Alabama: A Powerhouse of Turtle Diversity
Tuesday, February 17, 2022
2:00 pm
Event by Longleaf Botanical Gardens
Alabama is a powerhouse of turtle diversity, boasting more turtle species than any other state in the U.S. (and more than most countries!). In this talk, Dr. Grover Brown from Jacksonville State University will explore why Alabama has such diversity and highlight the fascinating ecology and biology of some species that you can find in your backyard. We will discuss how some studies of turtles have contributed to modern medicine and even space exploration.
Dr. Grover Brown grew up relatively nearby in Cartersville, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology from the University of Georgia, where his undergraduate research focused on herpetology – the study of reptiles and amphibians. After graduating, he moved to Vietnam, where he worked as a conservation intern studying critically endangered turtle species for the Asian Turtle Program. Then upon returning to the U.S., Dr. Brown began his Ph.D. learning the ecology and evolutionary history of musk turtles in the Southeastern United States. He finished his degree in 2020, and he started as an Assistant Professor at Jacksonville State University in Fall 2021. Dr. Brown is excited to return to the region where he grew up and study Alabama’s unique turtle diversity.
This program is $5 per person and free for AM&G members. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit www.ExploreAMAG.org or call 256-237-6766.
