Under the surface of some Missouri ponds, you can find a curly-leaf pondweed, also known as Potamogeton crispus, with leaves that are sometimes compared to lasagna noodles. But they aren’t welcome there. So how does an invasive species get by in an environment they were never originally a part of? Daphne Miles, a 2023 recipient of the Stan Hudson Research Grant … [Read more...] about Environmental biology student awarded Stan Hudson grant from Missouri Native Plant Society
Spreading your wings as a student researcher can take you to rewarding places. Shelby Palmer, a second-year Master of Science in biology student, is the 2023 recipient of the Missouri Birding Society (MBS) Bauer Graduate Scholarship. Her project, titled “Investigating the relationship between ancestry and song in an avian hybrid zone,” has been the focus of her … [Read more...] about Missouri State biology graduate student wins Missouri Birding Society scholarship
The biology department has had a strong start to the year. From Jan. 3-7, five students attended the recent conference of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) in Austin, Texas, with four students being nominated for or winning awards. Dr. Avery Russell, assistant professor of biology at Missouri State University, advises all student … [Read more...] about Biology department brings buzz to Austin
According to research presented recently at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, rising temperatures are forcing some bees to take shallow, rapid breaths—essentially hyperventilating—which burns more energy and makes them less likely to survive. About half of the 45 bumble bee species in the United States seem to be in trouble. The reasons … [Read more...] about How our warming world is affecting some bumble bees
In northern Michigan forests lives the white-footed mouse. Among other small mammals, it’s a fierce competitor in the food chain. However, this animal struggles to survive through harsh winters. Tracking the population size and location of this mouse can serve as an indicator of climate change. Dr. Sean Maher, associate professor of biology at Missouri State University, who … [Read more...] about Studying mice to get a bigger picture