Season 1, Episode 1
Reintroducing Bison to the Tall Grass Prairie with Holly Jones
In this episode of From the Field, discover how the revival of tall grass prairie and the reintroduction of a pure-line of bison in Illinois benefits the ecosystem in a huge way.
You'll Learn
When Holly became involved with Nachusa Grasslands
Holly Jones’ background and how she started her career
Reintroduction of bison on tall grass prairie and the benefits
History of tall grass prairie and why it was nearly wiped out in the 1800’s
Tall Grass Prairie revival
Holly’s innovative ways of collecting data
Why we should still have hope, despite loss of ecosystems
Links From the Episode:
Friends of Nachusa Grasslands – Where Holly monitors the impacts of bison reintroduction and prairie management on small mammals, grassland bird nesting, and plant and seed diversity. This is also where she steps on numerous bison desposits…
About Holly
ABOUT DR. HOLLY JONES
Dr. Holly Jones is an Assistant Professor in Biology and the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy at Northern Illinois University. Her Bachelor’s degree came from University of California, Santa Cruz and her graduate degrees are from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Holly trains students to foster curiosity about how ecosystems work and their underlying ecology and to pursue ecological research that enhances environmental stewardship. Her lab’s research focuses on how best to prioritize restoration, the links between ecosystem restoration/conservation and human well-being in the face of global climate change, and maximizing restoration gains and investigating restoration trajectories at the local, regional, and global scale. Holly works with non-profit organizations, governmental organizations, land-managers, and the public to ensure her research has on-the-ground applications. In her spare time, Holly likes to cook, garden, travel, do yoga, and spend time with her kids, husband, and husky mutt.
Biison on the tall grass prairie
Bison at Nachusa Grasslands
Holly in the Field with Her Favorite Assistant
