Virtual GraduateStudent Researchand CreativeScholarship DayFriday, April 16, 20217:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Davis-MichaelDistinguished LectureFriday, April 16, 202111:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

For more information

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The Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Twenty-Fourth Annual Virtual

Graduate Student Research and Creative Scholarship Conference

Friday, April 16, 2021 7:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Agricultural Science Building Davis College of

Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and

West Virginia Agriculture & Forestry Experiment Station West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV 26506-6108

Dr. Darrell Donahue, Dean and Director Dr. Kimberly Barnes, Associate Dean

Dr. Matthew E. Wilson, Associate Dean and Director Dr. Paul Lewis, Assistant Director

School of Agriculture & Food Division of Animal & Nutritional Sciences – Dr. Peter Schaeffer, Interim Director

Division of Plant & Soil Sciences – Dr. Sven Verlinden, Director School of Design & Community Development

Peter Butler, Director

School of Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Natural Resources – Dr. Robert Burns, Director

Division of Resource Economics & Management – Dr. Alan Collins, Director

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5th Annual University-Wide WVU Davis-Michael Distinguished Lecture

11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Professor Eckart Lange Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture

The University of Sheffield

“Visualizations and Perception of the Natural and Built Environment”

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/landscape/people/academic/eckart-lange

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LIGHTNING PRESENTATIONS

Session A Mixed

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

1. Impacts of Community Food Outreach Programs on Low-Income Families in the Cityof Morgantown, West Virginia.Oluwafunke Rebecca AbelejeDepartment of Human and Community Development, School of Design and CommunityDevelopment, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Food insecurity and inability to have good nutrition affect people’s health and their well-being. Lack of access to good food has negative effects on every category of people, older people like adults, and young children. According to Joachim (2020), there is an increasing number of Americans going hungry due to high food prices and an increase in unemployment, Joachim (2020) also stated that about 20% of Americans could not afford to feed their children food as needed. The reason for community food outreach programs is to provide food security for the community and give them easy access to quality foods. Some of the available food outreach programs are food pantry, snap, meal on wheels, free lunch, summer meal and many others. The question is are these programs meeting the needs of low-income families? Because some of these programs are just for once a month. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the available food outreach programs for low-income families. Designed objectives are to: 1. Categorize levels of food insecurity that exist – moderate, little, or very little food security.2. Describe the impact of the available food programs on low-income families (participants) andcompare their wellbeing when they were not enrolled in the programs.This study will make use of surveys/interviews, questions will be asked to assess the impacts ofparticipating in the available programs.The results will lead to suggestions on how to improve or maintain the food outreach programs formore positive impacts.

2. A Case Study of How Sustainability Affects Footwear Companies and ProductDevelopmentMary HaleDivision of Design and Community Development, West Virginia University, Morgantown,WV

The apparel and footwear industry's negative environmental impacts have companies facing scrutiny as consumer environmental consciousness increases (Brewer, 2019). Apparel and footwear companies are scrambling to develop sustainable initiatives with more consumers demanding they be held accountable for their actions. To decrease their environmental impact, the industry is leading in sustainable innovation by focusing on recycling, raw materials, and production waste during product development. This qualitative case study aimed to explore how sustainability as an

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abstract corporate initiative affects footwear companies and product development processes. The best way to explore how companies engage and execute sustainable practices in their product development process is contextual. With that in mind, this study was set into the product development department at a footwear company, engaging directly with members of a footwear product development team. Members of the department chose to participate in the study’s interview process. The interview instrument aligns questions with a Sustainable Value Analysis Tool (SVAT). The SVAT allows the researcher to reveal where the company has achieved sustainable value and where the company has potential sustainable value within the product development phase (Evans, Fernando, & Yang, 2017). Additionally, the research seeks to understand how footwear product developers conceive their role in contributing to the corporate structure's sustainability initiatives. The case study presents a phenomenological approach to better understand the individual’s experiences with implementing sustainability in footwear development (Creswell and Poth, 2018).

References Brewer, M. K. (2019). Slow Fashion in a Fast Fashion World: Promoting Sustainability and

Responsibility. Laws, 8(4), 24. doi:10.3390/laws8040024 Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among

five approaches. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publication. Evans, S., Fernando, L., & Yang, M. (2017). Sustainable value creation—from concept towards implementation. Sustainable Manufacturing, 203-220. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-48514-0_13

3. Feasibility of Stem Area at Groundline as a Performance Standard Metric inCompensatory Mitigation WetlandsJessica Bryzek, Walter Veselka, and Dr. James T Anderson*Division of Forestry and Natural Resources

Despite representing less than one percent of West Virginia’s landscape, functional wetlands are essential components for a healthy ecosystem. These valuable resources are increasingly threatened due to human-driven land use conversion. To combat wetland loss encountered during development, national policy has established wetland mitigation as a process to restore, create, and enhance wetlands. To ensure created wetlands are functioning similarly to natural wetlands, performance standards are used to evaluate observable and measurable site characteristics. Vegetative characteristics are the most used metric, but some vegetative characteristics measure structural features of a site and do not directly measure site functions.

This research will investigate the feasibility of using stem area at groundline (SAG) of woody vegetation as an effective evaluation metric. Previous studies show SAG to be a more direct correlation of site functions and increase in a predictable manner as created wetlands age. As a recently adopted performance standard, SAG has the potential to provide a better assessment of wetland functions and temporal development over time. Approximately 40 created wetlands sites of various ages will be assessed to determine the feasibility of SAG as a performance standard metric in West Virginia. At each site, woody vegetation will be identified to species, counted, and SAG measured. The goal of this research is to investigate SAG as a function of temporal development within created wetland sites.

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4. Evaluate the Efficacy of a Mixture of Peroxyacetic Acid and H2O2 Against the Survivaland Cross-Contamination of the Salmonella Surrogate Enterococcus Faecium onTomatoes during Triple-WashCorey Coe, Rebecca Stearns, Lisa Jones and Cangliang Shen*Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Triple-wash with a mixture of peroxyacetic acid and H2O2 (SaniDate-5.0) during post-harvest processing of fresh produce has been recommended by West Virginia Small Farm Center to improve microbial safety. Therefore, the objective is determining the efficacy of SaniDate-5.0 for reducing the survival and preventing cross-contamination of the Enterococcus faecium on tomatoes during triple-wash. E. faecium ATCC-8459 (resistant to 100-ppm nalidixic-acid) was dip-inoculated onto 2-tomatoes and triple-washed with 4-un-inoculated-tomatoes following the procedure of water dip, water dip, and SaniDate-5.0 dip (0, 0.0064, 0.25, and 0.50%). The inoculated surrogate bacteria on tomatoes or in wash-waters were enumerated using a modified MPN-method in deep-well micro-plates. The turbidity of each well after incubation (35oC, 24-h) was confirmed by adding 3-μl droplets of the incubated liquid arrayed onto bile esculin agars plus 100-ppm nalidixic-acid. The final MPN values are calculated by an online MPN-calculator followed by analyzed using SAS (n=6-12, One-Way ANOVA, P=0.05). Initial population of E. faecium recovered on tomatoes was 5.39-log10MPN/g. Triple-wash with water reduced (P<0.05) the surrogate bacteria by 1.94-log10MPN/g. Reductions increased (P<0.05) to 2.46-, 3.85-, and 3.79-log10MPN/g after applying 0.0064, 0.25, and 0.50% of SaniDate-5.0, respectively. E. faecium cross-contaminated onto the fresh tomatoes by 1.84- and 0.21-log10MPN/g with water and 0.0064% of SaniDate-5.0, respectively. Cross-contamination was prevented when 0.25 and 0.50% of SaniDate-5.0 was applied. No E. faecium cells were detected in the third step wash waters containing 0.25 and 0.50% of SaniDate-5.0. SaniDate-5.0 is an effective antimicrobial agent that could be used to improve microbial safety of locally grown tomatoes.

5. Comparison of small mammal communities in mitigated and natural wetlands of WestVirginiaKrista Noe1, Mack W. Frantz2, Christopher T. Rota1, and James T. Anderson1*1 Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2 Wildlife Diversity/Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of NaturalResources, Elkins, WV

Wetlands provide many ecosystem services and play an important ecological role in wildlife communities. Despite this, natural wetlands are still being lost due to human development projects. Although wetland mitigation is a standard tool to combat losses to natural wetlands, it is essential to understand if mitigated wetlands are truly replacing natural wetlands in their full capacity. Because one important role of wetlands is to provide habitat for wildlife communities, it is important to determine if these created or restored wetlands can foster a wildlife community that is similar to natural wetlands. One understudied taxa in the realm of wetland mitigation research is small mammals. Our goal is to determine if there exists a difference in small mammal communities between mitigated wetlands and natural wetlands within the state of West Virginia. Our objectives are to examine community composition, occupancy, abundance, species diversity, species richness, and species evenness of small mammals at mitigated and natural wetlands. To conduct this research, we are using Sherman traps for a capture-mark-recapture study on small mammals at mitigated and

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natural wetlands that are paired by similarities in ecoregion, elevation, geology, and wetland classification. Results will determine if mitigated wetlands are successful in terms of providing habitat for small mammal communities, and in turn will contribute to whether current wetland mitigation is truly fulfilling its intended purpose. These findings could inform future management decisions.

6. Effect of biotic stress on the cannabinoid and terpenes profile of Industrial HempBikash Deo and Michael Gutensohn*Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Hemp cultivation is getting more attention in 21st century due to its multipurpose uses. It is being used in more than 2500 products, mostly in medicinal drugs and cosmetic products. Hemp plants develop glandular trichomes around the female inflorescence which produce secondary metabolites like cannabinoids and terpenes. Why cannabinoids are synthesized in glandular trichomes and what the biological function of cannabinoids in hemp plants is, is still unknown. Cannabinoids are generally predicted to function as a defense molecule. Many plants species show an increase in trichome density and secondary metabolites when exposed to biotic stress like pest and pathogens. So in industrial hemp an increase in the THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), a psychoactive compound, might be expected under biotic stress. The legal limit of THC in industrial Hemp is 0.3 % (w/w). Above this limit hemp is consider as drug and farmers need to destroy their crop. To test this hypothesis, we treated the plant with methyl salicylate and methyl jasmonate which are signaling compounds for biotic stress in plants. Chewing type insects activate the jasmonic acid pathway while the sucking type insects and pathogens activate the salicyclic acid pathway. The plant sample was collected at zero, 24 and 48 hours after treatment and the cannabinoid and terpenes profiles were analyzed. If biotic stress contributes to increases in THC, by managing this biotic stress we can reduce the loss of farmer.

