[NatureNS] Regular BNS meeting: Mon, Nov. 21: BNS Scholars Student Research

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The regular monthly meeting of the Blomidon Naturalists Society will be hel=
d, Monday, November 21 at 7:30 PM in Room BAC241 in the Beveridge Arts Cent=
re, Acadia University, Wolfville.

The main presentation will be: BNS Scholars Student Research Symposium

There will be presentations by three past recipients of the BNS Scholarship=
. Come and see some of the research that is taking place in the Biology Dep=
artment at Acadia University.

Determining the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in two salt marsh =
grass species
by Tyler D=92Entremont

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide water and essential mineral nutr=
ients in symbiotic relationships with over 80% of all vascular land plants.=
 These organisms allow plants to inhabit hostile environments by acting as =
an extended root network to ensure the success of the species. Saltmarshes,=
 among these hostile environments, are crucial nursery habitats for a varie=
ty of juvenile fish and invertebrate species, which form the foundation of =
many marine and terrestrial food chains. With salt marshes declining worldw=
ide, efforts to improve the success of salt marsh restoration projects has =
never been more paramount. This research examines two salt marsh grass spec=
ies, Spartina alterniflora Loisel and Spartina patens Aiton, via fungal sta=
ining, nested polymerase chain reaction and rDNA sequencing to determine th=
e AMF species present within their roots. The use of these identified mycor=
rhizal species, as well as their colonization rates, may be used in future =
restoration projects to increase the probability of successful colonization=
 by these saltmarsh grasses.


Reintroduction of seed bank derived Geum peckii (Eastern Mountain Avens) on=
 Long Island, Digby County, Nova Scotia
by Sarah Fancy

G. peckii is one of Canada=92s most endangered plant species. In Canada it =
is found on Brier Island, Digby County, globally the only other population =
is in the mountainous regions of New Hampshire. The Nova Scotia Department =
of Natural Resources supports a seed bank population of G. peckii seeds at =
Acadia University. For this research project the seed bank was used to esta=
blish a population of G. peckii in tissue culture, the plants were then put=
 back into their natural habitat to evaluate plant success. The outplanting=
 of endangered tissue culture material is a first for Nova Scotia and it is=
 a relatively new technique globally. To date the project shows a 100% succ=
ess rate.

Modelling the behaviour of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Minas Passage=
, Nova Scotia
by Kody Crowell

Tidal energy development in the Bay of Fundy has been an active area of res=
earch for the past few decades, however, the ecological impact that in-stre=
am tidal turbines pose to the surrounding environment has sparked much cont=
roversy. As such, there has been an increased demand for monitoring and con=
sultation. Several species, especially the striped bass (Morone saxatilis),=
 are known to spend a significant amount of time near the berth sites, and =
their level of activity may be dependent on the season =96 recent studies i=
nvolving acoustic tracking of the fish suggest that the species has a lower=
 metabolic rate in the winter, thereby limiting its ability to detect and a=
void turbine infrastructure, acting as =93inert=94 particles. Modelling the=
 movement of such a species using agent-based models and the Finite Volume =
Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) in the Minas Passage is one way of predicting=
 whether an animal will pass near a turbine. Individual-Based Models were u=
sed to model fish behaviour and suggest where Striped Bass might spend a ma=
jority of their time in the winter and summer seasons. Results were in gene=
ral agreement with observation, which suggests that striped bass prefer the=
 deeper waters on Minas Passage in colder weather. Future studies will incl=
ude the addition of in-stream tidal turbines for the winter model.

For more information about the society, visit our web page at http://blomid=
onnaturalists.ca or find us on Facebook.

