Difference between revisions of "Colin Carlson"

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[[Category:EEB People]]
 
[[Category:EEB People]]
  
I am a first semester Honors junior in EEB, and I work with [[Tobias Landberg]] on a research project studying the behavior and morphology of the common snapping turtle (''Chelydra serpentina''), based on footage from a Crittercam project. The footage, collected over the summer, was from three turtles: Jawless and Lafayette from Wethersfield Cove, and Snippy from Shenipsit Lake.  
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[[Image:Anysberg.jpg|365px|left]]
(see the [[snapping turtle research team]] page for the full story on the turtles). Also, for more information on Crittercam itself, visit [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/crittercam/ National Geographic's Crittercam Homepage].
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I am Master's student in EEB. In 2012, I graduated from UConn with a B.S. in EEB and a B.A. in Environmental Studies. I'm currently studying plasticity in the genus ''Pelargonium'', for which I was awarded a '''[http://act.org/goldwater/sch-2011.html 2011 Goldwater Scholarship]'''. I was also named a '''[http://udall.gov/OurPrograms/MKUScholarship/MKUScholarship.aspx 2010 Udall Scholar]''' and a '''[http://truman.gov/meet-our-scholars/meet-our-scholars-detail?ScholarUserId=c0224ca5-ed75-4c1a-b66e-574db4b54d24 2011 Truman Scholar]''' for my environmental work on and off campus.  
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===Research Interests===
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Plant conservation and climate change; functional and evolutionary ecology; ecological modelling.
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==Current research: plasticity and climate change (2010-present)==
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''"All is leaf, and through this simplicity the greatest multiplicity is possible." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe''
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My current research began as a simple project focusing on light-induced leaf shape dimorphism in South African ''Pelargonium'' L’Her (Geraniaceae). The focus of this research can be condensed into the following three questions:
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1. For what traits, in what species, is leaf shape plastic? (The "what?")
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2. Does selection appear to act on plasticity itself, and at what spatial/phylogenetic levels? (The "why?")
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3. Have leaf traits evolved independently in their plasticity, and is there any suggestion of evolutionary/environmental constraints on these traits and/or their plasticity? (The "how?")
  
The purpose of this project is to analyze the behavior of the turtles based on the Crittercam data. This analysis encompasses the breath, dive, pausing, walking, and other aspects of locomotion of the three turtles.
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With the help of a CCB Summer Undergraduate Research Award, I traveled to South Africa during the summer of 2010 with the [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/South_Africa_-_IRES_2010 NSF IRES 2010 group] to measure leaf shape variation in a natural context. For the next year, I studied plasticity experimentally at UConn, examining plastic responses to water stress and shade cues, as well as the associated fitness costs and phylogenetic patterns of this phenotypic flexibility. In many ways, ''Pelargonium'' is an ideal model organism for testing theories of phenotypic plasticity's role in adaptive radiation, given its surprisingly high diversity and the impressive, widespread and diverse nature of plasticity in the genus.
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[[Image:red.jpg|285px|left]]
  
==Quantified Behaviors==
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After completing these projects, I entered a new phase in my research, focused on turning our new understanding of the limits and costs of plasticity into valuable information on species vulnerability to climate change. The project focused in particular on evaluating the vulnerability of ''P. elongatum'', a species that is currently classified as Least Concern in South Africa, and that has displayed tremendous plasticity in both natural and experimental settings. ''P. elongatum'' has served as a "testing ground" for a novel set of spatially-discrete models that include the costs of plasticity into otherwise entirely climate-driven ecological niche models, with the goal of understanding the consequences of potentially-costly plasticity for population survival.  
In all of the analyses, it was important to describe behaviors with a simple terminology. Six basic behaviors can be defined for the purposes of these analyses. The two simplest behaviors are breathing, in which the turtle comes up to breathe, and pausing, in which the turtle does not move.   During locomotion, four behaviors can be categorized: vertical swimming (up vs. down), swimming horizontally, and walking along the bottom of the cove or lake.
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Thus far, these models have suggested that the future of ''P. elongatum'' is strongly dependent on demographic conditions, and while the species may indeed be low priority for conservation, a very small range of variation in seed and adult survivorship could even have the ability to drive the species to extinction in the next ten years. (More about these findings will be presented this April at Frontiers in Undergraduate Research and the results of the models are also currently being prepared for publication.) Ultimately, it is my hope that this project will take a crucial first step towards applying theoretical models of plasticity and extinction risk to actual high-diversity, high-plasticity, high-risk clades.  
  
