Department Of Biology ITHACA COLLEGE Faculty & Staff Presentations

Faculty, Staff, and Student Presentations  (Note: students are underlined and faculty are in bold)
 

Summer 2005	Summer 2004	Summer 2003	Summer 2002	Fall 2001	Summer 2000	Fall 1999
Fall 2005	Fall 2004	Fall 2003	Fall 2002	Spring 2002	Fall 2000	Spring 2000
Spring 2006	Spring 2005	Spring 2004	Spring 2003		Spring 2001

John Confer presented, “The Decline of  Science in Public Discourse”.  City Club of Ithaca.  Ithaca, New York.

Nancy Jacobson and David Garcia co-presented "Teaching the Whole Student", Ithaca College Summer Institute. Ithaca, New York. May 2006

Marc Servetnick and Susan Swensen presented at Ithaca College’s “Darwin Day” event sponsored by the Paleontological Research Institute. February 2006.

Bruce Smith presented, “Population Differentiation in Water Mites - a Consequence of Reduced Dispersal”, Biology Seminar Series. IthacaCollege. Ithaca, NY.  March 2006.

Susan Allen-Gil and Peter Bardaglio presented a workshop entitled, "Educating for Sustainability: Ithaca College and EcoVillage at Ithaca". Ball State University. Muncie, IN.  September 2005.
 

The workshop highlighted some of the accomplishments of developing sustainability curriculum in partnership with EcoVillage at Ithaca and how this program has influenced the campus in diverse ways.

Ed Cluett presented a poster co-authored with IC Biology students. R. Adametz(’05), A. Bowers (’04), A. Yerdon (’03), Ke Ke (’05), A. Fritz (’06).  “Phospholipase A2 antagonists alter the trafficking of endocytically-derived free cholesterol”. American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco, CA. View the abstract here.

John Confer gave three presentations at the Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Workshop in Siren, WI. These presentations were based on long-term studies of a nationally-unique population of golden-winged warblers conducted with many summer research students. These results helped formulate national research and conservation goals for this species, one of the rarest and most rapidly declining species in eastern United States.
 

• Local and regional golden-winged warbler habitatt associations.
• Regional patterns of habitat change and impacts of changes in land use.
• Rights-of-way conservation opportunities in New England.

Jason presented two sessions related to global warming; the first described current documentation and consequences and the second was a discussion of how to teach global warming.

Confer described the life cycle of insects that stimulate ball gall formation on goldenrods and their bird predators and also presented a session on developing a plan to manage the natural areas of South Hill.

Jason Hamilton presented “Indirect effects of biotic damage on photosynthesis in a forest understory “ at the Ecological Society of America Conference in Montreal, Quebec. August  2005

 Abstract
Arthropods, pathogenic bacteria, and viruses are important causes of damage to photosynthetic tissues in natural ecosystems.  Calculating losses in leaf function and plant production based on leaf area removed by herbivores or infected by pathogens can greatly underestimate the actual reduction because of the indirect effects to tissues not directly injured. We quantified the indirect effects of naturally-occurring biotic damage on the photosynthetic efficiency of understory temperate hardwoods at the FACTS-1 research site (North Carolina, USA), using chlorophyll fluorescence and thermal imaging. Different damage classes – fungal, galls and chewing – produced different effects in the photosynthesis of tissue adjacent to the damage, suggesting different mechanisms of damage propagation. Halos of reduced function produced by fungal infections and galls propagated more than 2.5 times further from the visible damage, and photosynthesis was ~40% more depressed compared to chewing damage. Chlorophyll fluorescence quenching analysis revealed correlations between depressions of PSII and increases in NPQ within the areas indirectly affected by damage. However, the temperature of fungal halos was higher than the remaining leaf area, while gall halos were cooler, suggesting different mechanisms of propagation.

Jason Hamilton and Susan Swensen, Poster Presentation, “OneBuilding at a Time:  Ithaca College’s ‘CNS Sustainability Group’”. Ball State University. Muncie, IN.  September 2005.

ABSTRACT:
The Center for Natural Sciences (CNS) at IthacaCollege houses the faculty, students, and staff of the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics departments.  Due to the equipment intensive needs of science teaching today, our building is the most energy-expensive building on campus.  In an effort to raise awareness for sustainable practices on campus, the faculty, staff, and students of CNS have organized a group of committees whose mission is to reduce the ecological footprint of the building, to educate members of the building (and beyond) through seminars and outreach work, and to publicize our work to the campus and local community.  The success of the organization relies on the diversity of participants that includes not only faculty, but administrative assistants, physical plant and maintenance staff, and students.  The CNS Sustainability Group includes five committees (Footprint, Curriculum, Outreach, Seminar, Publicity) and a central organizing Core Committee composed of chairs and co-chairs of each committee. Successful inroads have already been made in developing lines of communication between academics and operations; the CNS Sustainability Group organized a walking tour of the building led by physical plant personnel and we have agreed to a temperature set-point for the building.  Achievements by Outreach Committee so far include two seminars on sustainability given to President’s Advisory Committee and to the Humanities and Sciences Faculty Senate.  As a consequence of the group’s outreach, students have been mobilized to create their own campus-wide group, “Students for Sustainability”.  The Seminar Committee has organized four speakers for the spring of 2005.  The Curriculum Committee has created a physical and electronic lending library of teaching materials for the college community.  This committee is also involved in generating PowerPoint modules in response to needs of faculty who want to include sustainability in their teaching.  The Footprint Committee has developed a footprint calculator for CNS and has estimated the building’s footprint based on fuel and electricity consumption as well as extensive research into use patterns of laboratory equipment, chemicals, paper, and water.  In addition to reducing the CNS building footprint, the CNS Sustainability Group hopes to provide a model that will encourage other building-based sustainability groups to organize on campus and to promote sustainability to our administration.

