BIG NEWS!
We're stopping by to make a big announcement. We are very excited to report that The Rollins Smith Lab is part of a new NSF-Funded Biology Integration Institute (BII): “Resilience Institute Bridging Biological Training and Research (RIBBiTR)." The institute encompasses nine academic institutions and thirteen senior investigators using field and laboratory studies to investigate how amphibian species are developing long term resistance to the fungal disease called chytridiomycosis that has caused decades-long declines in amphibian populations around the world. The good news is that some populations and some species of amphibians appear to be recovering, and our institute will continue to monitor and investigate the biological mechanisms that support these recoveries.
Needless to say, funding is what keeps us in business and allows us to continue the research we do…research to preserve these beautiful amphibian populations that are integral to a healthy ecosystem. Plus, who doesn’t love hearing them call on a warm summer night? Especially this little guy! He's a barking tree frog that will have you truly wondering "who let the dogs out."
Hello? Hello? Is this thing on...?
In spite of our dreadful attempts at humor, we are grateful to the NSF for supporting this research and we look forward to bringing you updates.
Happy Summer!
