Purdue University Calumet to Continue Indiana Dunes Environmental Research at Mansards Apartments

Griffith, Indiana (PRWEB) August 29, 2013

The Mansards Apartments and Purdue University Calumet last month renewed their arrangement for use of the Mansards’ greenhouse by the school as a research facility for their environmental studies.    “We are loaning the facility to the university as part of our outreach and involvement in the community,” said Linda Jacknow, Senior Vice President of the management company for The Mansards. “The Mansards strives to do what it can to make a positive impact in our region.”

The university uses the Mansards’ greenhouse as a staging area for their ongoing study on the environmental impact and long-term effects that nitrate addition has on biomass production of plant species native to the Indiana Sand Dunes and other dunes around Lake Michigan. The Indiana Dunes has more than 1,400 species of vascular plants, ranking it 8th in total plant species among all units of the National Park System, and plays a vital tourism role for Northwest Indiana. Some of the local plant species being studied include the little bluestem grass, switch grass and wild lupine.

The Purdue Calumet research is being coordinated by Dr. Young Choi of Purdue Calumet’s Department of Biological Sciences.

“One of the main sources of nitrates is automobile emission,” said Dr. Choi in a recent interview. “Nitrates leave automobile tail pipes, enter the atmosphere, and eventually fall down to nearby lands such as the Indiana Dunes. Past research shows that the sand dunes in Northwest Indiana receive approximately 20 Kg of nitrogen from the atmosphere. We are doing this research because we want to see how the depositions of nitrate from the atmosphere impact the plant communities of the sand dunes.”    

For more information on the Purdue Calumet project, you may visit their website or contact the Department of Biological Sciences at 219-989-2404.

The Mansards Apartments is an award-winning rental community located in Northwest Indiana in the town of Griffith. The resort style property offers renovated and deluxe one, two and three bedroom apartments with large walk-in closets, gas or electric stoves, dishwashers, ceiling fans, and private patios or balconies with park, garden or lake views. All apartments are located in buildings with intercom controlled access and modern laundry facilities.

This gated community has one of the largest amenity packages in the area with a heated indoor pool, multiple clubhouses, four outdoor pools, billiard rooms, computer lounge, banquet rooms, tennis courts, and a sports-themed bar complete with vintage sports memorabilia, all set amongst 90 acres of natural wooded lands.

For rental information about The Mansards call (219) 923-5800 or http://www.TheMansards.com.

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