Hannah got started in research through the LEARN program at UCF, and currently studies gopher tortoises and the contraction of the Mycoplasma bacterium. 

Hanna’s project: The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a keystone species within the longleaf pine ecosystem, experience widespread population declines due to anthropogenic alteration. In these impacted environments, G. polyphemus often exhibit increased physiological stress and a higher likelihood of infection and apparent disease. Specifically, G. polyphemus frequently suffers from Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma spp., though the virus Ranavirus (Rv) can exhibit similar clinical signs in some individuals. Here, we examined the presence, prevalence, and intensity of Mycoplasma spp., and Rv in G. polyphemus populations across anthropogenically-impacted and relatively unimpacted sites on the University of Central Florida campus. Ultimately, this research will continue to inform land management at UCF and better our understanding of the complex interactions between urbanization and disease ecology. As UCF continues to expand, this work will provide burrow locations on the land scheduled for development.

Hannah’s advice: “My advice to aspiring or current undergraduate researchers is to try everything! You never know what will spark a passion and you may end up falling in love with something you had no clue was out there. Say yes to new opportunities and be open to learning new things all the time! Live by the phrase “its better to be told no than to live with what could have been”.