Editor:ToryBorovsky

January 2010 Volume 8, Issue 4

Ever Wondered About Summer Research? By Mike Swift

Summerresearchoffersstudentsanopportunitytodofieldand/orlabresearchundertheclosesupervisionofafacultymemberoradvancedgraduatestudent.Thesearenottechnicianjobswashingglasswareorcleaningcages,theyaresmall‐scaleindependentresearchprojectsdesignedtobecompletedin8‐12weeks.Who?YOU!!St.Olafstudentsarewidelyrecognizedfortheirexcellenttrainingandareindemandassummerresearchers.When?Studentswhohavehadsomebasicbackgroundcoursesintheirfieldofinterestaremostattractivetopotentialmentors,somoststudentsdoresearchthesummerbeforetheirSenioryear.Manystudents,however,areabletofindsummerresearchopportunitiesintheirpre‐Sophomoreandpre‐Junioryearsummers.Where?St.OlafofferssummerresearchintheBiology,Chemistry,MSCS,PsychologyandPhysicsdepartments.ForadescriptionofprojectsatSt.Olafinsummer2010,gotothefollowinglink:http://www.stolaf.edu/people/ceumb/research.html.SummerresearchprojectssupportedbytheNationalScienceFoundationResearchExperiencesforUndergraduates(REU)programarelocatedallovertheUnitedStatesanditsterritories.ForadescriptionofthesesitesseethefollowingURL:http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm.Thissiteisorganizedbydiscipline(e.g.,biologicalsciences,chemistry)andissearchablebygeographicalarea(e.g.,Alaska,PuertoRico)orbyresearchtopic(e.g.,intertidalecology,cellulartoxicology).Therearehundredsofprojectsitesandthousandsofprojecttopicslistedatthissite!Why?Independentsummerresearchoffersyouanopportunitytotryresearchinaparticularfield(molecularchemistry),toseeaparticulararea(Seattle),tobuildyourresume(“NSF‐REUResearchFellow”),toearnmoney(stipendsvary,butareusuallyabout$3,500–4,000),tolearnaboutyourselfinasupportiveresearchenvironment,toseewhatresearchislikeatabigresearchuniversity(manysitesare),tomeetothersmart,interestingstudentsinterestedinresearchinyourfavoriteareaofinterest.WhenShouldIApply?MostNSF‐REUsitesareadvertisingtheiravailabilityandsolicitingapplications(nearlyallonlineandfree!)RIGHTNOW.Themostprestigious,themostselective,andtheonesinthecoolestplaces,receivethemostapplicationsfromthebeststudentsandhavetheearliestdeadlines(RIGHTNOW!).MostsiteshavedeadlinesinFebruary,andsomedon’thavedeadlinesuntillateinthespring.

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BioMass

Upcoming Seminars Mondays 4:00PM, RNS 310 unless otherwise noted Feb 8 Devavani Chatterjea Macalester College Feb 15 Biology in South India Feb 22 Adam Kay St. Thomas University Mar 1 Emily Stanley University of Wisconsin Mar 8 Eric Baack Luther College http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/seminars/

BiologyDepartmentSt.OlafCollege

InthisIssueWonderingaboutSummerResearch?TrackingintheWinterTheSt.OlafCollegeGreenhouseBiologyT‐shirtsBiologyinSouthIndia

ButI’monlyanOle…St.Olafstudentsarewellknownassuperbsummerresearchstudents–nationwide!InthepastseveralyearsOleshavebeenselectedtodosummerresearchatKansasState,USCMarineLab,PuertoRico,UVA‐MountainLakeBiologicalStation,PittsburghMedicalSchool,Kansas,MiamiOhio,Iowa,Minnesota,TroutLakeBiologicalStation,andColoradoStatetonameafew!

CHECKITOUT!!

Summer research continued

ATrekThroughtheSnowAtaglance,thefieldsandforestsofMinnesotaappearstillandcalmduringthe

coldwintermonths.However,withacloserlookwecanwitnessthemiraclesofnature.Thewinterseasonallowsustofollowtheactivityofwildlifethroughtheirtracks,tunnels,scatandfeathersleftbehindinthesnow.Thetracksandsignstellastoryofnature’scrittersenduringthechallengesofwinter.

