College of Arts and Sciences - Spring 2021 - University of Miami

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Your donation can help our faculty conduct research and expand learning experiences for UM students For more information, visit as.miami.edu/donate. scout potential locations for the rewilding initiative. “Rewilding is a powerful tool for nature restoration and climate change mitigation,” he says. BROADENING THE FOCUS Rewilding the Caribbean involves more than just reintroducing tortoises to the islands. Another candidate for increasing biodiversity is the blue and gold macaw, now found in limited numbers in South Florida. It is genetically similar to extinct species of these large, colorful birds that were once plentiful in the islands. “The Caribbean was home to several macaw species, but none of them survived,” Galetti says. “We have been studying the feeding habits of the macaws that live in Coral Gables to see if they would be good candidates to replace the ecological functions of the extinct macaws. “By using remote-controlled cameras, we can see what fruits they eat and whether they drop those seeds immediately or carry them away to other locations. This will help us understand their diets and whether an island habitat would support a small population of macaws over the long term.” Galetti also plans to study the rock iguana, one of the few large animals remaining in the Caribbean. Threatened by poachers, the endangered species can be found on just a handful of undeveloped islands in the Caribbean. With proper protection, this iguana can also contribute to restoring biodiversity. The potential benefits of Galetti’s research, with its collaborative embrace of citizen science, research institutions, and botanical gardens, reach beyond the Caribbean. “In the past, many types of large animals and plants thrived together,” he says. “Understanding the interactive relationships between animals and plants is vital to increasing the biodiversity resilience in a variety of tropical and subtropical habitats.” n Catesbaea spinosa, or Lily Thorn. This endemic species from Cuba and The Bahamas were potentially dispersed by extinct giant tortoises. 18 SPRING 2021
Galapagos tortoise feeding on Theophrasta jussieui, a tree endemic to Hispaniola that was likely to be dispersed by extinct tortoises. Dr. Galetti’s collection of fruits and seeds. Scan this QR code to see a behind-the-scenes video of Dr. Galetti’s rewilding research. ARTS | SCIENCES 19
Page 1 and 2: FROST INSTITUTE TAKES SHAPE | EXPLO
Page 3 and 4: FROM THE DEAN UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI S
Page 5 and 6: SWEET CAMPUS VIBES Students wait th
Page 7 and 8: umbrella, whose office in the Ashe
Page 9 and 10: Mighty— But Not Always Malevolent
Page 11 and 12: Photos courtesy of Léo Holder and
Page 13 and 14: Liberal Studies Latin American Stud
Page 15 and 16: MAJORINFATUATION Discovering how hu
Page 17 and 18: “They may ultimately lead to a co
Page 19: “When the animals become extinct,
Page 23 and 24: STUDENTDIGEST Laws in Space Univers
Page 25 and 26: PHILANTHROPY Supporting insights th
Page 27 and 28: One of the lesser-known dwellings o
Page 29 and 30: The body’s will to thrive SUSAN L
Page 31 and 32: 60s Peter A. Wish, B.A. ’67, wrot
Page 33 and 34: Jessika Contreras, B.A.’06, is a
Page 35 and 36: INSPIRE & ENGAGE FUTURE GENERATIONS

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