UBCZoology

Extreme heat has extreme effects–but some like it hot A sweeping new study of the 2021 heat wave reveals offers crucial insight into how climate extremes reshape ecosystems.

A sweeping new study of the 2021 heat wave reveals major ecological losses—but also surprising species that thrived, offering crucial insight into how climate extremes reshape ecosystems. @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social

science.ubc.ca/news/2026-03...

This work was a major collaborative effort, uniting researchers across disciplines, institutions, and regions through the 2021 Western North American Heat Dome Data Consortium. @science.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbotany.bsky.social @news.ubc.ca @forestry.ubc.ca

Figure 3 from the paper, captures the main story well.

What causes kidney stones in farmed salmon? UBC + UiB introduce an in vitro model showing how sudden CO₂ drops after metabolic compensation can trigger mineral precipitation, helping explain nephrocalcinosis in aquaculture.

Link to the paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.aq...

Raccoons solve puzzles for the fun of it, new study finds A new UBC study in Animal Behaviour suggests raccoons may not just be opportunistic—they may be genuinely curious.

UBC researcher suggests raccoons may not just be opportunistic—they may be genuinely curious. The findings help explain why raccoons thrive in urban centres like Vancouver. @zoology.ubc.ca @sarahba.bsky.social

science.ubc.ca/news/2026-03...

The 16th International Congress of the Biology of Fish logo. The circular logo includes a sketch of a salmon (top left), a sketch of a sturgeon (bottom right) with a sketch showing Vancouver landmarks across the middle. The text, 'ICBF 2026' is positioned in the middle right of the circular logo.

If your heading to #ICBF2026 in Vancouver later this year, the deadline to submit your poster or oral presentation abstract is TOMORROW (3 March), so don't miss this exciting chance to share your newest discoveries with the excited fish biologists at UBC

icbf2026.com/abstracts/

Convergent and lineage-specific genomic changes shape adaptations in sugar-consuming birds High-sugar diets cause human metabolic diseases, yet several bird lineages convergently adapted to feeding on sugar-rich nectar or fruits. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms in hummin...

UBC zoologists are part of a new study in Science looking at genomic adaptations to sugar-rich diets in hummingbirds, parrots, honeyeaters and sunbirds.
@zoology.ubc.ca @science.org

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Amazonian drought of 2023: Environmental conditions relevant to fishes This paper provides a platform for the following studies within this Special Issue. ‘Ecophysiology of fishes in the two great tributaries of the Amazon in the Anthropocene’. It documents the water qu...

Environmental conditions relevant to fish community health & resilience were explored in two Amazonian Rivers during the 2023 drought: in the black waters of the Rio Negro and white waters of the Rio Solimões. Impacts on the fish community are discussed.

URL doi.org/10.1111/jfb....

The Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia invites applications for an Associate Professor position in Evolutionary Biology. @zoology.ubc.ca

ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfac...

Now accepting project proposals from PIs in Faculty of Science for our Data Science Catalyst Program. For further info 👉https://dsi.ubc.ca/data-science-catalyst-program Submission deadline is Monday, March 2. We look fwd to receiving projects from all disciplines in the Faculty! @science.ubc.ca

Unique Canadian fungus 'bank' with thousands of specimens saved by family foundation | CBC News A unique collection of microscopic fungi used for Canadian medical and biodiversity research has been saved from being shipped overseas.

"It's really difficult to keep culture collections going," said UBC botanist Dr. Mary Berbee. "There aren't that many in the world and I was really worried about this one."
@ubcbotany.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/science...

FRIDAY: Join us online @ 11 am PT as Dr. Ana Spalding from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute presents "Assessing Coastal Community Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change: Pathways to resilient coastal futures" https://oceans.ubc.ca/news-and-events/iof-seminars/weekly-seminars/

FRIDAY: Join us online @ 11 am PT as Dr. Ana Spalding from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute presents "Assessing Coastal Community Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change: Pathways to resilient coastal futures"
oceans.ubc.ca/news-and-eve...

Returning from an amazing week at #UBC, giving the 2026 Evolution Lecture. Met with an incredibly talented group of graduate students. It was such a pleasure to meet with everybody at the #BRC. Thanks all for the warm welcome and all the discussions!
@zoology.ubc.ca
@ubcbotany.bsky.social

What can marshmallow-snarfing raccoons teach us about the adaptability of urban carnivores?🧪🦊

@zoology.ubc.ca researchers investigated raccoons' inhibitory control - essentially, the ability to control an immediate impulse in order to achieve a goal. Here, raccoons were shown a clear cylinder...

Kilgour et al. study found road salt concentrations in streams as high as 11x BC’s acute guideline for chloride in freshwater during winter. These road salt contaminations coincide with spawning for local salmonids, risking developing embryos & their incubation

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

The Sentinels of Change Alliance are committed to collaborating within their team, as well as with community and non-profit groups. (Image credit: Clare Kiernan)

The Sentinels of Change Alliance brings together 26 researchers to investigate patterns of biodiversity, ecological change, and resilience across the Salish Sea. @rhizalyssa.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca @hakai.org @chrisharley.bsky.social
ubctoday.ubc.ca/breaking-dow...

Hummingbirds need help this winter in Metro Vancouver. Here's what to do Did you know we have a hummingbird species that stays here year round?

Help an Anna's hummingbird out this winter - turns out feeders are facilitating their ability to stay here through the cold.