Trackingprovidestheopportunitytowalkinthefootprintsofnature.Throughidentifyingandfollowingthetracksandsignsofcritters,weareabletodiscoverandspeculatetheirsurvivaladaptations.Whenidentifyingindividualtracks,payparticularattentiontothelength,shape,width,andoverallpattern.Fourtoesoneachofthefrontandhindfeetarepawprintsfromthedogfamily(coyote,wolf,fox).Fourtoesonthefrontfootandfivetoesonthehindfootaretracksofarodent(mice,voles,chipmunks,squirrels).Atwo‐toetrackislikelyadeer,whichweseealotof!Itisalsoimportanttolookforothersignsofananimal’spresencesuchasfeathers,scat,tunnels,andrubmarksontrees.

Eachweekendstudentsputonsnowshoesorcross‐countryskisandenjoythebeautifulsnow‐coverednaturallands,wherewehavewitnessedwinterecology.Onebeautifulfindingwasthewingprintofanowl.Isuspectitwasprintedinthesnowwhenitswoopeddowntoattackarodenttunnelingunderthesnow.Aswebeganourcross‐countryskioutinglastSaturday,acoyotestrolledacrosstheSkoglundpond!Laterwefollowedfeathersandprintswhichleadustotheheadandwingofadead

From the St. Olaf Student Naturalists by Rebecca Rand ’10

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pheasant,likelytobeleftoversfromthecoyote’slunch.

Don’tletthestillnessofwinterfoolyou,thereismuchtoseeanddiscoveroutonthenaturallands!WewillcontinuetoleadweeklyoutingsthroughthenaturallandsonSaturdayafternoons.Also,checkoutthenaturalistboard(locatedon4thfloorofRegents)for picturesandinformationonMinnesota’swinterbirds.Haveawonderfulbreak!

Photo by Elizabeth Rand

Photo by Crysten Nesseth ‘12

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The St. Olaf Greenhouse by Caitlin Marine ’10

Greetingsfromtheonlyroomoncampuswherethehumidityisconsistentlyabove20%andthetemperatureisatleast70degrees!I'malwayssurprisedthattherearen'tmorepeopleinthegreenhouseduringinterim.Allfiveofthegreenhouseroomsareopenfrom8‐5duringtheweek.Ifyoubringboots,youcanevengooutonthegreenroofandlookoutoversnowyNorthfield.

Withallthespaceinthenewgreenhouse,therehavebeenlotsofchangesinthepastyear.Twoofthefiveroomsareusedexclusivelyforexperimentsandhaveindividuallightandtemperaturecontrol.Anotherroomisreservedforsucculentsandtheconditionsreallymakeitfeellikeadesert!Thetwomainroomshaveavarietyofplantsfromaroundtheworld.Somethingisalwaysinbloomandoccasionallytheyareevenedible!Wehavepineapples,ginger,twotypesofcoffeeplants,anolivetree,papayatrees,bananatrees,sugarcane,andorangetrees.

Thisyearwehavestarteda"PlantoftheWeek"boardwithapictureanddescriptionofaplantinthegreenhouse.It'slikeaWhere'sWaldogameofgreen,socomeexplorethegreenhouseandlearnabouttheplantswehave!OthernewadditionstothegreenhousesincemovingintoRegent'sinclude:anindoorpondwithflowingwaterandlotsofaquaticplants,arainwatercisternbasedwateringsystem,evaporativecoolingwalls,rootingbenches,andanadvancedcontrolsystemformonitoringconditionsinalloftherooms.

ProfessorUmbanhowaristhegreenhousemasterandheisassistedby7studentswholikeworkingwithgreenthings.EmmaKovak,BaoLee,CaitlinMarine,AmandaMeyer,DaviMoeller,EmilyrosePfaltzgraff,andKelseySolumaretheluckystudentworkersthisyear.Onadailybasiswecheckalloftheplantsandwaterthemasneeded.Wealsocheckforinsectsandotherdiseaseindicators,whicharetreatedonaplantbyplantbasis.Cleaningupdeadleaves,fertilizing,sweepingthefloorandledges,washingwindows,cleaningpotsandrepottingplantsareroutinetasksaswell.Whentheweatherisniceout,wealsohelpmaintainthegardensaroundthebuildingbyremovingnoxiousweedsandotherlandscapingtaskssuchasplantings.

