It may have been brought to the United States from Europe in the 1860s for its flavor, but garlic mustard, a member of the Brassicaceae plant family, is now an invasive species in the forests of North America that is negatively impacting native flora and fauna. To help discover ways to eradicate the intrusive plant, California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) biology student Karina Martinez spent the first 11 weeks of her summer in Harvard Forest, a 4,000-acre ecological research site and outdoor laboratory that has been administered by Harvard University since 1988. Her research focused on if the “Eurasian invasive duo,” garlic mustard and exotic earthworms, work in tandem to ... Read More
Environmental Science
Alexandra Gutierrez Spends Summer Seeking Early-Earth Microbes
Unlike most undergraduate students who go to the Colorado River during the summer to camp or enjoy whitewater rafting, Alexandra Gutierrez, a biology major at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), spent much of that time processing soil samples harvested in the shallows of the river in search of Archaea microorganisms. Funded by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Robert Noyce Scholars and the STEM Teacher and Research (STAR) programs, Gutierrez—an avid environmentalist—was tasked with searching for more diverse families of the microbe during her internship at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), along with working on campus at Stanford in the Green Earth Sciences ... Read More
Labor, Social, and Environmental Justice Fair Connects Students with Activists
Students, faculty, labor and community organizations from across the greater Los Angeles area will come together to celebrate the Ninth Annual Labor, Social and Environmental Justice Fair hosted by the California State University Dominguez Hills Labor and Social Justice Club and Labor Studies Program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25. The day-long fair is designed to connect students and members of the community with local unions and community organizations that are doing social justice work, while enjoying art, music, dance and theater. “We’re proud to be sponsored by unions, student government and individual donations. We’re overjoyed to have the participation of over 40 ... Read More
Kathryn Theiss on Climate Change and the Evolution of Plants
Earth’s biodiversity has been profoundly shaped by global climate change for eons, and researchers expect the current ongoing and rapid changes to have as great an effect, especially on the evolution of plants, says Kathryn Theiss, assistant professor of biology at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). Theiss is fascinated by the evolution of plant reproduction and how reproductive strategies are affected by conservation issues, especially global climate change. She tends to focus on rare plants, favoring moth-pollinated species such as Evening Primroses, the plant group she is currently studying. “Evening primroses are generally not considered rare yet, but could ... Read More
Water Wise & Life Friendly: Connie Vadheim Educates Community on Natives Plants
Following one of California’s driest winters, South Bay gardeners will need to make some choices about their thirsty rose bushes and tomato plants. The good news is that appropriate regional water-wise landscapes are not all cactus and rock gardens, according to Constance M. Vadheim, a CSU Dominguez Hills adjunct professor of biology. “There are many drought-tolerant native shrubs that are evergreen or bloom with pretty flowers,” she said. “The lemonade berry, for example, has beautiful flowers, edible berries, and birds love it.” For more than 10 years, Vadheim has volunteered her extensive hands-on knowledge of California’s native, water-wise plants with creative and practical ... Read More
