Course Registration
ADV - Webinar: Lunch with a Scientist - Bison Research
Webinar: Lunch with a Scientist - Bison Research website
2660 Fawn Lake Drive NEEast Bethel, MN 55005
Now you are able to attend our Lunch with a Scientist series from the comfort and cleanliness of your own home! You must register at z.umn.edu/LWASonline in order to receive the Zoom webinar link and password.
Topic: Bison and oak savana restoration
Oak savanna is one of Minnesota’s most threatened ecosystems. Today, less than 0.1% of savanna remains, and most have lost their native grasses and wildflowers as the lack of fire allows trees to dominate. Savanna restoration research at Cedar Creek started in 1965 and has shown fire eliminates non-savanna species and restores savanna species. This has also shown frequent fires prevent oaks from regenerating. Grazing by large herbivores may be essential for restoration and preservation. When not grazed, grasses compete with oak seedlings and, when these ungrazed grasses burn, their high abundance causes intense fires that kill oak seedlings. By introducing bison we hope to better understand how we might preserve Minnesota’s oak savannas long into the future.
Chad is a postdoctoral associate working with Forest Isbell and Dave Tilman on the bison and savanna research project. His research asks if grazing by bison reduces fire intensity and competition from dominant grasses to promote oak regeneration and the diversity of savanna species. Chad completed his Ph.D. at Michigan State University where his research aimed to understand how plant functional traits structure the community assembly and functioning of ecosystems undergoing restoration.
For a how-to guide on using Zoom, visit our website: cedarcreek.umn.edu/LWAS
Course Dates:
Meeting from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on:
- Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Instructor Information
Tillery is serving her second year as the Minnesota GreenCorps Member at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. MN GreenCorps is an AmeriCorps program sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which allows young environmental professionals to gain practical experience. At Cedar Creek she serves as a member of the education and outreach team.
Tillery graduated from the University of Minnesota in December 2017 with a BS in Recreation Administration and a Management minor. She loves teaching yoga, spending time outside, and creating the occasional art project.
Sponsor Information
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
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Seats Taken: 50 of 100