effluent of a mesophilic anaerobic digester. Objec-
tive 2. Develop approaches to increase the certainty of virus identifica-
tion from sequence information. Objective 3. Use sequencing data to
develop pathogen concentrations in biosolids and produce an aerosol risk
analysis for individual and total virus content.
APPROACH
This research will utilize next-generation DNA sequencing to describe
the viral metagenome of biosolids from a mesophilic anaerobic digester.
Virus-sized particles will be isolated from the biosolids, nucleic acids
extracted and sequenced. These sequences will be identified, and the up-
dated viral concentrations applied to existing risk assessments. This work
will develop the tools necessary to properly produce and classify these se-
quences as well as to apply this sequence information to risk assessments.
EXPECTED RESULTS
There are two primary expected results from this research. The first is the
development of next-generation DNA sequencing-enabled tools and meth-
odologies for risk assessment. The study of biosolids provides an excellent
platform for the development of improved, next-generation sequencing-
enabled risk assessment methods. In order for these methods to be prop-
erly applied, bioinformatics methods must be further developed to ensure
the identity of pathogenic sequences. The completion of an in silico study
will resolve remaining questions about the importance of BLAST search
algorithm, selection of database, and read length. The development of the
idea of "gene certainty" will be an important advancement in assuring
the identity of sequences as pathogens. The second expected result of this
research is an updated viral risk assessment of biosolids land application.
A primary barrier to risk-based regulation of pathogens in biosolids has
been the lack of reliable pathogen concentrations. Through the incorpora-
tion of infectious virus concentrations and qPCR measurements, virome
data may be made quantitative. By including all highly enriched viruses
in the sample and updating existing exposure and risk assessments, the
risk estimates generated will be the most comprehensive to date. Using
multiple aerosol transport models for risk assessment will facilitate a con-
sensus view on the risk posed by biosolids land application. These results
will promote the movement towards risk-based regulation of biosolids
land application practices. Ensuring public safety during land application
will encourage sustainable reuse of nutrient rich biosolids and the further
development of renewable energy anaerobic digestion technologies. These
methods may then be applied in the future to a myriad of quantitative
microbial risk assessment cases.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This work will serve to encourage the sustainable practice of biosolids
land application wh ile ensuring the protection of public health. In addition,
the use of next-generation DNA sequencing-enabled risk assessment tools
will facilitate the move from indicator organism-based risk assessments to
risk assessments based on the complete diversity of pathogens present.
Keywords: biosolids, sewage sludge, anaerobic digestion, compost, DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, pathogen, risk assessment
70
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Joseph Paul Campanale
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917116
Institution: University of California, San Diego (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: jpcampan@ucsd.edu
Windows of Vulnerability in Embryo Development: Loss of Multidrug Efflux in Sea
Urchin Pluripotent Cells
BIO:
Joseph Campanale received a Bachelor's degrees in Biology
and Microbiology from California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) State
University, San Luis Obispo. After graduating, he worked
for 2 years as a microbiologist at Den Mat Corp., formulat
mg commercial and clinical oral care products. In 2009, he
completed his Master's degree in Developmental Biology at
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. There, he measured the affects of
ultraviolet radiation on the developmental physiology of sea
urchin embryos. Currently he is a doctoral student at Scripps
Institution of Oceanography and his present research inter
ests focus on the interactions between environmental stress
and development, including chemical defense.
SYNOPSIS:
Embryonic cells have evolved mechanisms for protection
against chemicals, including membrane transporters that
efflux toxins. Anthropogenic compounds in the environment
present new challenges for defenses and can adversely
influence the health of adults or subsequent generations.
Descriptions of chemical defenses in embryonic cells of the
sea urchin can provide information about the role of efflux
transporters in chemical protection and inform predictions
of stage-specific risks to health.
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The large number of chemicals in the environment could represent a sig-
nificant emerging risk to the health of most embryos. Recent research by
the Environmental Working Group indicate 287 environmental chemi-
cals, including pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, DDT and dioxins
could be detected in human umbilical cord blood (http://ewg.org/). These
results show that human embryos are exposed to many chemicals in
utero, as are embryos of most other species that develop in direct con-
tact with the external environment. However, little is known about how
embryos eliminate and/or detoxify chemicals or about specific windows
of chemical vulnerability during development. Although embryos have
potent defenses against environmental stress, many chemicals can act
in stage, species and cell-type specific ways to induce teratology. The
overall goal of this research project is to characterize the developmental
changes in activity of these cellular defenses and their consequences for
the vulnerability of multi-potent cells in embryos.
APPROACH
Preliminary results indicate that multi-potent stem cells, the small mi-
cromeres, in the early sea urchin embryo experience a dramatic decrease
in a key chemical defense, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux transport,
during development. To understand the causes and consequences for the
loss of protective efflux activity from critical cell types, embryos from
the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, will be exposed to
fluorescent substrates of these transporters and then imaged by confocal
microscopy. In order to understand the regulation of defensive strate-
gies, this research will quantitatively describe the amount and types of
efflux transporter activity for a variety of cell types and the developmen-
tal timeline for these events. Second, assessments of whether the loss
of ABC-transporter activity sensitizes the small micromeres to known
environmental contaminants will indicate the relative vulnerability
of these cells to environmental chemicals. Finally, this research will
examine whether loss of ABC-transporter activity is part of a conserved
developmental signaling pathway that drives cellular migration by sensi-
tizing different cells to different developmental chemicals in the embryo.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Qualitative and quantitative estimates of ABC-efflux in critical cell types,
including multi-potent stem cells, in embryos will provide i mportant in-
formation regarding the relative sensitivity of these cells to environmental
chemicals. The results of exposure experiments will accurately describe
the ti ming and magnitude of any reduction in ABC-transporter activity for
cells destined to become different tissue types. Experiments using ABC-
transporter inhibitors will provide a correlation of reduced ABC-efflux
and the vulnerability of criti cal cells to toxicants. Critical evaluations of
the loss of cellular defenses, including in chemical efflux, will uncover
information about windows of susceptibility for specific cells during em-
bryogenesis and may provide links between defense against the environ-
ment and the developmental program in embryos.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Describing losses in the key chemical defenses provided by ABC-trans-
porter mediated efflux of chemicals from cells in sea urchm embryos
will provide information about the role of efflux transporters in protec-
tion in general and insights into developmental processes that underlie
windows of chemical sensitivity in early embryos. This basic informa-
tion would inform predictions of stage-specific risks to health and also
expand our understanding of cellular regulation of key chemical defens-
es during the execution of the developmental program.
Keywords: sea urchin embryo, ABC-efflux, Strongylocentrotuspurpuratus, small micromeres, chemical defense, stem cells, multi-potent, confocal microscopy, pollution, toxicants, environ-
mental chemicals
71
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Mary Caroline Chan
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917117
Institution: University of Louisville (KY)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: caroline.chan@louisville.edu
Building a Dynamic Model Linking Mercury Emission Regulations to Risk to
Susceptible Populations
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
To predict the results of regulatory decisions requires a broad range of
knowledge that incorporates the interactions of physical, chemical, and
biological systems with human exposures. When many systems interact,
complex problems result and proposed solutions often lead to unex-
pected results. Dynamic models can be used to address such complex
problems by breaking down the systems into their component parts
and evaluating the relationships between these parts. This project will
explore the reduction in human risk that can be achieved by simulating
the environmental and human health impacts from various regulatory
decision scenarios at the local level that link mercury emissions to hu-
man exposure from the consumption of contaminated fish.
APPROACH
A systems thinking approach will be used to model mercury dynamics
downwind from emission sources. A dynamic model will be developed
in three stages: human disposition, bioaccumulation through the food
web, and environmental compartments. The human disposition sec-
tor will predict common biomarkers of methylmercury exposure from
fish consumption for select populations. Calibration and validation will
be from literature sources. Subsequently, biomagnification of mercury
through the food web will forecast predatory fish tissue concentrations at
chosen sites by calibrating and validating with site-specific data collect-
ed for regulatory purposes. Finally, the characterization of mercury from
emission source, to deposition and movement through terrestrial and
aquatic compartments will be simulated for these sites. The sub-models
will be connected, linking local emissions to human exposure. Upon
completion, the model can be used to determine if proposed regulatory
scenarios are adequate in bringing fish tissue mercury levels into com-
pliance with water quality standards, and more importantly, in reducing
risk to susceptible populations.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The fully developed model will be used to evaluate various policy
choices that may result in reduction in risk to specified populations. The
distribution of maternal and fetal blood mercury levels will be compared
to the level that the US Environmental Protection Agency has deter-
mined to be protective of health. Regulators can decide if a proposed
regulation is satisfactory by assessing the magnitude of decrease in the
population at risk. Of particular importance is the time frame to reach
the desired reduction in risk. Because certain environmental compart-
ments act as sinks for mercury, particularly soil and sediment, a biphasic
decline may occur after emission reduction policies are implemented as
the mercury stored in soil and sediments may continue to release stored
mercury before reaching steady state with the new loading scenario.
A longer time to reach desired levels may suggest the need for larger
reductions in emissions in order to reach reduction goals in a reasonable
amount of time.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Efforts to regulate mercury emissions by the U.S. government have been
unsuccessful as a consensus on legislation to address this problem has
not been found. The stalemate at the federal level has led some states to
consider implementing their own regulations to reduce mercury emis-
sions. To do so, states must demonstrate that local reductions in emis-
sions would result in reduced levels of mercury in local waterways with
a subsequent reduction in risk to susceptible populations. The finished
model will be a tool for states to project the impact of local regulations
on local populations.
BIO:
In her undergraduate work, Caroline Chan focused on
aquatic ecology, receiving a B.S. in Biology from the Univer
sity of Notre Dame in 1984. With an interest in understand
ing how science informs policy, she earned an M.P.H. in
2007 from the University of Louisville. Subsequently, she
entered the Ph.D. program in Public Health, Environmen
tal Health Sciences. Her research goal is to create tools for
decision makers to gain insight into the impact of potential
regulations on complex environmental systems.
SYNOPSIS:
Low levels of mercury exposure through fish consumption
can cause nervous system deficits in the developing fetus.
A major source of contamination of fish comes from emis
sions into the atmosphere, with subsequent deposition and
transport of mercury into waterways. As a tool for decision
makers to gain insight into this system, a model will be de
veloped that tracks mercury from emission sources through
environmental compartments and the food web to the expo
sure of susceptible populations.
Keywords: mercury exposure, fish consumption, susceptible populations, policy assessment
72
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Grace Hwai-Yen Chan
H
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917118
Institution: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: ghchang@econs.umass.edu
Distribution of Airborne Industrial Toxic Pollution in the United States: Dynamic
Spatial Analysis of Environmental Inequality
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project investigates the social, temporal, and geographic structure
of exposure to industrial toxic air releases in the United States, focus-
ing on the potential health risks affecting low-income communities and
people of color. It examines how the relationship between population
characteristics (income and race/ethnicity) and pollution exposure var-
ies across time, geographic region, and industrial sector. The study will
provide an empirical test of the effects of social, political, and economic
features of a region—income inequality, voter participation, and residen-
tial segregation—on the relationship between income/race/ethnicity and
toxic exposure, and similarly for industrial sector characteristics such as
energy intensity and firm concentration.
APPROACH
The project will apply descriptive and multivariate methods, using so-
cioeconomic data on neighborhoods from the 1990 and 2000 Censuses
of Population and Housing and a unique, new dataset from the Risk-
Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) project of the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency that provides highly detailed geographic data
on exposure to industrial toxic air releases. These data cover the entire
United States and are available annually from 1988 through 2006. The
correlations between demographics and exposure will be mapped before
investigating how these vary across time, region, and industrial sector.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Environmental justice researchers have offered many explanations for
why pollution burdens may fall disproportionately on low-income and
minority communities, an important subset of which focuses on imbal-
ances in resources, representation, and political clout. Housing discrimi-
nation is an additional barrier that racial and ethnic minorities may face;
even when they might have incomes comparable to whites who have
the financial means to move into environmentally cleaner neighbor-
hoods, they may be constrained by housing discrimination, thus forcing
them to remain in their currently polluted neighborhoods. It is expected
that regions with high degrees of economic and political inequality
have steeper gradients between socioeconomic attributes and pollution
exposure (positive for race/ethnicity and negative for income). Further,
regions with high degrees of racial/ethnic segregation would be expected
to have steeper gradients between race/ethnicity and exposure to pollu-
tion. With respect to industrial sector characteristics, it is possible that
high-visibility industries like electric power may face greater pressure to
locate facilities away from politically influential constituencies. Con-
versely, firms in industries with high concentration ratios may be more
sensitive to potential damage to their image from environmental inequi-
ties because they may attract more public scrutiny. The net effects will
be determined empirically, but it is expected that industries with high
degrees of energy intensity have steeper gradients between socioeco-
nomic attributes and pollution exposure (positive for race/ethnicity and
negative for income), while industries with higher concentration ratios
have shallower gradients.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The project will make a contribution to scientific knowledge and social
progress in several important ways. First, the research will help improve
our understanding of the dynamics of neighborhood environmental
inequality, with broader impacts in the fields of environmental justice,
community health, and public policy. Second, the findings will be of
direct relevance to shareholders and other stakeholders in corporate
environmental performance. Third, in addition to seeking publication in
scholarly journals, the results will be disseminated in the form of public
presentations and popular publications that should be of interest to schol-
ars and activists alike.
BIO:
A graduate of Amherst College, Grace Charig received her
Ph.D. in French literature from Yale in 1999. She taught
francophone literature and cinema at San Diego State and
the University of New Hampshire before joining the Ph.D.
program in economics at the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst in 2006. Her research focuses broadly on the po
litical economy of environmental problems, with particular
interests in environmental justice, industrial air toxics, and
climate change.
SYNOPSIS:
Exposure to industrial toxic air pollution poses serious
health risks n the United States. Environmental justice re
search has shown that low-income communities of color ex
perience a greater share of the total human health risk from
exposure, compared to their population share. This project
is a statistical investigation of the relationship between the
income and race/ethnicity of residents and their exposure to
toxic air pollution, examining how it varies across geograph
ic regions and industrial sectors.
Keywords: environmental justice, environmental inequality, industrial air toxics, corporate environmental performance, RSEI, race, income
73
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Alissa Annie Cordner
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917119
Institution: Brown University, (RI)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: Alissa_Cordnef@brown.edu
The Social Implications of Name Retardant Chemicals: A Case Study in Risk and
Hazard Perception
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project investigates the social implications of flame retardant
chemicals that are used in consumer products and may harm human
health and the environment. Some flame retardants have been widely re-
searched, and have become important in advocacy and policy circles as
an example of the ubiquity and dangers of chemicals used in consumer
products. This makes them an ideal case study for how different actors
characterize the dangers of ubiquitous chemicals, and how they inter-
pret the risks and hazards of routine chemical exposure. This project
identifies how these chemicals are studied and regulated, how they have
entered into public discussion and activist campaigns, and how stake-
holders respond to the risks and hazards of chemicals.
APPROACH
This research includes a literature review, content analysis, and in-
depth interviews. I will conduct a detailed literature review tracking
the growth of scholarship and awareness of flame retardant chemicals.
I will also examine published and publicly available documents related
to flame retardants for how the chemical dangers are described in terms
of risks and hazards. The main portion of the project consists of ap-
proximately 60 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with individuals
whose work impacts the public's relationship to and understanding of
chemicals. I will interview scientists, policy makers, activists, industry
representatives, participants in biomonitoring studies, and fire fighters
and other occupationally-exposed individuals.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This study is expected to fill an important gap in the literature by focus-
ing on how individuals characterize exposure in terms of risk and hazard,
and how this understanding can lead to concrete changes in their personal
and professional lives. I expect that people differ greatly in how they think
about chemical exposures, and this project will document how different
stakeholders translate assessed, technological risk into perceived social
risk. I also expect that people transform these different perceptions of risk
into concrete personal and professional actions. Finally, I anticipate that
flame retardants can serve as a case study for how people respond to other
emerging contaminants and environmental health threats through scientif-
ic, regulatory, and industrial action. Policy decisions on issues like chemi-
cal exposure are socially driven, and so studies of the social implications
of environmental problems are necessary for a complete understanding of
environmental problems and solutions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The ubiquity of chemicals in our environment is an area of growing
public and regulatory concern, and yet there is pervasive uncertainty
about the risks and hazards of chemicals in the perceptions of scien-
tists, policymakers, activists, and the general public. This research will
identify how people with varying personal and professional connec-
tions to chemicals make sense of chemical exposure. The understand-
ing of risk and hazard furthered by this project may contribute to the
Environmental Protection Agency's ability to incorporate social and
economic factors and public values into the risk management process
by identifying how policy is influenced by social actors, and by im-
proving the potential for productive inter-agency and inter-group com-
munication. This research will also produce outreach materials for a
broad spectrum of audiences, including environmental health research-
ers and activists, regulators and policy makers, occupationally exposed
individuals, and the chemical and manufacturing industries.
BIO:
Alissa Cordner grew up in Oregon, and received her under
graduate degree in Sociology and French from Bowdoin
College in 2004. She spent time teaching, working for an
environmental organization, and leading youth wilderness
programs before deciding to return to graduate school. She
is currently pursuing her Ph.D. n Sociology at Brown Uni
versity. Her research interests include environmental sociol
ogy, science and technology studies, and urban sociology.
Her current research focuses on the social implications of
chemicals use and policy.
SYNOPSIS:
Flame retardant chemicals are widely used in consumer
products, and may harm human health and the environ
ment. This project identifies how these chemicals are
studied and regulated, how they have entered into public
discussion and activist campaigns, and how stakeholders
respond to the risks and hazards of flame retardants. It
serves as a case study for how people characterize the dan
gers of ubiquitous chemicals, and how this understanding
of risk informs their personal and professional actions.
Keywords: Flame retardant chemicals, emerging contaminants, risk and hazard, risk assessment, biomonitoring, chemicals policy
74
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Jonathan McKinney
H
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917121
Institution Missouri University of Science and
Technology (MO)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/21/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: jlmmcb@mail.mst.edu
Quantifying Historical Human Exposure to Indoor Air Pollutants Through Buildini
Material Forensics Combined with Inverse Diffusion Modeling
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Health scientists believe that VOCs in indoor air may lead to a vari-
ety of adverse health effects, which occur long after the occupant was
actually exposed to the chemical. Current air sampling methods only
allow for quantification of air quality at the present time, and not the
past, which leads to uncertain conclusions from studies regarding which
VOC exposures lead to adverse health effects. This project's goal is to
generate sampling and data analysis methods for health scientists to use
in the field that significantly improve their understanding of historical
occupant exposure. The goal may be achieved by forensically analyzing
VOCs that have transported into building materials via diffusion, such
as toluene in walls or foam cushions, and then using inverse diffusion
analysis to determine what historical exposure may have led to the pres-
ent samples of the building material.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The expected result of this research is to provide health scientists with
a new toolbox that allows them to better understand historical occu-
pant exposure to VOCs in indoor environments. As a result, the health
scientists may be able to draw more concise conclusions about which
VOC exposures lead to which health problems. We expect limitations
to how sampling and analysis methods can be used in the field based on
uncertainties such as temperature/humidity fluctuations and unknown
historical gas phase chemistry in buildings. Uncertainty propagation is
inherent in inverse diffusion analysis. The further back in time we try
to "see," our "snapshot of the past" will get fuzzier in the background,
but stay clear in the foreground. The most critical results of this research
are clear guidelines to health scientists about what is feasible, and not
feasible, with this new toolbox in the field.
APPROACH
We will use a three-phase approach to meet research objectives. Sam-
pling methods for chemical concentrations in building materials using
Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME), methods for forward diffusion
analysis, and a system to simulate and allow sampling of diffusion
through building materials in the laboratory were previously generated
during undergraduate research. First, we will create inverse diffusion
analysis methods, and use the existing laboratory system to verify both
the existing forward analysis and new inverse analysis methods. Second,
we will perform parameter sensitivity analyses using the laboratory
system, and modify the diffusion models and analysis methods to match
realistic field situations, rather than laboratory conditions. Last, we will
field-test all sampling and analysis methods that were developed.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
If scientists are able to use our methods to show certain VOCs are harm-
ful, then there will be a direct positive impact on human health and
society. Knowledge of which VOCs at which doses are harmful would
develop, opening a regulatory path to better protect human health and so-
ciety in the future, including regulation of chemicals released by consumer
products that are typically used indoors, such as air fresheners and clean-
ing solvents. Our methods also have other applications, such as predicting
future exposure rates in new homes that were previously contaminated.
BIO:
Jon McKinney received his undergraduate degree in Envi
ronmental Engineering from the Missouri University of Sci
ence and Technology (S&T) in May 2010, under the support
of an EPA GRO Fellowship. Currently he is pursuing a M.S.
in Chemical Engineering at S&T. Jon's research focuses on
quantifying historical occupant exposure to volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) in buildings. He is currently developing
inverse analysis methods that will allow for quantification of
the exposures via forensic analysis of building materials.
SYNOPSIS:
Health scientists believe that VOCs in indoor air lead to
many adverse health effects, which occur long after occu
pant exposure. Studies regarding historical exposures and
their health effects are often uncertain due to limitations in
air sampling methods. This project's goal is to quantify his
torical occupant exposure by sampling chemical concentra
tions in building materials, such as walls, then using mass
transport models to back-calculate historical exposures.
Keywords: indoor air quality, indoor environment, diffusion, mass transport, inverse analysis, volatile organic compounds, VOCs, human exposure, human health, SPAiB
75
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Shannon Renee Murphy
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917122
Institution: University of California, Davis (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: srmmurphy@ucdavis.edu
Serotonin Expression in the Airway Epithelium of Postnatal Rhesus Monkeys:
Effect of Ozone or House Dust Mite Antigen (HDMA) Exposure
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Evidence supports that air pollutants such as ozone exacerbate asthma
symptoms and children represent a particularly sensitive population.
This research project will use an animal model of childhood asthma
to define how effects of ozone exposure during postnatal lung devel-
opment change serotonin/receptor expression, potentially enhancing
airway hyperresponsiveness.
APPROACH
This research takes advantage of an established rhesus monkey model
of postnatal airway development and allergic airway disease to further
examine how exposure to house dust mite antigen (HDMA) and ozone
during early postnatal development leads to altered afferent (sensory)
and efferent nerve-tissue interactions that may contribute to deficien-
cies in pulmonary function and increased airway reactivity. This project
focuses on changes in receptors and ligands normally associated with
neural function and will be executed in three parts. First, we will define
the normal development pattern of serotonin and serotonin receptor
distribution by airway level and increasing age of the postnatal Rhesus
monkey model through immunohistochemically based morphometric
approaches. Second, we will compare serotonin and serotonin receptor
patterns in the epithelium and interstitium of normal versus exposed ani-
mals, defining serotonin sequestration among four key lung cell types.
Finally, we will examine postnatal airway exposure history to evaluate
responses to neurokinin receptor-mediated acute oxidant stress. Ulti-
mately, these specific aims seek to define the presence of serotonin and
its potential modulatory activities in neural and immunological interac-
tions within the lung.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project seeks to examine the overall question of how episodic ex-
posure to allergens or oxidative pollutants during the critical window of
postnatal development results in serotonin/receptor expression changes
that may participate in the development of hyperresponsive airways.
We hypothesize that the abundance of serotonin in normal lung will
decrease with postnatal age and that its expression in airway epithelium
will be associated with specific airway regions. Exposure to inhaled
pollutants may increase the abundance of serotonin with postnatal age
and can also change the cell type and airway level distribution profile.
We hypothesize that exposure to inhaled pollutants alters the response to
oxidative stress, making airways more vulnerable to injury. We postu-
late that developmental deviations are exacerbated when immune func-
tions are altered due to antigenic exposure and, when combined with
oxidative stress from the air pollutant ozone, result in development of a
sensitive phenotype.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research further investigates why a key subpopulation is more
sensitive to a known environmental pollutant and ultimately facilitates
pulmonary health risk assessment for children living in polluted areas.
Additionally, this work more clearly defines the adverse developmental
consequences of exposure to air pollution during childhood that may
present greater, and potentially irreversible, health problems throughout
the life of the individual.
BIO:
Shannon Murphy received her undergraduate degree in
Animal Science at the University of California, Davis (UC
Davis) in 2002. She then pursued her research interests at
Pacific BioLabs in the areas of biocompatibiIity, systemic
toxicity and agrichemistry for 5 years. As Assistant Manager
of Toxicology Services, Shannon worked directly with clients
on projects intensely regulated by agencies such as the
Environmental Protection Agency. She began her doctoral
program in Pharmacology and Toxicology at UC Davis in
2007 and currently focuses on the interactions of environ
mental air pollution and respiratory health at the Center for
Health and the Environment.
SYNOPSIS:
Ozone is a major component of air pollution that worsens
childhood asthma. Exposure to unhealthful levels of ozone
poses a health concern for children, a group more vulner
able than adults to poor air quality as their lungs are not yet
fully developed. This project examines the role of serotonin,
a key nerve chemical, in air pollution-driven asthma exac
erbation in children. Ultimately, this work may identify new
targets for disease treatment.
Keywords: asthma, hmg, serotonin, airway disease, ozone, oxidant air pollutants, bronchoconstriction, health risk assessment, airway hyperresponsiveness, NAAOS
76
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Katerine Schletz Saili
Risk Assessment and Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917123
Institution: Oregon State University (OR)
EPA Project Officer: Georgette Boddie
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Human Health: Risk
Assessment and Decision Making
E-mail: sailik@onid.orst.edu
Developmental Neurobehavioral Toxicity of Bisphenol A: Defining the Role of
ERRgamma
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
BPA is a contaminant that leaches into food or drinks stored in poly-
carbonate plastic or resin-lined cans. Exposure to BPA either directly
through the placenta or via ingestion of contaminated breast milk, food,
or water during critical periods of brain development has been proposed
to result in childhood behavioral disorders. Although BPA is a suspected
endocrine disruptor, the extent to which this contaminant impacts classic
estrogen signaling remains unclear. This project will investigate the role
of estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERR3), a receptor that binds BPA
with high affinity, in mediating the neurobehavioral effects of low-dose
BPA exposure.
APPROACH
Zebrafish express a form of ERR3 in the brain that is 95 percent identical
to the human ortholog. Thus, the molecular events measured in embry-
onic zebrafish following developmental BPA exposure are expected to be
relevant to humans. To determine the behavioral effects of low-dose BPA
exposure, embryonic zebrafish will be exposed to BPA during neuro-
genesis, a 2-day period of central nervous system (CNS) development
that is analogous to the first trimester. Following exposure, performance
on behavior tests, including a test of locomotor activity in response to a
startle stimulus, will be measured in both larval (5 days post fertilization,
dpf) and adult (60 dpf) zebrafish. To determine the extent to which ERR3
mediates the neurobehavioral effects of BPA exposure, antisense oligo-
nucleotide morpholinos will be used to repress ERR3 expression during
the BPA exposure period, followed by the same behavior assessments. In
addition to investigating the role of ERR3, biomarkers of BPA exposure
will be identified by isolating neuron-specific RNA from 1 dpf transgenic
zebrafish embryos, followed by global microarray analyses. By capital-
izing on the strengths of the embryonic zebrafish model, this project will,
for the first time, examine the role of ERR3 at both the molecular and be-
havioral levels and generate data that will help explain how BPA interacts
with and perturbs vertebrate CNS development.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Preliminary experiments identified a hyperactive behavioral pheno-
type in 6-day-old and mature zebrafish that were transiently exposed to
environmentally relevant BPA concentrations during CNS development.
These behavioral effects are expected to be directly dependent upon
ERR3 signaling. BPA binds to ERR3 with 100 - 10,000 times greater
affinity than it binds classical estrogen receptors. ERR3 is also highly
expressed in the brain and placenta, supporting the likelihood that it has
a significant role in mediating the behavioral effects of low-concentra-
tion BPA exposure during early brain development. Accordingly, it is
expected that repression of ERR3 expression during BPA exposure will
remove the principal BPA target, and therefore will rescue the behavioral
phenotypes (e.g., hyperactivity) associated with BPA exposure. Further-
more, it is expected that a set of genes expressed downstream of ERR3
activation will be identified as biomarkers of BPA exposure by the mi-
croarray analyses. These studies will identify, for the first time, a set of
neuron-specific ERR3 responsive genes that are misexpressed following
exposure to environmentally relevant BPA concentrations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
A decision to redefine BPA regulatory standards to protect our youngest
demographic would have significant economic and public health impli-
cations and therefore requires identification of a plausible mechanism of
action acting at environmentally relevant concentrations. This study will
generate critical information regarding BPA-mediated neurotoxicity, in
addition to identifying low-dose BPA exposure biomarkers that can be
used as risk management tools.
BIO:
Katerine Saili earned her B.A. in Biology from Carroll Col
lege (Helena, MT) in 1998. She joined the Peace Corps in
1999 and taught high school science in Samoa for 2 years.
She then worked for several years in the field of wildlife
biology. In 2006, she joined the Department of Environ
mental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University,
where she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Toxicology. Her
thesis research utilizes the zebrafish model to study the
developmental effects of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure.
SYNOPSIS:
Bisphenol A (BPA) leaches from polycarbonate plastic and
resin linings of food cans. Ingestion of contaminated food
or water is a major source of human exposure. Prenatal and
infant BPA exposure may impact brain development and
contribute to childhood behavioral disorders. Although BPA
is a suspected endocrine disruptor, the underlying cause of
BPA's effects on the developing brain remains unclear. This
project investigates how relevant BPA exposure levels im
pact brain development and behavior.
Keywords: bisphenol A, BPA, endocrine disruption, estrogen, estrogen related receptor gamma, ERR3, behavior, behavior disorder, hyperactivity, fetus, infant, children, polycarbonate,
plastic, resin linings, zebrafish, microarray, genes, gene environment interactions, neurobehavioral development, development, brain, central nen'ous system, CNS, placenta, breast milk
77
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Ecosystem Services
- Aquatic Systems Ecology
- Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
- Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
-------
Ecosystem Services Fellows
AQUATIC SYSTEMS ECOLOGY
Allgeier, Jacob Edward
Shifting Baselines? The Ecological Implications of Simultaneous
Eutrophication and Overfishing
University of Georgia (GA), ,. $1
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah
The Importance of Thermal Refugia as Critical Habitat for Threatened
Juvenile Salmonids
University of California, Santa Cruz U'Ai . 82
Dolph, Christine I.
Linking Ecosystem Processes to Macroinvertebrate Community Structure
in Restored Stream Systems of the Minnesota River Basin
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (A-1N).. 83
Earl, Julia E.
The Effects of Spatial Subsidies on Amphibians
University of Missouri, Columbia (hiQ),., , ,, 84
Hancock, Harmony A.
Developing a Non-Invasive Technique to Quantify Coral Health
Nova Southeastern University (FL) 85
Kelleher, Christa Ann
Evaluating the Evolution of Habitat for Fish Species in Headwaters
Across the United States
University of Pennsylvania (PA) 86
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A.
Quantifying the Effects of Plant Invasions on Aquatic Food Webs, Fish
Condition, and Aquatic Ecosystem Function in the Northeast
University of Rhode Island (RI) 87
Mayfield, Mariah Pine
Fisheries Restoration Potential of the Clark Fork Superfund Site: Habitat
Use, Movement, and Health of Trout in Relation to Environmental Factors
Montana State University, Bozeman (MT) 88
Mischler, John Anthony
Effects of Nutrient and Pesticide Loading on Aquatic Ecosystems as
Pertaining to the Emergence and Transmission of Human Disease:
The Case of "Swimmers' Itch"
University of Colorado, Boulder (CO) 89
Penaluna, Brooke Elizabeth
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Responses to Forest Harvest: Examining Roles
of Physical and Biotic Processes Using an Individual-Based Model
and Manipulative Experiments
Oregon State University (OR) 90
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn
The Evolutionary History of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Yale University (CT) 91
Stanaway, Daniel J.
Quantification of River Metabolism Along a Heavy Metal Contamination
Gradient Through the Development and Application of a Smart Tracer System
Boise State University (ID) 92
West, Brittany Elizabeth
Using Genetic Diversity of Va11 isneria americana Across a Latitudinal
Gradient To Inform Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Strategies
University ofMatyland, College Park (MD) 93
TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS SOIL AND PLANT ECOLOGY
Cheeke, Tanya E. A.
Evaluating the Effects of Genetically Modified Plants on Symbiotic
Fungi in the Soil Ecosystem
Portland State University (OR) 95
Jones, Laura Camille
Coupling of Biotic and Abiotic Arsenite Oxidation in Soil
University of Delaware (DE),,, 96
Lawlor, Kathleen Egan
Evaluating the Impacts of Reduced Deforestation Programs on Carbon
Storage and Human Welfare in Tropical Forests
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (NC) 97
Martin, Leanne M.
Quantifying a Fundamental Gap in Ecosystem Service Tradeoffs:
Differences Among Native- and Exotic-Dominated Landscapes
Iowa State University (IA) 98
Minor, David Michael
Seed Production Across a Soil Nitrogen Availability Gradient as a Model
of N-Deposition
Michigan State University (MI) 99
TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS ANIMAL ECOLOGY
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin
Revisiting the Success of Natural Enemies To Provide Sustainable
Ecosystem Services and Reduce Pollution
University of California, Berkeley (CA). 101
Palladini, Jennifer Dawn
Does Intensive Herbicide Use in Natural Areas Indirectly Drive Declines
in Pollinator Abundance?
University of Montana, Missoula (MT) 102
Thompson, Pamela G.
The Effects of Landscape Structure on Pollination and Gene Flow
in a Tropical Tree Species
University of California, Los Angeles (CA), 103
79
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Aquatic Systems Ecology
-------
Jacob Edward Allgeier
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917087
Institution: University of Georgia (GA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Aquatic Systems Ecology
E-mail: jeallg@uga.edu
Shifting Baselines? The Ecological Implications of Simultaneous Eutrophication
and Overfishing
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Overfishing and human-derived nutrient pollution affect the supply of
growth-limiting nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) for algae and sea-
grasses, the base of most marine ecosystems. Human inputs increase the
supply of nutrients, which are largely sewage-derived, while overfishing
has been shown to reduce nutrient supply because fish provide substan-
tial inputs of nutrients via excretion. These contrasting inputs present
the paradox that human-derived nutrients may supplant fish-derived
nutrients. However, human-derived nutrients are higher in phosphorus
relative to fish-derived nutrients, shifting the baseline at which nutrients
are supplied and potentially altering the diversity and growth rates of
algae and seagrass species.
APPROACH
Overfishing and nutrient enrichment will be simulated independently
and simultaneously on experimental patch-reef ecosystems in the Baha-
mas by manipulating the community structure of fishes on the reef, and
through the use of commercial fertilizing compounds, respectively. The
implications for changes in diversity, growth, and nutrient limitation of
algae and seagrass species will be measured through the use of benthic
surveys, examination of seagrass nutrient content, and nutrient limita-
tion assays for benthic algae.
EXPECTED RESULTS
We predict that changes in nutrient supply rates will alter the seagrass
community by favoring species that are typically less dominant but have
a greater affinity for these baseline nutrient conditions. We also predict
substantial shifts in benthic algae nutrient limitation, whereby nutrient
limitation will decrease with increased perturbation (i.e., simultaneous
overfishing and nutrient enrichment).
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Subtropical and tropical marine ecosystems have evolved to function
under extremely low nutrient conditions, making them particularly sus-
ceptible to even minor alterations in nutrient dynamics. The enormous
services provided by these ecosystems appear to critically hinge on the
amount and relative supply of nitrogen and phosphorus, yet understand-
ing of the effects of simultaneous overfishing and eutrophication for
these services is lacking, particularly in the Caribbean. Increased under-
standing of nutrient effects is critical to the management and conserva-
tion of marine ecosystems globally.
BIO:
Jacob Allgeier received his B.S. in Biology from Centre
College in 2001. After graduation, he conducted aquatic
ecology research in Tanzania and Venezuela. He then spent
two years conducting research in the Bahamas conducting
ecological restoration of local wetlands. He began a Ph.D.
program in Ecology at the Odum School of Ecology, Univer
sity of Georgia in 2006. His current research interests focus
on the implications of anthropogenic change to the coastal
marine environment, specifically overfishing and nutrient
loading, for nutrient cycling in the coastal realm.
SYNOPSIS:
Overfishing and nutrient pollution affect the supply of
growth-limiting nutrients for algae and seagrasses, the base
of most marine ecosystems. Human inputs increase the
supply of nutrients, while overfishing can reduce nutrient
supply because fish provide inputs of nutrients via excre
tion. We test the hypothesis that human-derived nutrients
can supplant fish-derived nutrients by simulating both of
these scenarios independently and simultaneously using
artificial patch reef habitats.
Keywords: coastal ecosystems, enrichment, interaction, nitrogen, nutrient, phosphorus, patch reefs
81
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Kimberly Sarah Brewitt
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917091
Institution: University of California, Santa
Cruz (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: kbrewitt@ucsc.edu
The Importance of Thermal Refugia as Critical Habitat for Threatened
Juvenile Salmonids
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Water temperatures have critical impacts on fish physiology, distribu-
tion, and behavior. Elevated river water temperatures, caused by changes
in land and water use, decrease the amount of usable freshwater habitat
available to declining salmon populations along the Pacific coast of the
United States. At the limits of their thermal tolerance, salmonids may
behaviorally thermoregulate by moving to localized patches of colder
water, or thermal refugia. As water temperatures continue to rise, it will
be important to understand the implications for salmonid growth and
survival. This research project will focus on defining the mechanisms
driving salmonid use of thermal refugia on the Klamath River in north-
ern California and on developing a bioenergetics model that can be used
to inform future fisheries and water management decisions.
APPROACH
The first stage of research will entail collecting field data to map the
thermal environment surrounding coolwater refugia, to radio tag juve-
nile salmonids for spatiotemporal distribution data, and to collect water
samples to quantify daily prey availability. Correlating these data will
allow me to determine how spatiotemporal temperature dynamics and
food availability drive salmonid behavior. A thorough understanding of
thermal refugia use by salmonids will be essential for the preservation
of salmon populations in coming decades as climate change may lead
to substantial changes in water temperatures and river flow regimes,
further decreasing available freshwater habitat.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will provide a better understanding of the specific mecha-
nisms driving salmonid use of thermal refugia. The results of the field
research will be integrated into a bioenergetics model, which will quan-
tify the amount of thermally prohibitive versus usable habitat for differ-
ent food and temperature scenarios. This will allow fisheries and land
managers to gain a better understanding of the conditions under which
thermal refugia become critical habitat, and the importance of variations
in temperature and prey availability in influencing the superiority of a
given habitat. Many tributaries on the West Coast have heavily logged
watersheds, which can significantly impact water quality and tempera-
ture. Determining the relative importance of thermal refugia to salmonid
survival will therefore help inform logging and other land-use practices
in the region. These findings will be important for decisions concerning
designations of critical habitat in rivers with high summer water tem-
peratures, as the model will be applicable to similar systems.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will examine how elevated river water temperatures influ-
ence the growth and survival of juvenile salmonid populations. It will use
field data on temperature dynamics, spatiotemporal fish distribution, and
prey availability data to construct a bioenergetics model to examine the
patchy nature of usable habitat for salmonids in rivers with high summer
water temperatures. With an understanding of the importance of coolwa-
ter tributary inputs, this research will be an important tool for fisheries
and land managers in determining watershed land-use practices.
BIO:
Kim Brewitt received her undergraduate degree in English
and physics from Dartmouth College in 2002. For five
years following college, she worked as an environmental
educator, teaching in North Carolina, Washington, and Yo
Semite, California. In 2007, she pursued summer research
on coral mortality with the Central Caribbean Marine
Institute. After working as a lab assistant for NOAA Fisher
ies, she began a Ph.D. program in Ecology and Evolution
ary Biology at UC Santa Cruz. Her research focuses on the
effects of elevated water temperatures on salmon popula
tions in northern California.
SYNOPSIS:
Recent increases in river water temperatures caused by
climate change and altered land-use practices threaten the
health of salmon populations world-wide. This fellow's re
search will focus on quantifying how fluctuations in temper
ature and prey availability drive variations in the amount of
usable freshwater salmonid habitat during periods of high
summer water temperatures, and on developing a bioener
getics model that can be used to inform future fisheries and
water management decisions.
Keywords: climate change, critical habitat, salmonid, steelhead, water temperature, refugia, thennoreguIaU'
82
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Christine L. Dolph
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917092
Institution: University of Minnesota, Twin
Cities (MN)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: dolph008@umn.edu
Linking Ecosystem Processes to Macroinvertebrate Community Structure in
Restored Stream Systems of the Minnesota River Basin
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Throughout much of the globe, human activities have resulted in drastic and
pervasive alterations to many of the defining characteristics of stream systems.
Recently, attempts to restore or rehabilitate degraded streams have become
widespread, with well over a billion dollars a year spent on stream restoration
projects in the United States alone. Despite this investment of financial re-
sources - and the purported motivation of many restoration projects to im-
prove ecosystem health - ecological changes following the implementation of
restoration activities are rarely evaluated in a systematic fashion. In this study,
I will evaluate the response of stream community structure and function to
stream restoration attempts conducted in three different agricultural streams.
I will seek to (1) provide estimates of the level of ecological services provided
by restored streams in agroecosystems, (2) provide managers with informa-
tion about the most appropriate water quality monitoring tools to gauge stream
recovery, and (3) provide information about environmental variables that may
determine the success of stream restoration efforts.
APPROACH
Stream community structure and function will be evaluated within both
restored and untreated (i.e., control) reaches of three different warmwater
streams, all of which flow through predominantly agricultural landscapes and
are located within or near the Minnesota River basin in southwestern Minne-
sota. Specifically, I will quantify rates of two important ecosystem processes
in each of these study reaches: (1) secondary production of macroinvertebrates
(i.e., the amount of macroinvertebrate biomass that is produced over time), and
(2) leaf litter decomposition (the amount of coarse organic material that decays
or is lost over time). Both processes critically affect energy flow in lotic sys-
tems, and are indicative of a stream's potential to provide a number of ecologi-
cal services including nutrient cycling, protection of biodiversity, and fisheries
production. I will also compare patterns in these processes to patterns in mac-
roinvertebrate community structure, and identify environmental parameters
that are associated with either structural or functional measures. Differences in
secondary production, leaf litter decomposition, macroinvertebrate community
structure, and in-stream and riparian habitat will be compared among restored
and control reaches.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Restoration activities implemented to the study streams may have a number
of effects on macroinvertebrate community structure and ecosystem function.
Re-vegetation of the riparian zone with deciduous trees and shrubs may in-
crease allochthonous inputs (i.e., leaf litter) to the stream, and thereby provide
an energy source for detritivore (i.e., shredder) populations. Since shredders
are believed to regulate leaf decomposition, an increase in shredder produc-
tion in the restored reaches could increase rates of leaf litter breakdown. On
the other hand, the addition of large wood and boulders may decrease current
velocity in the restored channel at high flows, resulting in lower rates of leaf
breakdown due to physical fragmentation. The addition of large boulders and
wood to the stream channel also may affect macroinvertebrate diversity and
production by (1) directly increasing the amount of stable substrate for macro-
invertebrates to colonize, (2) indirectly affecting habitat availability by caus-
ing changes in stream channel geomorphology (i.e., changes in the number
of pools, substrate complexity), and (3) increasing retention of allochthonous
organic matter such as leaf packs and debris dams, thereby prolonging the
availability of an important energy source to detritivores.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Based on the results of this project, I expect to develop several recommenda-
tions for managers that pertain to how stream restoration projects are imple-
mented and monitored, including (1) whether stream restoration activities at
the reach scale can be expected to impact the structure or function of highly
disturbed agricultural streams of the Minnesota River basin, (2) whether sec-
ondary production and/or litter decomposition could be used as tools to aid in
restoration effectiveness monitoring, (3) which, if any, structural attributes of
macroinvertebrate communities can be used to gauge the functional integrity
of streams and therefore represent good candidate metrics for restoration as-
sessment, and (4) which, if any, individual macroinvertebrate taxa are strongly
associated with patterns in ecosystem processes and therefore represent impor-
tant endpoints for conservation efforts.
BIO:
Christine Dolph received her undergraduate degree in Biol
ogy from Grinnell College in 2002. Upon graduating, she
served as a Student Conservation Association Intern in
California and Alabama, and was subsequently hired as a
biological technician by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
in Alaska. After working in Alaska for three field seasons,
she entered a Master's program in Water Resources Science
at the University of Minnesota in 2006. Currently a Ph.D.
student in the same program, her research focuses on the
effect of human land use on stream ecosystem services.
SYNOPSIS:
Recently, attempts to restore degraded stream systems have
become widespread, with over a billion dollars a year spent
on stream restoration projects in the United States alone.
At the same time, the ecological effects of stream restora
tion are rarely studied in a systematic manner. My research
aims to evaluate the response of both ecosystem function
and invertebrate community composition to recent restora
tion activities conducted within agricultural streams of the
Minnesota River basin.
