November  2013   Volume  12  Issue  3    

BioMass

Professor Kyle Whittinghill joins the Biology department

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This year, many returned to the hill surprised by the absence of John Schade, professor of ecology and biogeochemistry. Schade has taken a leave of absence this year to serve as a Program Officer for the National Science Foundation. In his absence, the biology and environmental studies departments are pleased to welcome a new face to the faculty – Professor Kyle Whittinghill.

Whittinghill brings new expertise to St. Olaf in biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology. She earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota and completed her post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan and the University of New Hampshire. Her research examines how soil microbes

Contents

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Professor Kyle Whittinghill joins the Biology department

Insight in Biochemistry Independent Research

Student Work in the

Biology Department

Adventures in Australia

Continued

page 4 Thanksgiving Turkey Talk: A history of wild turkeys

Student  Coordinator:  Alex  Ripperger  ‘14  

By Seth Spawn ‘14

page 5 Natural Lands Fall 2013 Photo Contest Winners

November  2013   Volume  12  Issue  3  

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My first research endeavor outside of a lab course took place at St. Olaf last fall with Dr. Anne Walter. Though I did not know what I wanted to study, I did know that research was something I wanted to incorporate into my future career. Testing the waters at St. Olaf seemed a good idea. I ended up redirecting a project conducted by Evan Anderson '13 the summer before that explored pre-biotic life forms. Specifically, my project looked at deciphering the complexity of the conditions through which the first protocell emerged on Earth. Using a mixture of fatty acids and surfactants, I explored the phase transitions of structures induced by temperature in various pH solutions, in the hopes of better understanding the processes that trigger formation of a stable pseudo-cell membrane. To say the least, I felt a little in over my head when I realized the majority of my analysis requires understanding of advanced thermodynamics, but the challenging subject matter gave me a goal to tackle. My results indicated that basic environments coupled with warmer temperatures induced larger structural phase transitions that were crucial for the formation of the first cell membrane. Varying mixtures of surfactant were also found to be important for structural stability across temperature and pH gradients, and thus likely components in the first cell membrane.

Despite the fact that many of my endeavors in lab proved frustrating due to finicky equipment and long periods of time without significant data, I ended up thoroughly enjoying the process as a whole. I learned that research is something I definitely want to continue in my career, and the practical skills, logic, and understanding of molecular forces gained have proved valuable in my other academic endeavors. My advice to anyone curious in a possible research position is to explore and not be afraid of looking into something a little outside of your comfort zone. You may come across something you truly enjoy, expand your horizons, and learn new skills with a wide variety of practical applications.

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affect the export of carbon and other nutrients from ecosystems by employing field monitoring, laboratory experiments, and mathematical models. She has worked in Arctic Alaska, Michigan, and in the temperate Northeastern United States.

This year, Whittinghill is excited to continue her research with St. Olaf students. She will be teaching a never-before-offered environmental modeling interim class in which students will use and develop models to better understand ecosystem processes. In the spring she will be teaching an Ecosystem ecology class in which students will study Arctic soils that were collected in Alaska by St. Olaf students this past summer. Ultimately, through these classes, she hopes to mentor projects that students can present at national and international conferences.

Whittinghill also harbors an interest in global water issues, believing that declining water quality and quantity is one of the greatest biological dilemmas facing society now and in the future. Students in her spring semester “Intro to Environmental Studies” course will explore the competing interests of agricultural, industrial, and private water usage.

Professor Whittinghill is an avid backpacker, canoeist, and skier. She is quite fond of (Michigan) Heirloom peaches, and her favorite tropical fruit is the passionfruit, which she describes as “…real good.” She has truly enjoyed getting to know students and faculty this semester and is excited by what the future has in store.

Insight in Biochemistry Independent Research by Grace Tabatabai ‘14

Biology Seminar

Modeling Riverine Nitrogen Processing at Multiple Spatial Scales

Kyle Whittinghill, Visiting Assistant Professor, St. Olaf College

Monday, December 2nd, 4:00 p.m., RNS 310

November  2013   Volume  12  Issue  3  

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I’ve held many positions in the biology department over the past few years: microbiology prep, genetics teaching assistant, and stockroom worker. As a microbiology prep assistant, I would prepare media for the microbiology lab. This involved measuring out chemicals, following the recipes, and then pouring plates and test tubes using sterile technique. Preparing media was the primary reason I was excited to be involved in microbiology lab preparations. The work related to my lab experience from the previous summer, and I loved having the opportunity to maintain my “lab hands.” Working on microbiology prep while taking Microbiology made me feel like I was more prepared for lab, as I was acutely aware of the chemical composition of the media used to distinguish bacteria.

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For me, the most rewarding position was as a genetics TA. I worked alongside Dr. Lisa Bowers. What I loved about being a TA was the variety -- no two days were the same. I constantly had to be prepared to answer any and all student questions. Here I saw the difference between knowing something and being able to explain it to another student. When I was able to fully explain something to a student, and I saw that light bulb go off in their head, I felt as though my science knowledge had paid off in impacting another student and that I had instilled the necessary building blocks for further biological study.

