Release_1973-1974_1974-527.pdf

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Part of News Release (December 6, 1974) Scientific Research by TESC students presented

extracted text

1

NEWS

The Evergreen
Olympia. Washington

State College
98505

for immediate release

for further information

December 6, 1979

Judy Annis, 866-6128

The results of several months of scientific research --- supported by the National
Science Foundatd.on and The Evergreen State College --- will be reported by 21 students
and their faculty sponsors in a public campus meeting December 13 in Lecture Hall Two.
The reports, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., will reveal results of studies on:
Douglas Fir Tussock moth damage as it relates to forest management; effects of acid rain
on nitrogen fixation in Western Washington coniferous forests; and fluoride concentration:
levels in an ecosystem and research into related ecosystemic changes.
All three studies were financed through the NSF Student-Originated Studies Programs
last Spring.

The student scientists, most of whom have been enrolled in either the

Evergreen Environment or Ecology and Chemistry of Pollution Coordinated Studies program,
were guided in their NSF projects by three Evergreen faculty members.
Dr. Steve Herman, a biologist, worked with nine students on the Tussock Moth
study, which was directed by Karen Oakley, a Bellevue senior.

Dr. Oscar

Soule, also a

biologist, worked with six students on the acid rainfall research, which was coordinated
by Bob Denison, a Corvallis, Oregon junior.
seven students on the f~~~~deconcentration

And, Dr. Michael Beug, a chemist, assisted
project,guided by Mort Fabricant, a

Massachusetts senior.
The presentations, which are all open to the public, will conclude at 3 p.m. with a
tour of Evergreen's analytical laboratories and a description of res.earch.into the levels
and effects of DDT and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in the environment being conducted
,

'

by members of the Ecology and Chemistry of Pollution program.
Dick

Nichols,

Infor mation

Director
Services

THE ECOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY OF POLLUTION PROGRAM
OF
THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
Olympia, Washington
presents
1
2
A DAY OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH SEMINARS
AND LAB TOUR
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, LECTURE HALL 2
Public Reporting meeting on student originated research carried out during the summer of 1974.
9:00 AM - Douglas-fir tussock moth damage as it relates to forest management.
Researchers: Gary Bateman, Judith Hadley, Polly Hessing, Deborah Lev, Karen Oakley*, Ron Olson, Martin Roush, Janet Stonington, and Margaret Taylor. Steven G. Herman, Faculty Project Advisor.
The Douglas-fir tussock moth is a native defoliating insect of Douglas-fir and true fir in the Pacific Northwest. Tussock moth populations fluctuate between normal low densities and very high, epidemic densities.
Between 1971 and 1974 the largest tussock moth outbreak to date caused severe damage to large acreages of
conifers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Despite this history of occasional, widespread damage, little is
known about how environmental factors affect the normal tussock moth population fluctuations. This study
considered the relationship between the extent and intensity of tussock moth damage and forest management
practices. Preliminary results indicate that previously harvested areas have a higher degree of defoliation.
10:30 AM -

Effects of acid rain on nitrogen fixation in Western Washington coniferous forests.

Researchers: Steven Anderson,
Swanberg.

Bernard Bormann, Bruce Caldwell,
Oscar Soule, Faculty Project Advisor.

Bob Denison *, Lindell Eldred, and Cindy

Our results indicate that acid rain, a byproduct of air pollution, would have an adverse effect on nitrogen
fixation. The significance of this depends on a number of factors. The relative importance of various organisms responsible for N-fixation changes over the course of forest succession. Bacteria, algae, and lichens,
both on the ground and in the canopy, as well as red alder, are affected to a greater or lesser extent by acid
rain, air pollution, micro-climate, and forest management practices. This study was carried out as a part of
The Evergreen Environment Program, 1973-74.
1:30 PM -

Fluoride concentration: Levels in an ecosystem and research into related ecosystemic changes.

Researchers: Mellissa Brown, Mort Fabricant",
and Susan Southwick.

Sam Farmer, Geoff Gilbert,
Michael Beug, Faculty Project Advisor.

Kathy Roche,

David

Scoboria,

The electrolytic reduction of aluminum results in the release into the atmosphere of fluoride compounds. A
comparative study of the area near an existing aluminum mill near Troutdale, Oregon has examined potential effects on the diversity and density of plant communities from fluoride intake related to observed fluoride concentrations. Secondly, a study of the plant communities on the site of the future AMAX aluminum
mill at Warrenton, Oregon now provides baseline data essential to the observation of temporal changes in
the plant community if fluorides accumulate in the future.
3: 00 PM - Small group meetings and laboratory tours.

11 Sponsored
GY-11461,
2/

by the National
and GY-11470.

Science Foundation

Student-Originated

Visitors who have time remaining are invited to tour our analytical
for DDT, PCB's and fluorides are currently in progress:

*Principal speaker.

Studies

Program

laboratories

Grants

GY-11450,

where residue analyses