Unity College Dartmouth Greenhouse Week 3

Week 3: 11/7/16-11/10/16; ~86 hours left

This past week  has been tough for me to function with my typical enthusiasm and focus due to the election and  resulting aftermath.  I feel as though protecting the environment that we have left has just got much harder.

To distract from politics I have been focusing on tending to the basic needs of the plants (ie fertilizing, pruning, repotting) and the general upkeep of the greenhouse itself (ie clean drains, sweeping or squeegeeing the floors).  During the week I would often survey the different rooms to look for tasks that needed doing. I focused specifically on the Subtropical Room and the Cacti Room to trim and dead head the ferns and other 'leggy' plants or repot the xerophytes that were overgrow.

Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis) in the Sub-tropical Room, a large section of the subtropical plants are ferns and primitive plants (ie mosses, liverworts, clubmosses).

To keep track of the species we keep in the greenhouse we keep inventory lists. There are two separate lists one for the orchid and the general plant species. We have a large variety of orchids and most are housed separately.  The lists are organized by family and then species and includes their location, their potting information (ie size, re-potting dates, division dates, quantity).  Every time we re-pot or divide a plant we have to update their information in the inventory list. Normally this is done by hand on a printed copy that is then updated digitally.

The illustration class this past week was probably what helped me get through the day on Wednesday.  The lesson was to show the incremental steps involved with layering the watercolor to give the desired effect.  They also discussed the inclusion of fractals and Fibonacci's Sequence into botanical illustration and other precision based art forms.  They mentioned the NH artist, Maxfield Parrish as a prime example of precision and composition.  He apparently used surprisingly complex equations to create his art pieces whether they be murals or children's book illustrations.

A water lily called Blue Pigmy (Nymphaea colorata) that is native to eastern Africa. Its blooms only last one day so I was lucky to take pictures when I did!

A large percentage of the research done in the research section of the greenhouse is with transgenic rice.  Some of the professors are working on a way to prevent the ability of the rice to absorb heavy metals.  Accumulation of those metals lead to negative health effects.  To test the content of that rice, they have to harvest each generation of the rice seeds and pick the they want for the new generations.

In those experiments they must have a 'zero pest policy'. Any biological contaminations would potential change the outcomes.  The particular issue that the researchers had was with aphids attacking the young rice plants.  If the aphids are not removed completely they will prevent the rice seeds from forming.  This would halt the entire experiment as they need to be able to test those seeds.  To deal with this, we at the greenhouse use pesticides as a sterile environment must be maintained.


When using pesticides you are suppose to use multiple modes of action so as to not let the target species develop a resistance. Multiple modes of actions just refers to the different ways the chemicals are applied and/or effect the target.  One pesticide that was a possibility was Pyrethrum TR (aerosol spray).  It is derived from chrysanthemums.  For the chemical to work it must have physical contacted with the insect's cuticle.  I don't know the specifics but it effects the sodium channels in neurons, killing the insects.  Another pesticide with a different mode of action was Preclude. It is an insect growth regulator which means it prevents the insect from fully maturating to a sexually active adult.  This pesticide is not practical for dealing with aphids as it does not kill the young and aphids have a very flexible life cycle that allows them to reproduce at multiple stages.  The final type of pesticide we discussed was a systematic insecticide called Marathon II.  It is absorbed through the roots and transmitted throughout the plant.  When the insects feed on the plants it kills them.  The pesticides last for a couple weeks.

On Thursday, our order of bio-control species finally came in:

#1: Steinernema feltiae (Predatory Nematodes): These are the same nematodes that I used in the research lab to inoculate the mustard relative.  They requires lukewarm water to become active.

#2: Cryptolaemus montrouzieri ("Crypts"): They came as adult beetle. Hopefully they will mate and then lay their eggs on the plants with high populations of mealybugs.

#3&4: Predatory Mites- Neoseiulus californicus (left); Stratiolaelops scimitus (right): They will be let out on certain plants to consume the larval stages of the thrips and fungus gnat.

#5: Chrysopidae (Lacewing):  The eggs are attached to little paper sheets which will be hung on the plants.  The larvae which are voracious predators are supposed to hatch and then start consuming what ever pest species it can get its mandibles on.

#6: Eretmocerus spp. (Parasitic Wasp): This wasp could only be sent as a pupal stage rather then an egg as the larval stage is parasitic. They will parasitize aphids turning them into something like a mummy.  This lasts until the larva is ready to burrow out and begin metamorphosis, starting the process over again.

