The 2022 UGA Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities Symposium, which takes place April 4-5, will feature presentations by 21 undergraduate ecology majors, as well as three students minoring in ecology. In addition, four students from other units who are mentored by an ecology faculty member will present their work. Thirteen ecology faculty members and postdoctoral associates as well as graduate students served as mentors for this year’s CURO students.
“The Ecology student CURO presentations this year underscore the strength of Odum School undergraduates in tackling important problems and making new discoveries,” said Sonia Altizer, interim dean and Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Ecology, who is also a CURO mentor. “The Odum School places high importance on mentoring student research, and we are delighted to partner with CURO in sharing student accomplishments.”
The annual CURO Symposium showcases the scope and quality of undergraduate research at UGA. After two years in a virtual format, this year’s event will take place in person at the Classic Center in downtown Athens and will feature more than 500 students presenting over 450 talks and posters.
“It’s exciting to see such a large diversity of projects that have the support and mentorship from several faculty and graduate students in Odum,” said Amanda Rugenski, undergraduate program coordinator and lecturer in the Odum School, who served as a mentor to five ecology students who will present their work at this year’s symposium. “For me, it has been a truly rewarding and fantastic experience working with our undergraduates on research projects in Costa Rica. Our students develop valuable skills, seeing themselves as ecologists asking questions and addressing ecological problems.”
Oral presentations take place on Monday from 10:20 AM to 2:40 PM and Tuesday from 9:35 AM to 5:10 PM. A keynote address by Vice President for Research Karen Burg and the CURO awards ceremony will be held from 3:00 to 4:00 PM in Athena Room E, followed by the poster session and reception in the Grand Hall.
UGA buses marked “Special Event” with a “CURO Symposium” sign in the front window will run on a loop to the Classic Center with stops at the Georgia Center, the Tate Student Center and the Arch. Paid parking (not free) is available at the Classic Center.
A facility map of the Classic Center is available at https://classiccenter.com/155/Facility-Map. The complete schedule of presentations is available on the CURO Symposium website.
CURO 2022 Presentations by Ecology Students or Students Mentored by Ecology Faculty or Postdocs
Olivia Allen (BS Ecology)
Poster 143: How will warming affect river food webs and energy flow pathways? Results from a manipulated warming experiment.
Mentor: Dr. Amy D. Rosemond (Odum)
Amitesh Anerao
Poster 133: The Determination of Joro Spider aggression and boldness in comparison to native Georgian spider species
Mentor: Dr. Andy Davis (Odum)
Caroline Anscombe (BS Ecology)
Poster 138: The effect of discharge on leaf litter decomposition in tropical streams
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
Alannah Dodd (BS Ecology) with Hannah Hall
Poster 127: Invasion and Hypoxia: The Interaction Between Negative Ecosystem Dynamics
Mentor: Dr. James E. Byers (Odum)
Taylor English (Ecology minor, Ocean Sciences major)
Poster 126: Investigating Eusociality of Trematodes in Local Pleurocerid Snails
Mentor: Dr. Emlyn J Resetarits (Odum)
Elizabeth Esser (BS Ecology)
Presentation: Tue. 4/5, 3:55-5:10 PM, Room D: Correlation of Dispersal Distance and Population Connectivity in the Coastal Ocean
Dr. James E. Byers (Odum)
Jestin Freeze (BS Ecology)
Poster 135: The Effects of Local and Site-Wide Macroalgae Cover on Ciguatoxic Dinoflagellate Densities Mentor: Dr. Craig W. Osenberg (Odum)
Benjamin Frick (AB Ecology)
Oral presentation Tue. 4/5, 9:35-10:50, Room A: Life History and Genetic Characteristics of Epibiotic Tanaids (Hexapleomera robusta) Associated with Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) off the Georgia Coast
Mentor: Dr. John Wares (Odum and Genetics)
Poster 134: Physiological Evaluation of Newly Invasive Jorō spiders (Trichonephila clavata) in the Southeastern United States Compared to their Naturalized Cousin, Trichonephila clavipesMentor: Dr. Andy Davis (Odum)
Nora Gellona-Wagoner with Margot McLaughlin
