biology Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

�鶹ԭ�� Aiding Healthy Ecosystems Through Bat Conservation Advancements

Emily Dougherty — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:50:53 +0000

A �鶹ԭ�� doctoral student has helped position �鶹ԭ�� as a contributor to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), a coordinated effort to track bat populations across North America using standardized acoustic methods.

Southeastern Myotis Bat (, no changes were made)

Research Path Rooted in Responsibility

Ifer White, who serves as a graduate teaching associate while pursuing a Ph.D. in integrative and conservation biology, describes herself as a non-traditional student whose educational journey has been shaped by family, service and resilience.

“My Muscogee-Creek heritage has deeply influenced how I view the natural world, not as something separate from us, but as something we are accountable to,” White says. “That worldview has guided my commitment to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for more than a decade, and specifically to bat rehabilitation for the past seven years.”

Florida is home to 13 resident bat species, including the Brazilian free-tailed bat and the southeastern myotis. These highly specialized creatures are the only mammals capable of sustained flight and play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They help control insect populations—consuming thousands in a single night—while also contributing to pollination, seed dispersal, and more.

“My work is driven by a desire to ensure these often-misunderstood animals continue to thrive in increasingly human-dominated landscapes,” White says.

Bringing NABat to �鶹ԭ��

As a board member of the Florida Bat Working Group and the Florida Bat Conservancy, White saw an opportunity to integrate applied conservation science with campus engagement. She approached the Florida Fish and Wildlif Conservation Commission and leadership about adding the university to the NABat monitoring grid.

“Because there are known bat colonies on campus, participation was a natural fit.” — Ifer White, doctoral student

“T�� North American Bat Monitoring Program provides a standardized framework for long-term bat population monitoring across the continent,” White says. “Because there are known bat colonies on campus, participation was a natural fit.”

Although �鶹ԭ��’s geographic grid cell is relatively small, its urban and suburban context fills important gaps in regional datasets.

“Urban and suburban monitoring locations are underrepresented in many long-term datasets,” White says. “T�� acoustic data collected on campus help fill knowledge gaps in Central Florida and the broader southeastern region.”

(Far left) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Volunteer Coordinator of the Northeast Region (FWC NE), Paul Jacobs, training �鶹ԭ�� undergraduate volunteers on the setup of the acoustic monitoring station.

The Science Behind Acoustic Monitoring

Bats navigate and hunt using echolocation, emitting ultrasonic calls that are species-specific in frequency and structure. Acoustic detectors placed strategically on �鶹ԭ��’s main campus record these high-frequency calls throughout the night.

“Detectors are deployed for multiple consecutive nights each quarter,” White says. “Recordings are processed using specialized acoustic software that filters out noise and classifies calls to species or species groups based on call parameters.”

These measurements allow researchers to compare bat presence and relative activity across sites and over time.

“In wildlife conservation, data comparability is everything,” White says. “Without standardized methods, datasets become fragmented and difficult to interpret.”

�鶹ԭ��’s data are submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and ultimately contribute to broader analyses coordinated with Bat Conservation International, informing wildlife action plans and habitat management strategies.

Turning Research into Action

White’s dissertation research focuses on ecotoxicology, host–pathogen dynamics and immunogenetics in bats. While distinct from the monitoring project, she says understanding species presence and habitat use provides essential ecological context for studying environmental stressors.

“Bats are often misunderstood, yet they are essential components of healthy ecosystems.”

Acoustic data will also help determine which species are using campus habitats and guide potential enhancements, such as strategically placed bat houses and expanded native, night-blooming plantings to support nocturnal insect populations.

“Bats are often misunderstood, yet they are essential components of healthy ecosystems,” White says. “Every action [we take] contributes to long-term conservation.”

This research and the skills and tactics she’s putting to use with this project are directly transferable to the careers Knights with similar research backgrounds can pursue after graduation in wildlife agencies and environmental consulting.

�鶹ԭ�� Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy

Eddy Duryea ’13 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:29:37 +0000

Neuropathy — chronic pain, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet — is a challenging fact of life for many patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Thanks to a new National Institutes of Health grant, a scientist is investigating a new approach to treat neuropathy without relying on pain pills and anti-depressants.

Assistant Professor Jim Nichols is focused on overlooked mechanisms in the body that may show how the inability to make insulin has “downstream” consequences in other areas, such as how the brain processes and registers sensation in the limbs.

People affected by Type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar, so patients must inject themselves with insulin to survive.

Before joining �鶹ԭ��, Nichols spent many years looking for new causes of diabetic neuropathy. Nichols theorizes that irregularities in the insulin signaling pathway of peripheral nerves may be the key contributor to diabetic neuropathy. Based on the potential of his early findings, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which is under the NIH, recently awarded �鶹ԭ�� a $747,000 grant to expand that research.

Hollie Hayes ’20 serves as a lab manager with Assistant Professor Jim Nichols’ research team. (Photo by Eddy Duryea ’13)

Discovering New Pathways

One of the challenges of living with diabetes is that patients with neuropathy may lose feeling in their extremities and not feel a cut, blister or injury. Those injuries can become infected and even lead to amputation. Such diabetic complications occur more frequently in patients with poor blood sugar control, so Nichols is hoping that his research will find a treatment to regulate and improve neuron signaling that can be used as part of improved blood sugar management.

