Research Findings
2009 Research Findings
DNA barcoding of Quercus sp. At Pierce Cedar Creek Institute using the matK gene. K. Borek and S. Silvieus, Aquinas College. (61k PDF document)
Colonization of substrate in lotic ecosystems on the macro and micro scale. J. Vander Hyde, A. Fleser and R. Bajema, Aquinas College. (230k PDF document)
Carbon assimilation and its variation among plant communities. S. Boersma, A. Wiersma and D. Dornbos, Calvin College. (354k PDF document)
Effects of Camera and Bait Type on a Carnivore Survey. C. Powell and B. Swanson, Central Michigan University. (136k PDF document)
The utilization of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) trails by vertebrates as a means of traversing gaps in landscape matrices. V. Sindorf, P. Vande Zande and R. Keys, Cornerstone University. (145k PDF document)
Microhabitat distribution and selection among colubrid snake species of the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. R. Webb, A. Warner and R. Keys, Cornerstone University. (610k PDF document)
Response of chemicophysical variables and macroinvertebrate communities to the presence and drawdown of a low-head dam. C Caldwell and E. Snyder, Grand Valley State University. (1073k PDF document)
Prey preferences in three species of Polistes found in Michigan: P. fuscatus, P. dominulus and P. metricus. L. McLaughlin, S. Seeley and M. Henshaw, Grand Valley State University. (270k PDF document)
Factors that determine distribution of butterflies within complex prairie habitats at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Barry County, MI. Z. Mills and J. Dunn, Grand Valley State University. (809k PDF document)
Impacts of the invasive species Elaeagnus umbellata on the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute ecosystem soil and water quality. K. Boroski and Z. Aljobeh, Valparaiso University. (1890k PDF document)
The impacts of an invasive shrub, autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), on behavior and nesting success of American robins (Turdus migratorius) and northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis). D. Houghton, C. Soley and L. Eberhardt, Valparaiso University. (619k PDF document)
2008 Research Findings
Parasitism and stress levels in green frogs, Rana clamitans, in Western Michigan. J. Stephens and D. McCurdy, Albion College. (150k PDF document)
Nocturnal thermal stratification in selected valleys at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and Conklin, Michigan. M. Fish, M. Menerey and P. Bieneman, Aquinas College. (350k PDF document)
Characterization of the physiological competitiveness of autumn olive in meadow and forest environments. R. Hesselink and D. Dornbos, Calvin College. (449k PDF document)
Identifying hybrids of Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus in Michigan using molecular genetics. K. Schumacher and B. Swanson, Central Michigan University. (390k PDF document)
Comparison of various population parameters for green frogs across three different wetland habitats at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. S. Burton, Grand Valley State University. R. Lodewyck, Aquinas College. R. Fouty, Western Michigan University. D. Weeks, Grand Valley State University. (893k PDF document)
Factors influencing calling male green frogs at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. S. Burton, Grand Valley State University. D. Weeks, Grand Valley State University. R. Fouty, Western Michigan University. R. Lodewyck, Aquinas College. (935k PDF document)
Morphological & habitat differentiation between Peromyscus leucopus & P. maniculatusR. Norris and J. Jacquot(169k PDF document)
Native bee diversity of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. S. Arnosky and A. Fraser, Kalamazoo College. (399k PDF document)
Water quality and hydrology in the Cedar Creek watershed within the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute property. A. Holderread and Z. Aljobeh, Valparaiso University. (93k PDF document)
The effects of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) on breeding bird nest predation and activity at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. M. Krintz and L. Eberhardt, Valparaiso University. (430k PDF document)
Development and behavioral ecology of Tetrasticus jonsoni (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)F. Baziari and D. Cowan, Western Michigan University. (224 k PDF document)
A landscape history of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute from pre-Columbian times to the present. J. Hovey, Western Michigan University. (4.4M PDF document)
Defense expression in the aphid Myzocallis asclepiadisK. McMartin and S. Malcolm, Western Michigan University. (173k PDF document)
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2007 Research Findings
Activity, body temperature variation and movements of the midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata). P. Converse and J. Rowe, Alma College. (175k PDF document)
Formation of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute interactive tree key for common plants along trails. P.M. Soper and S. Silvieus, Aquinas College. (245k PDF document)
Characterization of the competitiveness of autumn olive in a mature forest. K. Edwards and D. Dornbos, Calvin College. (637k PDF document)
Impacts of acid precipitation and buffering on two lotic ecosystems. T. Dunham and T. Rohrer, Central Michigan University. (266k PDF document)
Effect of fragmentation on isolation of salamanders in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. K. Gibbons and B. Swanson, Central Michigan University. (190k PDF document)
Effects of potential habitat fragmentation by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on raccoon (Procyon lotor) home range. A. Paladino and R. Keys, Cornerstone University. (large 14.2 MB PDF document)
A survey of the breeding birds at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. B. Hathaway and P. Klatt, Ferris State University. (large 3.13 MB PDF document)
Lepidopterans and Hemipterans and their use as prairie bioindicators. C. Koperski and J. Dunn, Grand Valley State University
Home range dynamics of meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius). D. Warren and J. Jacquot, Grand Valley State University. (228k PDF document)
Is territorial behavior in green frogs (Rana clamitans) related to defending oviposition sites or protection from predators?. D. Weeks and S. Burton, Grand Valley State University. (616k PDF document)
