We are excited to welcome Chelsea Anderson and Olivia Poelmann to the Freshwater Conservation Ecology Lab. Both are new MS students. Chelsea will be working with the Patchnosed Salamander (Urspelerpes brucei) and Olivia will be working with the Carolina heelsplitter mussel (Lasmigona decorata).

Ben successfully defended his MS thesis in October 2020! Find his thesis here: Using Environmental DNA to Identify Habitat Requirements and Restoration Objectives for the Carolina Heelsplitter

Dan recently completed a MS degree in Biology from the University of Alabama. For his PhD research, Dan plans to study ecological roles of hellbenders in southern Appalachian streams. Read more about Dan here. 

Lauren successfully defended her MS thesis in March 2020. You can find her thesis here:
Hellbender ecology in North Carolina: A comparison of artificial cover designs and evaluation of larval resource selection. 
While Lauren's immediate post-grad plans have been temporarily interrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic, we know she will go on to accomplish great things! 

Todd co-wrote a grant that was recently funded by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to investigate the distribution of the recently described patch nosed salamander (Urspelerpes brucei). He will be putting his molecular skills to work by using environmental DNA (eDNA) to survey for this cryptic amphibian in streams from the upstate. Read more about Todd here.