Smithsonian Environmental Research Center | Understanding Ecosystems for a Sustainable Future

The images in this gallery belong to SERC and the Smithsonian Institution, unless otherwise noted in the credits. You are welcome to use SERC/Smithsonian images for most non-commercial purposes, provided credit is given to SERC or the Smithsonian Institution as the source and you follow the Smithsonian Terms of Use. Some of these images are available in higher resolution. To ask about acquiring high-res photos or about commercial use of photos, contact SERC media coordinator Kristen Goodhue at goodhuek@si.edu.

Click on the photos for a larger view with full caption and credit information. You can also search by category using the drop-down menu at the top.

Ballast Water

Ballast Water

Caption
When ships discharge ballast water from their hulls, the ballast can contain a host of microscopic non-native species that could later invade the ecosystem (inset).

Credit
Monaca Noble

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Black mangrove

Black mangrove

Caption
Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) in Florida.

Credit
John Parker

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Black mangrove flowers

Black mangrove flowers

Caption
Flowers of a black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) in Twin Cays, Belize

Credit
Candy Feller

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish

Caption
SERC Intern Mark Ruiz holds a blue catfish in the Fish & Invertebrate Ecology lab.

Credit
Katie Sinclair

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Blue Crab

Blue Crab

Caption
Male blue crab

Credit
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Blue Crab Tagging

Blue Crab Tagging

Caption
Technician Laura Patrick holds up a blue crab caught in the Rhode River

Credit
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Cordgrass

Cordgrass

Caption
Marsh cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides) on the Global Change Research Wetland.

Credit
Chris Patrick

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Related Documents
gcrewmarsh_spartina_cynosuroides_chrispatrick.jpg (+)

Cownose Rays

Cownose Rays

Caption
Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus)

Credit
Laura Patrick

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Fish sampling

Fish sampling

Caption
SERC technicians Rob Aguilar (left) and Mike Goodison sample fish caught in one of the SERC weirs.

Credit
Kristen Goodhue

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Fish sampling

Fish sampling

Caption
Left to right: Technicians Rob Aguilar and Kim Richie and intern Eric Parks sample fish at one of SERC's weirs.

Credit
Kristen Goodhue

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Forest Plot

Forest Plot

Caption
Clockwise from front left: Technician Marina LaForgia, interns Jeff Niguel and Kiel Edson, and technician Jess Shue set up a fence to exclude deer from an experimental forest plot.

Credit
John Parker

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Global Change Research Wetland

Global Change Research Wetland

Caption
Plant physiologist Bert Drake beside an experimental chamber. Drake launched the Global Change Research Wetland experiment in 1987. Today it is the world's longest-running field experiment on how CO2 impacts plant communities.

Credit
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Global Change Research Wetland

Global Change Research Wetland

Caption
Pat Megonigal shows EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy how to measure how fast marshes rise at the Global Change Research Wetland (GCREW), or "wetland of the future." GCREW explores how well wetlands can cope with climate change and sea level rise.

Credit
Kristen Goodhue

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Orchid: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

Orchid: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

Caption
Downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) is a wintergreen orchid because its basal leaves stay green throughout the colder months, producing this dark green rosette.

Credit
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Orchid: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

Orchid: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

Caption
In summer, the downy rattlesnake plantian (Goodyera pubescens) produces dozens of small, white flowers.

Credit
Melissa McCormick

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Phragmites australis

Phragmites australis

Caption
Common reed (Phragmites australis)

Credit
Chris Patrick

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Phytoplankton Bloom

Phytoplankton Bloom

Caption
Phytoplankton Bloom in the Chesapeake watershed.

Credit
Chuck Gallegos with aerial support from LightHawk

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Red earthworm

Red earthworm

Caption
Red earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus). Like most earthworms in the U.S., the red earthworm is non-native, having come from Europe centuries ago. Glaciers from an ice age wiped most native earthworms out roughly 10,000 years ago.

Credit
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Red mangrove tree

Red mangrove tree

Caption
Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) in Belize

Credit
Candy Feller

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

SERC wetland

SERC wetland

Caption
Edge of the Global Change Research Wetland

Credit
Grace Schwartz

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Trawling

Trawling

Caption
SERC scientists Eric Johnson (front) and Rob Aguilar pull in a trawl net to survey aquatic life on the Rhode River.

Credit
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Virginia saltmarsh mallow

Virginia saltmarsh mallow

Caption
Virginia saltmarsh mallow flower (Kosteletzkya virginica) on the Global Change Research Wetland

Credit
Chris Patrick

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

White mangrove

White mangrove

Caption
Flowers of the white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)

Credit
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

White-Tailed Deer

White-Tailed Deer

Caption
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Credit
John Parker

Source
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Ballast Water Ballast Water Caption When ships discharge ballast water from their hulls, the ballast can contain a host of microscopic non-native species that could later invade the ecosystem (inset). Credit Monaca Noble Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Black mangrove Black mangrove Caption Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) in Florida. Credit John Parker Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Black mangrove flowers Black mangrove flowers Caption Flowers of a black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) in Twin Cays, Belize Credit Candy Feller Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Blue Catfish Blue Catfish Caption SERC Intern Mark Ruiz holds a blue catfish in the Fish & Invertebrate Ecology lab. Credit Katie Sinclair Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Blue Crab Blue Crab Caption Male blue crab Credit Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Blue Crab Tagging Blue Crab Tagging Caption Technician Laura Patrick holds up a blue crab caught in the Rhode River Credit Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Cordgrass Cordgrass Caption Marsh cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides) on the Global Change Research Wetland. Credit Chris Patrick Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Related Documents gcrewmarsh_spartina_cynosuroides_chrispatrick.jpg (+)

Cownose Rays Cownose Rays Caption Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) Credit Laura Patrick Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Fish sampling Fish sampling Caption SERC technicians Rob Aguilar (left) and Mike Goodison sample fish caught in one of the SERC weirs. Credit Kristen Goodhue Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Fish sampling Fish sampling Caption Left to right: Technicians Rob Aguilar and Kim Richie and intern Eric Parks sample fish at one of SERC's weirs. Credit Kristen Goodhue Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Forest Plot Forest Plot Caption Clockwise from front left: Technician Marina LaForgia, interns Jeff Niguel and Kiel Edson, and technician Jess Shue set up a fence to exclude deer from an experimental forest plot. Credit John Parker Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Orchid: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Caption In summer, the downy rattlesnake plantian (Goodyera pubescens) produces dozens of small, white flowers. Credit Melissa McCormick Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Phragmites australis Phragmites australis Caption Common reed (Phragmites australis) Credit Chris Patrick Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Phytoplankton Bloom Phytoplankton Bloom Caption Phytoplankton Bloom in the Chesapeake watershed. Credit Chuck Gallegos with aerial support from LightHawk Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Red mangrove tree Red mangrove tree Caption Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) in Belize Credit Candy Feller Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

SERC wetland SERC wetland Caption Edge of the Global Change Research Wetland Credit Grace Schwartz Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Trawling Trawling Caption SERC scientists Eric Johnson (front) and Rob Aguilar pull in a trawl net to survey aquatic life on the Rhode River. Credit Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

Virginia saltmarsh mallow Virginia saltmarsh mallow Caption Virginia saltmarsh mallow flower (Kosteletzkya virginica) on the Global Change Research Wetland Credit Chris Patrick Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

White mangrove White mangrove Caption Flowers of the white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) Credit Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)

White-Tailed Deer White-Tailed Deer Caption White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Credit John Parker Source Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)