Coastal Plain Research
James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science
The James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science (ICPS) facilitates interdisciplinary research and education toward understanding the physical and biological resources occurring below the fall line and their sustainable use and management.
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Applied Coastal Research Laboratory
The Institute for Coastal Plain Science houses the Applied Coastal Research Laboratory (ACRL), which is a field laboratory located on Skidaway Island near Savannah, Georgia, providing logistical support for field trips from inland areas, and access to large and small research vessels, geological and geophysical field sampling equipment and full GIS capabilities. Campus partners on Skidaway Island, including Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary and the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service, provide opportunities for a variety of collaborative interactions.
U.S. National Tick Collection
The Institute for Coastal Plain Science is also home to the U.S. National Tick Collection. It is the largest tick collection in the world with more than a million specimens including representatives of most of the world’s ca. 850 species. The collection remains the property of the Smithsonian Institution but in 1990, the entire collection, its curator, assistant curator, and associated literature files, were moved to Georgia Southern on a long-term enhancement loan initially funded by the National Institute of Allergy and infectious Diseases. The collection is a national treasure that allows tick identifications and related research to be carried out on a worldwide basis. This vital function allows ticks that are medically important or that parasitize livestock or pets (including those that transmit pathogens such as the agents that cause Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever) to be distinguished from species having less economic importance. Short tours of the collection can be arranged by appointment.
Last updated: 2/23/2024