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Full-Text Articles in Biology

Botanical Assessment Of Remnant Floodplain Habitats Along Plaster Creek, Kent County, Michigan: Assessing Changes Since The 1890s, Haley R. Weesies, Garrett Crow, David Warners Jan 2023

Botanical Assessment Of Remnant Floodplain Habitats Along Plaster Creek, Kent County, Michigan: Assessing Changes Since The 1890s, Haley R. Weesies, Garrett Crow, David Warners

Faculty and Professional Research

Plaster Creek, a tributary of the Grand River, drains a 58-square mile watershed in Kent County, Michigan. Its headwaters originate in the agriculturally dominated southwestern portion of the county, and then it meanders through residential, commercial, and urban areas of Kentwood and Grand Rapids before it empties into the Grand River about one mile south of downtown Grand Rapids. Much of Plaster Creek’s original floodplain, like the rest of its watershed, has been drastically altered and degraded over time due to the development of residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, agriculture, and industrial zones. Floodplains house unique assemblages of Michigan’s native biodiversity …


Botanical Inventory And Management Consideration For Potential Park At 32 Nd Street Property: City Of Grand Rapids Parks And Recreation, David Warners, William Hofmann, Hayden Janssen, Martin Vanderschoot, Garrett Crow Jan 2022

Botanical Inventory And Management Consideration For Potential Park At 32 Nd Street Property: City Of Grand Rapids Parks And Recreation, David Warners, William Hofmann, Hayden Janssen, Martin Vanderschoot, Garrett Crow

Faculty and Professional Research

During the spring and summer of 2022, a botanical inventory and floristic quality assessment was carried out by Calvin University students and faculty for the 32 nd Street Property proposed as a 17-acre potential City Park, located at 2163 32 nd Street SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The purpose of this inventory was to inform the staff of the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department of the botanical significance of this newly sectioned property and also to provide information for the City to share with neighbors of the plants that could be found in this parcel. The research conducted as …


Plaster Creek Floodplain And Adjacent Ravines Near Stanaback Park: Botanical Inventory Highlights And Management Considerations, David Warners, Garrett Crow, Haley Weesies Jan 2021

Plaster Creek Floodplain And Adjacent Ravines Near Stanaback Park: Botanical Inventory Highlights And Management Considerations, David Warners, Garrett Crow, Haley Weesies

Faculty and Professional Research

In the summer of 2021, the research team visited this area of ravines and floodplain a total of twenty-one times to conduct our field research. During the visits, they carefully walked throughout different sections of the study site, identifying each vascular plant species they saw growing there and observing how the flora developed throughout the season. In addition to keeping detailed field notes, they documented permanent records of the findings of our inventory by collecting voucher specimens that have been deposited in the Calvin University Herbarium. Additionally, they sent duplicate specimens to the Michigan State University Herbarium and/or University of …


Botanical Inventory Highlights And Management Considerations For Covenant Park, David Warners, Garrett Crow, Haley Weesies Jan 2021

Botanical Inventory Highlights And Management Considerations For Covenant Park, David Warners, Garrett Crow, Haley Weesies

Faculty and Professional Research

In the spring and summer of 2021, Calvin University students and faculty conducted a botanical inventory and assessment of the natural areas in Covenant Park, located at 3724 Shaffer Avenue SE, Kentwood, MI 49512. Given that the property was recently acquired by the City of Kentwood Parks & Recreation, the purpose of this inventory is to inform Kentwood Parks and Recreation staff about the site’s floristic quality, diversity, and ecological significance. The specific objectives of this study are to 1) provide a comprehensive inventory of the species of plants occurring on the property, 2) identify particular areas that would benefit …


Plaster Creek Bacterial Monitoring And Source Tracking Project - Final Report, Randall J. Dejong Jan 2017

Plaster Creek Bacterial Monitoring And Source Tracking Project - Final Report, Randall J. Dejong

Faculty and Professional Research

The objective of this project was to identify important sources of bacterial loading in Plaster Creek (Kent County). The following goals were set to reach this objective: 1) the relative contributions of bacterial loading for 10 major tributaries will be assessed and the five most egregious contributors will be prioritized; 2) molecular markers will be used to try to identify the primary taxonomic sources, and 3) to pinpoint bacterial loading locations using molecular markers and scent-trained canines in sub-watersheds.


Biological Surveys Of Selected Lower Grand River Streams: Ionia, Kent, Muskegon, And Ottawa Counties, Michigan, August-September 2014, Michigan Department Of Environmental Quality Water Resources Division Jun 2014

Biological Surveys Of Selected Lower Grand River Streams: Ionia, Kent, Muskegon, And Ottawa Counties, Michigan, August-September 2014, Michigan Department Of Environmental Quality Water Resources Division

Faculty and Professional Research

The biologic integrity and physical habitat conditions of the lower Grand River (Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 04050006) and selected tributaries were surveyed during August and September 2014 by staff of the Surface Water Assessment Section (SWAS), Water Resources Division (WRD). The objectives of this study were to: 1. Evaluate the attainment status of the other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife (OIALW) designated use. 2. Identify and investigate effects of nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution. 3. Satisfy monitoring requests submitted by internal and external customers.