2025 14th FMCS BIENNIAL SYMPOSIUM
Bridges to the Future of Freshwater Mollusk Conservation
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Monday-Friday May 12 to 16, 2025
Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
General Information
The Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS) is a not-for-profit, dedicated to the advocacy and conservation science of freshwater mollusk resources. The FMCS symposium provides a great opportunity to network and build relationships with conservation professionals from state and federal government, industry, and conservation organizations. The Society has a membership of 500, and around 300 members generally attend the biennial symposia. These professionals are constantly working to conserve freshwater mollusks.
We are looking forward to hosting the FMCS membership at the 14th Biennial Symposium and welcoming you to the Great Lakes watershed, southeast Michigan, the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Area. The theme for the symposium is “Bridges to the Future of Freshwater Mollusk Conservation”.
This theme incorporates the near completed Gordie Howe International Bridge that connects Michigan and Ontario across the Detroit River. Bridges have numerous literal and metaphoric relationships to our interests in freshwater mollusk biology and conservation: from relocations during bridge construction projects, to linking our expertise with conservation of these imperiled species, to linking our research that ranges from molecules to ecosystems, microhabitats to watersheds, stream reaches to continents, and ancient to contemporary timescales. The theme of FMCS 2025 is to reflect on the last quarter-century of the society and its role in freshwater mollusk conservation and build bridges moving the society toward another successful 25 years.
Registration
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
| ATTENDEE STATUS | EARLY BIRD Registration rate (Through March. 1st) |
REGULAR Registration rate (after March 1st to April 14) |
|---|---|---|
| Member | $525 | $600 |
| Non-Member | $625 | $700 |
| Student/Retiree Member | $375 | $450 |
| Student/Retiree Non-Member | $425 | $500 |
VIRTUAL REGISTRATION: $300 (see WHOVA events in GENERAL SCHEDULE, all times in Eastern Timezone.)
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Location & Transportation
Lodging:
All symposium activities are planned on site at the Marriott Eagle Crest.
The Marriott Eagle Crest hotel should be able house all FMCS 2025 attendees. Sign up now at this link: https://book.passkey.com/e/50915551 (booking closes before April 14th or when block fills).
Quoted rate: $154/night + taxes.
Parking for those staying at hotel is FREE. For those staying offsite, parking is $10/day.
Transportation:
- Public Transit in Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area (link)
- At the I-94 exit, 5 minutes walk, from the Marriott are several fast food options, convenience stores, and lodging options.
- Detroit Metro airport is 20 minutes drive on I-94 from the Marriott. The airport is a major international hub for Delta Airlines.
- Amtrak offers multiple daily trips from Chicago. The nearest stop is in Ann Arbor, 20 minutes drive from the Marriott.
Things to do in the local area:
- For good food and fun things to experience in Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area LINKS
- Downtown Ypsilanti is 5 minutes drive from the Marriott with many food and shopping options
- Downtown Ann Arbor the University of Michigan main campus (link) is 15-20 minutes drive from the Marriott with a huge diversity of food and shopping options
Questions about the schedule? Email any of the “Contacts”. All times listed are in Eastern Time Zone
| Mon. May 12 | Tue. May 13 | Wed. May 14 | Th. May 15 | Fri. May 16 | |||
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| REGISTRATION 7am-5pm Snacks & drinks available all morning |
REGISTRATION 7am-5pm Snacks & drinks available all morning |
REGISTRATION 7am-5pm Snacks & drinks available all morning |
Field Trips and Explore Michigan options for those interested | ||||
| REGISTRATION (for Workshop Attendees) 8-9am |
Land Acknowlegement Welcome, Announcements and Plenary. 8-10am Ballroom WHOVA |
Announcements and Lightning Talks. Ballroom WHOVA |
Announcements and Plenary. Ballroom WHOVA |
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| Workshop 9am-2pm TBA |
Break 10-10:20am |
Break 10-10:20am |
Break 10-10:20am |
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| Concurrent Sessions (3) 10:20-Noon WHOVA |
Concurrent Sessions (3) 10:20-Noon WHOVA |
Concurrent Sessions (3) 10:20-Noon WHOVA |
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| Lunch break and box lunches for committee meetings (Mollusk Status and Distribution, Publications) 12-1pm Commitee Meetings (Professional Development, Field Studies and EcoServices, and Genetics 1-2pm |
Lunch break and box lunches for committee meetings (DEI, Outreach, and Guidelines and Techniques) 12-1pm |
FMCS All members luncheon and business meeting 12-2pm Ballroom |
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| Gastropod Naming (Auditorium from Workshop<15) 2-4:50pm TEAMS or ZOOM |
Bivalve Names (Conference Room<15) 2-4:50pm TEAMS or ZOOM |
Concurrent Sessions (3) 2-3:20pm WHOVA |