==Breath-Dive Analysis==
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==Other research projects==
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====Snapping Turtle Research (2008-2010)====
  
[[Image:Breath Histograms.jpg|thumb|left|Fig. 1: Breath duration histograms for the three turtles. From top to bottom, data collected from: Jawless, Lafayette, Snippy. Note that each graph is roughly centered at a different location.]]
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This project analyzed the behavior of three Snapping Turtles (''Chelydra serpentina'') along the Connecticut river. The footage, collected over the summer, was from the turtles Jawless and Lafayette from Wethersfield Cove, and Snippy from Shenipsit Lake. (see the [[snapping turtle research team]] page for the full story on the turtles). Also, for more information on Crittercam itself, visit [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/crittercam/ National Geographic's Crittercam Homepage]. This analysis encompassed the breath, dive, pausing, walking, and other aspects of locomotion of the three turtles. If you would like to read more about the actual data analysis, check out [[Snapping Turtle Research: Analyses and Conclusions]].
[[Image:Dive Histograms.jpg|thumb|right|Fig. 2: Dive duration histograms for the three turtles. From top to bottom, data collected from: Jawless, Lafayette, Snippy. Though the difference is slight, this stands in contrast to the breath-duration histograms, as Jawless and Lafayette's plots are both similarly log-normal, although both again differ from Snippy's plot.]]
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The breath and diving behavior of the turtles suggests an influence of habitat on these behaviors. For breath duration (Fig. 1), all turtles were slightly different, yet Jawless and Lafayette were more similar to eachother than to Snippy. This is also true of the distribution of dive durations for the three turtles (Fig. 2). A potential explanation of this difference is based on the depth of the water the turtles were inhabiting during the filming: whereas Jawless and Lafayette are in shallow water and so do not have to swim vertically as much as Snippy (who is in much deeper water), which may reduce the turtles' need to breath longer breaths.  
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My research on this project was divided into two main stages. First came an analysis of the duration and frequency of breathing and diving behaviors, which revealed a strong positive relationship between breath and dive duration. Second, I described behavioral patterns in the turtles through an analysis of locomotion that was divided into five sub-categories, and I found strong differences between average limb frequency cycles.
  
As to the actual relationship between breath and dive, I have found a strong relationship, especially for Snippy. These factors of breath and dive duration ultimately go hand in hand (Fig. 3). I have also statistically tested this fit, and found a strong positive correlation. Note that the order of the breaths is not significant: the fits are equally good for a breath and the preceding dive, and the breath and following dive. These results have been statistically shown to be strongly significant.
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====Sacred Groves and Community-based Conservation (2010-2012)====
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As sacred groves are one of the most ancient forms of community-based conservation, my Environmental Studies senior thesis seeks to understand a number of questions about their function and distribution, with a particular focus on tracing the origins of tree worship on a global scale. By using comparative linguistics, ethnographic records and archeobotany, I have attempted to trace these origins as far back as they go, to approximately 10,000-15,000 BP. Ultimately, my goal is to understand why groves are so stable - and how this stability can be achieved by secular conservation institutions. Moreover, as globalization eradicates local tradition and culture in many places, the socio-religious foundation that supports maintenance of sacred groves is becoming precarious. In order to ensure the ecological integrity and cultural heritage embodied in sacred groves, it is necessary to consider the social, political and environmental factors that influence the formation, preservation and potential destruction of sacred groves and the belief systems that maintain them.
  
