Student Scholars & Faculty Mentors
Projects funded by our internal grants program. Search the table to find students or faculty mentors that share in your interests, and could help you achieve your goals in research, creative activity, or service.
The Effects of Abrupt Changes in Salinity on Striped Killifish, Fundulus majalis
Name: Cuomo,
Advisor: Isaac Ligocki
Department: BIOL
Award: Student Research Grant
Abstract: The striped killifish, or Fundulus majalis, is a common inhabitant within tidal creeks, river mouths, submerged grass beds, and sand flats ranging from New Hampshire to Florida (Murdy, E. O., Musick, J. A., & Kells, V., 2013). Fish found within estuaries, including F. majalis, have the ability to withstand changes in salinity due to the fluctuating salt concentration from fresh water upstream and saltwater downstream. Although these fish are tolerant of varying salinities, increased storm occurrences present the issue of abrupt changes in water concentration and probable negative effects on health. To acquire information about these effects, I intend to habituate cohorts of F. majalis to three salinity concentrations – 30ppt, 35ppt, and 40ppt. I will measure swim performance, endurance, and respiration when fish are introduced to a salt concentration different from their own. I predict that as fish are introduced to salinities that are abnormal from their habituated tanks, sw