Dr. Doug Tallamy

Wildlife ecologist and insect expert, Dr. Doug Tallamy to speak at AU.

Dr. Tallamy will speak about the topic of his book, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. The lecture will take place on October 19th, 2010 in the Science Center Auditorium at 5 PM. Refreshments and book signing to follow.

Tallamy is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. He has authored more than 65 research articles and has taught insect taxonomy, behavioral ecology, as well as numerous other subjects. He has been the recipient of many grants and has spoken to academic institutions nationally and internationally.

His current research focus is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities.

"I realized that the whole evolutionary process, the dance between insects and plants, is blocked when plants are brought in from elsewhere. Insects can't eat the non-native plants so energy is not transferred up the food chain," Tallamy says. "Since 96% of our terrestrial birds feed insects to their young, when the insects can't find food, the birds can't find food and all the interactions that keep our ecosystems going stop."

Dr. Tallamy won the Silver Medal from the Garden Writer’s Association for his book, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants.

If you need more information on parking or building location, please call the Davis Arboretum at 844-5770, or 332-0430 or email drs0001@auburn.edu. The Lee County Master Gardeners will give guided tours of the Arboretum each second Friday and Saturday of the month. The one-hour tours run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and begin each hour, on the hour. Parking will be available for those interested in taking a tour.

 

The Donald E. Davis Arboretum is funded and managed by the College of Sciences and Mathematics.