Keywords: indicators, aquatic, insects, sustainability, biology, ecology, large woody debris, entomology, agriculture, farming. Clean Water Act, impaired waters, watersheds, soil, turbidity,
entrophication, degradation, stream health, pollution, TMDL, primary production, energy flow, trophic, RIVPACS, IBI, diversity, biodiversity, erosion
83
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Julia E. Earl
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917093
Institution: University of Missouri, Columbia (MO)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: jee9rb@mail.mizzou.edu
The Effects of Spatial Subsidies on Amphibians
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Spatial subsidies are resources that move from one habitat to another,
providing linkages among ecosystems. I plan to determine how spatial
subsidies affect the vital rates of species with ontogenetic habitat shifts,
which are themselves spatial subsidies. I will assess the impacts of the
presence and quality (nutrients and plant secondary compounds) of spa-
tial subsidies (forest leaf litter input to ponds) when compared to within
system inputs (aquatic grasses) on amphibian larvae.
APPROACH
This study will examine the effects of the presence and quality of spatial
subsidies on the vital rates of species amphibian larvae. To investigate
the effects of the presence of spatial subsidies, I will compare tadpole
vital rates and diet (using stable isotopes) in pond mesocosms with
spatial subsidy input (deciduous leaf litter) to mesocosms containing
within system input (aquatic grass) and no input along a light gradient.
Because frogs move away from ponds into forest after metamorphosis
(another spatial subsidy), this study is a beginning step to understand-
ing spatial subsidy feedback loops between forest and ponds. Although
spatial subsidies are essentially nutrient and energy vectors from one
ecosystem to another, the subsidy's effects depend on the degree to
which the subsidy's nutrients are labile, along with the concentrations of
other active compounds, such as tannins. To investigate the effects of the
quality (primarily tannin concentration) of spatial subsidies on tadpole
vital rates, a mesocosm study and a laboratory study have already been
performed to compare the community and chemical effects of litter
input from different species of trees on tadpoles. To adjust the laboratory
study to be more realistic, I plan to conduct an observational study on
the tannin concentrations in closed canopy ponds that vary in the spe-
cies of surrounding trees. Realistic concentrations will then be used in a
laboratory experiment.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Theory on spatial subsidies predicts that additional input will support
ecosystems with low productivity. Preliminary results show this to be
true for leaf litter input and overall macroinvertebrate biomass in ponds,
but amphibians appear to have lower survival and growth likely due
to high tannin concentrations, lower dissolved oxygen from microbial
decomposition, and lower food quality. I hypothesize that tadpoles from
clearcut tanks eat and assimilate material from algae, and tadpoles from
forest tanks will have isotopic signatures reflecting the detritus available,
which has lower food quality than algae. For spatial subsidy quality, I
predict leaf litter input with higher tannin concentrations will negatively
affect tadpole performance, resulting in differing tadpole performance
with litter input from different tree species.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Many land use changes, such as forestry practices addressed in this
study, may impact the flow and type of spatial subsidy input into ponds.
In aquatic systems, spatial subsidies may impact water quality by alter-
ing dissolved oxygen levels and transporting secondary plant com-
pounds into water. Information on forestry practices on amphibians and
water quality and the indirect and direct causes of those effects will help
determine best management practices and help landowners and public
managers make educated decisions about their property.
BIO:
Julia Earl received her undergraduate degree in Environ
mental Studies from Emory University in 2003. Afterwards,
she worked as a wildlife technician. In 2007, she complet
ed a Master's in Water Science at Murray State University,
where she studied the effects of nitrate and phosphate on
tadpoles. Julia has been working on her doctorate at the
University of Missouri as a Life Sciences Fellow for the past
three years. Her research focuses on the effects of human
land use on pond-forest linkages.
SYNOPSIS:
Leaf litter, a spatial subsidy, is a resource linking forests
and ponds. Leaves provide food for pond organisms but
also contain chemicals, like tannins, that can be harmful.
1 will examine effects of leaf litter on pond amphibians by
manipulating leaf input into artificial ponds and examin
ing tadpole survival and diet. I will also measure tannins in
pond water varying in tree species and study the effects of
tannins on tadpoles, helping us understand how forestry af
fects pond communities.
Keywords: amphibians, pond communities, spatial subsidies, plant secondary compounds, stable isotopes
84
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Harmony A. Hancock
E
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917097
Institution: Nova Southeastern University (FL)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: harmony@nova.edu
Developing a Non-Invasive technique to Quantify Coral Health
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
In the face of global climate change, there has been a great deal of
research into coral organisms/population response to stress, including
bleaching, disease, turbidity, pollution, and acidification. Despite the
importance of understanding coral status (health and/or stress), there are
surprisingly no generally accepted quantitative measures of coral health.
All methods to determine coral status use coral pigmentation as an indi-
cator. Ascertaining pigment concentrations is possible through a variety
of approaches. Current methods to determine coral status rely on either
subjective visual assessment or highly invasive assays. There is need for
a more appropriate method to quantify coral pigments to interpret status.
Coral photosynthetic pigment concentrations vary in response to stress,
thus optical measurements offer a means for rapid, non-invasive deter-
mination of coral status. The terrestrial plant pigment literature is replete
with optical indices designed to assess plant status. These, as well as
novel indices, are investigated to determine the relationship between
coral photosynthetic pigment concentrations and spectral reflectance sig-
natures. The development of a model to predict coral pigment concentra-
tion will allow for the relative status of a coral to be quantified, without
the use of invasive or subjective methodology.
APPROACH
The first stage of research will utilize known coral photosynthetic pig-
ment concentrations derived by high performance liquid chromatogra-
phy and corresponding optical spectra to determine the mathematical
relationship between them. By analyzing spectral data using mathemati-
cal applications employed by terrestrial pigment researchers, a bio-opti-
cal model or spectral index will be developed to describe coral status in
terms of photosynthetic pigment concentrations. Several pigment ratios
and spectral indices used to remotely sense terrestrial photosynthetic
pigments will be examined, including but not limited to partial least
squares, stepwise and multiple linear regression, photochemical reflec-
tance index, normalized difference vegetation index, and ratio vegetation
index. The outcome of each mathematical treatment will be compared
statistically to determine which accurately predicts pigment concentra-
tions, and therefore, coral status. This bio-optical model will provide a
non-mvasive, quantitative method for assessing coral health necessary
for consistent sampling and applicable to a wide range of reef areas.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The use of high performance liqui d chromatography to determine coral
pigment concentrations and corresponding optical spectra provide a
paired data set to determine the relationship between them. With knowl-
edge of the statistical relationship between pigments and spectra, as well
as the best predictive spectral index for modeling of pigments, this proj-
ect will provide both a method to quantify photosynthetic pigments and
an alternative to invasive sampling techniques. A novel, more appropri-
ate index for corals will also be developed based on pigment ratios and
spectral indices from the terrestrial literature, as well as coral spectral
features of interest. These findings will be important in providing the
scientific basis for future remote sensing of reef health.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The focus of this project is to improve knowledge necessary to protect
and restore the services coral reef ecosystems provide, by developing
a method and subsequent optical model to repeatedly, non-invasively
monitor corals. With an optical model, maps indicating status of entire
tracts of reefs can be constructed (e.g., chlorophyll or NDVI maps). It is
the Environmental Protection Agency's mission to develop the underly-
ing science to quantify ecosystem services and investigate the science
involved in the protection and restoration of ecosystems. By quantifying
the status of economically and aesthetically valuable coral reef ecosys-
tems, this mission will be accomplished.
BIO:
Harmony Hancock earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology
from the College of Saint Elizabeth (CSE) in 2003. After
an internship at Biscayne National Park, she returned to
CSE to earn her secondary teaching certificate and taught
high school science for four years. In 2008, she began a
joint Master's degree program in Marine Biology and Coast
al Zone Management at Nova Southeastern University's
Oceanographic Center. She is currently developing a bio-
optical model for coral health.
SYNOPSIS:
Coral health is a bioindicator of climate change. The most
accepted proxy for coral health is coral pigmentation. Cur
rent methods to quantify pigments are either visible (and
therefore highly subjective) or invasive. Bio-optical model
ing is a promising alternative. This study applies a variety
of mathematical treatments to determine the relationship
between coral spectra and pigment concentrations. A bio-
optical model is being developed, whereby coral spectra
predict pigments to represent coral health.
Keywords: bio-optical modeling, high perfomiance liquid chromatography, coral health, spectral index, aquatic ecosystem health
85
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Christa Ann Kelleher
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917099
Institution: University of Pennsylvania (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: TAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: calc307@psu.edu
Evaluating the Evolution of Habitat for Fish Species in Headwaters Across the
United States
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Headwater streams are the smallest streams within the river network.
They account for a large cumulative amount of stream length across the
United States, but are often not gauged, meaning that little is known
about their current characteristics. Headwater streams, which represent
critical habitat for a wide range of species, are assumed to be highly
sensitive to both climate and land use change. The purpose of this pro-
posal is to understand both historical and future changes to headwater
streams, and to predict how this will affect aquatic ecosystems within
this habitat.
APPROACH
I plan to begin my analysis by examining data from eight experimental
headwater catchments with long-term records of climate and hydrology
measurements that are located throughout the United States. An empiri-
cal approach will help to determine how headwater streams in different
parts of the United States have already responded to climate and land
use change. The second part of the analysis will model these changes
using a coupled hydrologic-water temperature model. The model will be
used to determine how ecosystem services have historically been affect-
ed by change and to project changes for climate and land use scenarios
into the future. I plan to regionalize the model output to different head-
water streams based on a conceptual approach that captures the controls
for change. Based on the regionalization and a database of fish species
requirements, I plan to map out how habitat, in terms of streamflow and
water temperature, will change under climate and land use scenarios for
a range of fish species across the United States.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The proposed research will provide a predictive model of how ecosystem
services within headwater streams will be affected by both climate and
land use change. I hypothesize that headwaters will see greater impacts
to streamflow and ecology than any other part of the stream network.
Because the research will investigate headwaters in a range of different
settings, we also will show how impacts to ecosystem services will vary
across the United States. The results of this project may identify controls
that mediate the impacts of environmental change within headwaters,
which can be used by planners and policy makers to protect these areas
of unique habitat.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
There is currently a lack of understanding as to how headwater streams
and the ecosystems they support will respond to climate and land use
change across the United States. This project will make recommenda-
tions as to how these areas will be impacted that will help to encourage
protection of these areas. In addition, the project hopes to identify con-
trols that mediate the effects of change, which can be used to determine
strategies to soften the impact of change within these watersheds.
BIO:
Christa Kelleher obtained her undergraduate degree in May
2008 from Lafayette College in Civil and Environmental
Engineering. She began her graduate work after acceptance
to a Master's program in Civil Engineering with a Water Re
sources Concentration at the Pennsylvania State University,
and finished in December 2009. Research for her Master's
degree focused on the characterization of stream tempera
tures across Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D.
within the same department. Her research interests center
on the interactions between climate, ecosystems, and hy
drology. Her current research focuses on understanding the
effects that climate change will have on ecosystem services
in headwaters.
SYNOPSIS:
The purpose of my project is to understand how ecosystem
services within headwater streams will be affected by cli
mate and land use change across the United States. Head
waters represent the small and largely ungauged streams
within the river network, but account for a large fraction of
the total stream length across the country. I plan to exam
ine headwaters in very different parts of the United States
to see how changes to ecosystem services will vary with
climate and geography.
Keywords: hydrology, climate change, ecosystem services, aquatic ecosystems
86
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Kimberly A. Lellis-Dibble
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917100
Institution: University of Rhode Island (RI)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: klellisdibble@gmail.com
Quantifying the Effects of Plant Invasions on Aquatic hood Webs, Fish Condition,
and Aquatic Ecosystem Function in the Northeast
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Invasive species are persistent biological pollutants that outcompete
native species, alter community composition, and disrupt the flow of en-
ergy and materials through terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Numer-
ous studies have documented a decline in habitat value for birds, mam-
mals, and nekton (fish and swimming crustaceans) as invasive plants
expand through ecosystems. However, few studies have focused on the
effects of invasive plants on food webs and animal condition in the in-
vaded ranges. The expansion of an invasive generalist plant (Phragmites
australis australis) into disturbed wetland habitats, and the subsequent
attempts to eradicate this weedy invader, provide an excellent model that
I will use to quantify the impact of a nuisance species on overall ecosys-
tem function.
APPROACH
Specifically, my research will: 1) determine whether resources re-
leased by Phragmites are being incorporated into aquatic food webs; 2)
quantify fish energy reserves, growth rate, and overall body condition
in invaded, restoring, and reference marshes; and 3) investigate links
between the dominant energy source and fish condition in invaded and
restoring systems relative to reference marshes. I will analyze food web
structure and dominant energy source via carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur
stable isotopes in macrophyte, macroalgae, benthic microalgae, suspend-
ed particulate, and Fimdulus hetcroclilus (mummichog) samples. Lipids
will be extracted from Fimdulus to determine total energy reserves and
will be compared with a morphometric index (Fulton's K) to determine
overall fish health. Sagittal otoliths will be removed from Fimdulus to
reveal recent growth rate and age structure of fish populations in each
marsh system.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This study will be the first study to directly compare and quantify fish
condition in invaded and restoring marshes as compared to reference
habitat. Results will extend beyond salt marsh systems to provide signifi-
cant insights on how invasive plants affect habitats and their associated
food webs, and whether restoration activities are in fact accomplishing
their ecological goals. Since the invasion front of Phragmites continues
to advance in the United States to the south and west, managers can
use this information to make plant management decisions and prioritize
habitat restoration projects before introduced Phragmites takes over
other biologically diverse wetland ecosystems.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research directly supports the Environmental Protection Agency's
mission to protect human health and the environment. Invasive spe-
cies are arguably among the most persistent and widespread biological
pollutants the Earth faces today. They pose a significant threat to eco-
systems, biological security, and human well-being. They foul navigable
waters and have significant economic costs. This research will provide
critical information to better understand the full consequences of biolog-
ical invasions, will help managers to prioritize restoration and control ef-
forts, and will assist with the development of appropriate tools to control
the spread of invasive species in order to better serve society.
BIO:
Kim Lellis-Dibble received her undergraduate degree in En
vironmental Studies from Gettysburg College in 2002. She
continued her education at the University of Rhode Island
(URI) and earned a M.A. in Marine Affairs, after which she
worked for NOAA on federal ocean policy issues for 3 years.
Kim returned to URI as a Ph.D. student in the National
Science Foundation (NSF) IGERT program, which enhanced
her leadership and multidisciplinary problem-solving skills.
Her research focuses on the environmental impact of non-
native plant invaders. She is currently quantifying the effect
of the Phragmites australis invasion on salt marsh food
webs and fauna.
SYNOPSIS:
This research quantifies the effect of a non-native plant
invader on wetland ecosystems by examining alterations
in food web dynamics and the condition, growth rate, and
overall health of fauna residing in invaded habitats. Data
will be generated using a variety of field and laboratory-
based methods. The knowledge gained from this research
can be applied beyond wetlands to more fully understand
how invasive species affect native habitats and their associ
ated plant and animal communities.
Keywords: invasive species, fish, plant, Phragmites australis, Fimdulus heteroclitus, wetland, energy reserves, growth rate, stable isotopes, otolith, lipid, food web
87
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Mariah Pine Mayfield
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917101
Institution: Montana State University,
Bozeman (MT)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: mariah.mayfield@gmail.com
Fisheries Restoration Potential of the Clark Fork Superfund Site: Habitat Use,
Movement, and Health of Trout in Relation to Environmental Factors
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Fish populations in the Upper Clark Fork River Superfund Site were
decimated over large portions of the river in the 1900s due to the deposi-
tion of hazardous mining waste. Improvements in wastewater treatment
and mine waste remediation have resulted in a rebound of trout popu-
lations, although in numbers well below expected carrying capacity.
The objective of this study is to identify critical habitat areas, such as
spawning sites, refuge areas, and over-wintering habitat, in order to set
priorities for trout restoration. Movement patterns will also be analyzed
to assess how fish are reacting to the environmental factors unique to the
Upper Clark Fork River Basin (combination of heavy metal pulses dur-
ing storm events and warm summer temperatures).
APPROACH
Two hundred trout have been surgically implanted with radio transmit-
ters throughout the Upper Clark Fork River, from Warm Springs to
the confluence with the Blackfoot River, a distance of 120 river miles.
Transmitters were spatially distributed evenly throughout the study area
and species were selected based on relative abundance found in the river.
The primary species tagged was brown trout Salmo trutta. although
westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi, rainbow trout O.
mykiss, suspected cutthroat/rainbow trout hybrids, and bull trout Salve-
Jimis confluentus were also tagged in reaches where they were present.
Radio tagged fish are re-located at least once a week during spring,
summer, and fall (more during periods of spawning) and at least twice
per month during the winter. Water quality data, such as temperature,
dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and turbidity, are also collected through-
out the study area in order to determine what environmental factors are
contributing to fish movement and habitat use.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Habitat use by radio tagged trout will be analyzed, and critical habitat
areas will be determined as restoration priorities. Using the movement
and water quality data, the effects of poor water quality on trout be-
havior wall give us a better idea of how mining waste deposition affects
trout movement and overall health. Based on previous laboratory stud-
ies, it is expected that trout avoidance of increased heavy metal contami-
nation will be observed throughout the study period.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This study offers the opportunity to help guide remediation efforts in the
Upper Clark Fork River, in order to restore trout populations to expected
carrying capacity levels. Results from this study may also be able to help
restoration plans in other mine impacted basins. In addition to increasing
trout populations, this project will help bring economic development to
rural Montana communities, in the form of tourism and fishing industries.
BIO:
Mariah Mayfield received her undergraduate degree in Biol
ogy from Willamette University, Salem, Oregon, in 2007.
After spending several years working on trout and salmon
restoration projects across the country, she eventually
settled at Montana State University and began work on her
graduate degree in the field of Fish and Wildlife Manage
ment. Mariah's research focuses on the potential for trout
restoration in a river system severely impacted by human
use, most notably the effects from mining.
SYNOPSIS:
Mining waste deposition in the Upper Clark Fork River,
Montana, decimated fish populations in the early 1900s.
Due to remediation, fish have returned, although in num
bers less than expected. Radio tagged trout will be moni
tored to identify critical habitat areas, such as spawning
and refuge habitats. Movement patterns will also be ana
lyzed to assess how fish are reacting to the environmental
factors unique to the Upper Clark Fork River Basin (heavy
metal pulses and poor water quality).
Keywords: trout movement, radio telemetry, heavy metals, water quality, habitat use, mine waste
88
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John Anthony Mischler
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917102
Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder (CO)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: john.mischler@gmail.com
Effects of Nutrient and Pesticide Loading on Aquatic Ecosystems as Pertaining to the
Emergence and Transmission of Human Disease: The Case of "Swimmers' Itch'7
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
I propose a novel and integrative approach to understanding and mitigat-
ing one major aspect of disease risk: the poorly understood, but poten-
tially important, links between nutrient-driven eutrophication and pesti-
cide loading, and an increased risk of several vector-borne diseases. Do
increases in (1) nutrients and (2) endocrine disrupting pesticides (such as
atrazine) supplied to aquatic ecosystems lead to an increase in the risk of
humans contracting cercarial dermatitis?
APPROACH
I will use a combined field (pond study) and experimental (mesocosm
study) approach to explore both the severity and underlying mechanisms
of this issue.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is expected that nutrient additions (nitrogen and phosphorus in the
form of fertilizers, sewage effluent, etc.) boost both food quantity and
food quality for aquatic snails (the intermediate hosts for cercarial
dermatitis). As a result, these grazers will be more competent hosts and
produce more parasite cercariae over a longer period of time than snails
in non-eutrophic conditions. Endocrine disrupting pesticides are ex-
pected to inhibit the immune response of snails to parasite penetration,
thus making infection more widespread in the snail population. Both
increased nutrients and pesticide application should work synergistically
to increase infection in the snail population, thus increasing the risk of
infection for the human population.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Enhanced understanding of these interactions will enable more accu-
rate forecasting and management in areas where cercarial dermatitis
is emerging.
BIO:
John Mischler received his undergraduate degree in both
Geology and Physics at Augustana College in Rock Island,
IL. After working as an environmental consultant for Delta
Environmental Consulting and a TA for the Nyanza project,
he received his M.S. in Geosciences at The Pennsylvania
State University. John is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the
University of Colorado, studying the interactions between
environmental factors (nutrients, etc.) and human disease
(schistosomiasis, cercarial dermatitis, etc.).
SYNOPSIS:
My research project seeks to determine the effects of water
quality on emerging and emergent infectious diseases. In
particular, I will be studying the effects of pesticides (such
as atrazine) and eutrophication (caused by nitrogen and
phosphorus loading via fertilizers, sewage, etc.) on fresh
water ecosystems. I will concentrate on disease caused by
trematode parasites, which have a complicated life cycle.
Trematode parasites require an aquatic snail as first inter
mediate host.
Keywords: nutrients, pesticide, disease, nitrogen, phosphorus
89
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Brooke Elizabeth Penaluna
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917104
Institution: Oregon State University (OR)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail:
Coastal Cutthroat Trout Responses to Forest Harvest: Examining Roles of Physical and
Biotic Processes Using an Individual-Based Model and Manipulative Experiments
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
My overall research goal is to understand the potential impacts of
contemporary forest practices on water quality, water quantity, and
m-stream habitat; and how these conditions influence coastal cutthroat
trout individuals and emerge as population dynamics. My first research
objective is to examine relationships of coastal cutthroat trout to physical
and biotic processes in streams under a wide range of conditions using
a detailed individual-based simulation model parameterized for coastal
cutthroat trout and data from intensively monitored streams in the Trask
Watershed Study, a major study of forest practices involving private,
state, and federal lands. My second research objective is to evaluate
individual- and population-level responses in coastal cutthroat trout to
varying levels of a specific physical factor: in-stream cover using ma-
nipulative experiments.
APPROACH
I propose to employ a combination of modeling, experiments, and observa-
tions to understand the impacts of contemporary forest practices on coastal
cutthroat trout in the context of a new generation of watershed studies
currently underway in western Oregon (www.watershedsresearch.org). To
achieve Objective 1,1 will simulate different forest harvest practices
using an individual based model (mSTREAM version 4.2, http://www.
humboldt.edu/~ecomodel/instream.htm) which is computer based and
so allows for multifaceted combinations of treatments in a prospective
perspective that cannot be achieved using any other approach. Since
the model performs projections of events in the future based on past
data, I will also be considering climate changes since they simultane-
ously will be occurring. To run the model, I will input existing data
from the Trask study watershed located in the northern Oregon Coast
Range, which is part of a larger watershed-intensive case study that in-
corporates pre-harvest and post-harvest observations. To complete my
second objective, I am currently conducting large-scale experiments
in a semi-natural outdoor setting at the Oregon Hatchery Research
Center (OHRC; http://www.dfw.state.or.us/OHRC/) in Alsea, OR. I
am examining varying levels of physical habitat structure in the form
of in-stream cover on short-term trout responses because it has been
suggested that in-stream cover may play a more critical role in the
response of fish to forest harvest than previously recognized.
EXPECTED RESULTS
IBMs coupled together with manipulative experiments prevent con-
founding factors and in conjunction with field observations may be
able to most correctly respond to questions relating to forest harvest on
fish. Through this combination of approaches I will be able to address
specific hypotheses and predictions about forest harvest impacts on
fish by determining specific physical and biotic factors that control fish
m streams.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
My work will have real on-the-ground implications by influencing for-
ests and fish in the Pacific Northwest through providing a better under-
standing of the effectiveness of contemporary forest harvest practices
and individual and population responses of fish. I also hope to determine
the importance of in-stream cover to coastal cutthroat trout, and thereby
help managers with habitat management decisions and the implementa-
tion of more effective restoration projects, aimed at maintaining coastal
cutthroat trout populations. This is especially important as fisheries
managers have implemented restoration projects placing large wood and
boulders in streams to increase habitat complexity and additional cover
for fish.
BIO:
Brooke Penaluna received her undergraduate degree in En
vironmental Studies from University of St. Thomas in 2000.
The following year, she worked for the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife before she began her Master's degree in
Environmental Science at Western Washington University.
In 2004, she was a Fulbright Fellow to Chile studying the
effects of invasive trout and salmon on native fishes. After
two more years working with researchers in Chile, she be
gan her Ph.D. degree in Fisheries Science at Oregon State
University. Her research focuses on examining the effects of
contemporary forest harvest on coastal cutthroat trout using
a combination of approaches including manipulative experi
ments and a simulated model.
SYNOPSIS:
My goal is to understand the potential impacts of contem
porary forest practices on water quality, water quantity,
and in-stream habitat; and how these conditions influence
coastal cutthroat trout individuals and emerge as population
dynamics. I will use manipulative experiments, an individu
al-based simulation model, and field observations. Accord
ingly, my work will have real on-the-ground implications by
influencing major natural resource sectors in the Pacific
Northwest: forests and fish.
Keywords: population level, individual level, demographic responses, density
90
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Kathryn Richards-Hrdlicka
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917107
Institution: Yale University (CT)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: kathryn.richards@yale.edu
The Evolutionary History of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Chytridiomycosis, an epidermal infection caused by die emerging infectious
fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a major driver impli-
cated in the worldwide decline of amphibian populations. I use next generation
sequencing technology to identify new genetic markers in Bd and apply them
in a series of population genetic analyses, some of which intend to uncover Bd's
global origin(s). I also apply similar techniques to describe how Bd has evolved
through time in a focused region of the world. New England, by comparing ge-
netic variation from contemporary and museum-preserved Bd DNA from within
host (amphibian) tissues.
APPROACH
My dissertation research will be addressed in three Aims. For Aim #1 I will
develop new molecular markers by sequencing 21 new Bd isolates on the next
generation sequencing platform, Illumina. The genomes will be aligned and
mined for new molecular markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]
and microsatellites). The end result of Aim #1 will be a table listing all mark-
ers and which hierarchical level of variation they address: worldwide, among
regions, or within populations. In Aim #2 I will assess the genetic variation
among isolates of Bd and identify its geographic origin. In addition, I intend
to estimate the following population parameters: levels of variation in each
population, demographic inferences (i.e., whether the genetic diversity indi-
cates a stable, shrinking, or growing population), patterns and levels of genetic
differentiation between samples, and the level of genetic intermixing between
samples from different locations. The sampling and analytical procedures
described in Aim #2 will allow me to understand patterns and levels of gene
flow at different time scales, from events that occurred many generations
ago to genetic exchange that occurred only one or a few generations ago. For
Aim #3 I will describe Bd's genotypic differences between contemporary
and decades-old infections. Across New England, I will compare the genetic
variation between contemporary sites and animals from similar locations yet
preserved in museum collections. We know little about Bd prevalence in New
England; reportedly, it is endemic. But most importantly, New England has
been suggested as the origin of its worldwide spread. These analyses in Aim #3
may determine if the variation in genes implicated with virulence or evolution
of virulence deviate from neutral expectation for the same population samples.
Addressing genotypic differences between epidemic and endemic sites will
help Bd researchers and conservation managers understand the genetic basis
for observed phenotypes, namely virulence.
EXPECTED RESULTS
There are two major scientific contributions within this research proposal.
The most obvious is to finally understand from where Bd originated and how
it subsequently spread throughout the world. If conservation measures are to
protect amphibians from future declines, it is important to understand how
Bd moves between and within amphibian communities. The second major
achievement this research aims to accomplish is applying cutting-edge next
generation sequencing techniques to a large set of individuals, or patho-
genic isolates in this case. While next generation sequencing is becoming
more popular and the sought after technology, rare is it that multiple, entire
genomes of a non-model organism are being sequenced. Plus, the results are
directly applicable to two of today's most pressing environmental issues, as
determined by the National Research Council: biodiversity conservation and
infectious diseases within the environment
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Amphibian populations are declining worldwide, taking ecosystems they help
to regulate with them. In light of their decline, we are beginning to understand
the crucial role amphibians play in regulating primary productivity, organic
matter processes, insect and riparian predator abundances and diversity, and
energy transport between aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial ecosystems. We
understand that to preserve aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial ecosystems, am-
phibian populations must be protected. One measure that can help equip our
conservation efforts is to understand the population genetics of Bd, a major
driver in the amphibian decline crisis. Implementing population genetics in
conservation programs is a well-founded practice. Population genetics can
uncover how the invading pathogen adapts and evolves in newly introduced
regions and the resulting geographic patterns of how the pathogen colonizes
and spreads between regions. Uncovering any evolutionary response by the
pathogen holds great promise in preventing the decay of aquatic ecosystems by
stabilizing amphibian populations.
BIO:
Kathryn Richards-Hrdlicka received her Bachelor of Science, magna
cum laude, in Biology from Arizona State University in 2004. As an
undergraduate, she completed two independent research projects: one
in which she investigated local declines of a native leopard frog (Rana
yavapaiensis) and another where she comprehensively evaluated two
marking techniques for metamorphosed tiger salamanders (Ambystoma
tigrinum)-. passive integrative transmitters and fluorescent elastomer
injectable dye. Post graduation she worked as a research assistant
for Dr. James P. Collins, Arizona State University. She left Arizona in
2006, having co-authored three peer-reviewed papers, and began her
Ph.D. program in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at
Yale University. Her dissertation research focuses on understanding the
global origin of a devastating infectious disease to amphibians and how
it has changed over time in New England. Over the years, Kathryn has
enjoyed being a Teaching Fellow for introductory biology courses, men
taring undergraduates, and fostering relationships with private citizens
through public outreach. In her spare time, Kathryn enjoys camping,
hiking, mountain biking, and visiting her home state, New Hampshire,
with both her husband and her dog.
SYNOPSIS:
A new fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is
partly responsible for the global decline of amphibian populations.
I analyze the genetic variation of Bd on a global scale to address its
geographic origins. I also apply similar techniques to describe how Bd
has evolved in New England (NE), by comparing the genetic variation
of contemporary to museum preserved Bd DNA from within amphibian
tissues. Results from my research will Identify where Bd came from
and how it evolves.
Keywords: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, amphibian, emerging infectious disease, pathogen, fungus, chytrid, extinction, next generation sequencing, population genetics, invasive spe-
cies, quantitative PCR, ancient DNA, SNPs, microsatellites
91
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Daniel J. Stanaway
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917110
Institution: Boise State University (ID)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: danielstanaway@u,boisestate.edu
Quantification of River Metabolism Along a
Through the Development and Application
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Contrary to current models of ecosystem response to chronic metal induced stress, micro-
bial communities of the Clark Fork River in western Montana, the largest Superfund site
in the United States, have high species diversity with repressed functional characteristics.
Our study attempts to quantify the magnitude of metal contamination-induced limits on iit
situ heterotrophic microbial activity in metal tolerant communities via the application of a
novel metabolically reactive hydrologic tracer.
APPROACH
We hypothesize that chronic metal contamination produces a measureable metabolic cost
to tolerant communities. To test this hypothesis, hyporheic sediments, supporting intact
microbial communities, will be collected from sites along the Clark Fork River contami-
nation gradient and pristine reference sites. Rates of microbial heterotrophic metabolism
will be assessed in the presence and absence of an acute metal exposure to determine
the metabolic cost of communities evolved for metal tolerance. Further, this approach
allows us to assess metabolic costs in absolute and relative terms within and among
communities evolved under different selective pressures (e.g, levels of metal contamina-
tion). We hypothesize that both community types will be negatively affected by the acute
exposure, thereby indicating that even in tolerant communities, exposure to persistent
pollutants exacts an energetic toll on community metabolism. To interrogate these com-
munities, flow-through columns replicating hyporheic conditions will be packed with
contaminated or clean sediment from six site pairs (contaminated vs. pristine). From each
field site, three replicate columns will be treated with cadmium (Cd) (metal stressor), re-
sazurin (metabolically reactive hydrologic tracer), and chloride (conservative hydrologic
tracer); another set of three control columns will be treated with chloride and resazurin
only. Of the metal cocktail that exists in the Clark Fork River, cadmium was selected as
the experimental treatment because of its high toxicity and inability to abiotically reduce
resazurin. Dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements will also be taken at the upstream and
downstream end of the columns through non-intrusive fluorescence quenching to support
the findings of the smart tracer. The Raz-Rru reactive advection dispersion equation
(ADE), a modified version of the standard ADE equation, is used to determine the reac-
tion rate of the biological reduction of resazurin to resorufin within a given hydrological
setting. A Markov chain Monte Carlo approach will be developed to optimize line fitting
to data for populating the ADE.. The outcome of this approach will be a direct measure
of the influence of metal stress on heterotrophic metabolism by microbial communities
inhabiting the hyporheic zone of the chronically contaminated Clark Fork River.
Heavy Metal Contamination Gradient
of a Smart Tracer System
EXPECTED RESULTS
The reduction rate of resazurin to resorufin provides direct quantification of the rate of mi-
crobial community respiration in the context of the overarching hydrological parameters such
as velocity, dispersivity, and retardation. In aerobic heterotrophic microbial communities, the
overall metabolic rate is a functional variable indicative of ecosystem health. In the absence
of acute metal exposure, it is expected that the metabolic rate of communities from con-
taminated sites will be reduced relative to the corresponding pristine site, with the greatest
inhibition observed in communities from the most heavily contaminated sites. Additionally,
it is expected that in the presence of an acute metal exposure, resazurin reduction rate will be
reduced in all communities relative to rates observed in the absence of an acute metal stress.
The magnitude of inhibition of the metabolic rate reflects the continued metabolic cost of
exposure to persistent metal pollutants even after long periods of selection for tolerant organ-
isms. More specifically, communities from pristine and low contamination sites are expected
to be more dramatically affected by the acute Cd exposure than communities associated with
sediments from sites with higher in situ contamination levels. Secondarily, our study strives
to further develop the Raz Rru Smart Tracer system as a viable tool for directly linking
ecosystem processes with hydraulic parameters. It is expected that a strong correlation will
exist between the reduction of resazurin to resorufin and dissolved oxygen consumption, thus
corroborating the use of this system as a eco-hydrological tool.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The findings of this study will be important in supporting a new perspective of ecosystem
response to chronic stress. Quantification of in-stream microbial function has a breadth of
potential ecological and environmental regulatory applications. Development of an index
relating changes in microbial respiration to metabolic function will allow for the determi-
nation of the consequences of anthropogenic contamination in terms of ecosystem services,
such as hyporheic biogeochemical cycling, productivity, and nutrient retention. This rela-
tionship is of global importance in the context of carbon cycling, nutrient availability, and
ecosystem integrity in systems impacted by the presence of persistent pollutants or other
chronic stressors such as global climate change. This index, with appropriate tools, has
the potential to advance the science governing environmental regulation and monitoring.
Hyporheic biofilms can be more sensitive indicators of environmental stress than the ich-
thyological and macro-invertebrate based protocols currently employed because they form
the base of aquatic food webs and have a high degree of exposure. Changes in hyporheic
microbial assemblages have been detected at concentrations nearly an order of magnitude
less than that at which responses in benthic macro-invertebrates can be measured. There-
fore, a mechanism such as the Raz Rru Smart Tracer system that directly interrogates the
in situ metabolic status of the microbial community has potential to improve water quality
monitoring techniques and implementation of higher resolution environmental regulations
based on impacts to quantifiable ecosystem services.
BIO:
Daniel Stanaway received his undergraduate degree in En
vironmental Studies and Applications from Michigan State
University in 2004. After completing a year of service ad
dressing issues related to chronic poverty in the Americorps
VISTA program, he worked as a Watershed Coordinator in
southwest Michigan managing a Clean Water Act watershed
project. From here, he began the M.S. program in Hydro
logical Sciences at Boise State University. Approaching this
degree through the Department of Biology, he is investigat
ing lotic ecosystem response to heavy metal contamination.
SYNOPSIS:
Mining activity has contaminated numerous waterways with
heavy metals. Vibrant microbial communities have evolved
to thrive in these toxic environments. However, the presence
of the pollutants appears to continually inhibit ecosystem
services. We are employing a novel metabolically reactive
hydrologic tracer that directly links ecosystem processes to
flow hydraulics to interrogate how chronic contamination af
fects ecosystem function through quantifying in situ micro
bial community metabolism.
Keywords: microbial ecology, chronic ecosystem stress, mining, Clark Fork River, Raz Rru Smart Tracer, metal contamination, ecosystem services, environmental regulation and monitor-
ing, hyporheic zone, heterotrophic ecosystem metabolism
92
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Brittany Elizabeth West
Aquatic Systems Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917113
Institution* University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/30/2010 - 8/29/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services: Aquatic
Systems Ecology
E-mail: bwestl@umd.edu
Using Genetic Diversity of Vallisneria americana Across a Latitudinal Gradient To
Inform Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Strategies
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) is an important component of aquatic
ecosystems that has experienced large-scale losses over relatively short time
periods. In addition to the intensifying threats SAV encounters as human popu-
lation size increases, the effects of global climate change are not well under-
stood, but anticipated to dramatically alter SAV abundance and distribution.
To contribute to the understanding of these potential effects I will describe the
structure of genetic diversity in the SAV species Vallisneria americana (wild
celery) at local, regional, and macrogeographic scales across a broad latitudinal
gradient along the western Atlantic coast. I also will investigate the phenotypic
responses of different genotypes from across that gradient to environmen-
tal stressors The research results will provide information on how current
stressors have affected diversity within and connectivity among V americana
occurrences and will provide insight into potential for adaptation to future
conditions anticipated under climate change.
APPROACH
I will use developed microsatellite markers to compare the population genetic
diversity and structure of V americana among sites within regions and among
regions spanning the latitudinal gradient along the western edge of the At-
lantic Ocean. Samples of V. americana will be collected along the latitudinal
gradient from Florida to Maine for this analysis. Collected samples will then
be propagated at the University of Maryland under common conditions, and
additional environmental stress experiments will be performed in controlled
growth chamber or greenhouse environments. Two sets of growth experiments
will specifically focus on the effects of temperature and light availability,
environmental factors that are expected to vary over a latitudinal gradient and
under altered climate conditions, on the growth and survival of V americana
collected from these different regions. The data from this research will quan-
tify the genetic diversity in V. americana along the Atlantic coast of the United
States, identify areas of high genetic diversity or areas with large discrepancies
in regional allele composition along a latitudinal gradient, as well as quantify
the vegetative growth differences among individuals within sites, among sites
within regions, and among regions across the latitudinal gradient that arise
from environmental stresses.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research aims to describe the structure of V. americana genetic diversi-
ty at local, regional, and macrogeographic scales across a latitudinal gradient
and to link genetic variation with phenotypic variation to understand poten-
tial for persistence in the presence of environmental stressors. The local and
regional genetic structuring in V. americana may vary across a latitudinal
gradient, and different genotypes of V americana may exhibit varying phe-
notypic responses to environmental stressors. It is important to understand
these dynamics because a species' capacity to adapt to a changing environ-
ment (i.e., its evolutionary potential) is determined by the amount of genetic
variance on which natural selection can act. A thorough understanding of
how SAV genetic diversity is structured at multiple spatial scales across the
latitudinal gradient, and how the breadth of environmental tolerance varies
among individuals, sites, and regions will provide insight into the degree of
phenotypic variation available and the potential for adaptation under antici-
pated future conditions. These data will provide a scientifically sound basis
for choosing among management options aimed at slowing and reversing
declines in submersed aquatic vegetation.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of this research will enhance the protection and restoration of
valuable SAV habitat by applying molecular genetic techniques to augment
current conservation and restoration practices and to shape future restora-
tion initiatives. Characterizing the genetic structuring of V. americana across
a latitudinal gradient will allow managers to identify populations that show
signs of isolation or inbreeding, and to prioritize preservation of areas with
high genetic diversity or unique allelic composition. The data linking genetic
variation with phenotypic response also will inform current restoration efforts
by enhancing the selection of suitable restoration stock. Moreover, this project
can inform future restoration initiatives by providing information necessary
to anticipate future conditions in V americana beds along the Atlantic coast.
With the continued threats of climate change, new restoration strategies like
managed relocation (MR) are rapidly being developed to address biodiversity
management and restoration when both persistence and recolonization are not
possible. Data from this research could evaluate the necessity of drastic actions
like MR by assessing the tolerance of V. americana individuals across a broad
latitudinal gradient to current and projected future conditions.
BIO:
Brittany West graduated from the University of Richmond
with a B.S. in Biology in 2008. During the following year
she worked as an environmental educator for the Chesa
peake Bay Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. In the fall of 2009, excited by all things aquatic,
she decided to pursue graduate school at the University
of Maryland in the Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental
Studies program. To inform SAV restoration efforts, she is
currently researching the link between genetic identity and
phenotypic growth responses in submersed aquatic vegeta
tion in the Chesapeake Bay.
SYNOPSIS:
Efforts to restore submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) have
been marginally successful, and threats of climate change
present more challenges. This research analyzes the re
lationships between genetic diversity and plant growth
responses of Vallisneria americana (wild celery) collected
along the Atlantic Coast. The results will provide insight
into conservation/restoration efforts regarding the potential
of individuals from different regions to tolerate or adapt to
novel environmental conditions.
Keywords: I allisiwria americana, SAV restoration, genetic structure, phenotypic plasticity, latitudinal gradient, climate change, managed relocation
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Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
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Tanya E. A. Cheeke
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917125
Institution: Portland State University (OR)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
E-mail:
Evaluating the Effects of Genetically Modified Plants on Symbiotic Fungi in the
Soil Ecosystem
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Genetically modified corn has been grown commercially since 1996
and now constitutes 80% of all corn grown in the United States, yet
the ecological effects of this technology in the soil ecosystem have not
been thoroughly evaluated. My dissertation research aims to develop an
understanding of the mechanisms that both enable and limit arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization in transgenic plants with the
overall goal of determining whether Bt crop cultivation has an inhibi-
tory effect on AMF abundance and diversity in the soil ecosystem.
Some of my primary objectives are to: 1) identify key mechanisms for
AMF establishment in the Bt model system by examining fundamental
differences in root permeability, root exudates, and Bt toxin accumula-
tion in the root zone among multiple Bt and non-Bt maize isolines and 2)
to determine the impact of Bt maize on the abundance and diversity of
AMF in the roots and rhizosphere under field conditions.
APPROACH
Microscopic, morphological, and molecular sequencing methods will be
used to investigate the effects of transgenic Bt plants on the colonization
ability, abundance, and diversity of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi using laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies. Greenhouse and
laboratory experiments will be used to investigate possible correlations
between the level of AMF colonization in each root system to potential
differences in root permeability, root exudate profiles, and/or Bt toxin
accumulation in the rhizosphere. Field trials will be performed using
Bt isolines engineered to express single or stacked combinations of
CrylAb, Cry34/35Abl, Cry3Bbl, and CrylF Bt proteins (along with the
non-transgenic parental controls) to determine the effects of transgenic
Bt maize cultivation on symbiotic fungi in the soil ecosystem over mul-
tiple growing seasons.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Results from these experiments will provide a comprehensive assess-
ment of the impact of Bt plants on symbiotic soil fungi across a broad
range of environmental and ecological conditions and will investigate
possible mechanisms that may influence AMF colonization in Bt maize.
The effects of AMF colonization levels on plant growth will be tested by
entering AMF census data for each plant as a covariate in the repeated
measures and univariate models. Depending on the extent to which
Bt toxin levels and other compounds in the root exudate profiles vary
independently among modified isolines, we will be able to assess statis-
tical associations between the concentration of individual compounds
and AMF colonization using multiple regression techniques. The iden-
tification of groups of compounds that are associated with lower fungal
colonization will lead to the development of new hypotheses and experi-
ments aimed at identifying causal mechanisms of reduced mycorrhizal
associations in Bt-modified plants. Upon completion, this research will
contribute to the development of future biotech risk assessment proto-
cols to minimize the non-target effects of Bt crops on symbiotic fungi
and will expand the area of knowledge surrounding these crops.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
My research will evaluate both the benefits and potential impacts of ag-
ricultural biotechnology on the soil environment with the goal of finding
an acceptable balance between the use of genetically engineered crops
and the preservation of a healthy soil ecosystem.
BIO:
Tariya Cheeke received her undergraduate degree in Sus
tainable Agriculture/Environmental Science from The Ever
green State College in 1999. As an undergraduate she con
ducted on-farm sustainable agriculture research and later
worked as a soil microbiologist in a soil ecology lab. After
serving as lab manager for 2 years, she began a Ph.D. pro
gram at Portland State University where she is investigating
the non-target effects of transgenic corn on symbiotic fungi
in the soil ecosystem. Her research nterests include soil
ecology, agroecology, and biotech risk assessment.
SYNOPSIS:
Currently, 80% of the corn grown in the US is genetically
modified yet the ecological effects of this technology on
soil organisms have not been thoroughly evaluated. Healthy
plant microbe interactions can stimulate plant growth and
help protect plants from drought and disease. This research
examines whether symbiotic plant fungal relationships are
reduced in transgenic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn and as
sesses the effects of Bt crops on the abundance and diversity
of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil ecosystem.
Keywords: mycorrhizae, biotech, corn, maize, Bt, soil, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, transgenic
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Laura Camille Jones
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917135
Institution: University of Delaware (DE)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/31/2010 - 8/30/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
E-mail: lcj@udel.edu
Coupling of Biotic and Abiotic Arsenite Oxidation in Soil
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Arsenic (As) is a redox-active metalloid whose toxicity, bioavailability,
and environmental mobility depend on oxidation state. This project
investigates the kinetics and mechanisms of arsenic oxidation, which
is a transformation to the less toxic and less mobile form of arsenic, by
natural biotic and abiotic oxidants found in soils.