7. The Year of Magical Thinking: The Suddenness of GriefNikola Janevski, M.S1, Angela Uriyo, Ph.D.2*1 Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West VirginiaUniversity, Morgantown, WV2 Fashion, Dress, and Merchandising, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

“Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant.

You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. The question of self-pity.”

- The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion

Grief is a universal emotion that every one of us has suffered at one point or another. It is a complex and difficult emotion with a surging ebb and flow. Joan Didion captured this suddenness of loss and the ensuing grief in her memoir The Year of Magical Thinking. In her text, Didion documents the loss of her husband, “You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.” His death was sudden and unexpected. Although everyone experiences grief differently, we share a few common threads. To begin with, grief is very sudden and disruptive to the order and structure that we assign to life.

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Secondly, grief comes and goes in waves. With this coat, I wanted to capture these two aspects of grief.

The color of the fabric is Victorian lilac which captures the melancholy mood associated with grief. Topstitched straight seams lend structure to the front of the coat, and deliberately emphasize the order and structure of grief. The voluminous back of the coat represents the heaviness of grief as well as its fluidity.

Starting from a book about grief, we interpreted grief, and created a garment that captures the suddenness of grief as well as the ebbs and flows of grief like waves.

8. Dendroclimatic analysis of Sierra Nevada mixed conifer species: A comparison ofgrowth responses to climate variables between small, medium, and large treesAndrew Hirsch1, Sophan Chhin1*, Jianwei Zhang2

1 Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2 USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Redding, CA

The Mediterranean region of northern California is projected to get increasingly warmer under all IPCC emission scenarios, with future precipitation projections not showing much of a trend. This poses a problem to the already dry summers that are experienced in the Mediterranean region of

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California. Using dendroclimatology to assess how trees responded to past climate is a key resource that can be used to infer how trees may respond to a future changing climate. In this study, we compared responses of small, medium, and large diameter mixed conifer species in the Sierra Nevada region to different climate variables (temperature, precipitation, and climate moisture index (CMI)). One of the most coherent responses from all diameter groups and across all species was the positive response to minimum winter temperatures. This finding aligns with other studies and is thought to be an aspect of growth responses that should be considered in future growth assumptions. All diameter groups and species also responded positively to precipitation and CMI at some point in the analysis period. Perhaps the most notable difference when comparing the three diameter groups to climate was the higher occurrence of lagged negative responses to temperature of the previous year from the largest diameter group—as well as the higher number of negative responses to temperature in general from the largest diameter group. These results suggest that larger trees may be more negatively affected by future climate projections compared to smaller trees, and they may carry those negative effects into the next year.

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LIGHTNING PRESENTATIONS

Session B Ph.D.

Time: 9:25 a.m.- 10:50 a.m.

1. Black College Student Perceptions of Institutional Behaviors that Break/Build TrustNiara CampbellSchool of Design and Community Development, West Virginia University.

The murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others sparked a series of protests to end police brutality and address systemic racism in the summer of 2020. Higher education leaders responded by condemning the actions that led to these deaths and referenced institutional commitments to diversity and the desire for all students, faculty, and staff to feel safe and welcomed. However, few explicitly mentioned Black people, referenced the Black Lives Matter movement, or included any tangible action items to address campus inequities. These letters of support were deemed lackluster and performative from many in the black community; a distrust of the commitments stated in notes from administration lead to black student activists on many campuses- Including WVU- to submit a list of demands to address the needs of black students to incite action.

Black students have substantially less trust in their colleges compared to their white peers. A new report from Indiana University found that the college trust gap between Black and white students was particularly large at 0.47 standard deviations1. Despite many administrators creating initiatives, offices, and policies to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in recent years, students continue to distrust college leaders. To start identifying how colleges can restore trust- we will survey Black students to identify intuitional behaviors that build or hinder trust. 1Center for Postsecondary Research. (2021). The Trust Gap Among College Students. Indiana University

2. Integrating GeoDesign and Agent-based Model (ABM) to predict the future urbangrowth patternUdday Datta1

1 School of Design and Community Development, West Virginia University, Morgantown,WV

More than half of the world's population now live in cities, making humanity a predominantly urban species for the first time in its history. This trend is expected to continue. By 2050, with the urban population more than doubling its current size, nearly 7 of 10 people in the world will live in cities (Cohen, 2003). As the urban population is expected to grow in the upcoming years, it is important to explore new methods for predicting urban growth patterns to develop sustainable strategies for

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future cities. This study continues this exploration by reviewing published research works in the field of GeoDesign and agent-based modeling (ABM) to explore the current trends and uses of ABM in predicting urban growth.

The goal of this study is to illustrates how ABM incorporating the GeoDesign principles can be used to project evidence-based future changes in urban growth patterns. The GeoDesign process combines the process that uses geographical information to guide towards a smart design (Steinitz, 2012). Agent-based models are used to represent heterogeneity for system behavior. The application of ABM to simulate dynamics within geographical systems has created a new powerful paradigm in recent years (Crooks & Heppenstall, 2012). By combining geospatial modeling with impact simulation using ABM, designers can create a feedback process that facilitates holistic design. This process can guide future planning policies and help to predict the heterogeneous distribution of urban growth. Through contextual analysis, this process can evaluate future possible outcomes for different design strategies and guide the designer towards a sustainable solution.

Key Words GeoDesign, Agent-based Model (ABM), Urban growth

Reference

Arsanjani, J. J., Helbich, M., & de Noronha Vaz, E. (2013). Spatiotemporal simulation of urban growth patterns using agent-based modeling: The case of Tehran. Cities, 32, 33-42.

Cohen, J. E. (2003). Human population: the next half century. science, 302(5648), 1172-1175.

Crooks, A. T., & Heppenstall, A. J. (2012). Introduction to agent-based modelling. In Agent-based models of geographical systems (pp. 85-105). Springer, Dordrecht.

Li, X., & Gong, P. (2016). Urban growth models: progress and perspective. Science bulletin, 61(21), 1637-1650.

Miller, W. R. (2012). Introducing Geodesign: the concept.

Steinitz, C. (2012). A framework for geodesign: Changing geography by design.

3. Impact of Set-up Temperatures and Pump Rates for the survival of Salmonella and thesurrogate Enterococcus faecium in Moisture Enhanced Reconstructed Chicken Pattiesby Double Pan-broilingWentao Jiang, Carly Waldman, and Cangliang ShenAnimal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Introduction: Reconstructed chicken meat products can be contaminated with foodborne pathogens in the process of moisture enhancement (MH). Enterococcus faecium has been recognized as a surrogate for Salmonella however they are not validated in chicken meat during cooking practices.

Objectives: This study was designed to compare kinetic parameters of Salmonella and E. faecium in MH reconstructed chicken patties with different pump rates during double pan-broiling with various set-up temperatures.

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Methods: Fresh 1.5-kg chicken breast meat was course grounded, inoculated with S. Typhimurium and Tennessee, or E. faecium, followed by adding NaCl (2.0%) + Na-tripolyphosphate (0.5%) solutions to achieve pump rates of 1%, 5% or 11.1%. Meat samples were manually manufactured into patties with the thickness of 2.1 cm and diameter of 10.4 cm. Patties were packaged with PCV films in the foam-tray stored at 4oC for 42 h before double pan-broiling (Farber-ware®griller, type-k thermocouples) set at 200, 300, or 425oF for 0, 30, 60, to 420 s. Counts of pathogens were analyzed on XLT-4 and bile esculin agars with tryptic soy agar layers. Microbial data and kinetic parameters (n=9, USDA-Integrated-Predictive-Modeling-Program/USDA-Global-Fit software) were analyzed by the Mixed Model Procedure (SAS).

Results: Double pan-broiling for 300-375, 195-210, 165, and 150s to reach the internal temperature of 76oC in chicken patties with cooking set-up temperatures at 200, 300, 400, and 425oF, respectively. Cooking reduced (P<0.05) C. jejuni cells from 5.31-5.80 log10 CFU/g to <0.3 log10CFU/g after 330-360 (200oF), 210 (300oF), 180-210 (400oF), and 150-165s (425oF) across all MH samples. According to the Weibull-model, the D-value of 1% MH samples (118.2 and 114s) were lower (P<0.05) than 11.1% samples (139.5 and 124.5s) when cooked at 400 and 425oF. Buchanan-Two-Phase-model calculated “shoulder” time decreased (P<0.05) from 128 to 95.2s as pump rate increased from 1 to 11.1% at 425oF.

Significance: E. faecium can be used as an appropriate surrogate for Salmonella in thermal validation studies of chicken products.

4. Examining the role of community advocacy in improving social well-being in ruralcommunitiesChelsea Slade, Debanjan Das, Peter ButlerDivision of Human and Community Development, West Virginia University School ofDesign and Community Development, Morgantown, WV

Social capital can be described as the interactive process by which individuals engage in sharing values and understandings in society that enable people to work together and function effectively. It is the interpersonal relationships, mutual trust, and a shared sense of identity that creates bonds, bridges and linkages that informs the viability of a community. Nonetheless, there can be barriers in achieving upward social mobility due to socio-economic status and a lack of advocacy and sense of agency. This concept paper aims to examine the effects of community advocacy on social well-being in rural communities through case study analysis on collective action in rural communities. Citizens in disadvantaged communities may not possess the skills, power, or credentials to mobilize on their own. However, community advocates are people that have a vested interest in the advancement and improvement of communities. They are active in the community and know the problems that hinders advancement. Human interaction can shed light on efficiencies and inefficiencies within a community. Social capital can be used as a measure of value to understand resources found within communities that impact the ability of groups and individuals to socialize and foster relationships. People engage with one another and places based on the resources available within their environment. Communities can be burdened by inadequate funding for resources that contributes to improving social welfare. The utilization of community advocates in the public

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participation process can bridge the gap between governance stakeholders and planners to improve social well-being.

