Reminder: there will be no meetings in January or February.

March 10, 2015* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Andy Greller: "An Ecologist Vists New Caledonia."
This talk will cover the unusual serpentine flora and vegetation of New Caledonia.  There are many endemics, including Araucarias, cycads, ferns, and other ancient groups.  Andy is the LIBS Vice President, Co-chair of the Local Flora Committee, and is a Past President of the Torrey Botanical Society.  He taught biology at Queens College for 30 years, and is a true world traveler.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

April 14, 2015* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Maria Brown and Shreeya Panigrahi: "Bat Pollination Studies in Costa Rica." (MB) and "Multivariate Analysis of Soil pH, Forest Structure, and Human Disturbance in the Glacial Outwash Plain, Long Island, New York."
There will be a short presentation on Maria's ongoing studies of pollination by bats in Costa Rica. Shreeya performed a study on the outwash plain at Sans Souci County Park in Sayville, to follow studies by Wherry (1923) and Greller et al (1990), regarding potential decreasing plant diversity resulting from increased soil acidity. Maria Brown, MS, PWS was a Professional Wetland Scientist for 12 years, and has taught at Sayville High School for the past 16 years. She is a New York State Master Teacher and is also a lecturer at Stony Brook University where she teaches geospatial science through the Sustainability Studies Program. Shreeya Panigrahi is a senior at Sayville High School and will be graduating as the valedictorian of her class in June, 2015. She has conducted authentic research in the Research in Science & Engineering program, and competed at the International Sustainable World Energy, Environment, and Engineering Project Olympiad where she received a silver medal for her work.
Location: Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, Earth and Space Science Building, Gil Hanson Room (Room 123), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook

May 12, 2015* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Chris Kreussling: "The Flatbush Gardener."
He has gardened in NYC for over three decades and always included native plants in his gardens. The talk will touch on the inspirations for the current garden, including the connection of the word "Flatbush" with the rest of Long Island, and the insect-plant associations that have been observed with increasing frequency. Also, his latest thinking about gardening, and ideas for the future. Chris specializes in urban gardening with native plants, starting with his first garden in NYC in 1981.  His blog, Flatbush Gardener [http://flatbushgardener.blogspot.com], documents his gardening process. He received a Certificate in Horticulture from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and his garden has twice been on tour for NYC Wildflower Week. In his day job, Chris is a software engineer.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

June 9, 2015* Tuesday, 5:30 PM (Please note early start time)
Annual Barbecue
The annual barbecue, featuring Chef Andy's made-to-order hot dogs and hamburgers. Salads, deviled eggs, desserts, etc.will be gladly accepted.  Our barbecue will be at the traditional location—on the green behind the Muttontown Preserve meeting house.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

September 8, 2015* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Daniel Atha: "Smartweeds of New York: Taxonomy and Identification."
With twenty species in the northeastern United States, the genus Persicaria ranks among the top twenty-five largest genera of flowering plants, just behind sunflowers and hawthorns.  Many are native wetland species and are an important food source for waterfowl.  Others such as the East Asian mile-a-minute vine can inflict great ecological and economic harm.  Daniel is a research associate at The New York Botanical Garden and has done extensive field work throughout the United States and abroad.  He co-authored the Persicaria treatment for the Intermountain Flora is currently writing the Polygonaceae treatment for the revision of the Gleason and Cronquist Manual.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

October 13, 2015* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Emily Rollinson: "Biodiversity and Biological Invasions in Stream-side Plant Communities."
Stream-side (or riparian) plant communities are often quite diverse, but at the same time, may be highly susceptible to invasive species.  This talk will describe ongoing research in small tributaries of the Hudson River in upstate NY, investigating the factors that underlie both diversity and species invasions in riparian plant communities.  Emily is a PhD candidate in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University.  Her research focuses on plant community ecology, ecological disturbances, and biological invasions.
Location: Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, Earth and Space Science Building, Gil Hanson Room (Room 123), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook

November 10, 2015* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Robbin Moran: "The Extraordinary Biology of Some New York Ferns."
Come hear about the fascinating adaptions of native ferns. This talk will also highlight uses of ferns by people, fossil history, and reproduction by spores. Dr. Moran is Curator of Ferns and Lycophytes at the New York Botanical Garden. He has published four books and over 100 scientific papers on ferns.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

December 8, 2015* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Members Night
Members are  welcome to bring photos, stories, specimens, and tales of peculiar sightings of favorite plants.  A great opportunity to show what you have found while exploring on Long Island or elsewhere. Please call Rich Kelly (516-354-6506) in advance to advise as to the approximate number of images/slides that you would like to show and preferred medium of presentation. Thanks.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

Reminder: there will be no meetings in January or February. Next meeting March 8, 2016.

* Refreshments and informal talk begin at 7:30.
Formal meeting starts at 8:00 PM.
Directions to Muttontown: 516-354-6506
Directions to Stony Brook: 516-354-6506

2013 programs (partial list)
2014 programs

LIBS Speakers' Bureau