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Senior Maureen Auro (Garden City, N.Y.) presented her research on the water quality of a New Jersey stream at the 79th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science April 4-6 in Grantville, Pa.
She is one of 22 Lafayette students who shared their work there (see related story).
Auro, a biology major and environmental science minor, is conducting the research as part of an independent study with Nancy McCreary Waters, associate professor of biology. An award-winning teacher, Waters has conducted research with numerous Lafayette students, many of whom have shared their work through coauthored articles in leading scientific journals and conference presentations.
Auro is analyzing data collected on Merrill Creek by two students a few years ago. They sampled a contained area in close proximity to a llama farm, and the students were curious to see whether the characteristics of the stream were affected by the farm. They used Hester-Dendy artificial substrates, which are uniform masonite surfaces that serve as a point of attachment for macroinvertebrates, organisms without a backbone living in one stage of their life-cycle, such as fly larvae, crayfish, and leeches. Examples of naturally occurring substrates include rocks and sandy, silty material.
The students took samples above, at, and downstream from the llama farm in pools (unidirectional in flow) and riffles (multidirectional in flow), two different types of ecosystems found in the stream. They identified close to 4,000 bugs, and now Auro has picked up the project for all of the analytical work, including confirmation of identifications and data and statistical measures and analyses. She is attempting to find clues about the creek’s water quality in the process.
“How do you assess something as complex as water quality?” asks Waters. “You could run tests on bacteria, minerals, etcThat’s good, but what ecologists have thought about is, ‘Let’s look at what’s living there, and if the organisms can be found in the biggest cesspools of the globe, then the water quality is probably bad. But if the organisms are more sensitive, chances are the quality is pretty good.’”
“With the data we have, I can see why certain macroinvertebrates inhabit certain areas, perhaps due to pollution or extremely nutrient-deficient or abundant waters,” explains Auro.
“Research requires a lot of concentration and focus — there is always a piece of the puzzle that you’re working on, and you can’t let it go because you have something else going on,” explains Waters. “Maureen has learned the value of a methodical, systematic approach, and knowing how she came to the right answer.”
This type of water analysis gives regional, state, and national regulators more information for decisions on managing waterways. Auro says that the project has familiarized her with a variety of statistical and spreadsheet programs, and has given her a great background on macroinvertebrate study, which will be helpful in the area of ecology that she plans to pursue in her career.
“I’ve really enjoyed watching Maureen mature as both a student and a scientist,” says Waters. “I’ve seen a wonderful transition that shows a lot more confidence and intellectual curiosity. Education is a process, not an achievement, and she’s learned how to engage in that process. She’s going to do well; she’s going to know how to ask the right questions, not just the answers to the right questions.”
“I have been fortunate enough to be able to work with Dr. Waters. She is very helpful in every aspect of the research,” says Auro. “Lafayette is a great institution for independent research. Comparably, there are more opportunities here than at other colleges.”
Auro notes that Lafayette is also a good place to major in biology, especially with the creation of new minors such as environmental science, which allow students to pursue other interests.
Auro is foil captain of the fencing team, an executive board member of Newman Association, and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.