Thomas D. Brock, 1926-2021
Thomas Dale Brock, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on 4 April 2021 at the age of 94, due to complications from a fall. He was born 10 September 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio, the only child of Thomas Carter Brock and Helen Ringwald Brock. Thomas D. Brock was the E. B. Fred Professor of Natural Sciences…
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Great fall burn weather during Election Week
Because of Covid most of our spring burns were canceled (needlessly!). So it was a great boon that the first week of November (Election Week) the burn weather was outstanding! We got three major burns done: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie (one of Southern Wisconsin’s best remnants) on November 6 , the North Woods at Pleasant…
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Comparison between burned (2019) and unburned (2020) areas of the same oak savanna
We were prevented from burning in 2020 because of the corona virus pandemic. I found two photos from the same location: 2019 (dormant season-early March burn), and 2020 unburned. April 28, 2019 (burned early March) April 30, 2020 (unburned) The main green in the unburned year is the road, which is kept open as fire…
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My old work now playing part of the corona virus assay
My work on Thermus aquaticus has been reported frequently because of its significance in DNA technology. Who knew it would also play a role in the corona virus test? This link to the National Geographic tells the story briefly: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/03/key-ingredient-in-coronavirus-tests-comes-from-yellowstone/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=Science_20200401&rid=00A1C0EC1D6BCA13E7D730C0C4F8DA2E
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Importance of fire with Midwest oak savannas
We have been burning our oak savannas at Pleasant Valley Conservancy “annually” for the past 20 years. They have always been dormant season burns, either late fall or early spring. These annual burns are part of the reason the PVC savannas look so spectacular. This year, because of the corona virus pandemic, our burn permits…
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Corona virus: Controlled burns for natural areas now canceled
Since my post yesterday, Wisconsin DNR Forestry has canceled burn permits for natural areas. (Burns for agricultural purposes are still permitted.)
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Restoration ecology in the time of corona virus: controlled burns
These are fearsome times, with a modern plague raging across the land. Unfortunately, the full significance of the epidemic only became evident in late March, just when burn season was well started. (We had already done three successful burns.) On March 17, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a “Safe at home” order, which will extend…
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Getting ready for dormant season (spring) burns
The end of January is when we start planning our spring burns. Lately, we have been burning earlier than we used to. (Sometimes even late February). We need WiscDNR permits and I am helping Amanda get the applications ready. (I’m doing the map with ArcMap 10.) Those who follow our work will be interested to…
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Annual Labor Day field trip at Pleasant Valley Conservancy
Kathie and I have been running the Labor Day trip at PVC annually since September 2002 (17 years). If the weather is good, attendance is fairly high, generally 25-40 participants. Update! Just added Arlene Koziol’s You Tube video of the field trip. Click on link Last year the weather was unbelievably foul and only 2…
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