Update: January 2026

Our students have been hard at work, and are making good progress with their projects.  

• During the summer and fall of 2025, three research crews spent many hours in the field, collecting samples and data for the research on plants, soil, birds, arthropods (insects and spiders), and rodents (mainly voles).

• Samples were first collected in July, before any treatments took place.  The same sample types were collected again in the same forest cutblocks in August and/or September, after treatment with either brushing or glyphosate-based herbicide took place.  Sample collection will be repeated in the summer of 2026.

• Samples for the research on mustelids (weasels and martens) and ungulates (primarily moose) were collected by our partner organisations in the fall and winter.

• The students are currently sorting through all of these samples and getting them organized and ready for chemical analyses.

• Researchers in the analytical labs are working on perfecting the methods that will be used to test samples for glyphosate content and microbiomes.  ​​​​

Click the images below for more photos and videos from our first field season,

and to learn more about each of our students' projects!