Hello Fellow CLM’ers!
I am a Master’s student at Northwestern/Chicago Botanic Garden. For my CLM internship I’m doing fieldwork for my thesis on the Colorado Plateau at the Rio Mesa Center in southeastern Utah. I’m studying native grass selection to invasive plants to determine if certain seed sources are more competitive with invasives, which could improve restoration success at previously-invaded sites. At the Chicago Botanic Garden I grew Sporobolus airoides seedlings from plants collected at long-term Acroptilon repens (Russian knapweed)-invaded populations and nearby non-invaded populations. I planted these seedlings in a common garden in a knapweed-invaded floodplain at the Rio Mesa Center to compare trait differences between the different seed sources (invaded plants and non-invaded plants).
We’re also driving all over the place (near Moab and Grand Staircase) doing seed collection for SOS and another master student’s thesis (Maggie Eschleman) and having a great time. Highlights include a nighttime drive through Arches National Park and lovely drive up Onion creek where we found the elusive Astragalus lonchocharpus we were hunting. We’ve also adapted to a siesta-like schedule to avoid the 100 plus midday heat by waking up early, taking a long midday break, and going out again in the evening when it’s cooler. So excited to be here all summer! Looking forward to more adventures!
Accommodations at the Rio Mesa Center
Terrible biting fly and knat year!
Putting out plant tags to keep track of over 450 Sporobolus airoides plants.
Looking good 1 month after planting.
Common Garden study plots in a Russian knapweed-invaded floodplain at Rio Mesa