Coyote genes may show urban evolution at work (Links to an external site)

Coyote genes may show urban evolution at work
A recent study in Genome Biology and Evolution co-authored by LEC postdoc Liz Carlen examines the genetic makeup of urban coyotes to understand how these animals adapt to city environments. The research suggests that urban coyotes may be undergoing evolutionary changes that enable them to thrive alongside human populations. These findings contribute to our understanding of urban ecology and the impact of urbanization on wildlife species.

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Herbarium goes digital to revolutionize species identification (Links to an external site)

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Herbarium goes digital to revolutionize species identification
The Revolutionizing Species Identification (RSI) project at the Missouri Botanical Garden uses advanced AI technology to digitize its vast herbarium collection, creating a global reference library for rapid plant species identification. This online platform will enable scientists to upload data from unidentified plants for automated identification, accelerating restoration and conservation efforts worldwide. Additionally, the project provides training in plant taxonomy and herbarium creation, cultivating the next generation of botanical experts.

Climate change is super-charging St. Louis wildflowers (Links to an external site)

Climate change is super-charging St. Louis wildflowers
The wildflowers that bring a burst of color to meadows and forests across St. Louis are blooming later and longer than they did in previous decades, according to a study led by researchers with the Living Earth Collaborative, a signature initiative of the Arts & Sciences Strategic Plan. The study by Missouri Botanical Garden’s Matthew Austin and Ken Olsen, the George William and Irene Koechig Freiberg Professor of Biology is published in New Phytologist.

‘The Science Of Cats’ course finds popularity among college students (Links to an external site)

‘The Science Of Cats’ course finds popularity among college students
Jonathan Losos, a distinguished Professor of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis and the Director of the Living Earth Collaborative, teaches a unique course titled “The Science of Cats” at Washington University. The course has captured the interest of students and cat enthusiasts alike. Listen in as Jonathan discusses this course on Wake Up Call, a program on KFI AM 640.

Understanding the role of soil microbial communities in oak woodland restoration using DNA metabarcoding (Links to an external site)

Understanding the role of soil microbial communities in oak woodland restoration using DNA metabarcoding
Soil microbial communities play a crucial role in oak woodland restoration, influencing the success of conservative herbaceous species reintroductions. Using DNA metabarcoding, researchers at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Shaw Nature Reserve studied how different restoration ages affect soil microbial composition and plant growth. Their findings suggest that younger restorations may offer more beneficial microbial conditions for conservative plant species, potentially improving nutrient uptake and stress resistance.

Ornamented dragonflies better equipped to survive human threats (Links to an external site)

Ornamented dragonflies better equipped to survive human threats
A new study in the journal Ecology Letters suggests that “ornamented” dragonfly species are better able to survive habitat destruction and other human threats. The study’s authors include Michael Moore, a former postdoctoral researcher with the Living Earth Collaborative and Kim Medley, Tyson Research Lab Director.

MoBot uses AI to learn how trees move. And to save millions of plant specimens. (Links to an external site)

MoBot uses AI to learn how trees move. And to save millions of plant specimens.
The Missouri Botanical Garden is leveraging AI to digitize its nearly 8 million plant specimens, creating an online database to support conservation efforts and preserve critical ecological data. By combining AI with historical and genetic information, the Garden is also advancing research on tree migration and ecosystem adaptation to climate change, while ensuring these technologies complement rather than replace human expertise.

Citizen scientists gather eDNA in water samples for global biodiversity census (Links to an external site)

Citizen scientists gather eDNA in water samples for global biodiversity census
As part of the UN’s International Day of Biodiversity, Kara Andres, a postdoctoral fellow with the Living Earth Collaborative at Washington University in St. Louis, collected samples of water from Simpson Lake, in Valley Park, Mo., as part of a coordinated global effort to use environmental DNA—genetic material shed by organisms into the environment—to document the current state of biodiversity.

Lemur’s lament (Links to an external site)

Lemur’s lament
What can be done when one threatened animal kills another? Scientists studying critically endangered lemurs in Madagascar confronted this difficult reality when they witnessed attacks on lemurs by another vulnerable species, a carnivore called a fosa.

The Shutterbee Project shows how local gardens support high bee diversity in St. Louis (Links to an external site)

The Shutterbee Project shows how local gardens support high bee diversity in St. Louis
HEC Science and Technology video report features Biodiversity Fellow Nicole Miller-Struttmann’s Shutterbee Project, a community science project documenting St. Louis’ region’s bee diversity. The Shutterbee Project received a LEC seed grant in 2020.

‘Citizen scientist’ finds rare parasitic bumble bee identified through the Shutterbee Project (Links to an external site)

‘Citizen scientist’ finds rare parasitic bumble bee identified through the Shutterbee Project
A citizen scientist participating in the Shutterbee Project,a research initiative supported by an LEC seed grant, discovered a rare parasitic bumblebee species, Bombus suckleyi, which was identified through the project’s efforts. This finding highlights the valuable contributions of citizen scientists to local biodiversity research and the importance of community involvement in ecological studies.