The Odum School of Ecology will be well represented at the University of Georgia Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities symposium this year. Nineteen ecology students will be presenting their original research, while sixteen Odum School faculty members served as research mentors. In addition, Prof. Vanessa Ezenwa of the Odum School and Dept. of Infectious Diseases received a CURO Research Mentoring Award.

The annual CURO Symposium highlights the breadth and depth of undergraduate research at UGA. This year’s event includes 216 oral presentations and 395 posters, by more than 650 students pursuing 96 different majors from13 schools and colleges.

The 2019 CURO Symposium takes place April 8-9 at the Classic Center in downtown Athens. Oral presentations are held from 11:15 AM-3:20 PM on Monday and from 9:30 AM-4:45 PM on Tuesday. The keynote address takes place on Monday at 3:30 PM, followed by the poster session from 4:30-6:30 PM.

UGA buses marked “Special Event” and with a “CURO Symposium” sign in the front window will run on a loop to the Classic Center with stops at the Georgia Center, the Tate Student Center and the Arch. Paid parking is available at the Classic Center.

The CURO Symposium is sponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Office of Instruction, the Office of Research, the UGA Libraries and the Honors Program.

View the schedule of presentations by Ecology students and students mentored by Ecology faculty.

Presentations by Ecology students or students mentored by Ecology faculty

Annabelle Barr
Ecology – B.S./Biology – B.S.
Afraid of the Dark: Do African Ungulates Alter Their Habitat Use in Response to Predation?
Mentor: Dr. Ricardo Holdo, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 108

Jared Bennett
Ecology – B.S.
Identification and Distribution of Greenbreast (Etheostoma jordani) and Etowah Darters (Etheostoma etowahae) in the Etowah River System in Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Byron Freeman, Odum School of Ecology and Georgia Museum of Natural History
Poster 98

Savannah Brock
Ecology – A.B., Horticulture minor
Human Disturbance and Soil Instability in Driftmier Woods
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth G King, Odum School of Ecology and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Poster 100

Tommy Bui
Genetics
Disease Vectors and Biodigesters
Mentor: Dr. Amanda Rugenski, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 94

Katherine Fredrica Christie
Ecology – B.S., Genetics minor
Longitudinal Spatial Proximity May Predict Copulatory Events in a Zoologically-Housed Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) Pair
Mentor: Dr. Dorothy Fragaszy, Dept. of Psychology
Poster 204

Emma Bay Dickinson
Ecology – B.S.
Organic Matter Breakdown in Atlanta Urban Streams: Influences of Urbanization on Organic Matter Dynamics
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps, Odum School of Ecology and Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
Poster 102

Elijah Dwoskin
Ecology – B.S./Environmental Economics and Management – B.S.E.S.
Hybridization in Chattahoochee Bass
Mentor: Dr. Byron Freeman, Odum School of Ecology and Georgia Museum of Natural History
Poster 99

Isabel Evelyn
Ecology – A.B./Anthropology – A.B.
One Fish, Two Fish, Low Stream… Full Fish? An Exploration of the Effects of Drought on Stream Darters and Their Prey
Mentor: Dr. Amy D. Rosemond, Odum School of Ecology
Oral presentation:  Tue. 4/9 3:30-4:45, Room C

Amanda Glatter
Environmental Health Science
E. coli and Water Quality in the San Luis River and Tributaries in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Mentor: Dr. Amanda Rugenski, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 95

Nathaniel Haulk
Ecology – B.S., Public Health minor
Modeling Seasonal Infection Dynamics in Food-Subsidized Wildlife Populations
Mentor: Dr. Richard John Hall, Odum School of Ecology and Dept. of Infectious Diseases
Poster 105

Taylor Hill
Ecology – A.B./International Affairs – A.B.
Developing Effective Governance Strategies in the Face of Water Scarcity
Mentor: Dr. Donald Nelson, Dept. of Anthropology
Poster 79

Richard Hull
Ecology – B.S., Plant Biology minor
The Lampyrids of Cherokee County, GA
Mentor: Dr. Kathrin F Stanger-Hall, Dept. of Plant Biology
Oral presentation: Tue. 4/9 2-3:15 PM, Room C

Richard Hull
Ecology – B.S., Plant Biology minor
The Vascular Flora of Cherokee County, Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Wendy B. Zomlefer, Dept. of Plant Biology
Oral presentation: Tue. 4/9 3:30-4:45, Room C

Liz Ann Jurado
Ecology – B.S./Biology – B.S., Political Science minor
Effects of Chronic Stress on the Acute Stress Reaction of Horned Passalus Beetles, Odontotaenius disjunctusMentor: Dr. Andy Davis, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 97

