This presentation will explore the concept of endemism and cover some of the species of animals and plants found only in Arkansas. We will learn about secretive burrowing crayfish, tiny venomous catfish, salamanders that live on "sky-islands", plants with mysterious hybrid origins, and many other species that are found nowhere else on earth but the Natural State.
This class will be taught by Dr. Dustin Lynch, Chief of Research and Zoologist for the Arkansas Natural heritage Commission. He holds a Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Arkansas and a master's degree in Zoology from Oklahoma State University. Dustin conducts surveys for rare and imperiled species across the state, supervises a team of biologists in the Heritage Commission's research division, and collaborates with state and federal agencies, universities, and other partners on numerous research projects across Arkansas. Dustin has worked with many taxonomic groups, including fish, crayfish, aquatic insects, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. His research interests include community ecology, stream ecology, phylogenetics, natural history collections, and conservation biology. He is an avid birder, stream snorkeler, and photographer.