Integrative Biology - UT Austin
@texas-ib.bsky.social
Department of Integrative Biology at The University of Texas at Austin
Microbes are all around us...and they may be doing far more than we realize. At #UTMSI, researchers (Prasad & Lever) are uncovering how tiny microbes interact with detrital particles by isolating living microbial cells — allowing them to watch these interactions in real time.
This 100+ year-old X-ray machine isn't just a piece of history—it changed science. Used by geneticist, UT prof & Nobel laureate Hermann J. Muller in the 1920s, it played a key role in research that earned him the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. See it in the PAT lobby on campus.
Meet Chip Breier, a marine scientist developing cutting-edge robotics & other tools to explore some of the most extreme environments on Earth. 🌊🔬 Read our Q&A: www.texasscientist.cns.utexas.edu/articles/joh... @utmsi.bsky.social @whoi.edu
What's bigger than Rhode Island and three times the size of San Antonio? The 1 million acres The Nature Conservancy has helped protect in Texas! Explore a new series on PBS with The Daytripper's Chet Garner and to see why grasslands and freshwater matter: https://nature.ly/4vJNA2k
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow Daryl Barth! She studies the gut microbiomes of plastic-eating superworms to uncover novel enzymes capable of breaking down persistent plastics like polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon. biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature...
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow: Daryl Barth
This article is about 2025 Stengl-Wyer graduate fellow Daryl Barth.
biodiversity.utexas.edu
Coral reefs support over 25% of marine life, but Caribbean reefs are collapsing as key coral species fail to reproduce. Professor Misha Matz has proposed introducing resilient non-native corals to help save these ecosystems before it’s too late. cns.utexas.edu/news/feature... #coralreefs
Can This Scientist’s Proposal Save Coral Reefs in Our Hemisphere?
Evolutionary expert Misha Matz makes a splash with a controversial proposal that could save Caribbean coral reefs.
cns.utexas.edu
Check out our new “Raining Fish” display about 2 recent Texas fish falls! The Ichthyology Collection acquired specimens from these rare events—making it one of the few natural history collections in the world with fish fall specimens. See it at north entrance of PAT on campus!
The trick is not just planting enough trees, but planting the right kind. 🌳
The solution to urban heat is much, much simpler than you think
Scientists have discovered technology with a remarkable ability to prevent extreme heat in cities. It's called a tree.
grist.org
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow Rebecca Clemons! Her research focuses on how amphibian immune systems respond to a deadly fungal pathogen. Read more about her here in our latest blog post...
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow: Rebecca Clemons
This article is about Steng-Wyer Fellow Rebecca Clemons
biodiversity.utexas.edu
#UTMSI is researching how microplastics affect human health — the Liu Lab recently attended the UT MD Anderson–UT Austin Collaborative Research Summit, where they connected across campuses to tackle complex environmental and health challenges. 🧪🌊 🤘
Congrats to Dr. Amy Wolf, recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentoring Award! This award honors outstanding faculty support in their mentees’ academic & career development. shorturl.at/tuLsY
Congrats to Dr. Hans Hofmann, recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Mentoring Award for his exceptional mentorship of Stengl-Wyer Postdoctoral Scholars. This award honors outstanding faculty support in mentees’ academic and career development. More: shorturl.at/sBOjj
Calling all science enthusiasts! Come to the 2026 BioBlitz @ Brackenridge Field Lab, Sat 4/25. Family friendly & open to the public. Drop in anytime between 10 am to 10 pm. Details & registration here: www.eventbrite.com/e/bioblitz-2...
April's Science Under the Stars event "An Evening with Biodiversity Researchers" was a great success! Stengl-Wyer Scholars and Fellows presented their research and had tabling events as well. #biodiversity #outreach #scienceoutreach #ecology #biology
Iceland was the only Arctic country w/o mosquitoes. Now, thanks to human activities, they’ve made the leap. In a new editorial in Science, UT Austin biologist Amanda Koltz warns of more changes to come and calls for more Arctic research. doi.org/10.1126/scie... @texas-ib.bsky.social
Animals can adapt to environmental change by shifting behavior. These changes affect how species evolve, but predicting this has been difficult. A new model by IB assoc prof Carlos Botero helps account for this, improving assessments of species’ vulnerability to climate change. shorturl.at/05jpD
New Model Shows How Behavioral Flexibility Affects Animal Evolution
Animals able to change behaviors but slow to evolve might fare better than previously thought amid climate change.
shorturl.at
Construction is underway on our new, state‑of‑the‑art research vessel for UT Marine Science Institute—built to power discovery across the Texas coast and the Gulf. 👉
utmsi.utexas.edu
Peregrine falcons are often seen on the UT campus. Before most of Austin is even awake, one woman travels to campus almost daily to try to spot peregrines near the Main Tower. Read an interview with her about her dedication to these fascinating birds: news.utexas.edu/2026/03/26/f...
