Union College, Schenectady, NY, April 2015

Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Annual Keck Research Symposium in Geology


Short Contributions–Belize Reef Project

MULTI-LEVEL CHARACTERIZATION OF ACROPORID CORAL POPULATIONS AT CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE: A REFUGIA IDENTIFIED
LISA GREER, Washington & Lee University, HALARD LESCINSKY, Otterbein University, KARL WIRTH, Macalester College

ARE THREESPOT DAMSELFISH HELPING OR HURTING THE POSSIBLE RESURGENCE OF ACROPORA CORALS?
ZEBULON MARTIN, Otterbein University
Research Advisor: Dr. Halard Lescinsky, Otterbein University

GEOEYE-1 IMAGERY CLASSIFICATION: AN ACCURATE METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING POPULATIONS OF ACROPORA SPP. CORALS PRIOR TO A FIELD STUDY
JAMES BUSCH, Washington & Lee University
Research Advisor: Lisa Greer, Washington & Lee University

MORPHOMETRIC AND TAPHONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ACROPORA PROLIFERA AT CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE
SHANNON DILLON, Colgate University
Research Advisor: Constance M. Soja, Colgate University

ACROPORA CERVICORNIS RUBBLE AND FOSSIL FRAMEWORK AT CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE: INVESTIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND SAMPLING STRATEGIES USING STABLE ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY
SARAH HOLMES, Beloit College
Research Advisor: Carl Mendelson, Beloit College

QUANTIFYING THE MICRO- AND MACRO- BORING COMMUNITIES IN CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE
GABRIELA GARCIA, Oberlin College
Research Advisor: Dennis K. Hubbard, Oberlin College

GRAZER DYNAMICS ON AN ACROPORID PATCH REEF SYSTEM AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CARBONATE BUDGET AT CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE
SARAH K. BENDER, The College of Wooster
Research Advisor: Mark Wilson, The College of Wooster

ACROPORA CERVICORNIS CARBONATE PRODUCTION AT CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE: PREDICTING FUTURE REEF STABILITY
ERIN PEELING, The Pennsylvania State University
Research Advisor: Tim Bralower, The Pennsylvania State University

USING SEDIMENTS AND SUBSTRATES TO INTERPRET REGIONAL HYDRODYNAMICS AND ECOLOGY OF CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE
GREGORY MAK, Trinity University
Research Advisor: Daniel J. Lehrmann, Trinity University

GROWTH PATTERNS OF ACROPORA CERVICORNIS AFFECTED BY CURRENTS AT CORAL GARDENS, BELIZE
THOMAS R. HEROLD, The College of Wooster
Research Advisor: Shelley Judge, The College of Wooster

INVESTIGATIONS OF RESILIENT ACROPORA COMMUNITIES IN BELIZE: RELATIVE AGING AND INTRASPECIFIC DIVERSITY CALCULATIONS OF SPECIES USING MICROSATELLITE MARKERS AND SOMATIC MUTATIONS
ADELE IRWIN, Washington and Lee University
Research Advisor: Lisa Greer, Washington & Lee University

RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN CARRIBEAN CORAL REEFS: SCLEROCHRONOLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF O. FAVEOLATA AS A PALEOCLIMATE PROXY AT CORAL GARDENS AND ROCKY POINT, BELIZE.
ILIAN A. DECORTE, Macalester College
Research Advisor: Karl R. Wirth, Macalester College

 


Short Contributions–Alaska Tectonics Project

TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE PRINCE WILLIAM TERRANE IN RESURRECTION BAY AND EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA
CAMERON DAVIDSON, Carleton College
JOHN I. GARVER, Union College

ANNEALING RADIATION DAMAGE IN PRECAMBRIAN ZIRCON IN WHALE BAY, ALASKA AND LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
KAITLYN SUAREZ, Union College
Research Advisor: John I. Garver

PROVENANCE OF THE CHUGACH-PRINCE WILLIAM TERRANE, ALASKA, FOCUSING ON THE PALEOGENE ORCA GROUP, USING U-PB DATING OF DETRITAL ZIRCONS
WILLIAM E. GRIMM, Carleton College
Research Advisor: Cameron Davidson

MAGMA MIXING OVER A SLAB WINDOW: GEOCHEMISTRY AND PETROLOGY OF THE SHEEP BAY AND MCKINLEY PEAK PLUTONS, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA
RAINER LEMPERT, Amherst College
Research Advisor: Peter Crowley

TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE CHUGACH-PRINCE WILLIAM TERRANE: GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE ORCA GROUP VOLCANIC ROCKS IN EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA
ELAINE K. YOUNG, Ohio Wesleyan University
Research Advisor: Karen Fryer

DETRITAL ZIRCON U/PB AGES AND PROVENANCE STUDY OF THE PALEOCENE TO MIOCENE TOFINO BASIN SEDIMENTARY SEQUENCE, OLYMPIC PENINSULA, WASHINGTON
FRANK R. MOLINEK III, Carleton College
Research Advisor: Cameron Davidson, John Garver

ZIRCON FISSION TRACK AGES OF THE ORCA GROUP ON HINCHINBROOK ISLAND, ALASKA
EILEEN ALEXANDRA ALEJOS, Union College
Research Advisor: John I. Garver

 


Short Contributions–Tectonics of the Ruby Range, MT Project

EXPLORING THE PRECAMBRIAN GEOLOGIC EVOLUTION OF THE RUBY RANGE IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA
TEKLA HARMS, Amherst College
JULIE BALDWIN, University of Montana

PETROLOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY, AND THERMOBAROMETRY OF AMPHIBOLITES IN THE RUBY RANGE, SOUTHWEST MONTANA
BRIANNA BERG, University of Montana
Research Advisor: Julie Baldwin

MONAZITE OCCURRENCE IN GARNET BEARING SCHIST AND GNEISS FROM THE RUBY RANGE, SOUTHWEST MONTANA
AMAR MUKUNDA, Amherst College
Research Advisor: Tekla Harms

CALCITE-GRAPHITE STABLE ISOTOPE THERMOMETRY IN MARBLES OF THE RUBY RANGE, SW MONTANA
REBECCA BLAND, Mount Holyoke College
Research Advisor: Steven R. Dunn

GEOTHERMOBAROMETRY AND PETROGRAPHIC INTERPRETATIONS OF CHRISTENSEN RANCH METAMORPHOSED BANDED IRON FORMATION FROM THE RUBY RANGE, MONTANA
JACOB HUGHES, Western Kentucky University
Research Advisor: Dr. Andrew Wulff

PETROGRAPHY AND MINERALOGY OF ULTRAMAFIC PODS IN THE RUBY RANGE WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO IDENTIFYING ACCESSORY MINERAL PHASES, INCLUDING ZIRCON
LUIS G. RODRIGUEZ, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
AARON CAVOSIE, Curtin University Australia, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

INVESTIGATING THE TIMING OF MELT-PRODUCING HIGH GRADE METAMORPHISM IN THE RUBY RANGE, SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA THROUGH ZIRCON U-PB GEOCHRONOLOGY
MARIAH ARMENTA, University of Arizona
Research Advisor: George Gehrels

PETROGRAPHY, GEOTHERMOBAROMETRY, AND METAMORPHIC HISTORY OF METAPELITES FROM THE CENTRAL RUBY RANGE, SOUTHWEST MONTANA
CLÉMENTINE HAMELIN, Smith College
Research Advisor: John B. Brady

 


Short Contributions–Glacier Park Environmental Change Project

GEOMORPHOLOGIC AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA:
KELLY MACGREGOR, Macalester College
AMY MYRBO, LabCore, University of Minnesota

MAJOR AND TRACE ELEMENT CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY OF BELT GROUP ROCKS, GRINNELL VALLEY, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA: IMPLICATIONS FOR LAKE CORE SEDIMENTS AS GEOMORPHIC TRACERS
ERIC STEPHENS, Macalester College
Research Advisor: Kelly MacGregor

DOLOMITE ABUNDANCE IN LAKE JOSEPHINE SEDIMENTS, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA: A PROXY FOR GLACIAL EXTENT?
KARLY CLIPPINGER, Beloit College
Research Advisor: Carl Mendelson

MINERALOGICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITON OF SEDIMENT FROM LOWER GRINNELL LAKE, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA
ASHLEIGH COVARRUBIAS, California State University, San Bernardino
Research Advisor: Joan Fryxell

