Sea Lab Sidebar: Meet Research Intern Taniya Johnson

Transcript

Angela Levins, PR Director: Thank you so much for joining us again for a new edition of the sea lab sidebar and today we are joined by research intern Taniya Johnson. Taniya, thank you for joining us.

Taniya Johnson, Research Intern: Thank you for having me.

Levins: So Taniya, let’s just start off with, give me a little bit of background for you.

Johnson: I am from Durham, North Carolina. I graduated from East Carolina University in 2024 with a major in biology and a minor in marine and coastal studies. And I actually came to Alabama about two years ago to join the Dauphin Island Sea Labs biological opportunities and training in the sciences program.

Levins: Very cool. So tell me about that program.

Johnson: Yeah, so that program was created for people who recently graduated undergrad who wanted more research experience. So, Dissle actually hosted eight students from different universities around the US and we came here to get more research experience in multiple labs.

Levins: So, when you say more research experience, does this go beyond what you had at East Carolina in your undergraduate work?

Johnson: Yes, it does. So, at East Carolina, I did research on zooplankton as well as water quality. And I was about 3 hours from the beach. So that was just the scope of my marine science research. So I just wanted to explore more aspects of marine science.

Levins: So you talk about doing zooplankton. Is that why you got into the marine science program, that you were interested in the little guys or is this something that you kind of picked up in undergrad?

Johnson: I knew that I always wanted to be in marine science. I like all aspects of it, but I wasn’t sure which field I wanted to pursue. So, this program gave me the opportunity to have more training in a different field and do research with megafauna.

Levins: So, you’ve been here for about two years. Have you noticed a difference between the eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast?

Johnson: I have. I would say that it’s a little more wild down here, but I enjoy it.

Levins: When you say wild, what do you mean?

Johnson: I would say it’s a little more unpredictable down here. I did most of my work in the Buford Inlet, so I wasn’t too close to the beach. It was more calm waters, very brackish, and then down here, I’m right at the coast. So, a little bit more turbidity, a little bit more waves to work with.

Levins: So, what research work did you do with the biological program?

Johnson: I actually had a year-long research project and I studied how estuarine stressors impact bottlenose dolphin accessory spleens.

Levins: So what does that mean? So what did you look at?

Johnson: I studied the relationship between bottl-nose dolphin spleens and estuarine stressors. I looked at data from the Alabama marine mammal straining network database and I looked at splenic characteristics.

Levins: So when you talk about the dolphin spleen, what does the dolphin spleen do for a dolphin?

Johnson: So their spleens do the same things that ours do. So they help with immune function and they also assist with response to trauma. So these estuarine stressors potentially impact the immune system. So it was the perfect organ to look at.

Levins: So when you talk about estuarine stressors, are you looking at the pH? Are you looking at dissolved oxygen? What stressors were you focused on with this?

Johnson: For this specific project, I was looking at freshwater influx. Um because fresh water can have a negative impact on bottlenose dolphins. Too much fresh water can cause what we like to say freshwater skin disease and that can lead to a secondary infection. I also looked at human interaction regarding these dolphins. So anything like harassment or boat strikes.

Levins: Okay. So the spleen can tell us all of that stuff. It can tell us how the dolphin reacted to it.

Johnson: Yes, it can because how they react is related to their immune system.

Levins: So when you look back at the year that you have with the BOATS program, like what really benefited you with that program?

Johnson: With that program, I would say all of the mentorship as well as the training I received not only from my lab but other labs as well. That’s the good thing about the BOATS program. They want you to be a sponge. Learn as much as you can and experience as much as you can. So, I was able to not only focus on marine mammal science, but also I did work with crabs, with oysters, with the FDA. So, that was a big part of like cross training in multiple fields to figure out what I like. And I figured out I liked marine mammals the most.

Levins: All right. So, you went from zooplankton in East Carolina and you went to marine mammals here. What are you doing now here at the lab?

Johnson: I enjoyed marine mammals so much. I was able to extend my time here and now I am a research intern slash the Alabama marine mammal stranding intern for this year. So I do all things related to stranding whether that be coordinating the stranding conducting these necropsies as well as a bunch of paperwork because marine mammals are federally protected. I also started a brand new research project titled Alabama Coastal Health Connections.

Levins: Tell me about Alabama Coastal Health Connections. What is that?

Johnson: So this project links human health, environmental health and wildlife health under the one health concept.

Levins: And what is the one health concept?

Johnson: The one health concept is a concept that has been around for a long time and it just recognizes that the health of humans, the health of the environment and the health of wildlife are all interconnected and one often affects the other.

Levins: So in this one health concept and with marine mammals, what are you looking at the impact that each of them give to each other?

Johnson: So right now I am looking specifically at pathogens that are potentially in South Alabama and how that impacts bottlenose dolphins as well as human health.

Levins: Let’s stop for a second. What is a pathogen like? So what pathogens are you looking at?

Johnson: So a pathogen is a microorganism that can cause disease. And I’m specifically looking at zoonotic pathogens. So a zoonotic pathogen is a pathogen that can cause a disease that can spread from animal to animal or animal to human.

