Jason Kolbe, a biologist at the University of Rhode Island (URI), found a new and interesting topic to research at Montgomery Botanical Center. At Montgomery, his research has focused primarily on urbanization and the effect of light on brown anoles. Haley Moniz, Dr. Kolbe’s undergraduate student, spent two months at Montgomery to set up an experiment in dark areas with artificial light sources and monitored anole activity daily.

Montgomery was selected as a location that is supportive of research, and also has a thriving brown anole population. The 120 acre garden is a wonderful habitat for many local animals.

“I’m thrilled to see another way Montgomery can advance scientific research,” said Executive Director Patrick Griffith. “Most of our visitors are botanists, but our plant collections provide habitat for lots of other interesting life.”