“We’re diving into an area that’s fresh,” he says. “T�� research aims we’re going after are based on the insulin signaling pathway, and how the neuropathy evolves due to insulin dysregulation. Ultimately, we’re looking at different ways to alter the insulin signaling pathway to prevent nerve degeneration.”

During the next three years, Nichols and his team will document the behavior of neurons, their signaling systems and surrounding cells to find ways to regulate them to alleviate symptoms of neuropathy.

While approved therapeutics such as opioids and antidepressants can curb those symptoms, Nichols hopes his investigational treatment can become a more viable alternative for diabetic patients.

“We’re trying to find better therapies.” — Assistant Professor Jim Nichols

“T��re are typical pain therapies out there, although we’re trying to move away from that because diabetic neuropathy isn’t very amenable to the basic treatments that we have,” he says. “We’re trying to find better therapies, and that is our goal.”

Inspired to Learn and Discover

Nichols arrived at �鶹ԭ�� in the summer of 2025, and says his goal is to inspire students to pursue bold new research directions. He encourages students to not fear the failures that lead to success.

“One of the things I tell the students is that we fail fast and we fail safe here,” he says. “What that means is that you want to fail as many times as you’re going to fail as fast as possible. You want to get those failures out as fast as possible so that you can learn as fast as possible without having an impact on you or your studies.”

��󾱲��ǳ��첹�Ծ��’24�ѳ��completed her master’s degree in biotechnology at �鶹ԭ�� after spending nearly five years working in the biomedical field in her home country of Nigeria. Now pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, she joined Nichols’ lab because she wants to help patients like her parents, who both suffered from diabetes.

“This is personal to me because my mom was diabetic and she died from complications with it,” Akaniru says. “My dad now is showing signs of peripheral neuropathy. There are treatments for other comorbidities of diabetes, but I think it could go a long way to have something that could really help neuropathic pain better.”

Hollie Hayes ’20 graduated from �鶹ԭ�� with her bachelor’s degree in biology and then worked in neuroscience research before joining Nichols’ lab as a manager. During her time at �鶹ԭ��, she worked on research to fight pediatric tumors and still carries that inspiration today.

“It got me really interested in focusing on helping people who are just suffering with chronic, debilitating pain, and especially anything that comes with nerves,” Hayes says. “My focus is, ‘How can I help advance the science and help as many people as possible?’ ”

Assistant Professor Jim Nichols and his team of student researchers. (Photo by Eddy Duryea ’13)

Researcher Credentials:

Nichols is a graduate of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine dual degree program where he examined new therapeutics for multiple sclerosis while completing his veterinary training. He then worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center for five years where he explored pathological mechanisms of pain with a focus on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. After joining �鶹ԭ�� in 2025, Nichols and his team continue to explore the underlying mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy.

Funding and Disclosure:

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R00DK142197. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

�鶹ԭ�� Study Confirms Flamingos Are Native to Florida and Genetically Fit for Restoration

Ana Hidalgo — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:13:49 +0000

For all its presence on postcards and popular tourist attractions, the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) has been largely absent from Florida itself. Nearly wiped out from the state in the early 1900s, the species has shown only faint signs of a true comeback.

Now, a new study published in the American Ornithological Society’s Ornithological Applications journal details how researchers from �鶹ԭ��’s and colleagues analyzed the genetic variability, population structure and viable conservation strategies for Florida’s American flamingo.

“As a native Floridian who grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, I was fascinated and a little surprised to see the flamingo as a prominent state icon, yet I had never seen one in the wild,” says Jessica Folsom ’23MS, who led the study while earning her master’s degree in biology at �鶹ԭ��.

The Flamingo’s Lost History

Flamingos were nearly extirpated in Florida due to hunting and habitat loss. While later sightings suggested possible natural recolonization, many of the birds were thought to be escapees from zoos or other captive populations rather than signs of a true restoration.

Eric Hoffman, professor and chair of �鶹ԭ��’s Department of Biology and a co-author of the study, says the project revealed the depth of what was lost.

“Before this project, I wasn’t aware of the historical distribution or how common these birds were in Florida 100 to 150 years ago,” Hoffman says.

An Unlikely Founding Population

Although flamingo populations remain large in regions near Florida, including The Bahamas, Cuba and Mexico, Florida’s first wave of birds originated in an unconventional setting.

“In the 1920s, the owner of a horse racetrack in Hialeah released roughly 20 flamingos, likely sourced from The Bahamas, as a marketing strategy to boost attendance and betting,” Hoffman says. “T�� birds thrived in the wetland habitat at the track’s center, forming the founding population for many Florida zoo-held flocks, including Zoo Miami’s.”

Signs Florida Can Still Support Flamingos

In recent years, researchers say that flamingos generally fly into Florida from neighboring regions or arrive after hurricanes. Some flocks remain for months — evidence that Florida’s wetlands can support them — however, establishing a long-term breeding population remains a primary challenge.

“T��se returning flocks have given us an opportunity to collect contemporary and historical samples to address questions about their genetics and population structure — a central focus of my lab,” Hoffman says.

