University of Guelph College of Biological Science

06/02/2026

How much of the world is covered by grasslands? Research led by Dr. Andrew MacDougall from Integrative Biology shows the answer may be far lower than previously thought.

By combining satellite imagery with on-the-ground expertise from 157 grassland researchers across 60 countries, the team created a more accurate global map of grasslands. Their findings suggest grasslands cover about 23% of the Earth's land surface, far below the 40% reported in many previous studies. This could mean vastly different estimates of carbon uptake and storage in soil, an important indicator of climate health and resilience.

Grasslands are critical for all aspects of human sustainability, from food production to culture and well-being. They are also a hub for biodiversity, including large numbers of native plants and many of the world’s most at-risk mega-fauna.

“There has been a recent push to measure everything remotely and save money, time, and person power, but when funding for important causes like poverty and sustainability is based on these measurements, we have to get it right. If not, support doesn’t go to where it’s most needed,” says MacDougall.

Read more: https://www.uoguelph.ca/cbs/news/2026/06/tallgrass-tundra-researchers-find-better-way-measure-grassland-cover-and-estimate

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

Noah Middleton is reaching a milestone he never thought he would make. Growing up with a rare autoimmune disorder, he wasn’t sure he would make it to university, let alone graduate. Grateful that his dog Rosie was by his side through his medical journey, he made a promise that he would help animals — leading him to study at in hopes to attend the Ontario Veterinary College to become a veterinarian.

At next month's convocation, he will be graduating top of his class in biological science with a network of veterinary experience from volunteering locally and abroad, making him one step closer to fulfilling his promise to Rosie and helping animals.

Learn more: https://uoguel.ph/cyzz2

05/22/2026

With a B.A. in Psychology and soon graduating with an M.Sc. in Integrative Biology, Nida Ansari brings a unique perspective to what students learn and how.

Throughout her time at the University of Guelph, she has explored how interdisciplinary education and real-world experience shape students’ ability to tackle complex problems.

Her master’s thesis, completed under the supervision of Dr. Shoshanah Jacobs, examines the degree of social and community context teaching and learning in an Ontario university’s engineering curricula, as well as students’ attitudes about the importance of community voices in the design process.

Read more about Nida’s research, mentorship and community work:
https://www.uoguelph.ca/cbs/news/2026/05/msc-integrative-biology-grad-explores-learning-across-disciplines-and-beyond-classroom

University of Guelph, Office of Graduate Studies

05/20/2026

This , you can help researchers track bumble bees by simply turning on your smartphone’s Bluetooth and visiting the Arboretum. 🐝

MSc Integrative Biology student Marianne Goulet, working with Dr. Ryan Norris and Dr. Nigel Raine, has fitted fifty queen bumble bees in the Arboretum with Bluetooth radio transmitters as part of a study to better understand bee behaviour and movement.

The tiny transmitters use nearby cellular-enabled devices to share location signals, much like Apple AirTags. This means every Arboretum visitor with Bluetooth turned on helps researchers track the bees’ locations, and no personal information is shared.

From now until July, explore the Arboretum with your Bluetooth on to help support U of G bumble bee research!

School of Environmental Sciences
University of Guelph College of Biological Science
University of Guelph
The Arboretum, University of Guelph

05/14/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, professor in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Canada Research Chair, who will be stepping into the role of acting associate dean of research and graduate studies, effective May 25!

Allen-Vercoe fills the vacancy left by Dr. Graham Holloway, who has been appointed interim dean of the College of Biological Science.

“Emma is an exceptional researcher, a thoughtful colleague and a committed teacher and mentor,” says Holloway. "I know the college will benefit greatly from her leadership.”

https://www.uoguelph.ca/cbs/news/2026/05/dr-emma-allen-vercoe-named-new-associate-dean-research-and-graduate-studies

University of Guelph, Office of Graduate Studies

05/14/2026

The University of Guelph has appointed Dr. Graham Holloway as interim dean for the College of Biological Science (CBS), effective May 25, 2026.

Read more: https://uoguel.ph/r3c2c

05/12/2026

As the climate warms, many species are being forced to shift their ranges to survive. How does temperature affect the speed at which animals expand their range, and why?

Research led by undergraduate student Kayley Breslin and Dr. Tess Grainger from Integrative Biology has found that warmer temperatures can speed up animal range expansion by increasing movement and boosting population growth.

Using red flour beetles as a model system, the researchers created miniature dispersal landscapes to track how populations expanded under different temperatures over multiple generations.

“It was surprising how much the data supported our predictions. Warming temperatures led to a faster rate of expansion with both movement and population growth rates being affected,” says Breslin.

The findings offer insights into how species may respond to climate change in the years ahead.

Read the new SCRIBE article by Samantha Hughes: https://www.uoguelph.ca/cbs/news/2026/05/feeling-heat-what-beetles-reveal-about-range-expansion-warming-world

05/08/2026

Exercise scientists Dr. Richard Bucciarelli, a PhD in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences grad, and Dr. John Srbely, are the first to study exercise science and physical performance of the Canadian Premier League during gameplay.⚽️

Using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, which helps determine a player’s game-ready fitness, they assessed CPL players, comparing the results to real game data collected through GPS tracking. They found that success in the endurance-based YYIRTL test was correlated with both higher speed and higher intensity running, while the speed-based test aligned with high speed. However, neither test could accurately predict sprinting ability in the players, a reminder of how complex athletic performance really is.

The study is an intriguing step towards our ability to test and predict the success of a player.

“Everyone wants to see sports get to a higher calibre,” says Bucciarelli. “Narrowing the gap in sports science research between Canada and places like Europe and South America could be the key to success for Canadian athletes in every sport.”

Read the new article by Rachel Hindle: https://www.uoguelph.ca/cbs/news/2026/05/running-science-how-research-shaping-future-canadian-soccer

05/07/2026

The University of Guelph is pleased to announce that Dr. Mazyar Fallah has been named vice-president (research and innovation), serving a five-year term effective May 25.

Since joining in 2021 as dean of the College of Biological Science, Dr. Fallah has led one of the University’s most research-intensive colleges where he focused on building research capacity and competitiveness, supporting faculty and staff in securing external funding and positioning the college to succeed in national and international funding environments.

Stepping into the role of VPRI, he brings extensive experience in strategic research planning and major funding initiatives that will help advance a high-performing research enterprise that expands collaborations with industry, government and other partners, and generates discoveries that will have national and global impact.

Learn more: https://uoguel.ph/u5m0c