Yazeed Aljohani
Yazeed (he/him) is a Junior majoring in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. He is working with Shelby Cagle at the Kelp Lab in CSU’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology to study how people are responding to CSU’s new bat research facility, launched after the COVID-19 pandemic. Yazeed analyzes social media posts to understand public concerns around biosafety, disease risk, and trust in science. He also compares online conversations about CSU’s facility to those about similar research centers in Montana, Kansas, and Texas to support better science communication and outreach.
Carson Bainbridge
Carson (she/her) is a junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. She is working with Dr. Steven R. Fassnacht in the Watershed Science department to examine snowpack variability across space and time in Northern Colorado. With this research, we aim to inform future snow sampling methods, as well as assess variability within snowpack properties in relation to different environments in similar geographic areas.
Bradley Beck
Bradley (he/him) is a senior studying ecosystem science and sustainability. Bradley is working with Dr. Carolina Barbosa from the ESS department and Dr. Jill Baron from the Natural Resource Ecology Lab. Badley is analyzing the relationship between climate and nutrient availability in the Loch Vale watershed using a combination of historical and modeled data.
Louisa Jade Beckett
Jade (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. She is working with Dr. Sarah Hart in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. Jade is aiming to determine the potential impacts of climate change on phenology and leaf senescence in quaking aspen trees through a comparative study looking at trees in two northern Colorado cities. Their aim is to develop a better understanding of the impacts of climatic and weather variations in the face of a rapidly changing climate.
Miranda Chin
Miranda (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Miranda is working with Dr. Jody Vogeler and Steven Filippelli in CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Lab and the Vogeler lab to explore possibilities in using remotely sensed data to determine tree damage in Thornybush Private Reserve, South Africa. This research aims to help inform local stakeholders and develop effective land management plans, aiding the efforts of end-users to address the increasing rate of tree mortality from elephant behavior.
Sarah Culhane
Sarah (she/her) is a senior majoring in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. She is working with Dr. Nicasio Sergio-Arzeta at the CSU’s Natural resource Ecology Laboratory to study landscape connectivity in an identified transboundary ecological corridor between Grasslands National park in Saskatchewan Canada and the glaciated sage-steppe region of Montana. The goal of this research was to identify which conservation areas are projected to be most important in maintaining connectivity in a warmer world to aid in conservation efforts supporting the declining Greater Sage-Grouse population.
Macey Dvorak
Macey (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Diversity and Inclusion in Natural Resources. Macey worked with Dr. Sergio Nicasio-Arzeta, a postdoctoral researcher with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to understand how conservation measures impact the ecological connectivity of the Greater Sage-Grouse in increasing warming scenarios. This research aims to aid in conservation prioritization in the transboundary Saskatchewan-Montana corridor.
Andie Hall
Andie (they/she) is a Junior in Ecosystem Sciences and Sustainability with a focus on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. They have been working with mentor Dr. Anping Chen on identifying relationships between temperatures and the phenological cycles of avian species. They aim to create a streamlined order of identifying correlations between climate change and avian species of different conservation levels.
Kelly Kramer
Kelly (she/her) is a Junior majoring in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Geospatial Information Systems. She is working with Dr. Saeideh Esmaeili in the Natural Resource Ecology Lab to determine the dietary overlap between horses and mule deer in the Spruce-Pequop herd management area. This research aims to understand these animals’ diets to inform the management of this area and prevent ecosystem degradation.
Alexa Luna-Turner
Alexa (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. She is working with Dr. Stacy Lynn in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to examine the impact of livestock disease in Tanzania, Africa. Alexa is aiming to determine how disease impacts livestock animals and how that impacts the pastoralists in Tanzania.
Melissa May
Melissa (she/her) is a Senior majoring in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and minoring in Political Science. She is working with Dr. Gregory J. Newman, a Research Scientist at CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and co-creator of CitSci.org. Melissa’s research analyzed more than 1,400 citizen science projects across 21 fields of study to determine how project characteristics impact participant engagement and the efficiency and quality of data collection and analysis. These findings will help CitSci tailor user experiences, suggest fields for outreach, and guide project creators on how to improve visibility and participation.
Quinn Mitchell
Quinn (she/they) is a Senior studying Economics and Global Environmental Sustainability. She is working with Dr. Julia Klein, Rowena Davis, and the Mountain Sentinels Collaborative Network to identify the benefits and gaps in applying nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptations in mountain social-ecological systems. This research aims to synthesize global evidence on how these strategies enhance climate resilience and disaster risk reduction in vulnerable mountain communities.
Neva Morgan
Neva Morgan (she/they) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with a Diversity and Inclusion in Natural Resources minor. She has been working under the guidance of J. Alex Siggers and Dr. Melinda D. Smith in her Grassland Ecology Lab within the Department of Biology, where they expand on semi-arid grassland ecosystem response to extreme drought in northern Colorado. Their research will provide an understanding for farmers and ranchers who depend on water climate dynamics, which is imperative for their crops, cattle, and livelihoods.
Leona Myers
Leona (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Conservation Biology. She has been working under the mentorship of Dr. Anping Chen to examine the effects of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on the migratory patterns of the nocturnal Yellow-rumped Warbler and the diurnal Barnswallow. With this research, we hope to inform conservation planners and biologists of the effects of ALAN on migratory wildlife in the United States.
Mason Whitney
Mason (he/him) is a senior graduating in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability in the spring of 2025. He is working with Dr. Sarah Hart in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. Mason is looking at the differences and impacts of climate change on leaf senescence and phenology in quaking aspen trees by comparing Fort Collins to other parts of Colorado. This research is to get a better understanding of climate interactions with key species using citizen science platforms.
Aldair Perez
Aldair Perez is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. He has been working alongside Andrea Baudoin-Farah of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability to examine how changes in ecosystem services impact well-being to local people in the Llanos de Moxos region in Bolivia. They are aiming to find 3 ecosystem services to prioritize and understand the extent to which those 3 services have been impacted by threats, such as climate change and human influence (like mining, agriculture and urban expansion, etc.).
Madisyn Pinney
Madisyn “Madi” Pinney (she/her) is a Senior studying Natural Resource Management. She is working with Dr. Trevor Carter, a postdoctoral scholar with the HART lab group in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, on post-bark beetle outbreak impacts on fuel accumulation and soil moisture content. With this research, we hope to better inform forest managers on how to effectively address the ecological consequences of bark beetle infestations.
