Species Spotlight: Long-tailed Salamander
The MBI macroinvertebrate crew encountered this interesting salamander at a site in southern Ohio earlier this summer.
Alex Roller-Knapp, September 28th, 2022
Turkey Tales
Wild Turkeys have become a relatively common site throughout Ohio’s forests and farmlands, but according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, they were extirpated from the state by 1904.
Casey Tucker, Guest Writer, December 9th, 2021
Species Spotlight: Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) has standout plumage. The male is bright red from the crest on his head to his tail.
Jim Lane, May 28th, 2021
Species Spotlight: Freckled Madtom (Noturus nocturnus)
The Freckled Madtom (Noturus nocturnus) is a small catfish species that primarily inhabits medium sized streams to large rivers.
Matt Sarver, March 16th, 2021
Species Spotlight: Eastern Bluebird
This pair of Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) were in a walnut tree in early winter. We see them randomly throughout winter, not always looking so stern.
Jim Lane, March 18th, 2020
Species Spotlight: White-tailed Deer Foraging in Winter
The White-tailed deer is native across most of the continental U.S. with exceptions of the southwest. Their size varies across their geographic range ranging from 90 to 300 pounds.
Jim Lane, February 6th, 2020
BioBlitz on the Mill Creek hosted by Mill Creek Alliance
MBI had the pleasure of joining fellow biologists, plant and animal experts, and other organizations at a BioBlitz held this past weekend at Salway Park in Cincinnati, Ohio along the Mill Creek.
Vickie L. Gordon, June 7th, 2019
Pollution History and Biological Recovery of the Scioto River Published by OWEA
MBI’s Research Director, Chris Yoder, had an article published in the Ohio Water Environment Association (OWEA) April 2018 edition of the Buckeye Bulletin.
Chris Yoder, June 29th, 2018
Mick Micacchion Presents at the Dawes Arboretum this Saturday, Sept. 9th, 10 AM
Wetland Presentation at Dawes Arboretum Sat., Sept. 9th at 10 AM
Allison Boehler, September 5th, 2017
Mid Field Season Update
A major focus this year is our participation in the National Wetlands Condition Assessment, which began early this spring and has us at wetland sites across the country.
Allison Boehler, November 16th, 2016
Wetlands, Headwater Streams, and Nutrients
It seems that every day we hear new stories of nuisance algal blooms, Microcystis cyanobacteria and water borne toxins causing our water supply to be unpleasant and unsafe to drink and making recreation impossible.
Pete Precario, November 16th, 2016
Elucidating Ecological Ethos: The Gar
It seems most of us fishermen got our start on a trip to the “wilds” of a pond or lake with our dads. Looking back, I realize it was as much about spending time with my dad as catching fish.
Lon Hersha, November 16th, 2016
Digging for Gold
I was assigned to take two week-long trips to Virginia with Roger Thoma, a crayfish specialist and Senior Research Associate at MBI.
Blair Prusha, November 16th, 2016
Pileated Populations
While many bird populations have experienced dramatic declines during the last half century, one group that has actually shown population increases is woodpeckers.
Casey Tucker, Guest Writer, June 30th, 2022
Nature’s Trick-or-Treaters—Black Vultures
Black Vultures are one of those species that looks like it's ready for Halloween year-round.
Casey Tucker, Guest Writer, October 1st, 2021
Shining Star Roger Thoma Retires
After working tirelessly (well maybe occasionally tired) as a biologist and conservationist for nearly 50 years, Roger Thoma has retired, again.
Allison Boehler, June 25th, 2021
Species Spotlight: Dark-eyed Junco
It arrives with the snow, which is why many know it as the snowbird. I grew up knowing it as the slate-colored junco.
Jim Lane, May 7th, 2021
Best Wishes to John Dattilo!
MBI recently bid farewell to John Dattilo who started with MBI in April 2018 after completing his Master’s degree at Oklahoma State University.
