ICB blog
Here are three examples from #SICB2026 ( @sicb.bsky.social )
of how academic societies and #conference organizers can successfully integrate #art into the conference experience:
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/2026/04/21/h...
by
@e-v-griffith.bsky.social
"Dr. Amy Reese from the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in action while leading one of the exploration groups for a summer immersion outreach event. Her activity focused on helping students explore some of the good and bad of microbes (using fuzzy microbes from giantmicrobes.com), and exploring information, stories, and pictures of 12 living scientists to help shift perceptions of who does science."
Meet IOB co author
Amy J. Reese, Ph.D. (www.gatewayequityinstitute.org)
Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum Committee, chair
American Society for #Microbiology, Subcommittee for the Status of Women in Microbiology, chair.
asm.org/biographies/...
She co authored:
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
An IOB /SABER publication -
Shifting Perceptions about #Microbes and #Scientists: Reflections on Activities with High School #Students
Funk ,
Lasek ,
Schmidtke ,
Reese
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
& see what SABER is about
saberbio.wildapricot.org
#science #biology #teaching #education
Fig. 4 Micro to Macro Case Study. (A) Photo of Bathyagonus alascansus. (B) Micro-CT scan of B. alascansus. (C) Single scale (see blue highlighted region in B, E) showing hexagonal shape. (D) Idealized hexagonal models tessellated for 3D printing. (E) Three scales in a single row showing overlap (see dotted box in B). (F) Histology of overlapping scales (see white box in E). (G) Side profile of our idealized CAD models (D) showing overlap profile. The top and bottom (light gray) are perfect hexagons, and the middle (darker grays) is interpolated between them. (H) Force required to bend differently shaped models with a 30% overlap profile. Models were tested in three-point bending on a material testing system. Max load (N) was extracted from the data and plotted. (I) Model of shape, orientation, and overlap plotted on a log-log scale. MF is a dimensionless metric ((d + Overlap%)/L) where d is the distance between the tile border and bending axis and L is the length of the tile border (see inset). The unitless metric can be measured on models of all shapes from triangle to octagon. Using that metric, plus the coefficients resulting from the logarithmic fit in the figure, we can estimate the force required to bend models not physically tested in this study.
This ICB paper #Biological #Armors – #Evolution, Materials, and #Bioinspiration
by
@karlycohen.bsky.social
@cmdonatelli.bsky.social
@schulzscience.bsky.social
@tedstankowich.bsky.social
et al
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
has incredible figures
like fig 4's Micro to Macro Case Study
Get to know IOB co author Eric of
www.haaglab.org
This lab's latest paper on K. marmoratus is out now:
Resistance of Adult Kryptolebias marmoratus Hermaphrodites to Irreversible Sex Change by Exogenous #Androgens
Ficklin , Moy , Sinha , Haag
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
#fish #science #biology
Fig. 3 Conceptual framework illustrating the influences of gene expression, morphology, function, and evolution in shaping biological armors. While traits like spines, odontodes, and shells may be studied through a functional or evolutionary lens, focusing on a single aspect can obscure the full picture. Armor structures emerge from overlapping influences, where gene expression and development shape morphological properties like keratin and enamel, which in turn contribute to protective and mechanical functions. Evolutionary processes, including shared origins and selective pressures, further diversify these traits across organisms.
Do you know ICB co author @karlycohen.bsky.social ?
(co author of #Biological Armors–Evolution, Materials, and #Bioinspiration doi.org/10.1093/icb/... )
image of Karly from Salish Current
salish-current.org/2025/11/04/t...
read more about Karly
www.karlye-cohen.com
Meet IOB co author
Dr. Jax Ficklin, PhD, the Haag lab's #killifish pioneer.
www.haaglab.org
He is a co author on
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
& Jax wrote an excellent piece on
Race and Human #Biological #Diversity
www.linkedin.com/pulse/race-h...
