Priscila Palacios is an undergraduate student at Iowa State University majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Spanish. Originally, Priscila is from St. Marys, Iowa, and has always had a passion for the natural world. She is currently assisting a graduate student, Adam Meneses, by conducting butterfly and floral belt surveys in Minnesota to research butterfly behavior in remnant and reconstructed prairies.
What did you enjoy the most about growing up in Iowa? Sitting outside on the porch of my house, watching the fireflies emerge and watching the sunset, remains one of my favorite things about growing up in Iowa. It doesn’t matter where I have been; the sunsets in Iowa are always the best!
Why did you choose Environmental Science as your major? I love anything related to Biology and Ecology, and learning how the world interacts with everything in it is very interesting to me. I am especially interested in the ocean and how it is like a whole world of its own, which is funny being from Iowa and having such a connection to the ocean! My love for the ocean has made me realize how important it is to protect these kinds of ecosystems. Environmental Science allows me to explore subjects I love in a broader sense, so I can find what I am more inclined to.
What are you excited to learn during this internship? I am ecstatic to learn how to collect data and conduct research out in the field. I am loving the fieldwork aspect of the internship, and getting to camp outside every day feels like a dream come true. The research field of Environmental Science is remarkably interesting. Getting to learn all the ins and outs of fieldwork– and what goes into conducting research– is very exciting to me!
What's the most useful thing you've learned as a student? Connections are SO important! Getting to know your professors, especially in classes you struggle in, is helping me so much! Even just asking a question after class or going in to office hours has already been a huge help. Not only has it kept me engaged in these subjects, but it has also allowed me to get a better grasp on tough concepts. To go along with that, hearing someone speak about something they are very passionate and knowledgeable about is a very inspiring thing as an undergraduate student.
Why did you choose Iowa State for college? Choosing Iowa State University for college was a no-brainer for me. It is close to home, a very research-heavy school, specifically in the natural science aspect, and has a broader environmental biology field than other Iowa colleges. The campus is very walkable and easy to navigate, which was another key quality for me.
How can Iowans help butterflies? Learning more about the nature around you and how you can help is one of the most important things a person can do. Going for a walk and using identification apps like iNaturalist is a great way to get outside and learn something, and there are plenty of lectures through Iowa State that are open to the public that you can attend if you see one that might be interesting! And although it may be redundant, planting native plants is a great place to start and is super beneficial for butterflies and other insects as well! Starting a native plant garden is super beneficial, and now more than ever, the butterflies could use a helping hand where they can get one!
Why are you interested in butterflies and flowers? To put it simply, they are just so beautiful it’s hard not to be interested in them! The more I learn about them and the many ways they contribute to the world around them, the more amazed I am! Butterflies are very unique compared to other insects, in both appearance and functionality. They pollinate our crops and look good while doing it! They also support all kinds of ecosystems, and without them, we would see a noticeable decrease in biodiversity, which can eventually lead to adverse effects for humans! These are just a few of the reasons why getting to look at them all day is definitely a privilege!
What did you enjoy most about the outdoors and conservation growing up? Growing up, I loved the feeling of being outdoors, feeling like I was one with nature. My dad was a big influence on me, along with conservationists like Steve Irwin and the Kratt brothers, who also fueled my passion for nature and environmental conservation. There are so many things I find so fascinating about nature, like when my dad showed me that honey bees are so gentle you could pet one, and it just makes being outside a lot of fun. I also have a passion for learning, and I spent countless summers at the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, where I eventually became a volunteer for 3 years in high school. During my time there, I gained a lot of hope, seeing how many organizations were taking a stand on environmental issues and doing something about it; I would argue that was one of my biggest reasons for going into Environmental Science.
Describe your research this summer. This summer we are conducting butterfly and floral belt surveys in western Minnesota to research the behavior of the butterflies in a remnant versus a reconstructed prairie, while simultaneously looking at the effects of burn frequency and grazing intensity. We are also looking closely at Regal Fritillaries, since they are specialists who are very restricted to remnant tallgrass prairies.
Photos by Priscila Palacios