By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

Visitors took advantage of a free admission at the Sternberg Museum of History on Sunday to learn more about predator and prey relationships.

Staff and volunteers shared museum specimens with guests and talked about how different creatures integrate into to complex food webs.

David Levering, camps manager, and Chase Shelburne, curatorial assistant, discussed the food web in western Kansas and how energy moves through the food web.

The major source of energy is sunlight, which plants use for photosynthesis to grow leaves, seeds and berries.

“In insects and small mammals and small birds eating those plant products, they grow their bodies and sustain themselves, but then they will be frequently eaten by predators,”Levering said. “So what we will see is lots of little animals that eat those plant products and then fewer animals that eat other animals because there is less and less energy and it can’t keep as many alive.”

You might see hundreds of mice in fields, but only a few hawks or foxes, he said.

Primary consumers or plant eaters in Kansas can include cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs or cotton rats.

“Then we have a lot of these snakes and lizards, which form a strange section in a trophic area. Like I mentioned they can eat a lot animals that are on the food web, and they can be eaten by some of the animals on the same level. And then of course they are prey for bigger animals like our shrikes and hawks and some owls. We have tons of snake species — some of which eat each other as well.”

Birds of prey have adaptions such as a hooked beaks to better eat their prey. Least weasels change color from a brownish grey to white during the winter months.

Evolution and adaptation is a constant weapons race that is in a perpetual tie.

Trevor Williams, Fort Hays State University graduate student in geoscience, gave the example of a crab trying to eat a shellfish. The shellfish grow thicker shells with more defensive spikes to keep the crabs from eating them. The crabs grow bigger claws to better crack the shells.

Williams said it is like “Alice in Wonderland” when Alice is in the Red Queen’s castle. She is running as fast as she can, but it as if she is standing still.

“That is a way to explain what is going on in the evolutionary arms race,” he said. “Every species is evolving in response to other species. That includes both predators and prey and competition, so it is trying to get any edge it can. When everyone else is doing the same thing, everyone is stuck in one place. They call that the Red Queen’s Hypothesis.”

Another example is rattlesnakes and squirrels. Over time squirrels have developed a tolerance to snakes’ venom. The snakes with the strongest venom are the ones that eat. As a result the snakes’ venom grows stronger with successive generations.

Amber Michels, FHSU graduate students in geoscience, discussed the arctic food web, which is supported by the tiny phytoplankton and krill.

When the sun is up from March to September, there are large plankton blooms. Baleen whales only feed on the tiny krill, so they constantly move from the Arctic to the Antarctic in search of food. Arctic birds, such as terns, puffins and loons, eat fish that eat the krill. Freshwater fish in the arctic have a type of anti-freeze that keeps them from freezing.

Julie Robben said the event was an opportunity for her family to get out of the house after so much cold weather.

“We wanted to learn lots about animals and science,” Caleb Robben, 7, said.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The newest traveling exhibit to come to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History will feature the biggest shark to ever swim in the oceans.

“Megalodon: The largest shark that ever lived” will have a walk-in replica of the massive shark that stretched to 60 feet and weighed an estimated 72 tons.

The exhibit is set to open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 2. The museum will have a members-only opening from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. The traveling exhibit is set to be at the Sternberg through Labor Day.

Megalodon are believed to have lived 23 million to 2.6 million years ago. Despite myths and legends perpetuated by movies like last summer’s “Meg,” the megalodon is long extinct.

As with modern sharks, megalodon bodies were primarily comprised of cartilage. All that remains of these giants today is their teeth, which could grow to seven inches. Megalodon were on the scene after the inland sea that covered Kansas vanished. However, fossil teeth can still be found in the Carolinas.

Portions of the exhibit will allow people to look and touch megalodon teeth as well as view the progression of the shark’s jaw size as they grew from 30 feet to their full 60 feet.

Scientists believe megalodon preyed upon whales. Tooth marks have been found in fossilized whale bones.

Scientists are divided about the relationship between megalodon and modern sharks. Some scientists believe the megalodon are related to modern great white sharks and makos. However, others believe the megalodon evolved into another shark species that is also now extinct.

Visitors to the exhibit will also learn about modern sharks, their habitats and prey.

Darrah Steffen, Sternberg public relations assistant, said she thinks Americans’ fascination with sharks is born out of fear. However, she said it is important to dispel myths and create awareness to protect modern sharks in the wild.

“I think it is important to bring awareness even if we are in the middle of the United States,” she said. “Because you don’t want people to fear [sharks] if they ever come in contact with them.”

Rachel Unruh, marketing intern, noted sharks are not the mindless killing machines as they have been portrayed. Sharks are calculated hunters and humans are not their typical prey.

“It is fear to fascination,” she said of the exhibit.

The exhibit was created by the University of Florida.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Despite early predictions the United Way of Ellis County would end its campaign well below goal, it announced Thursday night at a Hays Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours that it was 86 percent to goal.

The agency extended its campaign from the end of December to the end of January and has now raised $347,000 of its $400,000 goal.

Sherry Dryden, United Way executive director, said the organization’s Pacesettter companies stepped up and were able to raise more money for the organization. One of these Pacesetters was Midwest Energy, which co-sponsored the after hours and presented a check for $47,000 to United Way Thursday night on behalf of its employees.

See a Facebook video of the event here.

“Our Pacesetter companies really stepped up,” she said. “They are always there for us. They are our foundation. They are always joining us in betterment for Ellis County.”

The United Way would like to at least reach the $395,000 mark that it reached last year, so none of the United Way’s partner agencies would have to experience cuts.

“We are very excited to get to 86 percent,” she said. “Our campaign ends at the end of January, so we are hoping in these next two weeks we can get the last 14 percent. We are definitely still taking donations.”

If more funds can’t be raised, United Way will have to cut funding to its partner agencies, but not as much as when United Way feared it might if it only reached 40 percent to 60 percent to goal, Dryden said.

Several factors contributed to United Way’s struggle to make goal this year, Dryden said. Among these were changes in the tax laws, retirements at some of the Pacesetter companies and the local economy.

Last year, United Way supported local programs at 15 partner agencies.

These included the American Red Cross, Big Brother Big Sisters, Cancer Council of Ellis County, Catholic Charities, Center for Life Experiences, Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Early Childhood Connections, First Call for Help, Hays Area Children’s Center, Options, Parents and Children Together, Salvation Army and Western Kansas Association on the Concerns for the Disabled.

Each agency has to meet guidelines and standards to receive funds.

“This is not what the United Way needs,” Dryden said, “this is what our communities in Ellis County need. This is what individuals and families need. They need your help to make it through whatever crisis or struggles they are dealing with at this time. When the 15 agencies that are partners with the United Way have touched one in four people in Ellis County, you never know when it may be you that needs help.”

You can still donate to the campaign. You can do so online, call United Way at 785-628-8281, send checks to P.O. Box 367, Hays, KS 67601 or make a donation or pledge in person at the United Way office at the Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh St., Ste. 111, Hays.

Although this year’s campaign drive will end Jan. 31, the United Way accepts donations year-round.

Dryden said the United Way will be re-evaluating several of its events in the coming year and looking for better ways to engage donors. Look for information on new events to be released at a latter date. United Way has just completed a strategic plan and will implementing some of those processes in the coming year.

Within a month, the United Way also hopes to launch a website that will connect local volunteers with nonprofits that need help.

“Thank you to everyone who has given,” Dryden said. “And thank you to everyone in Ellis County who helps their neighbor, their friend, their co-worker, their family member because no matter how you give, monetarily or in person, it is important to know that you give.”