This summer the Department of Biology and the Title V program are supporting several students conducting summer research. Two of these students are working to improve our knowledge of the wildlife at Firebase Libby, a 160-acre property in central Callahan County owned by McMurry University.

Daniel is a member of Team Crab Boyle and his focus is to obtain 10 weeks of sampling data on Lepidoptera at Firebase Libby. Each week Daniel walks four transect lines with his butterfly net through the grassy area of the property to collect all the butterflies and moths he can. This project is a continuation of the past year, but this Summer he also utilized a new type of sampling net called a Malaise trap (featured in photo).

Luke is a member of the Brant Scouts and is working with Dr. Joel Brant to survey the reptiles and amphibians (collectively termed herptiles or herps) at Firebase Libby. This involves weekly checks of four drift fence arrays with pitfall buckets and funnel traps. Aside from studying herptiles, Luke participates in small mammal trapping once a month.

Other projects being done by the Brant Scouts involve the use of camera traps, bird detectors and bat detectors. These projects are also a continuation of the past year. Data collected will be utilized in various courses this upcoming school year.

Follow the official S3C Instagram to see species encountered year round.