5. Understanding Factors that Contribute to Student Pursuit of Post-SecondaryEducationLauren Prinzo, Ph.D.Division of Human and Community Development, West Virginia University School ofDesign and Community Development, Morgantown, WV

West Virginia and other rural states struggle with a persistent challenge; the outmigration of talented young adults. West Virginia, in particular, has experienced an overall population decrease of over 150,000 between 1980-2019, with the majority of outmigration occurring in rural areas (USDA Economic Research Service, 2020). As President Gee said, “We’ve exported four things, coal, oil, and gas. But the most tragic thing we’ve exported is talent” (Nash, 2018). A number of factors may influence a person’s decisions relating to pursuing post-secondary education. This research will seek to better understand the factors that contribute to decisions to pursue post-secondary education by rural youth. Specifically, this research will seek to determine if there is correlation between student area of study and perceived local career opportunities. I hypothesize that rural youth are more likely to pursue post-secondary education for careers they perceive as available near their home community. This research will include a survey of currently enrolled post-secondary students in West Virginia. The survey will collect data relevant to student perceptions of locally available career opportunities, student course of study, and student intentions for retaining. The results have the potential to inform existing efforts in workforce development, career and technical training, and post-secondary education recruitment.

References: Nash, B. (2018, April 15). Gee: WVU responsible for retaining state's talent. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/gee-wvu-responsible-for-retaining-state- s-talent/article_c2222a8e-abaa-5869-95f8-25bba631faf3.html

USDA Rural Economic Research Service. (2020). Rural America at a Glance, 2019 EDITION. Retrieved March15, 2021 from https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub- details/?pubid=95340

Workforce West Virginia: County Data. (2019, September 24). Retrieved March 15, 2021, from http://lmi.workforcewv.org/DataRelease/CountyRelease.html

6. Legacy effects of fire continue to shape the soil microbiome in an eastern deciduousforestGregory Martin1, Walter Carson2, Zachary Freedman3, Ember Morrissey1*1Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA3Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI

Within forest ecosystems, soil microbial communities perform many critical functions, including nutrient cycling and carbon storage. These communities can be affected by land disturbances, some

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of which may produce lasting legacy impacts. We investigated how soil microbial communities are impacted by the legacy effects of three disturbances experienced by temperate forests across the eastern U.S., namely, canopy gaps, grazing by large herbivores (i.e., deer), and surface fire. To address this question, we collected soil samples from a long-term disturbance experiment implementing canopy gaps, herbivore exclusion and surface fire in the Monongahela National Forest, WV. Bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed with amplicon sequencing along with key soil parameters. Fire emerged as a dominant force shaping soil bacterial communities and soil nitrogen content while the impacts of canopy gaps and herbivore exclusion were weaker and more variable. Fire increased soil pH (p < 0.01), but did not affect total carbon, SOM or labile carbon. Ammonium increased in the presence of fire (p < 0.01), while nitrate and total nitrogen were unchanged. Fire decreased total bacterial abundance (p < 0.01) and increased bacterial diversity (p = 0.03). Together, herbivore exclusion and canopy gap creation decreased fungal diversity (p = 0.03). These findings suggest the long-term effects of fire outweigh those of canopy gap creation and herbivore exclusion in belowground dynamics. Carbon cycling and storage may be more resilient than nitrogen cycling to the legacy of fire. Lastly, bacterial communities may be more sensitive than fungal communities to the long-term effects of fire.

7. Decarbonization of Cities: How Far Are We?Mohammed Syedul Islam1, Maher Mekky1, Xiaoli Etienne1*, Evana Nusrat Dooty2

1Division of Resource Economics and Management, West Virginia University,Morgantown, WV2Department of Business Administration, International Islamic University Chittagong,Chittagong, Bangladesh

Urbanization is a residential shift of the human population from rural to urban areas that changes the social and economic capacities. Both developing and developed countries have experienced a significant increase in the level of urbanization. The United Nations estimates that global urbanization will reach at 67 percent by 2050. The rapid urbanization process has raised environmental concerns, particularly carbon dioxide (𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2), due to the increased energy use from fossil fuels. This study aims to investigate the impact of urbanization on 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 emissions based on data from 135 countries in 1990-2015. Using Pesaran’s pool mean group estimator for dynamic panel, we find a significant -non-linear relationship between urbanization and 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 emissions. When the urbanization rate exceeds 80.13 percent, additional urbanization in the country decreases 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 emissions. Meanwhile, a higher urbanization rate increases 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 emissions when the urbanization rate is below this threshold. Based on fixed effects and random effects models, this study also evident that urbanization, on average, significantly contributes to 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 emissions at a given rate of renewable energy consumption. Thus, the study suggests sincere effort by the global community to reduce urban pollution from developing and under-developed countries, at the same time, to provide technical support by advanced countries who use renewable energy within their urban setting.

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8. Characterization of the Floral Volatiles and Insect Assemblage of Black Cherry (Prunusserotina) StandsCraig Larcenaire1,2, Fumin Wang2, Ida Holaskova3, Richard M. Turcotte1,2, MichaelGutensohn2, Yong-Lak Park2

1 USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Morgantown, WV, USA2 Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA3 Office of Statistics, West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, WestVirginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is an important species in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF), Pennsylvania. In recent years, land managers in the ANF have noticed a decline in natural regeneration. One hypothesis regarding this decline is a lack of pollination of the flowers. This study was conducted to identify insects visiting the canopy of black cherry during flowering, and to identify the volatile organic compounds emitted by the flowers of black cherry. We have surveyed potential pollinator insects over the flowering period using pan traps which were placed in the canopy and on the ground. The survey was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in two locations of the ANF. Of the 9,533 insects captured in the traps Diptera was the most abundant (64.1 %). Significantly more insects in were captured in the canopy traps. Diptera was also the only order to have significantly higher trap captures during the peak flowering period in the canopy. The dominant species captured in the canopy during flowering was Anthalia bulbosa (Diptera: Hybotidae). The characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) emitted from black cherry flowers revealed a blend, composed of 34 compounds, and dominated by β-ocimene and several phenylpropanoids/benzenoids, that is highly similar to floral volatile profiles of other pollinator dependent Prunus species. This study reports key pollinator insects and associated VOCs that could be playing a significant role in the pollination of black cherry.

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LIGHTNING PRESENTATIONS

Session C Mixed

Time: 1:00 p.m.- 2:15 p.m.

1. The Role of Tree Species, the Herb Layer, and Watershed Characteristics on NitrogenCycling in a Central Appalachian Hardwood ForestSian Eisenhut, Dr. Kirsten Stephan *Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University

Little is known about the herbaceous layer’s contributions to nitrogen cycling under varying levels of nitrogen deposition, land use, and tree species with different associations of soil nitrogen availability. This study aims to quantify nitrogen reductase activity of two tree species and surrounding common herb species and to assess how these species affect the concentration of nitrogen in soil water beneath these trees. Nine pairs of circular plots around Acer saccharum and A. rubrum were established in four watersheds (WS) at the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia. The nitrate assimilation of the foliage of maples and common herbaceous species per plot was calculated as nitrogen reductase activity per weight (NRA) and nitrogen reductase activity per area (NRAA) during the summers of 2018-2019. Soil water was collected monthly from a tension lysimeter and analyzed colorimetrically for nitrate and ammonium concentrations. Analyses showed that the NRA of A. saccharum was consistently higher than A. rubrum. The NRA of both Viola spp. and Christmas fern responded to fertilization treatment with higher NRA. The younger stand WS7 had higher soil water nitrate concentrations than the older stand WS13. Soil water ammonium and organic N concentrations did not differ between watersheds. A. saccharum was found to have higher NRAA than A. rubrum. Understory NRAA was higher under A. saccharum in fertilized WS3, but A. rubrum had higher understory NRAA in unfertilized WS7. This study suggests that the understory has an important role in N retention and can be influenced by overstory species.

2. Mercury levels in snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) raise concern for WestVirginia daily harvest limitsDarien N. Lozon1, Donald J. Brown1, 2, Jason A. Hubbart3, and James T. Anderson1*1 Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2 U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Parsons, WV3 Institute of Water Security and Science, Morgantown, WV

Mercury occurs naturally in soil and becomes bioavailable through anthropogenic disturbance such as wetland creation, coal mining, and agriculture. Mercury bioaccumulation can result in deleterious impacts to plants and animals that reside within wetlands. Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are particularly susceptible to bioaccumulation due to their high trophic status and longer life expectancy. This species is commonly consumed by people, and adverse health effects may result if mercury concentrations are above EPA regulation (0.3 mg/kg). We collected 16 blood samples and 30 nail samples from 33 individual snapping turtles (15 males, 15 females, and 3 juveniles) across 18 sites in north-central West Virginia in 2019 to investigate if total mercury (THg) concentrations were detectable and determine if THg and methylmercury ( ≥ 70% THg) concentrations exceeded

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EPA limits. We accounted for body size and sex to investigate possible demographic differences. THg ranged from 0.0003–1.88 mg/kg, where nail concentrations were significantly higher than blood (p < 0.001). THg in 18 nail samples exceeded EPA limits. Methylmercury in half of those samples also exceeded EPA limits, which is concerning because methylmercury is the most toxic of mercury species. Sex and body size were not strongly correlated with THg (p > 0.1). Other studies have found nail concentrations are positively correlated with concentrations in consumable parts (e.g. liver and muscle), which potentially indicates that consumption advisories should be implemented to minimize health concerns to people.

3. Fungal pathogens and insect pests impacting maple health in sugar bushes of the Mid-Atlantic U.S.Molly Sherlock1, Brian Lovett1, Elizabeth Rowen1, Jamie Schuler2, Matt T. Kasson1*1 Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2 Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Maple syrup production is a culturally and economically important activity in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. and faces unique challenges different than those of producers in northern forests. Up-to-date surveys of insect pests and pathogens will provide much-needed recommendations to help mitigate stressors and inform various stakeholders. We began surveying fungal pathogens and pests in 2020 in sugar bushes with variable intensity of management and different species compositions across PA, VA, and WV. Maple trees were evaluated and sampled from managed sugar bushes and unmanaged forests. This included maples with symptoms associated with well-known diseases such as Eutypella canker and damage from pests such as the sugar maple borer. Bark plugs were collected and once plated, unique morphotypes were quantified. Representative stains were retained for morphological and molecular study. Thus far, a total of 40 trees from two stands have been processed and yielded at least 53 fungal morphotypes. Of these, 20 have been identified using ITS barcoding. Putative plant pathogenic fungi include Climacodon septentrionale, Fusarium solani, Phoma spp., and Stegonsporium acerinum. Surprisingly, efforts to culture from Eutypella cankers yielded mostly Daldinea, Nemania, and Xylaria (Xylariaceae), yet their role remains unclear. By delimiting the occurrence of known and novel pathogens and insects in Mid-Atlantic sugar bushes, we hope to help grow syrup production in the region.