Lexi Kenna
Foliar Nitrogen and Carbon Content in Four Tree Species in Response to Soil Warming
Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Mohan, Odum School of Ecology
Oral presentation: Mon. 4/8 12:20-1:10 PM, Room J

Erin Malsbury
Ecology – B.S./Anthropology – A.B.
Varied Irradiance and Stable Isotopes in Siderastrean Corals
Mentor: Dr. Patricia Lynn Yager, Dept. of Marine Sciences
Poster 87

Megan McPherson
Anthropology
Mysteries of the Museum: Uncovering the History of the Georgia Museum of Natural History*
Mentors: Dr. Suzanne Pilaar Birch, Dept. of Anthropology, and Dr. Byron Freeman, Odum School of Ecology and Georgia Museum of Natural History
Poster 78
*Winner of the 2019 Libraries Undergraduate Research Award

Madison Monroe and Becca Parsons
Ecology – B.S.
The Watershed Learning Network: Engaging Communities in Freshwater Science Through Community-University Partnerships and Service Learning
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps, Odum School of Ecology and Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
Poster 103

Jessie Motes
Ecology – B.S.
Biological nitrogen fixation is dynamic following disturbance in southern Appalachian forests
Mentor: Dr. Nina Wurzburger, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 104

Becca Parsons
Ecology – A.B.
Ignorance Is Bliss: The Current State of Septic Systems in the U.S. and the Risks They Pose to Freshwater Systems
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps, Odum School of Ecology and Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
Oral presentation: Mon. 4/8 2:30-3:20 PM, Room A

Hannah Pike and Luana Oliveira
Plant Biology
More Than a Cup: Analysis of a Fungal Pathogen in Shade Grown Coffea Arabica Mentor: Dr. Amanda Rugenski, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 96

Cody Prouty
Ecology – B.S.
Geography
Does Exposure to Low Doses of Neonicotinoids Reduce Monarch Butterfly Flight Performance?
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer, Odum School of Ecology
Oral presentation: Tue. 4/9 2-3:15 PM, Room C

Caroline Laura Shearer
Ecology – B.S.
Rainfall as a Mechanism Driving Seasonality in Parasite Abundance
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Ezenwa, Odum School of Ecology and Dept. of Infectious Diseases
Poster 107

Lilith South
Cell Biology
Humidity’s impact on Anopheles mosquito ability to transmit malaria causing parasites
Mentor: Dr. Courtney Murdock, Odum School of Ecology and Dept. of Infectious Diseases
Poster 306

Ishan Kumar Vaish
Psychology/Biochemistry
Collective Decision Making in the Earth Worm Eisenia fetida
Mentor: Dr. Takao Sasaki, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 106

Joseph Walker
Statistics
Predicting the Geographical Spread of Emerging Arboviruses
Mentor: Dr. John Drake, Odum School of Ecology
Poster 10

Presentation Schedule

Monday, April 8

12:20-1:10 PM, Room J
Lexi Kenna
Foliar Nitrogen and Carbon Content in Four Tree Species in Response to Soil Warming
Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Mohan, Odum School of Ecology

2:30-3:20 PM, Room A
Becca Parsons
Ecology – A.B.
Ignorance Is Bliss: The Current State of Septic Systems in the U.S. and the Risks They Pose to Freshwater Systems
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps, Odum School of Ecology and Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Tuesday, April 9

2-3:15 PM, Room C
Richard Hull
Ecology – B.S., Plant Biology minor
The Lampyrids of Cherokee County, GA
Mentor: Dr. Kathrin F Stanger-Hall, Dept. of Plant Biology

2-3:15 PM, Room C
Cody Prouty
Ecology – B.S.
Geography
Does Exposure to Low Doses of Neonicotinoids Reduce Monarch Butterfly Flight Performance?
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer, Odum School of Ecology

3:30-4:45 PM, Room C
Isabel Evelyn
Ecology – A.B./Anthropology – A.B.
One Fish, Two Fish, Low Stream… Full Fish? An Exploration of the Effects of Drought on Stream Darters and Their Prey
Mentor: Dr. Amy D. Rosemond, Odum School of Ecology

3:30-4:45 PM, Room C
Richard Hull
Ecology – B.S., Plant Biology minor
The Vascular Flora of Cherokee County, Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Wendy B. Zomlefer, Dept. of Plant Biology

