CERA Research

What makes CERA unique from other parts of campus is its protection to support academic research and understanding of the natural environment and preserving site information.

This photo shows an active archaeological excavation site within CERA organized by UMBC faculty and students. Site investigations within CERA started formally in 1971 and concluded in 1973. All excavation findings were written up by faculty and students as a formal report. This report, which includes this photo, can be found in the UMBC Archive.

Signs of Research

When you visit CERA keep an eye out for “signs of research”; CERA is an active place of research on a variety of topics includes birds, insects, tree health, and water quality. Interested in learning more about research happening in CERA? You can always reach out to the CERA Committee for more information (cera@umbc.edu).

Malaise traps

Malaise traps are used by researchers that study insects to capture airborne insects.

Bird boxes

Bird boxes can be used by researchers to study bird breeding behavior.

Tree tagging

Tree tags are used by researchers to keep track of individual trees as part of a research project.

Dendrobands

Dendrobands are installed on tree trunks by researchers to measure changes in trunk size over time.

Marking tape

Marking tape is used by researchers to identify research sites that need to be revisited. Different colors may be used to create a unique pattern.

Marking flags

Marking flags are inserted in the ground by researchers to mark a research site that needs to be revisited.

Groundwater monitoring wells

Monitoring wells are installed by researchers to study underground water.

Installed signs

Research Location Marked by Sign
Signs can be installed to notify people visiting CERA that there is active research happening.

iButton thermometers on land

iButton programmable thermometers can be installed at research sites to capture changes in temperature over time.

iButton thermometers in streams

iButton thermometers can also be installed at research sites in streams using anchors like rebar and zip ties to hold it in place.

Research type

Contact information

Insect research

Mercedes Burns, Ph.D – Burns Arthropod Evolution Lab

Tree research

Matthew Baker, Ph.D. – Geography & Environmental Systems

Stream research

Matthew Baker, Ph.D. – Geography & Environmental Systems

Bird breeding research

Kiersten Newtoff, Biology, Omland Lab, knewtof1@umbc.edu

 

 

Research Publications

Stay tuned!

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