b'Perceptions of GMOs at Valdosta State UniversitySamantha DuerringSponsors: Dr. Logan The debate over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food supply is driven by multiple factors, specifically concerns about nutrition, food safety/toxicity, and environmental effects of GMOs. In addition, there may be religious and political concerns related to gene transfers between distant species. Public perception of GMOs has been shown to be correlated to age, ethnicity, level of education, knowledge of how GMOs are created, religious affiliation, political beliefs, and scientific knowledge. While 37 % of the general US population has concerns about the safety of GMO foods, only 12 % of scientists share this concern (PEW Research Center, 2016). The purpose of this research is to investigate the views held on VSUs campus concerning genetically modified organisms in foods and if these perceptions correlate with specific demographic, political, and scientific knowledge factors.Data will be collected from students, faculty, and staff at VSU via Qualtrics. The survey includes questions regarding the respondents demographic information, overall scientific knowledge, perceptions of GMOs, self-assessment of their knowledge of GMOs, and concerns related to nutrition, toxicity, environmental effects and religion. The data will be analyzed to identify specific demographic factors, scientific background, and beliefs that are associated with perceptions of GMOs in foods. Are Mate Preferences in Seahorses Biased by Frequencies of Courtship Behaviors?Darshi Narendrakumar PatelSponsor: Dr. RoseSeahorses are an excellent model organism for studying mate choice preferences due to their unique sex-role reversed mating system. The aim of the project was to quantify the variation in mating behaviors and preferences in seahorses across varied sex ratios. The dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) was chosen for the study because their social and genetic monogamous mating system is well documented. Three replications for equal sex-ratios (1F:1M), female-biased (2F:1M), and male-biased (2M:1F) treatments were conducted with recordings of the mating behaviors at dawn, dusk, and noon (24 seahorses). The mating behaviors recorded were in 4 phases, such as reciprocal quivering, pointing-pumping, reciprocal pointing, leading to the egg transfer. The mating behaviors were analyzed and a new intermediate phase of pointing-quivering was categorized. Unique behaviors were documented, such as failed egg transfers, reduction of the eggs during the gestation period, and female pumping because of varying sex-ratios. Mate activity levels were shown to be a greater predictor of mating success compared with size preferences. Although the male-biased treatments had the shortest latency to mating, they also had the fewest number of offspring due to aggressive intrasexual behaviors. The results from this study will enhance breeding programs for endangered seahorse species worldwide.15'