Sarah E. McNeil '04, Ashley Kuenzi '05, Charlotte Hodde '04, and Krista Marran '04 will be participating in summer research concerning species recovery of the Karner Blue and Frosted Elfin butterflies on the Rome Sand Plains. Their research is funded through a recent grant from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and Hamilton College's summer science grants program. Their faculty advisors, Professors of Biology William Pfitsch and Ernest Williams, are members of the Rome Sand Plains Resource Management Team. Pfitsch's expertise is in plant ecology, and Williams is a butterfly population ecologist.
This summer will begin the long-term project to start restoring four five-acre wild blue lupine populations. The Hamilton researchers will be working with others at SUNY Morrisville, The Nature Conservancy, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation to begin the restoration of the essential lupine habitat for the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly and the threatened Frosted Elfin Butterfly.
Kuenzi, daughter of Benjamin and Debra Kuenzi of Park Drive in Burnett Kuenzi and a graduate of Wayland Academy, is majoring in biology. McNeil, daughter of Mr. and Dr. McNeil of West Washington Boulevard in Chicago and a graduate of the Hotchkiss School, is majoring in biology. Marran, daughter of James and Carol Marran of Upland Drive in East Northport and a graduate of Northport Senior High School, is majoring in biology. Hodde, daughter of Jeffrey and Christine Hodde of New England Avenue in Summit and a graduate of Summit High School, is majoring in biology.
This summer will begin the long-term project to start restoring four five-acre wild blue lupine populations. The Hamilton researchers will be working with others at SUNY Morrisville, The Nature Conservancy, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation to begin the restoration of the essential lupine habitat for the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly and the threatened Frosted Elfin Butterfly.
Kuenzi, daughter of Benjamin and Debra Kuenzi of Park Drive in Burnett Kuenzi and a graduate of Wayland Academy, is majoring in biology. McNeil, daughter of Mr. and Dr. McNeil of West Washington Boulevard in Chicago and a graduate of the Hotchkiss School, is majoring in biology. Marran, daughter of James and Carol Marran of Upland Drive in East Northport and a graduate of Northport Senior High School, is majoring in biology. Hodde, daughter of Jeffrey and Christine Hodde of New England Avenue in Summit and a graduate of Summit High School, is majoring in biology.
