Michael R. Schwemm with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service will speak at an upcoming Science Café Las Vegas. His talk is titled, "Importance of perennial springs in the evolution and conservation of arid land fishes."

Extinction is a widely recognized factor in the evolution of contemporary stream faunas, but extinction mechanisms have rarely been explicitly evaluated. Schwemm will explain how environmental stability, such as perennial spring differences, reduces extinction rates. The Blue River, the largest springfed stream in southern Oklahoma, affords an excellent opportunity to evaluate the potential maintenance of high species diversity via environmental stability. He also will discuss the importance of springs for fish conservation throughout the desert Southwest.

Come join others for a lively science discussion, delicious food, and fun. Come at 6:30 p.m. to order your food and mingle. Those under 21 are welcome.