Archive | conservation biology

New Acquisition: Eighty-thousand bark beetles enter National Museum of Natural History collections

New Acquisition: Eighty-thousand bark beetles enter National Museum of Natural History collections

The Stephen L. Wood collection brings the collection of bark beetles held in the Natural History Museum’s Department of Entomology to an impressive 180,000 specimens, making it one of the most extensive collections in world. [...more]

New Acquisitions, Research Topics, conservation biology, zoology Comments (0)

Females shut down male-male sperm competition in leafcutter ants

Females shut down male-male sperm competition in leafcutter ants

“Two things appear to be going on here,” explains Jacobus Boomsma, professor at the University of Copenhagen and Research Associate at STRI. “Right after mating there is competition between sperm from different males. Sperm is expendable. Later, sperm becomes very precious to the female who will continue to use it for many years to fertilize her own eggs, producing the millions of workers it takes to maintain her colony.” [...more]

Research Topics, conservation biology, zoology Comments (0)

Caught on camera!

Caught on camera!

This short video of an ocelot was taken by Smithsonian scientists during a recent camera-trap survey of these animals in the Peruvian Amazon. [...more]

Science Spotlight, conservation biology Comments (0)

Captive colony of Virginia big-eared bats providing valuable lessons in battle against deadly white-nose syndrome

Captive colony of Virginia big-eared bats providing valuable lessons in battle against deadly white-nose syndrome

Eleven bats remain in the National Zoo’s colony. The initial challenge the team faced was how to feed the animals. Virginia big-eared bats, which are a subspecies of the Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinuss townsendii), eat while flying. [...more]

Featured, conservation biology, zoology Comments (26)

Researchers compile colorful on-line guide to marine algae of Panama

Researchers compile colorful on-line guide to marine algae of Panama

“Our guide celebrates the beauty of some of the most attractive inhabitants of Panama’s undersea realm and provides an indispensable, easy-to-use tool for their identification,” say the Littlers. [...more]

Book Review, conservation biology Comments (0)

Clouded leopard cubs born at National Zoo’s Front Royal campus on Valentine’s Day

Clouded leopard cubs born at National Zoo’s Front Royal campus on Valentine’s Day

Staff had been on a pregnancy watch focused on the 3 1/2-year-old clouded leopard Jao Chu (JOW-chew) for four days. Jao Chu gave birth to the first cub at 6:04 p.m. and the second cub at 6:20 p.m. [...more]

Featured, conservation biology, zoology Comments (1)

Smithsonian ecologists discover forests are growing at a faster rate

Smithsonian ecologists discover forests are growing at a faster rate

A new study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that forests in the Eastern United States are growing at a faster rate than at any time in the last 225 years. The chief culprit, researchers say, appears to be climate change, specifically:  rising levels of atmospheric [...] [...more]

Featured, conservation biology Comments (6)

Strawberry dart frogs bred at National Zoo for first time in Zoo’s history

Strawberry dart frogs bred at National Zoo for first time in Zoo’s history

For the first time in its history, the National Zoo has bred strawberry dart frogs (Oophaga pumilio), which are known primarily for their vibrant colors and poisonous skin. These frogs also stand out among others because of their dedication to their young as they undergo metamorphosis from egg to tadpole to frog. [...more]

Featured, conservation biology, zoology Comments (1)

Meet our Scientists—Videos!

Science Spotlight

Kiwis come to National Zoo. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo will be using a new kiwi pair donated by the New Zealand Embassy to establish a breeding science center. Both birds came from the Ngati Hine people in New Zealand. Adding these animals to the genetic pool in North America is a rare and valuable opportunity. This pair came with another pair that will continue on to Germany and one bird that went to the San Diego Zoo. Kiwis are native to New Zealand and have been there for more than 60 million years, making them New Zealand’s most ancient bird. (Photo by Mehgan Murphy)

Science Spotlight Archives

Twitter

SmithsonianSci

twitter

Archives