Prospective Students
Thanks for your interest in the Entomology Lab at the Jones Center at Ichauway. The longleaf pine ecosystem – and especially the property we call Ichauway – is incredibly rich with species of all kinds of organisms. Check out the webpages for the other labs at the Center to learn more about the diversity of plants, reptiles, amphibians, fish, mussels, and wildlife. This is, undoubtedly, also true for insects, but we know so little about how many insects we have here, less about which species, and even less about their functional roles. My lab addresses these issues through looking at decomposers, tree pests and diseases, pollinators, and so much more. If you have questions about working or studying in my lab, or about our work, we would love to hear from you, just contact me or Tom Sheehan.
The ecosystems of Ichauway
The Jones Center at Ichauway is a non-profit ecological research center located in Baker County, GA. The Ichauway property covers 29,000 acres of mostly longleaf pine savanna, but also mixed hardwood forests, riparian hardwood forests, wetlands, and agricultural fields. Fifteen miles of the Ichauwaynochaway Creek runs through the property and 13 miles of the Flint River form the eastern boundary. Longleaf pine used to cover over 90 million acres in North America, but as of 2015, only approximately 4.3 million acres (<5%) remain. The southeastern U.S. in general, and Ichauway specifically, boasts a tremendous amount of diversity. Over 1,100 vascular plant species and over 370 vertebrate species have been documented on Ichauway.
Housing
Houses come equipped with basic kitchen supplies and are fully furnished, including a washer and dryer and in most cases, a dishwasher. You supply your own bed linens and towels. We try to ensure that everyone has a private bedroom, though during very busy years we have had people sharing rooms for a short period of time. Depending on the house, you may have 1-4 roommates.
Proximity of amenities
Internet is only available in some of the housing, and the signal is not always very reliable. Internet is always available at the lab though, which is at most a 5-8 minute drive away. Cell service can be a little patchy, depending on where you are on site. Verizon is the most reliable. The administration will allow you to post and receive letters and packages through your Jones Center address. There are two dumpster areas for use by the Jones Center and those who live on-site. Groceries and household items are available within a half-hour drive.
Community
A kaleidoscopic cast of graduate students and research assistants adds sparkle to the Jones Center. The diverse research specialties at the center mean that birding, botanizing, herping, and other informal natural history excursions happen often.
Common social and recreational activities include bonfires, river swimming, kayaking, soccer, volleyball, and frisbee. Outstanding natural and cultural features within a 2.5-hour drive include Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Apalachicola National Forest, the Suwannee River, Pine Mountain State Park, and Kolomoki Mounds State Park.