Bruce Smith presented "Variations of a Theme: Life History Strategies of Water Mites" in the Zoology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand. November 2005.Susan

Susan Swensen presented “Plants in strange places: Discovering evolutionary history with molecules (and mud)”.  Biology Department, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa.  October, 2005.

Susan Swensen presented “The Quest for a Sustainable World:  What We Know…What We Can Do…”.  Cornell College Science Departments, Mount Vernon, Iowa.  October, 2005.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summer 2005

Marina Caillaud presented a poster entitled, “A molecular approach to the induction of host specificity in the sensitivity of sensilla styloconica in the larvae of Manduca sexta”. The presentation was at the Annual Meeting of the International Chemical Ecology Society, Washington, DC.

Marta L. del Campo, Carol I. Miles, and Marina Caillaud

ABSTRACT:
Larvae of the moth Manduca sexta are facultative specialists in the plant family Solanaceae. After few days from hatching, larvae feeding on solanaceous foliage become specialist feeders, while those feeding on non-solanaceous foliage or artificial diets remain polyphagous. The induced feeding preference of M. sexta larvae involves the formation of a recognition template to the host recognition cue indioside D, a steroidal glycoside so far only found in Solanaceae. The induction of host specificity in M. sexta is at least in part a result of chemosensory tuning to indioside D in 50% of the taste receptor cells located in two pairs of taste sensilla, the lateral and medial sensilla styloconica. The information transduced by these taste receptor cells is sufficient and necessary for the feeding preferences of host-restricted M. sexta larvae. We hypothesize that these changes in test receptor responses may be due at least in part to changes in gene expression on these cells. To test this hypothesis, two animal populations were reared to their fifth stadium,
one polyphagous population reared on wheat germ artificial diet, and the other specialist population reared on potato foliage. Two types of tissues were collected from the fifth instars: maxilla, containing the sensilla styloconica as well as the maxillary palp, and the dorsal abdominal horn as a control tissue, which does not contain chemoreceptors. mRNAs were extracted from tissues and by differential display technique cDNA fragments were generated by RT-PCR followed by amplification. The obtained cDNA fragments from
each of the tissues and animal populations were compared on polyacrylamide and agarose gels. The differentially expressed cDNA were recovered from polyacrylamide and agarose gels and individually re-amplified, subjected to Northern Blot, followed by sequencing. Here we present our results and place them in context of taste transduction and feeding behavior.

ABSTRACT:

M.E. Burrows, M.C. Caillaud, D.M. Smith, E.C. Benson, and S.M. Gray

F1 and F2 crosses between a Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) vector and a nonvector clone of  Schizaphis graminum were generated and characterized for their ability to transmit BYDV-SGV and Cereal yellow dwarf virus-RPV. Results of a genetic analysis indicate there are multiple genes controlling transmission phenotype that act in an additive manner. One or more tightly linked genes regulate the transmission of luteoviruses and poleroviruses, however, individual aphid clones can transmit each virus independently, demonstrating some genes are unique for each virus genera. The nonvector parent has both gut and salivary gland associated barriers to virus transmission. These tissue-specific barriers were separated in some of the F2 hybrids examined. One F2 clone possesses a gut barrier to transmission, whereas in other clones, virus is either prevented from entering the salivary gland or is inactivated in the hemolymph.  To investigate the involvement of hemolymph factors in the transmission of luteovirus, real time RT-PCR was used to quantify the retention of BYDV over time in vector and nonvector aphids. BYDV was retained for over two weeks regardless of vector status, indicating virion degradation cannot explain the loss of transmission.

Spring 2005

Susan Allen-Gil copresented "Educating for Sustainability: Ithaca College and EcoVillage at Ithaca Workshop" with Provost Bardaglio and Liz Walker, the director of EcoVillage at Ithaca. Annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges and Universities in San Francisco, California. January 2005.

This session explored a highly innovative approach to educating undergraduates for global sustainability, a collaboration between Ithaca College and EcoVillage of Ithaca, funded since 2001 by the National Science Foundation. The goals of “Applying Science to Sustainability,” which partners College faculty and EcoVillage professionals and educators, are to advance undergraduate learning in sustainability and to encourage students to become involved in science-based community ecological projects, using EcoVillage at Ithaca as a living laboratory.

“Global Warming: Fact and Fiction.” Department of Physics. Ithaca College. Ithaca, New York. March 2005.

 “Plant-Insect Interactions in a High CO2 World: Ripple Effects across Scales of Integration.” Biogeochemistry and Environmental Biocomplexity seminar series. Cornell University. Ithaca, New York. March 2005.

 “Sustainability and Higher Education.” Plenary presentation at the Regional Sustainability Summit. Ithaca College. Ithaca, New York. February 2005.

 “Why Sustainability?” Center for Natural Sciences Sustainability Group seminar series. Ithaca College. Ithaca, New York. March 2005.

Many molluscs form strong attachments using gel-based glues. These dilute gels are structurally similar to the mucous gels used in locomotion, but they have additional proteins that we have named “glue proteins.” The glue proteins have been shown to stiffen gels, apparently by cross-linking anionic polymers. Different gastropods use their glues for different purposes, though. The slug Arion subfuscus releases a defensive secretion that becomes remarkably sticky within seconds. The land snail Helix aspersa produces a glue that dries into a tough film. In both cases, a glue protein is the key structural feature triggering adhesion. Given the difference in function, though, these proteins are likely to have different properties. We measured the gel-stiffening ability of the glue proteins from both species and their effect on a fluid’s ability to wet surfaces. The glue protein from slugs was more effective at low concentrations (~0.2 mg/ml), triggering a two to threefold larger increase in gel stiffness. The effect of land snail glue proteins increased markedly with concentration, though. At 1 mg/ml, their effect was several fold larger than that of the slug glue proteins. Another difference was that the land snail glue proteins had no significant effect on surface wetting, whereas the slug glue proteins decreased the contact angle of water on wax by 63 percent. Based on these results and other structural information, the glue proteins of slugs are appear more suited to rapid cross-linking and creation of interfacial adhesion, while the glue proteins of land snails create greater ultimate tensile strength.

