Welcome to the Ross Biological Reserve!
The Ross Reserve has for 60 years provided Purdue University with an invaluable teaching and research environment. On the bank of the Wabash River, it is a forest rich in biological diversity and in history of ecological study. The Reserve was established in 1949, thanks to the vision of plant ecology professor Alton A. Lindsey and colleagues, and has been the focus of 30 doctoral dissertations, more than 120 scientific publications, and numerous masters and undergraduate honors theses. It harbors nearly 400 species of vascular plants and more than 100 species of vertebrate animals. When first protected, the Reserve was a patchwork of mature but disturbed forest mixed with agricultural fields and clearings. Rapid regeneration of the clearings and slow maturation of the forest have produced a haven for wildlife that is rare in the Midwestern landscape.
Ross Reserve Quick Facts
- 92 acres of mature forest on the Wabash River
- Alton A. Lindsey Field Laboratory for classes and research
- 60-year database on forest composition in a surveyed grid
- 100+ species of vertebrate animals and 400+ species of vascular plants
- 35+ undergraduate researchers annually and 150+ class projects annually
- 500+ students experience the Reserve annually during field trips
- 30 PhD dissertations, 120 scientific publications, and 60+ Masters & Honors theses
- Outreach to local schools and K-12 teachers involves 150 students annually
- 14 faculty use the Reserve for teaching, research and outreach
- A graduate “ecologist in residence” facilitates research, teaching and outreach
The Reserve is a center for community outreach promoting scientific literacy and understanding of the natural world. To read more about the mission and purpose of the Ross Biological Reserve click here.
