NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

theMammoth FEB/MAY 2013 The Friends of the Museum support, promote, and advocate for the Museum.

The Science of Spiders

IN THIS ISSUE

Sunday with a Scientist

Dinosaurs & Disasters!

2013 Friends Annual Meeting ...... 9 Tree of Life ...... 10 Spotlight on the Sorensens...... 11 Dinosaurs & Disasters ...... 12-13 Students Kyle Warday and Sunday with a Scientist ...... 14-16 Shannon O’Connor explore the Vrana Donates Mosasaur Skull...... 17 new “Tree of Life” exhibit. New Bird Species at Ashfall...... 18-19 A special, expanded Sunday with a Scientist event exploring spiders and other creepy crawlies set an & MORE! attendance record in February. Learn more on page 15. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications

friendsofthemuseum.org MORRILL FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM UNIVERSITY OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS NEBRASKA HALL Art Zygielbaum, President Ed Schmidt STATE MUSEUM STAFF CALENDAR Diane Pratt, Vice President Natasha Vavra Mel Thornton, Treasurer Director: Priscilla C. Grew AT A GLANCE Mark Brohman, Secretary EX-OFFICIO Priscilla C. Grew Associate Director: Mark Harris Kelli Bacon ADVISORY COUNCIL Rod Bates Informal Science Education: Judy Diamond, Curator May 18 Connie Pejsar Erin Colonna Colorful Creature Day Ross Secord Eileen Cunningham Education Coordinator: Kathy French A family-friendly event with Norm Smith Gary Gabelhouse Museum Associates: Ann Cusick art and LIVE animals. Mike Zeleny Marcia Hollestelle Cindy Loope Georgianne Mastera ASHFALL CHAPTER Annie Mumgaard May 19 Lois Mayo Ruan Pohlman, Tory Petz Sunday with a Scientist David Rowe President “Microbes Rock” Anthropology: Alan Osborn, Curator 1:30-4:30 p.m. Collections Assistant: Sarah Goetsch Nebraska Archaeological Survey: Alan Osborn CONTACT INFORMATION June 16 Botany: Robert Kaul, Curator Sunday with a Scientist Director’s Offi ce (402) 472-3779 Collection Manager: Thomas Labedz “Chemistry: Harry Potter Museum Information Line (402) 472-2642 Collections Assistant: Linda Rader Style” School Program Reservations (402) 472-6302 1:30-4:30 p.m. Friends Offi ce (402) 472-3779 Entomology: Brett Ratcliffe, Curator Mueller Planetarium (402) 472-2641 Collection Manager: M.J. Paulsen Nebraska Hall Offi ce (402) 472-2643 July 21 Ashfall Fossil Beds (402) 893-2000 Sunday with a Scientist Geology: R.M. (Matt) Joeckel, Curator Trailside Museum (308) 665-2929 Museum Geological Specialist: Karl Baumgarten “Benefi cial Backyards” 1:30-4:30 p.m. Invertebrate Paleontology: Robert Diffendal, Curator www.museum.unl.edu (No Sunday with a Parasitology: Scott Gardner, Curator Scientist event in August] Collection Manager: Gabor Racz

Sept. 22 Vertebrate Paleontology: Jason Head, Curator Sunday with a Scientist Ross Secord, Curator Collection Manager: R. George Corner “Agate Fossil Beds” Preparators: Gregory Brown 1:30-4:30 p.m. MORRILL HALL Robert Skolnick Highway Salvage Paleontologist: Shane Tucker Oct. 11 South of 14th and Vine Streets (402) 472-2642 Claire M. Hubbard Lecture University of Nebraska Zoology: Patricia Freeman, Curator Hosted by the Sheldon Lincoln, Nebraska Collection Manager: Thomas Labedz Museum of Art, in conjunction with the First Peoples of the Open Year Around Affi liated Courtesy, Adjunct, and Emeritus Faculty: Anthropology: Thomas Myers Plains exhibit gallery. Monday-Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Open Late!) Entomology: Mary Liz Jameson Details coming soon Sundays: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Geology: Samuel Treves Closed Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Invertebrate Paleontology: David Watkins Oct. 20 December 24-25, and January 1 Parasitology: John Janovy, Mary Lou Pritchard Sunday with a Scientist Planetarium Closed Mondays & Husker home football Vertebrate Paleontology: Robert Hunt, Jr., “Agate Fossil Beds” game Saturdays M i c h a e l V o o r h i e s 1:30-4:30 p.m. Zoology: Hugh Genoways, Paul Johnsgard

ASHFALL FOSSIL BEDS Ashfall Fossil Beds Superintendent: Rick Otto Oct. 24, 25, & 26 Museum Specialist: Sandy Mosel Fright at the Museum 86930 517 Avenue (402) 893-2000 Royal, NE 68773 A fundraiser for Morrill Hall! Trailside Museum Staff Assistant: Pattie Norman Located seven miles north of Highway 20 between 5:30-8:30 p.m. each night Royal and Orchard, Nebraska. Accounting Clerk: Judy Ray Discovery Shop Manager: Marisa Kardell Open Seasonally. museum.unl.edu Graphics Design Specialist: Joel Nielsen For schedule, visit ashfall.unl.edu Exhibits Specialist: West Schomer Mueller Planetarium Supervisor: Jack Dunn TRAILSIDE MUSEUM Public Relations Coordinator, Friends Liaison, and Mammoth Newsletter Editor: Dana Ludvik PO Box 462 (308) 665-2929 Research Collections Staff Secretary: Gail Littrell Crawford, NE 69339 Scientifi c Illustrator: Angie Fox Located on Highway 20 at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.

