News: Research

Research

Evolution Used Same Genetic Formula to Turn Animals Monogamous

In five cases where vertebrates evolved monogamy, the same changes in gene expression occurred each time.

The non-monogamous strawberry poison frog is pictured on the left and the monogamous mimic poison frog is pictured on the right.

UT News

Females Prefer City Frogs’ Tunes

Urban sophistication has real sex appeal — at least if you’re a Central American amphibian. Male frogs in cities are more attractive to females than their forest-frog counterparts, according to a new study from Mike Ryan and others published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.

Two chirping frogs on soil face opposite directions

Research

Common Weed Killer Linked to Bee Deaths

The world’s most widely used weed killer, Roundup, causes honey bees to lose some of their beneficial bacteria and are more susceptible to infection and death from harmful bacteria.

Honey bee.

Research

World-renowned UT Animal Behaviorist Weighs Role of Beauty in Evolution

Mike Ryan, professor of integrative biology, has a new book that explores the intersection of evolution and aesthetics.

Two chirping frogs on soil face opposite directions

UT News

Study of Secret Sex Lives of Trees Finds Tiny Bees Play Big Part

When it comes to sex between plants, tiny bees the size of ladybugs play a critical role in promoting the genetic diversity that protects against disease, climate change and other threats, according to a study by Shalene Jha, a faculty member in the Departent of Integrative Biology.

A stingless bee approaches a cluster of floewrs

Research

Scientists on the Trail of Central Texas’ Elusive Satan Fish

The fish are part of a project to monitor the overall ecological health of Central Texas aquifers and better understand how water flows through them.

X-ray image of a fish from above and from the side

Research

Oil Impairs Ability of Coral Reef Fish to Find Homes and Evade Predators

Just like a person after one too many cocktails, a few drops of oil can cause coral reef fish to make poor decisions.

Damselfish, Chromis species.

UT News

Rare, Blind Catfish Never Before Found in U.S. Discovered in Texas

An extremely rare eyeless catfish species previously known to exist only in Mexico has been discovered in a National Recreation Area in Texas.

A pair of eyeless catfish

UT News

Genetic Potential of Oil-Eating Bacteria from the BP Oil Spill Decoded

Microbiologists led by Brett Baker have discovered potential in bacteria that helped to clean up the BP oil spill.

An Oil Slick stretches across a span of ocean