Poster 132: Rewilding the Wildlife Pavillion
Mentor: Tyra Byers (Odum)
Ethan Hackmeyer (AB Ecology)
Poster 145: Trialing a Novel Pesticide for Small Hive Beetle Population Control
Mentor: Dr. Keith Delaplane (Entomology)
Alex Hall (BS Ecology)
Oral presentation: Tue. 4/5, 3:55-5:10 PM, Room D: A Photographic Time Machine: Analysis of Archival Coral Reef Imagery and What It Tells Us About Global Anthropogenic Influences over the Last Half Century
Dr. James W. Porter (Odum)
Hannah Hall (Ecology minor, Biology major) with Alannah Dodd
Poster 127: Invasion and Hypoxia: The Interaction Between Negative Ecosystem Dynamics
Mentor: Dr. James E. Byers (Odum)
R. Preston Harden (BS Ecology)
Poster 141: The Effect of Epiphyllous Lichen Cover on Leaf Water Retention
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
Elizabeth Johnson (BS Ecology)
Poster 10: Geospatial Analysis of the Effectiveness of Disruptive Darting on Elephants Around Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Mentor: Dr. Marguerite Madden (Geography)
CJ Jones (BS Ecology)
Poster 131: Structure Use by Invertebrate Communities in the American Southwest
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer (Odum)
Mackenzie Jordan (minor in Ecology, Fisheries and Wildlife major)
Poster 136: Disease Transmission Influenced by Temperature and Host Competency
Mentor: Dr. Alexander Strauss (Odum)
Andrew Mancao (BS Ecology)
Poster 137: Relative Climate Change effects on Interspecific Competition of Daphnia vs. Ceriodaphnia
Mentor: Dr. Alexander Strauss (Odum)
Kailah Massey (AB Ecology)
Poster 142: The Community Effects of Trematode Parasites on Species Interactions
Mentor: Dr. Emlyn J Resetarits (Odum)
Margot McLaughlin with Nora Gellona-Wagoner
Poster 132: Rewilding the Wildlife Pavillion
Mentor: Tyra Byers (Odum)
Tejas Reddy (BS Ecology)
Poster 140: Determining the Abiotic and Biotic Drivers of Decomposition within Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae)
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
Skye Remko (BS Ecology)
Oral presentation: Tue. 4/5, 3:55-5:10 PM, Room D: 4 Years After Tropical Storm Nate: The Recovery of Macroinvertebrate Community Composition in a Neotropical Stream in Costa Rica
Dr. Amanda Rugenski (Odum)
Poster 15: Effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Concentration on the Somatic Embryo Production of American Chestnut via Somatic Embryogenesis
Mentor: Dr. Scott Merkle (Warnell)
Valentina Suarez
Poster 130: Forest Cover and Impervious Surface Affect Mosquito Vector Abundance in Metro-Atlanta
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer (Odum)
Carter E. Watson (BS Ecology)
Oral presentation Tue. 4/5, 9:35-10:50 AM, Room A: The Influence of Parasitism on Movement in a Snail-Trematode System
Mentor: Dr. Emlyn Resetarits (Odum)
Julia Weil (BS Ecology)
Poster 129: Inter-individual Variability in Social Interactions of an Urban-dwelling Wading Bird
Mentor: Dr. Richard John Hall (Odum)
Ally Whiteis (BS Ecology)
Poster 144: Do Decomposers Like It Hot? An Experimental Test of the Effects of Streamwater Warming on Microorganisms
Mentor: Dr. Amy D. Rosemond (Odum)
Cody Whitlock (BS Ecology)
Poster 139: Spider response to varying web disturbance?
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
Jill Wilson (AB Ecology)
Poster 156: Comparing phenological shifts under climate change using historical and observational datasets
Mentor: Dr. Megan DeMarche (Plant Biology)
Isaac Wood (BS Ecology)
Poster 128: Watershed-level drivers of Odonate distribution across an urbanizing region
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps (Odum)
CURO 2022 Ecology Student Presentation Schedule
Monday, April 4
Poster Session
4:00-6:00 PM, Grand Hall
Elizabeth Johnson (BS Ecology)
Poster 10: Geospatial Analysis of the Effectiveness of Disruptive Darting on Elephants Around Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Mentor: Dr. Marguerite Madden (Geography)
Skye Remko (BS Ecology)
Poster 15: Effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Concentration on the Somatic Embryo Production of American Chestnut via Somatic Embryogenesis
Mentor: Dr. Scott Merkle (Warnell)
Taylor English (Ecology minor, Ocean Sciences major)
Poster 126: Investigating Eusociality of Trematodes in Local Pleurocerid Snails
Mentor: Dr. Emlyn J Resetarits (Odum)
