Facilities

Here is an aerial view of the site, situated in a suburban area in north Lexington, about 20-30 minutes from the University of Kentucky by car.  

A map of the University of Kentucky's Ecological Research and Education Center (EREC). EREC includes the 52-acre (21 ha) Ecological Research Facility (ERF), plus another 8 acres (3 ha) close to the main access road (Russell Cave Road) containing the UK/Lexmark Center for Educational Innovation (L-UK). ERF features two research laboratory modules, the Artificial Stream Facility and adjacent multi-tank Mesocosm Facility, 16 4x6 m ponds and 3 6x10 m ponds, 25 experimental aviaries, several honeybee hives, and 10 research fields of various dimensions. The 3 southernmost fields are subdivided into subfields at different successional stages under a rotational mowing regime. Near L-UK are a parking lot and the Barn storage building, with the adjacent community garden.

 

For the area between ERF and L-UK, plans include picnics and community gatherings, renovation of the Barn storage building for research use (pending grant funds), and initiation of a community garden north of the Barn. 

 

Floor plan of the UK/Lexmark Center for Educational Innovation (L-UK). 5 rooms are dedicated to ecological research & instruction. The large meeting area, foyer, restrooms, lobby, kitchen, and patio are shared with PIMSER, a teacher-training group.

 

The L-UK building contains a large meeting space for EREC and PIMSER events. The foyer includes both biological and PIMSER-related displays. The EREC office and indoor teaching and research spaces adjoin the foyer. Computers are available for researchers and research students; there is a data-analysis room containing statistical and video analysis equipment and some additional student work space. The teaching laboratory is dedicated to ecological classroom and laboratory instruction. Currently the REU program uses the space during the summer, and a summer instructional program is under consideration for the future. See Education for more details.

Slides

EREC's  facilities and infrastructure include:

  • Space in the newly renovated UK/Lexmark Center for Innovation in Math and Science Education building

  • A small common building with wet lab, two walk in environmental chambers and a workshop

  • A circadian rhythms lab

  • Newly renovated aquatic mesocosm facilities for stock tanks and artificial streams

  • Aviaries for studies on the behavioral and physiological ecology of birds

  • Honeybee hives for studying bee foraging and pollination

  • A weather station with satellite soil monitoring stations

  • An outdoor wifi system covering the most intensively used part of ERF