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ALBANY – The New York State Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) and the New York State Museum will present weekly lectures in October focusing on recent biodiversity research, conservation and education initiatives in New York State.

All lectures are free and will be held on Wednesdays at noon in the Museum Theater. Lecture topics and dates are:

October 4 – “Promoting Biodiversity Stewardship on Private Forest Land in New York

State.” Dr. Michael Burger, director of bird conservation at Audubon New York, will present the results of field research on wildlife species distributions in relation to forest management and discuss practical, ecologically sustainable forestry practices.

October 11 – “Utricularia inflata: Yet Another Invasive Threat to Aquatic Biodiversity?”

Dr. John Titus, associate professor of biology at Binghamton University (SUNY), will share his research on the ecological impact of the swollen bladderwort (Utricularia inflate), a non-native freshwater plant that is rapidly invading lakes in the Adirondack Park.

October 18 – “Trends in New York's Rare Plants: Why Have Some Common Plants Become Rare?” Steve Young, program botanist with the New York Natural Heritage Program, will talk about rare plants and discuss why some species, once common in the state, are now considered rare. October 25 – “Grassland Birds in the Northeast: Ecology, Management, and Conservation.” Dr. Chris Norment, professor of environmental science and biology at SUNY Brockport, will discuss the ecology and conservation of grassland birds, populations of which have declined significantly in the Northeast during the last four decades.

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The New York State Legislature created the Biodiversity Research Institute in 1993 to help meet the challenges associated with preserving the state’s biodiversity. The BRI serves as a comprehensive source of information, which is used to advise both public and private agencies on matters relating to the status of New York’s biological resources. Housed within the New York State Museum, the BRI is funded through the Environmental Protection Fund. The BRI includes several collaborators, including the State Museum, the New York Natural Heritage Program, Audubon New York, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, New York, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and The Nature Conservancy. Further information is available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/bri/ or by calling (518) 474-6531.

The New York State Museum is a cultural program of the New York State Department of Education. Founded in 1836, the Museum has the longest continuously operating state natural history research and collection survey in the U.S. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

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