Chris Yoder, July 14th, 2020
A Riverbank Clean Up of Confluence Park
Lower Olentangy Watershed and Midwest Biodiversity Institute invite you to participate in A Riverbank Cleanup of Confluence Park on Saturday, April 18th from 12-4 pm.
Alex Roller-Knapp, March 5th, 2020
Species Spotlight: Pumpkinseed Sunfish
The Pumpkinseed Sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae, and is a frequently encountered species in many of our survey sites around the Chicago area.
Zach Alley, July 26th, 2019
Do you prefer clean water? The time is now to help protect local streams
It’s so easy to take water for granted, especially when you live in a place with streams and rivers everywhere like Ohio.
Emily Frechette, May 28th, 2019
OWA Ohio Wetlands Science Summit - October 14th!
OWA Ohio Wetlands Science Summit is Oct. 14th
Mick N. Micacchion, October 4th, 2017
The Ohio Vernal Pool Network Welcomes Lauren Blyth as its New Project Assistant!
OVPN Welcomes a New Project Assistant!
Allison Boehler, August 22nd, 2017
USGS StreamStats
Water quality and chemical assessments are just some of the many services MBI offers.
Rachel Day, November 16th, 2016
Tussock Sedge
Until you’ve had a chance to get-in and explore a high quality wetland it is hard to understand and appreciate the tremendous diversity of plant and animal species that thrive in a wet environment.
Pete Precario, November 16th, 2016
2013 Apprenticeship Training
This year, MBI offered several apprenticeship opportunities under the Ohio Credible Data Law.
Marty Knapp, November 16th, 2016
Organization Spotlight: Ohio Biological Survey
Founded in 1912, the Ohio Biological Survey (OBS) was developed to provide an opportunity for a variety of organizations to collaborate, produce, publish, and disseminate biological information.
Allison Boehler, November 16th, 2016
Species Spotlight: Northern Brook Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor
The Northern Brook Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor) is a native, non-parasitic lamprey species that occupies small to medium sized streams.
Paul DeRolf, May 10th, 2022
Natures Imitation Game
During a visit to Hoover Reservoir, near Galena, in mid-July I encountered one of nature’s more talented imitators, the Red-spotted Purple .
Casey Tucker, Guest Writer, August 11th, 2021
Best of luck, Blair!
Blair Prusha has worked with MBI for the past 9 years. His primary focus has been on macroinvertebrate surveys, although he has also done GIS work, helped with fish surveys, and jumped in on a multitude of other projects.
Allison Boehler, June 8th, 2021
Species Spotlight: Eastern Grey Squirrel
Everybody is familiar with the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). It’s the ‘normal’ squirrel we see most frequently.
Jim Lane, April 20th, 2021
Species Spotlight: Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
The Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) native range is as far west as Montana in the Missouri River drainage to as far east as eastern New York and as far south as Mexico.
Matt Sarver, March 30th, 2020
Dublin Students Get a Glimpse of Aquatic Ecology
4th and 5th grade students at Daniel Wright and Riverside Elementary Schools in Dublin were shown real world examples of aquatic ecosystems, organism interactions and the invasive species that can disrupt their balance.
Matt Sarver, February 20th, 2020
Species Spotlight: Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
When I think osprey, I think of our trips to the wilder parts of the South Carolina coast or a trip we took to Florida a few years ago.
Jim Lane, July 5th, 2019
Jim Karr Visits MBI
MBI hosted Dr. James Karr on May 24, 2018, who was in Ohio visiting relatives. He was kind enough to stop by MBI for a set of presentations by himself and MBI staff.
Chris Yoder, August 1st, 2018
Squaw Root
One of the most interesting plants I recently stumbled upon – literally – in northeastern Ohio is the American Squawroot (Conopholis americana).
Pete Precario, November 16th, 2016
Vernal Pool Rebirth
These wetlands which in just a short period of time will be teeming with life are currently lying under a cover of ice and waiting for the warmer weather of late winter to explode into action.
Mick N. Micacchion, November 16th, 2016