Scientists can now track animal movements using technologies like GPS, which has greatly improved our understanding of ecosystems. This information, however, is not widely used to measure progress toward global biodiversity conservation goals. Current biodiversity indicators often detect environmental changes too slowly and do not explain why those changes are happening. The authors argue that animal movement data can provide […]
Did you miss the BIOL 305 film screening? Now you can watch it on our website and on Youtube! Find it below this blurb, and also on our general UW BIOL 305 page. If you watch it on Youtube you’ll be able to use chapters to navigate through the different films more easily. ⌛ Timestamps 0:00 Intro0:25 PSA Intro0:41 “Broken
Ever wonder what Abrahms Lab members Kasim and Marie-Pier do in the field? Read this University of Washington News piece and find out!
Accurate information about how penguin populations are changing is important for protecting them. However, it is difficult to count and monitor the four Spheniscus penguin species because they often nest in burrows and do not all breed at the same time. Different countries and research groups also use different survey methods, making it hard to compare data and identify real
We’ve been presenting our research all around the region, and beyond! Make sure to stop by the BIOL 305 Film Showcase on June 10 to see the latest creations from Dee’s video students!
World Penguin Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate some of the coolest birds on the planet—and we want you to be part of it! From their awkward waddles on land to their incredible swimming skills in the ocean, penguins capture hearts while also reminding us how important it is to protect our planet. Join us in celebrating by learning
In honor of the upcoming holiday of World Penguin Day, let’s meet the latest graduate student in the Abrahms Lab studying penguins — Meredith Honig! What inspired you to pursue graduate studies in ecology?I have always enjoyed spending time outside and been curious about the living things around me. Growing up, my interest in animals and the outdoors led me
Dr. Dee Boersma’s Video Storytelling class (BIOL 305) would like to invite everyone to the open screening of their final projects on Wednesday, June 10th from 10:30-12:20 in GWN 301. Watch student-made short films about climate change, wildlife, ecology, scientific research, and much more! The students have been working hard all quarter, creating PSAs and short documentaries to gain skills
Written by Dr. Katie Holt and Sofia Denkovski Finishing the season with a full house We had a full house when Katie Holt arrived at Punta Tombo on February 8th, but we fit everyone! For one week, Chloe, Sofia, Anna, Katie, Sonia de Berry, and Dee Boersma all stayed and worked under one roof. Katie’s arrival was just past the
Full Title: Warming temperatures increase close encounters between two top predator species via changes in spatial behaviour Animals need to adjust to changing environments to survive, and these changes can affect whole populations and ecosystems. However, it’s not well understood how climate-driven changes in behavior influence interactions between different top predators. To study this, researchers looked at large African predators,
Abbreviated abstract: Animal movements are a fundamental process affecting communities and ecosystems. Quantifying habitat selection across species and habitats is key for understanding how animals respond to environmental change. Currently, we lack comparative studies that examine how habitat selection varies across species traits and landscapes. We aim to quantify global patterns of habitat selection to help understand the fundamental drivers
Paper highlights: Social information enables organisms, from whales to bacteria, to expand their sensory capacity beyond that of a single individual. Understanding why such collective sensing evolves requires evaluating the ecological costs and benefits of using and producing social information. The value of social information for an individual consumer depends on how the resource varies in space, time, and abundance.
Every year our field workers observe juvenile penguins returning to shore for their first molt. In honor of this momentous time in a penguin’s life, we are bringing to you Fat Penguins Week! In late austral summer and early austral fall, Magellanic penguins undergo their annual catastrophic molt. For approximately 19 days, juvenile and adult penguins avoid the water and
While we are known for our penguin research, there is another marine sentinel that the Center holds dear: whales. In fact, Dr. Sue Moore recently received the Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Marine Mammalogy, recognizing her outstanding career and lasting contributions to marine mammal science! It’s safe to say we know a thing or two
Dr. Sue E. Moore is the 2026 recipient of the Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Marine Mammalogy, recognizing her outstanding career and lasting contributions to marine mammal science. The Society for Marine Mammalogy established the Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of the Society’s founding President Dr. Kenneth S. Norris. The award recognizes
