Bianka Bommarito

Academic History

Associate of Arts degree, General Education- Monterey Peninsula College September 2000-July 2002

Bachelor of Science degree, Biology- California State University , Sacramento August 2002-May 2005

Master of Science degree, Biological Conservation- California State University , Sacramento August 2005-present. Goal is to graduate May 2007.

 

Research

 Bio 199 Independent Research in Coleman’s lab. “Growth Rate vs. Temperature of Convict Cichlid, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, fry” 2003-2004

We know that fish grow at different rates depending upon temperature but the exact growth rates is unknown for most fishes. In this experiment I ran two experiments raising cichlid fry of Archocentrus nigrofasciatus (substrate spawners) and Geophagus steindachneri (mouth brooders) of one brood at four different temperatures. I measured a sample (5) fry from each temperature every four days and recorded growth rates and plotted them out on graphs. With each species the optimal growth rates were either found or surpassed even though the difference in temperature between the tanks were only 2°!

 

Bio 198A and 198B Undergraduate Honors Thesis in Coleman’s lab. “Temperature Preference of Reproducing Substrate Spawning Cichlids.” 2004-2005 although I am currently continuing to collect data.

It is known that larger eggs need more oxygen than smaller eggs due to a higher surface to volume ratio. The question is: “Do spawning fish recognize this difference in oxygen demand?” To solve this question, I designed and had built two temperature preference apparatus’. Each tank allowed for a choice of four different spawning temperatures to choose from. Pairs of fish were added, allowed to spawn, and the eggs and parents were removed. Eggs were measured and the sizes were plotted against spawning temperatures chosen and a curvelinear trend was found. Cichlids worked with were: Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, Archocentrus sajica, Microgeophagus altispinossa, and Archocentrus spinosissimus.

 

Photo by Bianka Bommarito. Temperature choice apparatus

 

Master’s Thesis in Coleman’s lab.

My main focus for my thesis will be on parental care and its effect on growth rates of fry with and without predation pressures. I am currently gathering background research and am hoping to begin preliminary trials this semester (Spring 2006). Possible test organisms include: Archocentrus nigrofasciatus and...

Oral Presentations

 

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Conference, Student Competition, Tampa , FL ( July 8, 2005 )
“Temperature Preference of Reproducing Substrate Spawning Cichlids"

CSU Student Research Competition, at CSU Sacramento , CA ( April 29, 2005 )
“Temperature Preference of Reproducing Substrate Spawning Neotropical Cichlids”

CSUS Student Research Competition, Sacramento , CA ( March 15, 2005 )
“Temperature Preference of Reproducing Substrate Spawning Neotropical Cichlids”

Cichlids I have worked with :

Archocentrus sajica

Archocentrus nigrofasciatus

 

Archocentrus spinosissimus

Microgeophagus altispinosa

Not pictured:

Cichlasoma amazonarum

Geophagus steindachneri

 

CSUS BIO SCI