Mark Norris
@proftsuga.bsky.social
Tree hugging, dirt worshipping ecologist/teacher.
Stevenson University (a PUI in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA)
Stevenson University (a PUI in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA)
This week in undergraduate research: we did our final red-backed salamander survey for the year. We generally found the same pattern with salamanders at just 2 of the 14 (now 15) transects but we did find 1 each at two other transects where we've had very limited captures in the past. 22 in total.
November 14, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This week in undergraduate research: we did our final red-backed salamander survey for the year. We generally found the same pattern with salamanders at just 2 of the 14 (now 15) transects but we did find 1 each at two other transects where we've had very limited captures in the past. 22 in total.
Now the fun work begins. It's great to have expert friends willing to help!
November 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Now the fun work begins. It's great to have expert friends willing to help!
For our salamander project, we're trying to explain patterns of red-backed salamander presence across 14+ cover board transects across two properties. We've wondered about food web effects but haven't found a good diagram for this, so I asked one of our Env Sci majors to create one. This is awesome!
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
For our salamander project, we're trying to explain patterns of red-backed salamander presence across 14+ cover board transects across two properties. We've wondered about food web effects but haven't found a good diagram for this, so I asked one of our Env Sci majors to create one. This is awesome!
Super quick, preliminary look at one of the samples:
November 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Super quick, preliminary look at one of the samples:
Today in undergraduate research, collecting our sticky tape arthropod traps from our 4 study trees. Traps were placed in three positions: 2m aboveground and on the stem and a branch in the canopy. It was a chilly, blustery morning in the trees. Now we see what's been crawling on the trees.
November 11, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Today in undergraduate research, collecting our sticky tape arthropod traps from our 4 study trees. Traps were placed in three positions: 2m aboveground and on the stem and a branch in the canopy. It was a chilly, blustery morning in the trees. Now we see what's been crawling on the trees.
Final day of the Tree Climbing Academy. More climbing practice on different systems, lots of good conversations with trainers & other participants. What a good week to expand my skillset, gain confidence, & meet new friends. Many thanks to Casey Trees, Bartlett Tree Experts, & Montgomery Co Parks!
November 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Final day of the Tree Climbing Academy. More climbing practice on different systems, lots of good conversations with trainers & other participants. What a good week to expand my skillset, gain confidence, & meet new friends. Many thanks to Casey Trees, Bartlett Tree Experts, & Montgomery Co Parks!
Day four of the Tree Climbing Academy. Got 80' up a nice tulip poplar a couple of times, trying different mechanical devices on SRS. Also had a good demo of rigging a limb removal.
November 7, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Day four of the Tree Climbing Academy. Got 80' up a nice tulip poplar a couple of times, trying different mechanical devices on SRS. Also had a good demo of rigging a limb removal.
Annual 'Got Woolly mammoths?' post.
Here's a lovely Osage orange tree. It's suspected that the fruits were consumed and seeds spread by long extinct large mammal herbivores.
Here's a lovely Osage orange tree. It's suspected that the fruits were consumed and seeds spread by long extinct large mammal herbivores.
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Annual 'Got Woolly mammoths?' post.
Here's a lovely Osage orange tree. It's suspected that the fruits were consumed and seeds spread by long extinct large mammal herbivores.
Here's a lovely Osage orange tree. It's suspected that the fruits were consumed and seeds spread by long extinct large mammal herbivores.
Day three of the Tree Climbing Academy. Got 70' up a big silver maple to learn some new techniques to move around the canopy using SRS on a canopy anchor with redirects to access different parts of the canopy.
Picture from yesterday, using a hitch climber system to access canopy & branch walk.
Picture from yesterday, using a hitch climber system to access canopy & branch walk.
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Day three of the Tree Climbing Academy. Got 70' up a big silver maple to learn some new techniques to move around the canopy using SRS on a canopy anchor with redirects to access different parts of the canopy.
Picture from yesterday, using a hitch climber system to access canopy & branch walk.
Picture from yesterday, using a hitch climber system to access canopy & branch walk.
Day one of arborist boot camp, or what they call a Tree Climbing Academy. Good stuff, hanging out in trees all week. Learning new techniques and able to share my experiences too.
November 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Day one of arborist boot camp, or what they call a Tree Climbing Academy. Good stuff, hanging out in trees all week. Learning new techniques and able to share my experiences too.
For Halloween, I dressed as a student, complete with sweats, crocs, and headphones, and some of my class dressed like me. This was great!
October 31, 2025 at 3:13 PM
For Halloween, I dressed as a student, complete with sweats, crocs, and headphones, and some of my class dressed like me. This was great!
This week we installed trail cameras in a second red oak on campus. We have four cameras at different heights (5m to 23m), looking down the main stem. We hope to catch how vertebrates are using the tree and any variation in height. Collaborators are doing the same in PA, OH, and maybe NY.
