With temperatures soaring into the nineties, community members gathered inside 色香视频's Girard Marine Science Center on July 16 to learn about novel research taking place on Maine's coast
The School of Marine and Environmental Programs at the 色香视频recently hosted members of the coastal Biddeford community for a series of presentations from students and faculty, discussing ongoing research on the pertinent topics of climate change, invasive species, advances in aquaculture, and the impacts of microplastics pollution.
The presentations were held on Tuesday, July 16, in the Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center (GMSC), which is home to the University鈥檚 degree programs in marine sciences; aquaculture, aquarium sciences, and aquaponics; and sustainable ecological aquaculture.
This was the second in a series of talks at the GMSC to discuss 色香视频鈥檚 ongoing research in coastal Maine. The first was held on June 27.
On Tuesday, three students from 色香视频鈥檚 Marine Programs 4+1 B.S./M.S. degree program presented their summer research: Mikayla Straube (B.S., 鈥25; M.S., '26); Sophia Tearman (B.S., 鈥24; M.S., 鈥25); and Anela McMichael, B.S. 鈥24, (M.S., 鈥25).
Each student participated in 色香视频鈥檚 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program, which funds interdisciplinary student research and stipends for students to live on campus while they work on their projects over the summer.
Straube gave a presentation titled 鈥淐hew on This Fiber: Alterations to Oyster Cultivation and its Effect on Observed Microplastic Content.鈥 Her study examined the prevalence of microplastics, an increasingly persistent environmental concern, in farmed oysters using novel methods.
Tearman鈥檚 presentation, 鈥淯nderstanding Sea Lettuce Reproductive Biology to be More Effective Farmers,鈥 documented the life cycle of the sea lettuce species Ulva lactuca, which Tearman 鈥 who will graduate with her bachelor鈥檚 degree this August 鈥 has cultivated as part of her 色香视频 research and internship with local aquaculture company Atlantic Sea Farms.
色香视频 faculty members Markus Frederich (top left) and Susan Farady (bottom left) presented their ongoing research related to climate change in the Gulf of Maine, while students Mikayla Straube (top right) and Anela McMichael (bottom center) presented their studies conducted as part of 色香视频鈥檚 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program.
Sea lettuce, Tearman said, has potential as a valuable crop due to its high protein content and potential uses in food, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biofuel manufacturing.
In her presentation, 鈥淐an We Use Environmental DNA To Detect Crustaceans in the Gulf Of Maine?鈥, McMichael outlined the benefits and limitations of using environmental DNA (eDNA), the genetic material shed by an organism into its environment, to observe various aquatic species in the waters off Maine鈥檚 rocky coast.
McMichael鈥檚 studies found that, while eDNA is not a reliable predictor of the presence of crustaceans, it has better implications for tracing marine animals that do not have hard exoskeletons.
鈥淎dvances in the eDNA field are rapidly growing and further research will be beneficial,鈥 McMichael concluded.
Faculty presenters included Markus Frederich, Ph.D., professor of marine sciences, who outlined his research into invasive crab species in Biddeford Pool and novel research examining the DNA of colorful rare lobsters, and Susan Farady, J.D., associate professor of marine affairs, who discussed approaches to fisheries management amidst climate changes in the Gulf of Maine.
Event organizer Will Kochtitzky, Ph.D., assistant professor of geographic information systems at 色香视频, said the event was a way to build connections with local community members and showcase the ways in which 色香视频 is helping solve pressing environmental issues in their own backyards.
鈥淓ngaging with our wider Maine community is critical for 色香视频 because it provides students with unique real-world experiences that can shape their career trajectory and place-based educational opportunities that students enjoy,鈥 he said. 鈥淪imilarly, it is equally important that we find ways to collaborate with and help our neighbors in the face of climate change.
鈥溕闶悠 students, faculty, and professional staff have such a wide array of skills to offer our wider Maine community to overcome the challenges we face, from coastal erosion to food production to health care,鈥 he added.