[[Image:TherealSnippybreath&dive.jpg|thumb|right|Fig. 4: Time Plot, Breath and Dive Duration Over Time for Snippy (Blue Line = Dive Duration; Black Line = Breath Duration)]]
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====Conservation Philosophy and Career Aspirations====
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<tt>''"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - George W. Bush''</tt>
  
==Locomotion Analysis, Parts 1 and 2: Pausing & Limb Frequency Cycles==
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One of the major problems that faces conservation and environmental advocacy is that advocates don't always understand science, and environmental biologists aren't always skilled advocates (no offense, guys!). This gap between activism and science is one that I have found to be a major obstacle in my environmental work as director of the [http://webpages.charter.net/cool_coventry_club/home.htm Cool Coventry Club] and as a steering comittee member of the Connecticut Youth Activist Network, and it is one that has shaped my career goals profoundly. More about me: I'm part of the EcoHouse living community on campus (and will continue to be next year), a member of environmental organizations such as EcoHusky, and this October I was the chief organizer of the first-ever UConn Environmental Justice Forum, funded by the [http://humanrights.uconn.edu/ Human Rights Institute]. After I graduate from UConn, I plan to go to graduate school to receive my Ph.D., and ultimately hope to stay in academia, conducting research with conservation-relevant implications.
  
The first stage of locomotion analysis in my snapping turtle research was a preliminary analysis of when the turtles paused, and when the turtles were locomoting. This analysis did ''not'' include when the turtle was breathing, and did not differentiate between different forms of locomotion. This analysis provided a framework for knowing when the turtles were pausing. However, the major start to analyzing locomotion data came in recording limb frequency cycles for the three turtles. This is currently complete for Jawless and Snippy, and is underway for Lafayette. During continuous bouts of locomotion, the number of limb movements on the right side of the turtle (a logical proxy for the number of limb cycles) is recorded, as is the time duration of the bout. By dividing the movements into duration, a measure of cycles per second for limb cycle frequency is created.  
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==Publications==
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[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Tobias_Landberg Landberg, T.], Carlson, C. J., Abernathy, K., Luginbuhl, C., Gemme, P. and Mergins, C. (2010) Natural History Notes: CHELYDRA SERPENTINA SERPENTINA L. (Eastern Snapping Turtle). SURVIVAL AFTER INJURY. Herpetological Review 41(1):70-71. {{pdf|Landbergetal2010Jawless.pdf}}
  
Plotting this over time, there is clearly a negative trend in Jawless's limb cycle frequency. This suggests an escape response, with high initial locomotion rates that decline as the turtle "relaxes,"  or in more scientific (and accurate) terms, decreases its overall stress level in response to a lack of human intervention and adjustment to the context.
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==Poster Presentations==
  
==Locomotion Analysis, Part 3: Kinds of Locomotion==
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Carlson, C.J., C.D. Schlichting, and A.M. Wilson. (2012) Phenotypic plasticity and extinction risk in South African plants: a reaction norm approach to ecological modeling. UConn Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition. April 13-14, 2012. {{pdf|http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/images/1/12/Frontiers2012.pdf}}
  
[[Image:SnippybehaviorANOVA.jpg|thumb|left|Fig. 5: Bar Chart with Intervals for Snippy Locomotion. There is a significant difference between the LCF of horizontal swimming and all the other behaviors, but those other three behaviors are not significantly different.]]
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Carlson, C.J. and C.D. Schlichting. (2011) Dimensionality and Diversification: “Shedding Light” on Natural Phenotypic Plasticity in Pelargonium (Geraniaceae). UConn Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition. April 15, 2011.
  
For these turtles, there are different methods of locomotion that can be differentiated into four behaviors: moving horizontally, swimming up, swimming down, and walking. To monitor limb frequency cycles differing between these behaviors, every bout of locomotion was recorded with the kind of behavior as well as limb cycle frequency. From an ANOVA it appears swimming horizontally for Snippy was significantly slower than swimming vertically (in either direction) and walking (Fig. 5). However, because Jawless is
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==Invited Talks/Other Presentations==
  
==Current Analyses==
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The origins and future of sacred forests: How the history of a dying institution can inform conservation in the twenty-first century. Sponsored by UConn Department of Anthropology. April 26, 2012.
  