APPROACH
Arsenite [As(III)], the more toxic and mobile form of inorganic As, can
be oxidized to arsenate [As(V)] by both minerals and bacteria in soils.
It has been noted in previous studies that, in isolation, manganese (Mn)
oxide minerals can oxidize As(III) and sorb As(V). Numerous isolates
of heterotrophic soil bacteria, including the bacteria used here (Alca-
ligenes facialis and Psendomonasfluorescens) have also been shown
to oxidize As(III) in a detoxification mechanism. Despite having some
experimental evidence for activity of these soil oxidants in isolation, not
much is known about the coupling of biotic and abiotic oxidants in soils.
This study investigates the rates and coupling of As(III) oxidation by
model heterotrophic bacteria, A. faecalis and P. fluorescens, and a Mn
oxide mineral, 5-MnO, using batch experiments.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project is expected to produce rate and kinetic information about
As(III) oxidation in a model system with a mixture of mineral and
microbial oxidants. Comparing the apparent kinetics of As(III) oxida-
tion in mixed microbe-mineral batch experiments with isolated batch
experiments, with the bacteria or the mineral alone, will give evidence
for the mechanisms and reactivity of these pathways. In soils, minerals
and microbes coexist and yet little is known about the rate and mecha-
nisms surrounding this reaction in an experimental system with both
types of oxidants. These results will contribute to understanding coupled
microbe-mineral processes involved in the fate and transport of As.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Recent instances of human exposure to toxic levels of arsenic in drink-
ing water have motivated investigation into the biogeochemical pro-
cesses governing As mobility in soil. The rate information produced in
this study can be used to model coupled biotic and abiotic arsenic redox
processes and predict potential human health and environmental hazards
posed by arsenic.
Keywords: arsenic, arsenite, microbe-mineral, soil chemistry, redox, water quality
BIO:
A native of the Golden State, Ms. Jones, who goes by her
middle name, Camille, ventured east in 2004 to Bryn Mawr
College in the Philadelphia suburbs. Four years later and
many dollars smarter, she received a B.A. with honors in
Geology. After graduation, she worked in geochemistry at
the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, CA. In 2009,
Camille joined Dr. Sparks' environmental soil chemistry
group at the University of Delaware. Camille is now studying
microbial and mineral redox processes in soils. She plans
to enroll in a Ph.D. program following the completion of her
Master of Science degree.
SYNOPSIS:
Millions of people are currently exposed to arsenic, a toxic
metalloid, via contaminated food and drinking water. Com
plex chemical, bioloigical, and hydrological processes in
soils mobilize arsenic from natural (i.e. rock) and anthro
pogenic (i.e. pesticide) sources to contaminate water. This
study investigates coupled biological and abiotic pathways
of a chemical reaction that transforms arsenic to a less
mobile and less toxic form in soils. The results of this study
will be used to understand how arsenic moves around in
soils and for prediction and remediation of the worldwide
human health hazards caused by arsenic.
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Kathleen Egan Lawlor
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917140
Institution: University of North Carolina, Chapel
Hill (NC)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/25/2010 - 8/24/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
E-mail: lawlor.kathleen(S?gmail.com
Evaluating the Impacts of Reduced Deforestation Programs on Carbon Storage and
Human Welfare in Tropical Forests
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Tropical forests provide ecosystem services to society globally, by stor-
ing huge quantities of carbon and regulating the climate, and locally, by
providing clean water, flood control, food, fuel, and medicine for adjacent
populations. Emerging programs for reducing emissions from deforestation
and degradation in developing countries (REDD) aim to keep forests intact
by valuing forests for the globally-enjoyed service of carbon storage, yet
the realization and permanence of reductions in forest emissions may hinge
on the provision of local benefits. This research project seeks to both (1)
quantify the impact of REDD on rural populations" welfare and (2) identify
which characteristics of REDD interventions (e.g., extent of local partici-
pation) result in a more even distribution of welfare gains across affected
populations (less inequality) and a more even distribution of carbon storage
(less leakage) across landscapes.
APPROACH
This research will combine quantitative impact evaluation techniques with
qualitative methods to identify welfare impacts attributable to the REDD
project and the conditions leading to these impacts. Assessing the impact
of conservation interventions on welfare requires more than simple before-
after comparisons or comparisons between households living near and far
from the conservation area. Rather, assessing the impact due to the inter-
vention requires comparing the change between pre- and post-intervention
conditions with a counterfactual scenario (i.e., what would the change
have been in the absence of the intervention?), which cannot be observed.
Impact evaluation techniques overcome these challenges by using applied
econometric techniques to construct a counterfactual scenario and control
for confounding variables that might complicate identification of attribution
and impact. This research intends to analyze household-level data col-
lected at both control and intervention sites, both before and after project
implementation. Assessment of well-being will consider cash income (from
agriculture, carbon payments, etc.), the value of assets owned or used (land,
non-timber forest products, and other ecosystem services), and other indica-
tors of well-being, such as household incidence of illness and access to key
services (health care, education, clean water). Carbon storage impacts will
be assessed through analysis of project documents. Variation in REDD
projects" institutional conditions and implementation characteristics will
be harnessed and combined with analysis of qualitative data to identify the
causal mechanism(s) responsible for changes in the distribution of welfare
and forest emissions across communities and landscapes.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Despite decades of efforts to reduce deforestation, we know very little
about the specific causal mechanisms leading to improved outcomes for
both forests and people in conservation. This is due to both a general lack
of rigorous impact evaluation in the conservation field and a lack of data on
changes in welfare at the household level. By using impact evaluation tech-
niques to quantify the impact of REDD on forests and welfare, while also
examining variations in institutional conditions and implementation charac-
teristics of REDD projects, it is expected that this research will be able to
identify both the distribution of welfare and carbon gains across affected
populations and landscapes and the conditions that lead to less inequality
and less leakage.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
REDD programs have great potential to protect ecosystem services for
both global and local populations, yet because REDD will be implemented
in complex social-ecological systems where land conversion contributes
to local livelihoods and property rights and governance systems are weak,
risks of negative impacts on the rural poor may be high. Understanding
the locally-borne costs and benefits of REDD through impact evaluation
will be the first step towards improving outcomes for people and forests.
By examining the impacts and the conditions that lead to these impacts, it
is hoped that this research can produce lessons for improving the design of
conservation interventions.
BIO:
Kathleen Lawlor is a Public Policy Ph.D. student at UNC-
Chapel Hill. She has worked in conservation and develop
ment for 10 years with a variety of organizations: Duke
University's Nicholas Institute on forest and climate policy
research; the World Bank Group, investigating communities'
claims of social and environmental harm; the U.S. Forest
Service on African forestry issues; and with farmers in Cam
eroon as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She holds a M.E.M. from
Duke and a B.A. from William & Mary.
SYNOPSIS:
Programs for reducing emissions from deforestation and
degradation in developing countries (REDD) aim to keep
forests intact by valuing forests for the global service of
carbon storage, yet the permanence of emissions reductions
may hinge on the provision of local benefits. This research
seeks to quantify the impacts of REDD on rural populations'
welfare and identify the conditions that lead to more even
distribution of welfare gains and carbon storage across af
fected populations and landscapes.
Keywords: tropical deforestation, REDD, impact evaluation, forests, socio-economic impacts
97
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Leanne M. Martin
E
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917227
Institution: Iowa State University (IA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
E-mail: martinlm@iastate.edu
Quantifying a Hindamental Gap in Ecosystem Service Tradeoffs: Differences
Among Native-and Exotic-Dominated Landscapes
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Landscapes exhibit tradeoffs in the amount and extent of ecosystem
services provided, and this may be particularly true in grasslands, which
are represented by a variety of native- and exotic-dominated species
compositions. However, exotic species impacts are typically quanti-
fied by looking at only one or a few exotic species invasions into native
environments, and ecosystem services of persistent exotic communities,
which occur commonly, have not been compared to native communities
in working landscapes. This research aims to understand how relative
abundances of exotic and native species in grasslands influence multiple
ecosystem service tradeoffs between plant species and/or functional
group diversity, carbon storage, productivity, and bee pollinator abun-
dances at a landscape scale.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Ecosystem service tradeoffs are predicted to differ between exotic- and
native-dominated grasslands, and these results could impact landscape-
scale management recommendations. Exotic grasslands are predicted
to contain lower species and/or functional group diversity, bee pollina-
tor abundances, and soil carbon levels, and higher productivity (ANPP)
compared to native grasslands. Conversely, pollinator abundances may
be higher in some exotic communities if pollinator generalists are at-
tracted to exotics. Furthermore, exotic/native grasslands (measured as
the proportion of natives) may directly affect species/functional group
diversity, productivity and pollinators. Alternatively, the proportion of
natives could affect productivity and pollinators via the indirect effects
of species and/or functional group diversity.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Quantifying ecosystem service tradeoffs and direct and indirect effects
of exotic and native grasslands on multiple ecosystem services will im-
prove our ability to manage grasslands for these services, and ultimately
human and environmental health.
cies, plant species diversity, bee pollinator abundances, and aboveground
productivity will be measured at each site to quantify ecosystem service
tradeoffs among native- and exotic-dominated grasslands. A meta-
analysis will be conducted on soil carbon levels in unplowed (native) and
previously plowed (exotic) grasslands to consider carbon storage in the
ecosystem service tradeoff framework.
APPROACH
Sampling will take place over 2 years in a latitudinal gradient span-
ning the tallgrass prairie region of the Great Plains, which is one of the
most endangered ecosystems in the world and contains both native- and
exotic-dominated grasslands in urban and rural systems. A minimum of
40 grassland sites will be selected and paired according to whether they
are dominated by native or exotic species. The proportion of native spe-
BIO:
Leanne Martin received her B.S. in Biology from Mount
Mercy College, Iowa in 2002. She studied tallgrass prairie
restoration success at Iowa State University, and graduated
with an M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in 2005.
After spending the next 4 years managing tallgrass prai
rie preserves at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she
returned to Iowa State University to begin a Ph.D. program
studying influences of native and exotic grasslands on eco
system services.
SYNOPSIS:
Grasslands provide multiple ecosystem services essential for
human health. However, they are represented by a variety
of plant species compositions, and it is not well known how
ecosystem services may vary among them. This research
aims to understand how relative abundances of exotic and
native species in grasslands affect multiple ecosystem
service tradeoffs between plant species diversity, carbon
storage, productivity, and bee pollinator abundances at a
landscape scale.
Keywords: exotic species, novel communities, species diversity, ecosystem service, pollinators, carbon storage, productivity
98
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David Michael Minor
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917142
Institution: Michigan State University (MI)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Soil and Plant Ecology
E-mail: minordal@msu.edu
Seed Production Across a Soil Nitrogen Availability Gradient as a Model of
N-Deposition
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Many factors may affect seed production in trees, including the size of
an individual, interactions with neighboring trees, and the soil resources
available. Because nitrogen deposition can alter the availability of this and
other nutrients in the soil, it is important to understand how this chang-
ing chemical environment may alter fecundity of species differently, and
subsequently alter the species composition of forest communities. This
research will investigate the influence of tree size, local crowding, and
nutrient availability on seed production in northern hardwood tree species.
APPROACH
Seed production will be visually estimated in 11 northern hardwood spe-
cies across a natural fertility gradient in northwest lower Michigan over
the course of 3 years. Individual-based models will then be calibrated to
test the influences of tree size, neighborhood crowding, and soil re-
source availability on seed production. In addition, the effect of specific
nutrients, including nitrogen, will be assessed through measuring seed
production in fertilized trees of four species.
EXPECTED RESULTS
I expect that tree size wall be the best predictor of seed production, but
that additional variability will be explained by soil nutrient availability
and neighborhood crowding. Because nitrogen is typically a limiting
nutrient in temperate forests, I expect that it will have a greater positive
effect on seed production than other nutrients, both along the natural
gradient and in the fertilization experiment. Other nutrients, such as cal-
cium, phosphorus, and potassium, may also affect seed production, and
their effect may vary by species. Finally, I expect that size and proximity
of neighbors will have a negative relationship with seed production.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Anthropogenic additions of nutrients, such as nitrogen deposition, may
cause species-specific seed production responses. Because species dif-
ferences in reproductive response may result in a change in the species
composition of a community, understanding the response to changing
soil nutrients is the first step to safeguarding future forests against diver-
sity loss for the wide range of ecosystem services that they provide.
Keywords: seed production, soil nutrients, neighborhood crowding, nitrogen deposition
BIO:
David Minor received undergraduate degrees in Zoology and
Forestry from Michigan State University (MSU) in 2009.
During his undergraduate program, he worked as a labora
tory and field assistant in a forest ecology laboratory. In
2009, he began a Master's program at MSU in Plant Biol
ogy. His research focuses on factors affecting seed produc
tion in trees, and how these effects vary by species.
SYNOPSIS:
Seed production is the fundamental process that deter
mines the tree species present in a forest. Factors that may
affect the chance of an individual producing seed include
the size of the individual, crowding from neighboring trees,
and the soil resources available, which are altered through
nitrogen deposition. By measuring seed production in indi
vidual trees, this project will investigate the influence each
of these factors has on seed production, and how nitrogen
deposition may affect future production.
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Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
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Jeremy Catalin Andersen
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917248
Institution: University of California, Berkeley (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/18/2010 - 8/17/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
E-mail:
Revisiting the Success of Natural Enemies To Provide Sustainable Ecosystem
Services and Reduce Pollution
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The United States has more than 300 million acres of agro-ecosystems,
which are highly dependent upon regulating ecosystem services such as
pollination and biological control. These agro-ecosystems are also major
contributors to nonpoint source pollution from pesticides. Biological
control can be a sustainable approach to pest management through the
reduction of pesticide use. For this approach to be truly sustainable, it is
necessary to study what factors may influence the evolution of biologi-
cal control agents after their introduction. In this project, I propose to
investigate how intraspecific hybridization among different strains of
imported insect parasitoids and variation in the susceptibility of aphid
clones to parasitism can influence the sustainability of biological control
services in the management of invasive crop pests. My research will lead
to improved understanding of the management of ecosystem services,
and to a reduction in pesticide usage and consequently to a reduction in
nonpoint source pollution from agricultural ecosystems.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This data will then be used to identify the population structure of T.
pallidas in California and Oregon, and the incidence of hybridization
in orchards. We expect that hybridization has occurred between the
two strains, and that gene flow is occurring between the two parasit-
oid strains. This result could have widespread implications for existing
biological control programs, due to the fact that multiple introductions/
strains have often been introduced into other systems as well. It is likely
that the co-adapted gene complexes between the parasitoids and their
aphid hosts will be disrupted due to the introgression of novel genetic
material, reducing the success of larval development, and thus limiting
the effectiveness of T. pallidas as a control agent. It is likely as well that
the pests have been able to adapt to the natural enemies introduced to
control them. The potential for horizontal transfer also makes the acqui-
sition of novel defensive symbionts an attractive explanation for the rise
in walnut and filbert aphid populations.
APPROACH
The first stage of research will include sampling of the biological control
agent Trioxys pallidas, a parasitoid wasp introduced to control aphids in
walnut and hazelnut orchards. Separate strains of T. pallidas were in-
troduced for each crop, and both systems have been textbook examples
of successful biological control. Now, 40 years after the initial introduc-
tions, both systems are starting to fail. Using molecular DNA techniques,
individuals will be genotyped to examine whether or not hybridization has
occurred between the two strains of T. pallidas introduced into the west-
ern United States. After the rates of hybridization are determined in the
orchards, samples will be brought back to the lab where crossing experi-
ments and behavioral assays will be performed to determine the specific
effects of hybridization on the efficiency of biological control in this
system and the potential for the pest species to develop resistance either
through novel secondary symbionts or behaviors
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Biological control has the potential to be a sustainable pest control
option. Immediately following the release of T. pallidas in walnut and
hazelnut orchards, the use of pesticides to control aphids was completely
eliminated, protecting the environment from nonpoint source pollution
pesticide runoff into waterways, and reducing costs to farmers. This
work will directly be involved in the re-establishment of that control. In
addition, to establish the long-term effectiveness of biological control
programs in general, we need to examine the evolutionary potential of
control agents in their new habitats. By studying the effects of hybridiza-
tion m biological settings we can make informed management decisions
about the release of natural enemies and reduce the pollution and nega-
tive health effects associated with the use of pesticides.
BIO:
Jeremy received his undergraduate degree in Biology in
2006 and his Masters degree in Organismic and Evolution
ary Biology in 2009 from the University of Massachusetts
Amherst, After completion of his Masters degree, Mr. An
dersen began the Ph.D. program in Environmental Science
Policy and Management at the University of California,
Berkeley. His research focuses on the effects of hybridiza
tion on the sustainability of biological control services.
SYNOPSIS:
To protect U.S. agriculture from arthropod pests, pesticides
continue to be used extensively. Pesticides, however, have
been linked to pest resistance, pollution, loss of biodiversity,
and are becoming politically unpopular. Biological control
can be a sustainable approach for reducing damage by crop
pests, but to ensure their safety and viability we need to re
examine previous successes to determine how evolution can
influence the sustainability of biological control services.
Keywords: biological control, hybridization, evolution, pesticides, pollution, insect pests, agriculture, lP\t, sustainable, agro-ecosystems, parasitoid, natural enemies
101
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Jennifer Dawn Palladini
E
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917147
Institution: University of Montana, Missoula (MT)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
E-mail: jennifer.palladini@umontana.edu
Does Intensive Herbicide Use in Natural
Pollinator Abundance?
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Herbicides are increasingly used in natural areas to suppress invasive
plants, yet the consequences of herbicide use in the communities in
which they are applied are largely unknown. Although herbicides can
have direct non-target effects on plants, they may also have strong indi-
rect effects on other trophic levels, particularly pollinators. Native bee
populations have suffered extreme declines in recent years, and though
the cause of these declines remains unclear, exposure to chemicals
and habitat alteration are two likely drivers. Because many plant spe-
cies require an animal pollinator for sexual reproduction, reductions in
the abundance of pollinators could greatly disrupt the viability of plant
populations. This work will examine the influence of herbicides on (1)
species richness and abundance of native bees, (2) nest establishment
and offspring production for native bees, and (3) pollinator visitation and
seed production for native plants.
APPROACH
My research takes place at 10 low-elevation and 10 mid-elevation in-
termountain prairie sites in western Montana. Of the 20 study areas, 10
(5 low-elevation and 5 mid-elevation) have a history of intense broad-
leaf herbicide use, including aerial application and/or broadcast spray-
ing with Milestone® (aminopyralid) or Tordon® (picloram). Herbicides
have been used in these areas to suppress three invasive forbs: spotted
knapweed, leafy spurge, and Dalmatian toadflax. Vegetation and bee
communities will be surveyed at each site. To explore differences in bee
reproductive rates, I will place a wooden nesting block in each site and
monitor nesting by Osmia lignaria (Megachilidae), a native solitary bee.
Finally, pollination of native plants will be examined by observing visits
by pollinators to arrays of potted Clarkia pultiheMa (Onagraceae) placed
at each site.
Areas Indirectly Drive Declines in
EXPECTED RESULTS
I predict that vegetation communities in areas with a history of herbicide
use will have greater grass cover and lower forb cover. Reductions in
forb cover that accompany herbicide use will result in lower bee diver-
sity and abundance, as well as reduced nest establishment and offspring
production. Finally, I predict that visitation by pollinators to C. pulchel/a
will be reduced in areas with a history of herbicide use.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
My research will assess the importance of a proposed mechanism of pol-
linator declines, chemical usage. Herbicides are widely employed to sup-
press invasive plants, and nontarget effects are of great concern to land
managers. However, data on the indirect effects of herbicides on other
trophic levels are lacking even though indirect effects, while more dif-
ficult to detect, can be as strong or stronger than direct effects. Declines
in pollinator populations in natural areas due to herbicide use will have
broad implications for land management. By elucidating mechanisms of
native pollinator declines, my work will aid conservation biologists in
the maintenance of native pollinator populations in both natural and ag-
ricultural settings. Finally, my work has relevance for farmers of insect-
pollinated crops. As honeybees continue to decline, biologists predict
that services by native pollinators could help ameliorate these losses. If
herbicides negatively affect native bees, farmers may benefit from limit-
ing the use of herbicides in uncultivated areas.
BIO:
Jennifer Palladini received her undergraduate degree in Bi
ology from the College of Charleston in 1999. After 3 years
of working as a science educator, she returned to school
and earned her M.A. in Biology at Humboldt State Universi
ty (2004), investigating links between clearcut logging, ant
communities, and seed dispersal. Currently, she is enrolled
in a doctoral program at the University of Montana, where
her research focuses on how plant invasion and herbicide
use influence native bees.
SYNOPSIS:
Herbicides are increasingly used in natural areas to sup
press invasive plants, which commonly results in a decrease
in the abundance of native flowering plants. Pollinators are
likely particularly susceptible to the loss of native flowering
plants, though this link has not been explored. The goal of
my work is to determine how herbicides affect abundance
and diversity of native bees, and to explore whether changes
in bee abundance have consequences for the pollination of
native plants.
Keywords: herbicide, Osmia lignaria, plant invasion, pollinator, solitary bee
102
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Pamela G. Thompson
E
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
EPA Grant Number: FP917245
Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Ecosystem Services:
Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology
E-mail: limacodid@gmail.com
The Effects of Landscape Structure on Pollination and Gene Flow in a Tropical
Tree Species
OBJECT I VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
People living in tropical forests are often dependent on ecosystem ser-
vices provided by the forest, such as animal pollination of plants. These
services can be disrupted by forest fragmentation. My research will
examine the impact of landscape structure on pollination by comparing
pollen-mediated gene flow in a bat-pollinated tree species, and pollinator
abundance and diversity, between fragmented forest sites and continu-
ous forest sites in Mexico
APPROACH
I am using a landscape genetics and ecological approach to answer my
questions about the impacts of forest fragmentation on bat-pollination.
The first step is to locate and map the focal tree species (Crescentia
alata), and collect leaf samples and seeds from these trees. By extract-
ing DNA and genotyping the individual trees and their offspring (seeds)
using neutral genetic markers, the spatial connectedness via pollen flow
between the trees can be deduced, and patterns of pollen movement be-
tween trees in different sites (fragmented or not) can be compared. Ad-
ditional work will focus on the pollinator abundance and diversity in the
different sites, which will be accomplished through temporary capture
of bats near flowering trees in the different sites, using mist-nets.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is unclear whether nectar-feeding bats are di rectly impacted by for-
est fragmentation, or whether they can cope with these changes to the
environment due to their ability to fly long distances. The degree of this
impact may be different for di fferent species of nectar-feeding bats. By
comparing species and abundances of nectar-feeding bats in fragmented
versus continuous forest sites, it is possible to see if there are any direct
impacts to the bat pollinator community. By comparing pollen move-
ment between sites, we can see an indirect genetic signature of the bat
movement, and how this movement is impacted by changes to the land-
scape structure. We can also tell how connected different sites are, and
the scale at which bats are moving pollen across the landscape.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research will contribute to a larger understanding of the responses
of an important tropical plant-animal interaction to the surrounding
landscape structure, and how landscape features affect genetic connec-
tivity among tropical trees. Knowledge of how bat pollinators use land-
scapes is essenti al for the design of successful conservation programs to
preserve tropical ecosystem services. Moreover, by demonstrating the
ecosystem service that bats perform by pollinating culturally important
plants, this research can motivate decision-makers to protect threatened
bat species such as Musonycteris harrisoni and Leptonycteris yerba-
buenae. In addition, this project focuses on tropical dry forests which,
although critically threatened due to a long history of human use and
susceptibility to fire, are understudied compared to tropical rain forests.
Only approximately 19 percent of Mexico's original tropical dry forest
remains today, and deforestation continues at a rate of 1.4 percent per
year. An analysis of the ecosystem services provided by tropical dry
forests in the Jalisco region of Mexico stated pollination by native bee
pollinators and bats was one of the most essential services. Plants in the
tropical dry forests are also more dependent on bats as pollinators than
plants in the wet tropical forests, making this research highly valuable to
the preservation of this critically threatened ecosystem.
BIO:
Pamela Thompson received her B.S. degree in Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2005. After
graduation, she pursued several research assistant positions
on projects involving plants and animals in Guatemala,
Panama, and the Sonoran Desert. In Fall 2006 she was a
Policy Intern at The Wildlife Society and the following year,
she began the Ph.D. program in Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She
hopes to use her training to work in science policy, and
shape future conservation priorities in tropical regions.
SYNOPSIS:
Tropical dry forests are highly threatened due to human
conversion of the landscape. These seasonal forests are also
home to many endemic species and critical ecosystem pro
cesses. I am investigating how forest fragmentation in these
areas may affect species interactions, specifically pollina
tion of tropical trees by bats. I will compare continuous and
fragmented forest sites, and examine nectar-bat abundance
and diversity, as well as genetic patterns of pollen move
ment in a bat-pollinated tree.
Keywords: nectar-feeding bats, ecosystem services, landscape genetics, pollen-mediated gene flow, tropical dry forest
103
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Pesticides and To
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Pesticides and Toxic Substances Fellows
Civitello, David James
The Effects of Toxins on Epidemic Disease in the Freshwater Grazer,
Daphnia dentifera
Indiana University, Bloomington (IN).., 106
Clairardin, Sandrine Georgette
Investigating the Mechanism of Action and Estrogenic Effects of Bisphenol-A,
an Endocrine Disruptor, in the Red-eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta)
Model System
Illinois State University (IL) 107
Clark, Tarni Lynn
Multiple Targets of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Metabolites
University of California, Berkeley (CA) 108
Curl, Cynthia Leigh
Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides and Neurobehavioral
Effects in a Large Multi-City Cohort
University of Washington (WA),.. 109
Dunnett, Kayleigh
Biological Regeneration of RDX-Contaminated Granular Activated Carbon
(GAC) using Extracellular Electron Shuttling Compounds
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL) 110
Egan, John F.
Assessing the Impacts of PGR-Based Weed Management Systems to
Plant and Insect Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes
Pennsylvania State University (PA) Ill
Erickson, Richard Arlin
Quantifying the Impacts of Chemical Mixtures on Ecological Communities
Texas Tech University (TX),,,, 112
Garner, Thomas Ross
Influence of Nanoparticle Characteristics on Membrane Transfer
Clemson University (SC). 113
Griffith, David Richmond
The Fate of Natural and Synthetic Steroidal Estrogens in the Coastal Ocean
Massachusetts Institute of Technology l\l. It... 114
Keen, Volha S.
Oxidation of Antibiotics in Wastewater: Identifying Products and
Impacts on Antibacterial Activity
University of Colorado, Boulder (CO) 115
Killarney, James P.
Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis as a Rapid,
Cost-Effective Method To Monitor Pharmaceuticals and Personal
Care Products (PPCP) in Three Maine Rivers
University of Maine (ME) 116
Kotchey, Gregg Peter
Enzymatic Degradation of Carbon Nanotubes To Mitigate Potential Toxicity
University of Pittsburgh (PA) 117
Lantz, Stephen R.
Glufosinate Neurotoxicity Targets
University of California, Berkeley (CA).. 118
Louie, Stacey Marie
Deposition of Polymer- and NOM Coaled Nanoparticles to
Environmental Surfaces: Conceptual Model Development and Validation
Carnegie Mellon University (PA). 119
Miranda, Robert Alan
Impacts from Exposure to Common Chemical Pollutants on
Neuroendocrine-Regulated Behavior and Related Gene Expression
Northern Arizona University (AZ),,,,, 120
Mitchell, Shannon Mary
Anaerobic Digestion and Composting Treatment Efficiency of Cephalosporins
Washington State University at Pullman (JE4)„,., 121
Noyes, Pamela Diane
Metabolism of PBDEs in Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas) and
Effects on Thyroid Regulation
Duke University (NC). 122
Nyberg, Leila Margaret
Advancing Techniques to Link Microbial Community Structure with
Function to Assess the Impact of Emerging Contaminants using f-CNTs
as Model Compounds
Purdue University (IN). 123
Reogner, Amber Ford
Development of Novel Risk Assessment and Screening Approaches
for Microcystin Congeners in Freshwater Harmful Algae Blooms
University of California, Davis (CA) 124
Say lor, Greg L.
Combined Toxicity of Pesticides in Drinking Water: A Sustainable
Optimization of Current Drinking Water Treatment Oxidation and
Carbon Filtration Methods
University of Cincinnati (OH) 125
VanDuyn, Natalia M.
Mechanisms of Methylmercury-induced Cellular Stress in
Caenorhabditis elegans
Indiana University (IN),
126
Yost, Erin Elizabeth
Estrogen Receptor Agonists in Swine Waste: Using a Concentration
Addition Model to Predict Mixture Effects
North Carolina State University (NC) 127
105
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David James Civitello
EPA Grant Number: FP917126
Institution: Indiana University, Bloomington (IN)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: djcivite@indiana.edu
The Effects of Toxins on Epidemic Disease in the Freshwater Grazer,
Daphnia dentifera
0B J ECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Ecologists, natural area managers, and conservationists alike have
become increasingly concerned that chemical contamination and dis-
ease outbreaks seem to be increasing in natural ecosystems. Are these
linked? Could pollutants increase disease? If so, do pollutants and infec-
tious disease jointly threaten the persistence of host populations?
APPROACH
I will study the effects of copper, a heavy metal, on the interaction
between a freshwater invertebrate, Daphnici dentifera, and its fungal
parasite, Metschnikowia bicuspidata. First, I will use short term experi-
ments to determine how copper affects disease related traits. Next, I will
utilize disease ecology models to predict how these trait changes will
affect the size and severity of disease outbreaks. Finally, I will utilize
long-term experiments to test these predictions. I will also construct a
physiological model to investigate how copper affects these important
individual-level disease traits and how other contaminants might affect
epidemics and host population persistence.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will characterize the effects that a common pollutant has
on key disease related traits. These diverse effects will be integrated into
disease ecology models to provide predictions for the size and sever-
ity of epidemics across different contamination scenarios. Testing these
predictions will challenge these models and identify key processes that
alter epidemics in contaminated habitats. Additionally, this research
will determine if host genetic variation or variation in the supply rate or
identity of the contaminant further modifies the effects of contamination
on disease. Ultimately, this research can reveal key factors and processes
that determine whether contamination exacerbates or alleviates disease
in natural populations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This interdisciplinary research tackles a challenging environmental
problem by creating a predictive, general framework that combines tech-
niques and theory from toxicology, energetics, community ecology and
evolutionary biology. Armed with this integrative theory, we will better
understand how and when pollutants and disease jointly threaten host
persistence in natural communities.
BIO:
David Civitello received a B.A. in Biology from Colby Col
lege in 2006. He then began a Ph.D. program in Ecology,
Evolution, and Behavior at Indiana University, He is broadly
interested in the importance of environmental factors on
disease. He has studied heartworm in gray fox and the
effects of an exotic grass invasion on ticks that transmit hu
man disease. He is currently researching the joint effects of
chemical contamination and infectious disease on a fresh
water invertebrate.
SYNOPSIS-
Ecologists have become increasingly concerned that chemi
cal pollution and disease outbreaks seem to be increas
ing in natural ecosystems. Are these linked? Do pollutants
increase disease? If so, do pollutants and infectious disease
jointly threaten the persistence of host populations? This
research aims to use experiments and theoretical models
to identify general processes that underlie the combined
effects of copper contamination and fungal disease on an
aquatic invertebrate.
Keywords: copper, fimgal disease, epidemic, disease outbreak, disease ecology, freshwater, invertebrate, population persistence, contamination, pollution
106
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Sandrine Georgette Clairardin
EPA Grant Number: FP917127
Institution: Illinois State University (IL)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: sgclair@ilstu.edu
Investigating the Mechanism of Action and Estrogenic Effects of Bisphenol-A,
an Endocrine Disrupter, in the Red-eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta)
Model System
0BJECTJVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The overall objective of this project is to understand the mechanism(s)
through which Bisphenol-A (BPA) exerts its estrogenic effects with the
goal of applying this information to studies of other endocrine disrupt-
ing compounds (EDCs). The proposed series of projects outlined in this
proposal will test the hypothesis that BPA exerts its estrogenic effects
by inhibiting the natural metabolism of estradiol (E2, an estrogen) dur-
ing development, leading to an increase in available estradiol. This will
be done by addressing three mam questions: (1) How does BPA affect
steroid levels (specifically E2 metabolism)? (2) How does an organism
metabolize BPA? (3) How does BPA affect gene expression related to E2
and BPA metabolism?
APPROACH
The questions will be addressed using the red-eared slider turtle Trache-
mys scripta as a model system. This system was chosen because a great
deal is already known about steroid levels throughout development and the
sex of individuals can be experimentally controlled due to their temper-
ature-dependent sex determination (an important characteristic when
studying feminizing effects). T. scripta eggs and hatchlings will be treated
with BPA in order to gather data concerning levels of steroids (focusing on
E2), BPA, and their metabolites, the enzymes responsible for metabolizing
E2 and BPA (sulfotransferases, SULT and glucuronyltransferases, UGT
for the purposes of this study), and the expression of genes relating to the
metabolizing enzymes. This approach combines both in vitro and in vivo
studies that will identify which component is ultimately responsible for
producing estrogenic effects in the living organism.
EXPECTED RESULTS
These data will show how BPA affects E2 metabolism during a point in
development known for steroid sensitivity in this species. In BPA-treated
eggs, it is expected that E2 levels will increase in the embryo resulting
from the inhibition of SULT activity rather than decreased SULT gene
expression. This would indicate that BPA, and other EDCs, may elicit es-
trogenic effects by increasing available estrogen through SULT inhibition.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
While substantial advances have been made in determining the impacts
of EDCs, most research has focused on understanding the endpoint
effects—largely feminizing/estrogenic—of these chemicals in various
organisms. Few studies, however, have been done to unravel the mecha-
nisms of action for these compounds. By understanding the mechanisms
by which these compounds exert their effects, instead of simply describ-
ing the endpoint effects, chemical companies can utilize these ideas
during product development, manufacturers can choose safer chemicals
for production, and governmental agencies can set more responsible
standards and safety guidelines.
BIO:
Sandrine Clairardin received her undergraduate degree in
2009 from Illinois State University (ISU) in Biological Sci
ences Teacher Education to earn her high school teaching
certificate. During this time she was involved in undergradu
ate research and she completed a yearlong student teaching
internship working with high school biology students. She is
now pursuing her M.S. in Biological Sciences at ISU before
she begins her career as a high school science teacher. Her
research focuses on mechanisms underlying how man made
chemicals alter the functioning of the endocrine system.
SYNOPSIS:
Many man-made chemicals are released into the environ
ment everyday. Some of these chemicals, called endocrine
disrupting compounds (EDCs), can affect the functioning
of an organism's endocrine system and have been shown to
have a wide range of negative effects; however, little is un
derstood about how these chemicals produce their effects.
This project will test the effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA), an
EDC commonly found in plastics, on steroid regulation dur
ing development as a possible mechanism.
Keywords: Bisphenol-A, endocrine disruptors, steroid metabolism, sulfotrcmsferase, estradiol, estrogenic effects
107
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Tami Lynn Clark
EPA Grant Number: FP917128
Institution: University of California, Berkeley (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: tamiclark@berkeley.edu
ultiple Targets of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Metabolites
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Neomcotmoids are the newest major class of insecticides. They have
been shown to generate a large number and great variety of metabolites
in mammals and plants. This project will investigate the toxicological
mechanisms and targets of neonicotinoid insecticide metabolites.
APPROACH
This research will involve several methods to investigate the potential
of neonicotinoid metabolites to inhibit essential mammalian enzymes
based on previous research and/or unique chemical features. In addi-
tion, the biochemical impact of these effects will be assessed. First,
this project will analyze the ability of nitroguanidine neonicotinoid
metabolites to inhibit nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and determine how
altered levels of nitric oxide may potentiate hepatotoxic and hepato-
carcinogenic effects of other metabolites. Next, nitrosoguanidine and
aminoguanidine metabolites of a specific neonicotinoid, imidacloprid,
will be examined as potential tissue aldehyde- and ketone-depleting
agents and as irreversible inhibitors of the xenobiotic-metabolizing en-
zyme, aldehyde oxidase (AOX). Third, the production of glucuronide-
or glucoside-sequestered neonicotinoid metabolites will be analyzed in
mammals and plants, respectively. Finally, neonicotinoid phase I and
phase II metabolites will be evaluated for their ability to chelate and
inhibit metallo-oxidase enzymes.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The ability of neonicotinoid metabolites to alter the function of key
regulatory mammalian enzymes will clarify their role in the secondary
mechanisms of neonicotinoid toxicity. NOS inhibition may potenti ate
the hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic effects of other neonicotinoid
metabolites. AOX inhibition may prevent further metabolism of imi-
dacloprid and other neonicotinoids since AOX is implicated as a key
enzyme in neonicotinoid metabolism Qucuronide- or glucoside-seques-
tered metabolites may serve as masked nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
agonists and metallo-oxidase inhibition would greatly alter important
biochemical functions in mammalian systems.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The world relies on pesticides to generate the amount of food necessary
to sustain expanding populations. Evaluating the mechanisms of toxicity
of neonicotinoid insecticide metabolites will facilitate safe and effective
use of these chemicals. Results from this project may ultimately lead to
the creation of safer, less toxic insecticides and implementation of new
regulations for future pest control.
BIO:
Tami Clark received her undergraduate degree in Biochem
istry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2007. After
graduation, she worked as a research assistant in the En
vironmental Chemistry and Toxicological Laboratory at the
University of California at Berkeley under the direction of
John Casida. This experience introduced Tami to the ex
citing area of pesticide toxicology. As a graduate student,
she now continues her research in Dr. Casida's laboratory
at Berkeley focusing on the mechanisms of neonicotinoid
insecticide metabolite toxicity.
SYNOPSIS:
Neonicotinoids account for more than 20 percent of the
worldwide insecticide market. From the seven commercial
neonicotinoids, over 100 metabolites have been identi
fied in plants and mammals, many of which have not been
evaluated for toxicity. This project examines the multiple
targets of neonicotinoid metabolites and their potential
mechanisms of toxicity. The findings will be important in
determining the safest and most effective use of neonicoti
noids as their use in agriculture expands.
Keywords: neonicotinoids, insecticide, metabolites, imidacloprid, nitric oxide synthase, aldehyde oxidase, metallo-oxidase
108
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Cynthia Leigh Curl
EPA Grant Number: FP917129
Institution: University of Washington (WA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: ccurl@u. washington.edu
Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides and Neurobehavioral Effects in
a Large Muiti-City Cohort
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Organophosphorus (OP) pesticide exposure in the general U.S. popula-
tion is believed to be dominated by the dietary pathway. Although re-
search suggests that long-term low-level exposure to OP pesticides may
be associated with neurobehavioral changes in occupationally exposed
groups or in children living in agricultural communities, no research to
date has examined the health impacts of dietary exposure to OP pesti-
cides within the general population. This research project will examine
the relationship between chronic dietary exposures to OP pesticides and
neurobehavioral outcomes in a multi-city, multi-ethnic cohort of approx-
imately 5,500 non-occupationally exposed participants
APPROACH
This project will build on the existing Multi-Ethnic Study of Athero-
sclerosis (MESA), an NHLBI-funded cardiovascular cohort study that
includes participants recruited from 6 US cities. MESA began in 1999,
and all participants completed a comprehensive baseline clinic exam that
included, among many other components, a food frequency question-
naire (FFQ) and urine sample collection. Subsequent clinic exams have
occurred approximately every two years, and in 2010-2011, participants
will return for their fifth exam. Exam 5 will include a comprehensive
suite of neurocognitive tests, urine sample collection, and a repeated
FFQ, to which this research project adds questions about organic food
consumption. This research project will then utilize the FFQ data from
both Exams 1 and 5 to conduct an assessment of chronic dietary ex-
posure to OP pesticides based on the foods reported, typical pesticide
residue levels from the USDA's Pesticide Data Program, and processing
factors for the method of food preparation from the EPA's OP Cumula-
tive Risk Assessment of 2006. Urinary biomarkers of OP pesticides will
be used to assess the reasonableness of these estimates. The association
between dietary OP pesticide exposure and a specific set of neurobehav-
ioral outcomes (including measures of attention, concentration, complex
visual-motor processing and executive function, and short-term memo-
ry) will be examined.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will be the first large-scale epidemiologic investigation of
the health impacts of dietary exposures to OP pesticides. This large
cohort is extremely well characterized, with available information
on demographics and socioeconomics, employment history, residen-
tial history, health status, medication use, and other variables, each of
which can be considered in the analysis. The dietary exposure assess-
ment component of this study will incorporate data covering a ten-year
period, and will be evaluated in comparison with the results of repeated
urinary biomarker analyses. Finally, the neurobehavioral outcomes that
are already being measured in MESA are consistent with those found
to be relevant in previous occupational research. This project provides
a unique opportunity to leverage existing data on dietary patterns and
neurobehavioral outcomes, and to add to these data information on or-
ganic food consumption practices and urinary biomarker analyses.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of this project will help inform policy regarding the safety
of current agricultural practices with respect to OP pesticides, and to
inform the public about the degree to which reducing dietary exposures
to pesticides can impact their health.
BIO:
Cynthia Curl earned a B.A. in Chemistry from Swarthmore
College in 1998 and an M.S. In Environmental Health from
the University of Washington in 2000. She worked at the
University of Washington as a researcher until 2003, where
she studied pesticide exposure to children and farmworkers.
She then worked for a non-profit group and spent 2 years
in environmental consulting before returning to academia.
Cynthia is primarily interested agriculture and health, and
her current research focus is dietary pesticide exposure.
SYNOPSIS-
Americans spend more than $20 billion each year on organ
ic foods (grown without most pesticides). Although low-level
pesticide exposure had been associated with neurobehav
ioral changes in farmworkers and in children living in farm
ing communities, little is known about the health impacts
of dietary exposure to pesticides in the general population.
This project examines the relationship between dietary
pesticide exposure and neurobehavioral outcomes in over
5,000 people from six U.S. cities.
Keywords: organophosphorus pesticides, organic, dietary exposure, neurobehavioral changes, urinary metabolites
109
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Kayleigh Dunnett
EPA Grant Number: FP917130
Institution: University of Illinois, Urbana-
Champaign (IL)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail:
Biological Regeneration of RDX-Contaminated Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
using Extracellular Electron Shuttling Compounds
0B J ECTlVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Activated carbon is commonly used to remove high explosives such as
RDX from groundwater, but the safe handling of spent carbon granules
is both hazardous and costly. Therefore, this work aims to develop a
biological-chemical model system for adsorbed RDX transformation to
granular activated carbon (GAC) using known electron-shuttle reducing
microorganisms. Studies will utilize different cellular cultures to deter-
mine the rate and extent to which adsorbed RDX can be reduced using
hydroquinone electron shuttles and will identify key intermediates in the
degradation pathway.
APPROACH
Chemically reduced hydroquinones will be added to solutions contain-
ing RDX sorbed to GAC granules, and both GAC granules and aqueous
solution will be analyzed for RDX and transformation products in order
to determine whether hydroquinones can donate electrons to sorbed
RDX as a one-way reaction. Next, GAC/RDX/quinone solutions will be
inoculated with quinone-respiring Geobacter metallireducens to deter-
mine whether quinones could be reduced using cellular cultures, thus
producing a continuous flow of electrons to RDX. Studies will progress
to flow-through column experiments that mimic an ex-situ remedial
system, and alternate cultures will be tested.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Preliminary data suggest that chemically reduced hydroquinones can
successfully transform RDX sorbed to activated carbon, although
kinetics and extent of degradation are unknown. However, this reac-
tion occurs in less than 48 hours, suggesting that sorbed RDX can be
treated in a timely manner. Published studies have already proven that
G. metallireducens can reduce quinones in aqueous solution; therefore, it
is believed that the combination of cells and hydroquinones will produce
a system where RDX is continuously reduced and GAC granules can be
utilized indefinitely. It is believed that this cellular-chemical system can
be retrofitted to existing GAC units that are already treating RDX.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The safe transport and landfilling of RDX-spent GAC requires a consid-
erable amount of labor and cost; potentially explosive hazardous waste
must be handled carefully and deliberately, and appropriate landfills are
often far from clean-up sites. The proposed treatment strategy would
reduce the risk of explosion and would eliminate the need for GAC land-
filling as carbon granules will be continuously recycled.
BIO:
Kayleigh Dunnett received her undergraduate degree in
Civil Engineering at Florida State University (FSU). During
her last 18 months at FSU, she worked as a co-op student
in petroleum cleanup at the Florida Department of Envi
ronmental Protection. She received a Master of Science
in Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in 2009. Her M.S. studies used
biologically activated carbon to remove terf-butyl alcohol, a
gasoline derivative. She is currently a UIUC doctoral stu
dent; her research focuses on biotransformation of contami
nants sorbed to activated carbon.
SYNOPSIS:
Explosives are a common groundwater contaminant at mi I i
tary facilities. Activated carbon is the most utilized treat
ment method; however, this produces explosive hazardous
waste that is expensive to handle and dispose. This study
aims to transform explosives on spent activated carbon,
making the treated carbon nonhazardous and recyclable.
