CBEST
@cbestvu.bsky.social
The Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship (CBEST) promotes research in biodiversity and ecosystem science on local and global scales. We are part the College of Liberal Arts at Villanova University. They/Them/We/Us
November 17, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Today is Local Roots: Partnerships for Success panel day here at Villanova! @villanovapr.bsky.social Still time to hear about local groups' efforts to work together to promote sustainable choices for our now and our future. Also, Snacks! lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49...
November 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Today is Local Roots: Partnerships for Success panel day here at Villanova! @villanovapr.bsky.social Still time to hear about local groups' efforts to work together to promote sustainable choices for our now and our future. Also, Snacks! lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49...
Quick reminder before we all go out into the wilds and brave pre-bed sugar overload. Local Roots panel registration is waiting for you! Do it now before you forget. See you Monday! lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49...
October 31, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Quick reminder before we all go out into the wilds and brave pre-bed sugar overload. Local Roots panel registration is waiting for you! Do it now before you forget. See you Monday! lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49...
Next Mon Nov 3, 5:30: we are hosting, with our friends #radnorconservancy, our 2nd Annual Local Roots Panel Event with the theme: Partnerships for Success. Join us. Registration is free and there will be snacks and lots of opportunities to mingle. lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49bx
October 28, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Next Mon Nov 3, 5:30: we are hosting, with our friends #radnorconservancy, our 2nd Annual Local Roots Panel Event with the theme: Partnerships for Success. Join us. Registration is free and there will be snacks and lots of opportunities to mingle. lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49bx
Hey local friends! We are excited to host the 2nd Annual Local Roots Panel, highlighting "Partnerships for Success" with our friends at #RadnorConservatory: Monday Nov 3, 2025. Catch this discussion and learn how to get involved! Free, but please register: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49bx
October 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Hey local friends! We are excited to host the 2nd Annual Local Roots Panel, highlighting "Partnerships for Success" with our friends at #RadnorConservatory: Monday Nov 3, 2025. Catch this discussion and learn how to get involved! Free, but please register: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/sad49bx
Our day of giving at VU comes along once a year. If you are moved by our mission, support us: every little bit counts. Search "Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship" in the *Area of Support* and feel good. Our students thank you. We all thank you. give.villanova.edu/campaigns/63...
September 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Our day of giving at VU comes along once a year. If you are moved by our mission, support us: every little bit counts. Search "Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship" in the *Area of Support* and feel good. Our students thank you. We all thank you. give.villanova.edu/campaigns/63...
Transplant alert: little bluestems are really really happy! Any locals out there in need of an awesome native? We have extra. Now or later in the fall when it gets cooler, just pop me a message.
September 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Transplant alert: little bluestems are really really happy! Any locals out there in need of an awesome native? We have extra. Now or later in the fall when it gets cooler, just pop me a message.
Takin' a lunch break with this beauty of a harmless yet super beneficial pollinator in the garden today. On Pycnanthemum muticum flits an awesome stinger-less blue-winged wasp (Scolia dubia). So many pollinators in such a small place. Every pocket of native helps. Plant diversity=Insect diversity
August 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Takin' a lunch break with this beauty of a harmless yet super beneficial pollinator in the garden today. On Pycnanthemum muticum flits an awesome stinger-less blue-winged wasp (Scolia dubia). So many pollinators in such a small place. Every pocket of native helps. Plant diversity=Insect diversity
Oh, Trees... Am I right?
August 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Oh, Trees... Am I right?
Sometimes 'fieldwork' looks like this and the world is good and right.
July 31, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Sometimes 'fieldwork' looks like this and the world is good and right.
Pollinator garden is popping! I spy at least 7 native PA species in this image taken at the garden on the VU campus. They are abuzz on this warm humid day.
July 7, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Pollinator garden is popping! I spy at least 7 native PA species in this image taken at the garden on the VU campus. They are abuzz on this warm humid day.
Anyone need a break? Did you know weather conditions play a role in how plants store nitrogen? CBEST people doing CBEST work. rdcu.be/ergzg
June 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Anyone need a break? Did you know weather conditions play a role in how plants store nitrogen? CBEST people doing CBEST work. rdcu.be/ergzg
More levity. Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis). Say that 5x fast. This one is on Butterfly Weed (Ascelpias tuberosa) and appears to me to be rather content.
