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Past field courses at Asylum Lake Preserve

2011, Sept-Dec. GEOS and ENVS Field Environmental Geochemistry

Dr. Carla Koretsky, É«É«À² Michigan University

Project-based field course in which students will design a water quality study and perform water column and sediment sampling at Asylum Lake.

2011, June. GEOS 6130 Wetland Hydrology.

Allan Hascall, É«É«À²

Project-based course focusing on wetland delineation and wetland hydrology. A large, wetland delineation project will be completed by the end of the course and includes a written summary of findings as outlined by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Wetland Identification Manual.

2010, May. Introduction to Ecology

Jennifer Lau, Michigan State University Kellogg Biological Station

Students in this course spend approximately five days at Asylum Lake Preserve studying the effects of garlic mustard on plant and arthropod community composition.

2009. BIOS 1510 Organismal Biology (Forest Dynamics Lab)

Dr. David Karowe, É«É«À²

The objective of this lab is to determine whether the composition of the forest is changing. Students will compare the species composition of mature trees in the forest canopy at Asylum Lake Preserve with that of the understory. Students will survey plots within the forest, identify tree species and measure the diameter-at-breast-height for each tree within the plot.

2008, April. BIOS 1510 Organismal Biology (Forest Dynamics Lab)

Dr. Todd Barkman, É«É«À²

The objective of this lab is to determine whether the composition of the forest is changing. Students will compare the species composition of mature trees in the forest canopy at Asylum Lake Preserve with that of the understory. Students will survey plots within the forest, identify tree species and measure the diameter-at-breast-height for each tree within the plot.

2007-2010. BIOS 3010 Ecology

Dr. Stephen Malcolm, É«É«À²

Students will explore 4 laboratory exercises at Asylum Lake Preserve, including:

• Non-destructive mark, release and recapture of grasshoppers to estimate population size.
• Goldenrod gall densities.
• Tree dispersion.
• Metapopulation structure of milkweed beetle larvae.

2007, November ANTH 5000 Historical Archaeology

Michael Nassaney, É«É«À²

This course focuses on the methods and theory of historical archaeology.

2007, September GEOG 6200 Biogeography

Dr. Kathleen Baker, É«É«À²

This course is a graduate seminar in physical geography in which students focus on theoretical and applied biogeography.

Past research at Asylum Lake Preserve

2012, March. "Effects of Road Salt Deicers on Sediment Biogeochemistry," Seon-young Kim & Carla Koretsky. É«É«À² Geosciences.

2011, December. "Asylum Lake Water Quality Analysis," É«É«À² Field Environmental Geochemistry Class. É«É«À² Geosciences.

2011, September. "Redox Stratification and Salinization of Three Kettle Lakes in Southwest Michigan, USA," Carla M. Koretsky, Andrew MacLeod, Ryan J. Sibert and Christine Snyder. É«É«À² Geosciences.

2010, July. "The Role of Plant-Soil Feedbacks in the Biological Invasion of Acer platanoides and Implications for Native Forests," Jennifer Lau. MSU Kellogg Biological Station.

2010, June. "Effects of Long-Term Mowing Treatments on Productivity," Jennifer Lau and Stacey Gray. MSU Kellogg Biological Station.

2010, June. "Influence of Road Walt on Lake Water Quality," Dr. Carla Koretsky, Andrew MacLeod and Christine Snyder. É«É«À² Geosciences.

2010, May. "Testing the Bouwer and Rice Slug Test Analysis Method," Dr. Duane Hampton and Hussain Alfaifi. É«É«À² Geosciences.

2009, October. "Influence of Salinity on Wetland Biogeochemistry," Dr. Carla Koretsky and Dr. Seonyoung Kim, É«É«À² Geosciences.

2009, September. "Microbial Community Analysis of the Asylum Lake Preserve," Dr. Silvia Rossbach and Adam Nemon, É«É«À² Biological Sciences.

2009, June. "Assessment of Soil Composition and Vegetation Survey of Old Field, Forest 1 and Savanna 2 Areas of the Asylum Lake Property, Kalamazoo, Michigan," Dr. Charles Ide, Jay Biernat and research assistants. É«É«À² Biological Sciences. Powerpoint presentation on this research.

2009. "An Ecological Assessment of the Asylum Lake Preserve," Tyler Bassett, Botanist and Suzie Knoll, Biologist. Native Connections.

2009. "An Investigation into the Validity of the Effective Radius, re, Value Used in the Bouwer and Rice (1976) Method of Analyzing Slug Test Data," James Niel Couch. É«É«À² Geosciences.

2008. "Switchgrass Gene Flow," Jennifer Lau, Kane Keller and Lauren Bailey, Michigan State University.

2008. "The Dynamics of Milkweed Chemical Defense in Response to Chewing and Sucking Insect Herbivores," Derrick Hilton. É«É«À² Biological Sciences.

2008. "Water Quality Evaluation of Asylum Lake and Little Asylum Lake with Management Recommendations," Kieser & Associates, LLC.

2005. "An Archeological Assessment of the Asylum Lake/Colony Farm Orchard Property in Kalamazoo, Michigan," Rory J. Becker and Michael S. Nassaney.

1992. "Final Project Report: Long-Term Hydrogeological Research and Educational Test Site," William A. Sauck and Michael J. Barcelona. É«É«À² Michigan University.

1992. "Phase I and Partial Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, Asylum Lake, É«É«À² Michigan University," Soil & Material Engineers, Inc.

