Research and Education

Students at Kleinstuck Preserve

When Kleinstuck Preserve was deeded by Caroline Kleinstuck in 1922 she stipulated that the property be "used for education and research purposes". Â鶹´«Ã½ has encouraged academic involvement throughout the history of the property.

If you would like to conduct research at Kleinstuck Preserve, please contact WMU Landscape Services.

Michigan State University Â鶹´«Ã½ research project 2010

by Kaldis Grants

"Monitoring of Purple Loosestrife at Kleinstuck Preserve"

Kalamazoo College Biology 312 Population and Community Ecology

2009 project papers:

WMU Geoscience Department research project

Testing the soil.
Dr. Carla M. Koretsky, assistant professor of geosciences, was awarded $471,000 by the National Science Foundation to fund a five-year research project beginning in December of 2004. Koretsky's research focus is on the effects of invasive organisms (such as marsh grasses, shrimps, crabs, and worms) on metals like cadmium, lead or copper that are introduced into marsh habitats. Her work includes laboratory analysis, as well as a comparison of real-world systems in a saltwater marsh in Sapelo Island along the Georgia coast as well as the freshwater marsh in Kleinstuck Preserve.

Dr. Koretsky received an extension of her grant from the foundation to research the soil chemistry surrounding the invasive wetland plant, purple loosestrife. Dr. Koretsky has published the following journal articles on her work in Kleinstuck:

Masters theses

  • Buechler R.J. (1996)
    "
    The Effects of the Kalamazoo Station No. 4 on the Nearby Kleinstuck Nature Preserve." Department of Geology.
    WMU. Located at Waldo Library, WMU Call Number: GB 9999 .B82x
  • Tumusiime N.N. (2005)
    "
    Seasonal Variability in Trace Metal Speciation and Vertical Redox Stratification of Freshwater Lake and Marsh Sediments in the Kalamazoo River Watershed (MI, USA)."
    Located at Waldo Library, WMU Call Number TD 9999 .N346

Past research projects:

(Courtesy of WMU Library of Archives and Regional History)

Animals Among Us logo
Independent film

—Matt Clysdale produced and directed this documentary film shot primarily in Kleinstuck Preserve that showcases the variety of wildlife present in Kalamazoo, Michigan.