Migrating Monarchs are headed to Oklahoma! Watch this inspiring documentary by News 9 about their migration and overwintering forest in Mexico. youtu.be/JRAwE8BbZp8?...

We are less than a month away from the field day at the Choctaw Cultural Center. We are happy to collaborate with Okies for Monarchs and the Choctaw Cultural Center to bring OBS experts directly to the prairie for engagement! 💙

🐸Research Scientist, Owen Edwards, recently published two papers both involving Ranid Frogs. Read them on the OBS website:

www.ou.edu/biosurvey/re...

Field research is importance in contributing baseline species data to further Oklahoma’s conservation efforts. Great job team.

Several exciting events are happening this month, and OBS will be attending to provide educational activities and resources.
If you want to receive more info about these events and future OBS endeavors, sign up for our newsletter! The link is in our bio or on the OBS website.

Have you heard of Chandler Park in Tulsa, OK? Visit the park to celebrate the 10th annual Monarch’s on the Mountain event this September in the 20th! Test your pollinator knowledge at the OBS booth🤓and enjoy the many other activities going on that day.

This Friday, let’s feature a flower that most Okies know and love. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a fragrant perennial in the mint family. As the summer subsides, these seeds are ready! If you have any seed collection tips or planting advice, comment below what has or has not worked for you ⬇️

The Mollie Spencer Farm is a hidden gem in Yukon, Oklahoma. This unique property features many different ecological features that support biodiversity.The farm is a great candidate for the Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry Program. Check out the farm on Sept. 27th during their Monarch Festival!

On Saturday, August 16th, a group of committed volunteers collected seeds at the Pearl Jackson CrossTimbers Preserve. Several spring flowers were ready for collection alongside many grass species. Seeds will be used for prairie restoration across the 12,000 acre property. Thanks TNC for hosting 🌾

Field Friday! Heritage Zoologist, Owen Edwards, is conducting research for both Tiger Salamanders in Manitoba. He was able to locate populations of both in areas previously unknown! The Eastern Tiger Salamander is featured in A and B. The Western is C and D.

This summer, a collection of over 3000 museum specimens that was donated in July to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History! Biologist, Dr. Caryn Vaughn, has made a career of understanding how the 50 or so mussel species of Oklahoma help maintain aquatic ecosystems. Congrats Dr. Vaughn.

Friday feature! Field days in Southern Oklahoma have been very exciting for this crew as they monitor butterfly populations. The Hung Pollinator Lab has an active project on the Arogos Skipper, which is threatened throughout its range. Great job team, and keep it up!

Have you ever thought to stop in at the Oklahoma Biological Survey? If you take a peak into the Hung Pollinator lab, you’ll see various projects at the undergraduate, masters, PhD and post-doc levels. Around the corner is the lab of our Heritage Zoologist, who has many active statewide projects.

New #OpenAccess work in #RESInsectConsDiv

Pollen exploitation by non-native, feral #honeybees: Potential consequences for interspecific competition
buff.ly/kbnv5Ge

#Pollinators #PollinatorDeclines
@okbiosurvey.bsky.social @manusaunders.bsky.social @wiley.com

Photos: K.L.J. Hung, D.J. Travis

Want to read the #OpenAccess article itself? Find it here!

Pollen exploitation by non-native, feral honey bees: Potential consequences for interspecific competition
buff.ly/l2Dk60I

@okbiosurvey.bsky.social

Photo (above): Honeybee on white sage, Salvia apiana (credit Dillon J. Travis)