School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine

Prof. Monaghan awarded the ASAB Medal

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 16:03:00 GMT

Prof. Pat Monaghan was awarded the annual Medal of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB), at their winter conference

Bigger is not better when it comes to lifespan

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 08:46:00 GMT

A study looking at how DNA changes with body size may help scientists to explain why taller individuals tend to have shorter lives. The new findings, based on wild house sparrows, show how changes in DNA that are linked to ageing and lifespan take place as body size gets bigger. The study, a collaboration between the Institute's Prof Pat Monaghan and Prof Bernt-Erik Sæther's team at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

International recognition for University of Glasgow One Health scientist

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 00:02:00 BST

The Institute's Professor Sarah Cleaveland has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Membership is considered one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine, and recognises individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievements and commitment to service. Professor Cleaveland was elected to NAM as a result of her years of work and research into zoonotic and livestock diseases in developing countries.

Environmental changes disrupt seasonal rhythms of life

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 00:16:00 BST

Plants and animals, including humans, show strong seasonal cycles in health, behaviour and abundance, but these 'rhythms of life' are being disrupted, according to a study published this week by nine members of the Institute with researchers from 26 other institutions worldwide. The study highlights a clear need to work across disciplines to fully understand the impacts of seasonal disruption, and the extent to which we can adapt to change.

First glimpse of rare Peruvian animals revealed in camera trap footage

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 09:48:00 BST

A series of remarkable new camera trap videos reveal the first ever footage of a critically endangered bird, the Sira currasow. The images come from a project in the Sira Communal Reserve of Peru, co-led by Institute researcher Andy Whitworth together with Andy Beirne at the University of Exeter. It has also confirmed the presence of the vulnerable spectacled bear, on which the children’s character Paddington Bear is based.

Launch of the AfricanBioservices project in the Serengeti National Park

Mon, 07 Sep 2015 09:00:00 BST

Institute researchers join an African-European network of scientists who are cooperating on the project: Linking biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services in the Serengeti-Mara Region, East Africa—Drivers of change, causalities and sustainable management strategies (AfricanBioservices). The four-year project had its official launch last week in Seronera, Serengeti National Park.

Drawing a line under deep-sea fishing: A Scientific Basis for regulation by depth

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:33:00 BST

Members of the Institute’s Marine Science Group have published evidence that supports a clearly defined depth limit of 600 metres for deep-sea fishing in Europe. Reporting in the journal Current Biology, the study suggests trawling deeper causes greater ecological damage despite a reducing benefit to fishermen.

Female guppies become better swimmers to escape male sexual harassment

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:46:00 BST

In the animal world, sexual reproduction can involve males attempting to entice or force females to mate with them, even if they are not initially interested. A new study on guppies led by Senior Research Fellow Dr Shaun Killen together with a team at the University of Exeter explored how this behaviour can lead to physiological changes, much like those in athletes who train to perform better.

Institute researchers have found that selective breeding can produce salmon resistant to sea lice

Wed, 19 Aug 2015 22:23:00 BST

Sea lice are the biggest threat to the welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon and the sustainability of fish farming across the world. But increasing resistance of lice to chemical treatment means we need an alternative. A team from the Institute have developed a simple protocol to breed fish that are resistant to sea lice, and have produced a mathematical model that predicts that chemical treatment could be unnecessary after 10 generations of selection.

Badger persecution may perpetuate bTB hotspots

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 09:35:00 BST

A research study led by the Institute has found that low-level persecution of badger setts may perpetuate bovine TB hotspots. The research, in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), is the first study to highlight the potential importance of badger population disturbance, other than officially sanctioned Government culling, in sustaining the bTB epidemic.

Closure of Clyde spawning ground ‘too little, too late’ to help floundering cod stocks

Thu, 13 Aug 2015 23:43:00 BST

A study by Institute researchers indicates that the annual closure of cod spawning grounds in the Firth of Clyde introduced a decade ago has done little to help the local recovery of cod numbers.

Could fish evolve to become less catchable?

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 13:40:00 BST

New research by Dr Shaun Killen, Senior Research Fellow in the Institute, made a media splash this week. The research looked at whether intensive fishing (more often the hook for debates on fish stocks) could be driving evolutionary changes that render fish of the future less catchable? Their results, published on Wednesday, show that fitter fish are better at evading capture.

Scientists expect evolutionary changes from loud, bright world

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:50:00 BST

Humans take for granted the noise and lights associated with cities and other developments across the landscape. For other creatures, these noisy and bright conditions lead to changes in behavior and activity such as the timing or pitch of a bird song in the morning. Scientists have long recorded these changes and now seek to understand whether these altered environments are driving evolution itself.

