Landscape & Ecology

Wildlife

Wildlife—from the smallest beetle to majestic falcons—are all critical to creating a balanced ecosystem. We strive to support the native ecology and create a campus that allows us to live in harmony with native wildlife of all kinds.

Balanced and healthy environments do not just benefit the human residents. From managing stormwater runoff to reducing GHG admissions, the goals in the Pitt Sustainability Plan support and encourage native wildlife as well.

Pitt's dedication to advancing research also includes growing our understanding of the natural world. Work across various research centers dives into the wonders of life around us, from the resilience of amphibians to tracking migration patterns of individual butterflies to provide surprising solutions to modern issues.

collage of various native pa insects

Pollinators and Other Insects

Insects, bugs, creepy crawlies—no matter what you call them, these tiny creatures have a massive impact on our world!

Bees and butterflies are well known for their important role in pollination, but that is just one critical role insects play to ensure a balanced ecosystem. They provide a protein-rich food source for countless animals from birds to mammals, even some cultural dishes include insects; some species keep nuisance insect populations in check that can destroy crops or spread diseases to people; others are critical in breaking down organic matter to return important nutrients to the life cycle.

Pitt works to support environments where all native insects can thrive, creating green spaces with native plants, and adopting landscaping practices that reduce the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides.

More about pollinators at Pitt
An adult falcon landing on the Cathedral of learning with an inset image of a falcon chick being banded

Peregrine Falcons

Atop the Cathedral of Learning is a highly sought after living space perfect for raising a family—if you are a peregrine falcon. 

Since 2001, there have been multiple pairs of peregrine falcons that have made the Cathedral their home. The first camera was installed in 2008, allowing bird enthusiasts from across the globe to get up close and personal with these amazing birds. 

Through the dedicated efforts of scientists and citizens, the peregrine falcon was saved from the brink of extinction. Today, they are no longer endangered but the PA Game Commission continues to monitor nests and band fledglings at three locations, including the Cathedral nest.

Did you know? The first falcon to nest on the Cathedral was Dorothy in 2001. Over her 17 years in Oakland, Dorothy raised 43 young between partners Erie and E2. Thanks to the PA Wildlife banding, her descendants have been tracked across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Michigan.

Watch the National Aviary Peregrine FalconCam
Research Initiatives

As a leading institution in higher education and research, Pitt is dedicated to advancing knowledge, fostering groundbreaking research and addressing the most pressing challenges of our time—this includes research into the natural world around us. 

flock of birds fling in front of glass skyscraper
Bird Strike Prevention
Pitt is proud to partner with BirdSafe Pittsburgh to research and advance solutions to reduce bird fatalities caused by building collisions. Additionally, Pitt students have lead multiple projects to collect data and identify buildings with high activity in order to prioritize projects based on degree of need.
A wild brown bear wearing a gps tracking collar
The Datafied Animal
Anthropologist and associate professor, Emily Wanderer, examines the convergence of tech and wildlife in the science of wildlife tracking. She received an award from the National Science Foundation for her study, “The Datafied Animal: Biologging, Machine Learning and Wildlife Conservation.”
A specialized field sound recorder attached toa tree
Kitzes Lab
Research in the Kitzes Lab focuses on measuring, understanding, and predicting biodiversity loss on a planet increasingly dominated by human activities utilizing terrestrial bioacoustics—specifically automated acoustic field recorders and machine learning models for sound detection and classification.
One female student closely inspects plants, while another records research notes
Pymatuning Lab of Ecology
Located in Northwestern Pennsylvania on the shores of beautiful Pymatuning Lake, PLE is a biological field station that is part of Pitt's Department of Biological Sciences.
student scientist takes a skin swab from a tiny frog
RIBBiTR
The Resilience Institute Bridging Biological Training and Research (RIBBiTR) is dedicated to better understand how living systems achieve resilience to diseases and other stressors through a focus on amphibian species.
monarch butterflies resting on an evergreen tree during migration
Tracking Migrating Monarchs
In Hee Lee, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Swanson School of Engineering, is part of a team developing a tracking system that could be attached to monarch butterflies and transmit data throughout their three month migration.