Sterling College was well-represented at the 2015 Central Plains Society of Mammalogists meeting, hosted by Northwest Missouri State University at Mozingo Lake Recreational Area in Maryville, Missouri, on Oct. 9-10. Alumni Amanda Buckwalter ’15 and Rachel Grafel ’15 joined senior Hannah Kelley and Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Jonathan Conard, in presenting research to students and faculty from schools in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

“I’m really proud of what these students have done. It’s great to see them getting out and representing the College in such a positive way,” said Conard.

Kelley of Wellsville, Kansas, and Grafel of Herndon, Kansas, whose research was conducted in conjunction with Conard, took first place in the undergraduate poster presentation category for their work with kangaroos in captivity. Kelley and Grafel’s research centered on the effects that living in captivity could have on the breeding capacity of Red and Eastern Grey kangaroos. After observing kangaroos at Hedrick’s Exotic Animal Farm in Hutchinson, Kansas, Kelley and Grafel determined that mother kangaroos are more active than non-mothers and that cooler temperatures, as well as the age of a mother’s joey, have an effect on a mother kangaroo’s behavior.

Buckwalter of Sterling, Kansas, also participated in the undergraduate poster presentation category. Her research, concerning prairie dog densities, was conducted in conjunction with Conard, junior Rachel Johnson of Larkspur, Colorado, and Nelson Buckwalter. During the study, they compared burrow densities and population densities of urban and rural prairie dog colonies in central Kansas. Their findings indicated that urban areas might be suitable prairie dog habitat and, if so, that type of site could be important for range-wide conservation efforts.

The purpose of the Central Plains Society of Mammalogists is to foster, encourage and promote the study and conservation of mammals in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.