Thomas Barnum ’02

Biology

     After graduating from EC, Thomas received his master’s degree from Auburn University  in Entomology and is now studying for his Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of Georgia. His area of study is Costa Rica and the tropical rainforest ecology. More specifically, he is studying the decline of frog populations due to fungus. The title of his dissertation is: Consequences of Frog Extirpations on Food Web Structure and Interaction Strengths in a Neotropical Stream.
     A combination of biology classes and, importantly, an art class with Professor Marc Dennis, prepared Thomas for the pursuit of his Ph.D. “Taking a drawing class at EC has been a great help with my current position, because I look through a microscope at diatoms and have to draw and render them accurately,” Thomas explains. Thomas is the nephew of alumna Charlotte Barnum Olding ’63.