This week at the Stiles Farm, I learned how to set up vegetation transects and sample vegetation by using a Daubenmire frame. We conduct these surveys to determine the composition, quality, and diversity of plants on Stiles Farm, especially in areas where we are managing for native plants. After building the 1m2 frame and choosing my survey points, I conducted my first vegetation survey. It took a while, but I learned several new plant species along the way! I also learned how to bait and deploy minnow traps in order to sample fish populations in our various ponds. We found largemouth bass, green sunfish, and even this white river crayfish! At the end of the week, we went spotlight searching for wildlife at dusk and came across various wildlife, including this young Virginia Opossum.
