The Student Challenges Awards Program Project at Alice L. Kibbe Life Science Station

Over the last two summers, Student Challenge Award Program (SCAP) Volunteers, supported by the Earthwatch Institute, have worked with seven to eight students for two weeks in late July and early August on a project titled “Long-term riparian and aquatic ecosystem monitoring projects on the upper Mississippi River”. As part of this project, the students participated in several on-going long-term research projects at the Station; these being: (1) the establishment and initial survey of riparian forest plant community monitoring and inventory plots, (2) continued research on native mussels population and diversity monitoring, (3) continued research into the relationship between habitat and turtle community characteristics and turtle growth, and (4) continued population monitoring of fish species. This program provides these gifted students with opportunities to participate in real research, and provides the participating scientist with manpower and funds to help defer some of the cost of their research. Below are photo galleries of the 2002 and 2003 SCAP Expeditions at the Station.

Student Challenge Awards Program Expedition 2002:

Team member Emily with walleye caught during electroshock sampling, Emily and Christa measure the length

of fish during electroshock sampling of fish populations.

Team members learning to identify tallgrass prairie plants, Jennifer keys a plant under the guidance of graduate mentors, Jim Lamer and Michael Murphy.

Christine and Emily help establish a survey plot while Christa and Jillian core and measure the diameter of a tree during the riparian forest inventory and monitoring project.

Student Challenge Awards Program Expedition 2003:

Volunteers establish baseline to locate plots and Dr. Jenkins demonstrates how to core a tree during riparian forest inventory and monitoring project. First photo: Team members starting from left are Dr. Jenkins, Sandley, Natalie, Mike, Amy, Alex and Christina.

Dr. Anderson explaining invertebrate sampling methods, team members sampling invertebrates in American lotus beds on Pool 19 of Mississippi River.

Team members (Natalie, Mike C., Mike M., Melinda and Stephanie) setting up turtle trap, Jim Lamer, graduate mentor, with a snapping turtle captured in one of the traps.

Graduate mentor, Melinda Coogan, and Christina with fish caught during electroshock sampling.

Graduate mentors, Mike Murphy drilling holes in carapace for identification, Jim Lamer and team member Christina taking blood samples from red-slider turtle during population study.

Team members, Stephanie and Haley after a sun and fun filled day of sampling and Christina amongst the American lotus.