This year SERNW was able to fund the research projects of three deserving students. Jarrett Cellini is a Masters student in Biology at Eastern Washington University working with Dr. Becky Brown. He received $1000 in support of his project, “Climate effects on the relationship between invasive annual grasses and biological soil crust.” Jarrett will sample biocrust and vascular plant communities along a rainfall gradient in central and eastern Washington to test two predictions about this relationship.

We are especially excited this year to provide grants to two promising undergraduate researchers. Christine McManamen is a senior in the ecological restoration program at the University of Montana. Her project entitled “Increasing the efficacy of herbicides: revegetation and the native seed bank” will extend past her expected graduation later this year. She will examine the effects of herbicides on native and invasive plant species when they are sown in chemically treated soil. Additionally, she will look at herbicide effects on the native and non-native soil seed bank. Jesse Bunker is also in the ecological restoration program at the University of Montana. His project considers the “Effect of controlled wildfires on whitebark pine ecosystems in the northern Rocky Mountains.” His work addresses questions about the efficacy of using controlled fire as a tool in restoration of whitebark pine. Both students were granted $950 towards their projects under the supervision of Dr. Cara Nelson.