Current Research Blogs
Jasper's Blog
Jasper McCutcheon, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hey everyone,
It is with a heavy heart that I am writing my last blog for the Marine Mammal Ecology Lab. This past Friday several of the members of the lab, including myself, graduated! While this event was very exciting and I am proud of all we have done at WWU, it was also quite sad. I am going to miss all the friends that I have made in the lab, and my time here will forever hold a special place in my heart. The research experiences I have been fortunate enough to have at WWU have helped shaped me into the young scientist I consider myself today. I will always look back at my time as an undergraduate with fond memories of the research I got to do and the people I met.
Amid finals week and preparing for graduation, Ellie Taylor and I were busy training up the next round of Log Pond research assistants. Ellie will be taking over for me as the Log Pond project manager, and I am so excited to hear about all the amazing things I know she and everyone on the project will accomplish!
While I may be leaving WWU, I plan to continue working on my independent project. We have completed data collection at this point, so now the real work begins. I need to finish data analysis, which means figuring out how to deal with temporal autocorrelation and a few other issues. I also will continue to iron out my literature review in preparation for writing an introduction section. There is still a long way to go and lots to learn, but I am excited for whatever is next.
As my parting words, I’d like to say: to anyone who may be reading this and considering becoming involved in research, do it! You will never regret that decision and it has the power to change the course of your life.
Signing off,
Jasper
Maren's Blog
Maren Duffy, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hello!
Spring quarter has finished up and now we’re already a couple weeks into summer! The Summer Undergraduate Research Program has started up and we have met twice now. It is cool to meet some new folks doing research in the Biology Department. I am currently helping to design the t-shirt for the program and am really excited for it to be produced so we can tie-dye it! I am looking forward to the field trip with the program to Seattle to meet some alumni in August and get out on the boat in September. It will be cool to visit Skyline Marina again, since that was my workplace for whale-watching the last two summers.
Haley and I have been continuing working on our project, now with our grants, and it is certainly coming along. We started out with a big literature review, reading as much as we can find about pinniped disturbance studies, Salish Sea harbor seal breeding, molting and haul-out behaviors. We are also looking into the salmon runs around our designated haul-out sites, as well as searching for any possible disturbance around the area. Collecting information is our main goal right now and we are definitely finding a lot. What we find is certainly guiding how we are working to define disturbance in our project.
Alongside reading research papers, we are continuing to familiarize ourselves with GIS and RStudio. Esri offers a lot of free courses online and they are very helpful for learning the basics of GIS. I certainly feel intimidated by the endless amount of buttons in GIS, but it is cool to start connecting things I learn to possible mapping strategies for our data. We have found a couple people that are very confident in GIS so it is nice to know we can reach out to people to talk through ideas if we need. In RStudio we have just started to dive back into some data organization. I am currently working on getting comfortable with the large dataset we have, and as we read more about the various seasons in which harbor seals shift their behavior, we are starting to consider the impact of this variation in our data.
Happy summer!
Maren
Haley's Blog
Haley Recob, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hi everyone!
Spring quarter went by so quickly, I can’t believe it’s already summer! It’s been nice to have somewhat of a break from the normal school year. Since the quarter ended, I have been able to travel home to visit my family and watch my brother graduate high school. But alas, the grind doesn’t stop. I have started taking a summer class and Maren and I have started working full time on our independent project! With our project, we are lucky enough to work a hybrid schedule of remote and in person meetings. In the recent weeks, we have been setting a timeline and building the foundation for the work we want to do this summer. To do so, we have been taking a close look at our haul out sites and the surrounding areas. We’ve really been focusing on looking at what could potentially cause a disturbance to the sites. We are still coming up with parameters for how we’re going to measure human disturbance but hopefully with what we’ve researched so far, we’ll have all our bases covered. We’ve also looked at salmon runs in close proximity to each haul out site. Many of the salmon runs are already mapped out in ArcGIS on government websites which is super convenient. This will make it much easier to get official maps of these areas as opposed to mapping out the runs ourselves. Speaking of ArcGIS, we have also been continuing to learn how to use it by taking free online courses. ArcGIS is a beast, but I feel as though I am finally becoming comfortable with the program.
To keep busy, for the first time, the Whatcom Creek project has decided to start observations in the summer! The purpose of this is to collect data in the creek at the start of the Chinook spawning season. In the past, we’ve started observations when fall quarter starts, leading us to only start collecting data at the tail end of the Chinook run. Rachel and I as well as our amazing volunteers have begun observations this week to start getting a baseline. It’s been very exciting and has been a good opportunity to slowly step into the manager role for this project. This has made me super excited for the fall.
