Scientists are trying to understand the causes of petty squabbles between captive parakeets, and are finding that sex does not seem to play a major role in them. “You fight all day, but they are minor fights. Constant, harmless squabbling…Both females and males fight each other, which is fascinating. It’s a constant fighting game.” Yuchen […]

For any child growing up visiting national parks or camping with their family, the phrase “only YOU can prevent wildfires” is ingrained in their consciousnesses. However, despite Smokey the Bear being the face of wildfire prevention nationwide, scientists know shockingly little about how wildfire impacts animals. The wildfire smoke, which Smokey is named after, can […]

Division of Animal Behavior Marlene Zuk Award for best talk: Sunishka Thakur Neural basis of alternative mating behaviors in swordtails   Elizabeth Adkins-Regan Award for best poster: Trina Chou Overwhelmed by choice – Consequences of choice overload in grey treefrogs I am a third year Ph.D. candidate working with Dr. Jessie Tanner at the University […]

Research led by Dr. Jessleen Kanwal reveals how beetles detect and deter danger in ant-dominated ecosystems By Esther Okamoto In the densely packed, high-stakes ecosystem of the forest floor, survival often depends on the ability to make fast, accurate decisions. For the tiny rove beetle Dalotia coriaria, navigating this complex terrain means avoiding some of […]

Winter in Maine is coming to a close. The snow is finally melting and the so-called mud season is ushering in new beginnings with the roar of surging rivers and the filling of vernal pools. Victor Ortega-Jiménez, newly appointed to his first faculty position at the University of Maine, is walking down to a lake […]

For many college students, learning about evolution can feel like tackling the final boss in a video game—frustrating, complex, and sometimes seemingly impossible to conquer. Though grounded in historical scientific theories, evolution goes well beyond fossils and dinosaurs. Theodore Dobzhansky famously stated that ‘Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.’ A […]

Spider webs are famous for their intricacy and beauty (or perhaps they’re terrifying if you have arachnophobia). However, web-weaving has major consequences on spider jaws and how they process their prey. Spiders are a remarkable example of animals with an extended adaptation, meaning they build complex structures that influence their ecology and evolution. The towering […]

Through their important role as pollinators, bees support the survival and sustenance of entire ecosystems, impacting diverse plant and animal species worldwide, including humans. Bees are critical for agriculture, as pollination by bees supports both the quality and productivity of crop yields. Thus, bees are a bridge that reminds us of our integration with, and […]

“If some giant was to come along and stick something that’s 5% of your weight on your back as a backpack, and you can’t take it off for the rest of your life…like…that’s really stressful.” Alyssa Sargent was pondering with empathy how a hummingbird might feel when she outfits it as part of her research. […]

Have you ever heard stories about the possibility of a girl’s hymen tearing while riding a bicycle, exercising, using a tampon, or simply going to the bathroom? Though an “intact” hymen is often mistakenly associated with virginity, it can easily rupture from everyday activities. Dr. Patricia Brennan is working on dispelling the common association of […]