Category: Natural World

2024-25, Ecology, Environment, Natural World

Effects of Climate Change on Macaroni Penguins

Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028 Figure 1: Macaroni Penguins at Cooper Bay, South Georgia. The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes Chrysolophus) is a sub-Antarctic penguin species that typically lives in colonies on sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic and South Indian Oceans. As of 2013, 6.3 million breeding pairs were found, a 30% decline from the last regional census in 1993. This drastic decrease in population … Continue reading Effects of Climate Change on Macaroni Penguins

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2023-24, Ecology, Environment, Natural World

Modeling Marine Turtle Nesting Behavior

By: Kimberly Johnston, Class of 2026 Figure 1: A marine turtle Adult female marine turtles alternate between foraging and nesting phases, with periods of migration in between. Monitoring programs typically obtain data for only part of the nesting season due to a lack of financial support, remote beaches, or a large number of beaches to monitor. To accurately assess population trends, a model must be … Continue reading Modeling Marine Turtle Nesting Behavior

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2023-24, Ecology, Environment, Natural World, Year

Penguin Nesting Behavior: Effects of Tourism at Port Lockroy

By: Kimberly Johnston, Class of 2026 Figure 1:  Gentoo penguin with chicks at Port Lockroy, Antarctica. Antarctic tourism has raised concerns about the effects of human disturbance on gentoo penguins during their breeding season, which coincides with peak tourist activity. For example, the movement of zodiacs used to transport tourists ashore can disrupt the penguins’ normal routes and foraging areas. However, quantifying the effects of … Continue reading Penguin Nesting Behavior: Effects of Tourism at Port Lockroy

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2023-24, 2023-24, Ecology, Environment, Health and Medicine, Natural World, Year

Modeling Debris Patterns in the Antarctic to Protect Biodiversity

Marie Collison, Class of ‘25 Image 1 Gentoo penguins in Antarctica Marine pollution is a prominent problem in environmental policy and study. Reports of pollution in organisms in the Antarctic are becoming increasingly common, likely due to increasing human activity, growing tourism, and an expanding krill fishing industry. However, the sources of these pollutants along the West Antarctic Peninsula are still poorly understood. There are … Continue reading Modeling Debris Patterns in the Antarctic to Protect Biodiversity

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Biology, Environment, General, Natural World

Exploring the Biodiversity Inhabiting Sponges of the Great Barrier Reef

Author: Marie Collison, Class of ‘25 Sponges are a diverse group of multicellular organisms that inhabit aquatic ecosystems all over the globe. Scientists estimate that there are over 9000 unique species of sponges. The vast diversity of sponges enables them to provide a diverse range of habitats for a variety of aquatic taxa. They provide structure to environments that otherwise have minimal variation in elevation. … Continue reading Exploring the Biodiversity Inhabiting Sponges of the Great Barrier Reef

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Cellular and Molecular Science, discovery, General, Natural World

Is Chamomile Actually a Risk for Surgery?

Author: Marie Collison, Class of ‘25 Chamomile is a plant that is widely used in herbal medicine for a wide variety of reasons. It has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antidepressive, and sedative properties. Despite these benefits, current medical recommendations list chamomile as a substance that should not be ingested prior to surgery due to fears that it may increase the risk of … Continue reading Is Chamomile Actually a Risk for Surgery?

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Ecology, Evolution, Natural World

Investigating the Taxonomy of KNM-ER 1500’s Fossil Remains

Julia Chivu ’23 In the 1970s, archaeologists discovered a 15-piece fossil named KNM-ER 1500 in East Turkana, Kenya. Despite previous examinations, the classification of this fossil has not been determined,  due to severe weathering and fragmentation of the bones. Given the discovery location and morphological features, it has been suggested that KNM-ER 1500 could potentially belong to Paranthropus boisei, Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, or Homo … Continue reading Investigating the Taxonomy of KNM-ER 1500’s Fossil Remains

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Ecology, Natural World

Sea spray contributes to ice formation in clouds.

 Maria Sazonova ‘ 26 Figure 1: Ocean sea spray containing SSA particles at sunset Evaluating ice nucleation kinetics in cloud formation is essential for enhancing our understanding of aerosol-cloud interactions, as well as speculating on the larger effects of SSAs, sea spray aerosol particles, on climate change. SSA ambient particles are a constant natural source of atmospheric aerosol and a recognized source of ice-nucleating particles … Continue reading Sea spray contributes to ice formation in clouds.

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Biology, Ecology

Positive effects of Saccharina latissima kelp on coastal ocean acidification and growth of bivalves. 

Maria Sazonova ’26  Figure 1: Saccharina Latissima kelp underwater Coastal zones are focal points of ocean acidification due to the influx of atmospheric CO2 which has severe negative effects on the growth and survival of calcifying bivalves. Kelp species provide numerous ecosystem services such as carbon and nitrogen sequestration and the creation of a safe habitat for aquatic creatures. Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp) specifically can … Continue reading Positive effects of Saccharina latissima kelp on coastal ocean acidification and growth of bivalves. 

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2022-23, Ecology, Environment, Evolution, Natural World, Year

21 Million Year Old Fossil Reveals Hominid Environment and Diet

Julia Chivu ’23 The Motroto site in Uganda has recently provided new insights on the evolution of the locomotor versatility, diet, and environment of early hominids. The site is estimated to be twenty-one million years old. Associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, Dr. James Rossi, is part of a large research team that has recently examined the fossil remains of … Continue reading 21 Million Year Old Fossil Reveals Hominid Environment and Diet

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2022-23, Natural World, Technology

Integrating 3D Models to Aid Volume Estimation of Marine Mammals

Zhifei Zeng ’23 The size of wild animals is closely related to body condition. For example, the size of whales usually reflects changes in their fat stores and thus their body condition. However, it is difficult for scientists to directly measure the body size of whales due to their large size and ocean environment. Therefore, a research group led by Dr. Lesley H. Thorne at … Continue reading Integrating 3D Models to Aid Volume Estimation of Marine Mammals

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2022-23, Environment, Natural World

Adélie Penguins Are at Risk of Extinction by Climate Change

Melanie Karniewich ’25 Climate change is becoming more alarming at an increasing rate across the globe, affecting humanity and other life. Associate professor of ecology and evolution Heather Lynch and other researchers at Stony Brook University traveled to visit Adélie penguin colonies in Penguin Point, Devil Island, Vortex Island, and Cockburn Island. Comparing the population sizes with the severity of climate change in that area, … Continue reading Adélie Penguins Are at Risk of Extinction by Climate Change

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