Graduate assistant Jeff Buckley shows students how to identify tree species by the veins on their leaves during an outing in Ojibway Park: “I think this is an ash!”
Second-year ecology students had a wonderful opportunity to experience Windsor’s Carolinian habitat last week, during field work in Ojibway Park.
“It is important to get students outside to appreciate the ecology of Essex County as part of their learning process,” says biology professor Trevor Pitcher.
Groups of students engaged in a tree identification exercise September 26 and 27, October 2 and 3 in the west-side park. Lab technician Candy Donaldson says the variety of species makes it an ideal setting.
“Many of the student said they wish all of our labs could be held in Ojibway,” she says. “Our unique temperatures and rich soils create a diverse environment that many of our students hadn’t been able to explore yet.”
Masters student Jeff Buckley says in just the few hours he spent in the park, he saw not just a wide variety of trees, but deer, woodpeckers and other birds, and two species of snakes.
“I have studied ecology throughout Ontario, and having seen all the natural places across the province, this is one of the most diverse,” he says.