The Jones Center at Ichauway

Love seeing old friends and colleagues at conferences? We certainly do! ?? Recently, the Herpetology Lab attended the annual meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council where they reconnected with some remarkable Ichauway alumni. Meetings like these highlight the valuable networks that serve as collaborative strongholds for the conservation of our wildlife and natural resources! ??

Happy Fish Fry-Day!??? We're back to showcase one of Georgia's native sunfishes! The redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) is commonly recognized for its vibrant red belly. So, why isn't it visible in this photo? ?? This fish is a juvenile, and coloration in fish often develops as they age, typically coinciding with their sexual maturity!

Conference season continues! ?? Last week, members of the Entomology and Microbiology Lab attended the Entomological Society of America annual meeting in Phoenix, AZ! Director Kier Klepzig and Research Associate Christine Favorito presented talks while PhD student Tom Sheehan organized a symposium. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with entomologists from across the country and present their research! ??

Twenty-five or more species of mussels live in the lower Flint River in Georgia. The southeastern US is the global epicenter of freshwater mussel diversity. Most people don't know mussels exist, yet their activities contribute to river health and human well-being. Listen to the recent episode of The Outfall Podcast, “Mighty Mussels: River’s Hidden Heroes” (17 mins), that explores the freshwater mussel species at the heart of our habitat conservation planning efforts. Freshwater mussels are filter feeders and are critical to the health of the Flint River ecosystem. They are the reason we have spent over two decades working on a Habitat Conservation Plan that would provide the water in the system they need to thrive, while balancing the needs of economic development in the region. “Mighty Mussels” features Steve Golladay, the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center’s aquatic biologist and freshwater mussel expert who leads a team of field biologists at The Jones Center at Ichauway studying six endangered species endemic to the Flint River in Southwest Georgia. Steve has spent 31 years working in streams, rivers, and wetlands of the Lower Flint and has amassed an extensive body of research to help us understand why mussels matter. From the little Spectaclecase to the tiny Savannah Lilliput, all are mighty and hugely significant to the Flint River ecosystem in Southwest Georgia. In the coming weeks, follow along with us for #MightyMusselsMonday as we highlight these fascinating creatures and the important and inspiring work of Steve and his team: Caitlin Sweeney, Amber Johnson, Christine Bahlinger, Emma Greenberg, Natalie Horn #FlexingOurMussels #MeetOurMussels #HabitatConservationPlan #FlintRiver https://lnkd.in/eCZv7tjk https://lnkd.in/eH-KQjME

??Webinar Alert?? This Wednesday, our Director Dr. Kier Klepzig along with University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources faculty Dr. Kamal Gandhi and Dr. Caterina Villari are partnering with the Society of American Foresters to deliver a webinar on Needle Diseases in Southern Pines! ?? To find out more or register, click this link: t.ly/CVscQ

Another Fry-Day, another Fish for your feed! ?? Continuing with the southeast's darter diversity, our region is also home to the Gulf Darter (Etheostoma swaini). The Gulf Darter inhabits small- to medium-sized creeks east of the Mississippi River and often prefers areas with aquatic vegetation! ??

Last week, we hosted our flagship professional development program: our Ecological Forestry Workshop! ?? With the help of Center instructors Josh Puhlick, Rachel McGuire, Jeffery Cannon, and Brandon Rutledge as well as external collaborator Marcella Windmuller-Campione of the University of Minnesota, participants spent several days immersed in the principles and practice of managing forests for multiple objectives while ensuring the health and longevity of the ecosystem.??? Swipe to check out some photos from a timber marking exercise, where folks got hands-on experience selectively marking trees for removal to achieve varying ecological objectives! ??

Looking for an update from our Landscape Ecology Lab? ?? Recently, they’ve been collaborating with our Affiliate Mussel Conservation Lab by utilizing LiDAR technology to build 3D-models of stream valleys! The models will help quantify habitat for management plans that target more than 500 stream miles designated as critical habit for freshwater mussels in the Lower Flint River Basin! Check out this short time-lapse of the LiDAR scanner! ??

Did somebody say Fish Fry-Day??? ??? We welcome you back with another fin-tastic species! The Golden or Stout Silverside (Labidesthes vanhyningi) is a beautiful and unique fish native to the eastern United States. Once considered a subspecies of the Brook Silverside (L. sicculus), it's now recognized as the species that occupies gulf drainages east of the Mississippi River. It lives in different types of freshwater habitats but has a preference for clear water! ?? Check out the iridescence and barracuda-like teeth on a juvenile in the second photo! ??

The Jones Center at Ichauway is host to a great diversity of rare species and our plant communities are no exception! ?? Last week, our Plant Ecology Lab found this orchid, the Long-lipped Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes longilabris). Considered critically imperiled in some parts of it's range, The Jones Center at Ichauway is currently the only place in Georgia it has been documented in the last 25 years! ??