What the Genetics Reveal

Folsom, who conducted the research in Hoffman’s lab as a graduate student and now works as a biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, says populations that undergo extirpation or steep decline often face consequences such as reduced genetic variability, loss of unique local adaptations or alleles, and, in severe cases, a greater risk of inbreeding.

“In Florida, hunting for feathers could have created those conditions,” Folsom says. “However, in our study, we found insignificant levels of inbreeding, little loss of genetic variability and minimal differentiation between Florida birds, the birds in Florida zoos, and other populations in the Caribbean and parts of South America.”

The study included 188 flamingos spanning seven contemporary wild populations — from Cuba, The Bahamas, Bonaire, the Yucatán Peninsula, Mississippi, the Galápagos Islands and Florida — as well as managed flocks, or ex-situ, housed in Zoo Miami and Hialeah Park. It also included five historical populations from Cuba, The Bahamas, Mexico, Florida and the Galápagos Islands.

Because wild Florida specimens are limited, the team used other Caribbean wild populations as genetic proxies. Using whole genome sequencing across more than two million loci — the fixed positions of genes on a chromosome — the team analyzed data using bioinformatics software on �鶹ԭ��’s high-performance computing cluster, Stokes.

“One of our most surprising findings was that modern flamingos showed significant genetic variability compared to historical populations,” Folsom says. “Captive populations showed the greatest genetic variability and minimal inbreeding, meaning they could be strong candidates for reintroduction. Genetic similarities also indicate flamingos from other regions could adapt well to Florida, with limited risk of outbreeding depression.”

Researchers emphasize that reintroduction must be paired with policy change.

A flock of American flamingos flies over salt marshes. While parts of their habitat are protected in Florida, researchers say additional conservation measures and legislation are needed to ensure the species’ long-term recovery. (Photo courtesy of Mark Cook)

“For more than a century, there were almost no conservation measures for flamingos in the U.S.,” says Steven Whitfield, director of Terrestrial and Wetlands Conservation at the Audubon Nature Institute and a co-author of the study. “That’s partly because flamingos were long considered a non-native species to Florida. With our work, we want to show they have always belonged here and there’s a scientific basis to support their recovery.”

Why Policy Matters as Much as Habitat

A petition to classify the birds as threatened was filed with the state, Whitfield says, but the proposal did not advance, stating that flamingos don’t warrant inclusion on the threatened species list. Some officials have cited existing protections, such as Everglades National Park, as sufficient. Researchers disagree, saying habitat protections alone cannot ensure the species’ survival or population restoration.

“This study provides the evidence needed to prove that birds raised by zoos are a viable genetic match, opening the opportunity for reintroduction from zoo populations,” Whitfield says.

Meanwhile, public momentum is strengthening legislative interest.

“T��re is sustained statewide support for naming the flamingo Florida’s official state bird, and bills are now under review in both the Florida House and Senate,” Folsom says. “T��y’re often the first image that comes to mind when you think of Florida, and that recognition drives ecotourism and public enthusiasm, which also supports broader wetland conservation efforts.”

Successful recovery efforts in other regions point to promising intervention strategies.

“Artificial nest mounds can encourage breeding, and decoy flamingos have been used to signal an established flock, helping attract passing birds,” Folsom says. “Both tactics have shown success in human care and select wild settings.”

A Path Forward for Restoration

While the long-term outlook for flamingos is good, the small numbers in Florida are not enough for the species to recover. Moreover, habitat destruction, pollution and warming temperatures add to the challenges they face.

“Natural recovery of the flamingo is unlikely in Florida without intervention,” Whitfield says. “But our study shifts that conversation. We can now confidently say ex-situ flamingos are genetically compatible with wild populations, which opens possibilities for a future release program, even though logistical hurdles remain.”

For the researchers, the study has not only demonstrated how genetics can inform conservation but also provided an opportunity to raise awareness about an iconic species that has always been native to Florida.

“Growing up in Florida, it’s impossible not to appreciate its biodiversity,” Folsom says. “Working on this project with passionate colleagues like Eric and Steven has been incredibly rewarding, helping clarify the flamingos’ history in Florida and the value of protecting and reintroducing them.”

Academic Upbringing in Siberia Inspires New Computer Science Professor’s Career

Marisa Ramiccio ’11 — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:30:52 +0000

Deep in the pine forest of Siberia lies a unique scientific community that was envisioned as the New Atlantis of science. At its peak, the town was home to more than 65,000 scientists who worked at 35 research institutes dedicated to molecular biology, chemistry, physics and cybernetics. Neighbors and friends would gather at the local cafes or courtyards, not only to exchange pleasantries, but also to discuss the latest discoveries and to debate new scientific trends.

While this sounds like the setting for a sci-fi novel, it’s actually the hometown of Assistant Professor Kirill Medvedev, a new faculty member in the . Medvedev grew up in Akademgorodok, which literally translates to “Academic Town,” a place that sparked his interest in bioinformatics and inspired his career.

“T�� constant exposure to open, curiosity-driven inquiry made the language of science feel as natural as the Siberian forest around us,” Medvedev says. “My passion for bioinformatics and computational biology was ignited by a fascination with three-dimensional protein structures. I realized that computational approaches are indispensable for decoding life’s molecular machines, and it set me on the path toward research in the field of computational structural biology and bioinformatics.”

