Senior Theses
The undergraduate summer internship program allows Environmental Biology majors to conduct original research under the supervision of the department's extensive core, adjunct and affiliate faculty. Most often, students do real fieldwork, collecting data for their senior theses. The Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) provides funding for interns.
Internships are required for undergraduate majors in Environmental Biology who have completed their junior year. They are open ONLY to Environmental Biology majors. (Sorry, neither CERC nor E3B provides internship opportunities to students from other universities!)
2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008
2007
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
Mentor's Affiliation |
| Blanas, Demetri |
Shifting Agriculuture and Pterocarpus erinaceousin Southeastern Senegal |
Matthew Palmer |
Charles Peters |
NYBG |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Craig, Elizabeth |
An Assessment of the Impacts of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) on New York Harbor Island Habitats |
Matthew Palmer |
Susan Elbin, James Danoff-Burg |
Wildlife Trust, CU |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Jimenez, Violeta |
Inferences on the Basis of Culex pipiens Biting Preferences andTheir Effects on West Nile Virus Transmission |
Brian Mailloux |
A. Marm Kilpatrick |
Wildlife Trust |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Smith, Stephanie |
Assessing the Acclimation of Rehabilitated Orphaned andCaptive-born Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)Released Into the Wild |
Matthew Palmer |
James Powell, Monica Ross |
Wildlife Trust |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Speed, Cymone |
Assessing vitamin A levels in invertebrates used as food bycaptive aerial insectivores, specifically bee-eaters |
Brian Mailloux |
Christine Sheppard |
WCS |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Taylor, Kathryn |
The Influence of Substrate Composition an dHabitat Complexity on Artificial Reef Communities in the Dominican Republic |
Matthew Palmer |
James Danoff-Burg |
CU |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Woodley, Michael |
Microbial ecology of bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis patients |
Matthew Palmer |
Kenneth Bruce |
King's College |
top
2006
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
| Dushane, Jennifer |
First description of a bottlenose dolphin population in Antongil Bay, Madagascar |
Brian Mailloux |
Salvatore Cerchio |
| |
|
|
|
| Foster, Matthew |
Wolbachia infections in North American & Costa Rican Lepidoptera |
Chris Scholz |
Rob DeSalle |
| |
|
|
|
| GnanaDev, Yamuna |
Impace of Artifical Reefs on Algae Biodiversity in nearshore lagoons in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
Brian Mailloux |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Gregier, Joel |
The effects of seasonal change and group size on the feedingbehavior of Rhynchopsitta terrisi at clay licks |
Matthew Palmer |
Sonia Ortiz |
| |
|
|
|
| Haeckel, Ingrid |
Firewood use, supply, and harvesting impact in cloud forestsof central Veracruz, Mexico |
Matthew Palmer |
Charles Peters |
| |
|
|
|
| Hawrysz, Alexa |
Automated Sprecies Identification of Bees |
Matthew Palmer |
Kimberly Russell |
| |
|
|
|
| Jimenez-Fabian, Fausto |
The effects of environmental sensitivity in Punta Cana on terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity |
Chris Scholz |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Mason, Sona |
Scramble competition in a social mammal: group size,travel costs and social hierarchies in blue monkeys |
Matthew Palmer |
Marina Cords |
| |
|
|
|
| Mulholland-Olson, Caitlin |
A Predictive Macroalgae Habitat Model, Great Exuma, the Bahamas |
Matthew Palmer |
Daniel Brumbaugh |
| |
|
|
|
| Padula, Veronica |
Health Assessment of Black-crowned Night Heronsin New York Harbor Estuary |
Brian Mailloux |
Scott Newman |
| |
|
|
|
| Ronen, Maskit |
Relationship of understory vegetation, tree regeneration, and soil composition to stand age in Black Rock Forest |
Matthew Palmer |
William Schuster |
| |
|
|
|
| Silverstein, Rachel |
Latitudinal patterns in algal symbiont community structure inreef-building corals from Western Australia |
Matthew Palmer |
Andrew Baker |
| |
|
|
|
| Venner, Laura |
Enrichment Program Implementation to Modify StereotypicBehavior of Captive Polar Bears at the Central Park Zoo |
Stephanie Pfirman |
Yula Kapetanakos |
| |
|
|
|
| Warren, Lindsay |
Predicting Malaria Risk Using Climate Parameters |
Cris Scholz |
Lareef Zubair |
| |
|
|
|
top
2005
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
| Boretsky, Kyle |
Plant and Algal Community Structure on Artificial Reef Structures |
James Danof-Burg |
