Kaia's Project Page

Who:  I am from the Southeastern Utah portion of the Navajo Nation. I came to the U for the ACCESS program as well as the many other awesome science experiences available to undergraduate students. While on campus, I have enjoyed being an active participant in a research lab. In my free time, I like to spend time with my friends and family.

My scientific interests:  I have always been fascinated in the way life works as well as how the human body works. Science has pushed me to further my limits and to embrace new knowledge.

Academic goals:  I am a HBS Biology major with a Cell and Molecular Biology emphasis. I hope to continue my research and work with the best research faculty here at the U.

Career goals:  After I complete my undergrad, I would like to attend medical or graduate school. I would like to give back to my community and tribe by helping to provide quality healthcare and continuing to actively engage in research.

The Western Tree Hole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis , is an aggressive, nuisance biter of human and also transmits a roundworm that causes canine heartworm disease. Female Ae. sierrensis typically lay their eggs in tree holes that contain stagnant water. Female Aedes mosquitoes have been shown to be capable of sensing the water environment best suited to development of larvae. We tested the egg laying (oviposition) preferences of Ae. sierrensis in two-choice bioassays comparing distilled water with either a bionutrient broth or distilled water infused with 3g beetroot peel. To test different oviposition preferences, we used two cylindrical cups covered externally by black paper. Each of these cups had brown egg sheet paper lining the cups and was filled with 80ml of fluid (distilled water, nutrient broth, or beetroot peel infused water). Two cups (broth or beetroot peel infused water paired with the control distilled water) were carefully placed in opposite corners (positions randomized) of a mosquito cage with 9-12 gravid female mosquitoes (N=4 for each comparison). After 48 hours the egg sheets were collected and eggs counted.  The results indicated that females laid more eggs in the water treatment compared to bionutrient broth and they also oviposited more frequently in beetroot peel infused water compared to water alone.  However, statistical analyses with a t-test revealed that there were no significant differences between either set of treatments ( P >0.05). While our current results are inconclusive, future experiments will focus on exploring the attractiveness of beetroot peel which has been shown to be highly attractive to ovipositing female Aedes aegypti , a vector of several human diseases.  Insights from experiments on oviposition preferences of mosquitoes may lead to the development of improved traps for both monitoring and controlling wild mosquito populations.