Independent Research and Study Papers

2010

Kerstin Martin, "The effects of a changed forest composition due to white-tailed deer browsing on a headwater stream."

Using an ecosystem approach, this study examines the possible effects of a changed forest composition on a headwater stream within Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary. Parameters measured include nutrient levels through the hydrological cycle, bacteria presence in the stream, leaf decomposition rate and macroinvertebrate populations.

Lily Bieber-Ham, "Putting all your eggs in one basket: Nest site selection in a turtle with temperature dependent sex determination."

Climate change has the potential to greatly impact a wide range of organisms. Organisms in which hatchling sex is determined by temperature could be the best study subjects for understanding the immediate impact of global climate changes. I studied the parameters that are important for femail painted turtle (C. picta) nest site selection. Understanding how a female chooses her nest site is crucial for observing behavioral changes that could result from local temperature changes.

2009

Emily Lawrence, "Air Polluion and Health in Carlisle, Pennsylvania"

Maunette Watson, "Trace Metal Dissolved and Suspended Loading from Legacy Sediment Sites and Implications for Uptake by Macroinvertebrates in the Yellow Breeches Creek Watershed, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania" (Dept. Honors)

Danielle Hoffman, "A Complementary Currency: Carlisle, Pennsylvania"

2008

Danielle Cioce,  "Aquatic Toxicology of Pesticides in Sediment in the LeTort Spring Run" (Dept. Honors)

Matthew Freedman, "Analysis of Stormwater in Mount Holly Springs, Pa., and its Impact on Mountain Creek"

Brendan Hughes, "Nutrient Flow and Mass Balance at the Dickinson College Farm" 

2007

Audrey Fisher, "Cultures of Farming in Perry County: Implications for agro-environmental Management"
(Dept. Honors)

Lisa Maas, Freshwater Ecology/Aquatics

2006

Kimberly Ogren, "The Feasibility of Biodiesel"

Ruth Mary Oldham, "Transgenic Maize in Mexico: Developing an efficient and equitable regulatory framework "
(Dept. Honors)

Robert Hanifin, "Forest Light Utilization"
(Dept. Honors)

Meghan Klasic, "The use of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) as a Bioindicator for LeTort Spring Run, Cumberland County, Pa."
(Dept. Honors)

Scott Morello, "An Exploratory Assessment of Bixler Run in Perry County, Pa., as a Potential Trout Fishery and how it is Affected by riparian vegetation"
(Dept. Honors)

2005

Colleen Haney, "Stormwater Management Practices and Challenges: Cedar Run Watershed, Cumberland County, Pa."
(Dept. Honors)

Jennifer Korth, "A Macroinvertebrate Study of Three South Central Pennsylvania Streams: An Analysis of Suburban and Agricultural Runoff"

Giovanna McClenachan, "Is Liming an Effective Mitigation Strategy for River Acidification: Using Diatoms as Indicators of Stream Health at Laurel Run"

Julia Barton, "Are Overabundant Deer in a Pennsylvania Wildlife Preserve Eating All the Tree Seeds?"