Gerry Marantelli "Amphropomorphosis: does being amphibians help us understand them better?" Sep 2019

September’s presenter is Gerry Marantelli, who has met more amphibians than people and shares his home, his food and his life with them. His mission has always been to bring people and amphibians closer together. Gerry describes himself as a scientist, activist, educator and naturalist. He will present “Amphropomorphosis: does being amphibians help us understand them better?”

As placental amphibians we still bear the indelible stamp (heart, lungs, digits and much more) of our ‘lowly’ origin. Look through the eyes of a frog: should conservation be based on human ethics or the raison d’être of amphibian existence?

Deon Gilbert, "How to lose ten years of your life", Aug 2019

August’s presenter is Deon Gilbert, Threatened Species Biologist for Zoos Victoria, specialising in herpetofauna. He will present “How to lose ten years of your life”, his story of a decade in Baw Baw Frog recovery.

Dr Geoff Heard, "From rain-shadow to rainforest..." July 2019

"From rain-shadow to rainforest: microclimate as a common constraint on chytrid impacts on Australian frogs"

July’s presenter is Dr. Geoff Heard, Senior Scientist with the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research and accomplished herpetologist and conservation scientist. He will present “From rain-shadow to rainforest: microclimate as a common constraint on chytrid impacts on Australian frogs”, which will examine how the environment shapes chytrid fungus impacts on frog populations that are far flung in space and niche, from the rain-shadow grasslands north of Melbourne, to the rainforests of the Wet Tropics. Despite living in vastly different environments, the capacity of these frogs to survive chytrid epidemics is aided by a common ally – warm microclimates. I will cover the drivers of environmental temperatures in frog habitat, and how knowledge of these drivers may allow us to manage frog populations that are susceptible to chytrid.