Wild Nite On Sharks Concludes Wild Nite Series

Media Release
Contact Kathy Brooks
904-277-4507
[email protected]
April 19, 2016 10:49 a.m.

Dr. Jim Gelsleichter, who manages the Shark Biology Program at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, will be Wild Amelia’s final speaker for the 2015-2016 Wild Nites nature forum series on Tuesday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at the Peck Center Auditorium, 516 S. 10th Street in Fernandina Beach. Wild Amelia has designated the shark as the “critter of the year” this year to call attention to the decline in shark populations through overfishing and habitat loss and the potential problems in the ocean food chain this decline might cause.

Dr. Gelsleichter has studied sharks for more than 20 years. He earned a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary. Now an Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Gelsleichter teaches courses in shark biology, endocrinology, and toxicology and manages the research program focused on shark biology. This research program focuses on three major topics: ecology of shark populations in northeast Florida waters, reproductive biology and physiology of sharks, and effects of environmental pollutants on sharks and other fish species. Come learn about Dr. Gelsleichter’s work with sharks on September 8. Learn about the types of sharks in Amelia Island waters and learn why these apex predators are important to the health of ocean ecosystems. This program, like all Wild Nites, is free and open to the public.

The Wild Nite series is one of many educational programs offered by Wild Amelia whose mission is to educate residents of and visitors to Amelia Island about the island’s wildlife and wild places. Wild Nites are held monthly on the second Tuesday of the month, from September to May, leading up to the Wild Amelia Nature Festival, set for May 20-22, 2016. For more information about this 10th annual Wild Amelia Nature Festival or the programs of Wild Amelia, please visit wildamelia.com and Wild Amelia on Facebook.