Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is a wildflower native to the moist, shady woodlands of the eastern United States and southern Canada. Bumblebees pollinate its distinctive, upside-down blooms, and ants disperse their seeds through a process called myrmecochory. Ants are attracted to the elaiosome, a food-rich structure on the seed, which they take back to their nests, helping distribute the seeds.

⚠️ While beautiful, the plant contains toxic alkaloids in all parts, so be sure to handle it with care.

Keep calm and carrion because it’s International Vulture Awareness Day! 🦅 Meet Cathy, our Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) and SREL Outreach Ambassador. These birds play a crucial role as nature’s sanitation team, stepping in to clean up what’s left behind and keeping our ecosystems healthy. By helping maintain the balance of nature, vultures like Cathy ensure everything stays in harmony. Let’s show some appreciation for these unsung heroes of the wild!

How will rising temperatures impact alligator populations? 🐊 Taylor Kanost at WFXG FOX54 met with Dr. Ben Parrott, an associate professor at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, to discuss how rising nest temperatures affect alligator hatchlings' gender, which could lead to imbalances as the climate heats up. Watch the video to discover what these impacts could mean for the future of these reptiles: https://buff.ly/3zhbaLm

South Carolina: Mercury Rising | Full Special Melting polar ice caps, rising ocean waters and extreme wildfires are all side effects of climate change in different parts of the world, but not so much her...

This Labor Day, we want to take the time to thank all of the hard workers whose dedication and strength continue to drive progress and leave a lasting impact on our communities. We deeply value your efforts, your commitment, and all of the hard work that you do.

📸 Check out this behind-the-lens post! 📸

Recently, SREL partnered with the SRNS Media Group to update and create new videos highlighting various projects being completed on the Savannah River Site.

As part of this project, one of our communication staff members grabbed this action shot to demonstrate the tenacity, drive, and passion that videographers, photographers, and wildlife scientists have when filming in the field.

While shots were filmed during the early morning hours, this filming happened in July and August in the southeast. It was still very hot when filming ended by 10:30/11 AM.

A special thank you to all involved in this project.

The University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) welcomes Tyjaha Steele as its newly appointed Science Content Strategist. Steele earned her bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in Fine Arts Studio from the University of South Carolina-Aiken. Tyjaha brings a unique blend of scientific knowledge, creative skills, writing, and a passion for communication to her new role.

In her role as Science Content Strategist, Steele will spearhead the development and ex*****on of an innovative content strategy designed to highlight SREL’s cutting-edge research, educational programs, and conservation initiatives. Also, her role will include managing the lab’s social media efforts across various platforms, writing for various publications, and creating a wide range of communication materials highlighting SREL’s contributions and research achievements.

"I feel honored to have the opportunity to further highlight and showcase all of the amazing work that SREL has and continues to work on," said Steele. “This role allows me to combine my passion for science and love for creativity into something impactful and will allow me to share SREL's important research with a wider audience.”

🐍 It’s snake baby season!!
So, how do we know this snake was born this year? There is a tell-tale sign: the umbilical scar (see arrow in second image).
Black racers lay eggs, and the umbilical scar is an opening through which the nutrient-rich yolk is absorbed during development. Over time, this scar will fade away.

We were so excited to have been a part of this great opportunity to connect with our community and the Savannah River Site Museum.

Take a look at this new resource from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on biting and stinging insects!

Ouch! What just bit me? Ouch! What just bit me?

It looks like Cedar woke up with a bad case of bedhead! 😂
During the late summer, Eastern Screech Owls (Megascops asio) molt most of their head feathers all at once. This can make them look silly until their new feathers grow back in!
🪶 Molting is when a bird replaces some or all of its feathers. This intricate process demands a significant amount of energy and could take up to eight weeks to finish.

Thank you to everyone who celebrated Science Saturday in North Augusta with us😁!

We had a fantastic turnout this year, and we're excited to announce that Science Saturday will return in 2025. Mark your calendars!

Until then, check out this great write-up in the Post and Courier below, which shares some of the highlights from this year's festivities.

Science comes alive with Science Saturday in North Augusta The University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory held its annual Science Saturday at Riverview Park Activities Center which featured snakes, spiders, gators, birds and plants.

We're excited that you all came out to celebrate the environment and ecology with us today!

In order to make sure everyone has a spectacular time, we will be closing the entrance line at 12:40 pm.

T-Minus 21 hours and counting until Science Saturday!

Who's excited 😆!?!

And yes, you will have a chance to see macroinvertebrates (I.e. insects and critters that live in the water that are small) tomorrow at Science Saturday!

Reminder: Science Saturday is at the Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta from 10 AM - 1 PM. No registration is required for this FREE event!

🐸Leopard frogs are native to North America, and are characterized by their slim bodies, long legs, and pointed snouts. Their size ranges from 2 to 4 inches in length. Each species displays a unique pattern of dark spots on their backs, varying in size, shape, and color.

# treefrog

🐢 Found this Yellowbellied slider turtle in the road today!

The Yellow-Bellied Slider turtle is easily recognized by its shell and underbelly, which is the inspiration behind its name. Their shells are black or brown with yellow stripes, and their underbelly is yellow with black spots. These turtles are commonly seen sunbathing near ponds and lakes, particularly prevalent in the Eastern region of the United States.

💡Thistle, a prickly plant with beautiful flowers, has over 200 species and historical significance. It attracts pollinators, provides food for wildlife, and has medicinal properties.

Hopping on Home 🐸

Another group of gopher frogs were recently released into their wild habitat fitted with transmitters (aka tiny frog belts) so that researchers can track their progress. As part of an ongoing partnership between Riverbanks, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, the Satch Krantz Conservation Fund supports this program to advance research and develop successful release strategies for sustaining a thriving wild population of gopher frogs in South Carolina.


Looking to impact conservation programs like this? Make a donation to the Satch Krantz Conservation Fund today at: https://society.riverbanks.org/donate/conservation-fund

📸: Andie Crenshaw, undergraduate in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

SREL was excited to highlight part of the work being completed at the Ecology Lab and showcase some of the animals that call the Central Savannah River Area home on Mr. Avery's recent visit to the Savannah River Site.

🦋🦋The Julia Helconian (Dryus iulis) or Julia butterfly is a bright orange butterfly commonly found in parts of South, Central, and North America in areas of Texas and Florida. Occasionally this butterfly can be found as far north as Nebraska. They thrive in open, sunny areas.

Be sure to attend the DIG STEM festival this weekend📣 SREL’s Outreach team will be there. Come visit us!

🧬📣Check out the recent study conducted by UGA's SREL researchers on how epigenetic drift influences the rate of aging in animals. The study analyzed rats, mice, dogs, and baboons to explore the relationship between epigenetic drift and maximum lifespan. The findings hint at new ways to potentially predict and slow down the aging process.

“Our group is driven by basic curiosity,” Parrott says. “Why is it that some species live longer than others? What are the ecological and evolutionary dynamics that led to such wide variation in lifespans across the tree of life? These questions are a major inspiration for the work we do, and this study gets us just a bit closer to better understanding the answer.”

Click here to see the full article ➡️ https://buff.ly/4bDChOz

Pictured: Lead researchers Benjamin Parrott on the left, and Emily Bertucci-Richter on the right.