Survey of introduced parasitoid wasp dispersal, and emerald ash borer infested ash trees, in Oswego, NY
Contact Information
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Karen Sime
Major: Zoology
Research Details
What is the focus of your research and why is it important?
Emerald Ash Borers are invasive beetles that have wrought destruction throughout the Northeastern U.S., killing millions of our native Ash trees. Biocontrol is the practice of purposefully introducing natural enemies of invasive species to affected areas in order to control their population. Species of parasitoid wasps from the EAB's native range are routinely released throughout affected states, in order to help control the beetles numbers. The first aim of my research is to determine whether the wasps released at Rice Creek have begun to widely disperse in surrounding areas. I did this by building and installing yellow pan traps on infested Ash trees on campus with the intent of collecting specimens. The second aim of my research is to survey Ash trees on the grounds of Rice Creek, as no systemic baseline of how many trees are infested has been established on-site, helping future researchers measure the efficacy of introduced parasitoid wasps in this area.
What have you learned about conducting research?
I have learned to anticipate possible wrenches in plans, nature often has other ideas. I ran into some issues with our lake's winds blowing parts of my traps into oblivion.
Describe a memorable research experience at Rice Creek Field Station.
Scouting the grounds for my tree survey has helped me further appreciate the phenomenal biodiversity on site, there is so much life there.
Where did you grow up and how did you become interested in science?
I grew up in Albertson, NY. I have had a major fixation on insects, and animals in general since I was a child. I would constantly be outside flipping logs in search of insects, as well as watching the behavior of insects in my front yard for hours. I had stacks of books about invertebrates, and could not get enough information. Watching Animal Planet shows also helped me realize at a young age that I wanted to be deep in the field of animal science and conservation. After getting my A.A. in Fine Arts at the Fashion Institute of Technology and working as a fish keeper for a couple of years, I knew that I had to go into the sciences, and have since happily found my place in Zoology here at SUNY Oswego.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to continue my education and work towards a Masters degree. I have an equal love for invertebrates, fish, and birds, so I would like to work first in all three of those fields in order to see where I will specialize.