The Chicago Field Museum stands as one of the most prestigious natural history museums globally, offering a fascinating glimpse into the world of natural specimens. Join me as we delve into the intriguing processes behind the scenes!
The museum houses a vast collection of specimens, many of which are wild-caught and quite old. When you compare these with zoo specimens of the same species, the differences are remarkable. Variations in shape and structure, such as extra bone growth or missing teeth, are often evident.
Andrea, our expert in numbering bones, demonstrates how to meticulously inscribe a six-digit number on a skull. This task is crucial for research, as it helps in identifying and cataloging specimens. For small specimens, numbering is typically done on the pelvis, limbs, scapula, and most importantly, the mandible and skull, as researchers often examine the skull first.
The process is captivating. A well-functioning pen glides smoothly over the bone, but greasy bones require a larger pen for clarity. If a mistake occurs, the ink can be carefully removed using a scalpel or cleaned with alcohol and a Q-tip.
For skulls, a standard practice is to position them facing left and imagine a grid with four quadrants, placing the number in the lower right. Small, easily lost pieces are stored in numbered pill capsules. Different numbering systems exist, with variations in placement and angle, showcasing the diversity in methods.
Consistency in numbering is vital, even though it may vary between specimens. Initially, I was unsure where to place numbers on a femur, but with experience, I developed my own system.
The museum’s collection includes numerous cabinets filled with marine mammals like seals and sea lions. Seals, for instance, have multiple cusps on each tooth, aiding them in catching prey. A harbor seal’s teeth, with three or four points, help it grasp salmon, much like a football player uses gloves with grips.
Among phocids, the crabeater seal stands out with its distinctive Christmas tree-shaped teeth. These teeth are adapted for filtering krill from water. By taking in water and squeezing it out through their teeth, crabeater seals filter out krill, which sustains them and makes them the most populous seal species worldwide.
This same krill-rich diet also supports the massive blue whales, highlighting the interconnectedness of this marine ecosystem. The scientific name for crabeater seals, Lobodon carcinophagus, aptly translates to “lobed-tooth crab-lover.”
Imagine adapting to have such specialized teeth! If you return next week adorned with a necklace of crabeater seal teeth, it would certainly spark curiosity!
In conclusion, the Chicago Field Museum offers a captivating journey into the world of natural history, showcasing the diversity and complexity of life on Earth. Whether it’s the meticulous process of numbering bones or the fascinating adaptations of marine mammals, there’s always something new to learn and explore.
Engage in a hands-on workshop where you will compare wild-caught specimens with zoo specimens. Analyze the differences in shape and structure, such as bone growth and dental variations. Document your observations and discuss the implications of these differences with your peers.
Participate in a practical session on numbering bones. Learn the techniques of inscribing numbers on various bones, including the skull and mandible. Practice using different tools and materials, and understand the importance of consistency and accuracy in this process.
Work in groups to design your own bone numbering system. Consider factors such as placement, angle, and consistency. Present your system to the class and explain how it improves upon existing methods. Discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
Explore the anatomy of marine mammals through a guided tour of the museum’s collection. Focus on the unique dental structures of seals and sea lions. Create a detailed sketch of a crabeater seal’s teeth and explain how their shape aids in their diet and survival.
Attend a seminar on the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems. Discuss the role of krill in the diet of crabeater seals and blue whales. Reflect on how these relationships illustrate the complexity of marine life and the importance of biodiversity conservation.
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!
Because of the nature of the collection, we have many old, wild-caught specimens. You can put a zoo specimen of the same species next to a wild-caught one, and the differences are striking.
In terms of shape and structure, there are noticeable variations, such as excess bone and missing teeth. Andrea is our go-to person for numbering bones. We would love to give you a demonstration of how she puts a six-digit number on a skull that’s about this size. I would love to know because I have accidentally damaged a couple of pygmy shrew skulls.
These specimens are not numbered yet, but on something this small, I would number the pelvis, each of the limbs, and the scapula. The most important areas to number are each side of the mandible and the skull, as researchers typically look at the skull first.
This process is fascinating to watch. If the pen is working well, it flows easily, but if the bones are greasy, using a larger pen helps. Sometimes, I write the number once, and if it’s not clear, I write over it again. If I make a mistake, I can use a scalpel to scrape the ink off once it’s dry, or use alcohol and a Q-tip to clean it off.
For the skulls, we have a rule of thumb: the skull should face left, and we imagine it as a grid with four quadrants, placing the number in the lower right. Small pieces that might get lost go into a little pill capsule, which is also numbered.
Other systems of numbering can be different, with numbers placed on the opposite side or at an angle. It’s interesting to see how these variations exist. When I first started numbering, I wondered where to write the number on a femur. If you visited our collection, you might be surprised by how I sometimes just write the number wherever.
Having a consistent system is important, even though it might not look the same from one animal to the next.
So many cabinets! What are these? I’m so excited! Are these seals and sea lions? Seals have multiple cusps on each tooth, right?
Yes, you can see three or four points on each of those teeth. This is a harbor seal, and these cusps help it grab and hold onto salmon, similar to how a tight end has points on their gloves to catch a football. This characteristic is found throughout all phocids.
However, there’s one particular phocid that has those cusps but uses them differently than the harbor seal. Is this a crabeater seal? They have unique teeth that resemble a Christmas tree.
What do they do with them? They filter for krill. You can see all the details! They take a mouthful of water, close their teeth, and squeeze the water out, filtering out the krill. These small invertebrates sustain them and make the crabeater seal the most populous seal in the world.
This same food source also sustains the 100-foot-long blue whales. It’s incredible how this ecosystem works. The scientific name for them is Lobodon carcinophagus, which means “lobed-tooth crab-lover.” That’s quite an accurate name!
How long would it take for me to adapt and grow a pair of those teeth? If I come back next week and see you wearing a necklace made from crabeater seal teeth, I might have some questions!
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This version removes any inappropriate or casual language while maintaining the informative content of the original transcript.
Specimens – Individual organisms or parts of organisms used for scientific study and analysis. – The biologist collected several plant specimens from the rainforest to study their medicinal properties.
Numbering – The process of assigning numbers to items in a sequence, often used for cataloging or organizing data. – In the study, the researchers used a numbering system to track the growth rates of different bacterial colonies.
Marine – Relating to the sea; existing in or produced by the sea. – The marine ecosystem is home to a diverse range of species, including coral reefs and fish.
Mammals – A class of warm-blooded vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands, hair, and three middle ear bones. – Whales are fascinating marine mammals that play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems.
Seals – Aquatic, carnivorous mammals with a streamlined body and limbs modified into flippers, belonging to the family Phocidae. – The conservation team is studying the impact of climate change on the breeding patterns of seals in the Arctic region.
Krill – Small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans that are a key food source for many marine animals, including whales and seals. – The decline in krill populations could have significant effects on the Antarctic food web.
Adaptations – Changes in physical structure, function, or behavior that enhance an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment. – The thick fur of polar bears is an adaptation that allows them to survive in cold Arctic climates.
Ecosystem – A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. – The destruction of the wetland ecosystem has led to a decrease in biodiversity in the area.
Diversity – The variety and variability of species, genes, and ecosystems in a particular area. – Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining the resilience and productivity of ecosystems.
Research – The systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – The research conducted by the university team provided new insights into the migratory patterns of sea turtles.
