The Calusa Herpetological Society
Of Southwest Florida
  

Thursday, September 6, 2007  - 7:00 pm  

TONIGHT’S  EVENT :      Dr. Phil Allman, professor of vertebrate biology at Florida Gulf Coast University, completed his dissertation at Ohio University where he studied diamondback terrapins.  In particular, his work looked at reproductive variation between females from northern and southern populations to determine differences in clutch sizes, egg sizes, and number of eggs.  Last year, Phil pursued his interest in sea turtle conservation by spending a year in West Africa to establish the first sea turtle tagging program in the country of Ghana.  Phil and his wife, Karyn, conducted nocturnal surveys and documented over 500 leatherback sea turtles and 200 olive ridley sea turtles nesting on a 15-kilometer stretch of beach.  They also traveled across Ghana extensively to explore the wildlife associated with the equatorial rainforests and savannah grasslands.  Tonight Phil will introduce his research with a short summary of his diamondback terrapin work, and then will present wildlife photos of his experiences in Ghana.  He also hopes society members will share any information they have about local diamondback terrapin populations.

MEETING SITE : In Ft. Myers, Florida at the Calusa Nature Center , near Colonial Blvd. (S. R. 884) and Interstate 75. Get off I-75 at exit #136 (old exit #22) and go west (towards the coast) on 884 (Colonial Blvd.) for one-half mile, then turn right at the first traffic light onto Ortiz Ave., and then left into the Nature Center after only one-quarter mile. The Iona House meeting site is an older dark green house located to the left (as you enter the grounds) at the rear of the complex, back near where the school busses are parked.  The meeting opens at 7:00 pm, and the speaker usually starts no later than 7:15 pm.  Non-members must pay $3.00 at the door to attend the meeting. Click HERE for a map to the meeting site.  After this meeting, all attendees are invited to join "the core" for an informal nightcap at Uno's Pizzeria on Daniels Rd. just west of I-75. We will gather there after this meeting which ends at 8:30 pm.

WHO'S INVITED ? You are! Anyone with an interest in any aspect of herpetology or herpetoculture is welcome to attend, learn, and exchange their experiences with our friendly membership. Come out to meet others who keep, breed or study reptiles and amphibians, and let them share their fascination with you. We average 35 – 70 people attending every meeting.

Cookies and cold soda, a nightly raffle of live herps, herp products, and books follow each speaker's talk, and lots of herp camaraderie, gossip, and fun can be counted upon at all meetings !

For more info , call (239) 728-2390 or (239) 481-3525 or  EMAIL: info@calusaherp.org   

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