Variety of Species in Iowa Reconstructed Prairie

The included image of the Daryl Smith Prairie includes many diverse plants including natural plants native to Iowa. The black-eyed Susan, pale purple coneflower, prairie coreopsis, and rattlesnake master are wildflowers and native plants that can be seen in the image. The Daryl Smith Prairie is a restored patch of prairie on UNI’s campus and the image shows the prairie in July. Students can observe the number of native plants in the image, compare the natural/restored prairie to the landscape they see all around them, and wonder about the types and kinds of plants in the image. 

• What different plants can be observed in the prairie?

• Why are there so many different plants in a natural prairie?
• How does the plant variety in a prairie compare to plant variety in a new habitat?

• Tallgrass Prairie: Learn more about the Tallgrass Prairie at University of Northern Iowa.
• Generation Genius | Diversity of Life on Earth:  Lesson plan about biodiversity and the variety of species on the planet. This lesson can be used after the prairie phenomena introduction to a variety of species. This lesson goes beyond plants and also investigates diversity in animals within a habitat.  
• Generation Genius | What Is Biodiversity?:  Video explaining what biodiversity is, where it can be found and why it is necessary.