By Andi Anderson
A unique undergraduate research opportunity at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) helped a young environmental conservation student gain valuable experience studying invasive plants and ecosystem restoration. The program provided students with the chance to conduct independent scientific research while working alongside experienced ecologists and environmental scientists.
Étienne Nuñez, an environmental conservation student at the College of Southern Nevada, joined the UMBS Biological Station Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program after discovering the opportunity through ECOLOG, a platform hosted by the Ecological Society of America. The fully funded fellowship included a research stipend and hands-on experience in field ecology at the historic UMBS campus in northern Michigan.
Nuñez became one of nine undergraduate fellows selected for the 2026 field season. Her research focused on understanding how invasive plant species react to environmental changes, including soil disturbance and fertilizer applications. The project was conducted within the DRAGnet research network, which stands for Disturbance and Recovery Across Global Grasslands Network. This international research effort examines how grassland ecosystems respond to environmental stress and nutrient changes.
Working in experimental grassland plots near Douglas Lake, Nuñez studied the effects of disturbance and fertilizer treatments on invasive plant populations. The research site consisted of multiple plots receiving different treatments, including soil disturbance, fertilizer applications, combined treatments, and untreated control areas.
According to her findings, fertilizer appeared to have a stronger influence on invasive plants than disturbance alone. Areas receiving fertilizer often contained a higher proportion of invasive species while supporting fewer total plant species. Disturbed plots showed a more complex response, supporting both invasive and native species.
Several invasive plants were identified throughout the research area, including spotted knapweed, mullein, and Kentucky bluegrass. These observations helped researchers better understand how invasive species establish and spread under changing environmental conditions.
The project also connected to broader studies of carbon cycling within grassland ecosystems. Giovanna Munoz-Gonzalez, a master's student in the University of Michigan Frontiers Program within the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, measured carbon dioxide movement in the same plots. Researchers used specialized chambers to assess how plants and soils absorb and release carbon.
Nuñez discovered that plots containing larger numbers of invasive plants often showed increased soil respiration, resulting in higher carbon dioxide release from the soil. This finding may help scientists better understand how invasive species influence ecosystem functioning and long-term carbon storage.
The fellowship also highlighted the importance of mentorship in scientific research. Karin Rand, a UMBS researcher and manager of the Classen Lab in the University of Michigan Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, guided Nuñez throughout the project. The student also received support from Dr. Aimée Classen, Director of UMBS and ecosystem and global change ecologist.
Speaking about her mentors, Nuñez said, “They’re incredible. I literally wouldn’t have been able to do anything without them.”
Dr. Aimée Classen emphasized the educational value of undergraduate research, stating, “Undergraduate research is one of the most powerful ways students learn how science happens. They ask their own questions, work in the field, analyze data, and contribute to long-term studies that help us better understand environmental change.”
She further added, “Étienne did exactly this. She took her own original idea from conception all the way to completion, presenting her results and writing up a draft of a manuscript. An experience like this is life-changing. Being part of the science process helps students grow, and UMBS experiences like this turn students into scientists.”
The fellowship provided valuable experience in data collection, ecological analysis, and scientific communication. More importantly, it gave an aspiring restoration ecologist an opportunity to contribute meaningful research that may help improve understanding of invasive species, ecosystem recovery, and environmental conservation in a changing world.
Photo Credit: pexels-budget-bizar
Categories: Michigan, Education