News and Events

Hello OBS Community,

We are kicking off the new year with lots of wonderful news and exciting opportunities. In 2022, OBS celebrates it’s 110th Anniversary! We have a new OBS Survey Note published: Infection Patterns in an Amphibian Fungal Pathogen in Ohio (READ HERE) which is a great resource and one that ties into our next big announcement…  HERPETOLOGY IN OHIO is the theme for the 2022 Ohio Natural History Conference and registration is now open!   We are joining our friends at Ohio Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation to share this special event.

Come enjoy stories from the field, history and discovery, advances in research and conservation in practice.  We hope you all will be able to join us!

Dr. Constance Hausman

Executive Director

OHIO NATURAL HISTORY CONFERENCE 2022 

Saturday, February 26th 2022

This year’s conference special theme:  Herpetology in Ohio

Keynote speaker: Dr. Richard Seigel, Towson University

In-person ($35 Regular, $25 Student) and Virtual ($15) Registration Options.

In-person:  Columbus Zoo and Aquarium -Africa Event Center: 4850 Powell Road, Powell, Ohio 43065

Event Sponsors:  ODNR Division of Wildlife, Mount St. Joseph University, OHPARC

Check out our registration page for more information HERE

See the Agenda: HERE

We will have lots of great resources available for purchase, including the latest REPTILES OF OHIO !

Reptiles of Ohio

Edited by Jeffrey G. Davis, Greg Lipps Jr., Doug Wynn, Brian J. Armitage, Timothy O. Matson, Ralph A. Pfingsten, and Carolyn Caldwell 2021

Click Here to Order Now $100 + shipping & handling

2021 BROOD X is here!

Dr. Kritsky’s book is now available to order through Amazon.

PERIODICAL CICADAS The Brood X Edition (click here) 

Dr. Gene Kristsky has published a wonderful resource on these cicadas and is tracking their emergence through an innovated new App called Cicada Safari.  Please consider contributing your observations to this Citizen Science project through the free app available on the App Store (click here) and on Google Play (click here).   To further help your cicada tracking knowledge, make sure you also check out his new book (Periodical Cicadas The Brood X edition).

NEW OBS SURVEY NOTES PUBLISHED!  

2021

A group of leading herpetologists contributed to the latest OBS Survey Note: Infection Patterns in an Amphibian Fungal Pathogen in Ohio.  READ HERE

Dr. Jennifer Clark led a research team of students to determine differences in abundance and richness of snake species between 3 unmanged successional grasslands based on age across four seasons. READ HERE to find out more about their work at the James H. Barrow Biological Field Station.

Dr. Donald Dean identifies a new species record of burrowing mayfly for the state of Ohio. Work by Dr. Dean expands our knowledge of the geographic range and distribution of Anthopotamus neglectus neglectus.  READ HERE to find out more about this taxon.

OUR MUST HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR FIELD OR RESOURCE COLLECTION!

A NATURALIST’S GUIDE TO THE FISHES OF OHIO (click to order) 

AMPHIBIANS OF OHIO    (click to order)

• • • The Amphibians of Ohio represents the most comprehensive treatment to date of the state’s frogs, toads, and salamanders; covering all aspects of natural history, taxonomy, systematics, conservation, sampling techniques, and more.

OHIO NATURAL HISTORY CONFERENCE 2021   – Thank you for making this year a huge success!

Saturday, February 27th 2021

• • Theme: Biodiversity & Technology:  The Future of Natural History
  • Keynote address:  Dr. Gene Kritsky, Dean of Behavioral and Natural Sciences,  Mount St. Joseph University.  The Hunt for Brood 10: Cicada Safari
  • OBS Award Recipients
    • Herbert Osborn Award:  Dr. Scott Moody,  Ohio University
    • OBS Naturalist Award:  John Pogacnik, Lake Metroparks (retired)
  • Agenda Click Here
  • Presenter Abstracts: Click Here
  • Access the Virtual Posters:
    • Click Here to see copies of each poster.
    • Late Breaking Poster – Found Here  

OBS Small Grants

New grants are now offered by OBS in partnership with 1) Ohio Odonata Society & 2) Ohio Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (OHPARC).

If your work focuses on 1) dragonflies or damselflies  or 2) the conservation of a reptile or amphibian species, you may be eligible for one of this designated grants.

There is no need to select grant “type” during submission as all applicants will be considered for the Small Grants Program and those relevant for OOSC or OHPARC will be reviewed accordingly.

As a result, OBS is extending the deadline for the Small Grants Program (now due March 15th).  Grant application forms can be found on the Projects Page of the OBS website.

OBS Names New Executive Director 2017

• • • The Board of Trustees of the Ohio Biological Survey is pleased to announce that Dr. Constance (Connie) Hausman has been appointed as Executive Director of OBS. Read the press release here.

BioOhio

• • • The winter issue of BioOhio, the Newsletter of the Ohio Biological Survey is available for you to review. Feel free to download the issue and join the conversation on our Facebook Page. BioOhio is a benefit of membership in OBS. To stay up-to-date and receive current issues of the newsletter, consider becoming a member.

OBS Notes Series

• • New Biological Notes have been published. The Notes Series is the online, peer-reviewed OBS journal.  If you are looking for an outlet for your natural history research, please consider contributing a manuscript.  View the journal site to learn more.
  • 2019 PublicationsThe importance of collecting and maintaining field data to illustrate water quality can not be understated.  The first publication highlights exciting new state records for aquatic insects in Ohio and Indiana. READ HERE The second publication, accomplished with Citizen Science contribution, highlights species detection and significant range expansion of multiple firefly species. Be sure to check out the supplemental video links at the end of the article. READ HERE