New England Fireflies: Learning to appreciate and preserve them
June 26, 2019 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
As we approach the peak of firefly season when so many of us share a childlike wonder at the lighting shows that these striking bioluminescent beetles (yes, they’re beetles, not flies) can display, Dr. Cratsley will give us insight into their behavior, and how we can take a role in preserving the many different species of fireflies. We will learn about how researchers have begun to uncover many of the unique features that have shaped their evolutionary diversification. Sadly, we also learn how we may now be in the process of losing much of this biodiversity. In this presentation, we will discuss what makes New England fireflies so special and how the Firefly Watch project is working to understand and protect them.
Dr. Christopher Cratsley is the Director of Assessment at Fitchburg State University. He served as a Professor of Biology, interim Department Chair of Biology and Chemistry and Graduate Program Chair for Biology and Science Education before taking on his current role. Dr. Cratsley received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Undergraduate Teacher’s Education Program from Brown University and his doctoral degree in Biology at Tufts University. Among other interests, Dr. Cratsley has devoted much of his research to studying fireflies and is actively involved in the Firefly Watch citizen science project.
In partnership with New Canaan Land Trust