Ifyouhaven'tbeenuptotheeastsideoffourthfloor,itiswellworththewalk.Helpfulgreenhouseworkersareoftenonhandtoanswerquestions,socomein,wanderaroundandwatchavenusflytrapsnap!

“I’malwayssurprisedtherearen’tmorepeopleinthegreenhouse duringinterim.Allfiveofthegreenhouseroomsareopenfrom8‐5duringtheweek.”

BiologyT‐ShirtContest!

Thedesigncontestforthenewbiologydepartmentt‐shirtsisstillineffect.Forcost'ssake,tryandkeepittoonecolor,andfocusondesigns(youcanalsosuggestthecoloroftheshirtitself).DropoffyourideaseitherwithToryorintheBioClubPObyFeb22nd.Ifwechooseyourdesign,yourshirtisfree.Thiscontestisopentobothstudentsandstaff,sobraggingrightsareupforgrabs...

TheBioClub

“Somethingisalwaysinbloomandoccasionally(theplants)areevenedible!”

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Biology in South India by John van der Linden ‘10

BiologyinIndia?Ididn’tknowwhattothinkastheplanetaxiedontheMSPrunwaylastAugust.IhadsignedupforthisSt.Olafoff‐campusprogrambecauseIexpectedIndiatobe,well,different.That’swhatyouhear,too:ThirdWorldcountry.Tropicaldiseases.TajMahal.BoomingITsector.Tome,asmall‐townIowan,itallsoundedveryintimidating.AthomeinSpiritLakeforthesummer,Ihadperusedthenewspaper,pettedthecats,pedaledmybikepastMr.MoviesandHyVeetomyjobwashingdishesatRemington’sRestaurant.ThereAnnie,akind‐spiritedelderlycoworker,hadstaredatmewitheyesbiggerthanthesaucerswescrubbedwhenItoldheraboutmyupcomingtrip.“India?”she’dstammered,incredulous.Inthesimplicityofsummertime,Ihadoftenaskedthatsamequestionmyself.

Itriedtosetthesestill‐naggingquestionsasideastheseatbeltlightswitchedoff.Beforelong,wewerecrossingthemid‐Pacific.Thewingswobbledjustenoughtokeepmeawake—and,swirlingamongtimezonesdeepwithinwhatAnnRaihocallstheTravelVortex,IletmymemorydriftbackafewweekstoafamilyvacationontheNorthShore.DrivinguponI35toHighway61,we’dwatchedcornfieldsandcopsesmeltintotriangularsprucesandrectangularbillboards,thelatterpromisingallthejoysofNorthShoretourism:casinos,resorts,lodges,maybeawolfsightingifyou’rereally,reallylucky(aswewereatduskthefollowingday).Duringourshortstaywe’dscrambledalongtheSuperiorHikingTrail,findingasphagnumbog,aloonmourningitssolitude,ablackbearvanishingintheblueberry…

Fast‐forwardtolateSeptember.WithAnn,Bryan,Dianna,Erin,Lisa,Sara,andSusan,IhadbeeninIndiaforaboutamonth.Ifthatseemslikeanabruptshiftfromthelastparagraph,it’sonlybecausemytimeinourorientationcourseflewbythatfast,thanksinparttoawhoppingdoseofcultureshock.Ourorientationcity,Chennai—landofsputteringrickshaws,yawningsewers,color‐splashedsaris(women’swear),andsweetcrispydosa(rolledrice‐&lentil‐flourcrepes)—overwhelmedmeforweeks.AfterChennaiandabriefruralorientation,itwastimetodispersetoourfirstresearchsites.

