The Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology (PLE), managed by the University of Pittsburgh, has served as a field station for ecological research and education since 1950. Located at Pymatuning State Park in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, the facility provides access to a range of habitats that support diverse research projects.
Cori Richards-Zawacki, director of PLE and an amphibian biologist, spends her summers at the station studying how climate change and disease affect biodiversity. She is one of several long-term staff members at PLE. “We’re all lifers,” said Chris Davis, assistant director of PLE.
The laboratory’s history dates back to 1926 when Pitt established its first field station at Presque Isle State Park before relocating to its current site in search of more space. Over nearly a century, the station has hosted researchers from across the United States.
The location is valued for its proximity to wetlands, forests, and the reservoir itself. Richards-Zawacki described it as providing access to “a matrix of terrestrial and aquatic habitat types” for study.
Researchers from other institutions regularly use PLE’s facilities. Steve Nowicki from Duke University has spent over 20 seasons there studying songbirds’ communication and behavior. Jessica Hua from the University of Wisconsin-Madison is researching how changes in ecology can drive evolutionary change.
PLE operates three main sites: a housing area with accommodations and dining facilities; Sanctuary Lake Site with laboratories and high-speed internet; and a field lab suited for large-scale experiments. “You wouldn’t think that a lab smack dab in the middle of a field would be a spectacular asset, unless you do ecological research and you know you need space to set up big, replicated experiments,” Richards-Zawacki said.
In addition to supporting research, PLE offers summer field courses for undergraduates from Pitt and nearby universities such as Pennsylvania Western University’s Clarion and Edinboro campuses. It also hosts outreach programs for local schools and welcomes non-scientists interested in nature.
For many staff members, PLE is more than just a workplace. Richards-Zawacki often brings her two daughters during summer stays, while Davis lives nearby with his family. Davis commented on the appeal: “At no other office can you start your morning ‘sipping a cup of coffee, overlooking a beautiful lake and watching an eagle fly by.'”
