Harvard LTER Schoolyard Program
Woolly Bully: The Invasive Pest, The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (SY002)
Will the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid destroy our hemlock trees forever?
How will our forest change if the hemlock disappears?
Grade Levels: 2-12
Minimum Field Time: Two field visits: growth measurements in September and HWA sampling in late winter / spring
Related Research at Harvard Forest:
Forest Ecologist, David Orwig, is studying the forest response to the exotic pest, the hemlock woolly adelgid (see Invasive Plants, Pests and Pathogens).
Schoolyard Research Methods:
Students can contribute to this study by learning to identify the signs of the woolly adelgid and monitoring hemlock trees near their school for these signs. The data students record will help Dr. Orwig as well as scientists throughout the northeast.
- Teacher participates in the Summer Institute for Teachers to learn project content and methods. Teachers are provided with project materials.
- Teacher flags trees in schoolyard or local conservation area for research and maps the research site.
- Teacher and students collect data during designated time periods 1-2 times a year.
- Teachers are encouraged to attend one of the Data Workshops in the fall.
- Teacher and students provide data to the Schoolyard Coordinator.
- Data is posted on the Harvard Forest website.
- Teacher and students may choose to analyze their data and compare it to regional schoolyard data.
- Teacher and students are encouraged to come meet the scientist at the Harvard Forest.
- Teachers are encouraged to attend the Spring Workshop.