Archive | zoology

Study reveals road salt may promote health and well-being of roadside ant colonies

Study reveals road salt may promote health and well-being of roadside ant colonies

To understand the effects of road salting on ants, Michael Kaspari of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the University of Oklahoma led a team that looked at how ant colonies are affected by these conditions; their research is published in a recent issue of the journal Ecological Entomology. [...more]

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National Zoo scientists successfully grow two species of anemones in aquarium tanks

National Zoo scientists successfully grow two species of anemones in aquarium tanks

The anemones—both of which are commonly called Tealia red anemones under the species of Urticina—spawned in late April and early May, just days apart. Henley collected the eggs and sperm from the more than 2,000-gallon tank and put them together in smaller tanks to increase the chances of fertilization. After fertilization, the larvae settled and metamorphosed into a polyp. [...more]

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New frog species pose challenge for conservation project in Panama

New frog species pose challenge for conservation project in Panama

Discoveries of three new from species in Panama lead to hope that project researchers can save these animals from a deadly fungus killing frogs worldwide and the fear that many species will go extinct before scientists even know they exist. [...more]

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New Zealand Embassy donates kiwi pair to National Zoo Breeding Science Center

New Zealand Embassy donates kiwi pair to National Zoo Breeding Science Center

Kiwis come to National Zoo. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo will be using a new kiwi pair donated by the New Zealand Embassy to establish a breeding science center. Both birds came from the Ngati Hine people in New Zealand. Adding these animals to the genetic pool in North America is a rare and valuable opportunity. This pair came [...] [...more]

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Introducing the parasitic dinoflagellate: Tintinnophagus acutus

Introducing the parasitic dinoflagellate: Tintinnophagus acutus

Describing a species is a serious undertaking. In the case of T. acutus, Coats and his collaborators documented its microscopic life cycle, conducted extensive DNA analysis and unearthed scientific papers dating back to 1873—when parasitic dinoflagellates were first noted by German scientist Ernst Haeckel. [...more]

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Transmitters unveil long-distance movements of orchid bees

Transmitters unveil long-distance movements of orchid bees

Now, for the first time ever, researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute are able to track the routes of these creatures by gluing tiny transmitters to the backs of individual bees. [...more]

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May Smithsonian symposium marks research contributions of scuba

May Smithsonian symposium marks research contributions of scuba

To mark scuba’s important role in underwater science, the Smithsonian Institution is convening dozens of scientists on May 24 - 25 at the National Museum of Natural History for a special symposium: “Research and Discoveries: The Revolution of Science through Scuba.” [...more]

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Net survey: For quarter century, scientists have been counting creatures traveling Chesapeake Bay tributary

Net survey: For quarter century, scientists have been counting creatures traveling Chesapeake Bay tributary

More than 25 years ago, researchers at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's Fish and Invertebrate Ecology Lab began taking weekley surveys of the species that make their way in and out of Muddy Creek. [...more]

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Yellow lady’s slippers, watercolor by Kathleen Garness, from the National Museum of Natural History exhibit “Losing Paradise? Endangered Plants Here and Around the World,” opening Aug. 14. The exhibition, a collaborative effort between the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Natural History Museum, showcases botanical illustrations and features work from several renowned artists, including Alice Tangerini, one of the Smithsonian’s acclaimed scientific illustrators.

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