Dr. Ann E. Throckmorton, Westminster College

Courses
Research
Outdoor Lab
Student Research

DR. ANN E. THROCKMORTON
Professor of Biology
Westminster College
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, 16172
telephone: (724) 946-7209
fax: (724) 946-7791
athrock@westminster.edu

COURSES TAUGHT

Foundations of Biology III	Concepts of Biology
Population Ecology	Tropical Ecology: Nicaragua
Biology capstone	Tropical Ecology: Kenya
Foundations of Biology I	Foundations of Biology II
Freshwater Biology	Introduction to GIS
Marine Biology	Tropical Ecology: Costa Rica
Tropical Ecology: Australia	Tropical Ecology: Belize
Ecology of Hawai'i	Limnology
Field Botany	Evolution
Conservation Ecology	Ecology of the Galapagos
Ecology of the Caribbean	Research Design and Analysis
Information Technology I	Problem Analysis in Environmental Science
	Honors Colloquium

RESEARCH INTERESTS

STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Divjak, Nick. Temporal replacement of plankton in a temperate zone freshwater beaver pond. Biology Capstone project, spring, 2009 through fall 2009.Research completed and results presented at the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Symposium, December 4, 2009.
Kellner, David. The effect of host distribution and host density on the giving up time of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia. Biology Capstone project, spring, 2009 through fall 2009.
Morales, Joseph. The effects of micro-plastics on the feeding rate of cyclopoid copepod, Cyclops spp. Biology Capstone project, spring, 2009 through fall 2009.
Van Buren, Bonnie. The effect of autumn leaf coloration on the number of eggs laid by aphids. Biology Capstone project, spring, 2009 through fall 2009.
Divjak, Nick. Effect of cadmium on host choice by a hemiparasitic plant, Cusuta gronovii. Van Vranken Research Fellowship, summer, 2008.
Kriley, Vanessa. The productivity of passive treatment systems on acid mine drainage of Slippery Rock Creek. Biology capstone project, spring, 2008 through fall, 2008. Research completed and results presented at the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Symposium, December 4, 2008.
Okert, Amber. The effectiveness of a passive treatment system for a western Pennsylvania stream affected by acid mine drainage. Biology capstone project, spring, 2008 through fall, 2008. Research completed and results presented at the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Symposium, December 4, 2008.
Burns, Cory. Changes in freshwater stream quality due to the deforestation of the Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) forests, caused by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). Biology Capstone project, spring, 2007 through fall 2007.
Grieneisen, Becky. Determination of appropriate rates of Garlon application for control of giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum. Biology Capstone project, spring, 2007 through fall, 2007.
Zatchok, Jake. Analysis of Lepomis macrochirus behavior in response to visual and odor cues of predators. Biology Capstone project, spring, 2007 through fall, 2007.
Lambie, B.A. Bioaccumulation of methylmercury in an aquatic ecosystem. Environmental Science Capstone project, fall, 2006.
Kawana, Teal. A study of achromatic recognition and associative learning in the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis. Biology Capstone project, spring through fall, 2006.
Leech, Adam. Study of Nasonia vitripennis host selection and the relationship between host size, sex ratio and offspring size. Biology Capstone project, spring through fall, 2006.
Montgomery, Jason. Effect of cow, horse, and pig feces on Nasonia vitripenis offspring production numbers in Sarcophaga bullata larvae. Biology Capstone project, spring through fall, 2006.
Barnes, Ryan. Genetic variability in bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, populations in two western Pennsylvania reservoirs. Van Vranken Research Program, Summer, 2006. Biology Independent study, Summer 2007.
Jurczenko, Chelsea. Identification of a conserved genetic sequence implicated in hip dysplasia in Canis familiaris with the use of microsatellite markers. Biology Honors project. Spring, 2005 to present.
Jurczenko, Chelsea. Comparison of genetic diversity in bluegill populations in isolated lakes. Van Vranken Research Program, Summer, 2005.
Reid, Felicie. Effect of chlorine on population growth of Selenastrum capricornutum. Environmental Science Independent Study, Spring, 2004. Presented at the 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

View Felicie's poster

Reid, Felicie. Toxicity of triclosan (2,4,4'-Trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) in fathead minnows and Daphnia. Van Vranken Research Program, Summer, 2003.
Quallich, Ryan. Occurrence and concentration of atrazine in the Shanango watershed, western Pennsylvania. Van Vranken Research Program, Summer, 2002.
Shephard, Chaleen. Mentum deformities of aquatic larval chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) exposed to heavy metals. Fall, 1998.

View Chaleen's Honors defense on chironomid deformities and heavy metals

Bochkoris, Matt. Genetic differentiation of populations of the goldenrod gall-fly, Eurosta solidaginis. Molecular Biology Honors Project. Spring, 1998.
Hluhan, Denise. The effect of nutrient loading on the diversity and productivity of a freshwater lake. Biology Independent Research project. Spring, 1996 through Summer, 1996.
Rhoton, Steve. The effect of varying pH on the symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium and its host plants; bacterial activity and host plant condition. Environmental Science Honors project. Spring, 1995 through Spring, 1996.

View Steve's Honors defense on the effect of differing soil pH on the mutualistic relationship between legumes and Rhizobium

Summerville, Keith. Toxicological analysis of atrazine absorption in goldfish and atrazine decomposition in water. Environmental Science Independent Research project. Fall, 1994.
Boos, Rob. The effect of varying levels of phosphate, nitrate, and chloride on survival and development of bullfrog tadpoles. Environmental Science Independent Research project. Spring through Summer, 1994.
Keller, Sharon. The effect of varying levels of acidity on the development of eggs of the African clawed tree frog, Xenopus laevis. Environmental Science Independent Research project. Spring, 1994.
Lary, Monique. Predation, aposemitism, and herbivory: a study of the three-level interaction between milkweeds, milkweed beetles, and frogs. Biology Honors project. Spring through Fall, 1994.
Presloid, John. A descriptive study of the vegetation, water quality, and hydrogeologic status of Mercer Bog, Mercer Country, Pennsylvania. Environmental Science Independent Research project. Spring, 1993.
DeFillip, Christina. An analysis of the effect of different temperatures and substrate composition on the efficacy of oil-degrading bacteria. Environmental Science Independent Research project. Spring, 1993.
Feith, David. Spectrophotometric analysis of the differential absorption of mercury into various tissues of fish. Environmental Science Independent Research project. Spring, 1993.
Bouch, Heather. An analysis of seasonal changes in water quality characteristics of a natural lake and a lake in a recently strip-mined area. Environmental Science Independent Research project. Summer, 1991 through Spring, 1992.
Hively, Lori. A comparison of the health status of Amish and non-Amish populations in Lawrence Country, Pennsylvania. Biology Honors project. Fall, 1991 through Spring, 1992.

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