Conservation is at the forefront of many people’s minds – especially those working in natural history fields. Earth is in the midst of a major biodiversity crisis with extinction rates estimated between 1000 and 10,000 times background (“normal”) extinction rates (source: World Wildlife Fund). Unlike other mass extinction events like the one that decimated dinosaur populations 66 million years ago, this one is driven by human activities like habitat destruction and climate change. To better understanding how Earth’s systems are changing and how to preserve ecosystems for the future, many scientists are looking in a new direction: the past.
Studying fossils may not be the obvious place to turn for ideas of how to conserve, preserve, and restore natural resources for the future, However, the emerging field of conservation paleobiology shows us we have a lot more to learn from rocks and fossils. Conservation paleobiology uses knowledge gained from studying the geologic and paleontologic records and applies it to species conservation, habitat restoration, and sustainability. Essentially, Earth’s past is viewed as a series of experiments from which we can learn important lessons about how plants and animals live and die through environmental change. Through these studies, ice cores, sediment cores, tree rings, and fossils can be used to inform current conservation strategies. By studying past responses of ecosystems to climate change, habitat shifts, and the introduction of new species, researchers can identify patterns and principles that can guide current conservation efforts.
As a natural history museum, the Sternberg Museum has a strong focus on conservation. Our collections are vital to understanding, measuring, and monitoring the biodiversity of past and present ecosystems of the region. Our zoology research and exhibits echo some of these concerns. However, there is obviously room to grow as paleontologists help tackle current conservation problems with lessons from the past.
Laura E. Wilson, Ph.D. 