Kathy

Tuttle

1.5

Hitchhiker’s Guide to Marine Invasions: How Ships Unwittingly Aid—And Combat—Invasive Species Our global economy has an unintended consequence: The same ships that move goods around the world can also inadvertently move invasive species. Many of these hitchhikers get pulled into the ballast water that ships carry in their hulls for stability. In this talk, explore the invisible journeys happening below decks with Dr. Jenny Carney-Zollars, the head of SERC’s ballast water sampling program. Dr. Carney-Zollars will highlight how ships transport invasive species, how the scientists on her team can detect organisms often invisible to the naked eye, and what strategies are working to help ships reduce the risk of spreading invasive species along their routes. This event is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)’s free evening science talks, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available during the live stream and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to watch live and receive a link to the recording a few days after the live stream. SERC seeks to showcase a wide variety of topics and perspectives for its evening science talks. Views expressed during these talks belong to the individual speakers and not the Smithsonian.

Zoom webinar with SERC

Kathy

Tuttle

1

Restoring Maryland's Ecological Capital while Building Climate Resilience with Beavers - Wild Ones Delmarva Beavers, once nearly eliminated from the Chesapeake Bay watershed, are returning and becoming central to Maryland's modern, ecology-driven stream restoration efforts. Their natural dam-building slows water, traps sediment, filters nutrients, and creates wetlands that support diverse wildlife - making them a keystone species. We will discuss how beavers and homeowners can work together to restore habitat on private land, including making their land friendly to beavers so that the restoration happens in tandem, instead of thinking of beavers as a nuisance or just paying contractors to do the beavers' jobs. The talk will cover: Intro Beaver Coexistence Beaver 101 – an ecological engineer Problems with the Chesapeake Bay and our regional watersheds Understanding the rodent that shaped America’s landscapes The role that the beaver played in maintaining water quality and habitat Post-Colonial alteration of Maryland’s hydrologic systems Promoting restoration techniques that emulate beaver ecology How you can help About our speaker, Claudia Donegan: Claudia Donegan has worked over 36 years throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed as educator, stream scientist, public policy coordinator and implementing ecological restoration projects in tidal and nontidal environments. Presently she serves as the Director of the Center for Habitat Restoration and Conservation in Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Coastal Service, spearheading and implementing ecosystem restoration projects throughout the state. Claudia lives in Tunis Mills, MD.

Zoom presentation by Wild Ones Delmarva

Kathy

Tuttle

1.5

I’M A NATURALIST, NOT A METEOROLOGIST! PART 2: CLIMATE, PATTERNS AND CHANGEWhat is the difference between weather and climate? Weather describes the observed atmospheric conditions at a point in time, while climate is the average of the recorded atmospheric conditions over time. In other words, climate is what you expect, weather is what you get. In the second half of this two-part series, we’ll go in-depth on the definition of climate, discuss the different climatic zones within the US and drill down into the climate of Maryland. We’ll learn about how large-scale phenomena like El Nino and La Nina affect the weather in the US. Finally, we’ll end with a discussion about climate change and climate change impacts, both worldwide and at the local level. Randy Bass brings more than 35 years of meteorological expertise across military, private sector and federal government. A retired Air Force weather officer, he has supported global operations, the Intelligence Community, and satellite programs, later advancing aviation weather innovation at the Federal Aviation Administration. As founder of Bass Weather Services, Randy provides expert forecasting, research and consultation to businesses and legal teams.

Zoom webinar by Frederick County Nature Council

Kathy

Tuttle

1.5

FROM MOUNTAINS TO SALTMARSH – REDISCOVEERING THE MOS SANCTUARIES - Marcia Watson, Maryland Ornithological Society, present about the many wildlife sanctuaries that MOS owns. The Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) owns ten wildlife sanctuaries, totaling almost 3,000 acres and spanning the state from Garrett County in the western part of the state, to Somerset County on the lower Eastern Shore. All of the sanctuaries are open to the public every day of the year, at no charge, and represent a microcosm of the habitats for birds in Maryland. Many people have heard of the Carey Run and Irish Grove Sanctuaries, where sanctuary houses provide an opportunity for overnight visits, but the other sanctuaries have been seldom visited. Marcia will review the history of the MOS Sanctuary Program, provide profiles and show maps and photos of all the sanctuaries, discuss the birds and habitats found there, and will cover some of the challenges that MOS faces in managing the properties. Marcia will conclude with an overview of some of the research being conducted at the sanctuaries as well as their conservation value, and why it’s important to preserve these lands.

Zoom webinar by Southern Maryland Audobon