Medvedev’s work focuses on the classification and analysis of large-scale biomedical data sets that span the molecular, cellular and tissue levels. With that expertise, he is teaching a Discrete Mathematics course at �鶹ԭ�� this fall. He says he hopes to instill both practical and technical knowledge in his students.

“I hope to share with my students not only the course knowledge but also my experience of being a scientist.”

“I believe that integrity is the defining characteristic of a scientist,” he says.

Medvedev’s work focuses on the classification and analysis of large-scale biomedical data sets that span the molecular, cellular and tissue levels. Within the past decade, he developed the DrugDomain database, which lists the domain features of human proteins that are targets for small molecules and drugs. He augmented the DrugDomain database with artificial intelligence‑powered protein structure prediction, creating a first‑of‑its‑kind resource that maps thousands of post‑translational modifications to their drug targets across the human proteome. He also uses computational modeling to analyze variations within cancer types and employs deep learning methods to identify cancer subtypes.

The opportunity to collaborate with the next generation of scientists, as well as established colleagues, is what Medvedev says drew him to �鶹ԭ��.

“I was interested in the �鶹ԭ�� because it’s such a dynamic and fast-growing research hub — one that actively promotes collaboration among researchers.”

“Today, truly groundbreaking science cannot be done by one person, or even one lab, but only through collaboration among multidisciplinary teams,” Medvedev says.

Medvedev earned his doctoral degree in mathematical biology and bioinformatics from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in 2015. Following that, he’s worked with Professor Nick Grishin at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as a postdoctoral researcher.

Doctoral students with strong computational skills who are interested in working with Medvedev can contact him by email. Basic understanding of molecular or structural biology or biochemistry is beneficial but not required.

Biology Professor, Computer Science Students Create Teaching Game About Parasitic Wasps

Ana Hidalgo — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:00:45 +0000

A new desktop game is turning parasitic wasps into unlikely heroes. Released Sept. 9, on the digital platform Steam, The Crawling Dead introduces players to biology topics and the crucial role of this insect species in controlling pests and benefiting the environment.

Led by �鶹ԭ�� Professor of Biology and developed by undergraduate students, the new game blends research with interactive learning.

“My work on parasitic wasps and their symbiotic viruses forms the foundation for the game and other outreach efforts designed to engage the public with biology in a fun and accessible way,” Sharanowski says.

�鶹ԭ�� Professor of Biology Barbara Sharanowski studies the phylogenetic systematics of parasitic wasps, a method of classification of organisms based on their shared evolutionary history and relationships. Her research served as the foundation and concept for the game.

The game was created by computer science senior students as part of their capstone project under the supervision of Associate Lecturer of Computer Science Matthew Gerber, with Sharanowski providing the concept. It represents the second phase of development, with an earlier senior group of students building the original concept and the second group advancing it into a fully playable desktop version.

“T�� students coded, designed and refined the game, which was initially envisioned as a virtual reality experience but shifted to a desktop game due to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sharanowski says.

In the game, players take on the role of scientists tasked with protecting a national park by designing custom wasps to control invasive pests.

“T�� goal as a scientist is to save the park by releasing specially designed wasps with beneficial features like paralytic venom, long ovipositors or even mind control, that make them more effective at targeting host species such as caterpillars, beetles and aphids,” she says.

In the new educational game, players take on the role of environmental protectors, customizing parasitic wasps to control pests in a national park and help maintain healthy ecosystems.

Along the way, players encounter educational blurbs that explain these traits and reinforce the idea that not all wasps sting and many are actually beneficial to humans and ecosystems.

“T��se wasps can be endoparasitic, developing inside their host, or ectoparasitic, developing outside the host,” Sharanowski says. “You can find them all around the world, including in our backyards, and they serve an important role in nature as natural agents of pest control, thereby reducing the need for pesticides.”

The project was funded through the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Rules of Life Initiative, which brings together multiple NSF divisions to address the fundamental questions about how living systems function and evolve.

A female wasp points its ovipositor at a moth. This organ allows them to deposit eggs in or on a host. The wasp larva emerges and feeds on the host, eventually killing it. (Photo courtesy of Ian Alexander / Creative Commons)

According to Sharanowski, parasitic wasps are one of the most varied lineages on Earth, with more species than all vertebrates combined.

“For every insect that’s out there, there’s likely one or more parasitic wasps that attack it,” she says.

Her research explores the unique symbiosis between wasps and viruses.

“Over time, some viruses have become integrated into the genomes of certain parasitic wasps, effectively making the virus and wasp a single organism,” Sharanowski says. “T�� virus no longer replicates independently — its reproduction is tied to the wasp’s. When a female wasp lays an egg inside a host, the virions enter the host and activate viral genes that manipulate the host’s immune system and behavior, benefiting the developing wasp.”

This wasp-virus relationship has evolved multiple times and remains a central focus of her research.

As a first-generation college graduate, Sharanowski says this project has been a way to share her passion for entomology and science, as well as to provide educational opportunities for people to learn about wasps in a fun way.

“One of my core values as an educator is to make science engaging,” she says. “I enjoy doing campus and community outreach to show how fascinating these insects are, and I believe this game does that.”

She also highlighted �鶹ԭ��’s Collection of Arthropods, commonly known as the , as a public resource preserving and showcasing the biodiversity of insects in Central Florida.

