Urban
Ecology
Summer 2005
This research cluster focused on the interface between the natural world and human-modified
landscapes. At this interface, we find many environmental problems such
as habitat loss and fragmentation, urban run-off and pollution, and
land degradation. But we also find more ecologically-sound urban land
use features, such as protected riparian corridors, mature forest
blocks, and wildlife-friendly landscaping. This cluster examined
the impacts of urban land use practices on a range of ecosystem
characteristics, such as forest composition and regeneration,
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife populations, and environmental
chemistry. We used local urbanization gradients in southwestern
Ohio as our case studies. Our projects incorporated field
observations, geographic information systems, and laboratory work.
Students lead their own projects and also assisted in some of the
fieldwork for other projects in the cluster, and thereby achieving both
in-depth knowledge and a broad sense of research methods in urban
ecology.
Participating faculty: Drs. Alan
Cady, Tom
Klak, and Bruce
Steinly
-
Effects of
supplemented biomass on soil collembola and acari abundances - Timothy Combs (Miami
University) and Dr.Alan
Cady.
-
Effect of vehicular traffic volume on
breeding bird populations along Cooper Creek - Jennifer Thieme
(Carroll College -WI) and Dr.
Tom
Klak
- Soil decomposer use of brood X cicada (Magicicada sp.) carrion - Shawn Kuhn (Lafayette College - PA) and Dr. Bruce
Steinly
