Lake County Gazette

Last summer, Lake Forest's landscape was transformed by the emergence of periodical cicadas that surface every 17 years. Professor of Biology Sean Menke partnered with fellow scientists to explore the impact of these cicada emergences on ant populations. The project received a grant from the National Science Foundation to enable further research.

The title of the project is Collaborative Research: RUI - Emergent Properties of Biomass Pulses: Uncovering the Ant-mediated Effects of Periodical Cicadas on Forest Ecosystems. Menke is working in conjunction with John Lill at George Washington University and Martha Weiss at Georgetown University.

The grant will fund at least two Lake Forest College students to do research in Menke's lab every semester for three years, along with full-time work and housing over the summer for the students who work in the lab.

“One of the huge limitations for students wanting to conduct summer research is that opportunities are limited to students who don't need summer jobs to pay for college,” Menke explained. “The funding from this grant makes the research opportunity and lab work more competitive for students who need jobs during the summer. The grant funding also helps underwrite housing and food costs. ”

Overall, Menke is receiving a $364,196 share of the grant to support Lake Forest College students and his continued research. The grant includes additional money to support a recent graduate to work full time in the lab for the next three years. Funds will also cover travel expenses for students to visit and collaborate with teams at Georgetown University and George Washington University.