Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  State University of New York - Brockport (SUNY)

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I study the impact of fire on plant communities at a ciritically threatened ecosystem called an oak savanna

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  Can you share a funny/interesting lab or field story?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  During my time as a botany technician at the Bureau of Land Management, I conducted surveys of rare plants in Eastern Oregon, an area known for its remote and stunning landscapes. One of my tasks involved monitoring an aquatic buttercup. Anticipating it to inhabit a unique desert water feature, I eagerly travelled into the survey area. However, upon arrival, I found myself surrounded by cows. To my surprise, the rare buttercup grew in a watering hole frequented by these animals. This experience taught me the importance of being mindful of one's surroundings as nature often surprises us in unexpected places.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is the coolest thing you have discovered or learned about plants?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  (not set)

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  (not set)

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  (not set)

  
  
• Help represent the outreach efforts of your societies. Please click all those organizations you are a member of:

  Ecological Society of America
  Ecological Forecast Initiative

  
  
• How did you hear about PlantingScience?

  Partner Organization E-mail

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  3

  
  

Recent Posts

24fjonesmhspos project 6 Jeremy Brady Oct 4 at 06:24pm

You have a great start to your research question!

For acidic solutions, you can use white vinegar, which has a pH of around 2.5 to 3. However, the pH will increase when the vinegar is diluted in water, so you might want to experiment with…

more

You have a great start to your research question!

For acidic solutions, you can use white vinegar, which has a pH of around 2.5 to 3. However, the pH will increase when the vinegar is diluted in water, so you might want to experiment with different dilution ratios to find what works best for your study.

For basic solutions, antacids in water typically have a pH around 10. If you decide to use an antacid, make sure to choose one without added ingredients, as these could potentially affect photosynthesis.

If you have trouble finding suitable materials, let me know, and we can brainstorm more ideas. Good luck!

24fjonesmhspos project 6 Jeremy Brady Oct 3 at 06:44pm

Hello Axl,

Great! I'm glad you're exploring these topics in class. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

24fjonesmhspos project 6 Jeremy Brady Oct 3 at 06:43pm

Hello Alice,

These sound like very interesting topics to study! I’m curious about the pH topic—are you looking to explore how pH affects photosynthesis, or how photosynthesis changes pH? I ask because if you wanted to study the effect…

more

Hello Alice,

These sound like very interesting topics to study! I’m curious about the pH topic—are you looking to explore how pH affects photosynthesis, or how photosynthesis changes pH? I ask because if you wanted to study the effect of pH on photosynthesis, you would need to prepare a basic solution, an acidic solution, and a neutral solution, and then measure the photosynthetic rates in each. However, if you're interested in how photosynthesis affects pH, your experiment design is a great idea.

For the saltwater experiment, be sure to control the salt concentration. You can use distilled water for your control, and a specific concentration of salt for your experimental setup. Alternatively, you could use multiple concentrations of salt to explore if the amount of salt influences the rate of photosynthesis.

I like the direction your group is heading. Regardless of which project you choose, be sure to develop a hypothesis that includes a rationale explaining why you think certain outcomes might occur. Also, make sure to keep accurate records and be consistent with your measurements.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!