Flexing Our Measuring Muscles

The Echinacea Project, and its principal investigator Stuart Wagenius, is responsible for the foundation of one of the most comprehensive and long-running studies of prairie plants. Experimental plots use a common garden design and include experiments involving inbreeding, aphid addition and exclusion, flowering phenology, pollen addition and exclusion, and more. The Echinacea angustifolia in experimental plot 1 were planted as far back as 1996; while they have experienced mortality over the years, many of these plants are still alive. Team Echinacea, most of which are younger than the plants we work with, have been hard at work collecting measurements to add to the ever-expanding dataset. We take data on things like the number of rosettes, leaves, and flowering heads a plant has, as well as insect activity and disease spread, to help determine the fitness of the plants in various treatments. 

As of August 1, 2025, we have measured approximately 60% of experimental plot 1, which has over 11,000 planted positions. Having accomplished so much, we plan on beginning harvesting soon next week. After the heads are harvested, the achenes will be sent to the Chicago Botanic garden, where interns and volunteers will work to determine the flowers’ seed set. Throughout the rest of the field season, Team Echinacea will continue measuring in ExPt01, and begin on ExPt08, ExPt09, ExPt07, and ExPt02.

This is a map of measuring progress in ExPt01, where the blue segments have been completed and the white, unfilled sections are soon to be measured. We measure by experiment, concluding one before we move to another. We have completed the inbreeding 1 cohort, the inbreeding 2 cohort, and the first generation of the heritability of fitness experiment. Currently, we are working on the 99 main garden, a series of rows planted by Stuart in 1999.