Shoulder-high big bluestem grasses sway in graceful unison as a stiff west wind gusts through the south block of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Shoulder-high big bluestem grasses sway in graceful unison as a stiff west wind gusts through the south block of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Shoulder-high big bluestem grasses sway in graceful unison as a stiff west wind gusts through the south block of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve.
Thilina Hettiarachchi, a PhD student in the department of entomology at the University of Manitoba, and Reid Miller, a U of M field research assistant, are checking various sampling stations for bees and other pollinators. A journalist is tramping along with them through the narrow, barely discernible trail on this luminous late August day. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Thilina Hettiarachchi is internationally recognized for his macrophotography of bees and other insects.
Hettiarachchi, a native of Sri Lanka, is studying bee diversity in grassland ecosystems in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. His research is part of a Genome Canada-funded project called Grassland Genomics for Green House Gas Mitigation. Along with the tall grasses, blue asters, goldenrod and wild sunflowers contribute to the vibrant natural palette in this portion of the last remaining stand of tall gra.