Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

RW Moriarty Science Seminars

by

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Leading Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve into the Future

Talk: Science, Conservation, and Community: Leading Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve into the Future

Speaker: Dr. Mary Janecka, Director of Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve

When: Monday, November 10, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Where: Carnegie Library Lecture Hall and online via Zoom

Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required.

Dr. Mary Janecka, the new Director of Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve, will present past research and plans for leading the team to advance the station’s scientific research, applied conservation efforts, and public outreach initiatives. Fieldwork has long been at the heart of Mary’s own scientific journey, and she has contributed to making field experiences more accessible and welcoming to all.  Janecka’s own research on host-parasite interactions (primarily in riverine ecosystems) and how these are affected by anthropogenic change has immediate relevance to the Western Pennsylvania region. Her research combines behavioral ecology, genetics, and conservation; it spans both aquatic and terrestrial systems, and across organism groups—from snakes to migratory birds to ticks. With this multidisciplinary expertise, Janecka is uniquely positioned to further elevate Powdermill’s scientific profile and impact.

Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom. 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars

Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

by

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: The Colors of Dinosaurs

Talk: The Colors of Dinosaurs: Using the Fossil Record and Living Birds to Determine Extinct Animal Coloration

Speaker: Dr. Sarah Davis, Collection Manager of Paleobiology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

When: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 6:00–7:00 p.m.

Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom; Reception to follow in Café Carnegie

Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required.

Dr. Sarah Davis, Collection Manager of Paleobiology, will present her research on determining the colors of extinct dinosaurs using both fossil evidence and insights from living animals. While many fossils show that dinosaurs could have had black, brown, grey, and even shiny colors, not all pigments will fossilize. By looking at the evolution of pigments in living animals, along with evidence from the fossil record, it is possible to infer if dinosaurs may have also been able to express bright colors such as red, yellow, and pink. Dr. Davis will discuss which dinosaurs may have been most likely to express these vivid colors, and ongoing challenges in the field of paleo-coloration.

Please join us for a reception in Café Carnegie immediately following the seminar.

Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom. 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars

Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

by

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Restoring an Ancient Fishpond in Maui, Hawaiʻi

Talk: Restoring an Ancient Fishpond in Maui, Hawaiʻi

Speaker: Kiaʻi Collier, Maui Steward and Educator

When: Monday, September 8, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Where: Earth Theater and online via Zoom

Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required.

Maui steward and educator Kiaʻi Collier is leading the restoration of an ancient fishpond in Maui, Hawaiʻi that is the piko (source) to restore social and ecological function in the community of  Waiheʻe. Learn how Collier leads a hui (group) that is applying ancient techniques of Uhau Humu Pōhaku to heal land and Hawaiian communities.

Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom. 

 

 

 

Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars

Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics through the 2025 – 2026 R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar season.

by

Moriarty Science Seminar: Michigan Land Snail Distribution Influenced by Past Glaciers

Rolling in the Isles: Michigan Land Snail Distribution Influenced by Past Glaciers

Featuring Tim Pearce, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

When: Monday, May 12, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Where: Earth Theater and online via Zoom

Tickets: This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.

Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.

Abstract

Does past glacial history influence modern species distributions?

During field work on islands in northern Lake Michigan, Dr. Tim Pearce found that snails were more similar to those in the Upper Peninsula than they were to the nearby adjacent Lower Peninsula. He initially wondered if this pattern could be explained by currently operating ecological principles such as predation or microhabitat.  Applying my training in paleontology, he then wondered if past events could have influenced modern distributions.

To study the glacier hypotheses, he compared occurrences of the four largest and best studied land snail species in three areas: the (1) Upper and (2) Lower Peninsulas and (3) the 13 islands adjacent to the Lower Peninsula. This comparison showed that all four species occur only on the Lower Peninsula but two of them occur in all three areas, with minor exceptions.

The two species that occur in all three areas appear to be more cold-adapted. In contrast, the two species restricted to just the Lower Peninsula are consistent with warm-adaptation.

This talk examines whether smaller snails show the same distribution patterns as these larger snails. Are smaller cold-adapted species more ubiquitous while smaller warm-adapted species are more confined to the Lower Peninsula?

The current distributions of land snails are consistent with a glacial history scenario where 11,500 years ago, a glacier covered the area and eliminated the land snails. Then 9,500 years ago, the glacial retreat exposed a land bridge from the mainland to the proto-islands. Then with more climate warming, cold-adapted snails dispersed northwards on the heels of the glacier and crawled to the proto-islands. Subsequent lake level rise isolated the islands from the mainland, so when the warm-adapted snails migrated into the Lower Peninsula, their island vacations were stymied.