4. Investigating synergistic effects of land use on aquatic macroinvertebratecommunities in a mixed- land-use watershedJoellen Stivala1, Kirsten Stephan1*, Eric Merriam2 and Jason Hubbart3

1 Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2 US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh, PA3 Institute of Water Security and Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

As urbanization continues, there is a need to identify and understand environmental stressors that are contributing to the impairment of stream condition. While aquatic macroinvertebrates have been widely used as bioindicators to classify stream condition, there is relatively little information pertaining to the reliability of aquatic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators in mixed-land-use watersheds. In this study, we used four years of macroinvertebrate community data collected from

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ten sites distributed throughout a single, highly mixed-land-use watershed in central Appalachia to identify specific environmental variables that managers can target to improve stream condition. Our main objectives were 1) to determine stream ecological integrity by analyzing stream macroinvertebrate taxonomic and trait-based composition and 2) to assess which of the 23 environmental variables explained significant variability in common community composition metrics (WVSCI, GLIMPSS, Biotic Index, % clingers, etc.). Results indicated that trait-based metrics had a stronger relationship with land use characteristics compared to taxonomic metrics. Regression analyses and ANOVAs revealed that, across all four years, increased total dissolved solids and conductivity were significant predictors of poor stream condition while increased pH and % agricultural land use were significant predictors of improved stream condition. We found that in-stream water chemistry variables were more consistent with previous studies compared to land use and physical habitat parameters. These findings support the use of aquatic macroinvertebrates to detect environmental stressors within mixed-land-use watersheds and highlight the importance of further examining water chemistry variables that were not captured in this study.

5. The Relationship Between American Vogue and AstrologyIsabella Tinnell, Katie JonesDivision of Human and Community Development, School of Design and CommunityDevelopment, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Vogue has had a relationship with astrology since it first began publication in the 1890s. This phenomenological study explores the relationship between fashion and astrology to better understand the symbiotic relationship between these two concepts. Specifically, I focus on how that relationship is represented through American Vogue’s history of publishing astrology-themed content as preserved in the Vogue archive. Multidimensional constructs are key components of this research to try to better understand the co-constitutive relationship between the two subjects. Astrology is defined as the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs in the natural world. While Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture defines fashion as "the cultural construction of the embodied identity” (CITE). A common theme that astrology and fashion have in common is they both are based upon studying cycles . The primary goal of this paper is not to prove or disprove astrology as science but recognize it for the cultural and societal influence that it possesses and how it is creatively expressed through fashion.

Citations:

Fashion theory - Journal of Dress body and culture. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=5700168304&amp;tip=sid

Advertisement. (1941, May 15). Vogue, 97, 18-18, 19. Retrieved from https://wvu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.wvu.idm.oclc.org/magazines/advertisement/docview/879207607/se-2?accountid=2837

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6. Identification of the core promoter of ZNFO, an oocyte-specific maternal effect gene incattleMingxiang Zhang, Heather Chaney, Jaelyn Current, Jianbo Yao*Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

ZNFO is a Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) containing zinc finger transcription factor, which is exclusively expressed in bovine oocytes. Previous studies have demonstrated that ZNFO possesses an intrinsic transcriptional repressive activity and is essential for early embryonic development in cattle. However, the mechanisms regulating ZNFO transcription remain elusive. In the present study, we identified the core promoter that controls the ZNFO basal transcription. A 1.7 kb 5’ regulatory region of the ZNFO gene was cloned and its promoter activity was confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay. A series of 5’ deletion in the ZNFO promoter followed by luciferase reporter assays indicated that the core promoter region has to include the sequence located within 57 bp to 31 bp upstream of the transcription start site. Sequence analysis revealed that a putative USF1/USF2 binding site (GGTCACGTGACC) containing an E-box motif (CACGTG) is located within the essential region. Depletion of USF1/USF2 by RNAi and E-box mutation analysis demonstrated that the USF1/USF2 binding site is required for the ZNFO basal transcription. Furthermore, EMSA and super-shift assays indicated that the observed effects are dependent on the specific interactions between USF proteins and the ZNFO core promoter. From these results we conclude that USF1 and USF2 are essential for the basal transcription of the ZNFO gene.

7. Use of wildlife openings in the Monongahela National Forest by post-breeding birdspeciesHannah Clipp1,2, Christopher Rota1,*, and Petra Wood1,2*1Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, West Virginia University,Morgantown, WV*Faculty co-advisors

In forested landscapes, wildlife openings created by land managers are often meant to provide early-successional (i.e., herbaceous or shrubby) habitat for game bird species such as wild turkey and American woodcock. These wildlife openings likely also benefit a diversity of songbirds during the post-breeding period (mid-June to mid-August), including bird species that breed in core forest. Therefore, we used two avian survey techniques (mist-netting and transect surveys) to evaluate the post-breeding bird community of wildlife openings within the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, specifically focusing on two guilds (early-successional vs. forest-interior). In the summer of 2019, we used an array of mist nets to directly sample birds by capturing those within or passing through the wildlife openings. We also conducted transect surveys, in which birds were recorded if they were heard or seen within or along the edges of the wildlife openings. With mist nets, we captured 126 post-breeding individuals belonging to 27 species (15 early-successional, 12 forest-interior) within 12 wildlife openings. With transect surveys, we detected 146 post-breeding individuals belonging to 32 species (15 early-successional, 17 forest-interior) within 8 of those wildlife openings. In addition to quantifying species and guild richness, we looked at sex ratios and

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age ratios to better understand the demographics of birds using wildlife openings during the post-breeding season. Although these are preliminary results and analyses are ongoing, our study is the first to document the post-breeding bird community of wildlife openings within the Monongahela National Forest.

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LIGHTNING PRESENTATIONS

Session D Ph.D.

Time: 2:25 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.

1. Characterization of agouti-signaling protein expression within the bovine ovary andearly embryoHeather Chaney, Mingxiang Zhang, Jaelynn Current, and Jianbo Yao*Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Factors present in the oocyte and surrounding follicular cells aid in the attainment of oocyte competence. Agouti-signaling protein (ASIP) has been classified as an adipokine due to a link with insulin resistance and obesity in humans. In cattle, ASIP mRNA has been detected in a variety of tissues, including adipose, skin, heart, testis, and the ovary. Despite ovarian expression, the role of ASIP in reproduction remains undetermined. This experiment aimed to provide a detailed description of the ASIP expression profile within the bovine ovary and during early embryonic development. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was conducted to analyze ASIP mRNA expression. Bovine samples examined included fetal ovaries, adult ovaries, fetal testis, adult testis, 12 somatic tissues, germinal vesicle (GV) and MII oocytes, and in vitro-produced embryos ranging from the 2-cell to blastocyst stages. Cumulus, granulosa, and theca cells collected from a pool from 5 cumulus-oocyte complexes and follicles, respectively, were also analyzed. Amplification of ribosomal protein L19 (RPL19) served as a positive control. Expression of ASIP was detected in the fetal testis, 9 somatic tissues, and the fetal and adult ovary. In the fetal ovary, ASIP was detected as early as 90 days of gestation and continued throughout gestation. ASIP is present in the bovine adult and fetal ovary, follicular cells including cumulus, granulosa, and theca cells, GV and MII oocytes, and in vitro-produced embryos from the 2-cell to blastocyst stages. Future research will focus on identifying the function of ovarian and early embryonic ASIP in cattle.

2. Differential Gene Expression of Bovine Long Noncoding RNAs in Single OocytesAspirated from Small and Large FolliclesJaelyn Current, Heather Baldwin, Mingxiang Zhang, and Jianbo Yao*

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Division of Animal andNutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

In mammals, maternal mRNAs accumulate in the oocyte and play important roles during early embryogenesis in embryonic genome activation. Recently, lncRNAs have been functionally characterized as key regulators of embryonic genome activation in humans. The objective of this study was to characterize the expression of six highly abundant lncRNAs (OOSNCR1, OOSNCR2, OOSNCR3, OOSNCR4, OOSNCR5, and OOSNCR6) in single oocytes aspirated from varying size follicles at different developmental stages. Single oocytes were aspirated from small (<4 mm) and large (6-18 mm) follicles and were denuded at the germinal vesicle (GV) or MII stage. RT-qPCR analysis revealed detectable expression for each lncRNA in single oocytes from small (SF) and estrogen-active (EA) follicles at both stages. Effect of follicle size and maturity stage and their

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interaction on the lncRNA expression were examined using a two-factorial ANOVA. In five lncRNAs (OOSNCR1, OOSNCR2, OOSNCR3, OOSNCR5, and OOSNCR6), maturity stage was significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, we found significant interaction of stage and size in expression of OOSNCR5 (P < 0.05). In addition, we found a tendency for significant interaction between maturity stage and follicle size in the expression of OOSNCR2 (P < 0.1). In summary, both OOSNCR5 and OOSNCR2 had higher expression in oocytes aspirated from the small follicles during the earlier developmental stage. Literature states follicle size can be an indicator of oocyte quality and that RNAs accumulated or in this case degraded during maturation are crucial to achieve developmental competence. Therefore, lncRNAs 25823.1 and 5379.1 shows promise to be linked with oocyte quality.