ADVANCE AND RETREAT OF GRINNELL GLACIER DURING THE LAST GLACIAL MAXIMUM, YOUNGER DRYAS, AND EARLY HOLOCENE AS RECORDED IN LAKE JOSEPHINE SEDIMENTS, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA
GRAYSON CARLILE, Whitman College
Research Advisors: Nick Bader and Bob Carson

FIRE FREQUENCY IN THE LAST MILLENNIUM IN THE GRINNELL GLACIER AND SWIFTCURRENT LAKE DRAINAGE BASINS, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA
MADISON ANDRES, Colorado College
Research Advisor: Eric Leonard

INORGANIC CARBON IN ALPINE LAKES AS A PROXY FOR GLACIER DYNAMICS DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA
EMILY DIENER, Macalester College
Research Advisor: Kelly MacGregor


Short Contributions–Weddell Sea Core Project

ANTARCTIC PLIOCENE AND LOWER PLEISTOCENE (GELASIAN) PALEOCLIMATE RECONSTRUCTED FROM OCEAN DRILLING PROGRAM WEDDELL SEA CORES:
Faculty: SUZANNE O’CONNELL, Wesleyan University

XRF DERIVED CYCLICITY IN PLIOCENE AND PLEISTOCENE SEDIMENTS FROM ODP SITE 693, DRONNING MAUD LAND ANTARCTICA
JAMES HALL, Wesleyan University
Research Advisor: Suzanne OConnell

PLEISTOCENE FORAMINIFERA ASSEMBLAGES AS A PROXY FOR TEMPERATURE IN THE WEDDELL SEA, ODP SITE 693A
CASSANDRE STIRPE, Vassar College
Research Advisors: Suzanne O’Connell, Kirsten Menking

PROVENANCE OF WEDDELL SEA DROPSTONES: PETROGRAPHIC AND GEOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE
HALI ENGLERT, Macalester College
Research Advisors: Karl Wirth and Suzanne O’Connell

 


Short Contributions–Peru Paleoclimate Project

HOLOCENE CLIMATIC CHANGE AND ACTIVE TECTONICS IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES: IMPACTS ON GLACIERS AND LAKES
DON RODBELL, Union College
DAVID GILLIKIN, Union College

BIOGEOCHEMISTRY AND SEDIMENT TRANSPORT THROUGH A TROPICAL ANDEAN PATERNOSTER LAKE SYSTEM: A MODERN CALIBRATION PROXY FOR LIMNOLOGICALLY-BASED PALEOCLIMATE RECONSTRUCTIONS
NICHOLAS WEIDHAAS, Union College
Research Advisors: Donald Rodbell and David Gillikin

GLACIAL VARIABILITY IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES AS RECORDED IN LAKE SEDIMENTS
ALIA PAYNE, Macalester College
Research Advisors: Kelly MacGregor, Macalester College

HOLOCENE CLIMATE VARIABILITY IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES RECORDED IN PROGLACIAL LAKE SEDIMENTS FROM LAGUNA PEROLCOCHA IN THE QUILCAYHUANCA VALLEY
JULIE DANIELS, Northern Illinois University
Research Advisor: Nathan Stansell

 

 


Short Contributions–Volcanic Hazards and Human Interactions, AK Project

GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND HUMAN/ECOSYSTEMS RESILIENCE IN THE ISLANDS OF THE FOUR MOUNTAINS, ALASKA
KIRSTEN NICOLAYSEN, Whitman College

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE STRATIGRAPHY AS A RECORD OF HUMAN RESILIENCE IN THE ISLANDS OF FOUR MOUNTAINS, ALASKA
LYDIA LOOPESKO, Whitman College
Research Advisors: Kirsten Nicolaysen, Whitman College; Virginia Hatfield, University of Kansas

SILICIC LAVAS OF MT. TANA AND THE ISLANDS OF THE FOUR MOUNTAINS, AK
ANNE FULTON, Pomona College
Research Advisor: Jade Star Lackey

GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF LITHIC TOOLS AND FLAKES FROM THE ISLANDS OF FOUR MOUNTAINS, AK: DETERMINING SOURCES LOCATIONS AND INFERRING DISTRIBUTION METHODS
TOM BARTLETT, Colgate University
Research Advisor: Martin Wong

 


Short Contributions-Basalt Lava Flows Project

CALIBRATING NATURAL BASALTIC LAVA FLOWS WITH LARGE-SCALE LAVA EXPERIMENTS:
JEFF KARSON, Syracuse University
RICK HAZLETT, Pomona College