#fish #hormones #science #biology
Fig. 2. Comparative osteoderm morphology of fossil and extant armadillos, highlighting the structural conservation of body armor across evolutionary time. (A) Extant screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus) with inset showing a close-up of its osteoderms. (B) Fossil Glyptodon sp. osteoderm, exhibiting a rosette-like pattern characteristic of glyptodonts. (C–D) Fossil osteoderms of Glyptotherium floridanum, showing variation in surface texture and overall shape. (E–I) Fossil osteoderms of Holmesina floridanus, demonstrating rectangular morphology and diverse surface ornamentation. The arrangement showcases the remarkable continuity in osteoderm shape and function from extinct armored xenarthrans to their modern relatives. Fossil specimens were donated for scanning by T. Stankowich. Chaetophractus vellerosus specimen was donated to M. Paig-Tran from the Orange County Zoo and Scott Weldy, DVM.
Methods used to study these systems—CT scanning, histology, finite element analysis, & mechanical testing—directly influence how the biological principles of armor are defined and understood.
@karlycohen.bsky.social
@cmdonatelli.bsky.social
@schulzscience.bsky.social et al
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
Fig. 4 External and internal impacts of exogenous androgen administration. (A–F) External coloration of fish after 30 days of the indicated treatments. Scale bar = 1 cm. A’–F’: Histological sections of gonads of fish from each treatment, all stained with toluidine blue. Various gonad elements are labeled. T, Testis; EO, early oocytes; LO, late oocytes; AM, amorphous/melanized tissue. Scale bar = 500 µm.
IOB
"The Kryptolebias marmoratus species complex contains the only known self-fertile hermaphroditic #vertebrates. "
Resistance of Adult Kryptolebias marmoratus Hermaphrodites to Irreversible Sex Change by Exogenous #Androgens
Ficklin et al
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
#fish #hormone #science
Biological Armors–Evolution, Materials, and Bioinspiration Karly E Cohen , Cassandra M Donatelli , Andrew K Schulz , Julia B Teeple , Theodore Stankowich , E W Misty Paig-Tran Integrative and Comparative Biology, Volume 65, Issue 6, December 2025, Pages 1649–1666, https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaf074
ICB
"#Bioinspired designs informed by natural armor have led to innovations in impact-resistant materials, flexible ceramics, and modular protective systems."
#Biological Armors–Evolution, Materials, and #Bioinspiration
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
@karlycohen.bsky.social et al
Variation in sex allocation in the K. marmoratus hermaphrodite gonad. (A) External view of adult hermaphrodite (∼4 cm long), representative of those used for both gonad comparisons and hormone treatments. (B and C) Sections of gonads from separate hermaphrodites, showing the extreme range of testis content. Scale bar = 1 mm. (B) Typicical, largely ovarian section, with small testis pockets adjacent to the oviduct indicated with arrowheads. (C) A mostly testicular section, with one gonad (right) completely testis (t), and the other (at left) with a few mature oocytes (o) and a smaller area of testis (arrowhead). This animal appears to be close to completing sex change, yet had outwardly hermaphrodite coloration, similar to “cryptic males” (Marson et al. 2019). (D) The absolute area of testis tissue sampled at sections along the transect from anterior (bottom) to posterior (top) in the left and right gonads of seven control (i.e., untreated) hermaphrodites. Specimens are arranged from smallest to largest overall gonad volume. Truncations at the posterior end reflect regions of gonad arm fusion, which are counted in total gonad testis (in F).
IOB
"Here, we first document substantial individual variation in overall gonad size and in testis content within and between the gonads of adult K. marmoratus hermaphrodites..."
Ficklin et al
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
#science #biology #fish #hormones
ICB blog
How do Different Bat Species Partition Prey in Afrotropical Forests? Early Results on #Bat Species #Biomechanics versus Prey Size and Toughness.
by Kanene Nwokeji on the work of Iroro Tanshi
in @sesantana.bsky.social 's lab
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/h...
IOB's Fresh ink!