Carbon will be treated using a combination of bacterial cul
tures and chemical additives. The project would enhance,
not replace, current cleanup systems.
Keywords: RDX, granular activated carbon, hydroquinones, electron shuttles, bioregeneration
110
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John F. Egan
EPA Grant Number: FP917131
Institution: Pennsylvania State University (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: jfel21@psu.edu
Assessing the Impacts of PGR-Based Weed Management Systems to Plant and
Insect Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The impending commercialization of cotton and soybean genetically
modified for resistance to plant growth regulator herbicides (PGR)
including dicamba and 2,4-D will allow these compounds to be used
much more widely in the future. Because these herbicides are volatile
and prone to drifting off of crop fields, there is the potential for non-
target damage to susceptible crops and natural vegetation. Focusing on
dicamba, my research objectives are to quantify dicamba vapor drift at
field and landscape scales and to measure the effects of low doses of this
herbicide on susceptible crops and natural plant and insect communities
in agroecosystems.
EXPECTED RESULTS
My research will provide data to ensure that PGR-resistant crops are
commercialized with a robust understanding of any potential risks to
environmental quality. Data on the dynamics of dicamba vapor drift
will help develop strategies to minimize or avoid vapor drift while using
this herbicide effectively. A comprehensive analysis of crop susceptibil-
ity will help farmers understand drift risks to neighboring fields and to
gauge economic costs from herbicide drift incidences. Analysis of ef-
fects on natural vegetation will produce understanding of the sensitivity
of these habitats to herbicide drift and the potential effects on associ ated
ecosystem services including pollination.
APPROACH
Dicamba vapor drift will be empirically measured at field scales by
applying the herbicide to test plots and measuring emitted vapor con-
centrations at increasing distances using potted soybeans as a bioassay
system. These results will be translated to landscape scales using GIS
simulations that combine this data with previously-used air dispersion
models. A comprehensive literature based meta-analysis will assess the
effects of drift-level doses of dicamba on soybean, cotton, and other im-
portant susceptible crops species. Effects on natural plant and associated
insect communities will be assessed using experiments on field edge and
hedge row habitats treated with low doses of dicamba.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
PGR resistance biotechnology is being developed as a solution to a
growing worldwide crisis with glyphosate resistant weed species.
Complementing the transgenic technologies advanced by the biotechnol-
ogy industries, farmers and researchers have for decades been develop-
ing sustainable, integrated weed management (IWM) approaches. While
herbicides are an effective and important component of IWM systems,
due to their unique volatility and toxicological properties, widespread
use of PGR herbicides may pose unique risks to agroecosystems. At this
critical juncture, my research will encourage a reinvestment in IWM
science and provide data to ensure that PGR-resistant technologies are
implemented within a robust understanding of any potential risks to
environmental quality.
BIO:
J. Franklin Egan completed a B.S. in Biology from Cornell
University in 2004. Over the subsequent three years, he
traveled widely while working as a technician on various
ecological research projects for Cornell, the USGS, and
Brown University. In 2007 he began his Ph.D. in the ecol
ogy graduate program at Penn State University, working in
a research group focusing on the ecology and management
of weedy plants. His research interests include herbicide
ecotoxicology and the assessment and management of plant
diversity in agroecosystems.
SYNOPSIS:
To combat a crisis with glyphosate resistant weeds, the
biotechnology industry is developing crops that can toler
ate other herbicide ingredients, including the plant growth
regulator herbicides (PGR) dicamba and 2,4-D. A potential
problem is that PGR herbicides can be volatile and often
move away from targeted fields as droplets and vapors. My
research will quantify vapor drift of PGR herbicides and
explore potential risks to farmers growing susceptible crops
and to natural habitats.
Keywords: herbicide resistance, glyphosate, dicamba, agroecosystem, pollination
111
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Richard Arlin Erickson
EPA Grant Number: FP917132
Institution: Texas Tech University (TX)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: richard.erickson@ttu.edu
Quantifying the Impacts of Chemical Mixtures on Ecological Communities
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This study will test the overarching hypothesis that mixtures of toxi-
cants impact ecological community structure by altering relationships
among species. This hypothesis will be tested by using and compar-
ing two frameworks for quantifying the effects of toxic chemicals and
chemical mixtures in the environment: (1) a "pesticide-as-predator"
framework, and (2) a community "resistance and resilience" framework.
APPROACH
A field investigation of the impacts of the variety of pesticides on inver-
tebrate community structure in multiple ephemeral lakes of the South-
ern High Plains will be conducted. In addition, a series of laboratory
experiments will provide resolution of the direct and indirect effects of
toxicant mixtures. The ecological frameworks will be investigated by in-
tegrating the field and laboratory studies through hierarchical modeling.
EXPECTED RESULTS
In general, the field of environmental toxicology has developed with
surprisingly little interaction with the field of ecology. Nevertheless, a
variety of theoretical frameworks within ecology have been developed
to understand how ecological communities are structured. I expect that
these frameworks will offer insight into the ways toxicants alter inter-
specific relationships, and, ultimately, the structure of ecological com-
munities. This would represent a significant conceptual advance for the
field of environmental toxicology.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Adequate environmental protection depends on the ability to understand
and quantify the potential impacts of anthropogenic factors (in particu-
lar, chemicals) in an ecologically relevant manner. Current understand-
ing of the ecological relevance of toxicity data, however, is severely
lacking. This project will bridge this gap in knowledge.
BIO:
Richard Erickson grew up in rural Wisconsin and became
interested in applied ecology after restoring a native prairie
for his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. He earned
his undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology from the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2007 and an M.S.
from Texas Tech in 2009. He is currently pursuing a doc
torate in Environmental Toxicology, with a minor in Math
ematics, at Texas Tech, where he studying how mixtures of
toxicants affect ecological communities.
SYNOPSIS-
Toxic chemicals occur ubiquitously within the environment
and are one of many stressors that impact natural systems.
However, our understanding of the impacts of these chemi
cals is based on single-species toxicity testing where each
chemical is studied individually without consideration of
other chemicals or ecological stressors. This project uses
current ecological theory as a context for developing ap
proaches to quantify the impact of toxicant mixtures in an
ecologically meaningful way.
Keywords: ecological toxicology, ecotoxicology, community ecology, aquatic toxicology, pesticide, chemical mixtures
112
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Thomas Ross Garner
EPA Grant Number: FP917133
Institution: Clemson University (SC)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/18/2010 - 8/17/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: tgarner@elemson.edu
Influence of Nanoparticle Characteristics on Membrane Transfer
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The explosion of products and applications using nanomaterials has
occurred in the absence of detailed knowledge of the interactions of
nanoparticles with biological membranes. This lack of knowledge has
impeded the development of biomedical applications of nanomaterials
and prevented quantitative assessments of the risk of nanoparticles to
humans and ecosystems. Many biomedical applications of nanoparticles
rely on their ability to cross membranes; for a nanoparticle to be poten-
tially harmful, it typically must cross a membrane. In spite of this infor-
mation, little deliberate research has been performed to quantitatively
characterize the influence of nanoparticle characteristics on membrane
transport. The goal of this research is to characterize the influence of
particle core chemistry, size, shape and surface chemistry on the move-
ment of nanoparticles across biological membranes.
APPROACH
This research will test the specific hypothesis that nanoparticle trans-
fer across biological membranes is a function of particle physical and
chemical properties. To test this hypothesis, this project will quantify
the movement of nanoparticles of across cell membranes: out of the
gut tract and into the body of Daphnia magna and across the gut tract
of mice. Nanoparticles to be tested in this research vary in core chem-
istry, shape, size, and surface chemistry. Specifically, carbon dots and
gold spheres (4 nm, 18 nm, and 50 nm), gold cubes (50 nm and 75 nm)
and gold rods (20 nm x 100 nm and 20 nm st 400 nm) with cationic,
anionic, and nonionic surface modifications will be tested. While
both gold and carbon particles can be visualized using transmission
electron microscopy, gold particles can also be visualized using dark
field microscopy, and the autofluorescence of carbon dots makes them
amenable to confocal fluorescent microscopy Bioaccumulation of gold
nanoparticles will be further substantiated and quantified by Inductive-
ly Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Use of these com-
plete factorial designs will facilitate the use of Analysis of Variance to
analyze the data and quantify primary effects as well as secondary and
tertiary factor interactions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
We expect to find that most nanoparticles are poorly bioavailable and
do not pass through membranes. However, some nanoparticles, particu-
larly those that are smaller or mimic the charge and size characteristics
of ions, prostaglandins, or hormones will be bioavailable as they will
pass through either channels or ATP-dependent transporters. We predict
that most, if not all, of the nanoparticles that are bioavailable will have
similar characteristics. Specifically, we predict that spheres and cubes
will show greater bioavailability than rods. Furthermore, we predict that
particles that are bioavailable in D. magna will also be bioavailable in
mice. We theorize that these particles will pass through the basolateral
membranes of the small intestine, travel through the columnar epithelial
cells of the small intestine, and exit the apical membranes into the blood
Demonstration of this effect of specific types of nanoparticles is impor-
tant, as this work would show both basolateral and apical transport in an
in vivo system.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The potential societal benefits of nanotechnology can only be realized
if we adequately understand the interactions of these materials with
biological systems. Current research has focused on cellular uptake of
nanoparticles, as well as uptake in whole organisms However, a lack
of research quantitatively characterizing the influence of nanoparticle
characteristics on their transport within these two systems exists. This
research will help bridge the gaps in current research, while also pro-
viding a rapid, high volume bioassay that will facilitate future in vitro
screenings of varying nanoparticles in the absence of in vivo testing.
Results of this research will lay the foundation to develop quantitative
structure-activity relationships (QSARs) that can be used to predict
nanoparticle absorption in a variety of biological systems. In addition,
these same relationships will reduce the uncertainties currently clouding
quantitative human and ecological risk assessment.
BIO:
A native of Mulliris, South Carolina, Ross Garner received his
Bachelor's degree in Biology from The Citadel, The Military Col
lege of South Carolina, as a Palmetto Fellow and Citadel Scholar
in 2006, and his Master's degree from The Citadel Graduate
College in 2008. There, his research involvement ranged from
photoreceptor development in transgenic Xenopus laevis to the
photoinduced toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in
Palaemonetes pugio larvae, and included contaminant surveys
of estuaries and stormwater ponds in coastal South Carolina.
Between degrees he worked as a counselor for the Governor's
School of South Carolina at The College of Charleston, which he
previously attended in 2001, He has studied the Spanish Ian
guage and Latin American culture in Peru, as well as rainforest
and coral reef ecology in Belize. An avid sportsman and conserva
tionist, Ross serves on the National Board of Directors for Wild
life Action, Inc., an organization he has been involved with for
over 20 years. Currently, Ross is a second year doctoral student
at the Clemson University Institute of Environmental Toxicology.
His research examines the role that nanoparticle characteristics,
both physical and chemical, have on bioaccumulation by cells
and organisms.
SYNOPSIS:
The nano-tech revolution has occurred in the absence of detailed
knowledge concerning the interactions of nanoparticles with the
environment. This lack of knowledge has prevented quantita
tive assessments of the risks nanoparticles pose to humans and
ecosystems. This research will characterize the influence that
physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles have biological
interactions. Results of this project will help predict the uptake
of particles in various organisms in the environment.
Keywords: nanoparticles, particle characterization, particle uptake, bioaccumulation, gold, carbon dots, cell culture, in vitro screening
113
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David Richmond Griffith
EPA Grant Number: FP917134
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail:
The Fate of Natural and Synthetic Steroidal Estrogens in the Coastal Ocean
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Steroidal estrogens are potent endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
that are routinely discharged to coastal seas via human and industrial
wastewaters. Yet we remain largely uninformed about the sources,
concentrations, fates, and effects of estrogens in marine ecosystems.
We know even less about estrogen conjugates and chlorinated estro-
gens formed during wastewater disinfection. We hypothesize that past
observations have greatly underestimated the environmental dosing
with estrogens because conjugated and chlorinated derivatives were not
assessed. This research project will quantify abroad suite of estrogens
and their conjugated and chlorinated derivatives in wastewater and the
receiving waters of Massachusetts Bay. The project also will investigate
whether synthetic estrogens have carbon isotope signatures that may al-
low us to trace their fate in complex environments.
APPROACH
We will begin by determining the identities and concentrations of es-
trogens and their conjugated and chlorinated derivatives in Deer Island
wastewater treatment plant effluent and at several locations in Massa-
chusetts Bay. Estrogens will be concentrated from large volume water
samples by solid phase extraction and quantified using a liquid chroma-
tography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer. These measurements
will be used to construct the first quantitative budget of estrogens in
Massachusetts Bay in order to identify important sources, sinks, and
transformations, and assess the role of conjugated estrogens in the over-
all budget. In addition, preparative liquid chromatography-mass spec-
trometry will allow us to isolate individual estrogens from wastewater
extracts for subsequent carbon isotopic analysis.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This study would be the first of its kind to measure the full suite of
estrogens in coastal waters. Characterizing the chemical and isotopic
signatures of estrogens represents an important first step towards devel-
oping a comprehensive understanding of the fate and hazard of estro-
genic compounds in coastal ecosystems. The results will facilitate the
development of quantitative tools, ranging from a simple mass balance
box model to a 3-D numerical transport and fate model for steroidal
estrogens in Massachusetts Bay. These models can then help us under-
stand how different estrogen species (free vs. conjugated vs. chlorinated)
respond to transport and transformation processes controlling their
environmental distributions.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Improving our understanding of the speciation and chemical behavior
of synthetic chemicals and endocrine disrupters in coastal waters will
have far-reaching benefits to coastal ecosystems and human health. With
more information about dominant estrogen species and their transforma-
tions, coastal managers and engineers can develop realistic chemical
transport models and, together with policy makers, begin to evaluate
the effectiveness of mitigation strategies that include source controls,
treatment technologies, and redesigning pharmaceutical estrogens. This
approach should be broadly applied as a way to anticipate and avoid
similar problems in the future.
BIO:
David Griffith received a B.A. in Chemistry from Bowdoin
College in 2000. Since then, he has taught high school sci
ence at The Taft School and studied fisheries policy at the
Property and Environment Research Center. In 2007, David
completed his M.E.Sc. degree at the Yale School of Forestry
and Environmental Studies. Currently David is a doctoral
candidate at the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography.
His work focuses on the fate of sewage-derived contami
nants in the coastal ocean.
SYNOPSIS-
Every day 35 billion gallons of treated waste water is re
leased into U.S. rivers and oceans. These waste streams
contain a variety of natural and synthetic estrogens that can
threaten aquatic ecosystems and human health at extremely
low (ppt) concentration, yet very little is known about the
chemical behavior and form of estrogens in receiving coast
al waters. This project will address this concern by charac
terizing the quantity, speciation, and fate of estrogens in
Massachusetts Bay.
Keywords: steroidal estrogens, conjugated estrogens, chlorinated estrogens, carbon isotopes, coastal ecosystem health, endocrine disrupting chemicals, mass balance model, Massachusetts Bay
114
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Volha S. Keen
EPA Grant Number: FP917136
Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder (CO)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/31/2010 - 8/30/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: olya.keen@gmail.com
Oxidation of Antibiotics in Wastewater: Identifying Products and Impacts on
Antibacterial Activity
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The increasing use of pharmaceuticals in our society has resulted in the
scientific community recognizing these drugs as an emerging environ-
mental contaminant. Among them, antibiotics are of special importance
because they are used in large quantities and have been routinely de-
tected in many waterways. Antibiotics have been implicated as one of
the causes for the rise of pathogen resistance to antibacterial compounds.
Wastewater treatment plant effluents are a major conveyor of human
antibiotics into the environment. The project's goal is to evaluate the ap-
plication of ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation as an advanced waste-
water treatment method for its efficiency in degrading antibiotics such
that they are inactive in the environment, helping to prevent microorgan-
isms from developing widespread resistance to existing drugs.
APPROACH
Lab grade water and wastewater will be spiked with representatives of
four major groups of human antibiotics. The samples will be subjected
to bench scale advanced oxidation treatment similar to the full scale
treatment used at drinking water and water reuse treatment plants in the
United States. The treated samples will be evaluated using state of the
art liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methods to identify the
loss of parent compound and generation of degradation products. The
samples also will be subjected to bacterial inhibition assays to assess
their antibacterial activity in parallel.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is hypothesized that advanced oxidation can be applied effectively and
in an economically responsible manner for the removal of the antibacterial
activity of antibiotics. Ultimately, this study will develop a set of recom-
mendations for the application of advanced oxidation processes to waste-
water treatment. Effective removal of antibacterial activity of antibiotics
entering the environment can prevent the rise of widespread antibiotic
resistance of human pathogens, which is a growing problem world-wade
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This study intends to develop process application guidelines that will aid
in the design of advanced wastewater treatment systems for removal of
antibacterial activity of antibiotics. If regulation of specific antibiotics
contaminating our waterways is enacted in the future, this study will
provide information on the use of advanced oxidation processes to de-
stroy antibiotic activity. Removal of the activity of the antibiotics enter-
ing the environment is essential for preventing resistance among human
pathogens to the currently available classes of antibacterial drugs.
BIO:
Olya Keen received her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engi
neering and Master of Science in Environmental Engineer
ing degrees from the University of South Florida in Decern
ber 2008. She started her Ph.D. program in Environmental
Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder in
January 2009. Her main research interest is the advanced
treatment of water for the removal of emerging contami
nants. Olya's current research focuses on the removal of
antibacterial activity of antibiotics found in wastewater ef
fluent to prevent the spread of bacterial resistance.
SYNOPSIS:
Human antibiotics are often found in waterways as a result
of the improper disposal of drugs. The presence of antibiot
ics in the environment is undesirable because it can lead
to the development of antibiotic resistant strains of human
pathogens and upset the ecological balance of the natural
environment. Most human pharmaceuticals enter water
sources through wastewater treatment plant effluent. This
project will focus on advanced wastewater treatment tech
nologies that can degrade antibiotics.
Keywords: advanced oxidation, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, antibacterial resistance, wastewater treatment
115
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James P. Killarney
EPA Grant Number: FP917137
Institution: University of Maine (ME)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail:
Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis as a Rapid, Cost-Effective
Method To Monitor Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCP) in Three
Maine Rivers
0BJECTJVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are contaminants of
emerging concern in U.S. water supplies. In order to accurately assess
the human and environmental hazards of PPCP mixtures, the identity
and quantity of the individual pharmaceutical chemicals must first be
determined. Because this is a diverse group of compounds that number
in the thousands, it is cost-prohibitive to test for them using traditional
mass spec-based methods. In this project, we propose to develop a rapid,
cost-effective method using excitation emission matrix fluorescence
spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis to screen for PPCP
mixtures in natural water samples.
APPROACH
In the first stage of this project, standard concentration models will
be generated from excitation emission spectra using parallel factor
analysis (PARAFAC) by spiking natural water samples with varying
concentrations of individual PPCP compounds. These models will be
tested for predictive value by putting known concentration standards
into the model. Thus far, predictive models have been created for
17a-ethinyl estradiol. Samples will be collected from three Maine rivers
and analyzed using these models. Gas chromatography/mass spectros-
copy will be performed on the same samples and compared to the results
of the new method. The second stage of the project will assess the
strength of our models with the changing complexity of natural water
samples. Different sites along the three rivers will be sampled monthly
to asses both temporal and spatial changes in the water. Additionally,
multi-factor PARAFAC models will be created by spiking chemical
mixtures of varying concentrations into natural water samples to assess
the strength of individual compound models against changing concen-
trations of other compounds in the sample.
EXPECTED RESULTS
We propose to develop a new analytical method for identifying phar-
maceutical compounds using fluorescence spectroscopy. This novel
fluorescence spectroscopy technique will be used to identify individual
compounds at low concentrations in natural waters. This approach is
expected to produce a relatively low cost analytical method for screen-
ing a large number of organic compounds to help water suppliers and
regulatory agencies make accurate water quality assessments. Current
methodology for identifying pharmaceutical compounds in natural water
supplies is costly and can take several weeks to generate full results. In
comparison, the proposed method is rapid and less expensive in terms of
people and equipment. The potential time and cost benefit of the pro-
posed method will allow for more frequent sampling and allow for the
assessment of a wider range of potential contaminants to provide a more
accurate analysis of water quality. Additionally, this method can analyze
complex multi-component mixtures without resorting to prior separation
procedures. If the methods and analysis show success for the studied
compounds, they can be applied to other classes of chemicals found in
water Compounds that show distinctive fluorescence properties (e.g.,
VOCs and pesticides) are potential candidates for this analysis.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
In order to assess the health risks of potentially thousands of trace
compounds in our natural water systems, thorough and comprehensive
testing must be performed. Unfortunately, this is a cost-prohibitive
endeavor. Rapid, inexpensive screening techniques for select compounds
will allow for more sampling and data generation. More data will aid
in the risk assessment of these compounds with regards to human and
ecosystem health.
BIO:
James Killarney received his undergraduate degree in Biol
ogy from the University of Maine in 1998. After graduat
ing, he worked for the biotechnology firm Biogen Idee in
Cambridge, MA for 8 years as a quality assurance specialist
responsible for evaluating clinical development data. He re
ceived his Master's in Public Health from Boston University
in 2005 with a focus in environmental health. He returned
to the University Maine in 2007 and is working towards a
Ph.D. in chemistry. His research focuses on using fluores
cence spectroscopy to detect pharmaceutical contamination
in water.
SYNOPSIS:
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are
contaminants of emerging concern in U.S. water supplies.
The health effects of chronic exposure to mixtures of these
compounds are unknown. Testing for the large number of
these compounds is a cost-prohibitive endeavor. The goal
of this project is to develop a rapid, cost-effective screen
ing method using fluorescence spectroscopy combined with
parallel factor analysis to identify and quantify PPCP mix
ture contamination in water samples.
Keywords: PPCP, PARAFAC, fluorescence spectroscopy, water quality
116
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Gregg Peter Kotchey
EPA Grant Number: FP917138
Institution: University of Pittsburgh (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: gpkst3@pitt.edu
Enzymatic Degradation of Carbon Nanotubes To Mitigate Potential Toxicity
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Due to their unique properties, vast research has been conducted on
nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs). As the resulting
electronic, composite, and sensor applications become commercialized,
the demand for CNTs of all varieties has increased. The current output
for large-scale production of CNTs has been given as 10,000 tons per
manufacturing plant per year. With such a large amount of CNTs being
produced and the associated handling involved in processing these nano-
materials, not only do the workers increase their risk of point-source
exposure through inhalation, but also the general public is at risk of the
toxic effects of CNTs, when this material is introduced into non-point
source aquatic environments such as rivers and streams. This research
project will develop a mechanistic understanding and manipulation of
the enzymatic degradation of CNTs that can be employed for future
environmental remediation that aims to mitigate possible toxicological
effects of CNTs before these materials enter the human body.
APPROACH
The basis for this research project is rooted in the findings by our re-
search group that the enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), can
degrade carboxylated CNTs in the presence of low concentrations (-40
|xM) of hydrogen peroxide (H O ). The focus of this project is to obtain
a fundamental mechanistic understanding of this enzymatic degrada-
tion process, which will be accomplished by three approaches. First, the
environmental and structural factors affecting the kinetics of CNT deg-
radation using HRP will be identified. Next, to promote the degradation
of pristine CNTs, HRP will be modified, and the CNTs will be noncova-
lently functionalized. Finally, the intermediate products of HRP-degra-
dation of CNTs and their potential toxicity will be determined.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The factors impacting the mechanism of HRP catalyzed degradation of
CNTs will be ascertained during this comprehensive study. By perform-
ing the research outlined in the first approach, the optimal pH, tempera-
ture, and concentration of H,0. for maximizing the kinetics of in vitro
HRP degradation of carboxylated CNTs will be ascertained. Second,
modifying the cofactors of HRP to create a more hydrophobic active
site should enhance its interaction with pristine CNTs resulting in their
degradation. In addition, a precedent has been established for the coat-
ing of CNTs with natural organic matter (NOM), which enables CNTs to
disperse in aqueous media. This increased hydrophilicity should pro-
mote favorable interaction between HRP and the coated-CNT conjugate,
resulting in the degradation of pristine material that was functionalized
through noncovalent approaches. Finally, because HRP is known to fa-
cilitate the heterolytic cleavage of H,0^ to form Compound I and water,
it is expected that the majority of products from this reaction will consist
of highly oxidized aromatic hydrocarbons and oxidized aliphatic hydro-
carbons. Moreover, we expect to see CO, gas production as an indication
of complete degradation. By examining the literature, the toxicity of the
products of degradation will be ascertained.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
While production companies increase their output of CNTs to meet
growing demand, the risk of environmental contamination of this toxic
material is increased. Such contamination can subsequently diffuse
through aquifers and residential drinking water. As a result, necessary
precaution will have to be taken to insure that the public, as well as the
manufacturers, are safe from the toxic effects associated with CNTs.
This project comprehensively outlines a method to safely degrade CNTs
employing the enzyme HRP. Armed with the findings of this work, en-
vironmental engineers will be well equipped to develop in situ remedia-
tion schemes for environmental systems to mitigate CNT toxicity.
BIO:
Gregg Kotchey received his undergraduate degree in Chem
istry from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004 with both
University and Departmental Honors, He proceeded to enter
the Ph.D. program in Analytical Chemistry at the University
of Pittsburgh. Under the direction of Prof. Alexander Star,
Gregg's research focuses on enzymatic degradation of car
bon nanotubes utilizing horseradish peroxidase. In addition
to research, he received the Safford Award for "Excellence
as a Graduate Student Teacher."
SYNOPSIS-
Due to their unique properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
have been integrated in numerous applications. Toxicologi
cal studies, however, have demonstrated that CNTs induce
inflammatory responses and cellular apoptosis. As produc
tion of CNTs increase to meet the growing demand, the
risk of environmental contamination increases. This project
aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of the enzy
matic degradation of CNTs that can be applied in future
environmental remediation schemes.
Keywords: carbon nanotubes, toxicity, enzymes, horseradish peroxidase, degradation, environmental contamination, environmental remediation
117
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Stephen R. Lantz
EPA Grant Number: FP917139
Institution: University of California, Berkeley (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: stephen.r.lantz@berkeley.edu
Glufosinate Neurotoxicity Targets
0BJECTiVE(S)/RESEARCH QLJESTION(S)
This research will determine if the neurotoxicity of the major organo-
phosphorus herbicide glufosinate is primarily due to glutamate subtype
/V-methyl-/)-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation, glutamine synthe-
tase inhibition or another high affinity glufosinate binding site interac-
tion using radioligand binding and enzyme assays coupled with struc-
ture activity and molecular biology approaches.
APPROACH
Radiolabeled ['Hjglufosinate will be synthesized at 30-60 Ci/mmol and
used in kinetic and competition binding assays of mouse brain mem-
brane and cytosol fractions to characterize the binding site. Compara-
tive assays with known NMDA or glutamate receptor radioligands will
be carried out to further characterize the interaction of glufosinate with
known molecular sites. Glutamine synthetase inhibition will be analyzed
by colorimetric assay for glutamine formation. Interactions of glufos-
inate with glutamate receptors (binding assays) and glutamine synthe-
tase (colorimetric assays) will be compared in sensitivity, localization
and toxicological relevance.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Binding assays will define a high affinity glufosinate binding site in
brain that is glycine concentration dependent, and inhibited by known
NMDA receptor antagonists or agonists. I also expect to find that the
characterized binding site is more important to neurotoxicity than glu-
tamine synthetase inhibition. Conversion to the A'-acetyl derivative of
glufosinate by plants is the mechanism for resistance in GMO plants. N-
Acetyl glufosinate is also more likely than glufosinate to cross the blood
brain barrier. The interaction of glufosinate and the //-acetyl derivative
with glutamate receptors and glutamine synthetase will be compared.
These results will constitute a much better understanding of the relevant
site(s) for glufosinate neurotoxicity than currently exists.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Increasing worldwide population and decreasing farmlands are leading
to demands for increased crop yields. GM crops are being developed and
utilized in response to this demand Glufosinate-resistant and related
GM crops are one of the leading solutions to date. The potential for hu-
man exposure to glufosinate crop applications and residues is high. The
knowledge base on the glufosinate neurotoxic phenotype is incomplete.
The projected increase in demand for GM crops, and thereby glufos-
inate, signals an increasing need to fully characterize the neurotoxic
phenotype. In line with this need, this study aims to achieve a better
understanding of glufosinate through characterization of the binding
site and analysis of multiple target site relevance. With more complete
knowledge about the neurotoxic effect, more educated use decisions can
be made to protect humans and the environment.
BIO:
Stephen Lantz received his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry
from SUNY Stony Brook in 2008. During the summer prior
to completion of his degree he worked as an intern in the
Toxicology and Drug Chemistry Laboratory of the Suffolk
County Medical Examiner's Office in New York. He began a
Ph.D. program in Molecular Toxicology at the University of
California, Berkeley in fall 2008. His research aims to un
derstand the interaction of a major herbicide (glufosinate)
with the mammalian nervous system.
SYNOPSIS-
Genetically-modified (GM) plants, as well as herbicides
used in conjunction with them, are often the tools of choice
to increase crop yields and feed an expanding population.
Weed resistance developed to the safest and most used her
bicide (glyphosate) is requiring the deployment of less safe
alternatives. This research defines the neurotoxicity of the
main herbicidal alternative for GM crops, glufosinate. The
results are necessary for informed human and environmen
tal safety decisions.
Keywords: glufosinate, glutamate receptor, neurotoxicity, radioligand, binding site
118
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Stacey Marie Louie
EPA Grant Number: FP917141
Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: slouie@andrew.cmu.edu
Deposition of Polymer- and NOM-Coated Nanoparticles to Environmental Surfaces:
Conceptual Model Development and Validation
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Nanoparticles are typically engineered with polymer coatings and
can become further coated with natural organic matter (NOM) upon
release to the environment. These coatings control nanoparticle fate
and transport and hence bioavailability and exposure risk; therefore, a
comprehensive model to predict nanoparticle transport (as controlled by
deposition) must consider the properties of the coating. This project will
determine the effect of the morphology of the coated nanoparticles on
their deposition to environmental surfaces.
APPROACH
The overall approach is to systematically create a model set of polyelec-
trolyte-coated nanoparticles over a range of morphologies and to mea-
sure their deposition onto silica surfaces on laboratory scale columns
and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). The morphologies will range
from individual polymer-decorated nanoparticles where the radius of
gyration of the polymer is less than 0.1 times the diameter of the NP,
to a nanoparticle-decorated polymer (two or more particles) where the
radius of gyration of the polymer is 10 to 50 times the NP diameter.
First, titanium dioxide nanoparticles will be coated using poly(acrylic
acid) (PAA) of various molecular weights. These coated nanoparticle
systems will be characterized by several methods, including transmis-
sion electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, to determine
their morphologies. Then, deposition of the coated nanoparticles will be
measured in column and QCM studies to quantitatively determine the
impact of morphology on deposition. After testing these model synthetic
macromolecule coatings, various NOM coatings will be similarly tested
to extend the study to natural environmental systems.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The two end member morphologies (polymer-decorated nanoparticles
and nanoparticle-decorated polymers) are expected to show significantly
different deposition behavior. Deposition of the polymer-decorated
nanoparticle is expected to follow the extended DLVO model, which
accounts for electrosteric interactions between the nanoparticle and
the surface. Conversely, the nanoparticle-decorated polymer structure
is expected to show deposition behavior more similar to that of the
macromolecule itself. The effect of NOM coatings on morphology and
deposition are expected to depend on the properties of the NOM (e.g.
molecular weight and rigidity). The results of this research will contrib-
ute to models used to predict nanoparticle transport and partitioning in
the environment.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Risk assessments for environmental and human health protection must
account for both toxicity and exposure risks. The deposition behavior of
nanoparticles, which is controlled by their macromolecule coatings, will
determine their partitioning among environmental media and the risk of
potential exposure and bioavailability to humans and ecological commu-
nities. Therefore, a thorough, quantitative understanding of the role of
polymer and NOM coatings on nanoparticle deposition will contribute to
exposure risk assessments for nanoparticles, which will provide guid-
ance for environmental regulations.
BIO:
Stacey Louie received her B.S. in Chemical Engineer
ing from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009. She
has participated in undergraduate research programs in
air quality and environmental remediation. She entered
the Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. program at
Carnegie Mellon University in Fall 2009 and is currently
researching nanoparticle fate and transport in Dr. Gregory
Lowry's group as part of the Center for the Environmental
Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT).
SYNOPSIS-
The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer products is in
creasing, but their environmental impact remains to be fully
characterized. NPs are typically coated with polymers (engi
neered or incidental), which control their distribution in the
environment. This project focuses on determining the role
of the coated NP structure on fate and transport. This work
will contribute to environmental modeling and exposure risk
assessments, thus helping to advise regulatory guidelines
for nanotechnology.
Keywords: environmental nanotechnology, nanoparticle fate and transport, nanoparticle deposition, nanoparticle coatings, polymer coating, natural organic matter
119
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Robert Alan Miranda
EPA Grant Number: FP917143
Institution: Northern Arizona University (AZ)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/30/2010 - 8/29/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: ram257@nau.edu
Impacts from Exposure to Common Chemical Pollutants on Neuroendocrine-
Regulated Behavior and Related Gene Expression
0BJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QLJESTION(S)
Sex steroids play a critical role in developmental and adult expression of
behavior through actions on the brain that impact the arginine vasotocin
(AVT)/vasopressin (AVP) systems. Although several studies have inves-
tigated how estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds impact gonadal
development, almost nothing is known about how exposure to environ-
mental estrogens impacts the AVT/AVP signaling system. Using Xeno-
pus tropiccilis as a model species, the objectives of this project are 1) to
determine whether adult exposure to a human exposure concentration of
individual common endocrine disrupting compounds or a mix of these
compounds impacts AVT-mediated vocal behavior and genes involved in
estrogen and AVT signaling in the brain, and 2) to determine the impact
of developmental exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds on AVT
and neuro-estrogen signaling systems and on adult behavior.
APPROACH
This project will examine the impact of exposure to a single known con-
taminant or a complex mix of contaminants on AVT/AVP sensitive so-
cial behaviors. Working from behavior to gene expression, the exposure
effects on AVT-signaling systems and on the estrogenic components that
may be involved in regulating social behavior will be evaluated. Using
male Western clawed frogs as an animal model, one study will examine
the impact of adult exposure on AVT-regulated sexual behavior, includ-
ing vocalizations, and brain expression of related genes. In another
study, behavior and gene expression will be evaluated after males are
exposed to contaminants during their development.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Changes in vocal behavior and brain expression of related genes are
expected after chemical exposure. Differential effects are also expected
based on the time of exposure during the animal's life. Results from this
study may lead to a better understanding of 1) how estrogen regulates
development of the AVT/AVP behavioral system, 2) the molecular mech-
anisms involved in how environmental estrogens can modulate behavior,
3) how the timing of exposure to these compounds during an animal's
life may be important in understanding their impacts, and 4) how mixes
that are relevant to those found in human plasma impact behavior and
neuroendocrine signaling processes.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
By evaluating multiple neuroendocrine endpoints in the same individu-
als throughout their life history and linking these results to behavior, the
outcome of this research may help to understand the impacts of exposure
to different compounds found in the environment, as well as the impor-
tance of the timing of exposure to these compounds. Because the AVT/'
AVP signaling system is so tightly conserved across vertebrates, results
from this study may be applicable to our understanding of the impacts of
chemical exposure on wildlife species and on human health.
BIO:
Robert Miranda grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and earned
his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology in 2004 and 2006,
respectively, from the University of the Incarnate Word
(UIW) in San Antonio. He remained at UIW as an instruc
tor before starting the Ph.D. program in Biology at Northern
Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff. He earned a trainee
ship from NAU's National Science Foundation (NSF)-fund
ed IGERT program, which supported the development of his
dissertation topic. Robert's current research examines the
impact of exposure to environmental pollutants on verte
brate social behaviors and related neuroendocrine signaling
in the brain.
SYNOPSIS-
Environmental pollutants can disrupt normal functioning
of the endocrine system. These endocrine disruptors can
impact an organism's development, physiology, or behavior
by mimicking or inhibiting natural hormone and chemical
signaling. This project aims to understand how exposure to
common environmental pollutants and the timing of expo
sure during an organism's lifetime affects neuroendocrine
regulated vertebrate social behavior and related gene ex
pression using Xenopus tropical is as a model.
Keywords: endocrine disruptors, arginine vasotocin, arginine vasopressin, social behavior, vocalizations, Xenopus tropicalis. Western clawedfrog
120
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Shannon Mary Mitchell
EPA Grant Number: FP917144
Institution: Washington State University at
Pullman (WA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: mitc4725@wsu.edu
Anaerobic Digestion and Composting Treatment Efficiency of Cephalosporins
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Human and veterinary antibiotic excretion and the subsequent release
of un-metabolized antibiotics into the environment following differ-
ent waste management practices is a human and environmental health
concern Several studies have identified antibiotics in surface water and
groundwater, but antibiotic quantification in environmental matrices
such as biosolids, manure, compost, and anaerobic digestion effluent has
been performed to a lesser extent. This research project will investigate
antibiotic presence in processed and unprocessed solid waste products
and analyze antibiotic persistence during composting and anaerobic di-
gestion. It will also investigate antibiotic chemical behaviors in soil and
water systems.
APPROACH
The first step in quantifying antibiotic presence from manure, compost,
anaerobic digestion effluent, and biosolids will be to determine appropri-
ate antibiotic extraction and sample clean-up methods. Then, environ-
mental samples will be collected around Washington State and analyzed
for selected human and veterinary antibiotics. By examining samples
before and after waste treatment using scaled-down treatment units,
antibiotic treatment efficiencies will be identified. Antibiotic dissipation
mechanisms will also be tested under laboratory conditions by control-
ling for chemical degradation, biological degradation, and sorption.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Processed and unprocessed solid waste products are land applied as
fertilizer, and in many confined animal feeding operations compost
is used for cattle bedding. This is concerning because antibiotic
presence promotes antibiotic resistance. This research will quantify
antibiotic presence in compost and other land-applied solids, and the
results will be provided to resource managers, which will help facili-
tate antibiotic exposure evaluation and risk assessments in confined
animal feeding operations.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Antibiotics that are more mobile in soil may contaminate drinking
water; however, less mobile antibiotics may persist in soils, where bio-
accumulation and antibiotic resistance in soil bacteria are promoted.
Antibiotic resistance has been increasing, and critically important
medicines may no longer be first-line agents due to developed antibi -
otic resistance in pathogens. This project has the potential to further
human and environmental health protection by identifying antibiotic
presence in environmental samples, investigating antibiotic persistence
during waste treatment, and analyzing the compound mobility in soil
and water systems.
BIO:
Shannon Mitchell was raised in Union, OR, and was high
school co-valedictorian in 2004. She then attended the
University of Idaho and graduated with a B.S, in Biological
and Agricultural Engineering in 2009. With her Engineer
in-Training certification, she began the Ph.D. program in
Biological Systems Engineering at Washington State Univer
sity, Pullman. Her specific research interests are in studying
organic contaminants in the environment. She currently is
researching the fate and transport behaviors of some human
and veterinary antibiotics.
SYNOPSIS:
Trace antibiotic levels in the environment are an increasing
public health concern, as these pharmaceutical compounds
have been linked to the promotion of antibiotic resistant
bacteria. Moreover, their impacts on ecosystem functions
remain unknown. This project studies antibiotic presence in
environmental samples such as manure, compost, anaero
bic digestion effluent and biosolids. It also analyzes antibi
otic dissipation mechanisms in soil and water systems.
Keywords: antibiotic, biosolids, compost, anaerobic digestion waste, manure, treatment, soil, water, degradation, sorption, waste management practices, contaminant, fate and transport,
antibiotic resistance, health risk
121
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Pamela Diane Noyes
EPA Grant Number: FP917145
Institution: Duke University (NC)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: pamela.noyes(S?duke.edu
Metabolism of PBDEs in Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas) and Effects on
Thyroid Regulation
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame-retardant chemicals
added to consumer products such as furniture foam, carpets, car seats, and
electronics to reduce their flammability. PBDEs are released into the environ-
ment through numerous pathways, and they are now environmentally ubiqui-
tous. This contamination is highest in people and wildlife in North America.
Evidence suggests that PBDEs may be neurodevelopmental toxins. They also
perturb the endocrine system of vertebrates by impairing thyroid function,
which plays a key role in growth, development, and metabolism of all verte-
brates. Core objectives of this research are to determine how young and adult
fish, as important indicators of overall environmental health, are metaboliz-
ing PBDEs to more persistent, bioavailable, and potentially toxic metabolites,
and how these compounds may disrupt fish thyroid regulation.
APPROACH
This research will focus primarily on decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209).
BDE 209 is the primary congener in the high production volume mixture
known as DecaBDE, which is the only commercial PBDE mixture still
used today. The first phase of this research project will measure the accu-
mulation of BDE-209 and its metabolites in fathead minnow (Pimephales
promelas) adults, larvae, and juveniles receiving dietary exposures to BDE-
209. This initial phase will also involve using in vitro assays of sub-cellular
fractions to help identify enzyme systems catalyzing PBDE metabolism
by examining the activity of potential biotransforming enzymes across
different fathead minnow life stages. PBDE metabolism in rodents and
humans appears to occur primarily through oxidative, cytochrome P450
(CYP)-mediated pathways, which generate hydroxylated metabolites (e.g.,
OH-BDEs). In fish, however, studies suggest that PBDE metabolism occurs
via a reductive dehalogenation pathway. No hydroxylated metabolites have
been observed to form metabolically in PBDE-exposed fish. An important
hypothesis of this research is that deiodinase (DI) enzymes, which aid in
vertebrate thyroid hormone homeostasis, may be involved in this reduc-
tive debromination pathway in fish. This will be the first study to apply
liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) methods,
recently developed in our laboratory, to measure DI activity and contami-
nant effects on DI activity. The second phase of this research will explore
thyroidal effects and mechanisms of thyroid dysfunction at different levels
of the thyroid axis of adult fathead minnows exposed to BDE-209 via the
diet. This phase of the research will examine BDE-209 effects on circulat-
ing thyroid hormone levels (i.e., thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3))
and thyroid follicle morphology. It will also examine whether these BDE-
209 exposures alter the expression of genes encoding important thyroidal
and hepatic proteins involved in thyroid hormone homeostasis. Genes that
will be examined include those encoding DI enzymes, thyroid hormone
receptors and transporters, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and hepatic
metabolizing enzymes. This research will be the first evaluation of the
mRNA expression of DI isoforms in fish exposed to PBDEs.
EXPECTED RESULTS
PBDE effects on fish and other wildlife continue to be poorly understood,
and this research will contribute to filling this data gap. It will increase our
understanding of PBDE metabolic pathways and mechanisms of thyroid
dysfunction in fish exposed to this important class of contaminants. Sub-
stantial differences in the biotransformation of PBDEs have been observed
between mammals and fish. While the reductive debromination of PBDEs
to potentially more persistent and bioactive congeners appears to be a major
metabolic pathway in fish, the involvement and role of specific enzyme
systems are largely unknown. This will be the first research to more clearly
address why there appear to be substantial differences between how mam-
mals and fish metabolize PBDEs. Moreover, Dl-catalyzed metabolism of
an environmental contaminant would be a novel pathway not observed
previously in vertebrates. By examining PBDE metabolism across different
life-stages, this research will help to elucidate whether early life-stages of
fish may be especially sensitive to these contaminants. Finally, work under
this project will further our understanding of PBDE effects across different
levels of the fish thyroid system, including their potential to alter peripheral
thyroid hormone levels, thyroid hormone-regulated gene transcription and
metabolic activity, and thyroid follicle morphology.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Data collected under this research project will help to inform decision-mak-
ing to balance the benefits gained from the use of PBDEs with their poten-
tial to cause adverse effects in sensitive wildlife populations and humans.
Because the thyroid system is highly conserved across vertebrates, results
of this work could have broader applications to elucidate PBDE effects on
human health. Finally, this PBDE effects research will combine the use of
chemical, biochemical, sub-cellular, histological, and molecular assays and
techniques. This type of integrative approach may serve as a useful model
for detecting contaminant impacts among wild fish populations and for
evaluating the potential for other contaminants to cause thyroid disruption.
BIO:
Pamela Noyes received her B.S. from the University of Maryland
and M.S. in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins Uni
versity in 2002. She worked as a scientist and project manager
for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for several years
where, over the course of her tenure, she assisted in developing
and communicating Agency positions on ecological risk assess
ment topics, providing scientific analysis to support water quality
regulations and policies, and conducting and managing human
health and ecological effects evaluations for pesticides. Subse
quentto her work with EPA, Pam began her Ph.D. in Environ
mental Toxicology and Chemistry at Duke University. Her research
focuses on examining the aquatic effects of brominated flame
retardant chemicals. She is currently researching the underlying
mechanisms by which the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)
flame retardants are metabolized in fish and are disrupting thy
roid system regulation.
SYNOPSIS:
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardant
chemicals added to consumer products such as furniture, car
seats, and electronics to reduce their flammability. They are now
widespread contaminants in both living and non living parts of the
environment. The core questions I am seeking to answer center
on determining: 1) how young and adult fish are breaking down
PBDEs to more persistent and toxic products; and 2) how these
compounds are potentially disrupting the fish thyroid system.
