FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 11, 2015
CONTACT: Patrician
Price, 904-823-4506
GTM RESEARCH RESERVE MARINELAND OFFERS LECTURE:
CONSERVATION ISSUES FACING WILD BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS
~Attend a free lecture to learn about risks
to bottlenose dolphins and how you can help~
PONTE VEDRA BEACH -
The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve invites the
public to a free lecture, "Conservation Issues Facing Wild Bottlenose
Dolphins," on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at the Marineland Field
Office.
"Though now listed as a protected species under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act, these charismatic dolphins still face serious threats in many
parts of their habitat," said Michael Shirley, director of the GTM
Research Reserve.
Bottlenose dolphins face many risks in the wild, including disease, injuries from boat strikes or marine debris, entanglements
and ingestion of foreign objects, such as fishing gear.
The two co-speakers presenting the lecture are Terran McGinnis, manager of
education and community development at the Marineland Dolphin Adventure and
Matthew Denny, field coordinator for Georgia Aquarium's Dolphin Conservation
Field Station. They will share how their teams respond to reports of
injured and stranded animals, conduct research and education programs, perform
necropsies on deceased animals and participate in observation studies of
Florida's dolphin population.
Terran McGinnis has extensive experience working with dolphins, and co-authored
the book, "Marineland" in Arcadia Publishing's, "Images of
America" series. She has a degree in biology from the University of
California at Santa Cruz.
Co-speaker Matthew Denny is a member of the Southeast Region Marine Mammal Stranding
Network and is co-investigator of photo-identification longitudinal research.
Denny received his degree in psychology and animal behavior from Clemson
University, with a double minor in biological sciences and Spanish. He also served
in India as a student naturalist, assisting with Bengal tiger conservation
efforts at two different reserves.
The program is part of an ongoing third-Tuesday-of-the-month lecture series
designed to inform the public about Florida’s coastal environment. These events
are free, but space is limited. Reservations can be made online here or
call 904-823-4500 for more information.
WHAT: Lecture: "Conservation Issues Facing Wild
Bottlenose Dolphins"
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 17
10 - 11 a.m.
WHERE: GTM Marineland Office
9741 N. Ocean Shore Blvd.
Marineland, FL 32137
| 
