Lecture and Field Trip: Hardships of amphibians and how they cope
LECTURE & MINI-FIELD TRIP Danger around every corner: The little-known hardships faced by amphibians, and how they cope.
Presented by Dr. Michael Benard, University of Michigan
The rainy winter months cause a surge of amphibian activity in California's inner coast range. Signs of this activity are hard to miss: nightly choruses of calling tree frogs, and parades of newts and toads crossing the road. While the sight and sound of amphibians on the move are pleasant to naturalists, this is a time of danger for the breeding adults, and for their offspring developing as tadpoles in ponds. However, many amphibians have a variety of ways of coping with these dangers as a tadpole, including developing toxic chemical defenses, or changing tail shape to help them escape predators. Dr. Michael Benard will discuss the natural history of several California amphibians and how they cope with predators, as well as his own Ph.D. research on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of predation risk on amphibians in the coast ranges of Northern California. He will also take us to some field sites where we can continue our discussion while hopefully observing some of the local amphibians.
Saturday April 29, 2006 at the UC Davis' McLaughlin Reserve, Lower Lake, California 6:00 - 7:15 pm: Lecture
7:15 - 8:30 pm: Mini field trip on-site (weather permitting). Wear sturdy footwear, bring a sun-hat, water bottle, munchies.
Space is limited. Please make your reservation by April 27. Reservations are accepted on a first-come first-serve basis. Please make your reservations by calling Cathy Koehler or Paul Aigner at (707) 995 9005, or emailing mclaughlin@ucdavis.edu Please provide your name, phone number, and the name of each person for whom you are also making reservations.
Presented by Dr. Michael Benard, University of Michigan
The rainy winter months cause a surge of amphibian activity in California's inner coast range. Signs of this activity are hard to miss: nightly choruses of calling tree frogs, and parades of newts and toads crossing the road. While the sight and sound of amphibians on the move are pleasant to naturalists, this is a time of danger for the breeding adults, and for their offspring developing as tadpoles in ponds. However, many amphibians have a variety of ways of coping with these dangers as a tadpole, including developing toxic chemical defenses, or changing tail shape to help them escape predators. Dr. Michael Benard will discuss the natural history of several California amphibians and how they cope with predators, as well as his own Ph.D. research on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of predation risk on amphibians in the coast ranges of Northern California. He will also take us to some field sites where we can continue our discussion while hopefully observing some of the local amphibians.
Saturday April 29, 2006 at the UC Davis' McLaughlin Reserve, Lower Lake, California 6:00 - 7:15 pm: Lecture
7:15 - 8:30 pm: Mini field trip on-site (weather permitting). Wear sturdy footwear, bring a sun-hat, water bottle, munchies.
Space is limited. Please make your reservation by April 27. Reservations are accepted on a first-come first-serve basis. Please make your reservations by calling Cathy Koehler or Paul Aigner at (707) 995 9005, or emailing mclaughlin@ucdavis.edu Please provide your name, phone number, and the name of each person for whom you are also making reservations.