On Friday, July 19th, the iEcoLab team visited West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, PA, to collect arthropod samples and conduct bird point counts. Dr. Behm and Hannah S. conducted point counts in the early morning, followed by arthropod sampling. The iEcoLab members (pictured from left to right: Claire Becker, Stefani Cannon, Hannah Slesinski, Hannah Joseph, Dr. Helmus, Dr. Behm, and Joe Keller) were divided into teams to collect arthropods using sweep netting technique from various locations throughout the cemetery and within Nature’s Sanctuary green burial area. Our sampling efforts will be used to observe how biodiversity changes throughout the cemetery.
A huge thank you to Senior Horticulturist Gregg Tepper for allowing the iEcoLab team to collect samples throughout Laurel Hill Cemetery. Additionally, thank you to Dr. Behm, Dr. Helmus, and all iEcoLab team members for making it a fun and productive field day!
West Laurel Hill Cemetery’s Nature Sanctuary. Photo Credit: Dr. Matthew Helmus
Post-doctorate fellow, Joe Keller, sweep netting while undergraduate, Claire Becker recording data. Photo Credit: Dr. Matthew Helmus
Senior Horticulturist, Gregg Tepper, with co-lab manager, Hannah J., and PhD candidate, Stefani Cannon! Photo Credit: Dr. Matthew Helmus
Additionally, here are some beautiful photos Stefani Cannon captured within Nature’s Sanctuary green burial area!
Photo Credit: Stefani Cannon