Image by Jeanne Church, picturewalks.org – Blue Jay
February Program - Invasive Jumping Worms, Citizen Science in Bumble Bee Surveys, Native Seeding at Lillian Anderson Arboretum
1 hour
Program
Kalamazoo College seniors, Lizzy Silber, Katie Rock, and Eli Edlefson, spent their summers researching Kalamazoo biodiversity with the help of their advisor, Dr. Ann Fraser. From invasive worms and wildflowers to bumblebees, these three seniors will present their findings.
Lizzy Silber’s work reflected bumblebees’ species and abundance within a 15-mile radius in urban and rural environments with the help of citizen science. Eli Edlefson contributed to the Powerline Habitat Rehabilitation project at the Lillian Anderson Arboretum and examined if more pollinators and native plants were returning to the area. Katie Rock worked at the Lillian Anderson Arboretum and learned about the invasive earthworms that call Kalamazoo home including a jumping worm.
Eli Edlefson is a double major in Physics and Biology, with a minor in Applied Mathematics. He spent most of his childhood in St. Joseph, Michigan, but has lived in several eastern states. This project gave him his first exposure to plants, but he has been a long-time fan of entomology.
Lizzy Silber is a double major in Biology and Economics, with concentrations in Public Policy and Environmental Science. She is from Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Through her time at K College, her interest in ecology grew and this project allowed her to learn more about pollinators.
Katie Rock is a Biology major from Louisville, Kentucky. While growing up she was always interested in conservation and knew that she wanted to do something to help the environment. This internship was her first time working out in the field, and it helped her realize her love for research and gave her a glimpse of a future working in the ecology field.
We hope you'll join us on Monday, February 27, at People's Church, 1758 North 10th Street, Kalamazoo. Our program starts at 7:30 PM and is preceded by a social time with light refreshments at 7:00 PM. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Masks are recommended but not required in the church. Handicap parking and access is at either the front or the rear entrance of the building.
We will have a simultaneous Zoom link to the meeting for those who can’t make it or feel uncomfortable as yet to attend in person. This link will be emailed shortly before the meeting. We will also be recording the meeting for later viewing.