Conserving Carolina and the Landrum Library invite the public to attend a free program titled, “Hidden Biodiversity: Finding Reptiles and Amphibians All Around Us,” presented by Melissa Pilgrim, director of research and associate professor of biology at the University of South Carolina Upstate.

The program will be held at the Landrum Library, 111 E. Asbury Drive, Landrum, on Tuesday, June 5, at 6 p.m.

There is currently in a biodiversity crisis, as species are going extinct at an alarming rate, conservation officials said. Reptiles and amphibians are declining particularly fast.

Thus, conservation biologists and resource managers are increasingly interested in conducting research evaluating the presence and persistence of reptiles and amphibians in a region.

Pilgrim and her undergraduate research group, Upstate Herpetology, will show the audience standard techniques used to identify and/or capture reptile and amphibians. In addition, organizers will bring some examples of reptile and amphibian species people can encounter in the Piedmont region of South Carolina.

The lecture is part of Conserving Carolina’s monthly Speaker Series at the Landrum Library. The next program will be held on Aug. 9, when noted NCWRC Education Specialist, Tanya Poole, presents, “For the Love of Bats!” at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Pam Torlina at Conserving Carolina’s southeast (Polk County) office at 828-697-5777, ext. 300, or email pam@conservingcarolina.org, or contact the Landrum Library at 864-457-2218.

-Submitted by Pam Torlina