Resistance of Adult Kryptolebias marmoratus Hermaphrodites to Irreversible Sex Change by Exogenous Androgens
by
Ficklin
Moy ,
Sinha ,
Haag lab
www.haaglab.org
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
#fish #biology #hormones #vertebrates
Stay tuned for an ICB
blog about
irorotanshi.org ‘s work this Tuesday 🙌
@sesantana.bsky.social lab
#bats #biology
👍 It is very interesting and be sure to catch this footage
youtu.be/0LS95EUeOGg?...
We appreciate your sharing this research 🙌
We're all peculiar, just some are more peculiar than others.
"The Peculiar Necks of Herons and Anhingas: A Study of Cervical Morphology in Pelecanimorph Birds" academic.oup.com/iob/article/...
ICB
SICB student fine art am account featuring art from our ICB art in bio blogs #artists, authors, SICBers and social platform followers. All profits go to the SICB student funds for scholarships
Buy Rebecca Beneroff's raccoon from her #Art in #Bio segment:
fineartamerica.com/featured/cur...
IOB co author Rachel Fleming is in Tom Roberts's lab,& in the Brainerd lab
elizabeth-brainerd.squarespace.com
Rachel co authored
The Peculiar Necks of Herons and Anhingas: A Study of Cervical #Morphology in Pelecanimorph #Birds
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
#science #biology #biomechanics
IOB
Buy #art based on the paper from
The Peculiar Necks of #Herons and Anhingas: A Study of Cervical #Morphology in Pelecanimorph #Birds
R C Fleming , C R Black
This #photography was donated for use by Gregory Lee
profits go to
#SICB student funds
fineartamerica.com/profiles/sic...
ICB's
Patterns of #Raccoon #Craniodental #Morphology under Urbanization
by
Sluka et al
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
Art from @botanicalbecks.bsky.social
from yesterday's #art in bio
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/fine-art-ame...
#science #biology
The Peculiar Necks of Herons and Anhingas: A Study of Cervical Morphology in Pelecanimorph Birds R C Fleming and C R Black Integrative Organismal Biology, Volume 8, Issue 1, 2026, obag004, https://doi.org/10.1093/iob/obag004
IOB
"Our results indicate that (1) ardeids & several lineages within Suliformes, including anhingas, exhibit distinctive patterns of cervical regionalization, & (2) ardeids evolved uniquely shaped vertebrae across cervical regions 1–4 relative to other #pelecanimorphs..."
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
Great stuff from the uber-talented-and-smart @botanicalbecks.bsky.social - a first-year MS student here at Bucknell studying Penstemon.
#sciart #plantpeopleFTW #scicomm
And the Streets Dept Podcast 2.0 is launched! Listen to our first new episode now with one of our country’s best science communicators, @sarahmackattack.bsky.social!
Available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/2kSr...
Thanks so much for sharing your writing and art🙌 very inspiring !
I had a lot of fun working on this piece! Thank you for the chance to share a little of my story :)
ICB's #art in #bio
April's featured #artists/ #scientists featured to celebrate #creativity persisting:
Marieke Van Der Maelen – art can be found on Instagram at @House_Of_Paidia
& Rebecca Benneroff, @martinebotany.bsky.social lab.
integrativeandcomparativebiology.wordpress.com/fine-art-ame...
IOB
"We assessed patterns of cervical regionalization across pelecanimorph lineages and tested for vertebral shape differentiation in ardeids..."
youtu.be/0LS95EUeOGg?...
& read
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
Fleming and Black
#ornithology #avian #science #biomechanics
from Marieke Van Der Maelen – @House_Of_Paidia or at https://www.houseofpaidia.com
read ICB’s free read on #butterflies
Engaging the Community in #Pollinator #Research: The Effect of Wing Pattern and Weather on #Butterfly #Behavior
Abbigail N Merrill et al
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
& Be sure to stay tuned for #art in bio Tuesday
with Marieke Van Der Maelen
www.houseofpaidia.com
IOB's latest
The Peculiar Necks of #Herons and Anhingas: A Study of Cervical #Morphology in Pelecanimorph #Birds
by
R C Fleming and C R Black
doi.org/10.1093/iob/...
#science #ornithology #biomechanics #avian