Jennifer Kimball (’06) and Bruce Smith, “Bright coloration in mites – a warning to newts?”
 

ABSTRACT: Many species of water mites are bright red or orange; previous research has implied that these are aposematic (warning) colorations, alerting fish that mites are unpalatable. However, brightly colored water mites are most prevalent in ponds and temporary waters that lack fish predation. The red spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, is a keystone predator of microcrustacea in ponds and temporary waters that lack fish predation. Mites are similar to microcrustacea in size and habitat, so in the experiments, red spotted newts were tested as potential predators of water mites. Water mites and Daphnia magna were offered sequentially to newts and the behaviours "mouth and reject", "eaten", and "did not attack" were recorded. In this study, we demonstrated that all water mites tested, regardless of color, were unpalatable to newts. Conspicuous water mites (Hydrodroma despiciens, a population of red Arrenurus manubriator, Limnochares americana, and Lebertia sp.) were mouthed and rejected more often than cryptic water mites (black and white Piona sp., and a population of blue Arrenurus manubriator). Only two mites out of 600 offerings were eaten, while 600 Daphnia magna of 600 offerings were ingested. We conclude that bright coloration does not serve as a warning to newts, and probably is either or both a 1. plesiotypic trait, retained in many earlyderivative species of water mite, 2. pigment used to block harmful components of sunlight.

ABSTRACT: Male reproductive success in many species relies on the number of sexual partners he has; due to the scarcity of the female gametes compared to male gametes, females often become the subject of competition. We investigated malemale competition for mates in Arrenurus manubriator water mites. A previous study by Heather Proctor suggested that the unmated A. manubriator male in a triad often "harassed" the mating pair, and that in one case, the unmated male was able to take over mating. In this study, we performed triad tests using two virgin A. manubriator males and one A. manubriator virgin female. Behaviors (swimming, walking, arrestant behavior, leg fanning, leg crooking) and intermale distance were recorded every minute for five minutes prior to introducing the female into the container, every minute for five minutes after the female was added, and then continuing every five minutes for an hour after female introduction. Males were closer to each other when there was a female present compared to when there was no female, however we did not observe physical interference as had been noted in Proctor's study. We also tested pairs of males in one of 3 treatments: 1) control water, 2) water containing female sex?attractant pheromone, 3) water with a female present. Behaviors were recorded when males were introduced into the container and every subsequent minute for five minutes. There was no statistical significance in the distance relationships among males in pheromone treated water compared to fresh water and in the presence of a female. While casual observations have indicated that male A. manubriator water mites physically interact while competing for matings, our evidence suggests that this is coincidental because both males are attracted towards the female, rather than the males being attracted to each other and actively interfering with each other.

Fall 2004

Susan Allen-Gil presented the Earth Café 2050 workshop at the Northeast Campus Sustainability Summit, University of New Hampshire. Durham, New Hampshire.

During this workshop, the presenters gave an introduction to the concept of ecological footprinting, explained how they developed the Earth Café 2050, staged an Earth Café for audience participation, and discussed possible adaptations for other environments.

Abstract
The Taimyr Peninsula lies north and east of the world’s largest heavy metal smelting complex (Norilsk, Russia). We analyzed heavy metal concentrations in lichen (Cetraria cucullata), moss (Hylocomium splendens), soils, lake sediments, and freshwater fish (Salvelinus alpinus, Lota lota and Coregonus spp.) from 13 sites between 30 and 300 km from Norilsk. Element concentrations are low in both C. cucullata and H. splendens. For example in H. splendens, Pb ranges from only 1.41 to 3.27 mg/kg dw. On the other hand, concentrations of Al, Fe, Cu, Ni, and Pb in both species are significantly (p<.05) higher on the Taimyr (n=23) than in a similar grid-based sample from Arctic Alaska (n=19), perhaps due to natural differences in the geochemical environment. Similarly, inorganic cryogenically exposed surface soils show a subtle but statistically significant smear of Pb, Cd, and Zn relative to Arctic Alaskan soils.  In contrast, a lake sediment core from the eastern Taimyr Peninsula indicated no recent enrichment by atmospherically transported
elements.  Tissue concentrations of heavy metals in fish were not elevated relative to other arctic sites.  Our results show that the impact of the Norilsk smelting complex is localized

John Confer co-presented “Status Assessment for the Golden-Winged Warbler.” Accepted technical report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey as part of the Endangered Species Act. September 2004.

John Confer presented "Extirpation of Golden-Winged Warblers: Habitat Loss and/or Hybridization?" Annual meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Association. Ithaca, New York. September 2004.

John Confer, Elizabeth Silvia '04, Tim Hauck '04, and Vince Frary '04 presented “Managing Rights-of-Way Shrublands for the Avian Community." Eighth International Conference on Environmental Concerns for Rights-of-Way Management. Saratoga Springs, New York. September 2004.

Results of this study show that rights-of-way can be managed to enhance avian density and diversity by reducing the density of shrubs.

This paper described optimal habitat management for the golden-winged warbler, a species declining at 18 percent per year in New York for the last 33 years and virtually extirpated from much of New England.

In 2002, we were awarded a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to implement a collaboration between Ithaca college and EcoVillage of Ithaca, a co-housing community of 60 households, dedicated to exploring sustainable ways of living. Our goal was to initiate sustainability curriculum and faculty development at the college, and to institutionalize EVI as a “living laboratory” for Ithaca College. All grant-related activities (e.g., workshops bringing the two populations together, summer grants, new courses and independent studies taught by EVI residents and IC faculty, student research projects, guest lectures, etc.) have been well-received by the college and community.  EcoVillage is now comfortably on IC’s cognitive map, and the combined IC-EVI activities have been highlighted in numerous articles in the local press.  Several of the curricular innovations are replicable, including a re-designed General Ecology course and a new Environmental Studies capstone course. What was unexpected was the impact of the grant on the college administration’s thinking in just two years.  This included exploration of ways to integrate sustainable practices into college operations, a capital campaign for the construction of a sustainably-designed building for our Business School, and taking a lead role in the funding of a Sustainable Tompkins County initiative.