Concurrent Sessions (3) 2-3:20pm WHOVA |
Concurrent Sessions (3) 2-3:20pm WHOVA |
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| Registration 3-8pm |
Break 3:20-3:40 (coffee and water stations) | Break 3:20-3:40 (coffee and water stations) | Break 3:20-3:40 (coffee and water stations) | ||||
| Concurrent Sessions (3) 3:40-5pm WHOVA |
Concurrent Sessions (3) 3:40-5pm WHOVA |
Concurrent Sessions (3) 3:40-5pm WHOVA |
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| Exec Meeting (conference room) 5-7pm TEAMS or ZOOM |
Poster set-up 5:30-6pm |
Preview Auction Items 5:30-6:30pm |
Dinner on your own and explore Ypsilanti/Ann Harbor | ||||
| Mentor Mixer (Elizabeth Ann) 6:30-7:30pm |
Poster Session and Mixer (food and drinks) 6-8:30pm Marquee and Atrium |
Dinner and Auction 6:30-10:30pm Ballroom |
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| Welcome Mixer 7-10pm Marquee |
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Abstracts
Due February 12th, 2025 11:59PM EST See Link One Complimentary Registration (Virtual or In-Person), Logo on Website Registration Page, Recognition in the Virtual Program Logo on Website Registration Page and Recognition in the Virtual Program Please contact Kiara Cushway (FMCS 2025 Sponsorship Chair) to confirm you will be sponsoring or with questions: cushkia1@gmail.com See information on general FMCS Awards including how to nominate people for awards and travel awards: https://molluskconservation.org/Mservices_awards.html Follow Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society on Instagram (@freshwatermollusk), X (@FMCS_Mollusk), or Facebook (Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society) for updates and information on the 2025 Symposium. • WORKSHOP you signed up for in the registration. • FIELD TRIP you signed up for in the registration.
We invite participants to present talks and posters on a wide range of topics related to freshwater mollusk conservation and biology, encompassing subjects such as life history and ecology, species status and distribution, surveys and monitoring, propagation, ecosystem and community ecology, genetics and phylogeny, ecosystem services, mollusk community and habitat restoration, contaminants and ecotoxicology, outreach, climate change, non-native mollusks, and mollusk kills.
Instructions for authors
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern U.S. on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 using the Whova app at https://tinyurl.com/244xskeu. Participants may choose to present a traditional talk, either in person or virtually, poster, or 5-minute "lightning talk" for those wanting to share quick updates or early results on a project. Traditional talks will have 20-minute slots: 15 minutes for presentations plus 5 minutes for questions. Virtual attendees are required to provide a pre-recorded talk prior to the conference start date. Those opting for a traditional talk (in person or virtual) or poster must submit a full abstract, with a limit of 2,100 characters (with spaces, ~300 words). A full abstract is not necessary for lightning talks, but a title, authors' names, and a brief 1-2 sentence description are required by the abstract deadline.
If you have any questions regarding abstract submission, please reach out to Dave Strayer at strayerd@caryinstitute.org.
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Field Trips
TO SIGN UP FOR FIELD TRIPS, GO TO THE SYMPOSIUM STORE: (Link coming soon)
There are 3 field trips offered at an extra cost:
Friday May 16th All day- leaving ~8am (TBD) returning by 6pm (at the latest). Cost: TBD
Three Options:
1
) Great Lakes/Detroit River/Detroit Field Trip. Limit 50 participants
2) River Raisin Freshwater Unionid River Sampling Tour and Field Trip. Limit 50 participants
3) University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Mollusk Collection (satellite U of Michigan campus) and Public Exhibits at Natural History Museum (main U of Michigan campus). Limit TBD. There will be an option for a small number of people to stay at the mollusk collection for the afternoon but they will need to find their own transportation after completion of their visit (more details to follow).
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Workshop
TO SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOP, GO TO THE SYMPOSIUM STORE: (Link coming soon)
A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION to FRESHWATER SNAIL IDENTIFICATION, COLLECTION, and CONSERVATION
This 6-hour workshop provides participants with a general introduction to the biology and taxonomy of the native and invasive freshwater gastropods of the Midwest and Great Lakes, the most common techniques used to collect, preserve, and measure them, and the considerations that should be made when monitoring and managing their populations.
Participants will gain hands on experience in examining, identifying, and measuring specimens of native and invasive snails. Midwest and Great Lakes snails will be the taxonomic focus of this workshop, but the concepts learned will be applicable to freshwater snails across much of North America.
The workshop will be led by FMCS members Kate Holcomb (MN DNR), Russ Minton (Professor, Gannon University), and Nate Shoobs (Curator of Mollusks, The Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity).
