Scientists of All Stripes Will Lecture at U-M Biological Station This Summer

Pellston, Mich.--- May 14, 2012 --- Nine scientists from across the United States and various science disciplines are featured in the University of Michigan Biological Station’s (UMBS) 2012 Summer Lecture Series. The lectures, which are free and open to the public, bring discussions of the latest ecological and biophysical research to northern Michigan.

UMBS is the University of Michigan’s teaching and research station for field ecology. It has been located on Douglas Lake, near Pellston, Michigan, for more than 100 years. Each summer, more than 200 scientists and students come to the Station to learn more about northern Michigan’s changing environment.

The UMBS Lecture Series features both “All-Camp Lectures,” which are intended for a general audience with no scientific background, and “Research Seminars,” which go into more detail and assume the audience knows basic biological principles.

This summer’s diverse All-Camp Lecture topics include the Effects of Rising Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Plants and Plant Eaters (May 29); Invasive Species (July 3 and 31); Plankton in Lake Erie (June 26); the National Ecological Observatory Network (July 10); Species Conservation (July 24) and Cliff Swallows (August7).

All lectures and seminars begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Station’s Gates Lecture Hall. All-Camp Lectures are on Tuesdays; Research Seminars are on Wednesdays. Please see the event schedule at UMBS Summer Lecture Series 2012, for additional information.

The Station has finalized its Mini-Course offerings and instructors for 2012.

Mini-Courses will run from Wednesday, June 13 to Sunday, June 17 at the Station. The perennially popular Birds of Northern Michigan class returns, joined by Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Wetland Ecology. The
prices and the registration form will be available on the UMBS website (www.lsa.umich.edu/umbs/
events/minicourses) beginning February 13, 2012. In the meantime, read what the instructors have to
say about their classes.
Aquatic Macroinvertebrates of Northern Michigan Lakes and Streams (Kevin Cronk): This
class focuses on the identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates commonly found in Northern
Michigan lakes and streams, but also delves into macroinvertebrate biology and general stream
ecology. You will visit a variety of lakes, streams, and wetlands on a daily basis to collect aquatic
macroinvertebrates, practice identification skills, improve understanding of macroinvertebrate
ecology, and, optionally, create individual reference collections. Kevin L. Cronk is the Monitoring and
Research Coordinator for the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Birds of Northern Michigan (Mary Whitmore and Bob Hess): The focus of this class is on learning to
identify birds by sight, sound and habitat. The course includes an overnight field trip to the Seney
National Wildlife Refuge. Mary Whitmore has a rich background in ornithology and is very familiar
with the birds of northern Michigan. Bob Hess is especially interested in the connection between birds
and habitats and is the former director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame
Wildlife Program.
Wetland Ecology (C. Eric Hellquist): This class will visit wetlands including Great Lakes shoreline
marshes, inland marshes, cedar swamps, and peatlands. We will discuss the post-glacial history
of the landscape that provided the context for today’s wetland environments. A central focus of our
class will be reviewing the ecological processes responsible for the abundance and distribution of
the species we observe. C. Eric Hellquist is an Assistant Professor at the State University of New
York at Oswego and a faculty member at the University of Michigan Biological Station.

If you have any questions please contact Alicia Farmer.UMBS, 734-764-5212

Forest Ecosystem Study (FEST)

Welcome to the UMBS Forest Ecosystem STudy (UMBS-FEST)

Here, you will find information about collaborative research on forest succession and ecosystem processes ongoing at the University of Michigan Biological Station. Click on a project below to view more detail about it, including motivation and objectives, personnel bios, publications, datasets, and more!