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CHESAPEAKE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY I SOLOMONS, MD ISSUE 97Lab LinesSEPTEMBER 20241Directors ViewThe Fall semester is in full swing, it is great to see many returning from field trips and our scientists engaging at meetings and conferences, then again who can turn down a trip to Hawaii? (More on that later). September was a fantastic month for showcasing our science to the local community. Our open house was a huge success, thanks to all of you who helped organize ahead of the day and in volunteering for the event; hold the date for September 6th for next year – our 100th year! Looking ahead we have many more exciting community activities coming up in October, as a reminder all of these are listed on our CBL events google calendar including any zoom links needed for hybrid offerings, please make sure to check it out! Starting Tuesday October 8th, we have the first in a series of four for our Fall 2024 Science for Communities seminar series at 7pm in the Bernie Fowler Laboratory (and also available via zoom), all are welcome to join and please invite you family and friends. This series is focused on some of our local-long term datasets, so come hear about the fish seining survey in front of the Pier, the terrapin population over at the Patuxent Naval air station, ecological surveys at Cove Point Marsh by the LNG plant and our graduate students presenting their recently published paper highlighting the pier monitoring data. Now back to Hawaii! Many of our scientists and students recently attended the 154th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. A huge congratulations goes out to Samara Nehemiah for receiving two awards at this conference! A reminder to all our students and scientists attending conferences and meetings, please tell us about them, send us pictures of you presenting at these events, and of course let us know when you win awards! A reminder that every Wednesday from October 15th onwards we will have our distinguished speaker seminar series at 11am in BFL followed by individual faculty and meetings with our FRAs and students, a number coming up are for UMCES promotions so please make every effort to attend. And finally on Saturday October 12th we will have a booth at the Patuxent River Appreciation Day (PRAD) at Calvert Marine Museum, thank you to our volunteers, please all come out to the event and stop by!

Most of the Woodland Lab recently traveled toHonolulu for the 154th Annual Meeting of theAmerican Fisheries Society (just for fun, attached is aphoto from the Awaʻawapuhi Trail, Kauai). Ourpresentations included:1. Nina Santos, Catherine Fitzgerald, James Pierson,Michael Wilberg, Ryan J Woodland. Modeling multi-prey functional response for an estuarine omnivoreunder a range of realistic experimental temperatures(Oral)2. Matthew Stefanak, Ryan Woodland. Estuarine-marine connectivity dynamics within the ChesapeakeBay plume benthos and juvenile fish (Oral)3. Theresa Murphy, Ryan Woodland, Mike O'Brien,Dave Secor. So Easy, Everyone Can Do It! EffectiveSurveys for Collaborative Estuarine Science (Oral)4. Ryan Woodland, Nina Santos, Theresa Murphy,Angel Reyes, Matthew Stefanak, Michael O’Brien,David Secor. Assessing the prevalence andecological characteristics of habitat connectivitybetween Maryland’s coastal lagoons and coastalocean for juvenile fish (Oral)5. Lael Collins, Michael Wilberg, Ryan Woodland.Comparing Diel Fish Assemblages and Diets inNearshore Chesapeake Bay Habitat (Oral)In Case You Missed ItSamara Nehemiah received the J FrancesAllen Scholarship and the John E. SkinnerAward at the National American FisheriesSociety meeting on Sept. 18. "The J FrancesAllen Scholarship was established in 1986 tohonor Allen, who pioneered women’sinvolvement in the AFS and in the field offisheries. The scholarship fund was establishedwith the intent of encouraging women tobecome fisheries professionals." JohnE.Skinner Memorial award: provides monetarytravel awards for deserving graduate studentsor exceptional undergraduate students toattend the AFS annual meeting.On Monday September 9 th we hosted the St. Mary’s Garden club’s Annual meeting in theBernie Fowler Laboratory whopresented a check to CBL in support of graduate research.Photo Credit: Kaitlynn WadePhoto Credit: Ryan Woodland2

On Sunday September 15 th our campus hosted the 23rd AnnualCalvert County Watermen’s Festival and Boat DockingCompetition. The campus was packed, not a single parking spacewas available. We had our Dolphin Watch display tent up andopened our visitor center to the public (thank you to the IT team ,Tom Miller for helping with the displays) and Louise Carroll forrunning it. Carys Mitchelmore welcomed the community tocampus and was honored to receive a $1,000 check from theWatermen’s Association in support of our graduate studentsresearch and professional development.On Tuesday September 17 th Carys Mitchelmore gave atalk to the Chesapeake Garden Club at their meeting atthe All Saint’s Hall in Sunderland. The group was veryexcited to hear all about the research that our graduatestudents are engaged in and an update of our newUMCES and CBL programs, initiatives and new building.They are a continued supporter of our graduate programand presented CBL with a check for $1,000 in support ofstudent activities.On Monday 23rd and Wednesday 25thSeptember we welcomed groups ofundergraduate students from St Mary’s Collegeof Maryland who learnt all about the research wedo here, they were especially interested to hearabout our real-time water quality monitoring andthe Patuxent Sentinel website (maybe becausethey drove through some pretty deep flood waterby the Tiki bar coming in!) They also heard allabout our graduate education program andpotential opportunities for the senior researchprojects, some of you may be hearing from them!In Case You Missed ItPhoto Credit: Carys MitchelmorePhoto Credit: Louise CarrollPhoto Credit: Carys Mitchelmore3