Science and pantomime: two disparate worlds? Oh no, they’re not!

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:46:00 BST

This summer, the worlds of panto and science will collide for 'Panto Science: The Periodic Fable', an exciting new theatre production which will bring together University of Glasgow researchers with actors, writers and comedians for a truly collaborative project.

Institute Research Fellow becomes a National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:55:00 BST

Dr Daniel Streicker, a Wellcome Trust/Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellow, joins a group of 14 inspiring trailblazers from around the world in the National Geographic Society Emerging Explorers programme. The programme recognises and supports gifted and inspiring adventurers, scientists and innovators—all early in their careers—whose achievements are making a difference in the world.

Grey squirrels’ role as hosts of Lyme disease bacteria under the spotlight

Thu, 23 Apr 2015 18:42:00 BST

A recent report by Caroline Millins in the Institute looked at the role grey squirrels play in the maintenance and prevalence of Lyme disease bacteria in ticks in Scotland.

Institute Professor wins University of Glasgow Postdoc Mentor of the Year award

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:26:00 BST

Congratulations to Professor Neil Evans who was awarded 'University of Glasgow Mentor of the Year' on Friday 17th April, at the University Research Staff Conference.

A study on the global burden of rabies finds that it kills 160 people every day

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 13:43:00 BST

A global study on canine rabies has found that 160 people die every single day from the disease. Led by Dr Katie Hampson of our Institute, this is the first study to consider the impact in terms of deaths and the economic costs of rabies across all countries. Despite being preventable, rabies transmitted by dogs kills around 59,000 people die every year with annual economic losses due to the disease of around $US8.6 billion.

University of Glasgow scientists named Royal Society of Edinburgh Prizewinners

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 16:49:00 BST

University of Glasgow scientists have been named as the recipients of prestigious awards from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Dr Tiziana Lembo is amongst them.

Glasgow to help train Africa’s next generation of scientists

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 12:04:00 GMT

The University of Glasgow has secured £334,000 of funding to help train the next generation of African scientists.

Vaccination and surveillance of increasing importance to protect endangered carnivores against distemper and other infectious diseases

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:04:00 GMT

Experts agree that direct vaccination and enhanced surveillance are key actions needed to reduce infectious disease threats to the world's most endangered carnivores.

Classical music relaxes dogs in rehoming centres

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 10:22:00 GMT

A study conducted by the Scottish SPCA and the University of Glasgow shows that music has a calming effect on dogs. The research, conducted by the charity's education and research manager Gilly Mendes Ferreira and PhD student Amy Bowman, involved testing two groups of dogs over two consecutive weeks at the Scottish SPCA’s Dumbarton & West of Scotland animal rescue and rehoming centre in Milton, West Dunbartonshire.

Professor Cleaveland collects OBE at Buckingham Palace

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:02:00 GMT

Professor Sarah Cleaveland from the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow received an OBE at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 13 February. Professor Cleaveland was awarded the OBE for services to veterinary epidemiology by Princess Anne.

Researcher Spotlight: Dr Daniel Streicker

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:00:00 GMT

Dr Daniel Streicker, Wellcome Trust/Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellow in the Institute, has been featured in the Wellcome Trust blog's 'Researcher Spotlight'.

Study sheds light on links between diseases of dogs and big cats

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 09:00:00 GMT

A new study of Serengeti lions addresses key questions about the spread of canine distemper virus (CDV) from domestic dogs and evaluates the effectiveness of dog vaccination efforts in protecting dogs and lions against the disease. The work, led by Dr Mafalda Viana and Dr Tiziana Lembo was published today in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, USA.

In the latest BMJ Talk Medicine podcast, Prof Sarah Cleaveland discusses rabies in animals

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:00:00 GMT

Prof Sarah Cleaveland was recently interviewed by the BMJ Talk Medicine podcast as one of two interviews accompanying a clinical review on the prevention and management of rabies. Sarah speaks about One Health and control of the disease in animals.

Institute led project awarded £3m to tackle drug resistance in animal parasites

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 09:01:00 GMT

Our researchers are leading a £3m grant to tackle drug resistance in livestock parasites. The award from the BBSRC, led by Prof Eileen Devaney, will fund the BUG Consortium project. They'll be using new sequencing technologies to examine the genomes of parasitic nematodes (roundworm) to investigate the genetic changes that confer drug resistance. The aim will be to find new genetic markers to help spot drug resistance, and to understand how resistance arises and spreads.