Honors/Biology Research - My senior honors and biology research project was a field study of Sciurus carolinenses and their foraging habits. Optimal foraging theory states animals search for and capture food that maximizes their net energy intake per unit time foraging. Within this theory, I specifically focused on optimal diet selection and whether or not squirrels following its predictions. Using platforms containing seeds and sand substrates, I found Sciurus carolinensis did follow optimal diet selection, preferring higher ranking food (walnuts) over lower ranking food (sunflower seeds) and preferring higher ranking food independent of food item abundance. Squirrels exhibited optimal foraging behavior by maximizing net energy intake through their preferences. Furthermore, squirrels exhausted higher ranking food sources before consuming lower ranking food when food sources were reliable. When food sources were unreliable, this food preference changed, likely due to the increased risk of predation (as foraging time increases) associated with having to find the most optimal food source available when its location is unreliable. Check out more about my research on the poster I made and presented at my Senior Honors Banquet to the right!
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Honors Reading Seminar: Anthrozoology - During this course, my classmates and I analyzed the interactions, relationships, and portrayals between humans and non-humans. We made our own course schedule, determined the literature we would analyze, and led one discussion throughout the semester. This course allowed me to dive into a topic which I hold a strong interest in given my major and work experiences and provided me with the opportunity to hear others ideas on anthrozoological topics. By leading the discussion of Gorillas in the Mist, I learned not only how to facilitate a discussion (including coming up with questions and determining their order so that conversation was not forced), but also gave me critical experience in moderating the discussion. This experience will allow me to grow both in my goals of becoming a ranger for the National Park Service and of being a teacher. To the left is my write-up about my experience leading the discussion.
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Medical Botany - This course allowed me to indulge in a field that I have always been interested in, yet never had the opportunity to study: medicinal herbalism. I gained knowledge and skills during that class that I can use not only for personal reasons when I am out hiking, but also to help educate others about alternative medicines and/or treatments. My favorite aspect of this course was creating various items to use from plants we learned about! When we made a concoction from medicinal plants, we would learn about the process used to make that item (whether that be a capsule, tincture, herbal blend, etc.), analyze the plants used to determined the phytochemicals responsible for the physiological effects, and then create the alternate medicine! We made things such as an herbal blend to fight against acne, a tincture to help you relax, sleep capsules, boo-boo salve, and even more awesome medicines from the life that sprouts around the world! To the right are some of the creations we made throughout this course!
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Advanced Ecology - Throughout the semester, another classmate and I performed field research together. Our project studied frog (anuran) site selection when artificial ponds varied in bottom substrate composition between a natural substrate and a concrete substrate. The purpose of this study was determine whether anuran diversity differed with varying pond substrate. This research would give insight to how anuran diversity could be increased in urbanized locations where artificial ponds are present, such as city parks.
To the left is the manuscript we developed from this research project. |