Animal Research

Domestic cats drive spread of Toxoplasma parasite to wildlife

New UBC research suggests free-roaming cats are likely to blame in the spread of the potentially deadly Toxoplasma gondii parasite to wildlife in densely populated urban areas.

Nov 10, 2021

A southern resident killer whale feeding with J-pod members near Vancouver on Chinook salmon returning to the Fraser River. Credit: A.W. Trites/University of British Columbia

No apparent shortage of prey for southern resident killer whales in Canadian waters during summer

A popular belief that there are fewer Chinook salmon during the summer in Canadian waters for southern resident killer whales, compared to an abundance of fish for northern resident killer whales, has been debunked by a study led by scientists at the University of British Columbia.

Oct 12, 2021

Since cancerous tumours also rely on new blood vessel growth to survive and thrive, the researchers reasoned that a proven anti-cancer drug might halt the process in Alzheimer’s. Credit: Jesse Orrico/Unsplash

Cancer chemotherapy drug reverses Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice

A drug commonly used to treat cancer can restore memory and cognitive function in mice that display symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, new UBC research has found.

Oct 5, 2021

Photo: National Cancer Institute /Unsplash

Innovative coating for blood vessels reduces rejection of transplanted organs

Researchers have found a way to reduce organ rejection following a transplant by using a special polymer to coat blood vessels on the organ to be transplanted.

Aug 9, 2021

Surprising insights into the migration pattern of world’s farthest-migrating species

The Arctic tern—which has the world record for the longest annual migration—uses just a few select routes, a key finding that could help efforts to conserve the species, according to a new University of British Columbia study.

Aug 5, 2021

Migrating sockeye salmon. Credit: Dr. Scott Hinch

Physical fitness of wild Pacific sockeye salmon unaffected by PRV

The respiratory performance of wild Pacific sockeye salmon functions normally even when infected with piscine orthoreovirus (PRV), according to a new study released today.

Jul 13, 2021

Juvenile gorilla beringei. Credit: Douglas Sheil/CIFOR

A planet without apes? New research highlights danger to gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos in shifting habitats

New analysis published today reveals that if the pressures on great ape habitat remain unchecked, Africa’s great apes could lose between 85 and 94 per cent of their range by the year 2050. Jacqueline Sunderland-Groves, a great ape expert in UBC’s faculty of forestry explains what can be done to ensure the long-term survival of gorillas, chimpanzees and other great apes.

Jun 7, 2021

Dissecting wild Pacific salmon tissues for molecular analysis and viral genomic sequencing. Credit: Amy Romer.

Salmon virus originally from the Atlantic, spread to B.C. wild salmon from farms: Study

Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) – which is associated with kidney and liver damage in Chinook salmon – is continually being transmitted between open-net salmon farms and wild juvenile Chinook salmon in British Columbia waters, according to a new genomics analysis published today in Science Advances.

May 26, 2021

Female salmon are dying at higher rates than male salmon

Female adult sockeye from the Fraser River are dying at significantly higher rates than their male counterparts on the journey back to their spawning grounds, finds new UBC research.

Mar 24, 2021

UBC releases 2019 animal research statistics

UBC’s summary of animals involved in research at the university in 2019 is now available.

Nov 17, 2020

Camera traps show impact of recreational activity on wildlife

The COVID-19 pandemic has fired up interest in outdoor activities in our parks and forests. Now a new UBC study highlights the need to be mindful of how these activities may affect wildlife living in protected areas.

Sep 24, 2020

Queen cells ready to go into mating colonies for a queen production operation.

Long live the queen: UBC scientists find clues to queen bee failure

Scientists at UBC are unravelling the mysteries behind a persistent problem in commercial beekeeping that is one of the leading causes of colony mortality—queen bee failure.

Sep 8, 2020

UBC scientist identifies a gene that controls thinness

Why can some people eat as much as they want, and still stay thin?

May 21, 2020

Although honey bees are quite resilient compared to other non-social insects, they are a useful proxy because they are managed by humans all over the world and are easy to sample.

Honey bees could help monitor fertility loss in insects due to climate change

New research from the University of British Columbia and North Carolina State University could help scientists track how climate change is impacting the birds and the bees… of honey bees.

Apr 27, 2020

Billions lost as illicit fisheries trade hurting nations who can afford it least

More than eight million to 14 million tonnes of unreported fish catches are traded illicitly every year, costing the legitimate market between $9 billion and $17 billion in trade each year, according to new UBC research.

Feb 26, 2020

Got a moody teenager? Cows can relate

Dairy cattle undergo personality changes during puberty much like humans do, according to new UBC research published this week in the Royal Society Open Science.

Feb 12, 2020

How do men and women store fat differently? Ask the fruit fly.

When it comes to determining how women and men store fat differently, it turns out fruit flies may hold the key.

Jan 27, 2020

UBC releases 2018 animal research statistics

UBC’s summary of animals involved in research at the university in 2018 is now available.

Dec 18, 2019

Karla Williams is studying tiny structures linked to metastatic breast cancer.

UBC expert immobilizes tiny structures linked to metastatic breast cancer

Karla Williams is researching potential treatments for metastatic breast cancer by studying structures in cancer cells that are thought to play a key role in the spread of the disease.

Nov 6, 2019

Aerial drones offer new perspective on resident killer whale behaviour

Scientists at the University of British Columbia are getting a rare glimpse into the underwater behaviour of northern and southern resident killer whales off the B.C. coast, with the help of aerial drones.

Nov 4, 2019