Keywords: PBDE, brominatedflame retardant, endocrine disruption, thyroid, homone, aquatic toxicology, ecotoxicologv, metabolism, bioavailability, bioaccumulation, pollution, contaminant
122
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Leila Margaret Nyber
EPA Grant Number: FP917146
Institution: Purdue University (IN)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/16/2010 - 8/15/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail:
Advancing Techniques to Link Microbial Community Structure with Function to
Assess the Impact of Emerging Contaminants using f-CNTs as Model Compounds
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
My objective is to determine the effect of functionalized single-walled
carbon nanotubes such as SWNT-PEG and SWNT-COOH on the struc-
ture and function of an anaerobic microbial community, in addition to
directly assessing the bioavailability of SWNT-PEG. My first hypothesis
is that community function will be affected by exposure to the function-
alized nanotubes (f-CNTs), and my second hypothesis is that microbial
community structure will be affected as well. Finally, I hypothesize that
PEG diol dehydratase will be induced in response to SWNT-PEG.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Preliminary results show that SWNT-COOH significantly increases gas
formation, with DGGE results showing microbial community shifts over
time. Continuing this analysis will elucidate the effect of SWNT-COOH
over exposure times of a few months, while determining whether or not
SWNT-PEG becomes bioavailable and exerts an impact on the microbial
community over a longer period of time. This information will contrib-
ute to risk assessment of nanomaterials and inform their responsible
manufacture and disposal.
APPROACH
Anaerobic digester sludge from the Greater Lafayette wastewater treat-
ment plant is used to construct microcosms, which are exposed to SWNT-
PEG and SWNT-COOH. All treatments and reference samples are as-
sembled in triplicate. Community function is assessed by monitoring gas
formation (methanogenesis), detecting genes related to methanogenesis
and acetogenesis, and using the diol dehydratase assay. Community
structure is assessed by using polymerase chain reaction with denaturing
gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Domain-level as well as group-
specific primers will be used to detect microbial community shifts.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Anaerobic digester microbial communities are receptors for emerging
contaminants such as nanomaterials. These engineered microbial com-
munities serve as important model systems for other anaerobic com-
munities found in soil, in sediment, and in the stomachs of ruminant
animals. Land application of sludge biosolids, and the importance of
maintaining effective wastewater treatment systems, make understand-
ing the effects of new chemicals in such environments important for
human health as well as environmental management.
BIO:
Leila Nyberg received a Bachelor's degree from Kansas
State University in 2001. Her ongoing Ph.D. work at Pur
due University involves risk assessment of nanomaterials
and other emerging contaminants, using molecular genetic
techniques to detect changes in structure and function of
microbial communities in response to these new materials.
Ms. Nyberg received an M.S. degree from Purdue Univer
sity in 2008. She also participates in an education and
outreach project to address environmental issues in Native
Alaskan Villages.
SYNOPSIS:
The environmental impact of single-walled carbon nano
tubes (SWNT) is largely unknown. In this study, microor
ganisms from an anaerobic wastewater treatment digester
are exposed to SWNT functionalized with carboxyl groups
(-C00H) and polyethylene glycol (-PEG). Gas formation is
monitored and genetic tests are used to generate a micro
bial community fingerprint, in order to determine whether or
not these new materials affect the structure and function of
the microbial community.
Keywords: nanomaterials, nanotoxicology, anaerobic, emerging contaminants, nanotubes, wastewater treatment, molecular genetics
123
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Amber Ford Reosner
EPA Grant Number: FP917148
Institution: University of California, Davis (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/15/2010 - 8/14/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: afroegner@ucdavis.edu
Development of Novel Risk Assessment and Screening Approaches for Microcystin
Congeners in Freshwater Harmful Algae Blooms
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
With rising global temperatures and surface nutrient runoff, harmful
toxin-producing cyanobacterial blooms in freshwaters worldwide only
stand to increase. The persistent microcystins, the most commonly
identified family of toxins present in these freshwater blooms, continue
to pose a public health threat in surface waters utilized for drinking
and recreation worldwide. Yet huge gaps in risk assessment of the over
80 structural variants remain, along with many unknowns regarding
mechanism of toxicity in the diverse species affected by the potent liver
toxin. This project will evaluate comparative congener hepatotoxicity,
probe species differences in hepatocellular uptake of the toxins to better
understand mechanism of toxicity, and aim to improve available detec-
tion techniques in water and biological matrices. In addition to enabling
screening for potentially effective antidotes in various species, the work
will potentially improve evaluation of risk from drinking water and
seafood in chronically exposed human populations through improved
detection techniques.
APPROACH
The first stage of the research will compare congener hepatotoxicity in
vitro relative to the most current marker of toxicity, protein phosphatase
inhibition, and probe whether alternative markers offer a better predictor
of hepatoxicity. Primary mammalian and piscine cells will be utilized
to evaluate species differences in uptake and susceptibility to toxic-
ity. In addition, the novel approach of aggregate culture will be utilized
to facilitate more in v/vo-like and sustained function of both primary
hepatocytes and immortalized cell lines with potential application to
direct toxicity screening of water samples. Finally, international work
will include the development and application of a low-cost, easy-to-use,
monoclonal ELISA to evaluate the extent of exposure via drinking water
and seafood sources globally.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Because of previous case reports of animal intoxications linked to other
congeners, it is expected that microcystin-LR will not be the congener
with greatest hepatocellular toxicity and that protein phosphatase inhi-
bition will not be a good predictor of relative congener hepatocellular
toxicity. In addition, it is expected that hepatocellular uptake of the
toxins will play a substantial role in species differences and be a good
predictor of toxicity in vitro. Not only will these results provide guid-
ance for monitoring and improved risk assessment, but also lend insight
into mechanisms of toxicity and potenti al intervention strategies for both
humans and veterinary species. The development of a low-cost, easy-to-
use, monoclonal ELISA will facilitate detection in both drinking water
and biological matrices in low-mcome areas of the world for improved
detection and evaluation of chronic exposure.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The work will provide a more thorough evaluation of comparative
congener toxicity in addition to species differences in toxicity that
can directly be utilized to make improved monitoring and risk assess-
ment suggestions for communities potentially exposed to the toxins in
freshwaters worldwide. In the case of acute scenarios, it may lead to an
antidote or alternative intervention strategy, while a more rugged, low-
cost ELISA will enable a more thorough evaluation of chronic exposures
through drinking water or food sources in developing nations.
BIO:
Amber Roegner received a B.S. in Environmental Engineer
ing from Yale University in 2002. She worked for Cody
Ehlers Group in environmental consulting and groundwater
remediation until 2004. Prior to starting at the University
of California, Davis Veterinary School in 2006, she partici
pated in a Anadromous Fish Evaluation Project in Oregon
and in a Fulbright-Hayes project in Nigeria. Her Ph.D. in
Pharmacology and Toxicology began in 2008 and focuses
on improving risk assessment and detection of the freshwa
ter harmful algae bloom toxins, microcystins, and she will
collaborate internationally to protect public health.
SYNOPSIS:
Microcystins (MCs) are potent liver toxins produced in
freshwater blooms worldwide. MCs affect diverse species
from fish to cows to humans in environmental waters and
present a public health threat, as they persist in boiled
drinking water. Over 80 structural variants exist, yet risk
assessment relies on one variant. This project will evalu
ate comparative toxicity and species differences, screen for
antidotes, and more thoroughly evaluate extent of exposure
in human populations.
Keywords: microcystins, cyanotoxins, freshwater harmful algae blooms (HABs), microcystin LR, cyanobacteria, aggregate culture, drinking water, risk assessment, algae toxins, public
health, detection methods, in vitro toxicity
124
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Greg L. Saylor
EPA Grant Number: FP917149
Institution: University of Cincinnati (OH)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
E-mail: saylorgl@rttail.uc.edu
Combined Toxicity of Pesticides in Drinking Water: A Sustainable Optimization of
Current Drinking Water Treatment Oxidation and Carbon Filtration Methods
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The purpose of this project is to address the toxic mixtures that are cre-
ated in drinking water by pesticides and their degradates that have the
potential of expressing greater toxicities when mixed. In addition, tradi-
tional oxidation practices used in drinking water treatment may worsen
the situation through the creation of more toxic by-products. This project
will explore the effects of chemical disinfection processes on pesticides
present in drinking water.
APPROACH
The primary objective of this project is to learn more about the com-
plex interactions of toxic substances in mixtures. The project will be
completed in three phases. First, toxicity data will be obtained through
testing single pesticides as well as controlled mixtures. Second, a labora-
tory treatment system will be used to determine the optimum operating
conditions to minimize effluent toxicity with synthetic influent spiked
with pesticides. The system will consist of two batch reactors: pre-
disinfection using potassium permanganate, and post-disinfection using
chlorine. A granular activated carbon (GAC) filter will be applied to
simulate processes employed by a local, currently impacted drinking
water treatment plant. This leads to the third phase, where the same sys-
tem will be utilized to treat pesticide-impacted lake water samples.
EXPECTED RESULTS
There are two major expected results of this study. First, this study will
provide a better understanding of the toxicity of commonly used pesti-
cides, both individually and in mixtures. This information will be very
important in assessing the toxic effect of multiple pesticides present in
water samples. Second, this study will provide more information about
the effect of drinking water treatment processes on pesticides that may
be present in the influent. Understanding the effects of the treatment
processes combined with the toxicity information will allow for the
determination of an optimal treatment system/configuration that will
minimize the toxicity of the finished drinking water.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This project directly relates to the safety of drinking water from pes-
ticide-impacted sources. Many pesticides persist in soil and water and
have been linked with both environmental and human health concerns.
Understanding synergism, antagonism, and the impact of conventional
oxidation practices on mixtures of pesticides will help regulators and
water utilities produce the safest drinking water possible.
BIO:
Greg Saylor received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the
University of Cincinnati in 2010. He is currently com
pleting the requirements for his M.S. in Environmental
Engineering as part of a joint B.S./M.S. program. He was
selected as the M.S. recipient of the 2010 American Wa
ter Works Association (AWWA) LARS scholarship. As part
of his undergraduate co op program, he began his Master's
research studying the toxicity of by products generated
from the electrochemical treatment of wastewater. His
doctoral research focus will be understanding the toxic ef
fects of pesticides in drinking water.
SYNOPSIS:
This project will consider the effects of drinking water
treatment processes on the toxicity of pesticides that can
be present in contaminated water sources. Water will be
tested before and after treatment to understand how toxicity
changes. One of the key aspects of this work will be studying
the toxicity of mixtures. Understanding these mixtures will
allow drinking water utilities to identify best management
practices for producing the safest drinking water possible.
Keywords: pesticides, drinking water, toxicity, disinfection, oxidation, microtox
125
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Natalia M. VanDuyn
EPA Grant Number: FP917150
Institution: Indiana University (IN)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail:
Mechanisms of Methylmercury-induced Cellular Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that
poses a considerable threat to public health. MeHg easily crosses the
blood brain barrier and the placenta, leading to developmental deficits
and neuropathology. Although MeHg poisonings have been studied for
decades, the molecular basis for the toxicity remains largely unknown.
My objective is to identify and characterize the cellular and molecular
components involved in MeHg toxicity.
APPROACH
I will utilize a novel C. elegans model for MeHg toxicity to identify and
characterize the molecular pathways involved in MeHg toxicity. I will
generate transgenic C. elegans animals and incorporate biochemical and
genetic analysis to identify MeHg sensitive cells, and determine if the
stress-responsive proteins GSTs, MAPKs, and SKN-1 may modulate
toxicant-induced cellular vulnerability. I will also incorporate a reverse
genetic screen to identify proteins involved m MeHg toxicity.
EXPECTED RESULTS
I have recently shown that the expression of particular GSTs and SKN-1
is involved in inhibiting MeHg-induced cellular stress. I expect that these
proteins and their downstream targets will modulate DA and GABAergic
neuronal vulnerabilities to the toxicant. GSTs and members of the MAPKs
also likely play a role in the MeHg-induced developmental deficits and
neurodegeneration, and I expect that decreases in gene expression will
increase cellular stress and cellular dysfunction. Furthermore, the incorpo-
ration of the reverse genetic screen will likely identify novel regulators of
the MeHg induced cellular stress and neuron degeneration.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The cellular and molecular basis for MeHg-induced toxicity and devel-
opmental defects are largely unknown. This proposal will likely eluci-
date cellular sensitivities and novel molecular pathways involved in the
toxicant-induced pathology. The identification of genes and molecules
involved in the toxicity may provide novel MeHg-associated therapeutic
targets. Furthermore, these studies may identify early molecular markers
of MeHg-induced pathology that may be utilized to determine specific
toxicant-associated exposures.
BIO:
Natalia VanDuyn received her Bachelor's degree in Biol
ogy from Indiana University in 2007. She then joined the
Indiana University School of Medicine's Biomedical Gate
way Program and chose to pursue her doctoral degree in the
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology under the guid
ance of Richard Nass, Ph.D. Natalia is utilizing the nema
tode Caenorhabditis elegans to identify and characterize the
molecular pathways involved in methylmercury toxicity.
SYNOPSIS:
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous environmental toxi
cant that can result in severe neurological and developmen
tal defects. Although MeHg has been studied for decades,
the molecular basis for the toxicity remains largely un
known. My project utilizes the nematode C. elegans, a small
worm whose genes and cellular response to stress are very
similar to those of humans, to identify and characterize the
molecular pathways involved in MeHg-induced developmen
tal defects and neuropathology.
Keywords: methylmercury, neurodevelopment, oxidative stress
126
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Erin Elizabeth Yost
EPA Grant Number: FP917151
Institution: North Carolina State University (NC)
EPA Project Officer: Gladys Cobbs-Green
Project Period: 8/16/2010 - 8/15/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Pesticides and Toxie
Substances
E-mail: eeyast@gmail.com
Estrogen Receptor Agonists in Swine Waste: Using a Concentration Addition
Model to Predict Mixture Effects
0BJECT1VE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Swine waste is known to contain numerous known and suspected endo-
crine-disrupting compounds, including animal hormones and bioavail-
able nitrogen. Although the precise mechanism for endocrine disruption
by nitrogen compounds remains unclear, it has recently been observed
that the nitrite anion may be able to directly activate the estrogen re-
ceptor (ER). I intend to test the hypothesis that a mixture of nitrite and
hormonal estrogens, such as that which may be found in runoff or leach-
ate from an industrial hog farm, will activate the ER in a manner that is
predictable using a concentration addition model.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This project will quantify the ability of the nitrite anion to activate the
ER in both in vitro and in vivo models, and will examine the utility of a
concentration addition model in predicting the effects of an estrogen-ni-
trite mixture. If the concentration addition model fails, then the applica-
bility of other models (e.g., an integrated addition and interaction model)
will be examined. This project will also help determine whether activa-
tion of the ER is a relevant mechanism for nitrogen-mediated endocrine
disruption in vivo. Additionally, it will examine the efficacy of using an
in vitro bioassay to predict concentration additivity of a mixture in vivo.
APPROACH
As part of a concurrent study of the fate and transport of estrogens in a
swine feeding operation, I currently am determining the concentrations
of estrogenic hormones present in swine waste lagoon slurry In this
proposed project, I will establish concentration-response curves for ER
activation by these estrogens (e.g., estradiol, estrone, estriol) and nitrite
as individual compounds. This will be done in vitro using a mamma-
lian cell-based reporter assay, as well as in vivo using the male Japanese
medaka as a model organism. Parameters from these concentration-re-
sponse curves will then be plugged into a concentration addition model,
and used to predict the effects of an estrogen-nitrite mixture. Validity of
the model predictions will then be tested both in vitro and in vivo.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This study will advance our understanding of the links between
nitrogen-polluted waters and endocrine disruption, and will help us
understand the potential contribution of nitrite in an estrogenic milieu.
Hormones and nitrogen are both ubiquitous contaminants of concern
in aquatic environments, and it is realistic to assume that these two
contaminants will often occur in tandem—not only downstream from
industrial animal farms, but in many other sites as a result of human de-
velopment. The U.S. EPA has acknowledged the importance of evaluat-
ing the health effects of chemical mixtures, and biological studies such
as this one are needed to help us accurately predict the risk that these
mixtures will pose in the environment.
BIO:
Erin Yost received a B.S. in Biology from the University of
Kentucky in 2003. Following her graduation, she worked for
several years as a laboratory technician and as an itinerant
field biologist. From 2006 - 2008, she served as a Peace
Corps volunteer in Madagascar, where she worked as an
agricultural consultant in a rural village. She entered the
Toxicology Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University
in the fall of 2008. Her current research involves the fate,
transport, and biological activity of estrogenic compounds
derived from industrial hog farms.
SYNOPSIS:
Waste from industrial hog farms has been shown to
contrain known endocrine distruptors, including animal
hormones and bioavabilable nitrogen. Although the precise
mechanism for endocrine disruption by nitrogen remains
unclear, it has recently been observed that the nitrite
anion (N02-) may be able to activate the estrogen receptor
(ER). This project examines the ability of N02- to activate
the ER, and explores the use of a mathematical model to
predict toxicty of an estrogen-nitrite mixture.
Keywords: swine, CAFO, estrogen, nitrogen, nitrite, chemical mixture, endocrine disruption, medaka, concentration addition model
127
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Science & Technology for Sustainability Fellows
GREEN ENGINEERING/BUILDING/CHEMISTRY/MATERIALS
Baker, Lindsay A.
Energy Efficiency in K-12 Public Schools: Investigating Behavioral and
Operational Factors
University of California, Berkeley (CAJ 131
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth
Advancing Soil Fertility: Biochar and Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria
as Soil Amendments
University of California, Riverside (CA)„, 132
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth
Comparing Ecological Processes and External Inputs as Mechanisms for
Increasing Prairie Productivity for Biomass Production
Iowa State University (IA) 133
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor
Calcined Clays as a Low Emission Cement Substitute
University of Texas, Austin (TX)„ 134
Michel, Aaron Travis
Biobased Sandwich Panels for Construction Applications
Stanford University {('A) 135
Morse, Thomas Oliver
The Removal of Invasive Species Through Gene Silencing in Microalgae
Cultivation for Biodiesel
Duke University (NC) 136
Pasquini, Leanne Marie
Engineering a Greener Future One Carbon Nanotube at a Time:
An In-Depth Study of Non-Toxic Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Design
Yale University (CI),, 137
Roach, Erika Danielle
Effects of Sustainable Soil Management on Gene Expression in Maize
Pennsylvania State University il'. 1/.. 138
ENERGY
Badalamenti, Jonathan Paul
Simultaneous Generation of Electricity and Hydrogen from Biomass and
Sunlight via a Microbial Photoelectric Cell
Arizona State University (AZ'),,, 140
Epting, William K.
A Method for Through-Plane Measurement of Species Concentration in
Porous Electrodes for Fuel Cells and Batteries
Carnegie Mellon University (PA).,, 141
Ferguson, Thomas Edward
Carbon Negative Hydrogen Production from Biomass
Columbia University (NY)„„ 142
Hitaj, Claudia Maria
Wind Power Development in the United States-An Empirical Evaluation
of the Effectiveness of State Renewable Energy Policies
University of Maryland, College Park (AID) 143
Hittinger, Eric S.
Time-Series Modeling of Integrated Wind/Gas/Battery Systems for
Minimization of C02 and NOx Emissions
Carnegie Mellon University (PA), 144
Holtmeyer, Melissa Lauren
Clean Energy Research and Education
Washington University, Saint Louis (MO) 145
Luterra, Markael Daniel
Developing a Metabolic Switch for Photobiological Hydrogen Production
Oregon State University (OR) 146
Rose, Stephen M.
Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Short-Term Smoothing of Wind Power
Stephen F. Austin State University (TX) 147
Soh, Lindsay
Extraction of Algal Lipids for Use in Biodiesel Production
Yale University (CT) 148
Strickland, Matthew Robert
Biofiltration Incorporating Gene Silencing Technology for the Production of
Methanol From Methane Containing Waste Gases
Duke University (NC),.,, 149
Vardon, Derek Richard
Extended Surfactants for Sustainable Aqueous Lipid Extraction From
Algal Biomass
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL) 150
ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR & DECISION MAKING
Coughlan, Michael Reed
Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Pastoral Fire in the French Pyrenees
University of Georgia (GA)m, 152
Dumyahn, Sarah L
Beyond Noise Mitigation: SoundScape Conservation Implementation by
U.S. Federal Land Management Agencies
Purdue University (IN),, 153
Foster, Justin MacLeod
Decision Support for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Charging in a Power
Market Setting with Uncertainty: Cost Saving Opportunities and Synergies
with Wind Generation
Boston University (M4), 154
Hlavka, Eileen Rose
A New Approach To Measuring Technological Progress To Better Inform
Climate Policy
Pardee RAND Graduate School (CAJ,., 155
Huberty, Mark Edward
The Political Economy of Energy Systems Transitions: Implications for
Climate Policy
University of California, Berkeley (<§M 156
Karplus, Valerie Jean
Climate Policy Design for U.S. Light-Duty Transportation: Representing
Vehicles and Consumer Response in a Macroeconomic Model
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (h£4) 157
Kasprzyk, Joseph Robert
Balancing the Economic and Ecological Sustainability of Water Supply in the
Susquehanna River Basin Under Climate Change
Pennsylvania State University (PA). 158
Krause, Rachel Marie
Municipal Involvement in Climate Protection: Local Decision Making and
Policy Innovation
Indiana University, Bloomington (IN) 159
Peterman, Andrew Samuel
Corporate Adoption of Voluntary Programs to Enhance Energy
Efficiency in Buildings
Stanford University (CA).,. 160
Schelly, Chelsea Lynn
Residential Solar Technology Adoption: Motivations for Environmental
Behavior and Experiences with Alternative Energy Systems
University of Wisconsin, Madison (WI) 161
Sharp, Benjamin Elias
Modeling Switchgrass Production in South Carolina Based on Farmers'
Decisions: A Stochastic and Spatial Analysis
Clemson University (SC), 162
Stasko, Timon Herrick
Developing Green Fleet Management Strategies
Cornell University (NY), 163
129
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Green Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
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Lindsay A. Baker
Greeri Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
EPA Grant Number: FP917153
Institution: University of California, Berkeley (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail: lindsay_baker@berkeley.edu
BIO:
Lindsay Baker is a doctoral student in the UC-Berkeley Col
lege of Environmental Design, focusing in Building Science
and the study of green schools. She received her M.S. in
Architecture from UC-Berkeley, and her B.A. in Environ
mental Studies from Oberlin College. She has worked for
many organizations involved in green building, ncluding
the U.S. Green Building Council, She is a researcher at the
Center for the Built Environment at UC-Berkeley, where she
focuses on post-occupancy evaluation of buildings.
SYNOPSIS:
Energy Efficiency in K-12 Public Schools:
Operational Factors
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research project will investigate how occupants interact with build-
ings in order to inform the building industry on how to better accom-
modate user's needs while optimizing energy performance. Specifically,
it will address three interrelated questions: First, how does occupant
behavior impact energy use in K-12 school buildings? Second, what
design features and occupant comfort factors drive these behaviors?
And finally, what best practices can be identified and disseminated that
will contribute to enhancing building design in ways that will minimize
energy consumption in buildings?
APPROACH
Taking a comparative case study approach and looking critically at
occupant behavior (such as window opening and thermostat control), this
investigation engages a group of representative school buildings across
the country to identify triggers that are leading to increased energy use.
Current trends in design are leading towards removing user control of
building systems like lighting, heating, and cooling. However, this ulti-
mately can lead to increased energy use, as users supplement their envi-
ronments with personal equipment like space heaters. Through interviews,
field measurements of indoor environmental quality, behavior pattern
documentation and analysis of energy consumption data, profiles will be
constructed that show how occupants affect energy consumption in build-
ings, and what conditions either enable or restrict occupants from helping
to reduce the energy consumption of building systems.
Investigating Behavioral and
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research project will ultimately provide documented behavior
patterns and feedback from occupants that help to identify design strate-
gies that have achieved high levels of occupant comfort and low energy
consumption. Through a better understanding of how occupants use
light switches, windows, thermostats, and other energy-related controls,
designers will be more equipped to consider these factors in creating
more efficient buildings.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The technology to build highly efficient buildings is available today,
and yet buildings continue to contribute significantly to global climate
change through excessive electricity use. This project will help identify
ways to save electricity in buildings through strengthening the feed-
back loop between occupant needs and design approaches, to optimize
energy consumption and indoor environmental quality in schools.
Performing this study in schools yields the added benefit of educating
younger generations on the importance of energy conservation and
environmental responsibility.
In recent years, a major shift has occurred in the American
building industry, through the growth of 'green' building
standards. However, studies in the past 2 years have found
that many green buildings use much more energy than ex
pected. This project aims to learn more about this problem,
specifically in K-12 school buildings. It will examine occu
pant influence on energy use, and aims to inform designers
on how to build in a way that saves energy over the lifetime
of a school building.
Keywords: Behavior, consumption, buildings, schools, occupant feedback, electricity loads, end-use efficiency, indoor environments, human health
131
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Lauren Elizabeth Hale
Greeri Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
EPA Grant Number: FP917246
Institution: University of California, Riverside (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail: lehale3@gmail.com
Advancing Soil Fertility: Biochar and Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria as
Soil Amendments
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Many studies have displayed the ability of plant-growth-promoting Rhi-
zobacteria (PGPR) to serve as eco-friendly, biological fertilizers when
applied to agricultural soils. Furthermore, a soil amendment, biochar,
improves a soil's fertility and nutrient and water-use efficiencies and also
has the potential to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon into
soils. The objective of this research is to develop a treatment of biochar
inoculated with a bio-fertilizer that will optimize the positive benefits
associated with PGPR.
APPROACH
This study is centered on the ability of PGPR to produce 1-aminocy-
clopropane-l-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, an enzyme that degrades
a precursor of plant hormone ethylene. Ethylene is produced by plants
in response to drought or high salinity and causes stunted root growth,
reducing crop yields drastically. The first phase of this study will employ
quantitative PCR to enumerate ACC deaminase genes across soil bacte-
rial populations in the rhizospheres of cowpea plants treated with combi-
nations of bio-fertilizer and biochar. DNA will be isolated from zones
soil directly affected by plant roots, the rhizosphere, in weekly intervals
throughout a drought-simulated root-box experiment. The abundance of
ACC deaminase genes in this DNA will be correlated with plant growth
patterns, treatment type, and time. The second phase of this experiment
will examine the expression of ACC deaminase genes by a bacteria
modified to display bioluminescence when ACC deaminase is expressed.
This will allow for the detection of gene expression in relation to loca-
tion and time and will display the overall survival of the soil inoculates.
EXPECTED RESULTS
From the first phase of this study it should become apparent that there is
a combination of biofertilzer and biochar treatments that maximize the
ability of cowpea plants to thrive under stress from drought. Furthermore,
the gene copy number of ACC deaminase necessary to influence cowpea
survival can be quantified. Once this treatment is determined the second
phase of this experiment should produce more evidence supporting the
ability of these combined soil amendments to improve bacterial enzymatic
promotion of plant growth. The observation of bioluminescence will give
insight as to when and where microbial expression of ACC deaminase is
the most influential. Furthermore, bacteria inoculated directly into soils
often are not competitive with native microorganisms and their popula-
tions quickly diminish. It is expected that biochar will provide soil in-
oculants with pre-associated niches, increasing their survival in soil and
attributing biological fertilizers with longer lasting benefits.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This research can be directly applied to arid-zone agriculture to combat
the effects of desertification by rejuvenating soils and increasing their
water and nutrient use efficiencies. Improved soil health lessens the need
for chemical fertilizer applications which can help prevent disastrous
environmental problems associated with eutrophication. Furthermore,
insight into the potential of biochar to function as an inoculums medium
can promote its production from biological wastes, preventing these
materials from emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmo-
sphere by being burned, composted, or stored in landfills.
BIO:
Lauren Hale graduated summa cum laude from North Caro
lina State University in 2007 with a Bachelor's of Science
in Microbiology. As an undergraduate, she focused on the
bioremediation of environmental contaminants. In 2009,
she began a Ph.D. program in Environmental Microbiology
at the University of California, Riverside. Her studies ad
dress the use of biochar, a sustainable, carbon-sequestering
soil amendment, and its capability to serve as an inoculums
medium for the application of plant-growth-promoting bac
teria to agricultural soils.
SYNOPSIS:
The goal of this project is to optimize a combination of
biological fertilizers and a soil amendment, biochar, to
improve soil fertility of arid-zone soils. The extent to which
bacteria produce enzymes that interfere with plant-stunting
hormones and the ability of these microorganisms to thrive
in the pores of biochar particles will be measured using
quantitative PCR and fluorescent, transgenic bacteria. This
system provides an eco-friendly soil treatment useful for
sustainable agriculture.
Keywords: biochar, biological fertilizers, PGPR, ACC deaminase, land use efficiency, biological-waste management, sustainable agricidture, mitigation of climate change
132
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Meghann Elizabeth Jarchow
Greeri Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
EPA Grant Number: FP917160
Institution: Iowa State University (IA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail: mjarchow@ias:tate.edu
Comparing Ecological Processes and External Inputs as Mechanisms for
Increasing Prairie Productivity for Biomass Production
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
My broad research objective is to compare prairie and corn cropping
systems with regard to their suitability as biofuel feedstocks. I am
comparing the growth, phenology, productivity, and estimated biofuel
yield of prairie and corn systems. I also am determining the relation-
ships among species and functional diversity, nitrogen fertilization, and
productivity in prairie systems.
APPROACH
My approach to understanding my research objectives is to conduct two
field experiments m addition to laboratory analyses. Having two field ex-
periments has allowed me to address my research objectives from mul-
tiple perspectives. In one field experiment, I am focusing specifically on
the growth dynamics, phenology, and productivity of prairie, fertilized
prairie, continuous corn, and continuous corn with rye cropping systems
and on the effects of nitrogen fertilization on prairie species diversity.
The second field experiment focuses on the effects of varying functional
diversity and nitrogen fertilization on prairie phenology, productivity,
and estimated biofuel yield and compares these characteristics to a con-
tinuous corn system. Laboratory analyses are used to determine carbon
and nitrogen concentrations in the plant tissues throughout the growing
season and are used to estimate the corn and prairie biofuel yields.
EXPECTED RESULTS
I am beginning my third field season with both experiments, so I now am
able to comment on my observed results. I have found that prairie sys-
tems utilize more of the growing season than corn systems, but that corn
systems produce more harvestable biomass than prairie systems. Nitro-
gen fertilization increases the productivity of the prairies, but reduces
both species and functional diversity in terms of richness and evenness.
Increasing functional diversity in the prairies does not increase prairie
productivity beyond that of the most productive single functional group
(i.e., transgressive overyielding) in the presence of nitrogen fertilization,
but transgressive overyielding may occur in the most diverse unfertil-
ized prairies. Both the functional groups present and whether nitrogen
fertilization was applied affects the estimated biofuel yields of prairies,
but the functional group affects the composition of the feedstock while
fertilization affects the quantity of feedstock.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The trend in agriculture m the Midwestern United States for the last half
century has been one of increasing simplification and intensification,
which has resulted in cropping systems that are dominated by mono-
cultures that require large inputs of fertilizers, herbicides, and other
fossil-fuel derived inputs. Although these systems are incredibly produc-
tive with regard to saleable goods and are profitable with governmental
subsidies, they cause a wide range of environmental degradation includ-
ing increased nutrient pollution, increased soil erosion, and decreased
biodiversity. Finding economically viable ways to reincorporate diverse,
native prairies back into the landscape can ameliorate many of the envi-
ronmental impairments caused by our current agricultural system while
still benefiting farmers.
BIO:
Meghann Jarchow received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology
from Ripon College in 2003 and a Master of Science in
Biology from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2005.
She then worked at Gustavus Adolphus College as a biology
instructor for 2 years teaching and coordinating introductory
biology laboratories. Meghann left Gustavus to pursue her
Ph.D. at Iowa State University in June 2007. At Iowa State,
she is co-majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and
Sustainable Agriculture and studies how agroecological
principles can be applied Midwestern agricultural systems.
SYNOPSIS:
The developing Iignocellulosic biofuel industry provides an
opportunity to reincorporate perennial vegetation into the
Corn Belt. Reincorporating native prairies could ameliorate
many of the negative environmental impacts caused by an
nual row crops. The goals of this project are to compare the
productivity and biofuel yields of prairie and corn cropping
systems and to assess the relationships among diversity,
nitrogen fertilization, and productivity of prairies managed
for biofuel production.
Keywords: agroecology, biofitels, continuous com, diversity-productivity relationships, ethcmol, functional diversity, grasslands, prairies
133
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Sarah C. Taylor Lange
Greeri Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
EPA Grant Number: FP917176
Institution: University of Texas, Austin (TX)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail: staylorlafS.gmail.com
Calcined Clays as a Low Emission Cement Substitute
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The cement industry is responsible for 3.4 percent of the global an-
thropogenic carbon dioxide emissions contributing to adverse climate
changes. Moreover, the World Health Organization states that 1.5 mil-
lion people die each year from causes directly attributed to indoor air
pollution. My doctoral project aims to use calcined clays as a partial
cement replacement in concrete, to reduce the energy demand and
carbon dioxide emissions of cement manufacturing while meeting the
structural functionality and indoor emissions criteria for use as a green
building material.
APPROACH
The first phase of my research focuses on identifying inexpensive and
abundant chemicals that will reduce the activation energy and duration
of clay calcination, necessary for converting clay to display cement-like
behavior. Then, concrete samples prepared with calcined clays will be
tested to evaluate their structural functionality against ASTM standards.
The overall energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions associated
with these samples will be quantified and compared with those of cur-
rent concrete manufacturing. The second phase of my research focuses
on the emission characteristics of calcined clay-concrete affecting indoor
air quality. In particular, the radon emission, ozone interaction, and mold
resistance of the new clay-cement blend will be investigated to assess its
effects on indoor air quality.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This study provides abetter understanding of clay-cement materials
including: (i) their associated energy demand and carbon dioxide emis-
sions of their manufacturing and transport, (ii) their structural perfor-
mance and properties, and (iii) their emission characteristics affecting
indoor air quality. Preliminary research shows that clay requires half of
the activation temperature necessary for limestone cement manufactur-
ing. In addition, some supplementary cement materials decrease mate-
rial porosity, aiding in both external durability and improved indoor air
quality. Studies have demonstrated that some green materials, including
clay substances, undergo significant oxidation, creating an indoor ozone
sink, reducing the indoor ozone concentration levels. It is expected that
the clay-cement will display similar qualities.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The development of green building materials based on calcined clays
will have both environmental and health benefits. First, the environ-
mental benefits will include: (i) the energy and carbon dioxide emis-
sion reduction in cement manufacturing and transportation, and (ii) the
use of local materials for sustainability Finally, the health benefits will
include: (i) minimization of worker health risks by using less toxic
materials, and (ii) improved indoor air quality through use of non-
emitting cement mixtures.
BIO:
Sarah is a native of the Napa Valley, California. She re
ceived her Bachelor's degree in Civil and Environmental
Engineering from the University of California, Davis, and
her Master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University
of California, Los Angeles. Prior to pursuing her doctorate
degree at the University of Texas at Austin, she worked as
a professional structural engineer. Sarah is a LEED Ac
credited Green Building Professional, and a former Pacific
Earthquake Engineering Researcher at Stanford University.
Beyond academia, Sarah is an avid equestrian, who com
peted internationally in the sport of dressage.
SYNOPSIS:
This project is a comprehensive study that focuses on
understanding the effects of using calcined clays as sus
tainable, green building materials. The developed materials
will minimize energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions
associated with cement manufacturing. In addition, radon
emission, ozone nteraction, and mold resistance of the new
clay-cement blend will be investigated to assess its effects
on indoor air quality.
Keywords: climate change, supplementary cement materials, pollution, indoor air quality, cement manufacturing, ozone, radon, carbon dioxide, green materials, sustainable building
materials, health risks
134
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Aaron Travis Michel
Greeri Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
EPA Grant Number: FP917165
Institution: Stanford University (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail: atmichel@stanford.edu
Biobased Sandwich Panels for Construction Applications
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Biobased composite materials made from polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)
and natural fibers have useful mechanical characteristics while in ser-
vice, and can rapidly biodegrade after their useful life. This project aims
to replace what is a primarily linear system of construction (i.e., raw
materials to built systems to waste materials), by using resources that are
easily sustainable, harvestable, or otherwise readily available and will
biodegrade rapidly and completely in an anaerobic environment after
their useful life. Sandwich panels constructed from biobased composite
face sheets and an insulating core will be investigated with the objective
of increasing structural efficiency and thermal resistance.
APPROACH
The technical challenge of this project is in balancing (1) the engineer-
ing of a low-density structural element with comparable mechanical
and thermal properties to traditional construction materials, with (2)
the engineering of a useful structural material that possesses excellent
structural properties while in service but rapidly biodegrades after its
useful life. This work will be accomplished by designing and evaluat-
ing structural sandwich panels made from PHB-natural fiber composite
face sheets and biodegradable foam cores. The work will consist of the
following tasks: (1) sandwich panel design using experimentally deter-
mined material constitutive models and finite element analysis (FEA);
(2) characterization of biobased sandwich panel mechanical, thermal,
and weathered properties; (3) manufacturing analysis of production tech-
niques at varying scales (i.e., laboratory vs. commercial); (4) design for
long-term performance and rapid post-use biodegradation; (5) construc-
tion application case study using a scale pilot project.
EXPECTED RESULTS
PHB-natural fiber biobased composite sandwich panels can be engi-
neered to have comparable structural efficiency (i.e., strength/stiff-
ness-to-weight ratio) and superior thermal performance to traditional
construction materials, such as wood and engineered wood products.
Long-term weathered panel performance will be improved by the addi-
tion of biodegradable chemical fiber modifications and sealants, while
post-use anaerobic biodegradation will be accelerated by appropriate
composite design and the selection of suitable environmental conditions
(to be performed by others). A simplified design framework for engi-
neering practitioners will be developed using classical composite theory,
FEA analysis, and empirical test results. It is also expected that biobased
sandwich panels can be manufactured using both lab and industrial scale
hot presses, and that large-scale panel production is possible using the
existing infrastructure for engineered wood products. Biobased compos-
ites and sandwich panels will be useful in many construction applica-
tions, such as formwork, scaffolding, lagging, paneling, flooring, and
temporary housing.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The broad impacts of this project include (1) the introduction of a con-
struction material that is fully recyclable and producible globally; (2) a
reduction in construction resource consumption and demolition waste
disposal in landfills, and (3) a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
associated with the production and use of traditional building materials
and from un-captured methane from landfills. This research will also
address underprivileged and minority groups by employing materials
that can be grown locally, reducing the financial and environmental bur-
den of shipping and the inequality imposed by local material availability.
BIO:
Aaron Michel received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from
Oregon State University in 2006, and an M.S. in Structural
Engineering from Stanford University in 2009. As a Ph.D.
candidate at Stanford University, his research focuses on
the design and manufacture of biobased polymers and com
posites for use in the construction industry. His ultimate
goal is to contribute to the development and incorporation
of innovative sustainable technologies in structural engi
neering.
SYNOPSIS:
Resource consumption and waste production by the con
struction industry have motivated the investigation of in
novative building materials. Biobased composites made
from polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biopolymer and natural
fibers have comparable mechanical properties to wood used
in construction, and offer an alternative that requires less
energy to produce, reduces landfill waste, and biodegrades
anaerobically. This project examines efficient and effective
uses for these biobased composites.
Keywords: biobased, biocomposite, sandwich panel, SIP, natural fiber, construction, anaerobic biodegradation
135
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Thomas Oliver Morse
Greeri Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
EPA Grant Number: FP917166
Institution: Duke University (NC)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail: thomas.morse@duke.edu
The Removal of Invasive Species Through Gene Silencing in Microalgae Cultivation
for Biodiesel
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Recently, there has been an increased interest in biodiesel production
due to the increasing environmental and economic costs of petroleum
sourced fuels. Algae remain a promising feedstock for biodiesel produc-
tion because the lipids in algae are easily converted into biodiesel. While
the idea is technically feasible, invasive species such as viruses, bacteria,
rotifers, and low-lipid algae outcompete the high-lipid strains causing a
species collapse and a significant algal crop reduction. There have been
many attempts to control invasive species using biocides. However,
biocides are not selective enough to permit the growth of high-lipid
algae. Therefore, there is a need for a selective biocide that will remove
the invasive species, while permitting the high-lipid algae to grow. One
specific tool that has the potential to fill this need is antisense gene
silencing. This research project will investigate the feasibility of using
antisense gene silencing for microalgal crop protection.
APPROACH
This research project will assess the feasibility of using gene silenc-
ing for microalgal crop protection. The first phase will be dedicated to
elucidating the environmental parameters for optimal silencing. BLAST
alignments will be performed to identify genes unique to the invasive
species and to eliminate possible off targets. Once the genes have been
selected for silencing, a suite of environmental parameters will be tested.
In the second phase mixed culture experiments will be performed with
a high-lipid algae and either a low-lipid algae or an invasive bacterium.
The third phase of the experiment will compare two different delivery
methods: direct diffusion and vector delivery. Initial work on vector de-
livery will focus on lentiviral delivery systems, because of their previous
use in gene silencing experiments. The final phase will involve bench-
scale experiments in a raceway pond A plastic raceway pond will be
constructed that measures 2 m • 0.5 m and that will be run for 120 days.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The successful completion of this project will be a significant advance-
ment in promoting a domestic supply of sustainable biodiesel. Addition-
ally, the "green" biocide proposed in this project is significantly less
toxic to the environment compared to current biocides and algaecides.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This technology has potential uses for mitigating harmful algal blooms
and for the removal of chlorine-resistant pathogens in industrial settings.
Additionally, this technology has the potential to be used for inactivating
pathogens in point-of-use water filtration systems. There are also many
positive externalities in improving the delivery of gene silencing oligo-
nucleotides, as the medical field is evaluating RNAi therapies (e.g., for
the treatment of cancer), and a greater understanding of oligonucleotide
delivery will have direct applications in the treatment of cancer.
BIO:
Thomas Morse is a Ph.D. student working with Dr. Gunsch
at Duke University. Before attending graduate school,
Thomas spent 2 years as a Peace Corps volunteer in
Panama. In Panama, Thomas worked with rural farmers on
small scale reforestation, organic agriculture techniques,
and composting latrine construction. Thomas received
his B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder with
magna cum laude honors for his thesis, which analyzed the
variability of our current climate regime.
SYNOPSIS:
The efficiency of large-scale microalgal cultivation for
biodiesel production is inhibited by invasive species. This
project will use gene silencing to remove invasive species
to permit the more efficient growth of high-lipid algae. The
expected outcome of this project is the development of a
green biocide compatible with large-scale microalgal cult
vation techniques, which will provide a clean and sustain
able source of energy, ultimately reducing U.S. dependency
on foreign fuels.
Keywords: algae, biodiesel, green engineering, gene silencing, RNAi, CRISPR
136
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Leanne Marie Pasquini
Greeri Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials
EPA Grant Number: FP917167
Institution: Yale University (CT)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail:
Engineering a Greener Future One Carbon Nanotube at a rime: An In-Depth
Study of Non-Toxic Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Design
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
While the nanotechnology industry continues to expand, there remains
uncertainty surrounding predicted environmental and human health risk
upon exposure to various nanomaterials. It is imperative that research
be conducted that brings assurance to the future incorporation of poten-
tially harmful materials into consumer goods. It is known that several
nanomaterials, in particular SWNTs, exhibit toxic effects. Research has
also shown that certain chemical manipulations of the nanotube surface
can decrease their toxicity. This aspect is of interest to the current work
intended to facilitate safer design of carbon nanomaterials for the purpose
of eliminating potential environmental and human health implications.
APPROACH
Full characterization of purchased and purified pristine unfunctional-
ized SWNTs will provide the basis of comparison for future surface
modified tubes. Characterization techniques will include Thermogravi-
metric Analysis (TGA), Raman Spectroscopy, Zeta Potential, Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX),
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron
Microscopy (TEM), and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Pu-
rified pristine tubes will be used as the starting material in a variety of
chemical reactions that will modify the surface with desired functional
groups. Characterization of these tubes using the techniques mentioned
will elucidate the success and extent of surface functionalization. A fluo-
rescent bacterial assay using E. coli K-12 exposed to the various SWNT
samples will provide data for a comparative bacterial toxicity study.
Physicochemical properties of the functionalized tubes are dependent
upon the pH and ionic strength and composition of a given environment.
Therefore, a systematic study will be conducted to see how such changes
will affect the biotoxicity.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Full characterization of each tube sample will elucidate the physical and
chemical differences among the pristine and functionalized tubes. It is
anticipated that overall bacterial cell death will decrease with the ad-
dition of certain surface functional groups and will vary depending on
the properties and extent of the chemical modifications. In addition, it
is likely that changes in environmental conditions, such as pH and ionic
strength and composition, will alter the bacterial toxicity, as many of the
surface modifications have acid base characteristics.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The research findings will help to fill the void in information surround-
ing the toxicity of carbon nanotubes and offer a standard methodology
that may be extrapolated to further toxicity studies. As the number and
variety of nanomaterials entering consumer goods continue to grow,
increased human and environmental exposure is inevitable. More com-
prehensive information regarding nanomaterial toxicity will empower
scientists and engineers to formulate a design scheme for future safe
manufacture of nanomaterials.