Levins: So you’re looking at diseases that could affect not just a dolphin or a marine mammal. You’re looking at something that the humans could pick up or that we could give to these animals. Correct?

Johnson: Yes, I am. I am currently looking at Brucella ceti which is a bacteria. I’m also looking at Erysipelothrix Rusiopathaie, which is a bacteria and toxoplasma gondii which is a parasite and all of those are zoonotic.

Levins: I just have to say the impressive pronunciation of all of those. Those are not easy things. If you look at them on the paper it looks like just a bunch of letters next to each other. So how long did it take you to learn how to say them correctly?

Johnson: I had lots of practice and lots of presenting in front of experts that have been studying these for 30 years and being scared to mispronounce it. I practice a lot.

Levins: Do you like practicing in the mirror at home?

Johnson: I do. Yes.

Levins: So out of these three that you’re looking at, what is the most interesting to you?

Johnson: To me, the most interesting is aeric ceropatha that is a very serious bacteria related to these bottlenose dolphins. And from my research, I have found a few positives that will be published soon. So, I’m not going to get too much into it, but yeah, I found a few positives. So, to me, that’s the most interesting pathogen so far.

Levins: And I think one thing we should clarify, you’re not just using current animal strandings for this. You’re using samples that have been collected for a number of years to look at. Correct.

Johnson: Yes. I’m going back 10 plus years and looking at the bottlenose archive samples that the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network keeps in the lab. And that’s kind of a cool thing too because we’re able to hold on to samples for a period of time and go back and look at, you know, some other questions that we might have for this.

Levins: These samples that you’re looking at, are they skin samples or tissue samples?

Johnson: It depends on what we are testing for. We sent out spleen samples. We also sent out lung samples and the central nervous system. So that can include spinal cord or brain.

Levins: Very. So, and this can tell us how these zoonotic disease. Well, I guess it tells us if these zoonotic diseases are actually in the animal. Is that correct? You’re not necessarily looking at whether they’ve transferred from one to the other. You’re just looking if they’re there.

Johnson: Yes, we’re just seeing if they are present in these animals.

Levins: So, once we have that information of being present in the animals, then what’s kind of the next step or have you not gotten to that next step?

Johnson: Our next step is to inform the public that these zoonotic pathogens are out there and may potentially be a problem. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. If it’s in this dolphin and this dolphin is in this waterway, it is potentially in the water as well.

Levins: How do we protect ourselves? Because I mean, granted, of course, if we go in the water, it doesn’t mean that we’re going to come in contact with it, but if we want to protect ourselves against coming in contact with something, what are some things that we can do?

Johnson: So to protect yourself, I’d say when swimming in waters, I wouldn’t swim with open cuts. That can make it easy for the pathogen to enter your bloodstream. I would also not touch a dead animal, especially not a marine mammal. They are protected. I would also say seek care if you’re injured or sick. Transmission of these pathogens to humans is rare, but it is possible and we have had a few cases of those reported.

Levins: So, if I go in the water and I realize when I get out of it that I had a cut, you know, maybe like a small thing on my finger, what is is fresh water a good thing to rinse it off with? What should I rinse off with to maybe help with any possibilities of things?

Johnson: I would say yes, rinse off with fresh water, wash with soap as well, and any form of alcohol could help with that as well.

Levins: So, just pack the alcohol wipes and soap when you head to the beach, right?

Johnson: Yes. But it’s better if you just have a waterproof band-aid. Just inspect yourself for cuts.

Levins: Yeah. Taniya, if people want to learn more about the OneHealth program, where can they go? What opportunities do we have to kind of chat with the public and provide more information?

Johnson: So, they can visit the Alabama Coastal Health Connections Facebook page where we post regularly about OneHealth as well as the pathogens that we are studying and you can message me directly and I can answer any questions you might have about that. We are also having a community engagement event coming up November 13th.

Levins: An event on November 13th. What time? Where is it at? Where can people meet you person to person and kind of ask more questions?

Johnson: Of course. So, this event is happening during LoDa Art Walk November 13th. It is from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and it will be at Love and Adventures Studio. And if you have specific questions, we are posting the flyers and advertisements on that Facebook page. And we’ll also include it on the DISL website so people can find it there as well.

Levins: Well, Taniya, thank you so much for joining us today. Do you have anything else that you want people to take away from our conversation today?

Johnson: I want people to remember that environmental health, wildlife health, and human health are all connected under the one health concept. I want them to remember to be cautious when utilizing aquatic environments. Just because you can’t see a potential hazard doesn’t mean it’s not there. Any hazards impacting our local dolphins could potentially impact us as well. Human infection from these specific pathogens is rare, but can happen. These zoonotic pathogens can cause disease or even death in a 200 lb dolphin. So, imagine what it can do to a human.

Levins: Taniya, thank you so much for all of the information you provided. Very exciting to see what you’re doing as a research intern. Can’t wait to see what more you do.

Johnson: Thank you. I’m excited as well.