Dual Research Study Installation: Competition and Site Interactions Experiment + Alternatives to Herbicide
Faculty mentor/Supervisor:
Emily Von Blon
Email Address:
Department Affiliation:
Forest Engineering Resources & Management
Project Location:
The VMRC lab is located in Corvallis OR (30th St and Western Blvd). The study site location is south of Raymond, WA. We will travel to the site using the lab truck.
Project Description:
This project will involve the installation of two study sites near Raymond, WA with the Vegetation Management Research Cooperative (VMRC).
The CoSInE study involves the interactions between various levels of competing vegetation control (pre and post planting herbicide application) and environmental conditions, and their effect on Douglas-fir and western hemlock seedling performance, vegetation community dynamics, and resource availability, including water and nutrients.
The Alternatives to Herbicide study, in collaboration with the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources, involves evaluating the efficacy, cost, and operational feasibility of alternatives to herbicides as vegetation management techniques for successful reforestation, including evaluating their impact on vegetation community dynamics, Douglas-fir and western hemlock seedling performance, and soil moisture availability. These treatments involve one or two applications of herbicide with and without glyphosate, slash, hand-weeding, and a control.
Describe the type of work and tasks you anticipate the student will perform:
The project installation process will include building and installing automatic weather stations, learning how to connect, repair, and develop a program to record soil moisture sensors, pin-flagging to ensure equal spacing and supervising seedling planting, flagging the border of plots in the field receiving different vegetation management treatments and supervising the application of those treatments, measuring seedlings after planting, and installing signs labeling the plots. It will also involve entering and cleaning data in Excel and developing detailed maps of the study sites. If interested, the student may also be involved in developing written project updates for the VMRC cooperators. The student would be working alongside the associate director of the VMRC and an M.S student, as well as a small team of technicians. Some of this work will take place in the lab (located on the Corvallis OSU campus), while fieldwork will take place at the site in Raymond, WA.
Hourly rate of pay:
$15-$16.00
What is the expected timeline of this project?:
This project will take place over the course of the fall and winter terms. Building the equipment (weather stations and soil sensors), pin-flagging for seedlings and flagging the border of treatment plots, sign installation and map designing will take place in the fall, while installing the equipment, supervising planting and treatment applications, measuring seedlings, and cleaning data will take place in the winter.
Are special skills or knowledge required to work on this project?:
No
Will training be provided?:
Yes
How many hours per week do you anticipate a student to work?:
Activities will vary each week throughout the fall and winter (some weeks involving 0 tasks, others involving a 1-8 hours of lab work, and others involving 1-2 days in the field).
How many hours per week do you anticipate engaging in direct mentorship?:
Activities will vary each week throughout the fall and winter (some weeks involving 0 tasks, others involving a 1-8 hours of lab work, and others involving 1-2 days in the field). I will be directly mentoring for the entirety of all field days, and directly mentoring for at least a couple hours per week for lab activities. I will also check in with the student weekly, either in person or via phone/email to address any questions, concerns, or modifications in their project involvement.
Detail your mentorship plan:
I will introduce the undergraduate student to the VMRC lab, as well as the VMRC director, our M.S student, and other technicians part of the VMRC lab. I will explain the purpose, history, and logistics involved with the research projects assosciated with this mentorship. I will train the student on activities that would take place in the lab (such how to build and repair weather stations and soil sensors) and ensure I am always accessible to them if they have any questions. Further, I will join for all field trips to the study site to ensure they are familiar with the site and are trained in all activities. I will also involve them in developing project updates for the cooperators, so they are familiar with other aspects of research. I will also make sure their academics are a priority and schedule any lab work/field trips around their classes and exams.