Black History Month 2024: Kristian Harris

For Black History Month 2024, the British Ecological Society (BES) journals are celebrating the work of Black ecologists around the world and sharing their stories. In this blog, Kristian Harris shares his story and journey in academia. Biography Name: Kristian Harris Affiliation (university/place of employment): The Ohio State University (Graduate Student) Ecology interests in three keywords: How did you get into ecology? Growing up in … Continue reading Black History Month 2024: Kristian Harris

Frogs and Herbicides: A Gut Feeling

Dr. Sarah Knutie led a study to explore whether a commonly-used herbicide affects the gut microbes of frogs and if the gut microbes could mediate the effect of the herbicide on infection risk by the amphibian chytrid fungus. She conducted the work as a Post-doctoral Researcher at the University of South Florida and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut. Here, she … Continue reading Frogs and Herbicides: A Gut Feeling

Dodgy gut? Have a lemur cuddle!

According to new research published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, physical contact may be good for your health.  Well, at least if you’re a lemur. Scientists have found a direct link between physical contact and gut bacteria in red-bellied lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer).  The study aim was to better understand causes of diversity within the animal’s gut microbiome.  These communities of belly bacteria play a key … Continue reading Dodgy gut? Have a lemur cuddle!