Aciano Rosales, a Sophomore majoring in Environmental and Conservation Biology and minoring in climate change and geographic information systems (GIS) at , participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program, where he conducted research on the Box Tree Moth (BTM), an invasive species affecting native plants in the Great Lakes Region. Under the guidance of Sarah Eichler, PhD, (Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences) and with support from The Environmental Science and Design Research Institute (ESDRI), Rosales explored how citizen science could aid in tracking the moth and improving control strategies.
Rosales used the platform to collect data. His goal was to demonstrate how public observations can help researchers track invasive species more efficiently. “I wanted to demonstrate how observations on iNaturalist could help track the Box Tree Moth, allowing researchers to develop control strategies much more rapidly than they could on their own,” Rosales explains.
In this project Rosales taught himself to use ArcGIS to take the data from iNaturalist and create maps, a skill he’s now applying in his GIS class. “I greatly enjoyed learning how to use ArcGIS. It was overwhelming at first with how many tools were available, but the things I was able to learn have been fun to apply in my GIS class this fall,” he says.
In addition to tracking the moth’s movement, Rosales researched potential alternative host plants for the BTM. “If they travel away from urban areas, they may try to find similar species to feed on,” he warns, noting that boxwoods, which are common ornamental plants in urban areas, are the moth's primary food source. As such, he wanted to find out if any plants native to the Great Lakes Region might be in jeopardy.
Though Rosales faced challenges, such as funding and fluctuating public interest, he was able to adapt. “The biggest challenge was the realities of the field/research as a whole—lack of funding and public interest,” he shares. “We ran into quite a few issues with sampling efforts/continuation because of this and ended up having to refocus both in the field and in the lab. It was extremely stressful in the moment, but the ability to navigate those situations will be vital as I continue with research.”
The support from ESDRI was crucial in helping him stay focused. “Being able to rely on ESDRI during the summer was amazing. I really appreciated the check-ins throughout the summer,” he reflects. Rosales is also a Fellow in ESDRI's Undergraduate Fellows Program.
Looking ahead, Rosales is optimistic about his future. “Though my experience was filled with ups and downs, it left me with an amazing set of tools I can apply moving forward,” he concludes. He plans to continue his research in citizen science and invasive species management as he advances in his academic career.