Research projects in the Department are international in scope, very largely marine at this time, but we have a long tradition of work on freshwater and terrestrial organisms, especially snails, bivalves, crayfish and earthworms.  Fieldwork takes us all over the world; many use the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida, and others have active programs at our Carrie Bow Marine Field Station (CCRE program). Several scientists are studying material caught by the deep submersibles, especially from the dives of the ALVIN. Of special interest are studies showing how the distribution of spring snails in the US and Mexican deserts can be used to track current and past water-courses.   Check out more information at Smithsonian Institution Marine Research.

Most studies demonstrate current biodiversity of each group studied, and combined with our studies of live organisms at the field stations we are increasingly demonstrating aspects of biocomplexity. Traditional systematic studies based on morphology is increasingly augmented through the use of molecular systematics. 

We have collections from all over the world, but most are focused on US territory and were taken during approximately the last 150 years. This makes it possible for us to document changes in the fauna over this period, not only of economically important taxa, but also of species important for the structure and function of the natural environment, such as salt marshes and coral reefs. Especially when we get the new catalog implemented, it will be easy to find the changes that have taken place, and feed this information into the debates on pollution and on global change. The study of small invertebrates may not seem to have obvious links to human needs, but keeping track of these organisms may be the easiest way of demonstrating environmental change of great importance not only for human needs, but for life on the globe.    Learn more!