Broward Shell Club

MAY IS REEF MONTH 2012

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coral Reef Conservation Program (FDEP CRCP) invites you to celebrate Reef Month 2012 by participating in one or more of four educational classes that will each be held during the month of May. Classes are FREE, and will be held at the Biscayne Bay Environmental Center (the FDEP CRCP office) located at 1277 NE 79th Street Causeway, Miami, FL 33138. Space is limited, so reserve your spot(s) early by RSVP’ing with your name and preferred classes to Coral@dep.state.fl.us. Please contact us if you would like us to hold one of these classes in your area in the future.

Click here to view the class descriptions and schedules. Feel free to download and share this PDF widely with your friends and colleagues. If the link does not display properly, you can also view the class descriptions and times below or email us to request a PDF.

PADI Project Aware:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, May 8)

Description:
This is a formal, but fun, introduction for divers and non-divers alike to the plight of the world’s aquatic ecosystems. It is offered to anyone who wants to learn more about, and take responsibility for, marine and freshwater environments. Although diving and snorkeling offer the best avenues to appreciate the aquatic world, you do not have to be a diver to participate in this Project Aware presentation – it’s open to everyone. The only requirement is an interest in learning more about the 70% of the earth covered in water. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference. A PADI certification for the Project Aware Specialty course will also be available for a fee of $20.00 to cover the cost of the materials, but will not be necessary for participation in this seminar.

Marine Invertebrate Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, May 15)

Description: The most common sea sponges, octocorals (soft corals), crustaceans, echinoderms and mollusks that you are likely to encounter while diving or snorkeling on southeast Florida’s coral reefs will be introduced in this course. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference.

Stony Coral Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, May 22)

Description: This course will introduce you to thirty species of stony corals found offshore Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference.

REEF Fish Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, May 29)

Description: This is a beginner course that teaches the basics of “fish watching”, including how to identify 50 commonly sighted species in the tropical western Atlantic. All materials are provided. An evaluation will be conducted at the end of the training. Anyone scoring 80% or better and who goes on to complete two fish surveys can become an Experience Level 2 volunteer for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). The REEF Fish Survey Project is a volunteer fish monitoring program that enables volunteer SCUBA divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations. The data are collected using a fun and easy standardized method, the Roving Diver Technique (RDT), and are housed in a publicly accessible database on REEF’s website. Data collected by REEF volunteers are used for public education and by a variety of resource management agencies and researchers. For more information on REEF, go to: http://www.REEF.org.

SHELL OF THE MONTH – MAY 2012

Pterynotus miyokoae, Kosuge, 1979
Tangle nets at 100-150 m deep
Olango Island, Cebu, Philippines.
2009 SIZE about 60mm

It sure is a mouthful to pronounce the name! Pterynotus miyokoae is one of the most spectacular of the murex with elegant “wings” and marvelous delicate sculpturing. Scholars debate how it ended up a Pterynotus, with some saying it should be a Chicoreus. Other Pterynotus shells are awkward in appearance, misproportioned with their wings irregularly developed. Miyokoae are brown banded while Pterynotus are solid white or pastels. Pterynotus are very variable whereas the miyokoae are amazingly consistent. This was a very expensive shell when Kosuge described it in 1979 but prices have greatly declined. As all miyokoae look exactly the same, the lack of variety has reduced the value. It is indigenous to the Philippines where recently albino populations have been discovered.

NOMINATONS FOR OFFICERS – 2012-2013

Yes, it is also that time again! The Nominating Committee consisting of Phyllis Diegel, Sally Marshall, Carolyn Harvey, Linda Zylman, alternate Heather Strawbridge and Chair, Sonny Ogden have met and present the following Slate of Officers for 2012-2013: President – Linda Sunderland Vice President – Sonny Ogden Treasurer – Ike Alvo Corresponding Sec. – Carolyn Harvey Recording Secretary – Alice Pace We will vote on this slate at the April meeting, but if you want to nominate anyone for one of the positions from the floor, it must be done with that nominee’s prior consent.

