Farrell Lab @ Harvard University

The Farrell Lab assisted in the implementation of the newest permanent exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History: Evolution. We created two displays and contributed to the Evolution videos.

Natural variation within a single species:
Cheloblasis perplexa / Rolled leaf beetles

One of several species used to show variation of traits within a single species, variation within Chelobasis species is so great that biologists are uncertain how many different species of these beetles actually exist. Brian Farrell developed the concept for this portion of the Natural Variations display, while Duane McKenna chose specimens and assembled it. To see natural variation across kingdoms, visit the museum!

Evolutionary radiation: Beetle trophic pyramid

The Beetle Trophic Pyramid helps show the diversity of beetles not only in terms of their physical forms, but in terms of their feeding habits as well. It illustrates their evolutionary radiation in a direct manner.

The concept of the Beetle Trophic Pyramid display was developed by Brian Farrell, and implemented by Amie Jones. Duane McKenna and Adam Clark assisted in gathering the hundreds of beetles used in the display.

Visit the museum to learn why beetles are considered the most diverse plant or animal group on the planet!

Video: Current evolution research at Harvard

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics produced four great videos for the Evolution exhibit. One video describes current evolutionary research at Harvard, and has clips of various Farrell lab members hard at work.

For more information about the Evolution exhibit, read this Harvard Gazette article!