Session 1 - June 24 - July 6, 2012

Photos:

Mon, 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, elm, 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.

 |  Tues, Day 2 

On Tuesday we got to know insects! At the Arboretum Prairie students used a variety of insect sampling methods, including pitfall traps, 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.

|  Wed, Day 3

Wednesday we studied watery worlds, starting with the tiniest organisms - zooplankton. We then sampled animal life in ponds and a tributary of the Huron River, Fleming Creek. The animals and our water chemistry told us about the differences in these communities. And we had fun wearing waders!

|  Thur, Day 4 

On Thursday we came inside (from the almost 100 degrees!) and analyzed our collected data in Excel, using t-tests, chi-squares and regressions. That evening (still 90 degrees) we went out on a night lab to examine raptors up close at the Leslie Science Center. In our hike into Black Pond Woods we also got to see a newt, moths (with reflective eyes) attracted to our moth bait, and bats whose echo-locating we were able to hear with bat detectors.

|  Fri, Day 5

On Friday we went to Crosswinds Marsh - an usually successful example of a mitigated wetland. There we did a bird walk in the morning, which including a fantastic sighting of a bald eagle bringing a fish to its two juveniles. We also observed swallow behavior near their nests. In the afternoon, we took a canoe hike of the wetlands, seeing the marsh plants and animals from a unique perspective!

Mon, Day 6 

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.
After a stop in Hell, Michigan, in the 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 Forest.

|  Tues, Day 7 

On Tuesday, week 2, we visited an organic farm and discussed the biodiversity consequences of organic polyculture. We got some hands-on farm experience harvesting garlic, and then went to the Waterloo Eddy Discovery Center where we planned independent research projects and studied some Michigan wildlife up close.

|  Wed, Day 8 |  Thur, Day 9

On Wednesday we began the culminating field biology experience of independent research. Students spent July 4th collecting data in the field for their self-designed projects, ranging from the effect of height on plant herbivory to habitat selection by dragonflies to water quality along a stream. On Thursday we came into the computer lab where they entered and analyzed their data and create a poster report to explain their research.

 |  Fri, Day 10

Friday morning some parents joined us for the stellar poster presentations.

Photos:

Mon, Day 1 

We began Monday morning in the Nichols Arboretum, where we got a great view of two deer. We filled 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.

|  Tues, Day 2

On Tuesday we got to know insects! At the Arboretum Prairie students used a variety of insect sampling methods, including 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 did a multi-layer exploration of two forest types in Saginaw Forest, from soil to leaf litter to canopy trees.

 |  Wed, Day 3 

Wednesday we studied watery worlds. Near Washtenaw Community College we sampled animal life in two ponds which we hypothesized had different water quality. We also went upstream on the Huron River where we measured water chemistry and turbidity, macroinvertebrates (including a large dobsenfly larva!) and fish. We calculated a Stream Quality Index based on the species we found and are ready to compare it to a downstream site. And we had fun wearing waders!

|  Thur, Day 4 

On Thursday we came inside and graphed and analyzed our collected data in Excel, using t-tests and regressions. We answered questions about whether honeysuckle gets eaten less than native species, and how plant height relates to the number of insects found. In the afternoon we visited the Leslie Science Center, beginning our study of birds, including up close views of rescued raptors. At night we studied nocturnal biology using blacklights, moth bait and bat detectors.

|  Fri, Day 5

On Friday we went to Crosswinds Marsh - an usually successful example of a mitigated wetland. There we did a bird walk in the morning, which including a fantastic sighting of a juvenile bald eagle soaring overhead. We also observed swallow behavior near their nests. In the afternoon, we took a canoe hike of the wetlands, seeing the marsh plants and animals from a unique perspective!

Mon, Day 6 

We began the second week with a visit to the insect division of the Natural History Museum and then a close up look at Lake Michigan and Ford Lake zooplankton. In the afternoon we ventured 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.

|  Tues, Day 7 

On Tuesday we visited Tantre farm, an example of an organic polyculture. After learning about how farmlands of different types relate to biodiversity of the ecosystems we have been studying, we got some hands-on experience in the potato field. This proved quite rewarding despite (because of?) the 100 degree heat. We even encountered a large snapping turtle on the way back. After some time indoors in the afternoon planning our independent research projects, we visited Matthaei Botanical Gardens to investigate plant adaptations to conditions and animals and observe different pollinators in the display garden.

|  Wed, Day 8 |

On Wednesday students went various ways to collect data for their self-designed research projects. We then joined for a field scavenger hunt. On Thursday project results will be analyzed and put into posters and then will be presented in our poster symposium in the Math Atrium (same location as the orientation) at 10am on Friday, July 20-please join us to see the results!!

  Thur, Day 9  |  Fri, Day 10