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Explore the remarkable 19th-century naturalist Leonard Jenyns through this 58-minute lecture that delves into his meticulous wildlife observations of Cambridgeshire. Discover how Jenyns, who declined the position of naturalist on HMS Beagle in favor of his friend Charles Darwin, documented the dramatic faunal changes in the English fenlands between 1820-1849. Learn about his detailed notebooks that recorded an unusually wide range of animal groups and captured a rich diversity of wildlife that has largely disappeared from the region today due to fenland drainage and agricultural intensification. Examine how Jenyns' observations provide compelling evidence of shifting baseline syndrome, as he already lamented the loss of many rare species during his lifetime. Gain insights into the historical ecology of Cambridgeshire and understand the profound environmental changes that have occurred over the past two centuries through the lens of one naturalist's dedicated field work. The lecture is presented by Richard Preece, former Reader in Quaternary Malacology and Watson Curator of Malacology at Cambridge University, who brings expertise in molluscs and Quaternary Ice Age species to illuminate the significance of Jenyns' contributions to natural history.
