Dr. Rachael E. Bonoan- Nutritional Ecologist
Dr. Rachael Bonoan is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Providence College, where she teaches in the Environmental Biology major and leads the Bonoan (aka Providence Pollinator) Lab. The Providence Pollinator lab focuses on insect pollinators, which get most of their nutrients by collecting protein-rich pollen and sugary nectar from flowers. Hailing from Tiverton, RI, she is grateful to be studying insect pollinator nutrition and behavior in her home state.
Rachael and her students have surveyed insect pollinator diversity on Westerly Land Trust properties using bee hotels, bee bowls, and field observations. These data are part of the Providence Pollinator Lab’s reference collection of RI insect pollinators, with a focus on bees. Students in the Providence Pollinator Lab are also investigating which flowering plant species are most visited by bees, and the nutritional content of those flowers. Taken together, these data can be used to inform native pollinator-friendly plantings on Westerly Land Trust properties and beyond. Preliminary data show that if you want to plant for pollinators, dense blazing star (Liatris spicata) is a pollinator magnet, that is also nutritious!
Outside of research and teaching, Rachael is co-founder of the Tufts Pollinator Initiative and founding member/past president of the Boston Area Beekeepers Association. She is passionate about sharing her research with diverse audiences and engaging children in science through encouraging curiosity, which is the topic of her TEDx talk and children’s eBook, Dress Like a Scientist Day.
RELEVANT LINKS:
- https://providencepollinators.com/
- https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/
- https://dresslikeascientistday.com/
- https://youtu.be/KsA8V-yooFA
- Photo collection of pollinators
To learn more about the scientists & stewards on our land click HERE.
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It’s holiday wreath time!! The Westerly Land Trust elves are readying the workshop. 🎄
❄️This holiday season, adorn your door with a hand-crafted wreath made from locally harvested foliage. Wreaths are $65 and when you order a wreath, you can order a 2025 WLT calendar for $15 ($5 discount).
Proceeds will benefit the Westerly Land Trust’s conservation efforts. 🌳
Wreaths will be ready for pick up at Barlow Nature Preserve (449 Westerly Bradford Road) December 4th-6th.
Follow the link in our bio or type the following url into your web browser to order your wreath and/or calendar! Thank you!💚
https://westerlylandtrust.org/support-our-work/shop-and-support/
#wreath #winter #holiday #christmas #thanskgiving #decoration #holidays #foliage #forage #landtrust #hike #westerlyri #rhodeisland
It’s holiday wreath time!! The Westerly Land Trust elves are readying the workshop. 🎄
❄️This holiday season, adorn your door with a hand-crafted wreath made from locally harvested foliage. Wreaths are $65 and when you order a wreath, you can order a 2025 WLT calendar for $15 ($5 discount).
Proceeds will benefit the Westerly Land Trust’s conservation efforts. 🌳
Wreaths will be ready for pick up at Barlow Nature Preserve (449 Westerly Bradford Road) December 4th-6th.
Follow the link in our bio or type the following url into your web browser to order your wreath and/or calendar! Thank you!💚
https://westerlylandtrust.org/support-our-work/shop-and-support/
#wreath #winter #holiday #christmas #thanskgiving #decoration #holidays #foliage #forage #landtrust #hike #westerlyri #rhodeisland
👏🌳👏 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩: we have permanently protected 90 acres on Boombridge Road along the Pawcatuck River. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲—named for its previous stewards, the Champlin Family— boasts forests, streams, and prime agricultural soils, making this acquisition a huge success for our community’s agriculture, economy, water quality, wildlife habitat, and historic heritage.
To make this possible, WLT secured more than a million dollars of state funding through the Agricultural Land Preservation Commission (ALPC) and the Local Open Space Conservation and Acquisition grant through the RIDEM State of Rhode Island Natural Heritage Preservation Commission. The latter funding was contingent upon WLT obtaining 1:1 matching funds—a goal met with support from the Champlin Foundation, the Bafflin Foundation, ParsonsKellogg, the Forrest and Frances Lattner Foundation, the Horace A. Kimball and S. Ella Kimball Foundation, the Fields Pond Foundation, the Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council, Roddy-Holden Foundation, and the Rhode Island Land Trust Council.
The Westerly Land Trust is grateful for the underpinning of support that made this endeavor possible and for the Champlins’ forethought that set the process in motion. Like all WLT properties, a conservation management plan will be created specifically for this parcel, focusing on sound agricultural practices, habitat preservation, and wildlife protection. WLT also will be considering how best to provide public access to the land and the bordering section of the Pawcatuck River. We look forward to sharing this beautiful landscape with our community.
Your support of the Westerly Land Trust ensures that more than 1,800 acres of land in Westerly, now including the Champlin Farm Preserve, will be protected in perpetuity for the enduring benefit of our community.
👏🌳👏 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩: we have permanently protected 90 acres on Boombridge Road along the Pawcatuck River. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲—named for its previous stewards, the Champlin Family— boasts forests, streams, and prime agricultural soils, making this acquisition a huge success for our community’s agriculture, economy, water quality, wildlife habitat, and historic heritage.
