Undergraduate Research Day 2023
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Item Acid Deposition and Brook Trout(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Bartlett, Brooke; Collins, AaronNew Hampshire is being negatively affected by acid deposition. The average pH of waters in New Hampshire are very acidic, which causes issues with the environment of brook trout. This is an issue that is mainly caused by the geographic make up of New Hampshire that hasn’t been addressed in this state by ecologists. In order to address this problem, I propose we integrate a liming program in the rivers of New Hampshire. In order to integrate this program, I will do research on the water and effects of acid deposition on brook trout in New Hampshire, and I will consult with people who are knowledgeable about the water and geology of New Hampshire. This research is impactful because brook trout are an indicator species, so it is important to keep their habitat safe and healthy.Item AI in Visual Art and Media(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-05) Willingham, Jeffrey; Umen, HarryThe presentation details that Artifical Intellegence recently has been used to create images, videos, and various other artiffacts. The presentation shows emaples of various works (images and videos) made using these programs and how the final product differs between them. The ethical issues are discussed, such as the difficulty of gaining copyright for AI works, the potential of removing the need for artists, the use of artists work without consent, and the lack of understanding these AI programs have. The future of these programs and artist are dependent on the legislature that is soon to come.Item Are SNHU Waterways Impaired by Excess Chloride Due to Road Salt Application?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-02) McCoy, Katy; Collins, AaronThe chloride ion found in road salt accumulates in water bodies and has negative impacts on aquatic life and ecosystems. Amphibians experience developmental and behavioral changes at high chloride concentrations. Ecosystems can also be impacted – too much salt can cause water density changes, soil contamination, harm to algae, and harm to mammals. The road salt that is applied in colder climates is effective at ensuring the safety of drivers, but little attention is focused on the consequences of applying large amounts of road salt. To understand how much road salt is present in water bodies in southern New Hampshire, and to understand the relationship between urbanization and salinization, the conductivity of water samples was measured in an area immediately adjacent to the campus roadways and another remote location. The results are compared to meteorological data and impairment threshold values.Item Are the Warming Temperatures of the Gulf of Maine Affecting Local Shark Populations?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Lavoie, Kelley; Collins, AaronThe Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest warming waters in the world. The temperature of these waters plays a large role in the survival of all the species that live there, from influencing their behavior, to how the find food and what kinds of food they can find. The primary objective of this study was to understand and describe the effects the warming of the Gulf of Maine has on local shark populations in regard to their feeding habits, migratory patterns, and interactions with humans. This study was primarily done through the use of previous studies which used methods of tagging and looking at past information to both track shark movement through the areas, as well as look at past warming trends in the Gulf of Maine and to predict future warming trends and how the warming affects species commonly used as prey by sharks. By looking back at temperatures in the Gulf of Maine, primarily between the years 1976 and 2005, an average change in temperature can be recorded and is predicted to increase by 1.1° C to 2.4° C by the year 2050. Since many of these are species that are often preyed upon by sharks in the area, it is expected that shark populations migration patterns, and feeding habits will be affected.Item Chytrid Fungus in NH Frog Populations(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-03) Dube, Melanie; Pimenta, Ana; Gormley, Faith; Ousseini, Saran; Duryea, KatieChytrid fungus, scientifically known as batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is a fungus mostly found in aquatic environments. It is transferable between frogs and tadpoles, or through contact with infected waters. Chytrid fungus can be poisonous and deadly. It is a fungus that kills slowly, which makes it spread abundantly. The spread is caused by the migration of frogs from pond to pond before their death. Some frogs are resistant to chytrid such as the American bullfrog or the African clawed frog. However, they are still carriers that can spread this fungus to other non-resistant frogs, which may lead to a major frog pandemic and decrease in the population.Item Climate Change and its Effects on Jellyfish Populations(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Goettel, Connor; Collins, AaronClimate change is an expanding and widely discussed issue, that is at the forefront of many movements. However, there are many issues that are not widely researched or understood. In this thesis we will delve into the effects climate change has on jellyfish populations in the northern east coast of the USA. Works of literature and academic journals have been written about how climate