provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Dr. Mithriel MacKay, a marine biologist working as the Director of the Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center, a non-profit organization, will take a look at ecosystems that you may not be familiar with in deep-sea, through the water column, and ocean surface habitats, while exploring how whales play an important role in the life cycle of mollusk species.
Dr. MacKay, on Sunday, Feb. 8, will discuss valuable insights to be gleaned from traveling mollusks, how whales may play an important role in the movement of mollusk species across unexplained distances, and the role of the relationship between whales and mollusks in helping regulate Earth’s climate. She is an enthusiastic amateur shell collector.
Dr. MacKay has a Doctorate in Marine Biology, a Master’s in Marine Resources Management, a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Medicine, and she worked as a paramedic in the Texas Hill Country. She specializes in creating and teaching dynamic educational platforms for students, interns, and citizen scientists interested in marine ecology.
The meeting will be held at the Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel Captiva Road, on Sanibel. A silent auction will be held from 1:30 to 1:55 p.m. in the Osprey Room, and the meeting begins at 2 p.m. in the Pelican Room. This meeting is open to the public and free of charge.
The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club awards grants from the proceeds of its annual shell show that will be held March 5-7 this year, at the Sanibel Community House. Grants are awarded for education and research in conchology and malacology, as well as for conservation and water-quality projects, primarily in Southwest Florida. For more information or to join the club, visit the Sanibel Shell Club’s website.