Biodiversity in the Dunes
/In school I loved studying ecology and the complexity of ecosystems. For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated with the way animals and plants interacted with one another. Coming to work at Dunes Learning Center has rekindled that curiosity I had as a child.
Many people would be surprised to find out that the Indiana Dunes National Park is the 4th most biodiverse national park (out of 423 sites). In short, that means we have a lot of cool animals and plants that call this beautiful place home. There are multiple reasons for this: our glacial beginnings, rare ecosystems, migration patterns, and the perfect climate for a lot of species.
In the short time I have lived here, I have already gotten to experience this great biodiversity, and I’m excited to see what winter and spring will bring. Here are some awesome species that you can find in the park.
These are just a few of the cool species I have found in the dunes. I love expanding my knowledge of the natural world around me. I hope this list has inspired you to get out and explore the diversity of the dunes for yourself!
Note: Plants and animals inside Indiana Dunes National Park are protected. Please admire, but do not disturb, anything you may find.