Daniel McGarvey, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, contacted us early on in the fire to share his memories and connection to the Andrews Forest and Lookout Creek. “I traveled to Lookout Creek in 2018 to sample fish and stream invertebrates with a crew made up entirely of underrepresented minorities.
This is the time of year when migratory birds head south for the winter. Hermit Warblers fly two and a half thousand miles (4000 km) each fall, from their breeding grounds in the western Unities states to their wintering grounds in central America. In the spring, they’ll make the trip in reverse. When the warblers return to the Andrews Forest, graduate students Maddie Sutton and Nina Ferrari are waiting for them. Maddie, Nina, and their team record the abundance of over 80 bird species each spring across 184 locations, or points, as part of a long-term study on bird populations.
The first week of September typically marks the annual trip to Mack Creek for our team of researchers working on a long-term study of trout and salamanders. Since 1987, we have visited the same sections of Mack Creek to measure the numbers, size, and mass of these aquatic vertebrates. The study constitutes one of the longest continuous records of salmonid populations on record. The Lookout Fire burned over Mack Creek so we will not be able to go to the site to sample and collect data this year.
Did you know that the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest, and Lookout Mountain, has high elevation meadows? Those meadows are full of flowers in the summer. Researchers have been studying how pollinators — like bees, flies, moths and butterflies — are connected to flowering plants and how networks of plants and pollinators respond to environmental change. So far, research in 12 meadows, over 11 years, has identified >670 flower-visitor species and >150 species of flowering plants.
A story map created by graduate student Alyssa Eklund contains videos, infographics and basic information about wildlife: “Nature's Hidden Encounters: Unveiling Wildlife Biodiversity - Large Wood Crossings at Lookout Creek, H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, OR”. Much of the video footage and photos come from areas that are now within the Lookout Fire perimeter. This study shows that large logs laying across streams serve as important corridors to many different species of animals.
PSM DEFENSE SEMINAR
“Unveiling Biodiversity at Large Wood Crossings in Rivers”
ALYSSA EKLUND
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
9 a.m. Pacific Time
via zoom
Seeking 2 summer students to contribute a National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research (NSF LTER) project addressing how forest species interactions amplify or reduce responses to microclimatic variation. The students will help to implement a large-scale field experiment involving seedlings of canopy tree species, mosses, and fungi along a 1,000 m elevational gradient in the Western Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Students will additionally develop independent research related to the performance and physiology of transplanted seedlings and mosses, and will have an opportunity to present results of their summer research. Project mentors include: Posy Busby (Oregon State University), Jeff Diez (University of Oregon), Joe LaManna (Marquette University), Bruce McCune (Oregon State University) and Matt Betts (Oregon State University).
The full-time positions are for 10 weeks (40 hours/week), roughly from June-August 2022. The work will occur at the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest (https://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/), which is located approximately one hour east of Eugene, Oregon. The area is known for its recreational opportunities including hiking and backpacking, scenic volcanoes, and the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Students will be provided with a stipend of $5,5000 and apartment-style, shared-room housing at the HJ Andrews. There are funds to defray the cost of traveling to the HJ Andrews. Please note that the REU program is considered an educational program rather than employment; therefore, Oregon State University does not provide Worker’s Compensation insurance coverage nor medical insurance on your behalf. You are responsible for your own health insurance coverage.
Applicants should have a valid driver’s license, the ability to carry a heavy pack (40+ lb) for moderate distances (5+ mi) over uneven, mountainous terrain, and be comfortable spending long days on their feet in the field. The position will involve working in inclement weather. Being a team player is necessary for group work/living situation. Ability to adapt to a variable work schedule is also necessary. Eligibility is limited to currently enrolled undergraduates that have a graduation date no sooner than fall 2023 (no graduating seniors). All applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. Students from traditionally underrepresented groups in science are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply, please send: 1) a cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience, 2) CV, and 3) contact information for three professional references to: Posy Busby with the subject “LTER REU application.” Review of applications will begin on March 15, 2023 but applications will be considered until the position is filled.