CV_Abboud_March2011.doc CV_Abboud_March2011.doc
Size : 16.5 Kb
Type : doc

 Current Curriculum Vitae is available to the left.

Population Structure

As an undergraduate, I conducted research with Dr. Malcolm Hill and Dr. Roni Kingsley at the University of Richmond on Leptogorgia virgulata, the common sea whip. I examined the population structure of sympatric and allopatric populations in order to determine whether the Floridian Peninsula is an effective reproductive barrier to gene flow. I developed a genomic library of repeating motifs using specific homemade primers; I also used COI, ITS, and 28S PCR analysis to compare color variation across individuals. Additionally, I laid out a GIS map of known distributions. Before graduating, I cloned and sequenced individuals to create microsatellite loci to continue this analysis. This project, while preliminary, was my first full-on foray into marine science research.  

Physiological Mechanism of Microbial Community

Figure 1. SEM image of a liquid Nitrogen freeze-fractured piece of L. virgulata. Taken at University of Richmond's Imaging facilities.

            After graduation, I continued working for Dr. Roni Kingsley at the University of Richmond as a Research Assistant. As part of my job, I mentored undergraduates in the spring and summer semesters. I brought my molecular toolbox to a strictly macro-science lab. I worked on L. virgulata sea whips for this time period. L. virgulata is reported to be asymbiotic, with no endosymbiotic dinoflagellates that are typically found in tropical cnidarians. However, L. virgulata may use bacterial symbionts as a mechanism to reduce acidic environments within the gorgonian tissue to form calcium carbonate spicules. To that end, I investigated whether uncultured bacteria within L. virgulata produce urease to reduce acidity. Bacteria unique to surface bacteria were isolated from L. virgulata tissue through a series of dilutions and were cultured and tested for urease production. Bacteria positive for urease production underwent SEM analysis with a series of magnification SEM references for each cultured bacteria in freeze fractured L. virgulata SEM samples to determine possible microbe symbiont location within the sea whip tissue. Possible bacterial endosymbionts were characterized using univ518r primers. Preliminary molecular data suggests there are unique microbes inhabiting L. virgulata tissue, with their location still being investigated. This research will be present at the Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 Meeting in Richmond, VA (07/29/09).

The effect of predation and flow exposure on growth and morphology of Spirobranchus gaymardi   polychaete worms : Masters Thesis at Northeastern University

        The common Christmas tree worm, Spirobranchus gaymardi, is a serpulid tube-dwelling polychaete with several morphological features, including branchial crowns for filter feeding and calcareous spines located at their tube entrances. Variation in these features may be influenced, in part, by the intensity of both water flow and predation, but these interactions are not well-studied. The goal of this research was to examine the effects of water flow and predation intensity on the spine length and aperture width, as well as branchial crown and operculum damage. In Mo’orea, French Polynesia, surveys of serpulids across five different sites with a range of low-to-high flow conditions revealed that serpulid size did not vary consistently with flow intensity, although increased spine length was found in medium intensity flow environments. A spine removal experiment, designed to mimic natural predation, revealed that broken spines grew 167% more compared to control (intact spine) treatments, demonstrating the energy investment of serpulids into spine re-growth. However, spine length did not significantly differ between serpulids exposed to or protected from predation. Thus, morphological variation among S. gaymardi serpulids is more complex than has previously been appreciated, and the ecological function of serpulid spines has yet to be determined.

Acoustic Stress in Winter Flounder from Anthropogenic Boat Use: Intern at New England Aquarium

Helped in a project exploring the dynamics of fish response to the potential stress of ship noise from Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) ports. We played ship noise recordings to fish in sound-isolated tanks at a decibel calibrated to match that of ship noise in the field. The project had two goals: 1) establishing a successful protocol whereby cortisol levels – and thus stress – can be measured both from blood and from water samples, and 2) determine the effects of sound and structure on local populations of winter flounder.

            I worked at the New England Aquarium for 6 months as a research intern position , working with Dr. Randi Rotjan and Dr. John Mandelmann.  (http://www.randirotjan.org/rotjan-research.htm)

Impacts of Anthropogenic Land Use on Scyphozoan Physiology: More Blooms? Ph.D. at UC Merced

 Abstract:

Four large jellyfish species - the lion's mane (Cyanea capillata), moon jelly (Aurelia sp.), egg-yolk jelly (Phacellophora camtschatica), and crystal jelly (Aequorea sp.) - occur off the western coast of the United States. In the Puget Sound, an estuary with a 2,144 km shoreline containing 2,600 km2 saltwater, these jellyfishes inhabit coves affected by coastal land use, as urbanization and agriculture negatively affects water quality. I will explore the impact of water quality on jellyfishes by assessing the differences among locations in 1) environmental water quality, 2) genetic relatedness, 3) jellyfish abundance and parasite load, and 4) gene expression. This research will provide information directly related to jellyfish abundance and parasite load to further understand how anthropogenic land use influence jellyfish blooms.