Dr. Cipollini will direct students in any of the following three project areas.  The project descriptions are general, and students will be given the opportunity to develop projects that are related to these areas of research.   Click on the photos below to learn more about each project.

Berry Longleaf Pine Management Project.   Studies on the Berry College campus show a need for restoration and study of fire-suppressed mountain longleaf pine habitat.  A plan for restoration and study has been developed, the primary goal of which is to restore a 130-acre area to a healthy fire-maintenance regime (http://resource.berry.edu/longleaf).  This plan involves students in research, management, and public education, fosters research on mountain longleaf, and includes public education and outreach.  Of particular concern to southern landowners is a recent epidemic of Southern Pine Beetle (SPB), which primarily attacks pines other than longleaf.  As such, part of our research and management plan focuses on the possible use of the beetle-resistant longleaf in replanting efforts.  Our main approach involves a stepwise implementation of hardwood control and prescribed burns within experimental study plots, with an eventual expansion to a 130-acre area designated as the Berry Longleaf Management Area.  A secondary approach is planting seedlings in areas that have been logged for SPB control, and subsequently fire-managing those areas.  Both approaches involve pre- and post-management surveys of trees and other flora, and assessment of fuel buildup/fire risk.  As this project is implemented, many aspects of the ecosystem will be studied for the effects of differing management practices.  Several long-term projects have already been initiated, and will continue as management efforts proceed: 1) study of the longleaf population, 2) studies of the plant community, fuel load, and planted seedling survivorship, 3) Studies of various animal taxa and 4) studies of the effects of hardwood control measures.  Student interns will be assisted by the The “Longleaf Team”, which includes Berry College student workers.  NSF-REU students will be involved one or more of the current research projects, which are primarily field-oriented, and will be involved in the analysis of data and publication/presentation activities. 

Palila-mamane Project.   Our current focus is on intraspecific variation in the seed chemistry of mamane (Sophora chrysophila), an endemic Hawaiian tree fed upon by a specialist seed predator bird, palila (Loxioides.bailleui), as well as by specialist moth larvae (Cydia spp,)  Our preliminary studies show that mamane embryos contain high amounts of potentially toxic alkaloids, but are well balanced nutritionally, containing lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, and minerals at levels that are likely to be sufficient for maintenance and breeding.  Mamane seed coats contain lower levels of alkaloids and nutrients, somewhat higher levels of phenolics, and much higher levels of non-digestible fiber (as compared with embryos).  These results suggest that palila are able to tolerate high levels of alkaloids, and that they forage upon embryos primarily because of their abundance and high nutritional reward.  Our data also suggest that Cydia are eaten by palila because they are readily accessible, non-toxic, and nutritious; the larvae apparently do not sequester alkaloids while feeding upon mamane seeds.  Our previous studies used bulk samples from a number of different pods and shrubs, thus obscuring possible intraspecific variation that may influence foraging decisions by palila.  We have since developed GC-MS techniques that allow us to determine alkaloid levels within single embryos.  Our goal is to assess both quantitative and qualitative variation in seed chemistry at the level of seeds within pods, pods within shrubs, shrubs within local populations, among populations, and across seasons.  These data, coupled with long-term observations of the removal of seeds of different shrubs by palila and Cydia (USGS, unpublished data), will allow use to test the hypothesis that the seed predators forage selectively so as to minimize alkaloid intake.  Dr. Paul Banko (USGS – Hawaii) and Dr. Gary Breton (Berry College – Chemistry) are our principle collaborators.  Dr. Banko makes all seed collections and helps to formulate the study design.  Dr. Breton assists with GC-MS analyses of QA-alkaloids.  NSF-REU students will be involved in the extraction of samples, GC-MS analysis, analysis of data, and publication/presentation activities. 

Martha's Meadow Limestone Glade Project  Martha’s Meadow is a small area in northwestern Georgia on Berry College campus dominated by a relatively open canopy and an herbaceous plant layer composed mainly of herbs and grasses. A prior informal survey of the vegetation on the site indicated a calcareous limestone glade or prairie habitat. Calcareous limestone habitats occur throughout the southeastern United States, have dry, calcium-rich soils that select against high woody species cover, and tend to be high in grass and herbaceous plant biodiversity. This project focuses on conducting a vegetation survey of Martha’s Meadow to determine the species composition and cover values of the vegetation to determine what kind of limestone habitat Martha’s Meadow most closely resembles. It has already been found that the tree strata of the site is dominated by Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii), and hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). In 2005, the herbaceous strata is composed of a wide variety of herbs and grasses, including Danthonia spicata, wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), Cherokee sedge (Carex cherokeensis), and Nepal or Japanese grass (Microstegium vimineum), with these dominating by only a small margin. In 2006, we will resurvey the site, looking for short-term changes, and will draft a management plan with the goals of maintaining the common native species, controlling invasive exotic species, and promoting the survival and growth of the rare species on the site.