MEMBER PROGRAM
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
“SPHAGNUM MOSS – THE MOST IMPORTANT PLANT IN THE UNIVERSE”
Sphagnum mosses are wetland plants consisting of over 200 species found around the world. Their unique ability to hold huge amounts of water as well as biologically make
the water in which they grow become more acidic creates wetland environments in which decay rates are very low and large amounts of organic matter accumulate in the
form of peat. Worldwide this peat has accumulated  in bog up to 20 ft in depth and is responsible for around a quarter of the biologically stored carbon on the planet. Climatic
warming could well change this situation and trigger release of stored carbon in peat by increasing decay rates in northern latitudes in Alaska, Canada and the Russia.

Richard Andrus, PhD is well known in the community for producing distinguished naturalists such as  Victor Lamoureux.  After completing his PhD in Forest Botany at SUNY ESF, he moved to Binghamton in  1973 where he has taught in the Environmental Studies Program at Binghamton University ever since.  His research has been primarily on the classification and  ecology of Sphagnum moss, which has provided him the opportunity to travel fo research to most of  the cool and wet places in the world.

Our September Meeting will also feature an Open House.

Wood Carvings by Tim Hill We will have a short presentation by Tim Hill showing and discussing his wood carvings.  You can  check out Tim’s work by visiting his website at http://woodcarvingsbytimhill.weebly.com.

Animal Rehabilitation
Barb Cole, club member and licensed wildlife rehabilitator, will bring a rescued animal.  At the  meeting, we encourage members to show their support for local wildlife rehabilitators by helping to collect  donations of rehabilitation supplies.
Suggested donations include: small coffee  filters, baby food, powdered milk,
old blankets and towels, dog food, and paper towels.