News

A scuba diver equipped with underwater photography gear swims above a coral reef in clear blue water.
Biology

UCF Researchers Travel to South Pacific for Diving Research Expedition 

Led by a UCF faculty member, a global team of researchers is using innovative genetic analysis to uncover how countless drifting fish larvae connect distant reefs.  Written by: Emily Dougherty |…
A man stands near a whiteboard giving a presentation in a classroom; a PowerPoint slide about Markov chains is projected on the wall.
Biology

How UCF Research Is Changing the Way Scientists Track Animals 

An assistant professor in the Department of Biology is reshaping how scientists understand animal movement, habitat use, and conservation needs through mathematically rigorous models.  Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 2, 2026 …
Two flamingos stand in shallow water, with their heads bent down as they feed.
Biology

UCF Study Confirms Flamingos Are Native to Florida and Genetically Fit for Restoration

For all its presence on postcards and popular tourist attractions, the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) has been largely absent from Florida itself. Nearly wiped out…
A monarch butterfly with orange, black, and white wings rests on a cluster of red flowers, surrounded by green foliage.
Biology

UCF Biology Professor’s Research Links Warming Migratory Temperatures to Decline in Monarch Butterfly Population

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have one of the most impressive migrations in the animal kingdom, but rising temperatures are disrupting their physiology, migration success and…
Close-up of a parasitic wasp with transparent wings, long antennae, and segmented legs against a plain gray background.
Biology

Biology Professor, Computer Science Students Create Teaching Game About Parasitic Wasps

A new desktop game is turning parasitic wasps into unlikely heroes. Released Sept. 9, on the digital platform Steam, The Crawling Dead introduces players to…
Split image: On the left, a woman stands in water holding a clipboard. On the right, she handles lab equipment wearing blue gloves, examining a petri dish in a foam container.
Biology

Biology Researchers Lead Technology-Driven Seagrass Restoration Projects in Florida

Seagrass meadows are rapidly vanishing across the world, threatening animal species that rely on this vital coastal ecosystem for survival. Two UCF biology graduate students…
A cougar walks on a dirt path between wooden structures in an outdoor enclosure, looking directly at the camera.
Biology

UCF Researcher Helps Confirm Genetic Restoration Success for Florida Panthers

In 1995, scientists translocated eight Texas pumas into Florida in a genetic restoration effort to save the only viable puma population east of the Mississippi…
Person wearing a hat and gloves sits among mangrove roots, holding a piece of muddy soil, surrounded by dense vegetation.
Biology

‘Shore Wars:’ New Research Aims to Resolve Coastal Conflict Between Oysters and Mangroves, Aiding Restoration Efforts

Oysters and mangroves are both essential to protecting and restoring Florida’s coastlines that they call home, including defending them against storms. As mangrove populations are…
A woman smiles while holding seagrass samples; a stack of books, plant models, and a sign reading “Research in 60s: How seagrass helps coastal ecosystems thrive” are visible.
Biology

Research in 60 Seconds: How Seagrass Helps Coastal Ecosystems Thrive

Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at UCF are on the edge of scientific breakthroughs that…
A woman in a light blazer and gold necklaces smiles while standing indoors near a window, with a blurred green outdoor background.
Biology

UCF Graduate Student Awarded Prestigious Marine Conservation Scholarship Named After Distinguished Marine Biologist Susan L. Williams

Biology student Carla Perscky will conduct first-time research, developing innovative technologies to help conserve tropical seagrass, a vital habitat for many marine species By: Ana…
Read more stories