Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation - Ecology College Index

"Ecology College" is a regular feature in the Iowa Natural Heritage magazine. Written for a variety of audiences and knowledge levels, the series provides background or how-to information about Iowa's natural resources--from water quality to Iowa orchids to reconstructing prairie. Below you'll find an annotated list (and links) to the Ecology College articles we've featured to date. We add 3-4 new articles per year.

Soaring With Eagles
Winter 2008: Photo Essay by Ty C. Smedes
For many years, Ty Smedes has been photographing bald eagles near the Gladys Black Bald Eagle Refuge, a 2004 INHF project site. Learn more about these magnificent birds and what it's like to photograph them.

Ada Hayden: Prairie Preservationist Pioneer
Winter 2007: by Teresa Beer Larson, a retired television reporter and librarian
Ada Hayden was an early Iowa conservationist and professor at Iowa State University who fought for prairie preservation. Through research, teaching, and a groundbreaking publication, Hayden left a lasting legacy that can be spotted in prairie preserves throughout the state.

Iowa's CCC: A Lasting Legacy
Fall 2006: by freelancer Bill Horine
Fresh out of high school, author Bill Horine joined Iowa's Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. This New Deal program made a lasting impression on his life and on Iowa's landscape.

Herbivores vs. plants: The silent battle
Summer 2006: by Thomas Rosburg, Associate Professor of Biology at Drake University
From grazing elk to tiny insects, herbivores attack plants constantly. But plants don't just sit there and take it. Learn the many methods plants use to defend themselves from attack.

The Bedrock Beauty of Whitewater Canyon
Winter 2006: by Jean C. Prior (Sandrock), retired from Iowa Geological Survey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Whitewater Canyon, an INHF project located in Dubuque and Jones counties, exposes geological lessons that teach us both about this canyon and about geology in other parts of the state.

Iowa’s mussels: How strong are they?
Fall 2005: by Ben Dodd, Fisheries Research Technician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; and Dr. Chris Barnhart, Professor in the Department of Biology at Missouri State University.
Mussels seem like simple creatures, but they have a complex lifecycle and unique ecological roles in Iowa’s rivers and lakes. Unfortunately, they are also among our most threatened species.

Iowa’s trout hook anglers and conservationists
Spring 2005: by Bill Kalishek, Fisheries Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Iowa’s trout are beautiful, challenging and an indicator of healthy streams. This article looks at historical changes in Iowa trout populations, trout habitat needs, habitat problems and public/private solutions. It also includes sidebars on the three types of Iowa trout, trout reproduction and the successful trout protection program on South Pine Creek.

A License to Burn? Thoughts on Prescribed Prairie Fire
Winter 2005: by Dr. Thomas Rosburg, associated professor of Biology at Drake University and INHF advisor
Considering a prescribed burn on your property? Read this article first for information on the direct and indirect effects of prairie burns (positive and negative), tips on when and how often to burn, photos showing the results of a prairie burn over time, and more.

Cultivating an Eye for Iowa
Fall 2004: text and photo by Carl Kurtz
Carl Kurtz--noted Iowa prairie expert, author and photographer--shares photos and thoughts about interesting natural treasures he's spotted around Iowa throughout the year. Carl reminds us all to slow down and see our state's natural beauty! Because we didn’t purchase rights to include these photos online, we could not put this particular edition of Ecology College on our website. However, you can request that a free copy of this magazine be sent to you by contacting Diane Graves.

Connecting Children to the Outdoors
Summer 2004: by Pamela L. Holz, naturalist for the Washington County Conservation Board
If we want future generations to value natural resources, we must give kids hands-on, outdoor experiences. This article details various ways adults can help children explore and appreciate nature while building a long-lasting connection to the outdoors. The article contains many practical tips, but be sure to check out the "additional resources" at the end for links to related websites, activity sheets and articles.

An Ecosystem Frozen in Time: Algific Talus Slopes
Winter 2004: by freelancer Bill Witt
Algific talus slopes (also called cold-air slopes) are a rare ecosystem containing federally endangered species, some once thought extinct. About half of the world's few high- quality sites are located in northeast Iowa. Learn more about what this ecosystem is, how it works, where they are and why they're important.

