Wichita State University biology undergraduate Machale Spencer tied for first place for best poster by an undergraduate at the 2008 Kansas Academy of Sciences annual meeting Saturday, March 29.

Machale's poster was titled "Combined Effects of Herbivory and Neighbor Plant Competition on Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum) Growth."

Fellow student James Crisler also presented a research poster at the event. Both presentations were part of WSU assistant biology professor Leland Russell's lab group.

James' poster, titled "Riparian Forests Characterization in the Great Plains Relative to Beaver (Castor canadensis) Foraging and Herbivory," received positive responses during the poster session. It is now on display on the fifth floor of Hubbard Hall across from Room 512.

WSU's Ninnescah Experimental Tract provided study sites for both projects.