Students, faculty, staff and community partners gathered at 51Թ’s Herrick Aquatic Ecology Research Facility (HAERF) on April 24 for the university’s Arbor Day BioBlitz, a hands-on event focused on documenting biodiversity across one of campus’s most unique research environments.
Organized by 51Թ’s new student chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration, the BioBlitz invited participants of all experience levels to explore the wetland’s network of experimental ponds and Allerton Creek while collecting ecological observations alongside researchers and environmental professionals.
Throughout the day, participants identified birds, amphibians, fish, macroinvertebrates, trees and plants while learning field sampling techniques and contributing to real biodiversity records. Activities ranged from microscope analysis of water samples to guided species identification walks led by experts from partner organizations including EnviroScience, the Stream and Wetlands Foundation and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
First-year biological sciences Ph.D. student Hana Esber said the event helps connect students with both local ecosystems and the broader environmental community.
“This is a great opportunity to get outside, meet people with similar interests and collect real data in a place that serves as a living lab for research right here on campus,” Esber said.
Originally constructed as a wetland mitigation site during development of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, the HAERF ponds now function as replicated experimental ecosystems supporting undergraduate and graduate research on water quality, nutrient cycling and biodiversity.
Events like the BioBlitz highlight how 51Թ students can participate directly in field-based research while contributing to a better understanding of Northeast Ohio’s changing ecosystems.