Ecology in context

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Ecology in context

• Research
• Experiences for
• Undergraduates
• at the
• Cary Institute of
• Ecosystem Studies

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Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies definition of
Ecology
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History of the cary institute
Gifford House
Auditorium
Dr. Gene Likens
Dr. William Schlesinger
Plant Science Building
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Location, Location, Location

• Historic Dutchess County NY nestled in the scenic
  Hudson River Valley
• Nearby destinations the Catskill, Berkshire and
  Shawangunk Mountains, Tanglewood, Storm King Art
  Center and many more
• Local colleges Marist, Vassar, Bard, SUNY New
  Paltz
• 80 miles north of New York City
• Close to the quaint village of Millbrook

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Living and Learning
Laboratory
Bacon Flats Dormitory
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Cary Institite Buildings Grounds
Likens Lab
Wappingers Creek
Fern Glen
Weather Station
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REUS 23rd Year

• Student Research Projects
• Research Strategies Workshops
• Research in Context Activities

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REU Program Goals

• Promising undergraduate students learn by doing
  real research, start to finish.
• Students become an integral part of a local and
  extended scientific community.
• Students explore the intellectual, personal and
  social contexts of science.
• Students become reflective and self-aware
  thinkers about science - its practice, community
  and contexts.  
• Contribute to the future vitality of the field of
  ecology by helping build a diverse and
  well-trained workforce.
• Mentors and students make direct contributions to
  the field via research.
• Improved understanding of the benefits and costs
  of research experience programs, and of the
  vocational development of ecologists.

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Why Choose The Cary Institute-REU Program?What
will you learn?

• Conduct independent research with leading
  ecologists
• Learn to give clear talks and to teach about
  ecology
• Write your own scientific paper
• Explore how ecology fits into society
• See the rewards and options for ecology careers

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Where will you be living?

• In an intellectual but very friendly
• community, extremely focused
• with diverse learning opportunities.

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The REU Program Team
Rick Ostfeld

• Alan Berkowitz

Stuart Findlay
Felicia Keesing
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Project Descriptions for Summer 2010

• Investigating peoples ideas about ecosystems.
• What, if anything, controls tick populations and
  Lyme disease risk?
• Ecological Functions of Hudson River marshes,
  shallows and tributaries.
• Ecosystem response to an introduced pest in a
  hemlock forest.
• Microbial processes in urban ecosystems.
• Songbird behavioral ecology How do veeries use
  their songs for mate choice and territory
  defense?
• Investigating the natural and anthropogenic
  drivers of mosquito abundance and disease risk
• Use of remotely measured data to determine
  evaporation from Mirror Lake, New Hampshire.
• Simplifying measurement of the hydrologic budget
  of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire.
• Effects of invasive species on freshwater
  ecosystems.
• Predator activity and risk to prey.
• Investigating longitudinal patterns of water
  quality in the Wallkill River.
• Effects of roadsalt alternatives on soil
  microbial processes
• Effects of marcellus-shale drilling fluids on
  aquatic ecosystems.

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Research strategies workshops

• Cary Institute REU students become thoughtful,
  reflective scientists
• Field Session on asking good questions in ecology
  
• Roundtable discussion with Cary scientists
  Successful Studies in Ecology
• Workshop on designing effective graphs and slides
  for presentation
• Help sessions on statistics for ecology
• Workshop on how to give effective talks

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Research in context activities

• Forum on Opportunities in Ecology
• 10-12 professionals share career insights
• Case Study
• Explore a local environmental issue
• Sharing Science
• Teach ecology to local middle school students

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Previous Research

• Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and Mirror
  Lake, NH (on going)

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The use of biological controls for vector-borne
diseases the case of guinea fowl and Lyme
disease. Amber Price, Vassar College
Mentors Drs. Richard S. Ostfeld and Felicia
Keesing.
Amber Price tick dragging, using a weighted
corduroy cloth of standard size along a transect
in a residential lawn near Millbrook, NY.
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Non-lethal effects of crayfish and sunfish
predators on zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
behavior via chemical cues. Heidi Lappi, Clarion
University
Heidi Lappi presenting her findings at the
Pennsylvania Chapter of American Fisheries
conference.
Mentor Dr. David Strayer
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Is the Hudson River Warming? An updated analysis
of a long term temperature series. David
Seekell, University of Vermont

• Mentor Dr. Michael L. Pace

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Ecological functions of Hudson River marshes,
shallows and tributaries.

• On going research by Dr. Stuart E.G. Findlay

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Dr. Stuart E.G. Findlay
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The Baltimore Ecosystem Study
http//www.ecostudies.org/bes/
Dr. Peter M. Groffman
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Alumni---where are they now?
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Random Alumni Highlights

• Elizabeth Crone, PhD, Assistant Professor of
  Quantitative Ecology at the University of Montana
• Pamela Templer, PhD, Assistant Professor at
  Boston University
• Zakiya Holmes-Leggett, PhD, Research Scientist at
  Weyerhaeuser, Raleigh, NC
• Jeffery Grabrowski, PhD student at Purdue
  University
• Kristina Stinson, PhD, Post Doc/instructor at
  Harvard University

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How to become part of this program

• Apply on-line by February 5, 2010
• http//www.caryinstitute.org/reu.html

Pat ZolnikUndergraduate Research Program
CoordinatorCary Institute of Ecosystem
Studies2801 Box AB Sharon Turnpike Millbrook,
New York   12545E-mail Pat Zolnik at
zolnikp_at_caryinstitute.org845-677-7600
x326845-677-5975 FAX