James Danof-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| DiLorenzo, Michael |
Effect of increased Nitrogen and Phosphorous concentrations onalgae growth on coral reefs in Glover's Reef, Belize |
Gareth Russell |
Tim McClanahan |
| |
|
|
|
| Konecky, Bronwen |
The Distribution of High-Altitude Amphibian Populations in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru |
Gareth Russell |
Tracie Seimon |
| |
|
|
|
| Moffitt, Lena |
Impact of Artificial Reefs on Fish Community Assemblage inthe Dominican Republic |
James Danoff-Burg |
Chris Scholz |
| |
|
|
|
| Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel |
Horticulture in Lenape Native American Diet and its Impact on the "Manahatta" Landscape Ecology |
Martin Stute |
Eric Sanderson |
| |
|
|
|
| Simpson, Scott |
Kinship Bias in the Socail Behavior of Adult Female Blue Monkeys(Cercophithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in the Kakemega Forest, Kenya |
Gareth Russell |
Marina Cords |
| |
|
|
|
| Staver, Carla |
Fruit fly (Drosophila, Drosophilidae, Diptera) and tropical rainforestassociations, Madre de Dios, Peru |
Gareth Russell |
David Grimaldi |
top
2004
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
| Baranetsky, Christina |
Ecosystem Modeling: A Historic Reconstruction of the Sherman CreekWetland Area c. 1609 |
Don Melnick |
Eric Sanderson |
| |
|
|
|
| Bean, Timothy |
What Made the Harlem Plains a Grassland? Computer Modeling for Historical Ecology of an Urban Environment |
Don Melnick |
Eric Sanderson |
| |
|
|
|
| Cabezas, Brian |
Impact of Artificial Reef Introduction on Seagrass Bed Fish Community Composition |
Don Melnick |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Chmura, Aleksei |
Two New Potential Natural Reservoirs for Nipah Virus: Cynopterusbrachyotis and Eonycteris spelaea |
Don Melnick |
Pter Daszak |
| |
|
|
|
| Gluzberg, Yekaterina |
Qualitative risk assessment of the main pathways by which West Nile virus can potentially be introduced into Hawaii |
Don Melnick |
Jeff Burgett |
| |
|
|
|
| Greenfield, Ben |
Agonistic Behavior of the Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Polyplectron emphanum |
Don Melnick |
John Rowden |
| |
|
|
|
| Hoyt, Emma |
Carbon in Coarse Woody Debris on the Long-term Plots of Black RockForest, Cornwall, NY |
Don Melnick |
Peter Bower |
| |
|
|
|
| Maynard, Ryan |
Increased Algal Growth Due to Decreased Urchin Herbivory |
Don Melnick |
Tim McClanahan |
| |
|
|
|
| Pashmakova, Medora |
Analysis of Sterotypical Swimming Patterns of Captive Pacific Walruses(Odobenus rosmarus divergens) |
Don Melnick |
Diana Reiss |
| |
|
|
|
| Neugarten, Rachel |
The effect of environmental education on knowledge and attitudes of children on Margarita Island, Venezuela |
Don Melnick |
Kathryn Rodriguez-Clark |
| |
|
|
|
| Turza, Lauren |
Molecular Phylogenetics and Molecular Evolution of the Alcohol Dehydrogenase A (AdhA) Gene in the Palms |
Don Melnick |
William Hahn |
| |
|
|
|
| Seidman, Emily |
The effect of water flow rate on the growth and diversity of coral and marcoalge on patch reefs in Glover's Reef, Belize |
Don Melnick |
Tim McClanahan |
| |
|
|
|
| Vickerman, Elizabeth |
The Behavioral Effects of Uropygial Gland Malfunction in Two Species of Captive Penguins, Pygoscelis papua and Pygoscelis antarctica |
Don Melnick |
John Rowden |
top
2003
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
| Glatt, Batsheva |
Foraging Behavior and Whole Prey Nutritional Analysis for the American American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) |
|
Ellen Dierenfeld |
| |
| Hayden, James |
Species Composition of Moths in Three Maine Habitats: Salt Marsh, Pine Barren, and Mixed Forest, With Estimates of Habitat Similarity, Emergence Rate, and Weather-Dependent Mobility |
William Hahn |
David Grimaldi |
| |
|
|
|
| Hemond, Elizabeth |
A Study of Fish Diversity in a Coral Reef Community Andros Island, the Bahamas |
William Hahn |
Kate Holmes |
| |
|
|
|
| Osei-Agyemang, Mimi |
An Investigation of Xanthones as Anti-malarial and Anti-Leishmanial Agents |
William Hahn |
Michael Riscoe |
| |
|
|
|
| Pietri, Diana |
The Interactve Role of Inorganic and Organic Nutrients in Controlling Coral Health and Bioeroding in Algal Communities |
William Hahn |
Tim McClanahan |
| |
|
|
|
| Sheppard, Jacob |
The effect of invasive Argentine ants on the herbivorous arthropod community of Dubautia menziesii in Haleakala National Park, Maui |
William Hahn |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Smith, Amelia |
Venezuela's Fisheries Since the Economic Crisis of 1983: HowSustainable Are They |
William Hahn |
Jon Paul Rodriguez |
| |
|
|
|
| Yackulic, Charles |
The Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Biochemistry and Growthof Plants Growing in the Desert |
Kevin Griffin |
Charles Cockell |
top
2002
