Research Project List

Updated December 11, 2012

Forest Composition and Growth

Patterns and processes of recovery in and around an Indiana limestone quarry - Vanessa Fox and Dana Dudle, summer 2004
Ecological composition and health of the forests at the Nature Park and proposed management strategies - Kyra Reed and Vanessa Fox, summer 2005
Composition of riparian forest along Big Walnut Creek - Brittany Mohrman, Tory Pavlovich, Brett Bohlander, Conservation Biology class, spring 2006
Effects of flooding on growth rates of box elder trees - Kurt White, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Patterns of moss growth on sycamores and box elders - Ellen Mail, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Shrub growth and fruit production along the Woodland Trail - Megan McNally, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Effects of cicadas on trees - Brice Bledsoe, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Effects of grape vines on tree growth – Jessica Pond and Pooja Rathore, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Effects of soil pH, soil water content, and shade on beech tree growth and reproduction – Amy Kamer and Daniel White, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Relationship between presence of trails and tree species diversity – Lauren Reich, Leila Patterson, Allen Lee, Neil Wright, BIO 342, Conservation Biology class, fall 2009
Soil water content and tree growth – Andrew Manson, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010
Allelopathy of black walnut trees – Kelsey Nosek, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010
Ephemeral wildflowers and forest biodiversity – Abby Balbach and other students in Honor Scholar seminar class, HS 300, spring 2011
Trees and vines: friends, foes or indifferent? - Scott Meyer, Danny Wetli, Vanessa Fox, and Bruce Serlin, BIO 490, fall 2011 and spring 2012
Dendroclimatology in Putnam County - Julia Roell, Peter Konieczny, Rudra Vishweshwar, Ben Harsha, Weiqing Zhang, SRF project with Jim Mills, fall 2012

Leaf litter

Where has all the leaf litter gone? - Charlotte Buehler, Chad Byers, Summer Drake, and Vanessa Fox, summer 2006
Leaf litter, earthworms, and soil pH in forests at the Nature Park - Summer Drake, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Decomposition rates of sycamore vs. sugar maple leaves in the quarry pond – Zachary Young, BIO 342, Ecology class, fall 2010
Decomposition rates of Phragmites vs. cattail leaves in the Quarry Pond – Ken Fortino and Zachary Young, BIO 490, fall 2011

Trees in and near the Quarry Bottom

Patterns of sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) growth at four locations surrounding an abandoned limestone quarry - David Pope, Dana Dudle, and Vanessa Fox, summer 2004
Competition among trees in the Quarry Bottom - Chris Halvonik, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Effects of wind on growth patterns of trees in the Quarry Bottom and Rim Trail - Derek Redman, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Effects of sunlight on direction of tree growth along the edge of the quarry wall - Brandon Wood, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Shapes of juniper trees in open and forested areas - Steven Cudney, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Growth rates of sycamore trees in the Quarry Bottom and along the Rim Trail - Richel Geisse, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Relationships between cedar and sycamore trees – Briana White, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Competition among sycamore trees in the Quarry Bottom – Will Tremaine, Andy Manson, and Mike Pavell, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010
Distribution and growth of sycamores next to the Quarry Pond – Zachary Young, Hunter Schouweiler, and Sarah Minor, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010
Nurse plant relationships between sycamores and cedars in the Quarry Bottom – Hunter Schouweiler, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010

White-tailed Deer

Are there too many deer in the Nature Park? - Vanessa Fox, Ryan Kelly, Emily Meadows, Kristen Frederick and students in BIO 275 (Biostatistics), BIO 342 (Ecology) and BIO 345 (Conservation Biology), fall 2011
Are deer more active during the day or at night? – Mitch Strobl, Vanessa Fox, BIO 275, Biostatistics class, spring 2011
Do deer avoid areas with human scent? - Mitch Strobl, Vanessa Fox, BIO 490, fall 2011 and spring 2012
Effects of human activity on deer in the DePauw Nature Park - Amanda Faulkenberg and Caitlin Cleary, BIO 345, Conservation Biology class, fall 2012

Songbird Communities

Composition of the songbird community at the DePauw Nature Park and Arboretum - Libby Allard and Vanessa Fox, summer 2005
Bird banding at the Nature Park - Andy Zuwerink, fall 2008
Caching behavior of birds in relation to weather patterns - Lauren Reich, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009

Amphibians

Do frogs prefer ponds without fish? – Zachary Young, Josh Baugh, Andy Hogan, Danny White, Aquatic Ecology class, BIO 395, spring 2010
Survey of calling frogs in the Nature Park – Jim Benedix, Jessica Pond, and Stefan Freed, BIO 490, spring 2010
Frog surveys in the Quarry Bottom and along trails – Jim Benedix, Ashley Conard, Stephen Hesterberg, and Luke Miller, BIO 490, spring 2011

