Student Research in the Rettig Lab

Jessica Rettig and her research students at Middleton Pond. Summer 2006.

Publications with Student Co-authors*

Rettig, J.E, L.S. Schuman*, and J.K. McCloskey*. 2006. Seasonal patterns of abundance: do zooplankton in small ponds do the same thing every spring-summer?  Hydrobiologia 556:193-207.

Michajliczenko, A.H.*, G.R. Smith, and J.E. Rettig. 2004. Effect of diet on bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpole growth and development. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 40: 42-46

Johnson, L.D.*, G.R. Smith, and J.E. Rettig. 2004. Summer activity of small snakes in four habitats in northwestern Missouri. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 40: 47-52.

Taylor, M.*, J.E. Rettig, and G.R. Smith. 2003. Diet of re-introduced river otters, Lontra canadensis, in north-central Arizona. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 18: 337-338.

Smith, G.R., A. Todd*, J.E. Rettig, & F. Nelson*. 2003. Microhabitat selection by northern cricket frogs, Acris crepitans, along a west-central Missouri creek: Field and experimental observations.  Journal of Herpetology  37:383-385.

Golden*, D.R., G.R. Smith, and J.E. Rettig. 2001.  Effects of age and group size on habitat selection and activity levels of Rana pipiens tadpoles. Herpetological Journal 11:69-73.

Smith, G.R., M.A. Waters*, and J.E. Rettig. 2000.  Consequences of embryonic UV-B exposure on the growth and development of plains leopard frog tadpoles (Rana blairi). Conservation Biology 14: 1903-1907.

Golden*, D., G.R. Smith, and J.E. Rettig. 2000. Effects of age and group size on habitat selection and activity levels of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Science 26: 23-27.

Smith, G.R., J. E. Rettig, G.G. Mittelbach, J.L. Valiulis*, and S.R. Schaack*. 1999.  The effects of fish on assemblages of amphibians in ponds: a field experiment. Freshwater Biology 41: 829-837.

Research Projects by Denison Students Working in the Rettig Lab 

Jessica Arrington. 2007. "Macroinvertebrate Richness and Diversity in Middleton, Ebaugh, Old Minnow, and Wood Duck Ponds".  Summer research student.  Funded by Anderson Summer Research Assistantship Program.

Michael Hunter. 2007. "The Effects of Larval Density on the Feeding Efficiency of Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) larvae". Summer research student.  Funded by Anderson Summer Research Assistantship Program.

Amy Ali. 2006.  "Patterns of Bluegill Nesting Activity Among Date and Colony in Middleton Pond".  Summer research student. Funded by Howard Hughes Early Research Experiences Grant Program.

Jessica Arrington.  2006.  "Macroinvertebrate Richness and Diversity in Middleton and Ebaugh Ponds: An Among-year Comparison".  Summer research student. Funded by Howard Hughes Early Research Experiences Grant Program.

Ezinnaya Ubagharaji.  2006.  "Comparison of Macroinvertebrate Populations in Ebaugh and Middleton Ponds Over Three Years".  Summer research student. Funded by Howard Hughes Early Research Experiences Grant Program.

Danielle Brzezinski. 2005-2006.  Aquaculture initiative phase II: Local feeding stimulants and substitutes for freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) diets.  Academic year senior research student. Senior Honors Thesis.

E. Rhiannon Crouse. 2005-2006.  Identification of unknown tadpoles using allozyme variation. Academic year senior research student. Senior Honors Thesis.

Nicole Gray. 2005-2006.  Zooplankton responses to manipulation of fish predators and amphibian competitors. Academic year senior research student. Senior Thesis.

Nicole Gray.  2005. "Variation in Nest Characteristics of Bluegill Sunfiish (Lepomis macrochirus) in Middleton Pond".  Summer research student.  Funded by Anderson Summer Scholar Research Fund.

Walter Kim.  2005.  "Comparing Nesting Activity and Larval Abudance of Bluegill Sunfish in Middleton Pond".  Summer research student.  Funded by Denison University Research Foundation (DURF).

E. Rhiannon Crouse. 2004.  "Tracking Annual Variation of Macroinvertebrate Populations in Middleton and Ebaugh Ponds".  Summer research student.  Funded by Howard Hughes Early Research Experiences Grant Program.

Emily Drummond. 2003-2004.  "Testing Allozymes for the Identification of Larval Sunfish (Centrarchidae) from Ebaugh and Middleton Ponds".  Academic year senior research student. Senior Honors Thesis.

Melissa Tribue. 2003. "Size and Age Structure of Adult Fish Populations in Middleton and Ebaugh Ponds". Summer research student.  Funded by Howard Hughes Early Research Experiences Grant Program.

Jimmy McCloskey. 2002. "Zooplankton communities in Two Ohio Ponds".  Summer research student.  Funded by Denison University Research Foundation (DURF).

Thomas Waggoner. 2002. "Investigaton of Body size-Body mass Relationships of Macroinvertebrates in Two Ohio Ponds". Summer research student.  Funded by Anderson Summer Scholar Research Fund.

Alicia Weinstein. 2002-2003.  "Patterns in Nocturnal Vertical Migration Along an Estuarine Gradient".  Academic year senior research student. Senior Honors Thesis.

Phirin Lorth. 2001-2002.  "Macroinvertbrate Composition and Abundance in Two Ohio Ponds". Academic year senior research student. Senior Thesis.

Linda Schuman. 2001-2002.  "Zooplankton Assemblage Dynamics in Two Ohio Ponds".  Academic year senior research student.  Senior Honors Thesis.

Phirin Lorth. 2001.  "Macroinvertbrate Composition and Abundance in Two Ohio Ponds". Summer research student. Funded by Denison University Research Foundation (DURF). 

Linda Schuman.  2001.  "Zooplankton Assemblage Dynamics in Two Ohio Ponds". Summer research student.  Funded by Anderson Summer Scholar Research Fund.

Research Presentations by Denison Students Working in the Rettig Lab

Brzezinski, D.  2006.  Aquaculture initiative phade II: Local feeding stimulants and substitutes for freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) diets.  Ohio Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Dayton, OH.

Crouse, E.R. 2006.  Identification of unknown tadpoles using allozyme variation. Ohio Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Dayton, OH.

Gray, N.R.  2006.  Zooplankton responses to manipulation of fish predators and amphibian competitors. Ohio Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Dayton, OH.

Drummond, E.E. 2004.  Testing allozymes for the identification of larval sunfish (Centrarchidae) from Ebaugh and Middleton Ponds.  Student Life Sciences Forum of the Ohio Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting. 

Lorth, P. 2002. Macroinvertebrate community composition and abundance in two Ohio ponds.  Ohio Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting.

Schuman, L.S. 2002. Zooplankton assemblage dynamics in two Ohio ponds.  Ohio Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting.

Research Presentations co-authored by Denison Students*

Rettig, J.E., J.K. McCloskey*, T.E .Waggoner*, and M.M. Tribue*.  2004. Patterns of temporal variation for zooplankton and larval fish in two Ohio ponds. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society. Madison, WI.

Rettig, J.E., L.S. Schuman*, and J.K. McCloskey*.  2004. Seasonal patterns of abundance: Do zooplankton in small ponds do the same thing every summer? Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Portland, OR.

Last updated: October 2007