Field Trip: University of Oregon (UO) Riverfront Plant Phenology Monitoring Plot Demo 

Thursday, May 16, 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm 

Leaders: Jeff Diez, Katelin Kutella, and Sarah Erskine, UO Institute of Ecology and Evolution, and Gail Baker, Lane Community College Professor of Biology
Location: Riverfront property of UO Campus, just southwest of the Frohnmayer Bridge along the Ruth Bascom Bike Path

Join UO ecologists Sarah Erskine, Katelin Kutella, Jeff Diez, and Lane Community College Professor of Biology Gail Baker to tour a new ecological experiment embedded within public spaces in Eugene. The project is a collaboration between the UO researchers, Eugene Public Parks, and community naturalists (like you!?). The overall goal of the project is to better understand how climate affects plant phenology, species interactions, and the performance of our native prairie species. Expect to see blooms of Collinsia sp., popcorn flower, and pink Plectritis sp. among others. By sowing mini-restoration experiments and collecting data on phenology, species interactions, and species performance, the study aims to enhance local biodiversity in our public spaces and help inform future restoration efforts. The project is also seeking volunteers to help monitor species at several public parks and is using observations from iNaturalist to understand how our local Eugene plant phenology fits into larger regional patterns.

See the map at https://maps.app.goo.gl/DCmwM3RTwbtCHV187 for location and different parking lots with easy access to the Ruth Bascom Bike Path. Note that most parking requires a visitor permit before 6:00 pm.

iNaturalist Project to view the site and current blooms.

Project website for more details about all the sites and a map.

Community Ecology Research Lab at UO describing who we are and our research.