Arboreal Survey on the Preserve

A group of Spelman University students led by their professors visited Blue Heron Nature Preserve to collect tree samples. Dr. Jessica Dunn is an assistant professor in the Environmental Sciences department, and she and her students will use the data they collected to begin a dendrochronology lab at Spelman. A dendrochronology lab is essentially an information archive of tree-ring sequences. These sequences provide a glimpse into the health, age, and environmental conditions a tree experienced throughout its life.

To do this, an increment borer was used to extract a very thin piece of wood from the tree, about the size of a drinking straw. This allows researchers to count the tree rings and observe rings that are large (indicating favorable growing conditions) or small (often associated with drought or other environmental stress). Typically, two cores are taken per tree to ensure a high quality sample.

Dr. Dunn is interested in research that examines tree health and the connection to weather and climate, specifically in urban areas.  In addition to core sampling, the team measured tree diameters and assessed canopy structure, all of which contribute to a comprehensive profile of the trees in the Preserve. This research is valuable for scientists, educators and the broader community to understand how tree health is influenced by climate, and historical conditions in the larger ecosystem.