Open Seasonally. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is an equal opportunity educator and employer. For schedule, visit trailside.unl.edu © 2013, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved. 2 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum FROM THE DIRECTOR

DEAR FRIENDS,

Springtime 2013 in the Museum has brought new Friends, new Board members, and new additions to our staff and new partnerships! I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all our staff, Board members and officers who have completed their terms and I extend a cordial welcome to all the newcomers to the Museum family whom you will read about in this issue of the Mammoth.

Perhaps most emblematic of springtime is the success of our joint effort with our friends in Mie Prefecture, Japan in their application to receive American dogwood trees under the Friendship Blossoms initiative of the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On April 26, the day of our Museum Volunteer Recognition event, there will be a special ceremony in Mie Prefecture for the receipt of 28 dogwood trees that are to be planted at 9 elementary schools, a library and on the campus of Mie University. These trees are part of an exchange of trees that commemorates the gift from the City of Tokyo in 1912 of 3000 cherry trees to the United States – the trees that became so beloved each springtime in the nation’s capital. We were thrilled that the Miss Mie exchange activities in which we participated in 2008-2011 were recognized by the Foundation as qualifying the Miss Mie Friendship Association to be recipients.

In another partnership, we co-hosted the mid-year meeting of the Mountain Plains Museums Association (MPMA) in Morrill Hall and are now busy with planning for the MPMA convention coming to Lincoln in October 2013.This 10-state Association includes museums of all sorts—history, art, natural history--large and small, and it will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase Lincoln. The Museum last hosted an MPMA meeting in 1971, so it is about time!

Springtime has also brought a flurry of renovation activity to Morrill Hall. Thanks to the successful fund raising by the Friends and the Foundation, and the tremendous support of UNL Facilities and the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, Prem Paul, we are embarked on almost three-quarters of a million dollars’ worth of Morrill Hall renovations—a new accessible east entrance, new elevator, new roof (reason for the big red fence!), new acoustic ceiling treatment in Elephant Hall, and new carpet!

Springtime also brings a 92nd birthday and a new home in San Antonio to our long-time friend and supporter Loren Toohey and his wife Maxine. When I called Loren to congratulate him, he said he wished he could come back and collect fossils one more time in Box Butte County—where he started field work for the Museum back in 1936 as a high school student in Hemmingford. Loren asked me to give his best regards to our paleontology staff and to all those who share his love of the FROM TOP: Friendship Blossom logo; Priscilla Grew and Loren Toohey in 2005; Big Red renovation State Museum. — Priscilla C. Grew, Director for Morrill Hall: Roof replacement and installation of new accessible east entrance and elevator; Mountain Plains Museum Association logo. Feb/May 2013 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT

DEAR FRIENDS,

Thank you to the Friends essentially the same benefi t. for reelecting me as President As most of you are aware, the carpeting in the Museum of the Board for another year. I has deteriorated beyond repair. The cost of replacing the carpet am truly honored by your faith is $275,000. Under the leadership of Associate Director Mark in me and for the affi rmation Harris, $175,000 was found within UNL Building Services and of the direction the Board is Maintenance, $25,000 provided by Dr. Paul, and $25,000 from taking. My fi rst year has been Museum revenue funds. The Friends Board has pledged $25,000 educational and exciting. It has of the remaining $50,000. While we can take those funds from also been gratifying. I am proud our reserves, we are planning on additional fund-raising efforts to to be a team-member with the cover this amount. We will also work with the Museum to raise the current Board. Board members remaining $25,000. Based on the fact that most of the funds have represent a broad set of skills been raised, the Museum Director, Dr. Priscilla Grew, gave the “go- – from academia, law, and ahead” to the project. Art Zygielbaum fund-raising through education. The bottom line in all this is to say that you can take pride in Each member also brings an the support the Friends are providing to the Museum. We are truly enthusiasm for our Museum. Museums have touched each of us making a difference. Thank you! and affected our interests, our careers, and our destinations in life. We held our Annual Meeting on February 22 this year. The The University of Nebraska State Museum is, to us, the embodiment Friends approved changes to our Bylaws. The most signifi cant of what such institutions should be – places that inspire learners, change is the creation of Chapter Liaisons. The Friends currently protect knowledge, and encourage exploration. Our museum does have one chapter, Ashfall. Ashfall can now appoint Chapter Liaisons those things very well – and the Friends are making the Museum – as many as they would like – to represent the Chapter at our Board even better. meetings. The hope is that at least one Liaison will be able to attend We began last year with a retreat that identifi ed a list of each meeting. Although all the Liaisons are welcome, they will projects. The projects were divided into two tiers based on their exercise one vote for the Chapter. importance and their fi t to the purpose of the Friends. Allow The Board and Friends are indebted to Board member Gary me to repeat the list from my last column. Tier 1: Purchase new Gabelhouse for donating the dinner for the Annual Meeting. In Planetarium shows, fi nish restoration of the Museum’s dioramas, addition, Gary designed and presented a request for donations to purchase new staff computers, underwrite temporary exhibits, and help us meet our many goals. He also donated copies of his novel establish a new graduate student research award. Tier 2 includes Dreams of the N’Dorobo to encourage donations. His effort was improving the facilities for housing the Museum’s specimen very successful. We raised $2,600 as a result. collection which are stored in alcohol, renovate the planetarium, Those attending the annual meeting approved the proposed improve Elephant Hall acoustics, replace the Museum’s carpeting, slate of new Board members. I am very pleased to welcome Rod and fund an educational volunteer (docent) coordinator position. Bates, Erin Colonna, Georgianne Mastera, and Ed Schmidt to our It is my pleasure to report that we have made signifi cant ranks. Members also approved the slate of offi cers for 2013. I will progress. The Elephant Hall acoustics project is of particular remain as President. Diane Pratt was elected Vice President. Mel interest to me since the poor acoustics in the room make it diffi cult Thornton was elected Treasurer. And Mark Brohman will begin his for attendees to hear speakers and to engage in large discussions. second term as Secretary. Acoustical analysis uncovered two problems – echoes and noisy I was pleased to be able to present awards that night. The lights. Echoing could be reduced by application of acoustic foam Anderson Award was given to Associate Director Mark Harris to the ceiling at a cost of about $31,000. Replacing the noisy lights recognizing his many contributions to the Museum. Retiring Board is much more expensive, near $80,000. We decided to attack Members Dianne and Mark Sorensen were announced as winners the echoes fi rst. Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic of Tuttle Awards for their continuing outstanding contributions to Development, Dr. Prem Paul, offered a $15,000 match for this the Friends. They were unable to attend the Annual Meeting due to effort. Generous donations from two Friends added $10,000 to poor weather. The Awards will be presented to them at a later event. the sum. We then held an “experimental” (just to see if it would The Friends have accomplished much this past year. We have work) fund-raising dinner for a small number of guests in Elephant much to do. Your help in time and money are needed to keep the Hall. Presentations by Matt Joeckel and Jason Head highlighted momentum going. Within your means and looking into your heart, the importance of the Museum to research and education. In please consider a contribution to the Museum. All donations are large measure thanks to them, we raised about $5,500 that night. tax deductible. All donations will help make our Museum the best Additional donations by Friends brought the total raised to over that it can be – infl uencing current Nebraskans and inspiring the $16,000, more than matching the commitment of Dr. Paul. The children who will be the next generation of Friends and our hope for acoustic treatment has been completed and the echoes in Elephant a better world. Donations may be sent to Dana Ludvik, University Hall signifi cantly reduced. Congratulations to all who were involved of Nebraska-Lincoln, 307 Morrill Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0338. in this fund-raising effort and my sincere thanks to all the people I look forward to seeing you at the Museum. It’s so good that who contributed their hard-earned funds to our success. we are Friends. Rather than tackle the expensive replacement of lights at this time, we are going to consider buying a new public address system. The cost should be substantially less than the lights and achieve — Art Zygielbaum, President of the Friends of the Museum 4 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum NEWS & INFO

DON’T MISS THESE MORRILL HALL EVENTS & EXHIBITS!

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

5TH ANNUAL

At the University of Nebraska State Museum COLORFUL From historic Morrill Hall – home to “Archie the Mammoth” CREATURE on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus -- to Ashfall DAY Fossil Beds near Royal and the Trailside Museum at Fort Robinson, the University of Nebraska State Museum enriches the lives of more than 100,000 visitors and students each year, creating lifelong memories and inspiring a love of science and learning. May 18, 2013 | 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m The University of Nebraska is involved in a campaign to raise $1.2 billion to support students, faculty, research and programs. You can choose to help the museum by making a contribution to the Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum Fund.

To learn more about the museum and the campaign, contact Connie Pejsar, [email protected], 402-458-1190 or 800-432-3216.

To give online, go to nufoundation.org/friendsofthestatemuseum

Cooper Gallery | Ends Nov. 30, 2013

October 24, 25 & 26

Be part of the fun... Help sponor this Morrill Hall-o-ween fundraiser! For details, phone (402) 472-3779 or e-mail [email protected]. On Display Now! Feb/May 2013 5 NEWS & INFO

MUSEUM STUDENT WORKER SPOTLIGHT

Brynn Roemen Marisa Kardell Graduate Student, Undeclared Advertising & PR Graduated in Dec 2012 from UNL, Graduated in May2013 from UNL Speech and Language Pathology Funk, Nebraska Tea, South Dakota Marisa manages Morrill Byrnn has worked at Hall’s gift shop, and has Morrill Hall for over been with the Museum three years, beginning for four years. She likes as a freshman. Although that the Museum is a she can primarily place children can spend be found in the gift time with their parents. shop or at the front “Nowadays, everything desk greeting visitors, you also may see her assisting with is technology-based,” said Marisa. “The Museum is a place the planetarium shows on the weekends. “I enjoy learning where kids can visit, and physically see and touch what they about science and history; they are subjects we often take for are learning about.” granted,” said Brynn. “I like how you can grow and learn new things while working here.” Jana Pierce Senior, Inclusive Early Childhood Education David City, Nebraska

“I used to come here with my Grandma,” said Jana. “The Museum is sentimental to me.” Jana has been with the Museum for the past two years, and has been involved with a little bit of everything— from front desk duties to overseeing birthday parties. Jana loves the fl exibility of working at Morrill Hall and its fun atmosphere.

