Mountain Lake Biological Station is the field station of the Biology Department at the University of Virginia. It is located on a remote wooded ridge at an elevation of 1,160 meters on the top of Salt Pond Mountain in southwestern Virginia. Its mountaintop location is surrounded by sharp ecological gradients and fine-scale changes in habitat - ideal conditions for the studies of ecology and evolution. Biologists from around the world come to the station each summer to conduct field research based on the diverse flora and fauna of the Southern Appalachians.

In June 2010, MLBS joined Discover Life to train local staff and volunteers, build customized identification guides to the site's vascular plants, and start monitoring the site's moths, wildflowers, and lichens through photography. MLBS is one of the first sites in Discover Life's network of field sites to predict and manage the impacts of climate change, invasive species, and pollution on species and their interactions. Please join us.

Customized identification guides Ferns Grasses Trees Wildflowers Checklists with images, maps, and links Plants -- need images Albums of site participants Awaiting Albums More information how-to video progress and technology future proposal

Photograph by Hank Ohme Cypripedium parviflorum Lesser yellow lady's slipper

Contacts

• Eric Nagy, Associate Director, Mountain Lake Biological Station -- enagy@virginia.edu -- 540-626-5227
• Nancy Lowe, Outreach Coordinator, Discover Life -- nancy@discoverlife.org -- 404-272-4526