This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences (CFDA 47.074) Project Grant award to Lake Forest College provides $364,196 to conduct collaborative research on the impacts of periodical cicada population pulses on ant foraging behaviors and ecosystem services in forest communities. The research aims to advance understanding of how these nutrient-rich insect pulses alter ant-mediated ecological processes, such as seed dispersal, scavenging, and aphid protection. The project will utilize a combination of field observations, nutrient baiting, ant exclusion experiments, and stable isotope analyses to quantify the indirect effects of cicada emergence on ant population dynamics and community interactions. In addition to the research activities, the grant supports the development of a digital education program to train teachers on engaging students in learning about periodical cicadas across the insects' range. The award period runs from February 2025 to January 2028.