George Langman Sanctuary Highlights the Importance of Local Research
Less than a ten minute drive from the Orillia campus, you'll find the George Langman Wildlife Sanctuary. Here, dedicated volunteers from the Orillia Fish & Game Conservation Club maintain the 60 acre wetland complex in several ways, including nurturing young rabbits to support local wildlife, and building trails. Once you begin to explore the area, the confluence of conservation, recreation, and scientific study becomes evident.
Despite its relatively small size, the sanctuary harbours many curiosities, which for years have held the interest of local researchers and hikers alike. Unusual reptiles, diverse mossy bogs, crucial pollinators, and bottomless fens are just a few of the natural wonders one can find meandering through these trails.
Last winter, my biomonitoring class put up trail cameras in Langman, and the results were phenomenal; owls, coyotes, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, raccoons, skunks, and some other little critters we never could identify. The summer before that, I was crawling around in mud for two full days, trying to determine how Sphagnum growth related to water table depth. At the same time, groups of students studying freshwater ecology would sample benthic invertebrates, and conduct various physicochemical assessments, all to determine the water quality.
Apart from its many educational uses, the Langman Sanctuary is used by various Lakehead alumni, graduate students, and faculty members for complex, long term studies. The site's popularity has created another dimension for research; invasive species. Understanding how invasive species spread, proliferate, and fail to thrive in certain areas is a topic of burning interest. The Langman Sanctuary provides an array of diverse habitats, with varying levels of disturbance, making it an ideal setting to explore such questions.
I remember walking up and down the trails one autumn, camera and notepad in hand, studying for a plant identification test, when I was stopped by a family who wanted to know what I was doing. What research institution was I with? Why was it important for me to learn so much about, well, trees?
When you have an active presence in a public place, it allows for opportunities to engage with people who may not think about science, or any given type of research, as much as you do. What is the point of research, after all, if not to contribute to a collective, deeper understanding of the world around us?
Places where we can conduct academic studies, but also interact in a playful manner as citizens, are unique. These areas matter to us deeply, as an extension of our homes, and are important to multiple parts of our identities. There is a certain pride one gets when, on a leisurely stroll, they see familiar names of professors, peers, or colleagues listed on signage that is present to show that this institution is invested in its community. We spend our time here, we connect, and we want to see our region thrive, while constantly learning from it.
Yes, globally expansive research, where students and faculty travel thousands of kilometers away from their home campuses to take rare samples and explore unusual sites, is awesome. No question there. But there is something to be said for how meaningful it can be to use your skills as a budding researcher to benefit places like Langman, with its community-oriented nature, and all-around local charm.