Looking ahead, Sharanowski says a third group of students is currently working on a mobile version of the game, expected to launch later this year.

“T��re is so much beauty out there, and I want people to see how fascinating bugs are and the important role they play in ecosystems,” she says.

�鶹ԭ�� Researchers Advance Knowledge About Juvenile Sea Turtles’ Early Life Stage, Informing Conservation Efforts

Ana G. Hidalgo — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:54:19 +0000

Biology researchers from the College of Sciences’ studied the dispersal movements of four juvenile sea turtle species, revealing that they may be active swimmers, rather than passive drifters, during their early life stage known as the “lost years.”

These findings challenge existing hypotheses and provide important data for assessing risks from human activity and informing conservation efforts.

The study, funded largely in part by Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program, was published this week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, representing the largest satellite tracking dataset of wild-caught juvenile sea turtle behavior from the Gulf of Mexico during this life stage, spanning from 2011 to 2022.

“One of the main findings is where these sea turtles are and where they go in this life stage because we haven’t known much about it,” says ’22�ʳ��, who led the study alongside Nathan Putman and . Phillips says understanding these movement patterns among juvenile sea turtles will help guide conservation efforts to protect critical habitats for these species.

Katrina Phillips ‘22PhD, received a doctorate in Integrative and Conservation Biology and collaborated with researchers on this study as part of her doctoral research. (Photo courtesy of Katrina Phillips)

After hatching, sea turtles are known to leave their nests on land and enter the ocean where they spend their early years. This shift from terrestrial to oceanic habitat marks a critical transition in their life cycle to a life stage that has been understudied.

According to Mansfield, co-author of the study, professor of biology at �鶹ԭ��, and director of the �鶹ԭ�� Marine Turtle Research Group, we are still learning about this life stage and it’s more complex than assumed.

“We don’t know what they’re eating, about their health, if and when they associate with floating algae called sargassum, which provides some protection,” Mansfield says.

The team of researchers tagged 131 juvenile sea turtles — 94 green turtles, 28 Kemp’s ridleys, five loggerheads, and four hawksbills — and tracked their movements using satellite-equipped, solar-powered platform transmitter terminals. These movements were compared with those of oceanographic surface drifters, floating objects used to study how sea turtle movements are influenced by ocean currents.

Researchers believe juvenile sea turtles swim offshore as an adaptive behavior to avoid predators such as birds, sharks and other fish, which are more abundant near the shoreline. Their small size makes them particularly vulnerable, so offshore waters can provide a safer refuge.

“One of the longstanding assumptions, is that juvenile sea turtles stay far offshore. Researchers call this the ‘oceanic life stage,’ which means off the continental shelf in waters deeper than 200 meters,” Phillips says. “However, what we found was that the turtles in this life stage are crossing over the continental shelf into neritic zones a lot more than we expected.”

Kate Mansfield holding a wild-caught loggerhead sea turtle. (Photo courtesy of Kate Mansfield)

A continental shelf is the gently sloping, shallow underwater area that extends between the shoreline and the continental slope, where the seabed drops steeply into the deep ocean at the shelf break. This shelf includes the neritic zone, which is the part of the ocean closest to the coast, characterized by nutrient-rich waters and a high concentration of marine life.

Phillips says the sea turtles were found crossing over to shallower waters and closer to shore, but it did not appear that they were transitioning to their next life stage, where they typically move to shallow habitats and feed off the bottom. Instead, the turtles seemed to approach the shore, then turned to avoid it.

“That was interesting because we had these passive drifters that we released with them and many of them washed up shore and none of the turtles did,” Phillips says.

She adds that if the turtles don’t behave like passive particles drifting with the currents and can actively swim and control their position, then existing movement models could consider both factors to correct errors in projections.

Existing hypotheses about the early life stage of most sea turtle species suggested they live exclusively in oceanic environments, drift passively with ocean currents and typically do not return to their previous habitat once they transitioned to a new one. However, these assumptions lack research into actual movement behavior.

“Historically, all our information about this young life stage has been limited to opportunistic sightings of these little, hard-to-see animals from boats passing by, tracking work on hatchlings in the first 24 hours after leaving nesting beaches, or laboratory studies,” Mansfield says.

Previous work also focused on the North Atlantic and on loggerheads, a species that commonly nested on the east coast of the U.S.

Sea turtles spend about 10 hours on the beach every two to three years to nest. The nest remains on the beach for about two months, after which the turtles swim far offshore, where they remain for five to 10 years, though the exact duration is unclear. They then move to shallow water habitats for another five to 10 years. Once they reach maturity, they can nest for 20 years or more. (Image courtesy of Katrina Phillips)

“I think it’s important to get data from different places and put the puzzle together to get a bigger picture of what’s going on,” Phillips says. “Researchers tracking this species were finding that they were staying offshore. But now that turtles are tracked from more places, we are finding that there are more nuances to what goes on. Loggerheads, for instance, we found stay off the continental shelf located in the west coast of Florida.”

Mansfield says sea turtle tracking can be costly, labor intensive, and the technology has limitations.

Tagged juvenile Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. (Photo courtesy of Kate Mansfield)

“It’s really hard to follow and manually track a little turtle over time,” Mansfield says. “You have to fuel a boat with researchers who have a strong stomach to go into the ocean. Historically, technology just wasn’t there to put a tag on a turtle and use satellites to be able to remotely track where they went. Tags were battery powered and as big as a brick.”