Recent Publications & ProposalsRyan Woodland, Danielle Quill, Louis Plough, Joseph Molina, Theresa Murphy, Oliver Autrey, GescheWinkler. In press. Clutch Size, but Not Growth Rate, Differs Between Genetically Well-Mixed Populations ofthe Mysid Neomysis americana (S.I. Smith, 1873) in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries with Differing WaterQuality. https://rdcu.be/dS06xJ. Grembreier. Graduate Research Fellowship Program- Nicolas Silverson Year 2, 2024-2025. NSF$53,000.J. Frank. Coastal Bays Environmental Monitoring Program- Coastal Bays Water Quality Analysis. MDNR.$73,773.33.G. Nesslage. NSF IUCRC REU (PSC). University of Southern Mississippi. $8,000.L. Harris. NSF INCLUDES: Supporting Emerging Aquatic Scientists (SEAS) Islands Alliance. University ofthe Virgin Islands. $62,576.Open House Recap4The Open House was a great success, with over 600 visitors excitedly watching the displays and joining in the hands-on activities.All of the displays, demos, and activities were not just fun, but were also informative highlighting the great science that you all do.I am still receiving compliments on how welcoming, passionate, and enthusiastic everyone was while describing and showcasingtheir science, and how wonderful our campus grounds, building and facilities looked. Crowds gathered around the seining curiousabout what the net would bring. The dynamic chemist trio blowing up marshmallows, showcasing chemical reactions, and makingbouncy balls was a huge hit again. The newest members of the team, the adorable baby terrapins, were the talk of the town aswere the oysters. Everyone loved driving the ROV, making bioplastics, and crafting the chromatography flowers. I also heardmany talking about the bird safe dots, Tail Winds, Dolphin Watch, the climate change stations, the seagrass display, and thefield/boat deployment displays. It was also great to see the visitor center back up running again.We were joined by our UMCES partners IMET, Appalachian Lab, IAN, & our development team.Together with numerous externalpartners:·Department of Natural Resources·St. Mary’s College·Calvert County Environmental Commission·Calvert Marine Museum·Friends of Hunting Creek·Friend of Mill Creek·Friends Of St. Mary’s River·Friends of St. Clements Bay·UMCES Donor Relations·Natural Resource PoliceThere are simply too many of you to call out and thank individually. You all made this the success it was, both on the day andduring all of the preparations that occurred beforehand. You are all very much appreciated.

Open House Recap5

Welcome to CBL! Welcome to CBL!CBL Community,Sunday marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated annually from September 15 to October15. This month-long celebration coincides with Independence Day Anniversaries for many nations including El Salvador,Guatemala, Honduras, Chile, Mexico, and others. This month recognizes and honors American contributions by the more than60 million Americans with roots in Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking nations of theCaribbean. The National Museum of the American Latino’s online exhibit “Shaping the Nation” explores how Latinx andHispanic Americans have made advancements in the United States through advocacy, entrepreneurship, science, art, and otherplatforms.To celebrate Hispanic Heritage month locally, the Lexington Park Library will be holding a Hispanic Heritage Month celebrationon Sunday, September 15th. Additionally, the Maryland-National Capital Park And Planning Commission will also hold itsHispanic Festival at Lane Manor Park on Sunday, September 15th. For additional learning opportunities, a collection of onlineexhibits and videos are available from a joint effort by the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration,National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and UnitedStates Holocaust Memorial Museum.Sincerely, The CBL Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEIC)The CBL DEIC is committed to listening, learning, and implementing change. If there is something that is misrepresented orincorrect, please let us know.DEICNew FacesJen Jackson works as the Clean Vessel Act Program Administratorfor Maryland's Department of Natural Resources. She manages theprogram that provides grants to marinas across the state to installpumpout stations. In addition to the "feel good" portion of her jobwhich is highly rewarding, it allows her to visit all of the nooks andcrannies across the state to inspect marinas. Jen attended St.Mary's College of Maryland and lives in Chesapeake Beach. Sheenjoys travel, camping and spending time with her two daughters.Sarah Rains is a volunteer in Michael Wilberg’s Lab.6

Please click here to volunteer for the Science for Community Series & PRADHave any noteworthy news to share with thepublic? Don’t forget to share it with the UMCEScommunication team!CLICK HEREUpcoming EventsKeep an eye on CBL’s Event Calendar for upcoming events7

