Gordon in the News: last updated 08/21/2013
Sam Mason ’15 and Sam Kruguer ’15 assisted Dr. Greg Keller, associate professor of biology and curator of birds and mammals, and Dr. Justin Topp, associate professor of biology, in a research project, “Impacts of habitat fragmentation on small-mammal carriers of Lyme Borreliosis, Babesiosis, and Anaplasmosis.”
The students researched four distinct habitats in the Gordon woods and North Shore of Massachusetts, live-trapping small mammals, collecting tissue samples, and collecting ticks to analyze for infectious agents of Lyme borreliosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. They compared results from the four habitats to identify specific types of habitat fragmentation that affect small mammals and the transmission of infectious diseases they carry.
Keller's and Topp's research will include grant applications for additional field and lab support for continued student collaboration.