Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections

Excellent research that also made use of specimens from our collections!

Crows look identical to us, but scientists found a hidden visual code only they can see Imagine yourself in a parking lot watching a group of crows digging through leftover food near a dumpster. To you all these birds are the same: solid black, indistinguishable from each other, just birds doing bird things. But to the crows themselves the scene is quite different. “Each bird is givi...

In this recent publication, our Curator of Mammals, Dr. Jessica Light and team describe FOUR NEW SPECIES of kangaroo mice! Check out the video!

https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/106/6/1342/8380300

Taking our science to the community through art with Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and Purple Turtle Art Studio! Come check out the work!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CTBM8i7Xe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Lights Out, Texas! Initiative, championed by Audubon Texas and partners, got more than 20 cities and landmarks, including Dallas’s Reunion Tower, to dim their lights to protect migrating birds—a massive win.

However, reducing light pollution is only half the challenge. To fully safeguard birds in flight, we must also address the threat posed by glass itself. Learn how Audubon Texas is making that happen at the link in comments.

Unique opportunity to visit with a couple of cool raptors and create original art!

Join us for a special art-based learning series exploring the world of birds. This month, we’ll take a closer look at LIVE RAPTORS. 🦉

The organization, Wild Bird Adventures, will be bringing in two birds: the Barn Owl and the Swallow-tailed Kite. Following the live bird encounter, an art instructor will be there to guide you through the steps in creating an artwork. No experience needed, supplies are free.

For more information and to apply, visit here: tx.ag/LIVEBIRDS

Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections

New publication and novel research- check it out!

Cotton farming affects ileal virome in a sedentary wild passerine - Animal Microbiome Although a few studies have focused on avian gut virome variation in response to environmental stressors, none have assessed virome in relation to the prod

Last week student presenters from the Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology attended and presented at the Texas Conservation Symposium. Each project is closely tied to specimens and data from our collections! Congrats to undergraduate poster session winners Jenna Henry and Hannah Bretthorst (TAMU – ECCB), Graduate student 2nd place presenter Keith Andringa (TAMU - ECCB), alongside successful and engaging poster presentations from Saxon Hickman and Safa Warsi (TAMU – ECCB and Texas Conservation Alliance); and Brisa Vargas (TAMU – ECCB and Texas Master Naturalist-Brazos Valley Chapter). Support for their presentations provided by a private gift to the Texas A&M Foundation.

A total evidence approach justifies taxonomic splitting of the endangered Pecos gambusia into three species Abstract. Gambusia nobilis is a federally endangered species found across a fragmented distribution within the Pecos River Drainage of Texas and New Mexico