Applying for NCUR (National conference for undergraduate research) again this year, but this time for biology. Here is my abstract, what do you think??
Naegleria fowleri is an opportunist parasite that infects humans, and other mammals, causing a very rare, but almost always fatal brain infection, primary amebic meningoencephalitis. The criterion for initiating tests for N. fowleri in a water-body is based on temperature, leading to most testing occuring in the southern United States. The flaw in this criterion was shown in 1991, Detterline et al, discovered the presence of N. fowleri in Spirit Lake, Washington. This discovery is noteworthy due to the fact that N. fowleri was not thought to be commonly found in northern habitats, outside of man-made artificially heated waters. By exploring the physiological requirements and life-cycle of N. fowleri, I was able to indicate a probable blooming date in Spirit Lake and its possible effects on the biological community. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens was the key factor to inducing the proper conditions for the bloom. Using the known physiological requirements for temperature, water acidity, dissolved iron, dissolved O2, prey availability, and competition presence levels, the probable initiation of the bloom was dated at July 1981. The limiting factor for the bloom was in line with J. L. Griffin's (1972) flagellate-empty habitat hypothesis. This approach of viewing the presence or absence of competition as the limiting factor in the growth of N. fowleri populations, as opposed to the currently observed factor of temperature, could lead to more efficient detection rates in other possible N. fowleri habitats.
Naegleria fowleri is an opportunist parasite that infects humans, and other mammals, causing a very rare, but almost always fatal brain infection, primary amebic meningoencephalitis. The criterion for initiating tests for N. fowleri in a water-body is based on temperature, leading to most testing occuring in the southern United States. The flaw in this criterion was shown in 1991, Detterline et al, discovered the presence of N. fowleri in Spirit Lake, Washington. This discovery is noteworthy due to the fact that N. fowleri was not thought to be commonly found in northern habitats, outside of man-made artificially heated waters. By exploring the physiological requirements and life-cycle of N. fowleri, I was able to indicate a probable blooming date in Spirit Lake and its possible effects on the biological community. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens was the key factor to inducing the proper conditions for the bloom. Using the known physiological requirements for temperature, water acidity, dissolved iron, dissolved O2, prey availability, and competition presence levels, the probable initiation of the bloom was dated at July 1981. The limiting factor for the bloom was in line with J. L. Griffin's (1972) flagellate-empty habitat hypothesis. This approach of viewing the presence or absence of competition as the limiting factor in the growth of N. fowleri populations, as opposed to the currently observed factor of temperature, could lead to more efficient detection rates in other possible N. fowleri habitats.
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Good luck with your study!
And do I have to say you're proof science can be sexy?
I'd love to see you again as well.
If you ever come back to Europe, you know you have a bed all ready for you at mine!
I read your abstract and it looks like such an interesting thing to study, I hope you're enjoying it!