Sampling Streams for Benthic Invertebrates

I made this picture of Paola Ferreri, associate professor of fisheries management (left) and Brianna Hutchison, recent M.S. graduate in Wildlife and Fisheries Management, at the former McCoy Dam site on Spring Creek just upstream from Milesburg, Pennsylvania. They are interested in the ecological changes that occur when a dam is removed. Sampling for benthic invertebrates (I had to ask), let's call them aquatic insects that live on the streambed, is just one way to get a picture of stream health.

If you want to know more about this work and other water quality programs and research in the College of Ag Sciences be sure to check out the 2009 Summer/Fall issue of Penn State Agriculture. It will be available in mid-August. If you aren't already on the mailing list make sure you get a FREE SUBSCRIPTION.

DNA Fingerprinting of Listeria monocytogenes

The next issue of Penn State Agriculture will feature a story on work being done in the area of food safety. Researcher Steve Knabel's work in identifying Listeria monocytogenes using DNA fingerprinting techniques will be part of the story. I made this portrait of Knabel in his lab in the new Food Science Building. If you aren't already receiving the magazine you may want to visit our site and get your own FREE SUBSCRIPTION.

And the light isn't normally blue in his lab. Forgive my taking some artistic license in creating this illustration.

Pollinator Wonderland

This morning I was at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center photographing two researchers examining insect pollinators and predators on a cover crop of mustard. On the left is postdoctoral scholar in entomology Tara Pisani Gareau and on the right professor of entomology Mary Barbercheck.  They were looking for beneficial insects that visit the mustard whose bright flowers provide an excellent source of pollen and nectar.  Barbercheck noted that nearly every insect observed was beneficial. 

I have not seen so many honeybees in one place in a long time.

As part of an ongoing research project Pisani Gareau and Barbercheck are looking at how different crop rotations impact sustainable and organic forage production systems.  Incorporating flowering cover crops, like mustard, in crop rotations may enhance important ecosystem services like pollination and biological control.  In the distance you can see some of the high tunnel structures at Rock Springs. To find more information on work in these areas visit the College's site dealing with ecological applications.

Like the bees, I was attracted by the bright yellow flowers.

  

Cool Cows at Penn State

Penn State dairy cows are always pretty cool.  They have to be to make milk for all that great Creamery ice cream. I made this cow portrait not far from Beaver Stadium. When the temperature rises though they need some help staying cool. 

If you want to learn more about how Penn State handles the herd in hot weather check out the video produced by Accuweather titled "Cooler Cows Smooth Rocky Road".