Human activity is rapidly altering the chemistry of the troposphere in ways that may have important effects on chemical composition of leaves.  These changes in leaf chemistry will potentially affect the interactions between plants and insect herbivores.  We are studying changes in herbivory in both agronomic and forested ecosystems using Free Air Concentration Enrichment (FACE) installations to increase [CO2] to levels expected for the year 2050.  In soybean, herbivory appeared to increased under elevated CO2.  In July, elevated CO2 more than doubled the amount of leaf tissue consumed by herbivores (ambient losses 4.5%; elevated losses 10.6%).  These results suggest that changes in tropospheric chemistry caused by human activities may increase crop damage by insect herbivores in the future.   The findings are not general however, because a forested ecosystem with similar increases in CO2 shows a small decrease in insect herbivory.

This poster was co-authored by current IC undergraduate Jay Sellers ('05).  In addition, at this meeting she assumed the office of President of the organization, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN).  FUN is an international organization with over 500 members that seeks to support undergraduate research opportunities in neuroscience.  At the annual Neuroscience meeting, FUN hosted its annual poster session for undergraduates and awarded 11 student travel awards to undergraduates attending the meeting.

Unlike animals, plants have cell walls and thus lack the capacity to have evolved a pump-like mechanism (such as a heart) to distribute water, minerals, and nutrients to all their cells. Plants on the other hand rely on mostly "passive" forces to distribute these goods around their systems. This presentation focuses on the water conducting transport system of plants (xylem). Because water can withstand substantially large negative pressures, it allows plants to power the movement of water through the xylem by evaporation from leaf surfaces. The negative pressures that these continuous water columns can withstand before breaking (cavitating) is critical for a plant to survive periods of water stress. Thus, factors that affect the cavitation threshold within the xylem of plants are discussed.

Poster 1: "Ions and Bordered Pit Strength." Andrew McGraw and Peter Melcher.

Tension driven water transport through the xylem of plants is powered by evaporation of water from internal leaf spaces. Pulling water through the xylem under negative pressures requires that the water columns within the xylem remain continuous. Thus plants depend on the ability of water to withstand substantial negative pressures during tension driven sap flow. However, water under negative pressure is considered metastable and thus susceptible to cavitation and embolism (bubble formation). Because of this, we would expect plants to have evolved strategies to tolerate embolized xylem conduits. It has been suggested that bordered pit membranes aid in protecting the continuity of the xylem sap by isolating embolisms to discrete regions within the xylem. More recently, these membranes have been shown to respond to small changes in ion concentrations in the transpiration stream resulting in altered xylem hydraulic conductances. But only a few studies have investigated the effect of ions on xylem cavitation thresholds.  Here we investigated the ability of bordered pit membranes to withstand air-injection pressures measured on an individual vessel level. We found that calcium ions increase the strength of bordered pit membranes located in older xylem to withstand increased air injection pressures compared to newer xylem.

Poster 2: "A Test of the Segmentation Hypothesis." Eleanor Lahr and Peter Melcher.
It is known that the xylem on many plant species is divided up into smaller chambers that are separated by primary cell wall material known as bordered pit membranes. Martin Zimmermann proposed the segmentation hypothesis that describes how bordered pit membranes may act as safety “valves” that preserve the hydraulic network in plants by containing embolism (bubbles), that are considered catastrophic in maintaining overall plant health, to expendable plant parts, such as leaves and petioles, and thus preserving the main branches and trunks. Here we present data using an individual vessel approach that support the segmentation hypothesis.

Providence, KP and L. Van de Water presented a poster entitled “Effect of a ?9 ?1 Activation on IL-8 Mediated PMN Migration” at the Annual Cell Biology Meeting.  Washington, DC. December  2004.

Garry Thomas and  Jason Hamiltoon presented a poster entitled "Towards Sustainability as 'Second Nature' at Ithaca College: The Multiplier Effect of an NSF Curriculum Development Grant."  Sustainability and Higher Education, co-sponsored by Education for Sustainability's Western Network and Second Nature. Portland, Oregon. October 2004.

Andy Smith presented "Sticky Glues and Slimy Slugs" at the Sciencenter’s Showtime series. Ithaca, New York. December 2004.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summer 2004

Susan Allen-Gil and Rebekah Weck '06 presented the results of three years of research on contaminants in subsistence Arctic fisheries to three Alaskan communities (Barrow, Atqasuk, and Nuiqsut) with live radio coverage of all meetings on KBRW. July 2004.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spring 2004

Susan Allen-Gil presented "The Next Generation: Educating for Sustainability" at the National Environmental Assistance Summit, Baltimore, Maryland. April 2004.

John Confer presented a paper entitled "Shrublands are not just a little bush”, as well as hosted part of the activities at the Association of Field Ornithologists and the Wilson Ornithological Society, Cornell University, April 2004. View the poster as a PDF.

John Confer described the importance of Sterling Forest State Park to the rapidly declining Golden-winged Warbler to the Commissioner for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Erin Crotty, and the Assistant Commissioner, Denise Sheehan.  John urged that a proposed development in private lands within the Park be severely restricted for the sake of this and other rare species.  Albany, NY. February 2004.

Jason Hamilton presented "Global Warming: Fact, Theory, or Hoax?" a Partnership in Teaching presentation at Lansing High School. May 2004. The presentation was to an advanced placement biology class and also to a regents biology class on sorting out the science from the politics of global climate change.

