Study shows turtle population rebounds from past harvesting; habitat degradation still poses threat
April 9th, 2013
This female northern map turtle was captured in the North Fork of White River in Ozark County, Mo., in 2004.
Photo by Amber Pitt
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — New Florida Museum of Natural History research shows a turtle population may recover from a one-time harvesting event after decades, but habitat degradation may favor more tolerant species.
Between 1969 and 1980, the northern map turtle was harvested in the Ozarks for the food trade, causing about 50 percent population loss. Analyzing a river in Missouri from 2005 to 2007, scientists found northern map turtle populations have rebounded to numbers recorded in the same river in 1969. The data shows a shift in the river turtle community, with a dramatic increase in two species that are more tolerant of degraded habitat: the red-eared slider and the (more…)
Students with ‘A’ in science receive free admission
April 4th, 2013GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History is continuing its popular “A for Science” free admission program for K-12 students statewide.
Students who receive an “A” or “E” grade in a science can provide their most recent report card at the front desk and receive a free admission with the purchase of a paid regular price adult admission. Alachua County students receive report cards today.
The offer is valid for the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit, the “Titanoboa: Monster Snake” exhibit open through Aug. 11, or a value admission for both exhibits.
“The ‘A for Science’ program directly supports our emphasis on youth education,” said Jaret Daniels, Florida Museum assistant director of exhibits and public programs. “It encourages them to take a strong interest in the sciences by rewarding stellar academic achievement.”
The Butterfly Rainforest is a 6,400-square-foot, lush, tropical garden with hundreds of living butterflies from around the world, including 60 to 80 different species at any given time. (more…)
Earth Day celebration includes bioblitz, three-day plant sale April 19-21
April 4th, 2013GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History will celebrate Earth Day with its annual bioblitz from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 20 and butterfly-friendly plant sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19-21.
The plant sale is one of the museum’s largest of the year, featuring more than 125 species including wildlife-friendly and Florida native plants. The bioblitz aims to teach visitors about how items go from being collected in the field to becoming part of the Museum collection. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the outdoor University of Florida Natural Area Teaching Laboratory and learn survey techniques for different animal and plant populations. Museum collections from Dickinson Hall also will be displayed during this free event.
“A unique aspect of the Earth Day event is to share the story of how the museum works to conserve and preserve our Earth’s diversity,” said Catherine Carey, Florida Museum public programs coordinator.
In addition to the plant sale and bioblitz, the museum will host a panel discussion at 11 a.m. with John Moran, Rick Kilby and Leslie Gamble about the artists’ exhibit “Springs Eternal: Florida’s Fragile Fountains of Youth and Finding the Fountain of Youth: Discovering Florida’s Magical Waters.” The museum is displaying the exhibit from March 23 through Dec. 15. Journalist and author Cynthia Barnett moderate the discussion.
Proceeds from the plant sale benefit the museum’s Butterfly Rainforest exhibit and events like the Earth Day celebration and ButterflyFest. (more…)
‘Botanical Chords: The Art and Science of Plants and Cells’ opens April 20
April 3rd, 2013
This image of a hooded pitcher plant by Terry Ashley is part of the “Botanical Chords: The Art and Science of Plants and Cells” exhibit opening April 20.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new Florida Museum of Natural History gallery exhibit opening April 20 will give visitors an intimate look at nine native Florida plants through the artwork of scientist and self-taught artist Terry Ashley.
“Botanical Chords: The Art and Science of Plants and Cells” includes composite images of two aspects of the same species: a plant as seen by the human eye coupled with a microscopic view of its cells.
“I think of a chord as a combination that enhances the experience,” Ashley said. “A single note is nice, but a chord is something special.”
While working as a research scientist at the Yale University School of Medicine, she conceived the idea for “Botanical Chords” after attending a presentation by Canadian photographer Andre Gallant. He used a “subject” slide and a “texture” slide to create “slide sandwiches.” She completed her first composite image in 2002.
To create the magnified images, Ashley peels off the outer layer of a leaf, petal or stem until the specimen is a single cell layer thick. She takes many pictures of both the microscopic and large view of the plants, carefully pairing them for the best match. (more…)
Museum researcher helps construct Lepidoptera family tree of life
April 3rd, 2013
Florida Museum scientist Akito Kawahara is one of 16 co-authors from five countries who analyzed the evolutionary relationships of Lepidoptera based on DNA.
Florida Museum of Natural History photo by Kristen Grace
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new international study co-authored by a University of Florida researcher describes one of the most comprehensive analyses of Lepidoptera evolutionary relationships to date, and could have broad implications in the fields of genetics, agriculture and conservation.
With nearly 175,000 described species serving as herbivores, pollinators and prey, Lepidoptera affect humans as agricultural pests and essential pollinators for production of many (more…)
Museum’s ‘La Florida’ program April 6 celebrates state’s 500th anniversary
April 2nd, 2013
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History will host “Celebrating La Florida: Spanish Explorers at the Edge of the World” from 10:15 a.m. to noon Saturday, discussing the people, environment and cultures encountered by the state’s early explorers.