BIO:
Leanne Pasquini graduated from Hamilton College in 2007,
where she majored in Chemistry and minored in Education.
As the 2007 08 recipient of the George Watson's College
Teaching Fellowship, she spent the year teaching at George
Watson's College in Edinburgh, Scotland. After returning she
taught Chemistry and AP Chemistry at St. James School.
Leanne is currently enrolled in the Environmental Engineer
ing Ph.D. program at Yale University. Under the guidance of
Dr. Julie B. Zimmerman, Leanne's research focuses on the
environmental implications of nanotechnology.
SYNOPSIS:
Advances in nanotechnology promise improved performance
and novel applications in fields ranging from electronics to
medicine. Studies report a variety of toxic responses upon
exposure to nanomaterials, yet there is no cohesive body of
research to verify the proposed human health and environ
mental threat. This project will contribute to filling the void
in comprehensive research and determine how engineered
material modifications can decrease toxicity while maintain
ing the material's applicability.
Keywords: nanotechnology, carbon nanotubes, toxicity, environment, human health, E. coli, characterization, green design
137
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Erika Danielle Roach
EPA Grant Number: FP917229
Institution: Pennsylvania State University (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2012
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/
Chemistry/Materials
E-mail: edrl48@psu.edu
BIO:
Erika Roach received her B.S. in Molecular Biology at Le
high University. Looking to relate her knowledge of genetics
and molecular biology to a more applied field, she began
her work towards a Master's degree in Agronomy in the fall
of 2009 at Pennsylvania State University. Her research uses
her background in molecular biology as an analytical tool to
learn more about sustainable agriculture systems. Her work
focuses on differences in expression of a candidate group
of genes in corn grown using conventional and sustainable
management techniques. She hopes to uncover molecular
mechanisms behind phenotypic differences often seen in
corn grown in no-tillage and/or with cover crops versus corn
grown in tilled fields without cover crops. This work spans
the gap between plant biology and agronomy and could
help promote sustainable agriculture to scientists, extension
agents, and farmers.
SYNOPSIS:
Developing sustainable agricultural systems will lead to so
lutions to environmental issues associated with convention
al agriculture. I will examine the expression of candidate
genes in maize grown in sustainable agricultural systems
and conventional agricultural systems. If gene expression
in corn changes to promote crop health and vitality as a
result of sustainable farming methods, farmers, scientists,
and extension agents will be provided with ncentive to
implement sustainable methods.
Greeri Engineering/BuiIding/Chemistry/Materials
Effects of Sustainable Soil Management on Gene Expression in Maize
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Project Objectives: 1. Determine the effect of a hairy vetch cover crop, no-tillage, and
their interaction on soil and crop health and expression of a candidate group of genes in
maize. 2. Be able to use gene expression results to help explain observed plant and soil
health and quality results. 3. Determine how gene expression changes are manifested in
protein level changes.
APPROACH
The field trial is a split-plot in a randomized complete block design. The main plots are cover
crop (hairy vetch) versus no cover crop, and the sub-plots are no-tillage versus moldboard/
disk/harrow tillage. Plant parameters I will measure include plant emergence regularly dur-
ing the first 6 weeks after planting; plant population at 3 weeks after planting; plant height
at 4 and 8 weeks after planting and at maturity; leaf carbon and nitrogen content at V6,
silking, and grain fill stages; chlorophyll content at V6 and bi-weekly after V6; leaf area
index at V6 and bi-weekly after V6; plant moisture content at V6, silking, and grain fill
stages; and grain yield upon harvest of maize for grain. I will also score each plot regularly
during the season to determine presence and extent of pests and disease infestation. Soil
parameters I will measure include bulk density in the first month after planting and after
harvest; surface soil moisture weekly; organic carbon and total soil nitrogen content once
at the beginning of the season; active carbon and nitrate content monthly for the first 3
months after planting; available P, K, Ca, Mg, pH, and cation exchange capacity one time
at the beginning of the season; aggregate stability at V6 and after harvest; soil tempera-
ture hourly with data loggers; and earthworm population one time at the beginning of the
season. Gene expression analysis that I will conduct includes sampling leaves during V6,
silking, and grain fill stages from the ear leaf or youngest fully developed leaf in V6. These
samples will be frozen in liquid nitrogen and used for subsequent gene expression analysis,
protein analysis, and carbon and nitrogen content evaluation. Gene expression analysis will
be conducted initially only on samples taken during V6 stage to get a general idea of ex-
pected results while maintaining a manageable sample size. Candidate genes were chosen
based on predicted environmental differences between treatments as well as results from
similar research done studying gene expression in tomatoes planted in hairy vetch residue
compared to no cover. In analyzing gene expression in my plant samples, I will isolate total
RNA, synthesize cDNA, and conduct reverse transcriptase PCR and real-time PCR using
primers designed specifically for the genes of interest. Objective 2: Plant and soil measure-
ments will be compared to the results of the gene and protein expression analysis. Statisti-
cal analysis will be performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and other statistical
tools. Objective 3: I will work with Dr. Autar Mattoo at the USDA ARS in Beltsville, MD,
to study expression of proteins in plant samples in order to determine if gene expression
differences are also manifested in protein expression differences.
EXPECTED RESULTS
I expect to see changes in gene expression due to environmental changes experienced by
maize growing in different treatments. I expect to see higher expression of cold tolerance
genes early in the season in maize growing in no-tillage and in fields with a cover crop
mulch due to cooler soil temperatures experienced in these treatments. I expect to see
higher expression of drought tolerance genes in maize grown in fields without a cover
crop and in fields with tillage. This is due to higher temperatures and lower soil moisture
associated with these treatments. I expect to see higher expression of nitrogen-responsive
genes in fields with a hairy vetch cover crop due to the high levels of nitrogen supplied
to the soil as hairy vetch breaks down. I expect to see the greatest difference early in the
season before side-dress fertilization and later in the season when hairy vetch has had
time to fully break down. I also expect to see higher expression of nitrogen-responsive
genes in tilled fields with hairy vetch early in the season because tillage helps accelerate
the breakdown of hairy vetch. I expect to see higher expression of nitrogen-responsive
genes in no-tillage fields with hairy vetch later in the season when the hairy vetch on
the tilled fields has broken down almost completely and the vetch mulch remains on the
no-tillage fields to further provide nutrients. I expect to see genes associated with senes-
cence expressed at lower levels in fields treated with hairy vetch mulch and no-tillage.
This prediction is based on results of similar research in tomatoes grown in hairy vetch
mulch. For the same reason, I expect to see higher expression of genes associated with
defense against pests and disease in maize grown in no-tillage and with a hairy vetch
cover crop. I expect to see results that indicate improved soil quality in fields treated with
a hairy vetch cover crop and no-tillage. I expect to see higher presence of pest and dis-
ease issues in plants grown with a cover crop in no-tillage early in the season but I expect
this difference to not be manifested in yield differences.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This study will supply novel information about how sustainable soil management practices
affect crops grown for profit. This information will enable scientists to better understand
the phenotypic changes in crops observed in sustainable systems. The results of this study
can be used to better understand the fundamental mechanisms of sustainable agriculture.
By providing sustainable agriculture with a stronger justification, wider implementation
will likely follow. Conventional agricultural systems can contribute to environmental
degradation such as air and water pollution, soil structure and health depletion, erosion,
and reduction of natural biodiversity. The movement toward more sustainable systems
will become increasingly important when considering the growing world population and
rising importance of environmental stewardship. Cover crops benefit the health of the soil
in which they are grown and the health of crops grown after. Cover crops supply nutrients
to the following crop, provide organic matter to improve soil quality, and supply mulch to
improve soil physical and biological properties. Legumes help to fix atmospheric nitrogen
for the following crop. Hairy vetch fixes high levels of atmospheric nitrogen, has vigor-
ous growth, fits well into diverse cropping rotations, has low fertility needs, and is winter
hardy. Cover crop root systems assist in soil erosion prevention, retrieve available nutrients
in the soil after a cash crop, and help to prevent runoff of agricultural chemicals over the
winter. Erosion is a major cause of soil and crop quality depletion in much of the cropland
in the United States. Using a no-till farming system not only helps in erosion control, it
helps maintain soil aggregate and overall structure and helps maintain crop residue and or-
ganic matter on the soil surface. This research would help scientists, extension agents, and
farmers better understand the effects of sustainable soil and crop management techniques
on gene expression in a widely grown crop. Uncovering genetic explanations for negative
and positive phenotypes resulting from use of cover crops or no-tillage could assist in the
negation of negative responses and the enhancement of positive responses. The end result
of this research would be to provide further incentive for farmers to implement environ-
mentally sustainable farm management techniques and for scholars and extension agents to
have a scientific basis to further promote their use.
Keywords: sustainable agriculture, cover crops, no-tillage, gene expression, hairy vetch
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Energy
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Jonathan Paul Badalamenti
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917152
Institution: Arizona State University (AZ)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/19/2010 - 8/18/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: jb@asu.edu
Simultaneous Generation of Electricity and Hydrogen from Biomass and Sunlight
via a Microbial Photoelectric Cell
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The numerous and potentially severe environmental threats associated
with meeting energy needs by the continued combustion of fossil fuels
are clear. These energy needs must be met from renewable sources well
before fossil fuel supplies are exhausted in order to significantly reduce
anthropogenic emissions of CO, into the atmosphere and mitigate harm-
ful environmental impacts. This project will investigate the utilization of
photosynthetic microorganisms in a microbial photoelectric cell (MPC)
to generate electricity from biomass and, in a simultaneous process, use
sunlight to re-energize electrons and produce hydrogen (H2).
APPROACH
The first research stage will evaluate several consortia of photosynthetic
bacteria for their ability to interact electrochemically with electrodes
of a traditional microbial fuel cell (MFC). Bacterial electrochemical
interactions with insoluble substrates, the mechanisms of which are
poorly understood, appear to be ubiquitous in nature and occur among
representatives of photosynthetic bacteria. MFCs generate electrical
current when bacteria oxidize organic wastes and channel electrons to
an electrode. In the reverse process, the reduction half-reaction can be
catalyzed by bacteria fed electrons from an MFC to reduce oxidized
contaminants such as nitrate, perchlorate, and uranium(VI). By over-
coming unfavorable thermodynamics using sunlight as additional en-
ergy input to an MFC, the research will evaluate conditions under which
photosynthetic bacteria may re-energize electrons from an MFC to yield
a reduced product such as H,.
EXPECTED RESULTS
High throughput screening of diverse samples enables facile detection of
electrochemically active photosynthetic bacteria by monitoring electrical
current. With evidence for current-generating and/or -consuming activi-
ties of photosynthetic bacteria in an MFC, conditions favoring growth
and phototrophy can be optimized and applied to several environmental
samples to investigate the ubiquity of electrochemical interactions with
insoluble substrates. Such an approach is easily adaptable to several
variable inputs such as light regime, electrochemical potential, tempera-
ture, and salinity. Moreover, the MPC presents a novel tool for isolating
photosynthetic bacteria directly from natural habitats. Combining these
results with analyses of microbial ecology using molecular methods on
conserved genetic markers identifies and quantifies key microbial play-
ers and thus targets for further study and improvement of system perfor-
mance. These findings will be critical for designing a robust MPC which
couples generation of electricity from organic waste and sunlight-driven
recapture of electrons in H,.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Climate change poses arguably the greatest threat to the protection of
environmental and human health in this century. Direct contribution of
human activities to climate change provides a convincing case for urgent
investigation into substitution of fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure
with renewable alternatives. The MPC establishes a potential framework
to lessen dependence on combustion of fossil fuels, a major contributor
to climate change, by generating energy from only renewable inputs.
BIO:
Jonathan earned his Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology with honors from Penn State in 2007.
He entered the Ph.D. program in Microbiology at Arizona
State University the same year and was awarded a Graduate
Research Fellowship from Science Foundation Arizona. His
research examines the utilization of photosynthetic micro
organisms in generating renewable energy. He is currently
studying the application of these organisms in microbial
fuel cells to produce hydrogen.
SYNOPSIS:
Renewable energy is one of the greatest challenges facing
human civilization in the 21st century. The sun is Earth's
most abundant power supply, yielding more energy in one
hour than consumed by the planet in one year. This project
seeks to develop a microbial photoelectric cell (MPC) to ex
tract solar energy stored in waste biomass as electricity in a
simultaneous process where photosynthetic microorganisms
use sunlight to recapture electrical energy in a fuel such as
hydrogen.
Keywords: microbial fuel cell, hydrogen, photosynthesis, energy, solar, electricity
140
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William K. Eptin
S
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917154
Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: billye@cmu.edu
A Method for Through-Plane Measurement of Species Concentration in Porous
Electrodes for Fuel Cells and Batteries
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and lithium-ion (Li-ion)
batteries, backed by a sustainable energy infrastructure, present an op-
portunity for a transportation sector free of harmful emissions and the
volatility of the global oil market. However, through-plane mass trans-
port issues in the porous electrodes of both PEM fuel cells and Li-ion
batteries remain a substantial hurdle to bring the costs of these technolo-
gies to market-ready levels. This research aims to experimentally char-
acterize mass transport through the thickness of these porous electrodes,
fundamentally enhancing the understanding of mass transport limita-
tions, reaction kinetics, and degradation mechanisms The data will also
be applied to properly validate theoretical electrode models.
APPROACH
This research will use a micro-structured electrode scaffold (MES)
to measure the concentration of reactive chemical species at discrete
intervals through the thickness of a porous electrode—a measurement
that has not been previously demonstrated. The MES allows layers of
sensing electrodes to come into contact with the porous electrode from
the side. The sub-micron thick sensing layers are employed as ultra-
microelectrodes to perform electroanalytical concentration-sensing
techniques, such as pulsed amperometric detection. The MES concept
will initially be applied to PEM fuel cells and later to Li-ion batteries as
well as battery chemistries for grid-scale renewable energy storage.
EXPECTED RESULTS
At high fuel cell operating currents, the oxygen reactant concentration
distribution in the cathode is expected to shift towards the gas diffusion
layer (where the oxygen enters the electrode) and away from the elec-
trolyte membrane. The distributions will be compared with predictions
from porous electrode models, providing a measure of model accuracy
and directions for improving the relevant theory. The technique will be
used to elucidate the effect of concentration distribution on the evalua-
tion of reaction kinetics parameters. Measurements of degradation spe-
cies, such as hydrogen peroxide in PEM fuel cells, will enhance funda-
mental understanding of the degradation processes that are responsible
for PEM fuel cells not reaching durability targets. These measurements
are particularly important in next-generation electrodes using inexpen-
sive non-platinum-group-metal catalysts, as mass transport and degra-
dation are particularly troublesome issues in such electrodes. In Li-ion
batteries, enhanced understanding of reactant transport will guide the
design of thick electrodes with high energy density and power density.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
As the U.S. depends almost entirely on oil for transportation, that sector
accounts for nearly a third of U.S. CO, emissions, and gives rise to local
pollution issues and foreign oil dependence. Widespread adoption of
electric vehicles using any combination of PEM fuel cells and Li-ion bat-
teries would cut transportation sector CO emissions dramatically, and
almost completely if they are backed by sustamably generated electricity
and hydrogen. Furthermore, local pollution from automobile traffic leads
to health issues in high population areas—an issue that will be mitigated
by the zero tailpipe emissions of fuel cell and battery electric vehicles.
BIO:
William Epting graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
in 2009 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. During that
time, he designed and built a micro-hydroelectric turbine
for rain-based power, researched and installed a solar power
system at a remote university outpost, and researched vibra
tions and valves in turbines. As a Ph.D. student at Carnegie
Mellon University, his research in the Department of Me
chanical Engineering focuses on micro-diagnostics for fuel
celi and battery electrodes.
SYNOPSIS:
This work addresses the fundamental understanding of
chemical transport in the reaction zones of fuel cells and
batteries, improvements in these technologies could drasti
cally reduce vehicle emissions. For example, understanding
how oxygen travels in a fuel cell electrode will guide the
design of lower cost fuel cells. This work uses a micro-scale
electrochemical approach to take measurements in elec
trodes. Key findings will be analyses of reactions and degra
dation, and validation of theoretical models.
Keywords: fuel cells, PEM fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, electric vehicles, transportation, sustainable energy
141
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Thomas Edward Ferguson
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917155
Institution: Columbia University (NY)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: tef2108@columbia.edu
Carbon Negative Hydrogen Production from Biomass
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Due to the issues of environmental sustainability associated with anthro-
pogenic carbon emission and energy security, there is strong interest to
develop a new generation of clean energy conversion technologies that
utilize domestic resources. This project explores a method in which bio-
mass is reacted with a hydroxide to produce hydrogen, a clean-burning
fuel that can be used to produce power via a fuel cell, while simultane-
ously capturing carbon as a solid, avoiding re-emission of CO ..
APPROACH
My Master's work demonstrated the viability of this process, known as
alkaline hydrothermal treatment. My Ph.D. research will continue to
explore important scientific and engineering questions. First, a variety of
hydroxides such as calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide will be
thermodynamically and kinetically evaluated for the proposed alkaline
hydrothermal treatment of biomass, starting with the model biomass
compounds glucose and cellulose. Next, iron-based nanocatalysts will
be incorporated in order to improve the reaction rate. Once the stud-
ies with the model compounds are completed, the developed hydrogen
production system will be evaluated on heterogeneous biomass such as
green algae. Finally, both environmental and economic analyses will be
performed. Particularly, a detailed life cycle analysis will determine the
carbon footprint of the proposed biomass refining technology.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The aforementioned experimental studies will contribute to the develop-
ment of a distributed energy conversion system based on biomass. The
demonstrated reaction conditions for this process of low temperature and
atmospheric pressure will allow for simple reactor design, and the high
purity of the hydrogen stream produced eliminates purification reactors,
allowing for compact design. Kinetically, it is expected that the weaker
alkaline earth hydroxides will not perform as well as the stronger alkali
hydroxides during hydrogen production. However, the weaker alkaline
earth hydroxides have the advantage of a lower energy requirement for
their hydroxide regeneration. Alternatively, magnesium hydroxide, an
alkaline earth hydroxide, would for magnesium carbonate via the pro-
posed process, a material ready for carbon sequestration. Heterogeneous
biomass feedstocks will likely require additional pre-processing as well
as the identification of other gaseous and solid products. Catalysts are
expected to further enhance hydrogen conversion. Finally, as the pro-
posed scheme captures carbon, it is expected that the carbon footprint
will be smaller when compared to the traditional hydrogen-from-bio-
mass production processes of fast pyrolysis and gasification.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
By reducing our dependence on the burning of fossil fuels to obtain
energy, the proposed research stands to further protect both the environ-
ment and human health. Curtailment in fossil fuel utilization would re-
sult in the mitigation of particulate matter, fine particles, volatile organic
compounds, and sulfur compounds, emissions that the EPA cites as
detrimental to air quality. Also, the development of the proposed distrib-
uted energy conversion system would reduce greenhouse gas emission,
in particular carbon dioxide, while providing sustainable energy.
Keywords: biomass, hydrogen, alkaline hydrothermal treatment, carbon capture and storage
BIO:
Thomas Ferguson received his undergraduate degrees in
Physics and Astronomy from Vassar College in 2007. He
joined Columbia University's Earth and Environmental Engi
neering graduate program in September 2008. His research
has focused on the development of distributed energy
conversion technology for biomass that produces fuel cell-
ready hydrogen coupled with carbon capture. In May 2010,
he completed his Master's degree, and he is continuing his
research in his current program as a Ph.D. student.
SYNOPSIS:
Due to the issues of environmental sustainability associated
with anthropogenic carbon emission and energy security,
there is strong interest to develop a new generation of clean
energy conversion technologies that utilize domestic re
sources. This project explores a method in which biomass is
reacted with a hydroxide to produce hydrogen, a clean-burn
ing fuel that can be used to produce power via a fuel cell,
while simultaneously capturing carbon as a solid, avoiding
re-emission of C02.
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Claudia Maria Hitaj
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917169
Institution: University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: claudia.hitaj(Slgmail.com
Wind Power Development in the United States-An Empirical Evaluation of the
Effectiveness of State Renewable Energy Policies
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
One of the most promising renewable energy sources in the United
States is wind. In 2008, wind power contributed 42 percent of all new
generating capacity. Most states have a combination of policies in place
to promote renewable energy, but state variability on the level, duration,
and combination of policies is extensive. There is a lack of consensus
at a policy level about which instrument is most effective at promoting
wind power. This research project will quantify the effects of different
policy instruments and access to the electricity grid on wind power de-
velopment. The project will analyze the cost-effectiveness of each policy
instrument and identify current constraints to wind power development.
APPROACH
This project estimates the separate effect of each state-level renewable
energy policy instrument on installed wind power capacity and ex-
plicitly accounts for windiness, access to the electricity grid, and grid
deregulation status. The project uses county-level data from 1990 to
2007 and controls for local population and economic characteristics. The
estimated model can be used to predict annual growth in wind power
capacity across counties under a national carbon price.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The econometric analysis will shed light on which type of renewable
energy policy incentive is most effective at promoting wind power. It
will also determine the extent to which access to the electricity grid
constrains wind power development. Investigating the counterfactual
scenario of a national carbon price can identify regions in the United
States that can expect large growth in wind power as a result of a green-
house gas cap-and-trade program.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
By identifying the most cost-effective renewable energy policy instru-
ment, this research would contribute to reducing the cost of climate
change mitigation. Cost-effective policies are an important means to
achieving the dual goal of economic prosperity and protection of the
environment and human health through climate change mitigation.
BIO:
Claudia Hitaj graduated magna cum laude from Yale Uni
versity in 2007 with a B.A. in Economics & Mathematics
and a B.A. in Biology. The following year, she received her
M.Phil, in Environmental Policy from the University of Cam
bridge. In 2008, she began the Ph.D. program in Agricul
tural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland
at College Park. Her research focuses on energy economics,
particularly wind power development in the United States.
SYNOPSIS:
In the face of imminent climate change, developing low-
carbon fuel sources is of great importance. One of the most
promising renewable energy sources is wind. Most states of
fer a combination of policies to promote renewable energy,
but state variability on the level and duration of policies is
extensive. This project estimates the effects of each policy
instrument and access to the electricity grid on wind power
development. It also predicts wind power growth under a
national carbon price.
Keywords: Wind power, renewable resources, climate change, electric energy
143
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Eric S. Hittinger
S
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917157
Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/25/2010 - 8/24/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: ehitting@andrew.cmu.edu
Time-Series Modeling of Integrated Wind/Gas/Battery Systems for Minimization of
C02 and NOx Emissions
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
In order to reduce carbon emissions, increasing amounts of renew-
able electricity generation will be required. But most renewable energy
systems, such as wind and solar, have variable power output and require
dispatchable generation or energy storage to provide fill-in energy. This
study examines the costs and emissions of generation/energy storage
systems designed to support increasing amounts of wind generation.
APPROACH
This study will use time-series analysis of wind output, coupled with
realistic modeling of gas generators and energy storage devices, for a
realistic view of the potential capabilities of a composite wind/natural
gas/energy storage system. By studying these composite systems with
realistically modeled operation at a fine time resolution (10 seconds), we
can determine the costs of operation, emissions, and operational param-
eters of variously composed wind/gas/storage generation blocks. This
data will help identify systems that have low emissions at a reasonable
cost and can help inform policy and technology decisions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Firstly, and most basically, this study will demonstrate that modeling
varying and compensating resources using shorter time scales produces
results notably different than modeling them in longer blocks. Secondly,
it should demonstrate that a small amount of energy storage co-located
with the fluctuating resources will reduce both the average cost of power
and the emissions from compensating resources. Thirdly, a fully op-
erational model as described above can immediately be used to study a
number of effects related to these composite systems, such as the effect
of emissions prices or improvement of energy storage technology.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Deploying renewable electricity generation is an important part of
reducing carbon emissions. Thus, addressing the barriers to large-scale
renewable generation is necessary to achieving a low-carbon electrical
grid. This study examines methods to accommodate increased wind
energy at a reasonable cost while using established technologies.
BIO:
Eric Hittinger received a B.S.E. in Polymer Science and
Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)
in 2002. He continued at CWRU synthesizing and charac
terizing novel semiconducting polymers for use in electron
ics. After acquiring an M.S. in Macromolecular Science, he
worked for the U.S. Army as a Project Management Engi
neer. In 2008, he entered the Ph.D. program in Engineering
and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University where his
research focuses on grid-level energy storage and integra
tion of renewable generation.
SYNOPSIS:
There is a growing public and private interest in renew
able energy deployment for a variety of reasons, such as
carbon emission reduction and energy independence. But
the variability of such technologies as wind and solar gen
eration is a formidable barrier to large-scale deployment.
This research examines the costs and emissions of specific
systems providing fill-in power for wind farms and seeks to
identify ways to affordable compensate for wind variability
without increased emissions.
Keywords: wind integration, energy storage, carbon emissions, wind variability, renewable portfolio standards
144
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Melissa Lauren Holtmeyer
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917159
Institution: Washington University, Saint Louis (MO)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: holtnieyerm@seas.wustl.edu
Clean Lnergy Research and Education
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Geo-political stability and environmental sustainability are driving us
towards a diverse energy portfolio that seeks to minimize CO, emissions
while utilizing local and renewable resources. We quickly must make
educated decisions about power generation in order to mitigate emis-
sions and minimize the effects of climate change. My project features
both research and education components to provide a well-rounded
understanding of pollutant prevention and power generation. My re-
search project focuses on understanding the potential emission reduc-
tions that can be achieved from biomass co-firing under air-fired and
oxy-combustion conditions. The teaching component of my project aims
to develop a course that teaches a practical approach to power generation
decision-making, serving to identify the challenges in implementation of
technologies, and educating the student about scientific, environmental,
economic, cultural, and political issues.
APPROACH
Co-firing of biomass is an approach that can significantly limit and even
reduce emissions, while minimizing disruption to the existing power
infrastructure, which is primarily based around coal power plants. In
addition, biomass co-firing is potentially a carbon negative process when
coupled with carbon capture and sequestration. I propose to investigate
co-firing of biomass with coal under both air-fired and oxy-combustion
conditions for multi-pollutant prevention and control. The type of bio-
mass co-fired, its preparation and the combustion process employed will
be explored to determine the effects on flame stability, and formation of
NOx and particulate matter.
With new technologies entering the energy market regularly, it is a
daunting task to decide on one technology over another. To this end, a
course will be developed that trains future entrepreneurs and scientists/
engineers to understand how to identify truly promising technologies
and to understand how they compare to alternative technologies.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Biomass in the form of agricultural waste or bioenergy crops grown
specifically for energy production will constitute the majority of bio-
mass fuels implemented. The chemical make-up of these materials is
very different from coal in that they have less nitrogen, mercury, sulfur,
and fixed carbon. However, they generally have increased volatiles and
oxygen. Reductions in pollutants, such as SOx, Hg, and CO , should be
seen with increasing biomass fraction. Other pollutants, such as NOx
and particulate matter, are less clear. Results from this study will show
trends between combustion conditions and pollutant formation based on
experiments and numerical simulations.
Coupled with understanding the fundamentals of the combustion of
biomass, a knowledge base of where this technology can be applied is
important for directing research efforts. The development of the clean
energy application course helps provide that information, while educat-
ing future decision-makers. Through this course, students will gam an
appreciation of the challenges in the field of global clean energy; being
able to distinguish when and where a technology offers opportunity
while understanding the unique challenges that face the energy industry.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Emissions of greenhouse gases are at unprecedented levels, and although
there are no direct adverse health effects, the public welfare is being af-
fected through climate change and irreversible environmental damage.
The crux of my Ph. D program is to contribute to research that can elimi-
nate C02 emissions concurrently with other pollutants, while developing
a course that will educate the next generation of decision makers about
the appropriate choices for energy technologies.
BIO:
Melissa Holtmeyer received both her Bachelor of Science
and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering
from Washington University in St. Louis in 2006 and 2007
During her Master's work, she studied in China research
ing distributed-power generation for rural communities in
developing countries. She is presently pursuing a Ph.D. in
Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering at Wash
ington University in St. Louis. Her research is focused on
advanced combustion techniques for emission reductions
during oxy-coal combustion and biomass co-firing. Her
research will involve both experiments and computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations.
SYNOPSIS:
Pollutant prevention and implications of power genera
tion from renewable and non-renewable technologies are
the focus of this project's research and teaching. Biomass
co-firing with coal, a transition technology between today's
coal-dominated and the future's renewable power, will be
studied under air-fired and oxy-combustion conditions. The
teaching component aims to educate about the challenges
of various technologies through a techno-socio-economic-
environmental approach to decision-making.
Keywords: biomass co-firing, oxy-coal combustion, NOx formation, energy economics, decision-making
145
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Markael Daniel Luterra
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917164
Institution: Oregon State University (OR)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: luterram@engr.orst.edu
Developing a Metabolic Switch for Photobiological Hydrogen Production
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Photobiological hydrogen production offers the promise of efficient,
low-cost, and pollution-free solar energy conversion. Certain algae and
cyanobacteria contain all of the required enzymes for this process, but
several major challenges remain to be addressed, including redirection
of electron flow to the hydrogenase enzyme. In this project I aim to
increase hydrogen production from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis
sp. PCC 6803 by downregulating electron flow through two alternative
pathways and increasing hydrogenase expression.
APPROACH
EXPECTED RESULTS
With downregulation of cyclic electron flow and electron flow to the
Calvin cycle and increased hydrogenase expression, I expect to see
dramatically increased hydrogen production under enforced anaerobic
conditions and during dark-to-light transitions. While efficient hydro-
gen production under full light will not be achieved until oxygen toler-
ance of the hydrogenase is improved, the metabolic switch developed in
this project will greatly enhance hydrogen production once that goal is
reached. The two-way genetic switch developed here will be widely ap-
plicable to other cyanobacterial bioenergy projects, such as lipid accu-
mulation for biodiesel, sunlight-to-ethanol, or butanol production.
I will replace the native promoter sequences of two genes essential for
cyclic electron flow and electron flow to the Calvin cycle with a promoter
that can be induced or repressed. I will then use microarrays to identify
genes that are strongly upregulated when expression of these two genes
is repressed. After confirming substantial upregulation with qRT-PCR, I
will insert the promoter from an upregulated gene in place of the native
hydrogenase operon promoter to obtain increased hydrogenase expression.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Climate change, linked primarily to carbon dioxide emissions, is the
largest environmental challenge facing humanity in this century. Cur-
rent-generation biofuels have sunlight-to-energy conversion efficiencies
of 0.1-0.2 percent, too low to meet our transportation fuel needs from
available land even if substantial conservation measures are enacted.
Photobiological hydrogen offers the potential for sun light-to-fuel effi-
ciencies exceeding 10 percent, which would greatly enhance our ability
to meet our energy needs while eliminating carbon emissions.
BIO:
Mark Luterra got an early start in environmental research,
participating in citizen-science stream monitoring and bird
surveys near his childhood home in rural southwestern Min
nesota. He received a B.A. in Biology with a concentration
in Environmental Studies from Carleton College in 2007.
He worked as a natural resources specialist for the Bu
reau of Land Management and the Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources for a year before beginning a Ph.D.
program in Biological and Ecological Engineering at Oregon
State University. He is particularly interested in harnessing
photosynthesis for bioenergy and in developing energy self-
sufficient communities, and his current research focuses on
improving hydrogen production from cyanobacteria.
SYNOPSIS:
Solar energy has strong potential to replace fossil fuels, but
at present it is impossible to efficiently convert sunlight
to liquid or gaseous fuel. Cyanobacteria can use sunlight
to generate hydrogen gas, and the theoretical efficiency
(around 10-15%) rivals that of PV panels. For efficient hy
drogen production, the flow of energized electrons through
competing metabolic pathways must be reduced. In this
project I will downregulate two of these pathways, hopefully
increasing hydrogen yields.
Keywords: hydrogen, cyanobacteria, microalgae, solar, bioenergy
146
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Stephen M. Rose
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917170
Institution: Stephen F. Austin State University (TX)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2011
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: srose@andrew.cmu.edu
Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Short-Term Smoothing of Wind Power
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The amount of wind power that can be accepted by the electrical grid is
limited by the ability of other power plants to compensate for unpredict-
able variations in wind power. If the variability of wind power can be
reduced, the electrical grid can accept more wind power without adding
additional conventional power plants. This research will assess the cost-
effectiveness of methods to reduce the short-term vari ability of wind
power that can be implemented with existing technologies.
APPROACH
Three methods of smoothing wind power will be tested with a simula-
tion of a large wind farm: wind turbine design, wind turbine control
strategies, and the arrangement of turbines in a wind farm. The control
strategies increase the operating cost of a wind farm, and the turbine de-
signs and arrangement in a wind farm increase the initial cost of a wind
farm. The cost-effectiveness of these methods will be compared to the
cost-effectiveness of using energy storage, such as batteries, and small
gas turbine power plants to compensate for wind power fluctuations.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Estimates of the cost of turbine design, operation, and placement strate-
gies will guide policy and investment decisions. Other researchers have
shown some of these strategies are technically effective for smoothing
wind power, but this research will determine which ones are worth the
cost. These results will guide electrical grid operators as they decide
what types of new power plants to build and how to schedule them.
These results will also guide government policy makers as they decide
how to structure renewable energy subsidies, renewable portfolio stan-
dards, and research and development programs.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The results of this research should indirectly help to improve air qual-
ity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping to increase the
percentage of electricity generated from wind power. These results may
also provide a cost-effective way to reduce NOx emissions. Gas turbine
power plants emit more NOx when they rapidly vary their power output
to compensate for wind power fluctuations than gas turbine power plants
that output steady power.
BIO:
Stephen Rose is an engineer interested in technical prob
lems that affect public policy. He received a B.S. in Me
chanical Engineering from the University of California,
Berkeley and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the
Georgia Institute of Technology and worked for 5 years de
signing control systems for large wind turbines, In his spare
time, he coaches high school students in robotics contests
and occasionally runs marathons.
SYNOPSIS:
The electrical power from large wind turbines varies un
predictably, which can reduce the stability of the electrical
power grid. This research investigates the cost-effectiveness
of methods to smooth wind power variations without wind
energy storage devices such as batteries. These cost com
parisons will help guide policies that promote wind energy
while minimizing electricity prices and maintaining the
stability of the electrical system.
Keywords: wind energy, electrical grid, frequency regulation
147
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Lindsay Soh
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917173
Institution: Yale University (CT)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: lindsay.soh@yale.edu
Extraction of Algal Lipids for Use in Biodiesel Production
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Due to their high lipid content and ease of cultivation, algae are poten-
tially ideal starting materials for the production of biodiesel that may be
used to replace non-renewable petroleum based transport fuels. Though
algae-based biofuels are promising, limitations in the technology needed
to grow and harvest the algae as well as to extract the enclosed lipid
have inhibited their implementation. The objective of this research is to
contribute to the development of algal lipids into a viable energy source
by optimizing lipid extraction techniques for efficiency, sustainability,
decreased hazard, and selectivity, focusing on the use of supercritical
fluids as alternative, green solvents.
APPROACH
In order to improve upon the current extraction methods, cell disruption,
greener solvent systems, selective extraction, and simplified extraction-
fuel conversion processes will be evaluated for their ability to increase
efficiency and decrease hazard associated with lipid extraction. In par-
ticular, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO,) will be used as anon-polar
solvent to solubilize the algal lipid. The supercritical extraction condi-
tions will be modified by varying pressure, temperature, and co-solvent
use, in order to find the most effective conditions in terms of efficiency
and selectivity. The efficiency of extraction can be evaluated by assess-
ing the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content of the lipid extraction
and thus the algal biodiesel production potential. Further, the selectivity
of each variation can be quantified by also assessing the full lipid profile
of the extract, including triglyceride and phospholipid content.
EXPECTED RESULTS
While conventional solvents are effective at almost completely extract-
ing lipids from algal cells, their drawbacks include inherent toxicity,
poor selectivity, and difficult separation of the contaminants as well as
solvents from the desired product. Due to their sensitivity to changes in
pressure and temperature, scCCX conditions can be tuned to selectively
extract the desired triglycerides, eliminating unwanted lipid-like materi-
als such as phospholipids and pigments. Co-solvents can also be used
to further enhance solubility and selectivity, raising the efficiency of
extraction by scC02 closer to that of traditional solvents. Further, super-
critical conditions may also be tuned to not only extract but also trans-
esterify the algal lipids, found as triglycerides, into FAME that can be
directly used as biodiesel, simplifying the multi-step process into one. In
addition to triglycerides, the selectivity of supercritical fluid extraction
can be used to selectively extract other materials from algae for use in
products such as cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and polymers. Subsequent to
extraction, the system can simply be brought back to atmospheric condi-
tions to evaporate the carbon dioxide as a gas.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Upon successful completion of this research, an efficient, green, and
sustainable means to extract algal lipid for biofuel will have been devel-
oped for implementation as a renewable alternative for transport fuel.
Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction has already proven to be an ef-
fective and less hazardous means for lipid extraction, and by optimizing
its use for lipid extraction, the potential for algal biodiesel as a sustain-
able alternative to fossil fuels increases. Finally, by using waste products
from biodiesel production, environmental and economic impacts will be
minimized and an efficient closed-system process implemented.
BIO:
Lindsay is a doctoral student in Environmental Engineer
ing working with Julie Zimmerman at Yale University. She
received her undergraduate degree at the University of Cal
fornia, Berkeley in Environmental Engineering Science. Her
research interests include green engineering and analytical
chemistry, as well as the fate and impacts of anthropogenic
compounds in the environment. Upon completion of her
Ph.D., she hopes to pursue a career in academia.
SYNOPSIS:
Due to limited fossil fuel supplies and global climate
change, alternative energy sources must be found. Biodiesel
produced from algae shows great potential to sustainably
replace petroleum-based transport fuel, but technological
hindrances, including inefficient lipid extraction, have pre
vented their implementation. This research aims to opti
mize algal lipid extraction for efficiency, sustainability, and
decreased hazard, focusing on using supercritical fluids as
alternative, green solvents.
Keywords: algae, biodiesel, biofuel, green engineering, supercritical fluid extraction, scCO„
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Matthew Robert Strickland
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917175
Institution: Duke University (NC)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: mrs40(S?duke.edu
Biofiltration Incorporating Gene Silencing Technology for the Production of
Methanol From Methane Containing Waste Gases
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objective of this research is to develop a new method by which
methanol can be generated biologically from methane. Specifically, by
using gene silencing techniques, the metabolism of the methanotroph
can be altered allowing for control of critical gene expression. Some
questions that remain to be answered include: How will antisense
silencing be deployed? What is the effect of interrupting the metabolism
in such a way? Is this method sustainable? Is this method scaleable for
application in industry? Could this method be applied to other areas of
interest, such as the production of noxious gasses (hydrogen sulfide) by
other microorganisms?
APPROACH
How will antisense silencing be deployed? In order to produce the neces-
sary antisense strands as depicted in the original fellowship proposal, a
plasmid has been engineered that will produce said antisense strands.
Trial studies will be conducted during the summer. What is the effect
of interrupting the metabolism in such a way? Most importantly, the
inhibition of the MDH gene will prevent the cell from producing new
cell mass or from regenerating NADH. One solution is to supplement
the cells with a different metabolite downstream from methanol (pyru-
vate). Another solution is to control silencing with a solid promoter on
the plasmid. In that way, partial silencing can be achieved where cells
still grow, but they still excrete methanol. Is this method sustainable?
If the system can be optimized in such a way that no other compounds
(such as pyruvate) must be added, yes, it is theoretically sustainable. Is
this method scaleable for application in industry? Given the large scale
production of methane at many mid- and large-scale landfills or com-
posting facilities, which cannot economically upgrade their biogas for
injection into the natural gas grid, this approach could be applicable
for industry. Part of the research will include inoculation and operation
within a laboratory scale biotrickling filter that is supplied with synthetic
biogas (methane and CO,, supplemented with air). Could this method be
applied to other areas of interest, such as the production of noxious gases
(hydrogen sulfide) by other microorganisms? Yes, if this tool set is well
developed, it could be applied to many biosystems where specific genes
could enhance operations!
EXPECTED RESULTS
I expect the proposed and revised approach will work, as there are mul-
tiple examples of plasmid-based gene silencing systems in nature (HOK/
SOK is a perfect example). The challenge will be in developing a strong
plasmid for use in methanotrophs.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Again, this technology could be applied to many systems where biologi-
cal degradation is not favored due to the production of secondary nox-
ious gases or other interfering compounds. In a sense, we will be able to
create better, smarter microbes for closed-system bioremediation.
BIO:
Matt Strickland received his undergraduate degree in Civil
Engineering from North Carolina State University in 2009. As
an undergraduate, he was heavily involved in the Engineering
Ambassadors program, recruiting high school students into
engineering disciplines. In the fall of 2009, he joined the
laboratory group of Dr. Marc Deshusses in the Pratt School
of Engineering at Duke University. He is currently pursuing a
Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, focusing on engineered
biofiltration technologies. Other research interests include
wetland based water/wastewater treatment and water treat
ment technologies for developing nations.
SYNOPSIS:
At many landfills or other methane generating facilities,
biogas that is not economically upgradeable for use as a
fuel source is often vented to the atmosphere or flared.
The goal of this research is to develop a novel method
by which methanotrophic bacteria, microorganisms that
consume methane as an energy source and carbon source,
may be engineered to instead convert methane into meth
anol. The collected methanol may then be barreled and
used as a fuel commodity.
Keywords: plasmid, gene silencing, CRISPR, methane, methanol, biosynthesis, awesome
149
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Derek Richard Vardon
Energy
EPA Grant Number: FP917177
Institution: University of Illinois, Urbana-
Champaign (IL)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $74,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Energy
E-mail: dvardon2(S?illinois.edu
Extended Surfactants for Sustainable Aqueous Lipid Extraction From
Algal Biomass
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Algae offer a promising solution for renewable energy and pollution
mitigation when used as a feedstock for biofuel production; however,
sustainable algal biofuel production has yet to be realized due to the sig-
nificant energy inputs required to dewater and extract oils from algae. To
overcome this challenge, this research seeks to develop novel extended
surfactants to extract and recover algae oil in an aqueous environment.
APPROACH
The potential of extended surfactants for aqueous algal lipid extraction
will be evaluated by conducting microemulsion phase behavior studies
with surfactants and lipid profiles from various algal strains. Baseline
lipid profiles for each species will be obtained by lyophilizing the biomass
to preserve the chemical structure. The ideal surfactant concentration
and extraction conditions will then be identified to maximize the yield
and quality of lipid extract. Operating parameters such as reaction time,
temperature, and biomass-to-surfactant ratio can be varied to reduce
the amount of surfactant required and reach the critical microemulsion
concentration. Performance of selected extended surfactants will then
be compared against conventional organic solvents used for algal lipid
extraction. Recovery and recyclability of the surfactant and separated
culture water will then be examined to model the process sustain-
ability. Loss of surfactant is expected during the recovery process and
will be quantified to determine the input life cycle. The performance
of the recovered surfactant will also be tested to measure the extract
yield, lipid quality, and molecular integrity over repeated cycles. The
recycled culture water will also be examined to determine its affect on
cell growth parameters. Based on these factors, energy consumption and
water recycle models will be generated to predict the scalability of lipid
extraction methods using extended surfactants.
EXPECTED RESULTS
From this study I expect to identify extended surfactants that can effec-
tively recover convertible lipids from high-moisture algal biomass when
compared to typical organic solvents. This novel method will reduce the
energy input and water consumption when dewatering and drying algal
biomass, and mitigate the environmental, health, and safety hazards of
industrial extraction solvents. The saline growth environment of algae
can also allow for culture water recycle to enhance the sustainability of
biomass production and processing.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Extended surfactants offer an environmentally benign method to extract
and recover lipids from high-moisture algal biomass while alleviating
the energy and water consumption concerns associated with dewatering.
By developing algal biofuel technology, advancements can be made to
provide a carbon-neutral fuel source compatible with the current diesel
engines and fuel distribution infrastructure. Furthermore, the ability to
integrate algal production into wastewater treatment systems offers a
synergistic means to provide both nutrient remediation and the co-gener-
ation of renewable biofuels.
BIO:
Derek Vardon received his undergraduate degree in Civil and
Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at
Urbana Champaign in 2010. Prior to returning to school, he
served 6 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear power electri
cian's mate while stationed in Charleston, SC. As an under
graduate student, Derek was actively involved in research
and educational outreach highlighting the potential of
algae for bioenergy production and pollution remediation.
His current research investigates the use of extended sur
factants for the aqueous extraction of lipids from algae.
SYNOPSIS:
Algae offer a promising solution for renewable energy and
pollution mitigation when used as a feedstock for biofuel
production; however, sustainable algae biofuel production
has yet to be realized due to the significant energy inputs
required to dewater and extract oils from algae. To over
come this challenge, this research seeks to develop novel
extended surfactants to extract and recover algae oil in an
aqueous environment.