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
| Bryant, Emily |
Habitat Characteristics Associated with Green Sturgeon, Acipensermedirostris, in the Rogue River, Oregon |
|
Danial Erickson |
| |
|
|
|
| DiBlasi, Catherine |
Bedotia Freshwater Fish of Madagascar-Examintion of theNortheastern "spotted" subclade |
William Hahn |
Malanie Stiassny |
| |
|
|
|
| Engelberg, Emilia |
Effects of Researcher Visitation on Depredation of Bird Nests |
William Hahn |
Eduardo Santan Castellon |
| |
|
|
|
| Barranco, Angela |
Measuring abundance of the Pontoporia blainvillei in BahiaSan Blas, Argentina |
William Hahn |
Pablo Bordino |
| |
|
|
|
| Lindsay, Kevel |
Plant Herbivore and Parasitoid Wasp Richness and Abundance Relationships in Fragmented Habitats in New York CityCommunity Gardens |
William Hahn |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Ross, Katie |
Scramble Comptetion in Blue Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) in theKakamega Forest, Kenya |
William Hahn |
Marina Cords |
| |
|
|
|
| Stacks, Lauren |
Trophic Interactions Among Plants, Pests and Parasitoids in New York City Community Gardens |
William Hahn |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Van Bers, Carina |
Conservation of Flying Foxes in Cambodia: An Analysis of PreliminaryData from a Study on a Mixed Roost of Pteropus vampyrus and Pteropus lylei in Phnom Penh |
William Hahn |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Walsh, Catherine |
Home Range dynamics of the Maroon-Fronted Parrot (Ryhnchopsitta terrisi) |
William Hahn |
Claudia Macias |
top
2001
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
| Cokos, Brie |
Coral Reef Degradation in Glovers Reef, Belize: Algal growth and biomass accumulation under experimental control of herbivory, nutrients, and coral abundance on a patch reef |
William Hahn |
Tim McClanahan |
| |
|
|
|
| Goldstein, Leigh |
The Effects of Elevated CO2 and Temperature on Plant Competition |
William Hahn |
Andrew Peterson |
| |
|
|
|
| Goodman, Rachel |
Parsitology and Denning Ecology of Raccons, Procyon lotor,in Black Rock Forest, New York |
William Hahn |
Matthew Gompper |
| |
|
|
|
| Lorr, Benjamin |
Examining the Effects of Epiphyte Removal on the Hydrology of a Shade Coffee Ecosystem |
William Hahn |
Charles Peters |
| |
|
|
Andrea Cruz Angon |
| |
|
|
|
| MacDonald, James |
Observed behavior of wild Franciscana Dolphins (Pontoporia Blainvillei) in the presence of acoustic alarms in Bahia, San Blas, Argentina |
William Hahn |
Pablo Bordino |
| |
|
|
|
| MacFarlane, Alex |
Pollination Syndromes of Six Tropical Nocturnally Flowering Trees |
William Hahn |
Scott Mori |
| |
|
|
|
| Psillides, Despina |
Behavioral Ecology of Two Captive Poplations of the Bee-Eaters,Merops nubicus and Merops albicollis |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Scully, Christina |
The Effects of Human Disturbance on the Vegetation of Kakamega Forest, Kenya |
William Hahn |
Marina Cords |
| |
|
|
|
| Tenzer, Joshua |
The Mismanagement of Water in the Jordan River Basin: The Problems, the Effects, and Some Solutions |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Weitz, Brian |
The Roleof Whale Sharks in Belizean Ecotourism |
William Hahn |
|
top
2000
| Student Name |
Title |
Academic Advisor |
Project Advisor/Mentor |
| Bryant, Emily |
Habitat Characteristics Associated with Green Sturgeon, Acipensermedirostris, in the Rogue River, Oregon |
|
Danial Erickson |
| |
|
|
|
| DiBlasi, Catherine |
Bedotia Freshwater Fish of Madagascar-Examintion of theNortheastern "spotted" subclade |
William Hahn |
Malanie Stiassny |
| |
|
|
|
| Engelberg, Emilia |
Effects of Researcher Visitation on Depredation of Bird Nests |
William Hahn |
Eduardo Santan Castellon |
| |
|
|
|
| Barranco, Angela |
Measuring abundance of the Pontoporia blainvillei in BahiaSan Blas, Argentina |
William Hahn |
Pablo Bordino |
| |
|
|
|
| Lindsay, Kevel |
Plant Herbivore and Parasitoid Wasp Richness and Abundance Relationships in Fragmented Habitats in New York CityCommunity Gardens |
William Hahn |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Ross, Katie |
Scramble Comptetion in Blue Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) in theKakamega Forest, Kenya |
William Hahn |
Marina Cords |
| |
|
|
|
| Stacks, Lauren |
Trophic Interactions Among Plants, Pests and Parasitoids in New York City Community Gardens |
William Hahn |
James Danoff-Burg |
| |
|
|
|
| Van Bers, Carina |
Conservation of Flying Foxes in Cambodia: An Analysis of PreliminaryData from a Study on a Mixed Roost of Pteropus vampyrus and Pteropus lylei in Phnom Penh |
William Hahn |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Walsh, Catherine |
Home Range dynamics of the Maroon-Fronted Parrot (Ryhnchopsitta terrisi) |
William Hahn |
Claudia Macias |
| |
|
|
|
top
|