Andy Smith presented a paper titled “Glue or slime: molluscan glue proteins that control gel mechanics” at the Annual Meetings   of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.  New Orleans, LA.  January 2004.  This talk was co-authored with four IC students: Jan Pawlicki, Laura Pease, Courtney Pierce and Tom Startz.

JOHN CONFER presented a paper entitled "Shrublands are not just a little bush”, as well as hosted part of the activities at the Association of Field Ornithologists and the Wilson Ornithological Society, Cornell University, April 2004.

ABSTRACT:

The Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is of conservation concern because of its current rapid population decline throughout the northeastern U.S.  The advancement of Blue-winged Warblers (V. pinus) into historically Golden-winged habitats and the hybridization of the two species in areas of sympatry may play a role in the decline of Golden-winged populations.  In this study, we obtained mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from 104 individuals of known phenotype from two study sites that have different histories of contact.  We surveyed the relationships between phenotype and mtDNA haplotype in individuals of each population and found that there is variation between sites in terms of the extent of introgression.  This comparison suggests that sites with different histories of contact may

JOHN CONFER met recently with the Commissioner for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Erin Crotty, and the Assistant Commissioner, Denise Sheehan, as arranged by representatives of the New York Audubon Society. To help sustain biodiversity, Confer described the importance of Sterling Forest State Park to the rapidly declining Golden-winged Warbler and urged that a proposed development in private lands within the Park should be severely restricted for the sake of this and other rare species.  After reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed development, the DEC has already ruled against part of the development plan due to its negative effect on the Timber Rattlesnake, which is listed legally as a Threatened species in New York, based on data acquired by Confer and others. In late February, Confer, Rob Porter (TRLS) and Michael Rogers (Physics) with 6 students will spend a weekend in a part of the Park near the proposed development to establish two permanent wildlife census quadrants. Grid posts will be located with a laser transit, registered as part of a GIS map for the site, and used to map the locations of wildlife observed during summer surveys.

ANDY SMITH presented a paper titled “Glue or slime: molluscan glue proteins that control gel mechanics” at the Annual Meetings   of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.  New Orleans, LA.  January 2004.  This talk was co-authored with four IC students: Jan Pawlicki, Laura Pease, Courtney Pierce and Tom Startz.

ABSTRACT:

 A wide variety of molluscs secrete adhesive gels that create powerful attachments. The primary structural difference between these gels and the slimy mucus that these molluscs typically secrete is the presence of a few specific proteins. The presence of these proteins in the gel is correlated with at least an order of magnitude increase in adhesive tenacity with minimal change in the overall concentration. We tested the hypothesis that these proteins control the mechanics of gels. Using gel filtration chromatography, the proteins were isolated from the adhesive mucus of different molluscs. The proteins were then added to different types of large polysaccharides creating dilute solutions or gels (1-2% total organic content). Using a dynamic rheometer, the stiffness and viscosity of these mixtures was compared to identical mixtures that had bovine serum albumen added instead of the adhesive proteins. The adhesive proteins triggered gelling or visible stiffening of agar, pectin and polygalacturonic acid. The effect was stronger on more negatively charged polymers. The effect also depended on the adhesive proteins’ concentration and structure. Other proteins and carbohydrates from the mucus had no clear mechanical effect on gels. These findings suggest that the adhesive proteins crosslink large, anionic polymers. Thus, they appear to play a central role in the formation of a glue from a mucus-like secretion. Such a mechanism may be common among invertebrates, and it may guide biomimetic approaches in the development of glues and gels.

SUSAN ALLEN-GIL gave two presentations at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's 24th Annual Meeting in Austin, TX. November 2003.

JASON HAMILTON presented the following poster: DeLucia E.H, D.J. Moore, J.G.  Hamilton, A. Finzi, J. Pippen, W.H. Schlesinger, R.J. Norby.  "The Changing Role of Forests in the Global Carbon Cycle: Responses to Elevated Atmospheric CO2".  Presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. December 2003. (View the PDF of the poster here.)

JEAN HARDWICK, Jessica Peakcock, and Danielle Federico presented two posters at the Society of Neuroscience meetings. New Orleans, LA. November 2003.
 

Presentation Summaries

---

SUSAN ALLEN-GIL gave two presentations at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's 24th Annual Meeting in Austin, TX. November 2003.

"PCB composition in searun vs. resident whitefish in subsistence fisheries of northern Alaska". Allen Gil, S.¹, Ford, J., Seigle, J.², Akpik, M.A,² Woods, J.³ and Nashagnik, J.^3
1Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, ²Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, ³Inupiat partners, North Slope Borough, AK.

This project examines the role of the two amphidromous fish species (least cisco and broad whitefish) in biotransport of pollutants in northern Alaska At selected coastal plain subsistence lakes, we collected sediment, plankton, and several fish species. Trophic position of fish is being examined using Delta ¹⁵N. The relative influence of the marine system to individual fish is being examined using Delta 8 ¹³C and 8³²S in muscle as well as Sr/Ca in otoliths. Otolith microchemistry indicated that resident and migratory behaviors were seen in both fish species, with resident behavior being more prevalent. For least cisco, marine migration was less common in inland lakes compared to coastal lakes. Sigma
PCB concentration were typically quite low (<3 µg/g lipid) and correlated with increasing trophic position for all species except burbot (Lota lota). Tri , tetra  and penta CBs comprised the majority of SPCBs. There was no difference in the Sigma PCBs concentration between resident and searun least cisco, and there was no difference between the relative concentration of individual congeners between these two groups. These two observations combined suggest that POPS are not biotransported by fish into inland systems from the marine environment to a significant extent, and that atmospheric and local sources are probably more important.

"Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) as a Potential Molluscicide for Use in Aquaculture". Allen Gil, S.M. and Aldea, M. Biology Department, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA.

