Maria Moenkedick

Biology Major, Class of 2010

September 2007 - I spent this past summer in north-central California conducting research with Dr. Jill Welter at the Angelo Coast Range Reserve. Joined by other student and faculty researchers from several different institutions including the University of Minnesota, St. Olaf College, and the University of California-Berkeley, our group conducted a variety of work to increase our understanding of energy flow paths within an entire watershed and the different mechanisms of nutrient uptake and release that impact the organisms within the system. The watershed consisted of one main stream, the South Fork of the Eel River, and several small and medium sized tributaries; this dynamic, along with the fact that the entire watershed is free of agriculture and is impacted only minimally by a small human population makes it an excellent site to ask and study the questions our group sought to answer.

The new and exciting experiences I had this summer were abounding, and I am very thankful that I was given this great opportunity. Not only did I learn a large array of sampling and analysis techniques, but I had my eyes opened to what a broad and interesting field ecology truly is. Living and working at the same base with several other ecologists outside of our main research group gave me the opportunity to interact with and even help with some of their research as well. Our group's work was concentrated in the streams, an area I truly enjoyed working in for the summer; however, I was fortunate to be able to lend a hand to a few of the terrestrial researchers as well. One of the most exciting things I did while interacting with other researchers was working for a day with a man that studies the redwood trees at the reserve, during which time I got to climb a tree to a height of over 50 meters. It was thrilling and the view from the tree top was incredible!

The summer experiences I had not directly linked to research and science were amazing as well. California was one of the many states I have never been to, so experiencing the beauty of it for an entire summer was invigorating. Never did I tire of the new animal and plant life that I was surrounded by, and I was fortunate to see many interesting creatures, both in and out of the stream, on a daily basis. The area our group was staying at had an abundance of hiking trails through the hilly old-growth forest we were surrounded by, so I was never short of places to explore and enjoy.

While in California I was also given the opportunity to attend the annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) national conference. Prior to this trip, I did not realize how large the world of ecology is, and I was surprised by the fact that there were thousands of scientists from around the globe at the meeting. Throughout the week-long conference I was able to listen to researchers from around the world present their work on a variety of different topics. After some of the sessions which particularly interested me I was able to talk with the presenters further about their work and background. The entire conference was something I felt very engaged in and was excited for each day and the different things I would get to listen to, look at, and learn about.

Overall the summer was great, and although I am not sure as to what my future career plans will be yet, it definitely allowed me to experience a piece of what going on to graduate school or other areas within the field would be like. My work will continue throughout the school year as I analyze more samples, and I am very excited to see some of the results. There is much more I look forward to learning as I conduct further research and analyses. I have been lucky to have some great mentors to help channel my research in a constructive and productive way throughout this entire experience. This summer allowed me to build and strengthen relationships with so many people, including other undergrads, graduate students, and professors. I know that all of these people will serve as valuable friends and resources for years to come as I continue my education and beyond.

I am extremely glad I was given this opportunity, and I would encourage any student that likes to learn new things in a meaningful, engaging, and interactive way to take advantage of any opportunity like this!