EW
Ethan Wilson
  • Biology & Chemistry
  • Class of 2016
  • Spirit Lake, IA

Ethan Wilson Participates in Buena Vista University's Twelfth Annual Scholars Day

2016 May 6

Buena Vista University's (BVU) twelfth annual Scholars Day was held Friday, April 22. The event provided students from all disciplines an opportunity to present their best presentations, original research, academic posters, artistic creations and performances to their peers, professors and the public.

This year's Scholars Day event featured 38 presentations from 66 students, exploring topics from literature and business to science and history.

Ethan Wilson, a senior biology major from Spirit Lake , was one of the students who participated. Wilson's presentation was titled The effects of North American beaver (Castor canadensis) dam formation on anthropogenically disturbed stream ecosystems., and the project's abstract is as follows:

Castor canadensis is a keystone species known to heavily alter stream hydrology, nutrient cycling, and biological composition (Mantel, Shepard, and Brown, 2009). The research focused on the spatial characteristics of two stream systems modified by C. canadensis activity. The 2014 stream located in Clay County, IA, was primarily used as an irrigation ditch (UTM coordinates Zone 15T: Upstream E0325639 N4772980 and Downstream: E0325556 N4772943). Whereas the 2015 stream located in Buena Vista County, IA, was a more natural system (UTM coordinates Zone 15T: Upstream: E0314016 N4754176 and Downstream: E0314005 N4754344). Biological, chemical, and physical assessments were conducted at each county site. An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) ranging from 0 to 36 was used to assess the upstream and downstream quality by calculating species richness, dominance, and abundance of Trichoptera, Plecoptera, and Ephemeroptera. The Buena Vista County stream system had a downstream IBI score of 18 and an upstream IBI score of 15. The Clay County irrigation ditch had a downstream IBI score of 7 and upstream score of 18. There was no significant difference between data when comparing upstream county locations and downstream county locations, thus original stream condition had a greater impact on stream health than beaver modification.

The keynote speaker for the event was Grant Gerlock, BVU Class of 2004, who is a Harvest Public Media reporter at NET News. Gerlock is recognized as a great storyteller and has visited coal plants, dairy farms, horse tracks and hospitals to cover a variety of stories.

"The students put so much into their research-time, effort, resources-that it becomes a part of them," said Dr. Steven Mills, assistant professor of Spanish and chair of the events committee who organized the event. "As they give their presentations and share their knowledge with the audience, their countenance brightens, their confidence rises and their eyes light up. What has become a part of their identity flows out with energy and enthusiasm; they feel like they have truly succeeded, and this success can be valuable to others, as well. I have seen every student walk away with a firmer step and a deeper desire to turn his or her academic work into something more."

A photo gallery from the Scholars Day event is available at www.bvu.edu/scholarsday.