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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

December 06, 2012
Insect-eating bat outperforms nectar specialist as pollinator of cactus flowers
Surprising study of bats that pollinate cactus flowers sheds light on coevolution of plants and pollinators.
November 30, 2012
Emerging vector-borne diseases create new public health challenges
Land-use change, globalization of trade and travel, and social upheaval are driving the emergence of diseases in many regions.
November 16, 2012
Biologist Pete Raimondi receives Outstanding Faculty Award
Biologist Pete Raimondi has received the 2011-12 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.
October 23, 2012
ARCS Foundation scholarships support UCSC graduate students
Eight UC Santa Cruz graduate students have received scholarships worth a total of $80,000 from the ARCS Foundation this year.
September 28, 2012
White shark diets vary with age and among individuals
Many white sharks shift from fish to marine mammals as they mature, but individual sharks show surprising variability in a study by UCSC researchers.
September 24, 2012
Endangered Hawaiian monk seal is focus of Oct. 4 talk by biologist Terrie Williams
The annual Ken Norris Memorial Lecture at the Seymour Center features UCSC marine biologist Terrie Williams discussing her work with monk seals.
September 07, 2012
UCSC study shows how urchin-loving otters can help fight global warming
A new study by two UC Santa Cruz researchers suggest that a thriving sea otter population that keeps sea urchins in check will in turn allow kelp forests to prosper and help reverse a principal cause of global warming.
August 21, 2012
Recovery slows for California's sea otters, 2012 survey shows
The southern sea otter population continues its pattern of tepid recovery, according to the latest population survey.
July 26, 2012
Apple's software brings attention to mountain lion research
Apple's release of its "Mountain Lion" operating system is drawing attention to the real thing prowling just a few miles from the company's headquarters. Since 2008, UCSC researchers have captured 36 mountain lions as part of the UCSC Puma Project to better understand the cats' physiology, behavior, and ecology.
July 09, 2012
Biologist James Estes honored by American Society of Mammalogists
Biology professor James Estes will receive the 2012 C. Hart Merriam Award from the American Society of Mammalogists.
July 09, 2012
New book by UCSC biologist highlights efforts to save Hawaiian monk seals
Marine biologist Terrie Williams recounts how an abandoned pup named KP2 is helping efforts to save the most endangered marine mammal in U.S. waters.
July 03, 2012
Social bats pay a price with new fungal disease
The impact on bat populations of a deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome may depend on how gregarious the bats are during hibernation.
June 13, 2012
Year of the Slug: Great UCSC moments in 2011-12
From the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame to cancer research to its ranking as one of the top “young” universities in the world, UCSC stood in the spotlight this year.
May 24, 2012
Fledging season for owls means clumsy chicks on the ground
Experts says it's normal to see owl chicks on the ground, and they should be left alone.
May 23, 2012
Lemur extinctions and ecological retreat followed arrival of humans in Madagascar
A study of lemurs in Madagascar suggests that factors driving lemur extinctions have also sparked an ongoing "ecological retreat" by surviving species.
May 22, 2012
Recognizing excellence in teaching at UCSC
The 2011-12 Excellence in Teaching Awards honored eight caring professors who inspired their students at UCSC. UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal presented the awards at the Stevenson Event Center on campus.
May 18, 2012
Research team investigates biological methods to prevent bat extinction
Motivated by the prospect of conserving bat populations and species diversity, UC Santa Cruz researchers are investigating whether antifungal skin microbes can be used to help fight the deadly fungus that is causing a massive die-off of bats in eastern North America.
May 15, 2012
Elephant seal tracking reveals hidden lives of deep-diving animals
UCSC researchers use satellite tags to monitor the migrations of elephant seals, revealing their movements and diving behavior at sea in unprecedented detail.
March 29, 2012
Seven assistant professors win Hellman fellowships to assist their research
Seven assistant professors at UC Santa Cruz have been named winners of the Hellman Fellows Program that supports research projects by promising junior professors who show capacity for great distinction in their research.
February 28, 2012
Two UCSC marine scientists awarded Pew Fellowships in Marine Conservation
Two scientists affiliated with UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences have been awarded 2012 Pew Fellowships in Marine Conservation.
February 27, 2012
Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing
A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya finds that overfishing could threaten the long-term health of the reefs.
February 08, 2012
Hatchery fish mask the decline of wild salmon populations
Only about 10 percent of the fall-run Chinook salmon spawning in the Mokelumne River are naturally produced wild salmon.
January 30, 2012
In evolution of body size, 24 million generations from mouse to elephant
The first study to measure how fast large-scale evolution can occur in mammals found that it takes 24 million generations for a mouse-sized animal to evolve to the size of an elephant.
January 10, 2012
Plant scientist Jean Langenheim honored by Graduate Women in Science
The Graduate Women in Science organization Sigma Delta Epsilon has awarded its highest honor to botanist Jean Langenheim.