<p>MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Mike Bottini For Immediate Release: (631) 267-5228 March 14, 2016 [email protected] Naturalists to Discuss Southern Pine Beetle, Shellfish Restoration At Region’s Largest Forum for Applied Field Biology</p><p>More than 300 participants will join dozens of Long Island scientists and naturalists when present new information on vital topics as diverse as the threat to the Central Pine Barrens caused by the southern pine beetle, the restoration of Great South Bay shellfish, and the presence of sharks in local waters at the 2016 Long Island Natural History Conference to be held on March 18 and 19 at Brookhaven National Laboratory.</p><p>The conference is open to the public and will be the largest regional forum for the exchange of information pertaining to applied field biology and natural history. The forum will help to identify research and management needs and encourage a greater interest in Long Island’s natural history.</p><p>The conference will feature 17 presentations by leading Long Island scientists and naturalists on topics including the southern pine beetle, Great Gull Island terns, shellfish restoration in the Great South Bay, eel grass restoration, student-centered biodiversity DNA research, Italian wall lizards, sharks in our near shore waters, the ecology of the eastern hog-nosed snake, stray tropical fish of New York, an update on efforts to restore the American Chestnut, and the historical ecology of the Great South Bay’s Blue Point oyster. Author, conservationist, and founder of the Safina Center, Carl Safina, will serve as keynote speaker on Saturday. </p><p>WHEN: Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19, from 8:30am – 4:30pm </p><p>WHERE: Berkner Auditorium at Brookhaven National Laboratory, William Floyd Parkway, Upton, New York.</p><p>REGISTRATION/COST: Walk-in registration is available. To pre-register, go to LongIslandNature.org. General admission is $40 for the public, $25 for students.</p><p>*Great photo opportunities available*</p><p>For more detailed information on the 2016 Long Island Natural History Conference, visit our website at http://longislandnature.org/.</p><p>###</p>