Unique Adaptations in Prairie Plants
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Free Event Chapter Meeting Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Note: This program will be held in-person and by livestream. A link to join the livestream will be posted here closer to the program date. A recording of the program will be made available to chapter members soon after the program.
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The tallgrass prairie ecosystem is one of the rarest ecosystems in the world. It’s home to plants uniquely adapted to their soil microorganisms, precipitation, pollinators, and light conditions. Sydney will talk about how prairie plant species are adapted to their soil microbial communities and consider how those communities change with the level of precipitation across the Midwestern United States. Hear about the performance of pale-spike lobelia (Lobelia spicata), round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), and rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium) in recent research by the Byers Lab at Illinois State University. Learn how adaptations in prairie plants can shift our expectations to their future success and how this work applies to planting your own garden spaces.
Presenter Bio:
Sydney Metternich is the outreach coordinator for the Fell Arboretum; the collection of trees on Illinois State University’s (ISU) campus. After receiving her Masters degree in biology studying adaptations in prairie plants from ISU in December of 2022, Sydney teaches undergraduate botany courses at ISU and facilitates botanical experiences for students and nature enthusiasts of all ages in the Bloomington-Normal Community.