SENR Seminar Series welcomes second year MS student Lightning Talks

The spring SENR Seminar Series welcomes Second year MS Students in SENR, who will present Lightning Talks starting at 4:00 p.m. in room 103 Kottman Hall or via Zoom. 

Flyer

March 4 Lightning Talks

PRESENTERS:

Alisa Mancini
Round goby foraging patterns under current and projected climate conditions of Lake Erie
Abstract: Climate change and anthropogenic influences negatively impact global ecosystems, with freshwater ecosystems disproportionately affected – 25% of all freshwater fish species are at risk of extinction. The Great Lakes are already experiencing warming temperatures, harmful algal blooms, and species invasions, all of which induce stress on the ecosystem. Invasive species are often transported both knowingly and unknowingly through anthropogenic actions. If these species successfully establish in a new area, they can wreak havoc on native species populations and the natural flow of the ecosystem. Round gobies (Neogobious melanstomus), which originate from the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and the Sea of Azov, were introduced to the Great Lakes through ballast water transport and have been found in Lake Erie since 1990. Round gobies prey heavily on the eggs and fry of darters, logperch, and smallmouth bass. However, after decades of species interactions and adaptations, they also now serve as an abundant food source for Lake Erie water snakes, walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. As a result of these complex relationships, knowing how invasive species respond to climate change will be critical in predicting and assessing ecosystem threats and alterations. A laboratory study was conducted to understand how increased water temperature, reduced dissolved oxygen, and elevated turbidity influence the foraging behavior and risk-taking of round gobies at different life stages. A giving-up density (GUD) framework was used to analyze foraging preferences of round gobies on blood worms at near and far patches, relative to a preferred refuge site. Foraging and risk perception dictate growth, reproduction, and survival. By understanding how these life history traits are influenced and altered by climate change, predictions can be made regarding success and survival of the round goby population. This can then be used to understand whether native species are expected to experience a change in predation pressure or prey availability. Ultimately, combining this knowledge with responses to climate change will allow for the development and implementation of comprehensive management plans for native species. 

Isaiah Franco
Latine Farmworker Recruitment and Community Wellbeing in Ohio
Abstract: Agricultural systems in the US have long relied on flexible low-wage (usually undocumented) labor at peak points during production, with little consideration for the impacts of this low wage labor on farmworkers. To meet the challenge of decreasing worker availability, utilization of the H-2A temporary worker program has grown substantially in the United States. H-2A workers and non-H-2A workers face different challenges in navigating life in rural communities. The rural communities these groups settle in are also impacted. As the United States transitions from a largely undocumented but settled farm labor force to one which has legal work status but is temporary, it is important to better understand the social and economic impacts of this shift on farmworkers, farmers, and the communities in which they settle. Accordingly, this project aims to analyze effects on community wellbeing based on the degree to which a community relies on H-2A or non-H-2A laborers. It builds on a body of rural sociological work which has documented community wellbeing in response to changes in the role of immigrant labor and asks: 1) How does farmworker, farmer, and community wellbeing differ depending on the mix of labor recruitment by H-2A or non-H-2A pathways? 2) How can communities and immigrant support organizations improve the wellbeing of workers and communities?

This study compares three communities in Ohio which rely on differing levels of H-2A and non-H-2A farmworkers. Here, we present results from 24 interviews and counting with a goal of 42 total, conducted with community informants, farmers, and farmworkers between November 2024 and April 2025. These data will be combined with statistics from the American Community Survey at the local level to measure community wellbeing using both subjective and objective indicators. We utilize a community wellbeing framework with six dimensions – services and facilities, environmental, economic, social, political, and health – each of which include indicators drawn from past academic work. We expect to find that non-H-2A workers will have stronger relationships with their employers and community members improving their wellbeing but will be plagued by stress due to their uncertain status. We also hypothesize that H-2A workers will spend less money locally, diminishing possible economic gains for communities.

Cara Wolfe
Cascading grassed waterways effectively treat agricultural runoff
Abstract: Nutrient delivery is of concern in the western Lake Erie basin due to reemerging eutrophic conditions. Non-point source farmland runoff contributes to excess nutrient pollution and subsequent harmful algal bloom development. Cascading waterways are a new conservation practices to address these water quality challenges in landscapes heavily dominated by agricultural production. These systems involve a consecutive series of descending water retention basins with vegetation between cells placed within traditional grassed waterways, designed to infiltrate and treat localized surface runoff. This study aims to quantify Phosphorus and Nitrogen concentrations and load reductions through four cascading waterways in northwest Ohio using chemical analysis of stormwater runoff and grab samples.

Jaspreet Singh
Soil phosphorus stratification and distribution under different land use and agronomic settings
Abstract: My research focuses on phosphorus (P) dynamics in soil, including P stratification under different land use systems, the impact of tillage intensity on P distribution, and the effects of inorganic and manure-based P fertilization. I will be analyzing different phosphorus pools in soils using a 5-step sequential extraction procedure. Our results will highlight the impact of fertilizer type and rates along with different tillage and land-use systems on soil P pools and their accumulative effect on crop production.

Sonam Rustagi
Farmer Perspectives and Sustainable Agriculture Incentives
Abstract: My research intends to explore farmer perspective and attitudes towards various sustainable agricultural practices and associated incentives provided through federal funding. In the context of a rapidly-changing policy landscape, it is imperative to understand what factors and features of different policies are compelling to farmers and land managers.