MEMBERSHIP DUES – LAST CALL! Heather says that renewal dues will be due by April 30th. PLEASE do not procrastinate and get then in now so I can get my records organized for the year ahead. PLEASE NOTE that all new members who have joined at and since the Shell Show do not have to renew at this time. Your membership will good until next year. The dues rates are at follows: Individual or Family (at one address) $18.00 Student (up to grade12) $5.00 International $20.00

SHELL OF THE MONTH APRIL 2012

The Mitridae is an exceptionally large family of shells. They are commonly called Miter or Mitre shells depending on one’s choice of spelling. Vexillum was one of the many genera of Mitridae but now falls in its own family formerly called Vexillidae but now called Costellaridae. Confusing? In any event vexillum are still mitres shells and there are about 500 different kinds of them. Mitre are recognized by their sharp pointed spire and a long narrow aperture with three or more prominent folds inside the columnella. The mitres are carnivorous with varying diet depending on the individual specie. They are tropical and most are from the Indo-Pacific region. Generally they are found burrowed in the sand but also live among seaweed or under corals. Most like shallow water but a few prefer deep. Although all vexillum are all very similar in shape they vary widely in sculpture and color patterns as will be seen by examining these four specimens.

Vexillum mirabilis, Adams 1853, 10m by local divers, sandy and muddy bottom, Bohol, Philippines

Vexillum caffrum, Linne 1758, waterline in low tide, Yule Point, Queensland, Australia

Vexillum costatum, Gmelin 1991, tangle net @ 50m gravel, Olango Island, Cebu, Philippines

Vexillum stainforthi, Reeve, 1841, 110ft sandy mud by SCUBA Nago bay, Okinawa

Shells donated from the collection of Richard Kent

CORAL REEF IDENTIFICATION CLASSES

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coral Reef Conservation Program (FDEP CRCP) invites you to celebrate Earth Month 2012 by participating in one or more of four educational classes that will each be held twice during the month of April. Classes are FREE, and will be held at the Biscayne Bay Environmental Center (the FDEP CRCP office) located at 1277 NE 79th Street Causeway, Miami, FL 33138. Space is limited, so reserve your spot(s) early by RSVP’ing with your name and preferred class time(s) to Coral@dep.state.fl.us.

REEF Fish Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 3) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 5)
DESCRIPTION: This is a beginner course that teaches the basics of “fish watching”, including how to identify 50 commonly sighted species in the tropical western Atlantic. All materials are provided. An evaluation will be conducted at the end of the training. Anyone scoring 80% or better and who goes on to complete two fish surveys can become an Experience Level 2 volunteer for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). The REEF Fish Survey Project is a volunteer fish monitoring program that enables volunteer SCUBA divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations. The data are collected using a fun and easy standardized method, the Roving Diver Technique (RDT), and are housed in a publicly accessible database on REEF’s website. Data collected by REEF volunteers are used for public education and by a variety of resource management agencies and researchers. For more information on REEF, go to: http://www.REEF.org.

Marine Invertebrate Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 10) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 12)
DESCRIPTION: The most common sea sponges, octocorals (soft corals), crustaceans, echinoderms and mollusks that you are likely to encounter while diving or snorkeling on southeast Florida’s coral reefs will be introduced in this course. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference.

PADI Project Aware:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 17) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 19)
DESCRIPTION:
This is a formal, but fun, introduction for divers and non-divers alike to the plight of the world’s aquatic ecosystems. It is offered to anyone who wants to learn more about, and take responsibility for, marine and freshwater environments. Although diving and snorkeling offer the best avenues to appreciate the aquatic world, you do not have to be a diver to participate in this Project Aware presentation – it’s open to everyone. The only requirement is an interest in learning more about the 70% of the earth covered in water. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference. A PADI certification for the Project Aware Specialty course will also be available for a fee of $18.00 to cover the cost of the materials, but will not be necessary for participation in this seminar.

Stony Coral Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 24) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 26)
DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce you to thirty species of stony corals found offshore Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference.

Coral+Reef+Identification+Classes+Earth+Month+2012

2013 SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

The Broward Shell Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the studies of malacology and conchology. Since 1962, the Club has been active in education, conservation and preservation of mollusks (terrestrial and marine). At monthly meetings, the Club members provide identification of specimens and have a presentation by a guest speaker.

The Club hosts an annual Shell Show during the third week of January at the Emma Lou Olsen Civic Center in Pompano Beach which provides an educational experience for the public and groups of school children.The Club also provides scholarship funds to undergraduate or graduate students in the field of marine biology at local Colleges or Universities. The guidelines for the award are very simple. The student’s course work should include some aspect of malacology (taxonomy, habitat studies, pollution effects, DNA analysis, etc.) and the applicant will be requested to make a presentation to the Club about their research and how the award assisted them in their goals.

