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Does human infrastructure affect the composition of mammal communities?

Humans are the ultimate predators, and studies have shown that they pose the greatest threat to large carnivores. Other trophic groups may benefit from human infrastructure both because the predation threat from carnivores is reduced and because they may utilize human resources such as trash. To better understand how humans affect mammal communities, we investigated whether human infrastructure had different effects on different trophic groups. We hypothesized that high human infrastructure would negatively impact large carnivores and large omnivores while benefiting other trophic groups. To test this hypothesis, we utilized our network of 25 camera stations in three counties across South Carolina to observe mammal presence. For each station, we used GIS to calculate a human infrastructure score based on the density of roads and buildings nearby. To determine if human infrastructure affects trophic groups differently, we calculated the proportion of observations of each trophic group at high and low human infrastructure stations. We then compared the proportion of large carnivores at high infrastructure stations to the proportions of each of the other trophic groups at these stations and found a significant difference between each comparison. There were 2.4 times as many observations of large carnivores at low as compared to high human infrastructure stations. Large omnivores were never found at high human infrastructure stations suggesting that they are significantly more sensitive to human disturbance. In contrast, all other trophic groups were between 1.4 and 2.9 times more common at high as compared to low human infrastructure stations suggesting that they may benefit from human disturbance. Overall, we found that human infrastructure changes the composition of mammal communities, reducing the number of sensitive large omnivores and large carnivores, while potentially benefiting other trophic groups.

Kaitlyn Thompson is a senior biology major with minors in psychology and chemistry. She is a member of the women’s soccer team and Tribeta Honor Society. She hopes to attend a physician assistant program after graduation with hopes of one day becoming a physician assistant.

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Impacts of Light Availability in Plant Diversity at Camp Fellowship, Grace Street Park, and Lander University

A central question in ecology concerns the interactions between organisms and their environments, focusing on the relationship between resources and competition in structuring communities. The relationship between light availability and plant species diversity has been widely debated, with some studies suggesting that more light increases diversity, while others find greater diversity in shaded areas. In this study, we examine herbaceous plant species diversity in forested and open areas at Camp Fellowship, Grace Street Park, and Lander University by comparing species richness and Simpson’s Diversity Index. We hypothesize that open areas, with higher light availability, will have greater species diversity. This research aims to enhance the understanding of how light availability influences plant diversity.

Ashley Vargas-Luna is a senior biology major. She will be graduating in December 2025 with a BS in biology and a minor in psychology. Her achievements include being a Presidential Ambassador, admissions student worker, a member of ESSO, co-president of Somos LU, a member of the Honors College and completed a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain.

Kaitlyn Crowe is a senior biology major. She will be graduating in May 2025 with a BS in biology and a minor in psychology. Her achievements include being a member of the Honors College, TriBeta Biological Honor Society, National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Public Health Club.

Rossaury Castillo graduated from Mauldin High School in Greenville and is a junior biology major. She will be graduating in May 2026 with a BS in biology and a minor in Spanish.

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Using Trail Cameras to Explore the Effect of Temperature
and Precipitation on Plant Phenophases

Plants make up the basis of terrestrial ecosystems by providing habitats and photosynthates for other organisms. Since plants are integral to ecosystems, it is important to understand how changing temperatures and precipitation patterns may affect plants. Specifically, plant phenophases such as bud break and leaf senescence have been shown to be affected by droughts and increasing temperatures, and altered plant phenophases may affect synchrony with other species in an ecosystem. Using trail cameras with established archives of pictures, an R package named phenopix can be used to determine the phenophases of forest plants using the green index of an image without specialized equipment. To gather phenophase data, we used a set of fifteen existing trail cameras placed for animal research throughout South Carolina. We then used the NOAA Climate Data Online tool to get precipitation and temperature data from the nearest NOAA station to each site. We aim to determine if existing trail cameras used for animal research can be used for plant phenology research without requiring additional specialized equipment while exploring factors that may affect plant phenophases. The data was analyzed to examine the effects of precipitation, temperature, and day of year on the timing of bud break, maximum leaf growth, and senescence phenophases of plants at the trail camera sites.

Tyler Weiss graduated from Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill and is a junior biology and environmental science major. He is part of ESSO and TriBeta and the Honors College, and he presented this research at the Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting in Myrtle Beach.

From Waste to Water Purification: Iron-Impregnated Biochar for Arsenic Adsorption

This study looks at the efficiency of iron-impregnated biochar derived from pinecones and scrap steel in removing arsenic from water. The biochar in this study was made from pinecones collected from Greenwood State Park and infused with scrap steel from a local HVAC business. Water samples were collected from water bodies near Greenwood, SC and tested for their initial arsenic concentration. The biochar complex was mixed with each sample for 24 hours on a rotary shaker, and the samples were tested again for final arsenic concentration. Preliminary research shows that arsenic adsorption significantly increases when biochar is treated with iron rather than left untreated. This study provides a novel use for scrap metal and the findings could lead to more sustainable methods for water remediation.

Charles Zorn is an environmental science major with a minor in biology from Barnwell, South Carolina. He is a member of the Blue Key, Alpha Lamda Delta, and Beta Beta Beta Biological honor societies. He plans to graduate in Spring 2025 and further his education at a school of veterinary medicine.