Looking into Earth's eye:
A watershed view of clear lakes
Fall 2003: by ISU professor John A. Downing
The water quality of Iowa's lakes is determined by the quality of their watersheds (all the land that drains into the lake). As the article says, "Attempting to improve water quality without landscape change is a wasted gesture." Learn how Iowa's land and water are connected and what we can do to repair both--with specific examples from Clear Lake and other Iowa water bodies.

Iowa's oak savannas: Rekindling a Relationship
Summer 2003: by freelancer Molly McGovern
Admired by Native Americans and early European settlers for their "parklike" appearance, the oak savanna is arguably the most rare and least understood of Iowa's major ecosystems. Discover this ecosystem of gian trees and varied ground cover species, how it fit the larger Iowa landscape, how is reacted to fire, how humans interacted with it over time, how savannas are being restored today, and where to visit oak savannas throughout the state.

Iowa's Butterflies: Color and Conservation
Winter 2003: by freelancer Dennis Schlicht
This article tells about Iowa's butterflies, their habitat needs, their life cycle, habitat management techniques, and related print and web resources.

Visions of Iowa
Fall 2002: various photographers
This photo essay uses photographs by 12 Iowa nature photographers, plus a short paragraph written by each photographer on what the photo “teaches” about Iowa’s natural heritage. Because we didn’t purchase rights to include these photos online, we could not put this particular edition of Ecology College on our website. However, you can request that a free copy of this magazine be sent to you by contacting Diane Graves.

Wet and Wild in Iowa's Fens
Summer 2002: by freelancer Bill Witt
Fens are a rare and special kind of spring-fed wetland. Learn more about fens, the species they support, a DNR survey of Iowa fens, variations in fens, INHF efforts to protect fens and more.

Lewis and Clark's journey, then and now
Winter 2002: by freelancer Bill Horine
Includes original text and photos from magazine article-including journal excerpts, an analysis of natural features which have changed in the 200 years since the journey (including historic maps of river changes), and links on where/how to explore these places yourself.

How the Farm Bill affects our land, water and wildlife
Fall 2001: by Duane Sand, INHF's public policy consultant
Includes analysis of conservation issues in proposed federal farm bill, statistics on agriculture and conservation, a clickable map that shows conservation effects of past farm policy, and links to other farm policy sites.

Iowa's wild orchids
Summer 2001: by freelancer Bill Witt
Highlights Iowa's diverse orchid species and discusses threats to orchid habitat. Includes many links to related sites. The original article contained many lovely full-color photos of Iowa orchids by Bill Witt, but you'd need to order the magazine to get those.

Secrets of the seedbank
Winter 2001: by INHF advisor and Drake professor
Thomas Rosburg
The seeds stored in a landscape's soil offer tiny clues about the land's history and future. This article defines and describes a seed bank, how seed banks are studied, how long seeds last, and the clues they provide about the land's history, exotic invaders and restoration potential. Bibliography.

Neotropical migrants: checklist for survival
Fall 2000: by INHF staff member Marlene Ehresman
Neotropical migrants are birds that breed in North American but migrate to warmer climes each winter. Many migrate along the Mississippi River on Iowa's eastern border. This article provides information from a study INHF is doing of neotropical migrant habitat needs, threats and opportunities along this key flyway or read INHF's newly published book on this subject.

Watershed, sweet watershed
Summer 2000: by freelancer Teresa Opheim
This article provides information and many resources for understanding how threats and protection within a watershed affect water quality. What we do on the land affects our water.

Prairie management and restoration in Iowa
Winter 2000: by INHF staff member Marlene Ehresman
and prairie expert, Carl Kurtz
A how-to guide on restoring prairie on your land: planning, site and soil preparation, seeds, planting, multi-year management and more. Many references on assistance programs, seed sources, publications and web sites.

Eagle Nest Diaries
Ongoing photo diary of Iowa eagle nest
Since 2002, friends of INHF have regularly photographed and documented an eagle pair raising their young on a nest located near the Upper Iowa River. Watch the eagles eat, grow, fight and learn to fly--with fascinating commentary by nest observers. Find out what happens to each year's eaglets--and then tune in next spring for regularly updated diaries on the newest hatchlings.