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Researcher studies Beaver Island shore plants

Associated Press - September 21, 2009 4:14 AM ET

BEAVER ISLAND, Mich. (AP) - Human activity has greatly transformed the Beaver Island archipelago in northern Lake Michigan. A Kalamazoo College researcher is studying what's left of the native shoreline plants.

Beaver Island is 56 miles square and has about 550 permanent residents. It's about 70 miles north of Traverse City.

Assistant biology professor Binney Girdler has received a National Science Foundation grant to look at how the Beaver Island environment has been transformed. She plans to see what can be done to preserve what's left of the native plant community and what can be done to restore it elsewhere.

The 2-year, $135,000 study also will give several Kalamazoo College students to gain research experience helping Girdler's work.

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