12th Annual UW Arboretum Science Day
A hundred citizens heard six talks and viewed 4 posters at the Arboretum’s 12th Annual Science Day –the best ever, according to attendees who said: “exceptionally good presentations,” “great talks, “wonderful information,” and more.
Dr. Eric Booth’s keynote talk introduced a new comprehensive study of our Yahara Watershed –it involves 18 researchers who plan to predict how water quality and ecosystem services will change over the next 50 years in response to changes in land use, climate and urbanization. An ambitious goal, but we all need the answers to plan for the future!
At a smaller scale, students working in wetlands fed by urban runoff are learning how native plants respond (Jim Doherty), how Curtis Prairie handles nutrients (Isabel Rojas-Viada), how swales differ in infiltration and groundwater discharge (Jeff Miller) and nutrient uptake and discharge in fall 2011 (Stephanie Prellwitz) –all will collect more data in spring 2012.
Familiar animals are also being studied. Were you wondering how close the emerald ask borer is to Madison? About 2 hours away, according to Todd Johnson, who is releasing egg parasites to halt its advance. Perhaps you want to know which turtles live in the Arboretum. The most common are painted turtles, according to Brendan Reid, who located 47 but only 1 Blanding’s turtle (a threatened species) And those concerned about amphibians learned from Melanie Stock how temperature (related to urban heat) affects hibernation. Or maybe you are asking if Arboretum soil harbors cellulose-degrading microbes that might be harnessed to turn biomass into biofuel –Yes, according to Gina Levin. And Amy Jo Dusick added news that soil microbes recover quickly after invasive garlic mustard is removed. To read abstracts about all presentations, Click Here