I've felt connected with nature for as long as I can remember. I always enjoy learning more and am happy to exchange knowledge with others here on iNaturalist. I'm a monthly supporter.

I'm a malacologist with focus on land snails and slugs. Most of what I do is surveys of snail/slug abundance and diversity. I'm interested in the role they play in the ecosystem -- in nutrient cycling, as an essential part of the diets of many other animals, as transporters of fungal and bryophyte spores, and as plant pollinators.

I and colleagues are currently at work on a field guide of land snails of northeastern U.S.A. I'll make broad announcements when it's published and available for purchase.

I lead a very popular "Snail Walk" annually for the Finger Lakes Land Trust, to teach people how to find and identify land snails and slugs.
https://www.fllt.org/events/talks-treks-snail-walk-8/

I've given numerous talks about land snails and the importance of locally native land snails to the science community and general-interest nature groups alike, which have always been received with great enthusiasm. I'm open to speaking engagements both in-person and virtual, and more snail walks.

I have background in museum collections management, and I'm a former collections manager of the Mollusk collection of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Currently, I'm a research associate at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science (DelMNS) and the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI). While the latter might sound like it's out of my wheelhouse, there's a good collection of Central New York (and some beyond) land snail shells, which I curated.

While I enjoy meeting most every living thing, I'm particularly curious about the less-appreciated critters, not only snails and slugs, but also herps, millipedes, centipedes, rotifers, slime molds, and others with many legs or no legs. My most recent interest is in leafhoppers and treehoppers.

I welcome help with identifications as well as additional information about diagnostic characters. I also appreciate if you can share hints about particular photos or notes on behavior for a species.

If you're observing a land snail, please take at least 3 views of the shell: apical (the "top" or spiral side), umbilical ("bottom"), and apertural (the opening). For species that are taller than wide, apical, umbilical, plus another side view of the shell usually suffice. If possible, include a close-up view of the shell texture. Views of the active animal are helpful too.

For land slugs, the most helpful photo views include the right side, where the pneumostome, or breathing pore, is located. The position, shape, and sometimes the color of the pneumostome can be helpful for determining species. A view of the dorsal side and foot (including mucus color) are equally useful, as is a view of the slug's defensive posture, which can be curled or hunched up.

It's always helpful to include a millimeter ruler in your photos. Here's a link to downloadable, printable rulers that print true to scale. Just print, cut out, and take with you in the field or under the scope!
http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/paper_rulers/

My educational background: BS in Biological Sciences, University of Georgia, and MS in Zoology, Southern Illinois University. I'm a level 3 Master Naturalist and have taken lots of courses and workshops on various disciplines in natural history (fauna, flora, bryophyte, fungi, geological, paleontological).

By day, I develop online courses about birds and nature for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

I'm also a scientific illustrator, fine artist, and children's book author and illustrator. I'm happy to wear many hats in life.