Browsing: Environment

As a father of three, Marcus Drymon has watched his fair share of Disney movies, but he never imagined his work as an associate Extension professor at Mississippi State University would land him a spot on a National Geographic feature documentary on Disney+.

If you have ever spent time along the edges of tidal marshes during low tide, the waving of claws of fiddler crabs would surely have caught your attention.

Moon trees are grown from seeds that have traveled to the moon or orbited it. Mississippi is home to at least three moon trees in Starkville and Cleveland. These trees foster educational opportunities for the communities and the U.S. Forest Service. 

One Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, among the world’s most endangered sea turtle species, has had its third successful visit for specialized care at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Better known by university veterinarians as Toast Malone, this turtle recently arrived with a fishhook lodged in its stomach. MSU Professor and CVM Internist Dr. John Thomason performed an endoscopy to successfully remove the fishhook, saving its life.

One of my favorite native trees is Sourwood – Oxydendrum arboreum. I love them for several traits that make them stand out in our landscape. Although Sourwood can grow to be large trees, many are found in the understory of our forests where they have an arching habit, rather than standing straight

A collaborative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) provides significant research opportunities that benefit the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s blue economy. Student internships represent one reward from the impactful partnership.

Early summer always brings the fun antics of one of my favorite kinds of insects – June Bugs – more properly known as June Beetles or May Beetles. For most of us, especially in the South, a bug is any kind of insect. For entomologists, like myself, a bug is a member of a different group entirely – but I digress. As for the pronunciation of “bug”, that is another topic altogether and as far as I am concerned, up to the speaker. Cajuns would just say betaille.

It’s officially summer! Although we don’t really need a calendar to let us know that summer is here, June 20 marked the summer solstice, also known as the official first day of summer. 

It is one thing to talk about trash. It is another to try and make a point about why it matters. That was and continues to be the goal of my good friend Dr. Judy Dalgo, an avid outdoor enthusiast who decided to do something about it. Judy has been a trash collector for 20 years – picking up trash washed up on the Ocean Springs beach where she strolls to enjoy the view. And that is her point about trash – it destroys the view.

Sometimes common names for plants are spot on. Devil’s Walking Stick is just such a well-named plant. Also known as Hercules’ Club, this understory tree sports thorns and spines that are designed to keep animals from eating it – and others from touching it – like us! Apart from its prickly nature, this understory tree has a number of features that make it stand out to those of us that pay close attention to details of plants.

In a significant step toward advancing naval capabilities in seabed warfare, uncrewed systems autonomy, and ocean data science, the Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (COMNAVMETOCCOM) has partnered with The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).

It’s that time of year again, hurricane season, and it’s up to us to be prepared. Here are six hurricane preparedness tips to help with that.

Catching a glimpse of eggs and baby birds in backyard nests is always a treat this time of year. But on occasion, an odd egg may show up that does not match the others. In the eastern U.S. that odd-looking egg was placed there by a Brown-headed Cowbird. Known as a brood parasite, this common native species relies on other birds to incubate and raise their young, often at the expense of their own brood. My good friend John Lipscomb found a cowbird egg in one of his Bluebird boxes and inspired this story.

Contemplating the concept of evergreen plants can be head scratching, and often an opportunity to mess with your friends. I…

It is May in coastal Mississippi. And just when you are enjoying the nice cool mornings, it begins – Deer…

Great news for disadvantaged communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast was proclaimed on Thursday, May 1 as the U.S. Environmental…