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Latest budget information Budget Update - January 29, 2010 University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams provided an update on the university’s budget for the university community Friday, Jan. 29 in the Miller Learning Center, The forum was the third in an ongoing series of open forums on the current budget situation. It included a formal presentation and time for questions and answers. The slides and talking points are available here. Arch News - August 7, 2009 Response to Board of Regents request for UGA budget plan Arch News - July 22, 2009 Budget update University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams gave a budget update to the UGA community during the April 23 meeting of the University Council at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel. A video presentation and talking points are available for viewing. Arch News - April 22, 2009 Upcoming budget presentation Arch News - April 10, 2009 Status of the FY10 state budget UGA president provides budget update University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams gave members of University Council an update on UGA’s budget Thursday, Dec. 4 in wake of recent actions by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents to help meet an anticipated directive from state officials to increase the budget cut to 8 percent from the current 6 percent. View December 4, 2008 Budget Update Public forum on University Budget On Wednesday, Sept. 17, President Michael F. Adams and other senior university officials delivered a presentation about the impact of current economic challenges and responded to questions from the audience. Links to archived video of the first budget forum on Sept. 5. View September 1, 2008 forum online → View September 5, 2008 forum online → President's talking points [pdf] → UGA Fiscal Update [ppt] →
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UGA Odum School of Ecology researchers discover new Percina fish species
Writer: Anisa S. Jimenez, 706/542.6013, anisaj@uga.edu
Contact Mary Freeman, 706/542-5181, mary@ttrout.ecology.uga.edu
Jan 6, 2009, 10:26

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Athens, Ga. - While surveying fishes in Georgia's Flint River, Byron and Mary Freeman noticed that a certain darter fish had a striking orange color in its fins--much different than the Blackbanded darter that is prominent in the southwest Georgia River. The University of Georgia researchers had indeed come across a new species: the Halloween darter or Percina crypta.

"The Halloween darter is a great example of 'cryptic biodiversity' -- species that have gone unrecognized because they look a lot like other species that are known," explained Mary, an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and the UGA Odum School of Ecology. "Ichthyologists have documented many new fish species in the southeastern U.S., showing that despite nearly 100 years of scientific study of fishes in this region, there are still surprises."

The newly discovered Halloween darter is less than five inches long and upon analysis, was found to have a host of differences from the Blackbanded darter. The fish is common to only a few areas of the Chattahoochee and Flint River systems because it requires habitats with swift water currents over rocky areas--shoals. Findings were reported in a recent issue of prominent zoological journal Zootaxa.

According to Mary, there are far fewer shoals today because of the rise of dams on rivers and streams, as well as the removal of rock shoals to improve rivers for navigation. The discovery of the Halloween darter has definite implications for conservation strategies.

"Keeping track of the status of the Halloween darter, along with other species that require shoal habitats in the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers, will provide information on how shoals as ecological systems are responding to changes in land use, water management and climate," said Mary.

In addition to the Freemans, the research team included Noel Burkhead of the U.S. Geological Survey and Carrie Straight, a Ph.D. student at the UGA Odum School of Ecology.

With roots that date back to the 1950s, the UGA Odum School of Ecology offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a certification program. Founder Eugene P. Odum is recognized internationally as a pioneer of ecosystem ecology. The school is ranked tenth by U.S. News and World Report for its graduate program. The Odum School is the first standalone school of ecology in the world. For more information, see www.ecology.uga.edu.

Note to editors: A photo of the Halloween darter is available for download at http://www.uga.edu/news/photos/UGA_Percina_crypta_1-06-09.jpg.

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