Now that summer has come to an end and school is back in session, it's a great time to recap how theSummer Wave of Plastic Professional Development Series went for Carys Mitchelmore and JessicaMcGlinsey. The Wave of Plastic (WoP) is a MWEE curricular unit designed to teach students about plasticwaste—what it is, where it comes from, how it reaches the environment, its impact on aquatic ecosystems,and, most importantly, how students can become agents of change. If you're unfamiliar with WoP, you canlearn more about it here: Wave of Plastic.Initially launched in middle schools in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties, WoP has now expanded intoCharles County Public Middle Schools and Anne Arundel County Public High Schools. Carys and Jessicarecently conducted a two-day professional development program for middle school science teachers inCharles County Public Schools, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to implement the 9-weekWave of Plastic unit in 6th-grade science classes during the 2024-2025 school year. The professionaldevelopment included hands-on experiments, making it a fun and engaging experience for the teachers.While WoP has traditionally been a middle school science program, this year saw the development of anew high school chemistry unit for Anne Arundel County Public High Schools. Carys and Jessica createdteacher and student workbooks, along with an online professional development session, to prepare highschool chemistry teachers to deliver this 3-day unit in the 2024-2025 school year. The high school unitfocuses on the molecular properties of plastics and their relationship to the periodic table. Students willinvestigate plastics based on the seven recycling codes, as well as compostable and bioplastics at amolecular level. They'll explore which plastics can be recycled based on their composition, and moreimportantly, whether and how plastics degrade or biodegrade. We're excited to see the results of theiryear-long experiment testing the degradability of compostable and bioplastics! Wave of Plastics8

Filtration SafetyHere are some safety tips to follow when filtering samples in the laboratory:1. Inspect the glassware before using it. Make sure it is free from cracks, flaws and scratches.2. If you are using a vacuum pump, please inspect it to be sure it is in working order.3. Only use vessels designed for vacuum. If it is possible, only use flasks that have a volume of liter or less. These are less likely to explode.Thin walled or round bottom flasks should never be used.4. If the glassware is not safety coated, it should be covered with tape or plastic mesh to restrain any fragments in case it breaks.5. Know the chemical(s) you are working with. Read the Safety Data Sheet(s) to know the hazards of the chemical, first aid measures, and whatPPE you should be wearing. There is a risk of poisoning resulting from cuts from broken glass.6. When fitting the tubing to the glassware, you can use a lubricant on the glass piece or immerse the tubing in hot water to make it easier toconnect to the glass. Do NOT force the tubing, the glass piece could snap resulting in injury.7. Wear PPE – safety glasses (or goggles) and face shields to protect your head, neck and chest from flying glass shards.8. Use a trap. Do not allow water, solvents or gases to be drawn into the vacuum system.https://www.labmanager.com/10-tips-to-reduce-vacuum-flask-hazards-19030https://www.safety.duke.edu/laboratory-safety/work-practices-ppe/working-safely-vacuumhttps://ehs.princeton.edu/laboratory-research/laboratory-safety/laboratory-equipment-and-engineering/pressure-and-vacuum-systemsFiltering Accidents (these are excerpts from the Dept. of Energy and Univ. of Delaware websites. Links have been included) In one Department of Energy laboratory, a chemist received superficial chemical burns to the face when an implosion occurred during theroutine preparation of an acrylic acid compound. At the time of the incident, the chemist was removing oxygen from a glass flask in which he hadbeen collecting a filtered solution of water and sodium hydroxide. Shortly after the chemist began the evacuation process, the bottle imploded,projecting its contents onto his face and clothing. Fortunately, the chemist was wearing safety glasses and protective clothing, and his burnswere only superficial. During their investigation into the incident, investigators found that when collecting the water/sodium hydroxide solution,the chemist substituted a 4-liter Erlenmeyer flask for the 1-liter, vacuum-filter flask called for in the laboratory’s procedures.However, the flask the chemist substituted was structurally incapable of withstanding the pressure of a vacuum.http://www.hyvac.com/Other_items/Safety/implosion.htmVacuum Flask IncidentA researcher at the University of Delaware was performing tissue culture work. They had a vacuum flask set up to aspirate the cell culture mediaoff the samples. This consisted of a 4-liter flask with tubing and a pump for the suction. The flask and pump were sitting on the floor below thebiosafety cabinet. The flask contained a small quantity of cell culture waste and sodium hydroxide pellets had just been added to inhibit bacterialgrowth. Cotton from a pipette became lodged in the vacuum tubing. The researcher was advised to aspirate liquid through the system todislodge the cotton. Water was aspirated in hopes of clearing the clog. Instead, the flask exploded sending shards of glass and liquid throughoutthe room. No one was cut by the flying glass, but the researcher was splashed with the concentrated sodium hydroxide. The researcher hadbeen wearing a lab coat and safety glasses as required, but received a splash to the forehead just above the glasses. The researcherimmediately removed the contaminated safety equipment and flushed their face in the eyewash. Public Safety and Environmental Health &Safety were notified by a second researcher in the room at the time. Upon investigation, it was determined that the water reacted with thesodium hydroxide causing Man exothermic, or heat-producing, reaction. The flask being used was a standard flask; it was not designed to beused as a vacuum flask.https://www1.udel.edu/ehs/research/chemical/vacuum-flask.htmlSafety Corner: Cheryl ClarkWWW.UMCES.edu/cbl I 410-326-4281P.O. Box 38 I 146 Williams Street I Solomons, MD 20688-00389