News Story

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Anne Fidanzato, Park Supervisor, (727) 893-7326

"THE CUBAN TREEFROG:
A GROWING THREAT TO FLORIDA NATIVE WILDLIFE"

St. Petersburg, Fla. (March 27, 2008) - "The Cuban Treefrog: A Growing Threat to Florida Native Wildlife" is the topic of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve's Natural History Speaker Series on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center, 1101 Country Club Way South in St. Petersburg. Since it was first introduced to the Florida Keys in the 19th century, this non-native frog species has expanded its range northward into the Florida peninsula where it has adversely impacted native frog species and other wildlife. Dr. Steve Johnson will discuss the status, ecology, and impact of these invasive tree frogs on native wildlife populations. Admission is free.

Dr. Steve Johnson is an assistant professor of urban wildlife ecology at the University of Florida in Plant City. Before joining the University of Florida in 2004, he worked as the state sea turtle program coordinator in North Carolina and as a research wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Gainesville. Dr. Johnson holds degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida.

The Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Park Natural History Speaker Series is co-sponsored by the city of St. Petersburg and is offered monthly from September through April on the second Tuesday of each month. The series offers unique and fascinating presentations on Florida ecology, natural history and conservation by authorities in the field. For more information, call 727-893-7326.

- end -