I'll just add one more ecology-related project to the list: Can Genetic Diversity Preserve a Friendship?. Shannon Bayliss, California State University, Northridge.
https://experiment.com/projects/can-genetic-diversity-preserve-a-friendship *Symbiodinium* is algae that reproduces in as little as 24 hours; 10,000 times faster than the average American woman! They also play crucial roles in the health of coral reefs, as they form mutualisms with reef organisms. I will examine how diverse communities of *Symbiodinium *can rapidly evolve in response to increased nutrients. Evolution of one partner could be key to the survival of the mutualism and to the persistence of a healthy ecosystem. --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 9:08 AM, David Shiffman <david.shiff...@gmail.com>wrote: > Hello, everyone! > > The 4th SciFund Challenge, a crowd-funding event for scientific research, > launched today! It's like KickStarter for science, and there are several > ecology projects included. Please consider donating (any amount helps and > some projects have rewards associated with different donation levels), or > helping to spread the word! > > > > My project is "what are the feeding habits of threatened shark species?" > > > https://experiment.com/projects/what-are-the-feeding-habits-of-threatened-sharks > > I will be using stable isotope analysis to study the feeding ecology of > coastal sharks species here in South Florida, data that will help managers > to conserve threatened species. > > > > Other projects of potentially interest to ecologgers include: > > 1) Signs of Change: creating time-lapse movies of environmental change > using crowd-sourced digital photography. Chuck Cannon, Texas Tech > > > https://experiment.com/projects/signs-of-change-documenting-environmental-change-using-crowd-sourced-time-lapse-photography > > > Almost everyone carries a smart phone or digital camera these days. This > project will develop a simple method of placing a sign at an > environmentally interesting site so that together we can document and > monitor changes in our landscape and its seasonality. > > > > 2) Can we predict how social primates move?. David Pappano, Princeton. > > https://experiment.com/projects/can-we-predict-how-social-primates-move > > This project uses dynamic network algorithms and geospatial data to > understand association and movement patterns in geladas. Geladas are an Old > World monkey that has a highly modular social system with strong > fission-fusion dynamics. > > > > 3) What's in that new TV Screen? Toward "greener" OLED's. Walter Weare, NC > State > > > https://experiment.com/projects/what-s-in-that-new-tv-screen-toward-greener-oled-s-at-nc-state-chemistry > > Organic LED's are the future of more environmentally friendly displays and > lighting. We are developing new and more sustainable methods for making the > light emitting materials in these future devices. With your help we can > speed these discoveries! > > > > > 5) Where is pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay? Claire Regan, Penn State > University > > > https://www.experiment.com/projects/where-is-pollution-entering-the-chesapeake-bay-watershed > > By identifying the pollution hotspots of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the > three most important stressors can be targeted together for management. > > > > > 6) In the bedroom with Giant Sea Bass: Investigating mating behavior of an > endangered megacarnivore. Brian Clark, California State University > > > https://experiment.com/projects/in-the-bedroom-with-giant-sea-bass-investigating-mating-behavior-of-an-endangered-megacarnivore > > Reproductive strategies lay the foundation for an organism's success. > Understanding these strategies and behavior of Giant Sea Bass is vital in > the preservation of this endangered species. > > > > > 7) Can Fungi restore the American Chestnut? Andrew Tomes, SUNY. > > > https://experiment.com/projects/can-fungi-help-us-restore-the-american-chestnut > > Mycorrhizae are soil fungi that form crucial partnerships with many land > plants. Investigating the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on American > chestnut will lead to cultivation strategies that could help restore this > formerly prominent North American tree species. > > > 8) Searching for Seahorses and Sustainability. Lindsay Aylesworth, > University of British Columbia. > > https://experiment.com/projects/searching-for-seahorses-sustainability > > How do you study the distribution and habitat preferences of a species that > is hard to find? Check out the latest research on seahorses to find out. > > > > 9) Using Genetic Techniques to Protect Fiji's Fisheries. Erin Eastwood, > Columbia University. > > > https://experiment.com/projects/using-genetic-techniques-to-protect-fiji-s-fisheries > > Subsistence fisheries are extremely important to rural communities in Fiji. > However, as many reef fishermen switch from eating their catch to selling > the majority of it for profit, fishing pressures exerted on typically > targeted fishes are increasing dramatically. My study will use genetic > markers to uncover the dispersal patterns of five of these important > species throughout the islands of Fiji, to help determine how to best > protect these valuable fish stocks. > > > > 10) A Pacific Northwest Clamtastrophe! Brian Turner, Portland State > University > > https://experiment.com/projects/a-pacific-northwest-clamtastrophe > > Do non-native species recognize predators in their new habitats? Find out > how the introduced varnish clam responds to the voracious Dungeness crab > and if this behavior helps it survive. > > > > 11) How can NGOs guide fisheries to ecological sustainability? Laura > Deighan, University of Washington > > > https://experiment.com/projects/how-can-ngos-guide-fisheries-to-ecological-sustainability > > > Fishery improvement projects, or FIPs, have recently emerged as a way for > stakeholders to be involved in improving sustainability within fisheries. > Understanding how a FIP in the Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery is > utilizing guidelines for FIPs credibly moving towards sustainability will > start to provide insight into this new tool for sustainability. > > > 12) Discovering Backyard Biodiversity in South Dakota. Amanda Bachmann, > South Dakota State University. > > > https://experiment.com/projects/discovering-backyard-biodiversity-in-south-dakota > > How can we improve conditions for pollinating insects if we don't know > who's out there? My project uses citizen science to monitor pollinator and > beneficial insect activity in South Dakota backyards to increase > understanding and awareness of these insects in the state. > > > > > A list of all the SciFund projects can be found here: > https://experiment.com/institutions/scifund > > Thanks in advance for your help! > > Sincerely, > > -- > > *David Shiffman* > *Ph.D. Student, Research Assistant,* > Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy <http://www.cesp.miami.edu/> > R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program <http://rjd.miami.edu/> > > [image: RJD] > > *e: *david.shiff...@gmail.com | *p: *412.915.2309 > *a: *4600 Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, Florida, 33149 > *t: *@WhySharksMatter <http://twitter.com/#!/WhySharksMatter> | *b: > *Southern > Fried Science Blog <http://www.southernfriedscience.com/> > > >
