Tony Kusbach (PhD graduate student of Jim Long) was honored as having given the best student presentation in the Ecosystem Classification session of the 2009 North American Forest Ecology Workshop.
Ritchie Gardner -- Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher
Winner of Peak Prize awarded at Undergraduate Research Day
March 31, 2009
(left to right: Johan du Toit, Ritchie Gardner, Joyce Kinkead, Brent Miller)
Natural Resources student Richie Gardner has been involved in undergraduate research since he was a sophomore. Initially, his research involved freshwater mussels in several states. He has also been involved in studying Phragmites, an invasive reed, where he was responsible for setting up an extensive green house experiment comparing the growth of native and invasive strains of the reed in Utah. Recently, Gardner has been involved in several projects related to aspen population genetics, and during the summer of 2008 he supervised a crew of other students sampling aspen leaves in a remote part of Utah. "Research has been hugely important," said Gardner. "I've put the research together from beginning to end by writing grants and collaborating with others, including graduate students and faculty at the University of Wisconsin." Gardner's research all earned him a third-place poster at the Wildlife Society 44th annual Western Student Conclave, held March 6-9, 2009.
* * * * *
2008-09 WILDLAND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD
Dustin Ranglack
Dustin Ranglack graduated from the Department of Wildland Resources Fall Semester 2008. He majored in wildlife science and was involved in the conservation and management of large carnivores. Dustin served as the 2008 President of the student Berryman Institute and was active in both the Range and Wildlife Clubs. He was a CNR Ambassador, Peer Advisor and Undergraduate Teaching Fellows. While at Utah State, his employment included working with Mike Wolfe on Mountain Lion Research and Black Bear Research with John Shivik. Dustin is currently employed with the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Montana doing research on lynx. Dustin enjoys fly fishing, shooting, hunting, hiking, camping, and just being outside. Ten years from now, Dustin hopes to be conducting a long-term research study on multiple carnivore species, their interactions, and individual vs. cumulative effects on the ecosystem.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR
David Dahlgren
Congratulations to Dave Dahlgren, who has been selected as CNR's Graduate Research Assistant of the Year. He was nominated by Dr. Terry A. Messmer and selected by the CNR Graduate Affairs Committee. At a college level, this means that he will be acknowledged at the CNR awards banquet, will have his name and photo on a plaque in the atrium and he'll receive a $250.00 cash award. His nomination will go forward to the University-wide Robins Award competition.
David Dahlgren is a PhD student in Wildlife Sciences who exemplifies all that we hope for in a young researcher. He conducts research on habitat needs of the Greater Sage Grouse, a species of concern in the intermountain west. As such he has published his results, and has presented his findings at professional meetings. David’s work is unusual for a grad student, however, because it also has serious implications to how ranchers and agencies such as the BLM manage their lands. This is an area that can be extremely contentious, but David has worked with local working groups to use his research results to find win-win solutions for ranchers and for the Sage grouse. This is sophisticated work and requires a different type of skill than field-based research. Clearly David has the ability to work effectively and with solid results in both these arenas. David’s research also has resulted in some impressive and measurable benefits. The Greater Sage Grouse chick survival has increased in the Parker Mountain area, resulting in populations increasing 10 fold over the last 7 years. This approach is being used as a role model by other local working groups. One recognition of the value of David’s work is his appointment by Governor Huntsman to serve as a research expert on a team that is rewriting Utah’s management approach for this species. Rarely do graduate students get appointed to serve in this capacity.
SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR
UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING FELLOW OF THE YEAR
Kelly Sivy
Kelly has served as an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow in both ENVS 3600--Living with Wildlife (Spring 2007) and WILD 2200--Ecology of Our World (Spring 2009). In addition to helping with classes and holding regular office hours, she prepared study guides for WILD 2200 and helped coordinate student service-learning projects in ENVS 3600. She also serves on the local Committee that is organizing The Wildlife Society’s (TWS) 2009 Western Student Conclave that will be hosted at USU during Spring Break this year. For the last three years, Kelly has conducted research on the Kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii. The ultimate success of any species depends upon two main activities of individuals: successful survival and reproduction. Reproduction, in turn, depends upon the ability to acquire sufficient calories and nutrients to satisfy the needs of the adult as well as to produce viable offspring. For granivores such as Dipodomys, this entails selecting seeds of high nutritional value while avoiding predators. Obviously, the time spent searching for, identifying and choosing the most advantageous seed types (food) can put an individual Kangaroo rat at risk of being eaten (becoming food!). Kelly’s research exploring the relationship between seed preferences and risk of predation will result in a manuscript being submitted to the journal Functional Ecology, a refereed research journal of the British Ecological Society.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR
Richard Gardner
