Student Accomplishments
For a current review of the accomplishments of Biological Science Students, see our website of current events.
DJ (Dawn) Eichenberger, student in biological sciences, presented her honor's thesis research at the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference on April 24 at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. The oral paper was titled "The Effect of Food Portion on Egg Size in Convict Cichlids.”
McNAIR SCHOLARS AND THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS - 2002 -2003
Melissa Johnson, Biological Science Major, Was awarded the McNair Scholarship for her work
Title: An Analysis of Escherichia coli in American and Tanzanian Water Samples
Abstract: Two strains of Escherichia coli were examined for levels of heat resistance in relation to heating rate. The research was divided into four phases. In Phase I, samples of sterile river water were inoculated with an ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) strain of E. coli, and D-values were determined for 58ºC, 60ºC, and 62ºC. In Phase II, several water baths were inoculated with the ATCC type strain, and the temperatures of the baths were increased from 50-61ºC at the rates of 1ºC/ .5 minute, 1ºC/ 2 minute, and 1ºC/ 11 minute. The results revealed that a decrease in heating rate led to an increase in mortality over a given unit of time. In Phase III, one temperature (D-value of 1 minute) was used to heat two strains of E. coli present in water samples; the first strain was an ATCC strain, and the second was a strain isolated from Tanzania water samples. The results were used to determine if heat resistance was similar in related strains of E. coli. In Phase IV, the procedures in phase I were repeated using a solar cooker to determine if the results in the lab could be replicated using a natural setting. The information obtained in this study will be applied to the solar water pasteurization projects conducted yearly in Tanzania and Kenya, under the auspice of Dr. Robert Metcalf, Professor of Microbiology at California State University, Sacramento.
She was also one of seven graduating Sacramento State students to have been honored for outstanding achievement with the new Dean's Award. Given for the first time in 2005, the award recognizes a top student from each of the University's seven colleges.
Rob Grasso (Biological Sciences graduate student) shared first place in the CSUS Student Research Competition held on March 5, 2005. The other first place went to Rebecca Money (a graduate student in Geotechnical Engineering). Two other Biology students participated, namely Samantha Hilber and Bianka Bommarito. Rob, Samantha and Bianka were all selected for the CSUS team to represent our campus at the systemwide competition to be held April 29-30.
Thesis Research : Antipredator Response and Palatability of Yosemite Toad Larvae to Nonnative Brook Trout in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California
My master's research investigates the introduction of nonnative brook trout as a possible contributer to Yosemite toad decline in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. For my research, I am testing to see if Yosemite toad eggs and tadpoles are potential prey items for brook trout. Secondly, I am exposing developing toad tadpoles to brook trout chemical cues to see if the tadpoles respond through changes in activity levels.
The Yosemite toad ( Bufo canorus ), which means "melodious toad," inhabits moist mountain habitats often found near meadows between 7 000 and 11 400 feet. This is the highest dwelling toad in the U.S. and also the most colorful.
Some of our Master's students and Honors students conduct their research with professionals at the University of California, Davis, with companies in the area (e.g., Novonordisk), or with State agencies (e.g., California Department of Fish and Game).