#7: Amblyseius cucumeris (Another Predatory Mite): I had to replace the old packets with the new ones on the plants in all the rooms except the Cold Orchid Room.  The temperature is to cold for them.  We can also compost the old bags without going through a complex process, which is nice.

Here are some pictures of the Welwichia (I know that some of you were asking for them). Unfortunately they do not show just how impressive the fronds are:

Have a great weekend!!

Unity College Dartmouth Greenhouse Week 2

Week 2, 10/31/16-11/3/16:

I feel as though I have gotten a stable daily schedule after the first week of working.  I usually start out with a preparatory task like sweeping the floors from leaves and dead plant matter or cleaning floor drains of the different rooms.  Typically this will last until ~11:00 or 12:00 when I take a quick lunch break.  After lunch I usually have a variety of more involved tasks like fertilizing the plants or working on pest management.

Since the Greenhouse has a high diversity of plants, we have to use multiple types of fertilizers to deal with each specific plant type and environment.  Most of the fertilizer that we use are diluted with water so as to deliver the fertilizer directly into the plants system, although we do have some pellet form that we use to supplement some of the plants.  I usually use gloves and boots when I am handling fertilizer as I suspect prolonged exposure to some of the chemical should be avoided.

Orchids, especially the ones living on moss require specific fertilizer that they and their substrate can tolerate.  We use a special fish and seaweed fertilizer that is diluted with RO (reversed osmosis) water to fertilize the wall orchids in the cold orchid room, since the typical orchid fertilizer would hurt the moss. To apply it we use a hand-held pump sprayer.

The orchid wall in the Cold Orchid Room (all of the orchids on this wall are epiphytes and are attached to a substrate which is in turn attached to the moss)

We used a different fertilizer called "Epiphyte's Delight" for the bromeliads (epiphytes and soil-bound) and carnivorous plants in the Tropical and Sick Orchid rooms (nursery for carnivorous plants).  It was initially in Granular form but was diluted using the RO water and a different hand pump sprayer.

Myself using the fertilizer for the bromeliad in the Tropical Room.  Taken by my co-worker Terry.

We do have other diluted fertilizers for more general plants.  One of them is applied use a mechanical dispenser called a Dosatron. It is very large and we have to physically hook it up to the water system. It will mechanically measure out the correct ratio of fertilizer to water without monitoring it regularly.  It is too strong to be used for the orchids or the epiphytes.

As Integrated pest management is a part of my internship I often am on pest removal detail.  The most common of these tasks is removing mealybugs and scale insects from the plants with Q-tips and alcohol.  Often I have to do this to plants that are overgrown or crowded together.  We do have species that prey on the mealybugs, the Cryptolaemus montrouzieri ('Crypts' for short) larvae.  They often have similar coloring and shape but are much larger.

A Cryptolaemus montrouzieri larva (center) and mealybugs on the same branch (below)

On Wednesday morning I was able to work hands on with some of the control species they use to prevent infestations; specifically beneficial nematodes (Steinernema feltiae).  They come in a dried suspended state and require water to move.  To make sure of their viability we always check under a microscope (the straight nematodes are dead). To make sure the nematodes are thoroughly dispersed I had to stir solution every 10 minutes.  They need to be apply to the soil. They are predators that eat the larvae of thrips and fungus gnats.  We used a ketchup dispenser to apply them.

The packets that the nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) came in.

Often we have to help the researchers of the plant laboratory to inoculate them with the predatory nematodes as the laboratories tend to water the plants too much making them a target for thrips and fungus gnats.  The plants they were using was a mustard relative as test subject because it has an extremely fast life cycle (~6 weeks) meaning they can have multiple generations in a short amount of time.  Each sections of plants were store in what they called Biochambers (kind of like high-tech sterile refrigerators except without the cold).

On Thursday I got put in charge of the Xeric Room or 'Cacti room'.  I was super excited about this. It is a bigger responsibility than it sounds on paper.  I will do my best to live up to it.

New World species' bench of the Xeric Room

The room itself is split down the middle with Old World species  on the left (mainly Africa) and the New World species on the right (mainly South and Central America).  They have a wide variety of succulents and xerophytes (plants adapted for dry environments). A lot of them are cacti and aloe.  An example of a xerophyte that is not a succulent was the Welwitschia. It is a very sensitive and bizarre plant, looking like cross between a pine cone and seaweed that has been dried bone hard.

Mammallaria hahniana "Old Lady Cactus" (that is the real common name; no joke!)

Until next time!

Unity College Dartmouth Greenhouse Week 1

I just started working at my Unity College Biology Internship with the Dartmouth Life Science Center Greenhouse on Monday the 24th.

