Cafe Scientifique

The Annapolis Cafe Scientifique @ 49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar & Gallery
All are welcome, and we are happy to add anyone to the email list. We hope folks will come back in person to 49 West – It’s not Cafe Scientifique without you! You may reserve seats at 49 West by calling 410-626-9796 and asking them to add you to the list for the next Cafe Scientifique event. Note: these events are free. If you are concerned about Covid, feel free to wear a mask, or attend via Zoom (see info below). For more, contact annapoliscafesci@gmail.com

Hello! Two topics in this email:

1. April 27 talk, 6-7:15pm ET: “Trials and Tribulations in Battling Invasive Fishes”, by Joseph Love, Ph.D., Program Manager, Freshwater Fisheries Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

About this Talk: Invasive fishes of Chesapeake Bay watershed have presented resource managers and the general public challenges for nearly two decades, with some met with success. When introduced to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, invasive catfishes (blue catfish and flathead catfish) were considered primarily beneficial targets for recreational anglers. That attitude has changed, though, as each species has expanded their range in the watershed, with blue catfish becoming far more abundant and widespread than flathead catfish, but both posing significant threats. These species were joined by a new invasive fish in the early 2000’s when northern snakeheads were discovered in tidal freshwater of Potomac River. Like the invasive catfishes, northern snakehead, thanks to its extraordinary dispersal ability and unwise human assistance, has expanded its range and abundance and now occupies every major river drainage, as well as some lakes and ponds. The massive expansion of invasive fishes has been challenging to deter with regulations and laws, though outreach has been successful in informing the general public as to what these invasive fishes are and the problems they could cause. Additionally, this information when coupled with harvest incentives, has been successful at encouraging people to fish and eat these invasive fishes. Harvest incentives have included prizes from random drawings, prizes during fishing derbies, invasive fish state record awards, and most recently, cash awards for reporting and harvesting tagged fish. As momentum continues to create harvest fisheries for these species, research becomes even more vital to help understand their impacts, and manage public expectations.

Brief Bio: Dr. Joseph Love, a graduate from Mississippi State University and postdoctoral researcher at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, joined the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in 2009. As a program manager for the Freshwater Fisheries Program, he helps to manage largemouth bass fisheries in tidal freshwater and represents the program on the Department’s Invasive Species Matrix Team. He has worked with both northern snakehead and blue catfish, as well helped author state management plans associated with those species and flathead catfish. Currently, he collaborates routinely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on several projects aimed at harvesting and studying impacts of northern snakeheads.

042723 catfish.jpg

Zoom Info for 4/27/23 Talk: If you cannot attend in person, join the Zoom Meeting. Roz Kleffman will be our Zoom host.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87848406572?pwd=VVVFOVNwNFdtN1VDVDA3Sk5yc0VLdz09
Meeting ID: 878 4840 6572
Passcode: 433794
Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
One tap mobile +13017158592,,87848406572#,,,,*433794# US, Wash DC

2) Link to recording from the 3/30/2323 Cafe Sci presentation: “Serendipity in Science: Investigating Malaria Transmission from the Perspective of a Green Alga”,
by William Snell, Ph.D., Cell Biologist, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/kWApJ-VgZ99F8sYpSyzjy-qrZ3LyofmASZcM7-ErysntyPYiOvRL19NV2MXpJBY.a26-f1FvlhbNBltg

Passcode:4ui.XmsD

Feel free to contact us with questions and suggestions for speakers, and please forward this email to anyone who might be interested.

Hope to see you in person at 49 West (or online) on Thursday, April 27th at 49 West! Feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested!

Yours in Science,

Tracy Gill, Andy Loftus, Roz Kleffman, and Paul Gruner
Co-hosts of Annapolis Café Scientifique at 49 West