The Lake Michigan region of the United States presents a quite unique area of biodiversity. The area includes several different and unique environments, all surrounding the largest freshwater lakes in the world. From sand dunes, to old growth forests, to prairies, to marshes, and even bogs, the species that inhabit this area of the world are expansive. I've spent a lot of time searching for and researching many of the smaller species that cohabitate this region as a testament to the resilience of nature despite rapid expansion of metropolitan areas and the damage this progress has taken upon nature itself.
While this project mainly encompasses the insect and arachnid species I have found within various locations, there are also a few examples of unique flora, small vertebrate species, and environmental establishing shots that I've discovered upon the way.
I do recognize the fact that most of these species are native to the area, while some have taken hold as invasives. These invasive species establish a population causing either issues to certain crops or plant species, or simply by out competing the native species. Often times these invasive species thrive due to lack of natural predation or by being impervious to certain diseases or natural factors that would otherwise slow their spread. Lake Michigan, its watershed, and the region as a whole has been in a tenuous balancing act between the effects of industrialization and preservation of natural resources. The effects of centuries of misuse and overconsumption are just now beginning to be addressed in hopes of revitalizing much of the precious nature of the area.