Richie Gardner has been involved in undergraduate research since he was a sophomore. Initially, he assisted with a project involving freshwater mussels in several states. Richie was part of a field crew working for the Umatilla Indian Tribe in Oregon, and he quickly became one of the core project members. He obtained SCUBA certification to enable more extensive sampling in deep water, improved the project collection protocols, and attended to a plethora of details with respect to equipment and vehicles. Following the mussel work, Richie was involved in a project on Phragmites, an invasive reed. Richie was responsible for setting up an extensive greenhouse experiment comparing the growth of native and invasive strains of the reed in Utah. During this project, Richie again showed a remarkable ability to work meticulously and independently. A manuscript on this project is currently in preparation. Most recently, Richie has been involved in several projects related to aspen population genetics. He has continued to demonstrate extraordinary field skills, practical know-how, and leadership abilities. During the summer of 2008 Richie supervised a crew of other students (including graduate students) sampling aspen leaves in a remote part of Utah. While working on this project, Richie really began to function more as a professional collaborator than a technician, refining field protocols, managing databases, and discussing future projects. This past summer, Richie designed and obtained funding for his own undergraduate research project, involving a collaborator at the University of Wisconsin and a USU graduate student. The objective of the project is to determine whether there is a tradeoff in aspen clones between growth and phytochemical protection against herbivory. This project is currently underway, but Richie has already presented his preliminary results in a poster and this spring will be preparing a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
LEGACY OF UTAH
Corrie Wallace
Throughout her time at Utah State University and in the College of Natural Resources, Corrie has been highly involved and dedicated to the University and her field of study. She has been involved with student organizations of the American Fisheries Society, the Society of Range Management, and the American Foresters. Corrie has continually been involved with the Wildlife Society and the Berryman Institute, as well as attending many professional conferences and competitions. Corrie represents the spirit of Utah State University as she has resiliently persevered through adversity in order to improve her mind, skills and opportunities through continued higher education. Her efforts are not asserted selfishly, but with being a single parent of two girls, Corrie understands the necessity of service in society and setting an example of citizenship to the rising generation. This is displayed through Corrie’s involvement in numerous volunteer and service projects with the Utah Division of Widlife Resources, the Teton Science School in Jackson, WY, Kiabab National Forest, AZ, and many more. Corrie is a mainstay within the College of Natural Resources. She is a tremendous supporter of all the clubs and student organizations, and she is a dependable participant and trusted leader. Her admirable qualities and education from Utah State University will set her apart as a unique individual.
* * * * *
Dylan Brown
Congratulations to Dylan Brown (MS student advised by Michael Conover) who received a $2,500 scholarship from the African Safari Club of Florida.
Michael Haney
Congratulations to Michael Haney (MS student advised by Michael Conover) who received a $2,500 scholarship from the African Safari Club of Florida.
* * * * *
Craig Fackrell
Congratulations to Craig Fackrell (senior, Wildlife Science) who was awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Utah Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Craig earned the award by writing an essay discussing the challenges and opportunities for the future of wildlife management. Essays were judged based on original, in-depth reasoning. He received his scholarship at the UTCTWS Annual Awards Banquet on March 13, 2009 with over 150 wildlife professionals and fellow students in attendance.
* * * * *
College of Natural Resources Honors Top Scholars
* * * * *
David Stoner
Congratulations to David Stoner for being selected as the Stokes-Leopold Scholar for the 2009-2010 academic year. The competition for this award was stiff but the reviewers selected David on the basis of the progress he has made with his PhD, his strong letters of endorsement, and the list of peer-reviewed publications he already has in print.
* * * * *
USU Quinney Scholars Capture Top Awards at Wildlife Conclave
* * * * *
Craig Ogden, Lowell Gardner, Jamin Johanson, Garth Nelson, and Makeda Trujillo
Congratulations to our student's performances at the SRM annual meeting last week (February 9-13, 2009, Albuquerque, New Mexico):
Students were also very active in the undergraduate Student Conclave, seeking jobs through the employment service, and otherwise taking advantage of attendance at the Society meeting.
These 20 undergraduate students represented the Department, College and University very well. Congratulations to everyone who participated.
* * * * *
On Thursday, November 6, 2008 our Forestry Club fielded a team in the Student Quiz Bowl competition at the annual conference of the Society of American Foresters, in Reno, Nevada. They took FIRST PLACE.
Quiz Bowl Team and Advisors:
first row: Seth Ex, Richie Gardner, Peter Howard, Crest Simeon
second row: Jim Long, Matt Lewis, Rachel Pyles, Jeremiah Armentrout, Terry Sharik
|
|
|
Left to right: Rachel Pyles, Crest Simeon, Seth Ex, Jim Long (advisor), Peter Howard, Jeremiah Armentrout,Terry Sharik (advisor), Matt Lewis, Richie Gardner |
* * * * *
Our Range Plant Team consisting of Jamin Johanson, Spencer Ellis, Lowell Gardner, and Garth Nelson took 2nd place at the state Society of Range Management meeting in Provo, Utah. In addition, Jamin Johanson was the highest overall individual scorer. Further information on the USU Range Club...
|
|
|
|
Second Place Winners -- Plant Team Lowell Gardner, Garth Nelson, Jamin Johansen, and Spencer Ellis |
Lowell, Garth, Jamin and Spencer |
|
|
Jamin and BYU representative |
|
Jamin Johanson, highest score overall |
|
* * * * *
Christina Olson, Graduate Student Wildland Resources, Jan Summerhays, Graduate Student Wildland Resources, and Luke Zachmann, Graduate Student Wildland Resources Receive Scholarships and Fellowships
* * * * *
USU Graduate Students Receive CIBR Student Grants
Gary Howes, MS student, (Karen Mock -- advisor)