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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).

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2 days ago

INHS PACE Lab
UBAP lead and ornithologist Anastasia Rahlin has had an exciting morning conducting bird surveys in northern Illinois. Enjoy these shots of nesting Osprey and Bald Eagles!#Eagles #ospreys #birds #birdsofprey #research #fieldwork ... See MoreSee Less
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4 days ago

INHS PACE Lab
Bumblebee queens are hard at work this spring pollinating our beautiful spring ephemerals! Queen bumblebees play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting food production. By pollinating a wide variety of plants, they help sustain ecosystems and provide essential resources for wildlife and humans alike. Their diligent efforts ensure a vibrant and thriving ecosystem, making springtime even more delightful!Did you know that bumblebee queens are the sole survivors of their colony over the winter and play a vital role in starting new colonies? As they collect nectar and pollen, they're not just fueling their own bodies but also ensuring the survival of future generations of bumblebees. 🐝 ... See MoreSee Less
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1 week ago

INHS PACE Lab
Ever wonder how many turtles are missed when turtle trapping? This morning, we watched this turle swim around the turtle trap for several minutes hoping it would make its way inside. Graduate student Chitra Basyal wants to use wildlife cams to monitor different aspects of turtle behavior, including how many come near the baited traps but don't go in.Japan House at the University of Illinois #turtles #research #NRES #FieldworkFriday #japanhouse ... See MoreSee Less
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PACE Lab News

UBAP leader A Rahlin presents Chicagoland ornithological research

UBAP leader Anastasia Rahlin presented two talks recently. In January Rahlin presented “Oak Masting in the Chicagoland Region” at the Cook County Forest Preserve District – Resource Management talk as part of CCFPD’s Environmental Education program. Rahlin and collaborators have been collecting oak masting data in the Chicagoland region over a seven-year period from 2017-2023. …

Three new species of Mantellid frog from Madagascar

Three new species of frogs from Madagascar were described in a paper co-authored by PACE Lab PhD candidate Devin Edmonds, led by researchers at Zoological Institute at Technische Universitat Braunschweig. The group of frogs, Genus Guibemantis, subgenus Pandanusicola, spend their lives in the Pandanus (screw-pine) trees, which are common in the Andasibe area of Madagascar. …