Sudeep Ghimire and Dr. Craig Coleman, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences Bromus tectorum, commonly called cheatgrass or downy brome is an exotic annual invasive weed which was introduced to the western United States over hundred years ago. B. tectorum has quickly expanded its range, displacing native flora and causing extensive loss of shrub and […]
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Laser-Induced Fluorescence of NO2
Joseph Mosley and Dr. Jaron Hansen, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The effects of water vapor on the kinetics and product branching ratio of the reaction of organic peroxy radicals (RO2) with nitrous oxide are under investigation. Hyrdrocarbon combustion produces organic peroxy radicals which then react with NO to form NO2 or organic nitrates (RONO2). […]
Parameter Estimation Using a Continuous, Differentiable and Asymmetric Penalized Likelihood Function
Brian Holt and Dr. Dennis Tolley, Department of Statistics Per the original ORCA proposal, work has been done to estimate relative amounts of compounds from GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) data using an asymmetric penalized likelihood function. The initial results of this project were presented at the CPMS Student Research Conference in March of this year1. […]
The Effects of Daidumene lineata on the Intertidal Rock Pools
Preston Wilson and Professor Russell Rader, Department of Biology My experiment was to test the effect Diadumene lineata has on the marine life of the intertidal rock pools in the northwest. However, due to unfortunate circumstances there were not any Diadumene Lineata in the area of Coos Bay, Oregon. After discovering that they did not exist […]
Estimating Pinyon and Juniper Tree Cover Across Utah Using NAIP Imagery
Darrell Roundy and Dr. Steven Petersen, Department of Plant and Wildlife Science Pinyon and juniper (pj) encroachment is an ecological problem in the western United States. As these species expand they replace valuable sagebrush and grassland communities decreasing forage for livestock and wildlife, reducing habitat for multiple sagebrush obligate species and increasing fuel loads that […]
Polyomavirus Phylogenetics in Relation to Host Switches
David Morris and Dr. Keith Crandall, Department of Biology Evolutionary Biology is not a branch of biology that spends much time in the public eye. It just doesn’t have flashy results like cloning or evocative naturalist documentaries to captivate the imagination. However, this doesn’t mean that evolutionary biology is any less essential to our understanding […]
The Effect of Male Dominance on Female Mate Choice in Poecilia gillii
Michael McEntire and Dr. Jerald Johnson, Department of Biology Research Summary Female mate choice (intersexual selection) and male dominance interactions (intrasexual selection) can each play important roles in sexual selection. These two mechanisms tend to be discussed in isolation. The goal of this study is to explore the interaction between these two forms of sexual […]
Novel and Integrative Approaches to Articulating the Pancrustacean Tree of Life
Alan Colver and Dr. Keith Crandall, Department of Biology The taxonomic group Pancrustacea encompasses more than half of the world species. The two main groups within Pancrustacea are the crustaceans and hexapods (insects). Understanding these two groups will aid in preservation, population control, and economic pursuits involving these groups. In our evolutionary analysis, six different […]
Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Old-Growth Cross Timbers Forest
Warren Chatwin and Dr. Leigh Johnson, Department of Biology My project “Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Old-Growth Cross Timbers Forest” has been undoubtedly the best learning experience of my undergraduate career. The project did not go at all like I had planned, but it gave me a taste of realworld scientific exploration and allowed me […]
Oxytocin, or “Cuddle Hormone” Genotype in Titi Monkeys
Hannah Page and Dr. Dee Higley, Department of Psychology I used my ORCA grant to attend ASP, go on an internship at the CNPRC, and pursue research involving the oxytocin, or “cuddle hormone” genotype in titi monkeys. ASP is the American Society of Primatologists, and has a conference each year. I was able to attend […]