The aquatic snail Vinipiarus georgianus is an invasive species of mollusk in the Eastern United States. Ripe berries of the putative molluscicidal plant pokeweed (Phytolacca americana L.) were used in toxicity tests on V. georgianus and fathead minnow larvae (Pimephales promelas). Static toxicity tests were conducted on the snails and the fish separately to assess acute and chronic toxicity at two levels of exposure (200 mg L 1 and 500 mg L 1). Dry pokeweed berries were applied to the experimental tanks in three identical applications, two days apart, each meant to maintain the desired concentration, accounting for natural degradation rates. At 7 days the snail mortality for the 500 mg/L treatment (55%, P<0.01) was significantly higher than the 200 mg/L (10%, P<0.01) and control (0%) (P<0.001). At 30 days after the initial exposure (same snails used for the 7 day) the treatment effect was still significant with a snail mortality of 95% (P<0.001) for the highest concentration, 75% (P<0.01) for the 200 mg/L and 15% for control (P<0.001). In an 8 day exposure test identical to the one used on the snails, there was no significant increase in mortality (P=0.39) at any of the tested concentrations on larval (30 days old) fathead minnows (P. promelas). There were, however, indications of sublethal effects for the 500 mg L 1 treatment, manifested as impaired growth (P=0.04). Pokeweed is the American variety of the Ethiopian plant Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra), which has been reported to contain the highly potent molluscicidal substance oleanolic acid glucoside. Yet, LC/MS/MS investigations of pokeweed berry extracts showed no definitive evidence to support that any type of oleanolic acid glycoside or oleanolic acid itself were present in the preparations. We conclude that pokeweed berries have significant molluscicidal properties, but in concentrations far too high for use in practical applications.

JASON HAMILTON presented the following poster: DeLucia E.H, D.J. Moore, J.G.  Hamilton, A. Finzi, J. Pippen, W.H. Schlesinger, R.J. Norby.  "The Changing Role of Forests in the Global Carbon Cycle: Responses to Elevated Atmospheric CO2".  Presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. December 2003.  (View the PDF of the poster here.)

The combustion of fossil fuels is injecting vast quantities of CO2 in the atmosphere and driving an increase in global temperatures. Forests contribute half or more of global net primary production and approximately 80% of terrestrial productivity and thus play a central role in the global carbon cycle. Using free-air CO2 enrichment technology to expose plots within intact forests to the level of CO2 anticipated in 2050, it was discovered that net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and net primary productivity (NPP) in loblolly pine and sweetgum forests were substantially increased.  Imbalances in the N cycle may reduce the response of these forests to elevated CO2 in the future.  The stimulation of forest productivity will slow the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere, but if these forests are representative of forests globally, the observed stimulation of productivity is insufficient to reverse the accumulation fossil-fuel derived C in the atmosphere.

JEAN HARDWICK, Jessica Peakcock, and Danielle Federico presented two posters at the Society of Neuroscience meetings. New Orleans, LA. November 2003.

1) presented at the general meeting:

Hardwick, Jean C., Dobson, Jeremy S., Corbett, Brenna M. and Powers, Melanie J.  “Ionic mechanisms of histamine and prostaglandin modulation of guinea pig intracardiac neurons”. (Jeremy Dobson and Brenna Corbett both graduated in 2003. Melanie Powers graduated in 2001.)

2)  presented at the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Poster Session:

Federico, Danielle, Peacock, Jessica, and Hardwick, Jean C. “Neuropeptide innervation of the axolotl cardiac ganglion”.

JASON HAMILTON, Dermody, M., Aldea, M., Zangerl, M., Berenbaum, Rogers, A., and DeLucia, E. presented “Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide affects crop  herbivory by insects”. Ecological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA. August 2003.

KIT MUMA and BRUCE SMITH(co-authored  and M.R. Forbes) presented  a poster entitled, "Patterns of Parasitism: Crowding of Arrenurus planus Water Mites on Sympetrum internum and Sympetrum obtrusum Dragonflies", at the American  Society of Parasitologists Annual Meeting in  Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. August 2003.

SMITH, BRUCE (co-authored with Charlton, C.L., ., Bohonak, A.J.) presented the poster, "Morphological discontinuity in sister species of water mites: strong natural selection or recent speciation?"   at the Evolution 2003 (joint meeting of The Society for the Study of Evolution, Society of Systematic Biologists, and American Society of Naturalists), Calif. State Univ. Chico, California, June 2003. (view the poster as a PDF)

SMITH, BRUCE presented the poster "Loss of Larval Parasitism in Arrenurus spp. mites: comparing forms with and without parasitic larval feeding" at the American Society of Parasitologists, Annual Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Aug. 2003.

Presentation Summaries

---

KIT MUMA and BRUCE SMITH (co-authored  and M.R. Forbes) presented  a poster entitled, "Patterns of Parasitism: Crowding of Arrenurus planus Water Mites on Sympetrum internum and Sympetrum obtrusum Dragonflies"

Larval Arrenurus planus watermites (Acari: Arrenuridae) are generalist ectoparasites of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata).  While most of the mite population parasitizes Sympetrum internum and Sympetrum obtrusum dragonflies, virtually all fail to engorge on the former while almost all are successful on the latter species.  Up to 350 mites occur on a single dragonfly; smaller numbers are exclusively attached to the host’s thorax, and there is an increasing tendency of larvae to attach to the abdomen when larger numbers are present - presumably indicating competition for attachment sites.  We have examined the relationship between attachment to the thorax vs. attachment to the abdomen, partitioning the data by host species (and therefore, whether mites successfully engorged), sex, and age

SMITH, BRUCE presented the poster "Loss of Larval Parasitism in Arrenurus spp. mites: comparing forms with and without parasitic larval feeding"