Prior to her time at �鶹ԭ��, Mansfield figured out a method to safely tag and effectively track small turtles, thanks to more reliable tagging technology, which played a role in conducting this study and achieving its results. She also credits their partnership with Inwater Research Group in helping to catch and track smaller sea turtles.

This research into sea turtle movement during the “lost years,” provides data for conservationists to assess and manage risks from human activity.

“T�� Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 was a bit of the origin story of this project,” Mansfield says. “If we have another oil spill, we need to know whether these animals [will be] transient through an area, stuck there due to currents, or if they’ll end up somewhere else.”

Data from this study is already driving conservation efforts, including a proposal for critical habitat designation under the Endangered Species Act for green sea turtles. This designation would complement earlier tracking data led by Mansfield, which established critical habitat for loggerheads — the sargassum algae nursery.

Mansfield and Phillips say if assumptions are that these animals are strictly oceanic, then they may not be protecting them completely or addressing what they need for their eventual recovery.

“If sea turtles are occurring on the continental shelf, we suggest renaming this life stage to ‘dispersal stage’ to account for their behavior,” Mansfield says. “This is important nuance in their life history, and the new terminology reflects a better understanding of sea turtle behavior, revealing more about these lost years.”

Funding information

Funding and support for this research was provided in part by the NOAA Oil Spill Supplemental Spend Plan, NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program administered through the Florida Institute of Oceanography, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Friends of Gumbo Limbo Gordon J. Gilbert Grant, Microwave Telemetry Christiane Howey Rising Scholar Award, U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program, �鶹ԭ�� Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship, National Research Council Research Associateship Program, and the �鶹ԭ��.

Researchers’ credentials

Katrina Phillips, doctoral graduate, integrative and conservation biology, �鶹ԭ��; postdoctoral researcher, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Katherine Mansfield, professor, Department of Biology, �鶹ԭ��; director, Marine Turtle Research Group; and Davis-Shine Endowed Professorship in Conservation Biology

Nathan Putman, senior scientist, LGL Ecological Research Associates

�鶹ԭ�� Biology Student Wins Statewide Aylesworth Scholarship

Sultana Ali ’03 — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:30 +0000

Luciana Banquero, a graduate student studying marine science in in the College of Sciences, has won the notable Aylesworth Scholarship from Florida Sea Grant. The scholarship will provide $3,000 a semester over two years for Banquero to pursue her studies in ocean science.

The Aylesworth Scholarship was established in 1984 through a joint partnership between the Aylesworth Foundation for the Advancement of Marine Science, the Southeastern Fisheries Association and the Florida Sea Grant College Program. Aylesworth scholarships are named annually, with a few students selected among undergraduate and graduate student applicants across all Florida universities that conduct research in the marine sciences. Aylesworth Scholarship recipients study many subjects that impact the fishing, seafood and marine industries.

Banquero’s pathway to pursue marine science began in childhood.

“Science and biology were always my best subjects in school and my family encouraged my curiosity about plants and animals,” Banquero says. “Later, I felt drawn to conduct research that would contribute to protection of the places I’d enjoyed as a child and had the opportunity to explore in my biology studies at �鶹ԭ��.”

In Fall 2019 during her studies at �鶹ԭ��, she began to participate in field work, data entry, and other support for , or CEELAB.

“I literally and figuratively got my feet wet,” Banquero says.

Luciana Banquero (fourth person from left) works alongside others in CEELAB to plant seagrass as part of a restoration effort for a near shore seagrass meadow on Florida’s east coast. (Photo courtesy of the College of Sciences)

CEELAB provides opportunities for �鶹ԭ�� students studying biology in the College of Sciences to work in the field, building hands-on experience. This summer, 15 �鶹ԭ�� students are working on coastal restoration and monitoring in the Indian River Lagoon, as well as conservation projects focused on microplastics or coastal acidification.

Pegasus Professor Linda Walters runs the CEELAB, working alongside the students and supporting independent research projects, matching their interests with the needs of the local ecosystem.

“It becomes real at 6:30 a.m. when students are moving biodegradable restoration materials to damaged, intertidal oyster reefs while standing in mud in the middle of a hot, Florida summer,” Walters says. “This is how coastal restoration happens and where students put their passion for marine biology to work.”

Luciana Banquero (hands at front right) holds seagrass that will be planted in a near shore seagrass meadow. �鶹ԭ�� biology students participating in CEELAB are contributing to ecosystem restoration efforts along Florida’s coasts. (Photo courtesy of the College of Sciences)

Banquero’s experience through CEELAB was profound, providing her with opportunities to see nature and wildlife — including sea turtles and manatees — firsthand, as well as observe the human impacts on coastal environments.

Her work in CEELAB stood out to Walters, who continues to see promise in Banquero’s thesis work toward her master’s in biology at �鶹ԭ��.

“She is a determined person and has wonderful insight and tenacity that will serve her well as a scientist,” Walters says. “Luciana is a very worthy recipient of the Aylesworth Scholarship and has a bright future in marine science.”

