(MD) (Natural History Society of Maryland) Dinosaur tracks and other trace fossils provide important insights into the behaviors, locomotion, postures, and environments of ancient creatures that are often difficult to glean from body fossils alone. Glen Kuban’s presentation will include an overview of the dinosaur tracks, including basic types of tracks, where they are found, and how they are studied ...
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) The splendor of springtime in Washington is world-renowned, owing largely to the Japanese flowering cherry trees that have encircled the Tidal Basin for over a century. Yet the cherry blossoms are a single aspect of the city’s spectacular flowering spring, and spring is only one of the city’s vibrant seasons. Smithsonian Associates tour guide, naturalist, and nature-book ...
(MD) (Natural History Society of Maryland) This talk explores the Mesozoic origin of avian flight from the perspective of the dinosaurian brain. Fossil reconstructions will be integrated with advanced imaging to test hypotheses on how the brain of theropods met the sensory and motor changes of this rare and radical behavioral innovation. Amy Balanoff is an assistant professor in the ...
(MD) (Natural History Society of Maryland) Trees are invaluable record-keepers of the past. Since their annual growth is intrinsically related to a combination of environmental factors, tree ring data can be used like a Rosetta Stone. Dr. Karen King will demonstrate how her research in biogeography and climate change is informed by tree-ring data. We will focus on regional examples from western Maryland to learn what tree rings ...
