Robert and Patricia Anderson Outstanding Contribution to Science at Nachusa Grasslands Award
The genesis for this award arose in 2020. Keith Anderson of DeKalb, Illinois, was looking for a way to honor his parents, Robert and Patricia Anderson, in a way that reflected their love of nature. He made a gift to Friends of Nachusa Grasslands that was used to establish the Friends Endowment for Nachusa Science. This endowment permanently funds science grants at Nachusa Grasslands. The science grants are raised and administered by the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing for the long-term care and management of the preserve.
2022 |
2021
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Dr. Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar has been awarded the Robert and Patricia Anderson Outstanding Contribution to Science at Nachusa Grasslands Award. She is the second annual winner of this prestigious award.
Nine years ago, Dr. Bruninga-Socolar began studying bees at Nachusa. She was awarded the first of several Friends of Nachusa Grasslands science grants in 2015 to support her ongoing work with Dr. Sean Griffin. Beginning with a baseline survey of the bee populations on remnants, restored land, and alternative land use areas at the preserve, the work grew into an exploration of the impact of management actions including bison introduction on the diversity and abundance of bee species and their pollinator interactions. Exciting discoveries of rare and endangered bee species have been a dramatic highlight of her work. Her numerous publications and presentations about the bees of Nachusa have drawn other researchers to Nachusa and made it one of the Midwest’s preeminent sites for learning more about these important pollinators. Dr. Bruninga-Socolar is now an Assistant Professor at Albright College in Reading, PA, and plans to continue her long-term monitoring of bee populations at Nachusa. Friends board member Mike Carr states, “The scientific research performed by Dr. Bruninga-Socolar is the foundation for continued and widening research of native bees at Nachusa. Researchers now believe that there may no place in the Great Lakes region with more species of native bees. We had no idea this was the case until her research began making that case.” |
For 2021, the Robert and Patricia Anderson Award in recognition of outstanding research at Nachusa Grasslands is awarded to the team of Dr. Richard King of Northern Illinois University and Thomas Anton and David Mauger, independent researchers. Their research with Blanding’s turtles has been a cornerstone of Nachusa’s conservation science.
Tom began work in 2013, later joined by Rich and David. This trio has continued and expanded their work over the years, subsequently supported by Jess Fliginger. Their 2022 grant supports the ongoing effort to increase the population and promote the persistence of the state-endangered Blanding’s Turtles at Nachusa and adjacent properties within the Franklin Creek corridor. This work is part of the state-wide Blanding’s turtle conservation effort led by IDNR. In addition to tracking newly released “head-start” hatchlings to obtain data on their survival, movements and habitat use, this research team will track adult females to their nest sites and collect eggs for head-starting at Willowbrook Wildlife Center and their later release at both Nachusa Grasslands and Richardson Wildlife Foundation. Our understanding of this state endangered turtle and the role of restored prairie in supporting their survival has been profoundly advanced by their work. Rich, Tom, and Dave have set a high standard through their dedication and are fitting recipients of the first annual Robert and Patricia Anderson Award. 
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UPDATED 04/2022