Thesis projects completed at Asylum Lake Preserve

Ric Steeves. 2001. "The Geochemistry of a Leaf Composting Leachate Plume, Asylum Lake, Kalamazoo, Michigan," Department of Geosciences, É«É«À². Degree of Master of Science. Found at Waldo Library, É«É«À². call number: TD 9999.s83x

Paul Joseph Pare. 1995. "A Study on the Causes of Variations in Transmissivity and Storativity During Pump Tests at Asylum Lake," Department of Geology, É«É«À². Degree of Master of Arts. Found at Waldo Library, É«É«À². call number: GB 9999.P37x

Vincent E. Buening. 1994. "Investigations of Glacial-Drift Aquifier-Lake Interactions Using Hydrogeology, Geochemistry and Stable Isotopes at Asylum Lake, Michigan," Department of Geology, É«É«À². Degree of Master of Science. Found at Waldo Library, É«É«À². call number: GB 9999.B83x

Bryan K. Allen. 1993. "The Effects of Composting Yard Wastes on the Ground Water Quality: É«É«À² Farms Site, Kalamazoo, Michigan," Department of Geology, É«É«À². Degree of Master of Science. Found at Waldo Library, É«É«À². call number: GB 9999.A63x

Fardin Olyaee. 1986. "The Effects of Acid Precipitation on Two Lakes in Southwestern Michigan," Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Division of Science Education, É«É«À². Found at Waldo Library, É«É«À². call number: QH 9999.2.049x

Papers related to Asylum Lake Preserve

1991. "Report on the Historic Use of the Property Commonly Known as the Kalamazoo State Hospital Colony Farm, the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Orchard and the Lee Baker Farm," Larry B. Massie.

1983. "Stormwater Management in a Small Michigan Watershed," Philip P. Micklin (É«É«À² Michigan University) and Thomas Hodler (University of Georgia).

1977. "Observations on Asylum Lake, Kalamazoo, Michigan," Joseph G. Engemann. É«É«À² Michigan University.

(Date unknown) "Non-Point Source Pollution Affecting Asylum Lake." Thomas A. Hildebrandt and Jack S. Wood. É«É«À² Michigan University.

Books related to Asylum Lake Preserve

"Haven: a Treatise on Asylum Lake"  Edited by Dok Tael Stevens, illustrations by Ladislav R. Hanka. Spunky Duck Press. Kalamazoo, Michigan. Found at Archives & Regional History, 111 East Hall, É«É«À². call number: F574.K1 H38x

Past events and projects at Asylum Lake Preserve

2011, May-Aug

A large hole was dug at Asylum Lake to use as a garlic mustard decomposition site. Rather than sending garlic mustard to landfills, plants were buried on-site, as a more environmentally-friendly alternative.

2011, May

AmeriCorps NCCC worked on ecological restoration projects at Asylum Lake Preserve and other É«É«À² Natural Areas.

2011, May

Two hundred student volunteers from the Michigan Church of God pulled garlic mustard at the preserve.

2011, May

"No Child Left Inside" One hundred twenty-five third graders from four area schools came to Asylum Lake to learn about water ecology, garlic mustard, leadership and self reflection through outdoor journaling. The event was held in collaboration with the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

2010, December

A É«É«À² art student installed her work at Asylum Lake for a short time period.

2010, November

"No Child Left Inside" One hundred twenty-five third graders from four area schools came to Asylum Lake Preserve. They rotated between four stations at the preserve which included book reading, journaling, bird watching and tree art. The event was held in collaboration with the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

2010, November

ROTC É«É«À² Ranger Organization Field Training Exercise.

2010, October

Karen Bondarchuk and art students at É«É«À² created bluebird boxes as part of their required foundation art basic woodworking skills. The boxes are to be installed in the near future.

2010, May

Two hundred student volunteers from the Michigan Church of God pulled garlic mustard at the preserve.

2010, March

Gibbs House Fellows organized a trash pick-up day at Asylum Lake Preserve. Approximately 15 students assisted in cleaning up the property.

2009, November

ROTC Situational Training Exercise.

2009, May

Dr. Charles Ide and Gibbs House Fellows monitored the regeneration of garlic mustard, an invasive species.

2009, May

Two hundred student volunteers from the Michigan Church of God pulled garlic mustard at the preserve.

2008, September

É«É«À²'s Women's Cross Country Team held practice at Asylum Lake Preserve through the fall and winter.

2008, May

Volunteers from the National Honor's Society pulled garlic mustard at the preserve.

2008, May

Two hundred student volunteers from the Michigan Church of God pulled garlic mustard at the preserve.

2007, April

Tyler Bassett, Botanist from Native Connections performed a comprehensive inventory of the vascular plants and wildlife at the Asylum Lake Preserve.

2007, April

The Asylum Lake Preservation Association organized a trash removal and garlic mustard pull for Earth Day.

2007, March

É«É«À² hosted a PeaceJam event. The event included service projects and a conference with Nobel Peace Laureate, Rigoberta Menchu Tum as the guest speaker. The conference had an environmental theme and included a conservation project at Asylum Lake. PeaceJam is a service learning program for high school students in Kalamazoo and is a partner with É«É«À². "The mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to create a new generation of young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates."

2006, April

Volunteers from the Asylum Lake Preservation Association pulled garlic mustard growing in the oak savanna on Earth Day.

2006, April

Three É«É«À² students investigated paranormal activity at Asylum Lake Preserve, focusing on the sites of former State Hospital buildings.

2006, March

The Land Trust Alliance held its Midwest Conference at the Fetzer Center at É«É«À². Asylum Lake Preserve was included in the seminar as an outdoor venue due to its relevant stewardship issues and its proximity to the Fetzer Center.

Recent events, research and field courses