Nematologist Shahid Siddique (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)Don't miss the nematodes at the 12th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day on Saturday, Feb. 18. The daylong event, known as a "Super Science Day"--and free and family friendly--will showcase 11 museums or collections. It's an opportunity to ask questions and chat with the scientists.
What's a nematode? Short answer: round worm.
Nematologist Shahid Siddique, assistant professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is gearing up for the display in the lobby of the Katherine Esau Science Hall, formerly known as the Sciences Laboratory Building. It's located across from the front entrance of Briggs Hall.
"Research in the Siddique lab focuses on basic as well as applied aspects of interaction between parasitic nematodes and their host plants," he says on his website. "The long-term object of our research is not only to enhance our understanding of molecular aspects of plant–nematode interaction but also to use this knowledge to provide new resources for reducing the impact of nematodes on crop plants in California."
Here's a list of what visitors will see in the nematode display:
Celery infected with root-knot nematodes
Anisakis nematodes from a Minke whale stomach
Heart of a dog infected with heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis)
Parasitic nematodes (Baylisascaris transfuga) isolated from the stomach of a bear
White-tailed deer eye infected with parasitic nematodes (Thelazia spp.)
Sugar beet infected with root-knot nematodes
Dog ascaris (Toxocara canis) cause of visceral larva migrans
Common parasitic worms of human (Ascaris lumbricoides) cause of Ascaris isolated from human intestine
A root knot crown gall display. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)Dog intestine infected with whipworms
Horse stomach parasite community including 1) Parascaris 2) Tapeworms 3) Botfly larvae
Yam infected with root-knot nematode
Tomato root infected with root-knot nematode
Adult raccoon roundworms
Filarial nematodes (Onchocerca volvulus) cause of Onchocerciasis river blindness
Zoonotic hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum)
Ascaris lumbricoides (common parasitic worms of human)
Tree swallow infected with Diplotriaena nematode
Sugar beet infected with cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii)
Grape roots infected with Root-knot nematodes
Mormon crickets infected with horsehair worms (Gordius robustus)
Peach roots infected with root-knot nematodes
Anisakis nematodes from fish intestine
Hysterotahylaciun nematodes isolated from fish
Pinworms isolated from human intestine
Whipworms isolated from human Intestine
Anisakis nematodes isolated from seals
Adult dog heartworms
The 11 museums or collections featured on Feb. 18 are:
Arboretum and Public Garden, Habitat Gardens in the Environmental GATEway, adjacent to the Arboretum Teaching Nursery on Garrod Drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bohart Museum of Entomology, Room 1124 and main hall of the Academic Surge Building, Crocker Lane, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.
Maps are available online and also will be handed out at the Biodiversity Museum Day, said Tabatha Yang of the Bohart Museum, chair and a co-founder of Biodiversity Museum Day. Visitors can purchase food from assorted food trucks. Those who wish to donate to the event can access this UC Davis crowdfunding page.