Brynn Roemen worked at the Museum’s booth at the Lincoln Gem & Mineral Show Kaitlin Manley at the Lancaster Event Center in April. Senior, Anthropology Major with History and Native American studies minors Grand Island, Nebraska

Kaitlin works in the Museum’s Anthrology collections. She loves the great collections in all of the Museum’s Reserach Divisions, as well as the opportunities the Museum has given her, including an internship at the Smithsonian. “I really found my career path,” said Kaitlin. “I can credit that through my work at the Museum.” — Compiled by Emily Kucera, Museum Intern 6 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum NEWS & INFO

MUSEUM WELCOMES NEW STAFF

Megan Hansen Tory Petz Museum Educator Preparator, Highway Salvage Paleontology Program Graduated from Concordia University in Seward in May 2012, B.S. in Biology Graduated from UNL in Dec. 2012, B.S. in Biology, minor in Anthropology Beemer, Nebraska Orchard, Nebraska I started working at Morrill Hall in January as a I started volunteering at the Museum in the fall of Museum Educator. I take reservations, along with teaching 2010 after my roommate wrote an article about the Highway programs to groups visiting Morrill Hall. Salvage Paleontology Program’s 50th anniversary. I’d found The Museum is one of the main reasons I decided to fossils on my parents’ land and was interested in them but major in Biology. I first came to the Museum in elementary didn’t know anything about them. My roommate mentioned school–and fell in love with it. I’d have to say my favorite thing that to Shane, and he said I was welcome to volunteer and about the Museum is that I get to work here every day! learn more about Nebraska’s natural history. — Tory Petz I spent two summers (2011 and 2012) as an intern at Ashfall Fossil Beds. My duties included excavation in the Hubbard Rhino Barn, fossil preparation in the lab, sorting gravel concentrate for microfossils, and interpreting the geology and paleontology of the site for visitors. I started working for the Highway Salvage Program part-time in the spring of 2012 and was hired on full-time this January. My job entails fossil preparation (including matrix removal, repair, and labeling) and monitor road cuts for vertebrate fossils. I have had an interest in paleontology since I was a small child. My experience at the Museum allows me to learn more about Nebraska’s prehistoric past while preserving specimens for future generations. The research collections are a treasure that very few people know about and it’s a privilege to work with them. In the future, I hope to further educate people about the exciting discoveries that are made in their own backyards. — Megan Hansen

Megan Hansen helps visitors search for microfossils during Morrill Hall’s “Dinosaurs & Disasters” event Feb. 2. Feb/May 2013 7 NEWS & INFO

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR HONORED WITH UNL SERVICE AWARD

for the new “First People of the Plains” gallery curated by Alan Osborn in 2011, and for the “Minerals and Meteorites” exhibit curated by Matt Joeckel in 2012. Mark independently came up with the idea of working with Ted Hubbard to acquire Gary Staab’s “Bizarre Beasts” exhibit for Morrill Hall, where it was installed last year. Mark was the manager for the State Museum’s partnership in 2012 with the Henry Doorly Zoo, in which the Museum’s vertebrate paleontology staff helped create the new Prehistoric Play Park and Fossil Dig Site funded by Ted Hubbard –a popular attraction which helps promote awareness of the State Museum, Morrill Hall and Ashfall to tens of thousands of Zoo visitors. Mark also oversaw the major new construction projects funded by the Hubbard family at Ashfall Fossil Beds in recent years and he has worked closely as the Museum’s liaison to UNL Facilities on the recent major renovation of Prem Paul presents the 2013 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service to Mark Harris on Jan. 30. From left: Priscilla Grew, Prem Paul, Mark Harris. Photo by Craig Chandler/University Morrill Hall – a new roof, new elevator, and the prospect soon Communications for new carpeting! Mark is an outstanding ambassador to western Nebraska for the Museum and is the supervisor for our Trailside branch museum at Fort Robinson. Mark took On January 30, Museum Associate Director the lead on the fundraising in western Nebraska that enabled Mark Harris received the 2013 Vice Chancellor’s Award the renovation in 2006 of the Trailside Museum with the for Invaluable Service. The criteria for the award include: installation of the world’s only “Clash of the Mammoths” fossil outstanding accomplishments above and beyond job and mount. performance expectations; actions that support the values of Mark works tirelessly to put the Museum on a leadership, innovation, initiative and/or cost-effectiveness; stronger financial footing with increased visitation, growing and exceptional service provided to clients or the university. Friends memberships, and higher gift shop sales. We Prem Paul, UNL Vice Chancellor for Business and Economic are delighted that he has been recognized with the Vice Development, presented the special recognition to Mark at Chancellor’s Award. the annual Office of Research and Economic Development — Priscilla Grew, Director (ORED) awards luncheon. This is the first time that a State Museum employee has been recognized with the prestigious Vice Chancellor’s Award. Mark joined the Museum staff in 1998. The Vice Chancellor’s Award recognizes in particular Mark’s accomplishments in recent years that have gone far beyond the performance expectations of his current position as Assistant Director. Mark had the original idea to celebrate the State Five Days. Five Places. Museum’s 140th anniversary in the year 2011, an enormously One Fun Summer Camp! successful initiative that led to unprecedented press coverage, exciting special events and dramatic increases in attendance July 22-26 | 9:00 am-4:00 pm for the Museum. Mark was the Museum’s project manager Sign-up now through the Lincoln Children’s Museum lincolnchildrensmuseum.org/education 8 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum NEWS & INFO

