Seaweeds and Spiders – upcoming talks of interest
The Western Australian Naturalists’ Club has several interesting talks coming up in May.
Dr John Huisman. Image credit: University of Western Australia
The history and current state of seaweed diversity in the Perth region will be the theme of a presentation by Dr John Huisman, Curator of the Western Australian Herbarium (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions) at the Kalamunda Community Centre at 7.30pm 9 May.
Dr Huisman also undertakes taxonomic research into Western Australian marine plants and has written ten books and over 200 articles and chapters describing various seaweed-related topics, including the pictorial guide, ‘Marine Plants of Australia (revised and updated) in 2023.
His presentation will give a general overview and then concentrate on his efforts to clarify the identities of several species that were described by Irish botanist William Henry Harvey in 1855.
Open holed trapdoor spider (Proshermacha telaporta) occurs north of Perth. Image credit: Western Australian Museum
Mygalomorph spiders (trapdoors and their relatives) is the topic of a talk by Dr Jeremy Wison, Postdoctoral Researcher working on trapdoor and other spiders at The University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum.
This event will be at 7.30 pm on 21 May at the Henderson Environmental Centre, Groat Street, North Beach.
Dr Wilson’s presentation will examine the evolution of the burrowing behaviour in mygalomorph spiders.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about trapdoor spiders and to acknowledge the pioneering work of the Western Australian Naturalist Club’s late Patron, Barbara York Main OAM, Adjunct Professor, School of Animal Biology, UWA.
WA Naturalists, one of Austalia’s oldest conservation groups, is a lively organisation designed to cater for environmentally conscious members of the community. The Club’s Co-Patrons are the Hon Kerry Sanderson, AO CVO, former Governor of Western Australia and founding Chair of the WA Parks Foundation and Professor Lyn Beazley AO, Honorary Institute of Advanced Studies Distinguished Fellow (UWA). Professor Beazley is a Park Ambassador.