change is affecting reproduction and migration but not enough to be considered “well researched”. Through academic research we produce more combined and focused information. With the current information climate change seems to have effects on jellyfish population but in both growth and decline. We aim to know more about their projected population and how that could affect global food webs, human recreation, and fisheries.Item Cryptozoology Meets Ecology: A Look into the Megalodon(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-11) Chloros, Vinny; Marcille, SelinaThe megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived with the oldest fossil specimens being around 20 million years old. The creature is estimated to have gone extinct around 3.6 million years ago, but some skeptics maintain that the creature still exists deep in modern oceans. By examining false information surrounding the megalodon and developing an understanding of the paleontological and ecological mechanisms that scientists use to study it, we can paint a picture of the megalodon and determine how it survived in its ancient habitat and if it could thrive in oceans as we know them today.Item Fast Fashion(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Jimenez, Gabriela; Collins, AaronFast fashion– an industry titan that has been dominating textile markets since the 90s has rarely had its ethicality and environmental footprint looked into until recently. Fast fashion is an economically effective business model that adopts a “take, make, dispose” system by profiting off of the constant overproduction and overconsumption of cheap clothing globally, at the expense of exploited textile workers. Each step in the creation of a garment takes place in mainly unregulated developing nations where ample pollution and CO2 emissions along with textile, water, and energy waste gets omitted until the finished product reaches its ideal end goal: the hands of the trendy American or European impulse-buyer. From there, the fast fashion cycle repeats itself as the clothes are only worn a few times before they’re subsequently thrown away and added to the millions of tons of textiles that are currently sitting in landfills unable to decompose. The continuous output and disposal of textiles in this industry now makes up ~10% of greenhouse gasses per unit of material, making it the second largest polluter in the world that contributes to ~10% of pollution globally, amongst other things. While it’s nearly impossible to make change from the root of the problem, there are small steps that this modern society of consumers can make to pressure industry decision-makers to be more sustainable, humane, and environmentally conscious in the production of clothes. To get a scope of how much people understand this issue, local trends will be surveyed and analyzed, sustainable lifestyle changes will be promoted, and opportunities for others to do their part and feel like a part of something bigger through various programs will be utilized. It’s of the utmost importance to identify the exact pressures that are being put on the planet on a smaller scale in order to comprehend the bigger picture before the industry pushes the Earth and its resources past a point of no return.Item Fastest Warming Body of Water in the World(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-04) Reyes, Ethan; Collins, AaronFrom the mid-1980s to the present day the Gulf of Maine has been closely monitored due to the ever-warming body of water. The Gulf of Maine is the fastest-warming body of water in the world and the main reason scientists think that is because of various studies performed from the 1980s to the present day. What they found was that it was due to global warming. Cold currents coming from the north are not inputting enough of the cold water and inputting warmer water coming in from other currents. Researchers found out that since 2012 the Gulf of Maine has been warming up by 0.03 Celsius per year (Shelley). The warming body of water is causing a big environmental effect on the marine life that lives there. Migration patterns are also being affected because of the warming body of water making some species less abundant in the area like the write whale that is only really found in Maine. The warming of not only the Gulf of Maine but other bodies of water is concerning, but with the right global laws put into place some of these problems could easily be fixed.Item Green Burials and the Ecology of New Hampshire(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Blood, Isabella; Collins, AaronThe ideas and practices of green burials have recently been acquainted with the non-exhaustive list of mitigation strategies for climate change. Green burials, which are alternatives to traditional postmortem services, have a positive impact on the environment, as opposed to harmful practices used in most services currently. New Hampshire’s ecological systems, like others’ can benefit from these types of green services and cemeteries. How exactly these services can improve or sustain natural life in the New Hampshire ecosystems is unknown. While green cemeteries vary in types all around the world, it is clear they are affective. Understanding the relationship of green burials and the environment is crucial to advancement in common sustainable practices.Item Habitat Fragmentation and Herpetofauna(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Zucowska, Carolyn; Collins, AaronSouthern New Hampshire has become heavily urbanized in recent decades which impacts native