Videos

3D rendering of the head and internal anatomy of a Douglas fir spittlebug (Aphrophora permutata). the rendering shows the enormous pennate cibarial dilator muscles (red) attached to an apodeme (purple) which pulls on the cibarial diaphragm to expand the volume of the cibarium (yellow)

3D rendering of the head and internal anatomy of the common meadow froghopper Philaenus spumarius. The cibarial dilator muscle (CDM; purple) attaches to an apodeme (blue) which arises from the top of the cibarial diaphragm. Contraction of the CDM pulls the diaphragm outward, expanding the volume of the cibarium, allowing xylem sap to be drawn in.

Time-lapse video showing an eight-spotted skimmer (Libellula forensis) molting from the aquatic nymph stage into the air-breathing adult

High-definition time-lapse video showing an eight-spotted skimmer (Libellula forensis) molting from the aquatic nymph stage into the air-breathing adult (or see it on YouTube in 1080p here)

Co-flow microfluidic chip producing droplets of PDMS silicone as the starting point for manufacturing implantable fluorescent O2 sensors

Time-lapse video showing the embryonic development of four-spot skimmer dragonflies (Libellula quadrimaculata) from 2 hours after the eggs were laid until pre-hatch (4 days in total). Darkfield microscopy

Time-lapse video showing a thermogenic flower of Victoria cruziana water lily opening at sundown. These flowers bloom only at night, with each flower opening twice over two consecutive nights. This flower is opening for the first time. It is in its female stage and is ~8 °C warmer than the surrounding air. (Filmed at the University of Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens, Stellenbosch, South Africa)

Time-lapse video showing a flower of the Victoria cruziana water lily opening at sundown on its second night of flowering. It is at most a couple of degrees warmer than the surrounding air. It is now in its male phase with the stamens shedding their pollen. (Filmed at the University of Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens, Stellenbosch, South Africa)

120 kg of scrap iron ballast was dropped into Lake Malawi to send a multi-frequency sonar system to the bottom of the lake! The AZFP sonar from ASL Environmental in B.C. was used to monitor the daily vertical migration of Chaoborus edulis larvae and fish.

Driving through a swarm of adult Chaoborus edulis midges on the road back to Lilongwe. The locals are running towards the swarm to collect them to make a protein-rich food called kunga/kungu/nkhungu cake. The local chichewa word for the flies, nkhungu, also means 'fog' or 'mist'

Stopping in Salima on the drive from Lilongwe to Nkhata Bay

Mayoka Village - Our accommodation in Nkhata Bay

On the Dept of Fisheries boat measuring water quality parameters

Collecting Chaoborus larvae at night with a plankton net

Batala fish (Ramphochromis sp.)

View of the lake from Mayoka Village

A single Chaborus edulis midge (Nkhungu)

Field lab setup in a spare room at the Nkhata Bay Fisheries station

View of Nkhata Bay

Prepping the AZFP multi-frequency sonar system for deployment

Preparing to tow the AZFP out to deep water

The team celebrating after the AZFP was successfully deployed

AZFP recovered after a 3 week deployment at 275 m depth

Clouds of Chaoborus midges low on the horizon

Farewell dinner at Mayoka Village

Photos from around BC

Collecting Chaoborus larvae from Shirley Lake, Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, B.C.

Dip-netting for dragonfly nymphs in the South Campus ponds

A newly emerged (teneral) skimmer dragonfly (Libellula sp.) by a pond in the UBC Botanical Gardens

Tethered skimmer dragonfly in the lab