FRIDAY, April 11

7:15 PM – 9:00 PM Friday Evening Presentations at the Paxton Theater – be sure to arrive no later than 7:00 pm to provide plenty of time for parking and walking to the theater.

7:15 pm - 9:00 pm Meet at the Paxton Theatre. Presentation: American Darters - Jewels of the Eastern Forest.

Dan Rice, co-author of A Naturalist’s Guide to Ohio’s Fishes, will present the diverse world of Ohio’s Darters, a group of fish endemic to the continent. Most darter species inhabit clean riffles and quickly-flowing waters where they glean small aquatic insects inhabiting the undersurface of boulders and rocks, but darters can even be found in sandy substrates and lakes. Dan will introduce you to the dazzling colors, biographies, and often restricted distribution of these charismatic and extremely colorful little fish.

A native of southern Indiana, Dan attended the University of Missouri (BS Zoology 1973) before earning his master’s degree in the Ohio Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at OSU in 1976. Hired as a zoologist by The Nature Conservancy in 1976 to document the locations of rare and endangered species for the Ohio Natural Heritage Program, Dan joined the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (ODNR) in 1978 following the transfer of the Heritage Program to that division.  Dan was introduced to Ohio’s resident fish in 1980 by Dr. George Phinney at Otterbein College when they collaborated on a survey of Ohio glacial lakes to document populations of Iowa Darters and other rare fish found in these habitats. Until his retirement from ODNR in 2002 Dan had the fun and privilege of working with both amateur and professional biologists (and students) throughout Ohio in the pursuit of many of the state’s rarer animals. Dan is a co-author on three books; “The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas (1991), “Native Fishes of Ohio” (2014), and “A Naturalists Guide to the Fishes of Ohio” (2019). Dan is also a co-author on a number of other papers documenting the occurrence of rare species of fish and bivalves in Ohio. 

SATURDAY, April 12

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Saturday Evening Presentation at the Paxton Theater – be sure to arrive no later than 6:45 pm to provide plenty of time for parking and walking to the theater.

7:00 pm at the Paxton Theatre: Keynote Speaker: Dr. Anna George, “Ridges to Rivers: Freshwater Conservation Starts on Land”

The Appalachian Mountains harbor some of the most biodiverse rivers and streams in the temperate world, supporting almost two-thirds of the country’s fish species, over 90% of the country’s mussels, and nearly half of the global total for crayfish species. Unfortunately, this underwater rainforest has been drastically altered by human activities, endangering a large portion of these animals that are found nowhere else on Earth. While the Clean Water Act dramatically reduced direct pollution of rivers, the eastern United States, along the Appalachians, still has the highest number of rivers and streams in poor biological condition. Freshwater habitats are only as healthy as the land that surrounds them, and our Appalachian waters reflect lands in trouble. Ensuring clean water and healthy communities for the future requires all of us, across our watersheds, to make simple conservation-minded decisions each day that add up to a big impact.

Dr. Anna George, Vice President of Conservation Science and Education at the Tennessee Aquarium, discovered early in life that being a biologist provided a good excuse to be outside.  Since joining the Aquarium in 2006, she has led successful research initiatives in freshwater habitat restoration, species reintroduction, and population genetics.  Her enthusiasm for educating scientists and non-scientists alike reflects her passion for collaborative conservation problem-solving.  Anna has taught at Franklin & Marshall College, Mountain Lake Biological Station, the University of the South, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, both in biology.  Whether for work or fun, she can be found snorkeling, paddleboarding, and otherwise enjoying the company of fish.