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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

It was no tricks, only treats for all of us this Halloween! October 31st brought the end to many of our fisheries monitoring seasons. Every year it is our greatest privilege to work with and mentor young professionals as they dip their feet in the water of the rivers and work we all love!

A collage of photos highlighting 2025 seasonal technicians and graduate students that make aquatic research at the Illinois River Biological Station possible.

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Please help share! We have an opening for a fundraising coordinator available! illinois-river-bio-station.inhs.illinois.edu/about/careers/

illinois-river-bio-station.inhs.illinois.edu

Careers – Illinois River Biological Station

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

3 Madtom species: Freckled, Tadpole, and Stonecat madtoms

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

3 bullhead catfishes: Brown, Black and Yellow catfishes

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Happy #NationalCatfishDay! Illinois is home to 13 native catfish species! Here are a few you might find out on the Illinois River! Starting with our common commercial and recreational species: Flathead, Channel, and Blue catfishes @prairieresearch.bsky.social

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Scenario: It’s the first day of a new fisheries field season. Your crew leader shows up in an electrofishing boat, both of which are covered in #mayflies. You’re not sure, but there appears to be a faint exclamation point above his head as he invites you along on a side quest. How do you answer?

Fisheries crew leader with a faint exclamation point above his head, reminiscent of video game side quests.

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Happy World Turtle Day! Clockwise from top left: Spiny Softshell Alligator Snapping Turtle Red-eared Slider Smooth Softshell Common Snapping Turtle Northern Map Turtle Painted Turtle Ouachita Map Turtle False Map Turtle Eastern Musk Turtle

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

We're looking to hire a fundraising coordinator for 2 separate campaigns. Come join the IRBS team! illinois-river-bio-station.inhs.illinois.edu/about/employ...

illinois-river-bio-station.inhs.illinois.edu

Employment Opportunities – Illinois River Biological Station

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

We had some modifications done to our airboat, so we test drove it on Emiquon today. The wildlife views never disappoint! #ExperienceEmiquon

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Happy #EarthDay! Today we began our annual aquatic invertebrate monitoring season. Using a PONAR sampler like a claw machine, we sample the river sediments for inverts that form the base of the food wed. Their sensitivity to pollution also makes them important indicators of our river’s health. #UMRR

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Additionally, grad student Abigail Roussin received a conference scholarship, and grad student Cody Haglock received the best student poster award! #MississippiRiver #UMRR

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

This past week, IRBS staff attended the annual Mississippi River Research Consortium meeting, a group of public agencies, private organizations & universities that conduct research on the Mississippi River and its watershed. IRBS staff and graduate students contributed to 7 talks and 5 posters.

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Our staff presented 3 platform presentations and 4 poster presentations. One of our staff even won Best Professional presentation!

IRBS technician Rachel presents a poster comparing chlorophyll (a measure of algae productivity) measurements using traditional lab-based methods with data collected with field instruments.

IRBS technicians Nicole and Frankie present a poster comparing fish community data and the impacts of invasive carps.

IRBS quantitative biologist Rob presented on efforts to help optimize sampling programs to better answer questions about fish species of management interest.

Rob also won Best Professional Platform Presentation! Congrats Rob!

Jodi is a field technician working on the Rock River and presented a poster on collections of Gravel Chub, a state threatened species.

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

IRBS staff are heavily involved in volunteer positions with the society, including positions on the executive board, helping with membership and registration, awarding student scholarships and organizing the raffle that supports those scholarships.

IRBS biologist Dr. Jason DeBoer assumed the position of society president and will serve until next year's meeting.

RBS biologist Andrya presents on work on distributions of the Northern Sunfish, a recently recognized species (previously a subspecies of Longear Sunfish).

Andrya was also elected society secretary at this years meeting and will serve on the executive board for ILAFS over the next 4 years.

IRBS Biologist Jesse (and many of our technicians) helped with the Raffle. Items are donated by the various student subunits across the state along with local businesses and meeting attendees. The money raised goes to support student scholarships for travel to the conference and for their research projects.

IRBS grad student Kaiden and UIUC grad student Shasta received travel scholarships, presented by Student Affairs co-chair and IRBS biologist Kris.

Kaiden also presented on his graduate work looking at factors affecting growth of invasive carps and developing better tools to inform management efforts.

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Recently, our state chapter received the "most active small chapter" for the Midwest (among 12 other states!) and the Eastern Illinois University student subunit received the most active student subunit award!

ILAFS Executive Committee with their "Most Active Chapter" award

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

We spent the last few days in Rock Island at the Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society meeting. This meeting includes presentations by state management agencies and research personnel, including many students, that help manage the state's aquatic resources for future generations.

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

This week began our 2-week winter #waterquality monitoring season. We're thankful for our partners at the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge and use of their airboat while ours is in the shop. Ice thickness on Tuesday was still around 8 inches in most places, though quickly thawing. #UMRR

Water quality sampling from an airboat on a frozen backwater lake of the Illinois River

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

This past week 2 staff & 1 grad student presented at the annual #MidwestFW in St. Louis as part of a symposium titled "Sharing Knowledge Across Sub-basins: Invasive Carp in the Missouri River Basin and Beyond."

J Lamer presents "Exploring tools to evaluate invasive carp management success across different density gradients and river systems."

K Vinavich (graduate student) presents "Invasive Carp Growth Chronologies: Management Tool to Help Evaluate Harvest Success?"

M Spear presents "Evaluating Invasive Carp Management on the Illinois Waterway through Adaptive 'Multi-Agency Monitoring"

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Work on our aquatic macroinvertebrate project was highlighted in last summer’s edition of “Our Mississippi”! Check it out, and follow the link below for more highlights of work being done on the Upper Mississippi River! #UMRR www.mvd.usace.army.mil/Portals/52/o...

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Illinois River Biological Station @irbs.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Hello! Part of INHS @prairieresearch.bsky.social, the Illinois River Biological Station, our mission is to advance scientific understanding, conservation, and sustainable management of our large river ecosystems through cutting-edge research, partnerships, and public education. Check us out!

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