A diversity of dragonflies in oil palm plantations

Sarah Luke Museum of Zoology, Insect Ecology Group New research from the Museum of Zoology and collaborators finds a diverse and variable dragonfly community in oil palm plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia. Across the globe, large areas of naturally forested habitats have been converted to agriculture to feed a growing world population. This conversion usually results in dramatic changes in the habitat, including losses of habitat … Continue reading A diversity of dragonflies in oil palm plantations

saras9690May 2, 2020May 18, 20203 Comments

Lesser redpolls University Museum of Zoology collection ©University of Cambridge

Research Stories

Understanding bird populations in a changing world

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Eleanor Miller Department of Zoology “We live in an era of significant environmental and climatic change. To understand how species might cope with different climates in the future, it is important to explore how they responded to rapid … Continue reading Understanding bird populations in a changing world

saras9690April 28, 2020May 6, 2020Leave a comment

Shell University Museum of Zoology, copyright University of Cambridge, Jamie Gundry CC

Research Stories

Secrets of the shell

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Dr Victoria Sleight Department of Zoology “I want to understand how molluscs make their beautiful shells. We know that shells are made from a mixture of mainly calcium carbonate and a few proteins, but there are many questions … Continue reading Secrets of the shell

saras9690April 23, 2020May 6, 2020Leave a comment

Research Stories

Glacial past, genetic science and saving today’s coral reefs

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Maddie Emms Department of Zoology “I am a Zoology PhD student interested in how environmental change affects coral reef organisms. Coral reefs are incredibly important habitats but are sensitive to environmental change. I am studying how the loss … Continue reading Glacial past, genetic science and saving today’s coral reefs

saras9690April 21, 2020May 6, 20201 Comment

Hover Fly On Poppy Head - credit Kate Howlett

Research Stories, Wildlife from your Window

Insects are animals too: why perceptions matter

Kate Howlett, NERC-funded PhD student says, Thank you to everyone who got involved in our little experiment last week to find out who we think of as the Easter bunny. Whilst questions like this which ask about our perception of animal species are often just a bit of fun, they are also important in building up a larger picture about our relationship with the natural … Continue reading Insects are animals too: why perceptions matter

saras9690April 20, 2020August 6, 20208 Comments

Branchiostoma Image credit Elia Benito Gutierrez

Research Stories

“Not a fish but the ‘making of’ a fish.”

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Dr Elia Benito-Gutierrez Department of Zoology “I still remember the day I was told about amphioxus in my first year of University. A fish that was not a fish but the ‘making of’ a fish. Hiding in the … Continue reading “Not a fish but the ‘making of’ a fish.”

saras9690April 16, 2020May 6, 20201 Comment

Smooth-billed ani eating chick. Credit J. Lynton-Jenkins

Research Stories

Smooth-billed anis in the Galápagos

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Sophia Cooke Department of Zoology “Alongside my PhD (looking at the impacts of roads on British birds), for the last few years I have been running a project I set up in the Galápagos, studying the impact of … Continue reading Smooth-billed anis in the Galápagos

saras9690April 14, 2020May 6, 2020Leave a comment

Research Stories

Do caterpillars like it hot?

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Esme Ashe-Jepson Museum of Zoology “My PhD investigates the effect of temperature on British butterflies, focusing on caterpillars, using a mix of both lab and field research. As each life stage of a butterfly varies in both form … Continue reading Do caterpillars like it hot?

saras9690April 9, 2020May 6, 20201 Comment

Research Stories

Parental care in burying beetles

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Among the stories is that of the Director of the Museum, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, Rebecca Kilner. Professor Rebecca Kilner Director, Museum of Zoology “Research in my lab investigates how evolution works. We focus on burying beetles, but the principles … Continue reading Parental care in burying beetles

saras9690April 7, 2020October 1, 2020Leave a comment

Research Stories

Celebrating Women in Science and Conservation

We are celebrating the amazing women working to understand and better protect the world around us. Hear from women at the forefront of zoology and conservation with a series of talks for International Women’s Day 2020. Programme of talks: 00.16 Dr Juliet VickeryConservation of Gola Rainforest : from chimps to chocolate 15.45 Dr Michela LeonardiBack to the future: species distribution through time 26.45 Fleur NashExploring … Continue reading Celebrating Women in Science and Conservation

saras9690April 2, 2020October 1, 20204 Comments