Students in wildlife ecology capped off their unit on forest ecology with a trip to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve on Tuesday. Forest ecology is the scientific study of the interconnected relationships between living things (plants, animals, and microorganisms) and non-living things (like sunlight, water, and soil) within a forest. This trip provided a real-world experience for the students, allowing them to observe these interactions firsthand.
They were lucky to see cranes and geese nesting at the pond, examples of wildlife that depend on healthy forest ecosystems for survival. They also spotted a beaver, highlighting the role of beavers in shaping forest landscapes. Kickapoo Valley Reserve instructor, Danna Burgeson, enriched the experience by pointing out various plants and other features along the hike, helping them connect the dots between the different components of the forest ecosystem.
With the full sunshine making it a perfect day to be outdoors, the trip served as an engaging and memorable way to conclude their unit on forest ecology.