Coastal phytoplankton are important contributors to primary productivity due to high growth rates in nutrient-rich waters. Phytoplankton abundance and community composition may be the result of anthropogenic forces, including wastewater and runoff inputs. In fact, anthropogenic forces are likely leading to increased harmful algae bloom (HAB) frequency, comprising dinoflagellates (about 75% of HAB taxa) and diatoms that grow to high abundances and can produce toxins that affect birds, mammals, and humans. The Santa Monica Bay provides a unique geography, climate, and ecosystem for our study as it receives significant wastewater and runoff from nearby watersheds, with its first records of massive red tides attributed to dinoflagellates beginning in the 20th century. However, phytoplankton abundance and distributions along the coastline are often concentrated, with gaps in understanding their community composition. Samples were taken on UCLA’s research Zodiac from March through July of 2023, and phytoplankton taxonomic groups were quantified microscopically to determine phytoplankton abundance and distribution in Santa Monica Bay during one annual cycle. Data are analyzed to evaluate onshore and offshore distribution and correlations with physical and chemical environmental factors. This project aims to identify and evaluate conditions that lead to harmful and non-harmful algal bloom events to protect local biota and beach-goers dependent on the Southern California coastal ocean waters.

Lettuce is a valuable agricultural product, which totals $4.6 billion in Arizona and California, and is an important component of a healthy diet. Lettuce is susceptible to Fusarium wilt disease, caused by the soilborne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOL), which renders plants unmarketable. The most effective tactic to manage Fusarium wilt is use of resistant lettuce cultivars that prevent or limit disease development. In 2021, however, researchers identified a new race of FOL in coastal California with the ability to overcome resistance in some cultivars. Recently, lettuce growers in Arizona have anecdotally observed unusual behavior of Fusarium wilt in several fields, but Arizona lettuce fields have not been surveyed for the new FOL race. The objectives of this study are to determine the race of 50 FOL samples collected from 2020 to 2024. FOL samples will be tested against two lettuce cultivars that have opposing resistant or susceptible reactions to the endemic and new races. Lettuce seedlings will be root-dipped in a spore suspension of each FOL sample for 10 minutes , grown in the greenhouse for 4 weeks, and assessed for Fusarium wilt severity.. Samples will also be characterized in PCR assays that specifically detect two of the four known FOL races. The expected results of this study are to understand the geographical distribution of FOL races. The geographic distribution of FOL races is critical knowledge that will allow growers to select cultivars that are resistant to FOL races in their region.

Human-driven nutrient enrichment alters microbial communities in wetland soils, with significant ecological consequences. In these ecosystems, soil bacteria play essential roles in nutrient cycling, promoting plant growth, and maintaining ecological balance. However, long-term disturbances from agriculture and industrialization have increased nitrogen and phosphorus inputs into natural systems. These nutrient surpluses can shift microbial competitive dynamics, favoring traits that promote rapid growth and resource acquisition, often at the expense of microbial diversity and ecosystem stability. This study investigates the effects of sustained nutrient enrichment on phenotypic traits in Bacillus species. Isolates were collected from an ecological research site in eastern North Carolina that received consistent fertilization treatments for over 20 years, along with control plots that remained unfertilized. To assess how nutrient availability influences microbial competitive strategies, we measured key phenotypic traits associated with environmental fitness: growth rate, antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, capsule production, and sporulation. These traits were quantified using standardized microbiological assays, including spectrophotometric growth curves, disc diffusion tests for antibiotic sensitivity, crystal violet staining for biofilms, and differential staining for capsules and endospores. All three Bacillus isolates were Gram-positive, motile, and resistant to penicillin. Among them, WRC 289 showed the highest antibiotic resistance and confirmed biofilm formation. A potential trend suggests isolates from fertilized plots may exhibit fewer antibiotic resistances. Additional research is needed to determine how fertilization affects sporulation and capsule production. These findings highlight the potential for long-term nutrient inputs to reshape microbial traits and community structure, ultimately influencing soil health, plant-microbe interactions, and ecosystem resilience.

Boron toxicity is an important abiotic stress that limits grapevine productivity, particularly in arid and alkaline regions where boron can accumulate in soils due to irrigation practices. Rootstocks, the root systems onto which fruiting scions are grafted, are known to influence nutrient uptake and stress responses, yet their role in mitigating boron toxicity remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the physiological and morphological responses of diverse grapevine rootstocks under boron stress. Selected rootstocks will be grown in a controlled