COMPARISON OF NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BASALT AS AN INVESTIGATION OF PAHOEHOE-‘A’A TRANSITIONAL SURFACE TEXTURES
MARY BROMFIELD, Syracuse University
Research Advisor: Jeffrey Karson

SIZE OF PERCHED LAVA PONDS AS A PRODUCT OF VOLUMETRIC FLUX
NICHOLAS C. BROWNE, Pomona College
Research Advisors: Jeffrey A. Karson, Richard W. Hazlett, Eric B. Grosfils

COMPARISON OF ICELANDIC ROOTLESS CONES WITH EXPERIMENTAL LAVA FEATURES
NELL DAVIS, Williams College
Research Advisor: Bud Wobus

VARIATION IN BREAKOUT MECHANISMS IN EXPERIMENTAL PAHOEHOE FLOWS
KELSA A. WARNER, The University of the South
Research Advisor: Donald B. Potter, Jr.

EXPERIMENTAL MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF LAVA TUBE MORPHOLOGY ON MOLTEN, BASALTIC MATERIAL TRANSPORT
CHRISTOPHER G. PELLAND, Lafayette College
Research Advisor: Dr. Lawrence Malinconico

COMPARING THE ANISOTROPY OF MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL LAVA FLOWS
WILLA ROWAN, Oberlin College
Research Advisor: Andrew Horst

 


Short Contributions–Fire and Catastrophic Flooding, CO Project

FIRE AND CATASTROPHIC FLOODING, FOURMILE CATCHMENT, FRONT RANGE, COLORADO:
WILLIAM. B. OUIMET, University of Connecticut
DAVID DETHIER, Williams College
WILLIAM KASTE, The College of William and Mary

INVESTIGATING THE USE OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) AS PROXIES FOR HOLOCENE FOREST FIRES ON THE COLORADO FRONT RANGE
GREGORY HARRIS, University of Connecticut
Research Advisors: Michael Hren, University of Connecticut, Will Ouimet, University of Connecticut

POST-FIRE HILLSLOPE ASPECT CONTROLS ON EROSIONAL PROCESSES TRACED BY FALLOUT RADIONUCLIDES IN FOURMILE CANYON, COLORADO
EDWARD ABRAHAMS, College of William and Mary
Research Advisor: Jim Kaste

BURN SEVERITY EFFECTS ON HILL-SLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCAL VARIATION FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FOURMILE FIRE, BOULDER COUNTY, CO
OMAR KAUFMAN,Carleton College
Research Advisor: Mary Savina

CONNECTING SURFICIAL GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGIC FLUX IN LEAKY, SNOWMELT-DOMINATED CATCHMENTS, NIWOT RIDGE, CO
VICTOR W. MAJOR, Williams College
Research Advisor: David P. Dethier

CHARACTERIZATION OF LEGACY MINE WASTE CONTRIBUTIONS TO FOURMILE CANYON, COLORADO
RACHEL SAMUELS, Washington and Lee
Research Advisors: Dave Harbor and Paul Low

RECONSTRUCTING THE HOLOCENE AND ANTHROPOCENE STRATIGRAPHIC HISTORY OF FOURMILE CANYON
MANEH KOTIKIAN, Mount Holyoke College
Research Advisor: Alan Werner

ANALYZING GEOMORPHIC EFFECTS OF THE SEPTEMBER 2013 FLOOD IN FOURMILE CANYON, COLORADO, USING LIDAR AND FIELD STUDIES
WILL WICHERSKI, Williams College
Research Advisor: David P. Dethier

 


Short Contributions–Sophomore Project

AQUATIC BIOGEOCHEMISTRY: TRACKING POLLUTION IN RIVER SYSTEMS
Faculty: ANOUK GILLIKIN-VEREYDEN, Union College
Students: CELINA BRIEVA, Mt. Holyoke College, SARA GUTIERREZ, University of California-Berkeley, ALESIA HUNTER, Beloit College, ANNY KELLY SAINVIL, Smith College, LARENZ STOREY, Union College, ANGEL TATE, Oberlin College

Funding Provided by:
Keck Geology Consortium Member Institutions
The National Science Foundation Grant NSF-REU 1358987
ExxonMobil Corporation