Activity:  Tuesday, June 17 at 6:00 p.m.:  Does Natural Selection Favor Big “Bongers”?  You have likely observed large, rounded, abnormal looking growths (ball galls) on goldenrod stems.  As kids, we used to “bong” each other in the head with ball galls and then hide from our victims in the fields of golden flowers.  Little did we know that years later, we would be using “bongers” to help our students understand the value of solid theory for making predictions about how living systems interact.  We will kick off this session by collecting data on gall size and making hypothetical predictions about gall sizes under different environmental conditions and specifically how selective pressures on the gall maker (a fly larva) from natural enemies influence those sizes.  Even now in our geezer years, we find great joy standing in a field of goldenrod or patch of milkweed and observing plant-insect interactions.

Field Trip:  Thursday, June 19:  We will meet at the CRESO Research building from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will have a short overview lecture and reveal the results of the data you collected on the goldenrod ball galls.  From there we will proceed to the field where we will investigate some of the interactions between selected plants and insects.  It is not unusual for serendipitous events to occur during field trips, and thus we always look forward to nature providing us with unexpected, good times!  June 21 will be used as an alternate date if the weather is an issue.

Note:  Field trip safety is always first and foremost. You are encouraged to wear long pants and hiking boots.  Please inform us of any medical conditions that might interfere with your field trip enjoyment.  Trips will involve walking for short distances.