“T�� experience I have had as a student at the College of Sciences has been lifechanging,” Banquero says . “I’m doing things that have surprised me and found a path forward. I’m grateful to the biology department for helping to open doors for me in the field of conservation.”

As a first-generation college student, Banquero hopes to inspire more students to pursue careers in marine science and for the public to become more engaged in ecosystem restoration efforts.

“I hope more people pay greater attention to the value of coastal marine resources and see the value in conserving, restoring and protecting them,” Banquero says.

From the ‘Smithsonian’ Magazine to the Tonight Show, �鶹ԭ�� Research has a Big Year in the News

Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 13:00:07 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� research stories were everywhere in 2021 from Smithsonian magazine to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

The most popular research stories of 2021 focused on threats to our survival and opportunities to advance our species — from the impact of sea rise to technology that promises to propel our exploration of the solar system. Stories about COVID-19 and workplace behavior also made the top 10.

�鶹ԭ�� shares its stories to demonstrate the impact �鶹ԭ�� research is having on the world. The stories showcase faculty and students who are making a difference. In 2021, �鶹ԭ�� research stories had a combined, total potential reach of more than 8.2 billion possible views worldwide via newspapers, magazines, news websites and select television news placements. The number does not include all TV placements nor a total number for December. The number is based on the number of visitors to a media outlet from both desktop and mobile devices who could have seen the stories from that source. That’s compared to a combined, total reach of more than 7.3 billion potential views in 2020.

The top 10 list is based on the number of media placements and the reach they earned. The number of views the stories received on �鶹ԭ�� Today is also considered. The stories were generated from �鶹ԭ��’s and colleges.

�鶹ԭ�� research appeared in places such as the New York Times, the Smithsonian magazine, �پ��Ǳ��magazine, CBS This Morning and CNN. The Daily Mail in the UK is among a group of international publications that shared �鶹ԭ�� research content. All local newspapers and television stations shared at least one research story in 2021. Consistently sharing stories on certain topics also help media identify some of �鶹ԭ��’s faculty and students as experts, whom they call upon time after time. Some of our space experts are now featured regularly on WMFE and several television stations, and they provide commentary for almost every space launch. One of �鶹ԭ��’s advances in artificial intelligence was even the subject of

The top 10 research stories of 2021 are:

Some research is so impactful that the stories keep getting attention even years later. �鶹ԭ�� had three stories published before 2021 that generated significant online and/or placements in media this year. They are:

ADHD Kids Can Be Still – If They’re Not Straining Their Brains (2017)

�鶹ԭ�� Researchers Develop Groundbreaking New Rocket-Propulsion System (2020)

Study Shows Keeping Gratitude Journal Reduces Gossip, Incivility in Workplace (2020)

�鶹ԭ�� Doctoral Scholar Named National Science Foundation Biology Fellow

Valerie Galarza — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:00:35 +0000

The National Science Foundation has awarded �鶹ԭ�� doctoral scholar William Beckerson one of a handful of national Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology.

The $138,000 award is a result of his work on promising research exploring a “mind control” fungus for medical applications to treat neurological disorders.

Beckerson, a molecular geneticist, is investigating Ophiocordyceps, a fungal pathogen that infects carpenter ants in Florida and secretes compounds that manipulate their behaviors. �鶹ԭ�� Assistant Professor Charissa de Bekker has been studying the zombie ants — nicknamed because of the erratic behavior that the fungus generates — for years. Beckerson’s work looks at the potential application of the fungus in medicine. He is a .

“From these types of fungi, we hope to be able to create medicines that can help people and what we’re hoping to find is some chemicals we can use for behavioral purposes,” says Beckerson.

The fungal pathogen secretes compounds in response to very particular environmental cues (temperature, humidity, sunlight) that affect the nervous system of their carpenter ant hosts. These toxins force the ant to behave abnormally, including actions such as leaving its nest, excessive twitching and weird “zombie-like” walking patterns. How the chemicals and proteins used by Ophiocordyceps work remains a subject of study, as well the identity of neurological targets in the hosts.

Beckerson says that the research will not only increase the understanding about how pathogens evolve to affect animal hosts, but may also lead to the discovery of new pharmaceutical compounds and “teach us more about how the nervous system operates at a fundamental level.”

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, fungi in general make various compounds that have been repurposed for drugs including antibiotics, blood thinners, antifungals and blood pressure medications. Traditional medicine in China deploys Ophiocordyceps for treating conditions including bronchial diseases, diabetes and jaundice.

“T�� fungus has a really intense host specificity, so there’s no concern about a zombie host-shift. In other words, it won’t turn you into a zombie,” Beckerson says.

Besides researching zombie ants, Beckerson also performs pedagogical research to identify best practices for teaching, both at the community and college levels. Part of his teaching includes students in the K-12 age group in who have “have a thousand questions” on how these zombie ants came to be.

“It’s not just little kids interested in learning about zombie ants. Half the time the parents are even more interested in learning about them than the kids are,” Beckerson says.

�鶹ԭ�� 25th Among Public Universities in the Nation and 60th in the World for Producing Patents

Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 17:26:58 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� ranked 25^th among public universities in the nation for producing patents and 60^th in the world, according to a new report released today.

The National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association on the number of patents received and filed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Only the first institution listed on the patent is credited. The shows �鶹ԭ�� on a steady trajectory of growth, climbing five spots in the world rankings and four nationally.

