York professor helps students engage in ecology research in California

YORK, Pa. - Associate Professor of Biology Anne Vardo-Zalik travels to the Hopland region of California every two years to conduct ecology research. When she presented the possibility of participating in research to fourth-year biology major Laine Rigel and third-year biology major Natalie Weigel, they said they knew they couldn't pass on the opportunity.

Vardo-Zalik first started researching a wildlife malaria parasite found in lizards in Northern California when she began her doctorate program in 2003. The parasite can infect lizards with malaria, but it doesn't cross to humans. Every two years, she goes to California to collect data and brings students with her so they can get hands-on field experience.

"My [doctoral] adviser began working on this research in 1978, and he has data from almost every year since then. When he retired, I took over the project and gathered samples every two years so we can keep this long-term data set going," she said. "We keep track of how malaria is shifting and changing in terms of prevalence. When we go back to the lab, we look at the genetics of the parasite to see if any changes occurred on a molecular scale."

The opportunity was presented to Rigel and Weigel when Vardo-Zalik announced she was going on this trip to her "BIO 220W: Biology of Populations and Communities" courses last academic year.

"Being presented with the opportunity to do research in California was surreal. It was also really hands-on, which is something that we don't really get to do a lot in the classroom," Weigel said. "Being able to experience what it's like to do fieldwork in ecology was really eye-opening and sealed the deal that this is something I would like to do in the future."

While in the field, Vardo-Zalik, Rigel and Weigel would start gathering samples around 8 a.m., going up and down hills and rocks to catch lizards. Through the samples, they could track how malaria changed in terms of prevalence and genetics.

"I'm so grateful for the opportunity to participate in a fieldwork environment with Dr. Vardo-Zalik and Natalie through Penn State. It was exciting to interact with the animals and go through the process of gathering data in a laboratory setting, training I would otherwise not be able to experience," Rigel said. "It was really interesting to learn about the lizards and apply our knowledge to the fieldwork as we went out every day, such as learning their preferred habitats and what time they were moving around. The great thing about science is that every outcome of any situation provides valuable information to learn from."

Weigel added onto this, stating how grateful she is to attend Penn State because she might not have gotten the same opportunity at another university.

Rigel and Weigel noted how beneficial their research has been to their overall college experience.

"It was a truly unique and unforgettable experience that was significant in helping me decide what I would like to do as a career in the future," Rigel said. "I highly recommend any students who have the opportunity to participate in research studies to do it, as it can help determine a future career interest."

Weigel agreed.

"Don't be scared of going out into the field; just do it," Weigel said. "Take on the opportunity. Being out in the field was so great and so crucial to the continuation of my education. You're going to learn so much, and you're going to be so grateful for the experience."