A Senior Capstone Experience by Justin Looper ’26

Submitted to the Department of Biology

Advised by Dr. Rinehimer

Contributor Biography: Justin holds a B.A. in Biology (Organismal Physiology Concentration) with minors in Chemistry, Chesapeake Bay Regional Studies. During his time at Washington College, he immersed myself in a variety of research and experiential learning opportunities ranging from Toll Fellows research to Chesapeake Semester and beyond. Through these experiences, he fell in love with the study of behavioral ecology in herpetofauna. After finishing his undergraduate degree in the Spring, he moved south to attend Georgia College and State University, where he is currently on a two-year thesis-track Master’s degree program in Dr. DeSantis’ Lab.

Short Description: My SCE pertains to research that I performed on strawberry poison dart frogs (Oophaga Pumilio) while on the Topical Ecology short term study abroad trip. In this study, I use behavioral metrics to investigate the complex relationship between behavior and adaptive coloration in tropical anurans.

Read Justin’s SCE below: