Just two miles from the Mountain Lake Hotel is the Mountain Lake Biological Station. MLBS is a research and teaching facility of the University of Virginia . We offer summer courses for college students and host numerous research programs conducted by scientists from universities across the country. Since the Hotel and the Biological Station are neighbors, some of our research is conducted on Hotel and Wilderness Conservancy land. Below are some brief summaries of the kinds of work the station conducts on Hotel property. Some of these projects will be visible to you as you hike the area – feathery “mist nets” are used to harmlessly catch birds for banding and census purposes; small fenced areas identify experimental gardens that need to be protected from deer; and colored flags and plastic tape identify experimental plants, plots, or bird nests that are under study.
No research on Mountain Lake Hotel property impacts the natural environment in any permanent way. Our goal is to study the biological world in as natural a setting as possible, and to spread the knowledge and excitement about biology to our students. When our work is done, no one should be able to tell we were there.
We are good friends with folks at the Hotel, and wish to include you in that number. We welcome your curiosity and questions should you encounter any of us carrying a clipboard along the road, hiking the trails, or setting up experimental gardens in the Old Golf Course. In return, we ask that you not investigate too closely or disturb markers or experimental areas. In an effort to retain the natural beauty of the area and have as little an impact as possible, our plots and experiments are often left exposed and vulnerable.
Feel free to explore our web site mlbs.org, or contact us with any questions. We hope you enjoy you visit to the beautiful Mountain Lake are.
Here are some of the studies in progress right now that you will see signs of as you explore the area:
Bird Behavior: You have surely noticed the fine “mist nets” lining the roads and trails around Mountain Lake . Drs. Ketterson and Nolan ( Indiana University ) have spent the past 15 years studying the evolution of nesting and breeding behavior in the permanent Junco population on the mountain. They band and follow birds for their full life span, as well as map nesting territories and reproductive success of Junco pairs throughout the summer. They focus primarily on how body hormone levels affects territory size and ability to get mates and raise chicks. This research program will provide insight into the evolution of reproduction and territoriality in these and other wild species.
Plant Disease: This summer you will see new temporary fenced gardens constructed on the Old Golf Course. Dr. Antonovics ( University of Virginia ), who also has a long history at Mountain Lake , and his research group are studying the biology of a plant fungal disease that attacks the common wildflower White Campion. The disease is transmitted between flowers by bees and other insect pollinators and is one of the few well-documented examples of a plant venereal disease. The project focuses on both how the disease is transmitted and how the disease will impact the evolution of the host plant.
Pollination Biology: Drs. Fenster and Dudash ( University of Maryland ) study the evolution and pollination biology of the striking red-flowered Fire Pink you see blooming throughout the area in June. Hummingbirds pollinate this plant species, which has evolved attractive coloration (red color) and a reward (nectar) to insure its own reproductive success. Humming birds are very discriminating and only the most attractive flowers will be visited, and thus pollinated.
Plant Life History Evolution: In July and August you will start to notice the beautiful purple-flowered American Bellflower that blooms along the roadside and in shady woods. Dr. Galloway ( University of Virginia ) studies the evolution of plant life history (whether a plant is an annual or a biennial). She has found annuals and biennials in the same populations of American Bellflower and is studying how the genetics of the species controls this strange condition. There may be environmental factors like temperature, rainfall, or light that also contribute to the maintenance of both life histories in a population.
Salamander Behavior and Ecology: The Mountain Lake region is especially rich in salamander species. For this reason Dr. Wilbur ( University of Virginia ) and his lab have chosen this area to study the behavioral ecology and territorial divisions among several species of local salamander. Very local “microhabitat” conditions, like the change in moisture levels as one moves a few feet away from a creek bank, turns out to be very important in where different species of salamander are found. Aggressiveness and territoriality also play major roles in determining how salamanders share, or do not share, prime habitat.
Plant Hybridization and Evolution: Hybridization is a well-known horticultural technique. It also happens in wild plant populations all the time. And it has been shown to be a strong force in plant evolution. Dr. Nagy ( University of Virginia ) examines how local hybrid populations of Bee Balm evolve in nature. You may notice the large amount of color variation in Bee Balm flowers in the Old Golf Course. This is because the plants in this population are the products of hybridization of two different species. It is possible that this hybrid population is in the early stages of creating a whole new species.
