Ecology of Ohio University

At the center of southeast Ohio, Ohio University hosts a myriad of different species that make up its ecology. The heavily forested Athens campus includes the College Green, Emeriti Park, University Golf Course, Ecohouse, compost facility, and the Ohio University Biological Preserve that all feature distinct ecological habitats, including deciduous forest, wetlands, and meadows. The university is well-known for its contributions to the study of the environment, and has been designated a center of excellence for energy and environment. The university sponsors an Office for Sustainability that assists in local ecological preservation. The university also features a unique variety of man-made earthworks mostly built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940s and 1950s during the redirection of the Hocking River.
Ohio University's native macro-flora and -fauna can be divided into three primary groups: large native deciduous trees, small native flora, and native non-human animals. Non-native trees also account for a large number of macro-flora and have become important to the campus ecology.
Macro-flora
Large native deciduous trees
Deciduous native Ohio trees comprise the largest group of large trees found on the Athens campus.
* Serviceberry, (Amelanchier arborea and laevis)
* Eastern Redbud, (Cercis canadensis)
* Flowering Dogwood, (Cornus florida)
* Hawthorn, (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
* River Birch, (Betula nigra)
* Black Gum , (Nyssa sylvatica)
* Red Maple, (Acer rubrum)
* Sugar Maple, (Acer saccharum)
* American Beech, (Fagus grandifolia)
* White Ash, (Fraxinus americana)
* Green Ash, (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
* Kentucky Coffeetree, (Gymnocladus dioicus)
* Sweetgum, (Liquidambar styraciflua)
* Tuliptree , (Liriodendron tulipifera)
* White Oak, (Quercus alba)
* Swamp White Oak, (Quercus bicolor)
* Shingle Oak, (Quercus imbricaria)
* Bur Oak, (Quercus macrocarpa)
* Pin Oak, (Quercus palustris)
* Northern Red Oak, (Quercus rubra)
* Shumard Oak, (Quercus shumardi)
* American Linden, Basswood, (Tilia americana)
* Silver Maple, (Acer saccharinum)
* Ohio Buckeye, (Aesculus glabra)
* Common Hackberry, (Celtis occidentalis)
* Mulberry, (Morus species)
* American Sycamore, (Platanus occidentalis)
* Eastern Cottonwood, (Populus deltoides)
Non-native trees
The prominent non-native trees at Ohio University in Athens include:
* Black Locust, (Robinia pseudoacacia)
* Willow, (Salix species)
* European Mountain Ash, (Sonorous aucuparia)
* Elm, (Ulmus species, except Ulmus parvifolia)
Macro-fauna
Native non-human animals
Several species of non-human animals exist at Ohio University, largely remote to its Biological Preserve and outer quadrants, as well as its facilities throughout southeast Ohio.
Native mammals
* American Beaver
* Badger
* Bison
* Black Bear
* Bobcat
* Coyote
* Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
* Eastern Gray Squirrel
* Eastern Timber Wolf
* Elk or Wapiti
* Fisher
* Meadow Vole
* Raccoon
* Rats and Mice
* Red Fox
* Snowshoe Hare
* Virginia Opossum
* White-tailed Deer
* Woodchuck
Birds
* American Robin
* Bald Eagle
* Barn Owl
* Belted Kingfisher
* Bobolink
* Bobwhite Quail
* Brown-Headed Cowbird
* Carolina Parakeet
* Common Raven
* Eastern Bluebird
* Eastern Meadowlark
* English House Sparrow
* European Starling
* Gray Catbird
* Greater Prairie Chicken
* Horned Lark
* Ivory Billed Woodpecker
* Northern Cardinal
* Northern Mockingbird
* Passenger Pigeon
* Peregrine Falcon
* Pileated Woodpecker
* Ring-necked Pheasant
* Rock Dove
* Trumpeter Swan
* Wild Turkey
* Wood Duck
Reptiles and amphibians
* American Toad
* Black Racer Snake
* Black Rat Snake
* Bullfrog
* Constriction
* Dusky Salamander
* Eastern Box Turtle
* Eastern Garter Snake
* Eastern Hognose Snake
* Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
* Eastern Milk Snake
* Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
* Eastern Tiger Salamander
* Eastern Timber Rattlesnake
* Eastern Wood Frog
* Five-lined Skink
* Gray Treefrog
* Hellbender
* Jefferson's Salamander
* Map Turtle
* Mudpuppy
* Northern Copperhead Snake
* Northern Fence Lizard
* Northern Leopard Frog
* Northern Red Salamander
* Northern Spring Peeper
* Northern Water Snake
* Red Spotted Newt
* Snapping Turtle
* Spotted Salamander
* Venomous Snakes
Fish
* Blue Pike
* Bluegill
* Carp
* Channel Catfish
* Coho Salmon
* Common Shiner
* Freshwater Drum
* Lake Sturgeon
* Muskellunge
* Northern Largemouth Bass
* Northern Smallmouth Bass
* Paddlefish
* Pumpkinseed Sunfish
* Rainbow Trout
* Walleye
* White Crappie
Insects
* Backswimmer
* Cabbage White Butterfly
* Carpenter Ant
* Cicada
* Clouded Sulfur Butterfly
* Common Buckeye Butterfly
* Common Green Darner Dragonfly
* Diving Beetle
* Dragonflies and Damselflies
* Ebony Jewelwing
* Elfin Skimmer
* Gypsy Moth
* Honey Bee
* House Fly
* Ladybird Beetle
* Lilypad Clubtail
* Luna Moth
* Monarch Butterfly
* Mosquito
* Praying Mantis
* Question Mark Butterfly
* Red Admiral Butterfly
* Seepage Dancer
* Spring Azure Butterfly
* Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
* Viceroy Butterfly
* Walkingstick
* Yellowjacket Wasp
 
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