FRIENDS ANNUAL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 22

The Friends of the Museum held their 2013 Annual Continuing Board members include: Kelli Bacon, Meeting at Morrill Hall on February 22. Friends members, Eileen Cunningham, Gary Gabelhouse, Marcia Hollestelle, Museum staff, and other guests enjoyed food from Lazlo’s David Rowe, and Natasha Vavra. while exploring the new “Tree of Life” touchscreen table in the Several people rotated off the Board this year after Explore Evolution gallery. completing two consecutive terms. We want to sincerely thank Special thanks to Board member Gary Gabelhouse for these individuals for their time, service, and generous support generously hosting the food and to the University of Nebraska of the Museum: Mark Sorensen, Diann Sorensen, Mike Leite, Foundation for hosting the bar. Thank you also to Museum and Lynn Sobotka. Your dedication and contributions to the curator Judy Diamond and theoretical ecologist Chad Brassil Museum’s success over the last six years have been appreciated! for giving a fascinating talk about the “Tree of Life” exhibit. — Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coordinator The Friends elected the 2013 Board of Directors at a brief meeting prior to the reception. New officers include Art Zygielbaum, president; Diane Pratt, vice president; Mel Thornton, treasurer; and Mark Brohman, secretary. We’d like to welcome the following new Board ANDERSON & TUTTLE AWARDS members: Rod Bates, Ed Schmidt, Georgianne Mastera, and Erin Colonna. We are also pleased to have re-elected Lois The Friends presented the 2012 Tuttle Award to Mark and Diann Sorensen Mayo. of North Platte. They were each given this award in recognition of their outstanding service, generosity, and dedication to the Friends of the Museum. Unfortunately, the Sorensens were unable to attend the event due to inclement weather. The Museum’s Associate Director Mark Harris was selected for the 2012 Anderson Award, in recognition of his exceptional service and dedication to the Museum. Congratulations to these deserving recipients!

Art Zygielbaum presents the 2012 Anderson Award to Mark Harris.

Professor and Informal Science Education Curator Judy Diamond stands by the “Tree of Life” exhibit with Chad Brassil, Associate Professor in the UNL School of Biological Sciences. Feb/May 2013 9 NEWS & INFO

THE HISTORY OF LIFE AT YOUR FINGER TIPS

The interactive “Tree of Life” exhibit is now open in Morrill Hall’s Explore Evolution gallery.

Morrill Hall student workers Kyle Warday and Shannon O’Connor investigate the “Tree of Life.” Photo by Craig Chandler/University Communications.

“This exhibit gives users the opportunity to playfully explore the tree of life and learn how all life on Earth is related.”

How are humans related to other life forms? What of Informal Science Education for the Museum. This three- traits do bats share with bananas? Do beetles share a common year $2.3 million dollar NSF grant developed the exhibit for ancestry with fi sh? Explore questions like these and the four museums in the United States. In addition to Morrill complex evolutionary relationships of over 70,000 species with Hall, the Tree of Life will be installed at the Harvard Museum the touch of a fi nger on the Tree of Life— a new installation of Natural History in Cambridge MA, the California Academy in the Explore Evolution gallery in Morrill Hall. The Tree of Sciences in San Francisco, and the Field Museum of Natural of Life, made possible by a grant from the National Science History in Chicago. Foundation, allows multiple users to learn about life on Earth “The tree of life is a central organizing principle for using innovative touchscreen technology. all of natural history, but it is not easy to understand. This The Tree of Life provides an engaging format to exhibit gives users the opportunity to playfully explore the tree visualize 3.5 billion years of evolutionary history. A swipe of of life and learn how all life on Earth is related,” said Diamond. the fi nger on the multi-touch table allows the user to zoom The exhibit will be incorporated with the Museum’s through the phylogenetic tree, called DeepTree, to see how educational programs for schools and the general public all life on Earth is related by common ancestry. For example, to teach evolutionary concepts such as common descent users can search the tree to see how bananas are related to and natural selection. It will also be integrated into a new people or how giraffes are related to bald eagles. course sequence for students in the UNL School of Biological The Tree of Life is the result of a multi-institutional Sciences in fall 2013. Students will use it to simulate evolution, collaboration including Judy Diamond, Professor and Curator connecting genes to individuals, populations, and evolution. — Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coordinator

10 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum NEWS & & INFO INFONEWS

SPOTLIGHT ON THE SORENSENS

Friends and Museum Campaign for Nebraska Co-Chairs Mark & Diann Sorensen have made a lasting impact on the Museum

“Our involvement with the Friends of the Museum principle and integrity, which is of lasting and inestimable began about six years ago, but with Morrill Hall, perhaps 60 years value,” said Mark. “And the future maintenance of the physical ago,” said Mark Sorensen, who with his wife Diann co-chairs structure and its contained wealth of collections must be a the Museum’s Campaign Committee, part of the Campaign for priority for the Friends organization.” Nebraska with the University of Nebraska Foundation. Mark What Mark and Diann wish to leave behind is and his wife Diann have not only donated significant financial their sponsorship and material promotion of the facility in aid to the Museum and its various outlets, but also their time, cooperation with the Museum’s Director and devoted staff. serving two terms on the Friends Board. However, their love for Their association with the Museum included not the Museum began many years ago. For Mark, specifically, when only personal experiences from years past, but also their he was in grade school. recent memories of functions in the last several years. From For Mark, the Museum has always had a quiet yet dining with the fossils in Elephant Hall to celebrating the stirring atmosphere. It is a place of discovery for children, but opening of the Hubbard Rhino Barn at Ashfall, the Sorensen’s also as a “refuge from daily pressures.” The Museum, as described have treasured their time spent on the Board and wish to by Mark, is not simply a place for those driven to future careers, continue their involvement with the Museum as co-chairs of but is a place that allows all participants to take a brief vacation the Museum’s Campaign Committee, as well as by being loyal from their lives and once again... wonder. visitors. — Emily Kucera, Morrill Hall Intern “The Museum represents a bed-rock of sound scientific

Thank you, Sorensens, for your wonderful support of the Museum!

