About NABS

The North American Benthological Society (NABS) is an international scientific organization whose purpose is to promote further understanding of aquatic ecosystems, with particular interest in the stream benthic biological community and its relationship to aquatic ecosystem structure and function, the watershed and landscape, habitat assessment, conservation, and restoration. We foster exchange of scientific information among the membership, and with other professional societies, resource managers, policy makers, educators, and the public.

The Society was founded as the Midwest Benthological Society by 13 charter members at Havana, Illinois, in the spring of 1953. The first annual meetings attracted the Midwest’s best benthic scientists, which led to rapid increases in membership and a diversification within NABS.  From our early specialization in stream insect ecology, which remains a focus, NABS has expanded to include a range of disciplinary interest from genes to landscapes, but all rooted in a core focus on aquatic, especially lotic freshwater, ecosystems. Today NABS enjoys its status as a premiere international organization of aquatic scientists interested in a wide range of various scientific endeavors including environmental impact assessments; ecology and taxonomy of microbes, algae, invertebrates, and fish; nutrient dynamics; watershed dynamics; hydrology and geomorphology; conservation and restoration. NABS fosters diversity by breaking traditional disciplinary boundaries, and encouraging in its journal and meetings the inter-disciplinary exchange that has been our trademark and our strength.  This has positioned NABS as the international leader in integrative aquatic science.  Membership is approaching 1800 scientists, and while largely from North America our membership is comprised of individuals from around the globe. The membership also crosses many employment sectors: academia (including a strong student membership), private consulting, and federal, state, provincial, and municipal governments.

North American Benthological Society members receive an online subscription to the prestigious Journal of the North American Benthological Society and can access all back issues of the journal on line. Members receive reduced registration rates to the annual conferences, an online NABS bulletin three times per year, an annual Bibliography of Current Benthological Literature, and annual newsletter, and have electronic access to a Membership Directory.