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WILDLIFE BIOLOGY
In 1939, Adolph Murie began following wolves across Denali; his landmark study challenged the belief that predators should be eliminatedAdolph Murie, a biologist, investigated Dall sheep decline in Mount McKinley National Park in 1939. He discovered that harsh winter conditi...- The tamarin on Brazil’s R$20 note once had only around 200 left in the wild; Smithsonian zoologist Devra Kleiman helped build the breeding program behind its recoveryOnce on the brink of extinction, the golden lion tamarin saw its population dwindle to a mere 200 individuals. Thanks to Devra Kleiman's pi...
- In 1922, biologist Olaus Murie entered the Alaskan wilderness to study caribou; his field research later influenced how Mount McKinley National Park managed predators and wildlifeOlaus Murie's early caribou studies provided crucial data for Mount McKinley National Park. His brother Adolph later researched wolves, inf...
- In the 1800s, Americans planted tamarisk for windbreaks and erosion control; by 2005, the tree had spread across western river systems and become a major management concernTamarisk was originally brought in for various practical applications, but it has since proliferated across western waterways. This invasiv...
- The parrot on America’s El Yunque quarter once had only about 13 birds left in the wild; biologists bred and released new flocks across Puerto RicoFeatured on the 2012 US quarter, the Puerto Rican parrot symbolizes a triumph over extinction. In the 1990s, a genetic analysis unveiled a ...
- In the 1980s, Burmese pythons released or escaped from Florida’s pet trade began reproducing in the Everglades; scientists linked them to sharp declines in native mammalsBurmese pythons, a species introduced to Florida decades ago, are now posing significant threats to the wildlife in the Everglades. Scienti...
- In 2023, researchers in a West African nation tried to discover which pizza do lizards prefer and won an Ig Nobel Prize for its discoveryA curious study in Togo unveiled rainbow lizards choosing four-cheese pizza instead of their usual insect diet. Observations made near a so...
- What was so special about Wrangel and St. Paul islands, where Woolly Mammoths survived until their extinction? Scientists revealed the answer two decades agoFor years, scientists believed the last woolly mammoths disappeared because inbreeding and genetic decline made survival impossible. A land...
- Meet the King Snake: A non-venomous reptile that hunts and eats venomous snakes; here's how it kills its preyMeet the king snake, a non-venomous North American reptile that hunts, kills and eats venomous snakes including rattlesnakes, cottonmouths ...
- In 1974, a Spainish rancher imported 2,000 kg of American crayfish from Louisiana. 50 years later, it has become an invasion nobody could stopAn American red swamp crayfish invasion reshaped Spain's Guadalquivir River basin and Doñana National Park. This destructive biological inv...
- Ancient Egyptian crocodile mummies reveal surprising secret about a lost species worshipped over 2,000 years agoAncient crocodile mummies from Kom Ombo are revealing new secrets about Egyptian religion. DNA analysis identified a forgotten species, the...
- A Colorado citizen scientist lived alone at 9,600 feet for 52 winters and measured snow daily; his notebooks now help calibrate satellitesBilly Barr dedicated over fifty years to carefully measuring snow in Gothic, Colorado. His unwavering observations turned into an essential...
- In 1922, California introduced mosquitofish to eat mosquito larvae; within four years, they were in 30 counties and were later linked to native-species declinesIn 1922, California introduced mosquitofish in hopes of controlling mosquito populations. Although they were initially viewed as a solution...
- In 1986, a Minnesota wildlife biologist walked unarmed into bear territory: Habituated bears eventually let him follow them hour by hourBiologist Lynn Rogers built trust with wild black bears over many years. He learned their natural behaviors without any protective gear or ...
- In 2000, California found an aquarium alga choking native seagrass: officials covered every patch with black PVC and chlorinated everything beneath; six years later, it was goneAn invasive seaweed, Caulerpa taxifolia, was discovered in California's Agua Hedionda Lagoon in 2000. Teams of divers used tarps and chlori...
- In the 1960s, rose-ringed parakeets were first spotted in southeast England; today, they thrive in London's parks and gardensIn London, rose-ringed parakeets can frequently be spotted flitting through parks and gardens. Studies clarify the narrative of their arriv...
- Rare yellow flower unseen on California public land for 68 years resurfaces after cattle clear invasive weedsA rare yellow flower, unseen for 68 years, has reappeared on public land. Botanists discovered the caper-fruited Tropidocarpum in Californi...
- In 1966, Florida ecologists covered mangrove islands with giant tents and fumigated every insect, then watched life rebuild from nothingIn 1966, scientists fumigated small Florida islands, removing nearly all animal life. Within weeks, new species arrived, and islands largel...
- In 1904, Newfoundland released just four moose to boost hunting opportunities. Years later, their population had soared to nearly 200,000, transforming island's forests & becoming one of North America's largest moose populationsMore than a century after just four moose were introduced to Newfoundland, the animals multiplied into one of North America's largest moose...
- In 1935, an Australian entomologist shipped 102 cane toads from Hawaii to fight crop beetles; 2,400 were released before anyone tested the planAustralian scientists introduced toxic cane toads to control sugar cane pests in 1935. These toads failed to eat the target beetles and spr...
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