The free program sponsored by University Press of Florida features five scholars covering a variety of topics, including history, geography, archaeology and ethnology.
“To celebrate the quincentennial, we wanted to engage people with Florida’s remarkable history and culture by giving them a glimpse of the world Spanish explorers discovered upon first landing,” said University Press of Florida Director Meredith Morris-Babb. “The presentations will provide insight into Ponce de León’s voyage and examine the events following the explorer’s arrival on April 2, 1513, with a goal of creating a better understanding of interactions with the native peoples, initial efforts to settle Florida and resulting Spanish influences in the state.” (more…)
Museum still accepting RSVPs for Monday’s ‘Science Café’ on ‘Titanoboa’
April 2nd, 2013
This artist’s rendering shows how Titanoboa may have looked in its natural environment 60 million years ago.
Florida Museum illustration by Jason Bourque
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Scientist Alex Hastings, a former University of Florida graduate student who unwrapped the first Titanoboa fossils from Colombia at the Florida Museum of Natural History, will discuss the discovery during the museum’s final Science Café of the semester Monday.
The program at Saboré restaurant, 13005 SW First Road, suite 129 in Town of Tioga from 6:30 to 8 p.m., includes discussions on giant snakes, bizarre crocodilians and climate change. Hastings, a visiting instructor from the department of geology and geography at Georgia Southern University, will describe the science behind the colossal discovery of Titanoboa.
“I hope people walk away with the impression that not only has Titanoboa, the largest snake known to science, helped us understand the world after the dinosaurs, but it has told us a little about what to expect for Earth’s future,” Hastings said.
Participants are normally asked to RSVP for the free program at least one week in advance, but a limited number of openings remain and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To RSVP, email your name and the number attending to aerickson@flmnh.ufl.edu or call Amanda Harvey, 352-273-2062. Participants purchase their own refreshments, and may arrive as early as 6 p.m. to place orders from a limited menu. (more…)
New bone survey method could aid long-term survival of Arctic caribou
March 27th, 2013
Joshua Miller, assistant scientist at the Florida Museum of Natural History and Fenneman assistant research professor at the University of Cincinnati, measures a shed caribou antler in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Eric Wald, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A study co-authored by a University of Florida scientist adds critical new data for understanding caribou calving grounds in an area under consideration for oil exploration in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The research may be used to create improved conservation strategies for an ecologically important area that has been under evaluation for natural resource exploration since enactment of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980.
By studying bone accumulations on the Arctic landscape, lead author Joshua Miller discovered rare habitats near river systems are more important for some caribou than previously believed. The study appearing online today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows bone surveys conducted on foot provide highly detailed and extensive data on areas used by caribou as birthing grounds.
“The bone surveys are adding a new piece of the puzzle, giving us a way of studying how caribou use the landscape during calving and providing a longer perspective for evaluating the importance of different regions and habitats,” said Miller, an assistant scientist at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus and a Fenneman assistant research professor at the (more…)
New brochure provides guide for butterfly-friendly gardening
March 27th, 2013
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new free brochure published by the Florida Museum of Natural History provides tips for enhancing landscapes with native plants specifically for butterflies.
The brochure, “Monarchs & Milkweeds,” features photos of common butterfly larvae and their host plants as well as five species of milkweeds native to the southeast United States.
“Any nature enthusiast can use the brochure to identify caterpillars, which gardeners sometimes kill simply because they munch on leaves,” said Jaret Daniels, lepidopterist and assistant professor in the Florida Museum’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity.
Daniels said the brochure should be useful to a variety of people, from school groups to garden clubs to professional landscapers at zoos and botanical gardens. The brochures are available at the museum, but interested parties may also contact Daniels at jdaniels@flmnh.ufl.edu. (more…)
UF fossil bird study on extinction patterns could help today’s conservation efforts
March 21st, 2013
Florida Museum of Natural History ornithologist David Steadman displays fossils of an undescribed, extinct new species of woodcock from Hispaniola.
Florida Museum of Natural History photo by Kristen Grace
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new University of Florida study of nearly 5,000 Haiti bird fossils shows contrary to a commonly held theory, human arrival 6,000 years ago didn’t cause the island’s birds to die simultaneously.
Although many birds perished or became displaced during a mass extinction event following the first arrival of humans to the Caribbean islands, fossil evidence shows some species were more resilient than others. The research provides range and dispersal patterns from A.D. 600 to 1600 that may be used to create conservation plans for tropical mountainous regions, some of the most threatened habitats worldwide. Understanding what caused recent extinctions – whether direct habitat loss or introduction of invasive species – helps researchers predict future ecological impacts. The study was published (more…)