September 9, 2008* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Scott McDonnell: "GIS Environmental Attributes and Forest Health."
Learn about developing hardware and software technologies relative to environmental risk assessments and damages, such as from defoliation. Scott is the GIS aerial surveyor for the NYS DEC.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

October 14, 2008* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Joe Zysman: "The Nature of the Fire Island Wilderness Area."
This will be a talk about the flora and fauna of the Fire Island Wilderness Area within the Fire Island National Seashore. It will also cover related issues such as planning processes that affect Fire Island as well as the history of Fire Island. Joe is President of the Fire Island Wilderness Committee.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

November 11, 2008* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Jamie Boyer: "Modeling the Telome Theory - Simulations of Early Land Plant Development."
For well over 50 years, the Telome Theory of Walter Zimmermann has been extremely influential in interpreting the evolutionary history of land plant architecture. Modeling techniques have been employed to create a detailed description of theoretical 'elementary processes' proposed by Zimmermann and to ascertain developmental information from the fossil record. Jamie is a Ph.D. candidate at SUNY Binghamton, where he studies the evolution and development of early land plants, and is the Associate Director of Teacher Professional Development at The New York Botanical Garden.
Location: Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, Earth and Space Science Building,
Gil Hanson Room (Room 123) SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook

December 9, 2008* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Andy Greller: "Rainforests of Southern South America."
Learn from the LIBS VP whose areas of expertise include both forest ecology and tropical biology. Andy is a Past President of the Torrey Botanical Society, a member of the LIBS Local Flora Committee, and is currently leading other LIBS members in field work to update the Flora of Queens County.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

Reminder: our schedule has changed, and there will be no meetings in January or February.

March 10, 2009* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Members Night: Members are welcome to bring slides, stories, specimens, and tales of peculiar sightings of favorite plants. A great opportunity to show what you have found while exploring on Long Island or elsewhere. Please call Rich Kelly in advance to advise as to the approximate number of slides/images that you would like to show and preferred medium of presentation. Thanks.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

April 14, 2009* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Sarah Gray: "More Than Just an Ant Trap: Dynamics of the Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia purpurea, and the Food Web Inhabiting its Leaves."
In order for the Pitcher Plant to receive its much needed nutrients, it must rely on the interactions within the microbial aquatic food web that resides inside its leaves. This talk will describe the essential interaction between this carnivorous plant and its food web, and experiments that are being done using this food web to ask fundamental questions about species interactions. Sarah is a Ph.D Candidate in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. She is interested in how different biotic and abiotic factors affect the dynamics within a community through time. She is also using molecular techniques to determine the bacterial diversity of the food web and how it may affect both the plant and the remaining members of the food web.
Location: Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, Earth and Space Science Building, Gil Hanson Room (Room 123), SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook

May 12, 2009* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Marilyn Jordan: "A Ranking System for Evaluating Non-Native Plant Species for Invasiveness: Legal implications for LI and NYS."
In 2007 the Suffolk and Nassau County Legislatures passed resolutions that prohibited the sale of 63 non-native, invasive plant species. Species on these lists, and new species, will be revised based on invasiveness assessments made using a ranking system developed by The Nature Conservancy and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. LIBS is providing valuable input as a member of a stakeholder review committee. Dr. Jordan will demonstrate how the ranking system works, present results, and discuss how the assessments will contribute to creation of prohibited plant lists. Marilyn received her Ph.D. in plant ecology from Rutgers University. She has more than 20 years of research experience at Rutgers, Cornell University, and the Ecosystems Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, MA). She is currently a conservation scientist for The Nature Conservancy.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

June 9, 2009* Tuesday, 5:30 PM
(please note early start time for the barbeque)
Annual Barbeque: The annual barbeque, featuring Chef Eric's made-to-order hot dogs and hamburgers. Salads, deviled eggs, desserts, etc. gladly accepted. The traditional location - on the green behind the Muttontown Preserve meeting house.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

September 8, 2009* Tuesday, 7:30 PM

Lois Lindberg: "Wildflowers of the Northeast - Folklore and More."
Many of our common wildflowers are easily identified, but it's often the story behind their names that fascinates people.  This program will cover wildflowers from Long Island, the Catskills, and New England, and will highlight the history, origin of names, and folklore that surrounds them.  Come and get re-acqainted with some old botanical favorites.  Lois is a naturalist and long-time LIBS member.
Location: Bill Paterson Nature Center, Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich

October 13, 2009* Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Mary Beth and Paul Tomko: "The Edgewood Oak-Brush Plains Preserve."
The Edgewood Oak-Brush Plains State Preserve is the second largest remnant of pitch pine/scrub oak in NY and the only such area on Long Island. The past, present, and future of this unique habitat, which lies in western Suffolk County, will be presented. Mary Beth and Paul represent The Friends of the Edgewood Oak-Brush Plains Preserve.
Location: Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, Earth and Space Science Building, Gil Hanson Room (Room 123), SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook

* Refreshments and informal talk begin at 7:30.
Formal meeting starts at 8:00 PM.
Directions to Muttontown: 516-571-8500
Directions to Stony Brook: 516-354-6506