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Dr John Messenger - Funeral arrangements

26 September 2022

John Messenger (1935-2022) We are very sad to announce that John Messenger died on September 22nd 2022. John studied Zoology here (1956-59) and had a distinguished career as an expert on the behaviour and neurobiology of Cephalopods. After retiring as a lecturer at the University of Sheffield, he came to the Department in...

Sampling of floral scent in the study site equipped with rainfall exclusion plots and control plots.

Drought changes the smell of flowers affecting bee visits

8 August 2022

Pollination in a drier world: Even moderate drought alters floral scent Climate change is everyday more present and dramatic in our everyday life, and 2022 has been no exception: heatwaves, drought, floods. Climate change also affects animals and plants, but more importantly it can have dramatic impacts on species...

Oil palm plantation with fruit cut down and on the floor

A new systematic map explores the level of research on within-plantation management practices in oil palm.

3 August 2022

Megan Popkin and other members of the Insect Ecology Group have just published a new systematic map investigating the level of research on within-plantation management practices in oil palm. The article particularly highlights which practices have been researched and/or experimentally tested, as well as research gaps. Each...

honeyguide eating wax by Dominic Cram, dolphin and fisherman’s hands with net by Fábio Daura-Jorge

Cooperation between humans and wild animals

21 June 2022

Cooperation between humans and wild animals People cooperate with many species of animals, such as falcons and sheep-dogs, but most cases involve the human controlling the animal’s actions through domestication and captivity. Sometimes, people and wild animals cooperate without human control and to mutual benefit, but much...

Intensive farming may actually reduce risk of pandemics

21 June 2022

Intensive farming may actually reduce risk of pandemics Scientists evaluated the evidence that intensive livestock farming is causing pandemics, with surprising results. They find that intensive livestock farming could actually reduce the risk of future pandemics, compared to non-intensive farming. In a paper, published...

A group of Ediacaran specimens of Fractofusus and Plumeropriscum from the “E” surface, Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland, Canada. Credit: Charlotte G. Kenchington

First animals developed complex ecosystems before the Cambrian explosion

16 May 2022

First animals developed complex ecosystems before the Cambrian explosion Metacommunity analysis suggests succession, not mass extinction, explains Ediacaran diversity drop Early animals formed complex ecological communities more than 550 million years ago, setting the evolutionary stage for the Cambrian explosion...

World map indicating places where research carried out by Cambridge University is having a positive impact

Cambridge’s global reputation in Biological Sciences recognised in REF 2021

11 May 2022

Cambridge’s global reputation in Biological Sciences recognised in REF 2021 The results from the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) have highlighted the global impact of Cambridge’s research in the field of Biological Sciences. 96% of Cambridge’s overall submissions within the Biological Sciences Unit of Assessment...

Dr Tim Weil in a green demonstrator's lab coat talking to year 12 students in the lab at an outreach event

Pilkington Prize for Teaching awarded to Tim Weil

15 March 2022

Congratulations to Tim Weil on the award of the Pilkington Prize for Teaching This prize recognises outstanding contributions to teaching and learning at Cambridge. Tim deserves to receive this award for his exceptional and sustained contribution to teaching. Tim is a natural communicator and has brought his unique blend...

Utaurora comosa from the Wheeler Formation, Utah, USA (Cambrian: Drumian). Holotype and only known specimen, accessioned at the Division of Invertebrate Paleontology in the Biodiversity Institute at the University of Kansas. Photograph by S. Pates.

Utaurora comosa - the first new opabiniid for over 100 years

8 February 2022

Opabinia, Anomalocaris and other ‘weird wonders’ of the Burgess Shale, remain iconic in popular culture and continue to offer insights into the early evolution of animals. During the 1970-80s Researchers at Cambridge University led transformational work that recognised that these superficially strange animals were actually...

Museum of Zoology with tree of life in slate

New vacancies available in Zoology

4 February 2022

Assistant/Associate Professor and Curator of Invertebrates incorporating the Watson Curator of Malacology The Department and Museum of Zoology seek to appoint an Assistant/Associate Professor and Curator of Invertebrates. We are searching for an outstanding research scientist, with experience of working with collections, a...

Department of Zoology

Dr John Messenger - Funeral arrangements

Drought changes the smell of flowers affecting bee visits

A new systematic map explores the level of research on within-plantation management practices in oil palm.

Cooperation between humans and wild animals

Intensive farming may actually reduce risk of pandemics

First animals developed complex ecosystems before the Cambrian explosion

Cambridge’s global reputation in Biological Sciences recognised in REF 2021

Pilkington Prize for Teaching awarded to Tim Weil

Utaurora comosa - the first new opabiniid for over 100 years

New vacancies available in Zoology

Zoology Features in University Research News

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