The research done has been conducted and completed at the Miami University-Middletown campus in the field of Botany. This research was performed on the campus’ “Trail Loop,” that consist of roughly 105 trees that are tagged with numbers. Throughout the time spent on the Trail Loop, the database for the tagged tress on this loop has been updated and started over from scratch for the first time in 2020, since 1997. This research was performed for three reasons being, (1) to be up to date on the trees on campus that are tagged, (2) to be able to provide handouts to the community and visitors that come to walk the Trail Loop, a handout that will provide: the tagged tree number, the specific common and scientific name of the tree, the diameter (in inches), and an overall health assessment, and (3) to come up with a probable cause for the trees that are considered to be in poor or bad health. This work was completed by using an identification key, a measuring tape, and through evaluation for the health aspect. During this research, the findings show that there are 105 tagged trees with numbers, and those trees were made up of 34 different species. 87 of these trees are in good or fair health, whereas the other 18 trees are in bad or poor health. The probable cause of the poor health in 18 of these trees is mostly due to the care that they’re receiving, that is largely caused by how the trees are being pruned. Pruning in and of itself is not bad, however, pruning should specifically be done in the case of pruning to wood that is healthy, to get rid of already dead branches or branches that are damaged, or to branches that carry disease to eliminate the spread. This research pertains to future career and personal interests as I am striving to be a biology or chemistry teacher in the future.
Author: Josie Coffey
Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Keiffer, Biological Sciences
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