Research at the UW-Madison Arboretum

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Joy Zedler

Research Director, Aldo Leopold Professor of Restoration Ecology
(608) 262-8629 | jbzedler@wisc.edu

Brad Herrick, M.S.

Ecologist and Research Program Manager
(608) 263-7344 | bmherrick@uwarb.wisc.edu

Please contact Brad Herrick regarding Research Permits for individual, multi-investigator, and class research projects at the Arboretum.

The UW Arboretum consists of a 1200-acre reserve in Madison that was set aside for ecosystem restoration, research and teaching, plus eleven outlying properties that serve as reference sites for restoration activities. Leaflet 18 (click on image to download) is a compilation of maps and aerial images which illustrates the Madison core property, as well as some of the challenges the Arboretum faces in restoring native communities in its urban setting. All leaflets are viewable on the Arboretum Leaflets page.

Click on image above to view the final report on restoration of the eastern Arboretum wetlands prepared by the 2007 Water Resources Management (WRM) Practicum from the University of Wisconsin.

Click on image above to view the research findings of the 2007 Botany 670 course from the University of Wisconsin, which was conducted in the Arboretum.

UW-Madison graduate students conducting research in Curtis Prairie in August 2007. Photo by Brad Herrick

Research at the Arboretum

IN THIS SECTION

Staff, students and volunteers planting the new Pond 4 with native aquatic vegetation.

THE SEARCH TO IMPROVE STORMWATER TREATMENT APPROACHES
AT THE UW-MADISON ARBORETUM

Aerial photo of the 7.2-acre stormwater treatment facility
with 2 ponds at bottom (inflow), 4 swales, and a
collection pond. The conventional pond (top, with
forebay) receives inflows via a concrete flume (on
right), as well as from the swale system. The facility is
just east of Curtis Prairie.

	Cattails invaded where sown species did not establish by June 2010.
	Plot where a native sown species (Bidens cernua) established well, and experienced much less invasion of cattails.
	Dr. Anita Thompson checked elevations of swales and weirs, aided by Dr. John Panuska, UW-Extension (out of view).
	Morgan Moller helped M.S. student Hadley Boehm document cattail invasion in the swales with and without pre-established Bidens. Morgan received Independent Study credit for her work.
	Undergraduate Robert Geitner documented rapid cattail invasion in the collection pond, using a floating mattress to hold his data sheet and sampling frame (before cattails were full-grown). He received Independent Study credit for his research.
To test the effects of species composition and richness on native plants and soil erodibiity, Zedler, S. Loheide, Hadley Boehm, J. Miller and J. Doherty established a mesocosms experiment in the Arboretum using 36 cattle watering tanks.
	Joy Rifkin (undergraduate volunteer), Hadley Boehm and Jim Doherty planted mesocosms with 1, 3, or 9 native wetland species.
	All 36 mesocosms were planted by June 24, 2010.

Original Document on SEARCH TO IMPROVE STORMWATER TREATMENT APPROACHES AT THE UW-MADISON ARBORETUM

If you have a question about research at the Arboretum, please send us a message through our online contact form and we will direct it to the appropriate staff member.