DBG’s first PhD student

Michelle Ohrtman doing field research

Join me in congratulating Michelle Ohrtman who has recently successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on the subject of invasive tamarisk trees at the University of Denver (DU).  Michelle is now the fourth graduate student officially affiliated with DBG to finish her degree since the two institutions became partners 6 years ago (the other three earned Master’s degrees).  Much of this research has focused on restoration of river ecosystems in the West and was funded by the Bureau of Reclamation.  Michelle’s research is the first to provide evidence that tamarisk will only load the soil with salt in the absence of over-bank flooding, and that older stands may have much less salt than previously assumed.  These are important findings in the context of repairing invaded areas and reestablishing native vegetation.  The title of her defense was, ”Quantifying soil and groundwater chemistry in areas invaded by Tamarix spp. along the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico.”  Her accomplishment is all the more impressive considering that much of her data collection was done while quite pregnant and then while mothering a baby.  A superwoman by any measure. 

Find out more about research at DBG by clicking on “Conservation and Research” on DBG’s Web site.