Dr. Jill Jankowski (@zoology.ubc.ca) discusses via @viawesome.bsky.social

Your Science Must-Reads of 2025 From campus coyotes to breakthroughs in organ transplantation to the risks of space junk, we've rounded up your essential holiday science browsing.

From breakthroughs in organ transplants to alerts on the risks of space junk, UBC Science research made headlines in 2025. We’ve rounded up a selection of essential holiday browsing—our most-read stories, heart-felt tales of campus wildlife & real-world solutions.

science.ubc.ca/news/2025-12...

Among other UBC projects, new B.C. Government funding will support a program that aims to create cancer vaccines, led by Drs. Pieter Cullis and Anna Blakney.

www.richmond-news.com/technology/b...

Yukon's snowshoe hares becoming less camouflaged, study finds | CBC News Researchers found an increasing mismatch between snowshoe hares' coats and their environment, making them more vulnerable to predators at times.

UBC zoologist Dr. Charles Krebs says that the mismatch between hares' coats and their local environment is increasing due to climate change affecting temperatures and snow cover. @zoology.ubc.ca

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Parasitic barnacles that turn hermit crabs into near-zombies? New UBC/Hakai research that surveyed 4,200 crabs at 65 sites shows these parasites are widespread across B.C., vulnerable to heat waves, and may be multiple cryptic species.
Read more 🔗 tinyurl.com/4tfb5fjj

SPECIAL EVENT: November 27 @ 2pm. Join us to hear in person from this extraordinary scholar: "Looking for Patterns & Processes in the Ocean: an obstinate quest, with Dr. Philippe Cury" @ird-fr.bsky.social https://oceans.ubc.ca/rsvp-philippecury/

SPECIAL EVENT: November 27 @ 2pm.
Join us to hear in person from this extraordinary scholar: "Looking for Patterns & Processes in the Ocean: an obstinate quest, with Dr. Philippe Cury" @ird-fr.bsky.social
oceans.ubc.ca/rsvp-philipp...

Parasites of the hermit crab Pagurus hirsutiusculus; distribution, prevalence, and thermal ecology Parasites are common throughout the biosphere and can play significant ecological roles. However, most parasites are understudied, particularly with regards to how their prevalence and impacts vary wi...

RESEARCH: Parasites of the hermit crab Pagurus hirsutiusculus; distribution, prevalence, and thermal ecology. Co-authored by Dr. Chris Harley (@zoology.ubc.ca) and Dr. Alyssa Gehman (@rhizalyssa.bsky.social ) journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

The North Pacific heat ‘blob’ is back and experts are worried about marine life | Globalnews.ca 'This blob is a couple of degrees warmer than what we would expect for this particular time of year,' Christopher Harley, a professor of marine ecology, said.

"It’s unusual enough to qualify as what’s called a marine heat wave,” said Dr. Christopher Harley about the return of the North Pacific blob. “I hate to say it, it’s the new normal and I’m starting to get used to it."

@ubcoceans.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca

globalnews.ca/news/1150938...

UBC Science is hiring a Digital Communications Specialist to enhance our online presence and reputation by creating inspirational web and other digital content, and support the development and operation of the Faculty’s digital communication initiatives and channels.

bit.ly/4hwWZn2

The blob is back in the Northern Pacific Ocean: What does that mean for B.C.? Climate scientists say the marine heat wave could be altering the jet stream leading to a wetter than normal winter. Find out more.

Drs. Chris Harley and Steven Hallam (@zoology.ubc.ca @ubcmicroimmuno.bsky.social ) commented on the effects of marine heat waves or 'blobs' via @vancouversun.bsky.social

What cherished campus coyote’s death tells us about his life In his short life, Kip the coyote with the one bad leg, became an unofficial mascot on UBC’s Vancouver campus.

Back when Kip the coyote was first seen at UBC, he was skittish around people. But by the time he died, “he’d lost his fear of humans,” said Dr. Sarah Benson-Amram of @zoology.ubc.ca. “He was close to dangerous interactions with area pets and people."

science.ubc.ca/news/2025-10...

Congratulations to UBC Science’s 6 new public scholars! Sean Edgerton, Drew Hall, Yunfei Li, Jessica Mukiri, Lilith South & Molly Zhang are among 36 doctoral students who are pursuing interdisciplinary, community-engaged PhD work with real world impact. 

www.grad.ubc.ca/collaborativ...

The social lives of viruses | Asher Leeks | TEDxNewEngland YouTube video by TEDx Talks

I gave a talk last year at TEDxNewEngland aimed at introducing the idea of viral sociality to a general audience, including implications for evolution & virology. Video now available online below.

#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪

Dr. Kayla King is Canada Excellence Research Chair, Zoology and Microbiology & Immunology at UBC, and Professorial Fellow of Evolutionary Ecology, University of Oxford.

Evolutionary ecologist Dr. Kayla King is giving a public lecture: Pathogens and the Power of Evolution

Oct. 18 7:15 pm P.A. Woodward Instructional Resources Centre, UBC Vancouver
@kayla-king.bsky.social @ubcmicroimmuno.bsky.social @zoology.ubc.ca
More info: globalreportingcentre.org/vancouver-in...

Join us for an evening on climate change 🌏 🤒

Get a chance to meet 66 Birds / 3 Degrees Artist, Natalie Niblack & hear from all our special guests.

⏰ Oct 16th, 6-7:30pm (Doors Open 5pm)
🎟️ Admission by donation.
📲 Scan the QR code to learn more.

#climatechange #birdsofinstagram