With Rachel and I stepping up as managers, we unfortunately have had to say goodbye to the previous managers, Maya and Jack. It has been a pleasure working alongside them this past year and learning from them. They both have such an inspiring work ethic and are leaving big shoes to fill. Congrats to all who graduated! It’s been great getting to work with everyone, and I know the future holds good things in store for you!
Until next time,
Haley Recob
Olivia's Blog
Olivia Balaban, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hello everyone
All the data is finally done and has been sent off to be processed! Now it is just waiting for the results of the model. The solution ended up being a logical error. We had been correcting for prey biomass as well as the predators, but we only needed predators. That finally made all the proportions add up to 1. After that, I had to remove a prey species because it was not represented in the predator categories. This made some of the species’ proportions less than 1 but I normalized those predators again.
It is nice to be finished but it feels weird not having anything to do. I will miss working with everyone in the lab. It has been bittersweet graduating, but I hope to work with everyone again in the future.
Thank you so much for reading my blogs,
Olivia
Ellie's Blog
Ellie Taylor, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hello, I am Ellie Taylor, and I am the new Log Pond project manager taking over for Jasper McCutcheon. I am a second-year undergraduate student here at Western Washington University majoring in Marine and Coastal Science and minoring in Biology. I joined this project in March 2023 as a research assistant observing seals at the Log Pond and have been involved in various projects within the lab. I am thrilled to be taking on this roll and am excited for what this year will bring!
Throughout the summer, research assistants will be collecting data for the long-term research being carried out at the log pond site. This data has been carried out for years in the lab and is continuing to record the effects of anthropogenic factors on harbor seal presence.
As well as managing the log pond project, I will soon be beginning my independent research project. For I project, I am interested in looking at the harbor seals’ gut microbiome. Stay tuned for updates on log pond observations and more details on my independent project!
Until next month,
Ellie
Victoria's Blog
Victoria Vinecke, graduate student
1 July 2024
I can’t believe it is already July! The weather is heating up in Bellingham and so is the pressure to finish my project! The last month has been filled with a lot of moments I will cherish forever. I taught my last class as a GTA, attended my last class in graduate school, and walked early in graduation with my fellow MMEL members!
For the last lab meeting of the year, we had a special showing of Dolphins the documentary Alejandro was apart of! After watching the documentary, Alejandro joined us to do a special Q&A session! It was very informative and a really special moment for us to share together before people left after graduation. Alex ordered a cake that looked like seal for the meeting! It was a huge splash!
Harbor seal cake! Photo by V. Vinecke.
At the beginning of last month, the qPCR machine I have been using to analyze my samples had moved into storage. It was quite alarming when I went to run my samples and the machine was nowhere to be found. I was able to find another qPCR machine to use thanks to the Lee/Wang/Pollard labs! But with having to find a new machine to use and waiting on parts for it to come in, I have been set behind a couple of weeks with processing my samples. This week I was finally able to start running samples again and I am happy to be back in the lab!
I am starting to work on my “mock” community to simulate what a mixed sample of males and females may look like using synthetic DNA. Using synthetic DNA allows me to control different amounts of female and male DNA within a sample. I am using the mock community as a tool to check for contamination within my own eDNA samples! I think it is a really genius way to control DNA amounts and I have to give a big thank you to Dietmar for the idea!
Lastly, I would like to thank all of our hard-working managers, leads, and research assistants! This lab would not be possible without all the teamwork and comradery! For all those graduating, good luck with your future endeavors!
Until next time,
Victoria
Maya's Blog
Maya Mijares, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hi everybody!
Welcome to my very last blog post! The month of June has absolutely flown by, with the combination of prep and analysis for my capstone presentation, the presentation itself, graduation, grad parties, family in town, and finally the beginning of summer!
To start off the month of June, Isabel and I were busy finishing up cleaning all of our sequencing data. This was a process that, with Isabel and I’s combined hours, took upwards of 50 hours to complete. This was by no means an easy job, but thanks to Isabel’s incredible help, we managed to finish in about two weeks! After the data was cleaned up, I was able to run an updated analysis and generate new results for my Honors capstone presentation!
The presentation itself went really well! I was surprised to find that I wasn’t that nervous to present, which was a relief. Overall, I would say that I am very proud of not only the way that the presentation went but also all of the hard work that went into this research! HUGE thank you to everyone on the mtDNA project team- you were all amazing to work with!