Patrick Kelly

159 Town Road

Falmouth NS  B0P 1L0

Canada


(902) 472-2322


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</head>
<body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-lin=
e-break: after-white-space; ">
The regular monthly meeting of the Blomidon Naturalists Society will be hel=
d, Monday, November 21 at 7:30 PM in Room BAC241 in the Beveridge Arts Cent=
re, Acadia University, Wolfville.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The main presentation will be: BNS Scholars Student Research Symposium=
<br>
<br>
There will be presentations by three past recipients of the BNS Scholarship=
. Come and see some of the research that is taking&nbsp;place in the Biolog=
y Department at Acadia University.<br>
<br>
<b>Determining the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in two salt mar=
sh grass species</b><br>
by Tyler D=92Entremont<br>
<br>
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide water and essential mineral nutr=
ients in symbiotic relationships with over 80% of all vascular land plants.=
&nbsp;These organisms allow plants to inhabit hostile environments by actin=
g as an extended root network to ensure
 the success of the species.&nbsp;Saltmarshes, among these hostile environm=
ents, are crucial nursery habitats for a variety of juvenile fish and inver=
tebrate species, which form the&nbsp;foundation of many marine and terrestr=
ial food chains. With salt marshes declining
 worldwide, efforts to improve the success of salt marsh restoration&nbsp;p=
rojects has never been more paramount. This research examines two salt mars=
h grass species,&nbsp;<i>Spartina alterniflora Loisel</i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<i>=
Spartina patens Aiton</i>,&nbsp;via fungal staining, nested
 polymerase chain reaction and rDNA sequencing to determine the AMF species=
 present within their roots. The use of these&nbsp;identified mycorrhizal s=
pecies, as well as their colonization rates, may be used in future restorat=
ion projects to increase the probability
 of successful&nbsp;colonization by these saltmarsh grasses.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
<b>Reintroduction of seed bank derived&nbsp;<i>Geum peckii</i>&nbsp;(Easter=
n Mountain Avens) on Long Island, Digby County, Nova Scotia</b><br>
by Sarah Fancy<br>
<br>
<i>G. peckii</i>&nbsp;is one of Canada=92s most endangered plant species. I=
n Canada it is found on Brier Island, Digby County, globally the only other=
 population is&nbsp;in the mountainous regions of New Hampshire. The Nova S=
cotia Department of Natural Resources supports
 a seed bank population of&nbsp;<i>G. peckii</i>&nbsp;seeds&nbsp;at Acadia =
University. For this research project the seed bank was used to establish a=
 population of&nbsp;<i>G. peckii</i>&nbsp;in tissue culture, the plants wer=
e then put&nbsp;back into their natural habitat to evaluate plant
 success. The outplanting of endangered tissue culture material is a first =
for Nova Scotia and it is a&nbsp;relatively new technique globally. To date=
 the project shows a 100% success rate.<br>
<br>
<b>Modelling the behaviour of striped bass (<i>Morone saxatilis</i>) in Min=
as Passage, Nova Scotia</b><br>
by Kody Crowell<br>
<br>
Tidal energy development in the Bay of Fundy has been an active area of res=
earch for the past few decades, however, the ecological impact that in-stre=
am tidal turbines pose to the surrounding environment has sparked much cont=
roversy. As such, there has been
 an increased demand for&nbsp;monitoring and consultation. Several species,=
 especially the striped bass (<i>Morone saxatilis</i>), are known to spend =
a significant amount of time near the&nbsp;berth sites, and their level of =
activity may be dependent on the season =96
 recent studies involving acoustic tracking of the fish suggest that the&nb=
sp;species has a lower metabolic rate in the winter, thereby limiting its a=
bility to detect and avoid turbine infrastructure, acting as =93inert=94 pa=
rticles.&nbsp;Modelling the movement of such a
 species using agent-based models and the Finite Volume Community Ocean Mod=
el (FVCOM) in the Minas&nbsp;Passage is one way of predicting whether an an=
imal will pass near a turbine. Individual-Based Models were used to model f=
ish behaviour and suggest&nbsp;where Striped
 Bass might spend a majority of their time in the winter and summer seasons=
. Results were in general agreement with observation,&nbsp;which suggests t=
hat striped bass prefer the deeper waters on Minas Passage in colder weathe=
r. Future studies will include the addition
 of in-stream&nbsp;tidal turbines for the winter model.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>For more information about the society, visit our web page at&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://blomidonnaturalists.ca">http://blomidonnaturalists.ca</a> or=
 find us on Facebook.</div>
<div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; c=
olor: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-varian=
t: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal=
; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: n=
one; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-hori=
zontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-dec=
orations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stro=
ke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=
=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica;=
 font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: no=
rmal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent:=
 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0=
px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing=
: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: =
auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">
<div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line=
-break: after-white-space; ">
<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color:=
 rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;=
 font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-he=
ight: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-spa=
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: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-ef=
fect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;=
 ">
<div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line=
-break: after-white-space; ">
<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color:=
 rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal;=
 font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-he=
ight: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-spa=
ce: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing=
: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-ef=
fect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;=
 ">
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-=
left: 0px; ">
<font face=3D"Courier" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: normal normal normal 12px/=
normal Courier; "><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline">
Patrick Kelly</font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-=
left: 0px; ">
<font face=3D"Courier" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: normal normal normal 12px/=
normal Courier; ">159 Town Road</font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-=
left: 0px; ">
<font face=3D"Courier" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: normal normal normal 12px/=
normal Courier; ">Falmouth NS<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;<s=
pan class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span>B0P 1L0</font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-=
left: 0px; ">
<font face=3D"Courier" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: normal normal normal 12px/=
normal Courier; ">Canada</font></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-=
left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Courier; min-height: 14px=
; ">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-=
left: 0px; ">
<font face=3D"Courier" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: normal normal normal 12px/=
normal Courier; ">(902) 472-2322</font></p>
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