wildlife’s habitat area. Reptiles and especially amphibians are indicator species, therefore, studying their population changes due to this habitat alteration can display the true effects. This research project’s goal is to collect information on how habitat fragmentation, or the separation of habitats due to roads and other transportation routes, affects herpetofauna in Southern New Hampshire. While the topic of habitat fragmentation’s effect on amphibians and reptiles has been studied, there hasn’t been any studies in this geographic region. Most reptiles and amphibians in this area have been researched minimally and therefore it is difficult to determine the best conservation methods. The most well researched way of connecting fragmented land for conservation is wildlife corridors. Many herpetofauna avoid crossing paved roads or suffer road mortality. Therefore, it would be valuable to complete further research on local reptiles and amphibians' behaviors around paved roads and implement wildlife underpasses to connect their fragmented land. This research would form a better understanding of possible conservation methods of native New Hampshire wildlife to avoid possible extinction of these sensitive indicator species.Item How Does Music Preference Relate to Personality and Memory?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-28) Chan, Kah May; Pang, Xin Xian Annabelle; Frost, PeterHow do the Big 5 Personality traits relate to preference for different music genres? Our research investigates how the different music genres would affect the students’ memory and reveal their personality traits. There are some associations among Big Five Personality Traits, different genre of music and a person’s memory. According to the resources, the research indicated that two personality traits such as neuroticism and openness correlated significantly with the music preferences. A 34 question online survey made on Qualtrics was administered. The survey consisted of 12 pages. The questions are consist of multiple choices, text entry and slider. The participants followed the online link for the survey to complete some demographic questions. Then, an experiment to memorize different sets of words under three music conditions was conducted, which are no music condition, soft music condition and loud music condition, then participants are required to fill in the words that they have memorized. The whole survey took approximately five to ten minutes to complete.Item How Does Particulate Matter and Ozone Levels Affect Manchester, NH Public Health?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Wilson, Deanne; Collins, AaronThe aim of this research project is to examine the effects of particulate matter and ozone levels on public health in Manchester, NH. Air pollution is a significant environmental problem in Manchester, with particulate matter and ozone being two of the most concerning pollutants. Exposure to high levels of particulate matter and ozone can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and heart attacks, among others. Long-term exposure to particulate matter has also been linked to premature death. This study will analyze air quality data and public health records to assess the impact of particulate matter and ozone levels on the health of Manchester residents. The findings of this study will be useful in guiding policies and interventions aimed at reducing air pollution and protecting public health in Manchester, NH.Item How Does Warming Temperatures Impact the Snowpack in Alpine Catchments?(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Bunch, Nicholas; Collins, AaronAs the Earth warms up a plethora of environmental issues arise in the alpine region. Various models are now showing that in the future there could be an increase in rain as winter precipitation due to a consistent rise in temperatures in the alpine region. This rain can cause a variety of problems in alpine ecosystems and water basins. Snowpack in these regions is expected to decrease which in turn can have major reductions on spring/summer runoff flows because of the decrease in frozen precipitation during the winter months that can result in flash flooding, droughts, and decrease in ground water storage. Not only does the decrease in snowpack in the alpine region affect the abiotic factors like water, they also impact biotic organisms such as various lichen that rely on the insulation properties of snow during the winter. Snowpack in these regions is expected to decrease which in turn can have major reductions on spring/summer runoff flows. The models shown here are important to see how dangerous uniform global warming is on alpine regions due to the decrease in snowpack and the timing of melting in alpine regions that can be applied to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.Item How Habitat Loss Affects Animals In New England(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Salyards, Emily; Collins, AaronIn New England, and the country in general, habitat loss is a large problem. Forests are being cleared daily to make room for new developments. Forests have been cleared to create things like highways and apartment complexes, and it seems as if this is a never ending process. The loss of forests does not only hurt the trees that are getting cut down, it hurts the animals and other plants that depended on those trees for habitats and food. Animals are forced to move into new areas after their homes are destroyed. This may cause them to move into areas such as residential areas which may be