Join us for a special lecture featuring Benjamin Keck, Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the Etnier Ichthyological Collection, from UT's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He'll be joined by the McClung Museum's Curator of Malacology, Gerry Dinkins. Dinkins is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The program will be preceded by a light reception starting at 5:30pm. The lecture will start at 6pm.
 

Tennessee is home to a remarkable array of freshwater species, with the second greatest number of freshwater mussel species in the United States. Of the 140 recognized mussel species, 59 are federally threatened or endangered, and ten went extinct prior to the 1973 Endangered Species Act, making them one of the most imperiled animal groups in North America. The Tennessee River, which drains seven Southeastern states, is the most diverse river system for freshwater mussels in North America. This program will delve into Tennessee’s mussel fauna, highlighting species that have been lost, those teetering on the brink of extinction, and those that have been successfully brought back. Additionally, over 350 species of freshwater fishes swim in Tennessee’s waters, making it the most biodiverse state for freshwater fishes. The diversity and population size of these species have fluctuated over time due to human impact on the environment, species discoveries, and conservation efforts. The program will also explore the factors influencing the diversity and imperilment of Tennessee’s freshwater fishes.

Gerald (Gerry) Dinkins graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1980 with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and a M.S. in Ecology in 1984.  He has been the curator of malacology at the McClung Museum since 2007 and has steadily expanded the collection into one of the largest and most complete in the United States.  The collection has approximately 200,00 specimens of freshwater mussels, aquatic snails, and terrestrial snails from six continents, 29 countries, and from 42 U.S. states.

Ben Keck grew up in Kentucky and earned a BS in Biology at Centre College before heading to the University of Tennessee in 2000. He earned a MS and PhD in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UT, spent time as a Post Doctoral fellow and Assistant Curator at Cornell and Yale, and moved back to UT in 2011. He is the Director of the DA Etnier Ichthyological Collection and Teaching Professor in the Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. The DA Etnier Collection has approximately 500,000 specimens from around the world with a focus on southeastern North American fishes.

Funding for the McClung Museum’s educational programming has been provided by the Knox County Tourism Consortium.