Research Training Program

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History

PROJECT SUMMARY
1988

Michael Brown
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO

Mark Littler, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Botany

"My project was very valuable to me because I discovered the many areas of research techniques that are available to scientists."

Michael Brown

Marine Algae Studies

Assisted Mark and Diane Littler, marine scientists in the Department of Botany, in their research efforts in studying the functional morphology and natural history of marine seaweeds through laboratory experiments concering the primary productivity (photosynthesis) of marine plants, performing morphometrics (measurements) of herbarium or fresh specimens, and using a computer database program to store information. Also participated in some anatomical cross-sectioning, plant mounting, and some identifying of the specimens under study.