Both these positions took place in the Regents 396 stockroom, where I also work as a stockroom worker every

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Tuesday from 4:30-7pm (come visit me sometime!). While working here, I noticed some disorganization within the system, and took it upon myself to revamp the test tube drawers. One particularly memorable experience here was during finals last semester. A fellow stockroom worker and I decided it would be a good idea to wash and reorganize all of the test tubes in the stockroom. This job took much more effort than anticipated; however, it was well worth it, because the new system is still in use today. Overall, I have greatly enjoyed my times in the biology department as a student worker, and I highly recommend other students give it a try!

Student Work in the Biology Department By Nikita Shah ‘14

Adventures in Australia By Meredith Lockwood ‘14

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Last spring 16 St. Olaf students and I, accompanied by Dave and Pat Van Wylen, traveled to Australia to study environmental science. Over the semester we traveled around the East Coast of Australia while taking classes in Marine Biology, Terrestrial Ecology, Environmental Policy, and Cultural Anthropology. We also explored rainforests, intertidal zones, and the Great Barrier Reef. Small research projects were conducted throughout the semester. Research entailed a day or two of learning about the ecosystem, another day or two of group research work, and concluded with presenting our

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findings to the group.

Two of the most unforgettable research experiences were in Lamington National Park and Heron Island. Lamington National Park is home to many different rainforests (including warm subtropical and temperate), amazing bird activity, and as Aussies call it, plenty of “bushwalking”, also known as hiking. Our schedule included waking up early to bird-watch at sunrise, hiking through the different rainforests, and conducting group research projects.

Apply now!

The biology department is looking for TAs for interim and 2nd semester!

http://wp.stolaf.edu/biology/student-work-in-the-biology-department/

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In Lamington National Park our research included comparing bowers of bowerbirds. Male birds build “bowers” filled with bright blue items to attract females. Due to human influence, blue items not only include feathers and berries but also plastic and paper. Bowers that were closer to lodging had a larger human influence, including plastic candy wrappers and plastic water bottle caps. Other research looked at resource partitioning in both plants and animals, observing epiphyte, fungi, and moss distribution in different types of rainforests, and comparing spider webs trying to catch various types of prey.

November  2013   Volume  12  Issue  3  

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It’s the time of year when American tables will soon be graced by turkeys—46 million of them, to be exact. But, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I think some apt recognition is due not just to the farmed turkeys that feed us during Thanksgiving but to their wild counterparts roaming all over southern and central Minnesota.

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is one of just two domesticated birds native to North America. Its roots in the country are deep. It was a favorite food of Native Americans, and it garnered some attention when Benjamin Franklin proposed it as the national symbol of the newly independent nation.

Despite their historical abundance, wild turkey numbers decreased in the early 20th century due to hunting and habitat degradation. Reintroduction programs started in the 1940’s to restore wild turkey populations throughout the nation, and they soon were present in areas where they may not have been before European colonization.

In Minnesota, wild turkeys occupy the entirety of the prairie grassland and deciduous forest biomes in the southern half of the state. Their range was heavily protracted in the 1970s, and the population was reduced to just a few birds. Due in large part to a 25-year conservation program, the population currently stands around 30,000, and the recovery of the wild turkey is hailed as one of the biggest conservation successes in the state.

Like domestic turkeys, wild turkeys are distinguished by their fanned tail-feathers and their loud, somewhat abrasive call. What sets the two birds apart is the slight variation in tail feather color. While a wild turkey’s tail feathers are an iridescent black, domestic turkeys have white tips on their tails. Unlike wild turkeys, modern domestic turkeys are related to a Mexican subspecies that was brought to Europe in the 16th century. In addition to differences in tail feather coloring, they’ve begun to differ more and more from wild turkeys because of their captive lifestyle.

Perhaps the most noticeable behavior of wild turkeys is their tendency to travel in large flocks. At least a handful of Northfield residents have stories about waking up to 20-50 turkeys parked on their lawn. While turkeys tend to forage on forest floors in search of nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects, their population growth has led them to occupy more visible urban areas as well. The turkeys form small foraging flocks and search for food by scratching the ground’s surface.

And what about the famous gobble? It’s actually part of the breeding courtship that begins in the spring. The male will sit in a roost tree, where he starts gobbling before jumping down to the ground to strut about the unsuspecting female.

So when “Turkey Day” rolls around this year, maybe the wild turkey deserves some acknowledgment as an iconic species that has recovered from population declines to become a common sight in our own backyard.

Thanksgiving Turkey Talk: A history of wild turkeys

Meredith in Australia holding an echidna.

By Ellen Squires ‘14

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To wrap up the semester, we ventured to Heron Island, a coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef. The week was packed with reef walking and snorkeling with turtles, sharks, and rays, just to name a few. After taking a crash course in reef fish and coral identification, group research began. Research ranged from studying epaulette shark activity to sea cucumber distribution to parrotfish food sources.

The semester in Australia was both an educational and exciting experience. The majority of our learning did not take place in an actual classroom but rather outside in Australia’s many different environments. I had a great time during my semester abroad and would recommend the experience to any student interested in biology or environmental studies.

November  2013   Volume  12  Issue  3  

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Natural Lands Fall 2013 Photo Contest Winners

Wildlife: “Dragonfly” by Andrew Wilder

Prairie: “Grass Forest” by Andrew Wilder

Overall: “Red and Green Between Coyote Ponds” by Dean Neuberger

Close-up: “Fall Fungi” by Clay Carlson

Landscape: “Forest” by Karsen Shoger