Lake Thoreau Environmental Center
Research at Lake Thoreau
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Research Activities
Three main areas of LTEC are dedicated to research: the Natural Sciences Collections Building, the Mesocosm Facility, and the Longleaf Preserve. It is the center of operations for ecological research conducted at USM. USM faculty have a strong history of ecological research along the Gulf Coast and current studies span almost all habitats in this ecoregion. LTEC is unique in that it encompasses headwater streams within the Pascagoula basin and also contains 160 acres of 100+-year-old longleaf pine forests. LTEC is also utilized as an instructional resource for 26 USM courses, a training facility for state and federal agencies, and a platform for ecological STEM outreach.