Student Projects
Be at the leading edge and do original research. Here are some ideas for projects for students doing an independent studies project, a science fair project, a group project for a class, or an exercise for the whole class.
1. How susceptible are common aquatic plants to Phytophthora species, and particularly P. ramorum? This could involve identifying aquatic species for testing and lab inoculation studies.
2. Doing a stream water temperature sequence, i.e. what species are found at various temperatures? When is the water at the optimum temperature for testing for P. ramorum?
3. How does the streamside vegetation affect Phytophthora species diversity in streams? What other characteristics are important? These can include water chemistry, substrate, microbial community... Are urban streams different from streams in remote areas?
4. Basic science projects related to P. gonapodyides and P. gonapdyides "A" , the most commonly found species in streams. These studies can include pathogenicity tests, colony growth and morphology studies, etc. (This could be a subject for a high school or college senior project).
5. Studies on P. gonapodyides and its potential to cause disease, especially on conifer species. This could include inoculation of field-grown and potted trees, culture growth studies.
6. Diversity of P. gonapodyides in streams. Is it a species complex or one species?
7. Using molecular techniques to identify species of Phytophthora
8. Further studies on behavior of P. ramorum in seawater and brackish water.
9. Further studies on using disinfectants on shoes to prevent movement of inoculum.
Other ideas? email Marianne
Some projects done by students in 2010:
Effects of salinity on P. ramorum growth, survival, and sporulation (UW Tacoma)
"The shoe experiment" - testing various disinfectants for sanitizing the bottoms of shoes (Pierce College, Puyallup)