New research from UTMSI shows that sunlight causes ocean plastics to release dissolved chemical compounds—not just smaller plastic particles—reshaping how we understand plastic pollution. 🔬 #UTMSI #TexasScience #Plastic #Ocean #Microplastics #nurdle #MarineDebris
New Study Clarifies What Plastics Become as They Weather in the Ocean - Marine Science Institute. The University of Texas at Austin.
As many people in South Texas are aware, plastic, like the cushions on outdoor furniture, can dramatically break down when exposed to the sun. The same process is happening to […]
utmsi.utexas.edu
We're excited to announce the 2026 BioBlitz at Brackenridge Field Lab! Drop in anytime Sat Apr 25 - 10 AM–10 PM. Try iNaturalist, enjoy hands-on activities, and join a nighttime insect survey. Special all-ages programming from 10 AM–12 PM. Learn more and register: www.eventbrite.com/e/bioblitz-2...
Bioblitz 2026 UT's Brackenridge Field Laboratory
Celebrate Earth Day weekend by becoming a citizen scientist at UT's Brackenridge Field Lab. Registration Required.
eventbrite.com
Some insects we may not typically think as pollinators actually are! Take a look at some great examples all around us here in Central Texas. #entomology #pollinators #nativeinsects biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature...
Beyond Bees: Our Wide World of Pollinators
This article is about the various other pollinators around us other than honey bees.
biodiversity.utexas.edu
You probably like the same sounds as frogs, birds and even bugs! 🐸 @utaustin.bsky.social researchers recently discovered that humans prefer the same mating calls as other animals. Read more here: cns.utexas.edu/news/researc...
Which Mating Call to Choose? People Are in Accord with Bugs, Bats and Frogs
Music to the ears of amorous amphibians and other creatures sounds best to humans, too, a new study finds.
cns.utexas.edu
Bright butterfly wings, floral scents, and birdsong evolved to attract mates—but humans like them too. A new study shows people and animals share preferences for certain mating calls, suggesting our brains are wired similarly to find these signals appealing. cns.utexas.edu/news/researc...
Which Mating Call to Choose? People Are in Accord with Bugs, Bats and Frogs
Music to the ears of amorous amphibians and other creatures sounds best to humans, too, a new study finds.
cns.utexas.edu
Spring migration is here which means its #LightsOut time! Help protect millions of migrating birds by turning off all non-essential lighting from 11:00pm to 6:00am daily during migration (March 1 - June 15). www.audubon.org/texas/projec... #birds #conservation
Lights Out, Texas!
Protecting migratory and resident birds from collision fatalities by reducing light pollution and promoting bird-safe glass.
audubon.org
Plants can’t move, so they’ve evolved specialized adaptations to survive. This Science Under the Stars talk, "Rare Plants Around the World" explores unusual plant strategies & why understanding them is key to conservation. 3/12 @ 8 pm, Brackenridge Field Lab scienceunderthestars.org
Protecting & restoring nature is one of America's smartest investments. 🌱 A TNC-commissioned report reveals that conservation funding delivers a $4 return for every federal dollar spent, fueling economies, our health & public safety. That’s a win for people and nature. https://nature.ly/4aSUutV
Providing hands-on education and experience is what we do every day. #TexasScience #UTMSI
"Underland" is a documentary exploring the worlds beneath Earth’s surface. Enjoy interactive activities with the Texas Field Station Network and the lab of Dr. Melissa Kemp (Integrative Biology). After, Dr. Kemp shares insights from her subterranean research. Mar 4-5:30 pm - Long Center
Reel Science: Underland
Get “deep” questions answered, and explore mysteries on screen, as Reel Science pairs a film’s voyage to discovery with a local scientist’s own.
sciencefest.utexas.edu