Hannah Hall (Ecology minor, Biology major) with Alannah Dodd (BS Ecology)
Poster 127: Invasion and Hypoxia: The Interaction Between Negative Ecosystem Dynamics
Mentor: Dr. James E. Byers (Odum)
Isaac Wood (BS Ecology)
Poster 128: Watershed-level drivers of Odonate distribution across an urbanizing region
Mentor: Dr. Krista Capps (Odum)
Julia Weil (BS Ecology)
Poster 129: Inter-individual Variability in Social Interactions of an Urban-dwelling Wading Bird
Mentor: Dr. Richard John Hall (Odum)
Valentina Suarez
Poster 130: Forest Cover and Impervious Surface Affect Mosquito Vector Abundance in Metro-Atlanta
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer (Odum)
CJ Jones (BS Ecology)
Poster 131: Structure Use by Invertebrate Communities in the American Southwest
Mentor: Dr. Sonia Altizer (Odum)
Nora Gellona-Wagoner with Margot McLaughlin
Poster 132: Rewilding the Wildlife Pavillion
Mentor: Tyra Byers (Odum)
Amitesh Anerao
Poster 133: The Determination of Joro Spider aggression and boldness in comparison to native Georgian spider species
Mentor: Dr. Andy Davis (Odum)
Benjamin Frick (AB Ecology)
Poster 134: Physiological Evaluation of Newly Invasive Jorō spiders (Trichonephila clavata) in the Southeastern United States Compared to their Naturalized Cousin, Trichonephila clavipesMentor: Dr. Andy Davis (Odum)
Jestin Freeze (BS Ecology)
Poster 135: The Effects of Local and Site-Wide Macroalgae Cover on Ciguatoxic Dinoflagellate Densities Mentor: Dr. Craig W. Osenberg (Odum)
Mackenzie Jordan (minor in Ecology, Fisheries and Wildlife major)
Poster 136: Disease Transmission Influenced by Temperature and Host Competency
Mentor: Dr. Alexander Strauss (Odum)
Andrew Mancao (BS Ecology)
Poster 137: Relative Climate Change effects on Interspecific Competition of Daphnia vs. Ceriodaphnia
Mentor: Dr. Alexander Strauss (Odum)
Caroline Anscombe (BS Ecology)
Poster 138: The effect of discharge on leaf litter decomposition in tropical streams
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
Cody Whitlock (BS Ecology)
Poster 139: Spider response to varying web disturbance?
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
Tejas Reddy (BS Ecology)
Poster 140: Determining the Abiotic and Biotic Drivers of Decomposition within Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae)
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
R. Preston Harden (BS Ecology)
Poster 141: The Effect of Epiphyllous Lichen Cover on Leaf Water Retention
Mentor: Dr. Amanda T. Rugenski (Odum)
Kailah Massey (AB Ecology)
Poster 142: The Community Effects of Trematode Parasites on Species Interactions
Mentor: Dr. Emlyn J Resetarits (Odum)
Olivia Allen (BS Ecology)
Poster 143: How will warming affect river food webs and energy flow pathways? Results from a manipulated warming experiment.
Mentor: Dr. Amy D. Rosemond (Odum)
Ally Whiteis (BS Ecology)
Poster 144: Do Decomposers Like It Hot? An Experimental Test of the Effects of Streamwater Warming on Microorganisms
Mentor: Dr. Amy D. Rosemond (Odum)
Ethan Hackmeyer (AB Ecology)
Poster 145: Trialing a Novel Pesticide for Small Hive Beetle Population Control
Mentor: Dr. Keith Delaplane (Entomology)
Jill Wilson (AB Ecology)
Poster 156: Comparing phenological shifts under climate change using historical and observational datasets
Mentor: Dr. Megan DeMarche (Plant Biology)
Tuesday, April 5
Oral Presentations
9:35-10:50 AM, Room A
Benjamin Frick (AB Ecology)
Life History and Genetic Characteristics of Epibiotic Tanaids (Hexapleomera robusta) Associated with Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) off the Georgia Coast
Mentor: Dr. John Wares (Odum and Genetics)
9:35-10:50 AM, Room A
Carter E. Watson (BS Ecology)
The Influence of Parasitism on Movement in a Snail-Trematode System
Mentor: Dr. Emlyn Resetarits (Odum)
3:55-5:10 PM, Room D
Skye Remko (BS Ecology)
4 Years After Tropical Storm Nate: The Recovery of Macroinvertebrate Community Composition in a Neotropical Stream in Costa Rica
Dr. Amanda Rugenski (Odum)
3:55-5:10 PM, Room D
Elizabeth Esser (BS Ecology)
Correlation of Dispersal Distance and Population Connectivity in the Coastal Ocean
Dr. James E. Byers (Odum)
3:55-5:10 PM, Room D
Alex Hall (BS Ecology)
A Photographic Time Machine: Analysis of Archival Coral Reef Imagery and What It Tells Us About Global Anthropogenic Influences over the Last Half Century
Dr. James W. Porter (Odum)