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Why do all brachiopods look the same?
Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a talk on the Tuesday 18 April 2023.
Title: Why do all brachiopods look the same?
Speaker: Dr. Keith Holdaway with a fascinating talk on brachiopods and not to be confused with bivalve molluscs! Keith studied zoology and geology at Bristol before researching the distribution of mid Cretaceous brachiopods for his PhD in London; carrying out much of his fieldwork in Dorset. After working as an ecologist, he went into learning and development setting up his own company. Keith now manages artist studios on Portland and draws much inspiration from the geology around him.
Time: Talk will start at 7pm; finish approximately 8pm
Venue: Activity Meeting Room: Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RR
Lecture Entry Cost: £6 (£5 for DGAG members) collected on room entry
Booking a seat: Contact DGAG events at email: cwebb48578@aol.com
Talk Description: A really great topic about a colourful group of animals. Hands on models and talk promises much to learn and entertain – the marvellous lophophore plus more! Why do all brachiopods look the same? There are a few oddball brachiopods, but fundamentally they are all about the size of a marble, some are ribbed and some are smooth. Given the extraordinary variation in bivalve molluscs, with a similar way of life, it seems strange that brachiopods never really diversified in the same way. We will undertake a whistle-stop tour of the various “normal” types and then look at the weirdos. Using a series of physical models, we will take a detailed look at the function of ribbed shells and the way the brachiopod feeding mechanism limits the options. Who knows, one of you may discover a form that the brachiopods themselves haven’t tried yet…
Photo:
A modern brachiopod example, often washed up on NZ beaches.
Calloria inconspicua (G.B. Sowerby II, 1846). Image credit: http://www.mollusca.co.nz/speciesdetail.php?taxa=5623#prettyPhoto https://www.otago.ac.nz/marine-studies/explore/research/otago655574.pdf