Gloria Tait
Gloria Tait (she/her) is a graduating senior in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Geospatial Information Science in Natural Resources and another in Diversity and Inclusion in Natural Resources. Gloria is working with Dr. Jody Vogeler and Steven Filipelli of CSU NREL’s Vogeler lab to quantify potential changes in evapotranspiration following tree damage in South African savannas. With this research, we aim to deepen the understanding of how elephant-driven tree damage affects savanna ecosystems by evaluating whether changes in evapotranspiration can reliably detect and quantify tree stress, ultimately providing land managers with the tools for monitoring and mitigating vegetation loss in South African reserves.
Hailey Tharp
Hailey (she/her) is graduating with a B.S in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and a minor in geoscience in Spring of 2025. She has been working with Dr. Trevor Carter, a postdoctoral scholar with the HART lab group in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, examining the effects of wind disturbance in the high alpine on plant physiological traits. With this research, we hope to better understand the collaboration and conservation axis that is used for defining the relationships in energy allocation between disturbed environments and plant communities.
Leila Aburomia (she/her) is a Sophomore studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with an interdisciplinary minor in Sustainable Water. Leila is working with PhD Student Derek Fedak within Dr. Jody Vogeler’s Lab at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. The objective of this research is to examine influences of elephant demographics between the Northern and Southern regions of Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Amelia Anderson (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability and GIS for Natural Resources. She is working with Dr. Stacy Lynn and Dr. Sarah King of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. Amelia aims to develop maps for 4 different K-12 curriculum levels related to wild horses in the Western US for a project funded by the Bureau of Land Management. This project team hopes to close knowledge gaps regarding wild horses and address the complexities of the topic by developing curriculum for K-12 students.
WINNER: 2024 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium WCNR College Honors
Kaidan Capossere is a Senior studying Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology with a minor in History. Kaidan is working with Rae Nickerson from Utah State’s Wildland Resources Department in partnership with CSU’s Center for Human Carnivore Coexistence and is using camera trap photos to examine how tree cover affects coyote presence. This study aims to increase understanding of where on the landscape coyotes are most likely to occur.
Emma Cokeley (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with minors in Global Environmental Sustainability and Zoology. Emma is working with Rae Nickerson and Lindsey Engelbert, graduate students at Utah State University in the Wildland Resources Department, to analyze game camera trap photos of carnivorous species in order to identify species abundance at the site.
Olivia DeVolin (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with a minor in Watershed Science. She worked with Rae Nickerson and Lindsey Englebert, gradate students at Utah State University, to study the relationships between animal activities and human activities in Montana. This study hopes to better understand this relationship and protect the animals in the surrounding areas as well as landowners and farmers who rely on the land for their livelihoods.
Chase Glick (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with minors in Watershed Science and GIS for Natural Resources. Chase is working with Anping Chen of CSU’s Biology Department to analyze rural to urban migration and its impact on forest coverage in China and Turkey
Gabriella Guerrero (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Gabriella is working under the mentorship of Erin Weingarten of CSU’s Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. This project studies student response to being exposed to diverse histories of the United States and understanding legacies of structural social inequalities and its impact on conservation practice. With this research, we hope to understand how learning about legacies of injustice while being taught to examine their own privilege and biases has impacted conservation graduate students.
Joel Hedrick (he/him) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Joel is working with Avery Driscoll, a PhD student in the Soil & Crop Sciences Department at CSU. They are determining the accuracy of current modeled soil moisture data with 30m hyper-resolution surface soil moisture data in irrigated agricultural lands in Colorado
Billy Johnson (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Billy is working along side Gabriella Vieira and mentored by Dr. Carolina Barbosa, a Watershed Science instructor in the ESS department. Billy is analyzing climate variables to three Colorado streams’ nutrient concentrations and macroinvertebrate abundances. They aim to better understand the long-term effects of climate change on Colorado stream ecosystems.
Graeson Lewis (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Graeson is working with Eva Kinnebrew of CSU’s Ecosystem Science & Sustainability Department to analyze streamflow and socioeconomic data in the Colorado River Basin.
Cole Martin (he/him) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Cole is assisting Ram Gurung, a research scientist specializing in carbon modeling and statistical analysis at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. The intent of the project is to analyze the current protocols, market players, and gaps in the carbon space and address these issues using a science-based business model for upstart companies.
Kate McGill (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability and Political Science, with a concentration in environmental policy. Kate is working with Avery Driscoll, a PhD student in the Soil & Crop Sciences Department at CSU. They are comparing observed soil moisture data with modeled soil moisture data from irrigated farmland in Colorado.
WINNER: 2024 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium WCNR College Honors
Shelby Mead (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Shelby is working with Alex Siggers, a PhD student in Dr. Melinda Smith’s grassland ecology lab in the Biology Department at CSU, on microbial community dynamics under solar arrays.
WINNER: 2024 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium WCNR College Honors
Liam Milton (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with a minor in GIS for Natural Resources. Liam is working with Anping Chen, studying the effects of heatwaves on energy use in Maricopa County, Arizona, using open-source weather and energy data.
Lily Nelson (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with a minor in Conservation Biology. Lily is working with Dr. Stacy Lynn and Dr. Sarah King of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to investigate the positions of federal agencies, local NGOs, and national NGOs toward wild horses and their management, and how these are communicated via webpages. This work aims to identify how science, activism, emotion, and misinformation all contribute to public perceptions of wild horses and burros in the US West to address misconceptions for K-12 curriculum development funded by the Bureau of Land Management.
Matt Schmidt (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Matt is working with PhD candidate Mary Linabury and Dr. Melinda Smith to study the impacts of nitrogen deposition on grassland community change, specifically exploring the possibility of grasshopper herbivory as a mechanism for the reduction of a tallgrass prairie dominant species over an increasing nitrogen gradient.
Calvin Szulc (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Calvin is working under the mentorship of Erin Weingarten of CSU’s Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. Calvin is analyzing how future career goals of graduate students change with the exposure to social issues related to the field of conservation. With this research, we hope to understand how learning about the history of inequity and injustice within conservation affects the career outlook of graduate students.
Hanna Turk (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with a Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary minor. Hanna is working with fellow SUPER students Leila Aburomia and Layna Webb, and PhD student Derek Fedak of the Vogeler Lab to analyze the reaction of species presence at waterholes during the presence or absence of White Rhinos in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Cameron Tolar is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability and minoring in Watershed Science. Cameron is working with Rae Nickerson of Utah State University’s Wildland Resource Department to look at non-lethal methods to mitigate carnivore and cattle conflict in ranches near areas of wolf reintroduction.
