The Chicago Field Museum stands as one of the most prestigious natural history museums globally, offering a treasure trove of knowledge and discovery. Join us as we delve into the fascinating behind-the-scenes processes that bring the museum’s collections to life.
Working at the Field Museum is more than just a job; it’s a passion. The dedication of the staff goes beyond the typical 9 to 5 routine. They live and breathe natural history, immersing themselves in the wonders of the past and present.
Let’s embark on a journey through the meticulous preparation process of a specimen. From cleaning to cataloging, each step is crucial in preserving these natural treasures. Unlike smaller operations, the Field Museum boasts vast spaces, akin to football fields, dedicated to its collections.
One of the museum’s unique features is its renowned dermestid beetle colony. These beetles play a vital role in cleaning specimens by consuming flesh, leaving behind pristine bones. The colony’s distinct smell is a testament to its effectiveness. The beetles, ranging from tiny larvae to larger adults, are adept at reaching every nook and cranny of a specimen.
However, care must be taken to avoid introducing specimens that are too fresh, as excess moisture can lead to mold, endangering the larvae. Specimens are typically dried for a few days before being introduced to the colony.
Among the museum’s intriguing specimens is the hammer-headed bat. This remarkable creature, native to Eastern and Central Africa, has a unique nose and fleshy lips. Its large larynx displaces the heart to the side of the thoracic cavity, allowing it to produce sounds that carry over long distances.
These bats engage in a behavior known as “lekking,” where males gather to attract females by flapping their wings and making loud calls. The sound, amplified by their distinctive nose, can be heard for miles, drawing females to select a mate.
The museum’s commitment to preservation is evident in its use of 70% ethanol for specimen storage. This ensures that specimens remain intact for centuries, allowing future generations to study and test hypotheses. The goal is to maintain the collection’s integrity, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for scientific exploration.
In conclusion, the Chicago Field Museum is a testament to the dedication and passion of its staff. Through meticulous preparation and preservation, the museum continues to inspire and educate, offering a glimpse into the wonders of the natural world.
Take a virtual tour of the Chicago Field Museum’s online exhibits. As you explore, take notes on the most intriguing specimens and exhibits you encounter. After the tour, write a reflection on how the museum’s dedication to preservation and education impacts your understanding of natural history.
Participate in a hands-on workshop where you simulate the specimen preparation process. Use materials like clay and small bones to mimic cleaning and cataloging techniques. Reflect on the challenges and importance of each step in preserving natural history specimens.
Watch a documentary or video about the dermestid beetle colony at the Field Museum. Pay close attention to how these beetles contribute to the cleaning process. Discuss in groups how this natural method of cleaning compares to other preservation techniques.
Choose an unusual specimen from the Field Museum, such as the hammer-headed bat, and conduct research on its unique features and behaviors. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting what makes this specimen significant to the museum’s collection.
Engage in a debate on the pros and cons of using 70% ethanol for specimen preservation versus other methods. Consider factors such as longevity, accessibility for research, and ethical considerations. Formulate arguments and present them to your peers, fostering a deeper understanding of preservation challenges.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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The Chicago Field Museum is one of the largest and most respected natural history museums in the world. Join me as we go behind the scenes!
We live our lives in this building.
– Yeah, it’s like a passion. You know this.
– Absolutely.
– We’re not just 9 to 5.
– No, not at all. You work and live and breathe natural history in these kinds of places.
Exactly. So what I thought we could do is take a walk through the preparation process and follow the path of a specimen, from cleaning to cataloging, and then we can go into the collection and really explore.
– That would be great! I mean, we’ve talked about a couple of these things on The Brain Scoop, but it’s on such a smaller level. I do everything in one or two rooms. We get the specimen, it goes in the freezer, I prep it in the same room, and then I catalog it. It all happens in one place. But this is literally football fields worth of space for collections.
I’ve heard legendary things about your dermestid colony. It has a unique smell.
– Look at that! Ooh! Is that a squirrel?
– It is a squirrel. Oh, lovely.
– And that’s a gorilla hand. I thought it looked like a human hand. You can see the different sizes of larvae.