Approximately 9,000 species of mites are grouped together within the Parasitengona based upon their characteristic life cycle: the larva is typically an obligative parasite, while the other active life history stages are free-living predators. A small number of species within this major clade have experimented with a new life style, omitting larval feeding and thus foregoing any association with a host.  I surveyed species assemblages of the genus Arrenurus (Acari: Arrenuridae) in Southeastern Ontario, Canada, and the Kakadu and Fogg Dam regions of the Northern Territories of Australia; I encountered 3 species in Ontario and 1 species in Australia that forego larval feeding and host association, representing approximately 5% of the species encountered.  When loss of parasitism was encountered, there appeared to be either two forms of the same species or two closely related species, one with typical parasitic larvae and the other with non-feeding larvae, and the two different forms never co-occurred in the same population.  In two cases, the two forms are sufficiently close that they can be interbred in the laboratory with partial success - one F1 combination is rarely successful, the other is almost always successful.  The four cases of loss of parasitism in Arrenurus belong to different species groups and subgenera, and thus are apparently independent evolutionary events.  For the four cases, there are consistent patterns comparing between the two forms: loss of parasitism is associated with smaller numbers of larger eggs,  leg and setal reduction in larvae, smaller body size in adults, and shorter development time.  This system provides an exceptional opportunity for comparative studies on life history traits associated with parasitic lifestyles as each pair can be treated as essentially independent replicates: correlations can be attributed to shared lifestyles but not to phylogenetic relationships.  Further, when the two forms are sufficiently close to be interbred, there is the potential to study the genetics of traits associated with loss of parasitism.

ALLEN-GIL, SUSAN, Biology; Tom Shevory, Politics; Coordinator, Environmental Studie; Garry Thomas, Anthropology; Liz Walker, Director, EcoVillage at Ithaca; and Elan Shapiro, EcoVillage at Ithaca presented "The Ithaca College-EcoVillage Partnership: Fostering Sustainability through Teaching" A Faculty Development Colloquium. Ithaca College. February 2003.

ALLEN-GIL, SUSAN, J. Ford, J. Seigle, M. Akpik, J. Woods, and J. Nashagnik. "Upstream or Downstream: Potential sources for POPs in subsistence food webs". Canadian Arctic Contaminants Assessment Symposium. Ottawa, Canada. March 2003.

CAMERON, VICKI presented an invited seminar entitled, "Genetic Analysis of Cytochrome c Oxidase in Yeast". University of Arizona in Tucson. April 2003.

CONFER, JOHN Presented "Managing Utility Rights-of-Way for Declining Shrubland Birds. An invited 1-hr presentation to the Annual Meeting of the Vegetation Control Service for Northeastern Utilities in Amherst, MA. March 2003.

SMITH, ANDY presented a paper at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meetings.  The talk was coauthored with three Ithaca College Undergraduates (Tom Startz, Donna Rahme, Courtney Pierce).  It is entitled "Proteins characteristic of the adhesive mucus of molluscs and their potential role in determining gel function".   Toronto, Canada. January 2003.

ALLEN-GIL. S., presented "Upstream or Downwind?  The roles of biotransport and atmospheric deposition in Hg accumulation in inland Arctic and atmospheric deposition in Hg accumulation in inland Arctic subsistence". SETAC 23rd Annual Meeting in North America.  Salt Lake City, UT. November 2002.

CAILLAUD, M. presented an invited seminar entitled "Quantitative and molecular genetics of food preferences in two sympatric host races of a herbivorous insect".  Cornell University. September 2002.

CAMERON, V. Presented "Genetic Analysis of Cytochrome c Oxidase in Yeast" at an invited seminar at Canisius College, September, 2002.

CONFER, J. L. Presented, "the influence of integrated pest management of on avian communities on utility rights-of-way," at an invited 1-hr symposium  at a northeastern utility Right-of Way Recertification Training Session. Utica, New York. October 2002.

HARDWICK, J., Gregory Jelson, Gina DiMasi, Kristen Sager.  Jean had a poster presentation entitled, " Modulation of guinea pig  intracardiac neurons by eicosanoids". Neuroscience  Meeting. Orlando, FL. November 2002.

Fullard, J.,  SoutarA.,  and MUMA, K. presented, "Bat-moth interactions: Ecology, behaviour and physiology of a high-stakes predator-prey contest." Queen's University Biological Station Seminar Series / Friends of Opinicon. Summer 2002.

CONFER, J. and Pascoe, S.  “Managed Powerline Corridors: A Substitute for Loss of Native Shrublands and Secondary Succession?” Invited symposium paper at the Early-Successional Forests and Shrubland Habitats in the Northeastern United States: Critical Habitats Dependent on Disturbance, University of New Hampshire, Durham, May 2002.

CONFER, J. “A review of the shifting distribution of the Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers: Effects of habitat and hybridization.” Ontario Ecology and Ethology and Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, April 2002.

GREENE, S. Identifying factors that influence the effectiveness of feral cat population management programs. Annual conference of the NYS Chapter of The Wildlife Society in Utica, NY, Spring 2002.

SMITH, A. Annual meeting of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology in Anaheim, California, Spring 2002.  Symposium speaker in "Biomechanics of Adhesion" symposium.  The talk title was "The use of mucous gels as glues". Also coauthor on another talk, presented by a former advisor, William Kier.  This talk was titled, "The structure and adhesive mechanism of octopus suckers".  The symposium was sponsored by  DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

SMITH, B., MUMA, K., and Forbes, M.  "To have and to hold, or, life history adaptations of  Arrenurus planus, an ephemeral pool mite." Ontario Ecology and Ethology and Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, April 2002.
 

SWENSEN, S. and Tebbitt, M. Co-organizers, ASPT  Colloquium: Evolution, biography and systematics of  Begoniaceae. Botany 2001, Albuquerque, NM, August 2001.

SUSAN M. SWENSEN, Wendy L. Clement, Laura L. Forrest, and Mark C. Tebbitt. Hillebrandia sandwichensis: Evolutionary relationship and biogeography. ASPT  Colloquium: Evolution, biography and systematics of  Begoniaceae. Botany 2001, Albuquerque, NM, August 2001.