Keywords: algae, biofuels, green chemistry, lipid extraction, surfactants
150
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Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
-------
Michael Reed Coughlan
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917243
Institution: University of Georgia (GA)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/13/2010 - 8/12/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: coughlan@uga.edu
Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Pastoral Fire in the French Pyrenees
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The goal of my proposed research is to understand change and con-
tinuity in the relationships between humans, fire, and landscape over
the long-term. The research asks how household level socioeconomic
processes influence long term fire ecology through both land use and the
practice of pastoral fire. I will answer this question by undertaking an
historical ecological analysis of human-fire-landscape dynamics in the
French Western Pyrenees
APPROACH
The proposed research design relies on a combination of ethnographic,
dendroecological, historical, and geospatial methodologies to collect
and analyze data. The research is divided into four phases: (I) Archival
and dendroecological data collection will provide the data necessary for
historical analyses of household economic strategies, land use, and fire
history. Data sets will include current and historical maps, demography,
forest stand records, land-use records, and the natural archives recorded in
the annual growth of trees. (II) Ethnographic data collection will include
participant observation in pastoral fire events as well as interviews with
key informants to document the ethnographic contexts of fire use. (Ill)
Dendroecology samples will be processed and read in the GEODE lab
at the University of Toulouse - Le Mirail. A standard procedure will be
used that consists of drying, mounting, planning, and sanding samples
with ever-finer sand paper until cellular details of the surface are exposed.
Cores and cross-sections will be cross-dated and fire histories recorded
using standard dendrochronological methods. (IV) Data will be analyzed
and synthesized using a combination of Bayesian and local analyses, along
with content- and network-focused ethnographic approaches.
EXPECTED RESULTS
My proposed research wall contribute to our understanding of long-term
socioecological interaction by identifying the historical parameters influ-
encing human-fire ecology. Research will correlate dendroecological re-
constructions of parcel-level fire history with a dynamic land use change
model based on ethnographic and ethnohistoric data about household
economic strategies and the fire practices they engender. These results
will provide important and relevant information not only for understand-
ing how people self-organize to achieve sustainable livelihoods, but also
for understanding how local knowledge, practice, social organization,
and landscape dynamically interact with broader-scaled environmental
factors such as climate and political economy. This research also has rel-
evance for defining the specific factors contributing to the recent decline
in livelihoods-based fire management, a significant concern for forecast-
ing future ecological conditions for the design of conservation policy.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Fire-related land management issues are global in scope and present a
range of concerns and challenges from the conservation of biological
diversity to human vulnerability and well-being. The proposed research
will contribute a framework for modeling future fire management sce-
narios that can help design conservation policy that both draws from and
is sensitive to the livelihoods, identities, and knowledge of local peoples.
BIO:
Michael Coughlan received a Bachelor's degree in Anthro
pology from Middlebury College in Vermont and a Master's
degree in Applied Anthropology from Northern Arizona
University. Michael has worked as an archaeologist for the
U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and a cul
tural resources management firm. He is currently working
on a P.h.D. in Ecological Anthropology at the University of
Georgia. Michael's dissertation research concerns long term
human-fire-landscape interaction in the French Western
Pyrenees.
SYNOPSIS:
The proposed research investigates fire use among shep
herds in the French Western Pyrenees using ethnographic,
dendroecological, and geospatial methodologies. Pastoral
fire practices have helped maintain landscapes conducive
to conservation goals concerning biodiversity, watershed
function, and carbon emissions. This research asks how lo
cal knowledge, practice, and social relationships can medi
ate the effects of broad-scale socioeconomic processes on
long term fire ecology.
Keywords: Historical ecology, pastoral fire use, anthropogenic fire, agro-pastoral livelihoods, land use/land cover change (LULCC)
152
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Sarah L. Dumyahn
S
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
Beyond Noise Mitigation: SoundScape Conservation Implementation by U.S.
Federal Land Management Agencies
EPA Grant Number: FP917239
Institution: Purdue University (IN)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: sllmrvo\
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Justin MacLeod Foster
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917156
Institution: Boston University (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: jfoster2@bu.edu
Decision Support for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Charging in a Power
Market Setting with Uncertainty: Cost Saving Opportunities and Synergies with
Wind Generation
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This project develops decision-making support tools, which utilize
Smart Grid data and hold promise towards a sustainable energy future. It
explores the complementary nature of certain clean energy technologies
across industry sectors in order to promote economically feasible oppor-
tunities for joint market penetration. In particular, it examines the ability
of flexible-load to optimally provide the fast reserve capacity necessary
for substantial increases in wind generation, while maintaining the qual-
ity of service the general public demands from electric utilities.
APPROACH
Preliminary research will focus on effective market-based coordination
of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and renewable electricity
generation — in particular, wind — that will contribute to the broad
adoption of both technologies. Decisions must be managed and imple-
mented across time-scales in the day-ahead market, intra-daily adjust-
ment markets, and real-time market. The intermittent nature of wind
generation requires additional capacity reserves, which can be called
upon to insure the real-time balance of energy supply and demand.
Given that fast reserve capacity prices range from $20 - $80 per mega-
watt-hour, these costs are likely to impose a significant barrier to wind
generation expansion. In addition, the electrification of the light-vehicle
fleet, in the absence of smart charging, will require costly distribution
network infrastructure investments. This project will develop an optimal
battery charging management strategy that will increase the supply of
fast capacity reserves, thus controlling the costs, and result in energy
cost savings for PHEV owners. This can be accomplished using load
scheduling, which shifts demand in synchrony with system requirements
and alleviates power system congestion in the transmission, distribution,
and generation infrastructure.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The project will include simulation of the optimal PHEV charging deci-
sion support methodology to provide an important component in the
evaluation of the costs and benefits associated with the electrification
of the U.S. light-vehicle fleet and increased penetration of intermittent
clean energy generation. The ideas of 'smart-charging' and 'smart-use'
can be adapted to other types of load management, as well as to the
management of distributed generation. Findings will provide important
insight into the changes in energy market design necessary for demand-
side participation in reserve markets and expanded retail markets at the
distribution level. The research can be applied towards the development
of comprehensive plans for expanding the existing distribution network
and aid in the delay of costly expansion projects. Finally, and perhaps
most importantly, the research will offer insight into efficient investment
in the cyber infrastructure embedded in the Smart Grid.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
High renewable generation adoption will have a downward effect on
wholesale energy prices. PHEV batteries can also increase the supply of
capacity reserves and lower costs. Thus, in addition to the positive en-
vironmental impact, the cumulative effect on electricity markets will be
in the direction of more affordable electric energy for the general public.
Moreover, implementation of the proposed methodology in other devel-
oped and developing countries holds promise for dramatic global effects
on sustainable energy.
BIO:
As a Ph.D. candidate in Systems Engineering at Boston
University, Justin Foster is studying sustainable energy sys
terns, environmental policy analysis, and electricity market
design. His awareness of sustainable power systems began
as a Research Associate at ICF International where he sup
ported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the de
velopment and analysis of multi-pollutant trading programs.
Justin received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics,
cum laude, from Bowdoin College.
SYNOPSIS:
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions requires the incor
poration of clean energy technologies in the transportation
and electric power sectors, which will strain the existing
energy infrastructure. Embedded in the Smart Grid platform
is the ability to manage these technologies in a way to mini
mize the disruptive impact. This project develops the deci
sion support tools necessary for the market-based coordina
tion of intermittent renewable and distributed generation as
well as demand response.
Keywords: sustainable power systems, renewable electricity generation, Smart Grid, demand-side response, decision theory, dynamic programming, optimization
154
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Eileen Rose Hlavka
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917158
Institution: Pardee RAND Graduate School (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/25/2010 - 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail:
A New Approach To Measuring Technological Progress To Better Inform
Climate Policy
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This research will measure how government subsidies have or have not
affected the rate of early research on renewable electricity technologies
over the past few decades. The number of journal articles published on a
given technology will be used as a measure of the rate of research, using
novel text analysis methods to categorize the journal articles.
APPROACH
The rate of published research on wind and solar electricity will be
compared with government subsidies over time. First, the measure of
rate of research will be constructed by using semi-automated text analy-
sis to categorize hundreds of thousands of articles matching relevant
keywords. Second, econometric time series methods will be used to
compare these articles' publication dates with government subsidies and
other factors. The results will be interpreted in terms of their implica-
tions for the effects of government subsidies on technological research as
well as for future policy-related work using text analysis.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will suggest what percent of early renewable electric-
ity research is attributable to government subsidies. Thus, it will either
conclude that subsidies are already encouraging the amount of early re-
search which is desired by policymakers, or that they are not encourag-
ing sufficient research and other policies are needed. These results may
be interpreted in the context of other subsidy-like potenti al policies, such
as a cap-and-trade system.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Advances in wind and solar electricity technology may make it possible
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more cheaply, thus making it easier
to meet emission targets and reduce climate change. This research will
help in identifying what role subsidies or other price-based policies can
play in fostering early research towards such technological advances.
BIO:
Eileen Hlavka's career focus is climate change policy. In the
Ph.D. program at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, she
studies a wide variety of mostly quantitative research meth
ods in the belief that different facets of climate change
policy require different approaches. She has done state-lev
el policy work in California and holds a B.A. in mathematics
and political science from Reed College. In her spare time
she has been found playing taiko drums, cooking and insu
lating her refrigerator.
SYNOPSIS:
In addition to conservation, improving technology holds
promise for reducing greenhouse gases and thus climate
change. This research implements a new measure of the
rate of research on solar and wind electricity—counting
research articles—and compares it with subsidies for those
electricity sources over time. The results will show whether
subsidies or other pricing policies may suffice to encourage
the amount of technological change desired or whether ad
ditional policies are required.
Keywords: climate change, technology, renewable energy, wind, solar, measurement, text analysis, subsidies, policy
155
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Mark Edward Huberty
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917188
Institution: University of California, Berkeley (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Ted Just
Project Period: 8/1/2010 — 7/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: markhuberty(2)berkeley.edu
The Political Lconomy of Energy Systems Transitions: Implications for
Climate Policy
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Climate change mitigation will require replacing fossil fuels with lower-
emissions alternatives. Transforming the energy system at this scale
poses major economic and political challenges, which may interfere with
successful climate policy. How to reconcile climate, economics, and
politics thus becomes a central concern for successful policymaking.
This project will improve the understanding of the role of politics and
policy in major energy systems transformations in order to inform better
policy approaches for climate change.
APPROACH
This project takes two approaches to understanding energy systems
transformation. First, it will study historical examples of energy sys-
tems transformation in industrial economies. Climate change requires
energy systems transformation on par with earlier transitions from
wood to coal, coal to oil, or electrification. These cases can illuminate
our understanding of the roles played by politics and markets in large-
scale changes to how we produce, distribute, and use energy. Second,
the project will examine European Union policy presently underway to
identify its origins, political characteristics, and prospects for success.
In both cases, learning from past efforts can inform better choices
about future action.
EXPECTED RESULTS
This research will identify characteristics common to major energy
systems transformations. These will include both the economic and
political barriers to transformation, and the public and private solutions
that succeeded in overcoming those barriers. Given the essentially politi-
cal nature of responses to climate change, this information will provide
valuable input to the design and execution of long-term climate policy.
Getting the mix of regulation, market pricing, technological innovation,
and private initiative right is vitally important to effective and sustain-
able climate solutions. By drawing on past and present efforts to do so,
this research can help inform the design of this policy mix for the future.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Pollution from fossil fuels has created some of the most widespread
health and environmental risks of the modern age. But fossil fuels also
power economic advances that generate substantial improvements to
standards of living worldwide. A successful energy systems transforma-
tion must replace fossil fuels with other sources without disrupting eco-
nomic prosperity. This research will seek to identify how earlier energy
systems transformations have supported, not merely accommodated,
improvements to human well-being.
BIO:
Mark Huberty is a doctoral student in political science at
the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests
include the political economy of climate change, European
politics, and statistical inference. He received his under
graduate degree in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College
and spent 5 years with Accenture before studying interna
tional relations at the Johns Hopkins University. He will be
a visiting scholar at Breugel and Copenhagen University for
2010-2011, studying European Union climate policy.
SYNOPSIS:
Successful action to prevent global climate change will
require replacing fossil fuels with other fuel sources. This
will require replacing both the fuels and the technologies
that depend on them. Studying the politics of how complex
energy systems change can improve policies to expand the
use of renewable energy and reduce emissions. This project
will study past and present examples of energy systems,
such as electrification and the European Union's transition
to low-emissions fuels.
Keywords: climate change, renewable energy, energy systems
156
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Valerie Jean Karplus
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917161
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/1/10-7/31/13
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail:
Climate Policy Design for U.S. Light-Duty Transportation: Representing Vehicles
and Consumer Response in a Macroeconomic Model
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
A detailed representation of the passenger vehicle fleet will be developed
in a macroeconomic model to evaluate the impact of policies aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. There are
two central research questions of this work: (1) What are the key elements
of successful policies aimed at reducing GHG emissions from passenger
vehicles over the next 40 years, based on explicit consideration of physical
system constraints and the consumer response? (2) How are the impacts
of different policies distributed across sectors, and can adverse sectoral
affects be addressed without compromising cost-effectiveness?
APPROACH
The first stage of this project will involve developing a detailed represen-
tation of the passenger vehicle fleet and fuel system in a macroeconomic
(computable general equilibrium) model. Using available econometric
data, key relationships between expenditures on vehicles and number of
vehicles in the fleet as well as economic growth and travel demand will
be represented explicitly in the model in the base year and as they evolve
over time. Low carbon vehicle and fuel technologies will be represented
explicitly in the model to cover a wide range of abatement opportunities
available to meet policy constraints. The second phase of the project will
focus on representing fuel economy standards in the model and compar-
ing the economic and environmental impact of this vehicle-based policy
approach with a price on GHG emissions, which bears primarily on the
price of fuel.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The modeling work constitutes one of the first attempts to develop a gen-
eral equilibrium model with comprehensive physical detail in the passen-
ger vehicle transportation system. This work will help to develop intuition
about the importance of capturing physical variables for any sector in a
macroeconomic framework, and will illuminate problems associated with
their omission. Policies will be evaluated in terms of their impact on new
vehicle sales and vehicle fleet composition in each five-year time step, type
and amount of fuel used, GHG emissions, welfare loss under policy, and
carbon price. The sensitivity of policy outcomes to underlying assump-
tions about the cost and availability of different vehicle and fuel technolo-
gies, as well as consumer usage choices, will be assessed.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The outcomes of this work will be directly relevant to the design of
policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger
vehicles as part of national and international efforts to address global
climate change.
BIO:
Valerie Karplus studies how policy design choices can affect
technology adoption and ultimately environmental out
comes. As a doctoral candidate at the Massachusetts Insti
tute of Technology (MIT), she is currently evaluating poll
cies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger
vehicles in the United States. Prior to MIT, Valerie spent
several years in Beijing, China, where she wrote about the
development and impact of advanced technology in China's
energy and agricultural sectors. She holds a Bachelor's of
Science from Yale University in Biochemistry and Political
Science, and dual Master's degrees from MIT in Civil and
Environmental Engineering and Technology and Policy.
SYNOPSIS:
Passenger vehicles (cars and light trucks) are a major con
tributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United
States. This project focuses on two policy instruments,
fuel economy standards and a price on GHG emissions,
and aims to identify the sentivity of economic and environ
mental outcomes to assumptions about consumer vehicle
purchase and usage behavior. A macroeconomic model with
substantial vehicle fleet and fuel use detail will be devel
oped to perform the analysis.
Keywords: climate change, passenger vehicles, fuel economy, alternative fuel vehicles, consumer choice
157
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Joseph Robert Kasprzyk
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917162
Institution: Pennsylvania State University (PA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: jrk301gipsu.edu
Balancing the Economic and Ecological Sustainability of Water Supply in the
Susquehanna River Basin Under Climate Change
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The Susquehanna River Basin, which spans portions of Pennsylvania,
New York, and Maryland, contributes services with an economic value
of $6 to $8 billion per year. Groundwater resources play an important
role in the region's water management but are not adequately modeled
in existing management tools. The project will contribute to our under-
standing of how groundwater supply and water management are vulner-
able to climate change and increasing water demands. The results of the
project will lead to a better balance between competing uses of water
resources to support the potentially conflicting objectives of sustainable
economic development and ecological health while helping water sys-
tems stay resilient to future changes.
APPROACH
The proposed project will utilize multiobjective evolutionary algorithms
(MOEAs) to discover key water management tradeoffs for the Susque-
hanna River Basm. A set of evolving problem formulations that explicitly
consider multiple planning objectives and that can flexibly incorporate
new problem insights will be generated for the Susquehanna River Basin.
The framework will include groundwater modeling innovations under a
range of coherent climate and land use scenarios. The scenarios will seek
to clarify how climate change and increased water demand risks may
potentially impact the Susquehanna River Basin's water supplies.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Bv building an improved water management framework for the Susque-
hanna River Basin, we will be able to test two major hypotheses that can
lend insight into the vulnerabilities and future challenges for water man-
agement in this region. The first is that regional groundwater dynamics
are modified by climate and land use change, with shorter winter-spring
recharge periods and longer summer-fall drought periods. The implica-
tion of this hypothesis is that future changes can expose water users to
heightened risk because of lower groundwater availability. The second
hypothesis is that current decision-making strategies in the Basin reflect
over-confidence in short term water planning heuristics that expose the
system to long-term risks, including severe cost increases, ecological
risks, and supply failures. The decision-making framework that will be
created in this work will give water managers an improved ability to
protect the water supply system from these risks while also seeking to
maximize the ecological health of the Susquehanna's river systems.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
The project seeks to lower risks to the diverse users of the Susquehanna
River Basin's water supply system: municipal supply, water for electric-
ity generation, commercial use, and ecological systems. The change pro-
jections created in this work will aid long-term planning for the Basin's
water managers, protecting the region's water supplies from risks due to
climate change and growing population demands.
BIO:
Joseph Kasprzyk received a Bachelor of Science degree in
Civil Engineering in 2007, graduating with honors from the
Schreyer Honors College at the Pennsylvania State Univer
sity (PSU). As part of his honors program, he participated in
a research project that evaluated a new solution technique
for monitoring groundwater contamination. He earned his
Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in May 2009
from PSU. During his Master's work, he used a case study
in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas to show how water
market transfers can lower the cost and increase the reli
ability of urban water supply systems dealing with droughts
and growing population demands. Joseph is currently a
doctoral candidate in Civil Engineering at PSU, where his
research focuses on regional water supply planning under
climate change in the Susquehanna River Basin.
SYNOPSIS:
The Susquehanna River Basin contributes services with an
economic value of $6 to $8 billion per year. Groundwater
resources play an important role in the region's water man
agement but are not adequately modeled in existing tools.
Current regional water management also lacks the ability
to respond to climate and land use change for long term
planning. The project will meet these challenges and con
tribute to sustainable water management in the Susque
hanna River Basin.
Keywords: multiobjective decision support, water supply, climate change, land use change, environmental economics, sustainability
158
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Rachel Marie Krause
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917163
Institution: Indiana University, Bloomington (IN)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/31/2010 - 8/30/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: rmkrause@indiana. edu
unicipal Involvement in Climate Protection: Local Decision Making and
Policy Innovation
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Three broad questions warrant examination from research examining
the phenomena of voluntary local involvement in climate protection:
(1) What actions are municipal governments taking to reduce local
greenhouse gas emissions? (2) Why are municipal governments becom-
ing involved in climate protection and what explains variation in the
type and extent of their actions? and (3) What impacts do/can local ef-
forts have on GHG emissions?
APPROACH
A significant data gap exists regarding the type and extent of GHG
reducing initiatives employed by municipal governments. Therefore, the
initial step of this research involves a significant data collection effort. A
web-based survey will be sent directly to the local government employee
identified as in charge of environmental or sustainability programs in
the 665 cities in the United States with populations over 50,000. The
survey identifies the ways that municipal policy or programs can reduce
GHG emissions and asks about local participation in each. Assuming
a response rate of 50 percent, data from approximately 330 cities will
be obtained. This data informs a 24-item index quantifying the extent
of local climate protection in each municipality and serves as a basis to
answer the study's three primary research questions. Cluster analysis,
regression analysis, and stochastic simulations will be the primary statis-
tical methodologies employed.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Expected results of the research are based on the outcome of a pilot
study conducted in the state of Indiana. Although less than half of the
pilot study cities use climate protection as an explicit frame, all are
involved in some GHG-reducing activities. Considerable variation was
found in the frequency of the use of different types of policy instru-
ments. The direct provision of services, which enable the public to
reduce GHG emissions, was a favored instrument, and incentive-based
instruments were employed least often. Models of local decision-making
which operationalize policy demand (e.g., interest group and risk-percep-
tion) explain observed variation in municipal climate protection better
than supply models (e.g. government capacity, fiscal constraints, and
policy entrepreneurs). The pilot study results may or may not preview
the results of the proposed research, which will consider larger cities
across the country.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Sub-national climate protection efforts are receiving increasing atten-
tion and support despite relatively little being known about their potential
scope or ultimate effectiveness. This is particularly true of municipal
GHG mitigation actions where a lack of widespread data has had the ef-
fect of focusing attention on a handful of largely unrepresentative cities.
By collecting information on the type and extent of GHG reduction activi-
ties from a large number of cities, a more accurate picture can be formed
about the effectiveness, drivers and obstacles of municipal climate protec-
tion. Ultimately, this research will be able to inform the decisions of policy
makers at all levels of government as they try to design the best possible
set of policies to mitigate human-mduced climactic change.
BIO:
Rachel Krause is a Ph.D. candidate studying Public Affairs
at Indiana University's School of Public and Environmen
tal Affairs. She is currently engaged in research on local
climate protection initiatives, the impact of urban forestry
management on ecosystem services, and environmentally
significant consumption. Prior to pursuing a Ph.D., Rachel
was a program coordinator with the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality and a Fellow with the United Nations
Institute for Training and Research. She holds a Master's
degree from the University of Texas and Bachelor's degree
from Rice University.
SYNOPSIS:
In the face of federal inaction and in apparent defiance of
free-rider logic, over 1,000 local governments in the U.S.
have voluntarily committed to reduce the greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions emanating from their jurisdictions. This
research undertakes a data collection effort on the climate
protection actions implemented by U.S. cities with popula
tions over 50,000 in order to address what cities are doing
in this regard, why they are becoming involved, and what
impact local actions have on net emissions.
Keywords: local climate protection, policy, municipal decision making
159
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Andrew Samuel Peterman
s
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917168
Institution: Stanford University (CA)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: apeterman@stanford.edu
Corporate Adoption of Voluntary Programs to Enhance Energy Efficiency in
Buildings
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
This line of work proposes to analyze corporate perspectives of voluntary
energy efficiency programs in buildings. This part of the research will
attempt to understand how and why certain energy efficiency-related de-
cisions are made in a company. I intend to look at varying firm structures
and how those independent structural components contribute to greater or
lesser participation in energy efficiency programs. How do internal and
external organizational structures, incentives, and policies influence cor-
porate participation in programs designed to encourage energy efficiency
in buildings?
APPROACH
Phase 1 - In Depth Case Study #1 Walt Disney Company
• Detailed Interviews - Structured and Unstructured (ideal 10-20)
- Upper Level Managers
- Mid-Level Managers
- Project Teams and Engineers
- Operations/Maintenance Staff
• Detailed Survey/Questionnaire (ideal n > 50), Administered In-person
- Same Span of Positions
Phase 2 - Comparative Case Study Method (5-10 Companies)
• Structured Interviews (5-15 per company)
• Survey/Questionnaire (30-50+ individuals)
Phase 3 - Develop Causal Relationships or Comparative Case Study
(Correlations/Descriptive)
• Statistically (depending on N)
• Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparison Analysis
EXPECTED RESULTS
Knowledge Contribution: Expand our understanding of organizational
learning theories in a new application of energy efficiency. Develop a more
comprehensive understanding of how macro-level organizational variables
interact to contribute to greater or lesser participation in voluntary energy
efficiency programs. Develop recipes leading to greater or lesser firm
participation in energy efficiency programs that can then be tested in new
fields in which participation from firms is important (e.g., health promo-
tion). Practice Contribution: How can government use knowledge about
how companies will respond to voluntary energy efficiency programs to
craft more effective policies that create maximum environmental, financial,
and social value for the government and private sector companies? How can
corporate organizational structures be improved to better take advantage of
voluntary energy efficiency programs?
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
I believe that this line of research has the potential for broader societal
impacts in addition to those mentioned above. Many are in agreement that
the poor and minorities are disproportionately affected by environmental
pollution and hazards (Pinderhughes, 1996). It is well within the scope of
my dissertation research to look at how successful implementation of cor-
porate energy efficiency measures will help reduce global energy demand.
A reduction in global energy demand will reduce the demand for new
power plants and has the potential to reduce risk for those most affected by
pollution and environmental hazards. It is my experience that individuals
within a company want to take action to protect our environment. How-
ever, it is often the structure of an environmental program combined with
the structure of the organization that hinders corporate decision makers'
abilities to take that action. I believe that my work will help bridge that
gap between public and private entities, providing greater opportunity for
cooperation and enhancement of national environmental efforts based on
the voluntary programs to improve energy efficiency. Drawing upon and
potentially affecting areas of microeconomics, public policy, organization
theory, technology, and engineering, the aim of this research is to further
environmental protection while fostering a cooperative relationship among
private and public sector entities.
BIO:
Andrew Peterman is pursuing a Ph.D. In Civil and Environ
mental Engineering with an emphasis on energy and envi
ronmental policy. His research is closely tied to the experi
ence he gained while doing corporate environmental policy
for The Walt Disney Company. His research is currently
looking at private sector participation in voluntary energy
efficiency alliance programs and the effectiveness of these
programs at reducing corporate-wide energy consump
tion among the built environment. His work at the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) this summer will be
centered around passing comprehensive climate change
legislation while developing further ties with the business
community on environmental and energy-related issues. In
his free time, he likes to play with his chocolate labrador,
Whitewater kayak, and mountain bike.
SYNOPSIS:
I intend to research the basic decision-making processes
and structures employed by various private sector compa
nies when evaluating their possible participation in voiun
tary energy efficiency programs. I propose that this line of
research has the potential to break new ground in linking
the relationship between government-sponsored voluntary
energy efficiency programs and private company responses,
Keywords: energy efficiency, buildings, energy policy, strategic alliances, public-private partnerships
160
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Chelsea Lynn Schelly
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917171
Institution: University of Wisconsin, Madison (WI)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 9/1/2010 - 8/31/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology
for Sustainability: Environmental Behavior &
Decision Making
E-mail: cschelly@ssc.wisc.edu
Residential Solar Technology Adoption: Motivations for Environmental Behavior
and Experiences with Alternative Energy Systems
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
In the United States, electricity is generated through three primary
sources: coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy. However, alternative or
renewable sources of electricity generation have been increasing in mar-
ket share. Alternative energy technology adoption offers one potential
means of addressing current dependence on fossil fuel-based, central-
ized electrical generation and transmission. This project will explore the
historical development of electricity as a socio-technological system as
well as its current structure, and examine the adoption of one form of
renewable energy generation, residential photovoltaic (PV) solar technol-
ogy, in order to understand several aspects of human decision making
with broader implications for policy and the electric utilities industry.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Inductive qualitative research does not and cannot follow the same stan-
dards of hypothesis testing as quantitative statistical research. Nonethe-
less, we may consider some tentative hypotheses. The first hypothesis is
that residential solar technology adopters do not fit an often-associated
stereotype of 'greenies.' Solar technology adopters may be similar in
socio-economic status (although not always and exclusively so), but may
vary widely in lifestyle and commitment to environmental values. The
second hypothesis is that ecological factors matter. Motivational factors
are likely to vary for residents of different ecological regions. The third
hypothesis is that no one current model of behavioral decision making is
sufficient to explain PV adoption.
APPROACH
In order to conduct the proposed research, home-owning residential PV
technology adopters in two states (Wisconsin and Colorado) will be
identified, contacted, and interviewed. Wisconsin and Colorado offer an
ideal opportunity for comparison, as they differ in solar radiation, state
policy promoting alternative energy, and political identity, which may
all be significant in shaping solar energy technology adoption. Factors
for consideration in the sampling frame include age, income, length of
homeownership, whether the PV system is off-grid or grid-integrated,
and whether the home is in a rural area, a suburban neighborhood, or a
centralized urban area. While qualitative research sampling frames are
not intended to be representative, these factors will be considered so that
participants in both states are representational. Research questions will
ask about the decision to adopt solar technology and the experiences of
participants as solar technology users. Questions will focus on the extent
to which various models of decision making help explain the decision to
adopt PV technology
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
This project seeks to understand the human dimensions of environmen-
tal issues and pro-environmental behavior. By asking users themselves
about their motivations to adopt solar energy technology, and their
experiences living with that technology, this work will improve our un-
derstanding of human decision making in the context of environmental
behavior and technology adoption.
BIO:
Chelsea Schelly is a P.h.D. student in the Department of
Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Both
her undergraduate education and her M.A. in Sociology
focused on integrating sociological insights with environ
mental studies, and her current program continues this
focus while blending interdisciplinary training (as an NSF-
IGERT Fellow) with science and technology studies, history,
and sociological theory. Her work is inspired by the belief
that the technological systems that societies use to sustain
residential life have important implications for how humans
conceive of their relationship to the natural world. Her cur
rent research explores the structural relationships shaping
current technology use, how individuals choose to pursue
alternative energy technologies, and how that choice re
fleets broader attitudes, opinions, and lifestyles. Through a
career in both teaching and research, she hopes to continue
exploring human decision-making processes and the way
they relate to, affect, or change human-nature relationships.
SYNOPSIS:
This project examines the motivations for adopting residen
tial solar electric technology through interviews with solar
technology users in Wisconsin and Colorado, considering
the relative importance of geography (solar radiation), policy
(fiscal incentives), demographics (income, age, household
composition), environmental values, and other factors in
motivating solar energy technology adoption. This project
aims to inform future policy intended to promote alternative
energy technology adoption.
Keywords: solar energy technologies, decision making, adoption of innovations
161
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Benjamin Elias Sharp
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917172
Institution: Clemson University (SC)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/18/2010 - 8/17/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: benjami@clemson.edu
Modeling Switchgrass Production in South Carolina Based on Farmers7 Decisions:
A Stochastic and Spatial Analysis
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Some bioenergy development has resulted in economic and environmen-
tal backlash, such as with corn and sugar cane; yet in other cases, it re-
mains a promising alternative energy solution. Examining future bioen-
ergy systems before processes become established offers opportunities
to better understand potential outcomes and reveal to stakeholders more
desirable paths of development in terms of environmental and economic
costs. This research will expand on traditional Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) for determining environmental impact. Making use of innovative
LCA techniques will generate information that will translate to clear and
meaningful information for emerging bioenergy systems.
APPROACH
South Carolina lacks a major energy source. It does have, however, a
favorable agricultural climate, suggesting that bioenergy could be an
option for the region. For this reason, it is important to explore the likeli-
hood of South Carolina growers to begin producing switchgrass (Pani-
cum virgatum) as an energy crop. Aggregate estimations will be based
on a model that takes into account data on farmers' willingness to adopt
new crops, the expected profitability, and the spatial compatibility of
growing switchgrass. This stochastic model will be geared toward fitting
results into an overall LCA of the switchgrass-for-energy industry.
By incorporating projected switchgrass production data into existing
standards of life-cycle measures, it is possible to communicate relevant
information about likely outcomes. The results will shed light on the
environmental impact and the economic viability of growing switch-
grass for bioenergy Furthermore, these probabilistic scenarios of pro-
duction can be adjusted according to different system perturbations such
as incentives or technological breakthroughs. Subsequent results will
inform farmers, processors, policy makers, energy providers, and energy
consumers. With this type of shared knowledge, switchgrass-to-energy
may become a sustainable bioenergy success for South Carolina.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Overcoming path dependency in energy production and consumption
is a pressing challenge. Developing processes for understanding how
alternatives are adopted and identifying the drawbacks are important
for identifying how shifts to sustainable, renewable energy might be
realized. Using the switchgrass-bioenergy industry in South Carolina
as an emerging system, this research will offer a set of techniques to
reveal important insights for the development of similar large-scale
energy solutions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
BIO:
In 1999, Ben Sharp received his B.S. in Mathematics from
the University of Evansville in Evansville, IN. He spent the
following eight years working in higher education adminis
tration at Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, MT.
During that time, he also earned a Master's degree in Sta
tistics from MSU. With a passion for the outdoors and the
environment, he changed careers and returned to graduate
school full time to advance research efforts that assess sys
tems for sustainability. He just completed his first year as a
Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering and Science at
Clemson University.
SYNOPSIS:
Bioenergy production has had mixed success in terms of
environmental impact, net energy generating, and economic
costs. By performing careful analyses prior to alternative
energy industries becoming established, we can estimate
probable development scenarios. Resulting data will reveal
opportunities and help avoid negative outcomes. This proj
ect analyzes switchgrass production for bioenergy in South
Carolina and will help to determine its potential environ
mental impact and economic viability.
Keywords: bioenergy, biofnel, sustainable energy, spatial modeling, geographic information system, land use, switchgrass
162
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"imon Herrick Stasko
Environmental Behavior & Decision Making
EPA Grant Number: FP917174
Institution: Cornell University (NY)
EPA Project Officer: Jose Zambrana
Project Period: 8/25/2010 - 8/24/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Science & Technology for
Sustainability: Environmental Behavior & Decision
Making
E-mail: thsM.acorncll.edu
Developing Green Fleet Management Strategies
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
While new diesel vehicles have dramatically lower emissions than their
predecessors, much of the existing fleet continues to emit numerous pol-
lutants at high rates. Considerable efforts are being made to reduce emis-
sions from older diesel vehicles through retrofits and early retirements.
This research will examine how the way vehicles are assigned to tasks can
influence the magnitude and distribution of emission reductions.
APPROACH
This research will involve creating a multi-period optimization frame-
work for making both vehicle assignment and retrofit/replacement deci-
sions. Potential mathematical techniques include linear and nonlinear
programming, as well as dynamic programming and heuristic methods
such as tabu search and genetic algorithms. Given the complex nature
of the problem, it is likely that multiple techniques will be combined in
a hybrid approach, such as approximate dynamic programming with
linear programming used to solve subproblems at each state.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The completed model will be able to reveal the degree to which coor-
dinating retrofit/replacement decisions with vehicle task assignment
can influence the outcomes of emission reduction projects. Emission
reductions might be increased by using retrofitted and new vehicles
more heavily, or by altering duty cycles to create more favorable exhaust
temperature profiles (allowing installation of more effective emission
reduction technologies). The optimization framework developed may be
applicable to a broader class of retrofit/replacement problems, such as
those facing companies deciding how to manage groups of buildings,
given energy reduction goals.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Fleet managers could use insights from the model to develop their own
retrofit/replacement strategies. EPA staff could use the same insights
when selecting which retrofit/replacement proposals receive grants. In so
doing, greater reductions in emissions of pollutants such as particulate
matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons could be achieved.
BIO:
Timon Stasko received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from
Cornell University in 2007. He proceeded into a Ph.D.
program at Cornell specializing in transportation systems.
Timon has worked on a range of projects, including supply
chain work for corporations. His primary focus is on cost-ef
fective strategies for emission reduction through vehicle ret
rofits and replacements. He has worked with the New York
City Department of Education regarding school buses, and
the New York State Department of Transportation regarding
their maintenance fleet.
SYNOPSIS:
While new diesel vehicles have dramatically lower emissions
than their predecessors, much of the existing fleet contin
ues to emit pollutants at high rates. Considerable efforts are
being made to reduce emissions from older diesel vehicles
through retrofits and early retirements. This research will
develop an optimization framework for coordinating retrofit
and replacement decisions with the process of assigning ve
hides to tasks, improving the efficiency of emission reduc
tion projects.
Keywords: diesel retrofit, legacy fleet, vehicle task assignment
163
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Emerging Environmental Approaches
- Informatics
-------
Emerging Environmental Approaches
INFORMATICS
Franklin, Erik Charles
Ecoinformatics To Evaluate the Environmental Health and Management of
Coral Reef Ecosystems
University of Hawaii, Manoa (HI) 167
Reid, Brendan N.
Development of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) as Tools for
Assessing the Impacts of Environmental Stressors on Native Species
University of Wisconsin, Madison (WI) 168
ellows
165
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Informatics
-------
Erik Charles Franklin
Informatics
EPA Grant Number: FP917096
Institution: University of Hawaii, Manoa (HI)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/23/2010 - 8/22/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Emerging Environmental
Approaches: Informatics
E-mail: erik.franklin@hawaii.edu
Ecoinformatics To Evaluate the Environmental Health and Management of Coral
Reef Ecosystems
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
The objective of this research is to use an ecoinformatics approach to
integrate empirical observations of coral species with environmental
and anthropogenic covariates to model spatially-explicit coral distri-
butions for biocriteria evaluation, climate change studies, and marine
spatial planning.
APPROACH
This research will synthesize Hawaiian archipelago-wide data of coral
reef surveys and develop continuous spatial models based on ecologi-
cal niche modeling approaches for the dominant coral species. These
data will be used to evaluate and enhance existing coral reef biocrite-
ria approaches. Further, the species distribution data will be coupled
with a climate forecast model to evaluate potential responses to climate
change. Finally, the continuous maps of coral species distribution as well
as environmental and anthropogenic covariate layers will be used with
spatial-optimization routines to evaluate patterns of resilient marine
landscapes in Hawaii.
EXPECTED RESULTS
It is anticipated that this research will generate four significant prod-
ucts: (1) A Hawaiian Archipelago-wide GIS database of coral distribu-
tion, benthic community data, fish surveys, and other data gathered by
CRAMP, NPS (National Park Service), various divisions in NOAA, the
Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, and other sources into a single
GIS database; (2) Validated, predictive, and spatially continuous maps of
coral species distribution throughout the HA; (3) A validated Ecological
Gradient Model for coral reef biocriteria in the Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands to extend the model development in the Main Hawaiian Islands;
and (4) Prediction of coral community (biocriteria) response to climate
change throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago, based on known and
predicted coral distributions and the COMBO model. This work will
be submitted for publication in scholarly journals as appropriate. For
dissemination to managers and the public, we will take advantage of the
relationships that HIMB has developed throughout Hawai'i: a research
partnership with the state and federal managers of the NWHI, collabora-
tions with the Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, ongoing public
presentations at the Bishop Museum and Hanauma Bay Visitor Center,
citizen science collaborations with ReefCheck "Eyes of the Reef", and
ongoing visitor tours and outreach onsite at Coconut Island. In addition
to these products and outreach efforts, University of Hawai'i is a Native
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander serving institution and Dr. Jokiel has an
excellent track record in mentoring local students.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
Human populations in coastal tropical areas rely intimately on the
diverse goods and services provided by coral reef ecosystems. This
research explores the development of a holistic approach of theory, data,
and models to evaluate the condition and dynamics of these systems to
support their sustainable management in a changing world.
BIO:
Erik Franklin has worked as an academic researcher and
government scientist on a diverse suite of marine ecology
and resource management projects over the last decade.
He received an undergraduate degree in Ecology from the
University of California, San Diego in 1996 and a Master's
degree in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University
of Miami in 2004. His research focuses on the basic and
applied ecology of coral reef ecosystems with particular
emphasis on supporting sustainable marine resource man
agement using empirical data, geospatial technologies, and
statistical modeling. He currently is examining the utility
of an ecoinformatics framework to the study of coral reef
ecosystems for climate change studies, biocriteria develop
ment, and marine spatial planning.
SYNOPSIS:
A key challenge in the effective management of coral reef
ecosystems is determining appropriate biocriteria for the
evaluation of ecosystem condition and then translating
those criteria from small scale studies of distribution and
dynamics to the regional scale of management action.
This research applies an ecoinformatics approach that
incorporates theory, models, and data to evaluate the
environmental condition and management of coral reefs
in the Hawaiian Archipelago.
Keywords: coral, reef, ecosystem, ecoinformatics, Hawaii, biocriteria, modeling, niche
167
-------
Brendan N. Reid
E
Informatics
EPA Grant Number: FP917106
Institution: University of Wisconsin. Madison (WI)
EPA Project Officer: Brandon Jones
Project Period: 8/15/2010 - 8/14/2013
Project Amount: $111,000.00
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2010)
Research Category: Emerging Environmental
Approaches: Informatics
E-mail:
Development of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) as Tools for Assessinj
the Impacts of Environmental Stressors on Native Species
OBJECTIVE(S)/RESEARCH QUESTION(S)
Degradation of a species' natural environment, through processes such
as habitat destruction and pollution, often has a profound negative
impact on its adaptive potential, as measured by genetic variability and
connectivity. The field of conservation genetics provides useful tools for
assessing genetic variability and connectivity as well as for determining
the demographic history of populations affected by habitat degradation.
This research project will assess the effects of agricultural conversion of
wetlands on several species of Wisconsin turtles (including the threat-
ened Blanding's turtle, Emydoideci blandingii). Novel genetic markers
will be developed utilizing next-generation sequencing technology in
these species as well as several others (sloths and spotted owls) of con-
servation interest, and a database suitable for storing both genetic data
and related environmental data will be developed.
APPROACH
Turtles will be sampled from a well-studied population in Wisconsin's
Sandhill Wildlife Area as well as from sites representative of the turtle's
range. Microsatellite markers, the conventional "workhorse" markers
used in conservation genetics, have already been developed for several
of the turtle species to be studied, including Blanding's turtle. In ad-
dition to these, next-generation sequencing technology will be used to
identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms, a potentially cheaper and
more informative genetic marker in target species. All of the genetic
data obtained will be combined with associated environmental data
taken at the time of collection in what will serve as a prototype for an
ecologically oriented version of more traditional data repositories such
as Genbank.
EXPECTED RESULTS
As species with a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic habitat re-
quirements, turtles have the potential to serve as indicator species for
landscape-scale change. Their extraordinary life history (slow matura-
tion and long lifespan), however, make even basic ecological research
difficult. The research outlined here will help elucidate both the basic
biology of these species and the impacts of continuing landscape change,
both of which will contribute to the proper management of these species
Analysis of the well-studied population at Sandhill will help illumi-
nate many long-standing questions in turtle biology, including how far
juveniles and adults can disperse and whether females display fidelity
to the nest sites at which they were born. Traditional measures of ge-
netic differentiation will likely show little effect of land conversion on
large-scale connectivity, as changes have occurred quite recently when
measured against turtle generation time (although turtles with faster
generation times may show a greater effect). These traditional measures,
however, will still be useful insofar as they will provide information
on how populations have historically been connected. Assignment- and
kinship-based measures will provide better measures of migration on
recent timescales and will likely show that major roads and extensive
industrial agriculture prevent dispersal.
POTENTIAL TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/HUMAN
HEALTH PROTECTION
As previously stated, turtles have the potential to serve as indicator
species for discerning the effects of landscape change along sensitive
aquatic/terrestrial boundaries. As long-lived species, turtles also have
the potential to serve as indicators of the effects of agricultural pollution
on time scales similar to that of a human lifetime. Overall, this research
will provide invaluable information for preserving this piece of the bio-
diversity puzzle, as well as the habitat that sustains it.
BIO:
After receiving his undergraduate degree in Biology at
Williams College in 2002, Brendan Reid went on to study
Genetics and Conservation Biology at Columbia University.
In collaboration with scientists at the American Museum of
Natural History, he recently generated a genetic "barcode"
for identifying over 200 species of turtles as a means of
combating trade in endangered species. He received his
Master's degree from Columbia in 2009 and is currently a
Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
SYNOPSIS:
Degradation of a species' environment often has a profound
negative impact on its adaptive potential. Genetic methods
have recently emerged as valuable tools for identifying and
managing these impacts. This research will use existing and
novel conservation genetics techniques to gauge the effects
of agricultural conversion and road construction on several
species of wetland turtles, including the threatened Bland
ing's turtle, across Wisconsin.
