The students at Lauralton Hall and Fairfield Prep join forces to to learn about beavers at Roosevelt Forest in Stratford, CT
On November 24, Lauralton Hall students and Fairfield prep students met up with Christina Batoh, Stratford’s Conservation Officer, to learn about beaver ecology at the site of a recently constructed beaver dam in Roosevelt Forest. Students set out to answer the question, “Does the presence of the beaver dam impact stream water quality?” To do this they tested water samples from an upstream site, the dam itself, and a downstream site.
Lauralton Hall students instructed their Fairfield Prep counterparts in how to conduct tests for dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, turbidity (sediment load), and pH. Students then analyzed their test results and concluded that the presence of the beaver dam does indeed impact stream water quality with water downstream having better quality than the water upstream or at the dam site.
Now, it was Fairfield Prep's turn to instruct the Lauralton Hall students in how to conduct forest biodiversity tests using a technique known as transect sampling. Transect lines were set up in the lowland forest next to the newly created lake and in the upland forest well away from any beaver activity. After sampling trees in both areas, students concluded that the upland forest was more diverse with four commonly identified tree species then the lowland forest with only three different tree species. (Note: this information will be especially important to forest managers as they continue to monitor the effects the beavers will have on forest succession in this corner of Stratford.)
Read more about Lauralton Hall & Fairfield Prep's science journey on the Lauralton Hall blog here.
Founded in 1905 by the Sisters of Mercy, Lauralton Hall is the first independent Catholic college-prep school for young women in Connecticut. More than 470 students from over 40 Connecticut towns attend. Inspired by the Mercy Tradition, their mission is to empower young women to pursue their highest potential through lifelong learning, compassionate service, and responsible leadership in a global society.
For more information, visit www.lauraltonhall.org. Lauralton Hall is located at 200 High Street, Milford.