(pensive music)
  - [Erik] We're
  trying to understand
   ultimately the
   impact that humans
 are having on our environment.
 - [Nicole] I study an invasive
  seaweed, gracilaria
  vermiculophylla.
   It's incredibly prevalent
   on these mud flats.
   - [Megan] I work
   out in the marsh.
And I'm seeing if
there's local adaptation
  between the spartina, and
  how that effects the snail.
- I've been out here at
all hours of the day.
   So I go out and
   collect a bunch of
   clumps of seaweed
   and some spartina,
and look to see how many
amphipods are in there,
  and their sizes, and
  their sex ratios.
  With increasing
  temperature there's
 going to be an
 increase in predation.
That increase in predation could
   have really large
   effects on prey.
   Like the fish that we care
   about and we want to eat
   aren't going to be getting
   the food that they need,
and so it can cause big
changes up the food web.
- [Nicole] When we look
at introduced species,
   non-native species
   that are moved
  into biological communities,
  we automatically think
 that these species
 have negative impacts.
  But there are examples
  where introduced species can
  actually positively
  benefit the species
   that are native
   to that community.
And so this association
between gracilaria and the worm
may be an example of a
mutualism that's formed
 between a native and
 a non-native species.
   And that's really rare to
   find in marine systems.
  (rock guitar music)
 - My students come
 very motivated to try
to learn more about our
natural environment.
   They love the fact
   that they can just
  walk out of their classroom
  and onto a mud flat
 and do new,
 cutting-edge science.
And I think that inspires them.
   - [Megan] I was looking
   to do individual reserch,
and he said, "Hey, I have a lab
   "here, and we go
   out in the marsh.
  "Would you be
  interested in that?"
And so I started
by volunteering.
I worked with Nicole on
the gracilaria project.
   And then he and I
   came up with this
independent project
with the spartina grass.
   - [Nicole] I really enjoy
   working with Dr. Sotka.
   He is a fantastic adviser.
   He is incredibly available
   when I have questions
  or need help with
  experimental design,
  or understanding statistics.
  - [Megan] I really like what
  Erik is doing in the lab
and I really appreciate
being a part of that.
  (rock music)
