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As wet meadow systems progress through time, they begin to dry out, mostly due to a falling water table. Andrew Mott ’07 (Corpus Christi, Texas) is working to characterize the wet meadow system in the mountains of central Nevada and determine the exact factors that contribute to this phenomenon.
A geology major, Mott has been working with Dru Germanoski, VanArtsdalen Professor and head of geology and environmental geosciences, on the project, which is being conducted in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, National Forest Service, and Western Carolina University.
Mott and Germanoski are collaborating through Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, in which students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.
In Nevada, there is a water shortage problem in both urban and rural areas. The project’s goals are to determine if there is a viable method of rehabilitating old wet meadow systems or prevent the degradation of current systems. These meadows serve as grazing lands for large numbers of cattle and are important to farmers and ranchers in the area.
Mott’s research will provide information to help slow the system’s natural trend to become barren, identify a possible geomorphic or hydrologic control on the systems’ locations, and determine if there are viable methods of stream remediation that can prevent the downcutting of the stream, thereby slowing the lowering of the water table.
“Andrew has been collecting data from topographic maps using a geographical information system to calculate the morphometric characteristics of more than 40 drainage basins that have a wet meadow or wet meadows in it,” Germanoski explains. “The morphometric characteristics – drainage density, stream power, ruggedness, etc. – are measures of the erosional energy in each drainage basin. Using these parameters, along with other characteristics of the drainage basin and meadow, allows us to rank each meadow’s susceptibility to erosion and destabilization.”
The researchers have uncovered positive results.
“What we have found is that the original basin sensitivity analyses can be used to prioritize meadows for preservation and stabilization to best apply good land-use management practices to preserve these ecologically valuable landforms,” Germanoski says.
For Mott, the project is interesting on several levels. Although he started “green” in the field, he now has a firm understanding of the project.
“I enjoy it because I am excited to see the results from my research contribute to the effort made by so many people on this project over the years,” he says. “I can’t leave out how beautiful the wet meadows actually are in the field; they are simply amazing – central Nevada is a great place to work and a great place for geology.”
Mott took an introductory geology course during his first college semester and “just got hooked” on the field. He believes Lafayette is an excellent institution for geology studies.
“The geology department at Lafayette has been a perfect fit for me,” he says. “Small class sizes have allowed me to interact with professors on a more personal basis than I would have had the opportunity to do at larger institutions. The professors are all easy to get along with inside and outside of class, and have what is most important in teaching a class – enthusiasm. A large part of understanding geology comes from being in the field and observing things firsthand, and at Lafayette this is easily accomplished.”
Lab courses include trips into the field to view what is discussed in class and to allow students to better understand geological concepts. Mott came to Lafayette knowing that he needed undergraduate research opportunities to increase his chances of getting into a good graduate school.
“Thanks to the geology department, this past summer was my third in the EXCEL program, and the fall semester was my fifth semester working with EXCEL,” he says. “I have been working with Dr. Germanoski for three years now as a student and friend, and it has been a great experience.”
Mott says Germanoski’s enthusiasm for his work is contagious. The two have forged a strong relationship and the mutual respect is evident.
“He’s taken me from being a wet-behind-the-ears freshman in the field and through his lectures in class and his explanations in the field, he has given me a great understanding of every aspect of the work we are doing,” Mott says. “What has meant the most to me has been the trust he has put in me to accomplish the goals he has set for me and the faith that I will do so. I have done the best I can to make sure that trust has not been misplaced.”
“Andrew is a very intelligent and highly motivated student,” Germanoski says. “Although Lafayette has many students that fit that description, Andrew distinguishes himself from most students by having the ability and confidence to think about the meaning and accuracy of data as he collects it. Therefore, if there is a system malfunction or error in the results, Andrew catches it. Many students either are not capable or not careful enough to notice bad data or errors in measurement or computation. Andrew also works very well independently and he has the ability to move forward with self-confidence.”
Mott has made the most of his research opportunities, having presented a coauthored paper at the 2005 Geological Society of America national meeting held in Salt Lake City. Germanoski expects at least one paper to emerge from their current research.
“This project has been an amazing experience for me,” Mott says. “Graduate schools look for undergraduate research when considering applications in our field. The experiences in the field and in the lab have been invaluable to my growth as a student and as a researcher. EXCEL work really allows students to get an understanding of the application of their fields outside the classroom and beyond what they would normally experience.”
Mott also has worked with Guy Hovis, Markle Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, on an independent study project examining the effect of silica enrichment on the solvus curve of the nepheline-kalsilite system, and an honors thesis project investigating REE and trace element contents of fluorite in Pennsylvania using ICP-MS analysis.
Mott is a Marquis Scholar and also a past recipient of the Arthur Montgomery Geology Award, given annually to a student of high academic achievement or with a special interest in mineralogy and petrology. A member of the varsity tennis team, he is a past Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete.
Chosen from among Lafayette’s most promising applicants, Marquis Scholars like Mott receive a special academic scholarship and distinctive educational experiences and benefits. This includes a three-week, Lafayette-funded course abroad or in the United States during January’s interim session between semesters or the summer break. Marquis Scholars also participate in mentoring programs with Lafayette faculty and cultural activities in major cities and on campus.
As a national leader in undergraduate research, Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Forty students were accepted to present their research at last year’s conference.