Explore
Image of white growths on goldenrod plants.

Goldenrod Galls

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Bremer County
White growths (galls) on the stems of the plant allow plant growth while the fly eggs develop inside.
Image of tree with metal tags attached to it.

Emerald Ash Borer Tagged Trees

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Council Bluffs
These ash trees have been tagged to show they were treated to prevent damage from the emerald ash borer.
Image of exposed tree roots.

Tree Roots and Erosion

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Council Bluffs
Tree roots that would normally be underground have been exposed due to erosion.
Image of mist on a lake surface.

Lake Mist

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Council Bluffs
Mist is visible over an Iowa lake.
Image of fallen tree chewed by animals.

Animals as Loggers

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Monroe County
Trees can be cut down or stripped of their bark by animals.
Image of newly built field terrace.

Field Tiling and Terraces

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Bussey
Some Iowa fields have been altered with tiling and terraces.
Image of buds on tree branch.

Backyard Diversity

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Bussey
A variety of life can be seen in just one backyard.
Image of butterfly on a flower.

Butterfly Pollinator

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Harvey
Butterflies act as pollinators for many plants and flowers in Iowa. 
Image of bird sitting right outside a window.

Bird Behavior

Video
Lee County
A bird is repeatedly flying into the glass of a window.
Image of man standing next to a large tree.

Trees and Climate Change

Video
Bettendorf
Trees may play multiple roles in combating climate change.
image of a bird flock flying around a commercial wind turbine

Wind Turbines and Bird Migration

Video
Council Bluffs
Wind energy companies around the world are employing different strategies to protect birds.
finger with four deer ticks each of various sizes

Dangerous Ticks and Invasive Honeysuckle

Multimedia
Bettendorf
Since 2010 the number of tick-related illnesses in Iowa have increased.
Image of man standing next to a stream bank.

Stream Bank Erosion

Video
Bettendorf
A house is in danger of collapsing into a creek due to erosion.
Image of a wetland next to a city.

Flood Walls or Wetlands for Flood Mitigation

Video
Davenport
Record flooding in the Quad Cities led many to wonder about the most effective methods to mitigate future floods.
Image of man standing next to flooded Mississippi River.

Record Breaking Precipitation and Floods in Iowa

Video
Davenport
The winter and spring of 2019 set several records in the Quad Cities, which is located in eastern Iowa.
Image of mushrooms growing on a log.

Mushrooms as Decomposers

Video
Baxter
Fungi are an important part of ecosystems.
Image of Mariposa Lake being drained.

Mariposa Lake Draining

Video
Jasper County
Several factors led to Lake Mariposa being drained and restored.
Image of a rainbow over a field.

Rainbows & Sundogs

Video
Baxter
If conditions are right, double rainbows and sundogs can be visible.

Funding for Iowa Science Phenomena Provided By

Aliant Energy
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Musco Lighting
Pella
Reserve Endowment and Protection (REAP)