Environmental Science students are gaining hands-on field experience through ongoing research along the Ohio River. This week, the team sampled six additional sites in the lower Greenup Pool, bringing their total to 13 randomized sites—from the Big Sandy River downstream.
The group collected data on benthic fish communities, substrate composition, mussel counts, and invertebrates captured by trawl, contributing to a broader effort to better understand aquatic ecosystems in the region. Future collaborations may include DNA-based comparisons of benthic species between river pools.
“Working with students on the river is my jam—my best teaching,” said Associate Professor Tom Jones. “And next spring, we’ll take that field experience global when we head to the Philippines to study coral reef ecosystems that host more than 1,000 fish species.”