To make this possible, WLT secured more than a million dollars of state funding through the Agricultural Land Preservation Commission (ALPC) and the Local Open Space Conservation and Acquisition grant through the RIDEM State of Rhode Island Natural Heritage Preservation Commission. The latter funding was contingent upon WLT obtaining 1:1 matching funds—a goal met with support from the Champlin Foundation, the Bafflin Foundation, ParsonsKellogg, the Forrest and Frances Lattner Foundation, the Horace A. Kimball and S. Ella Kimball Foundation, the Fields Pond Foundation, the Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council, Roddy-Holden Foundation, and the Rhode Island Land Trust Council.
The Westerly Land Trust is grateful for the underpinning of support that made this endeavor possible and for the Champlins’ forethought that set the process in motion. Like all WLT properties, a conservation management plan will be created specifically for this parcel, focusing on sound agricultural practices, habitat preservation, and wildlife protection. WLT also will be considering how best to provide public access to the land and the bordering section of the Pawcatuck River. We look forward to sharing this beautiful landscape with our community.
Your support of the Westerly Land Trust ensures that more than 1,800 acres of land in Westerly, now including the Champlin Farm Preserve, will be protected in perpetuity for the enduring benefit of our community.
Thanks for joining us at Trails and Ales this past weekend!🥾 We hiked at Wahaneeta Preserve then shared a brew from @greysail and a bite to eat under the pavilion🍂🍻
#fall #fallfoliage #hike #outside #westerly #rhodeisland #greysailbrewing #landtrust #conssrvation
Thanks for joining us at Trails and Ales this past weekend!🥾 We hiked at Wahaneeta Preserve then shared a brew from @greysail and a bite to eat under the pavilion🍂🍻
#fall #fallfoliage #hike #outside #westerly #rhodeisland #greysailbrewing #landtrust #conssrvation
This past weekend we partnered with @mushroom_hunting_foundation to host a Fungal Foray as part of @rilandtrustcouncil Land Trust Day’s
We learned foraging safety tips, explored Wahaneeta for fungi, and even got to taste some of the mushrooms that were found! Thank you very mush for joining us!🍄
#fungalforay #mycology #fungi #mushroom #forage #hike #woods #landtrust #rhodeisland #fall
This past weekend we partnered with @mushroom_hunting_foundation to host a Fungal Foray as part of @rilandtrustcouncil Land Trust Day’s
We learned foraging safety tips, explored Wahaneeta for fungi, and even got to taste some of the mushrooms that were found! Thank you very mush for joining us!🍄
#fungalforay #mycology #fungi #mushroom #forage #hike #woods #landtrust #rhodeisland #fall
🔶It’s that orange time of year! If you’re in the woods where hunting is permitted or if you’re unsure, throw on an orange hat or vest! Don’t forget to “orange” your dogs too!🔶
#orange #hunting #rhodeisland #dem #woods #hike #outdoors #leaves #fall #safety #bike
🔶It’s that orange time of year! If you’re in the woods where hunting is permitted or if you’re unsure, throw on an orange hat or vest! Don’t forget to “orange” your dogs too!🔶
#orange #hunting #rhodeisland #dem #woods #hike #outdoors #leaves #fall #safety #bike
Fall is here! It’s time to celebrate New England’s trademark season. On Saturday, October 26 at 1:30 pm, we’ll be cozy company under the falling leaves at Wahaneeta Preserve, enjoying tasty local brews from @greysail 🍂
Plan on hiking through the woods before gathering under the pavilion to enjoy what some might say is the best season of them all. 🍻
This event is $5 for WLT members and $15 for nonmembers.
Follow the link in our bio to our calendar of events to register🌳
#hike #trails #ale #nature #landtrust #brewery #outside #fall #community #conservation #westerlyri #westerly #rhodeisland #stoningtonct
Fall is here! It’s time to celebrate New England’s trademark season. On Saturday, October 26 at 1:30 pm, we’ll be cozy company under the falling leaves at Wahaneeta Preserve, enjoying tasty local brews from @greysail 🍂
Plan on hiking through the woods before gathering under the pavilion to enjoy what some might say is the best season of them all. 🍻
This event is $5 for WLT members and $15 for nonmembers.
Follow the link in our bio to our calendar of events to register🌳
#hike #trails #ale #nature #landtrust #brewery #outside #fall #community #conservation #westerlyri #westerly #rhodeisland #stoningtonct
We hope you find some time to get out on the trails during this long weekend! 🍂
#hike #salamander #fall #foliage #fallfoliage #trees #herpetology
We hope you find some time to get out on the trails during this long weekend! 🍂
#hike #salamander #fall #foliage #fallfoliage #trees #herpetology
It was amazing to see the Northern Lights in RI last night! 🌌
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the solar wind collide with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, creating the displays of light we see.
#northernlights #auroraborealis #aurora #space #earth #science #nature #nightsky
It was amazing to see the Northern Lights in RI last night! 🌌
The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the solar wind collide with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere, creating the displays of light we see.
#northernlights #auroraborealis #aurora #space #earth #science #nature #nightsky