Gabriella Vieira (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability. Gabriella worked with fellow SUPER student Billy Johnson and Dr. Carolina Barbosa, a Watershed Science instructor and researcher in the ESS Department, to examine the effects of climate variables and modified streamflow regimes on stream nitrate concentrations and aquatic macroinvertebrate abundances. With this reach, they hope to better understand the long-term effects of climate change and climate foraging on river ecosystems in their study area.
Layna Webb (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science & Sustainability with a minor in Spanish. She is working with PhD student Derek Fedak of the Vogeler Lab at CSU and SUPER students Leila Aburomia and Hanna Turk to analyze camera trap photos of wildlife in Kruger National Park and nearby Associated Private Natural Reserves. The goal of the project is to understand how public vs private management impacts herbivore occupancy in the Greater Kruger Region, South Africa.
Tallan Barrow-Traylor (He/Him/His) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Sustainability Energy. Tallan worked with fellow SUPER student Alex Lage and Erin Weingarten of CSU’s Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology department to determine how racial equity and legacies of racial justice are being taught in conservation higher education, while also identifying strategies to increase awareness of racism in conservation and prepare students to dismantle racism in the conservation workforce.
River Blessing (he/him) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. River worked with fellow SUPER student Morgan Dunn and Greg McKittrick of CSU’s Ecosystem Science and Sustainability department to determine the recalcitrance of the yeast prion Ure2 when exposed to soil microbes. The goal of this project was to determine the viability of using this protein as a tool to sequester carbon from the atmosphere into soils in order to combat climate change.
Ashlee Ducharme (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Geospatial Information Systems. With the assistance of Nate Gwinn and through Center of Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML), Ashlee worked with fellow SUPER student Ashley Martinovich to create a study design investigating the spatial distributions of a native and invasive gecko species.
Morgan Dunn (she/her) is a sophomore in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with minors in Spanish and Mathematical Biology. She worked with River Blessing, a fellow undergraduate, and Greg McKittrick, a master’s student to understand how various proteins persist in soils. With this research, she hoped to uncover new means of carbon capture to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Madeline Gillet is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Madeline worked with Dr. Morgan Roche of the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University to analyze the effects of soil moisture and fuel breaks on annual grass invasion in the Sagebrush biome.
Ethan Grady (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Sociology. Ethan worked with Yuting Deng (Hermione) to determine how Mexican free-tailed bat population densities in Southern Texas vary between seasons and how Mexican free-tailed bat emergence times vary throughout the year, and how that changes between urban and natural roosting sites.
WINNER: 2023 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium Highest Honors
Anna Hall (she/her) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability while double minoring in Conservation Biology and Global Environmental Sustainability. Anna worked alongside Cailin Stevens with Dan Preston and Fernando Carvallo of CSU’s Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Department to emaxmine the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates in urban water bodies within Fort Collins, CO.
Lauren Hatch is a senior Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology student with a minor in GIS. Lauren worked with Hermione Deng, a PhD student in the Aeroecology Lab, to study changes in Mexican free-tailed bat migration phenology and wintering ecology in southern Texas.
WINNER: 2023 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium Highest Honors
Mollie Hendry is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Mollie worked with fellow SUPER student Cristina Lucas and Josh Carrell of CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship department to examine how Species Distribution Modeling Algorithm Selection Drives Socioeconomic Variables in Systematic Conservation Planning Frameworks.
Natalia Heronema (they/she) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Natalia worked with Randall Boone of CSU’s department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability to develop a panoramic time-lapse imaging device. The device will be utilized to collect images of wildlife and livestock.
Hilary Johnson (She/her/hers) is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Conservation Biology. Hilary worked with Connor McCarty under the mentorship of Dr. Stacy Lynn in CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology laboratory to study gender within an Indigenous community assessment of problematic plants (ICAAP) in Tanzania.
Alex Lage (He/Him/His) is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Conservation Biology. Alex worked with fellow SUPER student Tallan Barrow-Traylor under the mentorship of Erin Weingarten and Mireille Gonzalez of CSU’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources department studying the effect a ‘Racial Justice in Conservation Science’ class has on student’s beliefs, attitudes, values and career goals.
Cristina Lucas (She/Her) is a Senior studying Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Cristina worked with Josh Carrell in the Forest and Rangeland Stewardship department to determine how statistical decisions affect systematic conservation planning. They are accomplishing this by comparing the spatial and socioeconomic differences in cost among conservation plans built from varying species distribution modeling algorithms.
Ashley Martinovich (she/her) is Senior studying Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology with a minor in Geospatial Information Systems. With the assistance of Nate Gwinn and through Center of Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML), Ashley worked with fellow SUPER student Ashlee Ducharme to create a study design investigating the spatial distributions of a native and invasive gecko species.
Tido Ramos (he/him) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Tido worked with Maria Belotti, a Ph.D. student at Colorado State University’s Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology department to how datasets from eBird compare to Weather Surveillance Radars accurately depict migratory swallows’ and martins’ fascinating communal roosting behavior across the continental United States.
Shannon Reilly is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Shannon worked with Ehsan Khedive of CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship department to determine the effect of snow cover on spruce bark beetle infection through remote sensing.
Alex Rusch is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Ecological Restoration. Alex worked with Ehsan Khedive of CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship department to study how bark beetles (Dendroctonus rufipenniss) affect components of spruce resin in two different forest sites (Cameron pass and Lost creek).
Stella Schuchart (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Stella worked with Allison Kohler and Dr. Randall Boone of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to assess the efficacy of different management strategies in New York and Massachusetts of White-Tailed deer. To assess these management strategies Netlogo modeling software was used.
Rylee Sharkey is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Rylee worked with Morgan Roche of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to determine the impact of fuel break treatments on invasion of annual grasses in the sagebrush ecosystems of the Western United States.
WINNER: 2023 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium WCNR College Honors
Cailin Stevens (she/her/hers) is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in International Development. Cailin partnered with Anna Hall under the mentorship of Dr. Dan Preston and Fernando Carvallo. The team worked in an aquatic ecology research laboratory studying aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban freshwater bodies of Fort Collins, CO.
Nichole Wollesen (she/her) is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Nichole worked with Dr. Stacy Lynn of Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; CSU Africa Center, and Shelby Cagle of College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, exploring Maasai livestock diseases in Tanzania.