After attending this workshop, participants should be able to:
-Recognize a freshwater snail and describe its anatomy/morphology in scientific terms (e.g. number of whorls, shell sculpture/ornamentation, shell shape)
-Identify freshwater snail specimens to family level based on anatomy and shell characters (within the Midwest and areas with similar faunas).
-Determine whether a particular snail specimen is invasive or native to an area, or whether the matter requires further investigation (e.g., needs genetic barcoding to confirm identification)
-Discuss / explain the basic biology/ecology of freshwater snails, and understand common threats to their population health.
-Recognize what makes a “good” and “bad” photo of a snail for the purposes of identification, and be able to take good photos.
-Take and record standard morphometric measurements of snails using vernier/dial calipers.
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Know the appropriate resources (publications, species databases, biodiversity aggregators, etc.) to consult to find reliable taxonomic information and species distribution records.
8AM-2PM Monday, May 12th, 2025- Lunch included (based on registration dietary selections)
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Sponsors
The FMCS is a not-for-profit society, dedicated to the advocacy and conservation science of freshwater mollusk resources. Our Symposium provide great opportunities to network and build relationships with conservation professional from state and federal governments, industry, universities, and conservation organizations. The Society has a membership of over 500, of which about 300 generally attend the biennial Symposium. These professionals are constantly working to conserve freshwater mollusks, Attendees of the Symposium are scientists, biologists, national and international that work outside and in labs that are constantly working to conserve freshwater mollusks and we need your help. We are requesting monetary sponsorships to help offset the costs of the Symposium.
Below is a brealkdown of our sponsorship levels:
River
>$2,000
Two Complimentary Registrations (One Virtual and One In-Person), Logo on Website Registration Page, Recognition in the Virtual Program
Stream
$1,000 - $2,000
Eddy
$500 - $999
Mussel
$100 - $499
Recognition in the Virtual Program
SPONSOR A SPECIFIC PART OF PROGRAM OR EVENT (e.g., student-mentor mixer, poster session, coffee breaks, banquet). Amount TBD in consultation with symposium sponsorship committee.
To Sponsor please use THIS link
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Vendors
Vendor tables (two 6ft x 2ft table and two chairs) will be provided from Monday afternoon through Thursday afternoon in the area that FMCS 2025 attendees will be taking breaks and entering talks.
Vendors will need to register if they wish to attend talks.
No food, drink, or banquet tickets will be provided to vendors.
To be a VENDOR please use THIS LINK
Please contact Kiara Cushway (FMCS 2025 Sponsorship Chair) to confirm you will be a vendor or with questions: cushkia1@gmail.com
Auction
We are looking forward to a fun auction on Wednesday evening after our banquet. If you have any donations for the auction please send an email to Daelyn Woolnough: wooln1d@cmich.edu
Diversity, Equity, and inclusion (DEI)
FMCS DEI Mission Statement:
"FMCS encourages participation by all individuals regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental difference, politics, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or subculture. We aim to cultivate a society built on mutual respect and strive for a welcoming environment for all. FMCS promotes diversity in all areas of societal activity, including fostering diversity in membership, leadership, committees, outreach, public engagement, and recruitment.”
DEI is at the forefront of all planning for the 14th Biennial Symposium. The Whova app being used for the conference will outline immediate contacts if you have any safety, access, or DEI concerns.
Code of Conduct for the Conference CLICK HERE
FMCS has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee - CLICK HERE - and any FMCS member is welcome to join this committee.
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Student Specific Planning
FMCS is planning for everyone to have a great time at this symposium—including if you are a student! Student events not to miss:
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Awards
Symposium Contacts
For more information about the symposium or specific symposium planning committee contacts, please get in touch with the meeting organizers below.
Amy Maynard, FMCS Meeting Chair and President Elect, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Amy_maynard@fws.gov
Daelyn Woolnough, FMCS Co-chair, Central Michigan University
wooln1d@cmich.edu
Dave Zanatta, FMCS Co-chair, Central Michigan University
zanat1d@cmich.edu
Social Media
Please use the following HASHTAG when posting about the 2025 Symposium #FMCS2025
Symposium Store
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SYMPOSIUM STORE (Link coming soon)
Use the Symposium Store to purchase:
NOTE:
You can purchase the workshop before registering. Make sure you answer YES for the Workshop in the registration)
NOTE:
You can purchase the field trip before registering. Make sure you also check your Field Trip choice in the registration)
• EXTRA BANQUET TICKET
NOTE:
You can purchase the fextra banquet ticket before registering. Make sure you fill in the required fields in the registration)
• Symposium official T-SHIRT
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