The legend of Isle Royale looms large in the hearts and minds of Michigan naturalists. Botanical rarities, geologic curiosities, complex human dimensions, and geographic isolation weave together for a story like no other. In 2024 two ecologists from Michigan Natural Features Inventory set out to describe the exemplary bedrock features of the main island. This presentation will be a fun retelling of the adventure: describing the project, giving context to the stunning natural communities, and detailing the denizens that we may or may not be familiar with on the mainland.

Presenter: Jesse Lincoln is a Plant Ecologist for Michigan Natural Features Inventory. In this role, he conducts thorough vegetation surveys on various public lands to identify important natural areas, document populations of rare plants, and integrate these elements into wildlife management plans. Identifying remnants of high-quality natural areas is a critical component of conservation and helps prioritize restoration actions. He has spent several seasons surveying natural communities across Michigan with several recent projects taking him to many islands in the Great Lakes.