150-year-old specimens that proved some mammals lay eggs
12 May 2022The specimens, collected in the late 1800s by the scientist William Caldwell, were found in the stores of Cambridge’s University Museum of Zoology.
News from the Department of Zoology.
Protected areas saw dramatic spikes in fires during COVID lockdowns, study finds
05 May 2022Scientists suggest that some staffing of protected areas should be considered “essential services” in future crises.
BioBullets protect UK water industry
05 May 2022How do you deal with a harmful invasive species wreaking havoc on the UK’s water pipes? You take advantage of them being fussy eaters and send them a Trojan Horse.
Six new species of tiny frog discovered in Mexico
27 Apr 2022The size of a thumbnail, they don't have a tadpole stage and live in a 'secret world' on the forest floor
Scientists crack egg forging evolutionary puzzle
12 Apr 2022A genetic study of Zambian cuckoo finches has solved one of nature’s biggest criminal cases, an egg forgery scandal two million years in the making. Its findings suggest that the victims of this fraud may now be gaining the upper hand.
Lack of transparency over cost of conservation projects hampers ability to prioritise funds for nature protection
23 Mar 2022A new study has found that costs of conservation projects are rarely reported, making it difficult for others to make decisions on the most cost-effective interventions at a time when funding for biodiversity conservation is severely limited.
Forest restoration: trade-offs between environmental and wood production goals
17 Mar 2022Forest restoration schemes should prioritise restoring native forests for greatest climate and environmental benefits, but these benefits incur a trade-off with wood production in comparison with tree plantations.
Birds of prey populations suppressed by lead poisoning from gun ammo
16 Mar 2022New study uses data on lead levels in the livers of thousands of dead raptors to calculate the impact of lead poisoning on population size.
Relocating farmland could turn back clock twenty years on carbon emissions
10 Mar 2022Scientists have produced a map showing where the world’s major food crops should be grown to maximise yield and minimise environmental impact. This would capture large amounts of carbon, increase biodiversity, and cut agricultural use of freshwater to zero.
Climate change threat to seabirds must be properly considered for their conservation to be effective
09 Mar 2022A new study shows how knowledge of climate change threats could be better connected with conservation efforts to help protect seabirds and other at-risk species.
