Lillian Dailey – Undergraduate - Geography
The Hidden Depths of Yellowstone National Park

​Yellowstone National Park is a unique and geologically diverse area in Wyoming that sits atop a supervolcano and exhibits hydrothermal, gaseous, and tectonic activity, along with a vast underground plumbing systems that feed the hydrothermal pools, springs, and geysers. As beautiful and wonderful as those features are to view, they also harbor important information about the park and its health. The microbial flora within the pools give many of them a brilliant color. These extremophiles exhibit specific colors based on the temperature of the pools. In this poster, I examine connections between the temperature, depth, and color of thermal pools in Yellowstone National Park and their microbial flora. Better understanding the factors that support these pools is important because they are extremely fragile and sudden tectonic activity, human interaction, climatic events or changes to their plumbing systems could drastically alter or destroy the pools and their microorganisms.

Griffin Hadlock – Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
Invasive Species and Water Traffic Effects on Native Organisms in the St. Lawrence River of Canada and USA

​The natural ecosystems of large boundary rivers are often damaged by their bordering nations. These factors are often seen as direct sources of water pollution; however, impacts from boats and ships can also impair the sensitive ecosystem. Between the northeastern states of the USA and southeastern Canada, the St. Lawrence river is an economically important passage for transportation and water use. There are nearly 140 invading species dwelling within this system, most of which were brought in from ships. Invasive species can be problematic, as seen with the spreading growth of the eurasion round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and its possible effects on the natural food web. In addition to native species, shipping transportation is problematic with its noise that are detrimental to sensitive, native whale species that dwell in the estuaries. More innovative approaches to more developed cooperation between the USA and Canada are needed to address these ecosystem-level concerns. In this paper, I present the possible anthropogenic effects on natural organisms in the St. Lawrence River by addressing (1) invasive species, (2) water traffic noise and collisions, and (3) government regulation and cooperation between the USA and Canada. It is crucial that government cooperation is addressed at a whole-ecosystem perspective to address health concerns of this large waterway.

Helena Middleton – Undergraduate – Geography
Wetland Regeneration in the United Kingdom  

​Wetlands serve many vital functions, including floodwater storage, carbon sequestration, and wildlife preservation. The United Kingdom has heavily modified wetland systems, and continued destruction of UK peatlands threatens to release 584 Mt C into the atmosphere. Despite being only 5-8% of earth’s cover, wetlands account for 20-30% of stored carbon. In order to mitigate the effects of the release of carbon into the atmosphere, wetlands must be restored to protect against a variable and changing climate. In addition to sequestering carbon, wetlands act as the kidneys of the planet, filtering water and protecting against flooding events. Fortunately, wetlands are beginning to be restored for their ecosystem functions and flood protection value, in addition to their other climate change mitigation benefits. By examining the sites of the Fenland Basin, the Tadham Moor, and the Newham Bog in the UK, this poster describes the methods by which different wetlands are being restored. These sites use combinations of water table alterations, catchment reinforcements, and growth of native plant communities to foster the regeneration of UK wetlands. Wetland restoration in degraded areas requires thoughtful consideration for sustainable land use in the future. Through innovative ideas and research into the functioning of wetlands, the UK is beginning to rebuild these valuable assets. 

Stephen Zipkin – Undergraduate – Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology
Before They All Croak: Discussing How to Help Amphibian Populations on the Decline

​Amphibian populations are on the decline worldwide, and such a decline can be associated with increasing pollution of waterways from industrial, residential, and agricultural sources. Waterways in the Australian territory of Victoria have shown a particularly strong decline of amphibian populations in the presence of pollutants from sources introduced by humans. This paper will discuss major sources of pollutants, the impacts of pollutants on amphibians, and methods of mitigating pollution in Victoria. In Victoria, six amphibian species have been observed under heavy decline in part as a result of pollution of freshwater ecosystems by human sources. Specifically, heavy metal pollution from metals such as mercury and cadmium, common byproducts of mining, have been associated with decreased population sizes and species richness in many wetlands in Victoria. Amphibian habitats closest to urban and industrial areas suffered the heaviest pollution, suggesting that industrial sources such as mining and urban sources such as stormwater contributed the most to pollution leading to amphibian decline. In exposure to heavy metal pollutants, amphibians experience decreased health, reproduction, and survival. Amphibians suffer as pollutants cause both developmental issues in individual amphibians and trophic cascades via similar effects on invertebrates and algae. Solutions to these problems have already been tested in Victoria, including urban stormwater biofilters. These biofilters resemble artificial wetlands which take on toxicants before stormwater reaches freshwater ecosystems. Solutions like this are crucial in defending amphibian biodiversity.