ABOVE: Mark and Diann Sorensen in Elephant Hall. LEFT: Mark and Diann share a moment with past Friends Presidents Marj McKinty and Karen Amen (far right); The Sorensens assist with fossil excavation at Ashfall Fossil Beds. Feb/May 2013 11 EDUCATION

DINOSAURS & DISASTERS!

Hundreds of visitors attended the annual Earth science learning event.

The 9th annual “Dinosaurs and Disasters!” was held Feb. 2 at Morrill Hall. The popular event, hosted by the Museum and the UNL Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, attracted 1,666 children and their families. UNL scientists, students, and other volunteers provided hands-on activities and demonstrations to engage visitors in scientific discovery. All three floors of the Museum featured stations about paleontology, tsunamis, tornadoes, meteorites, microbes, drought, Antarctica, and more. Children had the opportunity to give a weather forecast like a meteorologist with a real green screen background. They could also dig for fossils and test out different dinosaur tails. Some visitors brought a rock or fossil for a scientist to identify. Mueller Planetarium presented the new fulldome show, “Into the Deep.” Huge thanks to everyone who participated and attended! Mark your calendars for next year’s D&D: Feb. 1, 2014! — Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coordinator

12 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum EDUCATION

OPPOSITE: A family picks out prizes after playing the “Earth History Survival Game”; Vertebrate Paleontology Preparator Rob Skolnick tells visitors about discoveries at Agate Fossil Beds. THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A water stream table demonstrates how flooding impacts the environment; oranges make perfect props for comparing dinosaur brains; Museum Educator Cindy Loope helps a visitor test out different dinosaur tails. Photos by Sarah Lambert. Feb/May 2013 13 EDUCATION

A F am A Fa ily m

P il r y o P g r r o a

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a m Sunday with a Scientist events are held the 3rd Sunday of each month from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Morrill Hall. A F am i ly P r o Morrill Hall’s “Sunday with a Scientist” g r

a

afternoon programs give families a unique opportunity m A Fam i to learn something new about science and nature each ly

month. In recent months, scientists and other experts P r

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have led events on a wide variety of topics, including, g

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a birds, archeology, forensic ecology, arachnids, stormwater m management, and the Platte Basin Time-lapse Project.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Pretending to be water droplets that pick up pollutants; painting with live maggots (no kidding!); creating a virtual rain garden; recording artifacts. Photos by Sarah Lambert.

14 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum EDUCATION Continued from cover.

A young visitor fearlessly touches a Death’s Head cockroach.

DID YOU Spiders are the most commonly known arachnid—but this “Spiders: Eight-Legged Encounters” sets an attendance diverse group also includes ticks, mites, scorpions, and KNOW? “daddy longlegs,” among others. All arachnids have eight record for Sunday with a Scientist legs, but unlike insects, they don’t have antennae.

On Feb. 17, Morrill Hall’s Sunday with a Scientist as volunteers from the American Tarantula Society and the program explored the creepy crawlies in the Order Arachnida. Prairie Hill Learning Center. Fantastic arachnid artwork was “Spiders: Eight-legged Encounters” drew the largest visitor also featured by Pawl Tisdale. Two fl oors of the Museum turnout for a Sunday with a Scientist to date with 847 visitors featured engaging demonstrations, crafts, experiments, live during the 3-hour afternoon event! Kudos to Eileen Hebets, and preserved specimens on display, and more. Thank you Associate Professor in the UNL School of Biological Sciences, to everyone who contributed to the event’s success! for creating and organizing this highly popular event. Hebets — Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coordinator was joined by graduate and undergraduate students, as well

Eileen Hebets (right) talks about one of the 11 living arachnid orders.

Feb/May 2013 15 EDUCATION

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Molding a spider out of clay; weaving a spider web; viewing a scorpion under the black light; watching spiders forage in different environments. Photos by Sarah Lambert and Troy Fedderson/University Communications

UPCOMING EVENTS May 19: Microbes Rock June 16: Chemistry, Harry Potter Style July 21: Benefi cial Backyards Sept. 22: Agate Fossil Beds

Learn more about past and future Sunday with a Scientist events on www.museum.unl.edu!

16 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum RESEARCH VRANA DONATES MOSASAUR SKULL

