Houstonian: Professor studies trees on campus

Here's news of an interesting project started by Dennis Williams in the biology department: identifying every tree on the SHSU campus:

"The project was started to develop a manual for one of Dr. Williams lab classes," said Lauren Grawey, a senior majoring in environmental science who assisted Williams in this ongoing project. "The manual allows students to look at a tree and be able to identify it." The information provided by the manual is not limited to just the type of tree, but also the genus, species and more.

"We have identified every tree on campus," Grawey said. There are 950 trees on campus. As additional aspect of the project, Williams and Grawey plotted a Global Positioning System (GPS) point for every tree with a hand held receiver. They then measured the diameter of the tree and logged this information into the receiver.

"Physical Plant wanted the manual to help them," Grawey said. The manual would allow Physical Plant to identify trees in a situation where there might be a disease. For example, if a few pine trees get a disease in a particular area, Physical Plant can use the manual to find where the other pine trees are located and protect them from the same disease.

Pine trees are the majority of the trees on campus.

The manual has been completed, however it has not been distributed yet. "We need to bind the manual," said Grawey.

The manuals will be given to Physical Plant, Williams and Grawey. The manuals will also be available in the library.