#Arboreal
#Arboreal
October 30, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This week we installed trail cameras in a second red oak on campus. We have four cameras at different heights (5m to 23m), looking down the main stem. We hope to catch how vertebrates are using the tree and any variation in height. Collaborators are doing the same in PA, OH, and maybe NY.
#Arboreal
#Arboreal
Last week in undergraduate research: We checked on our clay model salamanders. It seems that many showed signs of some sort of predation after just one week, across most transects at both sites. We're collecting some photographic evidence too, have captured raccoons and others.
October 27, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Last week in undergraduate research: We checked on our clay model salamanders. It seems that many showed signs of some sort of predation after just one week, across most transects at both sites. We're collecting some photographic evidence too, have captured raccoons and others.
It was also a nice excuse for a walk around campus, including to our Witness Tree
October 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
It was also a nice excuse for a walk around campus, including to our Witness Tree
#Norrestry lab today (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), we're assessing our campus landscape trees for our Tree Campus USA application. A previous class drafted the application focusing on the nearly 31 ha of campus forest. Coincidentally they're planting dozens more trees around our new construction.
October 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
#Norrestry lab today (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), we're assessing our campus landscape trees for our Tree Campus USA application. A previous class drafted the application focusing on the nearly 31 ha of campus forest. Coincidentally they're planting dozens more trees around our new construction.
Forest nutrients day in #Norrestry (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), so of course notes are sketch-based
October 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Forest nutrients day in #Norrestry (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), so of course notes are sketch-based
Just your typical Saturday with 2 hockey games in a different state (both wins). And a birthday and an anniversary. And a little time with a No Kings protest.
October 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Just your typical Saturday with 2 hockey games in a different state (both wins). And a birthday and an anniversary. And a little time with a No Kings protest.
This week in undergraduate research: my student made and deployed clay model red-back salamanders and trail cameras to explore the potential role of predators in shaping the presence/absence patterns of the salamanders, hypothesizing that reduced predation is linked to dense shrub cover.
October 17, 2025 at 11:32 AM
This week in undergraduate research: my student made and deployed clay model red-back salamanders and trail cameras to explore the potential role of predators in shaping the presence/absence patterns of the salamanders, hypothesizing that reduced predation is linked to dense shrub cover.
Bonus: a nurse log in process?
October 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Bonus: a nurse log in process?
10 yrs ago, several stands were thinned to create canopy gaps to benefit oak regeneration. These areas are now dominated by tulip poplar thickets & where there isn't tulip, invasive plants are prevalent. It seems this management misread the forest & who was going to benefit from increased gaps. 2/2
October 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
10 yrs ago, several stands were thinned to create canopy gaps to benefit oak regeneration. These areas are now dominated by tulip poplar thickets & where there isn't tulip, invasive plants are prevalent. It seems this management misread the forest & who was going to benefit from increased gaps. 2/2
This week in #Norrestry class (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), we visited our local Oregon Ridge Park to check out some of its forest and forest management. Like most regional forests, the forest is threatened by deer and invasive plants & pests. #forestry 1/2
October 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This week in #Norrestry class (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), we visited our local Oregon Ridge Park to check out some of its forest and forest management. Like most regional forests, the forest is threatened by deer and invasive plants & pests. #forestry 1/2
Undergraduate research this week, #Arboreal project: Monitoring sticky tape installed at 3 positions (base, main stem in canopy, side branch) in 4 canopy-dominant tree species & finished installing chicken wire to inhibit vertebrates. Starting to see some captures in all trees and all positions!
October 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Undergraduate research this week, #Arboreal project: Monitoring sticky tape installed at 3 positions (base, main stem in canopy, side branch) in 4 canopy-dominant tree species & finished installing chicken wire to inhibit vertebrates. Starting to see some captures in all trees and all positions!
While there, I paid homage to this lovely white oak
October 10, 2025 at 11:52 AM
While there, I paid homage to this lovely white oak
We evaluated deer browse via twig age (Waller 2025) including seedling/sapling height and noting fresh browse. The deer mgmt program began last year, culled 36 deer from the 200+ acre property.
October 10, 2025 at 11:52 AM
We evaluated deer browse via twig age (Waller 2025) including seedling/sapling height and noting fresh browse. The deer mgmt program began last year, culled 36 deer from the 200+ acre property.
This week in #Norrestry class (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), we finished forest plot surveys at local Irvine Nature Center. We're collecting data to describe the forest composition and structure, focusing on deer browse, to understand early conditions as they implement a deer harvesting program.
October 10, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This week in #Norrestry class (my Forest Eco & Mgmt course), we finished forest plot surveys at local Irvine Nature Center. We're collecting data to describe the forest composition and structure, focusing on deer browse, to understand early conditions as they implement a deer harvesting program.