SusanWheeler,ErinSeybold,andIwenttoKodaikanal.“Kodai,”ahillstationestablishedby theBritish,percheshighinthePalniHills,aneasternoffshootofIndia’smightyWesternGhatsmountainrange.Itisaone‐horsetownbyIndianstandards,althoughone‐cowmightbeabetterterm—oneafternoonwewatchedabigboxyBosprimigeniusamblesullenlyintotrafficatSevenRoadsJunction.OurscientifichostwasthePalniHillsConservationCouncil(PHCC),asmallNGOwhosefieldstationsitstuckedwithinasmallpatchofremnantshola,orwettemperateevergreenforest.WalkingtoPHCCeverymorningalongLowerSholaRoad,wepassedbeneathasprawlingcanopyladenwithraucouscicadas—zzzhhhh,zzzhhhh,zzzhhhh—andwatchedvanscrammedwithtwentysomethingtouristszoomby.Forseveraldaysweexploredprojectideaswiththe PHCCstaff,youngtomiddle‐agedmensportingwindbreakers,motorcycles,andwell‐trimmedmustaches.Eagertobeginfieldwork,wewereoptimisticthatourprojects—whichwouldfocusonedge‐interiorbiodiversitygradients,exotictree“islands”innativeshola,andplantcommunitychangesinrecentlyloggedplantations—wouldcontribute significantlytoPHCC’sconservationandrestorationefforts.

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Biology in South India continued

Duringthefirstfieldtrialswediscoveredunforeseenchallenges.PHCCstaffhadtheirownflavorofscientificmethodology,towhichwewouldneedtoadjust;sholapatcheswerescarce;plantationswerefencedoff.Butthesedistractionsdidn’tstopus.Nordidthemonsoonrains;themonkeysthatstolemydata;theoverprotectiveForestDepartmentrangers;thecloggedtouristtraps;thecharismaticwildlife,includinggaur(Indianbison)andgiantsquirrels;orthestunningscenery.WefinishedwithdecentdatasetsandleftKodaisteepedinnostalgiaforthesmellofeucalyptus,thesingle‐toothedsmileofanimpoverishedwomanwhomErinandSusanbefriended,andthetasteofKodaiHomemadeChocolates.

MysecondsitewasMudumalai,atigerreserveintheNilgiriHills,about400kmbyroadfromKodai.HereAnnRaihoandIexperiencedalandscapeoftropicaldrydeciduousforestanddrythornscrub,withpatchesofgrazinglandandplantationsinterspersed.Toprotectdwindlinglargemammalpopulations,thestateForestDepartmentstrictlylimitsresearchinMudumalaitopermittedIndianresearchers,soAnnandIperformedprojectworkinanearbycoffeeplantation.Bomma,ourpersonalnaturalist,guideandtracker,keptaneyeoutandearopenforsignsofelephant,wilddog,andbison.Once,onthebone‐jarringJeeprideoutoftheplantation,weheardmonkeysscreechinghighinthetrees,awarningcall.Secondslater,aleopardtrottedacrosstheroad,nomorethan100metersaway.

HereasatKodai,suchdistractionserasedanychanceofadullmomentinthefield.AnnandIwatchedracket‐taileddrongos(aspectacularblue‐blackbird)swoopdeftlyfrombranchtobranch,donneddorkyknee‐highcottonsockstowardoffheat‐seekingleeches(nojoke!),andmatchedstrideswithatiger’sprintsinthemudalongagrassytrail—allinthecourseofourresearch.Ann’sprojectfocusedonbutterflyterritoriality;mine,onarthropoddiversity.Attheendofeverydayweenjoyedcomplimentarychai(tea)fromtheplantationmanagerandreturnedthestaresofhisscrawnytortoiseshellcats.Iwonderedifthosecatsknewtheirlargercousins,thoughfewinnumber,prowledthisplantationandtheadjacentreserveunderthevelvetblanketofnight.

NowthatI’mbackinMinnesota,Icanbegintoputthisincredibletripinperspective.OneofthethingsIrealizeisthat,forallitsobviousdifferences,biologyinIndiawasnotasdissimilartobiologyinAmericaasIhadexpected.WhetherafieldbiologistinIndiaorinAmerica,youwillfindagriculture,grazing,andforestrycompetingwithnaturalhabitat;passionateconservationbiologistsworkingtounderstandandprotectecosystems;and,ofcourse,peskyectoparasitescrawlingupyourcalves.WhatmyfamilyfoundontheNorthShore,youwillfindinIndia:touristsdesperateforanescapeatKodai,andcrippledapexpredatorpopulationswithanuncertainfutureatMudumalai.IfIworkatRemington’sthissummer,andAnnieasksme,“HowwasIndia?”,IknowwhatI’llsay:“India?Itwasdifferent…andyetalso,insomeways,itwasjustaboutthesame.”

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