Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

A Chinese mitten crab found in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, in 2007. Chinese mitten crabs are most recognizable by their brown, spiny shells and furry “mittened” claws. (Credit: SERC)

Wanted: The Hunt for Chinese Mitten Crabs Is Back On

An army of invading crabs has disappeared. But scientists are skeptical about whether they’re gone for good, or just hiding. As warmer temps lure people onto the water, Smithsonian scientists are asking boaters to report any sightings of the elusive Chinese mitten crab.

Male Bocon toadfish of Panama attract mates by singing in a series of “grunts” and “boops.” (Credit: Study authors)

The Ugly Fish That Sings Its Own Song

SERC marine biologist Brianna Tracy holds a plate with marine life pulled from a dock in San Francisco. (Credit: Kristen Minogue/SERC)

Citizen Science: Help Spot Invaders With Your Smart Phone

The awesomely beautiful tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills of Kansas. The Flint Hills contains the majority of the remaining tallgrass prairie in the United States, thanks to its rocky soil that prevented farmers from plowing it under to farm the fertile soils. (Credit: Kim La Pierre)

Confessions of a Real Life Scientist: Grasslands of the World

Katrina Lohan analyzes parasite DNA in SERC’s Ecological Genomics Core. The results help detect parasites infecting oysters or lurking the ballast water of large ships. (Credit: Kristen Minogue/SERC)

Confessions of a Real Life Scientist: The Thrill of Learning

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