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Students tracking a killer: GHS project gathers information on a destructive insect

BY MACKENZIE ISSLER RECORDER STAFF
Published: Monday, June 02, 2008

Recorder/Peter MacDonald

GREENFIELD -- What started out as a class project has turn into quite the endeavor for two high school freshmen who have spent hours after school studying an invasive, tree-killing insect that has made its home on one of the tall hemlock trees in Shattuck Park.

Greenfield High School students RO and JH are in Christine Perham's advanced biology class, which have been participating in a long-term ecological research project organized by Harvard University's Harvard Forest in Petersham, which tracks the spread of the invasive insect -- the hemlock woolly adelgid.

The class had been studying 20 hemlock trees in the park and using the protocols set up by the scientists and teachers that are involved with the Harvard program. They have learned how to identify the signs of the exotic pest and have been monitoring the trees near the school.

[The students] decided to turn their research into a project for this year's science fair that happened earlier in the school year and will continue to do work for the fair next year.

'I think this research is important for many reasons. One reason is that it is giving me knowledge about this invasive bug. But more importantly this research is going to help people acknowledge what hemlock woolly adelgid does to trees,' said O.

'Hopefully some day there will be a way to prevent woolly adelgid from killing trees.'

Forest ecologist David Orwig has been studying the forest response to the invasive insect for the past 13 years at the Harvard Forest. The data collected by students across the state, including in Greenfield, is helping him, as well as other scientists, throughout the northeast with their research.

Orwig said the woolly adelgid doesn't behave the same at every site and that the students' observations help the scientists study how this invasive insect affects the trees and forests in the Northeast.

'The more observations we have, the better,' he said. Hemlock trees infested by these creepy-crawlers often die within four to 10 years.

Perham first noticed the white woolly material produced by the adelgids on one of the trees in the park last spring.

'It was not supposed to be out at that time of the year,' said O.

The boys captured many of the stages of the insect by using a microscope camera.

'It is not easy to capture them on photographs,' said Orwig.

According to Orwig, the hemlocks have no known resistance to the bug and that it could ultimately kill many of the trees in the region. The bug is spread by wind but it also can hitch a ride on birds and other animals.

He said the Greenfield site is helpful in the research because it is so close to the school and since it is only on one tree, it helps to track the spread of the insect.

The insect has been in the United States since 1924 and is believed to be a native of Asia and is a serious pest of eastern and Carolina hemlocks.

During a cool day in the park, [the students] pointed out to a visitor the white material and the areas on the trees where there were no needles.

In April, town and state officials, including representatives from the town's public works and recreations departments, came to the class for a round-table discussion about the invasive species.

'These is no way I could have done that as ninth-grader,' said Orwig.

'I'm amazed by that.'

Rotary Reads Across the District

Franklin County Rotary Club is doing a wonderful  service project in the Greenfield Public School system.  Club members volunteerto read four different books to all kindergarten and first grade classes in the district. Students can then choose one of the four books to keep. Books will be ordered and donated by Rotarians to students before the end of the school year, so that they may have them for their home library. 

“This is such a wonderful example of community collaboration.  The public schools are thrilled to have these folks reading in our classrooms, to our students.  The cherry on top is that each K and 1st grade student will then be able to bring the book home to share with his/her family”, says Suzie Hale, GPS employee and Rotary Reads Across the District Project Coordinator.

To view the art slideshow, click here!

"Art is essential to learning--not just an educational frill. Learning about the visual arts gives students a window onto the rich and interesting world around them, teaching them about their own history and culture, as well as those of other people. It cultivates self-expression, imagination and creativity as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Students who learn about art develop their capacities to weigh meanings and make evaluations and judgments. Understanding and making art can teach students how to work cooperatively in groups and how to work hard to achieve a goal."

The Value of Art Education:
Education in the Arts and Through the Arts (National PTA & Getty Center for the Arts, http://art-smart.ci.manchester.ct.us/pta_art.html)

Greenfield High School

Presents

2008 Blossoming Artists Calendar

The 2008 Blossoming Artists Calendar showcases artwork of talented Greenfield High School students.

At Greenfield, the Arts play an important role in our students' lives, expanding young minds, developing creativity, and promoting accomplishment and self-esteem. Our faculty challenges blossoming artists in the various aspects of visual art, music and theater. Several of the visual works depicted in this year's calendar were among the best in local and regional art competitions, including the prestigious Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards. Students selected media throughout the academic year that suited their artistic ideas and personalities. As a result this calendar includes works in traditional styles of oil, acrylic, torn-paper, watercolor, and graphite. These young artists know that their work represents a fundamental mode of communication beyond written language, and they hope you enjoy their illustrations during the coming year. We are proud to share their art with you.

Copies of the Calendar are available for purchase
from the Main office at
Greenfield High School
413.772.1350.

Price: $15 (shipping and handling, add $2.00)