Elevated soil temperature effects on and invasive plant species
Headed by Brittany Lenze as her project for departmental honors ('19, Lycoming College), this project examined the effect of warming on Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) growth. A greenhouse project was run to a) determine a method for growing plants in soil that is warmed about 5-degrees C and b) examine the effect warming on plant growth. We followed this up with a field experiment using black plastic to warm soil temperatures to further investigate the effect of warming on plant growth. Results indicated that warming led to increased growth, but mortality varied among treatments. An undergraduate co-authored manuscript describing the results of this project is current in development. Additionally, the next phase of this work will utilize a plant growth chamber to examine temperature effects on growth in a controlled environment.
Headed by Brittany Lenze as her project for departmental honors ('19, Lycoming College), this project examined the effect of warming on Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) growth. A greenhouse project was run to a) determine a method for growing plants in soil that is warmed about 5-degrees C and b) examine the effect warming on plant growth. We followed this up with a field experiment using black plastic to warm soil temperatures to further investigate the effect of warming on plant growth. Results indicated that warming led to increased growth, but mortality varied among treatments. An undergraduate co-authored manuscript describing the results of this project is current in development. Additionally, the next phase of this work will utilize a plant growth chamber to examine temperature effects on growth in a controlled environment.
Analysis of a BACI design for assessing stream restoration
This project began at Millersville University as a multi-year undergraduate research project directed by Dr. John Wallace. Alex Rittle and Emily Neideigh (undergraduates) monitored the benthic invertebrate assemblage before and after a restoration project on Big Springs Run (Lancaster County, PA). The reach-level restoration recreated the anabranching systems believed to be typical of that area prior to extensive mill dam development. My contribution to the project was to perform GIS analysis, develop the statistical analysis needed for a BACI design (using mixed effects models) that account for temporal and spatial correlations), and analyze community composition (NMDS). We demonstrate how reference reach selection through time can affect the conclusions of a BACI analysis. The manuscript for this project was recently accepted for publication in River Research and Applications, and is in the final stages of revision.
This project began at Millersville University as a multi-year undergraduate research project directed by Dr. John Wallace. Alex Rittle and Emily Neideigh (undergraduates) monitored the benthic invertebrate assemblage before and after a restoration project on Big Springs Run (Lancaster County, PA). The reach-level restoration recreated the anabranching systems believed to be typical of that area prior to extensive mill dam development. My contribution to the project was to perform GIS analysis, develop the statistical analysis needed for a BACI design (using mixed effects models) that account for temporal and spatial correlations), and analyze community composition (NMDS). We demonstrate how reference reach selection through time can affect the conclusions of a BACI analysis. The manuscript for this project was recently accepted for publication in River Research and Applications, and is in the final stages of revision.
Emergence of stream insects
This project began during my postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Let by Kristen Cheney, for her undergraduate honors thesis and directed by Dr. Allison Roy. My role as collaborator was to help Kristen design the sampling protocol and assist with the statistical analysis. The research sought to understand if stream insects had a preference for the substrate used for emergence. The results indicated that emergent wood is a preferred substrate for many species, and that woody debris is an important component of stream ecosystems. The manuscript was recently accepted for publication in Ecological Entomology, and is 'in press'.
This project began during my postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Let by Kristen Cheney, for her undergraduate honors thesis and directed by Dr. Allison Roy. My role as collaborator was to help Kristen design the sampling protocol and assist with the statistical analysis. The research sought to understand if stream insects had a preference for the substrate used for emergence. The results indicated that emergent wood is a preferred substrate for many species, and that woody debris is an important component of stream ecosystems. The manuscript was recently accepted for publication in Ecological Entomology, and is 'in press'.