This year's research projects
2011-2012
This research team is studying the effects of different pasture treatments on gray-tailed vole populations in South Salem. Researchers are using a bite index to determine the presence or absence of voles and will also try and determine populations size.
2011-2012
Now in it's third year, our Phenology research team is studying the timing of leaf fall in the Autumn and bud break in Spring at three different elevations at Silver Falls State Park. This year we have added a bird survey, looking at how populations of birds at Silver Falls change throughout the school year.
2011-2012
This 8th grade research group is looking at two sites along Pringle Creek in Salem. One is at Pringle Community, where a log jam restoration project took place, and one at Leslie Middle School, where there has been no restoration or improvements to the creek made. Our partner for this project is the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
2011-2012
How do different regulations affect the abundance and diversity of organisms in Oregon tide pools? This is the question this year's "Tide Pool Group" is collecting data on. They are studying at Yaquina Head, Seal Rock, and Lincoln City.
2011-2012
This year's "Fungus Group" is studying the effect of the main trail at Opal Creek Ancient Forest on mushroom diversity and abundance. Students are examining how the fruiting bodies of fungus change as you move from the trail into the forest.
2011-2012
This year the "Amphibian Group" is studying amphibian populations in vernal and year-round ponds in the Willamette Valley. Students are partnering with the US Forest Service, Willamette University, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, and Lamers Forestry LTD to perform this project.
2011-2012
This year's team of student researchers are evaluating the predator and prey populations at Luckiamute State Natural Area. Students will also observe turtles, attempting to get an estimate of population size.
Previous years' projects
2009-2010
One of JGEMS's favorite field trip sites, Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, is a beautiful old-growth forest located near Gates. Opal Creek plays host to a plethora of plants and animals, including amphibians. This year our Amphibian Research Team decided to compare the effects that forest harvesting has on stream amphibian diversity and abundance. Using Opal Creek Ancient Forest as their control and a previously harvested nearby BLM forest as their comparison, the students are collecting habitat and capture data to answer their research question.
2009-2010
Now in its third year, a team of five of our 8th graders will continue the Minto-Brown Island Park bird surveys, looking at how birds are responding to the five different habitats present at the park and surrounding areas. We are particularly interested in their level of use of an area that JGEMS did some plantings at in 2001.
2009-2010
Similar to last year with Pringle Creek, this year's Fish Research Team will be performing fish and macroinvertebrate surveys to evaluate water quality and habitat, only this year Claggett Creek is the watershed of choice. From their findings our researchers will develop a management plan for the Claggett Creek watershed.
2009-2010
Phenology is the study of how plants and animals react to seasonal and interannual changes in the climate. Borrowing from the sampling protocol of the Centre de Recherches sur les Ecosystemes d'Altitude (CREA) in Chamonix, France, our Phenology research team is studying the timing of leaf fall in the Autumn and bud break in Spring at three different elevations at Silver Falls State Park. This research will also be coupled with a field trip to Mount Hood in the Autumn and again in the Spring to look at these changes in alpine areas. The hope is that this research project will be continued, and eventually we will be able to see if there are any trends occurring related to global climate change.
2009-2010
The Oregon Zoo has a brand new exhibit called Predators of the Serengeti and five of our 8th grade researchers have chosen it as their research location! Our research team will be studying the cheetahs, lions, and wild dogs at the Serengeti exhibit, to see what parts of their exhibit they use and what behavior they display. This will help the Oregon Zoo determine how the animals are using the new exhibit and if they are behaving normally- very important information to find out!
2009-2010
Located just south of Independence, Luckiamute is a recently designated state natural area that also happens to have valuable western pond turtle habitat! With the help of Oregon Wildlife Institute's Dave Vesely and the park staff, our team of student researchers are evaluating the quality of turtle habitat and will create a habitat map for the park to use. The students are observing turtles and taking habitat data such as ground cover percentage, canopy closure, average grass height, shrub cover percentage, and slope percentage.
2010-2011
The topic of Gray Wolves is a hot one around the country. Our research group is particularly interested in how they are cared for and what their behavior is like in captivity. The "Wolf Group" is researching if there is a difference in behavior at three different sites that house captive wolves (Wolf Haven International, The Oregon Zoo, and White Wolf Sanctuary). To learn more about each site, please visit their websites:
Wolf Haven International
The Oregon Zoo
White Wolf Sanctuary
2010-2011
This year the "Fish Group" is studying the effect the culvert between Gilmore Field and Bush's Pasture Park has on the water quality and fish assemblage of Clark Creek.
2010-2011
JGEMS is continuing their amphibian-related research at Opal Creek Ancient Forest this year! This time we are looking at the effect of the main gravel road on the abundance and diversity of amphibians. To collect this data, we set up transects parallel to the road, progressively getting farther away from it, and surveyed for both terrestrial and aquatic amphibians.
2010-2011
The Willamette Valley is a popular destination for many migrating birds. Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge was created for the purpose of housing the Dusky Canada Goose, however many other birds call Ankeny home throughout the school year. This research group is tracking the changes in bird diversity and abundance throughout the school year to see what species are utilizing the refuge.
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2010-2011
The Eastern Gray Squirrel, while a non-native, invasive species is a popular animal for people to feed in their backyards or at the local park. Unfortunately, the Eastern Gray has outcompeted the native Western Gray Squirrel in Salem, taking over the majority of the area. The California Ground Squirrel is a native squirrel that in some area's, such as Bush's Pasture Park, can co-habitate with the invasive Eastern Gray. This research group is interested in finding out the food preferences of the Eastern Gray Squirrel and the California Ground Squirrel, so that they can try to identify what and why the squirrels might eat given certain choices. Once they find out this information, they can determine what might be good foods to place in squirrel feeders and what vegetation would be beneficial to plant, to attract the desired squirrel.
2010-2011
Last year's Western Pond Turtle habitat survey project is being continued this year, with an added predator analysis. In addition to the collection of nesting habitat data, this research group is also surveying for terrestrial and aquatic predators. This year we are exclusively working on the eastern pond, which will be the focus of Western Pond Turtle habitat development for the park.