Main hallway of the life sciences center greenhouse

Overall the internship has been going well.  My official title is Greenhouse Assistant and will be focusing on Exotic Horticulture and IPM (Integrated Pest Management).   I set up my work schedule so that I work Mon-Thurs at about 8-7hrs per day.

With the exception of my self there are only two other regular employees, my Site Supervisor Kim and senior coworker Terry.  Both of them are really nice and very supportive.  I am learning a lot about what goes into running a research greenhouse.  Greenhouses, especially ones that are as extensive as this one is are much more technically involved than I had initially expected.

My boss Kim (middle), co-worker Terry (right), and myself (left); (photo taken by Terry) 

I got a standard tour of the greenhouse including the rooms reserved for staff such as the sick rooms and the prep room. Each section of the greenhouse is arranged by climate conditions which are maintained via mechanized controllers:

• Tropical room
• Sub-Tropical  room
  
• Xeric room (i.e. succulents & cactus)

With the orchid rooms separated from the other plants (orchids being more susceptible to pathogens):

• Warm Orchid room
• Cool Orchid room

And two quarantine rooms used to separate the sick and infested plants:

• Sick plant room
• Sick orchid room

The room we mainly worked in when dealing with individual plants was the prep room. It was kind of set up like a cross between a gardeners tool shed and a veterinarian prep room.  We would use it when re-potting or removing pests like mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) by hand.  It is also where they store the soil mixes and fertilizers.

Prep room

There is a Community botanical illustration class on most Wednesday and I was able to take part in.  The artist was previously a scientific illustrator that found their way into
botanical illustration which is slightly different.  It was all very fascinating and informational. Although I have dabbled in some hyper realistic art style before, the class worked to achieve a level that was much higher than I had expected. 

Through my art apprenticeship I learned the benefits and loosing my style and going large, This is almost counter to what is traditionally involved in botanical illustration. It requires a large amount of technical skills and precision. The illustrations also rarely get larger than ~8.5”×11” so it was a bit of a readjustment.  The way the instructor described what a botanical illustrator is 90% technician and 10% artist.

I don't have enough space to describe all of what I learned over this first week.  I am enjoying learning the vast diversity of the plants and helpful control species.

Flowering orchid from the Warm Orchid Room (can't remember the exact taxonomy)

Unity College Heritage Barn Week 7 (Georgia)

This week was my last at the Unity College Heritage Livestock Barn; and it has been quite an adventure! Looking back it was everything I wanted it to be and I feel so fulfilled knowing how much experience this position has offered me. This whole adventure began for me at the end of last semester, I applied for the position interviewed and was accepted! I filled out my college internship agreement; part of which was outlining learning objectives that I hoped to accomplish. I had no idea what to expect other than the job description I had been sent but I took some time and tried to pair what I thought was achievable with what I aspired for; here is what I came up with so many months ago...
1. Further develop my public speaking skills to a standard useful in future career settings
2. Learn to incubate and hatch chickens for industry needs
3. Expand knowledge of and comfort levels with domestic breeds
4. Better understand the daily upkeep and operation of a farm
5. Expand knowledge of animal health recording skills

I can safely say that all of my personal objectives were fully met.

Almost every week a tour came to visit the barn we had all age groups coming to check out our furry residents and I got many opportunities to hone my interpretive skills. I quickly learned the fasted way to get someone's attention was to offer them a look at our baby bunnies; and many of our visitors were impressed that Lars our youngest pig will come running when his name is called.

We collected eggs early in our internship and set up an incubator in the back office that required daily maintenance for humidity and temperature. Every so often we candled the eggs using a special light box in a darkened room to watch how the embryos were developing. Then I got word on my day off that the eggs were beginning to hatch, so of course like any proud mom I raced down to the barn to check in on them. I got to see the first few peeping out and the next morning a few had hatched. We had a great hatch and survival outcome and we were really happy that all of our hard work paid off.

Because the livestock require so much hands on care I got to get a bunch of experience from day one working with each and every animal at the barn. From grooming, to hoof care, ear tagging to castrations I got to get down and dirty with what it takes to keep the animals happy and healthy. If you ever need a hand flipping a sheep or wrangling a goat; I am definitely down to help! The pigs were their own challenge they can be big and loud and a bit rude at times but I think by far they are the sweetest animals at the barn; I found that if you are working anywhere near them they will beg you for ear scratches and belly rubs and reward you with happy snorts the whole time.

