Long-term monitoring at the Kellogg Biological Station Long Term Ecological Research site (KBS LTER) shows both native and introduced predators are declining, potentially weakening a key natural defense against crop pests. A new study, led by researchers at Kent State University and Michigan State University, finds that populations of lady beetles, important natural predators of crop pests, have declined substantially over the past three decades in a Midwestern agricultural landscape. The research, published in PNAS Nexus, analyzed 31 years of insect monitoring data collected at
KBS LTER graduate student receives prestigious MSU science award
KBS graduate student Rachel Drobnak has received the 2026 MSU Graduate School’s Graduate Award in Science Communication & Outreach for her work in promoting the benefits of prairie strips. KBS graduate student Rachel Drobnak has received the 2026 Graduate Student Award for Science Communication & Outreach. The award, which is given annually to one graduate student at MSU, is “conferred in recognition of the exemplary translation and communication of scholarly ideas, research findings, and advancements in all academic disciplines to the general public.” Rachel spent the first t
MiSTRIPS program extends its impact beyond farm fields to classrooms and communities
Inspired by their time as Research Experience for Teachers program at the Kellogg Biological Station, two Michigan teachers are using schoolyard prairies as outdoor classrooms to engage students and provide hands-on experience with science. Now in its fifth year, MiSTRIPS has made a lasting impact that extends beyond the 11 participating farmers who have planted more than 50 acres of prairie strips. While the program’s core focus is demonstrating the benefits of integrating native prairie into agricultural systems, its influence reaches well beyond crops and soil health. MiSTRIPS has also
Creativity and curiosity: K-Woods students explore science and art at KBS
At the end of last October, the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station was thrilled to welcome Kensington Woods, or K-Wood, Schools back for a second year of field-based ecological exploration. K-Woods, a charter school in Livingston, Michigan, prides itself on its small, supportive community and its STEAM-focused approach that shows students how creativity and science go hand in hand. That same blend of creativity and scientific curiosity is central to our work at KBS, making this partnership the perfect match. This year, however, we had something new to look forward to: along with returning biology
MiSTRIPS impacts farmers beyond their fields
The MiSTRIPS program is helping Michigan farmers boost soil health, support wildlife, and increase profit by integrating native prairie strips into working farmland, making a meaningful impact and fostering new relationships between land stewards and researchers. The MiSTRIPS program has supported 11 Michigan farmers in planting more than 50 acres of native prairie and prairie strips, creating meaningful change across agricultural communities and building strong connections between land stewards and scientists. Farmers from across the state have joined MiSTRIPS over the past five years,
MiSTRIPS program inspires local artists and strengthens community connections
Visiting artists and members of the KBS community have transformed the science of prairie strips into art that celebrates the beauty and resilience of agricultural landscapes. Rooted in sustainable agriculture and scientific discovery, MiSTRIPS has reached far beyond the original audience of farmers and agricultural conservation groups to cultivates creativity and community connection at KBS. While originally focused on increasing understanding and adoption of the conservation practice of prairie strips, MiSTRIPS now crosses disciplines and inspires artists to interpret the beauty and
8th Annual Underground Innovations to expand regenerative farmer networks in Michigan
Hickory Corners, MI - Registration is now open for the 8th annual Underground Innovations winter meeting for innovative farmers, agricultural and environmental professionals, and others. Presented by Michigan Agriculture Advancement (MiAA) with support from the Kellogg Biological Station Long Term Ecological Research Program (KBS LTER), this event will continue to build and support a community of curiously minded people who love to be inspired by innovation in other fields and apply it to their own contexts. Taking place February 4-5th in 2026, we will spend two days and one
MiSTRIPS program sparks new research and stronger community partnerships
Researchers at the KBS LTER have leveraged the MiSTRIPS partnership network to launch new grant-funded projects and field studies that may not have been possible without the program. The MiSTRIPS Program at the KBS LTER has become a springboard for new research, helping scientists secure grants and expand studies in sustainable agriculture. Its impact now reaches well beyond installing native prairie species in cropland. In addition to supporting farmers and adding 50 new acres of prairie across Michigan, MiSTRIPS sites also provide valuable field locations for researchers to
Elizabeth Schultheis awarded fellowship to tackle science misconceptions
Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis, co-Founder of Data Nuggets and Education and Outreach Coordinator at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station's Long Term Ecological Research Program, has been named a 2025 Sound Science Fellow by the National Center for Science Education (NCSE). This prestigious fellowship, aimed at advancing the teaching of evolution, climate change, and accurate scientific education, will provide six scholars with unique opportunities to engage in deep exploration and collaboration, building upon NCSE’s mission to ensure accurate and evidence-based science education in K-12 s
Graduate research from the KBS LTER highlights the role of drought in altering plant-environment interactions
Through an experiment that simulates future climate change conditions within the KBS LTER, researchers found that drought strongly affects the chemical compounds released by goldenrod, suggesting that climate change could significantly influence how ecosystems function. Though you might not be able to see it with the naked eye, plants are constantly interacting with their environment. One way they do this is through the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – chemical signals that help them communicate and react to both living and non-living factors around them. These VOCs form the
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