Ophelia Pettington is a graduate student interested in microbial diversity and remediation of mining-contaminated wet ecosystems. Ophelia is studying impacts of metal mining and remediation on the microbiome of Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge) in the Tri-state Mining District.

Benjamin Cooper is a graduate student interested in how lakes and wetlands function and how they are impacted by changes in the environment. Ben is studying the impacts of Azolla caroliniana proliferation in Lake Springfield, MO.

Sarah Guymon is studying the impact of temperature on Azolla caroliniana grown in lake water microcosms. 

Sarah also studied variation in planaria abundance in spring-fed Ozarkstreams.

Teressa Kruit is studying seasonal and spatial variation of algal community composition in Lake Springfield. 

Teressa developed our procedures for sampling, counting, and identifying algae in water samples.

Anna Schwarm is working with Sarah Guymon to assess the impact of temperature on Azolla caroliniana grown in lake water microcosms.

Alex Geeslin is working with Teressa Kruit to assess the spatial variation of algal community composition in Lake Springfield.

Kendal Tavares is studying the relationship between duckweed cover and biomass.

Milo Hartley is assisting on our Lake Springfield algae project.

Jessica Koenigsfeld manages our aquatic plant collection. We are currently growing four duckweed species (Lemna minor, Lemna minuta, Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Landoltia punctata), Azolla caroliniana, Salvina sp., and Ceratophyllum demersum.

Riley Cook is studying the impact of mining contamination on macroinvertbrates in an Ozark stream in the Tri-State Mining District.