NATURE Lab

Ruderal Ecologies Symposium: Presenter Bios

Ruderal Ecologies Symposium Presenters:

Julia Cavicchi, Anne Pfeifenberger & Olivia Golden Environmental Studies, Skidmore College ’18

Julia, Olivia, and Anne are Environmental Studies seniors at Skidmore College who have been delving into the capital region’s sewer systems for their capstone research on Combined Sewer …

Bioremediation in the L-lot

On November 12th, Kathy High and Intern Sierra Sukay went to the Sanctuary to meet with Oliver Kellhammer and assist him in collecting soil samples from the L-lot. Oliver, in conjunction with the Sanctuary, started bioremediations efforts in the L-lot this summer. In the back portion of the L-lot where the soil suffers from high lead concentration, was separated into three sections. One section has been covered with mulch and a fungi called mycelium, which has been used to reduce the amount of lead and other pollutants in the soil in sites around the world. Buckwheat was planted in the second section. Buckwheat is a very efficient tool for bioremediation because it grows quickly while “sucking” up the lead in the soil and storing it in the plants tissue. The third section is a control; it contains a collection of weeds “native” to Troy.