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Research Project List

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Research, Education, and Art Projects, 2004-2012

Updated April 15, 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
  • Analysis of potential climate change in Putnam County over the last 150 years through use of climatic data and tree-ring analysis - Jim Mills and students in HONR 191 Science Research Fellows, fall 2011

Leaf litter decomposition

  • 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 and Jo Edwards, 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, spring 2012

Songbird Communities

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

Butterflies

Arthropods

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

Secondary succession

  • Plant communities in the floodplain field (K2 loop):  classification by soil type, nutrient availability, and flooding frequency – Taylor Cantril, 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

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

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

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