The campus at the University of Cincinnati's Clermont College is steadily losing its woodlands to make way for new buildings and expensive signs. The goal of this study is to keep the South Maple Creek area on campus from being like the rainforests, which are torn down faster than they are explored. In the case of the rainforests, it is so important that we document all of the findings we can before thousands or millions of species are extinct. It is also important to many that we know what we are tearing down in our own communities before doing so. This requires an ecological evaluation of an area. This was done at the Clermont College South Maple Creek by water analysis, wood-line mapping, soil analysis, flora and fauna sampling, and random pairs tree analysis (not to mention general ecological discussion and biodiversity encouragement). South Maple Creek at the college surely does not have the economic or medicinal potential of a rainforest. However, these woods are homes to a variety of organisms and a classroom to a variety of students. For example, Morchella esculenta and Morchella semilibera, Morrells, are fungal delicacies which are sold for up to $30 a pound. They have been found for years by professors and students alike, to grow naturally on the Clermont campus. The mushrooms are so expensive because rare, unknown growth and reproduction factors have thus far kept scientists from harvesting the food in captivity. Answers to the mystery are on the Clermont Campus.But this is only one example. If findings from this research do not keep the South Maple Creek from being destroyed, then they will stand as record as to what was lost.  |