Lauren Balsley [she/her/hers] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Lauren is working with Mireille (Ray) Gonzalez of the CSU’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources department to study social conflict dimensions among wolf reintroduction and management in Colorado.
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Cody Bingham [he/him] is a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Cody is working with Dr. Jody Vogeler of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to analyze the sustainability of urban development within the Greater Kruger Strategic Development Programme area in South Africa.
WINNER: 2022 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium WCNR College Honors – Research
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Brianna Bruyere [she/her/hers] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Brianna is working with Sarah Whipple, a PhD candidate in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, researching pollinator biodiversity and floral resources in Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park in relation to climate change.
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Mo Chen [he/him] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Mo is working with Caitlin P. Wells, PhD in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, researching how climate change is affecting hibernating species (Golden-mantled ground squirrels).
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Olivia Curlej [she/hers] is a junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Olivia is working with Mireille (Ray) Gonzalez of the CSU’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources department to study social conflict dimensions among wolf reintroduction and management in Colorado.
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Natalie Fitzpatrick [she/her/hers] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Natalie is working with Veronica Champine in the Conservation Action Lab which is part of CSU’s Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and in the research team working with CSU professor Rebecca Niemic. Conducting a qualitative study to better understand social and environmental factors that influence broad audiences to participate in urban biodiversity conservation.
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Kat Gingrass [she/her/hers] is a junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Microbiology. Kat is working with Ed Hall and Jemma Fadum of CSU’s ESS Department to determine if algae can be turned into a secondary marketable product.
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Ryley Gross [she/her/hers] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and is concentrating in Geospatial Information Systems. Ryley is working with Dr. Jon Salerno of CSU’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources department to study human-carnivore interactions through spatial patterns of livestock depredation events near Ruaha National Park in Tanzania.
WINNER: 2022 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium Highest Honors – Research
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Owen Joyce is a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in GIS. Owen is working with Dr. Jody Vogeler of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to study the potential impacts of urbanization and expansion within and in close proximity to protected areas across South Africa.
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Shannon Kirkland [she/her(s)] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Shannon is working with Erin Buchholtz, an ecologist of the USGS and an affiliate at Colorado State University in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. Shannon and Erin are studying the influence of habitat fragmentation on sagebrush specialist dispersal in Wyoming, particularly the dispersal of sage-grouse and pygmy rabbits. This research project is not something Erin was previously working on; instead, it was put together by herself and Shannon specifically for this program.
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Laura Lenhart [she/they] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability working with Dr. Jill Baron of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and the US Geological Survey to compute Colorado State University’s nitrogen footprint (NFT) and formulate possible nitrogen reduction campaigns.
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Kyaran Maturro is a junior studying Ecosystem Sciences and Sustainability with a minor in Watershed Science. Kyaran is working with Dr. Ed Hall of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to investigate sustainability certificate schemes in freshwater net pen aquaculture.
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Emilija Miskinyte [she/her] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Emilija is working with Aaron Prairie of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to research soil fauna as potential drivers of microbial necromass production and long-term carbon storage. This project’s goal is to improve the understanding of soil organic matter mechanisms to better manage land, and ultimately to combat climate change.
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Martin Morales [he/him] is senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at the Warner College of Natural Resources. Martin is working with Jon Salerno researching Lion and Tanzanian Tribe depredation events in the Ruaha Landscape. The project goal is to evaluate the dynamics between the two groups as well as understand what is causing depredation events to occur in the Ruaha landscape.
WINNER: 2022 Celebrate Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium Highest Honors – Research
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Minna Munson [she/her/hers] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Minna is working with Veronica Champine in the Conservation Action Lab which is part of CSU’s Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and in the research team working with CSU professor Rebecca Niemic. Minna’s project aimed to understand the social and environmental factors that motivate participation in urban biodiversity conservation action.
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Keana Shadwell [she/her] is a junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Keana is working with Dr. Jody Vogeler of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to explore ecosystem services tradeoffs as urbanization encroaches on rivers classified as National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas within the Greater Kruger Strategic Development Programme of South Africa.
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Bodie Spinner is a Sophomore studying Ecosystems Science and Sustainability. Bodie is working with Caitlin Wells of CSU’s Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology department to investigate the effects of climate change on seasonal mortality of Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels in Gothic, CO.
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Xiaowen Sun [she/her/hers] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Xiaowen is working with Dr. Jill Baron of CSU’s Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory and the U.S. Geological Survey. This project continues previous work and aims to quantify the CSU’s nitrogen footprint, identify potential nitrogen reduction pathways and develop nitrogen mitigation strategies.
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Ziwen Sun [she/her/hers] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Ziwen is working with Sarah Whipple, a Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, researching pollinator biodiversity and floral resources in Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park in relation to climate change.
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Spencer Tennant [he/him/his] is a senior studying Ecosystem Sciences and Sustainability with a minor in Watershed Sciences. Spencer is working with Dr. Dan Preston of CSU’s Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology to explore how wildfires affect Colorado Mountain stream macroinvertebrate systems.
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Spencer Varga [he/him/his] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Spencer is working with Anna Clare Monlezun of CSU’s Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Department to determine how soil health varies between actively grazed land under collaborative management and ungrazed land in Northern Colorado.
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Gunnar Wagner [he/him/his] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Gunnar is working with Anna Clare Monlezun of CSU’s Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Department to investigate how computational models of cattle herd behavior might be used to improve real-world management strategy.
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Weinan Zhao [he/him/his] is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Wei is working with Dr. Daniel Preston of CSU’s Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology to explore how wildfires in Colorado have affected aquatic life in mountain streams.
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Gloria Cao was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Gloria worked with Scott Bradfield of CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department to determine the effect of heat stress on the perennial grasses at shortgrass stations.
Angie Casini-Ropa was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Angie worked with Matthew Collins of CSU’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department to determine the public perception on the effectiveness of non-lethal methods to mitigate human-carnivore conflicts.
Lu Chen was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Lu worked with Camille Stevens-Rumann of CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department to study post-wildfire tree regeneration in a range of forest types.
Arielle Collier was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Arielle worked with Anna Clare Monlezun of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability to determine how grazing management affects plant biodiversity at four Colorado Front Range locations.
Yuanxing Fang was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Yuanxing worked with Dr. Stacy Lynn and Dr. Greg Newman of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and CitSci.org, to analyze civic science participant motivations for joining The Land Institute’s (TLI) civic science programs, and to assess participant needs for creating a demand-driven platform interface and TLI mobile app.
