Jo Virens is studying the thermal ecology of Otago skinks.
Join Forest & Bird's Dunedin Branch for a public talk about the thermal ecology of endangered Otago skinks and how citizen science can help scientists understand their behaviours.
Jo is a PhD student in Zoology at the University of Otago. His research focuses on the thermal ecology of skinks in Otago, and how they might be affected by climate change. In particular, he is interested in changes in wind and cloud-cover that may create more complex interactions than increased air temperature alone.
His research recently went global with a citizen science project that asks people to identify Otago skinks from 750,000 time-lapse photos. Called “Skink Spotter”, it has proven to be a great way for members of the public to contribute to the conservation of an endangered species that they won’t often see.
Please be on time as we have to hold the door open.