getting oyster data up

posts/frontpage/sr320-oyster_stage/index.qmd

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+title: "Hardening in oysters drives increased growth"
+description: "It's a stage specific thing"
+# author:
+#   - name: Steven Roberts
+#     url: https://sr320.github.io/
+#     orcid: 0000-0001-8302-1138
+#     affiliation: Professor, UW - School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
+#     affiliation-url: https://robertslab.info
+date: 01-19-2024
+categories: [oyster, aquaculture] # self-defined categories
+image: /img/pw.png # finding a good image
+draft: false # setting this to `true` will prevent your post from appearing on your listing page until you're ready!
+
+format:
+  html:
+    code-fold: true
+    code-tools: true
+    code-copy: true
+    highlight-style: github
+    code-overflow: wrap
+---
+
+In the meticulously orchestrated world of marine science, a groundbreaking experiment has unfolded, casting the spotlight on an unlikely protagonist: the oyster. This narrative begins with the arrival of 235 adult oysters from Pacific Hybreed, their sizes ranging impressively from 40 to 100mm, and further complemented by a diverse younger contingent—120 juveniles, 120 seed, and approximately 120 spat, all courtesy of the USDA's 2023 spawn.
+
+The cast of this aquatic drama was not randomly assembled. It consisted of four distinct families, with each family comprising both diploid and triploid oysters. This genetic variance is crucial; diploids possess the standard two sets of chromosomes, typical for most organisms, while triploids boast an extra set, a condition that influences their growth, reproductive capabilities, and potentially their resilience to environmental challenges. This dichotomy set the stage for an experiment designed to probe the depths of oyster biology and adaptation.
+
+The experimental setup divided these oysters into two groups: one destined for a control tank, mirroring their natural aquatic environment at a serene 17ºC, and the other for a treatment tank, where conditions were significantly altered. The latter group was subjected to a deliberate increase in temperature, a gradual ascent of 2ºC per hour until the water reached a stress-inducing 26ºC, maintained for six hours daily over a seven-week span (began 10 2 2023, ended 11 21 2023). This rigorous thermal regimen aimed to simulate the increasingly erratic and harsh conditions wrought by climate change.
+
+![](http://gannet.fish.washington.edu/seashell/snaps/Monosnap_Explanation_2024-03-08_15-17-47.png)
+
+
+Spatial arrangement within the tanks was meticulously planned. Adults resided in bags nestled at the tanks' bottoms, while their younger counterparts—the juveniles, seed, and spat—were housed in tubes, ensuring they remained unexposed to the water that had interacted with other groups. This segregation was crucial for isolating the effects of the experimental conditions on each group.
+
+Adding a layer of complexity, adults and juveniles were subjected to mechanical stress, an innovative use of a salad spinner for 15 minutes on selected dates (10/2/2023, 10/4/2023, 10/11/2023). This unusual methodology aimed to mimic the physical disturbances oysters might face in their natural habitats, from tumbling in currents to encounters with predators and debris.
+
+The culmination of this phase was marked by a meticulous sampling process on November 21, 2023. Selected groups of oysters were divided for detailed analysis, with some undergoing immediate tissue sampling for RNA and DNA analysis, while others faced an additional stress test—a 30-minute immersion in 32ºC water followed by a tumbling session in the salad spinner. This process was designed to simulate an acute stress event, allowing researchers to gauge the oysters' physiological responses to compounded stressors.
+
+Several months later, on February 28, 2024, the experiment was revisited with a focused approach. This time, the younger generation of oysters was spotlighted, undergoing tissue sampling without the prior mechanical stress, to isolate the effects of thermal stress. This phase aimed to deepen the understanding of how varying stages of oyster development respond to environmental pressures, a key consideration for both conservation and aquaculture.
+
+![](http://gannet.fish.washington.edu/seashell/snaps/growth.png)
+
+This experiment is not merely an investigation into the resilience of oysters to thermal and mechanical stress; it's a narrative about adaptation, survival, and the intricate dance of life beneath the waves. Through the lens of these oysters—spanning different life stages, genetic backgrounds, and subjected to carefully orchestrated stressors—scientists are peeling back the layers of marine resilience. The insights gained promise not only to advance our understanding of oyster biology but also to inform sustainable practices in aquaculture and conservation strategies in the face of a changing climate. In essence, this tale of oysters is a microcosm of the broader challenges and opportunities that lie in understanding and safeguarding our blue planet.
+
+
+See [Eric's Post](https://eric-ess.github.io/data-explanation/) for more details.
+

posts/sr320-fhl/index.qmd

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+---
+title: "Marine science mentoring over the summer at FHL"
+description: "Feature on UW SAFS Website"
+# author:
+#   - name: Steven Roberts
+#     url: https://sr320.github.io/
+#     orcid: 0000-0001-8302-1138
+#     affiliation: Professor, UW - School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
+#     affiliation-url: https://robertslab.info
+date: 09-18-2023
+categories: [fhl, mentoring, spotlight] # self-defined categories
+image: https://fish.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2023/09/IMG_2415.jpg # finding a good image
+draft: false # setting this to `true` will prevent your post from appearing on your listing page until you're ready!
+
+format:
+  html:
+    code-fold: false
+    code-tools: false
+    code-copy: false
+    highlight-style: github
+    code-overflow: wrap
+---
+
+This is an excerpt from a feature on the SAFS website. Please read the full article [here](https://fish.uw.edu/2023/09/marine-science-mentoring-over-the-summer-at-fhl/).
+
+# Marine science mentoring over the summer at FHL
+
+Spending the summer at [Friday Harbor Labs](https://fhl.uw.edu/) (FHL), SAFS grad student [Chris Mantegna](https://faculty.washington.edu/sr320/people.html#chris-mantegna) mentored four students -- two as part of the NSF-funded [Research Experience for Undergrads-Blinks](https://fhl.uw.edu/research/summer-research-internships/) (REU) program and two as part of the [Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program](http://uwconservationscholars.org/) (DDCSP). During the program, students get to collaborate on a research project with their scientist-mentor to build marine research skills.
+
+Specifically geared towards enhancing diversity within the marine sciences, the program welcomes students from underrepresented groups. This year, Chris' students came from institutions across the US, including Kentucky, Massachusetts, Vermont and North Carolina, to work with her on an intertidal monitoring survey on Yellow Island in the Salish Sea.
+
+![Ochre sea stars (Pisaster ocherous) found on the island at low tide.](https://fish.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2023/09/IMG_2457.jpg)
+
+The REU-Blinks program based out of FHL takes advantage of the pristine environment, remarkable biodiversity, and the scientific and technical resources available at the marine science research facility. The DDCSP program aims to increase diversity in conservation work and allows students from all over the US a chance to participate in a two-year program where second year scholars participate in an onsite internship of their choosing.
+
+Yellow Island is a nature preserve that The Nature Conservancy purchased in 1980, that also doubles up as a marine reserve, with no boating or fishing allowed within 300 yards of the island. The island is being used by Chris and the research team as a proxy for health in the wider Salish Sea due to the lack of human disturbance.
+
+As part of a wider program sponsored by [Black In Marine Science](https://www.blackinmarinescience.org/)(BIMS) and The Nature Conservancy, Chris restarted a monitoring project to get a better idea of the biodiversity on the island, and this kicked off last year in 2022 with a pilot program nailing down methods for collecting data. This year, with her mentees, the team collected a full season of data, complemented with eDNA work.
+
+continue reading [here](https://fish.uw.edu/2023/09/marine-science-mentoring-over-the-summer-at-fhl/).