XOXO from Loxo

Postdoctoral fellow for the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Carolyn Tepolt is currently researching how mud crabs are adapting to the invasive parasite Loxothylacus panopaie, better known as Loxo. This free-swimming barnacle burrows into the crabs and forms a sac which is later fertilized, making the crabs forced baby hosts. Carolyn is learning about the DNA of each creature and analyzing the changes that are occurring.

XOXO,

Loxo

P.S. To find out more about Tepolt and her research click here.

Carolyn Tepolt hunting for mud crabs in Apalachicola, Florida. Photo by Darin Rummel.