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The Stories Nature Tells
Written By: Sonya Carpenter - Highlands Biological Foundation | Issue: 2018/08 - August
The annual Highlands tradition of Zahner Conservation Lectures continues this month at the Highlands Nature Center.
These lectures are free for all and a wonderful opportunity to get to know more about your local habitat. We hope you leave these lectures inspired to learn more about our unique environment and further explore our beautiful Plateau.
This month we have five lectures focusing on a wide array of topics occurring Thursdays at 6:00 P.M. On August 2, Dr. Whit Gibbons, Professor Emeritus of Ecology at the University of Georgia, will give a lecture titled, “Herpetological Mysteries? Adventures with Reptiles and Amphibians.”
On August 9, Sara DeFosset from the Hemlock Restoration Initiative will discuss, “The Plight of the Hemlock: Reasons for Hope.” DeFosset will share new research findings and describe updates to hemlock management protocols, in addition to highlighting work that has taken place in the Highlands-Cashiers area.
On August 16, Dr. Olga Milenkaya from Young Harris College will present, “100 Years of Bird Conservation: The Impacts of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.” This year marks the 100th birthday of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, an early and highly influential federal law on the conservation of native birds. Milenkaya will approach this topic from a historical perspective to understand the context in which the law was passed and from a scientific perspective on how it has been effective at conserving both migratory and sedentary
bird species.
On August 23, Dr. Chris Widga from the East Tennessee Museum of Natural History will give a lecture called, “Mammoths and Mastodons of the Southern Appalachians: Big Ideas, and Lessons for Conservation Biology.”
Finally, on August 30, Tradd Cotter, founder of Mushroom Matrix, will give a lecture on mushrooms, the “dark matter that binds life.” Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and organic gardener who has been tissue culturing, collecting native fungi in the Southeast, and cultivating both commercially and experimentally, for more than 22 years.
For more information about our Zahner Conservation Lectures or other programming at the Highlands Biological Station, visit highlandsbiological.org or call us at (828) 526-2221.
