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The New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) supports research that strengthens agriculture, aquaculture, and natural resources in New Hampshire while addressing regional and global challenges. Through its Collaborative Research Enhancement Team Exploration (CREATE) program, NHAES provides initial support for innovative research that connects knowledge and skillsets from different disciplines and colleges at the 麻豆app (UNH). CREATE projects take on complex issues, drawing on expertise in biological, engineering, environmental and social sciences. Since its launch in 2022, the CREATE program has supported projects on aquaculture biosensors, soil nutrient studies, and links between biodiversity and human well-being.

鈥淭he inventive ideas proposed and undertaken through this program over the past few years have generated really exciting insights and collaborations that have continued to grow,鈥� says Anton Bekkerman, director of the NHAES. 鈥淎nd this year鈥檚 CREATE awardees are building upon the program鈥檚 impressive portfolio.鈥�

Acoustic Sensors for Pest Detection

Research Goal: Develop and deploy sound-based sensors to detect soil-dwelling pests earlier and provide farmers with tools to enhance sustainable pest management.

Soil-dwelling pests, such as white grubs and winter cutworms, are a persistent challenge for New Hampshire farmers. Traditional detection methods, such as physical soil sampling, are time-consuming and often fail to identify early infestations, leading to increased reliance on chemical pesticides to grow marketable crops.

Jeffrey Garnas, an associate professor, and Becky Sideman, professor, in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) are collaborating with Md. Shaad Mahmud in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) to develop an in-ground, sensor-based system using sound technology to monitor real-time pest activity beneath the soil.

Designed to be placed directly in the soil, the sensors collect data that are analyzed to differentiate between pest activity and other vibrations, such as wind or human movement. Field trials will be conducted on New Hampshire farms to test the system鈥檚 accuracy and usability.

鈥淚nnovative pest management strategies are crucial for sustainable agriculture,鈥� Mahmud says. 鈥淏y leveraging acoustic sensor technology, we can detect soil-dwelling pests earlier, enabling targeted interventions that reduce pesticide reliance and enhance crop resilience. This research represents a significant step toward smarter, data-driven farming solutions that benefit both farmers and the environment."

Mapping Fisher Population Connectivity

Research Goal: Map genetic diversity and connectivity of fisher populations to inform forest management strategies.

New Hampshire鈥檚 forests are home to the fisher, an elusive mammal vital to local ecosystem health. Habitat fragmentation caused by human development and changing land-use practices threatens the species鈥� population health. Understanding how fishers move across the landscape is essential for conservation efforts and sustainable forest management.

Adrienne Kovach and Remington Moll, both associate professors in the department of natural resources and the environment in COLSA, are collaborating with David Needle, senior veterinary pathologist in the NH Veterinary Diagnostics Lab.听 The research seeks to assess fisher populations by analyzing genetic diversity and identifying key wildlife corridors, focusing on how differently managed forest habitats may affect movement and population connectivity.

鈥淧rotecting fishers not only supports biodiversity but also ensures that New Hampshire鈥檚 forests remain resilient and sustainable,鈥� Kovach says. 鈥淥ur findings will identify where conservation efforts are most needed to maintain a healthy fisher population.鈥�

She adds 鈥淭hese genetic analyses will help us understand the functional connectivity of forest habitat for fishers, which will in turn inform both wildlife and forest management.鈥�

Cyanobacteria Toxin Analysis

Research Goal: Develop advanced methods to detect and analyze cyanobacteria toxins in agricultural water systems and plants.

Cyanobacteria are a persistent concern for New Hampshire鈥檚 lakes, with serious implications for the state鈥檚 economic and environmental health. Some species secrete toxins such as microcystins that may be present in water or fertilizers applied to crops. Exposure to the toxins causes a variety of health issues, including rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses. While microcystins are well studied, the extent to which they are absorbed by crops, and the potential threat to the food supply, remains largely unknown.鈥�听

Supported by the CREATE听Program, Anna O鈥橞rien, assistant professor in the department of molecular, cellular and biomedical sciences in COLSA, Anyin Li, assistant professor of chemistry in CEPS, and Amanda McQuaid, Extension state specialist, professor and director of the Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, are working to assess the potentially far-reaching effects that microcystins may have.鈥�鈥�听

Microcystins come in more than 200 variants, and only a small number of them are easily measured with current protocols. The team will develop methods in mass spectrometry 鈥� a technique used to identify detailed characteristics of chemical substances 鈥� to analyze water and plant samples.鈥�听

鈥淭his collaboration provides an opportunity to measure more microcystin variants,鈥� adds O鈥橞rien, 鈥渁nd to understand the incorporation of microcystins and their metabolites into plants exposed to them in water, soil or fertilizer.鈥濃��听

Impact of Stressors on Blue Mussels

Research Goal: Investigate the effects of temperature and noise on larval recruitment and juvenile growth in blue mussels to enhance aquaculture sustainability.

Blue mussels are a small but growing part of New Hampshire鈥檚 aquaculture industry. Environmental stressors, such as rising water temperatures and increased noise pollution, threaten their continued growth and survival. These stressors disrupt mussel development and pose challenges to the sustainability of the industry.

Michelle Fournet, Britanny Jellison and Easton White, all assistant professors in COLSA, are collaborating with Michael Coogan, post-doctoral fellow in School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, to evaluate how temperature changes and noise affect mussel larvae and juveniles. The goal of the research is to identify critical thresholds where these stressors impair growth and survival. The findings will provide actionable insights for local aquaculture producers.

鈥淥ur goal is to identify optimal growing conditions in a changing ocean,鈥� says Fournet. 鈥淯nderstanding how variables such as ambient noise and warmer temperatures work in concert helps us provide tangible feedback to mussel farms present and future. Our work hopes to inform not just protocols for growth, but also for siting new developments and optimizing protocols in a rapidly shifting ocean ecosystem.鈥�

Looking Ahead: CREATE鈥檚 Long-Term Impact

The NHAES鈥� CREATE program demonstrates how interdisciplinary research can address critical challenges facing New Hampshire鈥檚 agriculture, aquaculture and natural resources.

鈥淏y bringing together researchers who have different skill sets and bring different perspectives about how to use science to overcome food and landscape system challenges in New Hampshire, these projects can spark not only the initial findings toward really innovative solutions but build scientific teams who can have long-term impacts for our state,鈥� says Bekkerman.

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