Jimmy Stiles and some of his live animal friends together with Valerie Castanza of Raptor Ridge will explore the connectedness of the natural world. We will meet some of our state’s coolest critters and talk about how they are connected by the web of life.
These connections weave a complex tapestry that form Alabama’s rich biodiversity which rivals that of anywhere on earth. These species can tell stories of the abiotic and biotic factors that influence their ability to call Alabama home. Each of the critters will help us understand ecological concepts such as keystone species, commensalism, migrations, and trophic levels. We will also discuss steps that need to be taken to prevent this tapestry from unravelling in the face of current environmental challenges.
Friday's Presenters
Curtis Hansen: Auburn University Museum of Natural History
Allison Mathis, April Waltz, Avy Elmore, & Tyler Burgener: Alabama Wildlife Federation
Kathryn Williamson: Energy Alabama
Beth Bero: Von Braun Astronomical Society
Bridget Murphy: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division
Jocelyn Miller & Dennis Liu: E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
Sabrina Atkinson: Dauphins Island Sea Lab Discovery Hall
Renee Raney: Alabama State Parks
Meredith Donaldson: McDowell Environmental Center
Saturday's Presenters
Bill Deutsch: Retired Auburn University
Emily Alman: Little Mountain Forest School
Maggie Amsler: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Anne Ledvina: Reach the World
Michelle Wooten: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Scott Duncan: Alabama Audubon
Beth Girard: Tim Ford State Park
Claire Datnow & Elyse Villa: Birmingham Museum of Art, Media Mint Publishing, Audubon-Datnow Forest Preserve at Putnam Middle School
Anne Markham Bailey: Anne Markham Bailey Nature Therapy
Janice Barrett: Wild Alabama
Mirandi Watson: Acorn & Oak Forest School for Grownups