Biology club to hold nature walk at Griffy Lake

While most students and Bloomington residents walk around admiring fall foliage for its colors, the IU Biology Club will take a more scientific look at the changes in nature Saturday. Beginning at 10 a.m., a nature walk will take place near campus at the IU Research and Teaching Preserve at Griffy Lake. \nSenior Andrew Woolley, academic chair for the Biology Club, said the idea for the walk came about to fill a void in the club's October activities.\nWoolley said the walk might become an annual event; a walk during other seasons is also a possibility.\n"I hope everybody that participates has a good time," he said. "The goal is for people to meet and talk and have fun walking outside in nature and just enjoying the fall."\nThe board of trustees established the Research and Teaching Preserve in May 2001. Several departments and schools at IU use the preserve for more hands-on teaching, including the Departments of Biology, Geological Sciences and Geography, and the Schools of Public and Environmental Affairs, and Health, Physical Education and Recreation.\n"Around 25 different classes have used (the) preserve," said Keith Clay, director of the preserve. "In some cases, some are doing actual research. Other cases are more of an outdoor lecture and demonstration or just a different format for a class setting. It's an interesting approach to teaching."\nClay gave two reasons why the preserve is such a prime location for research and teaching. \n"There is a large variety of natural habitat and biodiversity," he said, giving upland, lowland, terrestrial and aquatic habitats as examples. \nHe also said the location of the preserve makes it convenient for both students and professors to get back and forth from campus easily. \nIn addition to the Griffy Woods site, the combined 1,000-acre preserve also includes sites at Moore's Creek along Lake Monroe and the Lilley-Dickey Woods in Brown County. \nClay said each site is unique in what it offers.\nHe said the Moore's Creek site is "quite rugged, with steep ridges and ravines, a creek running into the lake and a variety of rare plants."\n"It's close to the water intake station for the whole city's water supply," Clay said. "The preserve plays (an) important role in maintaining erosion control and helping the water intake station survive."\nMoore's Creek is also home to the trailing arbutus, IU's official flower, according to the preserve's Web site. \nThe preserve added the Lilley-Dickey Woods in Brown County in 2003. Clay said there are enormous trees that can rarely be seen in a natural forest situation. \n"It's a unique spot in the middle of Brown County," he said. "There are some of the biggest and oldest trees in areas left in Indiana." \nClay said the preserve is similar to a library, athletic facility or classroom, each with its own objectives, except the preserve provides "a natural environment for teaching and research at the University."\n"It's a library of nature," he said. "It's totally under the control of natural events."\nFor more information on the preserve, visit www.indiana.edu/~preserve/index.html.\n-- Contact Weekend copy chief Laura Kruty at lkruty@indiana.edu