After finals week and all the presentations wrapped up, it was time to graduate! After not being able to have a high school graduation because of COVID-19, walking across the stage was definitely a surreal experience. I can’t believe that I am done with my undergraduate degree! It sort of feels like I just started as a freshman a few months ago.
As this is my last blog, I want to emphasize how grateful I am for the opportunities this lab has presented me with, and all the people that I have met. Being a member of the MMEL was by far my favorite part of my time at Western, and I made memories that I know I will cherish forever. Immense thanks to my fellow managers and research leads (both past and present). You all were an amazing team to work with, and the lab would not run without you! Also, a huge shoutout to the mtDNA team! It was so cool to be part of a collaborative research project from almost the beginning to (hopefully) seeing the paper published! Finally, the biggest thank you of all goes to Dr. Alejandro Acevedo-Gutierrez. The atmosphere you have created in the MMEL is incredible, and you have been an amazing mentor. Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do for the members of this lab.
I am definitely sad to see my time in the MMEL come to an end, but I look forward to keeping in touch and seeing all the amazing things the new managers, Haley Recob and Rachel Strober, get up to next year! Stay tuned for a paper from Alex, Isabel, and I regarding the genetic population of harbor seals in WA as we finish up our analysis!
Maya Mijares
MMEL Lab Managers. From left to right: Victoria Vinecke, Maya Mijares, Jasper McCutcheon, Jack Mezzone, and Alexandrea Otto. Photo by K. Rodriguez.
mtDNA team! From left to right: Maya Mijares, Alexandrea Otto, and Isabel Shier. Photo by K. Rodriguez.
Alejandro Acevedo-Gutierrez (right) and I after my Honors capstone presentation. Photo by unknown.
My roommate Maya Giss (right side of photo) and I after graduating!. Photo by unknown.
Jack's Blog
Jack Mezzone, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hi all!
This last month has been a really fun yet bittersweet experience as I have had to say goodbye to the lab and all of the incredible individuals that make it as welcoming and productive as it is. We set up an end of the year get-together in which we watched Dolphins, a film starring Dr. Acevedo-Gutierrez and had the opportunity to do a Q&A afterwards. It was really special to hear the anecdotes of our PI and get some insight in research and what that really looks like throughout a career. When graduation happened, our graduating lab members dawned their silver "seal colored" MMEL cords , and we were able to get a picture with the majority of our graduating members (see photo below).
I cannot thank the other managers enough for all of the help and the community created that allowed for such constant and quality collaboration in order to run the lab. Being a manager of a lab the size of the MMEL would not be possible without individuals like Maya, Jasper, and our amazing graduate students: Alexandrea and Victoria. It's been such a pleasure getting to work with these dedicated, thoughtful, and brilliant individuals. With Maya and I graduating, we picked Haley R. And Rachel S. To take over as Whatcom Creek managers. These two have shown huge promise, and we have no doubt that they will exceed any expectations set for them.
As per the Smolt Project, the data has not been fully input and processed. This is both due to the vast amount of data (see photo below) and how busy life has been. I am aiming for this to be done mid-July. The delay has largely been due to studying for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) that I will be taking in July with the aim of applying to medical schools in August and matriculating in 2025. The Smolt Project will be continued with data input and analysis from the 2024 season completed this next month and a manuscript continued with it ideally being finished over the next couple of months in collaboration with Maddie Gard. Continuing in my interest and fascination with Marine Mammals, I will be joining Rachel Meade (A 2024 MMEL graduate) with her research team (Whale Speak) in Frederick Sound, Alaska at Five Finger Lighthouse which is on a a 3-acre island from July 20th-August 20th. We will be collecting data on Humpback Whale sounds and behavior in order to better understand and classify communication. During downtime, I should be able to work on the Smolt Project manuscript and communicate with Dr. Acevedo-Gutierrez as well as Maddie in order to further the Smolt project and prepare for publication.
The Marine Mammal Ecology Lab has been the highlight of my college career and an experience/opportunity that I have learned an immense amount from. These lessons span from research techniques and the basics of fieldwork to managing large groups of individuals and creating an environment that encourages communication, collaboration, and original thinking. I am so excited to see how all of our members proceed in their scientific journeys and to see all of the wonderful things they do! I would like to thank Dr. Acevedo-Gutierrez for the help and mentorship as well as all of our current and previous lab members as they are the reason that we are able to further research and our scientific knowledge of marine mammals.
Signing off,
Jack
MMEL Graduates Spring 2024. Photo by K. Rodriguez.