3. Genetic Reprogramming of the Ergot Alkaloid Pathway of Metarhizium brunneumKyle A. Davis, Jessi K. Sampson, & Daniel G. Panaccione*

Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Ergot alkaloids are important fungal secondary metabolites that are used to make potent medicines for neurological diseases and disorders. These compounds can possess very distinct biological activities, with lysergic acid (LA)-derived compounds typically possessing vasoconstrictive properties while those derived from dihydrolysergic acid (DHLA) are often vasorelaxant. Many of the genes controlling steps in the ergot alkaloid pathway are known. Previous research in our lab determined that the entomopathogenic species Metarhizium brunneum secretes over 80% of the ergot alkaloids it produces, a trait not seen in other species. We hypothesized that with the right combination of gene knockouts and allele introductions, engineering strains of M. brunneum capable of producing and secreting different pathway intermediates and products, including dihydroergot (DH) products, is feasible. A transiently expressed CRISPR-cas9 enzyme was used together with sgRNAs designed to knockout the easA and lpsB genes of M. brunneum. A construct expressing the Aspergillus fumigatus easA gene and a synthetic, intron-free cloA gene based on Claviceps africana. This construct was co-introduced into either (1) the wild-type strain with easA targeted for CRISPR mutagenesis, or (2) an easA ko strain targeted for lpsB mutagenesis. Knockout of the easA gene resulted in a strain capable of only producing the intermediate, chanoclavine-I aldehyde, while knockout of lpsB led to a strain which terminates production at LA. The easA/lpsB and easA knockouts with introduced alleles produced DHLA and the completely novel compound DHLAH, respectively. The engineering of these strains provides a strategy for producing novel and pharmaceutically important chemicals.

4. Evaluating the impacts of land cover/ land-use, geography, and global climate changeto the water quality functions of wetlands across West VirginiaSindupa De Silva1, Jason A. Hubbart1, Mike P. Strager1, Elizabeth A. Byers2, Ramsey E.Kellner1 and Christopher T. Rota1, James T. Anderson1*,1 Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University2 West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

Wetland ecosystems play fundamental roles in regulating our freshwater resources, yet they are not comprehensively protected from degradation and loss. West Virginia, USA has wetlands across diverse landscapes and geography that feed into both the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf of Mexico. The

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state is also comprised of diverse anthropogenic land-use practices. We are assessing 200 wetlands over 2 years to evaluate how watershed land-use practices influence wetland water quality functions. We will also evaluate how global climate change will affect these impacts. Select water quality parameters (20) as well as vegetation, soil and macroinvertebrate composition will be compared with GIS assessments of watershed land cover/ land-use practices, alongside climate data, to evaluate their relationships and determine how they impact a wetland’s ability to carry out select functions. Preliminary results after one year of sampling indicate that wetlands at higher elevation with fewer watershed land-use practices generally had lower E. Coli, heavy metal (Lead and Zinc), and nutrient (Phosphorus and Nitrogen) concentrations relative to wetlands at lower elevations with greater watershed land-use practices. Seasonal conductivity readings increased following precipitation events. Conductivity and salinity readings also decreased along its drainage gradient, indicative of the wetland performing its water quality functions. We also observed that conductivity and nutrient concentrations were highest during the winter and lowest during the summer, coinciding with the bottom and peak periods of primary productivity. The results of this project will be used to develop wetland water quality standards for West Virginia, and help advance more comprehensive wetland regulations.

5. Survival of Listeria monocytogenes on Mcintosh, Fuji, and Honeycrisp Apples Stored atthe Room TemperatureKaWang Li, Wentao Jiang, and Cangliang Shen*Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Introduction: A recent multinational outbreak of listeriosis in the U.S. and Canada was linked to wholesale apples resulting in 35 illnesses and 7 deaths. In October 2019, a Michigan produce company has recalled nearly 2,300 cases of fresh apples including McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Fuji that could be contaminated with Listeria.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and modeling the survival of Listeria monocytogenes on apples during storage at the room temperature.

Methods: Fresh organic McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Fuji apples (without waxing coating) obtained from local wholesale market were inoculated with a 4-strain mixer of L. monocytogenes followed by storing onto wholesale produce rack at 22.5oC (50.40% RH) for 7 days and periodically (day-0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7) analyzing microbial populations. Surviving L. monocytogenes were spread-plated on Modified-Oxford agar. Data (2 replicates/4 samples/replicate) were analyzed using the mixed-model-procedure of SAS, USDA-Integrated-Predictive-Modeling-Program and GinaFit software.

Results: L. monocytogenes on McIntosh, Honeycrisp, and Fuji apples decreased (P < 0.05) from 4.72 to <0.89, 4.31 to 1.80, and 4.57 to 1.89 log10CFU/g after 3, 7, and 7 days storage, respectively, with the faster (P < 0.05) decline rate and greater (P<0.05) reductions showed on McIntosh apples. The p-values of Mafart-Weibull model were 0.30-0.45 indicated that no shoulder-time existed among tested apples. The Kmax value of linear-tail and the Kmax1 value of biphasic model showed greater (P < 0.05) inactivation rates of L. monocytogenes on Mclntosh (Kmax=10.98, Kmax1=11.15) than on Fuji (Kmax=6.91, Kmax1=7.97) and Honeycrisp apples (Kmax=6.06,

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Kamx1=6.46), and the tail time is shorter (P < 0.05) on McIntosh (1.16 days) than Fuji (1.80 days) and Honeycrisp (1.88 days).

Significance: Results of this study filled the data gap for understanding of microbiological risks associated with postharvest practices of tree fruit production. Future studies are needed to quantify the natural wax amount on various organic apples.

6. Understanding community preference of the proposed Appalachian Geopark in WestVirginia using a crowdsourced platformGanga Nakarmi1, Charlie Yuill1, Peter Butler1, Michael P. Strager2, Robert C. Burns3

Jasmine C. Moreira4

1 School of Design and Community Development, West Virginia University2 Division of Resource Economics and Management, West Virginia University3 Division of Forestry and natural Resources, West Virginia University4 Tourism Department, Ponta Grossa State University, Brazil

Interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys are the major traditional ways to obtain data for research. More recently, researchers have used online crowd sources such as flickr, wikiloc etc. as a great source of data. According to Callau et al. (2019), many researchers have used photographs and videos posted on these sources as the main source of information for landscape analysis, especially landscape preference. Visitors tend to take photographs of landscape features that are notable. Geo-tagged photographs may be used as a proxy for public interest in the area. Flickr is a photograph sharing website with over 70 million users and 200 million geo-tagged photographs. (Wood et al., 2013). The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of landscape that are of interest to people in the proposed Appalachian Geopark encompassing Fayette, Greenbrier and Raleigh counties of West Virginia. This area has a diverse landscape and unique history of coal mining, logging, and railroad transportation. A “Geopark” is the 21st century’s new territory (Martini, 2009) where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development (UNESCO, 2007). Content analysis of the photographs will be carried out manually to characterize the landscape types. This information will be spatially analyzed and mapped by using GIS and spatial statistical tools. It is anticipated that the results will be valuable for future planning, management and development of the proposed Appalachian Geopark and the study area in general.

Key words: Photographs, landscape types, community preference, flickr

7. Determination of the effects of a SlSBS-derived sesquiterpene mixture on theperformance and choice behaviors of potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiaeFumin Wang, Yong-Lak Park*, and Michael Gutensohn*Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Glandular trichome-derived terpenes of wild tomato plants have known to be largely involved in pest resistance. In previous studies we discovered that the trichome extracts of wild tomato LA1775

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and LA1779 could affect aphid feeding and choice behaviors while the effects were not due to the presence of the major compound (γ-elemene). Here we hypothesized that the defensive traits come from a mixture of sesquiterpenes (α-santalene and α-bergamotene) in those extracts which were derived from the enzymatic activity of SlSBS. Since those sesquiterpenes were not commercially available, aphid performance, feeding and choice behaviors were evaluated by using an introgression line (LA3935) and its trichome extracts. This line was reported to have SlSBS-containing locus of LA1777 transferred into the cultivated tomato background LA4024. Using GC-MS, we found large amount of α-santalene/α-bergamotene produced in trichome extracts (74.2%) and headspace collection (79.5%) of LA3935. LA3935 plants significantly affected the longevity and fecundity of wingless aphids (apterae) on leaves. When fed on artificial diet containing LA3935 trichome extracts, the survival rates, salivation as well as honey production of apterae were also affected. In addition, in an open Y-track system the trichome extract of LA3935 was also repellent to the upwind walking of winged aphids. To engineer the expression of those SlSBS-derived sesquiterpenes in different tissues along aphid stylet pathway, different binary vectors containing tissue-specific promoters and multicistroinc gene sequences were prepared. The expression cassettes will be introduced into cultivated tomato plants via agroinfiltration in the future.

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ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Session A Ph.D.

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

1. Does Environmental Quality Matter for Lung and Bronchus Cancer Incidence in theUnited States? A State-level AnalysisMohammed Syedul Islam1, and Alan R. Collins1*1 Division of Resource Economics and Management, West Virginia University,Morgantown, WV

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death among Americans. In 2020, the projected number of deaths from cancer is over 600,000 in the United States which means an almost 1,700 daily death rate from cancer. While smoking was found to be the dominant risk factor for lung cancer, this type of cancer is also affected by other environmental as well as non-environmental factors. This study estimates the impact of population level exposure to environmental pollution (air and water) on the incidence of lung and bronchus cancer in the United States. Utilizing annual state-level data for the period of 2001-2016, this study applies Pesaran’s estimation technique and finds statistically significant, positive long-term effects of air and water quality violations on the incidence of lung and bronchus cancer. Based on the long-run coefficients, this study revealed that the annual mean healthcare benefits from reduced lung and bronchus cancer incidence is 11.62 million dollars due to 1 % decrease in the number of people exposed to arsenic contamination. It also results in a decrease of 4.62 million dollars due to 1 % decrease in person-days exposed to 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃2.5 concentration. These estimates provide policy makers with benefit projections of more stringent environmental enforcement to reduce population exposure to water and air pollution violations.

2. Extension of the Ergot Alkaloid Gene ClusterSamantha Fabian, Abby Jones, Chey Steen, Dr. Daniel Panaccione*Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Ergot alkaloids are a class of fungal metabolites that are structurally similar to neurotransmitters and can be used as pharmaceuticals. The conserved genetic ergot alkaloid synthesis (eas) pathway is responsible for the biosynthesis of these tryptophan derived toxins in ergot alkaloid producing fungi. While the pathway is well characterized, genome mining in Metarhizium brunnenum revealed novel genes in the proximity of this cluster with unknown function. One of the discovered genes, easR, has homology to a group of transcription factors. An easR CRIPSR knockout of M. brunnenum was created and confirmed through DNA sequencing. The easR CRISPR knockout resulted in a loss of ergot alkaloid production in M. brunnenum. A second novel gene, easS, has homology to peptidases. In all ergot alkaloid-producing Metarhizium species, easS is independently inactivated by different mutations and is nonfunctional, but the gene is intact in M. majus. M. majus has remnants of ergot alkaloid producing genes but appears to have evolved with a large deletion of the eas cluster, rendering it an ergot alkaloid non-producer. A functional copy of easS was isolated from M. majus and a fusion PCR product was constructed with easS and a M. brunneum gdpA promoter. The gdpA-easS PCR product was transformed into M. brunneum to observe the effect a functional copy easS would yield. The transformant had a different chemical profile compared to

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the wild type M. brunneum. Further exploration of these genes and the role they play in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis will be conducted.

