Siyu is currently a second-year Master’s student at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, specializing in Ecosystem Science and Management. She contributed to oak regeneration projects at MBGNA by planting and monitoring oak seedlings with protective structures and recording survival and browse impacts. In addition, she supported biodiversity monitoring through GIS mapping and field data collection, helping connect oak regeneration with broader ecological management goals. She is dedicated to advancing restoration practices that support resilient landscapes.

TSN Conference 2026

January 23rd, 2026 (Friday) // 11:55 am – 12:20 pm // Room 103 // Ecological Inventory and Monitoring for Biodiversity Conservation // Inventory and monitoring are essential components of adaptive management, providing key metrics to guide management decision-making for biodiversity conservation. For effective management, land managers need to be aware of biodiversity as well as shifts in ecosystem dynamics. However, managers often make decisions with limited data. To rectify this, we designed and implemented a replicable inventory and monitoring protocol based on the needs of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA). Our protocol includes mapping and monitoring invasive plants, conducting experimental oak plantings, and performing a Floristic Quality Assessment in a prairie managed with prescribed fire. We also utilize bioblitzes and iNaturalist to assist with insect inventory on the properties. Overall, our ecological inventory and monitoring efforts provide crucial data for informing land management decisions at MBGNA and other conservation organizations across southeast Michigan.