Eureka! (Paw Paw River Forested Floodplain)
August 16, 2014 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
40239 40th Ave, Paw Paw, MI 4907
EUREKA! Join seasoned, if not weathered field trip leaders Tyler Bassett and Brad Slaughter into the sopping maws of this large, unbroken tract of floodplain forest along the Paw Paw River. Known for its plethora of bird species, including breeding cerulean and prothonotary warblers, Eureka! and environs also support a rich botanical community, ranging from wet, frequently flooded forest to islands of mesic forest dominated by beech, sugar maple, and hemlock, unusual for southern Lower Michigan away from the Lake Michigan shoreline. This field trip will focus on the characteristic woody plants of the preserve, but we'll also let our eyes and minds wander to the impressive herbaceous plant community.
Read more about this and other Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy projects in the Paw Paw River watershed here (starts on page 5). http://www.swmlc.org/sites/default/files/files/Autumn-Winter%202012--reduced.pdf
Carpooling: Carpooling is strongly encouraged! We will convene at the Oshtemo Public Library (7265 W Main St, Kalamazoo Township, MI 49009), and plan to leave by 9:45 a.m. sharp!
Bios: Tyler Bassett has remained immersed in botany and ecology ever since earning a B.S. in Biology from Western Michigan University in 2000, working as a botanist and ecologist informing conservation and restoration of natural habitats. He is currently a PhD Student at Michigan State University in the Department of Plant Biology at the Kellogg Biological Station, studying the importance of species and genetic diversity in natural and restored ecosystems. His mind rattles off a litany of plant names everywhere he goes.
Bradford Slaughter has worked as a botanist and ecologist with Michigan Natural Features Inventory since 2005. He holds a B.A. in Biology from Albion College and an M.S. in Botany from Miami University. After a long day botanizing, Brad can often be found sampling and rating craft beers of high regional fidelity, often surrounded by a slew of plant specimens.