There are numerous opportunities for UTM students to participate in research in the Reelfoot Lake area. Several faculty members at UTM are, or recently have been conducting research on a variety of topics related to the Reelfoot Lake system. Some of these studies include investigations on aquatic algae, biodiversity and habitat use of amphibians and reptiles, the ecology of heron rookeries, metal contamination of lake sediment, calling behavior of barred owls, seasonal variation in fish community structure, and several others. If you are interested in participating in research in the Reelfoot Lake area, talk to your academic advisor about potential opportunities or contact the director of RLEFS (Dr. Tom Blanchard) at tblanch@utm.edu.
Additional support for undergraduate research can be obtained through the two scholarships described below.
The Smith, Henson, Sliger, Undergraduate Research on Reelfoot Lake Fund
This is a competitive grant that is awarded in the spring semester. The award is usually approximately $ 4,000 and is intended to provide funds for living expenses during the summer of research activity. The grant is available to students in any discipline. Funded projects must focus on topics related to the Reelfoot Lake system. Students interested in applying for this fund, should contact their academic advisor for more details about the application process.
Below are the titles, student authors (awarded recipient), and faculty mentors of projects that were supported by the Reelfoot Lake Undergraduate Research Scholarship.
- The Impact of deregulation on Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge. Dalis Lampkins (faculty mentor: Dr. Patrick Baker), Department of Accounting, Finance, Economics and Political Science. 2017.
- Differences in Habitat Use Among Species of Aquatic Snakes in the Reelfoot Lake Area of Northwestern Tennessee. Eric Velazquez (faculty mentor: Dr. Tom Blanchard), Department of Biological Sciences. 2016.
Past Scholarship Winners
- Effect of Turtle Size and Microhabitat Preference on Patterns of Carapace Algal Growth and Community Structure at Reelfoot Lake. Ann Ashlea McCann (faculty mentor: Dr. Jennifer Greenwood), Department of Biological Sciences. 2015.
- Analysis of Heavy Metals and Agrochemicals in and Around Reelfoot Lake. Joel Conway (faculty mentor: Dr. Kate Stumpo), Department of Chemistry and Physics, 2014.
- Seasonal Variation in the Numbers and Types of Vocalizations Uttered and Responsiveness to Playback of Aural Stimuli by Barred Owls in the Area Surrounding Reelfoot Lake, TN. Katrina Moeller (faculty mentor: Dr. H. Dawn Wilkins), Department. of Biological Sciences, 2013.
- Sedimentation Rates on the Upper Blue Basin (Reelfoot Lake) Using Cesium 137: Continued Study. Terri L. Keel and Johanna S. van Zyl (faculty mentors: Dr. Stan P. Dunagan and Dr. R. Mark Simpson), Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources, 2012.
- Examining the Effects of Habitat on Bat Diversity at Reelfoot Lake. Christine Hassell (faculty mentor: Dr. Nancy Buschhaus), Department of Biological Sciences, 2012.
- Vertical and Horizontal Nest Partitioning Between Herons and Egrets in Rookeries at Reelfoot Lake in Northwest TN. Taylor Ricks (faculty mentor: Dr. H. Dawn Wilkins), Department. of Biological Sciences, 2011.
- Sedimentation Rates on the Upper Blue Basin (Reelfoot Lake) Using Cesium 137. Terri L. Roe (faculty mentor: Dr. Stan P. Dunagan), Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources, 2010.
- A Comparative Study of Amphibians and Reptiles at the Reelfoot and Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuges in West TN. Keith E. Paluso III, James Stewart (faculty mentor: Dr. Tom Blanchard). Department of Biological Sciences, 2010.
- Comparison of Surface Water and Sediment Samples to Determine Diversity of Microorganisms in Reelfoot Lake Using Molecular Biology Techniques. Ryan O’Neal (faculty mentor: Dr. Micheal Kempf), Department of Biological Sciences, 2009.
- The Effect of Nest Cavity Density on Parasitism Induced Nest Abondonment in Prothonotary Warblers. Robert A. Carr (faculty mentor: Dr. David Pitts, Department of Biological Sciences), 2008.
The Reelfoot Lake Undergraduate Research Scholarship
This is a competitive scholarship that was established in 2016 by the Campbell family and is awarded to a biology (or related field) student in the spring semester. The award to the student is approximately $4,000 and funds are intended to provide living expenses during the summer of research activity. To be eligible for this scholarship, projects must be related to biological, ecological, or environmental phenomena related to the Reelfoot Lake system. Students interested in applying for this fund, should contact their academic advisor for more details about the application process.
Below are the titles, student authors (awarded recipient), and faculty mentors of projects that were supported by the Reelfoot Lake Undergraduate Research Scholarship.
- Effect of using moss as nesting material on cavity microclimate by Prothonotary Warblers (Pronotaria citea) at Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee. Kaleigh Grady (faculty mentor: Dr. Dawn Wilkins), Department of Biological Sciences. 2017.