News: Texas Field Station Network

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Research

Extreme, Prolonged Drought Slashes Productivity of Grasslands, Shrublands

Research published in the journal Science on water-deprived plants involved Texas Field Station Network experts.

A rain-out shelter at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It consists of clear plastic strips supported by metal arms and legs several feet above a plot of open grassland.

UT Marine Science Institute

New Study Pinpoints Texas as a Source of Nurdle Pollution to Mexico

A novel analysis combined chemistry and ocean modeling to reveal a likely source of nurdle pollution on coastlines.

A man on a sandy beach wearing glasses holds a sampling bottle and tweezers in a gloved hand, displaying a discovery of tiny pellets.

Department of Marine Science

Genetic Identification Aids Protection of Sharks and Rays

A new paper describes how protecting shark and ray populations from the black-market wildlife trade can begin with DNA analysis.

A school of hammerhead sharks swim in open waters.

Research

Study Finds Early Signs of Widespread Coastal Marsh Decline

The early warning could help the ecosystems that are key to preventing flooding, UT marine science researchers say.

The sun rises over a marsh with a lot of greenery in the foreground and trees in the distance.

Research

Idea of Coral Reefs as Oases in Marine Deserts May Be Mistaken

New research from Simon Brandl at UT’s Marine Science Institute challenges a long-held belief about coral reefs.

Dozens of fish swim near a coral reef in the Maldives.

UT Marine Science Institute

Heat Waves Hit Hard, as Specialist Butterfly Fish Fail to Adapt

Because butterfly fish do not shift their diets during coral bleaching events, they, like the coral, face threats.

A pair of butterfly fish and another fish feed on a coral reef.

UT Bridging Barriers

RISE and Shine: Cutting-Edge Technology Protecting Life in Texas

Planet Texas 2050 has a project with integrative biology faculty focused on species and ecosystems in the state.

A green jay perches on a moss-covered branch.

Announcements

Natural Sciences Welcomes New Faculty Across the College

Familiar faces and newcomers alike are among the 13 newest tenured and tenure-track faculty members joining the college.

New faculty members 2024-2025

Features

Take a Tour of UT Through the Lens of Science

Spots that are a part of The University of Texas at Austin can serve purposes for both science learning and community R&R.

A turtle rests on a cement wall near a pond with the UT Tower reflected in the water.

UT Marine Science Institute

Are Parrotfishes Friends or Foes to Coral Reefs?

Parrotfishes help corals grow and survive, grazing on what can otherwise smother corals. But there are trade-offs.

An underwater image of coral reefs shows clear damage where parts seem to have been nibbled off.