Ben Vrana of Columbus, Nebraska presented the probably gave birth to live young and had enormous eyes. Museum with a prepared skull of a Mosasaur, an extinct Vrana has donated many similar-aged specimens marine lizard, at the annual Museum Appreciation Event from the Niobrara Formation, some of which are on display April 26. in the Museum’s “Mesozoic Gallery.” In addition throughout The skull had fallen in a concretionary block of the years he has volunteered his time and expertise during sediment from the top of a cliff formed by rocks of the the Museum’s summer field expeditions. The specimen will Niobrara Formation near Gavins Point Dam along the become a part of the Museum’s extensive research collections Missouri River, Knox County, in northeast Nebraska. The in the Division of Vertebrate Paleontology, which gratefully concretion was discovered by local fossil enthusiasts in 1993, acknowledges receipt of the specimen. who notified and donated the specimen to the Loup Valley — George Corner, Collection Manager for Gem and Mineral Society. The fragile specimen was loaded Vertebrate Paleontology with some difficulty into a van by Vrana, and Gordon Miller from Fremont. Vrana, a high school teacher at Schuyler at the time, expertly prepared the specimen which in life may have been twenty feet in length. HERBARIUM HOLDINGS PROVIDE The chalky Niobrara Formation was deposited in CLIMATE CHANGE CLUES shallow waters of a great inland sea that divided the North American continent in half some 85 million years ago during The Museum’s Bessey Herbarium in Nebraska the Age of Dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous. Marine creatures Hall has about 350,000 botanical specimens that have been such as squid-like ammonites, bony fishes, sharks, plesiosaurs gathered since the 1860s. Thanks to the durability of the and the lizard-like mosasaurs dominated the sea life of cellulose that plants are made of (your house is built of it the time. Mosasaurs had double hinged-jaws, like snakes, too), such specimens can last 500 or more years if protected from water, ultra-violet light, and nibbling insects. Now that we have nearly finished computerizing all of the herbarium’s Nebraska vascular-plant specimens and many from elsewhere, we can determine the breadth and depth of our holdings and provide such information to the increasing number of persons and agencies that inquire about it. Among those specimens are many gathered from parks and other protected preserves in Nebraska and elsewhere, often from the earliest days of those places’ designations. Some of the first collections made in Yellowstone Park and the Black Hills were made by UNL staff in the 1890s and early 1900s. When UNL had a field station at the foot of Pikes Peak in the 1920s, many specimens were gathered there. Recent intensive field work in Nebraska has added hundreds of specimens from important biological sites in the state, including the Niobrara Valley Preserve in Brown County; Spring Creek and Ninemile Prairies and Wilderness Park in Lancaster County; Arapaho Prairie in Arthur County; and many others. With climate-change probable, these old and new collections form baseline data for estimating changes in the sites’ flora and vegetation with global warming. — Bob Kaul, Curator of Botany

Ben Vrana with the mosasaur specimen he donated to the Museum in April. Photo by Greg Brown. Feb/May 2013 17 ASHFALL FOSSIL BEDS

ANOTHER NEW BIRD SPECIES RECOGNIZED FROM ASHFALL

New Ashfall vulture appears to be a close relative of the Palm-nut Vulture of Africa.

When the fi rst in North America. The description of this new species major excavation was published in the Nov. 9, 2012 issue of the scientifi c of the Ashfall publication, PLoS ONE. The new vulture is named Anchigyps site took place (ānkă-jĭps) voorhiesi in honor of curator emeritus and Ashfall in the late 1970s, paleontologist Michael Voorhies. dozens of intact Anchigyps differs from the local turkey vultures of today. skeletons from a As noted by the authors of the research: “Characteristics of variety of animals its wing bones suggest it was less specialized for soaring than were recovered modern vultures”… and…“It was likely an opportunistic from the bed predator or scavenger having a grasping foot and a mandible The new fossil bird appears to be closely related to the of volcanic ash. morphologically similar to modern carrion-feeding birds… Palm-nut Vulture of Africa. Most of the The strong hind toe and the powerful fl exion of the toes are skeletons were suitable for catching or killing prey, suggesting that Anchigyps from larger mammals; barrel-bodied rhinos, three-toed horses, voorhiesi may have been in part a predatory bird, but the strong llama-sized camels, with very few small animals of any kind. symphysis and the relatively narrow ramus of the mandible But the birds were there, near the bottom of the fossil bed, reveal it to be a carrion feeder, perhaps using its grasping feet indicating that they perished before the large mammals during for handling food items. This would not be surprising given the ash storm. In general, bird remains are uncommon when it the rich species diversity of the megafauna in the Late Miocene comes to fossil fi nds. Bird bones are fragile by nature, shaped of North America that provided an abundant food resource.” by evolutionary selection forces for lightness - so the bone is No depictions of this vulture are available yet, but Dr. thin and the interior hollow. Bird bones are easily chewed to Feduccia does mention that the new fossil bird appears to be bits by scavengers, they break to bits when trampled - usually closely related to Gypohierax, the Palm-nut Vulture of central destroyed before the deposition process takes place. The and southwest Africa (see photo at left). circumstances as well as method of burial at Ashfall, however, — Rick Otto, Ashfall Superintendent made a difference. Relatively fast and gentle accumulation of volcanic ash in the ancient waterhole allowed for preservation EXCERPTS FROM: of the delicate remains of birds. Zhang Z, Feduccia A, James HF (2012) A Late Miocene Accipitrid (Aves: Accipitriformes) from Nebraska The most common bird to date, represented by numerous and Its Implications for the Divergence of Old World Vultures. PLoS ONE 7(11): e48842. doi:10.1371/ skeletons, is a crowned crane Balearicia exigua, a smaller journal.pone.0048842. version of the extant African crowned crane. A long-legged hawk Apatosagittarius terrenus, which converges on the REFERENCES: modern secretary bird was another exotic fi nd. Neither Feduccia A (1996) The Origin and Evolution of Birds. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. of the fossil birds compared well with others in the fossil Feduccia A, Voorhies MR (1989) Miocene hawk converges on secretarybird. Ibis, 131: 349–354. record, so Mike Voorhies solicited the help of an authority on Feduccia A, Voorhies MR (1992) Crowned cranes (Gruidae: Balearica) in the Miocene of Nebraska. ornithology and vertebrate anatomy, Dr. Alan Feduccia at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Science, Series 36: 239–248. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. It was Alan Feduccia who studied and subsequently published descriptions of the crowned crane and long-legged hawk as new species in the 1980s. Alan also noted that fossil bones from a rail, a songbird, ASHFALL FOSSIL BEDS and a gull were present in the Ashfall assemblage, but the material was not diagnostic and the exact species could not be 2013 SPRING/SUMMER SCHEDULE determined. A collection of bird bones recognized as an “old world May 1-May 23: May 25-Sept 2: vulture” were retained for study at that time, and it was not Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm until recently that a graduate student was able to confi rm (closed Sunday and Monday) Sunday 11 am-5 pm Feduccia’s observations. Zihui Zhang (Capital Normal University, Beijing, China) and Helen F. James (Smithsonian Institution) helped determine that the vulture fossils were indeed an early example of an old world vulture living ashfall.unl.edu

