The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel has unveiled its upcoming summer and fall virtual lecture series, which will be accessible via Zoom and free for all attendees.
“We’re excited to bring together some of the foremost experts from leading natural history institutions to share their knowledge on the fascinating world of shells and the creatures that create them,” said Sam Ankerson, Executive Director of the museum.
The series kicks off on August 22 at 5:30 p.m. with Dr. Timothy Pearce, Assistant Curator of the Section of Mollusks at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Pearce will present “Ecological and Historical Studies on Land Snails: Tiger Snails and Glacial History.” His talk will highlight recent findings on land snail populations in the northeastern United States, focusing on how ancient geological events and current environmental challenges have shaped their existence.
One of the key topics will be the decline of the tiger snail, a species that was once abundant in the northeastern region of North America. Dr. Pearce’s research has uncovered a significant link between the rise of acid rain since the mid-1900s and the decline of this and other land snail species.
Additionally, Dr. Pearce will delve into the glacial history of northern Michigan, dating back 20,000 years, when glaciers covered the area. By studying current land snail populations across Michigan’s islands and peninsulas, he sheds light on how these ancient geological forces have influenced the distribution of species today.
“Dr. Pearce is a leading figure in malacology, blending extensive fieldwork with a deep understanding of geological history,” Ankerson added. “This lecture is sure to be both informative and engaging.”
Dr. Pearce, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in paleontology from the University of California, Berkeley, also oversees a collection of 1.8 million snails and clams at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
The lecture series continues with two more intriguing presentations:
- September 19 at 5:30 p.m.: “Towards a New Great Hall of Shells” with Sam Ankerson and Dr. José H. Leal, Museum Curator and Science Director. This session will offer a sneak peek into the museum’s reimagined permanent shell exhibits, set to reopen this fall after extensive planning and design efforts.
- October 17 at 5:30 p.m.: “Carrier Shells: Nature’s Original Shell Collector” with Gary Kidder, Collections Manager for Malacology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Kidder will explore the fascinating world of carrier shells, a group of gastropods that have been collecting shells for nearly 100 million years, discussing their unique behavior and attachment methods.
Advance registration is required for these free lectures. To register or learn more, visit ShellMuseum.org/online-lectures. Recordings of previous lectures are also available online.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is located at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
