ESU Biology Graduate Students Present at Conferences, Win Awards

Posted by: admin on May 12, 2015, No Comments

Two graduate students of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s biology department attended conferences this semester, and they did not come back empty handed. Megan Napoli and Stefani Cannon won the best student presentation at the conferences they attended.

Megan Napoli presented results of her thesis research on “A Comparison of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation Levels and Acadian Flycatcher Reproductive Success in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Delaware State Forest” at the 70th Annual Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference held in Portland, Maine. She won the award for best presentation out of nearly 130 students presenting. Megan began her master’s thesis program, supervised by Terry Master, Ph.D., biological sciences professor and graduate coordinator, in fall of 2012.

Her research, supported in part by a Faculty Development Research (FDR) grant, documented the response of the Acadian Flycatcher, an Eastern Hemlock-dependent songbird, to the ongoing decimation of hemlocks by the invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid insect. Their response may be predictive as to how other hemlock-dependent songbirds will cope with the demise of the Eastern Hemlock. She has also, for the first time, documented a shift in nesting preference to deciduous trees at one of her study sites suggesting that the Acadian Flycatcher may have the ability to adapt to its changing environment. She came to ESU from the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry located at Syracuse University. She hopes to obtain employment in wildlife research.

Stefani Cannon began her master’s thesis program, supervised by Thomas LaDuke, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences, in fall of 2013. She presented results from her thesis research, “Niche Partitioning by Shelter Site Selection in Lowland Tropical Treefrogs of Northeastern Costa Rica” at the Pennsylvania Academy of Science Meeting held at Lebanon Valley College. She won the award for the top graduate student presentation out of 70 students presenting at that conference.

Her research, supported in part by grants from the Pennsylvania Academy of Science and the Council of Pennsylvania University Biologists, focuses on use of curled/unfurling leaves as shelter sites for various frog species in Costa Rica. These sites are important areas for resting and for protection from predators, and thus, frogs may compete for them. There has been no previous research on this important aspect of frog ecology and behavior. Stefani is originally from New Hope, Pa. and came to ESU from Bloomsburg University where she graduated with a B.S. in environmental biology. She is continuing her research this summer and plans to graduate from ESU in spring of 2016.

“Their accomplishments are impressive and characteristic of the enthusiastic and talented group of graduate students conducting original research in the department of biological sciences under the supervision of biology faculty dedicated to providing their students with top-notch, original research experiences,” Dr. Master said.

For more information contact Dr. Master at 570-422-3709, or tmaster@esu.edu