Quechee, VT - The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is proud to host a free lecture on May 22 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nicholas Gotelli and Aaron Ellison, co-authors of A Field Guide to the Ants of New England will present "Beauty and Intrigue of Backyard Ants" in the VINS classroom.
How many species of ants can you name? Two, maybe three? Would you guess that the number of ant species in New England rivals the number of bird species? There's a larger story to that trail of ants on your countertop, and four New England biologists think you should hear it. They've written a new field guide to New England ants that esteemed biologist E.O. Wilson calls "groundbreaking." Join two of these biologists, Nicholas Gotelli and Aaron Ellison, to learn more about these fascinating creatures and their secret lives. They will also have a magnifying scope on hand to show specimens of "backyard biodiversity." The field guide will be available for purchase, and the authors will be signing copies after the lecture.
"VINS is delighted to have these two accomplished biologists and educators present this fascinating look at the nature literally at our feet. Their new field guide has been much anticipated and fills a significant gap in our common knowledge of this important group of insects," says VINS Executive Director Charlie Rattigan.
Nicholas Gotelli is a researcher and Professor of Biology at the University of Vermont. He has published a number of textbooks on ecology models and statistics, and he is currently studying the effects of climate change on ants found in eastern deciduous forests.
Aaron Ellison is the Senior Research Fellow in Ecology at the Harvard Forest, and an Adjunct Research Professor in the departments of Biology and Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He studies food web dynamics and community ecology of wetlands and forests, evolutionary ecology of carnivorous plants, the response of plants and ants to global climate change, and the application of Bayesian statistical inference to ecological research and environmental decision-making.
This special event is part of the VINS 2014 Lecture Series. These lectures are free and open to the public; attendees may make a donation in support of the lecture series or other VINS efforts. The full series schedule, which is sponsored by Jake's Market and Deli in Quechee, can be viewed on VINS' website, vinsweb.org. More information about this and other VINS programs can also be obtained by calling 802.359.5000, ext. 223.
The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is a nonprofit, member-supported, environmental education, avian rehabilitation, and research organization headquartered at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee, Vermont. Open year-round, the 47-acre campus, adjacent to Quechee Gorge, features state-of-the-art raptor enclosures, exhibit spaces, classrooms, interpretive nature trails, and our wild bird hospital. VINS places a priority on making high-quality, compelling, and fun environmental learning opportunities accessible to more people and communities through our onsite and outreach nature education programs.
Stay connected with VINS through our website at www.vinsweb.org, our nature blog at vtnature.blogspot.com, and our Facebook page.
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