Biology

Confronting modern marine conservations challenges in Cuba

Talk by Melissa J. Glenn, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at Colby College: During early life, environmental factors exert significant influence over the developing brain and organize systems and structures in ways that continue to be evident across the lifespan. One particular factor to which the brain is exquisitely tuned is the dietary availability of specific nutrients. In my lab, we study the essential nutrient, choline, and the extent to which its availability during early life is neuroprotective.

“Chemical ecology of multispecies mutualisms: implications for plants, bees and agriculture” talk by Leif Richardson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources, University of Vermont. Plant-pollinator mutualisms are embedded in ecological communities, where their outcomes are conditional on interactions among multiple species. Floral rewards for pollinators (e.g., nectar and pollen) often contain plant secondary metabolites, yet these chemicals may be deterrent or toxic to consumers.

The brain actively responds to stimuli by remodeling circuits. Of equal importance to this plasticity, is the simultaneous maintenance of synapses that embody key memories and functions. Despite the salience of this choice, the mechanisms that govern synaptic stability are largely unknown. To address this mystery, we are using C. elegans, a model organism with a simple nervous system and powerful genetic tools, to uncover pathways that either promote or block synaptic remodeling.

Science talk by Biology Class of 88 Speaker, Dr. Danielle E. Harlow, Medical Affairs, Teva Neuroscience, Formerly Research Instructor at University of Colorado Medical School. My research has focused on aspects of the neuro-immune interactions underlying the autoimmune demyelinating disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). Depletion of B lymphocytes is an effective treatment for MS, suggesting a pathogenic role for B cells, although the underlying mechanisms of myelin damage remain unclear.

Public Talk by Biology Class of 88 Speaker: Dr. Danielle E. Harlow, Medical Affairs, Teva Neuroscience, Formerly Research Instructor at University of Colorado Medical School. Dr. Harlow will talk about her career path and present some of her research projects at each stage (neural development, astrocyte biology & spinal cord injury, oligodendrocyte biology & myelination). (Will also give a science-oriented talk on Friday 3/4 at 12:30pm).

Lunch provided at 12:15pm. Sponsored by the Department of Biology, www.middlebury.edu/academics/bio

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Mapping Tree Density at the Global Scale Charlie Bettigole (‘05) and Kris Covey will share results from a groundbreaking study of global tree density, one of the most discussed scientific articles of 2015. As part of an international research team lead by Yale’s Forestry School, Charlie and Kris collected over 400,000 ground-based estimates of forest density. Using remote sensing and statistical modeling the study estimates the global number of trees is 3.04 trillion, an order of magnitude higher than the previously thought.

“Mechanisms of mortality and the legacy of land use in dwarf mistletoe-infected spruce forests along the Maine coast”, talk by Barry Logan, Professor, Biology Department, Bowdoin College. Eastern dwarf mistletoe, a diminutive plant parasite, can fell a mature white spruce in a matter of years. Curiously, a closely related host growing in the same forest stands, red spruce, tolerates infection and even succeeds in killing the parasite.

“Spider venom: new technologies yield insights into an ancient predatory adaptation”, seminar by Robert Haney, Dept of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Lowell. While prized for their silk, and the beautiful web designs which are constructed from it, spiders are equally feared for their venom. Spiders are the largest group of venomous animals, as nearly all of the more than 44,000 species of spiders are venomous. Venom plays a critical role in spider feeding, and contains toxins that incapacitate their prey.