Students get to core analyzing tree rings for research

By Amanda Arnold

Photos by Amanda Arnold-- Claar and Dillon twist a small device into the trunk of the tree to extract a sample. Once the device is in place, the sample must be taken out carefully to avoid damaging it.

Dillon assembles the equipment as he prepares to take a core sample from a nearby cottonwood tree.

Claar examines the tree core samples closely. By magnifying the sample, she can count the rings and make more accurate calculations.

Researchers are headed to the trees with the help of undergraduate students in varied majors to gain valuable insight about the  Kearney area. Professor Jeremy Dillon teamed up with students to conduct research about certain types of trees in and around Kearney and Buffalo County. Dillon, originally from Omaha, obtained his Ph.D. in geography and geology from the University of Kansas and has been teaching at UNK since 2002.

He says students often stress about finding a way to stand out to future employers. Hands-on experience through undergraduate research projects is a great résumé builder and can provide some real-life experience in almost any field of study.

Dillon’s enthusiasm about his project last semester was evident as he explained the processes used to obtain information. “This project gathers information from Ponderosa Pines and cottonwood trees in the area,” he said.

Much of the fieldwork for this project consisted of finding the correct trees and using a small device to take a core sample out from the center of the tree. The samples look like small sticks, but they contain an exceptional amount of information.

Sophomore Allison Claar, a psychology major from Petersburg, joined Dillon for the project, and while she didn’t particularly enjoy the toughness of the tree trunks, it was clear that she enjoyed the research project overall.

Many people are familiar with the concept of counting the rings on a tree to find out the age, but those rings actually provide a lot more information.

Dillon’s project dives deeper into the sample’s information to find out the fluctuation of the amount of rainfall that the area received in a given year.

Rings that are small and close together indicate that the tree hasn’t grown much over the year, which could be connected to a lack of precipitation. Widely spaced rings suggest a growth spurt that would happen when water is plentiful during that time period.

With this information, the possibilities of knowledge gained expand greatly. Was the tree once next to a river or stream that is no longer visible there today? What was its water source?

Claar said that she is thankful for the experience. “It’s going really well,” she said, “and I like taking the samples from the trees. The measuring part is kind of fun, too.” She said that if given the opportunity, she would participate in another research project, though she is looking for one more geared toward her major.

Dillon encourages all students to participate in a research project if at all possible. He said that there are three typical ways to learn about these projects. The first way is the method that he used—the project can be announced in class to the students. Projects can also develop if a faculty member approaches a student with potential and offers to sponsor a research project. If none of those options are available, Dillon encourages students to approach their professors on their own to find out if a research project is possible.

Dillon plans to continue with more research projects in the future, giving more students the chance to gain valuable knowledge and skill. “Research projects give hands on experience and are much more in-depth than just assigning term papers,” Dillon said. “With this experience, students can gain the ability to solve real-world problems.”

Category: Features