University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research for Undergraduates in Theoretical Ecology • Department of Mathematics • School of Biological Sciences • Department of Fisheries and Wildlife The RUTE Summer Scholars Program: The RUTE Scholars Program: • a one-summer Research Skills course for students who will be freshmen or sophomores • a multi-semester interdisciplinary research experience for teams of undergraduates and faculty • introduces students to research and prepares them for the RUTE Scholars Program • prepares students for graduate and professional research Research Skills for Theoretical Ecology 1. Focused preparation 3-credit, 5-week, team-taught summer course $1500 stipend, expenses Study aphid population dynamics and predation • 2-credit reading course in spring semester Topics, with details for aphids: 1. Greenbug Aphid 1. Acquire biology background 2. Learn math techniques 3. Acquire computer skills (Matlab) 4. Collect population dynamics data • Clip-cage experiments 5. Fit a mathematical model to data 6. Use the model to make predictions • Program and run Matlab simulation 4. Clip-Cage Experiments • Find growth rate (largest eigenvalue) and proportions (eigenvector) 7. Test predictions in the lab • Population growth experiment 8. Communicate research results .510 .330 xt 1 0 0 0 • Prepare a poster 9. Design a research study • Write a research proposal abstract 0 0 0 0 .553 0 .395 .534 0 .148 0 0 .704 x 0 t 0 .866 3.364 0 6. Stage-Structured Linear Model 5 4.5 – full-time graduate student support – at least 2 weeks with bio mentor – 1 week visit by math mentor – $3250 stipend, expenses, 3 credits 3. Data Analysis and Modeling • 3-credit independent study in fall semester 4 3.5 N(t+1)/N(t) 3 2.5 Predicted 2 Observed 1.5 0.5 0 -0.5 0 5 10 15 20 Time (Days) 7. Counting Aphids 4. Presentation • 2-credit independent study in spring semester 1 7. Population Growth: Predicted and Measured Ecology of Painted Turtle Populations (C. picta) in Western Nebraska 2. Summer field experience – data analysis – mathematical modeling – twice-weekly meetings with math mentor – $500 scholarship Growth Rate RUTE 2006 – Topics: • biological theory of research area • mathematical background for research area • field / laboratory methods • experimental design – Format: • students work together • students help choose topics and find sources • guest lectures as needed • students do papers and talks • 2-hour weekly meeting with both mentors – $500 scholarship • 10 weeks intensive field/laboratory work 0 .297 Email: rute@math.unl.edu Web page: http://www.math.unl.edu/~RUTE – prepare a research poster – prepare a conference talk – prepare a paper – meet with mentors as needed – $500 scholarship RUTE 2007 West Nile Virus and Vector Population Biology: Predicting the Next Big Outbreak Characterizing the Population Dynamics of Duckweed in Natural and Laboratory Settings