Grant aims to turn Acadia visitors into scientists

Published 7:00 a.m., Sunday, October 21, 2012

BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) —The National Science Foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant aimed at turning Acadia National Park visitors into citizen scientists.

The grant was awarded to the Mount Desert Biological Laboratory, the National Park Service and the Schoodic Education and Research Center. It will be used to launch a project called "Pathway to BioTrails."

For the project, members of the public will verify the identities of animals and plants using DNA barcoding. Ultimately, a range of citizen science projects will be offered revolving around the park's hiking, bicycling and ocean kayaking trails.

Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory scientist Karen James hopes that once the concept is tested at Acadia, it can be expanded to other national parks and long-distance trails, such as the Appalachian Trail.

Baby kangaroo now on exhibit at Boston zoo

BOSTON - A joey has started peeking out of its mama's pouch at Franklin Park Zoo, and officials say the baby red kangaroo is ready for visitors.

The unnamed joey was born about six months ago, but its gender still isn't known.

Zoo officials say joeys are born after about a month of gestation and are about the size of a jelly bean then.

This joey is the offspring of 7-year-old kangaroo mom Skippy and 4-year-old kangaroo dad Binowee.

Also on exhibit on the zoo's Outback Trail is the joey's big sister, 1-year-old Ramiro.

Common in Australia, the marsupials can reach speeds of more than 30 mph with their bouncing locomotion.

Zoo officials are keeping an eye on Skippy as she hops around with the joey, and report both are doing well.