DIN Staff Files - Get to know the Paleo-ecologists

Hello DIN employees!

It’s time for another of our ‘Get to know the Teams’ memos so now let’s hear from our resident Paleo-ecologist & Dinosaur Breeding Expert at DIN, Luis Balderra.

He’s going to give us some insight into the important paleo-ecology work we’re doing at the Dinosaur Integration Network.

“Hey folks! Not sure how much information about paleo-ecology I can pack into a staff memo but I’ll do my best!

Paleo-ecology in of itself isn’t a new field of study but the kind of work we’re able to do has massively transformed since the emergence of modern dinosaurs. Back in the day we would have had to rely on fossils of everything (animals, plants, footprints, even pollen) to figure out how an ecosystem functioned.

Obviously, we’re not limited to just studying fossils anymore! But the data we got from studying dinosaurs at Jurassic World was... skewed slightly by their very controlled environments. Now I get to watch dinosaurs up close and personal all day long in much more natural environments. And boy, has that been a blessing!

A massive stride we’ve made at DIN has been in our breeding programs. Not only have we been able to synthesise male dinosaurs, but we’ve also then been able to encourage dinosaurs to breed in enclosures for the first time! Seeing that first clutch of eggs, and then watching that juvenile Maiasaura step out into the big wide world...  honestly, there aren’t words how that felt.

Most of the paleo-ecology work that gets done at our DIN parks, besides the general studying and observation, is actually managed by our Park Managers. Teaching our new starters about dinosaur needs, from their environment makeup to cohabitation, is integral to making sure we’re doing the most for this fantastic form of wildlife.

Even aspects like walking Park Managers through the process of building Science Centres and Hatcheries to support their parks really allow us to guide these prehistoric species to a smoother co-existence with humans. That kind of knowledge can really help give dinosaurs a fighting chance to thrive... especially when we have outside influences from our Sector representatives to juggle too."

Check back in to learn more about the other key teams and staff members working at the Dinosaur Integration Network soon!