Center for Biodiversity and Conservation

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jesse Barber to the American Museum of Natural History as Curator of Conservation Science in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Jaffe Chief Conservation Scientist. Dr. Barber investigates the ecological consequences of loud and bright sensory environments for bats, birds, and insects—such as human-caused noise and light pollution. Dr. Barber has found that such pollutants are drivers of habitat degradation and biodiversity decline.

Check out exciting new research featuring CBC scientist Dr. Mary E. Blair! This study reveals how environmental changes and human activity have impacted lemur diversity, helping guide conservation efforts for these endangered primates.    Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e6KTgz4e 

📣 UPDATED SAVE THE DATE! 🐋 16th annual Student Conference on Conservation Science - New York (SCCS-NY) 🗓️ October 15-17, 2025 ➡️ amnh.org/sccsny #SCCSNY2025 This year's conference will be a hybrid event—join us at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC or virtually! Applications open March 1.

Suzanne Macey, a Museum scientist at the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, recently published the results of a four-year study on the nesting ecology of bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii). Focusing on local populations in New York State, this work provides valuable data on the smallest and one of the most endangered freshwater turtles in the U.S. Macey and her colleagues installed small wire-mesh cages surrounding the top and sides of the bog turtle nests to discourage predators, such as skunks and weasels, from eating the eggs. Understanding the efficacy and effect of these cages on reducing predation and increasing egg-hatching success helps verify the pros and cons of this conservation management strategy for the bog turtle. Two former students, Arden Feil and Karina Polanco, were integral to this work while part of the Museum’s Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP), where New York City high school students conduct one year of research with Museum scientists. Feil now works at the Museum as the manager of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium, which connects high school students with mentored internships in STEM. Read more about their work, here: https://lnkd.in/eTwT73Z9    Photos: Suzanne Macey

Exciting updates from the CBC! From empowering conservationists to influencing global policy, our team has been hard at work. Here’s a snapshot of our recent achievements: We celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Marshall M. Weinberg Student Conference on Conservation Science-New York (SCCS-NY) at the American Museum of Natural History ! 🎉 Thanks to Mr. Weinberg’s support & our partner Yale School of the Environment, we continue to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders. At the North American Congress for Conservation Biology 2024, CBC staff led impactful workshops:  - Species distribution modeling with Wallace software  - Engaging with the emotional dimensions of biodiversity loss in classrooms. 💡Building capacity, one workshop at a time! This fall, we advanced biocultural conservation through: - NYC gatherings with the New York Botanical Garden to explore research collaborations. - Co-authoring Columbia University’s Good Practices in the Co-Production of Knowledge guide. Read here: https://lnkd.in/emZFW6JP  The CBC convenes and connects people and knowledge! 🌍 At the IUCN Regional Conservation Forum, we contributed to bold global visions for conservation, addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, & inequality. 🌱 The future demands transformative action! Follow us for updates and read more about what we’ve been up to in our Fall Progress Update: https://bit.ly/4gNgshJ

This special issue of the Society for Conservation Biology’s journal Conservation Biology, Diversifying Voices in Conservation, includes a new paper by Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and CBC visiting scientist Dr. Alex Moore. This paper centers queer Black conservationists whose names, faces, and narratives have been excluded from history. Read more about how embracing #intersectionality strengthens #conservation efforts here: https://lnkd.in/egYV6K45

A new paper by CBC scientist Dr. Suzanne Macey and colleagues shares insights from a 4-year study on Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) nesting ecology and the efficacy of installing nest predator excluder cages. Transforming knowledge into conservation action is one of the hallmarks of CBC work, and, on December 10th, Suzanne will represent the author team and attend a Bog Turtle Recovery Meeting. This collaborative convening, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), state agencies, and conservation partners, will focus on recent actions and strategies to support Bog Turtle recovery in the Hudson Housatonic region.    Read the new paper about balancing threats and outcomes in endangered species conservation management: https://lnkd.in/eTwT73Z9 

🚨 ATTENTION 🚨 The deadline to apply to join the OCELOTS Faculty Mentoring Network is now December 16th!

On islands like Guåhan, or Guam, and other places with a history of colonialism, building trust with local communities is essential to conservation success. But how do environmental managers engage without understanding public perception of current conservation efforts?    This research uncovers a critical point: Indigenous and local communities are eager to learn about managing invasive species like the brown tree snake and take direct conservation action. Yet, locals and environmental managers are disconnected. By co-developing strategies with locals, environmental managers can unlock powerful opportunities for community-driven conservation.     Read more about this research in a new paper by CBC post-doc Ann Marie Gawel and colleagues here: https://lnkd.in/egfHqqD2 

📣 Attention educators! Want to enhance your curriculum with real-world tropical biology research?     Apply now to join the OCELOTS Faculty Mentoring Network! Customize and use an online tropical biology learning module in your course, collaborate with peers, and receive mentoring from tropical researchers and digital learning specialists. Applications due Dec 3, 2024. Click here: https://lnkd.in/e6JqtHEK