2024 Field Season Smolt Project Data. Photo by J. Mezzone.
Isabel's Blog
Isabel Shier, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hi everyone,
So this is it, the final blog post! I’ve officially graduated and the mitochondrial DNA project is pretty much wrapped up. Maya and I have finished our data analysis and will be working with Alex to incorporate the mtDNA work as part of her master’s thesis in the future. The same day I graduated, I had the pleasure of seeing Maya give her Honor’s presentation on our work. She’s such an accomplished and passionate presenter and the room was packed. When you get those things in combination, I find that the speaker’s excitement tends to infect the audience, and you could feel that in the energy of the room. She did a fantastic job, and it was a lovely note to wrap the project up on.
If I’m being honest, I’ve had a hard time writing this blog post. This lab and the mtDNA project have meant so much to me, both personally and professionally, and it’s hard to say goodbye to that. I’m so grateful for all of the amazing opportunities I've been able to experience through this lab. All of the work I’ve done and the things I have learned in the MMEL and on the mtDNA project have made me a more confident researcher and person.
The mtDNA project in particular has also given me direction. I knew I was interested in ecology, and having the opportunity to do fieldwork has only cemented that. But through this project, I’ve also discovered my love of lab work, molecular biology, and genetics. I’ve loved using molecular methods to get at ecological questions, and working one-on-one with grad students has only cemented my desire to go to grad school. I'm planning on taking a year or so off to work now that I’ve graduated, and during that time I’m planning on applying to grad schools. I am looking to continue with research in molecular ecology and conservation genetics.
I'm so thankful for everyone in the lab. Alex, Vic, Dietmar, and Alejandro for their mentorship. Maya and Alex for being such amazing research partners. Alejandro for creating this space, and all of the people who work to continue making this space what it is.
Thank you, it’s been an absolute pleasure.
Isabel
Alexandreas's Blog
Alexandrea Otto, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hi there,
June was a very eventful month! Graduation was earlier this month and such a bitter sweet experience overall congratulating and saying goodbye to so many wonderful undergraduates in the lab (I’m saving my formal blog post goodbyes and pictures until next month). In other news, I heard back from the student grant decisions for the upcoming SMM Conference in Perth, Australia in the fall and unfortunately did not receive a travel grant. All is well though, I have not given up just yet. This means I may just have to get more creative looking for funding!
Thesis work has gotten back up to full speed since school finished! I am on the last coding steps looking at the GT-Seq genotyping corrections before the full SNP panel is chosen! Currently I am learning many lessons once again in Linux systems and computers-especially updating and upgrading your programs…I wish it was more fun than it sounded haha but all part of the process!
Til next month and more updates to come!
Alexandrea
Rachel's Blog
Rachel Strober, undergraduate student
1 July 2024
Hey everyone,
I am extremely excited to say this is my first ever blog post for MMEL! I have been a part of the lab for just over a year now, and I can’t believe how fast it has flown by. It feels like just a few months ago I was at the interview table panicking over the question of what my favorite marine mammal is. With the support and kindness of all the lab leaders though, I have grown to love being a member and am honored to have such a large leadership role myself. Haley and I have spent the past month transitioning into becoming the managers of the Whatcom Creek Project, which has been busy but also very fun and exciting. We have decided to continue observations at the creek over the summer starting this week and continuing into the fall! We were lucky enough to have volunteers to commit to helping out over the summer, which will allow us to collect more data over the next few months prior to the salmon run that begins in August. As of right now, we are only doing about 1-2 observations per week, but we plan to have them more frequently towards the middle of August. Seems as though we just can’t get enough of our seal time!
After having a great week visiting family and friends, surfing, mountain biking, and enjoying the start to summer, I am now spending time focusing on learning the skills I will need to conduct my independent project that I will start in the fall. My plan is to work with Dr. Erin D’Agnese, taking on part of her project to determine the sex ratio of salmon in the diet of sea lions. I have helped Erin with her work by homogenizing fish tissue and performing scat extractions, and now I am excited to work on a new project with her where I will get to do a large part of it individually! Also this summer, I will get to expand my time with Victoria and Alex a little bit longer by helping them out in the lab and hopefully learning from them how to perform PCR and qPCR which I will use in my independent project. It will be awesome to not have to say goodbye to those two quite yet!
It’s safe to say that the end of spring quarter didn’t mark an end to a busy schedule, but that just makes me all the more excited for everything going on this summer. I hope everyone is enjoying the long days and warm weather!
Unitl next time,
Rachel