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To encourage science and education at Nachusa Grasslands, Friends of Nachusa Grasslands awards monetary grants to qualified candidates conducting scientific research significant to restoration and management practices at Nachusa Grasslands.
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Research projects focus primarily on prairie, savanna, wetland, woodland, and stream habitat management such as prescribed fire, seed collection, weed control, general or specific flora or faunal populations, and natural areas restoration.
Thanks to a 1:1 challenge grant and the generous support of individual donors, organizations, and foundations, Friends has awarded $47,810 for 2021-2022, divided in varying amounts among twelve researchers.
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Dave Mauger Looking for Turtles
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Dung Beetle Researcher Sheryl Hosler
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2021 Grant Recipients, Project Titles, and Award Amounts:
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- Kathryn Bloodworth, PhD candidate, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “Fire Effects on Multiple Ecosystem Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis for the Land Managers of Tallgrass Prairie.” $7,125 (in 2021).
- Luke Daniel Fannin, PhD candidate, Dartmouth College. “Functional Ecology of Competing Photosynthetic Pathways in a North American Tallgrass Prairie.” $450.
- Nicholas Foster, M.S. candidate, Northern Illinois University. “Evaluating Restoration Efforts of Wetland Habitats.” $1,200.
- Sean Griffin, PhD., University of Texas at Austin. “Understanding the Ecology and Conservation of Rare Bees at Nachusa Grasslands.” $13,800.
- Sheryl C. Hosler, PhD candidate, University of Illinois at Chicago. “How Do Dung Beetles Find the “Field of Dreams?” $2,000.
- Richard King, PhD., Northern Illinois University, Thomas B. Anton and David Mauger, Independent researchers. “Head-Starting: A New Phase in Blanding’s Turtle Management at Nachusa Grasslands.” $4,750.
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- D’Arcy R. Meyer-Dombard, PhD; Kimberly Van Meter, PhD, and Sarah Khoury, M.S. candidate, University of Illinois at Chicago. “Quantification of Microplastics in Soils and Sediments at Nachusa Grasslands, and Impact on Soil Microbiota.” $2,435.
- Erin Rowland, PhD candidate, Northern Illinois University. “Quantifying Burns: Using Drones to Numerically Assess the Success of Prescribed Burns.” $3,400.
- Wayne Schennum, PhD., Independent researcher. “Chrysomelid Beetles and Their Host Plants at Nachusa Grasslands.” $3,500.
- Jesse Sikora, M.S. candidate, Northern Illinois University. “How Does Habitat Fragmentation from Variable Land Management Practices Impact Beaver Activity?” $5,150.
- Pallavi Singh, PhD, Northern Illinois University. “Longitudinal Characterizing of Intestinal Microbial Ecology of Bison.” $2,000.
- Laurie Spencer, PhD candidate, Northern Illinois University. “Assessment of Enteric Parasites in Wild Bison at Nachusa Grasslands.” $2,000.
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Kathryn Bloodworth Examining
a Prairie Quadrat
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