Marisa Granados was a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Marisa worked with Camille Stevens-Rumann of CSU’s Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship to study the effects of forest thinning treatments on returning Front Range forests to historic structures.
Aaron Hargis was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a Sustainable Water Minor. Aaron is working with Nick Gubbins of CSU’s Watershed Science Department to explore how water quantity changes following a watershed wildfire. Aaron’s project takes years of USGS daily streamflow data to look at the magnitude and direction of these changes.
WINNER: 2021 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “Highest Honors Award!”
Fiona Hynes was a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Fiona worked with Matthew Collins of CSU’s Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Niemiec Lab. Fiona’s project aimed to evaluate the effects of community collaboratives on human and wolf relationships in the American West.
John Jacobs was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. John worked with Dr. Catherine Stewart and Dr. Grace Miner of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research Unit. John’s project aimed to explore the potential impacts of a changing climate on one of modern agriculture’s oldest and largest cornerstones; wheat. Using climate data and wheat yield data from the past, the project aimed to inform stakeholders about the best management practices that will hopefully allow them to better prepare for the uncertainty of the future.
Emily Jenkins was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Emily worked with Veronica Champine of CSU’s Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and part of the research team working with CSU professor Rebecca Niemiec. Emily’s project aimed to identify motivators and barriers of native plant gardening and advocacy in the Front Range of Colorado.
Yurun Jiang was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Yurun worked with Amy Burzynski of CSU’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) to research the potential impact of climate change for future fire behavior in the Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii.
Jorune Klisauskaite was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Jorune worked with Dr. Anthony Vorster of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and co-mentor Sarah Osborne at the Colorado State Forest Service to determine pre-fire forest treatment characteristics within the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires.
Jenna Linenberg was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Jenna worked with Mireille Gonzalez of CSU’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department to understand and address social conflict surrounding reintroduction of grey wolves in Colorado.
Zoe Lipscomb was a Sophomore studying Forest and Rangeland Stewardship and Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Zoe worked with Scott Bradfield of CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department to determine the effect of drought conditions on Bouteloua Gracilis, a perennial grass common on the shortgrass steppe.
Reynold Liu was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Reynold worked with Chris Dorich of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology, mainly applying R codes to identify multiple variables that affect nitrous oxide emissions. This will help to target ways to reduce its emissions and impact.
Yuxiang Liu was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Yuxiang worked with Dr. Catherine Stewart of USDA Agricultural Research Service. Yuxiang’s project focused on analyzing the relationship between climate and yield of multiple varieties of winter wheat.
Cory Manning was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. He worked with Veronica Champine of CSU’s Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources to study social diffusion trends related to motivators and barriers of participating in native plant gardening behaviors. Wildscaping is important socio-ecological work that will facilitate sustainable change in urban areas, and using qualitative data to figure out how to more efficiently and effectively support wildscaping is important for local change.
Meghan Montagne was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in Environmental Affairs. Meghan worked with Dr. Greg Newman and Dr. Stacy Lynn of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and CitSci.org to analyze the use of technology in the civic science data collection process. CitSci.org is partnered with The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas to create an application to streamline data collection for civic scientists participating in their perennial grain programs. This work is necessary to increase engagement and participation in civic science programs.
Mateo Montelongo was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Mateo worked with Chris Dorich of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory to identify different variables that impact Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions through R coding, thereby finding ways to forecast N2O and identity ways to reduce the N2O footprint.
Megan Pierson was a Sophomore studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with minors in Ecological Restoration and Zoology. Megan worked with Dr. Jill Baron of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and the US Geological Survey to quantify CSU’s nitrogen footprint and identify potential pathways for reduction.
Rebecca Rugg was a Sophomore studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Rebecca is working with Mireille Gonzalez of CSU’s Human Dimensions of Natural Resources to research public perception regarding wolf reintroduction in Colorado through environmental education.
WINNER: 2021 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “Highest Honors Award!”
Cody Sanford was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Cody worked with Dr. Jill Baron of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and the US Geological Survey to quantify CSU’s nitrogen footprint and develop nitrogen reduction strategies.
WINNER: 2021 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “Energy Institute’s Excellence in Energy and Climate Solutions – 1st Place Tie!”
Kristin Steffen was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Kristin worked with Dr. Greg Newman and Dr. Stacy Lynn of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and CitSci.org to study growers’ motivations to participate in citizen science. CitSci.org is partnered with The Land Institute to create a data collection platform and app to be used for their perennial grain projects. This work is important to increase participation and engagement with civic science projects.
Brock Tausan was a Senior studying Watershed Science. Brock worked with Nick Gubbins, a graduate student studying Watershed Science in CSU’s Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. He used R programming software to do large scale research on the drivers of Chlorophyll-a using data from LAGOS-NE.
Sophia Thomas was a Junior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a minor in English. Sophia worked with Anna Clare Monlezun of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability to investigate how cattle grazing affects forage quality in Colorado Front Range Government-owned lands.
Casey Villars was a Senior studying Watershed Science. Casey worked with Nick Gubbins, a Watershed Science PhD Student with CSU’s Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. They investigated how river structure influences stream metabolism in Colorado and Florida streams and rivers, quantifying the magnitude of differences between stream orders using the R programming language and stream metabolism data hosted on the StreamPULSE project.
Science Communication
Frank Xue was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Frank worked with Scott Bradfield of CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department to experimentally determine the effect of heat stress on perennial grasses at shortgrass field stations.
Research Report
Xi Zeng was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Xi worked with Amy Burzynski of CSU’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) to research the potential impact of climate change on future fire behavior in the Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii.
Mengfei Zhang was a Senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Mengfei worked with Dr. Anthony Vorster of CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and co-mentor Sarah Osborne at the Colorado State Forest Service to research pre-fire treatment characteristics in the Calwood Fire, Colorado.
Emma Balunek worked with David Anderson from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program on their priority area survey project of Colorado’s newest state park, Fishers Peak.
WINNER: 2020 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “Highest Honors Award!”
Lauren Beu worked on a research project with mentor Julie Heinrichs titled Historical and Future Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation, which focused on what types of treatments were implemented to conserve Gunnison sage-grouse in Colorado and how effective they were. The goal was to help conservation practitioners make decisions on how to best protect this species in the future.