Right now, I've finished analyzing breathing rates for all three turtles and a simple analysis of diving vs. pausing, and the data on limb locomotion rates for Jawless and Snippy. I intend to continue this analysis for Lafayette. Ultimately, this is intended to create a full time-scale chart that records the activity of the turtles at any given time, as well as the duration of these events, and for locomotion, the number of limb movements. This data will be analyzed in the hopes of finding trends in the behavior of the turtles.
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Rethinking the scale of environmental tolerance: a new spatial modelling approach to plasticity and climate change. UConn Biology Undergraduate Research Colloquium. April 27, 2012.
  
[[Image:Labirintus3.jpg]]  
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[[Image:Labirintus3.jpg|left]]
Questions or comments can be sent to Colin.Carlson@UConn.edu
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Questions or comments about this page or its twin ([[Snapping Turtle Research: Analyses and Conclusions]]) can be sent to Colin.Carlson@UConn.edu

Latest revision as of 18:36, 18 August 2012

Anysberg.jpg

I am Master's student in EEB. In 2012, I graduated from UConn with a B.S. in EEB and a B.A. in Environmental Studies. I'm currently studying plasticity in the genus Pelargonium, for which I was awarded a 2011 Goldwater Scholarship. I was also named a 2010 Udall Scholar and a 2011 Truman Scholar for my environmental work on and off campus.

Research Interests

Plant conservation and climate change; functional and evolutionary ecology; ecological modelling.

Current research: plasticity and climate change (2010-present)

"All is leaf, and through this simplicity the greatest multiplicity is possible." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

My current research began as a simple project focusing on light-induced leaf shape dimorphism in South African Pelargonium L’Her (Geraniaceae). The focus of this research can be condensed into the following three questions:

1. For what traits, in what species, is leaf shape plastic? (The "what?")

2. Does selection appear to act on plasticity itself, and at what spatial/phylogenetic levels? (The "why?")

3. Have leaf traits evolved independently in their plasticity, and is there any suggestion of evolutionary/environmental constraints on these traits and/or their plasticity? (The "how?")

With the help of a CCB Summer Undergraduate Research Award, I traveled to South Africa during the summer of 2010 with the NSF IRES 2010 group to measure leaf shape variation in a natural context. For the next year, I studied plasticity experimentally at UConn, examining plastic responses to water stress and shade cues, as well as the associated fitness costs and phylogenetic patterns of this phenotypic flexibility. In many ways, Pelargonium is an ideal model organism for testing theories of phenotypic plasticity's role in adaptive radiation, given its surprisingly high diversity and the impressive, widespread and diverse nature of plasticity in the genus.

Red.jpg

After completing these projects, I entered a new phase in my research, focused on turning our new understanding of the limits and costs of plasticity into valuable information on species vulnerability to climate change. The project focused in particular on evaluating the vulnerability of P. elongatum, a species that is currently classified as Least Concern in South Africa, and that has displayed tremendous plasticity in both natural and experimental settings. P. elongatum has served as a "testing ground" for a novel set of spatially-discrete models that include the costs of plasticity into otherwise entirely climate-driven ecological niche models, with the goal of understanding the consequences of potentially-costly plasticity for population survival.


Thus far, these models have suggested that the future of P. elongatum is strongly dependent on demographic conditions, and while the species may indeed be low priority for conservation, a very small range of variation in seed and adult survivorship could even have the ability to drive the species to extinction in the next ten years. (More about these findings will be presented this April at Frontiers in Undergraduate Research and the results of the models are also currently being prepared for publication.) Ultimately, it is my hope that this project will take a crucial first step towards applying theoretical models of plasticity and extinction risk to actual high-diversity, high-plasticity, high-risk clades.

