Trudging through swamp sludge, wading through frigid water and weaving in and out of dense forest is just an ordinary day for many University of Memphis students at biological research stations throughout Shelby County.
"It's like a dirty classroom," said Jack Grubaugh, head of projects at several research stations.
The stations, which are jointly utilized by several area universities and institutions, attract biology students from around the United States seeking graduate degrees, as well as offering a truly unique learning experience to undergraduate students.
"We are extremly fortunate to have these resources at our disposal," Grubaugh said. "Many of us are from urban environments and the stations give students the oppurtunity to gain exposure to an important aspect of science-field work."
While U of M biology students can reach the field stations within the hour, students from the University of Tennessee must travel 500 miles to reach their station located at Ames Plantation.
The U of M's research center, which is located 25 miles north of Memphis and adjoins to Shelby Forest National Park, is a sprawling 626 acres of unscathed habitat.
The property was donated to The U of M by the late Edward J. Meeman. The station was established in 1968 to promote research in the areas of natural history, ecology and environmental biology.
The property's geographical features include almost every habitat common to the region.
Consisting of low plains, fertile valleys, tributaries, bottomland, cypress swamps, fields, several types of forest and floodplains, the site is a virtual Mecca for biologists.
Along with the natural element of the property, the research outpost is complete with a modest conference center and a large laboratory.
Also, the biology department has introduced plans to link the research station to the university network and to construct dormatories for students who are involved in time-intensive research.
While the Meeman biological field station is The U of M's primary research outpost, projects are also conducted at Ames Plantation in LaGrange, Tenn. and countless other locations around the Mid-South.
Some current research programs being conducted at the stations include wildlife ecology, population ecology, ecological genetics, evolutionary ecology, wetland ecology and plant community ecology.
