Ecological Section Best Student Presentation & Poster Awards

Each year the Ecological Section of the Botanical Society offers an award for the best student presentation at the annual meetings. A judging committee evaluates each student presentation and selects a winner based on the quality of the work and the presentation. The recipient of the award receives a certificate, a cash award, and is a guest of the Ecological Section at the BSA banquet.

Award Recipients:

2008
BEST STUDENT POSTER
Iman Sylvain, of Howard University, for her poster, “Comparison of Seedling Fitness in the Hyperaccumulator, Alyssum murale Waldst and Kit. (Brassicaceae) in Soils With and Without Nickel.”

2007
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Teresa M. Woods, from the Kansas State University, for the paper “Multiple reproductive modes contribute to fitness homeostasis of the invasive Lespedeza cuneata (Fabaceae)” Co-authors were David C. Hartnett and Carolyn J. Ferguson.

BEST STUDENT POSTER
Mauricio Diazgranados, of Saint Louis University for the poster “Testing the conservatism of the ecological niche of the Espeletia complex”

2006
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Cristina Aragón, of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, for the paper “Relationship between physiological status and fitness-related traits in a semi-arid specialist, Helianthemum squamatum, in two contrasting scenarios”

BEST STUDENT POSTER
Jessica Rabenold, of University of Missouri-Columbia for the paper “Friend or foe: effects of ants on fitness of an alpine wildflower, Polemonium viscosum”

2005
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
John Geiger, Florida International University
For his paper “Breeding system investigation of the endangered vine Ipomopa microdactyla Griseb”

Yvonne C. Davila, University of Sydney
For her paper “Does geographic, annual and diurnal variation in pollinator visitation define a generalist-pollinated plant?” Co-author was Glenda M. Wardle.

BEST STUDENT POSTER
Christopher Martine, University of Connecticut
For his poster “Predicting the next woody invasives in New England: A model-based approach to identifying future threats.” Co-authors were Patrick M. Herron, Andrew M. Latimer, Stacey A. Leicht, and Eric S. Mosher.

2004
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Sally Chess, San Francisco State University
For her paper "Evidence for pollinator-mediated selection in Linanthus dichotomous". Her co-authors were Robert A. Rugoso and Gretchen LeBuhn.

BEST STUDENT POSTER
Hester Bell, Rancho Ana Botanical Garden
For her poster “Population genetics of Swallenia alexandrae (Poaceae), the Eureka Valley Dunes Grass.” Her co-authors were E. Friar and J. T. Columbus.

2003
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Jenise Snyder from Florida International University
For her paper "Spikelet phenology and floral compatibility of sawgrass, Cladium jamaicense (Cyperaceae) in the south Florida Everglades". Her co-author was Jennifer Richards.

BEST STUDENT POSTER
Christina Coleman, Auburn University
For her poster "Herbivore defenseas an explanation for hyper accumulation: Relative heavy metal toxicity to diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella)." Her co-author was Robert Boyd.

2001
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Radika Bhaskar, Stanford University
For her paper "Responses of hydraulic traits to light and water availability in a California chaparral shrub." David Ackerly was co-author;

Nicole Sudler, University of Kentucky, Lexington
For her paper "Phenotypic selection on sexual reproduction vs. clonal expansion in five populations of Viola blanda."

BEST STUDENT POSTER
Priscilla Callahan, University of Oklahoma
For her poster "The effects of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) encroachment on species diversity and composition of a mixed grass prairie." Bruce Hoagland and Phillip Crawford were co-authors.

1999
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION - Jochen Schenk

BEST STUDENT POSTER - Bruce Robart

1997
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION - Mary N. Puterbaugh from the University of Missouri
For her paper, entitled "The role of ants as floral visitors in the alpine."

1996
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
James Robert Bier from Indiana University
Received an award for his paper entitled "Influence of fungal endophytes on the demography of two woodland grasses: effects of light, water, and nutrient stress." This work was supervised by Dr. Keith Clay.

Carolyn Howes Kelffer, from Ohio University
For her paper entitled "Seed germination, survival, biomass allocation, and salt accumulation of five inland halophyte species." The work was supervised by Dr. Irwin Ungar.

1994
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Andrea L. Case of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The paper was entitled "Manipulation of grandparental temperature and parental flowering time." Co-authors were Elizabeth Lacy and Robin Hopkins.

1990
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Paul Bradley of the University of South Carolina
For his paper, "Effects of salinity on the kinetics of NH₄ uptake in Spartinaalterniflora."

1989
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Martha R. Weiss, University of California, Berkeley
For her paper, "Floral color change and maintenance of older flowers: an experimental evaluation of their roles in pollinator visitation."

1988
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Susan A. Langevin of Louisiana State University
For her paper, "Hybridization between red rice and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa)."

1983
BEST STUDENT PRESENTATION
Candace Galen from the Botany Department at the University of Texas
For her paper, entitled "Ants, bumblebees, and seed production in floral scent morphs of Polemonium viscosum." It examined the effects of pollinators and floral predators on seed production of sweet and skunky morphs of P. viscosum at two altitudes in alpine communities in Colorado.