Ecology News | Ecology | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

David Kennedy, associate professor of biology at Penn State, and Clara Shaw, now assistant professor of biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth Credit: Keith Hickey / Penn State / Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 22, 2025

What traits matter when predicting disease emergence in new populations?

Traits of early virus spread help determine if a virus will ultimately persist in a new population, according to new research.

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The team’s sensor is capable of measuring and reporting the chloride ion levels of a subject's sweat in real time with high precision and efficiency. Credit: Caleb Craig/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 20, 2025

Breaking a sweat: Using chloride in sweat to help diagnose cystic fibrosis

Researchers at Penn State develop a wearable sensor that can accurately measure the chloride ion levels of sweat in real time.

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The treatment is used to control northern fowl mites, a blood-feeding parasite that can lead to health problems and lower egg production in chickens and other poultry. Credit: Zachariah Smith on Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 15, 2025

Northern fowl mite treatment tested at Penn State receives FDA approval

A new way to treat poultry for fowl mites was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July, thanks in part to a team of researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

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This large American Elm tree stands on the Penn State Beaver campus near the Laboratory Classroom Building. American Elm trees are now considered rare after its population was ravaged by Dutch elm disease. Credit: Kristen Doerschner / Penn State Beaver / Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 12, 2025

Tree inventory creates map of campus foliage at Penn State Beaver

Penn State Beaver joined the Commonwealth Arboreta Network as Bartlett Tree Experts recently mapped campus trees as part of an ongoing initiative across all Commonwealth Campuses.

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Aug 05, 2025

Huck names new associate director for graduate education

Penn State Professor of Anthropology David Puts has been named the associate director for graduate education at the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.

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Aug 01, 2025

HGSAC co-chairs recognized for symposium success

The outgoing co-chairs of the Huck Graduate Student Advisory Committee, the body representing graduate students in the six Huck-run degree programs, were recognized for their service at a recent meeting of the Huck Executive Committee.

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Sophia Mucciolo, a graduate student in ecology and her adviser Sara Hermann, assistant professor of ecology and of entomology, examine monarch butterfly specimens in the lab. Credit: Keith Hickey / Penn State. Creative Commons

Jul 28, 2025

Huck student receives U.S. National Science Foundation fellowship

Sophia Mucciolo, an ecology student affiliated with the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, recently received a fellowship from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

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In front of the main World Health Organization (WHO) building in Geneva, Switzerland, a statue commemorates the 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox. Now, researchers at Penn State and the WHO have developed a new method to estimate and predict regional measles vaccination coverage levels even when accurate or timely survey data on vaccination is not available. The new method can be used to guide better targeted vaccination interventions to potentially make measles the next human virus eradicated since smallpox. Credit: © WHO / Christopher Black . All Rights Reserved.

Jul 28, 2025

Predicting vaccination levels without accurate or timely vaccination data

Researchers at Penn State and the World Health Organization develop method to predict measles vaccination levels using routinely collected clinical data on suspected measles cases.

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Jul 24, 2025

Huck Students impress at Forest Genetics conference

Penn State grad students took the Forest Genetics 2025 conference by storm, winning more than half of the poster and presentation awards available. Three Huck trainees were among those recognized.

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A grant from the Morris Animal Foundation will support research at Penn State on the health of amphibians. Credit: Contributed photo. All Rights Reserved.

Jul 22, 2025

National foundation grant to support study on amphibian health at Penn State

Research in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences aimed at helping amphibians fight fungal disease by strengthening their natural defenses has received a $120,000 grant from the Morris Animal Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing animal health through scientific research.

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