Three Hamilton students are helping Associate Professor of Biology William Pfitsch and Leonard C. Ferguson Professor of Biology Ernest Williams continue their extensive research on the effect of tree removal on wild Lupine butterfly populations in the Rome sand plain this summer as summer science students. Veteran researchers Heather Michael '07 (Red Hook, N.Y.), Megan Malone '06 (Guilford, Conn.) and Max Falkoff '08 (Stamford, Conn.) are working together to study the lupine and butterfly population in the nearby Rome Sand plain. Their project is titled "Butterfly Oviposition and Habitat Management."
The Rome Sand plains boast a population of wild blue lupine- the host plant for the frosted blue elfin butterfly. "The Rome Sand Plains houses a population of Frosted Elfin Butterflies, which are New York State Threatened (which is a step below being Endangered)," Malone explains. Several years ago, trees were removed from the Sand Plains and another property to try to stop the shading out of wild lupine, the host plant of the Frosted Elfin.
"A large part of what [we are] doing this summer is to study and observe the butterflies, which has included finding and measuring the location of eggs and documenting the eating behavior of larvae," Malone explains. The goal of their ongoing project is to expand the lupine population and thus, the range of this rare butterfly, in the area. "The goal of each of these studies is to help in the management of the Rome Sand Plains to maximize the lupine and Frosted Elfin populations there as well as potentially create a habitat suitable for the re-introduction of the Karner Blue butterfly, which is NY State Endangered," she states optimistically.
The students will count and measure the lupine plants in both cleared and non-cleared plots, analyzing how the lupine populations have or have not changed over the course of the last few summers. "Each year a census is done of several established plots to determine the plant community response to the tree removal. We finished this census in June," Malone says.
They are also conducting greenhouse experiments that aim to determine the optimal growing conditions for lupines, examining the necessary levels of pH, nitrogen, and other essential elements. They will be studying Checkerspot butterflies in lab to determine which factors affect its reproduction.
This will be the third summer that Professor Pfitsch and his research students have monitored changes in the lupine population as a result of tree removal. Three summers ago, select white pine trees were removed from the sand plains in hopes that lupines will reestablish themselves in the cleared plots.
Research has been an integral part of Michael's career at Hamilton. "As a freshman, I attended the information session for prospective chemistry/biochemisty majors. At that gathering, the professors each gave a short spiel about their research projects," she explains. She was encouraged by both her academic and premedical advisors to consider researching at Hamilton during the summer months. She followed her faculty advisors' recommendations, and last summer worked in the chemistry department with professor George Shields. "In Shields' lab, I worked on a computational approach to breast cancer drug design. In August, I presented my work at the annual MERCURY symposium in computational chemistry," Michael explains.
Although this is the first time Malone has conducted summer science research, she is no stranger to science at Hamilton. As a biology major, she had taken a class taught by Professor Williams before, and had been interested in the summer projects he described. "I think what really pulled me in, though, was that we would be studying a threatened species. Knowing that the work we would be doing could potentially increase the understanding of this butterfly, as well as help the management of its habitat was really appealing to me," she explains.
Malone hopes to continue this research for her thesis. "I will most likely be expanding on the lab study of the Checkerspot by repeating it with the Pearl Cresent butterfly and increasing the number of variables considered," she says.
Malone, Michael and Falkoff have enjoyed her time researching during the summers at Hamilton. "I love the laid-back social life-living, cooking, and "surviving" together," Michael raves. "The work can be strenuous, but is always thought-provoking and rewarding." They have enjoyed the work in the lab, but have also found time to enjoy her summer vacation. "Without homework there is always time for a suite dinner, walk in the glen, or game of volleyball," Malone adds.
--by Emily Lemanczyk '05
The Rome Sand plains boast a population of wild blue lupine- the host plant for the frosted blue elfin butterfly. "The Rome Sand Plains houses a population of Frosted Elfin Butterflies, which are New York State Threatened (which is a step below being Endangered)," Malone explains. Several years ago, trees were removed from the Sand Plains and another property to try to stop the shading out of wild lupine, the host plant of the Frosted Elfin.
"A large part of what [we are] doing this summer is to study and observe the butterflies, which has included finding and measuring the location of eggs and documenting the eating behavior of larvae," Malone explains. The goal of their ongoing project is to expand the lupine population and thus, the range of this rare butterfly, in the area. "The goal of each of these studies is to help in the management of the Rome Sand Plains to maximize the lupine and Frosted Elfin populations there as well as potentially create a habitat suitable for the re-introduction of the Karner Blue butterfly, which is NY State Endangered," she states optimistically.
The students will count and measure the lupine plants in both cleared and non-cleared plots, analyzing how the lupine populations have or have not changed over the course of the last few summers. "Each year a census is done of several established plots to determine the plant community response to the tree removal. We finished this census in June," Malone says.
They are also conducting greenhouse experiments that aim to determine the optimal growing conditions for lupines, examining the necessary levels of pH, nitrogen, and other essential elements. They will be studying Checkerspot butterflies in lab to determine which factors affect its reproduction.
This will be the third summer that Professor Pfitsch and his research students have monitored changes in the lupine population as a result of tree removal. Three summers ago, select white pine trees were removed from the sand plains in hopes that lupines will reestablish themselves in the cleared plots.
Research has been an integral part of Michael's career at Hamilton. "As a freshman, I attended the information session for prospective chemistry/biochemisty majors. At that gathering, the professors each gave a short spiel about their research projects," she explains. She was encouraged by both her academic and premedical advisors to consider researching at Hamilton during the summer months. She followed her faculty advisors' recommendations, and last summer worked in the chemistry department with professor George Shields. "In Shields' lab, I worked on a computational approach to breast cancer drug design. In August, I presented my work at the annual MERCURY symposium in computational chemistry," Michael explains.
Although this is the first time Malone has conducted summer science research, she is no stranger to science at Hamilton. As a biology major, she had taken a class taught by Professor Williams before, and had been interested in the summer projects he described. "I think what really pulled me in, though, was that we would be studying a threatened species. Knowing that the work we would be doing could potentially increase the understanding of this butterfly, as well as help the management of its habitat was really appealing to me," she explains.
Malone hopes to continue this research for her thesis. "I will most likely be expanding on the lab study of the Checkerspot by repeating it with the Pearl Cresent butterfly and increasing the number of variables considered," she says.
Malone, Michael and Falkoff have enjoyed her time researching during the summers at Hamilton. "I love the laid-back social life-living, cooking, and "surviving" together," Michael raves. "The work can be strenuous, but is always thought-provoking and rewarding." They have enjoyed the work in the lab, but have also found time to enjoy her summer vacation. "Without homework there is always time for a suite dinner, walk in the glen, or game of volleyball," Malone adds.
--by Emily Lemanczyk '05
