Six high school students at the Alabama School of Math and Science are taking science to the sea. They are students from all over the state of Alabama doing college-level research projects that deal with our coastal ecosystems.
Students and instructors at working on research projects in one of the ASMS labs
All of these projects deal with ocean acidification, which occurs when excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reacts with water and creates carbonic acid. Lillian Abernathy, a student researcher at ASMS, explains, “Carbonic acid takes away the necessary nutrients that oysters need to grow their shells.”
Here are the six projects these students are researching:
- Calcium-binding proteins in Crassostrea virginica as indicators of in situ pH stress (Lillian Abernathy, a senior from Geneva County).
- Evaluating the impact of phytochemicals on reducing pathogenicity in Crassostrea virginica under ocean acidification (Naria Khristoforova, a senior from Shelby County).
- Effect of ocean acidification, Perkinsus marinus, submerged aquatic vegetation on apoptosis of hemocytes in Crassostrea virginica (BoKyeong Kim, a junior from Autauga County).
- Ocean acidification’s impact on the susceptibility of Perkinsus marinus in Crassostrea virginica (Hyerin Park, a junior from Autauga County)
- Effects of ocean acidification on Pif gene expression in Crassostrea virginica (Kayty Phan, a junior from Mobile County).
- Lower pH levels decrease the productivity of the nitrogen cycle in Crassostrea virginica pallial fluid (Emma Kate South, a junior from Baldwin County)
“I’m looking at gene expression and what’s called the extra pallial fluid cavity in the eastern oyster,” said Emma Kate South, another student researcher.
Ocean acidification can also affect the oyster’s immune system. Hyerin Park notes that this makes oysters more susceptible to Parkinsus marinas, which eats away at the oyster’s tissue. “It’s a really common pathogen down here and it really affects a lot of the oysters,” Park said.
Protecting oysters is very important for conserving our local habitats and preserving a way of life for many along the Gulf Coast. Abernathy stated, “Maintaining those populations is something I’m really passionate about because people need to make money.”
The Alabama School of Math and Science is able to provide these students with these research opportunities thanks to university level labs. This research helps students decide their future.
“Funding from NOAA from the education grant gives us the ability to do this class…and a skillset that is transferable from high school on to college,” said Dr. Rebecca Domangue.
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Grant Skinner, WKRG, 19 March 2025. Full article.
