SMSC Diary (Week 6): Becoming Scientists

Three weeks ago, our WEC class split into three monitoring groups to develop their own monitoring plan for the semester. The study sites available to each group ranged between various locations on the SCBI property to anywhere on the Farm at Sunnyside in Washington, VA. My group chose to focus on the Farm at Sunnyside as the farm biologist, Sam Quinn, previously mentioned a problem he was facing regarding groundhogs (Marmota monax) and their possible connection to the spread of a bacterial disease known as black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris). This strain of black rot only affects a genus of mustard plants known as Brassicas by entering through openings on plants, such as those resulting from herbivory.

Main Brassica plot on the Farm at Sunnyside, with the wildlife habitat in the distance (left).

Unfortunately, the main Brassica plot on the Farm at Sunnyside is also located next to a wildlife habitat meant to promote pollinator populations therefore promoting crop growth, but has proven to support more than just bee populations. Over the years, this habitat plot has sustained wonderful habitat for groundhogs as the dense brush provides shelter from predators and the close proximity to the Brassica plots provides ample amounts of food.

Sam believes the groundhogs are spreading black rot among the Brassica plant plots (i.e. cabbage, kale, cauliflower, etc.) via their fur brushing against the newly opened wounds caused by their snacking. In order to confirm or deny this theory, my group will spend the duration of October 2016 analyzing the movement patterns of the groundhogs in the main Brassica plot in relation to the appearance and spread of black rot among the plants.

Our study officially began this past Wednesday with our first Brassica health survey and the set up of our camera traps.

The main Brassica plot consists of 10 rows of various Brassica species that extend for 208 feet. Our health survey assesses the extent of damage via herbivory or disease (black rot) using a 5 degree rating system whereby each successive degree indicates an approximate twenty percent increase in overall damage to the sample observed (i.e., 1 = up to 20% damage, 2 = up to 40% damage, etc.). Additionally, our group will record each groundhog hole or mound to be used in later analysis.

Group members Joey Guite (right) and Spencer Gee (left) measure length of Brassica plot along side closest to wildlife habitat.

Camera traps were placed along the wildlife habitat (home to the groundhogs) facing the main Brassica plot. These cameras are meant to classify the movement of the groundhogs into segmented areas that we can eventually compare to black rot occurrence.

I am very eager not only to see what kind of data our study will produce, but also to determine if Sam’s theory was right. The majority of our data leads itself to be best analyzed spatially, which is exciting for me as I hoped I would get a chance work on my spatial analysis skills this semester. As an undergraduate, this opportunity to design and conduct our own study is empowering and motivating. The freedoms students at SMSC are given as academics have far exceeded my expectations.