Poster Session
Monday April 8, 4:30-6:30 PM

Poster 78
Megan McPherson
Anthropology
Mysteries of the Museum: Uncovering the History of the Georgia Museum of Natural History*
Mentors: Dr. Suzanne Pilaar Birch, Dept. of Anthropology, and Dr. Byron Freeman, Odum School of Ecology and Georgia Museum of Natural History
Poster 78
*Winner of the 2019 Libraries Undergraduate Research Award

Poster 79
Taylor Hill
Ecology – A.B./International Affairs – A.B.
Developing Effective Governance Strategies in the Face of Water Scarcity
Mentor: Dr. Donald Nelson, Dept. of Anthropology

Poster 87
Erin Malsbury
Ecology – B.S./Anthropology – A.B.
Varied Irradiance and Stable Isotopes in Siderastrean Corals
Mentor: Dr. Patricia Lynn Yager, Dept. of Marine Sciences

Poster 94
Tommy Bui
Genetics
Disease Vectors and Biodigesters
Mentor: Dr. Amanda Rugenski, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 95
Amanda Glatter
Environmental Health Science
E. coli and Water Quality in the San Luis River and Tributaries in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Mentor: Dr. Amanda Rugenski, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 96
Hannah Pike and Luana Oliveira
Plant Biology
More Than a Cup: Analysis of a Fungal Pathogen in Shade Grown Coffea Arabica
Mentor: Dr. Amanda Rugenski, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 97
Liz Ann Jurado
Ecology – B.S./Biology – B.S., Political Science minor
Effects of Chronic Stress on the Acute Stress Reaction of Horned Passalus Beetles, Odontotaenius disjunctus
Mentor: Dr. Andy Davis, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 98
Jared Bennett
Ecology – B.S.
Identification and Distribution of Greenbreast (Etheostoma jordani) and Etowah Darters (Etheostoma etowahae) in the Etowah River System in Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Byron Freeman, Odum School of Ecology and Georgia Museum of Natural History

Poster 99
Elijah Dwoskin
Ecology – B.S./Environmental Economics and Management – B.S.E.S.
Hybridization in Chattahoochee Bass
Mentor: Dr. Byron Freeman, Odum School of Ecology and Georgia Museum of Natural History

Poster 100
Savannah Brock
Ecology – A.B., Horticulture minor
Human Disturbance and Soil Instability in Driftmier Woods
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth G King, Odum School of Ecology and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Poster 101
Joseph Walker
Statistics
Predicting the Geographical Spread of Emerging Arboviruses
Mentor: Dr. John Drake, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 102
Emma Bay Dickinson
Ecology – B.S.
Organic Matter Breakdown in Atlanta Urban Streams: Influences of Urbanization on Organic Matter Dynamics
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps, Odum School of Ecology and Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Poster 103
Madison Monroe
Ecology – B.S.
The Watershed Learning Network: Engaging Communities in Freshwater Science Through Community-University Partnerships and Service Learning
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps, Odum School of Ecology and Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Poster 104
Jessie Motes
Ecology – B.S.
Biological nitrogen fixation is dynamic following disturbance in southern Appalachian forests
Mentor: Dr. Nina Wurzburger, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 105
Nathaniel Haulk
Ecology – B.S., Public Health minor
Modeling Seasonal Infection Dynamics in Food-Subsidized Wildlife Populations
Mentor: Dr. Richard John Hall, Odum School of Ecology and Dept. of Infectious Diseases

Poster 106
Ishan Kumar Vaish
Psychology/Biochemistry
Collective Decision Making in the Earth Worm Eisenia fetida
Mentor: Dr. Takao Sasaki, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 107
Caroline Laura Shearer
Ecology – B.S.
Rainfall as a Mechanism Driving Seasonality in Parasite Abundance
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Ezenwa, Odum School of Ecology and Dept. of Infectious Diseases

Poster 108
Annabelle Barr
Ecology – B.S./Biology – B.S.
Afraid of the Dark: Do African Ungulates Alter Their Habitat Use in Response to Predation?
Mentor: Dr. Ricardo Holdo, Odum School of Ecology

Poster 204
Katherine Fredrica Christie
Ecology – B.S., Genetics minor
Longitudinal Spatial Proximity May Predict Copulatory Events in a Zoologically-Housed Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) Pair Mentor: Dr. Dorothy Fragaszy, Dept. of Psychology

Poster 306
Lilith South
Cell Biology
Humidity’s impact on Anopheles mosquito ability to transmit malaria causing parasites
Mentor: Dr. Courtney Murdock, Odum School of Ecology and Dept. of Infectious Diseases