Other research projects

Snapping Turtle Research (2008-2010)

This project analyzed the behavior of three Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) along the Connecticut river. The footage, collected over the summer, was from the turtles Jawless and Lafayette from Wethersfield Cove, and Snippy from Shenipsit Lake. (see the snapping turtle research team page for the full story on the turtles). Also, for more information on Crittercam itself, visit National Geographic's Crittercam Homepage. This analysis encompassed the breath, dive, pausing, walking, and other aspects of locomotion of the three turtles. If you would like to read more about the actual data analysis, check out Snapping Turtle Research: Analyses and Conclusions.

My research on this project was divided into two main stages. First came an analysis of the duration and frequency of breathing and diving behaviors, which revealed a strong positive relationship between breath and dive duration. Second, I described behavioral patterns in the turtles through an analysis of locomotion that was divided into five sub-categories, and I found strong differences between average limb frequency cycles.

Sacred Groves and Community-based Conservation (2010-2012)

As sacred groves are one of the most ancient forms of community-based conservation, my Environmental Studies senior thesis seeks to understand a number of questions about their function and distribution, with a particular focus on tracing the origins of tree worship on a global scale. By using comparative linguistics, ethnographic records and archeobotany, I have attempted to trace these origins as far back as they go, to approximately 10,000-15,000 BP. Ultimately, my goal is to understand why groves are so stable - and how this stability can be achieved by secular conservation institutions. Moreover, as globalization eradicates local tradition and culture in many places, the socio-religious foundation that supports maintenance of sacred groves is becoming precarious. In order to ensure the ecological integrity and cultural heritage embodied in sacred groves, it is necessary to consider the social, political and environmental factors that influence the formation, preservation and potential destruction of sacred groves and the belief systems that maintain them.

Conservation Philosophy and Career Aspirations

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - George W. Bush

One of the major problems that faces conservation and environmental advocacy is that advocates don't always understand science, and environmental biologists aren't always skilled advocates (no offense, guys!). This gap between activism and science is one that I have found to be a major obstacle in my environmental work as director of the Cool Coventry Club and as a steering comittee member of the Connecticut Youth Activist Network, and it is one that has shaped my career goals profoundly. More about me: I'm part of the EcoHouse living community on campus (and will continue to be next year), a member of environmental organizations such as EcoHusky, and this October I was the chief organizer of the first-ever UConn Environmental Justice Forum, funded by the Human Rights Institute. After I graduate from UConn, I plan to go to graduate school to receive my Ph.D., and ultimately hope to stay in academia, conducting research with conservation-relevant implications.

Publications

Landberg, T., Carlson, C. J., Abernathy, K., Luginbuhl, C., Gemme, P. and Mergins, C. (2010) Natural History Notes: CHELYDRA SERPENTINA SERPENTINA L. (Eastern Snapping Turtle). SURVIVAL AFTER INJURY. Herpetological Review 41(1):70-71. Pdficon small.gif

Poster Presentations

Carlson, C.J., C.D. Schlichting, and A.M. Wilson. (2012) Phenotypic plasticity and extinction risk in South African plants: a reaction norm approach to ecological modeling. UConn Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition. April 13-14, 2012. Pdficon small.gif

Carlson, C.J. and C.D. Schlichting. (2011) Dimensionality and Diversification: “Shedding Light” on Natural Phenotypic Plasticity in Pelargonium (Geraniaceae). UConn Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition. April 15, 2011.

Invited Talks/Other Presentations

The origins and future of sacred forests: How the history of a dying institution can inform conservation in the twenty-first century. Sponsored by UConn Department of Anthropology. April 26, 2012.

Rethinking the scale of environmental tolerance: a new spatial modelling approach to plasticity and climate change. UConn Biology Undergraduate Research Colloquium. April 27, 2012.

Labirintus3.jpg




Questions or comments about this page or its twin (Snapping Turtle Research: Analyses and Conclusions) can be sent to Colin.Carlson@UConn.edu