Free Conservation Lecture Series Returns: Kicks-off with the Amazing Life Cycle of the Salmon
December 4, 2012—The first Sequoia Park Zoo conservation lecture in the 2012-2013 series is a fascinating introduction to the life cycle and conservation of the salmon and its close relative, the trout.
On Wednesday, December 12, Darren Ward, an assistant professor in the Department of Fisheries Biology at Humboldt State University, will present an illustrated talk entitled “Life Cycles and Conservation of Northern California Salmon and Trout”. The talk will trace the amazing journey these fish take, starting in freshwater streams, traveling across oceans, and returning to the same freshwater stream to breed and die.
“The lifecycles of salmon and trout are truly incredible, spanning multiple habitats and huge distances,” says Ward. “I’ll talk about the journeys our local populations take and how differences in the life cycle among species, populations, and even individuals within a population can affect conservation efforts.”
Dr Ward conducts research on the ecology of freshwater fish, particularly population ecology and conservation of salmon. He worked on restoration ecology of Atlantic salmon in New England before coming to Humboldt State, and holds a PhD from Dartmouth College, an MS from the University of Minnesota, and a BS from Utah State University.
The talk will take place in the Zoo’s classroom in the Secrets of the Forest building at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12, with a reception starting 30 minutes prior to the talk. There is no charge to attend, and both Zoo members and non-members are invited.
“This talk is particularly timely for us as we embark on the design and construction of our new Watershed Heroes project,” says Gretchen Ziegler, Zoo Manager and Chair of the Conservation Advisory Committee. “Salmon are one of the three species in this project– the others being Bald eagles and River otters –which is scheduled to open in 2014.”
The next lecture in the series will take place on January 9, 2013. Gary Falxa, a biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will present “Conservation of the Marbled Murrelet - a Bird of Two Worlds”.
For a full schedule of upcoming conservation lectures, visit the zoo's Conservation Lecture page.
Contact: Gretchen Ziegler
Phone: 707-441-4227
E-mail: zoomanager@sequoiaparkzoo.net
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