KINGSTON, R.I., June 22 -- The University of Rhode Island issued the following news release:
KINGSTON, R.I. - June 22, 2026 - Despite being one of the most common forest trees along the East Coast, the black cherry's reproductive biology remains surprisingly understudied. Primarily valued for its wood, much of what scientists know about its pollinators comes from research conducted more than 60 years ago.
Ren Johnson, a Ph.D. student in biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island working alongside Professor of Biological Sciences Evan Preisser in URI's Preisser Lab, is using canopy surveys, pollinator trapping, and experimental studies to investigate how black cherry trees are pollinated and whether they can reproduce without in...