Annual awards of up to $ 1,500.00 may be made to a qualified applicant or split between several qualified applicants. Application deadline is March 1, 2013. Please make the enclosed forms available to your students. Applicants should send the enclosed form (please feel free to make additional copies as necessary) to:

Broward Shell Club

Linda Sunderland

9370 NW 39th Street

Sunrise, Florida 33351

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Click to download application form

Applications will be reviewed by the current Board Members and notification will be sent to the applicant. I may be contacted at (954) 519-1454 (office) or (954) 257-8701 (cell) if you have any additional questions. Linda Sunderland

PANAMA CITY BEACH SHELL SHOW

The Gulf Coast Shell Club will be hosting the 15th Panama City Beach Shell Show – July 13 – 15, 2012. The show will be held at the Panama City Beach Senior Center – 423 Lyndall Lane in Panama City Beach.

Check the web page for a flyer with show information and an exhibitors entry form. Please share this with your viewers and/or post it on your web page.

The Gulf Coast Shell Club meets regularly on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at the Lake Huntington Club House. Visitors are always welcome. For additional Information visit our web site at http://gulfcoastshellclub.weebly.com

SHELLERS’ JAMBOREE

About the Shellers’ Jamboree

Your hosts—Suncoast Conchologists

Saturday and Sunday, May 26-27, 2012: Jamboree BEACH—the Best Escape Anyone Can Have!

So what do you do at a Shellers’ Jamboree? We’ll be enjoying the weekend, meeting and greeting old and new shelling friends at the recently renovated Minnreg Hall in Largo. On Saturday morning, our Beachcombers’ Bazaar (Shellers’ Flea Market) is the time for shellers to sell items of interest to fellow shell enthusiasts. For a nominal fee, you can use an 8-foot table to sell your extra shells or any shell-related items—crafts,clothing, books—whatever. Or simply take it easy and be a browser or buyer! The first Silent Auction will be buzzing all morning. There will also be time for Shell ID and Measuring—any new records out there? Programs will be planned after the Barefoot Deli Buffet as well as another Silent Auction. You won’t want to miss “Shore is Fun!” Happy Hour, before the Beach Ball Buffet, followed by Saturday evening’s program.

Sunday morning you can enter the Shell Show and Art and Craft Show which will be judged by experienced shellers. You may cast your own votes for the Shellers’ Choice Awards. As the day progresses, there will be another silent auction, programs, a verbal auction, our Sunny Day Bar-B-Q, as well as presentation of the show awards. We’ll say good-bye to everyone at that evening’s Sunset Banquet.

Do you have any snail figurines? You’ll be able to show them off on Sunday in our famous and fun Snail Parade. You may enter as many snails as you like. All Jamboree attendees will be the judges this time—everyone will vote for his/her favorite snail in each of the five categories.

We are in need of shells and shell-related items to use for the Jamboree Silent and Verbal Auctions. If you have any shells or related items you would like to contribute, mail your donations to Sharlene Totten, 2252 Springflower Drive, Clearwater, FL 33763.

This is truly a wonderful event and if you have never attended before we encourage you to do so.

All info and forms may be downloaded at http://www.suncoastconchologists.org E-Mail Jamboree2012@aol.com for any questions.

BONNET HOUSE FIELD TRIP

click on photo to enter Bonner House web site

You are invited to attend a field trip to the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. Located at Sunrise Blvd. and A1A, This 1920’s, 35-acre estate is listed on the National Register of Historic places. Our club member-docent, Fran Koerner will be our guide. Check out this Gem in the middle of beautiful Ft Lauderdale Beach (www.bonnethouse.org.). It has something for everyone’s interest, be it history, art, horticulture, birding, or Shells!

DATE – April 14, 2012 TIME – 9:45 a.m.to 12:00COST – $14.00 per person which includes Main house + 15 min. tram tour of the grounds.

NEEDED – minimum 15 – max of 20 to lock in this rate. On your own, It’s $24.00

CONTACT- Heather Strawbridge to reserve your space.

Home- 954-763-6943 / cell-954-330-2521 e-mail – seahorse51@bellsouth.net

EVERGLADES RESTORATION TOUR

On Friday, March 23 the Everglades Restoration foundation presents the Everglades Restoration Tour: Shark Valley and the River of Grass. Shark Valley is the northernmost entrance to Everglades National Park and lies at the heart of this historic ecosystem. Join the foundation at 9:00 to depart from Miami to Shark Valley, where you will travel by tram throughout the park. There will be several scenic and educational stops along the way, including the observation tower which offers a spectacular overlook of the Everglades. After the tour of Shark Valley, the group will stop for lunch before departing on airboats to ride across the River of Grass. Cost is $50.00 per person and included tram tour, airboat fare and a boxes lunch. Space is limited.

Contact Brittnie Bassat at bbassant@evergladesfoundation.org or 305-251-0001