News: Research

Research

Vulnerable Salamanders, Key to Healthy Ecosystems, a Focus in Two Studies

A pair of studies from UT Austin offer insights into these keystone species.

Image of two salamanders.

Research

Extreme, Prolonged Drought Slashes Productivity of Grasslands, Shrublands

Research published in the journal Science on water-deprived plants involved Texas Field Station Network experts.

A rain-out shelter at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It consists of clear plastic strips supported by metal arms and legs several feet above a plot of open grassland.

UT Marine Science Institute

New Study Pinpoints Texas as a Source of Nurdle Pollution to Mexico

A novel analysis combined chemistry and ocean modeling to reveal a likely source of nurdle pollution on coastlines.

A man on a sandy beach wearing glasses holds a sampling bottle and tweezers in a gloved hand, displaying a discovery of tiny pellets.

Department of Marine Science

Genetic Identification Aids Protection of Sharks and Rays

A new paper describes how protecting shark and ray populations from the black-market wildlife trade can begin with DNA analysis.

A school of hammerhead sharks swim in open waters.

Research

So What Should We Call This – a Grue Jay?

The rare hybrid offspring of a blue jay and a green jay is likely a result of weather-related shifts in the range of two species.

Three birds are shown. On the left is a blue jay, which is primarily blue with some patches of white on wing tips, around the face and on the chest. On the right is a green jay, which is primarily green with a lighter colored chest and a mix of blue and black patches on the face. In the center is a hybrid bird, which is primarily blue and resembles a blue jay, but with a larger area of black on the face, more akin to a green jay.

Research

Study Finds Early Signs of Widespread Coastal Marsh Decline

The early warning could help the ecosystems that are key to preventing flooding, UT marine science researchers say.

The sun rises over a marsh with a lot of greenery in the foreground and trees in the distance.

Research

Idea of Coral Reefs as Oases in Marine Deserts May Be Mistaken

New research from Simon Brandl at UT’s Marine Science Institute challenges a long-held belief about coral reefs.

Dozens of fish swim near a coral reef in the Maldives.

UT Marine Science Institute

Heat Waves Hit Hard, as Specialist Butterfly Fish Fail to Adapt

Because butterfly fish do not shift their diets during coral bleaching events, they, like the coral, face threats.

A pair of butterfly fish and another fish feed on a coral reef.

UT Marine Science Institute

Are Parrotfishes Friends or Foes to Coral Reefs?

Parrotfishes help corals grow and survive, grazing on what can otherwise smother corals. But there are trade-offs.

An underwater image of coral reefs shows clear damage where parts seem to have been nibbled off.

Research

Targeted Grazing May Help Beat Invasive Buffelgrass

Researchers head to Kenya to unlock the weaknesses of invasive buffelgrass to combat it here in Texas.

Image of buffelgrass and cattle