Keywords turtles, threatened species, conservation genetics, habitatfragmentation, agricultural pollution, wetlands
168
-------
Index
A
ABC-EFFLUX
Campanale, Joseph Paul 71
ACC DEAMINASE
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
ACCLIMATIZATION
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT
Dumyahn, Sarah L. 153
ACTIVATED CARBON
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
ADOPTION OF INNOVATIONS
Schelly, Chelsea Lynn 161
ADSORPTION
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
Follansbee, David M. 47
ADVANCED OXIDATION
Keen, Volha S. 115
(Hilton. Rebekah IS
AEROALLERGENS
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
AEROSOL
Isaacman, Gabriel A. .40
AEROSOL MASS SPECTROMETER
Hildebrandt, Lea 39
AGGREGATE CULTURE
Reotiner. Amber Ford 124
AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION
Reid, Brendan N. 168
AGRICULTURE
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
Dolph, Christine L. 83
AGR0EC0L0GY
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
AGR0EC0SYSTEM
I gun. John F. 111
AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
AGRO-PASTORAL LIVELIHOODS
Coughlan, Michael Reed 152
AIR
I law le>. Brie Michelle 66
AIR POLLUTION
('harrier. Jessica Grace 38
Isaacman, Gabriel A. .10
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
Semmens, Erin O'Brien 68
Swarthout, Robert Frank 33
AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS
I law le>. Brie Michelle 66
AIR QUALITY
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
I lildebrandt. Lea 39
AIRWAY DISEASE
Murphy, Shannon Renee 76
AIRWAY HYPERRESPONSIVENESS
Murphy, Shannon Renee 76
ALASKA
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
ALDEHYDE OXIDASE
Clark, Tumi Lynn 108
ALDEHYDES
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
ALGAE
Morse, Thomas Oliver 136
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
Soh, Lindsay 148
Vardon, Derek Richard 150
ALGAE TOXINS
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
ALGAL PHYSIOLOGY
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
ALKALINE HYDR0THERMAL
TREATMENT
Ferguson, Thomas Edward 142
ALLIGATOR LIZARD
Telemeco, Rory S. 34
ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
Karplus, Valerie Jean 157
ALUMINUM
Fagnant, Christine Susan .46
AMBIENT MEASUREMENTS
I lildebrandt. Lea 39
AMINO ACIDS
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert 7
AMPHIBIAN
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn 91
AMPHIBIANS
Earl, Julia I 84
Hite, Jessica Leigh 14
Langhammer, Penny Flick 18
ANAEROBIC
Nyberg, Leila Margaret 123
ANAEROBIC BI0DEGRADATI0N
Michel, Aaron Travis 135
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
Bibby, Kyle James 70
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION WASTE
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
ANCIENT DNA
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn 91
ANDR0P0G0N GERARDII
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
ANGUIDAE
Telemeco, Rory S. 34
ANTHROPOGENIC FIRE
Coughlan, Michael Reed 152
ANTIBACTERIAL RESISTANCE
Keen, Volha S. 115
ANTIBIOTIC
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
ANTIBIOTICS
Keen, Volha S. 115
ANTS
Stable, Katharine Lisa 32
AP0CYCL0PS SPARTINUS
Arada, Arnalia Marie 58
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
Beck, Sara Elizabeth. .44
Fagnant, Christine Susan. .46
AQUATIC
Dolph, Christine L. 83
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM HEALTH
Hancock, Harmony A. 85
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
Kelleher, Christa Ann 86
AQUATIC FOOD WEBS
Hite, Jessica Leigh 14
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
Erickson, Richard Arlin 112
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
AQUIFER
Schutte, Charles A. .62
Wong, ('orinne I. 56
ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
ARCTIC
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
ARGININE VASOPRESSIN
Miranda, Robert Alan 120
ARGININE VASOTOCIN
Miranda, Robert Alan 120
ARIZONA
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
ARSENIC
Jones, Laura Camille 96
Stackey, Jason Wayne. .49
ARSENITE
Jones, Laura Camille 96
ARTEMISIA CALIFORNIA
Pratt, Jessica Dawn .24
ASSISTED COLONIZATION
Pratt, Jessica Dawn 21
ASSISTED MIGRATION
Pratt, Jessica Dawn .24
ASTHMA
Just, Allan Carpenter .67
Murphy, Shannon Renee .76
ATMOSPHERE
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
Swarthout. Robert Frank 33
AWESOME
Strickland, Matthew Robert 149
B
BARTON SPRINGS
Wong, ( online I. 56
BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDR0BATIDlS
Richards-Hrdlicka, Ratlin n 91
BAYESIAN ANALYSIS
Just, Allan Carpenter .67
BEHAVIOR
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
Long, Ryan A. .20
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
BEHAVIOR DISORDER
Saili, Katerine Schletz .77
BENTHIC ECOLOGY
\1> lire. Sarah Butler 22
BINDING SITE
Lantz, Stephen R. 118
BI0ACCUMULATI0N
Garner, Thomas Ross 113
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
BIOAVAILABILITY
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
BI0BASED
Michel, Aaron Travis 135
BI0CHAR
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
BI0CLIMATIC ENVELOPE
Telemeco, Rory S. 34
BI0C0MP0SITE
Michel, Aaron Travis 135
BI0CRITERIA
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
BI0DIESEL
Hawley, Brie Michelle 66
Morse, Thomas Oliver 136
Soh, Lindsay 148
BIODIVERSITY
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Hite, Jessica Leigh 14
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
BI0ENERGY
Luterra, Markael Daniel 146
Sharp, Benjamin Elias 162
BI0FUEL
Sharp, Benjamin Elias 162
Soh, Lindsay 148
BI0FUELS
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
Vardon, Derek Richard 150
BIOGENIC VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS
Swarthout, Robert Frank 33
BI0GE0CHEMISTRY
Schutte, Charles A. 62
BI0INF0RMATICS
Bibby, Kyle James 70
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
BIOLOGICAL FERTILIZERS
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
BIOLOGICAL-WASTE MANAGEMENT
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
BIOLOGY
Dolph, Christine L. 83
BI0MARKERS
Salacup, Jeffrey M. 30
BI0MASS
Ferguson, Thomas Edward 142
BI0MASS CO-FIRING
Holtmeyer, Melissa Lauren 145
BI0M0NIT0RING
Cordner, Alissa Annie 74
BI0-0PTICAL MODELING
Hancock, Harmony A. 85
-------
Index
BIOPHYSICAL MODEL
Long, Ryan A. 20
BIOREGENERATION
Dunnett, Kayleigh 110
BIOREMEDIATION
Turner, Caroline Breen 55
BI0S0LIDS
Bibby, Kyle James 70
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
BIOSPHERE-ATMOSPHERE FEEDBACKS
Adams, Henry David 5
BIOSYNTHESIS
Strickland, Matthew Robert 149
BIOTECH
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
BIOTIC INTERACTIONS
Putnam, Rachel Cope .27
BIRDS
Kaiser, Sara Ann 15
BISPHENOL A
Aruda, Amalia Marie 58
Saili, Katerine Schletz .77
BISPHENOL-A
Clairardin, Sandrine Georgette 107
BLEACHING
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
BORDER REGION
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
BPA
Saili, Katerine Schletz .77
BRAIN
Saili, Katerine Schletz 11
BREAST MILK
Saili, Katerine Schletz .77
BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANT
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
BR0NCH0C0NSTRICTI0N
Murphy, Shannon Renee .76
BT
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
BUILDINGS
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
Peterman, Andrew Samuel 160
BUREAUCRATS
Arnold, Gwendolyn B. 53
C4 GRASS
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
CAF0
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
CALCIUM ISOTOPES
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
CALIFORNIA MARGIN OXYGEN
MINIMUM ZONE
Myhre, Sarah Butler 22
CALINE4
St. Vincent, Allison Paige .41
CALVIN CYCLE
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
CARBON
Keiser, Ashley D. 16
CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
Ferguson, Thomas Edward 142
CARBON DIOXIDE
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
CARBON DOTS
Gamer, Thomas Ross 113
CARBON EMISSIONS
Hittinger, Eric S. 144
CARBON ISOTOPE RATIOS
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert .7
CARBON ISOTOPES
Griffith, David Richmond 114
CARBON MONOXIDE
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
CARBON NAN0TUBES
Kotchey, Gregg Peter 117
Oulton, Rebekah .48
Pasquini, Leanne Marie 137
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
Marchin, Renee Michelle .21
CARBON STORAGE
Martin, Leanne M. 98
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH STUDY
Semmens, Erin O'Brien .68
CARIBBEAN
Langhammer, Penny Flick 18
CATALYTIC OZONATION
Oulton, Rebekah .48
CELL CULTURE
Gamer, Thomas Ross 113
CEMENT MANUFACTURING
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
Saili, Katerine Schletz .77
CHARACTERIZATION
Pasquini, Leanne Marie 137
CHEMICAL DEFENSE
Campanale, Joseph Paul 71
CHEMICAL MIXTURE
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
CHEMICAL MIXTURES
Erickson, Richard Arlin 112
CHEMICAL TRANSPORT MODEL
Hildebrandt, Lea. 39
CHEMICALS POLICY
Cordner, Alissa Annie 74
CHILDREN
Saili, Katerine Schletz .77
CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Just, Allan Carpenter 67
CHLORINATED ESTROGENS
Griffith, David Richmond 114
CHLORINE
Fagnant, Christine Susan. .46
CHRONIC ECOSYSTEM STRESS
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
CHYTRID
Richards-Elrdlicka, Kathryn 91
CHYTRIDI0MYC0SIS
Langhammer, Penny Flick 18
CLARK FORK RIVER
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
CLEAN WATER ACT
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Shapiro, Joseph S. 54
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
Pratt, Jessica Dawn .24
CLIMATE CHANGE
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah 82
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert 7
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
Deyle, I than Robert 9
Fisichelli, Nicholas A. 10
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
I lart. Julie Ann 13
Hitaj, Claudia Maria 143
Elite, Jessica Leigh 14
Hlavka, Eileen Rose 155
Eluberty, Mark Edward. 156
Kaiser, Sara Ann 15
Karplus, Valerie Jean 157
Kasprzyk, Joseph Robert 158
Kelleher, Christa Ann 86
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
Langhammer, Penny Flick 18
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
Long, Ryan A. .20
Marchin, Renee Michelle .21
Myhre, Sarah Butler .22
Prevey, Janet Sullivan .25
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
Putnam, Rachel Cope .27
Rampini, Costanza .28
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
Salacup, Jeffrey M. 30
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
Stable. Katharine Lisa 32
Swarthout, Robert Frank 33
Telemeco, Rory S. 34
West, Brittany Elizabeth 93
CLIMATE MITIGATION
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
CLIMATE MODELS
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
CLIMATE VARIABILITY
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
CNS
Saili, Katerine Schletz 11
C02
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
COAST
Schutte, Charles A. 62
COASTAL ECOSYSTEM HEALTH
Griffith, David Richmond 114
COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
Allgeier, Jacob Edward 81
COASTAL SAGE SCRUB
Pratt, Jessica Dawn .24
COGNITION
Semmens, Erin O'Brien 68
COLLABORATION
Rampini, Costanza .28
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Erickson, Richard Arlin 112
COMMUNITY GENETICS
Pratt, Jessica Dawn .24
COMPETITION
Putnam, Rachel Cope 27
COMPOST
Bibby, Kyle James .70
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
COMPROMISED WATERS
Fagnant, Christine Susan. 46
CONCENTRATION ADDITION MODEL
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
C0NF0CAL MICROSCOPY
Campanale, Joseph Paul .71
CONJUGATED ESTROGENS
Griffith, David Richmond 114
CONSERVATION GENETICS
Reid, Brendan N. 168
CONSERVATION
Hite, Jessica Leigh 14
CONSTRUCTION
Michel, Aaron Travis 135
CONSUMER CHOICE
Karplus, Valerie Jean 157
CONSUMPTION
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
CONTAMINANT
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
CONTAMINATION
Civitello, David James 106
CONTINUOUS CORN
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
COPPER
Civitello, David James 106
CORAL
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
CORAL HEALTH
Hancock, Harmony A. 85
CORAL REEFS
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
CORN
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen 73
COVER CROPS
Roach, Erika Danielle 138
CRETACEOUS
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert .7
CRISPR
Morse, Thomas Oliver 136
Strickland, Matthew Robert 149
CRITERIA POLLUTANTS
Isaacman, Gabriel A. .40
CRITICAL HABITAT
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah 82
CYANOBACTERIA
Luterra, Markael Daniel 146
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
CYAN0T0XINS
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
-------
Index
D
DECISION THEORY
Foster, Justin MacLeod 154
DECISION-MAKING
Holtmeyer, Melissa Lauren 145
Schelly, Chelsea Lynn 161
DECOMPOSITION
Reiser. Ashley D. 16
DEGRADATION
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Kotchey, Gregg Peter 117
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
DEHP
Just, Allan Carpenter .67
DEMAND-SIDE RESPONSE
Foster, Justin MacLeod 154
DEMOGRAPHIC RESPONSES
Penaluna, Brooke Elizabeth 90
DENSITY
Penaluna, Brooke Elizabeth 90
DERIVATIZATION
Isaacman, Gabriel A. 40
DES0RPTI0N
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
DETECTION METHODS
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES
Beck, Sara Elizabeth .44
Fagnant, Christine Susan .46
DEVELOPMENT
Saili, Katerine Schletz .77
DIATOMS
Carey, Joanna 59
DICAMBA
I gun. John F. 111
DIESEL EXHAUST
I law le\. Brie Michelle .66
DIESEL RETROFIT
Stasko, Tirnon Herrick 163
DIETARY EXPOSURE
Curl, Cynthia Leigh 109
DIFFUSION
McKinney, Jonathan 75
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS
Hite, Jessica Leigh 14
DISEASE
Mischler, John Anthom 89
DISEASE ECOLOGY
Civitello, David James 106
DISEASE OUTBREAK
Civitello, David James 106
DISINFECTION
Fagnant, Christine Susan .46
Saylor, Greg L. 125
DISPERSAL
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
DIVERSITY
Dolph, Christine L. 83
DIVERSITY-PRODUCTIVITY
RELATIONSHIPS
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
DNA SEQUENCING
Bibby, Kyle James 70
DOMINANT SPECIES
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
DRINKING WATER
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
Saylor, Greg L. 125
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Craig, Laura. .45
DROUGHT
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING
Foster, Justin MacLeod 154
E. C0LI
Turner, Caroline Breen 55
Pasquini, Leanne Marie 137
EC0INF0RMATICS
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
ECOLOGICAL TOXICOLOGY
Erickson, Richard Arlin 112
ECOLOGY
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Turner. Caroline Breen 55
ECOSYSTEM
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
Long, Ryan A. .20
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION
Hite, Jessica Leigh 14
ECOSYSTEM SERVICE
Martin, Leanne M. 98
Prevey, Janet Sullivan .25
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Kelleher, C'lirista Ann 86
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
Thompson, Pamela G. 103
EC0T0NE
Fisichelli, Nicholas A. 10
EC0T0XIC0L0GY
Erickson, Richard Arlin 112
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
EDWARDS AQUIFER
Wong, Corinne I. 56
ELECTRIC ENERGY
I lituj. Claudia Maria 143
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Epting, William K. 141
ELECTRICAL GRID
Rose, Stephen M. 147
ELECTRICITY
Badalamenti, Jonathan Paul 140
ELECTRICITY LOADS
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
ELECTRON SHUTTLES
Dunnett, Kayleigh 110
ELGARIA
Telemeco, Rory S. 34
ELK
Long, Ryan A. .20
EMERGING CONTAMINANTS
Cordner, Alissa Annie .74
Nyberg, Leila Margaret 123
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Richards-Hrdlicka, Ratlin n 91
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
Griffith, David Richmond 114
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING COMPOUNDS
Just, Allan Carpenter .67
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
ENDOCRINE DISRUPT0RS
Aruda, Amalia Marie 58
Clairardin, Sandrine Georgette 107
Miranda, Robert Alan 120
END-USE EFFICIENCY
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
ENERGY
Badalamenti, Jonathan Paul 140
ENERGY BALANCE
Long, Ryan A. .20
ENERGY ECONOMICS
Holtmeyer, Melissa Lauren 145
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Peterman, Andrew Samuel 160
ENERGY FLOW
Dolph, Christine L. 83
ENERGY POLICY
Peterman, Andrew Samuel 160
ENERGY RESERVES
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
ENERGY STORAGE
Hitting er, Eric S. 144
ENERGY SYSTEMS
Huberty, Mark Edward. 156
ENRICHMENT
Allgeier, Jacob Edward 81
ENTOMOLOGY
Dolph, Christine L. 83
ENVIRONMENT
Pasquini, Leanne Marie 137
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Arnold, Gwendolyn B. 53
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS
Campanale, Joseph Paul 71
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION
Kotchey, Gregg Peter 117
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
Kasprzyk, Joseph Robert 158
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENT
Kaiser, Sara Ann 15
ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUALITY
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen 73
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen 73
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Arnold, Gwendolyn B. 53
ENVIRONMENTAL NAN0TECHN0L0GY
Louie, Stacey Marie 119
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIC
CHEMISTRY
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION AND
MONITORING
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
Kotchey, Gregg Peter 117
ENZYMES
Kotchey, Gregg Peter 117
EPIDEMIC
Civitello, David James 106
EROSION
Dolph, Christine L. 83
ERR3
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
ESTRADIOL
Clairardin, Sandrine Georgette 107
ESTROGEN
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
ESTROGEN RELATED RECEPTOR
GAMMA
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
ESTROGENIC EFFECTS
Clairardin, Sandrine Georgette 107
ESTUARIES
Salacup, Jeffrey M. 30
ESTUARY
Aruda, Amalia Marie 58
ETHAN0L
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
EUTR0PHICATI0N
Carey, Joanna 59
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Obenour, Daniel Redd 61
Salacup, Jeffrey M. 30
EVOLUTION
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
EXOTIC SPECIES
Martin, Leanne M. 98
EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION
Turner, Caroline Breen 55
EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
EXTINCTION
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn 91
EXTREMES
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
FACILITATION
Putnam, Rachel Cope 27
FARMING
Dolph, Christine L. 83
FATE AND TRANSPORT
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
171
-------
Index
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Dumyahn, Sarah L. 153
FETUS
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
FISH
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
FISH CONSUMPTION
Chan, Mary Caroline 12
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
Deyle, I than Robert 9
FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICALS
Cordner, Alissa Annie 74
FLUIDIZATION
1 ollansbcc. David M. 47
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
Killarney, James P. 116
FLUORIDE
Craig, Laura 45
FLUOROSIS
Craig, Laura .45
FOOD WEB
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
FOREST
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
FOREST DYNAMICS
1 isiehelli. Nicholas A. 10
FORESTS
Lawlor, Kathleen Egan 97
FORMALDEHYDE
Carter, Ellison Milne. 37
FREQUENCY REGULATION
Rose, Stephen M. 147
FRESHWATER
Civitello, David James 106
FRESHWATER HARMFUL ALGAE
BLOOMS (HABS)
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
FUEL CELLS
Epting, William K. 141
FUEL ECONOMY
Karplus, Valerie Jean 157
FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
FUNDULUS HETEROCLITUS
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
FUNGAL DISEASE
Civitello, David James 106
FUNGI
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
FUNGUS
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn 91
G
GENE ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
GENE EXPRESSION
Aruda, Amalia Marie 58
Roach, Erika Danielle 138
GENE SILENCING
Morse, Thomas Oliver 136
Strickland, Matthew Robert 149
GENES
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
GENETIC DIVERSITY
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
GENETIC STRUCTURE
West, Brittany Elizabeth 93
GENOTYPES
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM
Sharp, Benjamin Elias 162
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
GEOSTATISTICS
Obenour, Daniel Redd 61
GLACIERS
Rampini, Costanza .28
GLOBAL
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
GLOBAL CHANGE
Adams, Henry David 5
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
Keiser, Ashley D. 16
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
GLOBAL WARMING
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
Telemeco, Ron S. 34
GLUFOSINATE
Lantz, Stephen R. 118
GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR
Lantz, Stephen R. 118
GLYPHOSATE
I gan.John 1. Ill
GOLD
Gamer, Thomas Ross 113
GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON
Dunnett, Kayleigh 110
GRASSLANDS
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
GREEN CHEMISTRY
Vardon, Derek Richard 150
GREEN DESIGN
Pasquini, I caiine Marie 137
GREEN ENGINEERING
Morse, Thomas Oliver 136
Soh, Lindsay 148
GREEN MATERIALS
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
GREENHOUSE GASES
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
Swarthout, Robert Frank 33
GROUNDWATER
Stuckey, Jason Wayne .49
Wong, Connne I. 56
Schutte, Charles A. 62
GROWTH RATE
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
GULF OF MEXICO
Obenour, Daniel Redd
61
H
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION
Reid, Brendan N. 168
HABITAT USE
Hart, Julie Ann 13
May field, Mariah Pine 88
HAIRY VETCH
Roach, Erika Danielle 138
HAWAII
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
HEALTH
('harrier. Jessica Grace 38
HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Craig, Laura .45
HEALTH RISK
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT
Murphy, Shannon Renee .76
HEALTH RISKS
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
HEAVY METALS
Mayfield, Mariah Pine. 88
HERBICIDE
Palladini, Jennifer Dawn 102
HERBICIDE RESISTANCE
Egan, John F. 111
HERBIV0RY
1 isiehelli. Nicholas A. 10
HETEROGENEITY
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
HETEROTROPHIC ECOSYSTEM
METABOLISM
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
HIERARCHICAL MODEL
Just, Allan Carpenter. 67
HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID
CHROMATOGRAPHY
Hancock, Harmony A. 85
HIGHWAY-GENERATED AIR POLLUTION
St. Vincent, Allison Paige .41
HIMALAYAS
Rampini, Costanza 28
HISTORICAL ECOLOGY
Coughlan, Michael Reed 152
HORMONE
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
HORMONES
Kaiser, Sara Ann 15
HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE
Kotchey, Gregg Peter 117
HOST RESPONSE
Aruda, Amalia Marie 58
HUMAN EXPOSURE
McKinney, Jonathan 15
HUMAN HEALTH
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
McKinney, Jonathan 75
Pasquini, I canne Marie 137
HYBRIDIZATION
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
HYDROGEN
Badalamenti, Jonathan Paul 140
Ferguson, Thomas Edward 142
Luterra, Markael Daniel 146
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
('hairier. Jessica Grace. 38
Fagnant, Christine Susan. 46
HYDROLOGY
Kelleher, Clirista Ann 86
HYDR0QUIN0NES
Dunnett, Kayleigh 110
HYDR0XYL RADICAL
( hairier. Jessica Grace. 38
HYPERACTIVITY
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
HYP0RHEIC ZONE
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
HYPOXIA
Obenour, Daniel Redd 61
IBI
Dolph, Christine L. 83
IMIDACL0PRID
Clark, Tumi Lynn 108
IMPACT EVALUATION
Lawlor, Kathleen Egan 97
IMPAIRED WATERS
Dolph, Christine L. 83
IN VITRO SCREENING
Gamer, Thomas Ross 113
IN VITRO TOXICITY
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
IN VITRO TOXICOLOGY
Hawley, Brie Michelle 66
INCOME
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen 73
INDICATORS
Dolph, Christine L. 83
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
Penaluna, Brooke Elizabeth 90
INDOOR AIR
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
McKinney, Jonathan 75
INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
McKinney, Jonathan 75
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
INDUSTRIAL AIR TOXICS
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen 73
172
-------
Index
INFANT
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Langhammer, Penny Flick 18
INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS
Hawley, Brie Michelle 66
INSECT PESTS
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
INSECTICIDE
Clark, lami Lynn 108
INSECTS
Dolph, Christine L. 83
INTERACTION
Allgeier, Jacob Edward 81
INTERSPECIES INTERACTIONS
Stable, Katharine Lisa 32
INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION
1 isichelli. Nicholas A. 10
INVASIVE SPECIES
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn 91
INVERSE ANALYSIS
McKinney, Jonathan 75
INVERTEBRATE
Civitello, David James 106
IPM
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
IRON
Fagnant, Christine Susan .46
K
KARST
Wong, Corinne I. 56
KRIGING
Obenour, Daniel Redd 61
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS
Hildebrandt, Lea 39
LAND MANAGEMENT
Marchin, Renee Michelle .21
LAND USE
Carey, Joanna 59
Sharp, Benjamin Elias 162
LAND USE CHANGE
Kasprzyk, Joseph Robert 158
LAND USE EFFICIENCY
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
LAND USE/LAND COVER
CHANGE (LULCC)
Coughlan, Michael Reed 152
LANDSCAPE GENETICS
Thompson, Pamela G. 103
LARGE HERBIVORES
Long, Ryan A. .20
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS
Dolph, Christine L. 83
LATITUDINAL GRADIENT
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
West, Brittany Elizabeth 93
LEGACY FLEET
Stasko, Tinion Herrick 163
LIFE HISTORY
Telemeco, Rory S. 34
LIPID
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
LIPID EXTRACTION
Vardon, Derek Richard 150
LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
Epting, William K. 141
LOCAL CLIMATE PROTECTION
Krause, Rachel Marie 159
LODGEPOLE PINE
Hart, Julie Ann 13
LONG ISLAND SOUND
Hill, Troy Derek 60
LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
LOXIA SINESCIURUS
Hart, Julie Ann 13
LUNG
Murphy, Shannon Renee 76
MAIZE
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
MANAGED RELOCATION
West, Brittany Elizabeth 93
MANURE
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
Deyle, Ethan Robert 9
MASS BALANCE
Hill, Troy Derek 60
MASS BALANCE MODEL
Griffith, David Richmond 114
MASS TRANSPORT
McKinney, Jonathan 75
MASSACHUSETTS BAY
Griffith, David Richmond 114
MATHEMATICAL MODELING
Langhammer, Penny Flick 18
MEASUREMENT
Hlavka, Eileen Rose. 155
MEDAKA
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
MERCURY EXPOSURE
Chan, Mary Caroline .72
METABOLISM
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
METABOLITES
Clark, lami Lynn 108
METAL CONTAMINATION
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
METALL0-0XIDASE
Clark, l ami Lynn 108
METHANE
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
Strickland, Matthew Robert 149
METHANOL
Strickland, Matthew Robert. 149
METH0PRENE
Aruda, Amalia Marie 58
METHYLMERCURY
VanDuyn, Natalia M. 126
MICR0ALGAE
Luterra, Markael Daniel 146
MICR0ARRAY
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
MICROBE-MINERAL
Jones, Laura Camille 96
MICROBES
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Badalamenti, Jonathan Paul 140
MICROBIAL INTERACTIONS
Aruda, Amalia Marie. 58
MICROBIAL PROCESSES
Schutte, Charles A. .62
MICROCYSTIN LR
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
MICROCYSTES
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
MICROSATELLITES
Richards-i lrdlicka. Kathryn 91
MICR0T0X
Say lor, Greg L. 125
MINE WASTE
Mayfield, Mariah Pine. 88
MINING
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
MOBILE CARBOHYDRATES
Adams, Henry David 5
MODELING
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
MOLECULAR GENETICS
Nyberg, Leila Margaret 123
MONSOON
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
MONTIP0RA CAPITATA
Putnam, Hollie M. 26
MOVEMENT
Long, Ryan A. .20
MULTIOBJECTIVE DECISION SUPPORT
Kasprzyk, Joseph Robert 158
MULTI-POTENT
Campanale, Joseph Paul .71
MUNICIPAL DECISION-MAKING
Krause, Rachel Marie 159
MYC0RRHIZAE
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
N
NAAQS
Murphy, Shannon Renee 76
N-ALKANES
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert 7
NANOMATERIALS
Nyberg, Leila Margaret 123
NAN0PARTICLE COATINGS
Louie, Stacey Marie 119
NAN0PARTICLE DEPOSITION
Louie, Stacey Marie 119
NAN0PARTICLE FATE AND TRANSPORT
Louie, Stacey Marie 119
NANOPARTICLES
Gamer, Thomas Ross 113
St. Vincent, Allison Paige .41
NAN0TECHN0L0GY
Pasquini, Leanne Marie 137
NAN0T0XIC0L0GY
Nyberg, Leila Margaret 123
NAN0TUBES
Nyberg, Leila Margaret 123
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Dumyahn, Sarah L. 153
NATURAL ENEMIES
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
NATURAL FIBER
Michel, Aaron Travis 135
NATURAL ORGANIC MATTER
Louie, Stacey Marie 119
NATURAL RESOURCE
Dumyahn, Sarah L. 153
NATURAL SOUNDS
Dumyahn, Sarah L. 153
NECTAR-FEEDING BATS
Thompson, Pamela G. 103
NEIGHBORHOOD CROWDING
Minor, David Michael 99
NE0NIC0TIN0IDS
Clark, lami Lynn 108
NE0TR0PICS
Hite, Jessica Leigh 14
NEUR0BEHAVI0RAL CHANGES
Curl, Cynthia Leigh 109
NEUR0BEHAVI0RAL DEVELOPMENT
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
NEUR0DEGENERATI0N
Semmens, Erin O'Brien 68
NEUR0DEVEL0PMENT
VanDuyn, Natalia M. 126
NEUROTOXICITY
Lantz, Stephen R. 118
-------
Index
NEW ENGLAND
Carey, Joanna 59
NEW MEXICO
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn 91
NICHE
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE
Clark, Tatni Lynn 108
NITRITE
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
NITROGEN
Allgeier, Jacob Edward 81
Carey, Joanna 59
Keiser, Ashley D. 16
Mischler, John Anthony 89
Schutte, Charles A. 62
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
NITROGEN DEPOSITION
Minor, David Michael 99
NOISE POLLUTION
Dumyahn, Sarah L. 153
NON-NATIVE SPECIES
Prevey, Janet Sullivan .25
NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Carey, Joanna 59
NON-RANDOM SPECIES CHANGE
Keiser, Ashley D. 16
NO-TILLAGE
Roach, Erika Danielle 138
NOVEL COMMUNITIES
Martin, Leanne M. 98
NOx FORMATION
Holtmeyer, Melissa Lauren 145
NUTRIENT
Allgeier, Jacob Edward 81
NUTRIENT CYCLING
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
NUTRIENT RATIOS
Carey, Joanna 59
NUTRIENTS
Mischler, John Anthom 89
Wong, Corinne I. 56
0
OCCUPANT FEEDBACK
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
OPTIMIZATION
Foster, Justin MacLeod 154
ORGANIC
Curl, Cynthia Leigh 109
ORGANIC AEROSOL
Hildebrandt, Lea. 39
0RGAN0PH0SPH0RUS PESTICIDES
Curl, Cynthia Leigh 109
OSMIA LIGNARIA
Palladini, Jennifer Dawn 102
OTOLITH
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
OVERFISHING
Deyle, I than Robert 9
OXIDANT AIR POLLUTANTS
Murphy, Shannon Renee 76
OXIDATION
Saylor, Greg L. 125
OXIDATIVE STRESS
('harrier. Jessica Grace. 38
VanDuyn, Natalia M. 126
0XY-C0AL COMBUSTION
Holtmeyer, Melissa Lauren 145
OXYGEN
Myhre, Sarah Butler .22
OZONE
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
Murphy, Shannon Renee 76
Swarthout, Robert Frank 33
PALEOCLIMATE
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
PALE0EC0L0GY
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert 7
PARAFAC
Killarney, James P. 116
PARASITOID
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
PARTICLE CHARACTERIZATION
Gamer, Thomas Ross 113
PARTICLE UPTAKE
Gamer, Thomas Ross 113
PARTICULATE MATTER
('harrier. Jessica Grace. 38
I law le\. Brie Michelle. 66
Isaacman, Gabriel A. .40
PASSENGER VEHICLES
Karplus, Valerie Jean 157
PASTORAL FIRE USE
Coughlan, Michael Reed 152
PATCH REEFS
Allgeier, Jacob Edward 81
PATHOGEN
Bibby, Kyle James 70
Richards-I lrdlicka. Kathryn 91
PATHOGENS
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
PBDE
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
PEM FUEL CELLS
Epting, William K. 141
PERMAFROST
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
PESTICIDE
Erickson, Richard Arlin 112
PESTICIDES
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
Mischler, John Anthom 89
Saylor, Greg I 125
PETM
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert 7
PETR0DIESEL
Hawley, Brie Michelle .66
PGPR
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
PHARMACEUTICALLY ACTIVE
COMPOUNDS
(Hilton. Rebekah .48
PHARMACEUTICALS
Keen, Volha S. 115
(Hilton. Rebekah .48
PHEN0TYPIC PLASTICITY
West, Brittany Elizabeth 93
PHOSPHORUS
Allgeier, Jacob Edward 81
Carey, Joanna 59
Mischler, John Anthom 89
PH0T0CATALYSIS
Follansbee, David M. .47
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
Fagnant, Christine Susan. .46
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Badalamenti, Jonathan Paul 140
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
PHTHALATES
Just, Allan Carpenter .67
PHYSICAL MECHANISMS
DeAngelis, Anthom M. 8
PHYT0PLANKT0N
Carey, Joanna 59
PLACENTA
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
PLANT
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
PLANT COMMUNITY
Prevey, Janet Sullivan .25
PLANT EMISSIONS
Swarthout, Robert Frank 33
PLANT FUNCTIONAL TYPES
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert 7
PLANT INVASION
Palladini, Jennifer Dawn. 102
PLANT SECONDARY COMPOUNDS
Earl, Julia E. 84
PLANT-HERBIVORE INTERACTIONS
Pratt, Jessica Dawn .24
PLASMID
Strickland, Matthew Robert 149
PLASTIC
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
PLUM ISLAND SOUND
Carey, Joanna 59
PM,5
Isaacman, Gabriel A. .40
P0CILL0P0RA DAMIC0RNIS
Putnam, Hollie M. 26
POLAR ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
POLICY
Hildebrandt, Lea. 39
Hlavka, Eileen Rose. 155
Krause, Rachel Marie 159
POLICY ASSESSMENT
Chan, Mary Caroline 72
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
Dumyahn, Sarah L. 153
POLICY LEARNING
Arnold, Gwendolyn B. 53
POLLEN-MEDIATED GENE FLOW
Thompson, Pamela G. 103
POLLINATION
Egan, John F. 111
POLLINATOR
Palladini, Jennifer Dawn 102
POLLINATORS
Martin, Leanne M. 98
POLLUTION
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin. 101
Campanale, Joseph Paul 71
Civitello, David James 106
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor. 134
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
Shapiro, Joseph S. 54
POLYCARBONATE
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
POLYMER COATING
Louie, Stacey Marie 119
POND COMMUNITIES
Earl, Julia I 84
POPULATION ECOLOGY
Hart, Julie Ann 13
POPULATION GENETICS
Richards-Hrdlicka, Kathryn 91
POPULATION LEVEL
Penahma, Brooke Elizabeth 90
POPULATION PERSISTENCE
Civitello, David James 106
PPCP
Killarney, James P. 116
PRAIRIES
Jarchow, Meghann Elizabeth 133
PRECIPITATION
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
Prevey, Janet Sullivan .25
PRIMARY PRODUCTION
Dolph, Christine L. 83
PRODUCTIVITY
Martin, Leanne M. 98
PUBLIC HEALTH
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Peterman, Andrew Samuel 160
PUERTO RICO
Langhammer, Penny Flick 18
174
-------
Index
Q
QUANTITATIVE PCR
Riehards-I Iixllicka. Katliryn 91
QUIC
St. Vincent, Allison Paige .41
R
RACE
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen .73
RADIATIVE FORCING
Fry, Meridith McGee 11
RADIO TELEMETRY
Mayfield, Mariah Pine 88
RADIOLIGAND
I ant/. Stephen R. 118
RADON
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
RAINFALL
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
RANGE LIMITS
Putnam, Rachel Cope .27
RANGE SHIFT
1 isichelli. Nicholas A. 10
RANGE SHIFTS
Kivlin, Stephanie Nicole 17
RAPID WARMING EVENTS
Myhre, Sarah Butler 22
RAZ RRU SMART TRACER
Stanaway, Daniel J. 92
RDX
Dunnett, Kayleigh 110
REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES
Charrier. Jessica Grace. 38
REDD
Lawlor, Kathleen I gan 97
REDOX
Jones, Laura Camille 96
REEF
Franklin, Erik Charles 167
REFUGIA
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah 82
REGIONAL
DeAngelis, Anthony M. 8
REMOTE SENSING
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
GENERATION
Foster, Justin MacLeod 154
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Hlavka, Eileen Rose. 155
Huberty, Mark Edward. 156
RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS
Hittinger, Eric S. 144
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Hitaj, Claudia Maria 143
REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIORS
Kaiser, Sara Ann 15
RESILIENCE
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
Rampini, Costanza .28
RESIN LININGS
Saili, Katerine Schletz 77
RESOURCE ABUNDANCE
Hart, Julie Ann 13
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Deyle, I than Robert 9
RESTORATION
Pratt, Jessica Dawn. .24
RISK
Rampini, Costanza .28
RISK AND HAZARD
Cordner, Alissa Annie 74
RISK ASSESSMENT
Bibby, Kyle James 70
Cordner, Alissa Annie 74
Reogner, Amber Ford 124
RIVER GEOCHEMISTRY
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
RIVPACS
Dolph, Christine L. 83
RNAI
Morse, Thomas Oliver 136
RSEI
Chang, Grace Hwai-Yen 73
RUBISCO
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
s
SALMONID
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah 82
SALT MARSH
Hill, Troy Derek 60
SANDWICH PANEL
Michel, Aaron Travis 135
SANITATION
Fagnant, Christine Susan. .46
SAV RESTORATION
West, Brittany Elizabeth 93
scC02
Soh, Lindsay 148
SCHOOLS
Baker, Lindsay A. 131
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Rampini, Costanza .28
SCIENCE POLICY
Rampini, Costanza .28
SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE
Rampini, Costanza .28
SEA URCHIN EMBRYO
Campanale, Joseph Paul 71
SEDIMENT
Stuckey, Jason Wayne. .49
SEDIMENT BUDGET
Hill, Troy Derek 60
SEED DISPERSAL
Stable, Katharine Lisa 32
SEED PRODUCTION
Minor, David Michael 99
SEROTONIN
Murphy, Shannon Renee .76
SEWAGE SLUDGE
Bibby, Kyle James 70
SILICA
Carey, Joanna 59
SIP
Michel, Aaron Travis 135
SMALL MICR0MERES
Campanale, Joseph Paul .71
SMART GRID
Foster, Justin MacLeod 154
SNPs
Richards-I Iixllicka. Katliryn 91
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Miranda, Robert Alan 120
SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Lawlor, Kathleen I gan 97
S0DIS
Fagnant, Christine Susan .46
SOIL
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
Stuckey, Jason Wayne .49
SOIL CHEMISTRY
Jones, Laura Camille 96
SOIL NUTRIENTS
Minor, David Michael 99
SOLAR
Badalamenti, Jonathan Paul 140
Hlavka, Eileen Rose 155
Luterra, Markael Daniel 146
SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Schelly, Chelsea Lynn 161
SOLITARY BEE
Palladini, Jennifer Dawn 102
SORPTION
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
S0RPTIVE INTERACTIONS
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
SOUNDSCAPE
Dumyalin, Sarah L. 153
SOURCE WATER QUALITY
Beck, Sara Elizabeth 44
SOUTH HILLS CROSSBILL
Hart, Julie Ann 13
SOUTHWEST
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
SPATIAL MODELING
Sharp, Benjamin Elias 162
SPATIAL SUBSIDIES
Earl, Julia E. 84
SPECIES DIVERSITY
Martin, Leanne M. 98
SPECIES TRAITS
Marchin, Renee Michelle 21
SPECTRAL INDEX
Hancock, Hannony A. 85
SPME
McKinney, Jonathan 75
SQUAMATE
Telemeco, Ron S. 34
STABLE ISOTOPES
Earl, Julia E. 84
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Arnold, Gwendolyn B. 53
STEELHEAD
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah 82
STEM CELLS
Campanale, Joseph Paul .71
STEROID METABOLISM
Clairardin, Sandrine Georgette 107
STEROIDAL ESTROGENS
Griffith, David Richmond 114
STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
Petennan, Andrew Samuel 160
STREAM HEALTH
Dolph, Christine L. 83
STR0NGYL0CENTR0TUS PURPURATUS
Campanale, Joseph Paul 71
STRUCTURE
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
SUBSIDIES
Hlavka, Eileen Rose. 155
SUGAR MAPLE
Putnam, Rachel Cope .27
SULFOTRANSFERASE
Clairardin, Sandrine Georgette 107
SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION
Soh, Lindsay 148
SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENT
MATERIALS
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
SURFACE CHEMISTRY
Carter, Ellison Milne. 37
SURFACE WATER
Wong, ('orinne I. 56
SURFACTANTS
Vardon, Derek Richard 150
SUSCEPTIBLE POPULATIONS
Chan, Mary Caroline 72
SUSTAINABILITY
Dolph, Christine L. 83
Kasprzyk, Joseph Robert 158
SUSTAINABLE
Andersen, Jeremy Catalin 101
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Hale, Lauren Elizabeth 132
Roach, Erika Danielle 138
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS
Lange, Sarah C. Taylor 134
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Epting, William K. 141
Sharp, Benjamin Elias 162
SUSTAINABLE POWER SYSTEMS
Foster, Justin MacLeod 154
175
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Index
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY
Beck, Sara Elizabeth 44
SWINE
Yost, Erin Elizabeth 127
SWITCHGRASS
Sharp, Benjamin Elias 162
SYMBIODINIUM
Oakley, Clinton Alexander .23
T
TALLGRASS PRAIRIE
Avolio, Meghan Lynn 6
TECHNOLOGY
Hlavka, Eileen Rose 155
TEMPERATE FOREST
Keiser, Ashley D. 16
TEMPERATURE
Putnam, Hollie M. .26
Schuler, Matthew Scott 31
TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT SEX
DETERMINATION
Telemeco, Rory S. 34
TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY
Bush, Rosemary Tolbert 7
TEXAS
Wong, Corinne I. 56
TEXT ANALYSIS
Hlavka, Eileen Rose. 155
THAW
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
THERMAL ENVIRONMENT
Long, Ryan A. .20
THERMOREGULATE
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah 82
THREATENED SPECIES
Reid, Brendan N. 168
THYROID
Noyes, Pamela Diane 122
TMDL
Dolph, Christine L. 83
TOXICANTS
Campanale, Joseph Paul. 71
TOXICITY
Kotchey, Gregg Peter 117
Pasquini, Leanne Marie 137
Saylor, Greg L. 125
TRACE METAL
Hill, Troy Derek 60
TRAFFIC
Semmens, Erin O'Brien 68
TRANSGENIC
Cheeke, Tanya E. A. 95
TRANSNATIONAL GOVERNANCE
Rampini, Costanza .28
TRANSPORTATION
Epting, William K. 141
TREATMENT
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
TREATMENT STRATEGIES
Carter, Ellison Milne 37
TREE DROUGHT MORTALITY
Adams, Henry David 5
TREE PHYSIOLOGY
Marchin, Renee Michelle .21
TREE REGENERATION
Fisichelli, Nicholas A. 10
TREE RINGS
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
TROPHIC
Dolph, Christine L. 83
TROPICAL DEFORESTATION
Lawlor, Kathleen Egan 97
TROPICAL DRY FOREST
Thompson, Pamela G. 103
TROUT MOVEMENT
Mayfield, Mariah Pine 88
TUNDRA
I elm. Gregory Owen 19
TURBIDITY
Dolph, Christine L. 83
TURTLES
Reid, Brendan N. 168
u
ULTRAFINE PARTICLES
St. Vincent, Allison Paige. .41
UNCERTAINTY
Rampini, Costanza .28
URBAN-SCALE METEOROLOGY
St. Vincent, Allison Paige. .41
URINARY METABOLITES
Curl, Cynthia Leigh 109
V
VALLISNERIA AMERICANA
West, Brittany Elizabeth 93
VARIABILITY
Avolio, Meghan Lynn .6
VEHICLE TASK ASSIGNMENT
Stasko, Timon Herrick 163
VIBRIO
Aruda, Amalia Marie 58
VOCALIZATIONS
Miranda, Robert Alan 120
VOCs
McKinney, Jonathan 75
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Isaacman, Gabriel A. .40
McKinney, Jonathan 75
VULNERABILITY
Rampini, Costanza .28
w
WARMING
Stable, Katharine Lisa 32
WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Keen, Volha S. 115
Nyberg, Leila Margaret 123
Oulton, Rebekah .48
WATER
Mitchell, Shannon Mary 121
Rampini, Costanza .28
WATER MANAGEMENT
Wong, Corinne I. 56
WATER POLLUTION
Turner, Caroline Breen 55
WATER QUALITY
Jones, Laura Camille 96
Killamey, James P. 116
Mayfield, Mariah Pine 88
Schutte, Charles A. .62
Shapiro, Joseph S. 54
Stackey, Jason Wayne. .49
Wong, Corinne I. 56
WATER QUALITY MODELING
Obenour, Daniel Redd 61
WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS
Beck, Sara Elizabeth. .44
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Craig, Laura. .45
WATER RESOURCES
Griffin, Richard Daniel 12
WATER REUSE
Beck, Sara Elizabeth. I I
Oulton, Rebekah .48
WATER SUPPLY
Kasprzyk, Joseph Robert 158
WATER TEMPERATURE
Brewitt, Kimberly Sarah 82
WATER TREATMENT
I agnant. Christine Susan. 46
Follansbee, David M. 47
Oulton, Rebekah 48
WATER USE EFFICIENCY
Marchin, Renee Michelle .21
WATERSHED
Carey, Joanna 59
WATERSHEDS
Dolph, Christine L. 83
WESTERN CLAWED FROG
Miranda, Robert Alan 120
WETLAND
Lellis-Dibble, Kimberly A. 87
WETLAND ASSESSMENT
Arnold, Gwendolyn B. 53
WETLAND POLICY
Arnold, Gwendolyn B. 53
WETLANDS
Reid, Brendan N. 168
WILDFIRES
Reid, Colleen Elizabeth .29
WIND
Hlavka, Eileen Rose. 155
WIND ENERGY
Rose, Stephen M. 147
WIND INTEGRATION
Hitting er, Eric S. 144
WIND POWER
Hitaj, Claudia Maria 143
WIND VARIABILITY
Hitting er, Eric S. 144
X
XEN0PUS TR0PICALIS
Miranda, Robert Alan
120
ZEBRAFISH
Saili, Katerine Schletz
77
176
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