RMBL REU Program Spotlight

I spent my first summer at RMBL as an REU student eleven years ago. I have made the return migration almost every year since. This summer I was asked to coordinate the research experience for undergraduates (REU) program. I was pleased to be offered the opportunity, and its has been rewarding working with such bright, hardworking, and courteous students. The REU program has 5 female and 7 male student-researchers from a diverse array of academic institutions across the U.S. REU students are investigating a broad range of research topics:

Sara Baguskas is testing the effects of herbivory and pollination on insect visitors and female reproductive success in scarlet gilia. Eve Bruneau is testing the effects of diet resources on female mate choice and reproductive output in caddisflies. Franklin Egan is testing for competition between biocontrol insects on Lanaria vulgaris and the risk of non-target impacts. Dan Elmowitz is testing the consequences of petal position for pollination, seed set, and seed predation in monument plant. Sarah Gilman is studying the effect of parasite load on song characteristics and behavior in male white-crowed sparrows. Sarah Keller is comparing pollen presentation in two Penstemon species with different pollinators. Matt Harper is testing the effects of stream flow and temperature on emergence cues of mayflies in streams. Neil Losin is testing for spatial patterns of nest-cavity use by violet-green swallows in aspen forest. Matt Relyea is examining the costs and benefits of an ant-membracid mutualism in the absence of predation. Andrea Runyan is testing whether flight initiation distance differs among individual yellow- bellied marmots. Craig Segall is studying the potential impacts of climate change on summer snowpatches that may be important sources of biodiversity. Ronald Rizo is testing the importance of floral nectar as a tolerance trait to nectar robbing in scarlet gilia.

The primary goal of the National Science Foundation’s REU program is to introduce undergraduate students to the scientific process. RMBL’s REU program is intensive and demanding, focusing on field-based research experiences in the crown jewel of the Rocky Mountains – Gothic, Colorado. We require students to design a research project under the direction of a mentor, write a research proposal, critique a peer’s proposal and paper, present their findings as an oral presentation during the August 8th symposium, and encourage students and mentors to publish their results in URBEE or other peer-reviewed journals. In addition, the REU students meet on Monday evenings to discuss scientific papers and on Thursday evenings for informal discussions on a range of topics. Each week we read one classic paper, such as G.E. Hutchinson’s Homage to Santa Rosalia, and one recent paper, such as why a tree grows better in New York City. On Thursday evenings, we discuss a variety of topics, including scientific writing, graduate school, diversity and gender issues in science, and career opportunities in ecology. Several guests from RMBL, Crested Butte, and Gunnison participated in these discussions, sharing their time and knowledge with the REU students. Thanks to you all!

RMBL has an excellent group of REU students and mentors this year. If any researchers are looking for future research assistants or graduate students, I would highly recommend that you consider these students! Being program coordinator has been a rewarding experience, due in no small part to the dedication and hard work of the students and mentors. Thank you. I hope the REU students have been hooked on field research, RMBL, and have learned that ecology isn’t rocket science; it’s much harder but more fun! RMBL Undergraduate Research Symposium Friday, August 8, 2003 Barclay classroom building. Coursework, independent study, and REU students will be giving 10-12 minute oral presentations on their summer research projects. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend. Morning session 9:00 – 9:15 Matt Harper, Effects of stream flow and temperature on emergence cues of mayflies in high-elevation streams. 9:15 – 9:30 Eve Bruneau, Effects of diet resources on female mate choice and reproductive output in caddisflies. 9:30 – 9:45 Eric Bland, TBA 9:45 – 10:00 Neil Losin, Testing for spatial patterns of nest-cavity use by violet-green swallows in aspen forest. 10:00 – 10:15 BREAK 10:15 – 10:30 Ann England, Modeling fluctuations in tiger salamander populations due to variation in environmental conditions. 10:30 – 10:45 Dan Elmowitz, Consequences of petal position for pollination, seed set, and seed predation in Frasera speciosa. 10:45 – 11:00 Sarah Keller, Comparing pollen presentation in two Penstemon species with different pollinators. 11:00 – 11:15 Meghan Romano, TBA 11:15 –11:30 BREAK 11:30 – 11:45 Tera Keeler, Population census and home range size of the American dipper in the East River valley. 12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH Afternoon session 1:00 – 1:15 Andrea Runyan, Individual differences do not influence flight initiation distance in yellow-bellied marmots. 1:15 – 1:30 Brandon Raveling, Modeling global warming effects on colonial and satellite yellow- bellied marmot populations. 1:30 – 1:45 Sarah Gilman, Effects of parasite load on song characteristics and behavior in male white-crowed sparrows. 1:45 – 2:00 Sara Baguskas, Testing the effects of herbivory and pollination on insect visitors and female reproductive success in scarlet gilia. 2:00 – 2:15 BREAK 2:15 – 2:30 Franklin Egan, Competition between biocontrol insects on Lanaria vulgaris and the risk of non-target impacts. 2:30 – 2:45 Brooke Wilke, Effects of mechanical removal of Linaria vulgaris on native plant abundance and flowering phenology. 2:45 – 3:00 Ronald Rizo, Floral nectar as a tolerance trait to nectar robbing in scarlet gilia. 3:00 – 3:15 BREAK 3:15 – 3:30 Judith Turk, The effect of an ant-aphid mutualism on deer herbivory of Valariana edulis. 3:30 – 3:45 Matt Reylea, Costs and benefits of an ant-membracid mutualism in the absence of predation. 3:45 – 4:00 Dianne Newman, Potential effects of development on wetlands hydrology and freshwater invertebrate communities. 4:00 – 4:15 Tera Keeler, Modeling the rate of spread of invasive hemlock woody adelgid in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 4:30 – 6:00 Reception at Willey Cabin