Ryan Bridges and his mentor, Dr. Jonathan Salerno in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, were conducting a research project called “Understanding Rainy Season Onset and Cessation in Two Local Sites in Western Uganda”.
WINNER: 2020 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “Best in Show Award” AND second place “Energy Institute Award”!
Lina Cao’s project focused on the relationship between carbon and nitrogen by comparing unfertilized Kernza-alfalfa, unfertilized Kernza and Kernza with fertilization. Kernza was a perennial wheat that was developed The Land Institute in Salina, KS. Her mentor was Laura Van der Pol, a PhD student in the Department of Soil and Crop Science.
Daniel Dominguez worked with Ph.D. candidate Allison Rhea studying the short-term deployment of In-Situ sondes (water probes) and used citizen science to build a baseline for water quality parameters on the Poudre River Watershed.
Hunter Dowdle and his mentor, Rachel Kanaziz, guided him through the research process of creating his first project titled, The Activity Budget of Adolescent Red Foxes, which is a study that used remote camera traps to document fox behavior.
Dustin Fox was mentored by Wade Tinkhamand Neil Swayze in the project Multispectral Burn Severity Analysis: Boy Scout Ranch.
Sienna Levine worked on a research project with Ryleigh Gelles, a Master’s student in the department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, on changes in bee phenology across wildfire and fuels reduction treatments in Boulder County.
Chenfan Li and her two mentors, Dr. Gillian Bowser and her Master’s student Sarah Whipple, she researched the relationship between ant species richness and elevation in Yellowstone National Park. They hoped to find how global changing affects the elevation’s temperature and ant habitat.
WINNER: 2020 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “College Honors Award!”
Meijia Li worked on a research project with Dr. John Moore exploring the possible mechanism of Pandoraea microbes inhibiting the Burkholderia bacteria in rice crop root systems.
Muyao Li conducted a research project exploring the problems of sagebrush seeding treatments associated with sagebrush steppe restoration in the western United States from 1940 to 2018. She worked with the guidance of her mentor, Dr. Adrian Monroe.
Rui Li worked on with Anna Marshall, his mentor, on quantifying how hyporrheic exchange flow changes in relation to increasing channel complexity associated with channel-spanning logjams.
Marissa Lopez conducted her research with Tim Weinmann, a Graduate Degree Program in Ecology student in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and US Geological Survey. They studied nitrogen addition impacts on soil organic matter in the Loch Vale Watershed of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Tongtong Ma and her mentors, Dr. Gillian Bowser and Master’s student Sarah Whipplem, worked on finding the effect of glacier retreat on water quality in Peru, with shrimp as the ecological indicator.
Damian Moya conducted his project on Pronghorn Management using Water Guzzlers with Jennie Anderson as his mentor at the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML).
WINNER: 2020 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “Best in Show Award!”
Nie Nie studied the effects of different vegetation types on fire severity. Her mentors were Dr. Wade Tinkham, Neal Swayze and Matthew Creasy.
Sierra Simpson and her mentor, Mireille (Ray) Gonzalez, worked on a project focusing on the Social science perspective of wolf reintroduction in Colorado.
WINNER: 2020 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “High Honors Award!”
McKenleigh Spitler was a research assistant for Dr. Jill Baron studying the timing of ice-on and ice-off in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, through assessment of repeat photography. She shared a passion for sustainability and ecological conservation.
Naomi Stevens researched frog identification techniques via amphibian calls with Dr. Randall Boone, and was very passionate about rock climbing, the environment, and good books.
WINNER: 2020 CSU Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium “High Honors Award!”
Austin Wei was enthusiastic about exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability as a career path. He conducted research on the effects of tropical rainforest drought on plant root growth and soil carbon storage in Panama with Dr. Daniela Cusack and her PhD student Amanda Longhi Cordeiro.
Kan Xu and her mentor, Dr. Michael Lefsky, researched factors that most influences forest ecosystem plant diversity in Puerto Rico between 1937, 1951 and 1951- 2019s.
Kaitlyn Ammerlaan worked with graduate student Tomas Pickering to evaluate drought recovery among Samburu pastoralists in Northern Kenya. After participating in a study abroad experience in South Africa, Kaitlyn became interested in studying the social aspects to conservation practices, leading her to this project.
Taylor Carlton and mentor, Dr. Kate Schoenecker with the USGS, worked on elk and bison interactions in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Taylor always loved animals and nature and hoped to help prevent species extinction, such as with rhinos!
Nicolette Davila and graduate student Alison Foster, her mentor, worked on her project, “Effect of Climate Change on Lodgepole Pine.”
Benjamen Duffy and his mentor, graduate student David Atkins, worked on a project studying the impacts of spatial ecosystem variables on Monochamus beetle abundance and distribution in Colorado’s Front Range. Monochamus beetles are a primary vector for Pine Wilt Disease (PWD), this research will further the understanding of the Monochamus spp. behavior, improving our ability to predict and combat instances of PWD in Colorado.
Caley Ford and graduate student Sarah Whipple, completed a project titled, “An Analysis on Obtaining Accurate Data on Key Arthropod Pollinator Species in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park Using Citizen Science.”
Paul Gadecki worked with PhD student Samantha Mosier on a project on adaptive multi-paddock grazing. His interests included soil ecology and nutrient dynamics.
Lukas Hirneisen and his mentor, Peter Olayemi, worked on the project Cheese Please: The effects of Lactobionate on Microbial Growth and Soil Quality. Lukas’s interest in ESS is to make agriculture more available and sustainable especially within urban areas.
Jake Marinkovich worked with graduate student Cara Steger on Applications of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps in Community Conservation Systems.
Lin Pan worked with her mentor, Dr. Jeremy Shaw, to study wetland cover change in Washington State, specifically looking at peat area land cover change caused by urban development.
Juliet Seibel worked with two CSU graduate students, Alex Stoneburner and Scott Bradfield, on her project titled, “Total Non-Structural Carbohydrates and Plant Resistance to Environmental Stresses.” This research is developed into non-structural carbohydrate storage in different types of grasses and forbs to see how they differ in storage methods and how this works to their advantage or disadvantage.
Amy Spinden worked with Dr. Seth Davis of the Department of Forest and Range Stewardship, studying the effects of Cercocarpus montanus achene allelopathy on plant germination and growth.
Jianyi Tang conducted a research project comparing the variability of wildfire behaviors as modeled by dynamic and static fuel models under the guidance of Andrew Beavers and Amy Burzynski at the Center for Ecological Management on Military Lands.
