November Program

For November, we have one of our favorite malacologists back with us. Dr. Jose Leal. Science Director and Curator of the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island will be telling us about a wonderful research cruise he worked in September. He worked with Dr. Greg Herbert (the cruise’s Chief Scientist) from the University of South Florida in one of his annual surveys to map molluscan communities on the central part of Florida’s continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. The group of four scientists also included Dr. Paul Larson from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Rebecca Mensch, National Shell Museum Marine Biologist. The scientists and a group of Dr. Herbert’s USF students sailed on the R/V Weatherbird II, the 115-ft flagship of Florida Institute of Oceanography’s small fleet. From their website: “The Research Vessel (R/V) Weatherbird II is home ported on Bayboro Harbor at the University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg Campus. She is equipped with advanced laboratories, oceanographic devices, and sensor technology designed to enable scientists and students to study and learn about various aspects of the ocean’s biological, chemical, geological, and physical characteristics.”

Dr. Leal’s presentation will showcase and discuss a selection of uncommon and unusual mollusks and shells collected in the occasion and incorporated into the USF collection.”