The Sterling College Biology Department was recently represented at the Kansas Academy of Science Annual Meeting held in Baldwin City, Kan., on April 8-9. Two students, Leonore Enfield of Raymond, Kan., and Tyler Wise of Clearwater, Kan., gave a research presentation titled, “Effects of Prairie Restoration on Small Mammals.”

The presentation was a part of the completion of Enfield’s KAS Student Research Grant Project that she is currently conducting at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge to monitor the responses of native species’ to the removal of woody vegetation as part of the process of prairie restoration.

The KAS Student Research Grant Program was established in order to foster scientific research endeavors among undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students. The granted funds are used by students for research to support investigation in any scientific field.

In addition to the presentation given by Enfiled and Wise, Sterling College’s Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Jonathan Conard also gave a presentation titled, “Patterns of Association Between Male White-Tailed Deer: Assessing Risk of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Spread.” Conard’s presentation was based on an ongoing research project related population density and movement patterns of white-tailed deer at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.
Enfield and Wise plan to continue their research and expect to further observe changes in the small mammal community.