Hannah Marti
I worked with Mason on an REU project during the summer of 2012. We developed a project together surveying three habitat types for community composition and abundances of ant and lizard species in order to infer the likely responses of these consumer groups to climate change driven vegetation shifts. I presented this work at undergraduate conferences in New Mexico and Minnesota.
I am now a PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin. I am studying the evolution of social insects with Dr. Ulrich Mueller’s lab. I am especially interested in the evolution of leaderless organization in ant colonies as a way to understand different forms of intelligence and evolutionary success.
I worked with Mason on an REU project during the summer of 2012. We developed a project together surveying three habitat types for community composition and abundances of ant and lizard species in order to infer the likely responses of these consumer groups to climate change driven vegetation shifts. I presented this work at undergraduate conferences in New Mexico and Minnesota.
I am now a PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin. I am studying the evolution of social insects with Dr. Ulrich Mueller’s lab. I am especially interested in the evolution of leaderless organization in ant colonies as a way to understand different forms of intelligence and evolutionary success.
Vivien Enriquez
During the summer of 2013 I assisted Mason with his work pertaining to lizard diversity and abundance in a Piñon-Juniper Woodland, as well as analyzing and comparing lizard behavior in relation to microhabitat. Aspidoscelis exsanguis and A. neomexicana were examined specifically, within four distinct rainfall manipulation treatment variations. Throughout this experience of consistent observation and behavior analysis, we learned of particular environmental factors and habitat change which drive particular species behavioral adaptation. As my first real, hands-on experience with biological and ecological field work, my adventures of exploring and studying within the Piñon-Juniper Woodland on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge was not only unforgettable, but also sparked my passion for environment and wildlife conservation.
Currently, I am in my fourth and final year toward achieving my Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Beloit College. After completing various projects that range from examining species stability and abundance in Tanzanian national parks, to gathering information on how undergraduates form social connections across multi-institution biology research networks, I hope to continue my education by pursuing a graduate degree in the fields of anthropology/biology and wildlife conservation in the near future.
During the summer of 2013 I assisted Mason with his work pertaining to lizard diversity and abundance in a Piñon-Juniper Woodland, as well as analyzing and comparing lizard behavior in relation to microhabitat. Aspidoscelis exsanguis and A. neomexicana were examined specifically, within four distinct rainfall manipulation treatment variations. Throughout this experience of consistent observation and behavior analysis, we learned of particular environmental factors and habitat change which drive particular species behavioral adaptation. As my first real, hands-on experience with biological and ecological field work, my adventures of exploring and studying within the Piñon-Juniper Woodland on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge was not only unforgettable, but also sparked my passion for environment and wildlife conservation.
Currently, I am in my fourth and final year toward achieving my Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Beloit College. After completing various projects that range from examining species stability and abundance in Tanzanian national parks, to gathering information on how undergraduates form social connections across multi-institution biology research networks, I hope to continue my education by pursuing a graduate degree in the fields of anthropology/biology and wildlife conservation in the near future.
Elizabeth Gallagher
I worked with Mason as a field assistant at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge during the summer of 2013. He graciously helped arrange for me to help with his project and that of an REU student’s, Vivien Enriquez. I helped make observations and take measurements in a piñon-juniper ecosystem. Four different plots were previously set up to vary the type and amount of rainfall received and observe the affects on the plants in the area. Through Mason’s project, we were looking at the abundance and species of whiptail lizards that were seen in each plot to understand the effects of drought on lizards in the desert. With Vivien, I also worked on a project in the same plots to observe how precipitation differences could affect the activity of the lizards within and across the varying treatments. We recorded the lizards for a set amount of time and created time budgets, or the proportion of time that the lizards spent doing certain activities, such as foraging, basking, etc.
I recently graduated from New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM, with my bachelor’s in biology. In a few weeks time, I will be moving to Spain with my husband for a year to teach English and am planning on applying to grad programs for public policy in conservation or sustainability while I am abroad. My interest in conservation was sparked by Mason’s work and by living in Costa Rica for four months (which I also received advice from Mason about!).
I worked with Mason as a field assistant at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge during the summer of 2013. He graciously helped arrange for me to help with his project and that of an REU student’s, Vivien Enriquez. I helped make observations and take measurements in a piñon-juniper ecosystem. Four different plots were previously set up to vary the type and amount of rainfall received and observe the affects on the plants in the area. Through Mason’s project, we were looking at the abundance and species of whiptail lizards that were seen in each plot to understand the effects of drought on lizards in the desert. With Vivien, I also worked on a project in the same plots to observe how precipitation differences could affect the activity of the lizards within and across the varying treatments. We recorded the lizards for a set amount of time and created time budgets, or the proportion of time that the lizards spent doing certain activities, such as foraging, basking, etc.
I recently graduated from New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM, with my bachelor’s in biology. In a few weeks time, I will be moving to Spain with my husband for a year to teach English and am planning on applying to grad programs for public policy in conservation or sustainability while I am abroad. My interest in conservation was sparked by Mason’s work and by living in Costa Rica for four months (which I also received advice from Mason about!).
Jarildy L. Javier
I am currently in my third year at Colby College in Waterville, ME. During the summer of 2014, Mason Ryan was my mentor through the University of New Mexico’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. We used the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge’s Gunnison’s prairie dog reintroduction program as a means of analyzing the effect of the age of prairie dog town on the population and species diversity of herpetofauna in the area. Standardized visual encounter surveys were conducted to measure species richness and estimate relative abundance from June to July. Three 400m x 400m plots were studied one with a 4 year old prairie dog population, one with a two year old population and one control plot. We were able to observe over 450 individuals from June through July. High diversity and abundance were positively associated with increasing age of the prairie dog town. The lesser earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata), specifically, was very strongly correlated with prairie dog mounds where it was found over 75% of the time overall.
Throughout the months I spent at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Mason Ryan provided incredible guidance and mentorship. With his plethora of knowledge and experience, Mason gave me advice and suggestions on the way the project should be carried out and how to get through bumps in the road. Right now, we hope to publish a paper based on the research done during the summer and previous works. In the spring of 2015, I plan to study ecology abroad in Ecuador through the SIT abroad program agency. I wish to continue my studies of ecology into graduate school and become a research scientist/field biologist/ecologist someday.
I am currently in my third year at Colby College in Waterville, ME. During the summer of 2014, Mason Ryan was my mentor through the University of New Mexico’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. We used the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge’s Gunnison’s prairie dog reintroduction program as a means of analyzing the effect of the age of prairie dog town on the population and species diversity of herpetofauna in the area. Standardized visual encounter surveys were conducted to measure species richness and estimate relative abundance from June to July. Three 400m x 400m plots were studied one with a 4 year old prairie dog population, one with a two year old population and one control plot. We were able to observe over 450 individuals from June through July. High diversity and abundance were positively associated with increasing age of the prairie dog town. The lesser earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata), specifically, was very strongly correlated with prairie dog mounds where it was found over 75% of the time overall.
Throughout the months I spent at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Mason Ryan provided incredible guidance and mentorship. With his plethora of knowledge and experience, Mason gave me advice and suggestions on the way the project should be carried out and how to get through bumps in the road. Right now, we hope to publish a paper based on the research done during the summer and previous works. In the spring of 2015, I plan to study ecology abroad in Ecuador through the SIT abroad program agency. I wish to continue my studies of ecology into graduate school and become a research scientist/field biologist/ecologist someday.