unsafe. Here we show the effects of habitat loss on animals and the ecosystem and some ways that people may be able to make a difference; like going paperless or shopping responsibly for wood.Item Improving Riparian Zones and Soil Health at the Watershed Scale to Reduce Contamination from Run-Off and PFAS in Drinking Water Sources(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-04) O'Connor, Hayleigh; Majidzadeh, HamedThis project examines how improving the health of riparian zones and soil can reduce contamination from run-off and PFAS as a pollutant in source drinking water. The use of PFAS has increasingly been a cause of concern for several decades because of their detrimental impacts to human health and the environment. Various studies are used to explore how water quality is impacted by landscape, the relationship of differing contaminants in soil, as well as using phytoremediation through plant species in order to clean soil and water. Results showed that urban expansion and activity degrade water quality. Riparian buffer zones with a width of 300 m and a length of 8 km are critical areas where landscape has a large impact on water quality metrics. Soil testing data showed that the highest concentrations of PFAS were found in the first 0-10cm. Long-chain PFAS, such as PFOA were the majority found within the topsoil and retention can be credited to low mobility. Anthropocentric activity enriched the soil and deposited contaminants which contributed to both PFAS and other metal concentrations. Red Fescue, River Birch, Sweetgum, Black Willow, Sycamore, Tulip Poplar, Amaranth, Tall Fescue, Bermudagrass, Mustard and Horsetail were all found to useful in accumulating of PFAS from soil through phytoremediation. Various plant species found as accumulators can be planted and used along bodies of water in order to intake PFAS pollution. Using the knowledge from the studies reviewed in this paper, plans for remediation of riparian and green zones can be completed in order to ensure better water quality prior to reaching point water sources.Item Inclusivity and Belonging in the Classroom(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-06) Luby, Shannon; Feingold, ElizabethInclusivity is a term often used in special education to describe the integration of students with disabilities into the general education setting. Inclusivity, however, can also refer to the feeling of being included, in other words, a sense of belonging. As a future educator, it is essential to create a welcoming classroom environment in which every single student feels safe, included, and represented in the classroom. The following presentation describes the importance of creating a classroom environment of belonging where every student feels accepted, respected, and valued, several practices to create this environment, and the benefits for students of a classroom of belonging.Item Juvenile Competency(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-29) Cyr, Olivia; Speropolous, Lisa; Speropolous, LisaThe present research examines the issue of juvenile competency, specifically in the interrogation process and in criminal trials. Existing literature has identified critical components related to juvenile competency, such as highlighting the significance of age regarding the inability to appreciate the seriousness of offenses and the increased levels of immaturity within adolescents. The present research displays a thorough review of academic literature and relevant legal cases that shifted the justice system’s perspective on juvenile competency to better understand why juveniles are more likely to be deemed incompetent than adults. Although there are a limited number of laws that address the issue of juvenile competency, current legislation is also evaluated. The findings of this research support the implementation of more laws that protect juvenile suspects within trials and interrogations.Item NAO Robot Explains the Menu at Bowls of Steel(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-04-06) Philip, Kayleigh An; Lewis, LundyI worked in Bowls of Steel for two years, where my favorite part of my job was getting to interact with the customers by explaining the menu. However, it was very hard to hire more staff, and when I left Malaysia the restaurant had to shut down. Hopefully, the novelty of having robot staff as well as having them explain the menu might allow the restaurant to stay open. NAO has been programed to walk customers through the menu, as it can listen for key words that will be provided to the customers, and then reply.Item Pollinators, the Importance of the Declining Monarch Butterfly and What We Can Do(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-03-03) Martis, Roman; Collins, AaronPollinators are a crucial part of Earth’s ecosystem and play a major role in the existence of life on this planet. In recent years, the Monarch butterfly population has taken a significant hit along with their host plant where they lay their eggs, milkweed. Another plant, the sacred fir, which is native to Mexico, has also been on the decline due to climate change. This recent decrease is due to many factors including extreme weather events, insecticides, pesticides, and habitat loss/fragmentation. Recent studies have pointed out that a protection zone around milkweed plants has been shown to alleviate the pressure presented by these chemicals which decrease egg laying efficiency. This study aims to highlight the importance of pollinators, increase monarch and milkweed populations by tracking and rearing them.