The objective of the Urban Biotic Assessment Program (UBAP) is to provide the Illinois Tollway with the ecological expertise needed to effectively and efficiently comply with state and federal environmental regulations, while also preserving habitats and species native to the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
INHS began its partnership with the Tollway in 2005, monitoring the endangered Blanding’s Turtle populations affected by the construction of the I355 extension.
This partnership has expanded and enables UBAP researchers to study the habitats and species of the Chicagoland area, and the challenges they face. Learn more about our research.
Download our report of activities from 2015-2020
The Traveling Science Center is excited to be part of Danville’s Science in the City this evening (Aug 7) from 5-8 pm!
Congratulations to Dr. Jesper who just published the last of his dissertation chapters! The paper, "Fall and spring staging in a refugia-dependent migratory snake," analyzed the use of a staging period by Timber Rattlesnakes prior to entering and after egress from winter refugia. The number of days snake stage varies from year to year but the temperature of arrival and departure are consistent year to year indicating the behavior is temperature dependent.![]()
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Read the full paper at the link in the comments.![]()
*Note, the publisher's link may not work through facebook mobile ap so you may need to open the link in an external browser![]()
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#Snakes
Come out to Lake of the Woods in Mahomet for Summer Splash! Free fun for all… boats, fishing, music, a Traveling Science Center and much much more! Today (SaturdayJune 25) 9am-2pm
M.S. student Rose Arnold presented some of her thesis research at the recent Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Her study has included developing and refining a species detection model for the endangered Blanding's Turtle to help land managers and biologists better understand their populations. More information at the link in the comments.![]()
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#JMIH, #turtles
PaCE Lab terrestrial ecologist Claire Dietrich presented a poster on her work surveying turtles along the Illinois Tollway. Seven of the 9 species reported from the Tollway region were captured during these surveys, with Common Snapping Turtle and Painted Turtle being found at most sites. These surveys are part of long-term monitoring being conducted under a contract with the Illinois Tollway to better understand the natural resources along their roadways. More information at the link in comments.![]()
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#JMIH #turtles #illinoistollway