Screening for drought tolerance in plant communities at PCCI. E. Schuiteman and D. Swarthout, Hope College. (60k PDF document)
Mechanical stomatal diversity and rates of CO2 conductance in PCCI plant communities. E. Weidenhaft and D. Swarthout, Hope College. (250k PDF document)
Chemical defense dynamics in milkweed-aphid interactions. E. Wohlford and S. Malcolm, Kalamazoo College. (289k PDF document)
Ozone data analysis and source partitioning. B. Emery, M. Taylor and G. Morris, Valparaiso University. (579k PDF document)
Mapping and testing a possible control method for garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). J. Finger and L. Eberhardt, Valparaiso University. (154k PDF document)
An investigation into mouse-ear cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) flowering schedule and pollination mechanism. J. Roshanmanesh and R. Swanson, Valparaiso University. (86k PDF document)
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2006 Research Findings
Stress levels in green frogs in relation to colonization by a waterborne pathogen. D. McCurdy and M. Lupek, Albion College. (40k PDF document)
Characterizing the physical and biological environments of the lotic ecosystems of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. J. Higgins and R. Bajema, Aquinas College. (238k PDF document)
An analytical study of heavy metal concentrations in soils at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. L. Griffiths, R. Sturm, and E. A. Jensen, Aquinas College. (247k PDF document)
Assessment of prairie pot transplants as a restoration tool. J. Goedhart and D. Warners, Calvin College. (129k PDF document)
Characterization of the photosynthetic competitiveness of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). M. R. Ritsema and D. L. Dornbos II, Calvin College. (105k PDF document)
Post-glacial palynology and paleoecology of the Brewster Lake basin, Barry County, Michigan as determined by evaluation of sediment cores. A. Honsowitz and T. K. Rohrer, Central Michigan University. (924k PDF document)
The potential habitat fragmentation caused by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and its impact on nest predation. B. Heys and R. Keys, Cornerstone University. (48k PDF document)
Effects of environmental variables on plant communities in a ravine system in Southwest Michigan. E. Fleischmann and R. Keys, Cornerstone University. (146k PDF document)
A survey of breeding birds present at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. K. Kammer and P. Klatt, Ferris State University. (541k PDF document)
Natural history and reproductive biology of a Hahniid spider in Southwestern Michigan. D. Gardner and T. Bultman, Hope College. (48k PDF document)
Foraging habits of Neoantistea magna (Araneae: Hahniidae). W. Engers, Hope College. (77k PDF document)
Preliminary inventory of the moth fauna of the fen and cedar swamp complexes at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. P. Gleave and J. H. Wilterding III, Olivet College. (3,630k PDF document)
The effect of habitat conditions on the abundance of freshwater copepods. D. Hunt and S. Kohler, Western Michigan University . (28k PDF document)
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2005 Research Findings
Water chemistry of Brewster Lake, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. M. Broderick, M. Conklin, E. A. Jensen, Aquinas College. (109k PDF document)
A survey of macroinvertebrates of the lentic and lotic ecosystems of Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. David Baylis and Lareina Van Strien and Dr. Robb Bajema, Aquinas College. (84k PDF document)
Activity and movements of stinkpot turtles at Brewster Lake. Pamela McCarthy and Professor John Rowe, Alma College. (270k PDF document)
Effects of tree-of-heaven toxins on rodent herbivory. Joe Haydon & Joe Jacquot, Grand Valley State University. (229k PDF document)
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute GIS development - final report. Matt VanPortfliet, Grand Valley State University. (20k PDF document)
Assessment of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) population at Pierce Cedar Creek. John Travis and John Wilterding, Olivet College. (95k PDF document)
A comparison of cursorial arachnofauna at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and Hope College Nature Preserve. David DeWitt, Hope College. (105k PDF document)
An analysis of habitat structure and corridor connectivity for wildlife at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Robert Keys, PhD and Catherine Walker, Cornerstone University. (645k PDF document)
Bathymetric mapping and baseline limnological study of Brewster Lake, Barry County, Michigan. April Honsowitzand and Prof. Thomas K. Rohrer, Central Michigan University. (425k PDF document)
Prevalence of Aeromonas hydrophila in frogs and toads at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Dean McCurdy, PhD and Kristen Krum, Albion College. (31k PDF document)
Microhabitat selection by Plethodontid salamanders at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Dean McCurdy, PhD and Keith Sprague, Albion College. (727k PDF document)
Some Additional Research Findings
Activity, movements and activity area size in stinkpot turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) in a Southwestern Michigan lake. The American Midland Naturalist (751k PDF Document) (751k PDF document)
Annotated checklist of vascular plants in the vicinity of Cedar Creek and Brewster Lake, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Barry County, Michigan . Michigan Botanist (171k PDF document)
Comparison of cedar and tamarack stands in arelict conifer swamp at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Barry County, Michigan . Michigan Botanist (139k PDF document)
GIS maps of Barry County lakes and wetlands . Arcview GIS maps (high resolution PDF format) of Barry County wetlands, lake types, and lakeshore development (HTML and PDF documents *Not Available At This Time*).
Modeling habitat ecology and population viability of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake in Southwestern Lower Michigan (880k Masters Thesis PDF document)
National backyard wildlife habitat study (36k PDF document)
White-tailed deer population characteristics and landscape use patterns in Southwestern Lower Michigan. (941k Masters Thesis PDF document)