– Whoa. Yeah, and that makes it really effective for getting into the smaller spaces.
And the larger spaces. The big black ones are the adults.
– They’re fascinating. I love this place.
– So do we. They do so much work.
We always joke that they might start a union or something. This is free labor—no unions, no coffee breaks, no pay raises. We don’t want to put anything in too fresh because if it has a lot of moisture, it runs the risk of creating mold in the colony, which is bad news for the larvae.
– Yeah, so we put it out on the drying rack for at least two or three days.
– Really? It does dry a little bit, but as Anna says, if it’s either freezer burned or too dry, then we have to alter it slightly.
– That’s fascinating.
This is a squirrel that’s been sitting out for…
– Two days. And it’s essentially ready to go in when…
– Yeah, only when Anna sees that the colony is hungry. Sometimes we get a few spider infestations.
– These spiders are interesting because they just catch larvae when it’s time for lunch.
– Amazing. Come on, grab it. Show it to Michael.
– Michael, check this out! Wow! Are these like little keratin sheaths? Just like little horns, like regular ungulate horn development?
– I think so. That’s amazing. But look at the little bumps along the orbit there.
– Wow, that is just amazing. We don’t have any chameleons in our collection.
– Don’t take that one. As Anna can show you, she opens that door, and this freezer is so well organized. We just have things in Ziploc bags we shove in the door. They do such a wonderful job.
Our beetles could definitely take some pointers from your beetles.
– I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.
– Oh my gosh. You’re just going to take it out of there? That is quite an unusual specimen.
– Thank you. This is a hammer-headed bat. This is the male.
Hammer-headed bats have a unique nose and fleshy lips. Their larynx is so large that it actually displaces the heart to the side of the thoracic cavity.
– What?!
– And it’s shaped like a tuba.
– You’re joking!
– No, I’m not!
These animals lek. The definition of a lek is when individuals of one sex gather to advertise to the opposite sex, like sage grouse.
So what these fruit bats do in Eastern and Central Africa is the males hang upside down in one tree, flap their wings vigorously, and make sounds.
– What?
– Yes, and the nose amplifies the sound, which carries for miles.
The females hear it and come to choose a mate.
– If you google hammerhead bat, there’s an NPR piece where you can hear them making sounds. It sounds like a mix between a horn and someone banging on a steel radiator.
– Oh my gosh. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.
Now, this is 70% ethanol. This is potable ethanol. We have to get a federal permit for our ethanol because we don’t want denatured alcohol, which contains harmful chemicals.
Our job here is to ensure that this specimen looks just like this five hundred years from now. So that when we are no longer here, there are still people testing hypotheses with these specimens. Everything we do is geared towards keeping this collection intact forever.
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This version removes any inappropriate or informal language while maintaining the essence of the conversation.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, and distribution. – The biology department at the university offers a wide range of courses that cover everything from cellular processes to ecosystem dynamics.
Specimens – Samples of organisms collected for scientific study and analysis. – The researchers collected specimens from the rainforest to study the diversity of plant species in the area.
Preservation – The protection and maintenance of biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural resources to prevent their degradation or extinction. – The preservation of wetlands is crucial for maintaining the habitat of many aquatic species.
Beetles – A group of insects belonging to the order Coleoptera, characterized by their hard exoskeleton and forewings. – The entomology class focused on the role of beetles in decomposing organic matter in forest ecosystems.
Ecology – The branch of biology that deals with the interactions between organisms and their environment. – Understanding the principles of ecology is essential for developing effective conservation strategies.
Discovery – The process of finding or learning something new, often leading to a better understanding of the natural world. – The discovery of a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest highlights the region’s rich biodiversity.
Natural – Existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humans. – The natural landscape of the national park provides a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, but also in the context of natural phenomena and evolutionary processes. – The history of life on Earth is marked by significant evolutionary events that have shaped the diversity of species we see today.
Research – The systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Recent research in marine biology has uncovered new insights into the migratory patterns of whales.
Conservation – The practice of protecting and managing natural resources to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect. – Conservation efforts are vital to ensure the survival of endangered species and the preservation of their habitats.
