Below are descriptions of past research projects I've led, mentored, or collaborated with. Please contact me if you are interested to learn more about these projects.
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Geographic assessment of landscape vulnerability to climate change
Led by Mikayla Schappert ('20, Lycoming College) as pilot study (and independent study), we created a GIS-based approach to examining vulnerability to climate change among different geographic land forms (e.g., islands, rivers, mountain ranges, physiographic provinces, etc.). The results indicated that landforms (in this case, physiographic provinces) with specific geometries may increase vulnerability of animal populations to extirpation due to climate change, but more interestingly, that urbanization and landform geometry may interact to exacerbate the vulnerability of animal populations. The pilot study indicated numerous other possible avenues of research in landscape ecology and global climate change using GIS. |
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GIS-based prioritization system for small municipality MS4 compliance projects
Led by Bailey Schwenk for departmental honors in Biology ('21, Lycoming College), this research to create a spatially explicit (GIS-based) model to help small municipalities identify suitable project locations for best management practices (BMPs) to fulfill municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) requirements to manage stormwater. Municipalities with limited resources commonly have difficulty identifying suitable locations, and the GIS-based tool developed through this research was designed to identify priority locations (calibrated to Lycoming County, PA, USA) through a novel suitability index developed using: (a) federal and state regulations; (b) local stakeholder input ; and geospatial data (e.g., landcover, parcel, hydrology, stormwater system, etc.). The model showed that ideal locations for BMPs were limited in the study area, especially for streambank restoration. The locations of combined sewer areas excluded from load calculations also substantially limit project options. |
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Vertical movement by adult stream insects into the riparian canopy
Co-led by Ruric Bowman as his project for departmental honors in Biology ('20, Lycoming College) and myself, this research examined the movement of adult (flight-capable) stream insects into the forest canopy. The research examined: 1) the extent that adults move into the canopy and 2) if the species that move into the canopy have a wing morphology that is suited for gliding. We hypothesized that species with a behavioral trait to move into the forest canopy also are likely to have evolved high aspect ratio wings suited for gliding when they move above the trees. Ruric published the manuscript in Insects, which found that adult Trichoptera and Plecoptera migrate into the forest canopy above the stream in abundances comparable to horizontal migrations demonstrating a spatial pattern for terrestrial–aquatic linkages. This project was funded, in part, by the Washington Biologist's Field Club. |
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Effect of weather and climate on adult aquatic insect activity and phenology
Led by Jenna Tasker ('22, Lycoming College) as a Gaul Research Scholar, this project examined flight activity by adult stream insects at ground level and in forest canopies in relation to daily patterns of weather. The research examined if adult insects activity increases or decreases (i.e., are caught in high or low abundances) during days with certain weather conditions. The ultimate goal of this work is to determine how climate change may alter adult insect activity. We hypothesized that insects will be most active when temperatures are warm, conditions are dry, and wind speed is low. We also hypothesized that weather conditions during dawn and dusk have the greatest effect on adult activity. Initial results did not find a consistent relationship between adult abundance in traps and terrestrial weather patterns. Instead, short-term (i.e., daily) patterns of abundance above the stream and in the canopy were possibly driven by patterns of emergence rather than activity (suggesting abundance is not a good proxy for activity or habitat preference that many previous studies have assumed). |
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Developing a college-community stormwater partnership
Supported by a grant from the Aurthur Vining Davis Foundation, I collaborated with CWI researchers (including postdoc Dr. Leslie Rieck hired for this project) to develop a program that combined research, teaching, and extension related to urban stormwater. Through this work, Lycoming College students learned first hand the complicated social and political components of environmental management while conducting research on stormwater in urban systems. This work resulted in a manuscript published in Urban Ecosystems (Phase II MS4 challenges: moving toward effective stormwater management for small municipalities) that discussed challenges experienced by small-municipality (Phase II) MS4s resulting in a lack of stakeholder buy-in and actionable stormwater management plans and potential approaches to overcome these challenges.
Supported by a grant from the Aurthur Vining Davis Foundation, I collaborated with CWI researchers (including postdoc Dr. Leslie Rieck hired for this project) to develop a program that combined research, teaching, and extension related to urban stormwater. Through this work, Lycoming College students learned first hand the complicated social and political components of environmental management while conducting research on stormwater in urban systems. This work resulted in a manuscript published in Urban Ecosystems (Phase II MS4 challenges: moving toward effective stormwater management for small municipalities) that discussed challenges experienced by small-municipality (Phase II) MS4s resulting in a lack of stakeholder buy-in and actionable stormwater management plans and potential approaches to overcome these challenges.
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White-tailed deer survey
This project, while not necessarily something I've done a lot of in the past during my professional career, was piloted with 2 primary goals in mind. I wanted to provide students who have an interest in wildlife ecology an opportunity to learn basic GIS and field-based skills examining wildlife populations. I also want to help a valued cooperator make empirically driven decisions about how to manage the deer population on their land. The research was integrated in my Environmental Science and Ecology courses as a recurring experiential learning exercise (or multi-week lab). I established 10 permanent trail camera locations for long-term surveys. Scat counts and browse surveys could be added to help estimate deer density in addition to other field-survey methods if resources allow. |
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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.
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Unassessed Waters Initiative
Working in collaboration with the PA Fish and Boat Commission (and funded by NFWF), I worked with numerous undergraduate summer research interns at Lycoming College to survey streams in North-central PA for wild trout populations. This was a long-term project performed in collaboration with Dr. Mel Zimmerman and the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute. The results of this work help the PFBC to characterize streams as wild-trout streams. |
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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 was published in River Research and Applications.
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 was published in River Research and Applications.
Emergence of stream insects
This project began during my postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Led 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 published in Ecological Entomology.
This project began during my postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Led 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 published in Ecological Entomology.