Thursday Night Nature: Young Forests = Biodiversity and Healthier Ecosystems with Dan Duran, Ph.D. (May 1, 2025)

Frequently, conservationists and others have led us to treasure older forests more than other ecosystems. Open-field habitats and young forests, however, hold significantly more biodiversity than closed-canopy forests. Those younger forests are often undervalued and less protected. Dr. Dan Duran will sketch some of the differences in these habitats, give us an overview of the conservation issues, and discuss ways that listeners can get involved in helping to create and maintain early successional forest and edge habitats.

Dr. Daniel P. Duran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Rowan University as well as the Naturalist for Scotland Run Park, a 1300-acre nature preserve at the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.  He has published research papers on agricultural entomology, biodiversity, molecular phylogenetics and climate change.  Dr. Duran has described 17 new species of insects and plants, previously unknown to science.  He received a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Stockton University in 1998, an M.S. in Entomology from University of Missouri in 2002, and a Ph.D. in Evolution and Ecology from Vanderbilt University in 2010.  In between his degrees, he has also worked for the Natural History Museum, London, UK and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.  Dr. Duran is a co-author of the book “A Field Guide to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada, 2nd Edition”.

Program Fee: $15 (Members, enter your code at checkout to receive your 20% discount.)

All lectures will be held virtually using Zoom. They will be recorded and shared with everyone who registers for a short time.