Department of Biology, University of Oxford

🌳 Near the surface, ozone isn't the protector for us that it is up in the 'ozone layer' - it's a toxic pollutant for both humans and ecosystems 🌳 Today is #IntlForestDay, and new research from Anna Jones shows that ozone pollution is impacting our own local Wytham Woods here in Oxford. The pollutant stunts tree growth and reduces resilience to changing conditions, but we don’t yet know the scale of damage to forests. "Forests’ ability to store carbon is a hot topic, and there is a huge amount of interest in planting trees to offset carbon emissions. However, almost all replanting initiatives fail to take ozone pollution into account... it’s one of the most damaging pollutants to ecosystems and needs our attention." Read the full story ➡️ https://bit.ly/3FAEGyN #IntlForestDay2025 #Pollution

When working to conserve biodiversity, should the interests of people or wild animals be the priority? And should individual animals or groups of animals be the focus of conservation efforts? Your opinion might fall into a Global North-South divide, but new research led by Yolanda Mutinhima (Mphil) and Lovemore Sibanda suggests that it may be more complicated: conservation priorities differ more between those local and distant to conservation sites, even across societies. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4ifQcOp WildCRU #WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity

How do businesses estimate their 'biodiversity footprints'? A new study with The Biodiversity Consultancy Ltd on life cycle assessments (LCAs) shows how they come with assumptions and uncertainties, and need to be used with scientific best practice and direct monitoring to ensure that effective strategies are developed. The researchers suggest three key parts to use of LCAs: ✅ Use them to screen risks, prioritise action, and track progress ✅ Use more specific approaches once high-impact areas are identified ✅ Use cautiously and with complementary metrics Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4bwn0zT Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science Thomas White Talitha Bromwich E.J. Milner-Gulland Joe W Bull Sophus zu Ermgassen Hollie Booth Harriet Bartlett #BiodiversityLoss #NatureRecovery #NaturePositive

The songs styles of your youth are probably distinct from those of other generations, and the area you live may have a distinct dialect - this is a shared experience we have with birds 🐦⬛ New research from Nilo Merino Recalde on the evolution of birdsong shows that birds of similar age tend to have more similar song repertoires. While newcomers to neighbourhoods tend to adapt, they also enrich song diversity. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/41H2VDV

A new study has explored how we can use competition and engagement to empower plant-aware students and prevent the "ticking time bomb" of botanical skills debt. The University of Oxford has proudly participated in the Botanical University Challenge (BUC) over the years. A recent study, led by the University of Reading, highlights the competition’s significant impacts so far and its promising potential to foster global engagement with plant sciences amongst students. "The Botanical University Challenge is much more than just a contest, it’s a movement to revive enthusiasm for botany and to equip future generations with the skills they need to protect our planet." Read more 👇 https://bit.ly/3XtNzQw

Despite how much we love hedgehogs, humans are a key factor in their decline 🦔 New research from Sophie Lund Rasmussen (Dr Hedgehog/Dr Pindsvin) takes a look at the status of our beloved garden visitors. Western European and Long-eared hedgehogs have both worsened in status on the IUCN Red List for Europe - to Near Threatened and Vulnerable respectively. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/41H01yP #Conservation #BiodiversityLoss WildCRU

A journey from bee brains to AI 🐝 A neuroethologist by training, Rachel Parkinson is shaping innovative insect behaviour research. Her work unites the seemingly disparate disciplines of artificial intelligence and bee senses in ways that simply haven’t been done before - "It’s opened up new ways of tackling big ecological questions." Read our new profile on Rachel! ⏩ https://bit.ly/4kpojol #Biodiversity #BiodiversityLoss

NEW: The THRIVING Food Futures project with HESTIA & Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences - University of Oxford aims to design and evaluate new food policies to support healthy, sustainable diets across the UK 🍏 As well as helping us meet Net Zero targets, sustainable diets can address public health issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and health inequalities. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/41wlv1p #SustainableFood #PublicHealth #NetZero

🚨 England’s health inequity revealed by patterns of COVID-19 testing A study with Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, part of an evaluation commissioned by UK Health Security Agency, shows stark differences in test use and reporting between different groups, including those based on age, ethnic group, and deprivation. The findings highlight the need for equitable public health strategies to ensure fair access to health interventions. For example, a future response could see local public health practitioners monitor intervention uptake in risk groups in real time, and adapt where inequities appear. Read more about this research ➡️ https://bit.ly/4gY03ae #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth University of Oxford Sumali Bajaj Dr. Reshania Naidoo Moritz U G Kraemer, PhD Ben Lambert Lisa White Joseph Tsui George Nicholson Brieuc Lehmann Ricardo Aguas Christl Donnelly Tom Fowler Susan Hopkins Liberty Cantrell Prabin Dahal

Tuberculosis is a curable disease, yet millions of people fall ill or die of TB due to antimicrobial resistance. Now a consortium led by Oxford Biology Rachel Tanner aims to develop new therapies to tackle TB thanks to a £5m grant from Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research https://bit.ly/4kcGxcL