Monthly Lectures at Katonah Memorial House (71 Bedford Road in Katonah)
All monthly lectures are free and open to the general public.
The lectures are held at the wheelchair accessible
Katonah Memorial House (71 Bedford Road in Katonah).
Please park alongside the meeting house side of the driveway,
and do not block the Fire Department access.
Effects of the Zebra Mussel Invasion on Aquatic Ecosystems: the Hudson River and Beyond
Dr. David Strayer
Wednesday, January 11 at 7:30 pm
Zebra mussels, a species native to the Black and Caspian Sea in Europe, first appeared in the Hudson River in 1991, and by the end of 1992 they caused large ecological changes and economic damages. Dr. Strayer’s illustrated lecture will describe the effects of zebra mussels on the Hudson River ecosystem. Their enormous population changed nearly every characteristic of the Hudson River ecosystem: plankton fell by 80 percent, populations of native shellfish and other animals that depended on plankton declined or disappeared, water chemistry and clarity changed, all of which led to large shifts in the growth rates, geographic distribution, and population size of fishes. In recent years, the zebra mussel population and its effects have been changing, suggesting that the initial effects of the invasion are not permanent.
Dr. David Strayer is a Freshwater Ecologist and Senior Scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, where he has worked since 1983. His research is focused on the Hudson River, conservation of freshwater biodiversity, and the ecological effects of invasive species. He is co-author of The Pearly Mussels of New York State, a comprehensive book on unionids, a diverse and endangered group of animals. In addition, Dr. Strayer has developed A Beginner's Key to Freshwater Meiofauna. He lives in Millbrook with his wife and two sons.
Why Did the Salamander Cross the Road?
Laura Heady
Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 pm
The NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University are working together to conserve forests, small wetlands, and other critical habitats in the Hudson Valley. Species like spotted salamander and wood frog rely on both forest and wetland habitats and are ambassadors of these important watershed systems. Their annual spring migration to woodland pools is an excellent opportunity to observe these otherwise elusive animals, but it's also a high-risk journey for many of them. Laura Heady will discuss woodland pool ecology and ways in which habitat fragmentation is threatening forest amphibians in the Hudson Valley. She'll also describe the "Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings" project and how volunteers can get involved by witnessing these incredible spring migrations, documenting "Big Night" road crossings, helping amphibians survive their overland travel, and conserving important habitats in their community.
Laura Heady joined the Hudson River Estuary Program in 2006 through a partnership with Cornell University. As Biodiversity Outreach Coordinator, she works with municipal and regional partners to integrate biodiversity and habitat protection into conservation plans and smart growth strategies. Her outreach work began at Hudsonia Ltd. in 2002, where she taught habitat mapping and assessment to local decision-makers. Laura has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University and an M.S. in Biology from Idaho State University.
Wood Turtle Study of the Great Swamp 2011
Michael Musnick
Wednesday, March 14 at 7:30 pm
For ten years, Michael Musnick has studied the North American Wood Turtle (a species of special concern in New York State) in the Patterson Great Swamp. To date about 200 individuals have been identified and 38 are wearing radio transmitters. Mr. Musnick collects data about hibernation sites and fidelity, nesting sites and fidelity, aestivation sites, and protection of nests. He also marks and releases hatchlings, and all this data is used to determine the viability and health of the wood turtle habitat as well as the need to protect and forbid the degrading of qualifying sites. The wood turtle is one of seven species of turtle indigenous to Putnam and Dutchess counties.
Michael Musnick is a citizen scientist, who works under permit of the DEC and the federal government and reports to both these bodies and to Friends of the Great Swamp, who funds his ongoing research. As part of his studies, and with support from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Mr. Musnick has developed a unique system of turtle bridges along the Metro North rail line in Putnam County that allows the wood turtles to escape when stuck between the tracks.
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