3. Developmental timing and regulation of mycangial morphogenesis in the Ambrosiabeetle Euwallacea validusEllie Spahr1, Matt T. Kasson1, and Teiya Kijimoto*1

1 Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV

Symbioses often exist in a tenuous balance between the demands of host and symbiont. The evolution of specialized structural novelties can provide a mechanism for the host to partition a symbiont and maintain the relationship. The ambrosia symbiosis describes multiple sub-families of weevil (Coleoptera: Curclionidae) that exist in obligate nutritional mutualisms with fungi. Many adult ambrosia beetles have pouches or pits (mycangia) across the body that aid in dispersing fungi between their tree hosts. In order to better understand how mutualisms may direct the development of new, specialized structures within the host body, we are using a local ambrosia beetle species (Euwallacea validus) to study the developmental and genetic mechanisms involved in mycangia morphogenesis. In this study, we utilized microtome cross-sectioning and micro-computed tomography (µCT) scanning to describe the organization of mycangia in E. validus as well as identify the onset of organogenesis during beetle development. In contrast to the current model, we identified two paired pouch structures in both late stage pupae and adult female E. validus, as well as a nascent structure in adult male beetles. In parallel, preliminary data from gene functional analyses suggests that two genes involved in tubulogenesis within insect bodies, breathless (btl) and trachealess (trh), may play a critical role in regulating the development of mycangia.

4. Land Use Changes Related to Ethanol Production in the United StatesShabani Kariburyo, Alan Collins*Division of Resource Economics and Management, WVU Davis College

The enactment of the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2005, and its revision in 2007 was followed by a boom in ethanol production in the United States. Environmental Economists feared that increased ethanol production would result in more corn production, thereby creating land use issues at the extensive margin (i.e. non-cropland being transformed into cropland) (Ifft et al. 2019; Li et al. 2020). Studies have investigated this issue using difference in difference (DID) methods and instrumental variables. However, problems with spurious correlation between ethanol mandate and production decisions have arisen using the latter method, and the lack of parallel trends, a key assumption in the use of the DID has also been raised (Ifft et al. 2019; Motamed et al. 2016; Towe and Tra 2013). This research revisits this debate and utilizes multiple treatment synthetic control analysis to investigate whether land from the Conservation Reserve Program decreased and corn production increased at county levels due to ethanol mandate. Multiple treatment synthetic control relaxes the parallel trends assumption and permits the creation of an optimal synthetic control, a weighted average of the control units which best approximates the treated unit in the pre-intervention period. The results of this study should shed light on trends of land use changes at the extensive margin, which is an environmentally sensitive area.

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5. Economic Efficiency of Food Safety Modernization Act: Preventing Illnesses fromContaminated WaterMarziyeh Bahalou Horeh1, Levan Elbakidze2

1Division of Resource Economics and Management, Davis College of Agriculture, NaturalResources and Design, West Virginia University, mb0062@mix.wvu.edu2Division of Resource Economics and Management, Davis College of Agriculture, NaturalResources and Design, West Virginia University, Levan.elbakidze@mail.wvu.edu

In response to numerous foodborne disease outbreaks, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was introduced in 2011 to improve food safety by directing efforts towards prevention of foodborne illnesses with a particular focus on fresh fruits and vegetables. According to the Food and Drug Administration, agricultural water use during growing and harvest is a significant risk factor for introduction of pathogens to fresh produce. Therefore, reducing pathogens in irrigation water was proposed as a major component of mandatory foodborne disease prevention efforts. This paper provides a theoretical framework and a corresponding empirical analysis of the FSMA regulatory standard for irrigation water quality. A stochastic mixed integer price endogenous partial equilibrium model with recourse is developed to examine the efficacy of the standard under various foodborne illness harm values, costs of implementation, value of irrigation water, and other key parameters. The study explicitly examines tradeoffs between improved food safety and costs of regulation taking into account producer response to regulatory requirements, effectiveness of the prevention strategy, and implications for welfare in terms of economic surplus. Lettuce industry is considered as a case study because several foodborne illnesses were linked to lettuce. We find that expected prices of “Head” and “Leaf and Romaine” lettuces under the FSMA proposed regulatory standard are 1.04% and 0.64% greater than the respective prices without the standard. The results show that if average cost of a foodborne illness is $4,000, then the FSMA regulation is cost effective unless annual implementation costs exceed $2.5 million.

Keywords: Food safety; Partial equilibrium; Irrigation water.

JEL classification: D61, D78, Q11, Q18.

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ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Session B M.S.

Time: 9:25 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

1. De novo domestication of Solanum cheesmaniae via CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing: Alleviatingthe water demands of tomato cropping by harnessing the salinity tolerance of a wild speciesEstefania Tavares Flores1, Renan T. Pinto2, Dharshini S. Kandan3, Lazaro E. P. Peres4,Vagner A. Benedito1.1Division of Soil and Plant Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. USA.2Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.3Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR), Veerakeralam, Tamil Nadu, India.4University of Sao Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Agriculture is the economic sector that utilizes most of the freshwater resources available globally. Salinization of arable lands is a major concern due to the increasing limitations of freshwater supply and the substantial use of continuous irrigation systems. Salt stress has a significant impact on crop development and yield, which limits cultivation in marginal lands and the use of saline water in agriculture. A glycophyte crop, such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), requires high amounts of water while being highly sensitive to soil salinity. Introgression of salinity resistance into tomato cultivars via conventional breeding procedures remains challenging due to the polygenic nature behind abiotic traits. We aimed to domesticate tomato de novo as a high-salinity resistant crop from its wild relative, S. cheesmaniae. Based on published data, the accession LA0421 originally from the seashores of the Galapagos Islands is characterized for less yield penalty when exposed to saline conditions. Thus, we chose LA0421 as the genetic baseline for knocking out genes involved in domestication traits, including plant architecture, flowering, yield, fruit size, and nutritional value. We are using a multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 strategy to produce loss-of-function alleles for the domestication-related genes BIF, cycB, J2, EJ2, MULTI, SP, SP5G, and FW11.3 in order to create a novel, halophyte tomato harboring an inherent high-salinity resistance along with desirable cultivation traits. This proof-of-concept research aims to engineer crops using speedy reverse breeding that could potentially enable the use (at least partially) of seawater hydroponics or saline soils for food production.

2. Development of Paired-Nested-Scale Multi-Catchment Rating Curves for AppalachianMixed-Land-Use WatershedsZachary Heck1,2 and Jason A. Hubbart1,2,3

1Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2Institute of Water Security and Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV3Davis College, Schools of Agriculture and Food, and Natural Resources, West VirginiaUniversity, Morgantown, WV

Anthropogenic activities often alter stream and river flow regimes. Traditional monitoring of streamflow involves measurements of stage (mm) and discharge (i.e. streamflow) (m3s-1) above a

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local datum. However, while stage is relatively easily monitored, continuous measurement of streamflow (m3s-1) is often impractical and prohibitively expensive. Therefore, rating curve equations are developed to convert stage to flow. However, rating curve equations often do not exist for complex mountainous terrain such as Appalachia. To develop a series of rating curves for flow estimations in Appalachia, an investigation was conducted in a representative urbanizing, mixed-land-use watershed in north central West Virginia consisting of 21 stream gauge sites. At each site, stage was continuously recorded at 5 minute intervals using a Solinst Levelogger. Streamflow was estimated using the cross-section method and an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) during low to high flow events. Using these streamflow measurements (27<n<54) a rating curve was developed for each stream stage monitoring site. The developed rating curves accuracy were assessed using the coefficient of determination (R2) with a threshold of R2 ≥ 0.95; preliminary results generated values ranging from 0.765 to 0.994. For rating curves falling short of the R2 threshold additional cross-sections are being conducted. Stream channel profiles were created using key channel morphologic features (i.e. channel width, depth, slope, and roughness) as references for each site. Results from this study advance the understanding of stage versus discharge relationships, and advance streamflow predictions in mixed-land-use watersheds of Appalachia, and are globally transferable to similar physiographic ecosystems.

3. Evaluation of Vegetation Success on Reclaimed Natural Gas PipelinesAnthony Mesa, Mike Strager1, Paul Kinder1, and Shawn Grushecky1*1Natural Resource Analysis Center, Davis College, West Virginia University,Morgantown, WV

In the Appalachian Basin of the United States, state agencies have implemented best management practices (BMPs) that require certain reclamation standards that natural gas and oil exploration and production companies must follow. Common to most mitigation practices is the re-establishment of herbaceous vegetation in the cleared pipeline areas, with the goal of diminishing erosion induced sedimentation in downstream waters. The current oil and gas permit standard in the state of West Virginia requires a presence of at least 70% vegetative cover across all pipeline right-of-ways not used for vehicle travel. The industry’s standard evaluation methods of this cover are generally subjective, with quality estimates being formed from very small (< 1m2) areas, and varying in score between different state and private inspectors. This project utilizes a DJI M-200 small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) equipped with a Sentera 6X multispectral sensor to form a subjective evaluation of vegetative success at pipeline sites in the West Virginia region of the Appalachians. Ground inspectors identified areas of absent and underperforming vegetation immediately preceding sensor collection at a revegetated pipeline site. Through the calculation of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) on the multispectral returns, the values of areas with various degrees of vegetation performance were identified. The values were compared to site data for two established pipeline lengths, both of have not yet passed state inspection. Current results indicate that vegetative cover on these sites have at least reached the 70% threshold based on spatial analysis of the total areas.