Small Mammals

Small mammal trapping in the Arboretum and Nature Park - Vanessa Fox and students in Organismal Biology, BIO 135, 2003-2006
White-footed mice living "on the edge" in the Nature Park - Dan Zindrick and Ryan Heffernan, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2005
Metabolic rates of animals in different environments - Henning Schneider and students in Animal Physiology class, BIO 335
Investigation of squirrel nests – Kelli Reed and Reed Seward, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Density of small mammal populations in the K2 loop – Hannah Ramage and Wesley Jones, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010

Butterflies

Evolution of life history strategies in swallowtail butterflies: the timing of diapause - Ashley Amodeo, Lauren Hoffmann, Bryan Helm, Ashley Maire, and Wade Hazel
Timing of diapause in swallowtail butterflies – Kelsey Gagesch, Amanda Feller, Maria Haag, Sarah Drury, and Katherine Hill, and Wade Hazel, summer 2010

Arthropods

Diversity of surface-active invertebrate communities at the DePauw Nature Park and Arboretum - Aaron Randolph, Dana Dudle, and Vanessa Fox, summer 2004
Invertebrate and leaf litter dynamics in the DePauw University Nature Park - Karl Koehler and Vanessa Fox, summer 2005
Crickets in a meadow: does mowing improve habitat? - Jackie Betsch, Jake Donlon, Bryan Helm, and Mark Loomis, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2005
Insect diversity in old field succession - Kelsey Nosek, Wesley Jones, Hannah Ramage
Diversity of soil microarthropods from five areas of the Nature Park – Stefan Freed and Michael Benson, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Diversity of insects associated with goldenrod – Cody Roldan, Pooja Rathore, Jessica Pond, and Zandri Strauss, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Soil and arthropod communities in woodlands and prairies - Sarah Batto, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Microarthropods and soil quality next to a pond – Will Tremaine, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010
Diversity of microarthropods in leaf litter and pond water – Vanessa Fox and students in Organismal Biology class, BIO 135, fall 2010

Educational Outreach

“Outdoor Explorers,” an educational outreach programs for Greencastle Middle School students - Laura Stevens, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, fall 2004
Natural history of the Quarry Trail - Genevieve Espinoza, Megan Michael, and Shayla Williamson, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, spring 2006
“Survivor!” an educational outreach program for Greencastle Middle School students - Kala Pattar, Kathy Frees, Suzanne Donoval, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, spring 2006
Natural history of the Creekside and Rail Trail – Paul Cartwright, Reed Seward, and Brian Allman, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, fall 2009

Prairies

Planting the prairie garden at the Manning Environmental Field Station - Dana Dudle and students in Plant Biology class, BIO 130, fall 2005
Native and non-native plant species in tallgrass prairies – Taylor Cantril, BIO 490, fall 2009

Secondary succession

Plant communities in the floodplain field (K2 loop): classification by soil type, nutrient availability, and flooding frequency – Taylor Cantril, Megan Jensen, and Josh Yoder; BIO 342, Ecology class, fall 2010
Effects of flooding on forest succession in the floodplain field (K2 loop) – Hannah Ramage, Josh Baugh, Taylor Cantril, and Josh Yoder, Ecology class, fall 2010

Invasive species

Phragmites and cattails in the Quarry Bottom - Susan Cordes, Brandon Dawson, Jerilyn Kramer, and Ryan Miller, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, spring 2006
Effects of simulated herbivory on garlic mustard - Kyle Burns, Tyler McPheters, Ashley Paschal, and Brian Scott, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, spring 2006
Estimating the presence and potential impact of emerald ash borers on ash trees in the Nature Park - Megan Walton, Neil Broshears, Alex Eades, and Amanda Hendricks, spring 2008
Mapping an invasion: distribution and density of Phragmites in the Quarry Bottom – Dana Dudle and students in Conservation Biology class, BIO 342, fall 2009

Other plants

Effects of ants on the reproductive success of the wild radish, Pastinaca sativa – Jing Yang and Dana Dudle, summer 2005
Reproductive success of tall boneset in the Quarry Bottom of the Nature Park - Brett Bohlander, Debbie Jewell, Dan Zindrick, and Ryan Heffernan, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2005
Gall placement and success on adult boneset plants – Brian Allman and Morgan Grant, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Goldenrod density and height – Morgan Grant, Brian Allman, and Kyle Foster, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Energy allocation of rosehip bushes along the Rim Trail – Braca Benizry, Nikki Craker, Stefan Freed, and Kelli Reed, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Stinging nettle and soil water content along Big Walnut Creek – Mike Benson, Reed Seward, Danny White, and Amy Kamer, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2009
Gall susceptibility in goldenrod – Megan Jensen, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010
Flower production and senescence in white boneset – Jim Benedix and students in Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010
Effect of galls on the health of boneset – Sarah Minor, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2010

Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments in the Manning Lab

Metabolomic response of Portulaca oleracea to environmental stressors – Dana Dudle and Bryan Hanson, spring 2009
Seed production in horticultural and wild-type varieties of Portulaca oleracea (common purslane) – Bryan Hanson and Dana Dudle, fall 2009
Germination of salt-treated plant seeds – Matthew Keinsley and Bryan Hanson, Chem 395, fall 2010
Growing plants in the greenhouse for summer research – Bryan Hanson, Matt Kukurugya, Polly Haight, and Vince Guzzetta, spring 2011

Apocynum cannabinum, Hemp Dogbane

Examining the potential for local adaptation of Apocynum cannabinum populations at an abandoned limestone quarry - Bryan Helm, Dana Dudle, and Vanessa Fox, summer 2004
Expression of anthocyanins in Apocynum cannabinum stems under light stress, Erica J. Ross, Ryan Edelen, Matthew Howes and Dana A. Dudle, summer 2006
Evaluation of three indices of redness in Apocynum cannabinum - Erica J. Ross, Ryan Edelen, Matthew Howes and Dana A. Dudle, summer 2006
The effect of photosynthetically active radiation on redness of Apocynum cannabinum over a three day period - Erica J. Ross, Ryan Edelen, Matthew Howes and Dana A. Dudle, summer 2006
Mommy, why is my stem turning red? Maternal genetic contribution to anthocyanin production in response to light - Erica Ross, Allison Barnes, Dana Dudle, summer 2006
The effects of environmental stress on the production of anthocyanins in Apocynum cannabinum - David Furman and Dana Dudle, summer 2006
Variation in leaf traits of Apocynum cannabinum in the Quarry Bottom - Beth Drewes, Betsy Feighner, and Dana Dudle, summer 2006
Anthocyanin content of Apocynum cannabinum in variable light environments - Lauren Guggina and Dana Dudle, summer 2006

Aquatic Ecology

Crayfish prevalence and water quality in Big Walnut Creek - Jason Hutchison and Scott Kreuzman, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2005
Aquatic photosynthesis and respiration rates in the Quarry Pond and Woodland Pond - Katie Wirt, Ecology class, BIO 342, fall 2008
Potential effects of recreational boat use on plankton and algae in the Quarry Pond – Cody Roldan and Morgan Grant, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, fall 2009
Zooplankton diversity and water quality in the Nature Park ponds – Cody Roldan, Morgan Grant, and Dina Leech, BIO 490, fall 2009
Comparison of freshwater microinvertebrates in Nature Park ponds – Dana Dudle, Ken Fortino and students in BIO 135, Organismal Biology, spring 2010
Underwater cartography: bathymetry of the Quarry Pond - Alan Lee and Neil Fitzharris, BIO 390, spring 2010
Caddisflies in Big Walnut Creek - Kelly Blair, Anna Fogt, Scott Graf, and Lauren Leipprandt, BIO 390, spring 2010
The influence of fish in aquatic systems - Brian Allman, Muska Fahim, Megan May, Cody Roldan, and Ryan Edelen, BIO 390, spring 2011
Nutrient bioassay of two ponds - Katie Kraska, Stephen Hesterberg, and Matt Brown, BIO 390, spring 2011
Anthropogenic influences and impacts on pond ecology - Emily Dye, Jacob Sokalski, Norah Jacob, and Yaritza Acosta, BIO 390, spring 2011
Is everything everywhere? Characterization of bacterial communities in the Quarry Pond and Woodland Pond – Dina Leech, Lynn Bedard, summer 2010

Wetlands

Water quality and soil composition of functional wetlands in the Nature Park – Patrick Wagner, Janet Mellinger, Brianna Frigerio, Jessie Pa’ahana, Conservation Biology class, BIO 345, fall 2009

Bacteria

The role of cyanobacteria in the primary succession of an abandoned limestone quarry - Nicole Stone and Dana Dudle, summer 2006

Geosciences

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to navigate and interpret topographic maps
Characteristics of sedimentary rocks in the quarry walls
Using limestone strata and chert nodules to visualize three-dimensional orientation of rocks in space
Investigating water chemistry in the quarry pond, ephemeral ponds, and Big Walnut Creek
Investigating discharge rates in Big Walnut Creek and seepage in the Quarry Bottom
Groundwater and possible contaminants in the Quarry Bottom

Art

"Redefining Landscape," first-year seminar - Barbara Fields Timm, fall 2011
Building rock cairns in the Quarry Bottom – Barbara Fields Timm and students in FYS class, fall 2009
Building rock cairns in and along Big Walnut Creek – Barbara Fields Timm and students in FYS class, fall 2010
Collecting trash and recyclables with aesthetic potential from Big Walnut Creek – Barbara Fields Timm and students in FYS class, fall 2010