18 JUNE 2019 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG bivalve polyculture” and Harsha Galkanda-Arachchige from Auburn University for “Efficacy of alternative salt mixture to grow Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)”. WAS Oral Presentation and Poster Awards Diplina Paul won first place ($600) of the oral presentation competition for “A study of newspaper as an alternative media for biofiltration of aquaculture effluents.” Diplina is from the small town of Silchar in India. She received a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from Assam University and completed a Masters in Aquaculture Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. Currently, she is working toward her Ph.D. with Dr. Steven Hall in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State University. Diplina plans to pursue a career in academia. The second-place oral presentation honor ($400) went to Nathan Kring, who is currently a graduate student at Kentucky State University, advised by Dr. Andrew Ray. Nathan’s oral presentation was titled “The effects of stocking density and artificial substrate on Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei production and water quality dynamics in greenhouse-based biofloc systems.” While in the Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Program, his thesis project was determining the effects of artificial substrates and stocking densities on production of Pacific white shrimp, water quality, and stable isotope dynamics of greenhouse-based biofloc systems. This project was performed in Frankfort, KY and yielded roughly 2,000 pounds of shrimp in 100 days. The first-place poster ($600) by DaNelle Ellington was titled “Determining the efficacy of single cell bacteria as an alternative protein source in aquaculture feeds for rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.” DaNelle recently graduated from Roger Williams University (RWU) with a B.S. in Marine Biology. During her time at RWU, she helped develop aquaculture technologies for popular marine aquarium fish and invertebrates to help reduce wild capture. Additionally, she assisted with a data project tracking illegal shipments within the aquarium trade. DaNelle has been a research assistant on a series of diet experiments using single-cell bacteria as an alternative protein source in aquafeeds. She hopes to attend graduate school in the future. Sarah Bodenstein was awarded second place ($400) for her poster titled “Comparison of shellclosing strength for triploid and diploid Eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica.” Sarah received a B.S. degree in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Currently she is a M.S. student at Auburn University in the Auburn Shellfish Lab with Dr. Bill Walton. Sarah’s research explores two potential causes of triploid Eastern oyster summer mortality: desiccation and tumbling. Through field and lab experiments oysters were subjected to these stressors and their growth rate, mortality, and shell-closing strength responses were assessed. The goal of this research was to inform farmers on the best management practices for growing triploids and avoiding mortality. After graduation, Sarah will continue her education at LSU with Dr. Terrence Tiersch and Dr. Jerome La Peyre studying oyster physiology and gamete cryopreservation. USAS Awards Katie McCann is pursuing an M.S. degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) and received the first place oral presentation award ($1000) for “Minimizing fishmeal use in hybrid striped bass Morone chrysops × Morone saxatilis diets using commercial protein concentrates for aquafeeds.” Her M.S. research is being conducted with her advisor, Dr. Rebecca Lochmann as a collaborative project with Dr. Steve Rawles at the USDA/ARS H.K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Katie plans to seek employment in the aquaculture nutrition industry, either in the public or private sectors, while continuing to work with food fish species of economic importance The second-place oral presentation winner ($800) was Kelsey Bisker for “Effects of larval growth differences upon the field performance of cultured Eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica.” She is currently a M.S. student at the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, working with Dr. Bill Walton. Her research focuses on how larval development affects the field performance of the Eastern oyster. Kelly is from the Eastern Shore of Virginia and has been interested in oyster rearing and hatchery management with that species for several years. After graduation, she hopes to be an oyster hatchery manager. The first-place poster winner ($1000) was Sarah Hensey for “Improving the (off) bottom line: Assessing the costs and benefits of different culture methods on an Alabama commercial oyster farm.” Sarah is currently a master’s student at Auburn University. While working on her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science at the University of Georgia, her love of applied science began when she discovered how oysters can be used as ‘living shorelines’. This led her to the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, where she works alongside an experimental oyster farm run by local high school students. After graduation, she hopes to continue to use applied science to help promote positive relationships between the community and its natural resources. Erin Gaglias was awarded second place ($800) for her poster titled “The effect of three different live feeds on the survival and growth of larval fire shrimp Lysmata debelius.” Erin recently graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology and Aquaculture and Aquarium Science from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, advised by Joseph Szczebak. Erin’s current research project for her senior year is directed towards the development of a microphotographic reference for the identification of ornamental cleaner shrimp larval stages. After graduation, Erin will be working at a sustainable shellfish aquaculture farm in southern Massachusetts and intends to pursue graduate studies in the near future. Other Student Awards • Tyson Best Abstract Award ($1500) – Gagan Kolimadu • Pentair Award ($1500) – Clement de Cruz • Soy Aquaculture Alliance ($1000) – Kasondra Miller • Yellow Book Undergraduate Award ($700) – Nolan Schott • Yellow Book Undergraduate Award ($700) – Taylor Zenobia • Best WAS Abstract Travel Award ($600) – Fernando Yamamoto • Best WAS Abstract Travel Award ($600) – Arun Venugopalan • Best WAS Abstract Travel Award ($600) – Eric Gigli • Best USAS Abstract Travel Award ($600) – Michael Acquafredda • Best USAS Abstract Travel Award ($600) – Emma Taccardi • Best USAS Abstract Travel Award ($600) – Harsha Galkanda Arachchige • Joint USAS-FCS Best Abstract ($500) – Brittany Chesser
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