The 2021 UGA Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities Symposium, which took place via the eLearning Commons platform April 11-12, featured 18 original research presentations by ecology undergraduates or students mentored by ecology faculty members or postdoctoral associates.
Ecology presentations
Caroline Aikins, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology
“Inferring Diet of Ringtails (Bassariscus atustus) from Latrines in Human-impacted Park Habitats”
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer, Odum School of Ecology
Zoe Alexander, CURO Research Assistant
A.B. Ecology; A.B. International Affairs; Environmental Law minor
“Poopers and Scoopers: Interactions at Wildlife Latrines”
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer, Odum School of Ecology
August Hayden Anderson, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology
“The Ecology of Tall Fescue Endophytes: a Comprehensive Approach to Understanding Epichloë Infection”
Mentor: Dr. Alexander Strauss, Odum School of Ecology
Christopher Brandon, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology; B.S. Biology; Spanish minor; Sustainability Certificate
“Walking While Parasitized: Effects of a Nematode Parasite on Beetle Locomotor Activity”
Mentor: Dr. Andy Davis, Odum School of Ecology
Avina Adriana Castro
Genetics major; Global Health minor
“Host-dependent Effects of the Environment and Helminth Infection on the Gut Microbiota of Wild Grant’s Gazelles”
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Ezenwa, Odum School of Ecology
Emma Bay Dickinson, CURO Honors Scholar
B.S. Ecology; Music minor; Studio Art minor
“Local and Landscape Determinants of Non-breeding Bird Use of Powerline Rights of Way”
Mentor: Dr. Richard John Hall, Odum School of Ecology
Alannah Caroline Dodd, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology; GIS Certificate
Hannah Hall
B.S. Ecology
“Invasive Species Tolerance to Hypoxic Aquatic Systems”
Mentor: Dr. James E. Byers, Odum School of Ecology
Will Ellis, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology
“How Parasites Influence Ecosystems: Studying the Varied Effects of a Trematode Parasite on its Environment”
Mentor: Dr. Emlyn Resetarits, Odum School of Ecology
Elizabeth Esser, Foundation Fellow and CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology; B.S. Genetics
“Physical-biological Coupling Predicts Population Connectivity in the Coastal Ocean”
Mentor: Dr. James E. Byers, Odum School of Ecology
Niki Gajjar, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology; Anthropology minor; Urban and Metropolitan Studies Certificate
“Morphological Root Traits of Savanna Trees and Grasses”
Mentor: Dr. Ricardo Holdo, Odum School of Ecology
Shashank Ganeshan, Foundation Fellow and CURO Research Assistant
Economics major; Computer Science major
“Associations between Local Politics, Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions, and Mobility”
Mentor: Dr. John M Drake, Odum School of Ecology
Jamon Jordan, CURO Research Assistant
Fisheries and Wildlife major; Ecology minor
“Investigating the Diversity Dilemma in the Darter Percina westfalli”
Mentor: Dr. Byron Freeman, Odum School of Ecology
Elizabeth Jurado, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology; Political Science minor
“Cultivating a Sense of Belonging: The Impact of Undergraduate Research Experiences”
Mentor: Dr. Amanda Rugenski, Odum School of Ecology
Culzean Kennedy, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology; Biology minor
“The Distribution of COVID-19 Cluster Sizes”
Mentor: Dr. John M Drake, Odum School of Ecology
Kailah Massey
A.B. Ecology
“Human Behavior and Activity as Rick Factors for Infection by Zoonotic Protozoa”
Mentor: Dr. John M Drake, Odum School of Ecology
Jess Leah Mitchell
Geology major; Ecology minor
“How Will Organisms Respond to a Hotter World? Changes in Macroinvertebrate Communities Due to Experimental Stream Warming”
Mentor: Dr. Amy D. Rosemond, Odum School of Ecology
Sydney Speir, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology; Sustainability Certificate
“Expansion and Comparison of Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) Diet in Zion National Park”
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer, Odum School of Ecology
Julia Nicole Weil, CURO Research Assistant
B.S. Ecology
“Inter-individual Variability in Social Interactions of Urban-dwelling Wading Birds”
Mentor: Dr. Richard John Hall, Odum School of Ecology