Broad Interests and Small Insects - Emily Pfaller
As a student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, I have been presented with a wide variety of subjects spanning both the natural and social sciences. For the majority of my undergraduate career, this variety of choice and opportunity felt extremely overwhelming. During my junior year I decided that I wanted to combine my interests to focus on the interaction of social systems and ecosystems in order to further understand the impact that humans have on ecosystems. Presently, my research focuses on wildfire impacts to the pawnee montane skipper (Hesperia leonardus montana), a species of butterfly endemic to 20,000 acres on the Colorado front range. While I never imagined that I would end up focusing on such a specific area, it has been extremely rewarding and has proven to be a great way to be able to study my very broad interests in a reasonable timeframe. Utilizing data collected from researchers at Colorado State University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, I am able to determine the extinction risk of the species and assess how previous wildfires have impacted the viable habitat area. This assessment may be used to help inform forest management decisions for the species habitat area and surrounding forest. Participating in an honors thesis in the EBIO department has allowed me to utilize my knowledge from coursework and further explore my interests in a more engaging and impactful setting
