Because the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center remains closed to visitors, monthly lectures sponsored by Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM) will be delivered via Zoom. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 20 for a presentation by HSU biology professor Mark Wilson entitled “Natural History of Microorganisms.” The lecture will be recorded and posted online for subsequent viewing. Bacteria are very small. There are billions (or hundreds of billions) of individuals in samples the size of an ice cube, which may contain as many as 50,000 different species! Mark's talk will focus on the methods used to study these complex communities and the individuals in them. Learn about current insights into the natural history of microorganisms, including aspects of diversity, evolution, and some unique and unusual biological features of bacteria. A member of the FOAM Board, Mark rew up in Maryland, where the abundance of wildlife and diverse, easily accessible forests nurtured his early interest in natural history. Identifying and drawing wildflowers, fungi, and birds led to his general interest in ecosystem biology and, eventually, in the activities of microorganisms in natural systems. He joined the Humboldt faculty in 1998, where he helped lead a National Science Foundation Microbial Observatory at Lassen Volcanic National Park, focused on understanding basic ecology of microorganisms in acidic thermal springs and fumaroles. How to access the Zoom presentation: Topic: Mark Wilson's Lecture for Friends of the Arcata Marsh Time: Nov 20, 2020 07:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Meeting ID: 899 5839 4489 Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89958394489 Phone 1-669-900-9128 No password is required.