Each month the Hill Country Chapter invites speakers who are experts in the field of Nature and Conservation to give a presentation about their field of expertise. In former years our Chapter Meetings were open to the public and held at the UGRA Building in Kerrville, Texas, but the restrictions placed on us because of the COVID-19 pandemic have made it necessary for our Chapter Members to attend the monthly meeting on ZOOM.
This month’s Chapter Meeting will be held on ZOOM on September 27, 2021 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The speaker will be Dan Daugherty.
Dan Daugherty – Understanding the Life History of the Alligator Gar in Texas
Dan is a senior fisheries scientist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center. He received a Bachelor of Science in Aquatic Ecology from Northern Michigan University (Marquette, Michigan), and Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana). In addition to his work with the TPWD, Dan serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Fisheries Society’s scientific journal, North American Journal of Fisheries Management. Dan lives in Kerrville with his wife, Carolina, daughters Andrea and Camila, and in his free time enjoys hunting, fishing, and arrowhead collecting.
Presentation Title: New Technology for an Old Fish – Understanding the Life History of the Alligator Gar in Texas
Presentation Summary: Historically considered an undesirable species, the Alligator Gar has become increasingly popular among anglers in recent years, particularly in Texas. However, little was known of about the age, growth, habitat use, and movement of these fish – life history characteristics essential for science-based management. This presentation will highlight how scientists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in collaborations with university and governmental researchers, blended physics, chemistry, and biology to understand the life history of Alligator Gar using non-traditional approaches.
The Chapter Meetings of Texas Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter usually occur on fourth Mondays of each month, excluding August and December. The business portion of the Meetings begin at 6:15 pm and the Speaker’s Presentation begins at 7:00 pm. If the Meeting is to be held on ZOOM, a link is posted before the Meeting so members can log on.
We hope to be able to resume our in-person Meetings at some point in the future, but for now we are still dedicated to serving our Membership by offering these interesting and educational Presentations through the ZOOM online platform and the public by posting recordings of the Presentations on our Chapter’s YouTube Channel.
Some of the most recent videos include:
- The Ecological Impacts of Overabundant White-tailed Deer and Exotics
- Heat and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature
- The Rich Archaeology of the Texas Hill Country
- Aquatics, a Presentation by Dick Luebke (Parts I and II)
- Snakes of the Hill Country of Central Texas
- Our Water, Our Future, Ours to Protect
- Moths, the Mysterious Majority, a Presentation by Valerie Bugh
To view posted videos of past Speakers who have given Presentations after the Business Session of our Monthly Chapter Meetings, please go to our Youtube Channel. There you will find a wealth of interesting and valuable information.
Members of the Hill Country Chapter should keep in mind that they are only able to get Chapter credit if they watch the Presentation when it is live and the Speaker is present to answer questions.
The Upcoming Speaker Schedule
| Date | Speaker | |
| September 27, 2021 | Dan Daugherty, PhD from the Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center will talk about “Gar Studies at UGRA”.
Origin of Alligator Gar and Use of Fresh, Brackish, and Salt Water Habitats in the Lower Trinity River-Trinity Bay Ecosystem is a current project at the Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center. | Live and ZOOM |
| October 25, 2021 | Robin Doughty and Matt Warnock Turner will give a Presentation on “Unnatural Texas”, on the topic of invasive species and their uses.
In 2019 Robin W. Doughty and Matt Warnock Turner wrote a book called Unnatural Texas?: The Invasive Species Dilemma. https://muse.jhu.edu/book/66871/ In this book the authors approach the subject of introduced species in Texas. In addition to the usual list- feral hogs, salt cedar and fire ants – they also explore the detrimental impact of lesser known invasives such as cats and sparrows. They blend natural and environmental history with geography. | Live and ZOOM |
| November 22, 2021 | Dr. Amy Hardberger of the Texas Tech Center for Water Law and Policy will present information about a topic that will be announced at a later date.
Amy Hardberger is a 2005 graduate of Texas Tech law school and she has extensive experience in balancing human needs with protecting natural resources. She has degrees in geology and since earning her law degree has directed her enthusiasm toward issues involving water and the environment. Hardberger brings her passion and expertise to her position as the McCleskey Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Water Law and Policy in the School of Law at Texas Tech. | ZOOM |
Pending speakers for January and February of 2022 include Kevin Wessels on “Dark Skies” and Dr. Harry Greene on “Living With Snakes.”