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Today as part of the orientation for the 2023 summer crew Dr. Jennifer Ison led a group in catching and identifying bees. The group loved running around the heliopsis in the garden trying to capture that elusive male Megachilidae “mason bee” with the big furry body and the green eyes. Unfortunately, we were so excited we forgot to get a picture. So you’ll have to take my word for it, but here’s a picture of the flowers.  Echinacea Project 2023 Environmental science university of mn-morris Pronouns: he/him Research interests: I am hoping to build on my knowledge of native flora and how they affect the environment around them, especially the soil characteristics. I would love to learn more about how deep rooted perennials affect the hydrology of the landscape. Statement: I am from Virginia, MN I started getting interested in native prairie plants when i was in high school working with conservation corps MN and IA in their youth program, I love being outside and spending time in nature. My hobbies include running, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, and gardening.  Today about half of the team got together and planted a new experimental plot. We all found our roles, worked efficiently, and got it done in 2 1/2 hours. Good work team! I’m excited to see what happens to the plot over the summer!   A monarch butterfly caterpillar at the Runestone Park remnant which is abundant with milkweed, his favorite snack.  I spent the day searching for echinacea seedlings in our seed addition transects. With the help of Lindsey and advice from other seasoned experts, I have complied a list of tips and tricks that will lead to highly accurate data collection. DO: Upon arrival at a segment, announce yourself to the echinacea. Why have you come here and what are you doing? Consider making an offering. Perhaps an invitation to collaborate in future studies, or the opportunity to review any relevant manuscripts. Be gentle when combing through their home. Clumsy fingers lead to broken echinacea and broken hearts. Of course, search actively! Change your angles and consider the topography. But also, let the echinacea find you. Never stab your toothpick into an echinacea root. I think this needs no explanation. Before your final sweep, verbally announce that you are done looking. This will most likely lead to the instant detection of one more plant. We can’t explain it, but it happens. Say your goodbyes before heading off. Offer words of encouragement to the seedlings as they, too, have a long summer ahead.
 Slow start this morning drinking water as we waited for rain to pass so we could continue shooting ENRTF GPS points (we forgot it’s raincoat). After lunch we continued with more of the same work and saw some Heliopsis helianthoides conspiring with bees.  We started early today to beat the heat but instead were greeted with a cloudy and cool morning. Right off the bat, I started the morning by continuing to take some GPS points for the ENTRF-funded bee research project. While I was enjoying taking points in a site with minimal hills… other groups did not have the same experience. Public enemy #1 (Geese) showed their true colors by showering El with some “love”.   After lunch, I learned how to take samples of the amount of light available along some of our transects using a light meter. My biggest trouble was finding all of our nails in the ground!  Lots of tasks today, one of which was sampling the amount of light available along some of our transects using a light meter!  These transects are part of our seeding experiment, and we added some lovely markers to help us spot some sprouting echinacea!  We also continued to establish new points for our upcoming emergence trap work and we saw several friends along the way.     To counter expected high temperatures, we started earlier in the morning with GPS points for the ENTRF-funded bee research project and found some cool plants. After lunch, some of the team continued to stake and shoot points, while others planted some green comet milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) seedlings in a previously burned site. We also saw a baby Pheobe on the deck after it attempted to fledge.    On a hill planting milkweed We know each plant’s mother. From every milkweed seed, Distinct one from one another. ____ Chocolate cake and thin mints For Alex’s last day! We’ll try to follow in her footprints And maybe make her stay. ____ Experiments in efficiency- Catching bugs the best way Practice until proficiency How do you catch bugs and make them stay…? ____ Emergence traps! are tents for bugs That they can not get out of So we can see each fuzzy mug And identify and count them up all up so we know which ones appreciate a post fire environment and which ones do not.  |
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