Ten Years of Conference Presentations for Bryn Athyn’s Deer Study

BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The most recent Annual Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Ecological Society of America marks the 10th anniversary of Bryn Athyn College’s Deer Study presentations at a scientific conference. The Deer Study is a collaborative research and education project between Bryn Athyn College and Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust (PERT) that tracks the movements of white-tailed deer fitted with high tech GPS/GSM radio collars in the suburban oasis of the Pennypack Watershed, which is surrounded by residential and industrial development. The purpose of the deer study is to better understand the biology, ecology, and behavior of white-tailed deer.

Conducted by a core group of professors and an increasingly long list of motivated science students over the years, this study is carried out under a trapping permit granted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and in cooperation with the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust. Bryn Athyn College faculty and students have presented on a wide range of topics drawn from the study’s data, ranging from the effects of ambient noise on the movement of white-tailed deer, to how deer road crossings are related to deer-vehicle collisions and human presence in the study area.

The ongoing and well-respected Deer Study is the centerpiece of Bryn Athyn College’s research and professional presentation opportunities for students. President Brian Blair remarked, “The 10th anniversary is indeed a special milestone for this program, the science department, and the College. Developing this important research has benefitted the surrounding community while setting an example of academic excellence that the Bryn Athyn College family can point to with pride and admiration.”

The Deer Study began in 2006, and results were first presented on April 19, 2008, at a conference at Wilkes University. The study has now presented a total of 30 posters and given seven oral presentations at 20 different scientific meetings, and published four articles in peer-reviewed journals. More than 30 students have participated in various aspects of the Deer Study, and 21 of those have been co-authors on conference and meeting presentations. A selection of these papers and presentations is available at brynathyn.edu/deer-study.

Founded in 1877, Bryn Athyn College is a small, private, liberal arts college dedicated to a New Church approach to education. The curriculum pairs rigorous academics with spiritual inquiry, and emphasizes critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, public presentation, and experiential education. Located on a beautiful 130-acre campus just 15 miles north of Philadelphia, Bryn Athyn College offers NCAA division III athletics and is home to a diverse, coeducational student body.