18 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum ASHFALL FOSSIL BEDS

Photo by Diane Pratt

New skeletons are discovered each summer in the Hubbard Rhino Barn. Photo by Rick Otto. FOSSIL DIG 2013 Don’t miss this oppportunity to experience a fossil dig near the Ashfall Fossil Beds

Reservation Form for 2013 Friends-Sponsored Ashfall Excavation

Please reserve ______spaces (minimum age 16) on the following date(s) (Please make selections below.) Thursday, July 25____ Friday, July 26____ Saturday, July 27____ *Friends Members: $60 (per person) x ______day(s) = $ ______Non-members: $110 (per person) x ______day(s) = $ ______

Name(s)______

Address, City, State, & Zip______

Phone Number______*Must be a Friends member prior to Jan. 1, 2013 to qualify for the Friends rate. Register early to assure date(s) of your choice. Maximum of 10 participants per day. Please return this form to: Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, 86930 517th Avenue, Royal, Nebraska 68773 or call (402) 893-2000 to reserve your space.

Feb/May 2013 19 CURRENT FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP

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20 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum CURRENT FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP FRIENDS Brett Laursen & Erika Hoff William & Christine Moser Christina & Matthew Rich Stacey Stricker & Jason Slaughter Quang Le & Sherri Pham Moy Family Steve & Lisa Richardson Michael Struempler Alexander & Gunta Leitvi Robert E. Muller Jennifer & Allen Richey Suckerman Family Letts/Ziemann Family Mundhenke Family Tom Richter Alice & Robert Sullivan Bob Levin Joel & Louise Myers Frederick & Margaret Rickers Ann & Gordon Summers Lisa Lewy & Janet Greser John & Ann Neal and Aletha Biggs Ray & Ann Ringlein Anne & Dominic Sumner Ryan Liebig Benjamin & Marsha Neff Lydia & Roberto Rivera Yuval & Yana Tabach-Voldman Lincoln Gem and Mineral Club Raymond & Bernita Neujahr David L Rogers Amnon & Sharon Tamir Jim & Gail Linderholm Diana Nevins Scott Rogge Ron & Lynn Tanner Pin & Chingfen LIu Loni & John Newby Lois Rood Bagher & Elizeh Tarkian Kristina Livermont & Xuan & Vu Nguyen Missa Rosin Liz & Harold Tarr Corey Handrahan Rob & Melissa Nickolaus Andrew & Kelly Ross Rhett & Andrea Taylor Jerry & Marie Lodwig Nieland Family David & Martha Rowe Ken Terrell Mike & Karen Loll Chelsie Nolasco & Kellie Jones Max & Karen Rudolph Beth & Brian Terry Michelle & Bony Looky Jim Nora & Julie Filips Lynne B Ruth Craig & Lyla Thompson Jeff & Roxanne Lott Fayette Oakes & Marsha Hancock Ryan & Heidi Sailer Richard & Sindy Thompson Andrea & Michael Lundberg Jon Oberg & Claudia Vess Hallie & Charles Salem Melvin & Rosemary Thornton Christine Lustgarten Stan & Fanny Odenthal Ronald & Susan Samson Janet Thurman of the Terry & Cheryl Maassen Valerie & Steve Odenthal Ernesto & Carmen Sanchez Robert & Katie Tobin Bryan & Rachel Mack James & Ruth O’Gara Jesus & Monica Sandoval Richard Toren & Sara LeRoy-Toren

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22 T H E M A M M O T H Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum LAST LOOK OPEN DAILY!

Gifts for all ages

LOVE UNDER THE DOME Congratulations to Cody Pratt and Dori Martin! Books • Toys • Kits • Apparel Cody surprised his girlfriend Dori by proposing to her in Rocks & Minerals • Handmade Jewelry Mueller Planetarium on 12/12/12. He popped the question Telescopes • Museum Souvenirs following a fulldome show that was staged with Museum staff in the audience. . .and she said YES! Best wishes as Free admission to the Discovery Shop at Morrill Hall. you “lift off” to this new chapter in your lives. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.; 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m Sun . museum.unl.edu | (402) 472-0090 If you have an interesting photo to share, submit it to [email protected].

COMING TO MORRILL HALL FEBRUARY 2014

Feb/May 2013 23 Non Profit FRIENDS OF THE US Postage MUSEUM PAID UNL Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History 307 Morrill Hall PO Box 880357 Lincoln, NE 68588-0357