|
Erin
R. Hotchkiss
Previous Research
 Colorado River Food Web
With Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall,
Dr. Ted Kennedy, Dr. Wyatt Cross and Dr. Robert Hall. Loyola
University, USGS-GCMRC and University of Wyoming, 2007. I assisted with the collection and
processing of algae, macroinvertebrates and fish
along 225 miles of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. I spent a majority of my time on the river
extracting diatoms for nutrient, isotope, and community assemblage
analyses. I also collected oxygen
isotope samples for calculations of photosynthesis and community respiration
over a 24-hour period. [Photos]
Stream Nitrogen Uptake and Cycling
With Dr. Robert Hall and Dr.
Jennifer Tank. University of Wyoming and University of Notre
Dame, 2005. Graduate
research assistant for the last season of LINX2 data collection on nitrogen
transport and uptake in streams using 15N tracer additions, Grand Teton National Park. [Photos]
 Sea Turtle Nesting Census
With Zandy
Hillis-Starr, Kimberly Woody and Philippe Mayor.
National Park Service, St. Croix, 2004. Nesting activities and hatch success
of hawksbill, leatherback and green sea turtles on Buck Island
Reef National
Monument and the beaches of the Buccaneer
Hotel. I also assisted with exotic mammal removal, in-water juvenile
hawksbill mark and recapture, and the creation of a plant ID database for Buck Island. [Photos]
Restored Wetland
Productivity
With Darin Grulkowski,
Randy Smith and Dr. Mike Eichholz. Southern Illinois
University—Carbondale, 2004. Density, diversity and productivity
of aquatic plants and macroinvertebrates in a
restored wetland, and their effect on waterfowl feeding behavior in Two
Rivers Wildlife Refuge. I also helped collect data on catfish and carp
movement and reproduction. [Photos]
Bird Behavior and Disease
With Dr. Sonia Altizer
and Andy Davis. Emory
University, 2003-2004. Behavioral studies of house finches
infected with Microplasma gallisepticum
in Atlanta, GA.
[Photos]
 Nutrient Limitation in a Tropical Stream
With Marcelo Ardon,
Dr. Becky Bixby, Mainor Hidalgo and Dr. Catherine Pringle.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Organization for Tropical
Studies (OTS), and University
of Georgia, 2003. The role of limiting nutrients on chironomid larvae growth rates in the laboratory and
their effects on in-stream microbial respiration. La Selva
Biological Station, Costa Rica. [Photos]
Energy Conservation Liaison
With Dr. Peggy Barlett and Dr. John
Wegner. Emory University, 2002-2003. I worked with
faculty and staff at Emory to reduce the College’s energy use and with
Facilities Management to compile energy use data. [Energy Brochure]
Land Use and Stream
Nitrification
With Dr. Melody Bernot,
Dr. Jennifer Tank, Lareina Wall and Clay Arango. University
of Notre Dame, 2002. Nitrogen dynamics in Michigan streams and a reservoir in Illinois. My independent project
compared potential sediment nitrification and denitrification in streams
surrounded by different land-use types (forested, urban, and
agricultural). [Photos]
Plant Biofuel
Genetics
With Lee Gunter and Dr. Gerald Tuskan. Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2001. Possible genetic
diversity of switchgrass plants due to spatial
variation. [Photos]
|