With 46 patents, �鶹ԭ�� was ahead of Carnegie Mellon, Texas A&M and Penn State, and just behind Ohio State (48) and Michigan State (47). The University of California system (597), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (383) and Stanford University (229) took the top three spots. UF ranked the highest among the Florida universities, coming in 11^th with 140 patents.

“Patents is one measure of our growth and impact,” says Elizabeth Klonoff, vice president for Research at �鶹ԭ��. “We are strategic about selecting the inventions for patent protection to ensure fiscal responsibility and to maximize the potential of receiving valuable patents. Steady growth of �鶹ԭ��’s research base, inventions, patents and industry licensing partnerships feeds our economic ecosystem, which brings not only financial benefit to �鶹ԭ��, but also solidifies our place as a top-tier research institution. Doing our part means we benefit the local community and the society at large by contributing to technological advancements that improve people’s lives and drive the economy.”

Some of the 46 patents secured in 2020 have been licensed to companies, which invest in taking the product to market. That means more jobs and often investing in facilities, which all impact the economy. For example, one of �鶹ԭ��’s patents for a natural killer-cell therapy against cancer, was licensed to a local company, which was recently acquired by Sanofi, an international pharmaceutical company. Patents are a long-term investment for a university, says Svetlana Shtrom ’08�ѵ��, director of �鶹ԭ��’s Technology Transfer Office.

“Patents themselves do not generate revenue,” she says. “Licensing patents to industry partners to facilitate transformation of promising research results into valuable products brings true benefit to the university and society. Our data has shown that it takes on average 5 years for 50% of our inventions/technologies to be licensed. It takes an additional 3 to 5 years or longer for companies to commercialize technologies licensed from the university and to begin selling products. The benefit to the university is realized when these products positively impact the well-being of our society through improvements in technology and public health.”

Here are some of the inventions and technologies that led to patents in 2020.

Nanoparticle platform stimulates production of natural killer cells

Lead researcher: Associate Professor of Medicine Alicja Copik,

This invention relates to a nanoparticle-based platform for generating potent natural killer (NK) cells for cancer and anti-viral treatment. NK cells are part of the body’s immune system and can kill tumor cells and virus-infected cells. The nanoparticle platform contains agents that stimulate the NK cells to increase their numbers, essentially creating an army of NK cells. This technology is licensed and in development for clinical use.

Combination drug treatment to treat neurological disorders

Lead researcher: Professor of Medicine Kiminobu Sugaya,

This invention relates to a combination therapy to treat neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. , and phenserine, which reduces the production of toxic amyloid plaques in the brain. Mice treated with this combination therapy had increased neural stem cells production and improved performance in memory tasks.

Drug characterization for FDA

Lead Researcher: Associate Professor Debashis Chanda,

This invention relates to a system that can accurately identify the chirality (molecular mirror images) of drugs, proteins, DNA and other molecules at lower detection limits than conventional detection systems. The new technology enables pharmaceutical companies to identify both enantiomers (right- and left-hand versions) of a molecule. Pharmacological and toxicological characterization of chiral molecules plays a crucial role in the Food and Drug Administration approval process since some enantiomers can cause toxic or severe side effects.

High Performance Energy Storage

Lead Researcher: Assistant Professor YeonWoong (Eric) Jung,

This invention relates to low-cost, non-toxic novel materials that enable next-generation supercapacitors to outperform current state-of-the-art energy storage technologies. The new hybrid core/shell nanowires enable manufacturers to produce flexible supercapacitors with exceptional charge−discharge endurance for portable, lightweight consumer electronic devices.

High-power lasers

Lead researcher: Associate Professor Arkadiy Lyakh,

This invention relates to new quantum cascade lasers that provide the ultra-high output power, brightness, and beam quality needed for applications such as hyperspectral imaging, infrared illumination, and military countermeasures that protect aircraft against shoulder-fired heat-seeking missiles.

Track contamination in wetland environments

Lead Researcher: Professor Ni-bin Chang, Civil Engineering Department,

This invention relates to two novel velocimeter devices that assist in the measurement of low-flow velocity and direction of water in both wells and wetland environments. Tracking the movement of nutrients, metals, sediments, and other contamination in slow-moving water is challenging, and these new device designs are easy to use, cost-efficient, have improved accuracy, and are equipped with wireless communication units.

Eco-Friendly Targeted Removal of Fire Ants

Lead researcher: Associate Professor Joshua King,

, such as fire ants and termites, without the use of pesticides. The and provides large volumes of hot water (approximately heated to boiling temperature, 212^oF) to a targeted area. The technology can be used as an alternative to chemical mound treatments or chemical baits in areas unsuitable for pesticide application such as parks and wildlife preserves.

�鶹ԭ�� and other public universities in the Florida High Tech Corridor region — the University of South Florida and University of Florida — together were awarded 309 U.S. utility patents last year, more than 1½ times the number of patents granted to other globally recognized centers of innovation, including North Carolina’s Research Triangle and the University of Texas System.

“This achievement by the Corridor Council’s three universities demonstrates the strength of Florida’s innovation ecosystem and its role as a catalyst for statewide economic growth,” says Florida High Tech Corridor Council CEO Paul Sohl, retired Navy rear admiral.