We’re thrilled to spotlight Alyssa Latargia, a senior in the Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources major (Class of 2025), who recently presented her outstanding research at the George H. Cook Honors Thesis Conference at Rutgers University–New Brunswick on April 11, 2025.
Under the men
torship of Dr. Myla Aronson, Alyssa has spent her final year diving deep into the past—quite literally—by analyzing herbarium specimens to study how plants have responded to long-term environmental change.
Her thesis, titled:
“Morphological and Phenological Trait Change in Herbaceous Wetland Plants in Relation to Temperature and Precipitation Patterns Over the Last Century”
explores how climate variables such as temperature and rainfall have influenced the physical and seasonal traits of wetland plants over the past 100 years. Her work sheds light on how plant communities are adapting (or not) to a changing climate, contributing to a growing field of research that connects historical botanical records with modern ecological questions.
Alyssa has been a dedicated member of the Aronson Lab, supporting a range of ongoing research projects before leading her own. Her curiosity, work ethic, and passion for urban and plant ecology have made her a valued part of the lab community.
As she prepares to graduate, we want to say: Congratulations, Alyssa! 
