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

Charlene Shupp Espenshade, executive director of the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, prepares to sample microgreens cultivated at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences during the college’s recent Legislative Research Tour. She is joined by graduate students Auja Bywater and Rishi Ravichandran. Credit: Sean Duke / Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 06, 2025

College of Ag Sciences research tour explores connection between food, health

Government and industry stakeholders got a literal taste of the future of agriculture by sampling hydroponically grown greens at one of several presentations during the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ annual Legislative Research Tour, held Sept. 25 at the University Park campus.

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The team found that a number of populations of Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas bacteria were present on the plants that had developed a resistance against bacterial speck, suggesting they play a role in suppressing the disease. Credit: Dan Gol/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 29, 2025

New clues in how plant microbiomes protect against bacterial speck disease

Bacterial speck is a common disease affecting tomatoes that can result in lower yields for growers. A new study led by researchers at Penn State gives new clues on how a plant’s microbiome can be used to combat the pathogen.

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Penn State doctoral students selected to participate in the Biotechnological and Integrative Opportunities in Microbiome Science doctoral training fellowship, from top left: Erika Biernbaum, Talon Jost, Paula Blanco Ortiz, Jie Feng, Natalie Ford, Jessica Gaydos, Ashley Ohstrom, Shane Connolly, Mackenna Yount, Yara Cavalcante Viera and Kathleen Culhane. Credit: Provided by fellows. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 24, 2025

One Health Microbiome Center awards 11 inaugural doctoral training fellows

Fellows represent the first cohort of the National Institutes of Health-supported doctoral training program in microbiome sciences and biotechnology.

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If beekeepers use organic management practices over time, they even can produce 50% more honey than when following conventional management practices, according to the researchers. Credit: Simon Kadula/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 19, 2025

Organic beekeeping can be even more profitable than conventional methods

Organic beekeeping can support healthy and productive honey bee colonies, and a new study led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that adopting organic honey bee colony management is not only profitable, but in some cases, it can be even more profitable than conventional management.

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The Huck Institute of the Life Sciences at Penn State University Park. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Sep 16, 2025

Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences names 2025-26 seed grant recipients

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State has selected eight research teams that span 12 departments across six colleges to receive 2025-26 seed grant funding.

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Flatheads grow fast in this river system, attain large body sizes and can eat a variety of prey. Because adult flatheads have few natural predators, they can exert strong control over the ecosystem. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Sep 05, 2025

Invasive flathead catfish now top predators in Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania

New study suggests that smallmouth bass and channel catfish are changing what they eat to avoid having to compete with or being eaten by the invader.

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A team at Penn State has developed a novel wearable sensor capable of continuously monitoring low rates of perspiration for the presence of a lactate — a molecule the body uses to break down sugars for energy. Credit: Provided by Farnaz Lorestani. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 03, 2025

Don’t sweat it: New device detects sweat biomarker at minimal perspiration rate

Non-invasive, wearable sensor can identify and track lactate in low-perspiration conditions, researchers say.

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New research by Penn State scientists shows that migration of farming groups was the dominant factor in the spread of agriculture, while cultural adoption by hunter-gatherers only played a minimal role. Pictured are the remains of a house in the Neolithic village of Barnhouse Settlement, Orkney, Scotland. Credit: Creative Commons. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 28, 2025

Ancient DNA reveals farming spread through migration, locals slow to adopt it

Using mathematical models, computer simulations, and ancient DNA analysis, an interdisciplinary team of scientists at Penn State was able to measure how migration and cultural adoption each contributed to the expansion of farming.

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Beech Creek, a 170-square-mile watershed in Clinton and Centre counties, has shifted from a thriving trout fishery to waters polluted by acidic mine drainage. Credit: Chris Komlenic. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 27, 2025

Research sheds light on Beech Creek’s struggle with abandoned mine drainage

Students in the TREES dual-title graduate degree program partnered with residents to gather data and build support for watershed restoration.

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A mallard, shown here fitted with a GPS unit, can be tracked by researchers. In recent decades, mallards have experienced a range-wide decline of 12% in the U.S. The Integrated Movement Model being developed by researchers could help inform conservation and management of mallards by combining GPS tracking and citizen science reports. Credit: Clayton Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 25, 2025

GPS-outfitted birds and citizen sightings to inform a better migration model

Funded by an NSF grant, researchers aim to develop a powerful new tool that melds data from GPS device-carrying birds with sightings by citizen science groups.

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