IN MEMORIAM DENTON BELK
By: Richard Hill: richard_hill@dot.ca.gov
Denton Belk succumbed to his prolonged illness and is
no longer with us. He passed away on Wednesday the 18th of April
2001.
As was apparent from the outpouring of appreciation
and concern from the 4th International Large Branchiopod
Symposium in La Paz and elsewhere, the community he helped gather will miss
Denton Belk. He deeply influenced us all. There will be time for a more
complete and accurate memorial later, but perhaps it is appropriate to
reflect on a few of Denton’s accomplishments here.
Gene Denton Belk’s first large brachiopod
publication came in 1970. While he was living in Guam he published
“Functions of the conchostracan egg shell” (Crustaceana 19: 105-106).
His first description of a large branchiopod came in 1973 with his
description of Streptocephalus moorei (Trans. Am. Micro. Soc.
92: 507-512). Denton’s
PhD dissertation was accepted by the Arizona State University in 1974
(Zoogeography of the Arizona Anostraca with a key to the North American
Species).
A quick of incomplete check of papers at hand
indicates that Denton published well more than 40 papers, a great many were
produced in cooperation with a variety of colleagues. The number of papers
produced by others that acknowledge Denton’s support and encouragement
undoubtedly matches that number. His recent papers include “Survey of
large Branchiopods of Aruba with taxonomic characters of Leptestheria
(Spinicaudata)” written with Mary Belk and Dr. Reading. Papers in press
include “A confusing trio of Anostraca from the Western United States”
written with D. Christopher Rogers. Recent new species descriptions include
a description of Branchinceta readingi and B. barstowensis. There are other
projects and papers in progress that are not mentioned here (and I offer my
apologies for the narrow American focus).
Denton was a mentor to many. He was always very
generous with his time and information. He provided guidance and assistance
to undergraduates and graduates alike. He helped docents, consultants,
teachers, regulators, politicians, environmentalists and developers
understand shrimp, shrimp habitat and temporary pools.
We all appreciated Denton’s efforts to keep the
large branchiopod research community informed through publication of the
Anostraca News. He helped organize the International Large Branchiopod
Symposia and the IUCN Inland Waters Crustacea Working Group. With Larry Eng,
Clyde Eriksen and others, he recognized the endemic California USA species
and discovered a new high density of species. He assisted attempts to
relocate Branchinella lithica on Stone Mountain in Georgia, USA. He was
active in educating scientists, the public, regulators and land managers
about the needs of large branchiopods through various vernal pool symposia
in California. He was credited by many as the person who restored the
vitality of The Crustacean Society. This limited review is deficient in
Denton’s many international activities. I apologize for the limited scope.