Mykenna Zettle of St. Marys, a biology and environmental studies major at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, recently made two presentations on her research.

She was among four Pitt-Bradford students who joined counterparts from 12 other Appalachian-based colleges and universities recently to present online to the Appalachian Regional Commission. The students outlined a proposed trails project on 275 acres of forested land owned by Pitt-Bradford.

Zettle examined the trails for places where the trail might negatively impact the areas natural systems and identified places that might have to be dug out or built up to prevent erosion.

She also presented research at the 16th Annual Research Symposium of Presque Isle held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Zettle’s presentation was “The Effects of Gas and Oil Extraction on Insects in the Allegheny National Forest” and “Effects of harvest intensity on stream chemistry and macroinvertebrate communities.”