hillside with tree trunks burned in a forest fire and many small bushes and other plants growing in their place

Montana Institute on Ecosystems

Recent News

Our researchers conduct impactful scientific research that's hard to ignore! Below are recent news stories covering some of our research affiliates. Explore the menu on the left to view our news archive, and learn more about upcoming seminars and relevant events.

A small rodent is held in a gloved hand, center focus of camera.

UM scientists: World's highest-dwelling mammal could boost cancer treatments

7/15/2026 - UM News
“We started this work fascinated by how these mice could survive in such an extreme place,” [Zach Cheviron] said. “That curiosity has now led to insights that might have real benefits for cancer patients. We couldn’t have anticipated that outcome when we started the work.”
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Iris, the Missoula osprey, looks away from the camera.

Meet Iris: The oldest nesting osprey

5/19/2026 - Birds & Blooms
“What fascinates me most about Iris is the consistency of her arrival time – usually within just a few days of any previous year’s arrival,” says Megan Fylling, avian ecologist and director at the University of Montana’s Bird Ecology Lab.
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Two UM researchers look at the camera, standing in front of a projection of Greenland.

UM computer scientists land grant to improve models of melting Greenland glaciers

3/30/2026 - UM News
“We have to contend with rising sea levels, and attempting to ignore the problem won’t change the reality of what’s happening,” [Jacob] Downs continued. “Improving our ice sheet models and reducing their uncertainties is a necessary step toward making credible predictions and helping communities plan for the future.”
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A western meadowlark sings its song.

How is climate change affecting Montana birds?

3/11/2026 - Montana Public Radio
"[Megan] Fylling told me that birds – and in particular some of our typical migratory species like ruby-crowned kinglets and dark-eyed juncos – didn’t get moving until later in the season than they would usually expect."
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A closeup shot of Yellowstone's soap scum bacteria, an orange-yellow film at the edge of a hot spring.

How Yellowstone's "soap scum" bacteria could change the world

2/28/2026 - Cowboy State Daily
“It’s an organism that doesn’t get a lot of press,” said Scott Miller, a professor and evolutionary biologist in the division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Montana. “Some people think they’re unsightly, but I’ve never thought of them that way. There’s a lot that’s really interesting about them.”
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Last updated on October 6, 2026