Gemstone Team Research

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Author: search.filters.author.Kim, Christine

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    Appropriateness of Largemouth Bass as a Model Species for Detection of Endocrine Dissruption
    (2015) Kim, Christine; Leasca, Angela; Liu, Winston; Patel, Shivani; Poulsen, Laura; Shah, Shefali; Throwe, Taylor; Tripu, Renuka; Yonkos, Lance
    Intersex in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) has been correlated with regional anthropogenic activity, but has not been causally linked to environmental factors. Four groups of hatchery-reared largemouth bass (LMB) and fathead minnows (FHM) of varying ages and sex were exposed to aqueous poultry litter mixtures, 17β- estradiol (E2), and controls. Water samples were analyzed for estrogens through liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and estrogenicity through the bioluminescent yeast estrogen screen assay. Fish plasma was analyzed for the egg yolk protein vitellogenin (Vtg) using enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay and gonad tissue was examined histologically for enumeration of testicular oocytes (TO). Water chemistry revealed typical E2 conversion to Estrone with subsequent decay over the exposure periods. A modest prevalence of TO (9.4%) was detected with no apparent treatment effect. While significant Vtg induction was found in E2 exposed FHM, minimal Vtg induction was found in male LMB. Despite field findings of intersex in male LMB, this species may be poorly suited for laboratory investigations into endocrine disruption.
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    Using sediment flocculation to reduce the impacts of Chesapeake Bay Microcystis aeruginosa harmful algal blooms
    (2011) Certner, Rebecca; Cho, Haena; Gallo, Natalya; Gibbons, Alexander; Kim, Christine; Liu, Tina; Miller, Hannah; Parikh, Neelam; Wooten, Matthew; Sellner, Kevin
    Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are proliferations of phytoplankton in marine ecosystems. Cyanobacteria, often referred to as algae, are one of the many microorganisms capable of reaching bloom abundances. In recent years, HABs have increased in prevalence in the Chesapeake Bay due to eutrophication from nutrient and pollution runoff into the watershed. Our research focused on the mitigation of HABs, specifically blooms of Microcystis aeruginosa, a cyanobacterium that blooms annually in the upper Chesapeake and its tributaries. Our mitigation approach used sediment-flocculant mixtures to remove cyanobacteria cells from the water column. We explored the environmental impact of our efforts and the potential for indigenous grass restoration by incorporating submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) seeds into our mitigation technique. Based on our data regarding efficacy, cost, environmental safety, and public opinion, we suggest mixtures consisting of local sediments and the flocculant chitosan for use in mitigating M. aeruginosa HABs in the Chesapeake Bay.