Yiru Wang and her mentor, Dr. Steven Fassnacht, worked on a project called, “Effect of climate change to human beings.” Yiru was an international transfer student from China.
Sarah Wingard was mentored by Jessica Sanow, and her research project was, “Using Terrestrial LiDAR to Measure Snow Surface Roughness.”
Ge Xu was mentored by Dr. John Moore on the project, “Effects from fertilization on soil microbial structure.” He expected the population of arthropods will decrease in fertilized soil compared to non-fertilized soil.
Kevin Young research project was a time series analysis of selenium concentrations in the Gunnison River Basin. He worked with Dr. Matt Ross of the CSU Natural Resource Ecology Lab and Watershed Science team.
Ran Zong worked with Dr. Jeremy Shaw studying changes in peatlands area cover in Washington State. They tried to find the main cause of the change in these ecosystems.
TAMERA BREIDENBACH
Citizen science studies in Yellowstone National Park increase pollinator species diversity records
Mentors, Sarah Whipple, Dr. Gillian Bowser
This presentation stems from research completed by the Pollinator Hotshots within Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 2017. Through a grant focused on student engagement in citizen science research, information was gathered on pollinators in various National Parks. Student citizen scientists from around the world were given introductory, intensive training to conduct field research, collect data, and identify pollinators. Student scientists set up transects in various locations to find pollinator species utilizing a citizen science platform (iNaturalist) to input data sets and photography. My research focused on assessing whether the student citizen scientists were useful in tracking functional pollinator groups, such as bees and butterflies, so that reputable species lists could be returned to the parks for climate change policy and protection management strategies. Previously collected data from the National Park Species List database (https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Search/SpeciesList/YELL) allowed for comparative analysis of the data collected from the Pollinator Hotshots group.
VALERIA CINTORA
Evapotranspiration and climate analysis of different ecoregions
Mentors, Dr. Dennis Ojima, Dr. Darin Shulte
In this project, we looked at precipitation (ppt) and evapotranspiration (ET) data from three distinct ecological regions in the United States; the Southern Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains- Palouse Dry Steppe Province, and the Great Plains Steppe Province. Using this data, we asked the question, “How do evapotranspiration rates respond to precipitation rates across different ecosystems?” Answering this question could later help with predicting drought patterns in the US. All of our raw data was collected using Climate Engine from the year 2003 until 2017. Precipitation data was collected from gridMet, and evapotranspiration data was from the Operational simplified surface energy balance model (SSEBop). Analysis of evapotranspiration included correlations between ppt and ET during the years and over the growing season. Analysis of ecosystem responses to climate change associated with evapotranspiration fluxes in different regions could predict how ecosystems in the future will handle changing water availability caused by climate.
ANDREA FAIRFIELD
Restoration of polluted watersheds: Using ArcGIS to map transboundary water policies
Mentors, Dr. Jill Baron, Dr. Randall Boone
Surface and groundwaters of the Nooksack-Fraser Transboundary region are contaminated with high nitrate concentrations, harming industries and drinking water. Agricultural inputs (e.g., dairy, berry, and poultry farms) from the region’s growing population are the main culprit. The Nooksack, WA, and Fraser, B.C., rivers connect via groundwater which drains into a polluted Portage Bay, harming the livelihood of the Lummi Nation. Water quality management policies and practices differ greatly between Canada and the US. My research maps policies to determine how these policies may influence nitrate movement across the region. My project is part of a larger effort to provide a scientific basis for management. I expect international and national governments to design numerous generalized policies, while local policies will address more specific issues. Eventually, these maps will be linked with spatially distributed nitrogen budget to identify policies that contribute to, or ameliorate, water nitrogen pollution.
WILL GNESDA
Developing community perceptions of hydrogeology in Simanjiro, Tanzania
Mentor, Dr. Stacy Lynn, NSF-IRES program
Local hydrology in Simanjiro, Tanzania may best be understood in spatial contexts through native communities. Participatory mapping of ground and surface water regimes can develop understandings of historical exploitation of water resources and be instrumental in recognizing consumption patterns. Data collection will include focus group participatory mapping exercises in conjunction with a preferential ranking system of groundwater wells. An analysis will be completed through ArcGIS using a correlative accuracy assessment to compare distance, direction, and area to the true values of well locations, water flow paths, and subterranean aquifer descriptions. Preferential well qualities will be analyzed based on a ranking system ordered and weighted by most sought after well qualities. Results derived from this study will conclude in the form of a report to be provided to communities in Tanzania so that they may better understand the complex relationships between people and water in a changing world.
DAQUAN JEWELL
Go-Pro camera technology in pollinator surveys
Mentor, Dr. Gillian Bowser
Pollination is a vital, yet undervalued ecosystem service. For that reason, research on pollinator behavior is important. This experiment was designed to test how useful technology can be in pollinator surveys. I set up a Go-Pro camera outside the Denver Botanical Gardens to test how useful technology is in detecting pollinators at two different time scales. I used the time-lapse video setting on the Go-Pro to test the ability of the equipment to detect pollinators. The result of the experiment did not support my initial hypothesis, that there would be a major difference in pollinators detected in the afternoon than in the morning. While there were more overall observations in the afternoon, the detection ratio between what the go-pro captured and the human observations were consistent in the morning and afternoon.
SAMMI MAHONEY
Community perceptions of wildlife and livestock population cycling drivers in Tanzania
Mentor, Dr. Stacy Lynn, NSF-IRES program
In Tanzania’s environment, there are many drivers that could affect wildlife and livestock population cycling over space and time. Population drivers can act as either a positive or negative force on in a species’ population size. The species that will be investigated include lions, elephants, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, impala, and porcupine. This study involves was a review of the published literature, as well as a field study to conduct semi-structured individual interviews with community members. Interview questions will be based on perceived drivers of population change, the locations where species are commonly observed to be present, and observations of how close the species come to people, their livestock, and human settlements. I will then cross reference the field research results with findings form the published literature to determine agreements between the two.
DENNA MARTINEZ
Evaluating data sets to predict future snow melt in the western United States
Mentor, Caroline Duncan
In Colorado, snow is a contributor to how much water supply could be available for the year. Research has found that dust layers on snow can affect the timing of the melt rate of snow. For my research, I am looking at two types of datasets: the Colorado Dust-On-Snow (CODOS) archive and the Natural Resource Conservation Service SNOTEL dataset. The SNOTEL dataset is an automated meteorological collection that is focused on a larger area, while the CODOS dataset is an automated meteorological collection that focuses on a specific area. One difference between these datasets is the CODOS dataset collects radiation while SNOTEL does not. Within these datasets I am going through and helping to reformat and evaluate them to be used for a model that will be created. With these results, a physically based model will be created to help predict the timing of melt rates of snow.
