ɬ�﷬ News - Dept. of Biology

Researchers identify new jellyfish species in fossils near Quebec City

webfull — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:37:27 +0000

Researchers studying 450-million-year-old fossils discovered about 50 kilometres northeast of Quebec City have identified a new species of basal medusozoan: Paleocanna tentaculum, a soft-bodied, tube-shaped polyp with a ring of tentacles. Closely related to modern jellyfish, it is a rare discovery. Only a few other species in its subphylum have ever been described in the fossil record.

Published: 20 April 2026

Humans share acoustic preferences with other animals, study shows

webfull — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:18:52 +0000

A ɬ�﷬-led study has found that humans share acoustic preferences with other species, at least when it comes to animal calls. The results provide experimental evidence that shared sensory processing mechanisms may shape aesthetic judgments of sound.

Published: 19 March 2026

Study shows how tree cover shapes freshwater ecosystems over millennia

webfull — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:07:15 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ used 2,000-year-old stone jars in Laos to observe long-term ecological processes, enhancing understanding of how strongly tree cover shapes small freshwater ecosystems. Their findings stand to help scientists predict how freshwater habitats will respond to environmental change, the researchers said.

Published: 9 March 2026

Findings of ɬ�﷬ study could lead to new longevity therapies and improved fall prevention

webfull — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:46:40 +0000

A new ɬ�﷬ study has found a direct link between age‑related declines in neuron activity in the cerebellum and worsening motor skills, including gait, balance and agility. While it is well known that these abilities diminish with age, this is the first research to pinpoint how changes in Purkinje cells – a key type of cerebellar neuron – drive this decline and translate into measurable changes in behaviour and physical function.

Published: 23 February 2026

Plants retain a ‘genetic memory’ of past population crashes, study shows

webfull — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:32:55 +0000

Researchers at ɬ�﷬ and the United States Forest Service have found that plants living in areas where human activity has caused population crashes carry long-lasting genetic traces of that history, such as reduced genetic diversity. Because genetic diversity helps species adapt to climate change, disease and other stresses, the study suggests it is vital to consider a population’s history-influenced genetics alongside its size and habitat in conservation planning.

Published: 12 February 2026

Freshwater browning threatens growth and populations of economically important fish, ɬ�﷬ researchers say

webfull — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:30:53 +0000

Freshwater browning is stunting fish growth of some species, shrinking populations of others and changing the composition of fish communities, ɬ�﷬-led research suggests. “Browning” refers to freshwater bodies turning tea-coloured, a phenomenon driven by higher levels of dissolved organic matter and/or higher levels of iron in the water. Causes include changes in land use and climate, and reduced acid precipitation.

The findings indicate that changes in land use and climate are affecting biodiversity and how ecosystems function, with implications for fisheries management.

Published: 19 January 2026

Biology’s Mahnaz Mansoori wins President’s Award for Administrative and Support Staff

webfull — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:16:58 +0000

Phytotron Manager Mahnaz Mansoori (pictured above, left, with Biology Department Chair Prof. Gregor Fussmann) was one of nine ɬ�﷬ staff members honoured with the President’s Award for Administrative and Support Staff at last week's afternoon convocation ceremony. These annual awards recognize the talent, dedication, and hard work of staff members who have made outstanding contributions to the University’s mission.

Published: 20 October 2025

ɬ�﷬ names winners of the 2025 President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media

webfull — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:45:04 +0000

Congratulations to Jérôme Waldispühl and Attila Szantner (Computer Science), The Eclipse Task Force (Physics), and Andrew Gonzalez (Biology), who are among this year's winners of the President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media!

In announcing the winners and runners-up, President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini noted that they were among a strong field of applicants spanning all 12 Faculties.

“This is further evidence that the sharing of knowledge and a love of learning are core ɬ�﷬ values,” he said.

Published: 2 April 2025

How a ɬ�﷬ student’s teenage curiosity led to the first megalodon discovery in Canada

webfull — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:08:27 +0000

Louis-Philippe Bateman’s fascination with megalodon began with a single sentence in a book about Canada’s geological evolution. It described giant, mysterious fossilized shark teeth discovered in the 1960s by fishermen dredging for scallops off Canada’s Atlantic coast. The curiosity felt by the teenager with a budding interest in paleontology would resurface in a meaningful way during his undergraduate years at ɬ�﷬.

Published: 4 February 2025

Bieler School of Environment welcomes new director

webfull — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:50:18 +0000

The Bieler School of Environment (BSE) is thrilled to announce Professor Anthony Ricciardi as its new director, effective immediately. An expert in invasion ecology and aquatic ecosystems, Ricciardi has been a key figure at the school since 2001 and now steps up to lead.

“My vision for the School is to become the gateway of environmental research at ɬ�﷬,” said Ricciardi.

Founded in 1998, the BSE appoints directors for five-year terms.

Published: 21 January 2025