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4. The effect of a dacitic tuff breccia (Azomite®) in corn, soybean, and DDGS based dietsthat vary in inorganic phosphate source on pellet mill energy consumption and aminoacid digestibility.Kristina Bowen1, Timothy Boltz1, Victoria Ayres1, Elizabeth Lynch1, Jon Ferrel2, andJoseph Moritz1*1Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV2Azomite Mineral Products, Inc., IN

Research has shown that Azomite (AZM) can increase pellet mill throughput in corn, soybean meal, and DDGS diets that include either dicalcium phosphate (DCP) or tricalcium phosphate (TCP). The current study hypothesized that pellet mill energy consumption would decrease for diets that contained AZM due in part to a pellet die scouring effect. This could decrease amino acid exposure to friction and pressure within the pellet die, maintaining amino acid conformation and thus digestibility relative to diets without AZM. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of AZM (0.25%) in corn, soybean, and DDGS based diets with DCP and TCP on pellet mill energy consumption and subsequent amino acid digestibility when fed to broiler chicks for 21d. Day-old broiler chicks were obtained, weighed, and allocated to raised wire cages. Each treatment was replicated eight times. Dietary treatments were described as: DCP without AZM, TCP without AZM, DCP with AZM, and TCP with AZM. On d21 ileal contents were collected for amino acid and titanium dioxide analysis. Statistical analysis was performed on the phosphate source by AZM inclusion factorial arrangement of treatments as well as a multiple comparison of all treatments. Pellet mill motor load decreased in diets containing TCP compared to DCP, and when AZM was included in either diet (P<0.05). AZM increased digestibility of lysine, cysteine, and isoleucine in DCP diets but not TCP diets. Decreased motor load that resulted from AZM inclusion likely reduced feed exposure to friction and pressure that preserved amino acid conformation.

5. Influence of Elevation on Canada Warbler Population Dynamics in the CentralAppalachian MountainsStephanie H. Augustine1, Christopher T. Rota1

1Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Cardellina canadensis (Canada Warblers) are a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbird that has exhibited apparent declines in abundance over recent decades. This species occupies a wide range of environmental conditions throughout their range but lack substantial data regarding elements driving variation in demography and the strength of population migratory connectivity. The aim of this research is to (1) determine the relationship between demography and environmental conditions along an elevation gradient and (2) ascertain migratory route and wintering locations of a population of C. canadensis breeding in the central Appalachian Mountains. Our research takes place at six study sites spanning an approximate 130km north-south gradient within the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia, ranging in elevation from 526 – 1282m. We will estimate apparent survival with a three-year mark recapture study; in 2019 we marked 104 birds, of which 33 were observed in 2020. We also marked an additional 107 birds in 2020, and we will re-sight banded birds again in 2021. We will model survival as a function of elevation and additional environmental variables, which will elucidate the region-specific habitat-demography relationship. To determine migration strategies, we deployed 32 adult males with light-level geolocator tags in 2020 and will retrieve tags from returned individuals in 2021. By tracking the individuals in this

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population, we will establish a baseline for full annual cycle modeling of this species for the future. This presentation will include results from the first two field seasons of the project.

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ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Session C Ph.D.

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

1. Blue Nights: The Complexity of GriefNikola Janevski1, M.S, Angela Uriyo2, Ph.D.*1.Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West VirginiaUniversity, Morgantown, WV2 Fashion, Dress, and Merchandising, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

“Memory fades, memory adjusts, memory conforms to what we think we remember.” - Blue Nights, Joan Didion

The purpose of this design was to capture the nuances and complexity of grief since grief is not a singular emotion; it is complex as it overwhelms you. It causes your mind to grapple with the memories of the loss. Those memories may fade in and out like waves, but each relationship is marked with objects that define it and these are the objects one remembers when someone or something is lost. The design was inspired by Joan Didion’s memoir Blue Nights about the loss of her daughter. For Didion, the objects she remembered her daughter by, were the stephanotis flowers her daughter wore on her wedding day, and the gaura and the Lily of the Nile flowers that grew in their home in California. The typical color associated with mourning is black, however, Didion uses the color of blue nights to convey the feeling of melancholy, nostalgia, memories, and time passing. We used cyanotype, an old photographic printing method, as a novel technique for surface design on fabric. In addition, the photographic quality of the cyanotype print combined with memories of flowers captured how a person experiences memories during grief.

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2. The Application of Systems Science in Nutrition and Health Behavior InterventionResearch: A Systematic Scoping ReviewAyron E Walker1, Melissa D Olfert1*

1 Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Evidence provides positive implications of systems science in the dissemination and implementation (D&I) process. However, little is known about the utilization within nutrition-related outcomes and behaviors. This hinders the availability of complex health interventions for individuals, which lead to positive changes in dietary behaviors and lowers the risk of chronic diseases including four of the ten leading causes of death: heart diseases, some types of cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this paper was to conduct a systematic scoping review of systems science in nutrition D&I research to inform future research. Methodology involved the search of six academic databases. Data extraction included intervention type, population, study aim, methods, theoretical approach, outcomes, and results. Descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis preceded. Thirty-four retained articles describing 13 review articles and seven case studies applied six intervention types with planning or organizing interventions (28.5%); scope of the implementation process (28.5%) being most frequent. Qualitative analysis identified benefits (successful planning and organization of complex interventions) and challenges (limited resources and lack of knowledge) to utilizing systems science in nutrition D&I research. Eight themes and associations were identified to understand current application and its implications. Systems science remains underutilized in nutrition and diet-related D&I research due to the lack of resources and trainings that would increase knowledge to develop complex nutrition interventions. Future research should work towards using evidence-based frameworks, competencies, and practice to develop a curriculum for nutrition interventionist to train and provide applicable knowledge on D&I research and systems science.

3. Wind power penetration impacts on wholesale electricity markets: Evidence fromusing a quantile regression approachBolarinwa A. Ajanaku1, Alan R. Collins1*

1 Division of Resource Economics and Management, West Virginia University,Morgantown, WV

The wholesale electricity markets in the U.S. have undergone drastic technology shifts in recent decades with an influx of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. This unprecedented technology switch, coupled with decreasing natural gas prices, has created increased competition among generators. This rapidly increasing integration of renewable power into the electricity grid poses fundamental concerns about this transition's potential impacts on the current electricity system. Using data from two wholesale electricity markets (Pennsylvania – New Jersey – Maryland (PJM) and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)), two energy policy questions are addressed: (1) How much does wind power integration impact wholesale electricity prices under different markets?, and (2) Does the merit-order effect (MOE) exist for different quantiles of wholesale electricity prices? To answer these questions, quantile regression is used to obtain coefficient estimates that indicate wind penetration has unequal impacts on wholesale electricity prices across quantiles. The empirical analyses confirmed that the MOE exists across different quantiles in the PJM market, implying that the increasing deployment of wind power for electricity generation significantly suppresses wholesale electricity prices. Contrary to the PJM estimations,

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MOE are confirmed across only some quantiles of wholesale prices. Lower quantiles show a positive impact from wind, failing to support the MOE price-dampening hypothesis. The findings have relevant insight and policy implications for market participants, wind developers, and energy policymakers. Particularly, market participants could use this study to understand the market fundaments that drives extreme price movement and the impact of growing renewable generation on electricity prices distribution in PJM and ERCOT markets.

4. How Covid-19 Affected the Stock Market Returns of Meat Processors in The U.S.:An Event Study Approach.Hélène Flore Nguemgaing*, Ana Claudia Sant ’AnnaDivision of Resource Economics and Management, Davis College of Agriculture, NaturalResources, and Design, West Virginia University

Covid-19 effected the agro-food supply chain as companies closed their plants due to the impossibility to implement social distancing guidelines. Between April and May 2020, 17,358 Covid-19 positive cases and 91 deaths in U.S. meat processing plants were recorded (Waltenburg 2020). In this study, we evaluate the effects of chain disruptions (e.g. lockdowns and Covid-19 incidences among workers) on stock market prices of meat processors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study uses the event study approach to examine the disruptions from COVID-19 through events such as plant shutdowns, pandemic announcement, and lockdown dates. Secondary data are collected for 14 U.S. Publicly traded meat processing industries, as well as data on S&P 500 and on google trends. Results show that nationwide events had a greater negative impact on returns from meat processing companies than specific events impacting meat processing companies. We also found that Covid-19 related events in meat processing companies did not affect the average meat processing return negatively. In fact, we find abnormal positive returns associated to meat processing facilities during the time studied. This study differs from previous studies in two ways. First, we are the first to investigate the effect of Covid-19 on the returns of U.S. meat processors. Second, we use google trends to estimate the average expected return in the event study methodology. This study provides insight to investors on the behavior of industry returns from events such as outbreaks that affect human health. Keywords: event study, meat processors, abnormal returns.

JEL Codes: Q13, Q14

Waltenburg, Michelle A. 2020. “Update: COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities ― United States, April–May 2020.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 69.

5. Harnessing the power of the soil microbiome to enhance agroecosystem sustainabilityJenni Kane1, Louis McDonald1, Jeff Skousen1, Zachary Freedman2, Ember Morrissey1*1West Virginia University, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design,Division of Plant and Soil Science2University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Soil Science

Optimizing land use for agriculture is critical, since food and energy production must increase alongside the growing population. Anthropogenically damaged land is often not an option for large-scale food production due to poor soil conditions leading to high input needs

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and low yield. However, utilizing these lands to grow robust bioproduct crops like Miscanthus x giganteus could help relieve competition for land while contributing to green energy production and enhanced soil fertility. Interactions between Miscanthus and the soil microbiome determine crop success and mediate the cycling and storage of nutrients. The Miscanthus microbiome is sensitive to environmental change; however, the influence of agricultural practices on these communities remains understudied. Over fertilization may shift microbial communities toward lower nutrient use efficiency as fast-growing but inefficient life strategies become favored. This may lead to consequences like nutrient runoff and poor crop quality or yield. An experiment was initiated in anthropogenically disturbed soils at the WVU Animal Science and Agronomy farms whereby Miscanthus plots were established and treated with one of four amendments (low- and high-level inorganic, organic, control). Microbial carbon and nitrogen use efficiencies (CUE and NUE) are measured by tracing isotopically labeled substrates into biomass or loss to the environment. Preliminary data suggests that while fertilization regime did not affect crop yield, CUE is correlated with total soil C, N, and total soil organic matter contents depending on fertilization regime. This supports that fertilization can be strategically adjusted to enhance the storage of nutrients in soils without sacrificing crop yield.

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ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Session D M.S.

Time: 2:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.

