Adaptations of the Nervous System as Observed in Marine Life — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Instructions

Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
A clear description of the methods used to achieve the purpose or goals for the work.
A statement of the conclusions, results, outcomes, or recommendations, or if the work is still in progress, the results you expect to report at the event.

Presenter photographs should be head and shoulder shots comparable to passport photos.

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Adaptations of the Nervous System as Observed in Marine Life

Name: Karynn Lehne
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: New Prague, MN
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Name: Shelby Hawley
Major: Exercise and Sports Science
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Name: Keely Purol
Major: Criminal Justice and Psychology
Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Name: Frances Siciliano
Major: Spanish
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Abstract

The goal of this project is to document the diversity of the nervous systems of marine animals observed while scuba diving on a J-term trip to Roatán, Honduras. This extensive marine biodiversity results in part from the nervous system adapting over time becoming more complex and centralized, which accounts for more complex behaviors, such as a switch from sedentary filter feeders to actively swimming predators. We looked at the various Phyla that contain marine species and assessed the complexity of their nervous systems or lack thereof. We will use a cladogram to show the evolution and progressive development of the nervous system that can be observed in reef communities. From filter-feeding sponges (Phylum Porifera) at the base of the cladogram to complex vertebrates (Phylum Chordata) we show the dramatic increase in nervous system complexity from none to a complex brain. During the J-term trip, using scuba, we were able to see each of the adaptations of the nervous systems in the marine life and how these adaptations have been successful for them.

Poster file