The Population and Community Ecology (PACE) Lab is overseen by Dr. Michael J. Dreslik. The four programs of the lab are the Urban Biotic Assessment Program (UBAP), which provides environmental expertise to the Illinois Tollway, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) program, the Freshwater Mollusk Ecology and Conservation (FMEC) program, and the Environmental Education Program (EEP).
Follow us:
Everyone loves turtles!Meet the ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata)! If you run across one in the wild, you are fortunate - these turtles are found only in the prairie, so they're much rarer than the Eastern box turtle (T. carolina). They can live for 40+ years; at this time of the year, they're heading underground for winter. PHOTO: Former NRES student Dr. Devin Edmonds. MORE: Read Devin's great article at outdoor.wildlifeillinois.org/articles/discovering-the-ornate-box-turtle-a-rare-remarkable-illinoi...
Check out this awesome work taking place in Minnesota on rare bee ecology!![]()
![]()
The Minnesota Biological Survey bee team is studying Colletes andrewsi, a prairie alumroot (Heuchera) specialist, using non-lethal mark-release-recapture (MRR) methods to better understand population size and habitat needs. Researchers uniquely mark individual female bees, release them, and track recaptures over several days. Work like this provides valuable information for conserving rare bees and the plants they depend on.![]()
![]()
We're especially excited about this project because of the connections to work we are doing here in Illinois! UBAP Pollinator Ecologist, K.C. Carter has been working with UIUC graduate Dr. Marissa Chase, who is now leading this project in Minnesota, on mark-recapture efforts to better understand Illinois populations of Colletes andrewsi, as well as another state-endangered Heuchera specialist, Colletes aestivalis.![]()
![]()
In Illinois, two populations of Colletes andrewsi were included in K.C.’s MRR study this year in Winnebago and Lee Counties, with another population recently discovered in Lake County. Comparing populations across the Midwest can help us better understand the ecology, distribution, and conservation needs of these specialized and often overlooked bees.
Come out to Bat Fest in Urbana Anita Purves Nature Center. Learn about bats, explore a bat cave, presentations, see Batman, and more! Oh yeah and see a Traveling Science Center!