Tag Archives: biodiversity

The rocks in fishes’ heads tell amazing stories

Posted on November 20, 2019 by

When I collect and research fish specimens for the Canadian Museum of Nature’s collection, I’m often particularly interested in the rocks in their heads. These tiny rocky structures, just millimetres in size, are called otoliths, or ear stones. For fishes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Collections, Research, Species Discovery and Change | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Cave Weevils in North America

Posted on April 5, 2016 by

Caves are known for their magnificent geologic structures, but the richness of their biodiversity is emerging into the light. Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Fieldwork, Research, Species Discovery and Change | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Learning about Life from a Molecule

Posted on February 12, 2015 by

How is your body made, organ by organ, from head to toe? DNA will tell you! Check out our DNA lab, a tool of the first order for understanding nature. Continue reading →

Posted in Research, Species Discovery and Change, Tools of the trade | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Alphabet Soup of the Science World

Posted on August 5, 2014 by

Dr. Mark Graham describes the museum’s link to international efforts that conserve species and promote taxonomy. Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Plants and Algae, Research | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Scuba Diving for Freshwater Mussels in the Ottawa River

Posted on October 15, 2013 by

During their very successful field trip, scientist André Martel and teammates found a great variety and abundance of mussels, including the rare hickorynut—a species found in only six rivers in Canada! Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Fieldwork, Research, Water | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments