In May, McAlister and Kelly Wolfe-Bellin, senior lecturer and director of biology laboratories, led a team of students from various academic disciplines to Bermuda to investigate and consider how societies and communities manage energy, water, food, waste management, nature, conservation, and environmental changes.
The students had to think about the decisions or tradeoffs that needed to be made about how resources would be generated and used. Those decisions might be different on a small island like Bermuda than what they would be coming from a big country like the U.S., he noted.
As a researcher, McAlister studies how natural and man-made environmental changes impact the biology and life history decisions made by organisms. Specifically, what these changes mean for marine invertebrates and their larvae, including classic sea creatures like cnidarians (corals, sea anemones and jellyfish) and echinoderms (sea urchins, sea stars and brittle stars).
When thinking about what is more important in controlling how an organism develops and grows, it used to be a battle between nature versus nurture, he said. Its actually both things together that lead to the development of the organism. That's true for humans just as much as it is true for every other organism.
An example of a brittle star.
While conducting doctoral research in Panama, he focused on species of echinoderms that lived in the Pacific Ocean and had cousins thriving in the Caribbean, separated only by about 50 miles of land and three million years of marine evolution. They experienced different food sources, water temperatures and predators, and had to make tradeoffs in order to survive: lay more and smaller eggs in the Pacific or fewer and larger more robust eggs in the Caribbean in order to thrive in their different marine environments. McAlister researched how the invisible-to-the-naked-eye larvae adapted to the changes.
When I talk to people about sea stars they have this mental image of an adult sea star. Thats not what the babies look like. They look like aliens, are microscopic and more sensitive [to environmental change] than the adults, and float around in the ocean water [instead of crawling along the seafloor]. Nobody's thinking about them, except for the few of us that do, McAlister said.
That is until there is a marine catastrophe, like warming oceans or a pollution event. Its the babies that are often killed off or most affected, McAlister said.
A jellyfish larvae moves through collected seawater.
Read more here:
Coral in New England? Yes, And It's Rugged - College of the Holy Cross
- SOMETHING FISHY: CSUB biology professors find hundreds of dead fish in dry Kern River - MSN - September 15th, 2024 [September 15th, 2024]
- Star Trek Changes Its Iconic Tribbles Forever, With Shock Revelation About Their Biology - Screen Rant - September 15th, 2024 [September 15th, 2024]
- Penn's Biology Department removes concentrations, prompting mixed reactions from students - The Daily Pennsylvanian - September 15th, 2024 [September 15th, 2024]
- Google DeepMind And Isomorphic Labs Are Making Rapid Progress In Biology And Drug Discovery - Forbes - September 15th, 2024 [September 15th, 2024]
- Bridging biology and art: An interview with Nigerian artist Samuel Ubong - Global Voices - September 15th, 2024 [September 15th, 2024]
- SOMETHING FISHY: CSUB biology professors find hundreds of dead fish in dry Kern River - KERO 23 ABC News Bakersfield - September 15th, 2024 [September 15th, 2024]
- From the marriage of physics and biology emerged a technology that has revolutionised ophthalmology laser - The Hindu - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Groves named head of developmental biology - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- John Callaghan, biology professor at USC Dornsife, served as university marshal for 30 years - USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Altered expression of vesicular trafficking machinery in prostate cancer affects lysosomal dynamics and provides insight into the underlying biology... - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- A frugal CRISPR kit for equitable and accessible education in gene editing and synthetic biology - Nature.com - August 5th, 2024 [August 5th, 2024]
- UM Announces $5 Million Endowment to Create Chair in Fisheries Science for Wildlife Biology Program - University of Montana - August 5th, 2024 [August 5th, 2024]
- New Insights into MaleFemale Biology from Platypus and Chicken Chromosomes - Technology Networks - August 5th, 2024 [August 5th, 2024]
- Meta alum launches AI biology model that simulates 500 million years of evolution - VentureBeat - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- The strategy behind one of the most successful labs in the world - Nature.com - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Following the 'BATT Signal:' A new signaling pathway controlling planarian germ cells - EurekAlert - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Doctor Who's two hearts explained by USC Dornsife alumna - USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Evolving Education - Ohio Wesleyan University - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Biology Camp gives kids a jump start on science - Odessa American - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Special Issue of Applied Biosafety focuses on synthetic genomics - EurekAlert - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Sandra Shumway Named Fellow of the Marine Biological Association - UConn Today - University of Connecticut - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Hendrix biology professor publishes research paper | News | thecabin.net - Log Cabin Democrat - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Conagen: Deep dive into synthetic biology processes and innovation for beauty with Casey Lippmeier - Personal Care Insights - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Seeking refuge in science - ASBMB Today - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- UNF biology professor discovers northernmost mangroves ever recorded - UNF Spinnaker - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- EvolutionaryScale Raises $142 Million To Transform Biology With AI - Finimize - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Guiding humanity beyond the moon: OHIO researchers push to revolutionize human space biology - Ohio University - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Olson offers students a window into aquatic world - Nebraska Today - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Now you can get a bachelor's degree in biology in Greenland - Polarjournal - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- The Biology of Butterflies in the Stomach - Medscape - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- On the water front: invasive lake species - UMN News - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- UNCW marine biology professor shares what people need to know about shark bites, beach safety - WRAL News - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Network-driven cancer cell avatars for combination discovery and biomarker identification for DNA damage response ... - Nature.com - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Armenian students win eight medals at 4th International Applied Biology Olympiad Public Radio of Armenia - Public Radio of Armenia Official Web site - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- New tomato, potato family tree shows that fruit color and size evolved together - EurekAlert - June 27th, 2024 [June 27th, 2024]
- Exploring the biology behind maternal mental health disorders - News-Medical.Net - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Meet the 29-year-old biology teacher who will compete at Pinehurst - NBC Sports - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Bending the Rules of Biology: Stanford Scientists Unveil Cellular Origami in Microscopic Predators - SciTechDaily - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Popular Theory Debunked: Scientists Identify Unexpected Drivers Behind Giraffes' Long Necks - SciTechDaily - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Changes Upstream: RIPE team uses CRISPR/Cas9 to alter photosynthesis for the first time - EurekAlert - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Genome-wide meta-analyses of restless legs syndrome yield insights into genetic architecture, disease biology and ... - Nature.com - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- WT Biology Professor Wins Grant to Study Panhandle's Pheasant Population - West Texas A&M University - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Jessica Cottrell and Biology Student Mahika Ganguly Awarded STEM Undergraduate Research Award - Seton Hall University - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Meet Our Pygmy Slow Loris Babies | Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute - Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology... - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Student athlete Vinny DOnofrio 24 excelled in biology and chemistry at PLU - Pacific Lutheran University - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Obituary: Stan H. Braude, professor of practice in Arts & Sciences, 62 - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Men and Women's Different Biology Supports Their Different Roles - Answers In Genesis - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Integrating system biology and intratumor gene therapy by trans-complementing the appropriate co-stimulatory ... - Nature.com - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Meet the 29-year-old biology teacher who will compete at Pinehurst - Yahoo Sports - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Internal clock helps cyanobacteria sustain life on this planet - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- DePaul adjunct professor fired for optional assignment on how 'genocide in Gaza' impacts health and biology - Chicago Sun-Times - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- NSF Awards $12.5M to Duke Researchers and Colleagues to Explore Polyploidy - Duke University School of Medicine - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Study adds new sea cucumber species to the research toolbox - EurekAlert - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Bruker Launches Transformative neofleX MALDI-TOF System for Spatial Biology Mass Spec Imaging (MSI ... - BioSpace - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Biden judicial nominee can't say whether chromosomes determine sex: 'I have never studied biology' - Washington Times - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- WHS valedictorian to attend Hanover for biology | News | shelbynews.com - Shelbynews - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Fish in schools have an easier time swimming in rough waters - EurekAlert - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Shift the Focus: Is addiction biology or psychology? - Cecil Daily - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- Man's remains identified after nearly 40 years | Biology | kvoa.com - KVOA Tucson News - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- UK Researcher Named an Inspiring Woman in Plant Biology - Morning Ag Clips - - June 9th, 2024 [June 9th, 2024]
- AACR 2024 Plenary: New Insights Into Early Cancer Biology - American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Students create 3 D skulls in project funded by Costello award connecting biology, computer science and art | Fredonia ... - Fredonia.edu - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Seed Health launches computational biology platform to expand pipeline beyond the gut - NutraIngredients-usa.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Analytics for Spatial Biology: DNA and RNA Imaging - LCGC Chromatography Online - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Here's what I teach my students about finding jobs in marine biology and conservation - Southern Fried Science - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Biology, not technology, will save the planet | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Bonobos are more aggressive than previously thought - EurekAlert - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Debating sex and gender: Whose 'biological reality' is it anyway? - The Boston Globe - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Why detecting the earliest biological signs of Parkinson's disease is so crucial - Scope - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Cicada experts and resources available from UWMadison - University of Wisconsin-Madison - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Iconic savanna mammals face genetic problems due to fences and roads - EurekAlert - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Advice to a Young Mathematical Biologist - University of Birmingham - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- New project explores warfare in animal societies - EurekAlert - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Unheard of in Structural Biology New Research Unveils Enzymatic Keys to Immune System Regulation - SciTechDaily - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Pygmy Slow Lorises Are Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute - Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology... - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- VespAI: a deep learning-based system for the detection of invasive hornets | Communications Biology - Nature.com - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Inside the new Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology, which uses DNA to 'record biology over time' - GeekWire - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- The Biology of Kindness review: Living well and prospering - New Scientist - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- UND biologist explains composition of dirt to kids - UND Today - UND Blogs and E-Newsletters - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- In the evolution of walking, the hip bone connected to the rib bones - EurekAlert - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]