HOW TO BUILD A NATIONAL PARK Alan is a CPA qualified accountant with a lifelong passion for the environment. Having had a fascination for birds from a young age, after settling in the southern suburbs in the mid-1980s, he had a desire to see local open space preserved for nature. Increasing losses of open space had occurred and starting as a member of Trees for Life, Alan’s first efforts were plantings in the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park. In 1996 an…

RESTORING THE REEFS WE NEVER KNEW WE LOST Dr. Dominic McAfee is a University of Adelaide Research Associate in the School of Biological Sciences.   I am a marine ecologist with a special interest in shellfish ecology. My research is heavily focused on applied marine conservation management and restoration ecology. Much of my research has focused on the capacity of wild oyster populations to protect coastal biodiversity from the extremities of climate change. The majority of this work has been…

6.30pm B.C.S.A. A.G.M. 7.00pm Public Talk on Protecting Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats in the Mallee Southern hairy nosed wombats are the state fauna emblem. Protection efforts began in the 1960s after a severe drought. Moorunde Wildlife Reserve was established in 1968 and is now home to about 2000 wombats. In a climate of hostility towards them from surrounding landowners, Moorunde remains a haven for the species. Presented by Dr. Peter Clements, President, Wombats SA   Entry by donation (minimum of $2).…

Parasites: the silent majority. The world’s biota probably includes more parasitic than non-parasitic species. Analyses of biodiversity have indicated that although more species of insect have been described and more are awaiting description than for any other group, each of  those species will host at least 1 species of nematode as well as other ecto and endo parasites. As shown in a case study of wombat nematodes, parasites have important roles to play within ecosystems and have evolutionary value. Presented…

Public Talk by Professor Robert S. Hill, Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide Evolution of the southern Australian vegetation – the World’s biggest climate change experiment Professor Robert Hill will explain how 45 million years ago, southern Australia was attached to Antarctica and was covered in diverse and dense tropical rainforest. Through time, the climate has dried, and the rainforests have been replaced by a mosaic of dry-adapted vegetation.   Entry by donation (minimum of $2). Bookings not required Please…

Butterfly Conservation SA is pleased invite you to attend the official launch of ‘Caterpillars, Moths and their Plants of Southern Australia’ at the SA Museum, in a joint event with Members of the Museum. Special guests will be the SA Museum Director Brian Oldman and lead author Peter McQuillan. The Museum Shop will have Moth books available for sale at a special stand. Free entry options available - all attendees must register below.

Natural enemies of butterflies Public talk by Emeritus Professor Dr. Michael Keller from the University of Adelaide Butterflies die from attacks by a wide range of natural enemies, that include vertebrates, predators, parasitic insects and pathogens.  This talk will describe the biology, behaviour and ecology of predatory and parasitic arthropods. Prof. Mike Keller is Dean of the Waite Campus, Head of the School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, and Director of the Waite Research Institute. Mike is an entomologist who…