Capstone projects are designed and executed by Paul Smith students, generally seniors.
A variety of research projects at Paul Smith's College have focused on fish or wildlife. Many of the projects are listed below, along with the author and the semester in which the project was completed. Copies of the projects are at the library.
| Title | Author |
| A spatial comparison of great-horned owl and barred owl breeding territories using a grid-based ornithological survey and GIS in the Adirondack Park region of NY | Rachel Johnson (Spring 07) |
| A study of the physical/chemical properties as well as macroinvertebrate and zooplankton assemblages present in a series of ten beaver dams in the Smitty Creek watershed, Franklin County, NY | Kevin Weed (Spring 07) |
| A survey of brook trout for parasites from Smitty Creek Watershed, Paul Smiths, NY | Kristie Wikane (Spring 07) |
| Whos afraid of the big bad wolf? A survey of teenagers beliefs and attitudes towards wolves | Emily Purcell (Spring 07) |
| A comparative analysis of two southeast Alaska chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations based on length, weight, age, diet, and sex | Tobias Robinson (Spring 07) |
| Liming Little Simon Pond & Heavens Lake | Jordan Clements (Spring 07) |
| Validating habitat suitability index models for spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis) | William Richards (Spring 07) |
| The phenology and population biology of migrating amphibians along Keese Mill Rd | Elicia Andrews (Fall 06) |
| Feeding and foraging habits of gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) in suburban and natural habitats | John O'Bryan (Fall 06) |
| Effects of vegetation quality on black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) territory size and reproductive success | Christine Roy (Fall 06) |
| Habitat suitability for the eastern wild turkey in the Adirondack park: Hard mast is not a limiting factor during the winter months | Emily Albright (Spring 06) |
| Finding a Common Nesting Habitat Factor for Great Blue Herons Among Three Great Blue Heron Rookeries | Justin Feld (Spring 06) |
| A Test of Corvus corax Learning Ability through Response to Coyote Vocalizations in Northern New York State | Mark Fisher (Spring 06) |
| Adirondack Black Bears: Landfills to Recreation Facilities to Forests | Clark Gareau (Spring 06) |
| Is Fecundity Dependant upon Individual Body Size of Rainbow Smelt? And a Lake Analysis of Meacham Lake vs. Lake Champlain Smelt Fecundity. | Travis Hosgood (Spring 06) |
| The use of track index stations to assess small mammal diversity in second-growth and old-growth forests in the Adirondacks | Tim Paddock (Spring 06) |
| Wood Ducks Nest Site Selection in Northeastern New York | Brian Schofield (Spring 06) |
| A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationship of Fish Communities to Habitat and Beaver in Smitty Creek Watershed. | Jeffrey Wagenhauser and Timothy Donaghy (Spring 06) |
| A Preliminary Study of Factors Associated with the Presence of Eurasian Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) in the Adirondack Park. | Kathryn M. Radock. (Fall 05) |
| Importance of Basin Slope and Topography on Habitat Selection of Brook Trout | Travis Johnson (Fall 05) |
| An investigation of the small mammal species composition and distribution between riparian and upland zones | Liz Braaten (Fall 05) |
| Nest Site Selection of Canada Geese in Relation to Microclimate and Habitat Use/Availability | Thomas Smith (Fall 05) |
| Diet Overlap of Fishes in Smitty Creek. | Chris Wade (Fall 05) |
| A Comparison of Fall and Winter Fish Populations in a Small Adirondack Stream. | Andrew Preston (Spring 05) |
| Macroinvertebrates in small Adirondack streams. | Matt Boss (Spring 04) |
| Investigation of Temporal Shifts in the Diet Composition of Yellow Perch Perca flavescens, from Lower St. Regis Lake. | Theodore Thomas Nead (Spring 04) |
| Are There Problem Bears or Just Problem People. | Melanie Morehouse (Spring 04) |
| Changes in Wetland Area Caused by Beaver in the Kuncanowet Forest Area of Dunbarton, New Hampshire from 1946 to 2003. | Adam Lunsford (Spring 04) |
| Interactions Between Silvicultural Treatments, Deer Browsing, and Seedling Regeneration in a Northern Hardwoods Forest. | Rose E. Thelen (Spring 04) |
| Predicting Future Moose Populations in the Adirondacks using Geographic Information Systems. | Pamela Hyde (Spring 04) |
| Survey of Birds and Bird Habitats in the Adirondacks. | Anthony Laflamme (Spring 04) |
| An examination of the impact of Paul Smith's College in small mammals: a preliminary study. | Chad Yost (Fall 04) |
| The Influence of Deer Browsing on the Forest Structure and Composition of North Manitou Island, Lake Michigan. | Stephanie Sears (Fall 03) |
| Did Stocking Have an Effect on Echo Lake’s Water Quality? | Heather Bach (Spring 03) |
| Adirondack Exotic Pet Rescue: A Feasibility Study for an Exotic Pet Rescue, Rehabilitation and Adoption Center for the Northern Adirondack Park. | Amy Fleischut (Spring 03) |
| Comparing Four Different Deer Population Control Methods in the United States. | Bill Lang & Mark Robinson (Spring 03) |
| The Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Response to the Need of Better Management of the Communities in the Adirondack Park. | Jason W. MacGregor (Spring 03) |
| Educating Anglers about Catch-and-Release Fishing Techniques. | Nicholas Corriero (Spring 03) |
| The Effects of Synergized Techincal Sumithrin (Anvil 10 + 10) and Technical Sumithrin on the Crayfish Species Orconectes immunis. | Megan Ernst (Spring 02) |
| The Reestablishment and Success of the Eastern Bluebird via Human-Provided Nest Boxes at the Capital Hills Golf Course in Albany, New York. | Jonathan Waldron (Spring 02) |
| Mount Desert Island Common Loon Monitoring Project | Timothy H. Rand (Fall 2002) |
| Effects of Deer Browsing on a Northern Hardwood Forest. | Lynne Avery (Fall 01) |
| Preliminary Investigation of the Relationships Between Eastern Coyote Population Size and Public Attitude Toward the Eastern Coyote. | Scott LaPoint (Fall 01) |
| Effects of "No-Take" Marine Reserves on Exploited Reef Fish Maximum Lengths in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. | Anthony P. Schabloski (Fall 01) |
| Is There a Relationship Between Natural Weather Conditions and Whether or not Fish Strike in Lake Ontario. | Shelly Cihan. (Spring 01) |
| Methodologies for Detecting Mesocarnivores in Northeastern North America. | Eric Hellwig (Spring 01) |
| A Comparative Analysis of Human/Wildlife Conflicts in Kenya. | Corridon Lapati (Spring 01) |
| Study of Effects of Water Level Changes on Aquatic Plants and Fisheries in Lake Abanakee. | Bill Studdiford (Spring 01) |
| The Reintroduction of the Bald Eagle to New York State. | Carey Burns (Fall 2000) |
Capstone projects can focus on any vertebrate class (amphibians, reptiles, birds or mammals). Projects may ask questions about population sizes, community structure, or behavior. Projects could also ask questions about impacts of anthropogenic influences such as habitat fragmentation, urban development, or conservation actions.
| Wildlife ideas | Skills, abilities and knowledge |
| Ground truth GAP data | Small mammal trapping and identification OR know how to census birds, amphibians, or reptiles AND GIS |
| Census flying squirrels | Live-trap flying squirrels, age, sex and mark individuals. |
| Owl surveys | Ability to conduct nocturnal surveys and recognize owl calls. |
| Impacts of ski runs on small mammal OR passerine communities | Small mammal trapping and identification OR bird identification skills |
| Optimal foraging | Conduct behavioral observations |
| Survey mammals OR birds at Smitty Creek | Small mammal trapping and identification OR bird identification skills |
| Habitat use studies | ex., determine winter habitat preferences of white tailed deer with their tracks in the snow. |
| Anthropogenic impacts on wildlife | survey road kills, birds that fly into windows, etc. |
| Impacts of silvicultural treatments on wildlife | Silviculture and wildlife |
| Compare phenological data over time, ex., bird arrival dates. | Search bird list serves (spring arrival dates over the years etc), bird banding stations, Breeding Bird Atlas, MAPS, etc |
| Albany Pine Bush: Endangered Species Management, Conservation Biology, Ecosystem Management, Karner bLue butterflies, and other ideas | depends on project. See Craig Milewski or Jorie Favreau for information on how to contact the PSC alumni who work at the Albany Pine Bush. |