BRIAN ORTH
Shifts in stream nutrient limitations of periphyton aquatic communities following wildfire
Mentor, Allie Rhea
The Hayman fire has led to water quality degradation within burned watersheds. Almost 16 years post fire, water quality of these burnt watersheds continues to maintain high levels of nitrogen, but why? With the management of water quality partly subject to lotic biological activity we’ve asked the question, “How does nutrient limitation of periphyton growth differ between burned and unburned streams?” To measure this, we used nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS) to create point sources of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), carbon (C) and different combinations of the three within the streams of interest. After the NDS incubated in the stream for 20 days, we measured NDS for abundance of autotrophs and heterotrophs. We hypothesized that periphyton growth would shift from N-limitation in unburned streams to P-limitation in burned streams. These results can lead us closer to understanding that the lack of water quality recovery may be related to periphyton nutrient limitations.
SPENCER RHEA
Water access and governance in East African pastoral communities
Mentor, Dr. Stacy Lynn, NSF-IRES program
Pastoral communities in dryland environments often experience water scarcity due to drought, poverty, and lack of surface water. My research will examine factors that contribute to lack of access to potable water of pastoral households in north-west Tanzania. I will examine how poverty, distance to water sources, collection methods, water development projects, and other factors affect pastoralists’ access to potable water. To assess these factors, I will conduct between 7 and 15 semi-structured interviews with women of two pastoral communities in Tanzania. This research will be valuable in determining the elements that prevent pastoralists from accessing potable water. The results could also call attention for greater water governance or development in pastoral communities, if this is seen as a major impediment to accessing water.
EMILY SINKULAR
Socio-ecological changes in mountain systems
Mentor, Dr. Jessica Thorn
The goal of this research is to understand the impact of climate change on social-ecological changes in mountain systems, in Kenya, Tibet and Switzerland. I sought to answer the questions, “In what ways can understandings of current changes reveal benefits of and planning for 2050 in mountain systems? What is the role of local knowledge, research, policies, and governance?” Data involved a variety of contributors and sources. First, an in-depth literature review was conducted. Summaries of these articles translated into summary tables of the regions. Second, statistical analysis was performed on results of Mountain Sentinels, an international research network survey conducted in these regions. From this, I found educational programs and social developments that support the interests of stakeholders were more beneficial than big picture policies. Furthermore, I found land use changes impacts quality of ecosystem services. These findings could support the creation of policy development guided by stakeholder input.
MAKENNA SMITH
The barriers between Tanzanians and potable water
Mentor, Dr. Stacy Lynn, NSF-IRES program
Tanzanians are in a water crisis due to climate variability, poverty, and population growth. While money has been invested in water development, there has been little improvement. My proposed project is to determine the physical, economical, labor, and other barriers between Tanzanians and potable water, to aid developers in developing water in a more constructive way. To do this, I will determine the water quality of surface, ground, and potable water in Sukuro and Kitiengare, Africa. I will conduct focus groups to understand the Massaii’s views on water and barriers to it. Finally, I will compare water quality standards of the United States with the water quality data I collect in Tanzania, to quantify the water quality crisis in Tanzania. These results could document a holistic view of the water problem from the Massaii’s viewpoint, which could lead to a better understanding of the barriers between Tanzanians and potable water.
AMANDA SPIDEL
Ectomycorrhizal fungi colonization in a Rocky Mountain forest
Mentors, Bethany Avera, Shabana Hoosien
Our research examines ectomycorrhizal colonization and correlation with resilience after disturbance, from a forest where regeneration is not occurring after pile burns. The study was conducted in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, along the Front Range of Northern Colorado. Twenty-two randomly selected clearcut units were sampled from areas that were burned in the years 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000. Additionally, twenty-two randomly selected burn piles were sampled for the 10 year chronosquences. The soil was used to determine if regeneration could be obtained in a greenhouse environment. Two hundred and twenty lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) seedlings were grown in the soil samples, roots were put underneath microscopes to look for ectomycorrhizal colonization, and biomass was measured. We noticed that both treatments inside and outside of the burn piles had low infection percentages. Our determination was that ectomycorrhizal fungus colonization did not affect succession.
YANYU WANG
Does a user-friendly greenhouse gas (GHG) prediction tool perform as well as a more complex model (DAYCENT) to predict land-use change?
Mentors, Dr. Steve Del Grosso, Dr. Catherine Stewart
Models that calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are crucial in estimating US agricultural contributions to GHG. We tested two widely used models: a simplified tool (COMET), and a more complex model (DAYCENT). We compared three outputs: net primary production (NPP), soil carbon change (SOC) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, with measured data under three fertilizer scenarios: Urea, Dairy manure, and control. The COMET tool was evaluated with data collected from irrigated cropping systems in northeastern Colorado from 2012 to 2014. The DAYCENT model also required soil texture and manure type as model inputs. The COMET tool represented reasonably for SOC and NPP. However, it overestimated 25% for NPP, 54% for SOC, and 662% for N2O emissions in dairy manure scenario. DAYCENT also overestimated N2O emissions (141% for fresh manure, and 41% for manure compost). DAYCENT performed better than COMET. We suggest that COMET could be improved by better representing manure types and calculation methods.
FELIX YEPA
Comparative detritus soil food web analysis of soil fauna and carbon and nitrogen cycling in the Arctic
Mentors, Dr. John Moore, Dr. Stacy Lynn
With climate change, the Arctic is seeing an increase of a shrub (Betula nana) relative to a sedge (Eriophrium vaginatum). This study assesses changes in the belowground food web in a moist acidic tundra ecosystem located at Toolik Lake, Alaska. I hypothesize that this change will affect the detritus food web model, given that the shrub has lower plant quality relative to the sedge. The study compares functional groups within soil communities within the rooting zones of B. nana and E. vaginatum, and modeled rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling. The model is based on biomass estimates and trophic interaction among functional groups of organisms and detrital resources. We are processing samples to compare biomass estimates with modeling results to understand carbon and nitrogen fluxes. Through this understanding, the detritus food web model contributes to an important societal and environmental goal of predicting responses of tundra ecosystems with environmental change.