Shell museum to hold next lecture
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel is continuing with its annual lecture series, which is offered virtually via Zoom and free of charge. The next lecture in the series will be:
– Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m.: “The Secret and Endangered Lives of Freshwater Mussels” with Dr. John Pfeiffer, curator of bivalvia for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Pfeiffer’s presentation will introduce the world of freshwater mussel biodiversity, which is frequently considered one of the most endangered groups of animals in the world. It will explore aspects of mussels’ morphology, ecological interactions and what scientists are doing to prevent further extinctions.
Pfeiffer is a research zoologist and curator of bivalvia at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. His research program combines field work, natural history collections and genetics to better understand the evolution, ecology and conservation of freshwater mussels. Pfeiffer earned his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Florida.
Shell museum Executive Director Sam Ankerson will provide the introduction for the lecture, along with an update on the museum post-Hurricane Ian.
Advance registration is required.
For more information or to register, visit https://www.shellmuseum.org/online-lectures.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
To reach BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM, please email