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Teaching Resources

Our Animals 

While certain termite species are damaging urban pests, responsible for significant wood damage, they make up less than 5% of the over 2,000 termite species. Most termites play a valuable role in ecosystems, particularly in recycling wood, grass, and leaf litter, though this can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Termites feed on lignocellulose, a difficult-to-digest substance with low nitrogen content. To process this, termites rely on gut microbiomes to break down lignocellulose and supplement their diets with nitrogen. Understanding this symbiotic digestion process is key to grasping their environmental role and may offer solutions for eco-friendly biofuels from plant waste, while also helping manage greenhouse gas emissions.

Termites and their microbiome

Miss: last night I saw on TV enormous 4000 year-old termite mounds in Brazil that could be seen from satellites. But what do termites do?

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Biologists aim to understand fundamental life principles: how organisms function, grow, develop, digest food, sense their environment, interact with other species, and evolve. Over the past century, their methods have evolved, shifting from observing organisms in nature to studying them in controlled laboratory settings. Model organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals that are easy to grow in labs, are central to modern biology. One key model organism is the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, which has provided insights into basic biological processes. These findings benefit not only biologists but society at large, as they often reveal principles important for medicine and human health.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism

Mum: Why do scientists study animals in the lab?

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Blow flies, with their buzzing, iridescent presence, impact ecosystems in complex ways. Their larvae (maggots) aid in decomposition and can also be linked to disease transmission. Notably, primary and secondary screwworm larvae are parasitic. Primary screwworms infest open wounds on warm-blooded animals, causing severe tissue damage, while secondary screwworms feed on necrotic tissue, impeding healing and causing discomfort. Though associated with wounds, blow fly larvae also have medical uses. When raised in sterile conditions, they are employed in maggot therapy to cleanse wounds by devouring dead tissue, aiding healing. Additionally, blow flies play a key role in forensic investigations, helping estimate time of death. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of blow flies, their unique life cycles, and their impacts on health, agriculture, and forensic science. Understanding these parasitic species is essential for developing sustainable solutions to mitigate their effects.

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Blowflies

Have you ever noticed how they seem to find the most unexpected, and admittedly gross, food sources? It's as if they have a sixth sense for the weirdest and smelliest things.

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Birds host a diverse array of microbes on their bodies (plumage, legs, beaks, eyes) and within their digestive systems. Most of these microbes are harmless and form mutually beneficial relationships, exchanging organic matter and molecules. While microbes assist birds in ecosystem tasks, they benefit from easier feeding and dispersal. This lesson explores fascinating examples of bird-microbe interactions. We'll examine how microbes help woodpeckers build their nests and how some bird species use feathers in nests to combat pathogens. Additionally, we’ll discuss how microbes influence plumage color and the role of preen gland microbes in emitting odors for communication and mate selection. Lastly, we'll highlight the importance of gastrointestinal microbes in maintaining bird health. Details of these remarkable interactions follow!

Illustration by Jose Arce Gómez

Birds and Microbiome

Maisy: How can woodpeckers possibly create nests in solid wood?

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What are the reasons for recurrent mass mortalities of dolphins and seals? Are medical interventions to aquatic mammals sustainable? How can we help to avoid plague-like infection outbreaks in these species?

Photo by Noah Munivez from Pexels

Infections endangering wild aquatic aniamls

How can we help all these stranded dolphins?

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Cattle, sheep, and goats are herbivorous mammals with a specialized gut structure that allows them to thrive on fibrous foods like grass. Their first stomach, the rumen, hosts microorganisms that break down plant fiber into volatile fatty acids (VFA), which are absorbed for energy and growth. These microorganisms also provide additional nutrients as they pass through the digestive tract. Ruminants can turn pastures and rough ground into human-edible food, producing meat and dairy products that are staples in many cultures. However, this comes with environmental and health concerns. The ruminal fermentation process produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and ruminants’ nitrogen-rich urine and feces can pollute land and waterways. Additionally, overconsumption of ruminant meat and milk may pose health risks.

Microbes of rumen

Farmer Jones: do you know why cows can eat grass and we can’t?

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