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Northern Gulf Institute's Summer 2008 Interns |
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The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a partner in Northern Gulf Institute (NGI), a NOAA-funded Cooperative Institute which has as one of its goals, the development and support of high-impact regional education programs. To accomplish this goal, NGI has supported a number of education opportunities at DISL, long recognized for their educational programs. This summer, NGI has supported five undergraduate interns who are working with DISL research faculty on projects under the four NGI research themes. Ms. Emmie Fulgham, from Samford University, is working with Dr. Rich Aronson this summer. She is investigating the effects of blue crab predation on gender ratios in the marsh periwinkle. Her study will provide insight into the importance of predation in determining salt marsh communities. (Research Theme: Ecosystem-based Management) Ms Lori Price, a recent graduate of Messiah College near Harrisburg, PA, is researching the importance of temperature in the development of red snapper eggs and larvae under the direction of Dr. Frank Hernandez. With possible liquefied natural gas development offshore Mobile Bay, there is concern that the cooler temperatures of the effluent water will impact the red snapper population. (Research Theme: Coastal Hazards) |
DISL - NGI Undergraduate Interns, Summer 2008: (Left to right) Lori Price; Emmie Fulgham; Allen Aven; and Sybil Glenos. Not pictured - Marissa Dueker. |
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Dr. Ruth Carmichael is mentoring Mr. Allen Aven, a newly minted graduate of the University of Memphis. Allen is looking at the impacts of wastewater effluent on the bacterial and viral content, as well as the growth and survival of oysters. Oysters play a critical ecological and economic role in our estuaries that are increasingly impacted by human activities. (Research Theme: Coastal Hazards) Ms. Sybil Glenos of Auburn University is working with Dr. Just Cebrian investigating heavy metal contamination of locally found seagrasses. The Mobile Bay area has a legacy of contamination with heavy metals, such as mercury, due to past industrial activity. These metals can have profound effects on human health. (Research Theme: Coastal Hazards) Ms. Marissa Dueker is working under the tutelage of Dr. John Valentine. She has been involved in fieldwork in the Florida Keys as well as the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and is assisting Dr. Valentine in his investigations of human impacts on these ecosystems. She comes to DISL from Springhill College in Mobile. (Research Theme: Ecosystem-based Management) |
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