Since 1930, the Museum of Zoology
has maintained the Edwin S. George Reserve, one of the renowned
biological research areas of the world. The Reserve is a 1500-acre
fenced preserve characterized by an extensive variety of habitats
and a large fauna and flora. A very large number of long- and
short-term biological studies have been conducted at the Reserve.
Examples are a long-term demographic study of the herd of white-tailed
deer, and an ongoing 20-year study of turtle life histories and
reproductive success that involves some records of individual
turtles over 70 years old. A study of indigo bunting songs begun
1963-1972 by William Thompson and continued since 1977 by Robert
and Laura Payne is by far the longest-lasting continuous study
of changes in learned behavior (culture) in a nonhuman species;
8 Ph.D. degrees in biology have been achieved by assistants working
on this project. As another example, in 1994 and 1995 investigators
Dennis Owen and Bruce Grant returned to the Reserve to examine
changes in the genetics of the famous moth, Biston betularia,
with respect to the evolution of melanism affected by environmental
pollution, initially studied in Liverpool, England, and 33 years
ago on the E. S. George Reserve.
Since the establishment of the Reserve, more than 350 papers have
been published on studies carried out wholly or in part on the
Reserve and more than 63 Ph.D. dissertations have resulted from
graduate studies there.
5650 Doyle Road
Pinckney, MI 48169
Caretaker's (Jeff Bolgos) Phone Number: 734-878-9943
Hill and Dale House: 878-6643
North Gate House: 878-6646
ESGR UMMZ Office: 734-764-2000
Ronald A. Nussbaum, Associate
Director of ESGR
Updated 03/26/01 by J. L. Pappas.