A team of Concordia students received a research grant from TriBeta, the biological honor society. This research grant is awarded to undergraduate students who are members of TriBeta and helps them fund research they might not be able to complete otherwise. 

Katie Waugh ‘25 and Peter Weinzierl ‘26 are studying campus squirrels and how the decline of elm and ash trees around campus impacts their foraging and nesting behaviors. Heidi De Leon Escobar ‘27 was also part of the grant application process.

They used the grant money for radio transmitter collars to track squirrels’ movement. 

Waugh is a biology and environmental and sustainability studies double major and said receiving this grant boosted her motivation and excitement to get started on the research. 

“I'm really looking forward to seeing how the data we collect on the squirrels and on potential habitat loss will help us to better understand the squirrels' behavior and habitat preferences,” Waugh said. 

Across Minnesota, elm trees are rapidly dying due to Dutch elm disease, which is spread by elm bark beetles that burrow into trees and leave behind fungal spores that sap nutrients from the trees. 

Ash trees are also in danger from the emerald ash borer and invasive beetle species. After the initial contact, all ash trees in the surrounding area are expected to die within 10 years if no control measures are taken. 

Waugh and Weinzierl’s research is designed to improve the understanding of how invasive species infestations and habitat loss for squirrels across campus will impact the campus ecosystem.

 

Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer infestation can both be effectively combated with chemical treatments. However, these treatments must be repeated regularly and can become costly. In their proposal, concern was raised over the potential removal of ash and elm trees across campus due to this cost. 

They cited past research conducted at Concordia that found campus squirrels prefer to forage around elm and ash trees, and the majority of documented squirrel nests on campus have been found within elm and ash trees. 

In the proposal, the students wrote, “Currently, the campus still has most of these ashes and elms. However, the loss of these trees seems inevitable. Our goal is to gather as much data as possible on the squirrels' current foraging and nesting behaviors so that we might be able to predict future changes in light of this habitat alteration.”

As part of the grant process, the students will present what they learned at a TriBeta convention. 

 

Written by Alyssa Czernek ‘25