BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM Dr. Gregory Herbert

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel is set to kick off its Season Lecture Series at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. The first lecture will be:

– Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m.: “Loving Icons to Death: The Story of Florida’s Horse Conch” with Dr. Gregory Herbert, associate professor of geosciences at the University of South Florida in Tampa

The Florida horse conch is a famed mollusk resident of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida’s state shell, and it is one of the largest marine gastropods in the world with a maximum shell length of about 2 feet. Although the species is prized by collectors and fished commercially, overharvesting and habitat losses are pushing populations to their limits. Herbert will discuss the natural history of horse conchs and shows how the geochemistry of their shells helps wildlife managers understand the species’ capacity to recover. He will also share the results of some of his recent research on the health and status of the species in Southwest Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

At USF, Herbert conducts research on marine conservation, molluscan biology and evolution, and isotope geochemistry. He received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of California, Davis, and a Bachelor of Science philosophy from Loyola University in New Orleans. He is the former director of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and Environment at USF.

“Greg Herbert’s observations and research on horse conchs is changing the ways in which we understand, appreciate and must organize to protect this much-loved species,” museum Executive Director Sam Ankerson said. “We are fortunate to have this opportunity to learn more about this amazing animal and Greg’s work.”

BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM Florida horse conch

The cost is $10 per person or free for museum members; membership will be confirmed upon registration. It includes choice of wine, beer or non-alcoholic beverage and a light snack.

Advance registration is required at ShellMuseum.org/in-person-lectures.

For more information, visit ShellMuseum.org/in-person-lectures.