As the semester comes to an end, I have reflected on my time as a CURF recipient and the research process collectively. I began my project with the belief that research plans are concrete and have little alteration. However, as time progressed throughout the semester it became apparent that research is a dynamic process that requires constant adaptation. With these…

Plant biodiversity is crucial in maintaining stable interactions among all species ranging from insects to humans. As the base of the food chain, it is of paramount importance that plants maintain an appropriate level of biodiversity in the ecosystem surrounding the Pittsburgh region. However, as whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations and human development patterns continue to fluctuate and increase in the area, certain plant species…