Swamp Summer

The swamp area around the University of Rhode Island (URI) is where Chloe Dyehouse ’28 spent most of her summer as a National Science Foundation studying native plants to evaluate the timing of when they flower and comparing it to data from the 1970s–80s. This data will help to determine the effect of climate change on native plants. “I love field work so this is a great fit for me,” says the Rhode Island native, who is also doing an independent project studying pollinators. “Plus, the swamp is a beautiful area with awesome biodiversity!”

Here Dyehouse talks about her internship and how Smith prepared her to make the most of it.

Describe your internship.
I am working with collaborators from URI and Roger Williams University (RWU) on a large-scale research project studying flowering phenology of native shrub plants in the Rhode Island Great Swamp.

What do you hope to learn?
My team is recreating a study on flowering phenology done in the same location in the late 1970s and early 1980s. For many climate scientists, that time period is seen as a turning point for the progression of climate change. By recreating the past study, we can look at the ways in which climate change has affected floral timeline shifts. These changes are important to study because they can cause increased competition and changes in plant-pollinator relationships.

What other projects are you working on?
I am working on an independent research project focusing on maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina). I developed methods to identify maleberry pollinators utilizing a combination of net catching and unobtrusive observations. Maleberry is an especially important plant to pay attention to, as it hosts a rare, specialist blunt-horned bee (Melitta melittoides). We can use data about maleberry pollination as a model for the likely pollination of other species, but collecting data about maleberry is also key to understanding how to protect this rare bee.

What appealed to you about this internship?
It allowed me to continue my research about plant-pollinator interactions with Rhode Island native species. I worked in the URI Preisser Lab in the summer of 2025 using my Praxis funding. I was so glad to get the opportunity to further develop my skills there this summer.

Describe a typical day at your internship. 
Tracking flowering phenology requires regular counting of flowers, buds, and fruits, so I spend much of my time out in the field. For the maleberry project, timing within the day is especially important, as I aim to catch pollinators during their busiest times. Midmorning tends to be best, so I organize my participation in the phenology counts around this. In the afternoons, we head back to the lab. I spend many afternoons swabbing bees so we can analyze their pollen. In addition, I assist with insect pinning, identification, and data entry. I also am preparing initial findings for my internship poster presentation.

What has been the most challenging part of the internship?
The field work has been the most challenging—but also most rewarding—part of my internship. The heat and humidity have been so intense in the swamp. Plants don’t wait for tolerable weather before they bloom, so we are out in the field on even the hottest or rainiest days. 

How did Smith prepare you for this internship?
Smith played a huge role in my acquisition of and ability to thrive in this internship. Thanks to the Praxis program, I was able to access a position in my lab last summer, which led to this internship. In addition, the Five College Consortium allows me to continue my study of bees at UMass Amherst. My coursework at Smith has equipped me with the background, knowledge, and skills necessary to succeed. I am so grateful for the faculty at Smith who have taught me, as well as the alums and donors who fund the Praxis program!

Do you have any advice for Smithies looking for a similar internship?
The biggest piece of advice I would give to other Smithies is never be afraid to reach out. When I joined community ecologist Evan Preisser’s Lab at URI, I was an amateur researcher and lacked any confidence in myself. I had been rejected from every summer internship I applied to, and I was feeling discouraged. I cold emailed Professor Preisser, which was daunting, but it turned out to be an incredible decision. He gave me the opportunity to work in his lab using my Praxis funding, and I fell in love with the bumblebees we were working with. Without reaching out unprompted, I wouldn’t have gotten this opportunity or discovered my passion for pollination. I urge other Smithies to put themselves out there and own their strengths—it can make all the difference!