Skip to main content

The focus of this research group is on the study of living plants, animals, and microorganisms. Its work includes biological surveys of defined geographic areas and ecosystems, phylogenetic (evolutionary) and nomenclatural studies of taxonomic groups, and studies of relationships between organisms and with their environments. In addition, applications are sought to apply research results to solving current environmental problems.

Research Departments

Botany Mycology

Botany Mycology

Decapoda

Decapoda

Entomology

Entomology

Herpetology

Herpetology

Ichthyology

Ichthyology

Malacology

Malacology

Mammalogy

Mammalogy

Ornithology

Ornithology

News Articles

Expanding Access through Digitization!

Published February 17, 2025 | Botany Mycology

Museums worldwide are actively digitizing their collections to enhance accessibility and broaden public engagement. This initiative increases the visibility and appreciation of valuable artifacts among the diverse communities that institutions lik...

Exhibit Feature: Canine Contrasts: Unraveling Wolves and Coyotes in New York

Published July 12, 2024 | Mammalogy

The New York State Museum's latest exhibit feature Canine Contrasts: Unraveling Wolves and Coyotes in New York introduces the fascinating world of wolves and coyotes as it tells the story of a wolf recently mistaken for a coyote and killed ne...

Exhibit Feature: Canine Contrasts: Unraveling Wolves and Coyotes in New York

Published June 17, 2024 | Mammalogy

The New York State Museum's latest exhibit feature Canine Contrasts: Unraveling Wolves and Coyotes in New York introduces the fascinating world of wolves and coyotes as it tells the story of a wolf recently mistaken for a coyote and killed ne...

From Field to Lab: Research Associate in Ornithology Connects Conservation with Museum Collections

Published February 5, 2024 | Ornithology

Locally-based Ornithologist Dr. Taza Schaming was appointed as a Research Associate in 2023, and has been assisting Dr. Jeremy Kirchman, NYSM Curator of Birds and Mammals, in our specimen preparation lab, turning salvaged birds into research speci...

The NYSM's Bald Eagle

Published July 3, 2023 | Ornithology

Happy Fourth of July from the NYSM! This bald eagle, currently on display in Birds of New York Hall, is one of the oldest specimens from our collections and even pre-dates the discovery of the Cohoes Mastodon by sixteen years! The specimen, an adu...

Science Tuesday: "Living Fossils!"

Published December 12, 2022 | Ichthyology

Bowfin fishes are recognized as evolutionary relicts or ‘living fossils’ that historically were distributed worldwide, going back almost 150 million years and living alongside dinosaurs. These fishes retain many of the morphological traits of thei...

Science Tuesday: DNA Research in Ornithology

Published December 12, 2022 | Ornithology

Museum specimens are important sources of DNA, used by researchers to discover the evolutionary relationships among species. NYSM zoology curators save small samples of muscle and other tissues from the specimens they prepare for our collections. ...

Science Tuesday: Malacology Fieldwork

Published July 27, 2021 | Malacology

Zebra and quagga mussels can be aggressive invaders of waterbodies and, when they reach high densities, can be devastating to native mussel populations (among other impacts).  Many lakes and rivers that once supported abundant and diverse com...

What's all the Buzz about?

Published April 19, 2021 | Entomology

Get the official buzz about the emergence of periodical cicadas this summer! In a recent interview with WAMC’s Lucas Willard, Dr. Timothy McCabe, New York’s State Entomologist, discusses the impending appearance of Brood X (10) cicadas after 17 ye...

Malacology & Partnerships in Science

Published July 31, 2020 | Malacology

Challenges in science often require solutions from across various disciplines and involve collaborations between diverse agencies. A recent agreement between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Arconic to prote...

Researching a Newly Acquired Fish Collection from Long Island

Published February 29, 2016 | Ichthyology

In 2014, the State Museum acquired Dr. Howard Reisman's (emeritus professor at Long Island University) personal collection of fish specimens. The collection has over 2,500 individual specimens, including a substantial number of samples...

Student Profile: Museum Fellow Alyssa FitzGerald

Published January 14, 2016 | Ornithology

Alyssa FitzGerald is a Ph.D student at SUNY Albany and works at the Museum to conduct research for her doctoral program. Alyssa's research is focused on studying three closely-related species of thrushes. She wants to know why and how these b...

Collections News: Beaked Whale Skeleton

Published January 14, 2016 | Mammalogy

A 20-foot long Cuvier's Beaked Whale skeleton was acquired by the State Museum in 2014. Worldwide, there are less than 250 Cuvier's Beaked Whale specimens in collections. These whales, also known as goose-beaked whales, are known to be one of the ...

DNA studies examine the past and future of the birds of New York's Catskills and Adirondacks.

Published July 27, 2015 | Ornithology

Two papers have been published describing ornithological research by NYSM scientists. The papers are based on Ph.D. dissertation work conducted by Dr. Joel Ralston, former University at Albany graduate student, and NYSM Graduate Fellow under the s...