Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a marine flowering plant that provides important ecological, environmental, and economic services in the Puget Sound. Z. marina reproduces both asexually and sexually; however, the cellular regulation behind each mode of reproduction is poorly understood. Establishing Z. marina’s regulation behind sexual reproduction will improve predictions of Z. marina’s resilience to anthropogenic pressures. FLOWERING LOCUS (FT) is a highly conserved gene that promotes floral development in flowering plants and is well-characterized in the model organism A. thaliana. As a marine flowering plant, we hypothesized that a homologous, functionall FT exists within Z. marina. We identified 13 candidate Z. marina FT homologs (ZmFT), and from analysis of relative flowering time, 5 homologs of interest emerged: 2 that promote flowering, 2 that inhibit flowering, and 1 that has striking sequence conservation to A. thaliana FT, yet has no observable impact on flowering. To determine how intracellular distinctions alter the function of these respective Z. marina FT homologs, I am currently investigating putative protein-protein interactions of the ZmFT homologs with components of the A. thaliana floral activating complex, such floral promoting transcription factors, and scaffold proteins . I can characterize these protein-protein interactions using Yeast Two-Hybrid assays (Y2H) and BiFC fluorescent microscopy In which protein-protein interactions between ZmFT and A.thaliana floral complex proteins yields either yeast strains with conferred prototrophy, in Y2H, or a fluorescent signal, in BiFC. From my Y2H and BiFC work, I will characterize interactions of the ZmFT homolog proteins, with known components of the A. thaliana flowering pathway. The results of this study will help define how Z. marina regulates flowering onset and sexual reproduction. 

Ocean salinity, a measure of salt concentration in seawater, is a key variable influencing water density and controls important processes like mixing and stratification. In dynamic coastal systems like Puget Sound, temporal and spatial salinity variability can present a challenge for making high resolution salinity measurements that can characterize these patterns. Salinity is typically measured using widely used conductivity cells, but they can be costly, provide spatially limited observations and can have technical limitations including drift and biofouling. This project therefore developed and validated a cost-efficient buoyancy-driven profiling float for the indirect determination of salinity for use in these dynamic coastal areas. The float is built from stock hardware and electronics, and 3D printed components. The float measures in-situ temperature and pressure through electronic sensors and determines water density at a given depth by achieving neutral buoyancy (e.g., float density equals water density). Neutral buoyancy is achieved by using a stepper motor to precisely move a piston to displace up to 6% of the float’s volume in water. Salinity is then calculated using the TEOS-10 equation of state using these three known parameters. This approach could enable the large-scale production of floats to obtain high-resolution data to better quantify patterns and change in dynamic coastal systems.

Zooplankton are important primary consumers in the marine food web and lead an important role in carbon cycling in the open ocean. Understanding what influences zooplankton community composition can help us understand the impacts of climate change on this delicate relationship. Current research shows that zooplankton communities change based on currents and chemical cues, but there is a lack of data about the community structure of zooplankton in the Western Equatorial Pacific, specifically between 5°S and 5°N along 167°W. Data was collected from 28 December 2023, through 10 January 2024, on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson near American Samoa. A closing zooplankton net with 200μm mesh was used for net tows from 200m to surface at stations between 5°S and 5°N along the 167°W longitudinal line. Net tows were processed by counting and identifying zooplankton groups from subsamples and data was converted to abundance utilizing standard equations in RStudio. Zooplankton abundance increased from 5°S to the equator and decreased after the equator to 5°N. Species diversity (Shannon-Weiner) was lowest at the equator and highest at 5°N and 1°S. Calanoid copepods had the highest abundance over all sites, and north of the equator, calanoid copepods and gelatinous zooplankton (larvaceans) dominated most of the species composition. There were no significant relationships between species community composition and temperature, salinity, nutrients, or currents. With many processes occurring with zooplankton in the open ocean, it may be that multiple variables are impacting the resulting diversity and abundance relationships. Additionally, data was collected during the 2023 – 2024 Strong El Niño, which could have impacted the abundances and species presence due to higher water temperature and stronger currents. Monitoring zooplankton composition over time is vital for monitoring the health of our oceans as it has implications for global fisheries and carbon cycling.

In this study I examined the spatial distribution and concentration of various xenobiotic contaminants in the waters of the equatorial Pacific near American Samoa. Using state-of-the-art mass spectral techniques, I determined if pollutant loads increase near urban environments, as well as how individual manmade contaminants present spatially. I collected water samples in the region around American Samoa, then extracted pollutant chemicals from the sample via solid phase extraction using hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridges and performed analysis of chemical concentrations using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This was followed by a detailed spatial comparison of the chemical pollutants. Industrial anthropogenic pollutants such as benzyl butyl phthalate and n-Tridecane were confidently found near the airport and fuel depot in American Samoa. Spatially, compound abundance was generally found to decrease moving away from urban environments. Assessing the spatial distribution of xenobiotic pollutants in relation to urban environments can help improve current understanding of how much manmade pollution is entering and persisting in the ocean, which can endanger ecosystems and human health.

Ocean acidification (OA), the lowering of the ocean’s pH due to human-driven increases in atmospheric CO2, threatens many coastal communities and industries, and is thus linked to high environmental, economic, and societal losses. Yet, OA and its local context remains under-discussed by educators, industry workers, and community members. To address this shortcoming, NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, and the Aquarium Conservation Partnership collaboratively created the “Exploring Our Changing Ocean: Impacts and Response to Ocean Acidification in the U.S.” StoryMap collection. The six StoryMaps, which I researched for and storyboarded, support localized OA education, outreach, and calls to action by showcasing regional OA trends, impacts, and community responses taking place across each of NOAA’s six Coastal Acidification Network regions. The StoryMaps intend to 1) Increase understanding about impacts of carbon emissions on our oceans and contribute to aquariums' place-based storytelling efforts on addressing climate change in their communities, 2) Reach new audiences, specifically members of the public visiting U.S. aquariums and marine education centers, although traditional audiences, such as academics, government leaders, and seafood growers can engage as well, and 3) Accelerate calls to action by showcasing detailed personal calls to action which help move OA activities beyond science. Currently, I am working with the United Nations Foundation on effectively distributing the StoryMaps to partner aquariums and implementing the content into larger climate change narratives and outreach. The StoryMaps can be shared as interactive displays, virtual-learning materials, or hard-copy outreach materials in participating aquariums, as well as through networks like educators, non-profits, conservation organizations, or international climate leadership fora. Through regionalized storytelling, this project will increase awareness of local OA trends and responses, facilitating enhanced awareness and action in at-risk communities.