I found that barn work like most animal care jobs is not a 9-5 job its being ready for anything at anytime because event though there is a schedule of operations the animals rarely feel the need to stick with it so working at the barn means being flexible and up for a challenge every now and then. Also like most animal care jobs what you remember is the lovely snorts of the pigs but the majority of the work is actually wheelbarrows of manure all day everyday and constant cleaning to keep the living quarters safe and sanitary. For those of us who love the animals its definitely worth it :)

Everything we do also needs to be recorded and kept up to date from daily records on cleanings to hoof care and veterinary care. If we don't record something important or forget something that might seem small then the animals welfare could be at risk. So even though we come home smelling like poop everyday we know we did a good job and made a positive difference.

This internship was everything I could have hoped a college internship to be I loved waking up early every morning and heading down to unlock the barn, I loved saying good morning to all the waking animals, I loved moving them out to pasture each day even when they seemed to want to take their time getting there, I loved problem solving, I loved cleaning, I loved the bond that was built with each animal at the barn and the bonds that were built with my coworkers. I loved being able to do something good everyday and go home feeling tired but fulfilled.

So if you are looking for an internship this is one of the best!

Unity College Heritage Barn Week 6 (Georgia)

This week at the Unity College Heritage Barn the animals were full of wonder and excitement.
Many of our Incubated chicks left to go to new homes and we at the barn kept 6 young females to raise for our permanent group of layers. With each day we handle them more and more they have gotten less fearful of our presence.

The young rabbits are growing up and loving the enrichment that they are provided; especially hiding inside of the cardboard tubes; which are a nice snug spot for the growing rabbits to relax in. However, their mom Ziggy is getting a bit annoyed with being stepped on all the time. On a side note Maizy had two young babies this week! Both are a beautiful grey color!

Our two young female San Clemente goats left this week to head to their new home all the way in Alabama! They will be missed but we are hoping that they love their new home. Before they left we outfitted them with ear ID tags which was a really cool learning experience for us.

The pigs are enjoying the summer heat by rolling in their bath and grazing on all the great vegetation they can find in the pasture! However they are natural rooters and have dug holes everywhere ! This are ankle breakers that we have to fill in with dirt regularly but watching the pigs dig you can see how happy it makes them so its worth all the extra hard work.

For the past few weeks the whole campus has seemed to have a groundhog problem; which became a bit issue down at the barn because they were digging under the chicken fence allowing our hens to escape! Luckily the little rascals seemed to have decided to leave our farm alone and we filled in the holes for the time being allowing our chickens to remain safely inside the fence.

Only a week left of my internship experience and I don't want it to end! Luckily I am not going far so I plan to keep volunteering after my hours are up!

Fuglebloggen Fra Follebu-Toppengård (Week 6)

Last Post!

So this is it! We have officially seen the last chick leave the nest, they're all gone. It happened a lot sooner than I ever thought it would. Because the chicks are all gone and we still have until Friday to get work done my supervisor, Kathy and I, have been going to the University to work on writing a paper together regarding how much of the forest in Norway is protected compared to other countries and how the habitat degradation and policies (or lack thereof) have been effecting hole nesting, and other bird species. We are hoping that some of the findings we have in this paper will lead up to a study we are doing on the Northern Lapwings and that the possibility of coming back to Norway to do a second internship may be possible. 

I have learned so much, and I have met some incredible people, Kathy being one. I am so grateful to have been given the chance to work with her and learn from her what it's like to be a field researcher. She is from South Africa so she had a lot to tell me about being a foreigner living in Norway. She taught me how to measure the birds, how to handle them, she coached me through the work and it was an absolutely amazing experience that I will never forget. I have been encouraged to look into doing my masters and PHD here in Norway and I am really considering it. I still have to finish at Unity so I have some time to think about it, but the more I am here working with the people I have met and experience field work, the more I am loving the idea. 

I will never forget what I learned here in Norway. I don't leave until August 18th, but now it is time to just become a tourist and enjoy my time overseas. I will continue to work with Kathy on the research paper which I am really looking forward to!

With that, I will leave you all with a fresh set of photos! It has been an amazing internship! 

Lillehammer University's iconic statue

The second Northern Lapwing we caught

Adult Female Blue Tit

Measuring the head of this chick with the calipers

My supervisor, Kathy, and I

Over looking the "Peter's Field" Route, not all of it is pictured here

Upper Forest Route

Earlier in the internship, one of the Tit species nest

We had to walk down this stream during the "Peter's Beite" route

Another Tit species nest

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They grow up so fast! A nearly two week old Great Tit

Female Pied Flycatcher brooding

A juvenile Pied Flycatcher

Farmers let their cattle and sheep loose in the forest, so we ran into these guys on our upper forest route!

Juvenile Great Tit

Great Tit wing coloring (juvenile)

Measuring the nest of Field Fares