The Lab
Tierra de Oro Laboratory sits on 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares) in the savannah northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. About one acre of the land is set aside for wild habitat.
The habitat surrounding the lab is piñon-juniper savanna, with scattered trees surrounded by native grasses, shrubs and cactus. Adjacent areas have been developed over the past 40 years, largely into residential areas with lots ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 hectares.
In the early 2000s, many of the pines were lost to a severe drought. At the moment, the American southwest is undergoing another bout of extreme drought, and it seems likely that more trees will be lost.
The possible loss of the woodland is deeply troubling. Whether or not the worst comes to pass, we are using the resources we have to study changes in the habitat and resilience of native species. Because they are abundant, easy to observe, and play a critical role in soil health, the Tenebrionid beetles are currently receiving the most attention.
Please take the time to read about the physiology and ecology of local species. We apologize that some of the pages are still under construction and not yet available. More content will come online as time permits.
If you have question, comments or suggestions, use the Contact Tierra de Oro Lab link at the bottom of every page to drop us a line.
People in the Lab
Dave Sandstrom retired to Santa Fe after a career spent researching and teaching. His research focused on insect physiology and neurobiology, often in the context of human health.
At the University of Maryland, Dave taught Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Physiology to juniors and seniors. He also mentored students in research projects studying invertebrate physiology.
Legal Stuff
Sources of Photographs: Unless specified otherwise, all photographs were taken by one of us.