Wilderness Wonders: IU Students Dive into Ecology with Audubon Society

By Allison Duncan

“It didn’t feel like a class, but we learned so much!” said Aidan Doyle ’25, reflecting on his field experience last July with the National Audubon Society. He and Mary Steinbicker ’26 and Liam Semmler ’25 accompanied Assistant Biology Professor Stephen C. Mason, Ph.D., to Hog Island, Maine to learn about ecology, conservation and the scientific method.

The students assisted Mason with field entomology and forest ecology, digitized specimens, explored forests and tidal zones and analyzed vegetation data they collected.

Mason and the students set up pitfall traps—cups set into the ground to collect insects and other organisms that fall in—allowing researchers to estimate the populations of different species in an area. The students also set up two malaise traps, which use nets to funnel flying insects into a capture jar.

Mason praised his students for their work: “Each one was super engaged, gelled as a team, worked hard while still having fun, double-checked each other’s work and left with so many more scientific observations and questions than when we started.”

“The biodiversity on display at Hog Island was stunning, an experience I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Doyle.

Steinbicker, who is majoring in biology and secondary education, found the experience valuable for her career preparation. “I spent a good portion of the trip trying to see what could be applied to future lesson plans, and I found no shortage of material.”

Mason thanked the National Audubon Society for allowing his students to stay at Hog Island and explore and study its biodiversity. “We look forward to future positive collaborations and experiences,” he said.

Check out these photos and videos from their trip!

Mason and his students on Hog Island in Maine. L to R: Steve Mason, Mary Steinbicker, Aidan Doyle and Liam Semmler.

Mason helps his students set up a pitfall trap to capture insects and estimate their populations.

Photo taken by Aidan Doyle.

This red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterfly is one of the more common local butterfly species. Males are territorial and defend their territory by chasing out any other flying insects, especially other male red admirals. Females select males by the size of their territory, which indicates a healthy individual male with which to produce offspring.

Photo taken by Mary Steinbicker.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus) caterpillar on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

Photo taken by Aidan Doyle.

Mason and his students explore the forest.

The narrow wings and streamlined bodies of the pawpaw sphinx (Dolba hyloeus) make it one of the faster moth species along the east coast. Their host plants are blueberries and deciduous hollies (e.g., inkberry and winterberry).

Photo taken by Steve Mason.

The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is our only local snake species that gives birth to live young (ovoviviparous) instead of laying eggs. They typically brumate (the reptile equivalent of hibernation) in large colonies within their species.

Photo taken by Mary Steinbicker.

The pine sawyer (Monochamus sp.) can grow to a length of up to two and a half inches, which doesn’t include male antennae that are twice as long as the body. Larvae feed on dying and dead coniferous trees.

Photo taken by Liam Semmler.

The dark skies provided an excellent view of the Milky Way.

Photo taken by Aidan Doyle.

“The highlight for many of us was watching harbor seals feasting on groups of squid being attracted to the spotting light on one of the docks at night,” said Mason.

Video taken by Aidan Doyle.