Session 1 - June 26 - July 8, 2011

Photos:
Mon, Day 1 |  Tues, Day 2 |  Wed, Day 3 |  Thur, Day 4 |  Fri, Day 5
Mon, Day 6 |  Tues, Day 7 |  Wed, Day 8 |  Thur, Day 9  |  Fri, Day 10

Day 1:

We began Monday morning in the Nichols Arboretum, filling new field notebooks with what we noticed with all the senses, with sketches, and with notes on new species like Virginia creeper and, of course, poison ivy. In the afternoon we visited Furstenberg Natural Area - where we could see a range of Michigan ecosystems - marsh, oak-hickory forest, prairie, and the Huron River. With careful examination of leaves we learned how to use dichotomous keys to identify white and black oak, black cherry, hickory, and other trees. We also conducted a study of whether the invasive plant honeysuckle really does escape predators and have less insect damage than its potential competitors. We’ll analyze our results on Thursday.

Day 2:

On Tuesday we got to know insects and studied how they depend on the structure and diversity of their plant habitats across an old field in Kosch Headwaters Preserve. Students used a variety of insect sampling methods, including a white sheet, tuna bait, and aerial and sweep nets. We became familiar with the characteristics of eight common orders of insects and could categorize what we found, which included dragonflies, beetles, and leaf hoppers. In the afternoon we explored plant adaptations to insects in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens conservatory and studied pollinators in action in the gardens.

Day 3:

Wednesday we studied watery worlds. We sampled animal life in a tributary of the Huron River, Fleming Creek, and in a pond and in the Huron itself. A favorite find was two very large leeches. The animals and our water chemistry told us about the differences in these communities. And we had fun wearing waders!

Field Biology

Photos:

Week 1 Photos | Week 2 Photos

Day 1

We began our field class with a day full of thunderstorms! In the drizzling rain we filled new field notebooks – ones actually made to be used in the rain - with what we noticed with all the senses, with sketches, and with notes on new species. As the thunder bellowed we came inside to look closely at bird and insect specimens in the Natural History Museum. Not being mobile, they gave us some really close views of identifying features like the shape of the bird bill and the number of wings on an insect. In the afternoon we continued to be ‘indoors’ by visiting the Matthaei Botanical Gardens conservatory where we studied a variety of plant adaptations. The last hour of class we finally were able to go outside and listen to the calls of green frogs in a constructed wetland and learn some key species like poison ivy and willows.

Day 2

On our second day we went into the field – this time experiencing another extreme weather type – it was hot! Nonetheless students became experts at tree identification, keying out a variety of species just by learning to look at leaves differently – are they compound? Are they opposite or alternate? At Furstenberg Nature Area we also saw a range of Michigan ecosystems - marsh, oak-hickory forest, prairie, and the Huron River.  We conducted a study of whether the invasive plant honeysuckle really does escape predators and have less insect damage than its potential competitors. In the afternoon we continued a study of the relationship between plant height and diversity and the insect life it supports at Kosch Headwaters Preserve.

Day 3

Wednesday we looked at watery worlds. We sampled animal life in Fleming Creek, two ponds, and the Huron River. We found everything from leeches to giant dragonfly nymphs and crayfish. The animals and our measures of water chemistry told us about the differences in these communities. And we had fun wearing waders.

Day 4

Thursday we came indoors to graph and analyze our results – honing Excel skills. Coming up to end the week: a night lab and a visit to a mitigated marsh with bald eagles!

Week 2

At the end of last week we saw raptors and racoons up close at dusk. On Friday at Crosswinds Marsh students identified birds and even saw bald eagles and learned how to navigate a wetland by canoe (see Week 2 photos). We began the second week with a visit to a magical and rare wetland type-a floating mat of sphagnum moss, or bog, which included crossing a moat in waders and finding carnivorous plants and wild blueberries. That afternoon we stimulated new ideas and skills for independent projects by doing some studies of the plants, insects, and soils of coniferous and decidous forests in Saginaw. On Tuesday we made the connection between land use differences and biodiversity by visiting two unusal farms (and getting hands dirty with rasberries, weeds, and wool). Wednesday, despite the heat, students succesfully conducted their self-designed research projects at County Farm Park and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The results are being analyzed and put into posters on Thursday and then will be presented in our poster symposium in the Math Atrium (same location as the orientation) at 1:30 pm on Friday, July 22-please join us to see the results!! ;