About Dr. Pearce

Timothy Pearce is Assistant Curator of Mollusks at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where he conducts research on land snails and cares for and promotes use of the huge research collection of snails and clams (1.4 million specimens). His MS in snail paleontology and his PhD in snail ecology give him a valuable perspective on how time has affected the makeup of modern snail communities.

Pearce received his PhD (1994) and MS (1991) in biology from the University of Michigan. His post-doctoral work at SUNY–Stony Brook from 1995–1996 focused on Madagascar’s land snails. He received his MA in paleontology from the University of California–Berkeley in 1988 and his BS in marine biology from Evergreen State College in 1979.

Prior to his appointment at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in 2002, he was Assistant Curator of Mollusks at the Delaware Museum of Natural History from 1997–2001.

Pearce’s research focuses on ecology and systematics of mollusks, especially terrestrial snails and slugs in the northeastern United States. He also pursues the biogeography of land snails on islands in the Great Lakes, distribution and ecology of land snails on California islands, and systematics of North American land snails.

Pearce has published more than 55 peer-reviewed scientific papers on mollusks. He has been known to tell snail jokes.

by

Dismantling the Diorama: A Model for Tracing the Origins of Unidentified Human Remains

Dismantling the Diorama: A Model for Tracing the Origins of Unidentified Human Remains

Monday, April 14, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Earth Theater and online via Zoom

Featuring Dr. Aja Lans, Johns Hopkins University

This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.

Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.

Abstract

Lion Attacking a Dromedary has at different places and times varied in name, appearance, and meaning, and has arguably been many different things. Is this diorama a work of art, a historical representation, an artifact, or something in between? The (re)discovery of a human skull contained within its inaccurate depiction of a North African person raises concerns about the ongoing objectification of people of African origin and/or descent, as well as the spectacularization of violence against members of the African diaspora. This talk explores the creation of Lion Attacking a Dromedary and the itinerary of the skull contained within, emphasizing ties to ongoing racial injustices throughout the colonized world. The history of the diorama demonstrates why human remains contained within museum collections need to be re-evaluated and considered for repatriation efforts. In conclusion, archival research combined with stable isotope analyses of teeth provide clues to the skull’s origin.

Biography

Aja Lans is an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and Center for Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Her research integrates Black feminism and critical race theory into bioarchaeological investigations. A major area of focus is the objectification of human remains contained within universities and museum collections. She argues for the repatriation of Black Ancestors who are “owned” by such institutions. Outside of the academy, she consults on cultural resource management projects in New York City.

by

Moriarty Science Seminar: Using Bird Banding Datasets to Track Trends in Bird Populations

Sixty Years and Counting: Using Bird Banding Datasets to Track Trends in Bird Populations

Monday, March 17, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Earth Theater and online via Zoom

Featuring Annie Lindsay, Powdermill Avian Research Center (Carnegie Museum of Natural History)

This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.

Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.

Abstract

The potential for long-term bird banding datasets to contribute to scientific literature is immense, and researchers are using these datasets to
study trends over time (e.g., populations, phenology, behavior, migration, distributions, morphology). Many studies rely on data collected at a single location or over a short period, and while it is valuable to analyze a single large dataset, the conclusions may not be broadly applicable to different geographic and temporal ranges, or to different species or even different populations of the focal species. Comparing multiple long-term datasets comprised of many species from multiple locations is proving to be valuable in identifying and describing patterns in space and time, and among populations and species. Several multi-station analyses have been published that show trends and patterns single-datasets may overlook.

Powdermill Avian Research Center has operated the longest continuously-run, year-round bird banding program in the country, gathering over 830,000 banding records and facilitating countless avian research projects since its inception in 1961. Similarly, Black Swamp Bird Observatory in northwest Ohio has been operating a banding station during the spring and fall migration periods since 1992, amassing over 350,000 records. In this presentation, she compares long-term trends in refueling rate and arrival condition, and changes in wing morphology at both stations, and discusses the importance of collaborations among bird banding operations in strengthening analyses to recognize patterns spatially and temporally.

About Annie Lindsay

Annie Lindsay, PhD, is the Bird Banding Program Manager at Powdermill Nature Reserve, environmental field station of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where she runs the long-term bird banding station, conducts avian research, and teaches bird banding classes and workshops. Her research interests lie primarily in songbird migratory behavior and ecology, seasonal interactions and carry-over effects, and molt strategies and timing. She is particularly interested in how human activities affect bird populations and how those populations have changed over time in response to environmental changes. Annie earned a BS in Biology, an MS in Environment and Natural Resources from the Ohio State University, and a PhD in Biology from the University of Toledo. She has traveled around the country and internationally to band birds and study avian ecology and behavior. She is a North American Banding Council certified Bander and Trainer and serves in leadership roles for the Eastern Bird Banding Association, North American Banding Council, Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, and Black Swamp Bird Observatory.