Water Quality Researcher

Karen Beljan, BS '05, Environmental Engineering

A Lake Divided: Modeling DO in Onondaga Lake

Beljan, of Eden, New York, evaluated remediation alternatives to improve the water quality of Onondaga Lake, ultimately helping to develop a method to aerate the lake that would improve the water and ecosystem.

(Photo: KC Kratt, MFA '84)

DANTA: Primate Behavior And Ecology

Disciplines

Each year DANTA offers a number of field courses in various aspects of tropical biology.This course is designed to provide students with field experience in primate behavior, ecology, and conservation. This intensive 21 day course will be conducted at El Zota Biological Field Station in the Northeastern part of Costa Rica from December 28, 2008 to January 17, 2009. Lecture topics will cover the behavior and ecology of Old and New World primates from an evolutionary perspective. Selected lecture topics include primate sociality, foraging behavior, cognition, and conservation. The course will also guide students through the process of designing and carrying out their own research projects. In addition, students will gain experience in applied primate conservation during a course trip to the Caribbean coast.

Research Project Information

Date Open: Oct 14, 2008 to Dec 30, 2009
Suggested Skill Set: The student will gain on site skills in field research, including tropical field ecology, behavior and conservation. The field exercises and seminars provide instruction and experience in: (1) methods of measuring environmental variables, including assessment of resource availability, (2) methods of collecting and analyzing the behavior of free-ranging primates, (3) mapping a field site, and (4) techniques for estimating population size. Lecture topics will cover the behavior and ecology of Old and New World primates from an evolutionary perspective. This course will prepare a student for a more in depth research project to be taken in Anthropology 443, taught by Dr. Berman that takes place at the Buffalo Zoo. These projects involve a semester long effort which culminates in a scientific article submitted to the Buffalo Zoo.
Compensation: Credit, Position is already filled.

Faculty / Professor Contact

Professor(s): Carol Berman (cberman@buffalo.edu)
Department: Anthropology
Address: 380 MFAC, Ellicott Complex, North Campus
Phone: 645-0429