Evolution and Ecology Content

Fish Teeth Show How Ease of Innovation Enables Rapid Evolution

Andy Fell — February 26, 2025 - 8:00am

It’s not what you do, it’s how readily you do it. Rapid evolutionary change might have more to do with how easily a key innovation can be gained or lost rather than with the innovation itself, according to new work by biologists at the University of California, Davis, who studied how teeth in certain fishes evolved in response to food sources and habitats.

Their work was published Feb. 26 in Nature.

Genetics of Alternating Sexes in Walnuts

Andy Fell — January 02, 2025 - 11:52am

The genetics behind the alternating sexes of walnut trees has been revealed by biologists at the University of California, Davis. The research, published Jan. 3 in Science, reveals a mechanism that has been stable in walnuts and their ancestors going back 40 million years — and which has some parallels to sex determination in humans and other animals.

Can Corals Be Saved?

Andy Fell — November 04, 2024 - 4:13pm

It takes a strong constitution to be a coral researcher these days. These vibrant underwater ecosystems are beset by all manner of challenges in the 21st century, from bleaching events and pollution to storm surges and overfishing. But there’s good news on the way for coral conservation.

Invisible Anatomy in the Fruit Fly Uterus

Andy Fell — October 25, 2024 - 11:06am

You have likely not spent much time thinking about the uterus of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. But then, neither have most scientists, even though Drosophila is one of the most thoroughly studied lab animals. Now a team of biologists at the University of California, Davis, has taken the first deep look at the Drosophila uterus and found some surprises, which could have implications not just for understanding insect reproduction and potentially, pest control, but also for understanding fertility in humans.

Fighting Climate Change with Bee-utiful Pollinator Gardens

Malia N Reiss — May 09, 2024 - 1:44pm

From daisies and lavender to sunflowers and orange blossoms, flower gardens not only result in beautiful table centerpieces, bragging rights and a joyful hobby. They can also be hugely beneficial to local pollinators and, by close extension, food security and biodiversity.

Maize Researcher Wins Prestigious National Academy of Sciences Prize

Andy Fell — January 23, 2024 - 10:00am

Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, a professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis, has been awarded the prestigious National Academy of Sciences Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences for 2024.

Scientists and Their Science Tattoos

Malia N Reiss — December 18, 2023 - 10:03am

What better way to mark a lifetime of science than with a tattoo? This permanent body ink is the badge of true passion for these scientists.

Laci Gerhart

Ecologists aren’t above obsessing over the cool animals in their backyards.

Renowned Marine Ecologist Jay Stachowicz Wins Teaching Prize

Andy Fell — December 05, 2023 - 9:45am

When Professor Jay Stachowicz heard that UC Davis’ chancellor needed to speak to him urgently, he worried he had done something wrong.

More Than Meows: How Bacteria Help Cats Communicate

Andy Fell — November 15, 2023 - 10:15am

Many mammals, from domestic cats and dogs to giant pandas, use scent to communicate with each other. A new study from the University of California, Davis, shows how domestic cats send signals to each other using odors derived from families of bacteria living in their anal glands. The work was published Nov. 8 in Scientific Reports.

Genome Study Shows Recent Spread of Eelgrass

Andy Fell — July 21, 2023 - 10:52am

A study of eelgrass DNA shows that this important coastal plant spread from the Pacific to the Atlantic much later than thought. A lack of genetic diversity could make this key species more vulnerable to climate change.