Throughout this virtual field trip you were able to visit three prairie sites in and around Sioux City, IA. Many questions were posed and new questions were formed. As you noticed, there is no answer key to this experience. Through comment posts and personal research, I hope you were able to learn and help other learn about the prairie.
Ask yourself the following questions as a reflection to this experience:
1. Did I learn something new about the prairies?
2. Did my attitude about prairies change after this experience?
3. Would I like to actually visit a prairie some day?
I hope you enjoyed your experience in Iowa's prairie. There much more to learn and explore, so get out there and do it! Below are a few links to learn more about Iowa prairies.
Iowa Prairie Network
Iowa Association of Natualists Publication: Iowa Prairies
Friends of the Prairie Learning Center
Prairies of the Midwest
If you have any final comments or links about prairies feel free to add them to this posts comments.
Broken Kettle Grassland
QW: What is ecological succession? How does is apply to prairies?
To visit Broken Kettle Grasslands, you will have to take a short 15 mile drive north of Sioux City. This location has primarily prairie habitats and is one of the largest prairie preserve in Iowa. On our visit, we are going to focus on how prairies are managed. Use the link below to travel to Broken Kettle Grassland. Along your virtual hike, feel free to answer questions and take notes in your field journal or respond in the comments section for each picture or this blog post.
QW: What is a prescribed burn? Why is this used to manage prairie.
Prescribed Fire for Prairie Ecosystems
When you connect to the virtual hike, make sure you choose "Hybrid" view and zoom in to observe the topography. Also, double-click on each of the pictures to view them and see any questions that may go along with them. Feel free to make comments for any pictures as well.
Start at the mark on Butcher Road and follow the path as illustrated below.
For more information about Broken Kettle Grassland Click Here.
Make sure you watch the video about Bison at this site.
Five Ridge Prairie
QW: What animals call the prairie home? How does the habitat help them survive?
To visit Five Ridge Prairie, you will have to take a short 15 mile drive north of Sioux City. This location has both prairie and woodland habitats. On our visit, we are going to imagine that we are local species and focus on how we can use the habitat to survive. Use the link below to travel to the Five Ridge Prairie. Along your virtual hike, feel free to answer questions and take notes in your field journal or respond in the comments section for each picture or this blog post.
When you connect to the virtual hike, make sure you choose "Hybrid" view and zoom in to observe the topography. Also, double-click on each of the pictures to view them and see any questions that may go along with them. Feel free to make comments for any pictures as well.
Start on the 260th St. and follow the path as illustrated below.
For more information on the Five Ridge Prairie Click Here
Sioux City Prairie
You do not have to travel far to visit the Sioux City State Prairie Preserve. Use the location link on this post to see a map of its location. Our visit is going to take us up the ridge tops and down into the valleys in search of local plant and animal species. Use the link below to travel to the Sioux City Prairie. Along your virtual hike, feel free to answer questions and take notes in your field journal or respond in the comments section for each picture or this blog post.
When you connect to the virtual hike, make sure you choose "Hybrid" view and zoom in to observe the topography. Also, double-click on each of the pictures to view them and see any questions that may go along with them. Also feel free to comment on any picture as well.
Start on the mark closest to Talbot Road and follow the path as illustrated below.
For more information on the Sioux City Prairie Preserve Click Here
What is a Prairie?
QW: Look at the picture above and write a reponse.
QW: What do you know about prairie? What do you want to know about prairies?
A prairie is an ecosystem that is dominated by grasses and forbs and scarce of trees and shrubs. Many species are specifically adapted to the soils and climate in prairie regions. Historically, North America’s prairies expanded north and south from Canada to Mexico and east and west from Indiana to Colorado. Today, habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation have led to the loss of nearly 90% of all prairies, and up to 99.9% in Iowa.
Iowa's Prairies
Iowa’s historical and remaining grasslands are classified as tallgrass prairies. However, today's prairie landscape is much different then that of the past. IPrior to settlement, it's estimated that 81-85% of Iowa's landscape was praire. Today, Iowa's tallgrass prairies have been reduced by 99.9%. As a result, Iowa's tallgrass prairies are amongst the most endangered ecosystems on Earth. Below is a comparison map of historical and current prairies ranges in Iowa. Prairies are represented in red.
Welcome
Materials:
Virtual Visit
Notebook, pen/pencil, imagination, critical thinking.
Actual Visit
Day pack, field journal, binoculars, water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent*, hat, sturdy hiking shoes, long pants, and a camera.
*Try to use insect repellent with ticks listed as a target species. During my field visits I removed multiple ticks from my clothing and skin.
Procedure:
1. Follow each blog post in order by choosing each topic in the archives column.
2. Read each post and follow each link to the Virtual Hike.
3. When you see QW (quick write) write a response in your notebook or post a comment on the blog post.
4. Use search engines and your background knowledge to answer any questions posted on each hiking picture or video.
* This experience will allow for you and other visitors to collaborate. For this reason, there are no references listed. Please add links and descriptions to useful websites in the comment section on each page. This will build a library of useful references for all to use.
5. Enjoy your field trip and try to visit one of these sites in real life.
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