Desperately Seeking Seedlings!

I feel as if I haven't done the blog justice, as I am so tired by the end of each day. I should be writing about everything I am learning, but there would just be too much to include. I am really starting to take pride in what I am doing here as it is a small piece to a larger puzzle. The data my group is collecting is added to a much larger set that will be analyzed. Hopefully, important conclusions about the tree line will be made.
I have been surveying several ecosystems for tree seedlings. Today I was chewed alive by mosquitos in a boreal forest, a tundra forest and a tundra. In total, we surveyed six sites!
My teammate James and I found several "ramets" which are asexually reproduced trees. Basically a ramet is a branch from one tree that roots itself, but is still connected to the original tree. This is an indication that the forest is replenishing itself. We had so many ramets that we fell behind and were a little isolated in the forest from the rest of the group. We swore we heard something "snort" in the distance. When we are collecting data in the field, we are always in the company of Carley, our armed bear guard. She carries a riffle and is constantly on the lookout for polar, grizzly and black bear.
We listened to a lecture from Dr. Kershaw (permafrost Pete) on Polygonal Peat Plateaus, Palsas, Pingos, and Permafrost! Afterwards we visited Carley's cabin, watched the sunset at 11:00, and went searching for polar bears (with no luck).
The Results are In!!!
Thank you to everyone that submitted answers to my post card contest!  Let's analyze the results!!!  I will start with Hillary:  To answer your question, I went to Carley (our armed guard).  You didn't know the answer to my question, but asked your own.  You wanted to know if there was an overpopulation of a species that was a problem up here.  Carley said not really, but herring gulls predate the nests of other birds, rip open the garbage of the local people, and are a real pain in the neck.  She also said there are no official studies going on in Churchill of the herring gull.
     Scotty: your answers were excellent!  You were one of my best students and I am hoping you become a scientist!  However, someone beat you to it!
     Pat, my favorite neighbor, also submitted great answers, but was not the first post.
     Natalie, my lovely daughter posted some beautifully written prose, but I could never allow a literary person to win a science contest!  Love you Nat!!!
     Leann... all I can say is Cedar Bog rocks!!!! (and happy belated birthday!)
     The winner is..... Victoria!!!!  Very nice answers and you were the first to post!  I will put a post card in the mail for you tomorrow!
     Well, I am exhausted, so I will update tomorrow!  I am going on a boat tomorrow to find Beluga Whales!!!!   Here is a picture of Carley, our bear patrol.