| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 28.04 |
| Liaison | Sam Edwards |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
Quinnipiac University
OP-10: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, or regions of conservation importance?:
A brief description of the legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance:
Quinnipiac is also adjacent to Sleeping Giant State Park, a significant landmark in indigenous history. According to the native Quinnipiac Tribe, Hobbomock (or Hobomock), was a prominent wicked figure in many stories. He became angry about the mistreatment of his people and stamped his foot down in anger, diverting the course of the Connecticut River. To prevent him from wreaking such havoc in the future, the good spirit Keitan cast a spell on Hobbomock to sleep forever as the prominent man-like form of the Sleeping Giant.
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify endangered and vulnerable species (including migratory species) with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A list of endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on land owned or managed by the institution, by level of extinction risk:
According to the Biology department, Quinnipiac does not have property identified as having endangered or vulnerable species.
Has the institution conducted an assessment to identify areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution?:
A brief description of areas of biodiversity importance on land owned or managed by the institution:
Last summer, biology students and a professor conducted a pollinator biodiversity assessment on campus compared to the neighboring Sleeping Giant state park. We are still working on analyzing the data, but the preliminary results find significantly more biomass when sampling on campus.This research is informing the implementation of pollinator gardens on campus-- where to put them, which pollinator species to target, etc.
The methodologies used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or areas of biodiversity importance and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
Please see attached map for specific collection location at Sleeping Giant State Park. We collected in the field on the west side of Sleeping Giant near Mill River. We have permission for the collections occurring on private land, Quinnipiac University. Collecting will occur 1 day/week from mid-May until mid-Aug. Collecting will take place from 9am-4pm. No permanent markers will be used.
A brief description of the scope of the assessment(s):
The assessment was conducted across Quinnipiac's campus and Sleeping Giant State park to compare the biodiversity of neighboring ecosystems. The park is separated from campus by a single road. Both campus and the park are heavily trafficked by humans, but QU is also treated with fertilizers and landscaping. The study is intended to inform the implementation of pollinator gardens across campus by determining which pollinators are most present.
A brief description of the plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats, and/or ecosystems:
The pollinator biodiversity assessment resulted in the establishment of pollinator gardens to increase numbers of pollinators essential to the local biodiversity and ecosystems. Additionally, ecology students proposed a restoration of native plant species on grass areas on campus that is under consideration for implementation (attached).
Estimated percentage of areas of biodiversity importance that are also protected areas :
Website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.