Tebbitt, Mark C., Laura L. Forrest , W. Scott Hoovers, and SUSAN M. SWENSEN. Relationships of fleshy fruited Asiatic Begonia (Beaooniaceae) based on ITS sequence data and restriction site mapping of PCR amplified chloroplast and mitochondrial fragments. ASPT  Colloquium: Evolution, biography and systematics of  Begoniaceae. Botany 2001, Albuquerque, NM, August 2001.

Bohonak, A.J., SMITH, B.P., Thornton, M. Distributional, morphological and genetic consequences of dispersal for temporary pool water mites (Acari: Arrenuridae: Arrenurus). SS45 Temporary Aquatic Ecosystems: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Spatial and Temporal Connections), American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Annual Meeting. Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 12-16, 2001.

VICKI CAMERON.  Genetic Analysis of Cytochrome c Oxidase in Yeast. Binghamton University. Binghamton, NY. Spring 2001.

JOHN CONFER.  Habitat Trends and Changes in Avian Populations from Pre-colonial Conditions to Today. Wildlife Society, School of Environmental Studies and Forestry. Syracuse, NY. February 2001.

JOHN CONFER.  The History of Natural and Man-made Shrublands in Northeastern U.S. and it's Influence on Avian Population Trends. Laboratory of Ornithology. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. January 2001.

Wendy Clement, SUSAN SWENSEN. Investigation of Hillebrandia Sandwichensis: Evolutionary Placement in the Family Begoniaceae. 27th Annual Scientific Paper Session. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY. November 2000.

JOHN CONFER.  Management, vegetative structure and shrubland birds on rights-of-way. 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management. Electric Power Research Institute. Calgary, Canada. September 2000.

JOHN CONFER. Managing for shrubland birds for the new millennium. Annual Meeting of the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs. Geneva, NY. September 2000.

Beth Peterson, RICHARD WODZINSKI. The Effects of the Erwinia Herbicola Antibiotic, that Inhibits the Fire Blight Pathogen  of Apple and Pear Trees, Against other Microorganisms. 27th Annual Scientific Paper Session. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY. November 2000.

Nathan Ross, RICHARD WODZINSKI. The Efficacy of Pantocin B, an Antibiotic of Erwinia Herbicola, a Potential Biological Control Agent of Fire Blight Disease. 27th Annual Scientific Paper Session. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY. November 2000.

Kristen Sager, JEAN HARDWICK. Cardiac Mast Cells and their Responses to Neurochemicals: A Study in Mast Cell Heterogeneity. 27th Annual Scientific Paper Session. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY. November 2000.

SMITH, B.P. The diversity of stylostome (feeding tube) structure among parasitic larval water mites (Prostigmata: Hydrachnida). Paper 0047, Joint Annual National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America/Canada/Societe d'entomologie du Quebec. Montreal, Quebec, Dec. 3-6, 2000.

Matthew Strodel, Nathan Ross, RICHARD WODZINSKI.  The Stability and Efficacy of the Two Pantocin a-like Antibiotics of Erwinia Herbicola: A Potential Biological Control Agent of Fire Blight Disease. 27th Annual Scientific Paper Session. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY. November 2000.

Maggie Ward, SUSAN SWENSEN. A Phylogenetic Analysis of American Begonia Sections Pritzelia and Gireoudia. 27th Annual Scientific Paper Session. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY. November 2000.

N. White, SUSAN SWENSEN. Phylogenetic Analysis of South American Begonias using Chloroplast ATPB-RBCL Spacer Region. 27th Annual Scientific Paper Session. Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY. November 2000.

JOHN CONFER.  Managing for declining shrubland birds in the forested eastern United States. The Annual Meeting of the Broome County Naturalists Club. Endicott, NY. July 2000.

Erlich, H.E. and CAMERON, V. Fostering meaningful program review. Annual Meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Washington, DC. April 2000.

Knox, C. and CAMERON, V. Designing functional undergraduate research facilities. 8th National Conference of the Council for Undergraduate Research. Wooster, OH. June 2000.

Moran, J., SMITH, B.P. An analysis of larval engorgement of Arrenurus spp. mites on dragonfly and damselfly species. The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), in Montana, April 29th, 2000.

TAMAS, I. Nallathambi, R. and LeiDham, A. Is there a fast component in the basipetal
transport of IAA from the shoot apex? NE Section American Society of Plant Physiologists Annual Meeting, Storrs, CT, April 2000.

CAMERON, V. and SERVETNICK, M. Undergraduate research in the biology department at Ithaca College. Research Link 2000 Conference, Big Rapids, Ml. August 1999.

CONFER, J.L. Golden-winged Warblers: A habitat specialist for vegetative structure in fields, alder swamps and Tamarack swamps.  Invited seminar at shrubland habitat symposium sponsored by New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Fall 1999.

CONFER, J.L. Landscape ecology and the decline of the golden-winged warbler. 24th Annual Biological Sciences Research Symposium. Binghamton, NY. November 1999.

CONFER, J.L. Managed habitats for declining shrubland birds. American Ornitholigists Union 117th  Annual Meeting. Ithaca, NY.  August 1999.

CONFER, J. L. Right of way refuge for declining shrubland birds. Edison Electric Institute Natural Resources Workshop. Willamsburg, VA. Fall 1999.

CONFER, J.L. Shrubland birds of the Blenheim-Gilboa right-of-way: Density, nesting success, and impact on adjacent birds of the forest. Edmund Niles Huyck 17th Annual Science Symposium.

CONFER, J. L. 1999.  Shrubland management in utility corridors and predicting bird species presence. Second of two invited seminars at shrubland habitat symposium sponsored by New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

SMITH, B.P. Changes in life-history traits associated with the loss of larval parasitism in parasiengonine mites. 24th  Annual Biological Sciences Research Symposium. Binghamton, NY. November 1999.