1. Rural Urbanism: A Community Design Approach for a Mountain Town in WestVirginiaRyan BlairSchool of Design and Community Development, West Virginia University, Morgantown,WV.

The fate of many communities in West Virginia rely not on a resurgence of the industrialpast, but rather a new economy that capitalize on both the demand for outdoor recreationopportunities, and the existing rich community culture. Gateway communities provide ahigh quality of life while also affording the opportunity to avoid paying the high cost ofliving associated with many major U.S. cities – both of which create a unique opportunityfor rural towns in the Mountain State to serve as temporary and permanent destinations forthe young, skilled professionals that the state is losing at an alarming rate. An influx inresidents and tourists alike requires strategic environmental and community planning toserve this demand while maintaining the existing character of the community. Applyingprinciples of urbanism through a comprehensive plan is necessary to develop attributes thatcater to current and future residents. This project includes a case study of Hinton, WV – thesouthern gateway town of the newly established New River Gorge National Park andPreserve. The town’s potential emerges from its proximity to a plethora of outdoor amenitiesalong with the current optimal conditions of its core downtown area. This study will includea regional masterplan, community masterplan, and redevelopment plan of the CulturalDistrict in downtown Hinton. To avoid the ills of rural expansion such as increased forestfragmentation and greenhouse gas emissions, the plan will include strategies to minimizethese effects. The final project should serve as a blueprint for other gateway communities tocapitalize on their potential while minimizing community and environmental degradation.

2. Efficacy of hard-engineered seawall as a coastal defense against the effects of globalwarmingVoke BrumeSchool of Design and Community Development, West Virginia University, Morgantown,WV.

As the world continues to grapple with the effects of the rising temperature of Earth’s surface over the last century, coastal cities continue to source for sustainable ways to better protect coastlines from raging tides, waves, floods, and other hydrospheric hazards as a result of rising sea levels. Albeit numerous environmentalists call for sustainable alternatives and practices, there is continued popularity and widespread use of hard-engineered seawalls as a coastal defense mechanism. The objective of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of hard-engineered seawalls in coastal cities of

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today and explore eco-friendly alternatives as viable replacements. Hard-engineered seawalls are rife with disadvantages in terms of cost and adverse effects to the biotic environment around them. Furthermore, they also decrease the beach amenity value of coastal communities, which inevitably leads to loss of revenue. This research will use data on seawall efficiency and sustainability in recent years to evaluate and analyze their efficacy using XBeach. XBeach is a public-domain 2-dimensional model for wave propagation and morphological changes of nearshore areas that has been developed with major funding from the US Army Corps of Engineers and EU amongst others. The results will then be compared to similar analyzes for natural sea barriers such as coral reefs, wetlands, and mangrove forests during the same period. This approach will help better understand how hard-engineered seawalls compare to more sustainable sea barrier alternatives. The conclusion will be a design template on best practices for coastal protection in this age of rapidly spiraling sea-level changes.

References A.F. de Beer, R.T. McCall, J.W. Long, M.F.S. Tissier, A.J.H.M. Reniers, Simulating wave runup on an intermediate–reflective beach using a wave-resolving and a wave-averaged version of XBeach, Coastal Engineering, Volume 163, 2021, 103788, ISSN 0378-3839, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2020.103788.

Bolle, A., Mercelis, P., Roelvink, D., Haerens, P., & Trouw, K. (2011). APPLICATION AND VALIDATION OF XBEACH FOR THREE DIFFERENT FIELD SITES. Coastal Engineering Proceedings, 1(32), sediment.40. https://doi.org/10.9753/icce.v32.sediment.40

Branson, P. (2015). Application of XBeach for storm erosion modelling in complex reef environments of Western Australia. Non-Serials, 107–113. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.703212465700199 (Original work published January 2015)

Muller, J., Figlus, J., & de Vries, S. (2018). XBEACH SIMULATION OF HYBRID COASTAL PROTECTION: A GALVESTON SEAWALL TEST CASE. Coastal Engineering Proceedings, 1(36), papers.100. https://doi.org/10.9753/icce.v36.papers.100

Saponieri, A., Di Risio, M., Pasquali, D., Valentini, N., Aristodemo, F., Tripepi, G., Celli, D., Streicher, M., & Damiani, L. (2018). Beach Profile Evolution in Front Of Storm Seawalls: A Physical And Numerical Study. Coastal Engineering Proceedings, 1(36), papers.70. https://doi.org/10.9753/icce.v36.papers.70

3. COVID-19 and Micro Fashion Businesses: Exploring the Impact it had on RegionalDevelopment across West VirginiaIshtehar Sharif Swazan1, Debanjan Das1*1 Fashion Dress and Merchandising Department, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Micro businesses are vital to a nation's economy and nation's competitiveness. They are also recognized as a poverty mitigation strategy or an effective tool to supplement income. There are 22.7 million micro businesses in the United States, which is 89% of all United States businesses (Census Bureau, 2017). COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on United States’ micro

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businesses. Therefore, the study aims to explore the impact Covid-19 had on the micro fashion businesses and thereby on regional development in West Virginia using the Porter’s Diamond Model (Porter, 1990). Qualitative semi-structured interviews were employed for this study. Interview questions were derived from related literature. Interviews were conducted with 15 owners and managers of micro fashion businesses across West Virginia. The transcripts were analyzed deductively through coding and memos related to the Diamond Model. The results revealed a) financial instability; b) store closure due of insufficient profit; c) decline in employment; and d) losing competitiveness against the large retail stores, as the main impacts. These impacts mainly resulted from: a) inadequate financial support from the government; b) inability to provide online services; c) unpredictable nature of the pandemic; and d) inability to plan ahead. The findings of this study will inform federal and state decision makers to make productive and worthwhile decisions to support the micro fashion businesses in West Virginia.

References Census Bureau. (2017). Retrieved February 27, 2021, from https://www.census.gov/ Porter, M. (1990). The Competitive Advantage of Nations. Harvard Business Review, 68(2), 73-93.

4. Beetle horns: Differential gene expression analysis and the genetic underpinnings ofnovel trait development in dung beetlesNaureen Fatima1, Teiya Kijimoto*1

1 Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

The origin of the evolutionary new trait (evolutionary novelty) is of great interest for biologists in various fields, and beetle horns have been used to address this fundamental biological question. Onthophagus taurus horn is a secondary sexual trait and usually develops only in males. It also shows an extreme form of developmental plasticity within males (polyphenism) influenced by nutrition uptake during the larval period. On the contrary, the development of genitalia, a primary sexual trait, is not nutrition-dependent. Previous studies have highlighted the gene expression pattern in horns and different tissues, and as of now, legs are the closest to the horn. However, although they are both sexual traits, not much is known about the potential similarity in the gene expression patterns between horns and genitalia. We utilized RNAseq using four tissues, including horns and genitalia, and highlighted the gene expression pattern. Two beetle life stages and two nutritional conditions were used. The results show a clear difference in gene expression levels between the two life stages. Our transcriptomic data suggest that genitalia show a significant difference from horns, implying legs are still the closest to horns. In parallel, we took a targeted gene approach where we used RNAi to knock down the gene arrow to investigate its role in horn development. Our data suggest this gene is involved in regulating the horn size, thereby affecting the polyphenic development of beetle horns.

5. Studying the metabolic crosstalk in the terpenoid biosynthetic network of plantsErin Hartzell1, Laura Henry2, Natalia Dudareva2, Michael Gutensohn*1

1 Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 265052 Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Terpenoids are a large class of metabolites in plants, many vital for basic processes like photosynthesis, respiration, growth/development, and environmental interactions. All terpenoids are derived from the universal building blocks IPP and DMAPP that are produced by two independent

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metabolic pathways: the MEP and the MVA pathway. Although these pathways are localized in different cellular compartments, their final products are routinely exchanged. Both pathways have been studied in detail individually, but comparatively little is known about the crosstalk between them. We use two Arabidopsis mutants defective in key enzymes of the MEP and MVA pathways. The chs5 mutant is a temperature-sensitive conditional mutant in the MEP pathway gene 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) showing a pale phenotype due to this pathway’sinvolvement in chlorophyll biosynthesis. We have also isolated a T-DNA insertion mutant for theMVA pathway gene 5-phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK) showing an embryo-lethal phenotype andreduced male gamete transmission. We engineered an alternative metabolic route utilizingarchaebacterial phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (MPD) and endogenous isopentenyl phosphatekinase (IPK) in both mutant backgrounds to study if enhanced IPP formation in the cytosol canphenotypically complement the defects in these mutants. Analysis of chlorophyll and carotenoidcontents in MPD/chs5 lines, representing downstream products of the MEP pathway, indicated IPPtransfer from the cytosol towards plastids, while sterol contents, representing MVA pathwayproducts, were unchanged. We are now studying if the increased cytosolic IPP pool can also bechanneled towards downstream products of the MVA pathway by overexpressing MPD in the pmkmutant background.

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Special Thanks to:

Davis-Michael Distinguished Lecture Professor Eckart Lange

Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture The University of Sheffield

The faculty judges from the DCANRD:

Animal & Nutritional Sciences Scott Bowdridge Nette Freshour Kelly George Jacek Jaczynski Brett Kenney Kristen Matak Margaret Minch Janet Tou

Design & Community Development Ron Dulaney Aaron Giorgi Chris Haddox Judith Wasserman

Forestry & Natural Resources Jim Anderson Ross Andrew Steve Chhin Stefanie Hines Charley Kelly Christopher M. Lituma Brent Murry Christopher Rota

Plant & Soil Sciences Cynthia Huebner Teiya Kijimoto Jim Kotcon Brian Lovett Ember Morrissey Carlos Quesada Elizabeth Rowan Dan Panaccione Eugenia Pena-Yewtukhiw

Resource Economics & Management Elizabeth Byrd Levan Elbakidze Zach Keeler Ana Claudia Sant'Anna Suhyun Jung Mark Sperow Michael Strager Yuelu Xu

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Special Assistance from the Davis College Gloria Nestor

Lindsay Willey

The organizing committee: Xiaoli Etienne, Chair, Resource Economics & Management

Cangliang Shen, Animal & Nutritional Sciences Aaron Giorgi, Design & Community Development

Caroline Chaves Arnates, Forestry & Natural Resources Elizabeth Rowen, Plant & Soil Sciences