June 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM
More levity. Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis). Say that 5x fast. This one is on Butterfly Weed (Ascelpias tuberosa) and appears to me to be rather content.
A little good news? 4 Monarch caterpillars spied today on the common milkweed in our #Villanova pollinator garden. 4th instar. We'll be following along.
June 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
A little good news? 4 Monarch caterpillars spied today on the common milkweed in our #Villanova pollinator garden. 4th instar. We'll be following along.
Rampant #wildfires in #Alberta have now forced several communities to evacuate. Our research sites remain unaffected, however, we know how quickly things can change and how dangerous it is for the crews. #firescarfriday 🔥Be safe out there, friends.
May 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Rampant #wildfires in #Alberta have now forced several communities to evacuate. Our research sites remain unaffected, however, we know how quickly things can change and how dangerous it is for the crews. #firescarfriday 🔥Be safe out there, friends.
Did you know? It's PA native species day!! Gonna' go look at some during my outdoor take-a-breath-of-fresh-air lunch break. Hope you can, too.
May 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Did you know? It's PA native species day!! Gonna' go look at some during my outdoor take-a-breath-of-fresh-air lunch break. Hope you can, too.
Wow! Thanks!!! From full to empty!
May 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Wow! Thanks!!! From full to empty!
The mood is purple today.
May 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The mood is purple today.
Wow... so excited for these native Eastern Lupine seedlings. My babies aren't so baby anymore! Up for grabs next week at #NativePlant sale event... Thurs, May 8th. 10-2. At VU greenhouse. Have about ten of these beauties and tons of other native PA stuff.
May 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Wow... so excited for these native Eastern Lupine seedlings. My babies aren't so baby anymore! Up for grabs next week at #NativePlant sale event... Thurs, May 8th. 10-2. At VU greenhouse. Have about ten of these beauties and tons of other native PA stuff.
Tomorrow April 29th come out and help clean up the Pollinator Garden. 12-1:30 ish. Cool bevs and cookies as bribe: along with potential for native plant take-homes. Near Greenhouse on campus! Bring gloves and sunscreen - and a hand-trowel would be helpful!! 💚 Join in!
April 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Tomorrow April 29th come out and help clean up the Pollinator Garden. 12-1:30 ish. Cool bevs and cookies as bribe: along with potential for native plant take-homes. Near Greenhouse on campus! Bring gloves and sunscreen - and a hand-trowel would be helpful!! 💚 Join in!
Just putting this out there.
April 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Just putting this out there.
#WorldFrogDay? Oh, heck yeah! We💚frogs. Here's a beauty nestled in #sphagnum moss. This wood frog can freeze solid and then thaw out and be ready to go. Found at one of our research sites in Alberta, it also seems ok with some acidic boggy conditions.
March 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
#WorldFrogDay? Oh, heck yeah! We💚frogs. Here's a beauty nestled in #sphagnum moss. This wood frog can freeze solid and then thaw out and be ready to go. Found at one of our research sites in Alberta, it also seems ok with some acidic boggy conditions.
It's Wednesday: here's some Wildlife. A lovely Variegated Fritillary pausing on a New England Aster growing in our pollinator garden here at VU. I just took a stroll and the garden is budding with the warm temps reminding me of better times. This image was taken last November.
February 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
It's Wednesday: here's some Wildlife. A lovely Variegated Fritillary pausing on a New England Aster growing in our pollinator garden here at VU. I just took a stroll and the garden is budding with the warm temps reminding me of better times. This image was taken last November.
This stump is amazing. Leave some logs and stumps around where you are and see what #biodiversity happens in your world. #MossyMonday
February 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
This stump is amazing. Leave some logs and stumps around where you are and see what #biodiversity happens in your world. #MossyMonday
Happy #FireScarFriday. Wildfires have moved through the boreal in Alberta with a regularity. Nudge them a little drier or warmer and that interval changes (as does C balance). This baby Black Spruce grew from a fire released seed: photo was taken 3 years post burn. Work here done with NSF funding.
February 14, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Happy #FireScarFriday. Wildfires have moved through the boreal in Alberta with a regularity. Nudge them a little drier or warmer and that interval changes (as does C balance). This baby Black Spruce grew from a fire released seed: photo was taken 3 years post burn. Work here done with NSF funding.